Health Update #2

 Where we are now:

I was still testing positive as of this Tuesday morning while experiencing very minor symptoms. However, as a result of the heavy-artillery antibiotics for the diverticulitis, I ended up with a raging yeast infection, which now seems to be resolving after a course of treatment I self-diagnosed this as I was not about to head off to Express Care yet again. I was able to include treatment in this week's To Go order with the groceries. (Thank you , Hannaford!) 

SO still hacking and coughing and tired. He tested positive on Monday morning but went to do a pickup on his prescriptions yesterday and added a couple of at home tests to his order. Meantime the 5 tests I ordered online a week ago arrived so we're set for a bit, hopefully until we clear this. I am hoping for some clear warm weather soon so we can open the windows again - that was such a joy last week when the temps were in the 60s.

I have continued to sew, wearing a mask as I do so, although I find it hard to believe I'm still contagious after a week. But I can't be too safe. And production must continue. The first show is only 2 months away and I am behind in production. I'm still awaiting confirmation on 2 new shows - 1 day show in Brunswick in August and 2 day show in Topsham in November. Fingers crossed on both.

Meantime the sad news from Maine this week that we have joined the list of states with mass shootings. A 34 year old man, just released from prison here, shot his parents and another couple, then fled and shot at people on 295. He's in custody. Not sure how/where he was able to obtain a gun but the result is just horrendous. Lots of rambling posts on his Facebook about abuse etc. Will we ever know the truth? And what makes some people react this way while others either lay low or put their abuse to use for the common good? What part of our society signals these people that the way out of their personal hell is to pick up a gun? We need to change that. I should add that this past weekend also saw 3 different cases where people were shot - and in at least one case, killed - for making a simple mistake - turning into the wrong driveway, ringing the doorbell of the wring home, attempting to get into the wrong car. What tells people that the proper response is to pick up a gun and shoot? What tells people they need to answer the door with a gun? Or even travel with a gun? Why do people feel the need to be constantly armed? (I hate that there are politicians and others in the media who are peddling fear to achieve their agendas. What are THEY afraid of?)

Health News (sigh)

Whoever said "Getting old isn't for sissies" has my vote for quote of a lifetime. TWIL I have diverticulosis. I learned this because I developed a case of diverticulitis, a very painful inflamation/infection of one or more of the small pouches that develop on your colon with age. The pain sent me to Express Care Tuesday morning, where the diagnosis was first discussed. The only way to confirm this was to get a CT Scan and the only way to get that scan was a) have my PCP order it as an outpatient or b) go to the ER and have them order it. The first problem with a) was that because of the backups in the healthcare system there was no guarantee that I could get a scan in a timely manner. The second problem was that my PCP was off that day (My PCP's office is connected to Express care.) So it was option b) - I steeled myself for a long boring experience and arrived at the ER at 10:15 am. After an hour spent in the waiting room, I was taken for a blood draw and then back to the waiting room. (I should add they did not appear very busy as it was still early in the day.) Finally I was taken back and installed in a cubicle. (I should note here that this was the same day that a certain former POTUS had a date with the NYC DA and if it weren't for current technology I would have been totally out of the loop. My thanks to Seth Abramson for keeping me on top of all that transpired in NY.) It was easily another 2 hours before a PA came in to check my symptoms and explain that he would order a CT scan and if the diagnosis was correct, the usual protocol was a course of antibiotics, although new thinking is that it is not necessary. (So why confuse me with conflicting information?) I managed to convince a nurse that I really needed some sort of hydration and she brought me ice chips - I had not eaten breakfast nor had anything to drink other than a cup of coffee. Finally, I was wheeled off for my scan at 4:45 pm and back in my cubicle by 5 pm. Mercifully, the MD who took over for the PA was speedy with the results and he, being a gentleman closer to my age than the PA's age, told me he would recommend the antibiotics, which made sense to me. I finally left the ER at 5:30 and came home to a dinner and water and I was happy to be home. The pain has abated and I think I'm getting a handle on this. It will mean some changes in diet and life but they will all be good.

