January 22, 2011-Getting Colder Here

It was a pretty, but cold day . Here you see a BlueJay who just landed there and over to the right is a House Sparrow coming in for a landing.

This was yesterday morning. The squirrels came down after a while but not as many.
We got a few more inches of snow overnight. It was sure pretty though!

It was only 15 degrees here today but at least the sun was shining most of the day. Yesterday we woke up to quite a few inches of new snow. Last night it was so windy.
As the day went on today I kept debating whether I should go out to the store or not. I finally decided to go out around 3 pm. Even though it was cold it wasn't too bad. My car was all cleaned off, thanks to some nice neighbors and the maintenance man moved all our cars yesterday so the plow could clean the yard up good. So it was easy for me to get out today. I did throw some more salt around my car to make walking easier for me. I keep rock salt in my trunk every winter for that reason. And it usually helps for shoveling too. I haven't done much yet this winter. Just the first couple times I went out I cleaned around the car. I can't lift snow too well any more because of that right arm where the wrist broke. It still hurts. It just never healed right. Lately that hand has been bothering me. I use it a lot and forget that it will hurt. Even when I peel a potato or slice something it will hurt a lot afterward. But I have come to ignore it mostly.
Walmart was packed of course. It's finding a parking spot that's hard. I drove around a few times till I found a spot close enough. It was so slushy that I had to be real careful when I got out of my car and walked the few steps to get the cart. I try not to take my crutches if I don't have to. I'm usually lucky to find a cart close by. It's hard to push them in that slush too. Lots of people shopping. The weather is going to get bitter cold tomorrow and Monday. I was going to wait till Wednesday because it will be up to about 29 degrees but they also said we might be getting snow. I also went to Abuchon hardware for my critter food. Figured I might as well get some ahead in case I don't get out next week.
I was back home by 4:10 pm. It felt good to get out. The fresh air is good. I don't like being around all those people at Walmart though. Too many germs flying around. I can't wait to get home and wash my hands and wash anything I might think has germs on it, like my car keys and the handles on my cart. Those are the first things washed when I get in the door. Then I wash out my nostrils with salt water. I think it helps a lot. A few of the women here have had colds. I stay away from them and don't go out to the community room much.
It's my Granddaughter, Salena's, 10th birthday today. She was having a birthday party at a skating rink up in Utica today. Her father always has those kind of parties for the kids. Salena is on Facebook now. At least I can talk to her through there sometimes. She had the stomach bug this past week and missed most of the week of school. Monday they had off anyway. But Tuesday and Wednesday she was sick. She went on Thursday but Friday all the schools were closed because of the weather.
My sister, Jeanne called today and was going to come over but I told her I was going out so she will come another time.
I'm still feeling pretty good, thank God! I did change my flange last night though. So that only lasted two days this time. I started feeling a little stinging under it. It had leaked a little but not bad but I can't take a chance on having my skin irritated too much under those things.
The Coloplast Company called me to ask how I liked their products. I told them I really liked their flange but not their bags. They are sending me some more samples to try. I got some samples from another company today also. One flange and one bag. I'll try that someday. I'm still going to keep trying new ones till I find the one I want permanently. Then my doctor will write a prescription for those instead of the ones I have now.
My Stoma seems to be shrinking into my belly even more now. It's so hard to keep anything sticking around it. Hope I never have to go back in the hospital to have that done over. I don't want any more pain or discomfort after all I've been through this past year. I just want to live out my days the best I can and hope that the pain doesn't start for a long time. I feel lucky at the moment.
Guess that's all for now.
Oh! Those Ghosthunters did make it up to the castle yesterday. John sent me an e-mail to say they made it and it was very colddddd. I told him it would be. But at least they had a sunny day today. They are all staying in Rostoprovich's house up there. He said they work on all the property around there, looking for anything.
I asked him to take some pictures of the beautiful outdoor scenery before they leave. I've never seen any winter photos of that place. Hope he does.
Okay. I'm getting off this computer now. Enjoy the rest of your weekend everyone. Stay warm!