As the title suggests, I spent what seemed like HOURS at the eye doctor's office today! This appointment was not for myself, but for my 96-year-old aunt. She has macular degeneration and has to see the doctor every couple of months.
Today was my turn to take her - something I was happy to do because (a) it saved my mother from more running to Roanoke and (b) I enjoy spending time with my aunt. I got to the assisted-living facility early (!) to see her sitting in her wheelchair just inside the door, like a child waiting to be picked by its mother. Immediately I knew, just because I know her, that she'd been sitting there for probably an hour, which she confirmed when I said hello. "I've been waiting here for HOURS!" she said cheerfully. "I was so afraid something would happen on the road to hold you up so I wouldn't get to the doctor on time!" She knows me well...I'm not known for my promptness! but I did my best to be on time since I knew it would upset her to be late.
After going through the rigamarole you have to go through to check her out of the facility, I took her to the car and then tried to fold up the wheelchair - and could not, for the life of me, figure out how to do it. My aunt couldn't tell me - but then an employee came out and I asked and he showed...I felt like a dummy, but hey, I don't do this every day!
We arrived at the doctor's office 10 minutes early (kudos for me!) and got settled in to wait. Surprisingly, we were ushered back almost immediately, drops were administered, and then we went somewhere else to wait...and wait...and wait...it was interminable!! We waited well over an hour and 15 minutes until I was afraid the drops would wear off before they saw her! She was getting tired of sitting in the wheelchair and so I moved her to the waiting-room chair, but then she didn't like that so we moved her back. Every few minutes, she would say "Well, I sure wouldn't be insulted if the doctor would call my name right now" or "Boy, I thought they'd move people along faster than this!" - all said in her normal tone of voice which isn't soft! Her funny line was when she said that he (the doctor) must be "pulling eyeballs out and then putting them back in" because it was taking so long! HA!
Finally, we were called in for the usual short (about 10 min.) visit with the doctor. He said she was doing well and gave her a shot in the eye (OUCH), then said to come back in a couple of months. I then rolled her out to the car, put her in, took her back to the AL facility, and made sure she was settled in for lunch before leaving.
Yes, it was a long morning...but far longer for my 96-year-old aunt than me! I'm amazed that she was able to sit and wait that long, albeit with not a lot of patience, but still...! It seems like there should be a better way to do things like this - and certainly, the doctor's office could maybe speed things up a bit - but until that happens, she will continue to go back and do whatever she can to preserve what little sight she has left.
Wednesday, July 18, 2012
Thursday, June 21, 2012
Yet Another Reason to Wear Seatbelts
Something happened several weeks ago that brought home, yet again, the reason for wearing seatbelts.
On June 3rd, I was leaving Girl Scout camp, feeling great that it was over, when I noticed I had a text from a friend at work. I slowed down the car (we were not yet on the public road) to read it and found out that "something" had happened to one of the teachers at school. I had no idea what was going on, so I texted her to call me (yes, I was technically texting while driving, but again, not on the public road yet, still leaving the camp!).
My friend called and told me that the teacher, with whom she and I both work closely in the Special Ed (SPED) department, had been in a bad wreck the evening before on a notoriously bad county road and was in the hospital. She was going to be okay thanks to wearing her seatbelt, but it was a head-on collision and she did sustain injuries.
Needless to say, it was a somber day in school that Monday, the last Monday of the school year. Teachers told their students what happened and that what saved her life was wearing her seatbelt. It was definitely an example for the students of why wearing a belt is a good..no a GREAT, LIFE-SAVING idea!
A couple of days later, it was the last day of school and time for 5th grade graduation. This teacher had worked with several students since they were in Kindergarten and badly wanted to be there for their graduation, but couldn't because she was still in the hospital. Technology is a wonderful thing! She had an IPAD in the hospital and we had one at school, so she was connected via Facetime (similar to Skype) in order to see the students and so they could see her. As you can imagine, there wasn't a dry eye in the room! She got to see the students perform and was able to speak to them for a few minutes.
The real miracle is that she was alive at all...the ambulance had been told to expect a possible fatality because her car was so badly damaged. Of course, there are cases where victims are wearing their seatbelts and still are killed...but why take that chance?? Hopefully, the outcome of this horrific wreck has touched people's lives to where they now wear seatbelts ALL the time...not just for long trips or when they remember to put one on. I'm glad to say that my family wears them every time they're in the car and so does anyone else who rides with us.
I don't mean to sound preachy, but an event like this brings home the importance of something as simple as putting on a belt. "Click it or Ticket" - a great slogan for a great cause!
