45 posts from October 2009

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Dear everyone,

Oh, have I got a praise update for all of you...

a) My goddaughter is out of the hospital and recovery is going well.
b) Her mother aka BFF, is also out of the hospital and recovery is going
well, though somewhat more slowly.
c) My husband is out of the hospital today also!

As to (c), he sent me an SMS last Wednesday that he was "burbling" - which
means his old nemesis, pulmonary edema. I was out with parents, but
fortunately we had finished all we had needed to do, and the bank we were in
was only five minutes away from the house. Got home, dropped off parents,
bundled hubby into the car, dropped him off at the ER, where our suspicions
were confirmed.

Fortunately, we had caught things before they could get serious and despite
hubby's grumblings, I admitted him into the hospital for observation. Once
he was out of the ER and into the room (one of the rooms he was billeted in
back in the days of his near-monthly confinements), I brought the car home.
BFF (who can now drive) picked me up and dropped me off at the hospital with
all my gear, and it was easy enough to slip into the "wait and see" of
previous hospital visits.

Here's a funny. Ramon wouldn't sleep in the hospital bed, he was more
comfortable with the "long john" or the inclined seat with the extra long
section that doubles as a cot. So it's a good things the nurses always
asked for the patient and thus were directed to extract blood from the right
person. :)

Ramon's lungs cleared out yesterday, but the doctor wanted us to stay one
more night to finish up the medicines and have another set of blood tests,
just to be sure everything was all right. So we were discharged today, we
left the hospital at around 1.30pm (the length of time it takes to wait on
paperwork is amazing), stopped by to pick up some tablets the doctor
ordered, got home around 2pm. I had a late lunch, sorted the clothes and
stuff that we brought, napped in a serious manner; and thus life resumed its
usual pace.

God is so good. There is financial provision to cover the bill - which,
thanks to Ramon being a senior citizen, was reduced enough to give us a
refund! Admittedly a small refund - but any money back from a bill is always
a good thing in my eyes. Two of Ramon's prescription meds have been
removed, and the dosage on some others reduced, and then one vitamin
supplement added.

Thank you all so much for your prayers; may you be blessed today and always!

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Looks like it's time for the weekly update. I've been putting real time
events ahead of online time these past days, so must rely on Twitter for
memory prompts. The thing is, I haven't been on Twitter all that much
either, even from my phone, so likely quite a few things will fall through
the cracks.

So there was a mention of Ma going to the Makati Med Rehab Center for a
doctor's consultation last Tuesday. Not sure if I mentioned the history
behind this yet; the basic outline is that in 1984, Ma slipped in the
bathtub in our Brussels hotel, on the first day of my graduation trip to
Europe. Fortunately, she did not hit her head or break anything, and
continued the tour as bouncy as any of the younger set. About six months
ago, she slipped on the terrace and never bothered to tell me until about
three months after the fact. (At which point I gave fervent thanks that Ma
didn't hit her head or break anything.) Why did we not go for a consult
then? The usual: Ma's fear of doctors, one thing or another on the family
schedule. Only after I attended the seminar on arthritis and falling with a
focus on elderly patients, and after one session with a physical therapist,
did Ma consent to see a doctor.

We got to Makati Med and managed to get to the Rehab Center in good time.
Filled out the consult form, and the doctor took down Ma's medical history,
had her walk up and down a few times, and manipulated her leg while she lay
down on the examining table. Then Ma was scheduled for a set of x-rays,
which we took care of after lunch at Floating Island. We came home, I
rested my thumping bumping brain cells, and all was well.

* * * * * *

The next day, Ramon and I were at SM Makati. Our gas range had one burner
acting funky - and since replacing the burner parts would cost the same as
buying a new unit, the parents voted for getting a unit. The old unit will
go to the next recycling fair for the scrap value. At the same time, our TV
up and died after more than 10 years of faithful service, so Ramon and I
decided it was time to upgrade technology and get an LCD TV.

The SM Appliance Center certainly had good reason to love us that day.
*grin* I picked out a 2-burner Rinnai gas range for the kitchen, and a 32"
TCL LCD TV for the bedroom. Once things were settled to everyone's
satisfaction, I popped into the supermarket to pick up some groceries, and
then it was off to Makati Med to pick up Ma's x-rays and try out the new
Pizza Hut.

Got Ma's x-rays with a minimum of fuss. Then it was off to the Pizza Hut.
While at Pizza Hut, sent an SMS to my goddaughter to ask if they were
visitor-ready; but as BFF was in serious sleeping mode (and good for her,
given all that she's been through, I wouldn't be surprised at all to know
that exhaustion played a huge role in all these medical issues), all parties
took a rain check. The food at Pizza Hut was all right, but am not sure
that I want to go back there. See, when Ramon uses his senior card, the
server generally has the bill re-computed to factor in the 20% discount, and
that is when we put our money down. This server wanted us to pay the gross
amount, and when I asked if they weren't supposed to re-compute the bill
first, he replied that it was much better to pay the gross first, if that
was okay with us.

Didn't really want to argue the point, what with my friendly neighborhood
headache visiting again, so I paid the gross, scrutinized the bill
computation when it arrived, and I was in a bad mood enough not to leave a
tip. I don't know. It's not the procedure I'm used to 99.9% of the time,
and the way he said things hit my wrong side, and I have resolved not to eat
there again. Floating Island FTW, yes.

