Gout & Other Terminal Illnesses

Posted on December 12, 2012 by Jerrie Cate

It’s a sad state of affairs when a serious case of life threatening gout settles in ones’ left big toe making it necessary to limp AND use a cane to remain vertical. Yes, I’ve had it before, and survived, but I’m not sure about this time. I’m on day three now so time is short.

The cause, I’m almost positive, is the 3-4 pounds of shrimp surrounded by as many pounds of Zhen’s special lo mien noodles. Understand, I didn’t ask for that much, but that’s what I got and I know better than to upset a Chinese cook.

It took me two days to devour all of it, but I did it. And, it was really good. I must admit that I inflated the amount of shrimp, but not the noodles. This batch or noodles had beef, chicken, pork, and shrimp, unlike the noodles I had two weeks ago that came with only shrimp, with straight shrimp. That batch didn’t bother me at all so I’m thinking that maybe the problem this time is with the beef. Whichever it was, it’s really doing its job this time. Diane’s getting seriously tired of my moaning all the time and keep trying to get me to take some drugs. But, I refuse because I’d rather writhe in pain, on my death bed, my current state, than to get hooked on ibuprofen. No sir, not me.

Actually, the toe is getting better, but I’m not holding my breath for a total cure. But, this afternoon I was able to walk a little further without my cane than I could previously. Walking with a cane is something that should be taught in school with an eye on the future for students who have the prospect of living to an old age because they will need it. Learning when a person is old, and already teetering when vertical, is extremely difficult for some of us.

I thought I had another terminal ailment today, hence the title, but it turned out to be a false alarm. I just had gas. Lots of it.

Comcast or CenturyLink

Posted on December 8, 2012 by Jerrie Cate

We made the switch this year, twice.

The year began with us happily chugging along with Comcast internet service and DirecTV. Then, just for fun, I called CenturyLink to see what kind of deal we could get if we bundled DirecTV with their DSL internet service. Adding home phone service wasn’t on my mind when I first called so that didn’t come up until late in the hour long conversation I had with a very nice customer service agent. Just for fun, I asked if we could get our old home phone number. After a brief search I was told, “Yes” That was the deal maker for me so I signed up for the whole meal deal. We gave that number up over 2 years ago so it was pretty amazing that it was still available.

It was good to get the old number back but the internet service was just terrible because it was sooooo sloooooow. It was like going back to dial up after experiencing Comcast’s blazing speed. I knew it was going to be super slow, but Diane was not pleased. As a result, before getting the first CenturyLink bill, I went to Comcast and signed up for their Triple Play deal. Now the internet speed is back where it belongs, Diane has to learn how to use a new remote control, and we still have our old home phone number.

Then, yesterday, I made a severe error of judgement, my first of the year. I installed Comcast’s free Norton Security Suite. I couldn’t install it on my iMac, but putting it on Diane’s PC took it back to dial up speeds and she was not pleased. When she’s not please, things don’t go well for me. So, today, after we decorated the Christmas tree at church, I uninstalled Norton while she was taking a long nap in her recliner. She was tuckered out from worry, afraid I was going to fall off the wobbly 15 foot step ladder I was using to add lights and ornaments. I wasn’t a bit worried. Ever. I’ve been on that ladder lots of times and never fell off once.

The tree looks right nice. We used all white lights and only gold ornaments. That’s a first for the church so we’re curious to hear comments. We’ve already decided that the first person to make a bad comment will be nominated to be in charge of the crew to remove the tree after Christmas.

Today I finished up a 4 day job of repairing my bathroom to keep the shower from leaking. It’s only taken me 2 months. I know that’s true because Diane told me. I did the final touches while she was taking her nap, and while I was fixing her computer. I was multitasking like crazy. Too bad I don’t have more days like this. Maybe I could find the floor in my shop. The trouble with that is that once I find the floor, the top of the work bench disappears. At this time I have neither a floor or a work bench top. It’s a very hazardous area. But, one of these days, I’m really going down there to clean it up. Maybe Monday.

Now I’m going to stop and relax.

TVCC, Old Friends, and Kidlets

Posted on December 3, 2012 by Jerrie Cate

On Saturday, December 1st, Diane and I attended the combined TVCC Thanksgiving & Christmas party at Finley’s Sunset Hills Mortuary.

“An odd place for a party,” you might say, “but I bet no one complains about the noise.”

Both are true. The residents do not complain one little bit, and we do tend to be a rowdy crowd. So, it’s a good place to be.

When the Tualatin Valley Cruiser Club started 10 years ago, it was a small group of friends brought together by Rick & Jody Rainwater. Our first meeting was in one of the sales rooms above a Chrysler dealership in Beaverton because one of our members, Pat, was a salesman there. We quickly graduated to larger venues, eventually winding up at Sunset Hills where another member, Steve, is a “suit” at that facility. He’s been our favorite undertaker since he joined the club.

