Saturday was GMAs 87th birthday. She was good and we went to a harbor restaurant and she enjoyed herself. It was a nice time but she’s been slipping lately. She can’t remember anything – yet she refuses to believe she cant remember anything. She’s driving me insane. Last Friday she had on her calendar that she had a dr appt today. I asked her about it because I didn’t have it on my phone. She said “Well, its been there forever!” indignantly. Yesterday I called the dr to check on the time of appointment, and they said Oh, she cancelled it. THEN, I call her and asked when she was planning to tell me about the cancellation and she got all pissy because Im confronting her…oy.

Ive gotten her helper to come twice a week, but she maintains that she doesn’t need it. She complains about all her “paperwork” but when I offer to pay all the bills, she flips and says “NO I can do it.” So really, I cant win. This morning I got 12 (literally) calls before 10am. Her car battery died and she called AAA, which was fine but then there was a whole ordeal of her wanting to go to the dealer to ask questions, check the car, talk to the people etc. Finally convinced her to let the tow people take the car and the dealership will let her know what’s wrong. But everything is an elaborated ordeal, not to be easily remedied.

Meanwhile, there’s a chipmunk living beneath our garage and my dear husband read that they don’t like mothballs so now the garage smells like Great Aunt Gertrudes old coat. There is not enough liquor in the world for all of this…

Im dying. Last night, in the middle of the night Phillip comes banging into the bedroom. Apparently . when he was watching tv last night something fell in the chimney. He was totally freaked out. We had the damper closed so whatever is in there isn’t going anywhere. The best part was when we woke up this morning and we found a note on the counter:

Surrounded by other notes for emphasis:

Now those of you who know me, know Im always telling Sam to “Call the Guy”, for one reason or another, so this just had me rolling. You think your kids don’t really listen to EVERY WORD YOU SAY, but they do and then they become you..

Then I go in the family room and the fireplace screen is fortified with wood. What this is going to do exactly is anyone’s guess…

In other news, the 4th was really strange because we went to the beach and my eyes were really watery and it turns out I got A COLD IN MY EYE. Who does this? nobody but yours truly. Spent rest of evening and next day in bed. Feeling better now, thank god, because we’re leaving for Cape Cod for 3 days to visit our good friends Maury and Jeet. If I would have had to cancel, I would have flipped out.

Hope you all had a happy and healthy 4th. We’re about to head out the door, but first I have to call the guy.

What is there to say really? Same as everyone in the world, we been in quarantine and laying low.

Ive been doing some work with my old boss Susan and that’s kept me busy and my mind off just being at home all the time. Now that the weather is starting to get better, we’re toying with the idea of hitting the beach (obviously away from everyone), or just visiting somewhere for the day that’s NOT here.

The boys have been working on their project of steps leading up to bocce court. They’ve really outdone themselves and its looking terrific. They’re almost done with the stairs and perhaps they’ll add a little patio at the top. Heres where its at so far:

Just this past week, after 3 months, we actually went out to dinner for Miles’ birthday. We went to one of our favorite restaurants in town. They did a wonderful job separating everyone outside and it was a great meal. Miles’ girlfriend Meg came and it was great to see her. She’s been one of the only people visiting because her family has been seriously quarantining too.

Ive been talking to everyone, obviously. But its not the same. I miss hanging out with my friends and just being around people. I know I’m so lucky to have the boys (all 3), and I need to shut up, but I still miss everyone. Im hoping soon we can return to some kind of semblance of normal. Im scared of the second wave and how people are really flagrantly ignoring the rules of quarantine. I suppose we will have to wait and see how this all shakes out.

