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Well, part of the time I have been "gone" I was struggling with a pinched nerve that rendered my right arm practically useless. Some 20 years ago, I suffered from the same thing and swore the next car I bought would have an automatic transmission; being stuck at home and unable to drive was a real unpleasant experience. In December, 2000, I bought my RAV4, feeling smug. <*ahem*> Lemme tell ya, when your right arm is useless, you STILL cannot drive even with an automatic transmission.
So I thought, when it happened again, I wouldn't be stuck at home, unable to drive. Ha! A useless arm in excruciating pain does not let you drive with both hands, nor does it let you get out of Park. I could lean over to use my left arm across my body, but...... my goodness, then there's Reverse, then Drive..... How about snapping the seat belt securely, or pressing the button to release that belt? Another thing a bum right arm doesn't let you do is text on your cell phone (at least not if you are used to using two thumbs....). Oh, and eating is problematic. It was like feeding an ogre here, with a bowl clutched to my chest (okay, propping it up on my "upper shelf") and trying to maneuver a spoon full of something into my mouth while I hunched over the bowl. .Lotsa things are problematic if you have greatly reduced range of motion, much less NO control of the danged arm. Couldn't type worth beans, either. Hence, no posting on BYC.
I am fully aware there are people all over the world without the ability to use both arms, so my whining about how sucky it was to be (temporarily) handicapped is worth a smack or two in the face.
The pinched nerve has settled down and is no longer too painful to use, but there's not enough strength in my right hand to lift a full cup of coffee. Gotta use my left arm for that. However, I can now hold and control forks and spoons, so I can eat in public again, if I wish to do so.
Another situation monopolized a lot of my time and attention: the State screwed up my medical, dental and vision coverage. BIG time.
When I was growing up, my dad used to make all-inclusive and derisive comments about "State employees." When I became a State employee over 20 years ago, I endeavored to NEVER become one of those useless beings. But, over that same twenty years, I did encounter many folks who easily supported my father's opinion. As a supervisor, I worked with some, here and there. There are slews of "C students," so to speak, in state service..... You only have to MEET standards to stay employed, and if you are deficient in some areas after you have managed to pass probation - and identified thus - you get remediation time in order to simply meet standards. You don't HAVE to exceed them. Sad, huh?
Well, apparently some C student state employees had their hands on my retirement paperwork.
I had my permanent bridge replaced; when the dentist office submitted the claim, the dental insurance company replied that my coverage had been canceled sixty days post my date of retirement. Ooops. That took WEEKS to rectify. In doing so, it was determined I had no Vision coverage either. And while I have been receiving a retirement pension check, my medical insurance provider still showed me as an "active" employee. That's been changed now, too. At last. Some of my maintenance prescriptions are hellishly expensive without insurance coverage. (I remember when I was undergoing Chemotherapy for my breast cancer and I saw the cost of just ONE of the four drugs in the bi-weekly "drug cocktail" infusions: $1,684.00. So I shouldn't have been surprised to discover just ONE of my maintenance drugs cost $481.00 for 30 tablets. But I was dismayed and couldn't pick up my prescriptions until the medical insurance prescription plan was correctly applied.)
Lemme put up my current favorite photo, just to bring a smile to folks' faces - the two next shots shows how that blue bowl is INTENDED to be utilized:
.
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After the propane tank paint job was dry, I moved the bowl back under it so Angus can't use that source of drinking water for a foot bath.
*****************
I started this post on Thursday and was interrupted by friends' request to join them for dinner at The Pub, which is the newest restaurant "in town." It's in Fairplay, situated between my house and the property on which HHandbasket and Farmer Lew live. It's the ONLY establishment open 11 to 11 seven days a week. As you can imagine by its name, it's an ersatz English pub-style restaurant. Reasonable prices, good food, great local hang-out spot. Afterwards, I went back to HH and FL's place for a nice visit. Kinda lost steam on the blog entry thing, as I had to go to Placerville on Friday and Saturday to pick up my meds and shop. (One prescription was back-ordered - this WalMart had never before dispensed it, so it had to be specially ordered.
Today, my great friend Sue (Soose1 on BYC, not a chicken owner) is driving from Paso Robles to spend a month with me. I am taking the five hours until her arrival to finish updating on this post. SO much to share!!
It will probably take me that entire time to complete yhis...... But I have company here in the office:
Those are the two chicks in the house, sleeping in their brooder bin at night but ranging freely in the office during the day. Yah, the office is a mess, but I don't freakin' care. Punkin and Beth aren't ready to be integrated into the flock. That's my story and I'm sticking to it!
I could try to report everything chronologically but I've discovered - since my retirement - I am far less likely to remember what happened on which day, so I'll just go with the flow of my recollections to post information and photos willy-nilly.
This is the "newest" rooster to crow, which means he SHOULD go away to freezer camp.
But he's gorgeous, is a pure-bred Buckeye, and doesn't crow a LOT.
.
.
John finished the garden fence (Poultry Free Zone) some time ago. Except for the one very canny (and slender) hen who has figured out she can jump to the deck, squeeze through the railing, and hop down into the garden. She's really easy to chase out, as she's got that path pretty well fixed in her little feathered head. I head towards her, she zips back onto the deck and through the railing back into the side yard. Other than that, the garden has been left unmolested by the flock. My thrice devoured artichoke plant - right down to the ground - has recovered and grown amazingly fast; it's almost two feet tall now! Everybody LOVES the Chicken Tunnel, which the ducks, geese and turkeys also utilize. Here is a series of photos I took when the Duck Horde trooped through, single-file. (It takes a while for 27 ducks to traverse it.)
.
.
It took a while to get those photos of the Duck Parade, but the following three photos are of the very first users.
