Well, Tuesday I went on the usual “haircut expedition”. I skipped my usual walk since last Friday I stumbled and hurt my ankle again. I did walk during the weekend without trouble, but I figured it needed a rest.
I woke up at five to take my Nexium. At six I ate breakfast. Six-twenty, I showered. By seven-ten I had everything gathered for the trip – a book, music and water. My mom finally was ready to go a little after seven-thirty.
We stopped by a small grocery store so my dad could get his morning paper. He was then dropped off at work. Mom stopped by the bank to find the ATM was not working, so some time was wasted at the drive in. We then stopped for gas. The lady we were waiting behind was just finishing up, when a truck comes along and parks next to the car in front of her. She couldn’t get through, so then she had to wait for one of them to move and we thus had to wait on her.
Well, we finally got to the gas tank. The guy who had caused the traffic had decals and such. I assumed he served once and his license plate had a handicap sign on it. A car not far from his had one too.
When we were through there, I talked to my mom. Our first conversation was of course… the handicapped.
I had noted the things about the guy in the truck. We both decided that just because he was old and he had that symbol on his truck didn’t give him the right not to be considerate. I suppose if he was in a wheelchair I would have given the pass. One handicap parking spot was already taken and so it would make sense if a person in a wheelchair parks right in front of the store for convenience. This dude was walking fine though.
In the end, the person who was in the parking lot was a young guy I saw go in earlier. I didn’t notice he was the one who owned the car since I didn’t get a view of his legs until we were leaving. One leg had a prosthetic.
So, we talked about the lack of parking places and the less than easy ways to get to places in the world. I noted it was all due to majority and minority though. While there is supposed to be enough parking spaces and easy entry for those in wheelchairs, there obviously aren’t.
Mom mentioned about a woman who lost both her legs while in war. She had prosthetics like the guy we saw earlier. We pondered on the difficulties of how it would be to balance like that. If I were in such a position, I figured I’d likely stay in a wheelchair unless when going out to places like restaurants or whatever.
After that we talked about various things. How Native Americans were kept alive in the US, how tribes in Africa were sort of the analogy to them. That led on to the Middle East and all those countries that lack in unity and such. At some point I asked where Norway was and we spoke of places we wouldn’t mind visiting.
We’d pause here and there, but had some more off and on conversations. Those I don’t remember too well since I started to get a head ache around nine. Still, it was overall enjoyable.
We arrived to our destination by ten-eight. Mom was pleased with how smooth the trip went this time. We stopped by an IHOP to eat a light brunch. The night before I had requested we stop and eat since it would make it easier in terms of my ulcer. So, we ate what we usually get at IHOP restaurants.
We left afterwards and headed to the mall. With time to spare, my mom meandered about. She wanted to get some earrings some point and checked out some clothes. After that we split paths when she headed to attend her appointment and I just decided to wander.
The mall is still pretty sad. Not much changed since last time. There really isn’t much there. There are some clothing stores, movie stores, some places that sell jewelry, some places to get food and then just various cart shops.
To my fortune Earthbound Trading was still there though. I meandered in there despite they usually have nothing new. It gives me something to do and lets me wander. After surveying the whole store, I saw a few things I had no need for whatsoever, but considered just for the heck of it. In the end I got a metal dragon with glass-wired wings. I thought it would do well with my blue-stuff.
After that I headed back to where my mom was. I found her getting her hair colored in the back. Taking an empty seat, I sat down and read until my appointment was up. I apparently lost track of time because my stylist came back there to get me.
So, I retreated and got my hair shampooed. Then I got my usual hair cut only the back is a bit shorter and the front is a bit longer. It was all for summer and dang I hate the heat…
Well, that eventually was finished up. I paid and left a tip and then meandered out to the front of the salon. I resumed my reading out there and listened to music. Time passed, I got cold and so I decided to see how my mom’s hair was progressing. I think she had just gotten in to see her stylist. So like before, I wandered over, sat down in an empty chair and waited.
I watched for a while, listened and commented about something. After that I resumed my reading. I had been reading the same book each time we came there. I was finally getting close to the end. I read it before a long time ago without the three month interruptions, so I did okay in semi-recalling certain characters I began reading about a year ago.
Well, my mom finally finished. We got up, she paid, she got some hair products and we headed downstairs. She continued on with looking for jewelry and eventually got a few earrings. Then she wanted to find some clothes. So, I followed her around for maybe thirty minutes or so. My ankle was acting up by then, however so I sort of limped after her. Ha. Well, she finally made her purchases and we left.
As usual, before we leave town, we stopped to get in a meal since it had been about four or so hours since we last ate. We went to our usual place and had out usual waiter. I found out he was of mixed descent. Mom found out he was going to computer school and would finally finish soon. So… we don’t know if we’ll see him again our next trip around.