The original membership had three Jerry’s, of which I was #2. Now, 10 years later, the Rick’s outnumber the Jerry’s, and that’s OK. Though Diane and I still pay our dues for club membership ($15 a year), we don’t make the monthly meetings like we used to, nor do we participate in the almost weekly trips in the summer. But, we attend the gala affiars that draw in the old members, just to maintain that contact.

Since this party was about Thanksgiving I had an opportunity to wear my turkey had one more time. I was relieved of that obligation as soon as Tom saw it. Tom is our friend who had a stroke and is rehabbing to get back into shape. It was really good to see him and his wife, Linda, laugh. Not only that, they had the last laugh because they took home a lion’s share of the raffle items:

In addition to Tom & Linda, at our end of the Rowdy Table, were Jerry #1, our very own Mr. Miagi …

… Jerry #3, Nelda …

Diane and me, Jerry #2 …

I didn’t get a picture of Diane because she was never sitting down. Instead, she was up running around the room trying to change her luck with the gift drawing. Regarding that, it was the oddest thing …

It used to be a White Elephant gift exchange where a person picks something, or steals something already unwrapped from someone else who opened something ahead of you. Got it? At this event each person drew a number from a container. There were 57 of us present. Once that was done, the matching numbers were drawn to see who would open the first gift. From then on it was up to the next person, whose number was drawn, to either steal, or open a new gift. This went on through 55 people with numbers being drawn by various people in the crowd. Diane was #56, and I was #57 … the last two to choose. What do you suppose the odds are of both of us being chosen last in a random drawing.

Amazing. Since there was only one gift left on the table, and we’d been doing this for a long time, I chose the gift so we could end it, passing up some really nice things. What I got was a little Darth Vader flashlight sitting atop a small container of M&M’s. That was OK, though, because Jerry #1 collects M&M memorabalia so I gave it to him. He has over 2700 unique items in his collection that includes horse racing silks (did I mention he used to be a jockey?), leather coats, to small little item he got from me. I was amazed that he didn’t already have it. Made my day.

Since I didn’t get a picture of Diane at the party, here’s one of her holding her Great Granddaughter Juliett, with Juliett’s Aunt Baylee looking over her shoulder.

Just for added clarity, Aunt Baylee is Juliett’s Aunt Gilligan’s sister. She’s also Aunt Jerrie’s sister. And Aunt Tiana.

What fun.

Advent

Posted on December 2, 2012 by Jerrie Cate

Today Diane and I attended church at Grace Baptist Church to watch Daniel, Jennifer, Cedric, Lydia, and Jeran light the Prophecy Candle for Advent. Diane and I thought it would be pretty simple, but all five of them had a part and all of them made us proud.

They were lined up in front of the congregation, behind the advent candles … from left to right there stood Jennifer, Jeran, Lydia, Cedric, and Daniel. Jennifer began by introducing the concept of Advent, Jeran explained that the first advent candle is the Prophecy Candle, Lydia recited Isaiah 9:2-6, Cedric said a prayer, and Daniel lit the candle. Not all at once, mind you, but one after the other, left to right.

Doesn’t sound like much, does it? But having our Daughter and family standing up there doing this emphasized to us what this season is all about. In addition to celebrating the birth of Jesus, it’s about family.

Jennifer has a great speaking voice, and set the pace. Jeran jumped right in with his part and did an awesome job. After a short pause, Lydia looked out at the congregation and recited her part, then Cedric finished the narrative with a prayer while Daniel lit the candle. A well done for all. Jeran’s voice is steady and sure, Lydia has a voice like Diane’s, and Cedric’s voice has changed into a booming baritone.

Back to Lydia for a moment – I kept expecting her to look down at her paper, but she didn’t have one. Nothing to fall back on. But she didn’t need it. I later learned that she had to read the passage a total of three times before she could do it without looking. Quite impressive, I thought, because it’s a lot of words, just like these …

²The people walking in darkness
have seen a great light;
on those living in the land of deep darkness
a light has dawned.
³You have enlarged the nation
and increased their joy;
they rejoice before you
as people rejoice at the harvest,
as warriors rejoice
when dividing the plunder.
⁴For as in the day of Midian’s defeat,
you have shattered
the yoke that burdens them,
the bar across their shoulders,
the rod of their oppressor.
⁵Every warrior’s boot used in battle
and every garment rolled in blood
will be destined for burning,
will be fuel for the fire.
⁶For to us a child is born,
to us a son is given,
and the government will be on his shoulders.
And he will be called
Wonderful Counselor, Mighty God,
Everlasting Father, Prince of Peace.

The service was excellent and we enjoyed it immensely.

After the service everyone excited to the common area and enjoyed an excellent spaghetti lunch, followed by a dessert auction. Not wanting any dessert, we observed for a short while, then departed for home where I had to work on getting Diane’s computer back online. I jerrie rigged a few things, admittedly, but it only has to work until next Thursday when Comcast is hooked up. Then it’s all going to change again. So, for now, I’ve got cables running all over the place. As long as we don’t go into the basement, none of them pose a trip hazard.

Now I must stop and eat supper. Diane just showed up with something from Burgerville after taking her Mom home.