Doing What's Right!

Entering the world of a rehab center is brand new to me, and from what others have said, and I witnessed for myself at "Terror" Vista, it can be a pretty scary, and awful, experience. We got so very lucky that Maureen has not had to experience such awfulness because the folks at Solaris have a logo, and for the most part, they live it.

From the moment I come in the door, greeted warmly by Stacy, on the left, I feel good about where Maureen is learning to walk all over again.

The girl in the background is who showed me around more than two weeks ago, and one of the things she said is that the employees like working there, which is always a good sign. I'd not had the pleasure of meeting the girl on the right before, however, while taking the photo above, unprompted, she said "we love our jobs!" Well, if a CNA can say that, I'm in!!

By day, I was trying hard to get better quickly, by night I was out with Bruce and some folks who had come to town for his job. Zarita, is his kitchen designer from Vancouver.

Jesse, standing on Bruce's left, is from St. Louis, and works for a company called Edward Don that provides said kitchen equipment. We met at Yardhouse, adjacent to the Orlando Eye.

Yardhouse, which some of you may remember is a Darden Restaurant, in fact, that is the last concept Bruce built for Darden down in South Beach. In any case, both Jesse and Zarita were loving our sunshine, soaking it in before heading back to the gray weather from whence they came. I, meanwhile, could barely hear them because my left ear was so clogged up. Nonetheless, I did what I could to be a good wife of the boss.

Wednesday was a big day because Maureen was to go have the staples removed at the orthopedic doctor's office near the hospital. It was, as is so often the case, a very frustrating experience, with being called by number rather than name, just one of the irritations. At any rate, I was mildly worried about her getting into the Pilot, but darn if she did not do it with flying colors.

The center provided a travel wheelchair to use once we were at our destination. which worked beautifully. There was far too much waiting involved, especially because the healthcare folks spent about eight minutes total with her, but after an hour and a half, we repeated the getting into the Pilot, heading back to Solaris without incident. 27 staples held the wound together before, now there are just little bandages called steri-strips.

Yet another reason Wednesday was big, Herbert arrived to put in some much needed LED ceiling lights for Maureen's living room.

They make an incredible difference! Perhaps you see that chair with the reddish cover? Well, in a stroke of luck, I found it beside the road! Just what we were looking for, albeit without the hideous cover, and beat up wood. David, our amazing upholsterer to the rescue!! The pictured couch is quite low to the ground, so I knew there was no way Maureen would be able to sit on that for quite some time. I am doing my best to stretch those dollars from Maureen's fairy Godmother. Yesterday, I snuck in a trip to the mattress store and that will be arriving on Wednesday. As well, I was able to have the kitchen chairs recovered with some fresh, fun, fabric. Try saying that three times in a row!!

Some of you know, some not, so let's recap all the medical misfortunes Maureen has endured....

• Acromeglia, a tumor of the pituitary gland which was diagnosed when she was around forty. Requiring major brain surgery, followed by 25 radiation treatments, more than twenty years ago, the treatments were much harder to endure than they are today.
• Parkinson's disease...she's lived with it for nearly ten years, and while it is mostly under control, without medication, she would be in a very bad way. 
• Small stroke a few years ago.
• Anal cancer two years ago, which required yet another round of radiation and very painful I might add.
• In what is very tiny compared to the above, she now has cataracts. What next, right?

So, having said all that, Maureen has not been quite up to the task of keeping a tidy home. Bruce, Lynn, Pam, me, and her son Rich, have all done what we can to make her home, both safe, and attractive. Years ago, I worked with a young woman who'd had thoracic cancer, (maybe I've told you this before, so forgive me if it is a repeat) who told me that she got through it with some inspirational words---"look good, feel good." Everyday, no matter how terrible she felt, she spruced herself up, and before she knew it, she was feeling good. That's what I've been trying to do at Maureen's house; an attractive environment is bound to add to her recovery.

