On April 10 we learned about Merkel Cell Carcinoma. The skin cancer that makes you wish you had melanoma. See post.
Today we saw Doctor Bobby. Doctor Bobby was happy. Doctor Bobby wants to nuke Carlton’s head for another 6 weeks. To “clean up” the rest of his scalp. The rest of his scalp has several non trivial infestations of squamous cell cancer. This is sort of a palliative move.
Mr C might have to move into the old folks asylum too at this rate! I’d better start looking at bigger units.
Carlton is in Merkel Cell remission/denial – but we are still
Enjoying Every Sandwich: Grilled ham and cheese – and maybe a beer for me.
Whilst doing my housework and cooking this morning – rather than listen to old time rock and roll – I thought. Thought about the old folks asylum.
The two “preferred” asylums have waiting lists. You have to pay to be on the waiting lists. Maybe 4 years down the road – there will be a streetcar stop out front of one of the asylums. (Note to self: Never make decisions on as yet unbuilt government works projects.) Our lease here runs thru April 2016. You have to pass a physical exam before they let you move into the asylum. The asylums cost big bucks. These are the “facts”.
Now, my plans
Plan A: Scrap the whole asylum idea and just wing it.
Plan B: Sign up for a nice as possible two bedroom unit assuming that Mr C will still be alive and able to pass the physical when a unit shows up. If no unit shows up in the next 16 months – well – that could be a problem.
Plan C: Also sign up for a tiny cheap studio for me. If Carlton is not able to pass the physical to get in – or if he is dead when the lease is up – I snag any studio that comes up. I can use it like a hotel room/insurance policy for me.
Plan D: If I end up in a studio – I can get on a list to upgrade myself to a nicer unit suitable for one person.
These asylums are called “Continuing Care Retirement Communities”. Once they take you in; they have to keep you. And take care of you, no matter what. That is the “insurance” component. And, it is what we/I need.
On the 41 bus. Not very friendly. Not at the old ladies asylum.
I made a stealth visit to one of the potential old ladies asylums this morning. I wanted to see it without a sales person being sure I didn’t see anything unpleasant. Wasn’t sure I could just wander around.
But, as luck would have it – today has been cloudy and cool. As a result the gardening committee was out in force. They were more than happy to talk to me. Especially since I volunteered to help with the weeding. One of the ladies took me inside to look at her apartment. I had only been in the more expensive models. She had lived in her apartment for over 10 years. It is one of the older/cheaper balcony free ones. A perfectly fine apartment. No view. No balcony. But never the less, fine.
The lady who showed me her apartment said that she was on hospice care – but that for now all that meant was they brought dinner to her and if she didn’t show up at the nursing unit by 9:30 every morning – someone would come check on her. BTW – her apartment was much more guest ready than mine is…
I tramped around the neighborhood. Your basic stripmalled America. It is just barely OK for those of us who are car-free. The tramping around took care of my FitBit for today. I got on the 41 bus and came back home. Mr C was waiting for his lunch…
This critter is a big slow and I “think” safe fly. It is a little bigger than a bumblebee. They lay their eggs in carpenter bee nests and the Tiger Bee Fly larvae eat the carpenter bee larvae.
Enjoy Every Sandwich: For the weekend, I made up some tuna salad. So, we’ll have tuna salad and tomato on wheat tonight.
Black Raspberries.
Today’s pictures were taken with the Leica 14-150 lens. And the new body. I have been taking pictures of bees, birds and bunnies… Not because I have decided to become a wildlife photographer. It is a good way to learn how to use the new camera. Bees don’t wait on the old fingers to find the new buttons. Berries are more forgiving.
I know I said no more bees on coneflowers. Or did I say bee butts on coneflowers? Anyhow…
Bee on Coneflower
These were taken with the old Leica 14-150 glass. And the new Olympus body.
Enjoy Every Sandwich: Grilled ham, cheese and tomato.
The world is looking a little crazy these days. Mr C just said of the Malaysian plane downing “That is the way wars start”. My question is “How would we know a war started? Everyone is shooting already.”
