life in the old lane

In my mode as frivolous and superficial old lady, I sprung for the iPad Mini this morning – all tricked out with cell service and a red cover. It is not scheduled to arrive for another couple of weeks – which is a good thing. This way, I will be all over any buyer’s remorse by the time it arrives. Late for CHanukkah – Early for Xmas.

Mr C starts radiation on Wednesday. We are dealing in our normal manner  – with inappropriate humor. Basically, he is hoping for one more “good” year. This last year hasn’t been so very good.

I shall try very hard to be very supportive. And I will keep his Kindle filled with books. Might even let him watch a movie on the little iPad. But, he likes his movies from DVDs on the TV. Then again – he used to like his reading material in dead tree books. Even a technology muggle can embrace the new ways.

Today’s Good Thing: Not having to worry about the cost of Carlton’s medical care. Thank You Lyndon Johnson.

Tis a foggy cool day. I made up a big pot of leftover veggie soup. While I was cleaning up the kitchen – I realized that my 3 favorite – actually only – kitchen gadgets were on the counter top drying. No matter how small the kitchen – I’ll find a place for these guys.

Why I Love Science. Sugar melts at 366° – I put a spoon of sugar in my oven and left it there for 15 minutes at 350° – nothing happened to the sugar. Pushed the temp up to 375° and 15 minutes later – caramelized sugar. So, I guess my oven is pretty well calibrated. (An oven thermometer is not one of my gadgets).

iPad ramblings…

Why I am going to stay with IOS for a tablet, vice Amazon Fire or Google Nexus 7/10

1. I can afford to. Cost really isn’t an object. No more saving for that rainy day. I am totally into frivolous and superficial these days.
2. At this uncertain time – one less thing to worry about is good. I am sure that I can get androids and macs to play nice – but at any time  all of my little old lady brain power might be diverted to some health crisis or the other.

Maxi…pros

1. would be better for at home use.
2. I am at home more often than not.
3. if it has a good cell plan – it will get around snail internet. Same as the mini – so no advantage here.
4. It could pretend to be a computer more or less.
5. I can have one TODAY.

Maxi…cons

1. The airiness works fine at home. finer than an iPad in all honesty. The airiness doesn’t pretend to be a computer – it is a computer.
2. I really like typing on a nice keyboard. The airiness has a nice keyboard. I am typing on it now
3. A tablet is just a toy. Same con for mini iPad.

Mini…pros

1. The size is sweet. Better for apps than the iPod/iPhone for old eyes. But not too big for a purse.
2. My iPod is getting a little tired. The home button is going…
3. I might be able to teach Carlton to use it – or not. I was able to teach the most techno-phobic nurses how to use the mini at work. But, this would be the same for the maxi as well.

Mini…cons

1. It is just a big iPod.
2. I love my kindle for reading.
3. When traveling – would I take kindle, airiness and mini??? Don’t think I’d leave the kindle behind – battery life/works in sun. Could leave airiness behind. I did that on the Great North American Train Trip. But, I’d take all three to Hawai’i.

Might just order up a Mini –

Been sort of busy and sort of lazy around here. Hence, no blog updates.

Mr C is doing fine. He convinced himself that he really should not start playing tennis just yet. He still has lots of fluid where he had the lymph nodes removed. And, he is finally admitting that exercise does cause more fluid build up.

Been spending my spare time having techno-toy lust.

• First – the “smart” phone question. iPhone or Nexus or just continue with the dumb phone/iPod option?
• Second – to iPad or not to iPad?
• A solution to my massive scanning problem.

These are definitely first class problems.

Trying to find things to like about being here in November. We still have some nice red leaves to enjoy. But, it is still cold.

Mr C is fine. Enjoying a week without any visits to the doctor.

Sneaking up on a Mini iPad. Just because.

Also, trying to get back into my photo scanning project. I stopped it when Carlton’s cancer came back. But, no reason not to restart. It is just boring.

Today’s Good Thing: Nice Red Leaves.

I doesn’t look too bad from inside – but

this is way too cold for middle of the afternoon in early November.

Repeat: I am glad that we are here and Mr C is going to give radiation a try.  am glad that we are here and Mr C is going to give radiation a try.  am glad that we are here and Mr C is going to give radiation a try.  am glad that we are here and Mr C is going to give radiation a try.

