Helenka, Queen of Outer Space

Yes, it was my birthday and all my special plans went awry. But I still had a wonderful day. Gee, the blonde is finally getting wise.

The day started off when I sprang awake at 5:25 (yes, I do love my palindromic numbers). The best part is that, despite falling asleep with the TV on, I was in no pain and had exquisite vision. So, I washed my face and put on eye makeup. Yippee!

Later, I tidied up and decorated. I took a chance by reaching up to my shelf in the closet and grasped the clear bag that held my cheap (but pretty) fake flowers. As I'd smashed my green vase, I had to put the stems into an empty peanut jar! Then I tried to remember where my more expensive and artistic rope was with flowers attached (created by one of the designers at the Shaw Festival). I found it, too! I added it to my bannister.

I made space for my iPad on the dining table. I'd planned to pour myself a glass of Coke, but ran out of time. I quickly put on my black/gold spider scarf on my head and added my two jewelled butterfly clips. I'd cut my bangs earlier, too. And, then, I tried to find the invite Brian had sent me. But I couldn't find the gmail icon I normally use. Help! So I was in the alternate one, but I couldn't read the print. Sigh.

Naturally, Brian called while I was scrambling. When I answered the phone, I think I disconnected the hotspot. [Of course I did!] It turns out S. had d/ld the incorrect app; so Brian and I talked while he and Peter were on Zoom. It was frustrating and I was pouting. And only then did Brian send a link to the correct app. Um … Brian … why couldn't you have done that in the first place? So, after the hour was up, Brian said we'd reconnect next weekend and he'd give me a tour of his special trailer.

After that, I was so weary. I'd already had to take a couple extra Robax. I enjoyed the rest of my lambchops and finally had that glass of Coke and the lemon tart I was supposed to eat on screen. At least I made use of my vision by racing through another book. As for birthday greetings, I was delighted to receive a pretty email from my childhood pal Danny and I emailed her back. There were also other electronic cards and greetings which I will answer tomorrow, as well as a pretty card from SuM and S. I was completely floored to get a phone call from the meals admin who wished me a happy birthday. She also mentioned that they'd received Covid funding for Seniors was were extending fully-paid subsidies for two months. Well, that was nice to receive. She also asked if I'd answer some questions about how I first enrolled in the program. I can still remember Brian nagging me to apply!

I finally had to lie down for a nap at 8. But wait, that's not all. We had a power failure in the house! Good thing I use my cellphone alarm. Anyway, it was restored and I slept for about 90 minutes. And then had to restore my last session. Naturally (sigh), there were complications.

Still, it was only the first of several celebrations. I told the boys I'd keep the decorations up until we do Peter's birthday in two weeks' time. Now, at the end of the day, I think I'm going to have some chocolate and another wee glass Coke.

It was high time I got a break when sleeping. So, the trick is to take my pain pills and muscle relaxants immediately before heading to bed. Which is what I did at 2 a.m. And I slept all the way to 10:40-ish!!!

I'd also had my dose of silly sisterhood re May the Fourth, beginning with a hilarious exchange of text messages with Jan before midnight last night and continuing with R.S. sending both a text message and then an email this morning. I tried contacting her, wanting to know when it would be a good time to call her, but got no reply. Sigh.

After a late brekkio and pills, I had what is becoming my customary nap. Unfortunately, today was not a good vision day. Everything is ghostly white against a snowy background. Yuck. So even my TV watching was affected. Both MacGyver and that raucous music video masquerading as The Rookie were sad, but I had trouble understanding what was happening on the latter show. Still, I was very happy in he evening as Ken Jennings presented the very first Jeopardy! show on which he appeared. Coming up tomorrow will e a repeat of the GoAT tournament, so I know I'll be enjoying that.

I have to remember to call my eye doctor tomorrow to see if I still have an appointment next Monday. Who knows?

Well, even though I'm munching on a few rectangles of milk chocolate, it doesn't count because it's just plain stuff church-John brought me along with my apothecary-full of supplements. I'm craving the special chocolate from "Chocolate FX" in the Niagara Region where, one year ago, Brian and I indulged. And where we would be dropping by again this coming weekend - if we weren't still in lockdown. Sigh.

