She settled into a new room at the center.  Not at all near where she was last time.  Her window looked out into the front door area.  Didn't seem as enthused to be there.  There was a row from the first night about her going outside for a smoke.

     Essentially we found the area that I refer to as the pit.  Found out the regulations, she'd not be able to use it for a day or 2.  That in itself was an issue.  Then life returned to an abnormal mess.

     B.I.L. went up M, W, F and me T and T during the week.  On the weekends he had the earlier visit and I had the night.  At this writing it's been about a month on the calendar to the date of her passing.  It's still an odd feeling of having so much time on my own and his hands as well.

     Work was going.  My knee making small improvements.  Yeah remember I injured it?   Anyway it's back there somewhere if you forgot.  And thanks to those that did remember and were curious. Yard work had come to a stop.  The only thing I thought odd was the look of my leg.  I defined it as looking like it was peeling from a sun tan.  I had no idea what it was.

     And the people at work.  Not in my department mind you, just around the building.  Everyone had an opinion.

"Oh that doesn't look well you should see someone."
"That hasn't healed by now?  That can't be good."
"You should see a Dr. right away."

     I'd be lying if I didn't say it was wearing on me and worrying me a great deal.  Especially with the peeling aspect of it.

     It was also a month before the great Exodus of departments being laid off.  I spent a lot of time visiting.  One of my favorites was a man named Mike in accounts payable.  He basically hooked me up with his wife's orthopedist.  And he took our company's lack luster insurance.

     Also in there I believe was a visit to my cardiologist.  Damned fugged time line.  It was he that clinched it for me to see one.

     So I made the appointment.  Was literally a direct run on a major road.  Right where it ended south and you could only go left or right.  It was so perfect.

     Since I'd injured my knee and the B.I.L. was still working the far away place, I'd had my own routines.  I started a new one.  The morning cigar.  A thing I've heard of before, but not something I'd ever done.  Well I had a light one every day since the accident.  And not lying, enjoyed it thoroughly.  By the way that ended when I was told I could go back to the gym.  Just saying.

    So one morning before work I did a test run.  I knew the exact location.  I was happy.  In fact I didn't even need to leave work early.  Which was an issue.  Maybe I'll touch on that tomorrow.

     Whatever night it was I had cooked.  No clue what it was.  Had served her.  B.I.L eating in living room, me in the kitchen at the counter.  A call from my sister rang out.  "Hurry come quick!"

     This wasn't unusual.  In fact it would often be the call she'd make to have a spider killed.  I walked to the room, B.I.L remained seated.

     She'd dropped her smoke.  The floor was on fire.  Better yet it was burning the hose of the oxygen machine.  

     I shouted fire and told him to bring water.  Acting quickly I turned the oxygen machine off and put out the fire.  He arrived.  I looked up sharply at my sister and chastised her soundly.  "Next time yell Fire!"

     The new concern now became finding her a hose for the oxygen machine.  And it had to be long enough to reach the bathroom.  No further recriminations were given.

     This had long been a dread of mine.  How many times do you hear about people falling asleep with a smoke and causing a fire?  And this was due to her low blood oxygen level, of that I was sure.

     Shortly afterwards, maybe a night or 2 she'd made a decision.  She needed to go back to rehab.

     I didn't disagree at all.  In fact I'd thought it a mistake for her to come home.  At the center she had a life, some friends, activities and such.  At home she was alone all day.  No motivation.  At night I came home, cooked, visited, then relaxed.  Sometimes we'd even watch some television.

     He'd come home.  See her for 5 min.  Drink, eat dinner, drink, make her tea, drink, go to bed and pass out.  Hell compared to that I'd prefer the rehab too.

     So 3 weeks to the day the plan was to take her to the E.R.  She'd arranged it so she could be gotten into the rehab center.  But nothing ever goes that smoothly.

Me, Coffee, and a synopsis

Coffee and I say good morning.  But let's continue as the bakery calls me this Sunday morning.

     So I made it back to the hospital, to the room. to find my sister very in and out of it.  Full of stuff to say without saying anything.  Apparently my Brother In Law was on the way too.  How I beat him there in rush hour traffic is still beyond me.

     There were 2 choices on the table.  She could be released or sent to rehab.  We all opted for rehab.

     Let's just say the day was full of oddities.  B.I.L. left about 1.  In case you don't recall, and why would you, he'd been up since 2 in the morn the previous day.

     I went home at some point.  Got a phone call in the evening that she was to be transported.  So all was well.

     Mind you I'm leaving out a few things.  1 or 2 that I remember and others that are fuzzy.  For instance it could have been her that called to say about the transport.  I've little recognition if she arrived that night or the following morn.  But thankfully we were done with that hospital.  Now the fun could begin in earnest.

     At some point we'd see her in rehab and rearrange her room a bit.  A bit of a nicer room.  Looked out into a little courtyard where there were picnics.  And if you strained you neck to the left you could see the gym.

     I think she started using the gym the following Monday.  But all was sort of well.  I want to say this was in March, just unsure how deep.

     Okay, glad to see a few are already back for the misadventures.  This is it, coffee just about gone.
Bakery is calling me like no ones business.

     Have some pico de gallo left over from last night.  Going to introduce it into and egg and toss it on a roll for breakfast.  Go enjoy your Sunday.  I'll be back again.

-later

Saturday at the rehab

     Saturday arrived and there I was again.  I'd stopped counting cats.  My sisters mood was slightly improved.  I dropped off supplies and went to find the rehab center.

     The thing that really struck me about this place was how understaffed it was.  That and how people just literally wandered the halls.  Throughout my visits I'd see many of the same people wheeling themselves around doing laps.  Exercise at least.

     The gym there was open.  I waited a little for the people to be free.  There were 2 of them.  They were having someone walk for exercise.  Which was a good sign.  One person walking on the side and the other just behind with the wheel chair.

     After that was over I spoke to the woman there.  Sister was not on the schedule.  And I was informed that they were the weekend crew.  She gave me a number to call the person who was in charge during the week.  No rehab on Sundays.  

     I did call the individual and asked to be called back.  Still haven't heard anything.  

     I went back and reported to my sister.  My brother in law was there again.  We did a little room rearranging. And that was that.