Taming the BP

I have learned a lot this past year, about blood sugar, cholesterol, and blood pressure. You know me, when presented with a problem I first have to study the heck out of it. I read everything I can find — made easier these days by the Internet. Somehow along the way the things that are true rise to the top. The things that are false, even if I wish they weren’t, sink like a stone. And I’m left with a pretty good picture of how and why things happen and what is the best path to take.

After a while I turn from being the consummate student into an eager teacher. Wanna know about blood sugar? You don’t even have to ask, I’m thrilled for an opportunity to bore you to tears about the subject. If you forget what I say, no problem, I’ll repeat it next time I see you.

The main thing I’ve learned this past year is don’t take the first pills that are thrown your way. First give your body a chance to see what you can accomplish on your own. If you give it a good try and you can’t meet your goals, then by all means do the pills.

I managed to exceed my own goals with blood sugar and cholesterol, and my blood pressure is annoyingly low most of the time (a.m. 77/48, afternoon 90/55). Until I get within a mile of a doctor or dentist’s office, then it goes high. Since the doctor won’t even glance at my meticulous records - I have taken and recorded my BP 3 times a day for the past year - in Kaiser’s computer I am a person with untreated high blood pressure. Which means everyone who works there, including the janitor, hounds me about it. Yesterday I decided to tackle this problem.

Kaiser in Rancho C is right on my way to work. I’m going to stop there at least twice a week until my brain gives up and stops throwing the BP into panic mode. It’s all mental, right? Should be easy.

Yesterday was Day 1.

There is a room at Kaiser where you can just show up and have your BP taken. I pushed a button on the wall on the 2nd floor. A very wispy young lady opened a door onto the hall and I followed her in.

When you have your BP taken, you become aware of every molecule of fat in your upper arm. This young lady had arms like broomsticks, which immediately made me feel porky. Where are the ex-weightlifter, Russian immigrant nurses when you need them? (Out having lunch with the Samoan physical therapists.)

The BP equipment was sort of held together by tape and baling wire — or the hospital equivalent. The girl put the cuff on my upper arm so loose it fell to my elbow. She didn’t notice and started taking my BP on my elbow. We stopped and restarted. When the cuff started to inflate, it became apparent that the velcro fastener was worn out. It would barely stay together. No problem, the nurse reached over and held it. The first time, she got an error message. Instead of waiting for a minute to restart, she restarted right away. She obviously hadn’t read the same instructions that I got with my home monitor. By the time everything came together, my BP had raised probably 40 points.

Then I got “the look.” The slightly self-righteous look of a skinny minny ninny who knows that every old lady with flabby arms has high blood pressure, doncha know?

This means war.

Screening Calls?

When I finally found the phone this evening, I discovered there were several messages. One friend suggested I must be screening calls, since she hadn’t been able to get through. Nope. Don’t do that.

For a while I couldn’t get to the phone before the answering machine picked up. Now there are 4 phones in the house. Somewhere. I know their general locations, but the stuff from the den is stacked on top. At least 2 of the phones are unplugged, waiting for the electrician to finalize her work. That should happen tomorrow.

I’m not very good at answering phones anyway. I can barely hear my cell phone, buried deep in the recesses of my purse. By the time I realize what that strange sound is, the caller has given up. My phone at work sits right on top of my desk, but I often find, when I see the red “message” light, that it’s the result of a call I didn’t pick up 3 days ago. Not only did I not hear the phone, I didn’t see the little red light, either.

I used to be prompt and efficient. These days the “Old Age” emails that people forward to me hit very close to home. It sure happens fast.

So if I owe you a phone call, I’ll get around to it probably by next week. If I owe you an email, I hope to be caught up by tomorrow a.m. If I owe you a letter, good luck.

The peahen is trying to hatch eggs. Her nest is 8 feet off the ground, I don’t know how she expects the babies to get down. Guess we’ll find out.

Living in Chaos

Are you a patient person? Can you keep an image of your goals so strongly in your mind that the steps to reach them don’t concern you? Not me.

It takes me a long time to figure out what I want and then I want instant results. I hate the chaos that comes with construction projects. The dust, the stuff stacked up waiting to be put back in place, the mess and inconvenience. I hate it all. Most of all I hate having to push this poor little walker around all the obstacles. A lot of 4-letter words come quickly to mind and my legs still don’t work well enough to really kick anything.

Bob has the den pretty well painted. The colors sure don’t look like they were supposed to. Dust Bunny looks like dusty lavender and Bungalow White seems more like sunset pink. Bob says, “Paint’s like hair, it’s not permanent.” Is this zen philosophy or simply the view of someone who doesn’t want to repaint the room? Does it all really matter? I guess the color will stay.

The floor looks nice.

No one else in the house seems much disturbed by the mess.

Bob moved his computer into a corner of the living room and has taken up living on the couch.

Bob and computer, complete with construction dust.


Velcro is happy in Charley's bed, whether she’s surrounded by laundry...


...or junk.


And Charley is happy just playing with an old, tattered penguin feather.


I guess I need to get a grip.