On June 3rd, I was leaving Girl Scout camp, feeling great that it was over, when I noticed I had a text from a friend at work. I slowed down the car (we were not yet on the public road) to read it and found out that "something" had happened to one of the teachers at school. I had no idea what was going on, so I texted her to call me (yes, I was technically texting while driving, but again, not on the public road yet, still leaving the camp!).
My friend called and told me that the teacher, with whom she and I both work closely in the Special Ed (SPED) department, had been in a bad wreck the evening before on a notoriously bad county road and was in the hospital. She was going to be okay thanks to wearing her seatbelt, but it was a head-on collision and she did sustain injuries.
Needless to say, it was a somber day in school that Monday, the last Monday of the school year. Teachers told their students what happened and that what saved her life was wearing her seatbelt. It was definitely an example for the students of why wearing a belt is a good..no a GREAT, LIFE-SAVING idea!
A couple of days later, it was the last day of school and time for 5th grade graduation. This teacher had worked with several students since they were in Kindergarten and badly wanted to be there for their graduation, but couldn't because she was still in the hospital. Technology is a wonderful thing! She had an IPAD in the hospital and we had one at school, so she was connected via Facetime (similar to Skype) in order to see the students and so they could see her. As you can imagine, there wasn't a dry eye in the room! She got to see the students perform and was able to speak to them for a few minutes.
The real miracle is that she was alive at all...the ambulance had been told to expect a possible fatality because her car was so badly damaged. Of course, there are cases where victims are wearing their seatbelts and still are killed...but why take that chance?? Hopefully, the outcome of this horrific wreck has touched people's lives to where they now wear seatbelts ALL the time...not just for long trips or when they remember to put one on. I'm glad to say that my family wears them every time they're in the car and so does anyone else who rides with us.
I don't mean to sound preachy, but an event like this brings home the importance of something as simple as putting on a belt. "Click it or Ticket" - a great slogan for a great cause!
Friday, May 25, 2012
Field Trips - Not for the Faint at Heart
Yesterday (Thursday, May 24) was quite an experience! I went on our 4th grade field trip to Monticello. We had around 44 kids and 15 or so chaperones, plus the teachers (2) and me.
First of all, I had to get up at 4:00 a.m. to get ready and be at school by 5:30. Bummer.
Then, I tried to be helpful and sit almost at the back of the bus so the teachers wouldn't have to do it. Most of the parents drove separately although we had around 5 or so on the bus plus the two teachers and me. This wouldn't have been so bad except that (1) the bus moved around quite a bit back there and (2) we have some kids with bladders around the size of a pea (no pun intended) who used the "convenient" (read "stinky") bathroom on an average of every 10 minutes on the two and a half hour trip there and back. It didn't matter if we were TWO MINUTES from our destination - if you asked "is it an emergency?", the answer was always "YES"! Occasionally they could wait, but not often. You can just imagine how bad it smelled on the way back!! When a child would come back to use the bathroom, everyone sitting back there would yell "HURRY UP! SHUT THE DOOR! SHUT THE DOOOOORRRRR!!!!" This was accompanied by the shirt-over-the-nose look in an effort to minimize the horrible smell emanating from the bathroom the SECOND the door was open. It was RIPE. UGH.
On top of all this, they played videos...nothing I wanted to see, but hey, the kids were happy. I think the movies were "Cinnamon" and "Hop". They seemed to get louder and louder as time went by and the teachers cranked up the sound because the kids were loud and couldn't hear the movie. Fun! I read a book and listened to my good ol' 70's music on my MP3 player. Thank goodness for MP3's and my husband, who put the music on there! Of course, I was sitting with one of the students, so every time I got good and settled in my book, she'd make a comment or ask me something. I didn't mind though - I really didn't! It was part of why I was there.
We spent most of the day making sure the students didn't spend all their money before they had to buy their supper. We went to THREE gift shops, so you can imagine all the "valuable" stuff they had to sell that the kids just had to buy!! One boy spent all but 40 cents! Of course, there were several ready to step in and help him out along with any others who, unbeknownst to us, had spent their last dime. Fortunately, they all did pretty well in this area...mainly because we bugged them about it every minute! HA!
I think all the kids had fun - chaperones too! I know I did! It was great seeing the interest in their faces and hearing the insightful questions they asked. They really asked wonderful questions and I was so proud of them!
First of all, I had to get up at 4:00 a.m. to get ready and be at school by 5:30. Bummer.
