More Prattle from Povey

 

  April 25th Blog Scamp Yesterday (24th April 2023)  the woman who does my yard clean up work came to the door.    I opened it without a thought.  Zion took advantage of this, and disappeared. I called his name - no response.  I walked to the driveway. Zion had skedaddled to a unit four hundred yards down the road. WHY?   The Mail Truck was there.  "Mail Truck = Mail Man=Treat"  I whistled and Z came loping back.  It is a lovely sight.  The yard work woman said "it's like a T.V. commercial" ---------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- BUT Not long after Zion came into my life the following happened. "MAJOR anxiety attack yesterday morning (15th November 2018)" November 16, 2018 I wandered outside this morning at 5:45 a.m. to check on the weather before my first walk of the day with Zion. He joined me as he usually does.  But with no warning Zion did not stay near me as he usually does.

  Success # 1 Today I received a text message from my local pharmacy.  It indicated that the missing prescription had been filled and will be available tomorrow. I think that the Heart Doctor's Computer panicked when I left a message stating that if the scrip was not issued I would walk naked through the waiting room; proclaiming  "This practice has a lousy Computer system". Success # 2 After one hundred years (or thereabouts)  of trial and error I managed to download the Delta Airlines site to my i-Phone. I'll be traveling soon. Farewell to this Welcome to this I'll feel so kewl when I use this.  But I'll probably drop the 'phone! Scamp Yesterday (24th April 2023)  the woman who does my yard clean up work came to the door.    I opened it without a thought.  Zion took advantage of this, and disappeared. I called his name - no response.  I walked to the driveway. Zion had skedaddled to a unit four hundred yards down the road. WHY?   The Mail Truck was there

  Yet again I am fighting my Heart Doctor's Office  (or a Computer?) over a scrip which they will not automatically renew via my Pharmacy. Their word is that all my scrips were deleted in Oct 2022.  That's baloney since I saw the real, live, breathing Doctor last month. I called the office this morning three times during ninety minutes, but each time got the overnight recorded message  (long after opening time).  I finally got through to an answering machine and pleaded for the essential scrip to be renewed;  I have only six pills left). The answering machine was stern:  "Do not call us again.  We will not call you.  Your pharmacy will call you within 48 hours   if this prescription has been renewed"  Oh Yeah? I was scheduled for a City of Sarasota inspection of my new windows today; sometime between 8:00 a.m.  and 5:00 p.m.  I was glued to the house; to no avail. I phoned the business manager of my window contractor  (she is his wife "M")  to ask  "wha

 

  Air Fryers are mini Convection Ovens. I am getting great results from mine.  Chicken thighs roasted in eighteen minutes. Pre heated to 350 f     Twelve minutes skin side up ( mine with olive oil and paprika.   Skin wonderfully crisp. Six minutes underside up.  Meat wonderfully moist.

I had my right eye surgery on Thursday 20th. My post-op check up went well this morning (Friday 21st). I am now on a complicated regimen of eye drops . Week three for my left eye; week one for the right.  So complicated! Except that the local Sarasota/Manatee EYE ASSOCIATES have provided me with daily eye drop charts.  Good Doctoring!

    On Wednesday 19th I was in a slow moving line at a local Seven/Eleven Convenience Store.  A young Black man came into the store and took  a place at the head of  the line,  Not a word was said.  The young man asked a question of the sales clerk; left the store, and came back in. A White man behind me said "what a sense of privilege"  I said  "It's likely that we all  have a sense of privilege; I do". The man behind me said " I don't". I said in a quiet voice "I wish you'd think about that" I said no more.  We live in dangerous gun-toting days. It transpired that the young man was doing no more than checking to see if he had enough money for his intended purchase, -------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Today I went for a hair cut.  I parked in the shopping Plaza and walked over a painted cross-walk. A man (late 50's/early 60's ) drove his big assed Ford 150, or Dodge Ram drove over

  Why is it that every time we 'phone a Doctor's Office or a Clinic we are greeted with " please listen carefully to the menu,  as our options may have changed"?  Oh Yeah? Why is it that the renewal of  the meds from my heart doctor have been frozen?  (Allegedly since last Oct). No word from the Doctor about this, so I suspect it's the work of a malevolent computer. A call to the Doctor's Office goes unanswered,  So my wonderful Pharmacist has to fax the Doctor's Office to stir the pot.  Without her I'd run out of all meds ....  and ...? I know that there is a low level boycott of Walgreen's (it's all to do with their refusal to carry the "morning after" pill in certain retrograde States).  But we live in a difficult and fragmented world in which the perfect can be the enemy of the good. I am entirely grateful for my local Walgreens where the Pharmacist knows me by name!

  Ripe and juicy "goosegog" (British slang for gooseberry).  Delicious raw; or in a crumble or a pie. Hard to come by in the U.S.A.   Some are grown in northern States.  I bought some bottled goosegogs, but they were miserably unripe. "Alleluia" I cried when I came upon these at my "Church of St. Trader Joe". But they ain't the goosegogs of my youth.  They were misnamed as such by explorers   (a.k.a. colonists) who saw them inland as they traversed  the Cape of Good Hope. Let's call 'em Golden Berries less we confuse them with the delicious European Gooseberries. They are sweet and tart at the same time. They would be good in a veggie/fruit salad. I shall stew mine, and eat them with ice-cream,  as a treat after my Thursday Cataract surgery.

