Schwup!

Friday, August 13th 2010

I was up until 5am - which didn't really surprise me since I slept most of yesterday.  I woke up at 11am.  Then I realized I forgot to set my alarm and  totally missed my doctor's appointment.  I rescheduled for September 3rd.

I realized I've been in a "down mode" for the past week and a half or so.  I think part of it is the time of the month.  Adria noted years ago that I get more depressed a week or so of the month.  I haven't been sleeping well, my schedule is all thrown off, I don't want to do much, few bits of unpacking and some food shopping only, I don't have the energy to shower daily, I'm on the every other day schedule, I barely have the energy to throw my hair in a ponytail and get dressed.  I'd much rather have one of those exhausting "up modes."

My back has really been hurting this past week.  I dislike dragging my left leg, limping and feeling like Quasimoto.  I'm used to my "best impression of a rice crispy" days where my back crackles when I move, but ugh!  The difficulty walking and hurting too much to even sit at the dining table has got to go!  It's weeks like this that make me thankful for my handicapped placard - at least I don't have to avoid ALL errands anymore.

I showered, dressed, did my hair and makeup.  Then I went to Wawa.  I debated stopping at ShopRite to grab something for Sunday night's dinner.  I invited Marty and Dad.  I wasn't sure what I was making yet.  I was torn between pot roast, pork chops, tilapia, or stuffed shells.  I made pork steaks the last time Dad was down.  Maybe a pot roast so I can use up some of these potatoes and carrots before they go bad.  I still have tons of frozen veggies.

I took a nap for a few hours to rest my back and my mind.  I kept thinking of things I *should* be doing, but my back was protesting and I'd already taken half a vicodin. 

I made the steaks I'd taken out of the freezer Tuesday night.  Dayna had requested them, then decided to go back to Bryan's a day early.  She didn't feel like going to my Mom's.  I sauteed onions, added the steaks and cooked covered on low after seasoning them.  I chopped some asparagus, carrots, and red potatoes and added them to the pan with some garlic and olive oil.  It was enough for two servings, the second went into the fridge.

There is another fly in the apartment.  The constant buzzing around my head is driving me nuts.  There's a few more smaller buggers who are nearly as annoying, as well as a spider look-a-like.  I swatted at the flyers like I was playing volleyball.  I swatted lots-o-legs with a roll of paper towels.  It fell on the floor.  I got out the vacuum.  Schwup! Problem solved.  If only the fly would stay still long enough to be sucked up.

As I was vacuuming, I began smelling something.  Sniff, sniff. Burning?  No.  Ammonia?  I haven't used ammonia recently.  I grabbed the bottle of ammonia and intent on confirming my suspicion took a nice whiff.  Then I remembered 10th grade chemistry.  Never, ever, take a nice big whiff.  Waft it towards your nose with your hand.  The memory was too late.

Ammonia does not just have, what one might call, toxic fumes.  No.  It believes in the sneak attack.  You open the bottle, you smell nothing.  You sniff, you smell slight scent.  You take a good whiff to confirm, and by the time your brain comprehends the full potency of the sniff test, you're mostly through your good whiff as the attack on your nasal passages is in full force.  On the bright side, open window, garbage out, no smell on re-entering and a panic attack was averted.