Went to work yesterday morning and thank goodness, had all my work done when Bob called at 11:15. He told me that Paradise was on fire and I was needed at the fire dept asap. I told Larinda I needed to go and she told me to leave but be careful. Her husband is a fireman with Roanoke Department. Bob, Rainer, Vann, Jim and Patrick were already gone with I got to the department, following me closely by Chip, Matt, Greg, and then Harold. We suited up and the men went to relieve our Paradise crew, leaving myself, Rob, and Trey to watch over our district and the rest of Paradise's district that wasnt involved. We got called out for another fire and left one at the fire house to answer calls. Took care of that and enroute back to the fire hall. Paradise crew was still helping to get a handle on new fires coming out in Paradise proper. The rest of us went on standby until 10:30 last night. Rainer and Bob and Van were on fire defense for their area Paradise they were assigned and evacuation. They did find one women asleep in her bed when no one answered the door. They got her out in time and only lost one room on her house. She didnt answer her door when they knocked so Rainer went in and did a sweep and found her asleep.
Today more wind like yesterday. Bob and Rainer and Vann will be on call all day. Harold and myself will go to work and come back if we get the call. They rest of the second crew will do the same, as they all work for/with Chip.
Cottontop Cafe closed at 2 and started making food for us and came to the fire house and stayed to help if needed.
While we were on standby, we took our final test for our ems First Responder and low and behold, Bob and I passed. Rainer is going to sign us up for the next test up, ECA, so have to really study for it as it is on line. Will have to wait and see, and I feel I can pass that too.
Wednesday, January 30, 2008
Monday, January 28, 2008
Busy Sunday
Sunday started out nice and slow. Sitting on the sun deck, soaking up the rays, drinking our drink of choice and Bob reading the paper and me studying. Then Bob joined in in the studying. Both of us had dressed which is unusual for a Sunday as we like our lounge clothes until he takes Mom's breakfast over. So nice slow breakfast and he took mom's over before we ate, good thing too. We had just finished when Rainer called and wanted to know if we were going on "that call". What call I asked, --the call for a wreck. Oh shit, so we hit the road. Car and a truck got together, minor injures. No transport except pov. So back to the station. Nice leisurely morning continues. Bob is too tired to trim out the floor for painting or fix the faucets. Then another call. Grass fire on a private road. So we hit the road again, but low and behold. We see the smoke, seems awfully close. AND DAMN if it isnt on the property next to ours on the west side. Fire had already jumped the road and moving east and west. And we couldnt do anything but get to the fire house and get equipment. I did a scene size up and called it in over the radio to dispatch, bob was driving. We got to the fire house and Chip and little Robert were just heading out. We were not far behind. We got there and called for 4 other stations. 8 houses threatened, and our property. Bob and got on the eastern head of the fire and got it stopped from heading more our way and toward Little Roberts house. Headed across the road and stopped a fire approaching a home and barns. It was in their side yard. Then refilled and stopped it moving into their back yard. Back around to the other houses and the other depts were there by that time. We were all fighting to save the homes. One house lost all of their out buildings, one was scorched but saved, and two others it was stopped in their yards. The county brought in a dozer to cut a fire line between the fire and the trees thank goodness, as the fire would have been catastrophic if it jumped the fire line. Winds were at 15 to 20 and we fought it for 3 1/2 hours. That was a little too close for comfort. If we had not gotten it stopped we would have been the next going east. Had EMT on standby to evacuate Mom if necessary but we would not have had time to load the donkeys or cows if we had had to. It started with Gene's golf cart shorting out and he had to walk from his pasture to the house to call in the fire.
We got home at 7:30 and I had already called Mom to tell her we were going to be late with her dinner. Fixed her dinner and Bob took it over while I showered, and then I fixed ours while he showered. We were resting by 8:30 and we were in bed at 9:30. This morning would like to have slept in. Darn it.
We got home at 7:30 and I had already called Mom to tell her we were going to be late with her dinner. Fixed her dinner and Bob took it over while I showered, and then I fixed ours while he showered. We were resting by 8:30 and we were in bed at 9:30. This morning would like to have slept in. Darn it.
Sunday, January 27, 2008
The living room floor is down
News Flash!!!
