2016 Lessons Learned-Tuesday Coffee Chat

Tuesday, January 10th, 2017

I'm not one for resolutions, but I do hope I never stop learning.   What was your biggest lesson learned in 2016?

Several lessons learned in 2016. Early in the year I learned to help Mr BC with his dialysis.  I know his medicine by heart, we do numbers: Blood pressures,
Temperature, Blood glucose etc, and clean....everything to do with dialysis needs to be clean. My biggest worry was not to give him peritonitis, we have been doing these procedures for a year now and so far, so good. Organization and cleanliness...good lessons learned. I plan to keep him around for as long as possible.

 
One big lesson learned is:  that my neighbors and friends, here in the Red State, are a mystery to me. I would say I am a moderate, independent, voter. I have voted GOP in my lifetime as well as Democratic. I don't have a college degree, but I do have some college, I think I am knowledgeable and rational. I voted for Obama for a lot of reasons, but, to be perfectly honest, I had hoped he would do a better job. He had the challenges of opposition (The Tea Party, congress, etc.) and he could/would not find compromise. I believe he is a good man. Born in the United States. I also believe all the hate and vitriol, he has had to endure, is racism, by folks who claim, they are not racist. 

According to stories posted by people, who I became friends with on Facebook when Mr BC got sick, Obama and his family are not to be trusted. Headlines like President Obama "shocked the country" announcing he'd be running for office again. Which of course presidents can't do. The the other day a relative posted a story reporting.... that Marian Robinson, First Lady Michelle Obama's mother, will receive a $160,000 annual government pension, for taking care of the Obama girls.....it's all lies, fake news. Then...."it's now clear that so-called fake news can have real-world consequences," Clinton said reacting to:  Pizzagate. So another big lesson is......The lesson here: We really need to beware of the fake news that is swirling around social media.

I did expect that Hillary would get a lot of negative things said about her, during the primaries.....especially in red states, she had problems and baggage. All the ugly electioneering was to be expected. Trump's nomination, left my support to Hillary, (who was not my first choice of democrat candidates) I voted for her rather than a third party, believing that, third party candidate would insure a Trump win. Hah!  Her loss turned out to be similar to Dewey's loss to Truman.   My Red State friends and neighbors and relatives and the rest of the country had elected Trump. Something I still find hard to believe!

So with that, a final lesson is learned....about the Electoral College.....For the second time in my memory....a president has been elected without receiving the majority of popular votes....now what is that all about? 

Sunday Stealing

Monsters in the Closet Meme

Do you usually sleep with your closet door open or closed? 
Closed, not because of monsters....Since I moved the bed around, it opens right up to the edge of the bed.  I made for more space in the room, with the exception of the closet door.

Do you take the shampoos and conditioner bottles from hotels? 
Mr BC use to travel for business and he use to haul them home....I threw away a whole shoe box full of them and other things, shower caps, sewing kits etc., when we moved to MO.

Have you ever ‘done it’ in a hotel room? 
Years ago, when we were younger.

Where is your next vacation? 
We are leaving soon for Santa Barbara.

Have you ever stolen a street sign before?  
I answered this question not too long ago. NO.

Who do you think reads these? 
Other folks who answer Sunday Stealing, etc. I always read and comment on anyone who comments on my blog. On really large memes, I don't comment and read every entry, usually the three above me and the three below me. Sometimes, my family.

Do you have a calendar in your room? Actually it is in the bathroom.
Where are you? In the living room, watching TV and answering this.

What’s your plan for the day? 
We have been getting the RV ready to travel.  I was cleaning, washing and figuring where we were going to put Mr BCs dialysis stuff.  We have some vacation supplies delivered to my daughter's for the trip home.

Are you reading any books right now? 
I have started book four of Game of Thrones.

Do you ever count your steps when you walk? 
Not always, but I do count stair steps as I go up or down....Why do I do that?

Do you ever dance even if there’s no music playing? 
All the time. I make my own music in my head.

Have you ever peed in the woods? Probably
Do you chew your pens and pencils? No
What is your “Song of the Week”? What is that?
Is it okay for guys to wear pink? Sure
Do you still watch cartoons? No, I will watch animated movies.
Whats your favorite love movie? Dr Zivago, I just saw it.
What do you drink with dinner? Ice Tea
What do you dip Chicken Nuggets in? BBQ 
What is your favorite food/cuisine? Mexican, we will eat good in CA.
What movies could you watch over and over and still love?
Last person you hugged/kissed? Mr BC, soon my grandsons.
Were you ever a boy/girl scout? Yes
Would you ever strip or pose nude in a magazine? No, I was a girl scout!

Wednesday Hodgepodge

1. What's your biggest 'first world' problem? I can't use the fax on my printer/copier, since I gave up my land line for Verizon's wireless home phone. I am sure there is a way to use it but I have not found a way to make it work yet, I hate to call Verizon, just because it is usually a hassle. 

2.  Each year Time Magazine names a 'Person of the Year', someone who has 'for better or worse...done the most to influence the events of the year.' It was recently announced they've named Angela Merkel Person of the Year for 2015. You can read more about this year's selection here. Your thoughts? I was not familiar with her until the refugee issue. I guess she is deserving of it. Just as long as Trump isn't honored by anything this year I am fine. If you were in charge, who would you declare Person of the Year? Nurses!  The great nurses at Freeman Hospital in Joplin, were so caring and wonderful to Mr BC. All the staff should be commended.

