Update....Refrigerator went out......damn!!!

Man! I don't know what to talk bout this morn'n. Ain't no use talk'n bout no surgery until I goes up there an' sign some papers. One little issue I have though, is the possibility that Medicare ain't gonna pay nuttin. I hear they do that to old folks what ain't of any use to society no more. You know what I mean, living off SS that we paid into for 40 or 50 years. Try'n to claim healthcare what we paid into for the same amount of time....an' still pay into every month (bout $104). What freak'n good are old folks? I hope you catched my sarcasm. But dad gum it, it could happen ya know.

My god, we had a rain storm last night. Thunder an' lighting all over the place. Skeer hell out of Sadie Mae. That was bout 6pm or alongs there. Hell, I don't know, I was watch'n TV. Anyhows, it turned the midnight hour. I looks up at the refrigerator controls. There ain't no lights, my refrigerator is not work'n. In a sprinkl'n rain, I goes out there an' start check'n voltages. They OK. Got 115 volts an' 12 volts to the refrige control thingy. It still don't work an' water is run'n out the drain line. My stuff is gonna defrost an' everthing is gonna rot.

Now I ain't the brightest guy in the block, but I knows what's inside that control thingy box. A circuit board with two fuses in it. Ha, I don't even have to check voltage, that 3 amp fuse is burn slap up. Now where did I put my "glass" fuses? Frick, I ain't got none. "Tin foil Billy Bob, put some tin foil". As a test, I placed some tin foil on the burned fuse an' installed it. Walla, the refrigerator come back on.

Slow down before ya say anything....I ain't done yet. Ya see, I said this was a test. Do I need to 'splain what a fuse is for? Simply to protect a expensive circuit board from catch'n a fire.
I'm get'n wet....an' it's dark as hell out here. But I need to check the amp flow....the redneck way. Pull one end of the fuse loose, they gently touch it to make contact....watch the spark. A big spark, something gonna burn up. A tiny spark, it works. I had a tiny spark. We have refrigeration.

But, when I transfer over to propane from electric, it don't work. I transfer back to electric for the night. Tin foil an' all.

Then I got to think'n...."why did that fuse burn out"? The only thing I can figger is that dad gum light'n storm what was hit'n so close to home. I'm talk'n right across the street. Weren't no way it got wet from the rain....it's sealed. Old age? There's that possibility, but I'm think'n lightning.

Bout not work'n on propane. Ok, who ever designed to drain system, hung the drain line right over the propane gas valve. It were sop'n wet from the freezer melt. The old Billy Bob know how to fix that....move it. So....the refrigerator repairs were added to the "fix it" list.

Next......I was sit'n here yesterday mind'n my own business watch'n golf on the TV. It was rain'n. Drop drip drip, water was fall'n on my shoulder. What the hell, the overhead vent is leak'n rain water. This means a trip to the roof with my trusty caulk'n gun. Where the hell is my son Robert? Added to the "fix it" list.

Then on top all that, I was still wide awake at 4am. I musta been think'n bout that girl over there in Del Rio. She stays up late too ya know.

Speak'n of ice pacs, I made me a ice pac yesterday. 2 to 1 mix water an' alcohol. Ok, it didn't work. Ya see, I ain't got no regular rub'n alcohol. Mine is the 91% stuff. It's a macho thing....more is better. Anyhows, it didn't even start to freeze to a slush. Ain't got no room for more water. "Now what ya gonna do Billy Bob"? Well shoot....does Walmart sell ice pacs? Or I could put it in a bigger zip loc an' add a cup of water. I'll try that first.

