March 4 2009

We're 4 days into Autumn... but the temp are still in the low 30'sC, hopefully will drop to the high 20's in the next few days. I just find it hard to do any physical work when it's like this (housekeeping). Only our bedrooms are air-conditioned.... I'll be glad when I can turn them off.

Jared is 4 weeks into his probation (4 to go) and has been really good, staying out of trouble. He mowed the front and back of the house on Sunday and has been working .... something to do with respraying cars, with a friend and his friend's father. He got $60 for the weekend, not much I know, but he could have been doing nothing. He seems happier, I know I am.... He goes to Barbara's every night after dinner (she was the one who took him in when he 'left home"), she has 2 daughters.... occasionally he has dinner there but he's always home by 9:30pm.

 

He made some muffins last week (from a packet) BUT he beat the hell out of the mixture.. they were heavy as lead!!! LOL!!!   I told him to stick to making cookies *S*

I phoned the Hospital Clinic on Thursday to ask if I'd been moved up the list for the specialist. Could be another 2 months!!
(That would be a total of 8 months I'd be waiting!)
I asked if they had received any further requests from my doctor.... NO...    My doctor promised me twice she'd send another request, her promises are worth nothing.  The nurse at the hospital said if they received a second request from her I would probably get an appointment within 2 weeks!  All I want is to be able to walk without pain and not screw up any more of my body in the process.

So... I had an appointment with my doctor on Friday and related the info I got from the hospital and begged her to send another request.  She acted surprised that they hadn't received any second request from her, but it was bull.. I could tell.

Now, thanks to the medications I've been on and because I have a non existent immune system I now have psoriasis!! It's on my SCALP!!!! It's not infectious BUT it makes me feel DIRTY!!! Also have it on my arms between the elbow and wrist (underside). She gave me a script for a solution (Daivonex) I have to put on my scalp, but because I overspent my last pension... (don't know how...) I have to wait until this coming Saturday to purchase it. I didn't want to take anything from the savings I have for rates and insurance.

My hair was always my pride and joy. Now I can't even go to the hairdresser to get it cut... to embarrassing...I do it myself... picture that with rheumatoid arthritis!!! I have trouble hanging on to the scissors. Jason evens off the back for me.... bless him.

I'm waiting to find out what else I can get because I have no immune system any more.  Jared came home sneezing last week. He banished himself to his room so I wouldn't catch anything. I was sick for weeks the last time he gave me a cold.

My friend Marg and I are going out for lunch tomorrow to a place where we got a huge seafood platter *S* I'm looking forward to that! *S* I'm drooling already.

The fires are still burning in Victoria.... it will be a month on the 7th since they started. People are still on notice to evacuate in different areas. They expected 150km winds yesterday... that was reduced to 120km... not sure what the strength actually ended up. But they got some rain.... not heavy... every little bit helps.

We have state elections in a couple of weeks...the current government has set us backwards with our hospitals and education systems. The opposition is weak... we don't have a lot of choice, so not much will change no matter who gets in.

We still miss Buffy, but Jason hasn't made any moves to replace her.

That's about it....

8 March

Wasn't online yesterday... did my fortnightly grocery shopping a day early because of the threat of Cyclone Hamish. It's out to sea but running in a S-SE direction parallel to the Queensland coast. I didn't fancy battling rain (if it happened) and strong winds.

This is the latest bulletin:

COMMUNITIES in north and central Queensland are bracing for Category 5 Cyclone Hamish which could be more destructive than Cyclone Larry.

Hamish, upgraded to a potentially deadly Category 4 storm yesterday, had winds gusting up to 230km/h (143mph) last night but early today was upgraded to a more lethal Category 5 storm.

The bureau's warning said Hamish "poses a very significant threat to coastal and island communities between Bowen and Bundaberg".

"The cyclone is expected to maintain a southeast track parallel to the coast during the next 24 to 48 hours."

And this...
Strong Wind Warning
Remaining waters south to Point Danger, including Hervey Bay and Moreton Bay
SE winds increasing to 25/33 knots north of Double Island Point during today and
extending south to Point Danger overnight. Seas rising to 3 metres in open
waters.

