Tuesday:
Donna came and cleaned. We drove to Larry's house to get dolly/hand truck and also took some special flowerpots from the kitchen lower cabinet.
We bought a chicken pot pie for dinner, then had brunch at Maple Street Biscuit. Ford went to his PT at 11:45 and I walked 3000 steps while talking with Mom. Back home, said goodbye to Donna and gave her our large cooler we couldn't give away to anyone else (too tall for our new truck bed). I prepared our appetizer (same crostini, fig jam, bleu cheese with fresh basil), peeled the dinner carrots, showed AA what to do to bake the chicken pot pie and carrots. AA ate the leftover panzanella for her after school snack (that daughter will eat any leftovers cold!). I drove to GCS Arnold Law office, for the Sheldon Road house closing, uneventful as I was the only one there, the Blunk family will sign at 5:00 p.m. The money wire transfer happened after that time so they will take possession on May 1st. It is done! WAHOO! Thank you to Larry - so blessed to have this money to pay off our mortgage!!
I picked up Ford (and appetizer) for our Happy Hour at the River House, arrived a bit late, but Hugh and Maureen were late too - enjoyed the breeze on the porch/patio; it was so quiet - only a few people enjoying a drink and views. Back home for dinner was the Fresh Market chicken pot pie with roasted carrots.
Someone had chocolate sheet cake for dessert. I went to bed early, had a good night sleep - ready for my AICE volunteering tomorrow. BIG news, Liv was accepted at UCF acting/theater group!
Wednesday, May 1st: I volunteered for AICE testing at FIHS. Drove to FIHS, arrived and checked in at 8:50. Instructions were to go to cafeteria, once there, told to see Ms. Joy at AICE building, to find out where I was needed even though the other volunteers were in the cafeteria. Of course, I was told to go back to the cafeteria.
I met Ms. Zapp first, the other two did not introduce themselves. Zapp filled me in on the particulars as she has volunteered a few times. She is mother of triples, sophomores (one was on the spring trip but AA doesn't know him). And she has three older children, 31, 25 and 21. She is 48 years old. Waiting in the cafeteria was long and the students were loud. They could not leave, had to be escorted to a restroom. Testing was quiet except for body noises. Every time someone stretched or touched their hair, on the lookout for a raised hand - usually wanting a blank extra booklet, tissue or pen. The cracking knuckles, sniffing, coughing, playing with their hair, rubbing eyes. There are restrooms in the AICE room so no need for escorts. Two volunteers were knowledgeable, talked with the teachers and generally ignored Zapp and myself. Ms. Michelle and Ms. Joy were kind and answered my questions. There was a cleanup (vomit) on the center aisle. I was attentive about 90% of the time. Sat in the front of the room, I could see about a fourth of the students and did get one raised hand in my quadrant. The time went by slow. Actual start time was 9:50. End 11:35.
Back home from being a volunteer at the AICE task, Ford was ready to go to his scan/radiation dry run. He took an Ativan at 1:25 as his appointment is at 1:45 and he took a second Ativan when Dr. Cassidy said it would be fine, about 2:10. Ford was able to get through the CAT scan and mask, which will now create a custom bolus, which is like a second skin that will rest on his scalp so that the radiation machine can get close but not touch his skin. Since this will be a custom cap, he now needs to come back an extra time to actually do the dry run.
After getting home, Ford was very drowsy and hallucinating a bit talking about children in the room, needing to interview them, asked me about some small windows, talked about a two-story house, other people in the room etc. He kept getting up and wanting to get into things and finally communicated to me that he was hungry as he skipped lunch. I made him some cheese and crackers, and I tried to keep him quiet while the drug wore off. I don’t think the second pill was necessary and it is making him very agitated and won’t relax. This will make our life very different for seven weeks if he takes two pills; one should be fine, but two was too much, I had to watch his every move for three hours afterwards. After school, AA went to the library to study math with a few friends. Our dinner was Tijuana Flats as I just didn't get the dinner made that I had planned.
Thursday: We had a nice morning getting ready for Ford‘s Parkinson’s exercises today, after getting Alyzabeth off to school with her lunch and breakfast done. I cooked a pound of bacon for future breakfasts. These mornings are very nice having an hour or two to just do the household chores, read my email and get ready for our first errand.
While Ford is at his exercises, I walked the Black Creek Trail and down some side streets looking for shade; even though it’s 78° out the sun seemed a bit strong. I walked 4000 steps while I was talking to Mom on the phone. She now has her leg skin cancer surgery scheduled for early June. While talking, she has her Handyman at the house, fixing several items; she had built up quite the list. Everything from replacing the front screen door with a storm door to capping off a water pipe from an old pump that brought lake water up to the house to putting screws in the stair treads, etc.
We shopped at Publix, picked up some salmon and veggies for dinner tonight. Next, our haircuts at 1 PM with Steve. Ford got a crew cut to help him when his radiation treatments start. He will lose some of his hair on the top of his head due to the radiation, so should be easier for him to put on the mask with his hair cut shorter.
Back home, Ford prepared salmon for dinner. We had a salad kit with our salmon and a glass of wine! Chatted with AA, watched Jeopardy, that's a wrap!
Friday: I made a double batch of pasta salad for the Parkinson's GCS Spring Park Picnic. New recipe that uses bottled Italian dressing plus a packet of the Italian dry dressing mix. Ford made meatballs, baked, about 50. I made orange chicken in the crock pot for dinner (with rice). Photo of the raw hamburger Ford mixed; didn't take a picture after the one ounce meatballs were baked.
Making lots of pasta salad:
Did chores, laundry, put out trash, went to bank and wired our mortgage payoff (we received notice that it was paid off!! No more mortgage!), shopped at Publix. We were busy until 12:30! Tired us out! Next, drove to Clay County Tax Office to get a paper title for the black 2015 Subaru; Greg from Suburban called with a prospective buyer. We were starved so ate outlaw chicken salad at Sweet Sensations. I up-charged ($1.50) for the coleslaw.
AA got home and walked Ginger; and is doing homework - she rarely takes a break. We did tempt her out of the house with a quick trip to Goodwill (I like to search for skorts). No luck! We watched a Rick Steves Athen's episode, all good!
Saturday, May the Fourth Be With You! Parkinson's picnic in the Spring Park. Mug race on the St. Johns River.
The Run for the Roses, 150th Kentucky Derby, at Churchill Downs, was at 6:57 p.m. See separate post. Britney ran in her first race (tri-sprint) with Andrew. Amazing how fit these two are! Melissa, Wendy and Chloe cheered them on!
Sunday: Ginger loved AA - paws always touching.
I went to church, there was a medical emergency, so the service stopped, prayers said, resumed with more songs (no sermon). Noticed in one of my pots, must have been from last year's Easter lilies - new plant with blooms!
Ford and I went blueberry picking at Towers Farm. Very hot but we picked for about an hour, 10.5 pounds!
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