I am a little worried about using the single bed because Sadie has always slept with me and usuallyshe sleeps on the other side, but see how she pushed me to the edge last night. I need to have her learn to sleep in a new little bed of her own. That may be a challenge. She is 8 years old. There is only room for one single bed and I have two of them (electrric beds). Carole would like to take the other one as she also needs to raise her legs occasionally an it is just very accomodating for an older person to use an electric bed to raise what needs raising to be comfortable and sleep well or sit up in bed without hurting your back. Just need to figure how to get it from Utah to Montana!
It is beautiful weather in San Diego and I am loving the springtime. However, I have been troubled for some time and not satisfied with my circumstances and not sure what to do about them.
We had such a challenge looking for a place for me to rent in the San Diego area. Finding something suitable for Sadie and I, that we could afford, and was a reasonable place to live for an 87 old lady who has a dog.
Quite miraculously this place was found in Rancho Bernardo, where I had not even thought of living, and it was perfect. So much light in the home, newly remodeled with a large covered patio and mature landscaping that had gardeners! Even a fireplace! And the real plus was that my furniture fit perfectly, room for every thing and to top it all off, room for all my books!!!! Photo albums and etc I was putting online, etc. It was a perfect location, very quiet and yet so close to everything I would ever want to go to. I even found great medical just 10 minutes away. My children were all within 20 to 30 minutes away. Meagan and her family were just living down the freeway close enough to visit often. The ward was close and people had been wonderful to me.
So why was I not happy, why was it so troubling to me, why was was it stressing me out? I was praying fervently for answers as to whether to renew the rental and if I didn't, where to go and why was I not satisfied with my situation?
And then one morning last week it was as clear to me as a bell. Go back to Utah and live at Treeo where Jeanne is. I could not believe the answer. I never wanted to go back to Utah. I loved living in San Diego after 21 years away. It was perfect here. I never wanted to live in a Senior Living Place, did I? I don't think I ever did. I loved my independence, my own home and yard. This place was so perfect, why wasn't it right? What was missing? When I told my son later, he immediately said, "People". Yes, I did not want to be alone anymore, did I. I wanted to be able to see and talk to people and yet I did not want to live in my children's homes and I had all my stuff I wanted to take with me. And then I realized I did not want to run a house anymore, it takes too much of my time, too much thought. Why did I think I wanted to do that. I really did not want to have to cook anymore. I loved it when I was working for SBA and was living in a hotel where I was serviced. And wouldn't it be fun to have one of my sisters in the same place and yet I could still have my own stuff?
It all seemed absolutely correct, why had I not chosen this before? I was so ceertain of the answer, I immediately called Treeo and was given a Ryan to talk to. I asked all the questions and he gave me all the answers. I then texted Linda and blew her away with my latest thoughts. She was surprised but offered to go up with me to check it out. I texted her back that I did not need to do that. I was familiar enough with it and I knew it was the right thing to do.
The next day Ryan called and gave me a virtual tour of the place and showed me rooms I could choose to live in on the first floor and have a doggie door and fenced area for Sadie, our own little patio. Could he hold it to the end of June? Not sure but asked and came back with the answer and arrangements to do so.
Linda was concerned I was making my mind up too fast. I texted Maria at 5 am and she came over and had lunch and I showed her the plans and, etc. Both of them really thought it was a good idea, actually. The same day James and Camber came over to take Kelsi to a track meet in Poway and me with them to watch. I shared the news with them and they thought it was a great idea, too. Although I must admit there was the thought that I had been neglected too much? I assured them that was not the case at all. Meagan was in Hawaii but I told her to call me as soon as she arrived home. She also was blown away by the decision and was disappointed to see me go but, too, could see the sensibility behind the decision. The fuarniture I could not take was being spoken for, and I began moving items I could not take to one side of the garage. And my mind was so at ease.
Thank you, Lord, for helping direct my life, once again.
Khamsin Rye Alaoui-Valko 7 lb 14 oz 19.5 In
Mitch Valko and Bahia Alaoui are the proud parents. They are living in Bremerton, WA and Mitch is a park ranger!!!
Meagan sent over this old picture of when I was staying at James' home in Rancho Bernardo and Keira and Eden were in the hot tub with me.