The next warning will be issued by 2 pm Sunday AEST.

Please be aware
Wind gusts can be a further 40 percent stronger than the averages given here,
and maximum waves may be up to twice the height.

We're hoping it stays out to sea and diminishes in strength by the time it travels level with Sandy, Win and myself.  It's cloudy here today but not dark clouds... yet... and a bonus... it's cooler!!!

What a summer we've had.. floods and cyclones in Queensland, fires for almost a month in Victoria AND Melbourne (Victoria) had a 4.6 earth tremor on Friday!! I think Mother Nature has some grievance with this country.... *S*


Now to some good news....

My almost 40 year old 'macho' son, Jason, went to the animal refuge this week... must have done it on Friday... and selected a 2 week old kitten... same markings as Buffy but thinks it will have shorter hair.  We get it in 4 weeks... don't know if it's a male or female... he didn't think to ask... BUT he's already bought kitty litter, a new collar with a bell on it and dry kitten food!!! He's a 'softie', just like his Mum!!! *S*  The mother looks like Buffy with shorter hair but her kittens are assorted colours from all grey to stripes to GINGER... go figure how that could happen!  She might be a 'tramp!  LOL!!!

I know he misses Buffy... we all do... we miss having a pet around the place. I'm so happy he decided to get another.
So expect to get updates on the "Cat from Hell 2". LOL!!  They're all 'cats from Hell' until they learn what they can or cannot do.

13 March

I've been offline for a couple of days....

hurt my left shoulder and right wrist putting loose outdoor furniture and stuff away because of cyclone Hamish. I couldn't move my wrist so typing was impossible. I typed my last message with one finger left handed.. took ages *S*

 

Fortunately the cyclone stayed out to sea... we got rain and strong winds but not cyclonic.

Had a momentary scare when it changed direction and was heading north west... straight for

Hervey Bay but it ended up being a depression, thank the Lord.


2 April

I had the day off on Sunday, partly involuntary..... partly because I had the $#!%$.... yes... Jamie gets ticked off! *S*
I slept in until 9am... woke up dopey as usual... passed my computer and wondered why it was off.
Kept trying to get it to boot.... nothing!

Went to get a coffee before trying again, then it hit me..... NO POWER!!!

We had been sent a notice last week...... DUH!!!!

No coffee!!!!! AAAAAARGH!!!! No heart starter!  Black clouds looming over my head!!!!!  LOL!

Of course the power didn't come back on at 12:30 as promised... more like after 1:30 pm!

So... suffering minor withdrawals I looked around for something to do to make the time go faster.

Did consider going back to bed *S* No Jason... he was out.... No Jared... he slept over at a friends' place.  So... I cleaned up my desk... tidied my room.... got the washing ready to do when the power came back on all the time cursing the power company! LOL!!!

Then... Jason came home... with a fish (flathead) ... told him I want my AVAST updated and my Windows Media fixed as soon as the power returned. Thank heavens I didn't hold my breath.... I waited, and waited, and waited..... he updated my Avast about 9pm !  Said he needed to get something from work to fix my Windows Media.... So the day was a complete waste as far as the computer was concerned. I was fed up.... if Jared needs something fixed on his computer... it gets done. If something needs fixed on the work computer ... it gets done.... if anyone else needs their computer fixed... it gets done.... me... I always have to wait. I was NOT in a good mood

I was in a worse mood on Monday! Looked in Jared's room (big mistake!!!) and some of the new clothes HE bought for himself on Saturday were lying on the floor! His desk was filthy! Bed unmade! He uses the floor and drawers as a trash can! So I got everything and threw it in a pile in the middle of the floor.... he won't be happy when he gets back from school but I don't care any more, I'm sick of excuses like "at least he's staying out of trouble...". His father allows him to smoke..... (cigarettes).... he's another idiot!  One of the desk drawers has been used as an ashtray!! That's in the pile too!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

What is it with kids today?????? They have a total lack of respect  for others property! Sometimes I wish I lived by myself. Jason is scared to say anything to him incase he decides to move out again. As far as I'm concerned Jason is gutless when it comes to Jared and Jared knows it. 

