(Living with Parkinson’s) ©
by
Sam and Phyllis Turner
October 30-November 9
“The thing I like best about being a writer is the escape it provides.” Yer Uncle Harv
10.30.2002: I know: I had to send the last Maytag Moments early enough for you to see at least a few carved pumpkins. Last night, we watched a Netflix of David Letterman: My Next Guest. Excellent! The interviews are deeply personal, touching – illuminating.
10.31.2020: Full Moon this evening. A full BLUE Moon! 0800: We attended a Parkinson’s Specific PT. I need to practice my rhythm and everything else.
Tresha, PJ, Sam ready for some serious physical (and mental) therapy.
PJ enjoys Green Chili Fiesta Chicken for our Halloween Dinner.
A mysterious Halloween Blue Moon.
11.01.2020: RABBIT and all that! Talk about a quiet Halloween evening! No visitors! None! Zero! Our street was dark. We had one string of lights wrapped around a witch stuck in a stump in the front. I took it down by eight o’clock. Just as well. About the Blue Moon Ale: It was too late in the evening for our digestive systems. We’ll have it this afternoon. We watched another of Dave Letterman’s My Next Guest Needs No Introduction. We are working our way through his first season. These episodes are three years old.
Celebrating the Blue Moon with Blue Moon Ale. Note the sparkle in PJ’s eyes!
We’ve been cleaning out junk – some for rummage– most for garbage. The high point of the evening (besides the Blue Moon Ale) was the Kanye West interview with David Letterman. We are reminded how little we know about so many of these celebrities. During the conversation, Kanye took David through the Roden Crater by James Turrell! I remember visiting a Turrell show at the University (in the 1970s?) and learning about Turrell’s intention to convert a cinder cone volcano north of Flagstaff into a light/space art experience! West donated $10 million toward Turrell’s work. Look up Roden Crater on Google. I had forgotten about that until last evening when Kanye West mentioned it.
11.02:2020: 0445: Clearing email of political ads! 0730: Body Central with Branden where I worked on my balance.
Teriyaki Steak and Peppers with peanuts!
We had a late lunch. We’ve been sorting (still) to change the North room into an exercise gym.
1700: Watched the News and ate leftovers. Watched The Voice while recording DWTStars. Lights out by 1930.
11.03.2020: 0445: Up and stretching.
0700: Dr. Moss and Hygiene with Carly, checking on my night retainers. “Those teeth have a mind of their own. The retainer is helping. We’ll check the progress in March 2021.”
0830:I was sidetracked when I got home checking James Turrell’s “Scorpius” which was purchased by Kendall Jenny for a paltry six figures. ($3,500.00) (I may be off on that.)
0920: Swombo got on my case for mixing the darks with the lights in the pre-wash basket. Darn. I should have done it when I came home from the dentist while she was still asleep. She would have never known. {Oh, yeah?”Swombo, Ed.} I usually get it done and have it sorted and on the bed before she gets out of the shower.
0940: Breakfast finally.
1030: Swombo is doing rhythm cadences with me with drumsticks:
Right, Left, Right, Left-left, left, Right, Left, Right, Left, Right-Right, Left, Right, Left-right, left…GAAAAH! {This is driving me crazy! Swombo, Ed.}
1300: ALOHA via Zoom.
Home Chef box arrived. It comes around noon each Tuesday. We have a large sign asking the carrier to ring our doorbell. The carrier ignored the sign and the box sat in the sun for an hour or so before I checked on it. It’s packed in ice and everything was still cold, but still…
1400: Parkinson’s Lecture on diet and vitamins. And sunlight and blue light and morning exercise.
1600: Clearing most emails, taking my (PD related) afternoon pills, and visiting/planning with Phyllis. We’ll start the new meals on Wednesday. 1700: Watched the local news and the recording of Dancing With the Stars. Lights out at 1930.
11.04.2020: 0430: Today is PJ’s last day for Body Central therapy for her back. 0945: I drove her this morning as we have a couple of errands after. I’ll read my E-book while I wait. Then to a rummage place near Park Place Mall, and on to ACE for some items. We came home to leftovers and did our first three-hour recording session. (That’s all I’ll say about this for the moment.) 1700: Preparing dinner. Watched the Letterman show interviewing Ellen Degeneres. His one-hour interviews go so fast.
11.05.2020: 0430: PD: Exercise Bike. (I forget to note the specific type of exercise.), sit-stand; 5#free weights, Green stretch band for arms. Maybe it’s not important. Maybe it is. I’m having to write more to-do things on my list, just to remember. Later PJ and I will practice drumming. 1000: We walked 1853 steps in the mall – not stopping for ice cream (Tresha, please note.) – in twenty minutes. Dropped off some outdated meds at Walgreens. Spent two (more) hours practicing. We should have the results of our efforts by Saturday. 1700: Had leftovers and watched the news and the counting of ballots progress. We enjoyed the interview with Melinda Gates on Letterman’s show. Her foundation is so important to the women of the world.
11.06.2020: 0430: 70º – PD Working on the sit-stand exercise. Close, but no cigar! Emptying the compost, checking water, and bird feeders.
0730: PJ is up and we’re going to walk Udall this morning. Completed 1500 steps before it got too hot.
On the BRIGHT SIDE!
This from Len in Darmstadt, Germany.
I don’t think we have any open-air shops in Tucson, do we? Maybe just not in our area of town.
1300: Worked on A.Pub. lessons in-between interruptions.
1600: Caption Call (Luis)Tech solved the captioning problem with my phone. Since upgrading my Router to a GigaBlast, I no longer need the ethernet cable. I didn’t know that. I didn’t notice the problem with my phone until a day or so later. Caption Call provides the phones free of charge for HOH clients. That was 20-years ago. I don’t know what the deal is, now. Several of you have asked about the service.
Here’s your contact:
Judy Katz Esbit
Arizona Account Manager
#520-247-6892 Call/Text
Customer Support: #1-877-557-2227
1800:We had a light dinner of leftovers, watched a little of the ABC news, and switched to Netflix for another episode of David Letterman’s My Next Guest Needs No Introduction. “Tiffany Haddish“. What an interview! PJ and I are learning so much about the lives of current celebrities. David’s interview technique, while sometimes acute, brings out the inner person. We’ve finished Season 1, and most of Season 2. Season 3. will bring us into 2020;
11.07.2020: 0430: Up and puttering around. 0800: Steve, Richard, PJ, and I attended PD training at Tresha’s. I should have videoed the left/right tapping. It would have been good training for me. We also boxed today!
1000: RWA-Saguaro Chapter has its Zoom meeting. Wonder of wonders! I made it on time!
1330: Santa Fe Pork & Potato Stew turned out to get an 8/10 rating. If the onions hadn’t been spoiled, this dish would have had a little more color.
1505: The wind is strong today. No sign of rain, but giant cumulus nimbus clouds suggest that it could rain in the evening. We can use it. Our rain drums are empty.
We watched President-Elect, Joe Biden’s acceptance speech. Unifying possibilities. (We hope.)
1700: News and one more episode of Letterman, this time with Lizzo. We had never heard that name before! She is a musician (flute) and comedian. Such an exceptional woman.
11.08.2020: 0630: WE MADE THE CHORUS OF THE RAGGEDY BAND! Watch the service for November 8th. We are in the last 15 seconds in the end. Our first time on YouTube!