The Blender

Today was one of those completely awful days, by 6:08am my day had already hit the blender.  Eric's morning aide was a no show,  luckily John did not have to work today. Between the 2 of us we managed to get Eric out the door at a reasonable time.

On the way to program the tire pressure light went on on the van's dashboard. So as I was getting Eric out of the van I checked the tires. Thank goodness none were flat, they just looked a little low. Eric was also very disappointed that his one on one advocate was out sick today. So as soon as I found out who had Eric, I gave my usual how he slept and what was needed for today.

Then it was off to get gas for the van at Quick Stop, I got a quart size cup of unsweetened iced tea because I thought that seemed like a good plan at the time. Then it was off to Jack Furrier's Tires to get the tires checked out. Thank goodness I brought my knitting, I got 4 inches knit on a hat, while I was waiting and also borrowed a plug to charge my phone which was almost out of battery.  The good news is that there was nothing majorly wrong with the tires. They were just 4 pounds of pressure low. So I would like everyone who is reading this blog post to get their tire pressure checked out this week as the weather changes. Thanks in advance.

Since I was so close to Trader Joe's, I picked up some things for dinner. I put the groceries away. Then I finished my 2 loads of laundry for the day, I really had more but decided to go on strike. I thought the same with house work too.

I also have to start looking into a lift system to get Eric in and out of bed. Right now we are grandfathered in with the agency, but I don't know how long that will last. Eric is quite a few pounds more than the 50 pounds or so that is now acceptable for lifts. So I am going to look into something called helping hands.

After leftovers for lunch, I decided it was time to do a little weaving to zen out. That did not last long. I got a call that Eric had thrown up at program. So I stopped weaving. Asked John for a mommy time out, by this time I really needed one, he just laughed. So I went to pick up my sick boy. Yes he will be home tomorrow too.

I went to Target to get a few things that we needed, I used my paper coupons but forgot to use the cartwheel app at the register, I lost about $1.00 in savings. Oh well there is always next time.

While dinner was cooking I went back to weaving. I had to refill my shuttle, so I did not get the scarf done today. I am hoping that the tension headache that turned into a migraine goes away soon, I know its going to be a long day tomorrow with Eric home, but it will be a better day.

Eric's Vacation Day 1

Eric's vacation day one went pretty well. I stopped at Starbucks for my free drink and then on to the dealership to do routine maintenance's on my brick. I would personally like to thank all the other customers for letting me switch the TV to the Disney channel instead of the news. Eric was really happy about that. I did manage to get a small hank of spinning done. I am still not knitting but my hands are feeling much better and I am on less aspirin.

We then went on to the VA to drop of a case of Christmas cards. Someone gave them to me and said that if I sent them out Eric would be cured. Well I had Eric deliver them in person and guess what he still has ML4. I am quite sure that the person meant well.

Then it was off to World Care to drop of some supplies destine for Joplin or some other community in need. Eric does love helping other people and doing charity runs, so I guess there will be a Goodwill run next week.

We then decided that we were to tired to head to Target, so we headed home for a nap. Eric was out before I was. After nap time we had a new aide for Eric, I don't know if it was him or me not feeling well but it did not go well.

John was gracious enough to bring home dinner so I did the polite thing and cleaned up from dinner. I know it is just so difficult to put takeaway out in the trash. Well it is getting late so good night all.

Is it Still Valentine's Day?

OK, I am the first to admit that I am very grumpy after a long night with Eric. A lot of knitting got done just not what I wanted to work on which is Teri’s blanket, but let’s face facts here it is impossible to keep a straight count when I am up and down, then throw in tired. So I worked on a plain square blanket that has 1 yarn over per row till I get to the middle, then the decreases start.

I finally got Eric to sleep at 5 am and took the luxury of sleeping till 7:30 am, just enough time to re-set up the pump – don’t ask, give meds and put Eric on the bus. Yes I really did put Eric on the bus; he was happy and feeling better. I was very tired and grumpy.


It was at lunch that I realized that I had skipped breakfast, actually I could not remember if I had eaten or not and was too tired to care or feel hungry. I went out with Marge and thankfully she drove. When we got to one of our favorite lunch spots we both order chicken tacos. What got delivered was chicken and cheese enchiladas. When I said that I did not order this the waitress got this old fashion I put this plate in front of you and you are going to eat it attitude, well she may have intimidated Marge, but I sent mine back and got what I ordered in the first place delivered with an attitude that did not belong in public. So this is my rant for today. Treat your customers with the respect you wish to be treated; after all they are paying your salary; and if you can’t do that please, please find a job without of public contact.

But the day was not all that bad. After lunch we stopped to pick up some medicine for Eric and this is where the Ganga* of the day kicked in. With Eric’s medicine I got a $25.00 gift card, that’s good but it got even better. I bought 3 packages of toilet paper marked down $5.00 per pack with my loyalty card and a bottle of Tylenol I had 2- $3.00 coupons with a $15.00 purchase, so I knocked off $21.00 off the total price and then used the gift card that they just gave me in the pharmacy to pay for it and still have a balance of $7.54 left on the gift card. So this was not a bad shopping trip for this tired mom.

Dinner is filet of leftover so I am not cooking tonight. I am off to try to play some Wii tennis if I can find the disc. So have a good night and enjoy your families.

*Ganga is slang in Tucson for a totally awesome deal.

A Very Good Day

After getting Eric on the bus for late start Wednesday, I headed over to the Honda Dealership to get an 1-A service and new wipers. I kept my self busy by organizing my coupon folder, throwing away expired coupons and filing the recently cut coupons. Once that was done I moved over to the TV area to work on some knitting. I made good progress I have almost finished the first fingerless glove, since they are black I will have to wait for good light to finish them.

The next choice was shopping at Target or going out to lunch. I choose Target and did some semi-retail therapy. I don't think you can really call it retail therapy if your basket is filled with food, sundries and cleaning supplies. Talking about cleaning supplies I cornered the market on the Mega Shower Foamer Scrubbing Bubbles, they had coupons on the cans, so I got 4 cans and saved 4 dollars. I will finish the bathroom floor later.

I had a great time with my coupons I saved $56.68 in coupons, and received a coupon for 5 dollars of my next visit, the cashier said I was the recession buster queen for the day. I guess she has not seen many people use the coupons to the max. I do have to say that it took almost as long to ring up the coupons as it did the items in my shopping basket. I do have to say that I left some coupons for other shoppers, I did not feel we needed 2 bags of chips and I had a better coupon on the toilet paper. As a bonus Target now gives 5 cents per bag rebate credit. Since some of my shopping bags are almost as old as Teri so I am sure that they have paid for themselves already.

I took 45 minutes to put almost everything away. I don't know how it got to be 3 pm. but I did make a sandwich for lunch and was still munching on lunch as Eric's bus pulled up. I really think it was colder when Eric got off the bus today, then when I put him on the bus, at least they covered him with a blanket to send him home.

I went a little teary eyed today when yet another one of Eric's doctors called to say that he was yet again at the top of their list for their limited supply of H1N1 vaccines. This was the second call this week. I think that there is a huge elephant in the room that everyone acknowledges but refuses to talk about. He did get his shot on Monday and I hope that it kicks in before the flu over takes his school.

I guess it is time to do a little cleaning and straighting before John gets home. I have an easy dinner planned, fish and chips with broccoli. I can open bags and boxes with the best of them.

Have a great evening and enjoy your families.