swine flu and other challenges

Since I work in a doctor's office, our staff has been scheduled for swine flu shots. But I declined. I'm hoping that since everyone else is getting the shots, I will be okay. I just don't feel right about being part of a test group of millions for a flu shot that rolled out this year and is really untested.

On another note, Dad is doing pretty good. His liver numbers are better, his cancer markers are still going up, and his liver tumors are stable. Mixed messages, but we'll take what we can get. I'm staying at his house a lot these days since he got home from the hospital. He almost took a tumble yesterday when his legs just gave out, and today he lost his balance again. We're trying to keep someone with him so if he does fall, he won't lay on the floor for hours. I can't bear that idea.

And yet another note, Mom is moving in with me this month. She is here now for a few days, and heading home tomorrow to pack some more. She'll be here by December 1 if not before. I'm excited for her to get here and get settled. Is this ironic? She'll be at home and I'll be at Dad's house.... Oh well. Except for family pictures, I have hung one picture since I've been here. I've told her it's up to her to decorate the place. I'm a total minimalist. But her house is lovely. Lots of foo-foo. I've never been a foo-foo kind of girl. I like foo-foo. It's just beyond my ability to create it.

So some friend's donated a couple downed trees for my winter wood, and a couple others and a teen age son cut the trees, hauled them to my house, and now I have a pile of wood waiting to be split and stacked. Unfortunately, I was splitting wood Wednesday and I broke the ax handle. SOS. Now what do I do? In any case, when all is done, I'll have a great winter wood supply. I'm so happy. I love a fire warmed home.

I made some bread this week. It's been much too hot to bake bread this summer. Colder weather just begs me to make soup and bread. The perfect comfort foods.

I'm off to Allicia's tomorrow for the week end. She called me a month or so ago and asked if I could come help with the short guys while she sings in the winter concert, and also while her primary does their program on Sunday. It will be a quick trip. I got my studded tires on yesterday so if (when) I hit snow on the pass, I'll be okay. And of course, I have those horrible, wretched "easy on" tire chains which take a battalion of Mensa members and mechanics to put on. I may just sit and wait out the storm if they, those nefarious people who like to see old ladies out in the snow and slush and wind attempt to put those stupid chains on and then 10 miles down the road, have to take them off.

I'm heading back to Dad's. G'night all.