I get depressed when I think about the 9 months it took me to renovate my home (pre arthritis) because I knew I wouldn't be able to afford to do it further down the track. I gutted the place and replaced carpets, kitchen cupboards, some furniture, painted walls and ceilings (by myself) and it looked beautiful when I finished. Then Jason moved back home!  (Jared already lived with me at that time and he was tidy before his Dad moved back) Now.... you wouldn't even know I had done anything.

I started this early Monday morning...
Jared came home from school... saw the pile of rubbish in his room.... his solution.....
YELL AT ME and leave!  I thought he'd be back at dinner time as usual.... NOPE!

Jason went looking for him, found him and spent 1/2 an hour talking to him with no success. He's probably staying with  Barbara, the woman he stayed with the last time he left home. I asked Jason how he was going to get to school... apparently one of his ex friend's mother is going to take him. This woman was on our doorstep a few weeks ago looking for HER son, frantic.... we had no idea where he was and sympathised with her. NOW you'd think she'd know exactly how we feel and instead of encouraging Jared she should be telling him to come home.... so should Barbara! I wonder how Jared is going to solve REAL problems that WILL face him in the future.... he can't cope with me making a simple statement that I won't put up with his room looking like the local dump, God knows how he'll cope with something more serious. He's so much like his mother.... she was just as useless when she was a teenager (according to her late father). She's still as dumb as a door knob.  I never knew what Jason saw in her in the first place.

I was depressed yesterday... I'm more depressed now!

I said earlier in this email that Jason is gutless when it comes to Jared and his nonsense.. be that as it may.. I still feel sorry for Jason. I think he's lost .... has no idea how to handle Jared and the change in the laws doesn't help him. Jared knows he can do whatever he likes and his Dad can do nothing about it. I thought Jared was changing for the better... dream on Jamie!

Life used to be so easy... there wasn't much I couldn't handle. I had hassles bringing up Jason but not like this. He at least has always had respect for me, never raised his voice to me, and always said "sorry" once he realised I was right about things he was doing wrong. Jared never thinks I might be right or his Dad for that matter.

Thursday:4th APRIL
.
Haven't seen Jared since 3pm Monday. Did find out he didn't get to school until almost noon on Tuesday... found out later that a friend of Jason's had seen Jared on the street, asked why he wasn't at school and ended up driving him to school. So much for his ex-friend's mother taking him....  He was 15 minutes late on Wednesday. His teacher has tried to talk some sense into him... obviously that hasn't worked....  Jared was such a loving, caring, open child before he went to High School.... I wish that child would return....

We are getting our new boarder tomorrow, Sunday, which is my usual shopping day.

So I am going shopping today (in 15 minutes) instead ... so nothing will interfere with our playtime and getting to know each other.

 

Also going to pick up some kitty toys for HIM to play with.

Jason says he's beginning to look fluffy like Buffy was.... so who knows.

6th April

Here's our new boarder, he has gorgeous markings. I love his white ears. He was a bit overwhelmed yesterday... so much space after being in a cage, is as light as a feather and curious... found all the corners I hadn't dusted!!  Jason hasn't decided on a name yet... want's one to go with his personality.  always miss, when he's full grown.

My camera needs adjusting.. haven't used it for ages, Jason's skin is tanned not red...

I took some photos with his camera but waiting for him to put them on my computer.

Got nothing done yesterday except make a fudge brownie cake, which if Jared was still at home would be almost gone by now, but with Jared gone Jason doesn't feel the need to get his share before it's all gone.  I made the cake so the kitty would have company in the kitchen. He hasn't ventured into any other part of the house yet... the kitchen and TV room have proved interesting enough for the moment. *S*

He has lots of 'catnaps'... plays around for 1/2 an hour then flops....

23 April

The last couple of weeks have sucked in so many ways....

Jared was staying with Barbara and only came home for the occasional visit. Two nights after his probation was over he was picked up by the cops around 2am with 2 'friends'. They searched him... he had a packet of 'white substance' which he said he found.... maybe he did maybe he didn't but he has to appear in court next Friday... 1st May.  I find it hard to care any more.  He was charged with possession... bloody idiot!  I think there's something wrong with his brain, no-one can be that dumb!

