Turner's 1916 Model T Wrecker

One of 300 manufactured, Grandpa Turner is proud of this Model T baby. They have an ice cream maker they attach for parades. He also has a 1921 Chevy wrecker -one of three surviving machines. The Model T has a hemp rope and will lift 1000 pounds. Yup, I'm still in Kearney. After a bad night last night, I found the wonder of calories and was energized by a bowl of soup. I can finish in the daylight tomorrow. The hard parts are done. After you take three years to trick your vehicle out with a refrigerator, generator, Storage batteries, Satellite radio, and cell phone extenders for Wyoming, it takes some time to untrick it. Unfortunately bad weather is moving in. I may stay longer yet. Setting out with a new vehicle on uncertain roads seems to be tempting fate to me and fate has not been my best friend lately. The Best Western in Kearney is a congenial place to be in wild weather. We'll see.

A coterie of lefties? Being left handed, I notice other lefties. The Nebraska HP that took my accident report was a lefty. The wrecker driver from L&S, Elm Creek, NE, was a lefty. The Turner Grandson in charge is a lefty. The motel clerk is a lefty. All fine people, exceptionally kind and intelligent.

Road-ee ohs

The journey begins with white knuckles and a clenched butt. The road from Riverton to Casper was the worst! Snowpacked and slick for miles and miles. It took me three hours to get that leg past me. A driver for Rich's company said it was the worst day of driving he had ever had. That put me well behind schedule for a meetup with brother Bob near Omaha. (Gretna). Nebraska roads were dry so I hopped off Hwy 30 onto I 80. The infrastructure money being spent left me with a slack-jawed appreciation of improvements in 80. Much much better. After a nap at the Cozad, Nebraska east rest stop. We continued with the trucks whizzing past us. So I was completely surprised by the deer that we hit. Highway Patrol after 45 minutes, Wrecker after 2 hours. The van was taken to Turner's in Kearney after my willingness to pony up $65.00 to avoid being towed to Elm ?? population 1000. That was a good decision. Turner's couldn't have been nicer- Mr.Turner even found me a replacement vehicle. Low mileage (RELATIVELY) Chevy van. But I am still in Kearney, enjoying the Best Western Motel. I worked all day tranferring stuff to the new van but I play out. The air bag ripped off my wrist watch and I can't extend my elbow without considerable pain. Geico offered me a fair settlement. I should be able to finish up tomorrow and get back on the road. All schedules are off. Don't much care.

The doggies are fine, if neglected. Give them a king-size bed and The World Woof Wrestling Tournament begins.

About to Launch

Busy day. As Thayne and I chatted on the way to the hospital on the 8th he was interested in a Sun break. We talked and I bought him a ticket to come visit in Florida- a thank you gift. Delores printed it out for me. Southwest is featuring some bodacious prices. The Florida trip will fall in the middle of the Denver Stock Show so he will use that to bookend his Florida jaunt. He works hard so I hope he has a great time. His plane lands at Palm Beach International which is about 20 minutes from John Prince Park so I'll snag him there.

I touched bases with Blue Cross and Humana to make sure my automatic payments are flowing and I have continuous coverage.  I've been using my Humana card at Wal-Mart while my meds are still in flux. I had my final appointment with Dr. Hedgecock for awhile. She gave me her email address! That is a good thing. We are dropping the Norvasc. If I start to puff up I can use my Lasix and Hydrochlorothiazide to get the ball rolling. Gotta keep after the potassium, though.

Went to the bank to load up an account. I'm on a budget this year. The banks are making it hand over fist but they aren't sharing the wealth in the form of interest. The heart attack is almost a relief. I am not worrying nearly as much about outliving my money. Still, I wish the Dodoes had been paying attention. I don't deserve this. None of us do.

The packing was going so well-then I noticed I couldn't see out. Some adjustments will be necessary. Some stuff is temporarily placed until I get the Oxygen concentrator located as a passenger. 

The water is shut off. Have a bucketful to final flush. Still a lot of last minute stuff to do tomorrow but I am sure we will get launched.

Keeping the Gas and Water Running

With recommended meds changes, I felt like crap on Saturday. I was bummed. But after a nap, which always produces a tinkle, things started flowing and flowing and I started to feel much better. It was still a slow-do-nothing day. Some med changes are going to be deferred for a few days.  The problem started with the meds which wired me up-I could not sleep, nor get my required horizontal time. The potassium is, however, required. That keeps the fluid running as well as other vital processes.

Today, Sunday, was much better and I feel like things are going to be better from now on. One thing the Casper P.A. said is that I should invest in a scale: one or two pounds variation in a day means fluid is building. I called Saturday to ask what I should do if that occurred. "Call us," was the answer.  Not a very practical answer. I did get some sorting and packing done today. Felt pretty darn well. Using stuff up. The doggies got ice cream today. A fairly pleasant day here and I am seeing a cold front is advancing on Florida. It is all an adventure!