  For a while. On Thursday night 13th April I dreamed that I had been appointed to the staff at St. Augustine's Church in Bristol. Appointed with me was Sheryl Kujawa-Holbrook,  Professor of Practical Theology and Religious Education at  Claremont School of Theology . ( I  knew Sheryl when she was on the staff of the Former Episcopal Divinity School in Cambridge, MA) In the dream a more senior member of the St. Augustine's staff asked Sheryl and me to move some hessian (burlap) sacks (contents we knew not) to the Church Undercroft. I began to dismount from a large chest on which I had been sitting, and fell to the ground. I had indeed fallen.   But I had fallen out of bed.  I banged up my shoulder, but no bones were broken. I am a restless sleeper. I toss and turn, never finding comfort. I may start the night in my bed, then half asleep, move to a recliner, then back to bed. Zion hears me quoting Scripture (totally out of context) "A wandering Aramean is your Father"

  are more inscrutable than the   FOR  INSTANCE  Dr. Foster my Cataract Surgeon didn't go to Gloucester, but he sent my prescription for a specialist eye drop (Pred-Moxi-Bronf)  to a Parrish, FL  Pharmacy ( a forty two miles round trip)   There are many of these "Discount" Pharmacies in the area.  I have no idea how they fit into the overall system. What I do know is that   Pred-Moxi-Bronf  is  evidently not covered by my Medicare, nor by my Church Pension Fund supplemental health insurance.   My Co Pay for P-M-B brought a wee bit of sticker shock. I am used to Co Pays of $10 or $15 for traditional meds. 'Tis O.K.   I have an emergency fund for these exigencies  BUT  1.  I think of  person of my age who lives in rural Florida. Her/his only income is Social Security.  He/she has no supplemental health insurance. Forty miles away from a hospital, a clinic, or an Eye Surgeon, she/he has cataracts in one or both eyes.  He/she has "a snowball's chance in a Florid

     PICKLED    Beets, Cauliflower, Grapes. ARTICHOKE Hearts

  https://www.facebook.com/thepove/videos/10208079170993622 I came upon this Video of my first Canine Friend, Penne who was with me from 2008 - 2017.  I cherish her memory. In the video she is playing with her soft toy, a gift from my friends Ron and Char. Penne had a ton of energy.  She slept in my sitting room.  The moment I awoke she would race into my bedroom to greet me.  If I left my home for just a few minutes  she would greet me with great enthusiasm at the front door. Came the day when her energy was mitigated by pain.  Penne had severe spinal pain.   She was on pain meds. for a while until my Vet. (after a blood test) saw that the meds. were having a deleterious effect on her kidneys. So I had to say goodbye.  I cried for three days, Then for a while came Ben , a retired Greyhound , who was destructive when left alone. He needed the company of other Greys.  He found a great home with two other Greys. Izzy, a  wonderful Catahoula Hound was next.  But there was a problem.   

  These are stock photo's In a short drive with Zion to Sarasota's Arlington Park I saw: The aftermath of a minor Bumper Stumper accident on South Beneva, involving two cars. No one was injured. Attending the accident scene  were FOUR Police SUV'S FOUR Not one policeman was guiding the backed up traffic. A bit later on I saw a 40 something Amish Woman on her electric scooter as she checked her mobile 'phone! Sarasota is a host to a seasonal Amish community.  Far from the Amish heartlands our guests let up on their  strict discipline.  WHAT HAPPENS IN SARASOTA STAYS IN SAROSOTA.

  Roasted Lamb and Vegetables for lunch again today.  As I carved deeper the lamb was less well done, and had a good pink colour.  It was medium but not medium rare (which I'd prefer).  YES MY ENGLISH FRIENDS   I like my lamb cook medium rare! ------------------------------------------------------------------------------- My sinister eye is coming along well four days after the surgery. I am scrupulous with the eye drop regime. My eye brow looks good too! I am not getting the dazzling colours which some had forecast.  But my vision is brighter than it was. It's like having a window cleaned. When I use my right eye alone it's as if I am looking through lightly smoked glass, or a very dirty window. Roll on April 20th

  Roasted Leg of Lamb, with roasted Carrots, Mushrooms and Parsnips. The Lamb was a bit more well done than I prefer ( I used the Air Fryer and got the timing a bit wrong ) nevertheless the meat was still moist. It's hard to make gravy when cooking in an Air Fryer.  I could have made some in a saucepan with "Bisto" gravy granules but it might have overwhelmed all the other flavours. Of course I used Mint Sauce ( I hate Mint Jelly with a passion!) Colman's is well known for Mustard in the U.K.  Their Mint Sauce is fine, though it is the Mint which is grown in Norfolk not the Sauce itself! I bought a bottle of Claret (the 19th Century U.K. Generic for any and all Bordeaux Red Wines).  I was eating at 2:00 p.m. so I didn't open the wine since I would be driving Zion to his park walks later in the day.

