Bipolar check-in #70

We made it to Mt. LeConte. It was a challenging hike but we made it. There is no electricity here but we have a small cabin with kerosene lamps, propane heat and a sponge and bucket to wash up in. The view from the rocking chairs on the front porch is spectacular and stunning. Sunrise this morning will be incredible. We’ll leave when it warms up a bit for the tough trek back down the mountain.

I think through the weekend, we’re going to hang around the cabin enjoying the cabin, the peace and quiet and each other’s company. I, in particular, have been very active and want to relax in the hot tub and in front of the fireplace and enjoy the falling leaves. He will help me improve my poker and foos ball games. I, in turn, his pool and rummy games. Fun.

We’re leaving Monday morning. I won’t be leaving for up north until Friday. I remembered our date night at the symphony. I also remembered my grief class, my book club, my drum circle, my bible study and my ladies luncheon. I need to stop the mail and board the dog, etc. Yes, S would gladly do it - but he’s done enough. He’ll go back to his house while we’re gone but keep an eye on things.

Even in this most peaceful place of total serenity with my favorite person in the world…depression found me. I needed to text a crisis line and contact my therapist yesterday. She validated that I had enough stuff going on for 3 people and she normalized what I was feeling. As I type by the lamp, I feel better this morning. Hopeful and back to normal. I’m so tired of this. No rhyme or reason. Year after year.

I hope everybody has a peaceful Friday and a peaceful weekend. Much love.

I’ve been up for hours, much too hot to sleep. I did order a new fan but it won’t be here until the 23rd, so I foresee a lot of sleepless nights. The good thing about being up at this time on a Saturday is hours of old time cartoons. Love the pink panther.

Sorry you’ve been up for hours. I have to sleep with a fan as well. Pink Panther - good stuff.

Past few days have been pretty uneventful. Work has went by like a breeze, I didn't have to deal with the abrasive rep and his antics and family has been relatively quiet.

My mom's cornea transplant is this coming Thursday, so Sunday services tomorrow will possibly be the last time I see her in a while while she recovers. I hope there's a positive outcome.

Work has been great! Got top sales reward two weeks running, my low performing store is even on the up and up and I had a customer who just HAD to talk to my boss over the phone to brag about my performance. I do have to figure out that abrasive rep's schedule. If he's not gonna be a regular fixture in my work environment, I'm not gonna bother. If he is, well, there are issues to address. His abrasiveness extends to customers. He started an argument with one and was so aggressive with another (He had them boxed in while making his pitch.) that they crammed themselves and their cart into a small split in the aisle between a support beam and the shelves (3/4 the size of a shopping cart) to escape.

Got one of my final historical letters before I have to decide on resubscribing. It's a letter from Teddy Roosevelt pre-Presidency to his toddler aged son, affectionately called "Ted-Ped." He writes a quick letter to be read to little Ted-Ped, but on the back, he sketches out a little story complete with pictures featuring a cow and a goat going on a stroll and running into a big ferocious bear which they get away from by the skin of their teeth. It's no wonder that Teddy Roosevelt, Jr. (Ted-Ped) led a swashbuckling life, just like his father.

Basic bit of info about me: I tolerate the cold better than most, so I don't turn on the heat generally unless it's getting really cold. My Sophie-cat doesn't feel the same way. She's taken to burrowing herself under the covers when I'm in bed, which is sweet. I don't mind it one bit, but the cat doesn't seem to remember I'm a restless sleeper. I've woken up more than once in the night to a muffled, but unmistakably annoyed, meow. She might make me give in and light the pilot light.

Today's my Friday. Apart from meeting my mom tomorrow, I've got a lazy weekend ahead!

I've been feeling unwell for a couple of weeks. I took a covid test at home and it was positive. My whole family has it.

On Friday I was in major pain on my right side and was having trouble breathing so I went to the hospital. It turns out that I have a blood clot in my right lung. They are treating it with a blood thinner.

Despite all this, my anxiety has been pretty good. I haven't had to take Klonopin for the past 3 days.

I hope you feel better soon and that the blood clot resolves itself smoothly and quickly. Great news about the anxiety!

Take it easy, @Scooter9, so you can feel better soon! Sorry to read that covid found you and your family members.

Feel better soon Scooter!

Its day 6 and I have had that setback. I'm trying to avoid the ER right now. I'm dry coughing nonstop and I'm short of breath. My mom is getting me some delsym. I have no idea what state I'd be in right now if I wasn't vaccinated. I may not even be alive if I have such a bad case while being vaccinated. This **** is scary.