The New Steps

Bob and I are working on some improvement projects. His friend, who we’ll call Sir Mac because he works at Apple and is a true knight when it comes to helping out, stopped by to put in new phone jacks. The old ones worked but they were a long way from the phone and the computer and we had cords strung in between. So now the hallway isn’t crisscrossed with cords to trip on. Thank you, Sir Mac.

Friend Cindy was over last weekend and helped us clean out the den. Last night Bob prepped the walls, today he is painting. The walls are a color called “Dust Bunny” (no kidding) and the ceiling is “Bungalow White.” He’s doing a good job, it looks great. By Friday the room will be ready for the new Pergo floor and the ceiling fan.

Meanwhile a crew just finished the new front steps. The old steps were steep and the railing was broken. I’ve had a really scary time going up and down these steps since last Thanksgiving. I only fell once and luckily caught the railing and hung on until Bob came out and rescued me. It’s been like being in a jail in my own house, I could only work up enough courage for one trip a day.

The old steps


Today when I got home the new steps were finished. They’re wonderful, 2 feet deep instead of 10 inches, and 4 inches high instead of 6. I zipped right up them with the walker. So all you old crimpled-up relatives who drive past here twice a week for appointments at Kaiser — stop on by and use the rest room if you need to. The house isn’t wheelchair accessible, but I think everyone we know can make it up these stairs.

The new steps



Later I actually went outside and pushed the walker around for a while — it’s not easy, the walker is not an all-terrain vehicle — and enjoyed the yard for the first time in a very long time. The orange tree was blooming and the last of the lilacs. It smelled wonderful. Life is good.

One more thing about the steps. I gave Bob the job of deciding what to write in the fresh concrete. I was expecting maybe his initials and the year. Next time you come to the house, you will see these three quotes on the face of the steps.

1. Never put off until tomorrow what you can avoid altogether.

2. Bacteria is sometimes the only culture we have.

3. You never lose by loving. You always lose by holding back.

(Yes, “bacteria” is plural, so what? We got no culture here.)


The peahen came strolling by and joined me to admire the steps. She’s very tame. Or maybe just nosy. (Or is that beaky?)

Miscellaneous Favorite Pix (mine)

Finally we come to the end of the trip photos. These are some that didn't fit anywhere else, or they are just favorites. I want to once again thank Aunt Sharon, Callie, Krishna and Bob for sharing their trip with all of us. I love you all!

Biker Babe. Aunt Sharon in her motorcycle helmet.


Bob: “We had to stop to take a picture of goats. I mean, I HAVE a goat, I see goats all the time.”


Aunt Sharon and her delicious spaghetti dinner. (Next trip to Italy? Or maybe just to one of the great Italian restaurants at home.)


Bob: “They don’t quite have the right attitude about garbage yet in India.”


The obligatory “chicken” photo, following Dr. B's example. The miniature chickens are not real.


Jan: I just love this picture. Bob fits right in, even when he stands out like a sore thumb.


End of the trail. Sharon, fighting bronchitis, in the airport.


End of the trail. Bob, who can sleep anywhere.


They left Thailand in the same beautiful peace they found it.

Birthday in Thailand

Where did you spend your 22nd birthday? (I think mine was probably in Rio Linda and I threw up in my hair.) Bob got to spend his 22nd birthday in Thailand.

Bob has no idea what he was drinking. It was the "House Special".


Callie and Krishna took him to dinner where the entertainment was an Elvis impersonator.


Then they went to one of the many night shows. This one featured female impersonators. Bob said the show was very good. “Some of the dudes were dressed like guys, some were dressed like women, but you could still tell they were guys, and some of them were gorgeous.”


There was a scary moment, he said, when Callie decided to see if they’d sing “Happy Birthday” to Bob.






This didn’t happen, but he did get a chance after the show to have his picture taken with two of the “gals.”


There was no cake, but it was a day to remember.

Kitty Wars and Dueling Penguins

Charley would like to think he has chased Velcro out of his bed.

He does get to use it sometimes.

Charley in his bed.

Like when the other two cats are eating. Whoa! you say. TWO? Yep, there are 3 cats in this house. You will probably never see the third one in real life. Her name is Gollum. She’s a skinny little runt that can disappear in a second (like if you want to catch her). She skulks. And she’s meaner than snot.

Gollie and Velcro, gobbling leftovers.

Velcro weighs 13 pounds. Charley is 10 pounds of cuddly kitty. Gollie is only 5 pounds, even though she’s 4 years old. She is the boss cat in this house. Luckily for Charley, she wouldn’t lower herself to sleeping in his grungy bed. Gollie is Charley’s aunt on both sides.

Gollum, ready to disappear.

The cats are always fussing at each other. This week there was a war in the back yard as well. The peacocks, it turns out, are not from down the road. There is a single male 2 houses down, but he’s still there. Except this week he came visiting. When I threw a handful of cat food out the back door one morning, the peahen came running. The male was running around the yard chasing another male. They never did stop and fight, just traded off chasing each other, their tails trailing gracefully behind them. Then the stranger took off over the fence and ran home. What was that all about? They judged each other by their outfits? The one that looked most like Liberace won? These are strange birds, if you're used to chickens. I think someone dumped them here.

