As I've said, this hospital is a mere 10 minutes drive from my home. This will be important later. So I arrived, found parking, and went to see my sister.
Have I mentioned this? Each time I now get into one of these older elevators it reminds me of a movie. I know only the premise, wasn't promising enough for me to go out and see.
The screen play was written by
none other than M. Night Shyamalan. Called the Devil in the Elevator. Of course having never seen it, but just reading the whole synopsis while you didn't know you were waiting. The elevator also reminds me of something from youtube. Where somewhere in South America people get on the elevator. Lights flicker. Girl crawls out from a hidden panel and eventually screams. Lights flicker off. Girl disappears. Anyways that's where my mind goes.
I get to the room. My sister is there. Apologetic. They gave her a fan and a zanax. She apologized to me. And in all fairness, the room is still rather hot.
Went home and filled my brother in law in. So ends Sunday.
-later
Thursday, October 31, 2013
Sunday and the panic attack.
Have been hectic and ran out of saved drafts. Deal with it.
How's that for an opening. Sunday was fine, did some food shopping. Had a smoke in the backyard. Weather was nice. Brother in law had been to see my sister. She was out of ICU. Bad news was she was back in the room with the elderly woman.
My brother in law began his beer drinking. I was skipping the lounge to make meatloaf. Which was a good idea. Primarily because we'd be surviving on the stew and meatloaf for the rest of the week. That's when it happened............The phone rang.
"You have to come and get me out of here right now! It's hot as Hell in here and I can't take it. Come and get me right NOW!"
"What do you mean?" I queried cautiously.
"Come and get me right now. They've got the heat on in this room. Every time I ask for the ac to be turned on they do. Then she complains and they turn it off. Come and get me I'm checking out of this hospital. Do you hear me!"
"Okay." this was a lost cause over the phone.
"Are you coming?!?"
"Well no, not if you don't let me get off the phone I'm not."
"Just hurry." She hung up. I stared at my brother in law.
He had the typical deer in the headlights look he always has. Exaggerated by beer now. I gave him the run down and asked if he'd like to come with me. He declined, saying he didn't know what he'd do if he went. Oh joy of joys to be me.
How's that for an opening. Sunday was fine, did some food shopping. Had a smoke in the backyard. Weather was nice. Brother in law had been to see my sister. She was out of ICU. Bad news was she was back in the room with the elderly woman.
My brother in law began his beer drinking. I was skipping the lounge to make meatloaf. Which was a good idea. Primarily because we'd be surviving on the stew and meatloaf for the rest of the week. That's when it happened............The phone rang.
"You have to come and get me out of here right now! It's hot as Hell in here and I can't take it. Come and get me right NOW!"
"What do you mean?" I queried cautiously.
"Come and get me right now. They've got the heat on in this room. Every time I ask for the ac to be turned on they do. Then she complains and they turn it off. Come and get me I'm checking out of this hospital. Do you hear me!"
"Okay." this was a lost cause over the phone.
"Are you coming?!?"
"Well no, not if you don't let me get off the phone I'm not."
"Just hurry." She hung up. I stared at my brother in law.
He had the typical deer in the headlights look he always has. Exaggerated by beer now. I gave him the run down and asked if he'd like to come with me. He declined, saying he didn't know what he'd do if he went. Oh joy of joys to be me.
Sunday, October 27, 2013
The visit and the stew.
It was about 4 when I was ready to see my sister. Errands had been run and such. Told the brother in law to shut the stew at 6. Wish they had a timer that you could put in at the end. Like this instance, where there were 2 hours to go. You just put in the stop time. Probably exists and I just don't know about it.
Told him to eat and just leave it on the counter. I departed for the hospital. Astonishingly enough my sister didn't want anything. Was in a room by herself. They had to put something called a pic line in, they couldn't get any good veins. So that killed 30 min while I waited in the lobby.
She was in decent spirits. Even sent home 2 chocolate chip bakery cookies she had my brother in law bring. Her own room which is always pleasant. She was also glad to be out of the first room she had. Apparently shared with a 92 year old woman who was cold. My sister, a person of large girth shall we say, runs hot.
I arrived on my doorstep around 6:30. Banned my brother in law from telling me his reaction to the stew. Said my sister looked well and such.
The stew. What can I say. Ordinarily and traditionally has been made on the stew. Now I knew I'd forgotten the onions in the crock, so no base flavor.
It looked okay. Like stew in a thin broth. I tasted it, it was not the worst thing in the world. It was just devoid any real flavor. Disappointing but edible at least. The meat was totally out of place. A nice stew should have chunks of meat that are tender and maybe even a little chewy. It should also make me want to dip bread into the left over residue in the bowl. This did not.