After that, we paid. Mom paid for our meals and I paid the tip. We then went back to the car and headed home. Like all these expeditions do, I was exhausted by then. I wound up falling asleep once we got out of town.
We got home just as my dad did. I was achy and still tired, so I just went to my room and hit the bed. My mom woke me to watch TV. I figured I might as well. The resting part was mainly for my body. My foot hurt like a son of a gun and I couldn’t take Advil. My muscles just wanted to relax. TV would be fine.
I fixed up some noodles and asked for a heating pad. We watched TV; I ate dinner and more or less turned my foot red trying to make it stop hurting. I think the pain was a combination of a cramp and just a sore ankle. Either way, it still was achy after our ritual.
I tried to stay up after that since I always try to eat around twelve. I was still too tired. I lay down at ten and I didn’t wake up except during odd hours of the night for only a few minutes each. I did get my Nexium in me by six the next morning and did get up to eat breakfast around seven. Thirty minute later, however… I was asleep again. I didn’t wake up until twelve after that. I only woke up because my brother stopped by to eat lunch and brought me something as well.
I got up, started on my chores and then stopped to eat. It was good. I mentioned later to my brother how well I’ve been eating this week, noting the day before.
After that I got back to the kitchen chores and then started a load of clothes. Since my brother was there I figured I’d save vacuuming for later.
So, I got my shower in and kept myself at a slow pace the rest of the afternoon. I was determined to stay up. That didn’t work out. Concentrating was not a strong suit. I decided to fall back on drawing then. I figured it would be a good time to get that aforementioned concept down on paper.
I got the important things done and left it at that. To finish I need some specific markers, so I’ll have to wait until I order some in. By that time it was getting close to four. I was hungry again, so I made a peanut butter sandwich and played a few computer games.
Dad came home at five. By then I was really struggling to stay alert. I finally said “screw it”. So, I hit the bed around five-thirty.
I didn’t wake up again until eight. My mom peeked in and asked me if I was asleep. I responded. She asked about watching TV. I got up. I heated up some soup and then joined her.
We watched shows for an hour or so. After that Mom got ready for bed and I handled some chores. I found my ankle was still pretty weak.
I got back on schedule Thursday. I took my pills, ate breakfast, did my walk, did chores, slept, woke up, ate lunch, did more chores, slept, woke up watched TV with mom, ate dinner, did some last minute chores, stayed in my room, ate my last meal of the day and then slept. I managed to get dusting in there and vacuuming, which were things really needed to be done.
Friday was usual as well. My computer is being a bit of a pain as of late though. For the most part it is low memory, java script overload and all that jazz. Oi. I have been working on that concept story as well. It reached thirty-nine pages. During the process I had been looking up class lessons for elementary school levels for “research”. I only vaguely remember that stuff. So much for my education… Even more, I still haven’t gotten it to the whole idea that “drove” me to start writing this piece of junk. There are hints here and there, but it has a long way to go. Heh.
Saturday was one bloody busy day. I had my usual morning routine. Then by eleven my dad and I left to get groceries. Since it would be Mother’s day the next day we added in getting her presents. So, we went to the other side of town to the Hallmark store. I bought mom one of her freakishly expensive candles – $27.99 in all. We picked up a little cat statue as well. It went to a series and we had gotten the other one for my mom’s b-day earlier this year. We then headed to Wal-Mart so my dad could get his present.
We finally got back home around two, I think. We unloaded, unpacked and put up. Dad went out to get himself some lunch and brought me back a strawberry smoothie. I managed to drink half of it before my mom decided to go out and do her errands. I of course followed.
So, we went to the local crafts store. She looked for glass jars and baskets to use in her office. She also grabbed some fake plants to put in some pots for an area that will NEVER grow anything. For a while we also stopped to sample candle scents and she decided to grab a bamboo one. Also grabbing a small vase to actually hold two bamboo shoots she has, we then left once she paid.
Our second stop was at the Dollar General store. she hoped to find small toys for her clients to play with when they are in her office. We had no luck there. So, we headed on to a health food store where she got some cranberry concentrate and we got some drinks to sustain us. My drink was of course water. Ha.
After that we headed to CVS. Mom placed in an order to my prescription for pills and then we went on to a plant store. We couldn’t find a parking place. So we headed to Walgreen’s.
Mom has been doing battle with Walgreen’s for a while. I meandered since it usually took her some time at the counter. Ends up, for some reason my Medicaid listed the wrong insurance as the primary. All this time and finally someone checked into it. Oi. Mom said it likely wouldn’t be any different at CVS then until the matter is solved. Double oi.
Well, after that mom looked for some lotion and found her kind wasn’t supplied, so she got something else of the same brand. Then she wandered around the toy sections to see if they had anything of use. They did. She went to a counter then to check out but the lady who told her to go there never came back.