But we weren't done with the health news - The SO attended a meeting Friday morning with someone who later that day tested positive for COVID and dutifully notified everyone. Sunday morning SO woke up with stuffiness, a cough, scratchy throat - you get the picture. An at home test indeed showed he was positive so he's been laying low and I'm the one who has been sanitizing and masking and worrying. My big fear is that we will both end up in quarantine. And you never realize how many common touch points you have in a shared home until you have to think about it! I will be testing a bit later and if negative, will run out for a quick trip to get more tests. I'm hoping SO will take the initiative to take himself to the Dr. and get a prescription for Paxlovid so he can clear this as soon as possible.

Quick Update: no Dr. visit but we spent all Tuesday morning in the ER because he fell TWICE in the bathroom last night and cracked 3 ribs. No Paxlovid - contraindicated because of other meds - but some pain meds to help him function/sleep. It's just one thing after another some weeks. And after we got home, while he slept, I did an update with my PCP's office about my issue last week and I also talked to someone from the Maine CDC whose job it is to follow up on COVID cases for their stats. Hoping this is the last time I have to recount all of the past week.

Stay tuned!

Update # 2: As of Weds. am, I am positive although very minor symptoms. Fingers crossed here.

New Year, New Machine

 A couple of weeks ago, I made the mistake of thinking I could fix an issue with my workhorse 20+ year old Pfaff machine myself. Wrong!!! After taking it in to see if the local dealer could fix it and learning it would be weeks before it could be attended to, I decided to take advantage of the March sale and treated myself to an updated version of my machine. 

I'm still learning all the features but I already like the they have "fixed" several of the issues I had with the older machine. I was forever starting to sew without lowering the presser foot, resulting in a rat's nest of thread on the back side. with the new machine, I cannot start sewing until the foot is lowered. And they relocated the numerical keys that allow you to choose the pattern stitch so I can't mistakenly change the stitch. I think it's going to be a welcome addition to the stable of machine. And I plan to have the older machine attended to so it can be my back-up, which means I will have a machine to donate to Common Threads in Portland. They teach sewing skills to immigrants who then are hired by local manufacturers to create their products. They also have a store (which I have not visited...yet!) where they sell donated fabric, sewing supplies and machines.

 I'm currently finishing up some inventory that spans both machines. The tops were all pieced on the old machine, and quilted on the new one. Can't wait to get to piece on the new one! I'm not in a hurry this year as my first show isn't until the end of June in Belfast. I received my acceptance last week. It's a beautiful location, right on the waterfront, and well-attended. After that, I don't have a show until (maybe) mid-August (Brunswick), and then maybe September (Westbrook), October (Portland), November (Augusta then Topsham) and ending with December in Portland. A couple of these shows are in new venues so it will be interesting to see how that works out. 

****WARNING - SOAP BOX TIME****

 Sitting here the day after the former President of the United States has been indicted in New York and listening to one of his attorneys and all of his supporters bad mouth the District Attorney, witnesses and the entire Democratic party makes me sick. Hello??? The man has committed so many crimes I can't even begin to count them. He has belittled almost everyone he's met, including some of you who are defending him. All of your claims about Rule of Law, fairness, etc. are falling on deaf ears here because at the end of the days, if you do the crime you have to do the time. and I have no doubt that the Former President has done the crimes - there are tapes (Oh, lordy, there are tapes! among other proof). Let us be done with this criminal and let us truly move on and not feed his narcissistic hate-filled rage any longer. 

*****OFF THE SOAP BOX****

 Spring cleaning time in my house means we have rearranged the den, jettisoned a desk unit that will be repurposed for a sewing table and added a secretary desk with a smaller footprint. I have also weeded lots of trash and identified many items that will find new homes - not in my house! It's been a process - today is day 2 and hopefully will be the final day. And it's time to get started.

