Not a Good Morning
Tue., December 28, 02:05 PM
It was not a good morning. I feel as if it began yesterday…
I’m beginning to think that the office has something to do with my being tired, although I still work only three hours or less. I wore two layers of clothing – not to mention that my wig prevents some heat loss from my head. I brought a little space heater in as well, so my area is a little warmer than it used to be. But I can’t say I felt warm.
I got home and had some lunch. I tried a little repair on my computer. And then I turned on the TV and curled up to nap. I awoke to the sound of Husband groaning loudly (doesn’t seem to mean anything) and banging around in the kitchen. Soon I was doing my own groaning, as I had awakened with lots of aches of my own. Fortunately, U.D. was making supper, since I have to eat in order to take medications. If I had to cook, I think I would have settled for ice cream. (In cold weather I will happily have a cup of hot tea and a dish of ice cream; that is pure comfort food.)
I stayed up only until the girls’ basketball game was over – UConn 76, G. Mason 44. I took a couple of Tylenol and went to bed. And I slept until the alarm went off the next morning.
I didn’t want to get up. I considered calling in sick – and knew that I’d better get up while I still could. Morning routines are good for you. Start the coffee and wash a few dishes. Check my blood sugar and feed Cat. (He sits and watches me, then meows when I put the kit away.) Bundle up – coat, hat, gloves – to go out and get the newspaper.
Cat was trying to get out, so I closed the door as I went out. It was cold. I got out paper, but didn’t see Miss Neighbor’s, so I went back up the steps and opened the door.
Curses and excrement!! I opened the storm door but… For thirty-four years we’ve lived with a quirky front door lock. You can unlock it and turn the knob, and sometimes it relocks. This time it was more than annoying. Because not only was it cold, but who is going to get up for me? Husband hears nothing. U.D. was still sleeping, with her door closed. (Ordinarily I waken her after I get the paper.)
I started a rhythmic alert – three hits on the doorbell, three pounds on the door – hoping someone would hear it and realize there was someone out there. I could hear my kitchen radio. Cat was watching me from the window; it was all his fault, y’know. I even tried banging on U.D.’s car, hoping the alarm would get her; she had left it in the kitchen. After about fifteen minutes, she did hear the bell chimes. She had heard the pounding, but figured it was just Husband and his cane, as it was last night.
I sat down to my breakfast, but before I was done, I began a nosebleed. Not a bad one, but there’s another ten minutes shot. And I wanted a shower.
My brain, being unhappy, had trouble with the taps. Thinking of another tub in another time and place, I couldn’t remember which was hot and which cold (they’re both marked cold in the Cheesebox) or which way was on or off. Finally, I get it right but Husband knocks on the door. “You can come in.” Louder: “Yes, you can come in. Just don’t take too long.”
Wishful thinking. I’m just happy he didn’t decide he just had to clean the cat box. I finally turned off the water, because the hot was going to run out. He didn’t take the hint. I put my hand out and grabbed my towel, and still he was doing whatever he was doing; I only know what he wasn’t doing.
“I have to go to work” means nothing to him. He went back into the bedroom instead of into the kitchen for his pills, and I had to get him up again. Somehow I got to work – on time – and did almost nothing. Even the dog wasn’t in. I shoulda stood in bed. I’m gonna take a nap in about three minutes.