In the last several years my face has been more sensitive to cancer, keratosis, dermatitis, eczema, etc. Dealing with it all has been a nightmare and I have had more than one dermatologist depending on where I was living at the moment.
A couple of months ago I was dealing with possible cancer which turned out to be acitinic keratosis and I met a new dermatologist in Rancho Bernardo. It cleared up.
A couple weeks ago eczema flared up after eating about 5 of Costco Cream Cheese Danish (they are so wonderful but never again) over a two week period. I figured it was all the dairy and wheat that I have a problem with.
This week it flared up even more and the itch is driving me crazy.
Since I have been doing Keto this last week I have now resolved that it is probably the heavy cream usage. I at first blamed it on the Aussie Mousse I was trying but now I am realizing I just cannot have any dairy. I switched to almond milk a couple years or so ago. I probably should switch to coconut oil for my butter, too. It is always a time consuming challenge chasing down what it is that is causing my problem at the time. And, of course, you always suspect stress...
I have always had bad allergies but finding out just what it is has always been a challenge...so I will go to coconut milk, etc. and see if my eczema goes away!! UGH!
Yes, the brown spots are from all the sun, heard that before. There was all the sun sitting around the Glendive pool but the most sun was crewing on a sailboat for about three years when I came to San Diego to teach school in 56!!!!
Saturday morning when I was sitting on the edge of my bed and facing my window and making a text message call I noticed my flag was missing from my pole and only the corners were left. In the next moment I saw that my neighbor's flag across the street was no longer flying.
I quickly brought in the flag pole and called my neighbor John to see if he knew his flag was missing.
What I have learned since. There has been a number of yard flag stealing in Rancho Bernardo and North Park that we know of. No one has an idea of who is doing it. Police flags such as BLM have also been taken.
They could have taken my whole pole and not cut my flag as they did, if they wanted a whole flag. They could have taken my neighbor's flag without taking the lanyard etc.
This is considered a hate crime nationally. My house is on the corner and there is a street light so it was easy for them to see what they were doing which is why they maybe did not take the flag at the end of the cul de sac.
Is it just teen agers cruising on a Friday night making mischief or is it something more sinister? The police said they have no clue.
Sadie did sit up at one point in the middle of the night and yet did not want to go out like she usually does, so she must have heard them. I heard nothing even though the flag post is only about 12 feet from my bedroom.
Update: Feb 21, 2021
It did hit the news and a couple who had cameras showed the culprits. They looked like adults in hoodies. They have not caught the culprits or have an explanation of why. The neighbor to John gave him a new flag but it was not the size needed and so John gave it to me. I love seeing my flag waving again.
Except for the Word puzzle I gave up on a few years ago, this was the most difficult puzzle I have every done!!! No matter what anyone says, it feels like a great accomplishment when you can eyes the piece you need and it fits perfectly. I hate to dismantle this one, it took so long to put together.
Mitch and Bahia and loving their new digs in Northern California and expecting in March!!
I always enjoy being with my daughters, they always have so much to share with each other and we get lots of talking in. I am really enjoying being able to do something with them each week!!!
Linda has decided we should use my patio for the shower for Sarah on the 20th, Covid restrictions are in place and it is a large covered patio, so will be easy to do.
Matt looks good and is taking good care of himself, exercising, etc. Has a construction job and a girlfriend who sounds really neat. She does dermabrasion for a career!
I got really panicking when I plugged in her address and it said 39 minutes! I had forgotten I had put in my phone to do it without freeways to Linda's house and did not change it. I could not figure out which way the freeway was so I had to plug that in. When I came home I pulled up a map of Rancho Bernardo and really oriented myself on where I live and directions etc, it is so confusing!
They were together at Christmas and then for a birthday party for Len, who is deceased, and then Jon's family, Chris, Dave and Carole all came down wth the Covid. I think Carole showed the symptoms last. Dave had it bad cuz of his asthma.
They were tested last week and came back positive and Carole was told by her doctor it could get worse around the 8th or 9th day and she wanted her to come in for an infusion. Carole somehow missed the call with the time and so missed it.