March Update

 I've made a modest start to replenishing the inventory. 2 runners and 2 placemat sets completed, with another 2 placemat sets ready to hand finish this coming Friday when I will accompany the SO to Saddleback. While he skis I will stay safe and warm in the lodge and happily stitch away. I love the atmosphere of a ski area and Saddleback is close to my heart. I did most of my skiing there and could ski all day and not look at a trail map, a definite plus in my book. But my downhill skiing days are behind me. My equipment is too old, as are my knees. I may still step into the nordic skis one of these days but not this year.

The craft show schedule is beginning to come together. I have yet to hear from either of the shows I have applied to about acceptance but it's still early. Perhaps later this month. And I was accepted as a member of Society of Southern Maine Craftsmen last month so I can apply for their shows. 

Horse racing is ramping up towards the Triple Crown races. No clear favorite yet. Once again, Bob Baffert will not be in attendance at the Derby although I suspect several of his horses will be as he has transferred several to his one-time assistant, Tim Yakteen. All because he was too lazy to monitor what ingredients were in an ointment his veterinarian prescribed for one of his Derby horses, Medina Spirit, who just happened to cross the line first and then was disqualified. After that came the media blitz, with Baffert even appearing on Fox News to claim he was a victim of cancel culture. What an ass! He's one of those persons who is never at fault in his mind. It's always the groom, the vet, etc. that causes his horses to be disqualified. And poor Medina Spirit didn't live long enough to see if his name would ever be cleared. As of today, the case is still pending. Horse racing needs to do better than to a) let cases drag on for years; and b) let high profile trainers continue to train while they file appeals or let them transfer horses to other trainers while still calling the shots.

 

Start of the New Year

 January brings many new things each year - Sales Tax payment (You're welcome, Governor Janet!), orders for fabric and batting, an appointment to have the Pfaff serviced, planning for what I need to concentrate on making to start the year and the decisions about which shows to participate in this year. I have said I'm going to cut back this year and there are definitely 3 shows from last year that will be dropped. My criteria for dropping shows: how long a drive for how much money earned, how the show is managed, and what sort of audience was attracted. One show I've done for several years won't make the schedule this year because it's just too far for too little return. I hate to drop this but it's in the Spring (not a prime buying season for quilted items) and it's far enough away that I need to leave home before dawn in order to get there with plenty of time to set up and then I have a long drive home at the end of the day. I love the people who manage this one - they are pleasant and helpful and their venue is so easy to access but it's just too long a day. Another 2 shows I'm dropping are local and 2022 was the first year I had done them but just did not yield the results I had expected. (Not enough publicity perhaps as I did not see much.) And the 4th show is again one I have done for several years but a change in location 2 years ago severely affected attendance and it is again too far for a one day show. This year's plans include applying for membership in another craft organization so that I can participate in their shows, including one that is a more manageable drive for me. We'll see if and how that works out for me.

    Another January activity has been clearing out obsolete paperwork from my home office and trying to get more organized in that room. I have a nice pile of donations headed to GoodWill after I sort through the fabric scraps in the studio to see what can join the clothes and out of date inventory on that trip. I also have performed a deep clean on the kitchen and some areas of the bedroom. 

    Fortunately the weather has not provided much in the way of snow to shovel. I had to clear the front walk once with the shovel and last week was able to just sweep the inch or so away. Today we're dealing with the snow/sleet/freezing rain trifecta. 

    Also have been reading a bit more. Latest book finished (in 1 sitting) was by an acquaintance who was  good friend of my dear friend Judy. Sandy details her journey through 2 brain surgeries to remove a non-cancerous tumor and how that journey changed the way she "consumes" health care. Those of us of a certain age were taught that the doctor was always right and we should not question their diagnoses because we do not have the expertise they have. What we all need to remember is that we are the ones living in our bodies and we know better than anyone when something is not right within. If you sense your medical professional is not hearing you find one who does hear you. It's difficult in these days as we often find our first contact with health care to be physician's assistants and nurse practitioners. It does not instill confidence especially when dealing with a serious health issue. And COVID has made this all the more difficult.

