“Down and Out in Beverly Hills” - May 20-26/24

Monday, May 20th

In our off-and-on quest to see movies from the 80s, mom chose the title. She enjoyed the movie, I did too but it was dated. Mom kept saying I don't remember this part, and I thought, of course you don't remember a movie you saw 40 years ago! I'm glad she liked it but I really don't want to spend money on an average movie. I guess that's what happens when no one thinks of anything else.

I was eager to see Humphrey, as it had been two weeks since we were in bed together. (what am I implying? Nothing! Get your mind out of the gutter!) He was thinking the same thing as he lunged out of his carrier and came running down to me. I, on the other hand, had not cleared the way for him, so there was some awkward fumbling before he was able to get near me. It was really nice to see his reaction match mine.

Tuesday, May 21st

No one came to visit today so I did a whole lot of nothing.

Wednesday, May 22nd

I found out the pastor who was coming to see me was not just off island for last Wednesday, he was on vacation, so he would be gone for the rest of the month. I was very anxious to read him the last two essays, as I think they both kick serious ass! That seems like the entirely wrong way to describe them when I have a man of the cloth in the same sentence. Oh well, take me or leave me. I will always be slightly inappropriate. There was nothing to say about my shower so there you go.

Thursday, May 23rd

I was up and in my chair by 1030 a.m. and I went next door to the small dining room. I spent the day in there watching the new Dune part one as part two just became available on Max. I had watched it when it first came out, but it had not grabbed me and I didn't pay attention and I didn't like it. The second viewing yesterday was completely different and I enjoyed it a lot. I wanted to watch it one more time just to make sure I understood everything before I went on to part two.

Meanwhile, the maintenance guys were working on getting rid of a family of cockroaches that had taken up residence in the cabinet next to my bed. So that's where the cockroach that had explored biting my finger had come from. Anyway, I left them alone to do that nasty business. My CNA informed me that all the babies had scattered while the big mama cockroach had started flying around the room to evade her killers. That's the fun thing about the tropics. The big cockroaches are not just indestructible, they fly! You can kill them, but it is not easy.

I didn't get back in my bed until after dinner and everything l was calm and odor-free. (Meaning they didn't use any smelly bug spray) I got a canvas print of Humphrey made and I got a narrow Command shelf to put it on. I gave it to the head nurse of my floor to put up but it is not up now.

Friday, May 24th

They put the shelf up today and I know from putting up other similar things that you want to give it some time before you put anything on the shelf, so I waited. I have only been getting up in my chair once or maybe twice a week for at least a year and that is not good. My neck is very weak and my hand is as well. So I was good and got up in my chair.

In order that I could be mobile, I took my huge iPad off the stand and put it on the angled pillow on my lap. Then, having nowhere to go, I went outside my room in the hall and went through my Gmail which I hadn't done in a while. At lunch I went back in the room so I could eat in semi-privacy. I got back in the bed about 4 p.m.. They came in and hung the shelf when I was up in my chair. It was too close to the clock but in an effort to be chill, I did not comment.

Saturday, May 25th

The picture of Humphrey was placed on the shelf by my morning CNA, and it looked great for two and a half hours until the shelf gave way and the picture dropped! Maintenance had not used the Command Strips but instead had put a bunch of double sided tape on the shelf. Hopefully, I can get the strips and put the shelf up my shelf.

I was eager again to see Humphrey! E brought him by at 2:30 p.m.. My sister had a doctors appointment and ended up going to Safeway to try their prepared foods section. I got two large pieces of fried chicken(leg and thigh, if you must know), some Okinawan purple potato salad and kale salad. It was a mountain of food and yummy! I had a serving for dinner and I don't think I will ever finish the potato salad.

My sister and I did not do much but I did have her take a picture of Humphrey and me for this weeks blog entry.

Sunday, May 26th

My CNA was a very nice girl, no woman, who is learning how to be a CNA here. She is slow. Slow can be nice, but I know there are many other people she needs to get to and I can move quicker when I have to. Well, I can talk quickly and encourage my helper to move faster. Anyway, she started giving me a shower and I was talking her through washing my face and hair.

We had just started washing my arm when another nurse came in and began moving things along quicker. I continued to tell my CNA what to do. The nurse who came in is not a fan of mine and told me I didn't have to tell my CNA what to do, she knows what to do. She and I said almost together no "I/she don't/doesn't." Anyway, the shower got done and the water was fine.

Mom came over to work on my hand/arm and brought over a rack to help me organize the small cabinet next to my bed. We both started looking for things until I realized what I was looking for had run out and what mom was looking for was also not there. So we stopped our useless searches and got down to brass tacks. She fed me lunch and we worked on my arm.

When she left, I worked on finishing this blog, and I got almost caught up. I had been playing Wordscapes as well, but I was only able to make it to 5th place. I usually make it into the top three, but the four people ahead of me enjoyed playing as much as I did, and I could not overtake them. I am really itching to put out some new My Tips and Tricks, and Humphrey’s Mews, so watch for that!

Have a great week!