The living room floor is down. It really looks nice. All cleaned up and ready for the trim. If Bob feels up to it today, we will put down the trim and then we will be ready to put the finish coat on the floor, the hall and one side of the room at a time of course, so we dont have to move the furniture but once.
Then the faucets in my bathroom to replace.
Then the hall floor. We decided to put down the laminated flooring there, and figured we needed 3 boxes. Then the library with new decking and carpet. Then the front room with new carpet and new paint. Replace one wall in Bob's bathroom. New front door w/ arbor. Then the kitchen floor and paint the kitchen cabinets. Paint above the waines coating in the office. And then the siding on the sun room and paint the underpinning all the way around.
Boy, cant hardly wait.
The house will be finished!!!!!!!!! 18 years and it will be finished
Mom had a fair day yesterday. We are back to the dog lost issue again. She showed up at the back door the middle of the afternoon yesterday, saying she had lost all of her dogs. Walked her back to the house asking her what they looked like and what were their names. Pissed her off big time as she didnt know their names or what they looked like. We went inside and she was going out to look for them. Told her I would walk with her and she didnt like that. Told her that as she was not familiar with the roads that she might get lost and we would have to call out the Fire Dept and the Sheriff to find her and that wouldnt be too good. So we talked and she told me something was wrong and I told her yes there was. So she went in and put the dogs to bed. Went over to give her dinner and she was ready for a fight again, this makes two days of this, but when I put her food down for her she was ready to eat and we talked while she ate about other things. Left when she was finished after feeding the dogs.
Bob is naping in the chair and the dogs want in for breakfast, and thought I would make him blueberry muffins for breakfast so better get that started. Need to move a load of laundry that just finished and have finished my weight training exercise for today. Really like the shadow boxing with 6.5 lb weights.
The living room floor is down. It really looks nice. All cleaned up and ready for the trim. If Bob feels up to it today, we will put down the trim and then we will be ready to put the finish coat on the floor, the hall and one side of the room at a time of course, so we dont have to move the furniture but once.
Then the faucets in my bathroom to replace.
Then the hall floor. We decided to put down the laminated flooring there, and figured we needed 3 boxes. Then the library with new decking and carpet. Then the front room with new carpet and new paint. Replace one wall in Bob's bathroom. New front door w/ arbor. Then the kitchen floor and paint the kitchen cabinets. Paint above the waines coating in the office. And then the siding on the sun room and paint the underpinning all the way around.
Boy, cant hardly wait.
The house will be finished!!!!!!!!! 18 years and it will be finished
Mom had a fair day yesterday. We are back to the dog lost issue again. She showed up at the back door the middle of the afternoon yesterday, saying she had lost all of her dogs. Walked her back to the house asking her what they looked like and what were their names. Pissed her off big time as she didnt know their names or what they looked like. We went inside and she was going out to look for them. Told her I would walk with her and she didnt like that. Told her that as she was not familiar with the roads that she might get lost and we would have to call out the Fire Dept and the Sheriff to find her and that wouldnt be too good. So we talked and she told me something was wrong and I told her yes there was. So she went in and put the dogs to bed. Went over to give her dinner and she was ready for a fight again, this makes two days of this, but when I put her food down for her she was ready to eat and we talked while she ate about other things. Left when she was finished after feeding the dogs.
Bob is naping in the chair and the dogs want in for breakfast, and thought I would make him blueberry muffins for breakfast so better get that started. Need to move a load of laundry that just finished and have finished my weight training exercise for today. Really like the shadow boxing with 6.5 lb weights.
Friday, January 25, 2008
Icy Day
Ice seems to be here. Got up at 4:30am and sure enough, we had an icy glaze and it has steadily gotten worse. Precipitating at the moment and the dogs are out and running around in it. Except Asta of course. So I took the day off as am not going to deal with roads when I dont have to.
Mom has been having an interesting week and a half. Was really perky and with it for about 3 or 4 days and has been going down hill since. Seems like she cant hold a thought less than usual. The nurse continues to visit with her on Thursday or Friday, and they have left two paper books on "Care of the Altimers Patient". Thought that was really nice of them. Very good Books. She seems to be sleeping in shorts sprints, and awake the same. Never know when we may find her asleep or awake. She did finally take a shower and wash her hair, and even put a clean sheet over her others in an attempt to change her sheets. That was last weekend. Her dogs both now have cataracts so they dont see well. Of course Tanga had the stroke that caused her partial blindness.
