Day 28

One NEW Day At A TimDay 19 & 2

Day 28

Friday, September 19, 2014

My day did not turn out quite as expected .. and of course, by now, that’s what I should expect!  It started out with doing some cleaning.  Mostly I worked on the kitchen, right down to mopping the floor.  I also worked on dusting the row of shelving.  Then I stopped and worked in my room a bit, doing more to better organize and declutter.  I also went through 4 or 5 boxes, about half of which I decided to send back to storage for now.

I stopped around noon to shower and dress.  I continued working in my room awhile until the lady from Blind Services came.  We had a very interesting and productive conversation.  She was able to give me a few tips that will be very useful; and I realized that many of the things she said I’ve already done (as I explained to her, the vision has been going over a long period so I’ve had to gradually find ways to adjust).  She also had some excellent tips for me which I will put into effect as soon as I can, but they involve more work than I have time for right now (like organizing my closet).  She told me about many different services available (some of which involve long waiting lists, like a class about dealing with technology that won’t even be open until next spring and I had to go on and get on the waiting list!).  Some one will contact me about the class and arranging transportation, but not any time soon.  Some one else will contact me .. I think in a few weeks, not sure … about other tips and aids, including a white cane.  That is a controversial issue for me … I don’t feel like my vision is far enough gone yet to justify that.  I’ve been managing with the cane I have (helps a lot with my joints hurting), and don’t feel the need for people to “recognize” me as a visually impaired person yet.

There is also a service from the library where they will send me some sort of player and I can get CD books.  I admit the Kindle has me spoiled in that it is so easily transportable.  And I can download software from the library to get audible books (just waiting for DIL to help me with the download).  However, I’m not at all rejecting the opportunity for more variety in what’s available to *read*.

After all that, the “service” I am most excited about isn’t an actual service through the agency at all.  It appears there is a very active social group among the large visually impaired population in this county.  I had no idea!  And after being virtually anti social for a very long time … I’m not at all opposed to meeting people and making new friends.  There’s even a sewing support group … that got me very excited. (and it turned out the social worker is also a fabric collector!).  Hoefully I’ll be hearing from someone about that very soon.

After she left, I rested my achy foot some, and worked more on tweaking in my room.  Later in the afternoon a friend picked up DN to go apply for a job.  While she was gone I cleaned the litter box, swept and mopped the kitchen, finished dusting the bookshelves, vacuumed the rugs and damp mopped all the floor areas that get walked on.  It may not have been as thorough a cleaning as it could have been, but I was exhausted!

DN had asked me to go on and brown the hamburger so she could do supper when she got back.  I find it odd that she asked me to do the one thing that is the most difficult; but I now she didn’t really think about that.  But she took much longer than expected (there’s that word again!).   I found out later she *might* have already had something to eat.  (when I asked she didn’t really give me a straight answer).  A little disturbing that she was OK with me not having any supper after I had done the hamburger as she asked.  It got put in the freezer.

Anyway, DS/BIL actually got here before DN got home. They got started right away on projects.  The secretary is now secure and I can put pretties back on the shelves.  The spice rack is firmly attached to the door so bottles don’t fall down into the bread tray.  Many pictures got hung (there are more, but more hangers are needed).   BIL got my computer hooked to the small tV … which will work great as soon as I figure out the best way to set it up! 

There was one point during the evening that was a downer, and it still upsets me.  I was telling my DS about the SW coming and some of what she told me.  When I mentioned about the white cane, suddenly DN made a huge issue of that.  She even said if I refused to use the stupid cane she would move out!!    I was very upset that she was so determined to *meddle* …. And DS pretty much told her to mind her own business, that was something tha was up to me.  DN wouldn’t let it go, insisted she refused to be responsible for someone who insisted on acting in a way that was dangerous (not her exact workds, but the general idea).  She’s the one who walks so fast I can’t even keep up; and I’ve ventured out on my own and can manage just fine.  She certainly has figured out I can manage to go to the laundry room or the dumpster .. and can’t use a cane at all with my hands full.

I don’t even know when I’ll hear from that lady, and I need to just let it go and not make a big deal … hard to do when I’m annoyed.  Also later I mentioned I would like to go to church on Sunday, but DN has decided she doesn’t want to go (she had originally said we could go if I wanted, and I said I did.  I don’t know why she changed her mind).  I have no way of telling time, so would just have to walk to a bus stop and wait; but if that’s what it takes maybe I will.

DN’s sister also came during the evening.  She brought her big dog, which made Maggie most unhappy!  I couldn’t help but laugh at her .. she’s not really had any experience with a dog that big; and he wanted to play with her.  She mostly hid under a chair and growled.

DNS brought flowers, wine, and desert.  Lovely!! J   We drank wine in red solo cups (I don’t know why that’s just so funny to me … I actually have wine glasses, though I haven’t  yet unpacked the only ones I have more than 2 matching). 

I forgot to say, the day started out with the cable guy coming to fix the living room TV/remote.  I really don’t think DN cared about anything else in the world but being able to just sit and watch TV.  But he was unable to fix the remote to my TV  … it works (the lights come on), but it’s not sending any signal at all to the TV.  BIL also looked at it, but he couldn’t do anything either.  As far as I can see my option is to take the remote back and get it exchanged … but …. I can’t find the receipt.  This is extremely frustrating, because I never throw away anything.  I have a bunch of receipts all stuff in a drawer (now in a basket).  DN went through all of them, but the one for the remote isn’t there.  I can’t figure out what I did with it.  I’ve looked through wallet, purses, everywhere I can think of, with no luch.  If I can’t find the receipt, I’m just out of luck.  At least I can adjust it … DS finally located the very well hidden manual buttons.  It’s awkward to reach; and means I’m back to having to scroll through all channels to try to find the one I want  I can’t get DN to understand about helping me figure out what’s on and choose.  She will only tell me 2 or 3 things that are on, so I don’t have the option of choosing from ALL those channels I’m helping pay for.  Last night I was scrolling down, trying to find something.  She “helped” … just held the button down (she could see the numbers going by) and stopped at the channel she wanted me to want to watch.   This morning I found the local channel I prefer for morning news; but it’s been difficult so far to figure out how to get from one to another … they don’t seem to be in any logical order.  I suppose after payday I’ll have to buy yet another remote.  The frustration mounts.

We weren’t able to put up curtains except in the dining room .. the windows are all too big for even a shower rod!  So my window and the living room will wait for sturdier long curtain rods … will have to be another week, but that’s OK. 

I’ve been sleeping weirdly lately.  I wake up off and on; and while I feel like I “toss and turn” a lot, I do sleep more.  I didn’t get up until 7:30 this morning .. I seem to wake with daylight, which was later because it’s overcast.  It’s now 9:00.  DN is still sleeping.  I need to find some breakfast and maybe start working in my room some more.

Tonight is my night to cook supper (and what was it I did last night??) and BF is coming.  He said he would give me a ride to storage to take some of the excess here.  The apartment sure will feel better .. and more open … when the extra boxes are gone!  So, I guess I should get busy on some of the ones in my room in case more of them need to go.