  I find that I am satisficed  with two meals per day, and next to no snacks. My breakfast this morning included two slices of avocado  toast ("Dave's Good Seed Bread"); four ounces of smoked trout; and a fried egg. I ate again at 3:00.  This is the non-gourmet bit. I am almost ashamed to show you this!  Roasted potato slices from the hot food counter at a local Indy Convenience store, with Heinz 57 Baked Beans.  ( Cheap and Cheerful!). I used my Air Fryer to renew the spuds and they came out as crispy as can be.  In truth they were GOOD! BUT WAIT, THERE IS MORE. Easter Day is within sight. I salivate as I think of the feast I will cook: Roasted Leg of Lamb, with roasted spuds; and carrots, broccoli and parsnips. Some for me and some for my reclusive neighbour Ed. G.

  "Eye Associates" wisely gives patients a chart for the post operation eye drop regimen.  It's easy to date and to make a check mark/tick. After April 20th I'll have another chart for the right eye surgery. I reckon that I'll be on eye drops until the end of May. "TEARS" are over the counter eye drops.  Not all of such are recommended.  There have been deaths in the U.S.A. after customers have unwittingly bought bacterial laced drops). Eye Associates recommend over the counter brand OASIS and BLINK . PRED-MOXI-BRON is a specialist prescription drop, available from specialist Pharmacies, at $90 for a 0.5 fluid oz. dispenser, The things you learn!

  Photo' for dramatic reasons, Yesterday's  cataract procedure on my left eye went well. The Doctor was running late (so what's new).  I went  into the operation room 35 minutes late, but emerged 20  minutes earlier than the scheduled time. It's all painless.   I was so utterly relaxed on the gurney (the mild IV anesthetic probably helped). The surgery felly like a soothing eye massage. I'll  have a check up at 8:00 today (Friday)  Then I'll most probably cleared for driving. The eye is still sore (I am allowed to use medically approved eye drops at will).  My left eye sight is still very blurry - it will be two or three days before I get the full benefits, Now I know what to expect when I have my right eye fixed on 20th April. The photograph?  I covered my eye with a  Perspex  shield so that I could not rub it in my sleep.

  Procedure is at 12:35 p.m.  on Thursday 6th April  ( In my mind I thought it would be in the morning!) I have friends who will drive me to the Clinic  (about 25 minutes journey).  SARASOTA  FRIENDS -  the clinic is on the north side of Clark Rd, a wee bit west of Honore Ave Procedure  will take about two hours. They will wait for me and drive me home. On Friday 7th  I will have a check up at 7:30 a.m. SARASOTA FRIENDS the check up Clinic is on Bee Ridge at the south end of the old Westfield Mall.

  My condo, single story,  and in a triplex,  was built in 1973. The developer was a Mr. Paver.    His reputation is good even until now. I moved here in 2006.  Successive Condo Association Boards have been responsible: building up safe financial reserves; repainting the exteriors; replacing the flat roofs; repaving the streets etc. With the exception that at one time the lawn sprinkling system was neglected and died.   That's all for the good.  Sprinkler systems are notoriously unreliable and an do expensive to maintain.  We can do well without Wimbledon style lawns in semi-tropical Florida. It's not a great matter but the windows are the responsibility of each owner.  My "original" (1973) windows were (to quote a hymn) " weary and worn and sad". All were metal framed, and some were louvered, with crankshafts which were decidedly cranky! g Old window with sliders which refused to slide! I saved some dollars over the years so was able to have four (up to hur

  I told the Podiatrist that the charge would have to reach $82 or more before I would shut my whiny mouth.

  Many read my blog about the  Alpine Blossom soft cheese from Austria. Made from Cows' Raw Milk, with wildflowers. Imagine that - eating dried wild flowers! But why not. I grew Nasturtiums when I lived in western Massachusetts.  The blossoms are wonderfully edible -  with a peppery after taste. In this part of Florida it's too darn hot to grow many familiar annuals from temperate zones.  So I cannot have a snac king garden!'

  I was born in 1944.  The foods I remember from the 1950's could have been hall marked "BLAND".   This was the case for Americans and for  Brits.   But in the U.K. "bland food du jour"  was exacerbated because of rationing - 1940-1954. https://www.historic-uk.com/CultureUK/Food-in-Britain-in-the-1950s-1960s/ Winter dinners were heavy on root vegetables - spuds, parsnips. carrots etc.,  and maybe  dried peas which had been soaked into life. Our Sunday dinners were enhanced with over-cooked beef or lamb; and tolerable pork. "No spices please"  we are British! We survived.  Mum did a great job with limited resources.  She and my oldest sister Maureen were past masters in making Apple Pie. Dear Mum didn't encounter something as wildly exotic as Spaghetti Bolognese  until my youngest sister Ruth introduced it to her in about 1976. Mum liked it! In my old age I  am bolder.  Not so much at home, but when I eat out. At home it is cheese You saw this yeste