It was a thin broth, as I've said no seasoning. The meat had shriveled? It was considerably smaller and had no flavor or chew. But I will try it again in the crock pot or on the stove top I'm unsure. Oh and in my normal recipe we use water and not broth.
Told him to eat and just leave it on the counter. I departed for the hospital. Astonishingly enough my sister didn't want anything. Was in a room by herself. They had to put something called a pic line in, they couldn't get any good veins. So that killed 30 min while I waited in the lobby.
She was in decent spirits. Even sent home 2 chocolate chip bakery cookies she had my brother in law bring. Her own room which is always pleasant. She was also glad to be out of the first room she had. Apparently shared with a 92 year old woman who was cold. My sister, a person of large girth shall we say, runs hot.
I arrived on my doorstep around 6:30. Banned my brother in law from telling me his reaction to the stew. Said my sister looked well and such.
The stew. What can I say. Ordinarily and traditionally has been made on the stew. Now I knew I'd forgotten the onions in the crock, so no base flavor.
It looked okay. Like stew in a thin broth. I tasted it, it was not the worst thing in the world. It was just devoid any real flavor. Disappointing but edible at least. The meat was totally out of place. A nice stew should have chunks of meat that are tender and maybe even a little chewy. It should also make me want to dip bread into the left over residue in the bowl. This did not.
It was a thin broth, as I've said no seasoning. The meat had shriveled? It was considerably smaller and had no flavor or chew. But I will try it again in the crock pot or on the stove top I'm unsure. Oh and in my normal recipe we use water and not broth.
The next day.
Saturday reared like it often does. I've decided to treat myself on the weekends. 1 cup of coffee and something fun for breakfast. Discovered that I thoroughly enjoy an egg on a bagel. No not just that. But this isn't really a food blog and we'll have food aplenty in this one entry.
I took the meat which I defrosted in a big red bowl and put it on the counter. I was very much scowling, this was not stew meat. But I bought it and continued.
To say that the flouring and browning of each and every individual piece was a mind numbing chore. That would be appropriate. As each slice had to be done individually, I was more and more sure that this wasn't going to be great. And I'd not allotted enough time to check on the herbs for seasoning. It was getting late, I wanted this to be ready for 6 at night. Needed 10 hours on high. So had to be good to go by 8.
By the by, I'm writing this a week later on a Saturday and enjoying my cup of coffee. Just saying.
Quartered potatoes, halved carrots, browned meat, deglazed pan, into crock pot. Used a boxed beef broth. Only seasoning was the flour and the clove of garlic I put in.
Brother in law visited sister, who was in ICU. More so they could keep an eye on her blood sugar more than anything else. It was over 700.
Course the 3 steroid shots and the near six pack of soda on way to hospital and in E.R. didn't help. Oh well.
-later
I took the meat which I defrosted in a big red bowl and put it on the counter. I was very much scowling, this was not stew meat. But I bought it and continued.
To say that the flouring and browning of each and every individual piece was a mind numbing chore. That would be appropriate. As each slice had to be done individually, I was more and more sure that this wasn't going to be great. And I'd not allotted enough time to check on the herbs for seasoning. It was getting late, I wanted this to be ready for 6 at night. Needed 10 hours on high. So had to be good to go by 8.
By the by, I'm writing this a week later on a Saturday and enjoying my cup of coffee. Just saying.
Quartered potatoes, halved carrots, browned meat, deglazed pan, into crock pot. Used a boxed beef broth. Only seasoning was the flour and the clove of garlic I put in.
Brother in law visited sister, who was in ICU. More so they could keep an eye on her blood sugar more than anything else. It was over 700.
Course the 3 steroid shots and the near six pack of soda on way to hospital and in E.R. didn't help. Oh well.
-later
Saturday, October 26, 2013
Friday ensues.
As with anyone I have my morning rituals. I was knee deep into mine when I got summoned. Seems my brother in law couldn't skip work and my sister wanted someone to stay home. Yup. Lucky bastich.
I did have an early morning smoke, it was quite nice. The birds in the unusually warm air. Hell I even heard the ferry which is not close at all. On certain mornings, you can hear it. I also heard church bells.
I also decided to do some much needed cleaning in my little room. As I've mentioned it is tiny, stuff accumulates. I suppose over the years I've gotten worse. Anyway, I found something so awesome it deserves a post of its own.
Mid morning my sister was very nervous. She couldn't keep food down. I felt she was running a temperature. I suggested she call her oncologist. We were all focused on this and the pain being from the cancer.
The decision they made was to go to Sloan in the city. That call came about 12. She then wanted to call my brother in law, who said he'd be home in an hour.
I tried to emphasize that going into N.Y.C. that late would take hours, instead of the usual time. To no avail.
