Killer Back Pain

Monday dawned bright, clear and cool. There was a breeze that made it feel cooler than it was (15°). My morning mostly involved functioning with a wet wound. I had to figure out how to keep warm without wearing anything that covered my wound. But I know that each day it is getting better so making all the adjustments is worth it.

My back is sore now, as well. It makes me want to walk hunched over like an old man. To walk upright, I must walk slowly. This is ungainly aging; it’s one thing after another.

I have nothing at all on my calendar this week except two Zoom calls. I love living such a low demand lifestyle; solitude works very well for me. We walked with our friends in the early morning, came home to futz a bit before lunchtime, and after lunch I lay in the sun to dry my wound, and that always causes me to crash. I came inside and went directly to bed to nap.

Then I did spot watering everywhere before settling down to read. As the day progressed by back got worse and worse. I’ve done something to a muscle on my lower back on the right side. Oh my God it’s painful, and with my back and my arm hurting so much, I am not a happy camper.

However, last night I slept in a long-sleeved tee shirt and there were just a few tiny stains on the sleeve from seepage. I wanted to not wear a bandage because the bandage makes everything turn wet and I want to keep the wound dry. I want a scab to form.

This morning began with depressing news. I agreed to bake cakes for a person I barely know but who is a good friend of Ali and Pete. I’m baking four cakes for 100 people; two are German chocolate cakes with pecan/coconut filling, and two are white sponge cakes with strawberries and cream filling. I’m going to have two days from Hell on Friday and Saturday.

Last night twice, the TV came on. The second time was at about 3:30 this morning, and I could not go back to bed because the animals wanted to eat. Sigh. It’s going to be one very long day! I shall start by watering, then we’ll walk, and then I’ll read and I pray that my back heals quickly.

Bandage Off

Well … the big event of my day yesterday was taking off the bandage on the wound on my arm. My accident was a week ago, and it was still an open oozing wound. Ali changed my bandage for me two days ago, but it was hurting and itching today, so I took the bandage off.

For a while, I lay in the sun. It was only 16°; the wind felt cold so I could sustain laying in the sun. I wanted solar power to help create a seal to the exposed flesh. I was very satisfied with the change I saw in it by the time I bandaged it before going to bed

This morning, I took off the bandage again and found my wound was wet all over again, so I’ll keep it exposed today as well. Finally, I see progress and I like feeling that I am managing the treatment of the wound well. I imagine when I bandage it tonight, it will be wet again tomorrow morning. But that’s the way it’s going to go. Keeping it exposed to the elements every day feels good.

The only work I did yesterday was watering. I had to move a trickling hose around to some of the trees so that they got a good soak. They were looking rather droopy. I’ll likely spot water today in the afternoon, but I’ll also do some sunbathing to help dry my wound, and I’ll read. I can use my arm, so I may even do some light chores.

It’s predicted to rain on Thursday. I have my doubts, but at least we may get a cloudy day to I get a bit of a break from watering. Then warmer weather is forecast and so there’ll be lots of watering to do.

Dinner Day

When I woke up yesterday morning, I knew something was wrong. Fred was not in the bedroom howling, and when I got up and dressed, Ethel was not on the counter awaiting breakfast. I began searching for them, and soon Fred came to say good morning, but there was no sign of Ethel. Then I saw why.

The door of the cattery was open. I found Ethel outside, but she was wise to me. She’d come when I’d call, but she wouldn’t let me get too close. She took off and started racing around the backyard. I had a hunch. I came in and blocked the little passage they have through the door between the house and the cattery, and I opened the other door that opened on the deck and Ethel came running inside. Phew, order restored.

 Once reunited and fed, I got busy in the kitchen. I made the mushroom spread first, and then I made the salad. I’ll never made it again. It takes for fucking ever to make, but I’m really looking forward to tasting it. Almost everything I’m serving is new to me.

Once that work was done. I took Her Highness for a walk. She is much better today, thanks to the skills that I’ve developed in treating her feet. We only went for a short walk, but at least we were walking again. Then I came home to make the salad dressing and to clean and tidy up in the house. Plus, I set up the chairs and table in the garden in case we assemble out there for our canapés.

Then it was more work on the f’ing salad, the most labour-intensive dish. Then I vacuumed and tidied, toasted sliced baguette for the spreads, de-veined and peeled the shrimp, and then came a crisis. My garden was full of seriously wilting plants, so I had to do work I did not want to do. I watered for just over an hour on a day when I was pressed for time.

With lots left to do at Pinecone Park, at 14:30, I went into the village for some more supplies, I walked Her Highness, and then I came home to finish setting up the patio table and chairs, and I set the table. Then I could relax. I had an hour to chill, which was good, because when I get overly tired my speech goes to crap.

