Foot woes

I saw the podiatrist on Monday, it is definitely bone spurs. Haglund's Deformity, the exact same thing I had back in 1986. I had the surgery in 86, and it was a very long and painful recovery. This time surgery will be last resort. Mainly because if I don't work, I don't get paid. Not being able to walk will put me out of work indefinitely since I am on my feet continuously at work. I had a desk job in 86, so I could work. Not so lucky this time. With no other source of income other than my job, this is not an option.

The game plan is anti inflammatories, ice and elevation initially. From there we go to topical anti inflammatories and a walking boot. If that doesn't work, it is surgery. In the meantime I will continue to look for a job where I don't have to stand and walk on concrete floors for 8 plus hours a day. At some point, I should be able to find something. Patience.

The doctor wasn't real happy with my choice of shoes. He says that I need a rigid base. The Telics are about the only thing I can wear right now and they don't have a rigid base. The Teva's would be better, but there is no cushion in them. I need the cushion for the heel on the concrete floor. If we can find a way to manage the pain, I will go back to the Teva's, but I think I am done with any shoe that has a back on it. No more Merrells, nothing. Anything that will compress the back of my foot is out of the question.

Yesterday I went and had the X rays. I am appalled at the degree of unprofessionalism I experienced. The tech was the least professional professional I have ever seen. She was telling me her life story complete with bad language…she talked non stop about herself and her daughter that stabbed her boyfriend. There was absolutely no antibacterial, anti germ wipes, pads or anything in site and none were used. I put my bare feet on the same surface as other people with no wipe down, no covers, nothing. Plus, there were dead crickets on the floors that looked like they hadn’t been cleaned or swept in ages. Ugh! I wonder how often the place is inspected. She even put the right foot marker on the left foot picture….I had to tell her it was wrong. She gave me the CD to give to the doctor at my next appointment. Strange. But I found the images on the disc and copied them to my computer.

These are the pictures of my right foot. I am no pro at this, but I don't see any stress fractures. Doesn't mean they aren't there tho.

They did the left foot and there is a sizeable spur on the top of the heel, but that one doesn't bother me. Although it may eventually.

I finished the Z pack for the cold/allergies on Monday. Now I am waiting for the side effects to subside. It has been a rough start to the year for me. Seems like I have been sick in some form or another since January. Time to start feeling better and get some ambition and motivation. Still sneezing, sniffling and coughing, but I am much better than I was at this time last week. 

Here are the latest garden pics. Some things are doing well, some not so well. The plants that Rob the bread guy gave me and said they were rhubarb are actually beets. I tasted one, definitely beets. 

Marigolds are starting to bloom

First sunflower

All sunflowers have buds

Purple statice is looking good (from seed)

Pots of geraniums, statice, gazanias and marigolds

A baby lemon cuke!

Nasturiums

Almost ready to pick

Pepper plant is finally blooming

Mustard greens, one of my favorites

Lemon cukes

Mixed bag

All in all, the garden is doing well. We'll see how it makes out when it gets over 100 degrees 24/7. I have the kit to hook the hanging planters into the automatic watering, just have to set it up. 

My new 3.0 cubic foot freezer came on Saturday. I got it into place and raised it up on 4x4's to bring it closer to counter height. Now all I have to do is figure out a way to cover the back so I don't have to look at it when I am in the living room. The ideal thing would be to build a counter extension.housing for it, but that would cost money. For now, I think I will try a sheet of poster board. That would at least cover up the aluminum back.

I had to relocate everything on the wire shelf and moved the shelf out to the patio since I didn't like the way it looked here. At some point I need to go thru the cupboards again and get rid of the stuff I don't use. 

I am still sick

I gave up last night and started a z pack. I waited until I got home last night so I would be asleep after I took it. The congestion seems to be looser this morning and I hope it will be gone by the time I finish the antibiotics. It has me sneezing again tho. But if that is what it takes to get rid of the congestion, I can live with it. I’m tired of being sick. Between this cold/sinus thing I have had for about two months and my foot, it is getting pretty old. My appointment for my foot is this coming Monday.

I wore the new Telic shoes the whole shift last night. I had taken my Teva’s just in case, but it was OK. I still hurt when I got home, but mostly just my right foot. The new shoes have a lot more cushion to them. The only problem is, they make my feet sweat. Took me a little while to get used to walking in them too, it is such a different experience. Although my foot is pretty sore this morning. I did it without any pain killers, so I guess that isn’t bad. I really don’t like mixing my drugs whether it be aleve, allergy meds or antibiotics. I did use the topical stuff tho. Might have to apply that a little more often. I am hoping to have more energy once I get rid of whatever it is that I have. 