Bob has started seeing my Chiropractor. He really likes Dr Chuck, as he is Holistic meds and his adjustments are not the cracking and popping like some. He has been to him twice, and he is feeling so much better. He wished he had gone when I tried to tell him to when I started. Anyway, he has fewer headaches already, in fact not one since he went a week ago, and he was having them every day most of the day. His foot feels better and is not as painful also. Soo progress, and Medicare and his insurance will pay for 80%.
The livingroom floor is still 3/4 finished, but the decking in the hall is down and ready for the hardwood floor. So we still make progress. Hopefully more today but time will tell,
Social Security finally contacted me this week. Seems that they needed a certified copy of my birth certificate, as I was born out of Texas. So sure enough, I had one that was so old it was yellow and I didnt see the seal, but Bob did when he held it up to the light. Yea yea. Didnt have to order one and delay the process for 3+ weeks. They said that they could process immediately as Bob took it directly to the Denton office, and they copied it, gave it back to him, and gave him a receipt and copy of my application. Pretty good!
Any way we make progress.
Bob was offered a full time job by Robby at his store as a maintence man, but he turned it down as he has other prospects with Kenny and Ellen and he likes doing the metal thing with Jim.
We are planning a big party March 29 for Bob and my birthday, and my retirement. Inviting all our friends and family. Lots of food etc. Figured I will send out the internet invite about Feb 15. with rsvp so I can get a head count.
Well need to do my exercise.
Mom has been having an interesting week and a half. Was really perky and with it for about 3 or 4 days and has been going down hill since. Seems like she cant hold a thought less than usual. The nurse continues to visit with her on Thursday or Friday, and they have left two paper books on "Care of the Altimers Patient". Thought that was really nice of them. Very good Books. She seems to be sleeping in shorts sprints, and awake the same. Never know when we may find her asleep or awake. She did finally take a shower and wash her hair, and even put a clean sheet over her others in an attempt to change her sheets. That was last weekend. Her dogs both now have cataracts so they dont see well. Of course Tanga had the stroke that caused her partial blindness.
Bob has started seeing my Chiropractor. He really likes Dr Chuck, as he is Holistic meds and his adjustments are not the cracking and popping like some. He has been to him twice, and he is feeling so much better. He wished he had gone when I tried to tell him to when I started. Anyway, he has fewer headaches already, in fact not one since he went a week ago, and he was having them every day most of the day. His foot feels better and is not as painful also. Soo progress, and Medicare and his insurance will pay for 80%.
The livingroom floor is still 3/4 finished, but the decking in the hall is down and ready for the hardwood floor. So we still make progress. Hopefully more today but time will tell,
Social Security finally contacted me this week. Seems that they needed a certified copy of my birth certificate, as I was born out of Texas. So sure enough, I had one that was so old it was yellow and I didnt see the seal, but Bob did when he held it up to the light. Yea yea. Didnt have to order one and delay the process for 3+ weeks. They said that they could process immediately as Bob took it directly to the Denton office, and they copied it, gave it back to him, and gave him a receipt and copy of my application. Pretty good!
Any way we make progress.
Bob was offered a full time job by Robby at his store as a maintence man, but he turned it down as he has other prospects with Kenny and Ellen and he likes doing the metal thing with Jim.
We are planning a big party March 29 for Bob and my birthday, and my retirement. Inviting all our friends and family. Lots of food etc. Figured I will send out the internet invite about Feb 15. with rsvp so I can get a head count.
Well need to do my exercise.
Sunday, January 20, 2008
Fire Fighting Today
We got called out on a structure fire today. Call went out at 11:50 am and we cleared at 17:30. Rainer, Bob, Patrick, and I on the engine. Nocona on the tanker. 4 other departments called in the assist. Log house was complete engulfed when we got there. We started squirting water, and Patrick and I took the first hose. We started squirting water and damn if things didnt start exploding. Seems the guy had black powder and bullets and guns in the house. That was blowing our windows on us. Shiiitttttt!!!. We backed off quickly. Both of us go a good dose of smoke etc, but we had our bunker gear on and oxygen so that helped. Was on a hose for 3 out of the 5 hours. Ran out of water twice and put a pump in their pool and pumped it dry. Then the tanker was back and we hooked up again and was in good shape. The other departments ran out too and had to wait for their tankers to get back. Man am I tired. We did get to save a few things from the ashes etc, pictures, and gun barrels etc.