Meanwhile, in GMA land, she finally got her hair done. Hallelujah. So off she went to the mall and she was thrilled. I have an appt for next week and Im excited, too. I look similar to the Wicked Witch of the West. Ive been taking her to a myriad of dr appts because when your 1) 87ish and 2) Gma, each day is a new problem. After we sorted the drs for the day on Monday, then she then brings up there’s problems with the sinks in the apt and can I have the imaginary handyman come to fix them, because “there are very well known handymen in Ridgefield”. Who these people are is a mystery, but now I have a new project. Yay for me. Todays doctor is a vein specialist because her foot swelled up and we don’t know why. So we’re going this afternoon and hopefully they’ll figure out what’s happening. Next week its the back doctor and perhaps we’ll throw in the eye doctor too, because, why not. Between her drs and my drs, the visits go on and on till the break of dawn.

Hello, hello, hello. Its been about a month since I last updated because in the middle of a quarantine there’s not much to say. Where have we gone…nowhere. What have we done…nothing. Who have we seen…no one. You get the idea. Ive been extremely careful about where I go, so basically I stay home. My health is progressively getting better (normal) and Im back on the trial drugs so just a little sleepy here and there. I did get to pick up Miles in NJ and that was terrific. I was so relieved to have him home.

Last weekend Sam bought a new car because his 14 yr old one has finally said “No thank you” to driving around. We then proceeded to go to Arthur Ave in the Bronx for a drive out (probably not one of our smarter moves) but we really wanted to take the new wheels for a spin and Sam suggested the Avenue. I wasn’t going to get out of the car, but we found a spot on the street and Sam actually parked in it. On the street. In the Bronx. Day 2 of new car. Who is this guy and where did he put my husband? Not everything was open, but we got some deli stuff and some pastries (we were the only people in the shop) and we all felt like we had been on vacay for the day. We were missing the Zoo and the Botanical Garden and are anxious for them to reopen, like everyone else.

This weekend was Mothers Day and it was the best ever. Miles made a superb breakfast and we all played Monopoly in the morning. Sammy won and was very proud. Gma came over and actually behaved herself. We played cards outside, had lots of cocktails and the boys made a great dinner for us. Gma then brings up how when she dies she wants to be cremated, and with me. So even when I die, there she’ll be. Then she wants a “tea”. Please don’t ask what that is bc who knows. Always something to look forward to with her.

I hope you all had a wonderful Mothers Day and that you are holding up during this crazy time. Its been hard but the one thing I know is that Im grateful for my family and that we are all here together.

The results are in and Im negative for Corona! I actually feel a lot better. I think I just had some sort of weird Spring virus. The headache, after 4 days has finally subsided and though I still have a bit of achiness, Im fine.

Easter was nice yesterday, and yes, Lynn, I made the dinner. We even had Gma over because I felt guilty. I made her stay outside the house. Thank god it was a lovely day. Meanwhile, she fell 2 days ago because I told her I got tested and she decides to get me flowers. She calls the Stop and Shop, HAS THEM DELIVER FLOWERS TO HER, then proceeds to FALL IN THE HALLWAY. Then she crawls to the neighbors door, bangs on it with her cane, to help her. THEN has THE NEIGHBOR DELIVER THE FLOWERS TO ME! Im telling you, she’s completely crazy. I was so mad at her because she could have really hurt herself for no good reason. But you cannot reason or explain to her, so there we are.

I also gave Phillip and Sam haircuts yesterday. I watched a YouTube video and they actually turned out good. Not Salon good, but not totally embarrassing either and I didn’t even leave a hole in the back of anyones head like last time. We FaceTimed with Miles and Meg who had a fabulous brunch together in the house. They’re doing good and everyone in the house isn’t killing each other so everyone is happy.

I hope you all had a wonderful Easter and am looking forward to more good weather and time outside.

Yesterday I got tested for Covid 19. And it was, you guessed it, no picnic.

I’d been having a slight sore throat for a couple days. Then chills. Yesterday I woke up with a slight fever (100.6), had a headache and cough (again, slight). I figured I better call the dr because I have the immune system of a gnat. She said I better go get tested because I cant take any chances. I called the local hospital, and I got an appointment for the afternoon.

