Yes yes yes it my attempts to thwart having to take pre-diabetes medication has paid off. I had a look-see at my lab work, which shows no sugar in the urine and a fasting glucose of 93. I am pleased as Punch. It is a comfort knowing sensible interventions of ‘no sugar’ and no snacks (oh the pain) and regular exercise paid off. Let’s hear it for non-living.
The cement pond in the backyard is showing some virescence and that ain’t good. I texted The Pool Boy my concern and he responded right back I should drain the pool and replenish it with fresh water. He also advised me again to cut down the backyard tree as the so-called reason for the situation. He’s been cross about the tree from the get-go. I fear either the tree goes or he goes.
One of insurance companies at work recently connected the dots I don’t have admitting privileges to hospital and what am I to do about this. I wrote back saying this has been so since 2005 and if someone needs to be admitted I tell them they should sensibly get to the nearest ER where the staff therein can figure out what to do. I sense this will be unacceptable and the insurance company will threaten to leave, resulting in a stand off. Historically this would make me worried but after thirty years I’ve grown wiser, less anxious, or perhaps jaded I don’t seem to care.
Last week Father had a bad reaction to a shingles shot and on top of this it sounds like he ate something bad so he’s feeling lousy all over and this made his moods quite despondent, poor fellow. Perhaps it is age as he has never been one to have sudden reactive mood swings. He called daily to say he is sick and tired of being sick and tired and all he does is go to doctor appointments. He asked about an antidepressant; I told him to have Brother #3 turn on a Pink Panther movie. Father called on Saturday sounding more cheerful saying this remedy helped. One of my favorite professors once told me whenever he took life or the world too seriously he would go watch a Marx Brothers movie. ‘Horse Feathers’ is good, but in very bad cases ‘Duck Soup’ is better*
This reminds me I owe a few Spo-fans an entry on the seven ways to deal with the absurdity of life. Perhaps this week.
To end Sunday Spo-bits on a happy note, I received in the post the coffee beans mentioned in last Wednesday’s Ws entry. I forgot or didn’t know these demonic beans are brewed ‘from the dark heart of Ohio” Patience above! Sooner I’d eat rats at Tewkesbury but apparently it is OK to drink dreck from Columbus.
*Duck Soup is arguably one of the funniest films ever. Do not dare to question this.
39 comments
May 15, 2022 at 2:15 AM
DwightW.
Sounds to me like the pool boy goes, everything here is screened to a point but , you don’t mention if your pool is salt or fresh. There is no pool that can’t be controlled with chemicals. Is he totally unaware the Colorado river is drying up. Congratulations on the blood glucose, mine has always been low, we will see as I have a physical next week. My mother has been very fixated on pain in any place or in any amount lately . Tomorrow is the full moon so, I expect anything. I have forty years of watching behavior and it does affect things. Admitting privileges -insurance usually wins, I find and I know a lot of tricks .
May 15, 2022 at 6:37 AM
Urspo
Not once have I heard anyone local bring up the issue of the Colorado river. No doubt it is a Greek tragedy soon to happen.
The insurance matter will have the issue of me as an employee. If my bosses want this done – and it costs money – they will be asked to do so.
May 15, 2022 at 10:23 AM
DwightW.
The river is an interesting read , there are actually two of them. The snow packs in the states in the north, maybe as far as Nebraska are supposed to replenish it . It s not happening. I forget but more than 10 states I believe depend on it for Water. California being a huge consumer.
May 15, 2022 at 5:30 PM
Richard Portman
We need to start thinking about the Colorado River. For 64 years it has supplied me with my daily water 100💯 % and most of my electricity. It is time to understand this.
May 15, 2022 at 2:46 AM
Debbie W.
Many congratulations on the very good fasting glucose number. It is so nice when efforts to improve our health actually pay off. What a wonderful prescription you gave your father: classic funny movies as an antidepressant. 😂 Have a delightful Sunday!
May 15, 2022 at 6:38 AM
Urspo
Not just any funny movie, but farce. Farce more than parody touches upon the absurdity of life, which is sorely needed when down in the dumps.
May 15, 2022 at 4:27 AM
Moving with Mitchell
Calvin & Hobbs was regularly the go-to antidepressant at our house. Not a cure, but it sure helped sometimes.
May 15, 2022 at 6:39 AM
Urspo
Aye sir that’s a good one.
May 15, 2022 at 4:47 AM
David Godfrey
Old Bob Hope monologues will likely be good for Dad, they work for me. A week on a volcano also helps.
May 15, 2022 at 6:40 AM
Urspo
As Father is blind anything more audio than visual is better. Mr Hope more or less stands and makes jokes, yes?
May 15, 2022 at 4:16 PM
David Godfrey
Very much,
May 15, 2022 at 5:13 AM
Bob
Which is better to look at: the tree on a daily basis, or the pool boy when he visits?
I’m shallow like that.
May 15, 2022 at 6:41 AM
Urspo
The Pool Boy as he’s dubbed is not really a ‘boy’ nor is he esp. attractive to me – and he comes in the day time when I am not here. So I go with the tree.
