Pies and dust bunnies

Waiting for the brown bread to come out of the bread maker and the pies to finish baking so a few moments to fill in the news.

My day started before I even got out of the bedroom with a phone call from an unknown cell phone (the logical thought that it was a cohort of the prodigal son but what would they be doing awake at 7:15 a.m.?) which turned out to be the cleaning lady. She was calling to ask if her son had called to say she wouldn’t be by tomorrow and explained this was because 1) her sister was in an ICU in Halifax since Monday and they were still trying to find out the cause of her life threatening condition 2) the sister’s partner needed to be transported to the orthopedic specialist in Kentville as he was having a knee replacement next week so they were on their way to the appointment and then back to the city 3) she had come home from the ICU yesterday in a rush as her son had called to say that her husband had had another spell with hypertension and had a patch applied and another B/P med added so she had picked him up (although he wasn’t keen on the urban existence) flatly stating “I can’t be in two places at once and look what happens when I leave you alone, get in the vehicle”. Obviously nothing to be done but reassure that the cleaning here is not a problem, however for the domestically challenged such as yours truly this is a sizeable crisis.

Plans are to have the summer neighbours over tomorrow p.m. for dessert so it’s a good thing that they come for the company not the housekeeping here. Since I’ve made a strawberry/rhubarb and apple crumb top pie and have French Vanilla ice cream, whipped cream and maple syrup for the apple pie (got to give it a try) this will likely reduce their ability to view dust bunnies. Good way to start the weekend I’d say. I’ve left a LARGE note on the baked goods with idle parental threats for the prodigal son’s likely midnight arrival.

Work was one continuous crisis; the H1N1 situation which has never really dropped down is rearing its ugly head again. I do not have a good feeling about how my summer is going to be work load wise. Sigh.

At about noon I had a voice mail message on my work phone advising me to call my bank ASAP due to a security issue with my visa card. They were concerned that my card had possibly been copied and were cancelling and would reissue me a new card which would arrive in 5 – 7 days. Lovely I thought. I asked how this could happen, there had been only payments not purchases on it since vacation and I was advised that perhaps my card was one of a number which they were concerned about and that they guys were really good. I pointed out that if crooks were looking for a card to charge to, mine was a poor choice but they wouldn’t find that out until after they tried to use it I guess. Memo to self to ask the banking daughter what this means.

The spectacle saga continues as I called the eye glass dispensary and the manager was very helpful, stating they would replace the lenses free if the Dr. had reissued the prescription. When I described my situation he looked up my file and I read him the numbers (which meant something to him apparently) and he tells me that “we can make you new glasses but I don’t think they’ll help you see any better as the Rx isn’t that much different from the one we filled but it almost seems like he reversed the numbers” So, we have decided that I’ll drop by on Monday when I’m in town and sort out if I need a new eye exam, or the opthamologist needs to be consulted as the tie breaker or what. Even if this is settled I have resolved to NEVER have my vision tested again at the offending facility.

As always folks of my generation often need the assistance of the following generation and I’m glad to advise that my future son-in-law is a geek as I tried to send out a poster about our upcoming pig roast and none of the recipients could open it. It was interesting to see how that played out with some trying creative options to view, advising me there was something wrong with the file, and checking out their computer or software. Mister nailed it by saying “you’re using a copy of Word 2007 which your friends don’t likely have, since it’s an invitation and you’d like them to be able to read it, you need to save the file as an older version of Word” Glad he’ll likely be involved in decisions about my care when I completely lose my mind (not long now) as he’s very practical and will assist the daughter who won’t be able to handle us.

As well, I have been longing (more so than usual even) for the highspeed internet access this week as I had made plans to do a webinar on touring Egypt & Jordan this evening (allow me my small pleasures as an armchair traveler please) but….when I tried to download Microsoft Live Meeting last night it was going to take hours so I gave up, took my flashstick to work, downloaded and saved it in 2 min. 47 sec. However when I attempted to dial up for the webinar I could only connect at 21kps and so no webinar after all. I opted not to dial in by phone; if I want someone to talk about it to me I’ll listen to the radio or read about it, the concept was to be visual. Sigh.

Had a text message from the baby daughter saying that palliative care client she’d been caring for had passed away at home on her shift this week. Now that is a tough assignment at any stage in your career. Glad the family had such a mature care worker with them for support.

For having made it through the week I have plans on Saturday morning to wander on in to the farm market being held in town weekly and then reward myself with a Frenchy’s dig. Woohoo.