She sounded terrible when I talked to her on Thursday and she got worse from there. She said last night was really bad. She went to ER around noon on Saturday the 24th and they have her on steroids, fluids, and nausea medicine and keeping her over night. She said the nausea was the worst but she also has a horrible cough, whenever I talk to her. Her oxygen level was ok. They wondered earlier if she had a way to measure that at home.
One of the things I was told was that if you have covid you should not get the vaccine until 90 days after recovery. Yet today I read that a lady had covid in December and got the vaccine this week and died so lots of rumors and there is not enough vaccine.
I have not been able to get an appointment yet and neither has Marilyn. Jeanne had hers a few weeks ago.
Carole did not come home from the hospital until January 28th and she came home with oxygen tank and way to measure it. It got down to 85 in the hospital, she is to keep it above 92. She is also on blood thinner because of the heart flutter they detected and that helps to prevent strokes. Someone is coming on Monday for two hours to give her help on how to take care of herself, etc.
They think that Sage contacted the virus first from someone in school and she was quarantined and only attended about 4 days of school in January.
So we will see if I can keep up with it and get feeling good. She swears she has only done this each day for 30 years and that you do not need to put hours in the gym to stay in good shape. She is now 66 and has been the coach for many athletes and dancers over the years.
Today I met with Dr. Rod Serry and after reviewing the latest tests plus all he received from Scripps he does not feel we need to do anything yet. YEA!
If I start having more symptoms I should call, otherwise I will get tests again in June and go from there!!! He said the stenosis is about the same as it was last June but he does not want to wait any longer than 6 months to test again.
He said to keep doing what I am doing. Actually I think I should be doing more walking and dancing.
However, if I am going to live longer than 2 years I need to start looking for cheaper housing.
Maria sent over a list in Carlsbad to start on.....
He also explained that in the last 10 years or so they have determined that the statins help prevent heart attack and stroke and lesson the plaque. Even without thinking about the numbers...definitely I should have been taking for this reason with my familial heart disease.
Today will go down as one of the best inaugural days we have had. I thought President Biden's talk was the best I have heard since Kennedy. He was very well prepared and seemed sincere and determined to put across a message of We, not I, and his determination to be the President of all the people. I was very impressed. If only, the positivity and comradery can keep going.
Lady Gaga's singing of the National Anthem was the best I have ever heard, I think. And Amanda Gorman, the poet laureate wrote and spoke an incredible poem about these times. Just amazing.
Whoever was responsible for the planning and carrying out of the day did a really great job.
Of course, it was very disappointing when he signed 17 bills changing a lot of the good that Trump did and reverting to Obama days, so despite the speech it is all about politics and paying back who he owes a favor to, politics not America needs... again. So sad.
On 12/8/2020 I met my new Primary Doctor at Arch Health. He is older and has worked other places. He is a little gruff but very preceptive. We talked about what I wanted from him. He had already looked at the records Dr. Serry has but I had not brought him any except very little information from Dr. Vaccarri, my Scripps Doctor.
Actually I have to have a Primary Doctor and he knows that but other than my aortic valve problem which is for Dr. Serry to take care of, I told him I want to build up my immune system, take care of any UTI's I get and find out about the Chronic Kidney Failure that is now listed on my charts. He wants me to come in January after having blood and urine tests and we would talk about all that. He said it means I have rust in my plumbing ???
Update, I met with him after the tests and sugar looks ok, CKF not a problem, but he talked me into trying statins again, can't use the expense excuse. It is the generic of Crestor, only $9.62 a month with Good RX coupon at Sav-On and wants me to go for 3 months and see how it does. He swears it will help my plaque. However, I read later that statins have never been tested on people over 75 so, you know, is it really too late for that? Also, I had a current UTI, why was I not aware? I think I was so committed to finishing my puzzle, I was not paying attention. Dumb me. I like that he gave me 3 pills a day and called for a call back to check again. He is thorough.
I usually take my walk with Sadie between 4 and 5 and I think it was closer to 5 this evening. I could not believe the gorgeous sky even out here. Next day Meagan had pictures that were almost the same as they were down at the bay. And Carole Warburton in Utah had almost the same except her picture had a little yellow in it. Wonder what was going on in the world that we were treated with this beautiful sunset!!!
