AT LONG LAST

 

During the past two months, I think I only wrote two blog posts. This is extremely unusual, since blogging is my addiction. I can't stop, even when my posts are crappy ad nauseam.

Despite my flaws....

Wait a moment, Jon. You only have maybe one flaw. You're nearly perfect.

Despite my few flaws, my faithful blog readers never abandon me. They are the sole reason I blog. I would never intentionally abandon my blog......if so, there would have to be a very good reason.

Here's the good reason.

I like my room here in Signature - - but it has one flaw (much like myself).

I can't get a connection to the Internet in this room. I tried everything posssible. Even members of the administration here have worked at it, but couldn't get a connection, either.

Ever since the past few years - when I spent so much time in hospitals and rehab - the Internet has been my only connection to the outside world. I blog, text, email, do online banking, pay my monthly bills, watch endless videos on YouTube, buy food from Walmart, purchase stuff I don't need. I couldn't exist without the Internet.

Cut the endless crap, Jon. Condense. Get to the point!

Hey, amigo, verbosity is part of my charm.

SO...........

the good members of the administration got some kind of technical thingie on Amazon that connects errant phones to the Internet. I truly don't know what it's called or how it works.

Today  it worked!!! I finally have Internet access.

Today was filled with some positive things. I got the Internet, got an air mattress for this uncomfortable bed, and I sat in a chair to get my legs circulating.....

MY NEW AIR MATTRESS

I know you're waiting anxiously for a new medical update.

Unfortunately, it's not positive news.

So much has happened lately that my weary mind is muddled. I completed three weeks of radiation therapy last week. 15 days, instead of the intended 20. 

It helped somewhat. They had to radiate six cancerous "wounds" and/or lumps. Afterwards, I noticed that four are not exactly healing as they should. And I presently have severe soreness in my arm, where some of the largest lumps are. A very bad indication that ......things aren't going well. I also have some other problems that show up on my PETscan. 

I really don't feel like delving into unpleasant things right now.

On my last day of radiation, the oncologist said if I feel like I need further treatments, I should contact them again.

Yesterday I had the head nurse contact them, and an appointment will be schedualed.

As usual, I still have lots more to say, but I'll cut it short for now. It's always an uphill struggle. Always. But I'm willing to climb.....

Jon, exhausted but not ready to surrender. ❤️

Top picture is one of my old AIs. The clouds are parting, perhaps there's a home somewhere on the horizon. 

Somewhere.

P.S.

Many thanks to

Jane from Strawberry Plains

and

Dorothy from NH

💚💚 your thoughtfulness is appreciated.

SPOOKY NIGHT, GENUINE FEAR

 I had written a new blog post yesterday. After the very unnerving incidents that happened to me last night, I deleted that new post. I feel compelled to tell you about what is happening to me lately here in Gainesboro at Waters Rehab.

I now fear for my safety, and I'm not jesting.

I came to Gainesboro in December. Since then, I've had four different roommates.

Roommate #1

Sammy, a former drug addict and ex con. I didn't care about the poor guy's past. The problem was, he had very erratic behavior. Yelling,  cursing, throwing tantrums. He constantly peed in his bed. The urine would flood the floor and eventually flowed under my bed. Not exactly pleasant.

I never complained about Sammy, but he was  (mercifully) transferred to another room.

Roommate #2

Leo, who had dementia. His wife was the woman who talked incessantly. When I got to know her, I really  liked her. She was a good woman. Unfortunately, Leo passed away.

Roommate #3

Glen, a polite and quiet man - - but he had a major memory problem. He kept coming over to my side of the room, looking in all the closets for the restroom. I told him the toilet was on the other side of the room. And I pleaded for him to be very careful, since he had a habit of falling. I kept my "call" button handy, in case he needed  help.

One night I awoke from a sound sleep. I was startled to see an old man, clad in white, standing at the side of my bed. I initially thought it was a ghost. It was Glen, looking for the restroom! This happened numerous times.

Glen was moved to another room. He's a nice guy....but weird.

Wait, my good people. You ain't heard nothin' yet!

Roommate #4

I don't know his name, but the man is completely insane - - crazier than a bed bug.