Where are the American young people these days? What is being said on our college campuses? Back in the day, we cared a whole lot about wars. But, we had the draft then too.
Just one picture today. That is all that I took. If Carlton isn’t “fine” as he says he is – these ladies will be catering Mr C’s wake. And the Aloha Boys will provide the entertainment.
Great weather here today. It is September weather in mid July. No trouble walking 5.5 miles today. Which is a good thing – because one of my coworkers made creampuffs for us. I had one. SO very worth the calories.
I did not get pie at the market. I got a melon and some heirloom tomatoes. Tomorrow, I’ll get peaches at the Ballston market. We live at the Virginia Square Metro stop. One stop east is Clarendon. One stop west is Ballston. We don’t have a farmers market at our stop. But we have a Starbucks. And a fine Korean store/deli.
Enjoying Every Sandwich: Roast beef and cheese. (And tomato)
I think this is Chlorophyllum molybdites – it will not kill you – but, it will make you wish you were dead. I do all – 100% – of my mushroom hunting at the supermarket. I don’t even trust the mushroom lady at the farm market.
Everything is pretty gentle right now. Carlton is still “fine”. Nice weather is on the horizon. I didn’t have to go to an “event” at the old folks asylum.
Indeedy – I let the idea of moving to France and into an asylum there float thru my head. I am sure the food would be better. And, I bet you wouldn’t have to eat lunch at 11:30 and dinner at 5:00pm. You know, the idea of eating dinner at 5:00 or 6:00 is one of the worse things about the old folks asylum. We eat breakfast whenever we want it, lunch between 1PM and 2:30. Dinner sometime between 7:30 and 8:30. I don’t see me being in the least bit flexible about when I eat. Guess I have to be sure the dining room has “takeout”.
Hot as the hinges of hades today – but, while walking home (nobody said I was too smart) I found another magnolia. Fourteen magnolia are enough. Time to stop with the magnolia unless I get a new lens. Also time to stop with bees on cone flowers. At least it is time to stop with bee back sides on cone flowers. Need to learn how to sneak up on bees from the front.
Enjoy Every Sandwich: Grilled ham and cheese. Nice big slice of tomato and the last of the melon.
I went out this morning with the 14-150 old Pana-Leica lens. Trying to improve my focus and to become more automatic as the shooter.
When I got home I was surprised to discover the lagniappe dragonfly. I shot the water lily, intending to crop it out from the middle of the pond. And surprise… when I got the image into the computer – a dragonfly appeared. What ever happens is what I planned.
Had red beans and rice with turkey legs (and peaches) for lunch. This evening – we will
Enjoy Every Sandwich: A repeat from Friday. A little tuna salad and a lot of tomato on whole wheat.
Next week will be busy at the volunteer job. And, I told Mr C that I would “do lunch” for or with some friends of his from his first marriage. I don’t really know the people. But, I figure I have to be there to defend myself and daughter. I figure the people will be curious to see how badly things turned out for Mr C – so I am betting they will come to our apartment for lunch. They will not approve of my furniture. Collected from urban recycling, thrift shops, The Container Store and Mr C’s damn desk. If I move to the asylum alone – the desk will not be going. I told Mr C that. I told him that I would take his sword, and his steam engine and his chrome plated bolt – but not the damn desk.
We had a summer storm yesterday evening – enjoyed watching it come around from the north and west.
And what is wrong with me – why do I think I want to go to Israel to check out the coming war? Isn’t there enough unpleasantness in my life without getting bombed? With artillery not adult beverages. Do I just want to hear air raid sirens? Ah, to be old and have a loose screw or two!
I have once again been lulled into believing that Mr C is “fine”. So, when reality makes its next appearance – I will – once again be plunged into wretchedness. But, just for today, I too am “fine”.
Speaking of fine – I got some peaches yesterday – so today we had chicken and peaches for lunch – and
Enjoy Every Sandwich: Tonight – a little tuna salad and a lot of tomato on wheat. Got the first real tomatoes of the season at the Wednesday afternoon market.