I think I will be tired tomorrow. I know I am now.
I think I will be tired tomorrow. I know I am now.
Sunday, January 13, 2008
Added note
Lunch and Dinner went better. She refused lunch at first, but after I told her I would just set it on her tv tray, and she could have it later, steamed rice and mixed vegetables, with chicken. Jello with cool whip. She ate every bit while we sat and talked. She said I could come and get her clothes any time, and not to hurry. :) So she ate.
I planted all my Poinsettas out side, cleaned out the fountain and got it working again. Took down all the Christmas Decorations and got them packed ready to go back into storage. Baked all afternoon also. Got the kitchen storage room cleaned out and got my empty canning jars out there where they are supposed to be and out of the pantry to make room for the Red Pepper Jelly I made this morning, 24 jars.
Vacuumed the other side of the house and straightened up and cooked during all that all afternoon, so ended up doing 3 dishwashers of dishes. Last load of clothes in the washer.
Bob took over her dinner; home made shrimp gumbo, steamed rice, and an apple turn over with cool whip to hide the meds. She thanked him for bringing over her dinner. I was baking cookies so he took her food over.
We ate dinner and now we are putting down more of the living room floor. I am laying it out and Bob is nailing them down. I got too far ahead of him and he didnt like my lay out so I am waiting for him to catch up. So we make headway on the floor tonight. Yea yea.
I think I am getting tired.
I planted all my Poinsettas out side, cleaned out the fountain and got it working again. Took down all the Christmas Decorations and got them packed ready to go back into storage. Baked all afternoon also. Got the kitchen storage room cleaned out and got my empty canning jars out there where they are supposed to be and out of the pantry to make room for the Red Pepper Jelly I made this morning, 24 jars.
Vacuumed the other side of the house and straightened up and cooked during all that all afternoon, so ended up doing 3 dishwashers of dishes. Last load of clothes in the washer.
Bob took over her dinner; home made shrimp gumbo, steamed rice, and an apple turn over with cool whip to hide the meds. She thanked him for bringing over her dinner. I was baking cookies so he took her food over.
We ate dinner and now we are putting down more of the living room floor. I am laying it out and Bob is nailing them down. I got too far ahead of him and he didnt like my lay out so I am waiting for him to catch up. So we make headway on the floor tonight. Yea yea.
I think I am getting tired.
What a week - work and ending with Mom
Work was absolutely slammed this last week. Got in 10 hours of comp time which is unheard of in one week, as we are limited to certain rules. So really appreciate the time but the front desk with my partner gone 2 1/2 days, had contact with over 3500 students in 5 days. Sure was busy.
Tired to the bone each night and glad Bob helped with dinner and a glass of wine.
Sold tickets at Bowie Days yesterday all day with Bob and Ellen and and I, made $165 for the raffle. Bad day but better than nothing at all. Bob and Jim are up there today and they have not sold a one as of 10:05am and have been there 2hours. Said there was noone there, guess the Stock Show pulled them all away. I am home and went to the grocery store as we had no veggies, dog food, and drinks for mom, cleaning suppies for her etc.