It would take an extremely loooong blog post to tell all the bizarre things he does. It started with minor (??) things - - like throwing food trays, pooping in his bed, shouting and calling for unknown people.

Then...........

his insanity was focused on me!

As you probably know, I always wait until late at night to do things I need to do - - - like shave, wash my hair, eat my stash of Walmart food, brush my teeth, etc.

Last night, a spooky atmosphere prevailed. Severe storms, lots of thunder, lightning, and torrential rain.

Soooo...

While I was eating my Walmart food, my demented roommate ripped open the dividing curtains between us. He sat on the edge of his bed, and stared at me while I ate.

I was extremely uncomfortable, he had a diabolical look on his face.  I completely ignored him.

After I ate, I tried to shave. He kept gawking at me....and suddenly started throwing things at me! Tissues, plastic cups, a fork.....

this really upset me, but I kept ignoring the cretin. He suddenly closed the curtains between us.

I tried to resume my tasks when

I felt something tugging the blankets on my bed. I looked down and saw his long bare arm, sticking out from the curtains, pulling the blankets off my bed! I couldn't believe it! And how the hell could he reach that far??

I yelled!

While I was yelling, the bastard somehow grabbed my urinal, which was hanging on the side of my bed.

I was absolutely stunned.

He squished the urinal (it's made of plastic) and threw it on the floor!!! Thank God it was empty.

These insane antics terrified me. I pressed the emergency call button...praying he didn't have a knife.

Nurses and workers came into the room. They offered to move my bed to a different room, but I refused. Why the hell should I surrender?

They moved my bed as far from the "roommate" as possible. He wouldn't be able to reach me because he only has one leg and can't stand up.

One of the workers here had pre-warned me that my new roommate was a one-legged monster, but I took it lightly.

I was hesitant to sleep last night for fear he might kill me - - single legged or not.

Now, this morning (Monday) he threw a tantrum and started smashing everything in his reach.

I don't know where they took him, but he's presently out of this room.

I'm exhausted and tired of writing. More later....if I survive.

Jon, 

baffled, flustered, confounded, unnerved, enraged.....(hell, you can fill in the blanks)

I didn't edit this post and I don't care.

DID I MISS.....?

 

Did I miss Valentine's Day? Love is very often misconstrued. Methinks it's merely infatuation or lust. Infatuation fades quickly when reality sets in. Lust can.....last....awhile

I've been infatuated dozens of times. I've been in lust hundreds of times. Really.

I've been in deep, passionate, unrelentingly devoted true love only once. Until death do us apart.

And that person is now gone, having died much too young.

There are no happy endings.

Nothing new here. I'm still trapped in this #*!!%#**!! Gainesboro rehab facility (you fill in the blank).

The horrific "wound" on my ankle still drains and bleeds. I had two bouts of antibiotics. It is VERY  painful and never heals.

Today the wound care nurse said it's looking better.

It's impeding me from having physical therapy. Among other things.

I'm not in the mood to write about "other things".

Dinner, anyone?

One of the workers here told me that Walmart now delivers perishable food here, like they do in Jamestown.

The thing is, Signature Health Care in Jamestown is about a mile from Walmart.

Here in Gainesboro, the nearest Walmart is 30 miles away, in Algood (that's the name of the city). A big difference.

In Jamestown I got fresh food quickly.

Here in Gainesboro..........

Well, 

last Sunday I ordered deli food from Wlmt. It was supposed to be delivered at 4:00 p.m.

Got a delayed message.

And another one.

My food finally arrived at 7:00 p.m. I wasn't angry. Unexpected things happen.

I had an apple and walnut salad and a New York deli sub. A bottle of Coke and a nutrition drink.

The apple/walnut salad has long been my favorite.

Apple slices, candied walnuts, cranberries, chicken, blue cheese.....a sweet onion vinaigrette dressing. (sp?) I don't spell it that way, but Google does.

Unfortunately it was wilted and not fresh, but I ate every morsel.

The Coke tasted good because the company finally improved the flavor.....using the old flavor.

Nutrition drink?

I aways buy Bolthouse (curious name), they never use preservatives or anything artificial.

They have other unusual flavors, but chocolate is my fave (don't you hate people who use unnecessary abbreviations?).