So, I thought to myself, Self, if you can't go to the chocolate, make the chocolate come to you. Easier said than done if you're functionally blind. I opened their site in Chrome, but couldn't navigate, even using 5X magnification. I'll try other browsers tomorrow. Keeping my fingers crossed.

Otherwise it was a new-normal day of TV, reading fanfic, bed, some pain. Unfortunately, the current Jeopardy! champ from Canada was a one-day wonder. But, interesting to see that Alex referred to what her winnings would be "back home" in Canadian dollars - and tax-free, too!

Just hanging on until I can take my pills at midnight, then hoping for more blessed sleep.

I hope six or seven is reasonable. That's all I seemed to do as well as have vivid dreams.

… paused due to keyboard issues.
The morning after several(!) restarts, the keyboard is obeying me.

Saturday was unusual as I just kept nodding off. The most vivid dream centred around the fact that there was a municipal election (which we never have on a Saturday). I had not intended to vote but was dragged out of the house by SuM and S. who then promptly disappeared(?). I ended up in a socially-distanced line with an anonymous gay guy outside a library. But, by the time we got inside, it was 3 PM, there were only three officials who were packing up and said the polls were closed. So we left and he was helping me down the stone stairs, remarking upon my need to hold his hand. And then I woke up.

At least I'd started the day with a faint memory of what Easter Saturday should have been like with my chosen sisters. I had the institutional version of a Swiss Chalet meal (boneless roast chicken thigh in lots of sauce, crinkle-cut fries, and mixed veggies for brekkie. I sent my sis RS a long email and later texted Jan. She and I went back and forth, joking. She'd actually dreamed we were at the restaurant and was disoriented when she woke up.

I think I goofed with my pill taking, having 3 Robax at 3 p.m. So, as I was not in pain at 8, I didn't take any until it was time for bed.

Beyong the limited TV offerings, I watched Friday's MacGyver which was another sad (sacrificing dad) and terrifying story about the naivete of a grey-hat hacker thinking she's doing the right thing. She thought she was only pointing out security risks but was helping the meltdown of the nuclear plant serving L.A. that would result in the deaths of millions.

Only five hours of sleep, but at least not in pain. I spent much of the day reading my Jean-Luc Picard Autobiography (with horrible spelling errors) and napping. I really wanted to make a FB post about l'il Giggly Ballerina Piggly, but my desktop wasn't cooperating. And my phone is frozen on the FB app on which is superimposed a fake you-have-won-a-new-phone placard presumably from my service provider. Uh, I don't think so.

Had several very vivid dreams during my naps. One of them really worried me. I dreamt that someone important had died today; then, the news came in that the world-famous conductor Seiji Ozawa had also died today. Really not wanting to be a modern-day Cassandra, I hesitated to ask Google, but found out that the maestro is in hospital with heart problems. Whew.

My day was so boring that I was willing to watch last night's MacGyver even though it was a repeat - but an excellent one. And then I binged on many, many epis of Peppa Pig. There's always room for happy piggy cartoons.

Anyway, I think I'm going to read some more. The vision is ... so-so (pink/caramel against aubergine), but I can still read words.

The "D" was obviously "Decision". Even if arrived at in the midst of pain. Huh - is that like grocery shopping while hungry?

At least my pain levels were slightly reduced. After waking up at 5:47 (and groaning), I managed to fall back to sleep despite pain nibbling at the edges of my torso, and didn't wake up until the far more civilized time of 8:18.

That didn't mean the pain was non-existent today. It still tried to take centre-stage. Sigh. So I used my usual distracting techniques. Watched (more like listened to) last night's The Rookie, and read, or spent time lying in bed arriving at the great decision. Which was??? I am retiring from the Anointers' and Servers' Ministry of which I've been a part for at least 25 years. I'm sad, but feel I have no choice but to face reality. The pressure of being on duty on top of the new pain and transportation woes was just too much. Now I'll have to send my resignation letter, which I'll try to do tomorrow.

Back to distractions in the evening with watching my judge and game shows as well as a very nuanced season finale of Murdoch Mysteries (in which the concept of not being the one to cast the first stone was examined, especially when condemning someone for being a "left footer" aka gay). There was also the depiction of enduring love within marriages (not only William and Julia but also the Inspector and Margaret).

