Hard Times

I am grateful.  Grateful I still have a roof over my head, grateful to see another sunrise, grateful for many other things.  Last year was rough though and I am hoping this year will be better.

We ended up closing down my husband’s computer shop, there was just not enough business to keep it open anymore.  We closed it down before Christmas.  It was the first year we did not even exchange gifts to each other at all.  The previous two years weren’t much better, gifts that were more necessities were given.  The little town my husband had his shop in had another fire and it pretty much destroyed or heavily damaged three buildings.  After that business was even worse.

My husband is applying for jobs, but has only had one pre-interview, I would call it...with a recruiter.  I went for an Interview at a Walmart, but it was over the state line in Louisiana and to get there was very winding roads and it was 23 miles...and they require you to work nights.  I have an issue seeing on these dark roads with no street lights at night, headlights are like laser beams in my eyes and it really makes it hard for me to see. I told them I would have to pass if I had to work nights.  So I applied for more jobs, but so far only have had an interview at McDonalds.  I figured before I started a job there I would get my yearly health exams taken care of, went to the doctor and my blood pressure was high, had a UTI too which surprised me, I didn’t have symptoms really.  Anyway, doc put me on high blood pressure medication and something for the infection and next thing you know I was having horrible pain, especially in my knee.  Back to the doctor I go, two days before I am to start at McDonalds.  My doctor was afraid I had developed a blood clot, so he sent me to the hospital across the way for a Doppler sonogram on my leg.  No blood clot, thank goodness, but a Baker’s Cyst was found behind  my left knee.  It hurt something awful when the technician ran that Doppler doohickey across it and pressed down on it.  My knee is still having pain after almost two months of what I call rest.  I called McDonalds and told them I couldn’t come in.  I am afraid since it still hurts and is still swollen, I am going to have to go see an Orthopedic doctor.  So no real job for me right now.

I have been resting my knee, sitting on my butt the majority of the day.  I wouldn’t be able to do it if my husband wasn’t home.  He has been taking care of the poultry...what is left of them.  We have been having pretty bad predator issues this year.  This year we have a bobcat or two, raccoons, possums and possibly an owl or eagle and hawks.  We have been losing several poultry a week.  Some just disappear without a trace, others we find half eaten out in the yard in the middle of the day.
We walked out onto the back porch and saw a huge bird drop out of the sky and swoop down into the chicken yard.  The chickens were under the bushes screaming, geese honking, turkeys gobbling, ducks making a racket...I don’t blame them, whatever came at them was huge.  It looked to have a six foot wingspan.  I was thinking it was an eagle, I am still not sure what it was, through the wings looked a red-orange and the primary flight feathers were white.  I didn’t see any barring or black on the underside of it, and it had a white or cream colored belly.  Anyway, after catching numerous critters in the trap, and one of my neighbors dogs...we are still having 2 to 4 deaths a week.

Now for news on my brother with Glioblastoma.  He got through his radiation and first round of chemotherapy, and things looked pretty good.  They started him on another stronger chemotherapy and he ended up in the hospital.  In a months time, the tumor they had removed grew back and has spread to the other side of his brain.  I have been doing research and it looks like he has a Butterfly Glioblastoma, one of the rarest types.  The chemotherapy has been stopped since it is not working.  They are suppose to start another type of treatment soon, I hope it works.  I was able to go see him for a couple of days.  I have not seen much of my family since we moved to the country, it is what I miss the most since we moved out here.  It is tough with a farm, when you have animals depending on you and no one to care for them while you are gone.  My husband took care of them so I could go.  I am just hoping it isn’t the last time I see my brother.