Then, I tried to be helpful and sit almost at the back of the bus so the teachers wouldn't have to do it. Most of the parents drove separately although we had around 5 or so on the bus plus the two teachers and me. This wouldn't have been so bad except that (1) the bus moved around quite a bit back there and (2) we have some kids with bladders around the size of a pea (no pun intended) who used the "convenient" (read "stinky") bathroom on an average of every 10 minutes on the two and a half hour trip there and back. It didn't matter if we were TWO MINUTES from our destination - if you asked "is it an emergency?", the answer was always "YES"! Occasionally they could wait, but not often. You can just imagine how bad it smelled on the way back!! When a child would come back to use the bathroom, everyone sitting back there would yell "HURRY UP! SHUT THE DOOR! SHUT THE DOOOOORRRRR!!!!" This was accompanied by the shirt-over-the-nose look in an effort to minimize the horrible smell emanating from the bathroom the SECOND the door was open. It was RIPE. UGH.
On top of all this, they played videos...nothing I wanted to see, but hey, the kids were happy. I think the movies were "Cinnamon" and "Hop". They seemed to get louder and louder as time went by and the teachers cranked up the sound because the kids were loud and couldn't hear the movie. Fun! I read a book and listened to my good ol' 70's music on my MP3 player. Thank goodness for MP3's and my husband, who put the music on there! Of course, I was sitting with one of the students, so every time I got good and settled in my book, she'd make a comment or ask me something. I didn't mind though - I really didn't! It was part of why I was there.
We spent most of the day making sure the students didn't spend all their money before they had to buy their supper. We went to THREE gift shops, so you can imagine all the "valuable" stuff they had to sell that the kids just had to buy!! One boy spent all but 40 cents! Of course, there were several ready to step in and help him out along with any others who, unbeknownst to us, had spent their last dime. Fortunately, they all did pretty well in this area...mainly because we bugged them about it every minute! HA!
I think all the kids had fun - chaperones too! I know I did! It was great seeing the interest in their faces and hearing the insightful questions they asked. They really asked wonderful questions and I was so proud of them!
Monday, April 16, 2012
Late again!
Well, here it's April and I haven't blogged since January! Maybe I should just give this up, but I do enjoy it when I get a chance or think of something to talk about. My husband does a daily blog, but I just don't want to do that. Oh well.
What brought a subject to my mind this time is what happened yesterday afternoon. Carrie invited two of her friends to come over to "creek-walk". For the uninitiated, that means to literally walk in the creek! She and her friends get a big kick out of walking up and down the creeks on the property, so periodically they get together to do this. Amazingly, both of her friends seemed really excited to do this - as was Carrie! What??? No electronics, MP3 players, IPODS, etc?? Just three girls and nature? Can it be done???
Well, I'm here to tell you that it WAS done! Not only did I not see or hear ANY electronic devices (well, I did see a cell phone, but that was given to me for safekeeping, so we won't count it), but even when they got back to the house they didn't use them, play them, listen to them, etc. AMAZING!! And very heartening, too...they are finally past the Nintendo DS stage where they have to play every minute they're together...and even Carrie managed to lose her MP3 earphones for several enjoyable hours!
Not only did they enjoy nature and each other without the aid of electronic devices, but the girls Carrie invited were very polite and respectful! WOW! You sure don't see that every day! I'm proud that my daughter has great friends with whom she can have fun of the clean, wholesome kind.
I also appreciate the fact that my husband went with us to help make sure the girls were safe and sound. Thanks!
Good job, girls! Ya make me proud!!
What brought a subject to my mind this time is what happened yesterday afternoon. Carrie invited two of her friends to come over to "creek-walk". For the uninitiated, that means to literally walk in the creek! She and her friends get a big kick out of walking up and down the creeks on the property, so periodically they get together to do this. Amazingly, both of her friends seemed really excited to do this - as was Carrie! What??? No electronics, MP3 players, IPODS, etc?? Just three girls and nature? Can it be done???
Well, I'm here to tell you that it WAS done! Not only did I not see or hear ANY electronic devices (well, I did see a cell phone, but that was given to me for safekeeping, so we won't count it), but even when they got back to the house they didn't use them, play them, listen to them, etc. AMAZING!! And very heartening, too...they are finally past the Nintendo DS stage where they have to play every minute they're together...and even Carrie managed to lose her MP3 earphones for several enjoyable hours!
Not only did they enjoy nature and each other without the aid of electronic devices, but the girls Carrie invited were very polite and respectful! WOW! You sure don't see that every day! I'm proud that my daughter has great friends with whom she can have fun of the clean, wholesome kind.
I also appreciate the fact that my husband went with us to help make sure the girls were safe and sound. Thanks!
Good job, girls! Ya make me proud!!
Tuesday, January 17, 2012
Happy New Year 2012!
Well, I just looked to see when I last posted and it's been awhile! I can't believe any of my (three) fans haven't bugged me about it! I really haven't had much of anything to say and I still don't, but I'll try to come up with something for my adoring audience.
Today I was sitting in my favorite chair looking at the Denise Austin book I bought about this time last year :-). You know, the one I was going to use to help me lose the weight I want to lose - last year! The one I still haven't read since - last year! Do you sense the theme here?
