Voicelessness and Emotional Survival > Voicelessness and Emotional Survival Message Board
'23 - The Adventure Continues ;)
sKePTiKal:
Well, after many years living "out" like this... I now instinctively check the air, and know when it's time to do x, y, or z around here. B has all the downed wood split & stacked. Hol has her own. The last bit of work on the exterior of the studio happened today. Floodlights are up.
We're now ready to move inside; got one more tool to tape & mud drywall, after Hol screws the boards up. Then I can prime & paint. When B gets back in Nov/Dec, we'll open a hole in the ceiling to recess the motor of a ceiling fan. That needs some drywall too. And I have some insulation & pegboard to put up downstairs in the garage. Beadboard to come up the house for the "mud room alcove" I've had in mind for years. I'm pretty sure my ankle isn't ready to be on a step stool or ladder much, yet... so taking down old cupboards and patching/painting is going to have to wait. Besides, I positively HATE rolling ceilings! I'll paint all the blessed trim myself before doing that. Walls, I don't mind.
Most of the sewing is for me. I'm really having a hard time finding practical and comfortable, yet not men's clothes, to work in. Duluth Trading used to have things I liked and they do wear forever. But no more. Still a fan of J. Jill - but those are mostly loungy things or going to town clothes. And not very practical for working in. I will say they last, tho.
Yeah, there are a lot of different things that need to happen around the property at various times. So, we have resident "experts" - Hol is leather work, but we share back & forth on herbs & remedies & planting. B is mechanical stuff and lumberjack activity (yeah, I know; but he insists he can still climb trees with spikes & a harness...) I end up being the overall project manager and purchasing agent, but have skills to lend just about everywhere. We can all cover for each other when needed. It's how it needs to be to work.
You'll note I didn't include Mr. S in the skills list. He hasn't demonstrated he has any to contribute to the mix. His birds are getting picked off one by one... and B is the only one comfortable (and qualified) sitting out all night with a rifle to eliminate the offending predator. I include him in the category of Hol's 3 cats & 3 big dogs - he's snuggly (when he's here) otherwise he needs an awful lot of care and following around to clean up after him. She makes all kinds of progress when he's gone. And she's noticed that on her own.
SIGH. The list is ongoing; we missed our shot at getting a load of gravel this year for the driveway. We have salvaged a lot of deck posts for building woodshed next spring. Eventually, I'll need to redo the house decks... but we can probably squeeze another year or two out of the existing.
Hopalong:
Work clothes?
Orvis
Sierra Trading Post
Carrhart
Dickies
TrueWerk
More...https://www.zappos.com/p/helly-hansen-luna-light-construction-pants-black/product/9573393/color/3?utm_source=google&utm_medium=pla_g&utm_campaign=19809366932&utm_term=_o_52391655&utm_content=_g_143774769981_w_pla-2032369520597_l_CjwKCAjwp8OpBhAFEiwAG7NaElDrAJfiTOUCzhvdGOXhMubaE8IXjE0hhYxXVrBT3GXAiWcPCzd4lRoCPNYQAvD_BwE&gclid=CjwKCAjwp8OpBhAFEiwAG7NaElDrAJfiTOUCzhvdGOXhMubaE8IXjE0hhYxXVrBT3GXAiWcPCzd4lRoCPNYQAvD_BwE
lighter:
I''m glad projects are moving ahead on the farm, Amber.
Sad.... almost to the point of feeling ill.....thinking about B always waiting for relief.
Lighter
sKePTiKal:
Well, it's not like the docs & techs aren't doing all they can to help him. No blame there, you know? Each pain patient, and the causes/functioning of pain are unique. One thing I've become aware of, after spending more time with him, is that there is a neuro-psychological component to it, also. I'm still watching; noticing; clocking observations... waiting for confirmation or signs of "if this, then that". Studying. It's not the main culprit in pain sensations, I know. But it's so intertwined... sigh. Complex.
And then, there is the simple natural fact of aging and how that changes a body & the person, him or herself. I think he's coming around to acceptance and understanding - without "giving up" and not trying to be the best he can.
He's got a strong sense of dark, twisted humor that goes a long way to sustaining him. Getting him through all but the worst days. And we're slowly meeting people around here, too. So his support network is growing, instead of shrinking.
Really, this group of docs is doing the best they can. And not every day is dark & gloomy. It's disappointing in the extreme, when he finally gets some relief - and it causes other issues. The tech responsible for programming has 3-4 weeks to research the WHY and what can change to avoid that. She already knows B isn't expecting complete & total pain relief. He'll figure out how to deal with whatever relief he can get... as long as he isn't regularly experiencing all the other problems.
Today, I absolutely MUST try to un-bury myself from the mountain of post-it notes!! Even persuaded Hol to get smaller ones, to keep our lists from getting totally out of control... :rolleyes:
Hopalong:
You have such sane and sound perspective on B's pain, Amber.
It must still peck at your heart to witness this in the man you love.
But you're both dealing, as best you can, which is way better than for a lot of veterans who don't have warrior princesses on their sides.
Loved hearing y'all are making more friends in the area. That is a GOOD GOOD thing! No matter how self-reliant and off the grid one is, we need community, all of us. I'm glad to hear y'all are connecting there more.
You never know when a remarkable long friendship could come from a chance moment of openness.
And, given how you cook and bake, wouldn't be hard to facilitate!
hugs
Hops
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