That didn't go very well. She blithely gave me all my medication (including sleep meds!) without question. Then I asked, in passing, about when the flu shots would be starting at the practice. She informed me that I am not eligible. The Girl, as my carer, is eligible - but I get to be so sick I can't move for at least a couple of months, because the government (which is shouting more and more loudly about how disabled people must WORK) won't pay for my flu shot. (Other doctors' practices I've attended, where they have given it to me, have apparently been acting against Department of Health policy.) I exploded, burst into tears, then told her it was a nutsy policy that didn't make any sense and was completely unjust and contradictory, and that I was sick of the government putting carers first because they save them money, and then started storming out. She informed me that I had to calm down and did an ineffectual job at helping with this. (Apparently she hadn't read the bit in my medical history about anxiety and doctor phobia - that or she thinks 'calm down' is a good response to these problems.)

Ooh, I'm so angry. I'm going to write to my MP. It will do no good, but I'll have said something at least.

On the plus side, I have sleep medication.

Crap, Seska. That's just crap.

P.S. Come to America, we have flu shots in grocery stores for $25.

P.P.S. Only for a visit though, because the rest of your nationalized health care is way better.

When I was in the Army, push-ups were part o the physical fitness test. At my age/gender, 11'was the minimum passing score and 69 was the maximum. For the guys, it was something in the 90s. I could never do more than 32 without reaching muscle failure.

The Army has a standard (of course) for how to do pushups. Some guys had strong enough abs that they could essentially just move up and down from the mid-abs up and those pushups didn't count.

Several of the individuals I work with have range of motion exercises. Any that are meant to be done while lying down, they do in their beds. At first I wondered how effective that could be. But then I decided to try it myself. Yeah, it works the muscles. So now I do the bridge, some curls, and leg scissors in my favorite place. Only ten reps each, but it's definitely making a difference in how strong I feel when I have to lift someone.

Dude, I stretch a lot in bed (That sounds wrong.)

But really. I do a lot of leg stretches, and hip openers.

Still sounds wrong. But it makes sense; I'm comfortable and warm, so I can hold the position for a good long while, while I ruminate about coffee or some such, and I get a really good stretch in.

Good morning!

Uggh, Seska. That's ridiculous.

Just got back from the vet with Frankie's mystery bare spot and a hookworm recheck. Verdict is to wait and see if hair grows back on the spot. Fingers crossed the hookworm is gone.

Don't wanna go to work. Wanna nap and read and snuggle pup and watch tv.

Seska, that is ridiculous! I'm so sorry.

69 was the maximum

I have to confess that this concept makes no sense to me. If you do 69 pushups you pass, but if you do 70, no Army for you, go be a Marine?

I do a metric fuckton of pushups including a lot of weird variations, but I can only manage one pullup. And by "only manage", I don't mean one every set, I mean once, at which point I yelled out "holy shit!" in a room full of under-18 fencing types. Luckily, they're the same crew I do the metric fucktons with, so they understood (and their parents don't tend to hang around the place on workout days).

Oh, Seska, that SUCKS. Hate when medical professionals act as if we don't know our own bodies and psyches worth a damn. You'd think they'd be happy to have patients who can articulate their issues.

Calm ~ma for you.

So I finally got the birthday dinner with the old man and he was either a. stoned on cough syrup or 2.worrying about losing his nouveau financial status and balancing his checkbook in his head. I guess the estrangement is still on, but the universe is making sure I don't care very much. Twice a year is more than adequate for that.