.
.
.
Here are some Hitching Post users.
.
.
.
.
Now for some Turkey Antics, as they try to convince me to let them into the house through the French doors off the patio.
.
.
.
..
.
The last shot of that series was taken later than the one of my foot blocking Edmond's entrance - I came around the corner because I remembered the door was open, and there he was, scarfing down some dog food. That's what everybody really wants.
Here's Kate taking a quick afternoon nap, balanced on one foot on the edge of one terrace wall.
Turkeys mingling with the chickens by the flowering Quince, commonly referred to as "The Chicken Bush."
And the visual depiction of Chicken Bliss, brought to you by Josie:
Okay, this is enough for one post. I'll start working on some more, as I have TONS of photos taken during my Internet hiatus.
So I thought, when it happened again, I wouldn't be stuck at home, unable to drive. Ha! A useless arm in excruciating pain does not let you drive with both hands, nor does it let you get out of Park. I could lean over to use my left arm across my body, but...... my goodness, then there's Reverse, then Drive..... How about snapping the seat belt securely, or pressing the button to release that belt? Another thing a bum right arm doesn't let you do is text on your cell phone (at least not if you are used to using two thumbs....). Oh, and eating is problematic. It was like feeding an ogre here, with a bowl clutched to my chest (okay, propping it up on my "upper shelf") and trying to maneuver a spoon full of something into my mouth while I hunched over the bowl. .Lotsa things are problematic if you have greatly reduced range of motion, much less NO control of the danged arm. Couldn't type worth beans, either. Hence, no posting on BYC.
I am fully aware there are people all over the world without the ability to use both arms, so my whining about how sucky it was to be (temporarily) handicapped is worth a smack or two in the face.
The pinched nerve has settled down and is no longer too painful to use, but there's not enough strength in my right hand to lift a full cup of coffee. Gotta use my left arm for that. However, I can now hold and control forks and spoons, so I can eat in public again, if I wish to do so.
Another situation monopolized a lot of my time and attention: the State screwed up my medical, dental and vision coverage. BIG time.
When I was growing up, my dad used to make all-inclusive and derisive comments about "State employees." When I became a State employee over 20 years ago, I endeavored to NEVER become one of those useless beings. But, over that same twenty years, I did encounter many folks who easily supported my father's opinion. As a supervisor, I worked with some, here and there. There are slews of "C students," so to speak, in state service..... You only have to MEET standards to stay employed, and if you are deficient in some areas after you have managed to pass probation - and identified thus - you get remediation time in order to simply meet standards. You don't HAVE to exceed them. Sad, huh?
Well, apparently some C student state employees had their hands on my retirement paperwork.
Lemme put up my current favorite photo, just to bring a smile to folks' faces - the two next shots shows how that blue bowl is INTENDED to be utilized:
After the propane tank paint job was dry, I moved the bowl back under it so Angus can't use that source of drinking water for a foot bath.
*****************
I started this post on Thursday and was interrupted by friends' request to join them for dinner at The Pub, which is the newest restaurant "in town." It's in Fairplay, situated between my house and the property on which HHandbasket and Farmer Lew live. It's the ONLY establishment open 11 to 11 seven days a week. As you can imagine by its name, it's an ersatz English pub-style restaurant. Reasonable prices, good food, great local hang-out spot. Afterwards, I went back to HH and FL's place for a nice visit. Kinda lost steam on the blog entry thing, as I had to go to Placerville on Friday and Saturday to pick up my meds and shop. (One prescription was back-ordered - this WalMart had never before dispensed it, so it had to be specially ordered.
Today, my great friend Sue (Soose1 on BYC, not a chicken owner) is driving from Paso Robles to spend a month with me. I am taking the five hours until her arrival to finish updating on this post. SO much to share!!
Those are the two chicks in the house, sleeping in their brooder bin at night but ranging freely in the office during the day. Yah, the office is a mess, but I don't freakin' care. Punkin and Beth aren't ready to be integrated into the flock. That's my story and I'm sticking to it!
I could try to report everything chronologically but I've discovered - since my retirement - I am far less likely to remember what happened on which day, so I'll just go with the flow of my recollections to post information and photos willy-nilly.
This is the "newest" rooster to crow, which means he SHOULD go away to freezer camp.
John finished the garden fence (Poultry Free Zone) some time ago. Except for the one very canny (and slender) hen who has figured out she can jump to the deck, squeeze through the railing, and hop down into the garden. She's really easy to chase out, as she's got that path pretty well fixed in her little feathered head. I head towards her, she zips back onto the deck and through the railing back into the side yard. Other than that, the garden has been left unmolested by the flock. My thrice devoured artichoke plant - right down to the ground - has recovered and grown amazingly fast; it's almost two feet tall now! Everybody LOVES the Chicken Tunnel, which the ducks, geese and turkeys also utilize. Here is a series of photos I took when the Duck Horde trooped through, single-file. (It takes a while for 27 ducks to traverse it.)
It took a while to get those photos of the Duck Parade, but the following three photos are of the very first users.
Here are some Hitching Post users.
Now for some Turkey Antics, as they try to convince me to let them into the house through the French doors off the patio.
The last shot of that series was taken later than the one of my foot blocking Edmond's entrance - I came around the corner because I remembered the door was open, and there he was, scarfing down some dog food. That's what everybody really wants.
Here's Kate taking a quick afternoon nap, balanced on one foot on the edge of one terrace wall.
Turkeys mingling with the chickens by the flowering Quince, commonly referred to as "The Chicken Bush."
And the visual depiction of Chicken Bliss, brought to you by Josie:
Okay, this is enough for one post. I'll start working on some more, as I have TONS of photos taken during my Internet hiatus.