Pain levels. Yesterday morn'n I thought I was gonna die. Through the day it got better. Better enough to warsh them dishes an' sweep the floor. Worked on the old furnace cover thingy so water don't come inside. Boy howdy did I ever screw that job up. Ya see, the plastic I used, 1/16th inch thick, was in a roll. An' when I glued it in the cover, before the RV caulking set up, it decided to roll up again. I got caulking all over my hands an' fingers, ruined a perfectly good pair of Wrangler jeans an' a $15 Walmart special shirt I play golf in. That shit don't come off. In my stash of "stuff I may need" was a flat piece of plastic, bout 1/32nd inch thick. The cover was completed at a total cost of bout $40.....sheesh!!!
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Ok, the roof vent is fixed. Hail the other day busted a hole in it. Caulked that sucker right up.

For Barney.....here are the batteries.

 

A desision has been made.....

I see the light....behind the drawer. When the furnace was removed to make room for a great big ol' drawer, the outside furnace cover was not yet sealed. Big ol' holes in that sucker....let in sunlight an' showers. Billy Bob gonna fix that. Thick plastic sheet an' RV sealer.

Speak'n of drawer, it's gonna require a drawer stop to keep it from open'n when we go round corners. The stops on the drawer guides are not strong enough. Poor design in my book. Now 'that' causes a problem. I don't have room at the top of the drawer. May have to disassemble an' run through the table saw.....remove a inch. A easy job.

Ok, I'm done Googl'n....done, finished. Right now I know so much bout backs that I could go to work at the hospital "fix'n backs". I know the in's an' out's of a laminectomy. I know the recovery time. I know everthing. It's gonna have to be done. The possibility of cur'n 'all' what ails me ain't all that good, but what it does cure, would be a bless'n.

So....it seems, I got to get myself ready for a hospital visit in Sept. That's my decision. Whether it works or not, I got to give it a try. I mean, the odds of it mak'n me worst is only bout 1 to 2%. The odds of "some" relief is bout 70 to 80%. I'm bet'n a dollar I'll be in the 70 to 80% range.   

Now let me tell ya why it's gotta be done. I cain't live the rest my life like this. It's gotten worse in the last 2 or 3 weeks. It will continue to get worse. Yesterday morn'n I weren't surprised that I couldn't hardly walk all day....hurted like a sum-a-gun. But this morn'n, I should have been all fine an' dandy. What I wasn't. I was look'n for a dad gum wheelchair. Tears was in my eyes as I stood there watch'n my morn'n coffee brew. I got freak'n dishes to do. Floors to sweep. Tools all over the place. Damn, I need help.

Back in Dec. of 2000, I hurt my back for the 3rd time in 20 years. Was off on workmans comp for 3 months. I lived on "Coyote", a 41 foots sail'n boat. I had nobody to assist me. The walk down the pier was right at a hunnert yards or so. That was the hardest hunnert yards I ever walk in my life. I never healed from that injury.
Of course, the last 14 years have tooken their toll too. Old age....stuff wears slap out. Two inches in my height has been lost. I used to be a tall dude ya know. but I'm now a short dude at 5' 8" hemm'n up all my pants. Dang, I need a sew machine.

My thoughts run into other issues I have. Like my dad gum heart. My doctor Fronkersteen in Deming has been cry'n for me to have a stress test to see if'n those bypass veins are leak'n. I put him off for 3 years. This year I decided...."what the hell, why not"? But....I won't be in Deming in Sept. Then I got to get off'n my ass an' find me a doctor that will renew my heart prescriptions. Blood press med, Plavix an' a "slow yer heart down" med Coreg for tachycardia. Would love to get off the Plavix, but that probly ain't gonna happen. Damn I hate bruises ever time I bump something.

Project done.....but I hurt

Today is one them days. You know what kind I'm talk'n bout. Ya get up all grouchy an' pissed off at the world an' don't wanna talk to nobody.

I'm think'n I'll kind of lay back on the discussion of surgery this morn'n. That's bout all we been talk'n bout for the last week, two weeks, month....what ever. I don't know what more can be said. Still a couple issues of great concern before a decision is made. After bout another 5 or 6 hours of read'n stuff on the innernet......we [this] close.