Callie and the Cats

Remember Aunt Sharon’s report about Callie and the tigers? If not, I’m repeating it here, now that we have pictures to go with it.....

One day Bob, Callie and Krishna went to a Tiger-Elephant and other Animal Park. They came home with a picture of Callie on an elephant and one with her head between 2 Bengal tigers.

According to Bob, Callie was kinda scratching one of the tigers on the back and the trainer said “Don’t do that!” Callie goes “I’m only scratching a little and he should like it.” The trainer said “NO HE DOESN’T.”

About that time the tiger issued a very big rumble like a low growl and the trainer said “I think you had better go now” and Callie did move — fast. All in all it was a fun day for them.





I asked Bob if he had wanted to pet the tigers, since he's so good with cats. "They're the size of a horse!" he said. "I wouldn't pet Charley if he was that big."

Swimming With the Dolphins

From the official literature of Oasis Sea World: "Swimming with dolphins is something most people dream of doing, but somehow only a few actually pursue this dream. This 'swim with dolphins' dream can easily be turned into reality in the picturesque costal town of Laem Sing in Chantaburi province, Eastern Thailand. This is where you will find the dolphin nursery and dolphin training center Oasis Sea World.

"Besides breeding the irrawaddy and pink humpback dolphin species they also care for accidentally captured or hurt animals that the fishermen and fisherwomen from a nearby stationed fishing fleet occasionally bring in."

Krishna and Callie went and swam with the dolphins. They are greeted by an irrawaddy.


Callie swims with a pink humpback dolphin.


What do you do when you’ve messed up your hair swimming all day? Stop at a roadside hairdresser and have it styled.

{This picture was taken previously in India, but I couldn't resist working it into the story.)

Nature Trail in Thailand

I have few relatives or friends who aren’t animal lovers. There were lots of animal pictures from the India Trip. These are from a side trip Callie and Krishna took to Nam Tok Phliw (or Phriew or Phlio) National Park to see a waterfall.


On the internet I discovered that Thailand has 48 national parks. This one is located near Chanthaburi, in Southern Thailand between the bay and Cambodia, in a monsoon area. That means it’s lush and tropical, a gardener’s dream.

The entrance to a nature trail.

Why are these folks buying green beans? You’ll see.


Callie at the falls. This is not the wettest time of the year, but the waterfall’s source is a natural spring that flows year round. The water is very clear and is home to lots of fish.


Here they are, lots of fish.


Callie feeding beans to the fish.


OK, I tried to find out what kind of fish these are. There are many fish that are native to Thailand that you’ll recognize if you’ve ever had a freshwater aquarium: tetras, barbs, gouramis, Chinese algae eaters, danios, and even bettas. The fish in the pool look like carp to me, but I didn’t see them listed. Bob says they’re vegetarian piranhas. I guess that will have to do.

Stay Away From Speed Traps

My friend Fullo sent this to me this a.m. She knows very well I don't speed, but I did get caught (unfairly) in a trap once and have been bitching about it for the past 15 years.

It is good for every single state!!! There are no listings for Cosumne. There's usually so much traffic you can't speed through here anyway, but there were several places listed for Rancho Cordova, and even some in Amador County. The relatives up there probably already know about them.

SPEED TRAPS

http://www.speedtrap.org/speedtraps/stetlist.asp

Foreign Food

One of the wonderful things about attending a wedding in a foreign country is being able to try all sorts of new foods that are prepared specially for the occasion. The travelers were always well fed. When they were ready for something more familiar, they went to the buffet line at the Sheraton. Bob reports Aunt Sharon always had spaghetti and meatballs.

Sharon, Krishna, and Bob at the Sheraton.


"I love this food! I love all the food here! I can't get enough of it!"


Burp.


As Aunt Sharon reported, there were several dinners as part of the wedding ceremonies. Food was served on banana leaves, and when one shift of eaters was finished, the tables were cleared and new banana leaves were set out.


Bob, eating with his hands. The t-shirt says "My parents were brilliant, they named me BOB." Yes. That's because we knew he'd be dyslexic and that would be an easy name for him to spell.


Here is a closeup of a "dish" of food. It's all vegetarian, some is spicy. Bob thought the food was great. He bought 3 cookbooks and has made curry twice already.

Can you tell which restaurant Krishna and Callie are in?


Here's another clue.


4-H Camp Staffers will recognize the tray this meal in Thailand was served on.


This meal in Thailand looks pretty familiar.


No matter where you are in the world, if your name is Bob, there will be a bar or a diner with your name on it.

Elephant Trail Ride in Thailand

In Thailand, Callie, Krishna and Bob went on a half-hour elephant trail ride. Bob says it was like riding a horse, except an elephant is not as graceful and you get the feeling that if the elephant wanted to take off and go somewhere, you're not going to be able to do anything about it. Also an elephant is tall and it's a long way to fall. He'd prefer a horse to an elephant and probably a motorcycle over a horse.

Woman Driver. Callie steers the elephant while Krishna does some back seat driving.


Let's stay on the trail, please.


Oh no. Come back. Please?