I ate my first tomato from the garden yesterday. Seems to be a little tough, but it wasn’t completely ripe either. I don’t know what variety it is as that is one of the plants I got from Anna.  They look like a small roma. Not the best eating tomato. Better for cooking. I took my weeding tool and got rid of most of the weeds in the yard. 

I ordered a small freezer online the other day. It is supposed to be here tomorrow. I have been struggling to keep stuff in my fridge freezer when I open the door. I am hoping to be able to freeze some garden stuff and still have enough room for the required summer ice. I am going to try to put it at the end of the counter and use it as extended counter space if it will fit. 

It was finally summer quiet at work. I got nine totes emptied and stocked. I have started doing the milk and eggs and beer a little earlier in the shift too. 8:30 instead of 9. That allows me to relax a little and get a quick smoke break in before I start counting money and doing the paperwork or spend extra time on the coolers if I need to. Last night we were out by 11:20. I worked with Natalie. She is changing her days tho and I won’t be working with her on a regular basis. I am going to miss her. I did not fill all the beer. They had the u boat stacked way over my head, I could barely move it and I wasn’t about to move everything to get the four 12 packs I needed from the bottom. They don’t pay me enough for that.

I need to go collect a neighbors plants that she left on her patio. I have no idea what they are, will find out when I get there. They left yesterday, so I can’t let that go too long. Things dry out way too fast here. I also want to get some more sleep. I haven’t had enough yet. 

I started some more seeds the other day. Eggplant, which is supposed to love the warmer weather, some pepper seeds I had saved, some more strawberry seed since the first ones haven’t done anything yet and the red yucca seeds that I gathered a week or two ago. My cukes are blooming and tomatoes are finally ripening. I pulled the lettuces since they weren’t doing anything. It is already too warm for them. I will have to put up the misters soon since it will be hot. They are predicting a warmer than usual summer. It is going to be interesting since last summer we went three months without going below 100 degrees, including nights. 

I just checked my vacation time online. I have 20 hours, but will wait until I have 40 before I take my vacation. My anniversary date is June 11. I am tossing around the idea of going to CA to see Georgia if she is going to be around. She has invited me and I didn’t get to see her when she was here this winter. She was only here for a couple of days. Would be nice to have a change of scenery. I would love to go East, but I don’t have enough time for that or the money. I am planning on going back at some point for a visit, but it will definitely be in the summer. If I go see Georgia I have a good chance of seeing part of the west coast. Haven’t seen the ocean in ages. Plus, I might get some inspiration to start creating again.

I'm thinking it is going to be too hot to take the trailer out by then. Although I am going to have to take it out some time. I'll probably have to replace the tires tho. I don't know how old they are and they have been sitting in the Arizona sun. I have them covered, but again, I don't know how old they are. At some point I will need to try and get the little generator running. I haven't tried to start that yet. And that too has been sitting in the sun. 

I have been sick - again

I have been sick for at least a week, if not longer. Top it off last night with vomiting, and it was just a perfect week. But I am hungry this morning, so that is a good sign.

We had several days last weekend with gusty winds and dust storms. The palo verde are blooming and my sinuses have been going crazy. My last days off were spent blowing my nose and sleeping. It felt like my head wanted to explode. Went back to work on Wednesday sounding like I had a really bad cold. I managed to make it through the work week tho. Alternating Aleve and sinus meds. I found a topical cream with lidocane in it for my foot and that helps. I still hurt, but not like I did when I was wearing shoes with backs. 

Was a rough day at work yesterday. I didn’t feel good all day and was past ready for 3:30 and the end of my work week. I got close to a dozen totes emptied so that was pretty good. I came home, had a couple of burritos and went to sleep. Then I was up for a couple of hours around midnight and proceeded to get sick. Not sure why. I haven’t taken anything for foot or sinus since Saturday and I certainly don’t mix them. It is one or the other. I didn’t eat anything unusual, so I don’t know what that was all about. I did manage to go back to sleep.

I have been waiting for my tax returns. I did my own taxes for the first time in years and apparently made a mistake. I got a letter this last week adjusting my total (less of course), and then another letter saying that I was possibly eligible for another credit. I need to look at the paperwork and figure out what to do about that, did my work laundry when I got home yesterday so that is already done. I had thought about going to Walmart and looking at freezers, but I’m not sure I am up to that today. Sal’s either. But we’ll see. I may just go back to sleep. I am so sick of being sick! Still blowing my nose and coughing too. 

I’m thinking scrambled eggs and an english muffin for breakfast. Something easy and not too heavy. I’ll get something from the garden for later. Not getting enough fruit and veggies lately. I just don’t eat right with this work schedule. 

