Here comes Mom

Tomorrow I leave for a trip to southern Illinois. Only this time, when I return on Monday, my 87-year-old mom will be returning on the 200 mile trip with me to southern Indiana.
She will be moving to an assisted living facility about 10 min from our house. She's never lived away from "home" so I assured her that if she can't adapt to this she has the option of returning home. I was shocked when about a week later in talking with her on the phone she told me she doesn't plan to return to Illinois. It appears she is mentally processing the fact that she needs to be cared for and closer to me.
I am excited to think she will be so close. We've lived apart for so many years, starting in 1973 when she and my dad moved from our home in southern California to retire in their native Illinois.
I realize this is going to be a new stage in my life and for my husband and adult daughter who lives at home with us. I foresee I will be "dropping by" to check on or assist my mom several times a week. And my life these days is already very full - working full time takes a lot more out of me than it used to.

GoodReads: Maisie Dobbs

Maisie Dobbs by Jacqueline Winspear

My rating: 4 of 5 stars


I enjoyed reading Maisie Dobbs and gave it four stars because it met several of my "good book" criteria very well, even though it was a relatively short book. It develops the characters well (although I would have liked even more - maybe Winspear will continue them in the series). The settings are well described throughout Maisie's career as a maid in a large estate to an army nurse to a self-employed private investigator. And the most important for me - it is historical and teaches about World War I from a personal point of view.
The story is about how Maisie helps other people with their problems. She comes from a humble background (her father is a costermonger - sells fresh vegetables from his own wagon) and her mother died when she was a child. Maisie has the fortune of being a wise person from birth. Her employer sees this and decides to help Maisie develop her "inner eye" by hooking her up with several philosophers and eventually a Cambridge scholarship. Maisie is popular wherever she goes.
The book has a different flow from most books. It starts out with Maisie solving a mystery for a husband who is afraid his wife is cheating on him. After Maisie discovers the truth and this mystery is resolved, the story flashes back to Maisie's childhood and upbringing through her nursing career in WWI. The facts of her early years coincide with some of the details of the first mystery and is continued in the second one which comes as the story flashes forward again. Maisie's second mystery revolves around a nearby home for war veterans and the son of her benefactor.
All in all, a book well worth reading and I'm looking forward to the next in the series "Birds of a Feather".



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Pain and meds

I just found I have 4 posts still unpublished two from last year. It's interesting to read old posts - this is so much a diary for me.
This weekend has been one of the worst ever. I ran out of pain medication (hydrocodone 5/325) and my doctor is out sick and her backup was not comfortable refilling it. So I've been in "withdrawal" the past 4 days and very uncomfortable. I have a pinched nerve in my right upper leg that at one point was excruciating but has lessened to tolerable with pain meds.  My first appt with the neurologist isn't until Jan 30. I'm also fighting a cold and have gastrointestinal issues - not sure how much of that  is part of  the withdrawal.
This past couple of months has really been an eyeopener about pain and getting older and less able to weather it. I've also lost 10 pounds as I have somewhat lost my appetite (pain meds again?). I'm becoming more aware that if I want to enjoy the next 10 years - my 60's - I'd better pay attention to what I am doing with my body.  I've got to continue losing weight. I hope the neurologist can suggest a non-medication way to get past the pain I'm in. I've heard there's a procedure where they can anesthetize the nerve.

On another note, today I watched a few shows on TV about music. One was a biography of the Rolling Stones (not my favorite group, but I really like some of their songs, one was a current concert by James Taylor, definitely a long-time favorite and the best was "Woodstock: Now and Then" a documentary on Woodstock.  1969 was such an important year in my life. It was indeed a summer of love (I know, that was 1967) for me. But not just romantic love - just love for everyone. It's very hard to explain to someone if you weren't around then. Our generation truly opened our hearts to each other. We connected on a level that we never will again. I miss it. And I enjoy seeing people on TV talk about it - people my age.

Well, tomorrow I have to go back to work. I hope I feel better. I'm not sure what I'm going to do with my doctor refills my pain meds. I can see how people get addicted. And I don't want that. But I have to function without having to sit down or reposition my leg so I can tolerate the pain. Luckily where I work I have flexibility and people who help me.

It's been a busy week since I last posted.
My legs are still doing better - still taking the pain meds for the nerve issue, but the arthritis has improved dramatically. I'm starting to get around better and walked a distance today from the back of the university parking lot as there were no parking spots in the employee parking.

Plaza next to my office

Work has slowed down now that the spring semester is underway. Our division is about to undergo a big cutback, and although we've all been told we will have jobs, I'm not sure where exactly. I'd love to stay where I am (Exploratory student advising / office assistant), but there are two others who have seniority. I told my director if I had a choice I'd like to move to the School of Nursing. Not sure if they are even going to be offering a job or not. Anyway, change keeps me on my toes.  I feel confident that I can cope.

Saturday morning I took the 3 1/2 hour drive to visit my mom in southern Illinois for the long weekend. It had been almost 2 months since I had visited due to my legs and other issues. We had a good visit. She doesn't see it but she is getting stronger. She proudly told me she has learned how to put in her new hearing aids herself (she was having someone help her each morning). She is anxious about balancing her checkbook, but when I checked it, all was in order, her arithmetic was perfect. I drove her to Benton to visit her 85-year-old sister in the rehab center who had fallen and fractured her pelvis. We stopped on the way home and got a small DQ cone. We discussed her coming here to stay in a nice assisted living place for a few months, but she always has an anxious look on her face when we discuss it. So for now she'll stay at home alone, with two helpers who stop in everyday and help her.