3. Do you have a nativity set in your home? If so share it's history and how you display the pieces. We had one when the girls were younger.  It was displayed on the mantle, got broken in the move and is in pieces in a decoration box up stairs. I don't have a mantle here, and since we usually go to CA, I haven't decorated in a few years.

4.  Do you make an extra effort to give back in some way during the holiday season? How do you encourage those who need encouragement this time of year? Since this year, Mr BC has been so sick, my encouragement is directed to him.  I usually try to give a gift to those who are less blessed than we are, I will take a name from a tree and shop for that person. I notice my Walmart had one, I have to go today so I hope there are some names left. 

5. Who is your favorite person to shop for? Why? I loved shopping for the girls when they were young...I have transferred that love to the grandsons.  I try to come up with special gifts that will be meaningful to them. This year I have ordered a subscription from Kiwi Crate to deliver a box of crafts, books and experiments to do every month for the next 6 months. I told DD1 that I would continue it if she felt it was worthwhile and the boys used and enjoyed it.  Since they will be back after Christmas, I will send some other thing I have later. Now I have to start thinking about birthday gifts for everyone's birthday in early Feb. I hope Mr BC will be doing well enough for me to go out there for the birthdays.

6. What's the last delicious thing you ate? Sweet potato fries at the hospital (they are fat and crispy and delish!), while I was waiting for Mr BC outpatient surgery to be completed*. I also loved the chocolate mousse like desserts we had when we were in Paris.

7. The best way to spread Christmas cheer is keeping a positive intent, not worrying about how others may or may not celebrate. Whether they say Merry Christmas or Happy Holidays, not getting upset that someone's community have secular or religious celebrations.  No one can take your joy away, unless you let them.

8. Insert your own random thought here. I do not see how anyone could work at a department store anymore, the fragrance department has taken over all the fresh air on the first floor.  When I walk by the candle/bath works etc, I can smell it when I walk the mall, even when it is closed.  I am getting very affected by too strong fragrances, I use to hate getting trapped in an elevator with some one who smells so strongly, now it overpowers me sometimes in a whole store.

*He was fine afterwards...he has very little pain.  He had a peritoneal port installed for when he starts dialysis, the kidney doctor wanted it healed and ready when the dialysis was necessary.

Ten Things on Tuesday

http://mindfulrambles.blogspot.com/

Can I come up with 10 thing?  Let's see....

1.  Last week I finally changed the slip cover on my Ikea sofa.  It will look very Christmassy, with the right accessories, and maybe stay cleaner.

2. Totem was in my face today. It has been 5 days since we took a walk... Rain and clouds. Totem wanted out early, since the sun was finally shining thru his window. I threw on a jacket for our walk and he was delighted.....Time to get out the knit hats and gloves for our daily dog walk, I thought my ears were going to fall off they were so cold, but the sun was shining but it was cold. I had to keep my hands warm with the poop bags. Today is a beautiful day but....Mr BC's, physical therapist said we would have an awful winter, last week when came for his first visit.  This weeks sunshine would belie that statement....but then this is Missouri and weather changes on a dime.

3.  Did you know that Medicare pays for a nurse and a PT, to come to your house when you are released from the hospital at no charge to us?  I didn't know that.  I am sure it depends on how sick you are, but Mr BC's failing kidneys apparently qualify.  It was good to have her around, when it turned out he had to go back to the hospital 4 days after his first release.

4.  We have had a real education on dialysis this week.  I was not aware that in some instances you can DIY at home, and not be chained to the 3 day a week schedule.  We are going to try that first, when Mr BC must go to dialysis...which he will. 

5. I told my grandson Caшa,3+ that I loved him to the moon and back,when we were on the phone and he replied he loved me to the moon and beyond. Snap...he wins.

6.  I don't know what I was thinking, when I went out to run a few errands on the weekend, the first chance I had in my busy week.....first free weekend with Mr BC out of the hospital and the first weekend in December, not smart.  crowds everywhere, even the pet store. I was in and out then home.

artimpressions.com

7. I also started back walking at the Mall this week.  It was nice visiting with some of the folks we see out there and catching them up with Mr BC.  They are looking forward to when he can join us again. The men folk wanted to know how he was doing and the ladies wanted to know how I was doing.....Well walking I am doing for myself.

8.  Since we will be home for Christmas, I need to bring a few things down from the loft to decorate.  It will be just us two and DD2.  The California contingent are going to make a trip to Serbia for a change and a different Christmas Day, Jan 7th.  My ladies who walk have a head start with their trees up already.

9. We both miss our Mr Caspar, he was a sweet guy and a good buddy.  It is bittersweet, that he no longer gazes every time I have something to munch on in front of the TV. I realize that now I can eat undisturbed, with out his sweet brown eyes looking longingly at my food and feeling so bad that I couldn't give him any.  He put on a few pounds under our care and I feel bad about that. It took a while for us to realize that he was eating anything not nailed down....including things left in the other dogs bowls.  He was a chow hound.

10. Mr BC and I are entering a new period in our life.  His health is still not back to any sort of normal.  He is in renal failure and that is not changing.  We have that and possible chronic heart failure to look forward to.  I have to be mindful when he request help from me that it is because he really needs my help.  I hear tones of voice enter my head and I need to make sure they don't exit my mouth. I pray for patience every day, and a good nights sleep.