The Tension is Thick

Daryne called to tattle on the dogs this afternoon. They were across the road headed up Ann McIntosh's lane. This is not good. I jumped in the van and zapped them all the way home. Buddy was scooting. They knew they had been bad. It has been very subdued in here. Buddy came to apologize or makeup awhile ago. Honey is still nursing hurt feelings.

It got up into the 40's today and I couldn't blame them for enjoying it but they have acres and acres on this side to enjoy.

It was off to the hospital this morning for a blood draw. My records from Dr. Hedgecock were ready as promised and I fixed a gift basket of fruit for that office. They are all trying to keep trim and fit and the parrot enjoys fruit too. Then the medical calls began. Wendy from Casper wanted to double my Carvedilol and start my statins after reviewing things with Dr. Wicks.( my BP is too high)  Later Jessica from Dr. Hedgecock called after getting the draw results-take another Potassium pill immediately and double up on those from now on. I made another appointment with Dr. Hedgecock on Monday. Wendy thought I needed more Lasix but deferred judgment until after the blood tests.

I'm going to finish packing this weekend. I'll leave Tuesday. (or Wednesday) I'm trying to be responsible here.

Cuz Donna called with a report on Eleanore's funeral. There was a good turnout. She was 97, not  92. The cemetery is Denver's oldest and holds other Bosco's and Roberts. She enjoyed seeing relatives she knew and quite a few she didn't  know. Had news. We are being asked to host another reunion. We will think on it.

Puhlease Release me, Let me go...

Somehow I had December 2nd on Friday. Jason straightened me out on that last night so I really did make my appointment in Casper at the CardioPulmonary place. I left early so I could meet with Rich and Val and cuz Jim and Susie for lunch. That was ever so nice to catch up with lives and catch a glimpse. Jim is in a state over his cancer recurrence and I don't blame him. Poor baby.  A low blow at this late stage but he is lined up with top oncologists from Boulder. Top oncologists or not, having your nose shaved until the cancer disappears is not a pleasant prospect.

Rich went with me to the meeting with the "mid-level practitioner" who turned out to be Wendy, a Physician's assistant who was all kinds of competent, thorough, and took pains to explain a lot to me. Moderate Heart attack-serious enough, no coronary disease, prognosis for restoring a normal rhythm. (four weeks of good coumadin scores are a pre-requisite before shock therapy), limitations, and how to cope, med adjustments (add a statin as a precaution). Richard and I have the same heart and we think our dad did too, though the medical arts were not this advanced then. I knew Rich had an angiogram in 1999 but he did not require a stent (nor would I) but his arrythmia is due to a bundle branch block which cannot be corrected.  But we have big old hearts that don't push enough blood. He exercises faithfully and takes his meds and his recent test has his expulsions up to about 65% which is pretty good considering. Mine is less than 40% . I really will need to consider the shock treatment. They are fine with me transferring to Dr. Cohn and driving to Florida.

Got the record requests in place. I was impressed as a techie: My EKG, and all other tests go right into a laptop and to central records. They can print them out at the push of a key. They scanned the records I brought right into the machine. I am now fasting for another blood draw tomorrow.

The ride to Casper was a good test. I am tired tonight but not bad. I will need to take breaks on the way to Florida because I need to move the fluid that settles in my legs.

The doggies were good as gold and got a nice treat. Honey is out barking at the moon right now. Buddy likes to be warm.

Pecking Away

The annual trek to the post office for premium mail forwarding took place yesterday. Diane ("21 months until I retire") is the only one who knows how to do it.  We had our annual visit as well. I went to the Super Wal-Mart for my cardio: two times around the perimeter pushing a cart at a pretty good clip. Paused to admire the new Televisions and look at Christmas lights. I had ooomph left but it was bitter cold and I didn't want to leave the pups too long.

Had email from the PNW with advice and cautions. Nicole and Andre Skyped from Florida. Nicole was wiping her brow, I was in three layers.

Today was Cardio-Rehab at the Lander Hospital. Stamina was better. The blood pressure was high and the EKG was the same- Atrial fib with an occasional skip of the beat. My weight was down. Oxygen was pretty good at rest but a little low after exercise-not bad. I did the routine without supplementary oxygen so that was pretty good. I finally got the knack of the treadmill after I reduced the nurses to tears of laughter. They thought I was clowning- I wasn't.  Tripled at least my times on the pedal machines. I had energy to go on but Nurse Rita had seen all she needed to see.

The roads even today were a caution but it is all the way up to 35 degrees so there is some melt going on.  The dogs went AWOL as soon as we got home. I am waiting.