The End of the Show Season

 This past weekend was the end of the show season for LeafLady Quilts. The United Maine Craftsmen Holiday show in Portland is always my last and this year's was a success, a sort of make up show for all the less than stellar shows I found myself at this past year. I started off strong and while it slowed at times business was steady and I find myself faced with having to make more runners and placemats in the coming year. They are my best sellers and I love making them...they are the perfect size to finish in a hurry and I can gang several runners or sets of placemats to maximize my time. But I will not even look at fabric choices until January, and at that time I'll be looking to restock some of the solids and blenders I use as well as batting and other materials. And I'll be revising my show schedule for 2023 as I have decided to cut back on a few shows...time to cut the "less than profitable" shows. Prime example is a show in late April that I have done for several years - I love the show and the people who run it are great. The venue is top notch as I can drive right to my space inside - but it's a one day affair and makes for a very long day as it is over an hour from home. By the time I drive there, unload the car, move the car and get back inside and set up I feel as if I have already done a full days work. And I don't get home until well after dinner. I have decided it has to drop off the schedule as I really do not make much money. And there are a couple of other one day affairs I tried for the first time this year that will also not make the cut. I'm leaning toward concentrating on shows in November and December only as they seem to be the most profitable for me. No one really wants to buy quilted things in the middle of the summer. With that in mind, I also will be investigating membership in another organization so that I can (hopefully) participate in one or more of their shows.

    So now I'm just taking it easy, decorating the house for the holidays and enjoying reading and napping. Happy Holidays to all!

Back at it!

 So, it's been a somewhat disappointing show season so far. It started in April and has continued through the Fall - underwhelming attendance at shows leading to somewhat sad sales numbers. I even added 2 shows to replace a cancelled one and that hasn't really made a difference. The one bright spot was a small show I returned to this year after several year's absence - Basically a 5 hour show on a Sunday afternoon, 10 minutes from my house. The fee is nominal which mens that it doesn't take many sales to break even, which I more than did. I'm now down to the last 3 shows of the year, all 2 day affairs, and last year they were my best shows. Fingers crossed for this year as well, but the economy and general lack of positivity as we head into Tuesday's elections. (More on that later!) I still have hope and that hope keeps me creating. But it's been harder this year as my duties as UMC membership committee coordinator have pulled me away from my creating time. So much time spent responding to inquiries about shows with so little result. Changes need to be made next year and I will admit to looking forward to relinquishing my cities at next year's elections.

    The elections - ah, just 3 more days of the relentless ads on tv - particularly odious this year due to all the PAC dollars being spent. DC needs to stay out of state elections! And the return of a couple of grievance candidates in Maine casts us in a particularly bad light. LePage and Poliquin have teamed up and are spending lies (not just misinformation but LIES) about their opponents. It's a constant back and forth with no time for any substantive debate. And I have serious doubts that either will accept the results should they (rightly) lose. Poliquin has a history of objecting to the ranked choice method he apparently agreed to run under and will likely object again. I just hope and pray the people of Maine can see through all the lies and recognize that the relative peace and safety we have enjoyed even during a pandemic should continue but will not if we change leadership.

    Horse racing's big celebration, the Breeders Cup, concluded yesterday. Amazing performance by Flightline - shades of Secretariat with the multiple-lengths win in the Classic and for one of the lesser known trainers in the game. Sadly, 2 injuries to high-profile horses, hopefully neither life-threatening. Domestic Spending was vanned off with an unknown injury that turned out to be a fractured pelvis. (Horse's first race after being off for over a year - wonder what Chad was thinking with this move?) And Epicenter was vanned off with what turned out to be a displaced lateral condylar fracture of a foreleg - surgery this morning. Suspect both might be career ending. 

    And finally, the Astros won the World Series last night, beating the Phillies 4 games to 2. Only on my radar because it means that Dusty Baker finally has a ring. I followed him from the Giants, to the Cubs and beyond. I didn't even realize he was the Houston manager until the series began. (In related Giants news, Bruce Bochy has signed to be the manager of the Texas Rangers.)