In between the mattress buying, and two trips to the center yesterday, I finally got something off my plate. Apparently, a magazine is doing a story on the Winter Garden market, and they wanted some photographs. Dana called...would you go shoot some? That was three weeks ago, pre-hip, and with one thing and another, I'd not gotten to it. Now I have, and boy has it expanded since last I sold there!! They carry all manner of things, way more than Lake Eola. Like specialty yarn, which will interest some of you.

 Of all things, my former space is being filled by someone I've known forever!

I asked the Mom if I could photograph the dog in the stroller, and immediately her two girls got down to be photographed as well!

Plenty of dogs, plenty of people, and so many, many vendors that they have spilled across the street.

I remember the day Dana told me she was starting it, and boy has she delivered!!

Maureen has been receiving some lovely cards, and the other day I arrived to see a wonderful air plant from Amanda. She knows how to get to her Aunt's heart!

Isn't it adorable? Lisa has been visiting, as have others, helping to make the days fly by. So much so, that next Thursday she is to be discharged. Or at least Medicare wants her to be! This week will be crucial for continued improvement. Time will tell, as it always does.

A lovely sunset on our way to dinner last week to end this post...

Wish I'd been by the lake instead, but you do what you have to do...

doing what's right,

Gail

p.s. today is my brother Pat's 70th birthday...where has the time gone??

Two Days in Bed

The timing could not be any worse, but what did I expect? It is February, so that means there is a good chance I will be sick like I was last year at about the very same time.

This time it was not worth an ambulance ride, however, I did arrive at Dr. Parillo's office yesterday morning just after 7, hoping to be seen by someone. Antibiotics to the rescue! One of the days I spent curled in a ball with a fever, body aches, and what felt like a knife in my throat; the other, after convincing myself the antibiotic would work immediately, I read a novel, and was it ever a good one...The Good Earth, by Pearl Buck. For some reason, after buying it at a garage sale last year, it ended up in my nightstand beside my bed, which is where I discovered it, and because I'd never read it before, I began and could not stop. What a storyteller, and in spite of it being written in 1931, the themes are every bit as relevant today as they were back then. So, being sick was not a total loss. I'm up today, insisting to myself that I will be better because I MUST be better!

What you really want to know about is, how Maureen is doing? Sadly, I have not seen her since Friday night, however, Bruce went late Sunday morning and brought back a good report. I took another one of her in the physical therapy room during my last visit, where they are putting her to work!

She is now able to, with the aid of a walker and a physical therapist by her side, walk back to her room which is a massive improvement over last week at this time! The bandage came off after seven days and her first visit to the outside world will be to see the orthopedic doctor tomorrow.

While she's been in the rehab center, Bruce, Pam and I, have been working to make her home both more pleasant and safe. Maureen's fairy godmother is sending funds for new things, like a comfortable chair, and a new mattress. She is so good to Maureen, however, she tells me that she may have more funds than Maureen, Maureen has more wit and charm so their forty year friendship is beneficial to both. Nice.

A week ago Sunday morning, when I first visited Maureen in the daylight, I noticed a lot of vultures flying overhead. I mean a whole lot of them. The specks in the great big beautiful sky are but a few of them.

I learned from one of the staff that there is some sort of garbage facility nearby, thus their constant presence. Friday night as I was leaving they were still flying around.

Speaking of birds, they have been plentiful in the last few weeks. In fact, as I lay in bed on Sunday they kept me entertained out my window. Red winged blackbirds come in droves. There are about seven or eight, mostly on the ground in this shot.

And the finches...oh my are they cute little birds! I heard from Matt who said he had a whole flock of goldfinches that look nothing like our goldfinches. Naturally, I was jealous.

Out front, where the feeder is on a pole in the ground, they vie for space, whereas in the side yard, they wait their turn in the oak tree.

Once I am out and about again, I not only need to fill the feeders, but I intend to look for a cardinal nest somewhere in the bushes. They, too, have been hanging around a lot.

I wonder why sometimes their crest is up, and sometimes down?

If you live anywhere near downtown, and if you like to eat out, you may have heard of Maxine's on Shine Street. You may very well have wondered just who is Maxine. Well, here she is in the red glasses with Catherine during her birthday celebration last week.