I seen that comment ya know. You know who you are....

Speak'n of comments. Yes your comments mean soooo much to me an' I dwell on each one. And yes, they help in my decision process. Makes me think ya know.

Ok, let me tell ya how stupit I was yesterday. If'n you have ever worked on a project, ya know how important the completion of that project is. Self gratification, that kind of stuff.
The third an' final coat of polyurethane was applied to the drawer front. My god it looks good.
I got to lower the refrigerator. Or so I thought. So's I lug all this stuff in "da house" to jack that sucker up to remove the supports. I take my first break.....danm, that was work lug'n all that stuff.
Then I says...."just how tight is this refrigerator"? A great big ol' screwdriver is inserted under the front trim at the top. The top slides out a half a inch. I need 4 inches to remove a water damaged piece of wood an' replace it. I gits a holt that sucker an' give it all I got. Yup, that's 4 inches.
I got to take a break.
I rips out that bad wood. Take me some measures an' go cut me a piece of beautiful oak an' install it. Still needs 3 coats of stuff on it, but fits perfect. I'm on the floor now ya know. Up an' down bout 3 or 8 times. Damn, that was work....get'n off the floor.
I got to take me a break.
I got me some drawer guides what need screwed in place. Measure stuff. "What the hell", it's not level. Now if'n ya ain't never see a motorhome built, ya don't know what crookit is. They use carpenters from down at "Kelly's Bar". Anyhows, up an' down off'n that floor, the drawer is level an' operates [this] close to perfect.
Break time.
The poly on the drawer front is dry. Time to install that sucker. Measure, measure....I install it with a few screws. Close the drawer an' "YEEEE HAAA", that sucker fits perfect. Project is done.....well almost. Some poly an' a drawer handle.

Damn, I didn't think I was gonna write that much. But what I was get'n at, is that I should have waited for help. I were one hurt'n sum-a-gun when I finished. An' all that stuff I lugged in "da house", is still in "da house". Ice pacs (froze veggies) was applied to my lower back. It helped.

Encouraging comments make me feel good

Well, I've sit here this morn'n try'n to figger out how to answer all the comments from yesterday. When I started read'n 'em last night, I said there ain't no way I can respond to each one. I would have still been writ'n at 3 a clock in the morn'n.

Now I didn't read them comments just one time last night....I read 'em two an' three times, let'n all them words of encouragement sink into this hard head of mine. You do know I'm hard headed....right??? I was overwhelmed by what everbody had to say. Ok, overwhelmed probly ain't the correct word to use in this situation.....what the hell am I try'n to say? I were all excitis, that what I was. Gold stars for everbody.

Some of the things said last night had already floated through my mind the entire day. I weren't think'n "decisions decisions", I were think'n silly stuff. Like "damn, it's gonna be cold here in Georgia". "What good is it to fix my legs an' still hurt in my back"? That's a biggie. "How am I gonna get my heart medications prescribed for another year"? I even think'n bout....watch it now....that dad gum wheelchair. I cain't live in "Sally da house" in no wheelchair. There was a ton of other "negative" thoughts I was think'n bout, but there was a few positive thoughts also. Ha ha, don't laugh, but I could swak a golf ball 250 yards.....just think'n out loud here. Shoot, maybe even beat the OFM Barney's ass.

Back to yesterdays comments. I ain't gonna mention no names....although in some cases I do. The thought of "do'n nuttin" struck me right where I live. I know how I feel today...an' for the last two years, I don't want to go another two years feel'n the same, or much worse. It can only get worse as time goes by.

After do'n some research on laminectomy, I got me a bunch of questions I would like to discuss with the doctor. Mainly the part bout not fix'n the pain in my back. But....when I look at that MRI an' see what gonna be done, it has to correct the pinch'n on the nerves that are caus'n the pains. But then again, I ain't no professional MRI reader. There could be other issues back there caus'n these "in my back" pains. Then there was the part where I'm gonna hurt for maybe a month after surgery. Shoot, I were think'n instant pain relief. Dang....negative thoughts piss me off.