May 15, 2022 at 12:51 PM
Bob
Wise choice.
May 15, 2022 at 5:49 AM
Lori Hawkins
Congratulations on the blood work. I’m glad your sacrifices paid off!! Yes, Duck Soup is the ultimate soul soother.
May 15, 2022 at 6:41 AM
Urspo
The mirror scene alone is worth the price of admission.
May 15, 2022 at 6:00 AM
Old Lurker
Sorry to hear that Papa Spo had a bad week. I am glad Brother #3 was able to prescribe a treatment.
Also glad to hear that you are living the virtuous life of no sugar and no snacks. I don’t think I will be able to do this when the time comes, so I applaud your self-restraint.
I imagine that obtaining admitting privileges is a hassle/expensive?
May 15, 2022 at 6:42 AM
Urspo
Truth be told I don’t know I’ve never done it/needed it. I imagine it is frightfully expensive and very bureaucratic to ‘join’ a hospital. I would think the bosses would tell the insurance company no can do and we drop them.
May 15, 2022 at 6:38 AM
Debra She Who Seeks
Congrats on staving off metformin for the nonce. Keep up the good work! I hope your father feels better soon.
May 15, 2022 at 6:43 AM
Urspo
Yes, this is ‘no meds’ for now – perhaps I am merely putting off the inevitable.
May 15, 2022 at 6:45 AM
Linda Practical Parsimony
Congrats on your efforts paying off for blood sugar control. I am not so virtuous. Frasier always helps me because it is sooo funny. Tommy is rolling with laughter. I introduced him to Frasier. I thrive on laughter and psychiatrist humor is the best!
May 15, 2022 at 6:49 AM
Urspo
I’ve seen Frasier only a few times. I had to stop as I kept saying ‘nope, that’s not right’ and ‘that would never happen”
May 16, 2022 at 8:59 AM
Linda Practical Parsimony
I am not looking for truth. I am looking for the humor in what he does otherwise.
May 15, 2022 at 8:19 AM
Robzilla, Native Of Slam Diego
Congrats on the blood work. I agree we all need to find things that bring us joy in these dark times. Normally for me it’s video games. Yesterday it was watching the 12 Hours of Bathurst auto race on YouTube after work. I only watched the last three hours but that really soothed my soul.
May 15, 2022 at 10:31 AM
Urspo
hohoho I wouldn’t have thought auto racing and ‘soothing’ as associations.
May 15, 2022 at 12:36 PM
Will Jay
Happy Dance on the success on your blood work! Father Spo is a very fortunate man who has family members who know his tastes as well as his current physical limitations (selecting Pink Panther as a first dose) advocating for him. He was able to avoid another circle of pharmaceuticals to administer and coordinate.
Well done Sir!
May 15, 2022 at 1:05 PM
Urspo
Sometimes – maybe more times – Laughter is the best medicine.
May 15, 2022 at 4:33 PM
Glenda
I’m sure you are pleased by your efforts to thwart more meds . Feels good to have a win now and then. As much as you like growing things, how could you bear to kill a living tree. After such a vital life, it must be hard on your dad to loose his independence. Hard on you all, too.
May 15, 2022 at 8:38 PM
Urspo
I have mixed feelings about the tree; it sheds a lot of pollen this time of the year and we’ve had to trim it a lot. All the same, the backyard would look bleak without it.
May 15, 2022 at 4:35 PM
Richard Portman
Keep the tree. Pool Boys come and go, but trees take time to grow. Happy to hear about good health news.
May 15, 2022 at 8:39 PM
Urspo
I have shocked the pool after giving i a good brushing; fingers are crossed this works.
May 15, 2022 at 5:55 PM
Blobby
You know and somewhat like someone who went to Columbus. Get over it. It’s coffee.
May 15, 2022 at 8:40 PM
Urspo
I would be glad to visit Columbus and see the sights and have coffee – provided you are there as my guide. I would not want it any other way.
May 16, 2022 at 7:14 AM
Ron
“Duck Soup” is an excellent movie, guaranteed to lift one’s spirits. Life without humor is not life. There is humor in almost any situation. Not every but most situations.
May 16, 2022 at 9:19 AM
Urspo
At least there is always Absurdity which often leads to humor
May 16, 2022 at 9:01 AM
Linda Practical Parsimony
Since he cannot enjoy physical comedy, try some of the old radio shows I heard in the 1940s, like Fibber McGee and Molly. There are others, just not sure of names right now. Your father will know and so will the internet.
May 16, 2022 at 9:21 AM
Urspo
yes yes yes
I’m teaching him about ‘podcasts esp. with old time radio programmes from his youth. His favorite was something called “The Inner Sanctum” which was about murders. I’ve listened to a few of them and they are fun in cliché sort of way.
May 17, 2022 at 8:38 AM
jefferyrn
Good to here you are controlling your glucose levels. It is too late for me. I am on several drugs for mine. Seems to be doing the trick for now. Of course, weight loss would be a better solution.
May 18, 2022 at 6:55 AM
Urspo
Weight loss (if one is overweight) is good indeed for blood pressure and glucose and a lot of other nice perks.