There apparently is a job opening at the town hall for a clerk. Not sure I want that job. I’m hesitant to apply since the last job was such a fiasco. People are urging me to apply, I didn’t really want to for the last job either and should have listened to my instincts. It just wasn't a good match for me. I dunno. We’ll see. If I do, it won’t be today. Today is for rest and feeling better. I’m probably going to just sit on the whole job situation until I have a better grasp on whatever is going on with my foot. Figure it out then. 

Today is Schwann's day. I really don’t have room in the freezer, so I need to sort some stuff before I buy anything else. Thinking asparagus and fruit for today. Their cherries are really good. I may get two of them this time. The berry blend is also good. I really do need to get a small freezer I guess. Especially if the garden produces. Ice takes up a lot of space in the summer. Gotta have ice…

Now, for those of you concerned about my being depressed, yes, I am. But I learned long ago that all I have to do is wait a little while and things will change. Yes, there are things I can do to make the changes happen, and I will when the time is right. I'm good. You don't need to worry about me. I have survived a lot worse. I'm not going to do anything crazy. I have dealt with this pretty much all my life and have managed so far. Thank you for your concern. It is appreciated.

Water heater, garden, and foot pain

I spent some time last week potting up and transplanting my seedlings. I had wanted to do window boxes on the front of the garden, but couldn't justify spending the money. I used pots that I already had. I also potted up some lemon cukes that a friend gave me and he also gave me three rhubarb seedlings that I put in the garden. I have pulled the peas, turnip greens and the radishes, way too warm for them now. I did get about seven tasty pea pods off my four pea plants. I will replant those when it cools off again.

The baby zucchini rotted. There are a couple more there, I'm hoping to get at least one squash off the three plants. The tomato plants are spindly but have a lot of green tomatoes on them. I'm thinking of trying the eggplant seeds I saved from my last eggplant. They are supposed to be a warm weather crop. I also saved some pepper seeds that I can try too.

I rolled back the plastic on the sides of the garden and put the shade cloth on the top and back. Seems to be keeping the temp down a few degrees in there. I still have the fan running on solar power. I have no idea if that is helping any, but in theory, it should. I have also changed the watering from twice a week to daily. Soon I will have to up that to twice a day and get the misters installed.

The cukes in the hanger are doing well. Started those from seed. Nasturtiums are doing good too. 

Had an appliance crisis last Thursday. Woke up to a wet rug in the kitchen. The water heater crapped out. Thanks to Herb's and Keith, it got replaced and back up and running before I had to get ready for work. Yay! It was pricey tho. 

The previous owners had that compartment literally packed with newspaper and cardboard. Two garden carts full of folded newspapers and a box full of cardboard. The only good thing is that the paper and cardboard soaked up a lot of the water and it gave me a date when the heater was last replaced. The date on the newspaper was 2007. It was a definite fire hazard tho. What were they thinking? Granted, it was an electric heater, but still...I should have taken a picture.

It is now insulated with reflectix. Three layers between the door and the compartment, one around the compartment. I may have to put in an outlet so I can run a lightbulb to keep it warm when it gets really cold, but most likely it will be just fine as is. 

Keith did an awesome job and I owe him big time now. There was a tiny leak in one of the joints when I went out to finish the insulation yesterday. I put some CPCV cement on it. Hoping that takes care of that. If not, the joint will have to be redone.

Foot update. After being on my feet Thursday morning for the water heater repair, I went to work wearing my new Sketchers for work. BIG mistake. Thankfully I had the foresight to bring my Teva's with me. I was close to tears as my feet hurt so much. It was enough for me to start making calls to have it looked at. I am now wearing my Teva's to work as they have no back on them and are a lot more cushioned than my Merrells. I wrap the heel with sports wrap before I go to work, and stay off my foot as much as I can when I am home.

I had to have a primary care referral to see a podiatrist, so yesterday I had that appointment. I have the referral but have to wait three to five days to make the podiatrist appointment. Not sure why I have to wait that long with today's technology, but he said it was to make sure all the paperwork had been forwarded. So I am still looking at several weeks before I can get any input on my foot. In the meantime, I will just do the best I can with my Teva's and sports wrap. He did say it sounds like heel spurs tho. Sigh....The last time I had heel spurs I had to have them surgically removed. It was a very long recovery. I won't be able to work, and it isn't a disability approved illness. Not sure how I am going to survive if I can't earn a paycheck. This also nixes the post office job if it got offered. I need to find a decent paying job here in town where I am not on my feet eight hours a day. Those kinds of jobs are few and far between here in Quartzsite

I have moments when I wonder what my purpose is. I work my ass off for practically nothing, haven't done anything fun in a very long time, and have nothing to look forward to at this point. So, what IS the point? I had a purpose with Jake, then had an adventure for several months on the road, and was pretty content until I ran out of money and had to go back to work. My job is not a career job. It is hard physical work and pretty much controls my life. I work, I sleep, and that is about it. The schedule is ever changing and I can't make any plans for anything. That is no way to live. I haven't done anything creative since I started working. The job screws with my diet, my sleep, my exercise and anything fun I might want to do but can't because I am working or need to sleep before going to work. And the pay is barely enough to live on. If I didn't own my car and my home, I wouldn't be able to survive on what I bring home. I have no supplemental income, just what I earn from week to week. There has to be more to life. 