The Dairy Queen, on the other hand, is going great guns. Quite the queue
waiting for their orders! Will definitely try them out the next time we're
at Makati Med. *grin*

Went home, installed the TV in its new home, and there was much rejoicing.
*nods* The difference in picture quality and the sheer size of the thing are
amazing. Plus, since it's a thin TV, there's this whole vista of space on
top of the TV table now. We've placed the TV as close to the wall as
possible, which means the cats drape themselves all over the empty space in
front, or lean on the DVD unit. They don't interfere with the view, and they
are loving how they have a clear view of whatever goes on in the room.

* * * * * *

I do believe Thursday was a rest day. Or it might have been the day I chose
to move all the furniture around in the office space. Oh, the dust bunnies!
I am, now that things are all put to rights again, quite satisfied with the
way things turned out. I have a "digital corner" near the drop lights,
putting the computer and the TV closer together. The CD drawers and related
digital gadgets are grouped together, as are the craft supplies (mostly
knitting and crochet requirements). The boxes under the bed are now stacked
in the corner beside my old study desk, where I can see them and be prompted
to *do* something with them every now and then.

Josie the maid, who had taken a day off yesterday, returned early in the
afternoon with tales of the queues at the voter registration centers. So
all things considered, it was a quiet day.

* * * * * *

I have no idea what happened on Friday...this must have been the day I spent
sleeping. And sleeping. And futzing around on the internet, catching up on
stuff I'd left for two days. Ye gods, but everyone was chatty on the
internet while I was away! Have noticed that I ought to cull my feeds list
once again, once the new month begins. There are feeds that I "mark all as
read" more times than I actually read them, which is a sign that I'm just
keeping them there out of habit.

In the end, I do believe that everything turned out the way it was supposed
to. I slept, I organized, I caught up with things, I thought up things I
should do and would like to do.

* * * * * *

Which brings us to yesterday. Yesterday I had the time of my life in
downtown Manila. Which is to say, the older business district of Manila
known as Divisoria. Though strictly speaking, not so much Divisoria as the
district that encompasses Tutuban (the former rail terminus) and 168
Shopping Mall. If I have my bearings right, you can find all these meccas
of commerce in the Chinatown area; certainly the streets we passed were
those I remember as being in the Chinatown district.

I had to take care of some business at the family plot at the Manila North
Cemetery, making sure all would be in order for the coming All Saints/All
Souls holidays. Once things were settled there, Ramon and I headed towards
SM Manila, on Arroceros street, not far from the Manila City Hall. The plan
was to park the car there and then take public transport to Divisoria. We
ended up having lunch at the food court first, and then hopping onto a jeep
heading for Divisoria. Given the state of the traffic, we got off at the
top of Juan Luna street and did a leisurely walk past what is most
definitely a thriving business district. No airconditioning at all, but if
you're into bulk buying for the holidays, you will be in heaven if you know
how to bargain.

I picked up round-neck t-shirts for Ma's annual Christmas giveaways - four
dozen at Php30/shirt, nine pesos lower per shirt than what you'll find in SM
(which is already considered the mall for the budget-conscious). I saw gift
fixings for bulk buyers - ribbons, different grades of wrapping paper,
cartons of all shapes and sizes. I also saw the need to be armed with a
list when going downtown to buy things - it's information overload, and if
you don't have a plan of action, you will, I promise, spend more than you
thought you'd save. *grin* I mean, dear heavens, gift-quality face towels
at Php75/dozen? *squee*

Saw the famous 168 Mall and maybe 1/10th of its contents. But what I saw
has convinced me that commerce is alive and well in Manila, despite what the
prophets of doom would have you believe. If economics is supposed to be
based on the exchange of money for goods and services, then downtown Manila
is rocking it - at least to my optimistic eyes. However, I refuse to go
back there when the Christmas season is in full swing. Ramon did that crazy
thing last year, and he said it was wall-to-wall people. "Picture Mecca at
the height of the hajj, and that's more or less the idea," he said, and I
can believe it. There are stalls *in the middle of the street* (Recto? The
one that runs in front of Tutuban and ends at Reina Regente or something...)
selling things like pajama bottoms at Php100/3 pcs.

Then there's the fruits and veggies and the castanas (chestnuts) are already
being roasted - a sure sign that Christmas is a-coming.

Got home around 7pm, dirty, tired, but content. We had dinner at SM Manila
before going home, so all that was left was to show Ma all that was bought,
wash up, close the house, and get to bed.

* * * * * * *

Today was slower, being as Cash-n-Carry was the only stop of the day.
Brunch, then a full-body massage, a new clothes rack for Dad, a new digicam
for Ramon (a knock-off on the Flip Mino called the Flix and he *loves* his
new toy, does my man), a composite video cable (just to see what it does),
and an extension cord. Then the groceries. Then home.
Installed new clothes rack in a jiffy, ditto for the composite video cord.
Extension cord was just what my portable water heater needed.

Grocery shopping involved the purchase of the Del Monte fruit cocktail that
Ma uses as a base for her fruit salad. We have two of those. We have six
cans of Nestle Cream. We have the red and green nata de coco, and gold
(melon flavor) nata de coco for that extra oomph. Eeeee...I think we need
more condensed milk. It's not Christmas yet, you say? I'm not wading
through the Christmas shoppers to buy ingredients for fruit salad, the
staple food of Christmas and New Year. Better to get it early.

I need to order the Christmas ham. November is just around the corner - I
still have vivid memories of purchasing the last free ham from the Majestic
stand in Rustan's Magallanes, I can't let that happen this year. *crosses
fingers*

Thus ends the weekly update. Those of you who have made it this far, have
some sparkling wine. :)

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