Best Of

I'm beginning to understand how awful it must be to live near wildfires, even if one's life or home isn't in danger. It's one thing to get an occasional whiff of the smoke (as we did a little last June when the AQI was over 200 from Canadian wildfires). It's quite another when it permeates everything you own and there's no escaping it. I can at least use Febreze, shower, and do laundry. As for cool-weather clothes, I expect clothing will be returned to us in dribs & drabs. We'd been planning to donate much of it anyway, but not in its current condition.

My weight-mgmt NP sends her sympathies but wants me to work out &/or swim 20-30 min./day. As if. I never knew how much work it could be taking care of two cats in a hotel room with no help (Bob just keeps them company while I do all the work). Then there's all the administrative stuff, doing laundry myself until we're semi-settled and can go back to using a service (and give them an address), trying to work in self-care (shower, meds, biopsy wound care—and next week, excision wound care, etc.). Slightly shorter drive from here up to my derm in Lake Bluff than from home; but no exercise or lifting with that arm for 4-6 weeks. Next day is my semiannual R dx mammo/US—and we move downtown as soon as I get back from that. Will need to do all the packing Monday (except of course for the cats' food, water, litter and paraphernalia). We realize that we have more stuff to move out of the room than we brought in—and even that used up every spare inch of both our cars. So tomorrow I'm downloading TaskRabbit to find someone with strength and a roomy vehicle to help us move. Gordy works (but doesn't drive and has a bad back) and all our friends are our age or older and not in perfect health. I have two godsons—but one's in Seattle with a wife & toddler and the other is, to put it gently, messy and sedentary. He can code up a storm, but can't push a vacuum cleaner. Drives his fiancee nuts.

Harley, it’s good to hear you’re doing ok with the chemo.

Puffin, Betrayal, Harley, Petite, Taco, MM, Chris, Sandy - HUGS to you and any others who need one. So much is going on. The trials and tribulations of a life.

I got a nice walk in yesterday morning. But the humidity was high, and it was hot walking.

Last night we went to a concert, Bonnie Raitt. Such a great voice, concert was great too.

This morning I was off to see my foot guy, he does the orthotics for my feet. The man I’d been seeing for years retired. Apparently sold the business 3 years ago to the man I saw today; but he hung out and kept working. This was just a follow-up and intro to the new guy - he’s also a PT. The good news is by me switching my health insurance my next orthotics might be covered by them. I was told Medicare will reject the claim but my secondary will pick it up. Also said I need a script firm PCP; can’t say flat feet, can’t say pain; who knows what qualifies to get it covered. But I see PCP in July and will ask for a script. I’ve been paying out of pocket yearly. I think it was $580 the last time. It would be nice to just pay a $25 copay.

Hot & sunny. It felt nice this morning but turned hot quickly. Should hit 87-88. Rain should be here tomorrow and over the next couple of days.

I leave Saturday for Florida and hopefully the end of my dental saga. Not looking forward to the heat down there. Everyone enjoy your day the best you can.

In the immortal words of the late great Roseanne Rosannadanna, "it's always something." After I left for the hotel yesterday, the cleanup crew inadvertently locked not just the deadbolt (for which we & they have a key) but also the spring-loaded doorknob, which we never use because we never got a key (the seller 37 yrs ago said it was insecure). So my neighbor couldn't get in to retrieve a UPS envelope that made it through the mail slot. Called & texted the crew chief & project mgr who assured me they can get in. (I almost don't wanna know how).

I can't get the smell of smoke out of my nostrils. Not enough Febreze on the face of the earth to deodorize the stuff we had to bring to the hotel. Unlike Bob I've had to spend hours on-site going through things (toss-or-save). Today need to meet State Farm fire investigator for walk-thru to confirm the electrical cause (and pro forma rule out arson). Clothes cleaning crew let me pick out a few things for a rush order to be delivered Friday—so I will have an outfit for the hospital dinner (an easier commute from our next hotel). Bob's commutes till then are horrendous due to construction everywhere. (Chicago needs to change its motto from "Urbs in horto" to "Alternate routes? Bwhahahaha…").

On the bright side, Bob seems to have lost his desire to smoke.

Derm assures me I can get my mammo the day after my excision and that I can lift up to 15 lbs with that arm. Knock wood, biopsy site is healing, so I can stop dressing it. Not sure how much weight if any i lost this week—though I'm getting more de facto exercise and eating fewer calories, I must be pumping out stress-induced cortisol that's sending fat to my belly.