It was quite a group, including a Scottish woman, (Catherine), a Frenchwoman, a German woman, and a couple from Switzerland. You may have guessed that they have all become friends through Cheryle and David's airbnb adventures of which there are plenty! The couple sitting next to me had only just arrived from Seattle but they came along to experience the "real" Orlando. A good time was had by all.

This may not be my most exciting post, however, I figured you might be looking for an update so I've done my best to provide one. Soon, very soon, I hope the posts will again be both more frequent and more interesting!

recovering,

Gail

p.s. I neglected to mention that my darling has had a sore throat for the longest time now, at one point completely losing his voice. Unlike me, he never gets sick! What is going on around here??

p.p.s. Don't feel bad I was in bed on Valentine's Day--every day is VD around here!

Making Progress

Early Saturday afternoon we got the word that Maureen was to be moved over to a rehabilitation facility. We were both more than ready to get her out of ORMC. The day was gray and rainy, making the wait even more unbearable.

The nurse said she was getting paperwork together and it would be about 4:30. Great, was our reaction. Except 4:30 came and went with no word on what was holding things up. I began roaming the hallways looking for help, however, mostly they were empty. 5:30 came and went. 6:30 came and went. By now it was no longer gray but dark and rainy.

Finally, we got word they were on their way. I took one load of her things down to my car in the rain. Luckily I was able to move it closer for my next trip down! The ambulance folks came and I drove my car to Solaris Healthcare of Windemere.

That said, it is not at all in Windemere. Off Conroy Road, it is a few blocks from Mecca, otherwise known as the Mall at Millenia area where there is every shopping possibility you can imagine. I am thrilled they are building a Costco there, as well, yesterday, I'm pretty sure I saw a sign for a new Hobby Lobby. So, there's that.

Anyway, we got her settled as best we could late Saturday night. I left her about 8:45, fairly anxious she was, but there was nothing more I could do. I did learn from the Saturday nurse at the hospital that although the first center I visited is formally called Terra Vista, it is more commonly known by those in the know as TERROR Vista; I could not agree more!!

Everyone at the center is really nice. It is clean, and the food is pretty good as well. Sunday morning I popped over before church, bringing her a few things. Following church we had lunch somewhere new...Giraffas, a Brazillian place in Mills Park. I took this photo because the wallpaper looks like something I've seen before

Not exactly the pattern of the quilt block I was working on when I got the call about Maureen, but pretty darn close.

A small table runner for our home,  using some of the beautiful batik fabric Jane gave me for my birthday.

I had Mr. Bruce take my photo while we were waiting on our food so you could see the new me:

I am absolutely loving not having to take glasses on and off, not to mention find them around the house!! Once the food came it was tasty. For a side, I tried something entirely new--despite searching the web, I can't seem to find out what it is called. Made with yucca flour, eggs, olives, and bacon, it had a good taste, but a bit of a weird feel in the mouth.

Next up was a stop at an estate sale at a house I've photographed before. Oh my goodness, we could not believe our eyes, wether it was the room dedicated to costumes:

The shark jaws nesting amongst other things:

One of two bathtubs filled with stuffed animals,

or the array of worn statues lakeside, well really fence side.

I say fence side because on the other side of the fence there were probably ten watercraft! Let's not forget one of two VW bugs, this one sinking into the dirt:

Should the VW not interest you, perhaps you will remember these from an earlier blog post?

I wrote about them here back in December 2014. Talking with folks, loads of people went to the sale, having seen the crazy mannequins in the front yard, mostly to see what the inside would be like. They were not disappointed! Seriously it is like nothing I've ever seen before, and, come to think of it, hope never to do so again! The estate sale lady told us that the man had 15 dogs when he died! Animal lovers will be delighted to learn that homes were found for all of them! I could have taken a gazillion pictures of weird stuff as there were about twenty rooms and a whole back yard filled with stuff. Oh yeah, they also hauled off FIVE dumpsters worth of stuff before the sale began!