Anyway, I had a headache pretty much all day today so it wasn't a good day to start my exercise regimen. Tomorrow I'll be in school for a teacher workday, the next two days I'll be in school, etc., etc., etc. You get the picture, I'm sure! Actually, Carrie and I had talked about taking a Zumba class (something I would dearly love to do), but it meets on Wednesday nights right up until my choir time AND it would cost $50 for each of us...too rich for my blood! Sooooo....maybe we can come up with our own Zumba lesson here. I'm hoping to, anyway!
I am at least smart enough this year not to brag about how I'm going to lose weight. I'm gonna try, but you won't hear about it unless it happens - that way, I'm not disappointed and neither are you! I know I'd feel better if I got involved in a regular exercise routine, so we'll see what develops. Stay tuned!
As for what else is happening....well, I keep quite busy between school, Girl Scouts, and church. I manage to have something to do almost every night of the week, which gets a little wearing sometimes. These last two days, we've had a holiday ("MILK" day, as I call it) and then today was teacher workday at home. Tomorrow we have teacher workday at school, so I'll be heading off. Anyway, I have not been ANYWHERE in the last two days - practically a world's record for me! I parked my car Sunday afternoon and haven't moved it for two days! It's been kinda nice - haven't done all I could here, but have gotten some things done as well as read a book or two. I think I needed the downtime, since the next couple of months look pretty hectic! Lots of GS stuff coming up - every weekend in February is now officially taken with some sort of GS activity at some point in the weekend.
A new experience I have had this year is being an Odyssey of the Mind co-coach for the primary group (1st and 2nd graders) at our school. I got drafted to this position, but have really enjoyed working with the kids. It's amazing what they can think of and how creative they are! My co-coach is one of the moms and she's really a great help. Between the two of us, we try to keep six very energetic, vocal, and lively souls in line! Our competition will be on the first weekend in March. Since I've never been, I'm looking forward to going to see what takes place. It will be nice to observe without the stress of competing. I should also mention that one of the teachers at school has been a tremendous help to us - given us suggestions, provided snacks, and will be providing some of the materials we'll need in order to complete our tasks. Thank you, Laura!
Well, this is about all I can think of for the moment. Wake up and have a good rest of the evening!
Today I was sitting in my favorite chair looking at the Denise Austin book I bought about this time last year :-). You know, the one I was going to use to help me lose the weight I want to lose - last year! The one I still haven't read since - last year! Do you sense the theme here?
Anyway, I had a headache pretty much all day today so it wasn't a good day to start my exercise regimen. Tomorrow I'll be in school for a teacher workday, the next two days I'll be in school, etc., etc., etc. You get the picture, I'm sure! Actually, Carrie and I had talked about taking a Zumba class (something I would dearly love to do), but it meets on Wednesday nights right up until my choir time AND it would cost $50 for each of us...too rich for my blood! Sooooo....maybe we can come up with our own Zumba lesson here. I'm hoping to, anyway!
I am at least smart enough this year not to brag about how I'm going to lose weight. I'm gonna try, but you won't hear about it unless it happens - that way, I'm not disappointed and neither are you! I know I'd feel better if I got involved in a regular exercise routine, so we'll see what develops. Stay tuned!
As for what else is happening....well, I keep quite busy between school, Girl Scouts, and church. I manage to have something to do almost every night of the week, which gets a little wearing sometimes. These last two days, we've had a holiday ("MILK" day, as I call it) and then today was teacher workday at home. Tomorrow we have teacher workday at school, so I'll be heading off. Anyway, I have not been ANYWHERE in the last two days - practically a world's record for me! I parked my car Sunday afternoon and haven't moved it for two days! It's been kinda nice - haven't done all I could here, but have gotten some things done as well as read a book or two. I think I needed the downtime, since the next couple of months look pretty hectic! Lots of GS stuff coming up - every weekend in February is now officially taken with some sort of GS activity at some point in the weekend.
A new experience I have had this year is being an Odyssey of the Mind co-coach for the primary group (1st and 2nd graders) at our school. I got drafted to this position, but have really enjoyed working with the kids. It's amazing what they can think of and how creative they are! My co-coach is one of the moms and she's really a great help. Between the two of us, we try to keep six very energetic, vocal, and lively souls in line! Our competition will be on the first weekend in March. Since I've never been, I'm looking forward to going to see what takes place. It will be nice to observe without the stress of competing. I should also mention that one of the teachers at school has been a tremendous help to us - given us suggestions, provided snacks, and will be providing some of the materials we'll need in order to complete our tasks. Thank you, Laura!
Well, this is about all I can think of for the moment. Wake up and have a good rest of the evening!
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