 

The Thursday before Good Friday one of his partners in crime (B.J.) came looking for him... I said he was at his mother's... (I didn't know it was BJ at the time.... they all look the same) I thought he left but when I went back to my room I could see him lingering outside, so I watched. A couple of minutes later he ran up my driveway and into my back yard where the pool is. A car stopped in the driveway... a woman got out asking if BJ and Jared still needed a lift... I told her Jared wasn't here and BJ had run into the garden when he saw her car coming.

I went looking for him but the grass was knee high and I couldn't get far. I couldn't see him. I was worried and a little scared.  Jason came home early from work and went looking for him... nowhere to be seen.

 

Good Friday.... Jamie decided she was going to mow the grass since no one else seemed interested.. big mistake.... I did my back in, was in pain for 2 days. My wrists were killing me because of struggling with the mower trying to cut 2 foot high grass, so I couldn't type or use my mouse... I gave up trying.

 

Trying to wash myself in the shower was a joke... Jason got take-away for a couple of nights because I couldn't lift any pans.

The psoriasis has spread and is sooooo itchy. When I have a shower I scrub so hard it bleeds...  I got some calamine lotion to tide me over until I saw my doctor... yesterday. She gave me a script for some ointment... I am also getting Jason to pick up another cream today that Lionel recommended... only one pharmacy here stocks it.

Today I rang the hospital again... I told the girl that all I needed was authorisation for new medication and an 8 and a half month wait was ridiculous.  She put me through to the nurses who apparently can authorise prescriptions.... The nurse I spoke to said she would get back to me as quickly as possible, so here's hoping.

Then... last Saturday, I was getting the shopping and Jason came to pick me up at Aldi... he got in the car... got a phone call... had a pickup at the airport.  We tried to work out what could have happened on the way home. Anyway he dropped me off and changed and Dale came to collect him in the van.  While I was scanning and putting away the groceries I heard the news that 2 backpackers had died after the 'troop carrier' they were in had rolled on Fraser Island. The girl was Italian (26) and the boy British (22).

Doctors were flown from Hervey Bay Hospital to treat the injured on the island before eight people were transported to the mainland for treatment. The two critically injured backpackers, one a 21-year-old man, have since been transferred to Royal Brisbane Hospital. The others remain at Hervey Bay Hospital, two with minor injuries and the other four with back and neck injuries. The driver had swerved to miss an incoming wave.There were 11 people in the car along with all their luggage loaded on top!

There's been a lot of discussion since about inexperienced people being allowed to drive 4WDs on Fraser Island. They get a half hour lecture before hiring the vehicles.  It's so very sad that 2 lots of parents have lost children because of this....

Then I got a call from Jason.... he was at the hospital !  I thought ... to pick up the backpackers bodies... but no..... he and Dale were almost home after collecting the backpackers and taking them to the crematorium.... only 500 yards from home.... when THEY were involved in an accident!  Jason was at the hospital getting X-Rays on his neck and back.  I had a minor panic.... but Jason assured me he was OK.  Dale ended up with a dislocated hip and some other injuries but was also OK.

An elderly couple didn't give way at a cross street and collected the van on the front drivers side, spun the van and threw Jason's head against the back section that separates the driver and passenger from the 'body' section.

 

Jason said if they had been a couple of seconds earlier at the intersection the situation would have been a lot worse. Dale would have collected the full force of the car.  I thank the Lord for looking after them. The van is a 'write off'... I hope the couple were insured.

So of course because I was miserable about other things I started thinking what would have happened if I had lost Jason on top of everything else.  I finally gave myself a shake yesterday and decided to be thankful for the things I do have. BUT it's been a horrible week....

The only bright spark in our life is Muttley (that's the name Jason gave the kitten). He's an absolute delight and so loveable. He seems to know his name... so I guess we're stuck with it. I'm so glad we didn't buy any expensive toys... he plays with some covered ping pong balls, bits of paper, pegs, shoe laces and really snuggles up when he wants a game.... we're smitten *S*

I'm hoping and praying the next week will be uneventful....

 



"Be kind to each other"

Catch you next month *S*