Anyhows, I will still be do'n some more research. I'm close to say'n "to hell with it".....git it fixed or continue to live like ya do. Liv'n like this sucks.

Once again I want to commend each of you that commented yesterday. Made my heart do a flip flop. A good 'un flip flop.

Ok, that's all I have to say bout that for the day. I got me some think'n to do. You know, make arrangements an' stuff like that. Do some more read'n.

Oh, while I think bout it. I'll be in a hospital for this surgery. If'n I was to have a heart attack, there should be enough doctors there to take care of me. Right??? That's my think'n anyhows.

That project drawer front was sanded an' has two coats of polyurethane on it. One to go. It's freak'n beautiful....through my eyes. Not professional, but ain't nobody gonna see it but me. There's a slim possibility I may try to lower the refrigerator today. I ain't do'n no dad gum dishes, or sweep'n no floors....stuff like that. I have a project to finish. 

 

Doctor appointment is behind me....now what?

Got some good news an' we got some not so good news. I'll insert each was we have our little talk this morn'n. Speak'n of morn'n, what the hell, my left shoulder is got a crick in it.....hurts like hell.

It didn't take me but a second to take a like'n to this doctor feller. He walk through the door with a smile on his face, reaches out his hand an' says "Mr. Piepmeier, I'm doctor so 'n so". We look over a MRI image an' he splain to me where my aches an' pains is com'n from.

Ok, now where was we? Son Billy came by for a visit....just check'n on his daddy ya know.

If'n I decide, I will have a laminectomy. The only option I was given. That's removing part of the bone thingys (lamina) that run up your spine to make more room in the spinal canal....not pinch no nerves no more. You can see in 2 or 3 places where, the doctor says is arthritis, an' needs to be removed. Chainsaw, grinders an' a big ol' hatchet. In case ya may want a better look at what he gonna do, here is a link. Laminectomy Video.

Now, let's take a look at the down sides of this operation. First an' probly most important, is I can have me a heart attack right there on the operat'n table. Because I take Plavix, and my age, the doc has some concerns. Will be off of Plavix for 2 to 3 weeks after the operation. Doctor Fronkerstine in Deming will be consulted if I can be off Plavix for that length of time. No aspirin for pain like I take now.

The next big concern is that the odds ain't all that good. 75/25%. The 75 being good results an the 25 being no relief at all. Old age is a factor in these numbers. Decisions decisions. 

Of course "smok'n" was mentioned, as it slows down recovery time. So HE says.

 Research on laminectomy shows that there could possibly be no relief from the pains in my lower back. That is what I have. Right hip an' lower back pain all the time. But, the lower extremities, both legs an' both feet, I should gain tremendous relief. Pains, swelling of feet, numbness of feet, both regular an' backards leg cramps, tingles an' shoot'n leg pains (sciatica). On top of that, the ability to take a "normal" whizzz. Oh shoot....just Google "laminectomy" an' see for yourself.

Then we come to a surgery date. Five weeks after I sign the papers. Then 3 or 4 days in hospital. Then wear a brace for 6 weeks. That puts me in the "peach state" up into November. An' it gets cold in November. As it does for the rest of the country. That makes total time to remain in Georgia right at 4 more months. That sucks.

Ok, on the bright side, I builded me a brand spank'n new drawer front. Looks much better than the other one. A little sand'n an' a couple coats of polyurathane, I can install this sucker on the drawer. But....the drawer ain't yet finished. Ya see, when we raised the refrigerator, we raised it too far. Ain't no way in hell anybody can remove it for repair 'cause it's jam up tight to the top framework. Gotta drop it 1/4 inch, then install the drawer guides. I love my projects.

Holy cows....here come "ya mama" for a visit. She's walk'n this soon after her operation.

See ya laters.

