OT January Chit Chat

[Howie]

I got a call today from my brother. He's been sick most of the week and last weekend. Some nasty flu that's going around. It had made it's rounds where he works, so it was just a matter of time.

His cat has him trained pretty well by now. Her name is Cole, or Coal, I've never asked him for the spelling, but she is solid black, and still full of herself. He is really taken with her, and I think she was a nice addition to his life.

So he was in a great mood despite being sick last week, and was talkative, and what happens? My phone died mid conversation. I thought I had seen it blink on and off, but thought I was seeing things. It's not like it's right in front of your face.

It started by me taking it to Walmart, and never plugged it in since. DOH!!!

So the weekend begins! Have a great one everybody!!!

[stillstANNding]

I am glad your brother called, Howie.

ANN

[agate]

... Still can't stand enough to take off pants, still cant transfer to/from bed confidently. Guess I have to keep plugging....

I saw this mentioned somewhere and wonder if it might be useful for you or for others here:

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[Howie]

That's kind of the way I put on pants, but with no device. Sit on the edge of the bed, put one leg in, put the other leg in, as I'm sitting on the edge of the bed. Pull them up as far as I can so the cuffs are at the bottom, and I work them up as far as I can, then stand up, pull the pants up to where they should be. Then just lay back flat on the bed, and hook and zip them, hook the belt, and I'm done.

I only wear printed tee shirts, mostly for car parts places. Then put one on, and don't worry about stuffing in into the top of the pants. When that's done, I ease myself off the bed, and put my shoes and socks on while sitting on the floor. When that's done, I can crawl back on the bed, and from there, I stand up and walk.

My coat, billfold, everything has it's place. I load my pockets with whatever goes with me, tell the cats who already KNOW I'm leaving, to behave while I'm gone, grab my keys from THEIR place, and out the door I go!

[agate]

Well, the truth is out. Sounds as if Howie doesn't always wear a thong.

[Catdancer]

It's the standing at the end to pull up the pants that is the issue. Or standing to pull them down. I can sit on the edge of my bed, lean over enough to get pants around my feet, pulled up to my knees... nut can't stand enough to pull them up.

Right now I don't have enough strength to get my legs into bed. If I could do that, then I can work my pants up by rolling back and forth in bed, pulling up on each side. Same for taking them off. It's very laborious, and once I do it, i need to rest for awhile to gain enough strength to then sit up and transfer out of bed.

So this device wouldn't he, but thanks for thinking about me. I just have to keep trying to build up leg strength...

[Virginia]

Agate, something like that would probably help me at times. I guess it depends on what I am wearing. I found that to be very interesting.

Well, we had sleet and snow from late yesterday afternoon until this afternoon. I have plenty of food and all the comforts of home. The only thing I am missing is my gas logs. I have been afraid to burn them. I called for my tank to be filled up Tuesday and was told it would be the end of the week. I called again yesterday morning and they said I was on the list for yesterday, but it did not happen. I am kind of afraid to burn what I do have because my heat pump is 24 years old and it is going to get to 9 degrees tonight. Tomorrow night it is to get to zero. I don't know if that will cause the heat pump to act up or not. Tuesday is when it is supposed to warm up a bit and by the end of the week will be in upper 60s to about 70 on one day. I closed the plantation shutters in my living and dining room and I think that helps a little with the cold. I have high ceilings in there and lots of windows for the space.

I had bought food, but brother and his wife left some more on my porch before it started yesterday. My sister-in-law left two individual containers of soup, a thing of frozen baked spaghetti, some frozen apple dumplings, some frozen cake and some zucchini bread. My neighbor had gone to store Thursday night and she got eggs and bread for me. Her heat pump is also old, so she is concerned too. However she does not have heat logs at all. Neither she nor I want to replace a heat pump that is still working fine. Just hope it doesn't decide to go now.

Howie, I love that you got snow. You have wanted it bad enough. Sorry your phone battery gave out during conversation with your brother, but at least you got to talk to him some.

Everyone stay warm.

[agate]

I love that Howie has snow too. As long as it stays with Howie.

One problem is that I'm looking at a couple of inches of it right now, here on the West coast, and it's been here all day, with temperatures not even at 20' above.

[Catdancer]

We woke to minus twelve degrees yesterday. Got up to a spring-like 5 above by the afternoon. Don't know what the temp is this morning, but cold. Very cold. We are better prepared for it here in Wisconsin, of course. I can't remember exactly when we got a new furnace put in, but it was within the last ten years, so the house is warm. I contract for l.p. gas once a year, and the company comes.automatically to keep the tank full. They came last week before the cold snap and filled the tank. We didn't get any snow which is unusual for us for January, but I'm staying ins, anyway...

[Frog42]

I'm reading it's 9 right now with a high of 21. It may snow some more later.

Can't wait to take a shower later. Welcome to New England.

[SalpalSally]

Snowed yesterday....cold......!

[Howie]

Snowed yesterday....cold......!

Sally, that's what I was going to say!

[SuzE-Q]

Is it everything you'd hoped it would be, Howie?

Enjoying it? Having fun?

[Howie]

Everything and more! (singing) Let it snow, let it snow, let it snow...
(Just wait until his beer runs out!)

[agate]

Hope Vicky won't mind if I borrow this from her. Canadians have a nifty idea:

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