I just wish I'd had sight today, because I did miss so many little details. Anyway, it's time for blessed pills and the hope for a decent night. ::crosses fingers::

It was a silly, fun day for church-John and me. He arrived shortly after 10:30 so we could drive downtown to an Irish steakhouse for our special Winter-licious lunch together with many from my blind group. Pir server was from Ireland (had a luscious accent). I wanted to know what special cocktails they had with Bourbon. Oh, wow. Did I ever get the special "special". It was only about 17 bucks and the most amazing smooth and smoky quality. I only needed one! C-J ordered a Cosmo.

C-J and I both had the tomato-based veg soup with big carrot chunks. Then he had the fish pie with scallops while I had chicken curry, rice, mango chutney and a papadum. He finished with a chocolate brownie while I tried to revive myself with fresh fruit that was slightly less then impressive. But we were happy campers, not leaving until 2 p.m. Then came the pain as we walked from the hotel to the parking lot under City Hall. I even paid the 20 bucks for parking! So I'd mentioned during the drive that I want to take a luxury train trip across Canada (inspired by an ancient epi of Moonlighting during which Maddy takes a solo cross-country train trip). Perhaps I was being a bit too ambitious. I think I'll look into going up into Northern Ontario as close as possible to Hudson Bay. Ontario is an absolutely gorgeous province with tons of trees and sheer walls of blasted rocks on either side of the highways, with tons of lakes. Okay, time to start investigating.

Even though the day was supposed to be All. About. Him, it turned out he had extra boxes of the special chocolates he'd given me before Kissymas. And did I want one? ::rolls eyes:: Silly question. By the time he got me home, all I wanted was a nap. Alas, I had church editing to do. So I got that out of the way, then took myself and the pain to bed where I watched all my accumulated judge and game shows. Now I'm feeling a little queasy, so I had a plain bagel. Anyway, a good time was definitely had by all.

Especially around 3 a.m. Gulped two Robax and managed to get a few more hours of sleep. So, there was a layer of fluffy wet snow on the ground, but the temps were hovering around freezing, so I didn't even mind waiting for my ride outside before 9. With my crazy schedule, I was dropped off at church at 9:15. So I had plenty of time to sit around and be social.

We had an old friend as our guest performer today. He used to belong to The Nylons (an a cappella group) and he brought the house down with his singing, especially for the start of Black History Month. I was on duty and managed to create a lovely Communion blessing (loved having 2-3 sets of little kids come to me), but I could feel the pain nibbling away at the endges before the service ended. Two pills later - and fortified by leftover Timbits (donut holes for non-Canadians) - I managed to stay sane until my ride showed up at 1:10. I was home quickly and safely in my cocoon. Received a text from my sis RS about Family Day so I sent her a longish email.

The pain continued to torment me, so I spent time in bed,first watching last night's SNL and then listening to beautiful music. Lots of Ravel tonight. Hoping for lovely sleep and not a repetition of last night. ::crosses fingers::

Oh, I had lots of both. Going to sleep at 11:44 felt unnatural, but I slept all the way to 7:44. Really Wow. Even more fascinating was the dream. I was at the Dior counter buying lots and lots and lots of skin care products. The bill came to … FIVE THOUSAND DOLLARS!!!!! I know, you'd think all the serums were full of liquid gold. But I paid it without a second thought. [For the record, the most I've ever spent at one time on Dior is in the $300 range.] Then the clerk handed me the receipt AND - as a bonus - a preloaded credit card with $3,000 on it! Hey, I could go for a gift with purchase like that.

Possibly one of my funniest dreams ever.

What was that hour or so? Well, even though my vision was only so-so, I decided to watch ST: Picard. Wow - talk about revisiting old plots and characters. Mind you, because I couldn't see well, I missed a lot (LOT) of details on the screen. So I'll probably watch it again and hope to make more sense of it all.

Otherwise, I took it easy again. Up after 8, had brekkie, then a nap until after 1. Boredom will do that. The aggravation came much later. I'm so annoyed with my ride provider. Oh, gee, they sent out an email to every single client, saying they were going to mail out a Presto fare card (that costs 10 bucks without any funds on it); but I'll be gone for SIX FREAKIN' HOURS tomorrow - all for an hour and a bit church service. I guess they consider that an equivalent deal vs giving clients more efficient ride times.

Anyway, I'm just wasting time until I can take my pills and go to sleep. I managed to sidestep most of the pain, so I guess I should be grateful.