Sunday afternoon the physical therapist assessed Maureen, and by Monday they put her to work!

She will be having PT twice daily beginning today. This morning, following her therapy, we went to the dining room for a treat. The preschoolers from Windemere Prep came to give a little Valentine's Day concert.

Their Moms came along as well.

You might be tempted to think it was the Super Bowl should the cameras be larger....

They were adorable, and sang heartily for 15 minutes which seems like a long time for such little children. The residents, as you can imagine, loved every minute of it. I was only sad to think that all the folks in wheelchairs were once just like those little ones. :(

All in all she is doing very well. The staff is quite attentive, unlike the hospital; today she walked ten steps with her walker.  They want her to wear clothes, so after asking the staff what would be appropriate, I went to Wal Mart for sweat pants and t-shirts. Some of the things I bought did not fit so when I was returning them to another WM, a woman began chatting me up, and do I mean chatting. The result is she suggested I try a thrift store which I'd not thought of. Should she need more than I've purchased I know where I will be going next.

Feeling optimistic,

Gail

I Can See, Maybe a Little Too Clearly Now

Although I thought my distance vision was pretty darn good, I learned, after picking up my glasses on Thursday, that it could be even better. Furthermore, my close vision needed work, and now I may not like all that I can clearly see. Like more dust around here than I'd imagined. There may be something to be said for being oblivious....

It was Wednesday afternoon that I got the text from Costco saying my glasses were ready. Should I drive out there or not, ran through my mind. Turns out not was good as it was only minutes later that I got a call from my nephew saying that his mother, and my sister, Maureen, had fallen and broke her hip. Oh my goodness....if it is not one thing, it is another for her. I jumped in the car and was over at ORMC in no time, finding her still in the Emergency Room. I needn't tell you how I feel about the care in that ER, having experienced it for myself last year around this time. After being there for over seven hours, she finally was moved to a room with surgery scheduled for the morning. Here is what a hip fracture patient's foot looks like:

Her hip was labeled as well. Waiting around until 9:00 to talk to a doctor to find out what time she was to have surgery on Thursday, proved fruitless. A kind nurse, however, said she would call me very early to let me know. The house phone rang at 6AM and Adele said she was already in Pre-Op. Still hoping to talk to her doctor, I went to the family surgical waiting area which was filled with other anxious family members, as well as a few oversized chairs.

 I brought along a little book of Jumbles given to me by Jon and Alissa last Christmas.

A good way to pass the time. And then Lisa showed up! We never did talk to the surgeon, but we did learn that all went well. Once she was settled back in her home away from home, I left her in Lisa's capable hands. Then I picked up the glasses which are taking a little time to get adjusted to, but a vast improvement over the last pair!

Maureen is doing really well, walking a little way down the hallway today! Her room in this tower overlooks Orange Avenue.

Yesterday I spent some time finding a suitable rehab center. After one visit I was totally discouraged, however, after visiting this place, I felt much better. She is to leave the hospital either today, or tomorrow, and spend whatever time is necessary to be able to walk comfortably again in this center.

For those so inclined, prayers for a speedy recovery are most welcome!!

Meanwhile, around our neighborhood it is raining leaves. A Florida fall if you will. There are some Sweet Gum trees down the street that ...well you can see for yourself what they do this time of year.

The leaves are falling, and the camellias are blooming...

Just before all hell broke loose on Wednesday, I'd finished the third block I was working on, deciding three was more than enough for me. In fact, what was I thinking??

I need to run back up to the hospital...just wanted to let everyone know what has been going on.

Celebrate good health because, darn it is tough to be in a hospital, although Maureen has endured it with grace. The same can usually NOT be said about me.

Gail

Rolled Pizza

No regular reader of Camera Crazy from afar will be surprised to hear that the Sentinel ran an article yesterday stating that January was one of the top ten wettest months recorded since 1880 when weather reports became the norm. That said, I'm usually a little skeptical of said records because the paper stated that the official precipitation total for Orlando was 5.6 inches. That is way under what my rain gauge told me; four inches alone, fell in the last days of January. In any case, it was way wetter than we've come to expect. More like summer rain really.