Sam (brave thing) came with me. Whilst waiting, we see a car in front of us…

I, of course, read this as alibis. We were dying trying to come up with different alibis we could give people. He was with me all night, She was at the restaurant etc…Meanwhile it took us 2 hours to get to the tent where the test was because the printer wasn’t working. Finally we get up to the tent. It was POURING rain and these poor people were out there for god knows how long and still were as pleasant and lovely as they could be. Then then nurse says “Im going to swab your nose, try not to move your head.” I thought I was going to die.

This is what happens. Look above. Im gasping and choking. Sam is horrified. It only took a couple seconds but it was terrible. So, we’ll learn the results anywhere from today to 5 days from now. Im quarantined in the bedroom.

Today still have headache, but no fever. The doc said this may be just a spring virus, which I hope is right. Only time will tell, and at least I have my alibi straight.

Had a video meeting with the endocrinologist yesterday. Blood work has shown I am not a type one diabetic, so good news there. However insulin therapy so far has not worked out. Numbers are still very high with no rhyme or reason. It doesn’t matter what I eat, or don’t eat. So our next plan is to have me stab myself in the stomach before every meal AND bedtime with 2 different insulins. Sometimes when your sugar gets as high as mine, it wants to stay there. But if you attack it you may be able to get it down then try and hold it at the lower number. I will be on this regime for a week and then reconvene with DR.

Meanwhile I’ve tried not to watch much about the virus on TV. However, today I tuned in and have decided I may have crush on Cuomo. I love the way he tells it like it is. He may be a bully, but he’s my kind of bully and is certainly more trustworthy and competent than our ridiculous leader. Just listening to him makes me feel that we may actually get through this at some point.

Today am making bolognese sauce and am dying my hair red. I got a kit from Amazon and who knows how it will turn out. Ill either look like Lucille Ball, or Christina Hendricks (sans boobs) OR Ronald McDonald. Only time will tell…

Today was my LAST radiation treatment! Hallelujah! It was a real drag, though I have to say I loved my therapists. Everything is going ok. I have “sunburn” in the area of radiation and am starting to get small pockets of tiny water blisters from the treatment, but in a couple weeks Ill be fine.

I was so excited to throw away my Toms deodorant (no offense to Toms users but I loathe and despise it because its like rubbing a thick cake on your skin bc no alcohol which is why its good for radiation – no stinging) I tell this to my therapists and they’re like “dig it back out of garbage because you need to use it for another week or two.” God dammit. Back to stupid Toms.

Then went home and had this feast:

Then decided to clean and organize the bathroom closet, God help me

I think by the end of the virus quarantine, my house will be stunning! At least something good is coming of it…

Well this was a shitty week. The Coronavirus has taken control and this week people have gone insane. Every day there’s more and more information, stats etc and its scary. Schools everywhere are closed along with businesses. Tulane has gone to online classes and they’ve sent all freshman and sophomores home. Im worried about Miles and I want him to come home, but he says he’s ok for now. Im worried they’ll cancel domestic flights. We’ve cancelled the trip to FL after radiation. Im so sad. I was really looking forward to it. But I need to be smart about exposure, plus everything down there is closing too, so not much fun.

I started the insulin this week and its slowly working. Plus I get to have fun stabbing myself in the stomach every day. Have started the marijuana meds and so far so good. I love the cream for my back. Definitely working.

At hospital they are now screening everyone who comes in. Today the security guard, who has seen me every morning, asks me if Ive been out of the country in the last 3 weeks. I said “Im sorry, have you not seen me EVERY MORNING FOR THE LAST 5 WEEKS? He laughed and said “go ahead.” Idiot.

So I guess we’re all at home for the foreseeable future. What a drag.

I did some research last night, during my melt down. So apparently Type 2 DOES NOT morph into Type 1. With adult onset, Type 1 is usually misdiagnosed as Type 2. It can be managed for a while (years) before it cant be managed with oral meds anymore.

Im hoping all this is really just because of stress and it will resolve after this whole radiation thing ends. I do know Im more stressed now that ever before in this whole process. Ugh.