The deli sub sandwich didn't taste fresh at all. So late in the day, I undoubtedly got the last of everything.

So....

will I order deli food from Wlmt. again? 

Hell, yea. I'm a masochist.

Jon ❤️

waiting to see how many people liked this post, compared to the precious three (or was it four?) who loved my previous post.

Relax. It's only bleak sarcasm.

COULD BE AN UPDATE

Update? Who knows? It could be.

So I'm sitting in my hospital bed yesterday, here at Signature Health Care.

A guy suddenly comes in, wearing jeans and a T shirt, holding a clipboard.

I first think he's from maintenance. He's from Hospice.

There are so many people coming and going in my room all day and night that I can't keep track.

The Hospice nurses are nice. The men are weird. Somber. Uninspiring.

This one is dressed like James Dean, jeans, T shirt - with an icy attitude kinda like an Angel of Death (with a clipboard).

He starts the questions.

"Do you like it here? Are they treating you right?"

Heck. It's better than Hades.

He looks slightly disappointed when I give a positive answer.

"Is your appetite good?"

Yea. It's fine. When the competent cook is on duty.

He seems rather annoyed that I have an appetite.

"Do you sleep well?"

As well as I can, in this uncomfortable hospital bed. With the TV blasting all night across the hall where a 95 yr. old man resides.

He seems disappointed that I sleep.

Let me be blunt. People from Hospice don't want you to be well. They want you to die. If you give any indication that you're going to live.....they recoil like Dracula does when you show him a wreath of garlic and a cross.

I was doing quite well with the questions, until.....he finally nailed me with questions about the dermatologist.

I knew he was casually leading up to something. Like an uncertain date.

It was here that I fluffed. His grave digger charm duped me.

I blurted out that the bleeding lump was still on my arm. So far I haven't heard from the dermatologist. They're trying to schedule an appointment with a surgeon.

"A surgeon??!"

Dracula was more stunned than if I sprinkled him with holy water. Then the lecture came.

"If you are treated by a doctor or surgeon, you can't be with Hospice. We'll have to drop you."

Our relationship ended like that.

After Mr. Sunshine left, I told a nurse. She in turn told Kayla, one of the top social workers. Kayla doesn't exactly like me because I'm outspoken, but she's a hard worker and always gets the job done.

I haven't heard from Kayla yet, but I have learned that Hospice initially allowed me to have my April 30th appointment with the dermatologist.

If they refuse to let me see the surgeon , I'll drop Hospice.

I can probably get Quality Home Health Care again, and they have physical therapy.

The wound on my arm hasn't hemorrhaged lately. In fact it only bled a little yesterday. Probably because I only have about an eighth of my blood left.

So what have I been doing?

Mostly worrying, enduring panic attacks and migraines (not kidding - - I had an ocular migraine today).

Wondering if my house is still standing.....?

Wondering if I'll ever walk again.

Will I ever see my home again??

Enduring constant annoyances here in Rehabland.

I'm still making AI images which, I know, probably annoy you.

The image at the start of this post. A magpie perched on an hourglass. What does it signify??

Only I know.

I have dozens of new images. You'll see them...eventually.

I still shop on the Internet, buying things I don't need.

Chocolates, jelly beans, books

I bought another Medieval cross from an archaeologist I know. It's bronze, circa 1400 or possibly older.

As if this isn't enough to enthrall you......how about another meal that I was served....

Egg sandwich on a croissant ( how the heck do you spell it??) with tomato and okra salad, chips, and cantaloupe....and vegetable soup!

That's enough for now. I'm tired of writing....you're tired of reading.

Wait a minute - - -

A new Pope? An American Pope??

I don't like the name Leo. What will come next....Pope Butch? Pope Bruno? Pope Egor?

I'd like to be the Pope. People would worship me. They would kiss the ring on my hand.

I could molest choir boys....

OH DON'T PANIC!!!

I'm jesting, of course.

Jon, innocent humorist 💙

BTW

A special thank you to Jane of TN. I really appreciate the card and your kind thoughts.

And....

Dorothy and Patrick - - I just got your card this morning. Thanks for thinking of me.