Quote:

Originally Posted by ~Christina Thank you everyone ! Bizi it’s a job at a gas station. It’s a incredibly busy store because they self hot fried country food lol. I hope to get back into a medical office as that’s been most of my adult professional life. ********** PSA~ I meant to mention there is a breathing medication Steve needs that is over 350.00 a month WITH his medication insurance I am going through a Canadian pharmacy and I can get a 3 month supply for 69.99 ! I just had to email a pic of script and dropped it in the mail. 2-4 weeks from now he will have it. ( I know numerous people that use this company and it’s legit ) Anyway I’m using Pharmstore.com maybe it could help someone with med cost ?! Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk

I have used Mike's Marine Pharmacy in Canada to purchase insulin for my cat, Sidney (it's human insulin). The cost was less than 1/2 the price of insulin in the States. Mike's Marine was diligent with how carefully they shipped the insulin, which must be kept cold. They could not have been kinder and more helpful.

Welcome back Beth.

Well I did good! My grandson is 10. I got him yu-gi-oh cards and a card keeper. I was worried that the cards might be wrong or something but they were a hit. My status as a cool grandma is intact!

From my week's "vacation" I have returned. I am enjoying weather that is - finally! At long last! - stunningly gorgeous.

I am on the least amount of medication I've been on in many, many years - with the goal of a medically supervised continued decrease in meds.

My perspective on the medical model of mental illness is rapidly transitioning. I have decided not to think of myself as being mentally ill, as having bipolar disorder - or any other mental health disorder - anymore. I have spent 4 decades in the medical world of mental illness and it is frankly appalling to me, how little has changed and progressed. I'm opting to expand my perception beyond. I will be 60 years old in ten weeks. It is time.

I have opulently decorated the front of my apartment for Halloween and to honor Dia de los Muertos. My neighbor, who is Mexican, continued the Day of the Dead theme by decorating the front of her apartment with the most gorgeous, shining images of Monarch butterflies. All of it is really something to see! A celebration.

A photo I took of some autumn leaves and pieces of beach glass and shell.

Quote:

Originally Posted by Nammu Welcome back Beth. Well I did good! My grandson is 10. I got him yu-gi-oh cards and a card keeper. I was worried that the cards might be wrong or something but they were a hit. My status as a cool grandma is intact!

Thank you so much, Nammu.

Hey, being a cool grandma is

It just feels like I'm having an anxiety attack when it is actually legit breathing issues. I took one of my extra valiums and it did nothing because its not an anxiety issue. I've put on the TV all day and it somewhat helped to distract me. Mainly right now I'm just coughing and slightly weezing and having some shortness of breath. I don't think its ER type bad. My other symptoms have improved though. I still can't smell anything or taste much.

I went to the NAMI walk in the city where I do practicum for school. It was so much fun! I saw lots of people I know, too!

Especially special is that I saw the recreation guy from the ip I used to be in frequently. I was last there 2 1/2 years ago and that’s last time
He saw me. I got to share with him how well I’m
Doing and such. It was cool!

Quote:

Originally Posted by HALLIEBETH87 I went to the NAMI walk in the city where I do practicum for school. It was so much fun! I saw lots of people I know, too! Especially special is that I saw the recreation guy from the ip I used to be in frequently. I was last there 2 1/2 years ago and that’s last time He saw me. I got to share with him how well I’m Doing and such. It was cool!

That's great! Congrats on participating in the NAMI walk

Thanks !

Yes once you have something lots of other something pop up LOL

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There’s a good amount of medical providers. I’m hoping I can get some resumes out soon. Just need to figure out the best way to take care of such a gap in employment.

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Day 2 of this job. It’s difficult because you only get one 15 minute break for the 8 hour shift . Yeah yeah it’s wrong legally and just pretty shytty to be honest.

This beater truck we have .. ugh. Driving home the other night I struggled to see really bad. There’s no markings on the roads here. Steve checked to align the lights better but it’s still not enough for me to feel safe driving. He ordered new light bulbs so until they get here he’s driving me back and forth. He called me Miss Daisy lol

Sorry I’m just really hurting and feeling whiney

Hope everyone is having a nice weekend.

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Quote:

Originally Posted by ~Christina Day 2 of this job. It’s difficult because you only get one 15 minute break for the 8 hour shift . Yeah yeah it’s wrong legally and just pretty shytty to be honest. ...

Yikes, that's a long shift for only a 15 minute break, Christina! That seems just plain exhausting. Like, unhealthy exhausting. What is the law and why doesn't your employer follow it?

For an 8 hour shift here an employee is required to take 1/2 an hour for lunch, plus two 10-minute breaks (separate) during the shift. There has to be a minimum of 11 hours between the end of a work shift and the beginning of the next one. If an employees occasionally works a double shift there has to be a 1/2 break between those shifts, in addition to the other breaks.

Now, indie businesses (like the cafe I worked at) can get away with bending the law a bit, but not too much. I used to work 6 hour shifts and was "required" to take two breaks. But, with rare exception I worked alone, so no one knew if I didn't take my breaks (I found breaks when working by myself at my regular night/closing shift annoying). If the cafe owner caught me not taking my legal breaks, though, she'd scold me.

So...what gives with you getting only 15 minutes? I'd feel cautious about an employer that gives you so little break time. Maybe I should shut up, but I find it concerning. What's Steve's opinion about it?