Went over to give Mom her breakfast this morning and she started in as soon as we got there and got her breakfast in front of her. Seems that her dogs are dieing; they were at the vet this last Wed per her request for a check up. Told her no that one had had a stroke and the other was fine. She got really pissy with that. Then started in that she would take them herself and it went down hill from there. Wanted to know where her car was and Bob told her it couldnt be fixed and went to the junk yard, and that really pissed her off. He had tried to be nice about it by telling her it was getting fixed but she fixated on driving it. Told her she had on the same clothes for a week and we were going to clean house today and change sheets and she could change clothes and start fresh. Told her that her washer hadnt worked in a year and I did all her wash. She wondered why I took her clothes each week to wash. Then back to- she washed all her own clothes. Explained again with Bob telling her it didnt work. She really got pissy to the point I told her if she didnt stop that she was going to end up in a Nursing Home, as everyone thought that she should already be there at 85. No she was 89. Ok 89. Then she was moving in with Alan. Told her he had a companion and there was no room, and if she went up there she would go into the same place Dora Lee was. Then she was moving out. Said I could take her breakfast back. Told her no that she needed to eat. She tried to dump it on the floor. So saved that. So I told her that the next place she would be in was a nursing home and that bob and I taking care of her was the only thing that kept her out. Sooo, she was leaving. Told her that was fine, but when the sheriff picked her up that they would take her to the hospital and then to the care facility. Well she was leaving, so I told her let me help her to the door. Oh, there was a lot of back stepping let me tell you. No, she didnt want to leave. Ok then she needed to go back and eat. So she proceeded to raise her hand to and tell me she would knock the shit out of me. So I grabbed her by the arms and told her she better stop right there. She found she could not get away from me. So I turned her and headed her for the bedroom. Oh no she was not going in there. She went in there. She told me to get out and I told her we would come and go as we wanted as it was Ellen's house and we would still be taking care of her unless she went into the Nursing home. So we left, she locked the door and pulled the blinds. Kinda funny that. Any way, will see what lunch brings. May have to increase her meds by another 1/2 pill. Will talk to the Dr about that and see what he says.
Tired to the bone each night and glad Bob helped with dinner and a glass of wine.
Sold tickets at Bowie Days yesterday all day with Bob and Ellen and and I, made $165 for the raffle. Bad day but better than nothing at all. Bob and Jim are up there today and they have not sold a one as of 10:05am and have been there 2hours. Said there was noone there, guess the Stock Show pulled them all away. I am home and went to the grocery store as we had no veggies, dog food, and drinks for mom, cleaning suppies for her etc.
Went over to give Mom her breakfast this morning and she started in as soon as we got there and got her breakfast in front of her. Seems that her dogs are dieing; they were at the vet this last Wed per her request for a check up. Told her no that one had had a stroke and the other was fine. She got really pissy with that. Then started in that she would take them herself and it went down hill from there. Wanted to know where her car was and Bob told her it couldnt be fixed and went to the junk yard, and that really pissed her off. He had tried to be nice about it by telling her it was getting fixed but she fixated on driving it. Told her she had on the same clothes for a week and we were going to clean house today and change sheets and she could change clothes and start fresh. Told her that her washer hadnt worked in a year and I did all her wash. She wondered why I took her clothes each week to wash. Then back to- she washed all her own clothes. Explained again with Bob telling her it didnt work. She really got pissy to the point I told her if she didnt stop that she was going to end up in a Nursing Home, as everyone thought that she should already be there at 85. No she was 89. Ok 89. Then she was moving in with Alan. Told her he had a companion and there was no room, and if she went up there she would go into the same place Dora Lee was. Then she was moving out. Said I could take her breakfast back. Told her no that she needed to eat. She tried to dump it on the floor. So saved that. So I told her that the next place she would be in was a nursing home and that bob and I taking care of her was the only thing that kept her out. Sooo, she was leaving. Told her that was fine, but when the sheriff picked her up that they would take her to the hospital and then to the care facility. Well she was leaving, so I told her let me help her to the door. Oh, there was a lot of back stepping let me tell you. No, she didnt want to leave. Ok then she needed to go back and eat. So she proceeded to raise her hand to and tell me she would knock the shit out of me. So I grabbed her by the arms and told her she better stop right there. She found she could not get away from me. So I turned her and headed her for the bedroom. Oh no she was not going in there. She went in there. She told me to get out and I told her we would come and go as we wanted as it was Ellen's house and we would still be taking care of her unless she went into the Nursing home. So we left, she locked the door and pulled the blinds. Kinda funny that. Any way, will see what lunch brings. May have to increase her meds by another 1/2 pill. Will talk to the Dr about that and see what he says.
Sunday, January 06, 2008
Happy New Year
New year has started off very nicely. Only a few grass fires and ems calls.
Stanley and then George David and family visits were wonderful to end last year.