I may never entertain again. What one hell of a lot of work it is. But I may feel it was all worth it by the end of the evening. I was happy that we were going to have the canapés in the garden. The table looks so nice hen it is set and there are my hand-blown glasses at each setting. But tired?! Man-oh-man yes! I walked 14,000 steps yesterday, most of them were in the kitchen and around the yard. My walks with Sheba were short.

I got all that I wanted to do done. The main I cooked while my guests talked at the table after our salad. But everything was prepped. Everyone was impressed with my meal, and they were generous with their praise. I felt great, and I will make that salad again because it is divinely delicious.

They left around 20:00, and I immediately got busy with doing all the dishes. I do not have a dishwasher, so it was all done by hand. I was chuffed about rising in the morning on My Day and having the entire day to myself and no dishes to do. And … leftovers! Yum! I’m going to have the most excellent meal tonight.

I went to bed with a book just before 21:00. I’d walked 16,000 steps by the time my head hit the pillow. But what a great night! Perhaps the best thing about the day was how much better my arm felt after changing the bandage. I am going to change it every two days from now on. It’s going to be a long haul. There is no scab yet. It is still a raw wound.

Madame!

Sheba has been dealing with a damaged foot. This is her curse. Yesterday, she would not walk at all. I urged her outside to pee, otherwise, she was housebound all day. I was relieved to get her out to pee before I left for my 8:00 dentist appointment.

When I got home, I had an email from Sue, my respiratory therapist, who relayed that my lung test revealed my lung capacity at 100%! That’s up from 20% last August, and what better proof of the efficacy of Tezspire is there?

It wasn’t easy, but my phone is now registered with Koodo as belonging to a person requiring text communication with the 911 system. I feel a lot safer now.

After my teeth cleaning, I went shopping for things with which to make my dinner for tonight. I needed four things that they did not have in stock: radishes, parsley, walnuts, and lemons. Lemons! My palette pays a price living here. I called Ali to see if she had some lemons, and she did, and walnuts and daikon! I was set. I have Italian parsley in my garden.

My goal for the day was baking a meringue roll up cake. It did not go well, but it is salvageable. Besides, meringue tastes fabulous no matter how unattractive it is. I baked a flat meringue on a cookie sheet. I added corn starch to make it malleable. Once it was baked and cool, I slathered on a layer of sweetened cream cheese infused with mint, and over that, I piped lemon curd over that, and then I rolled the meringue as tightly as I could in parchment paper and I put it in the fridge. 

Once that was done, I made a pea pesto spread that I love. I got the recipe from Kris Gabbott, my friend here on Gabe. I’ll serve it and a mushroom spread that I made this morning with toasted baguette slices.

I cleaned up all the dishes, and I felt as tired as I do after a day working in the yard. The chaise was calling me; dinner was calling me. I was beat. The evening was the usual routine, but it was very, very welcome. I loved having my feet up and doing nothing but watching a movie after a busy day. 

I watched Madame, on Kanopy. I loved, loved, loved it. It’s such a clever plot and script. It’s loads of fun. The actors do a great job, but it’s the writer that’s the star of the show. I’m constantly choosing a movie by its log line. I watch at least one movie every day; sometimes two. Taking a chance on Madame, I was very richly rewarded.

Today I must make a complex salad that I have never made before. It’s blanched asparagus, walnuts, bacon, radishes, herbs and a dressing that I think will be fabulous. But it needs lemon. Sigh. I hope they have some when I go shopping, or I will have to use that horrid lemon juice that you buy.

I also must make the main. I was going to make a pasta that is my favourite (with lemon) but that’s not going to happen, so I’ll make a creamy shrimp and bacon pasta. I haven’t consumed bacon for over thirty years, so no guilt. I love making and serving new recipes when I entertain. Tonight is the first time I’ve entertained since Christmas.

I’ve been walking three times a week with Regina for almost eight years. Meryl joined us a couple of years ago; Nola’s been walking with us for probably five years. These are people with whom I am fluent. The part of my brain that makes me stutter and have seizures is my fight or flight centre. It’s stuck on high alert. It’s constantly monitoring my environment and my emotions. Understanding all this makes it logical that I am at my most comfortable with people I have seen so often for so many years.

When I had my accident and hurt my arm, I felt no pain. When the paramedics bandaged me, same thing, I felt no pain. It started hurting three days ago and now it really bothers me. Tonight, when my friends arrive, I am going to ask one of them to help me change my bandage. I can’t do it alone.

I have a busy day today before the dinner party. I’m going to crash after dinner.