It has warmed up finally. Upper 90's during the day. I haven't turned on the AC yet and it looks like I won't have to for at least another week or so. We are having a cooling trend which will be nice. The house gets warm and takes a long time to cool down at night even when it is really nice outside. I setup the little swamp cooler this morning and we will see if that helps. It worked quite nicely in the bedroom last summer when I could close the room off, but I am now sleeping in my chair in the living room and I think the space might be too large for the cooler. I may have to get a bigger one. Of course any one I get will get destroyed by the calcium in the water. I was going to toss this one because I couldn't clean it up, but will see if I can get another season or part of a season out of it first.

I also have a fan out on the patio where I sit and read. That keeps the air moving at least. Soon I will get the cool tub setup and working. The nights are still too cold to bother since the water would cool down at night. Will wait another week or two. Although I have wished for it a couple of times.

Sadly the baby doves didn't make it. They hatched, but I found them dead the other morning. I guess that happens a lot here.

Work is work. Our assistant manager finally quit and a coworker has taken her place. I was asked if I wanted the job and after one too many run ins with idiot/nasty customers I decided I didn't want the responsibility. Besides, I would hate to get all trained and then leave if I got another job. I'll just bide my time and do the best I can.

I finally tried out my leaf mulcher yesterday. I filled a large pot with chopped up leaves and watered it down. I am hoping it will break down and turn into nice organic compost for the grapefruit tree. I don't want to use it in the garden as I have no idea what kind of weeds it will produce. Under the tree the bunnies will keep any weeds down.

The garden is still doing well and I finally have tomatoes growing. I have been opening the door during the day, but it is still too cool at night to remove any of the plastic. The fan is on a timer and runs on solar. That will keep the air moving around in there for now. Soon I will have to cover the top with shade cloth and get the misters set up. Going to have to change the watering schedule soon too, it is starting to dry out during the day now.

The cacti are all getting ready to bloom

Cape Honeysuckle. Has been blooming for a while and is finally growing.

The Natal Plum is also growing, but very, very slowly

The grapefruit tree is blooming and it smells amazing. If the number of blossoms indicate the amount of fruit, it should be a very good harvest in January

Sunflowers, pansies, geraniums, all just about ready to pot up

I have at least three baby zucchini - finally!

And a bunch of little green tomatoes.

Cukes are up!

I have two hanging pots of mixed nasturtiums. 

I need to start my monthly spraying for ants. Saw my first one yesterday. I also saw my first lizard of the season. Love my little lizards. 

I'm getting bored with the yard. I need to spice it up somehow and am considering paving options. I had thought I would just bring in more rock, but that is boring. Plus it is an expense I really can't afford on my income. Will have to look at my options and get some ideas online. I need to do this as inexpensively as possible. Maybe desert rocks. Not sure I am into doing a pattern tho. Gonna think on it some more. 

Starting to think about my vacation that I am eligible for in June. Assuming I am still there. If it isn't too hot, I think I will do some camping. I need to get the trailer out on it's maiden voyage anyway. Trial run, test camp. I ordered a pop up tent to go with it and I got a 12v cooler at the yard sale last week. I just need to finish it up, which is mostly decorating and organizing, but I can also do that while camping in it. Most of it anyway. I still need to put the insulation on the ceiling, put the roof vent cover on, bed skirt and curtains and replace the screens in the windows. Nothing earth shattering or anything that will keep me from using it. I need a heat proof adhesive for the insulated layer for the ceiling. Am going to try E6000 since it is easy for me to get. I have the screening for the windows and I even have the screening for the back door. I did not get the back wall with the pocket door built since Mark seems to have disappeared. 

On a more personal note, I am missing Jake a lot right now. More than usual. I am also envious of all the couples that are still together and those that had more than ten years. I'm sure a lot of this has to do with the fact that I don't have much of a life now that I am working all these hours and it has so much control over everything I do. And I have so little time to do anything fun, so I spend most of my off time at home and it gets lonely.

I am also struggling with compulsive eating when I get home from work at night. It doesn't seem to be a problem during the day, just at night. I don't seem to have any will power at midnight when I get home from work. I eat whatever I can get my hands on even after I am no longer hungry. I need to work on that.

Here are a few pics from this morning. The first Argentine Giant cactus in bloom across the street and a pic of their grapefruit tree. This is what mine should look like. Not complaining, mine is getting better each season.