Stressed out

Hot damn.....you talk bout hurt'n an'crookit. That what I am  this morn'n. I done take me two 500mg aspirins an' I still hurt like hell.

Dang....I cain't wait for this crap today to be over. I got myself all stressed out over it all. My back is kill'n me. I ain't talk'n just a little pain, I'm talk'n tears in my eyes kind of pain. This sucks.

Have ya ever say you gonna do something an' then when the time comes, ya get all skeered to do it? Welcome to Billy Bob's world this morn'n. Well, not only this morn'n, but for the last couple weeks, I'm skeered bout get'n surgery. On one hand I'm think'n it's gonna do me some good, an' on the other hand.....well, you know what I'm talk'n bout. Today's doctor appointment should either make me or break me.

Back to the project...screw ups an' all. I put all that stuff together yesterday an' I now have a front for that big drawer under the refrigerator. Is anybody old enough to remember when a refrigerator was called a Kelvinator?
But, when I fired up that router, gonna do me some fancy woodwork, I'm think'n I should have left well enough alone. Ya see, I was try'n to kind of match the woodwork on the frige (Kelvinator) door. It didn't happen. I screwed up. An' there ain't no "fix" for it.

But....who cares? There ain't nobody gonna see it but me, an' the way I feel this morn'n, I don't give a fly'n flip. It's gonna be beautiful....depend'n the angle ya look at it. The garage door is down, so no photos this morn'n.....maybe.

There will be no golf ball swak'n today. It's gonna be a hot one this afternoon. I got so hot yesterday, sweat run'n down my face, I had to take a break an' go sit down for a bit. Sip me up a cup. Closed the garage door an' call it quits. Ahhhh, air conditioning sure do feel good. 

 

Good days, bad days...we get 'em all

I'm think'n this ain't gonna be a good day. I was lay'n there in bed an' I says...."do I want to get up now, or wait for a while"? I look out the winder....it's pitch dark out there. I look at the clock....it's 5:30am.

I make it to the coffee pot. Gonna brew me up a strong one this morn'n. I drop the used coffee filter full of grinds on the floor. My broom is outside.

I got a "old age" bruise an' dried blood on my left arm.

An' my freak'n back hurts something terrible this morn'n.

The humm'nbird feeder is empty. My desk is a disaster. I got a headache. This sucks.

Ok, you may have thought that onest I got that box put together that the old Billy Bob would call it quits for the day....right? If'n you bet a dollar on it, you are a dollar short today. The drawer guides have been measured out an' installed on the box. The front of the drawer will be constructed out of high dollar oak.

I goes out there to the garage, fire up the table saw an' I'm cut'n wood. Measure this measure that, it's gonna fit. Oh Oh....I mess up. Only a pic would explain it, so's I ain't gonna say nuttin. But, you know how the old Billy Bob operates, he's gonna fix it. Should be very unnoticeable when I'm finished. Either that or start over.

 The mess up......

The fix......

 This what it gonna look like. Well, there's still some router work to be done, sanded an' polyurathaned (varnished). It gonna be soooo purdy.

Tomorrow is the day. Doctor appointment at 1pm. I would tell ya bout all the crap what been go'n through my mind, but you probly already know. Damn I cain't wait for Wednesday to get here.

Now let me tell ya.....my son Robert suggested that we go play a round of golf after we visit with the doctor tomorrow. We'll see how that turns out. Anybody wanna bet a dollar?

Yo Mama is do'n pretty darn good. Ride'n round in a dad gum wheelchair when she should be in the kitchen cook'n food. Carpets to be vacuumed, floors to be sweeped an' mopped......big ol' bags of trash to go out. Poor ol' HIL (husband in law) Harry, daughter Doris an' grandson Mack. She got 'em hopp'n.

Ok, aspirin kick'n in.....I got things to do.
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Don't tell nobody, but Google is all screwed up again today.
Where the hell is my blog post for today????