February began with very dense fog..

This is taken on the shores of Lake Gem Mary, and believe it or not, water is behind the crows! There have been a ton of times in the past that I tried so very hard to get water droplets on something with little to no success. The fog made all the difference in the photo below!

Water behind this as well! There were tons of spider webs around there as you can barely see on the right side of the photo. Extraordinary that such a tiny spider can create such a large web, don't you think?

It must have been my lucky day because I cannot tell you how many times I've tried to get a clear photo of a Tufted Titmouse, again with limited success. I was beside our neighbor's peach tree, which is just beginning to bloom, should you care. Hearing some movement, I scanned the branches and took a shot. Woo hoo!!

Isn't he the cutest??

Heading over to get some new watch batteries installed, as I was coming up to the stop sign at Pershing and Ferncreek, a hawk flew right in front of me. Well, you already know that I had to pull over in spite of not having a zoom lens. Turns out it was a Red Shouldered Hawk...can you see those red shoulders?

I had lunch with Sherri the other day, and while we were eating, Matt called to let me know he is booking tickets to come home Thanksgiving week this year!! Woo hoo--plenty of cooks in the kitchen this year. On my way home, I stopped at a favorite place of mine, Something Different on Orange Avenue. For the longest time I've been stopping there, whenever I'm in the area, hoping to find a suitable end table to replace the one I gave to Sue. More like us, is what I was hoping to find. It was my lucky day again as I did come across something very different, and supremely functional. I didn't take the plunge though, instead I wanted to ponder it a little. As I was leaving, this scene unfolded in front of my eyes.

A set decorator could NOT have staged it any better!! I went back yesterday, purchasing what I think will be a great addition to our living room.

Amazing piece of furniture, the likes no one has ever seen before, or at least not me, the guy in the shop who has seen a thing or two I might add, nor Bruce, who also has seen a thing or two. All three of what look like drawers, pull out to provide little tables!! How did I get so lucky?? We have needed table space on that side of the room for ages, and I'm thinking this will be perfect. Oh how I love finding great used furniture!!

So, as you can tell, I have gotten away from my sewing machine for a few days. After church on Sunday we stopped at Trader Joes, using some unexpected, not to be confused with unwanted, gift cards from Pat and Ruth. So often they have great flowers, and this time it was no different. Oh my those daisies and irises!

Absolute perfection! By the way, I discovered Trader Joes has the best pork chops I've eaten in years.

There was quite the crowd at Hills Happy Hour. Last week we were all bundled up with a big fire to keep us warm...this week, not a fire in sight.

Most everyone wished they had not worn sweatshirts! 

For Christmas B got me such a great ruler for quilting...where have you been all my life?

My experience using very small pieces of fabric has been limited, and now I know why. Very difficult to keep straight! Here's what my sewing table looks like now with two blocks made, neither of them perfect. In fact, the third one was really bad! (see light turquoise one on the right)

Which brings me to today's title. I am confidant in the future when I see this title I'll be like...what the heck? Well, what the heck indeed...NEVER do I want anyone to think everything I do is good because that is far from the case.

Making pizza last night, everything was going swimmingly, except, in spite of putting what I thought was a huge amount of flour on the peel, it would not come off, for neither love, nor money.  Calling out to Bruce, "HELP in the kitchen please," he came quickly. Taking both sides in our hands, we tried to move it onto a special pizza pan I bought with Christmas money from Bill at Williams Sonoma. Not happening. Well, what was a girl to do? Roll it my friends. Cutting it in two, once rolled, I was able to put it on the super hot pizza stone that had been patiently waiting in the oven.

Not a pretty sight, right? Not what we were expecting but tasty nonetheless. I suppose there is a moral to my pizza story...make the best of every situation? Yeesh--this is supposed to be fun blog, not one with philosophizing!

There you have it, another episode of Camera Crazy. Now it is time for me to put on a tank top and get on that bicycle...

Out and about,

Gail