Her condition seemed to worsen as time wore on and we chose a closer hospital. We arrived at the emergency room. Oh Joy. Oh Rapture. If you've never had the experience....good for you.
They admitted her. There was a hissy fit about wanting a smoke. She got her way and was allowed outside. I was astonished. Brother in law and I returned home.
Made some phone calls, had me some dinner and a smoke. Brother in law had some grub and started drinking.
I'm considering interjecting t he above mention of the something so awesome into the next post. We'll see. Probably not.
-later
I did have an early morning smoke, it was quite nice. The birds in the unusually warm air. Hell I even heard the ferry which is not close at all. On certain mornings, you can hear it. I also heard church bells.
I also decided to do some much needed cleaning in my little room. As I've mentioned it is tiny, stuff accumulates. I suppose over the years I've gotten worse. Anyway, I found something so awesome it deserves a post of its own.
Mid morning my sister was very nervous. She couldn't keep food down. I felt she was running a temperature. I suggested she call her oncologist. We were all focused on this and the pain being from the cancer.
The decision they made was to go to Sloan in the city. That call came about 12. She then wanted to call my brother in law, who said he'd be home in an hour.
I tried to emphasize that going into N.Y.C. that late would take hours, instead of the usual time. To no avail.
Her condition seemed to worsen as time wore on and we chose a closer hospital. We arrived at the emergency room. Oh Joy. Oh Rapture. If you've never had the experience....good for you.
They admitted her. There was a hissy fit about wanting a smoke. She got her way and was allowed outside. I was astonished. Brother in law and I returned home.
Made some phone calls, had me some dinner and a smoke. Brother in law had some grub and started drinking.
I'm considering interjecting t he above mention of the something so awesome into the next post. We'll see. Probably not.
-later
Thursday, October 24, 2013
Madness of Wednesday
Wednesday. Phone call came about noon. My sister. Basically she needed me to come home. My brother in law was called home early on Tuesday, she fell 2 or 3 times. Guess it was my turn. Manager understood of course. I obliged and went to take care of business.
She was in a lot of pain. Nauseous. Did what I could to ease it all. She wasn't holding food, made her a sandwich. She apologized for calling me home. I said no worries I'd make the best of the situation. And I did.
A few errands, run to the farm stand, I was home. Unfortunately they had no more water melons. Or at least any worth buying. I prepared the roast and popped it into the oven. I then went about the chore of freezing the stew meat. Oh no, I was not about to let anything in my fridge go bad.
Unfortunately I didn't go with my first instinct. My butcher had said it was stew meat. It was clearly not. In fact the label even said stir fry. Of course I'd bought 2lbs. Took a bit but I got it onto to trays and into the freezer.
I rewarded myself with a smoke in the yard. My sister decided it was best not to comment. The fall was still oddly warm and I didn't want to waste it.
An enjoyable smoke and not a bad way to end the day. Thursday passed without incident. Well except that I saw a great sale on cigars and ordered them.
-Later.
She was in a lot of pain. Nauseous. Did what I could to ease it all. She wasn't holding food, made her a sandwich. She apologized for calling me home. I said no worries I'd make the best of the situation. And I did.
A few errands, run to the farm stand, I was home. Unfortunately they had no more water melons. Or at least any worth buying. I prepared the roast and popped it into the oven. I then went about the chore of freezing the stew meat. Oh no, I was not about to let anything in my fridge go bad.
Unfortunately I didn't go with my first instinct. My butcher had said it was stew meat. It was clearly not. In fact the label even said stir fry. Of course I'd bought 2lbs. Took a bit but I got it onto to trays and into the freezer.
I rewarded myself with a smoke in the yard. My sister decided it was best not to comment. The fall was still oddly warm and I didn't want to waste it.
An enjoyable smoke and not a bad way to end the day. Thursday passed without incident. Well except that I saw a great sale on cigars and ordered them.
-Later.
Ahh Monday.
Well both of them were off. I gave instructions on how to cook the roast beef. I was expecting it to be cooked. No such luck was to be had. Sister was in pain all day, we were all assuming it was the cancer. Brother in law finally went to a chiropractor about his shoulder. Only been bothering him for a month or so.
Turns out to be a pinched nerve. Had to do the usual, see Dr. so they could order xrays, go get xrays, return to Dr. Wore him out. No clue what was done for dinner.
The good part of Monday was that my manager was out, means I should have gotten an hour of overtime. Oh but once again I'm ahead of my self.
I was dearly loving the frozen salmon, such a treat to eat at work. I've been taking my own meals very seriously and not eating take out.
Tuesday was alright. Really nothing at all. Then Wednesday struck.
-Later
-T.B.C.
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