Mr C went to volunteer at the hospital this afternoon. He isn’t really able to  push wheel chairs around – but he goes anyhow. It gives him something to do, and he can answer the phone.

As a result, I had the afternoon “off”. My Apple Store has the Retina iPad Minis in stock. (at least they had some earlier this afternoon) I almost went down to see them. And to decide if I wanted a mini or a maxi pad. But, that seemed like an idea that might lead to an expensive impulse purchase. So, I made myself a nice cup of tea and took a nap.

Today’s Good Thing: A nice nap.

I got over my frightful fatigue of yesterday. By bedtime, I was even a little dizzy. I am guessing it was caused by stress and mucked up sinuses. Anyhow, after as good a night’s sleep as an old woman ever gets and some almost illegal sudafeds – I am back to normal.

Didn’t have much work today. So, I came home early and went for a long walk. It was a nice crispy fall day. I popped into Whole Foods and got a fine chicken/pasta salad for our lunch. This ended up being a good day.

And, I knocked another thing off my 2do list.

Today’s Good Thing: I resisted all the wonderful shopping opportunities that I came upon during my walk.

I am not sure I am going to be able to resist getting a Retina iPad Mini… We’ll see. I am still thinking about an iPhone or Nexus 5. No rush. Since none of these items are actually available.

The best laid plans… My Butt should be inserted in a nice 1st class seat, almost back in Kona right now. But, no. It’s not happening. Mr C insists that we’ll be heading Kona way by mid January.

I wasn’t going to say anything to him about not going to Kona this morning. Well, he fired up my spotting scope and watched the plane we were supposed to be on leave DCA. So much for my plan of ignoring the day.

Am feeling real tired today – for no apparent reason. Guess events have just sort of worn me down.

Today’s Good Thing: I got my mending done.

Other than his sore armpit – Mr C is doing fine. Well, he was pretty sad when he watched our plane leave this morning. But, he doesn’t stay down very long.

No, I wasn’t out shopping for a burial plot for Mr. C. The cemetery is a couple of miles from the apartment and makes for a nice walk. Mr C rides his bike down to the cemetery everyday. He frequently reports seeing foxes. I only make it down that way a couple of times a month and have never seen a fox.

Mr C is having rather a lot of pain today in the area of his lymphadenectomy.

Today’s good thing: Quiche from LeoNora Bakery. Along with some fresh brussel sprouts. An excellent lunch.

Trees. Leaves. When you live on the 17th floor all you gotta do is enjoy them.

Well, Mr C got a target tattooed on his chest and CAT Scan today. And a schedule for his first 21 days nuking. He starts on November 20.

And, I got a summons for a week of Jury Duty starting January 6. Guess I’ll do it. I could play the “wife of really sick old man” card… But, I am hoping that he will not be really sick. And, by the next time my number is up – I can say “I am over 70 and am too old to be on a jury.”

I am sort of unstuck. At least I ticked off a couple of things from my 2do list.

Today’s Good Thing: A nice nap.

I find myself sort of stuck. I haven’t even clicked anything off my 2Do list since Tuesday. I am just stuck. Not sad, depressed, unhappy, miserable, gloomy, glum, melancholy, dejected, disconsolate, downhearted, despondent, dispirited… just stuck. Funny thing is, I don’t even know where I am stuck.

Note to self: Get Unstuck.

Mr C is still on for a pre-radiation CAT Scan tomorrow afternoon. Guess I’ll be a good wife and go with him – just in case Doc Nuke-em makes an appearance.

Two Good Things Today: Great weather and a power failure at work sent me home early to enjoy the great weather.

Power failure at the hospital also took out the operating rooms and the GI Unit where colonoscopies are done. Now, if you were being operated on – you would be unconscious – so you wouldn’t notice. And if you were actually having a colonoscopy at the time the power goes off – I assume there might be enough reserve/battery power to finish the job. But, what about the poor schmuck who is next in line for the colonoscopy… This person, who has spent the last 24 hours “preparing” – gets sent home. Not a happy thing.

 

 

 

Trust me on this one, boys and girls – it was darn near impossible to have consensual sex while trussed up in your basic rubberized long line panty girdle. Gee, that was fun… Let’s have another ad.

Mr C had his JP drain removed today. He said it hurt. Bad.

Today’s Good Thing: Voting. A Straight NOT TEA PARTY Ticket. Now, it will be a better thing if the Democrats win.