Sugar-Crusted Chocolate Chip Muffins

Yesterday I baked Sugar-Crusted Chocolate Chip Muffins - very easy recipe and makes 12 muffins (more like cupcakes though).

ABC's of me (from Empty Nest)

I like reading Empty Nest but Full Heart and found this fill-in-the-blank thingy.  I like these and hadn't seen this one before so voici!

A. Age: 60 (but not for much longer)
B. Bed size: full
C. Chore that you hate: Cleaning floors
D. Dogs: Heidi (Pembroke Welsh Corgi)
E. Essential start to your day: Coffee
F. Favorite color: blue
G. Gold or Silver: silver
H. Height: 5"7"
I. Instruments you play: piano
J. Job title: Office Services Assistant, Sr.
K. Kids: 1 daughter
L. Location: Southern Indiana
M. Make of car: 2003 Toyota Camry
N. Nicknames: Boss, Squirrel
O. Overnight hospital stays: tonsillectomy, 1 c-section, some other female stuff
P. Pet peeves: talking during a movie or concert
Q. Quote from a movie:
R. Right or left handed: Right
S. Siblings: 2 younger sisters
T. TV Shows: Cooking Channel
U. Underwear: Always
V. Vegetable you hate: Eggplant
W. What makes you run late: goofing around
X. X-Rays you’ve had: teeth, chest, leg, index finger
Y. Yummy food that you make: Egg Rolls
Z. Zoo animal:Tigers

Mashed Potatoes and Dishwasher Soap

FOOD: Yesterday made some excellent garlic mashed potatoes. I have to say this is a 5-star recipe!
My husband found this recipe online which was truly low fat and with easy ingredients I had on-hand. (none of that fat-free sour cream, yogurt or half-and-half)
GARLIC MASHED POTATOES (LOWFAT)

7 cups peeled and cubed baking potatoes
6 cloves garlic, peeled
1/2 cup low-fat milk
1/4 cup Parmesan cheese, grated
2 tablespoons butter
1/2 teaspoon salt
1/8 teaspoon pepper
Preparation:
Place potatoes and garlic in a saucepan. Cover with water; bring to a boil. Reduce heat. Simmer 20 minutes; drain. Place drained potatoes and garlic in a mixing bowl. Add remaining ingredients; beat with mixer until smooth. Serves 6 to 8.
My notes: Mash or rice the cooked potatoes and garlic first before you add it to the mixer. Heat the milk, cheese, butter, salt and pepper in the micro until steaming and then add it to the potatoes in the mixer.
I just used the Kraft Parmesan Cheese (grated) so I think it would be even better with the Parmigiano-Reggiano. I buy a piece of this every now and then (expensive!).

PRODUCTS I LIKE: We've had trouble with our dishwasher leaving hard water deposits on our dishes - even our new Kitchen Aid dishwasher. I tried several different types of dishwasher soap and almost gave up trying until.....Finish Quantum Gelpacs - all I can say is my dishes are beautiful now and there are absolutely no marks or residue...ever. They look like little blue pillows. I realize they are more expensive than powder, but they are 100% worth it, not to mention easy. I do also use Jet-Dry, also expensive but worth it.

GoodReads: Major Pettigrew's Last Stand

Major Pettigrew's Last Stand by Helen Simonson

My rating: 3 of 5 stars


I chose this book based on its genre (gentle read/English village/romance) and good ratings and reviews. And while it was all that, I was disappointed. I would have given it a 3 1/2 stars if I could. Up through the first 100 pages or so, I seriously considered not finishing the book, something I don't often do. However, I decided to plunge forward and it got better.
The book starts out with a brother's funeral and the effect it has on the main character, a retired major in the British army. I was rather depressed by his character, maybe because I am still accepting the fact that I am in my 60's as well. I felt he was a little too "whiney" and kind of arrogant. When he connects with Mrs. Ali, the story gets better.
PROS: A lot of the focus of the book is one the characters, many of which are middle to old age. At times this was a plus because I could relate. I liked this part of the conversation between the Major and Mrs. Ali during one of their first encounters:

"It's funny," she said, "to be suddenly presented with the possibility of making new friends. One begins to accept, at a certain age, that one has already made all the friends to which one is entitled. One becomes used to them as a static set - with some attrition, of course. People move far away, they become busy with their lives..."
"Sometimes they leave us for good," added the Major, felling his throat constrict.
"Dashed inconsiderate of them, I say."

I've thought that same thing myself and it was affirming to see it in print.
However, I never really identified fully with any of the characters which is important for a story to "hook" me.
The author does an excellent job of providing details of clothing, personal appearance and setting which is one aspect of reading I enjoy a lot. It "takes me there" to the story setting.
CONS: The plot is very thin and the climax is more of a tying up of loose ends. There is not anything really surprising. The author seems to "pick on" Americans - which at first was kind of annoying, but eventually just became expected. Not sure why she did that. I know Americans are not admired for the most part in Europe, so maybe it's just part of the story.
I would only recommend this book to someone with reservations.

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