Mom has had a month of weekly visits with the Home Health Care Nurse and is still asks each time she comes " what are you doing here" and she always says "Dr McIntyre ordered it" and Mom calms down. She is definately getting more aggressive and argumentative. The Home Heath Care nurse is from Angel, so will call her that from now on. Angle said that her reports go directly to Dr Mc so will contact them when I get time from work and see if there is anything we need to know. Mom still wont take a bath and has raw places on her face, but she wont let me dr them so will have the nurse do it. Mom is eating a lot more for some reason. She has gone thru the room next to her bedroom again and that may count for why she is eating a lot more. She keeps wanting the dogs to go to the vet but when we try to get her to let us take them she wont let us. She demanded to know where her car was tonight, the one that broke down 6 years ago and has since gone to the crusher. Bob just tells her he doesnt know where it went. She doesnt remember her car in Colorado, and vagely the truck. We have had to buy her some clothes and just incorporate them into her wash, as I do all her wash here at the house as we cant keep anything plugged in at her house as she trys to use them and leaves them on or cuts them off in mid cycle and takes the clothes out of the washer dripping and hangs them up in her closet. We have quit looking for the lost purse, as she doesnt go out and we buy her groceries twice a month, and her prescriptions, man, one of them is $90 her co-pay, that is the Altimers meds.
Bob has been putting in a new hardwood floor in the living room. A floor company had ripped out a good hardwood floor from some house, was dumping it at the dump. Bob talked to them and they brought the trailer load out to our house and unloaded it in the car port. It is really good shape so we are putting it down in the living room. 1/2 done now, with new decking underneath the new floor and on top of the original sub floor. What a difference in temp and looks. Next will be the game room if we have enough flooring left, and the hall
No word from SS about my application for retirement March 31. Have left 2 messages, and all I got was a new card. Wierd. My retirement from TRS has been approved. So Mar 31 will be the day. Less than 90 days, yea yea
Did not get the Christmas Decorations down this weekend, but next weekend will be the time. Fire house meeting Tuesday night, and really busy at work this week. Last orientation, last first of a semister. woooooooo
Ok time to call it quits for tonight.
Stanley and then George David and family visits were wonderful to end last year.
Mom has had a month of weekly visits with the Home Health Care Nurse and is still asks each time she comes " what are you doing here" and she always says "Dr McIntyre ordered it" and Mom calms down. She is definately getting more aggressive and argumentative. The Home Heath Care nurse is from Angel, so will call her that from now on. Angle said that her reports go directly to Dr Mc so will contact them when I get time from work and see if there is anything we need to know. Mom still wont take a bath and has raw places on her face, but she wont let me dr them so will have the nurse do it. Mom is eating a lot more for some reason. She has gone thru the room next to her bedroom again and that may count for why she is eating a lot more. She keeps wanting the dogs to go to the vet but when we try to get her to let us take them she wont let us. She demanded to know where her car was tonight, the one that broke down 6 years ago and has since gone to the crusher. Bob just tells her he doesnt know where it went. She doesnt remember her car in Colorado, and vagely the truck. We have had to buy her some clothes and just incorporate them into her wash, as I do all her wash here at the house as we cant keep anything plugged in at her house as she trys to use them and leaves them on or cuts them off in mid cycle and takes the clothes out of the washer dripping and hangs them up in her closet. We have quit looking for the lost purse, as she doesnt go out and we buy her groceries twice a month, and her prescriptions, man, one of them is $90 her co-pay, that is the Altimers meds.
Bob has been putting in a new hardwood floor in the living room. A floor company had ripped out a good hardwood floor from some house, was dumping it at the dump. Bob talked to them and they brought the trailer load out to our house and unloaded it in the car port. It is really good shape so we are putting it down in the living room. 1/2 done now, with new decking underneath the new floor and on top of the original sub floor. What a difference in temp and looks. Next will be the game room if we have enough flooring left, and the hall
No word from SS about my application for retirement March 31. Have left 2 messages, and all I got was a new card. Wierd. My retirement from TRS has been approved. So Mar 31 will be the day. Less than 90 days, yea yea
Did not get the Christmas Decorations down this weekend, but next weekend will be the time. Fire house meeting Tuesday night, and really busy at work this week. Last orientation, last first of a semister. woooooooo
Ok time to call it quits for tonight.
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