I wandered off and soon enough found my mom had too. She went back to the toys and traded one for another and then headed back to the same counter. I gave her a look of, “Why the heck are you still waiting here?” Well, she got the hint and went to the front to check out. There we were in luck.
After that we stopped by the plant place again. There was a parking spot this time. Alas, they had nothing of use. Mom went for my dad’s sake. He wanted some small landscaping rocks in a small bag and for her to get some hanging baskets to put out front. They had nothing.
I think our next stop was across town after that. We stopped at OfficeMax. Mom wanted a small bulletin board, desk drawer organizers and some sticky putty. We lucked out in the second and third, but not the first. Since she still needed the other two, we headed off for our next place.
So, we headed for Wal-Mart… Yes… I was going there again. Mom had a list going. So, we looked for an ironing board cover and had no luck in that. Mom then needed some pillows for her office chair. I found some and she got them. After that I directed her to where the office supplies were. She found a bulletin board.
Mom also wanted to get some snack foods for her clients to be able to eat while in her office. So, we headed to cereal section. She got some Nutri-grain bars and then checked the candy aisle. She got Jolly Ranchers, Starbursts and a chocolate bar variety pack. I commented it was almost like Halloween. We decided to leave then. I mentioned to mom about the hanging plants and landscape rocks, since Wal-Mart likely had that stuff. Mom said dad could do it himself. Heh.
I was getting really tired by then.
After that, mom made a quick stop at a place called “Sally’s”. She needed some nail stuff that helps harden her nails and make them grow. She got it, bought it and we left.
Our last stop was another plant store. We had gone to two bloody places and now a third for plants. Well
mom did get her hanging baskets finally. She got two ferns and some sort of shade plant with red flowers. She bought them, we loaded them and to my relief we headed for home.
We got back, brought in the shopping bags and I headed to my room to grab a drink. It was five o’clock then. I needed to eat, but I just wanted to rest for a while and take a breather. I realized that Saturdays are interestingly the busiest days of my weeks then.
By six, Mom wanted to watch some TV. I began cooking my noodles and headed to the room mom and I congregate at. To my thanks, the rest of the night went by normally. I think I went to bed around one.
Sunday was less eventful, but still had stuff going on. My morning went as it usually did. Then after I took my shower, Dad and Mom came home from church. Dad wanted me to come along with him to Wal-Mart to get some ingredients for a salad he was going to make for supper. I obliged despite I was still worn out from the day before. We went, he got things and I mainly stayed quiet.
When we got back home, Dad decided that was a good time to have Mom look at her presents. She opened mine first. She said I didn’t need to get her candle, since she knows they are bloody expensive. Then she opened Dad’s gift. It was one of those digital photo frames. She loved it. Then she opened the little cat statue and placed it next to her other one. They balanced each other out nicely.
I think after that I headed to my room and collapsed. Perhaps I was up for an hour before the collapse… I don’t really know.
I woke up again around two, I think. I made a peanut butter sandwich and saw dad was already cooking the soup that would be my dinner. I then meandered back to my room. I worked a little on the story again, ate and surfed the net. I guess I was still pretty out of it. Some point during that I heard my eldest brother and his girlfriend arrive.
At some point I finally emerged. I visited with my family. Mom took pictures with her digital camera and we watched some TV.
At some point my brothers went to run some errands for my dad, so I took the main chair. My body was aching a bit. I was apparently still tired.
Eventually they came back and my eldest brother rejoined us. There was more TV and more talk. We ended up watching the beginning of “My Fair Lady”. I’ve never seen it before. Well, soon enough, dinner was ready.
Mom said the blessing and then we ate. There were two kinds of salad, some sort of rice dish that was beyond my interest, corn, rolls, shrimp and my soup. We ate, talked and laughed. Good times.
Once my second brother was through, he tackled the dessert. It was an ice cream cake. I never had one before, but I couldn’t eat it anyway, so it was no loss. I grabbed my regular ice cream and a peanut butter cookie. The combination was nice.
My eldest brother noted it was like was like we were celebrating for him rather than my mom when he found out my dad got the cake with him in mind. I had noted such earlier that day when we got the cake. To me it really felt like it was someone’s freaking birthday rather than Mother’s day. There were presents, cake and a huge dinner. Heh.
Well, after I ate my dessert, I headed to the kitchen to rinse dishes. My second brother came in and helped. Eventually I left because it was sort of like I was kicked out. It was fine. I was still tired.
I lingered for a while. I didn’t really hear the conversation going on around me then. I went back to rinse a few more dishes when my brother finished. Eventually I gave into my body. I grabbed my cat and retreated to my room. I let myself collapse. I didn’t wake up again until one-thirty.
Well… here I am.
I might do some chores after this. Then I’ll go to bed again, I guess. Only thing left to write is that on the 19th that doctor’s appointment will occur. Okay then…