Walking Zombie

Just hanging in there...not even thinking about Christmas, outside of outdoor decs, etc., at this point.  Everyone is so depressed about economy that we're all just planning to buy whatever is necessary & spend a little more on things around the house that we all need (stock-ups on food, etc., for winter...).   Mom has problems, still, after her intestinal surgery, plus the cold is really playing up her sys. lupus and DISH.  Still, she tries to stay cheerful and do a little bit each day-sometimes, too much!  She is still going through a lot of nausea and diarrhea, but the docs can't seem to find anything.  Plus, she is having dizzy spells, again, so I worry about her falling.  She promised she would see someone about her plugged up ear and the sl. memory lapses...I am keeping a close eye out, as no one else in the family is inclined to face such problems, until they become a real roadblock.  I try to be sympathetic to their view, but inwardly, I don't see eye to eye with that attitude.  Oh, for a magic wand!  The messes I could fix, permanently! Sis has tried to be very helpful around the house, and has put in a lot of work.  But, she still doesn't look for jobs outside the house; but she will pitch in, even when she doesn't want to.  Trouble is, she undoes her own handiwork in this area by continuing to be offhand and messy...don't get that, but that's me. Dad is still on his anti-smoking stuff + b.pressure & PAD meds & some of it is making him more depressed and disillusioned than before.  No progress on the bathroom in the back, and Mom really needs it, now, that it's cold & her arthritis is playing up.  Still, after our blow-up in May, I haven't said anything to Dad about suggesting someone finish it for him...if Dad would just give in a little, I'd be glad to pay for 1/2.  I have just that much saved up, now.  But, he blew up at my mom the other day, when she suggested that one of our cars might need a new muffer, and she took it better than I would've, I can tell you, but in the end, nothing was solved.  I think that's the doom pattern that Dad insist we stay with, from now on...oh, for a hundred thousand dollars AND that magic wand! Much to my shock, my semi-estranged brother is coming to visit, although they just changed his Christmas schedule, so it will prob. be in Easter, now...just as well, with the house torn up, like it is.  It will be nice to see him, again, as long as he doesn't blow up and start picking at people...I sound so negative, today, don't I?  Still, now that I think back on it, that's how it's always been... My cat, Angeline, is still going thru the ups/downs of her recent diabetic treatments.  Due to an injury prev. to my adopting her, her tail/spine were really bothering her, yesterday, due to the cold.  Plus, she'd had to go to the vet & her diab. reading spiked to over 400.  Sis has done a terrific job in testing/giving shots, etc.  Me?  Not so good.  Angeline senses that I am nervous & lunges at exactly the wrong moment when I need to get her fluids onto the strip, for testing.  Poor baby.  Due to the diab. & her back, she is still walking like a bunny, mostly, but is showing some signs of improvement.  We took her off all solid food (too much grain that converts to sugar) & put her strictly on wet cat food that is low ph, etc.  She likes it much better, but converts it so much quicker, so I have to give her smaller amounts, more frequently.   Zottie is fully recovered from his urinary tract surgery & has been very energetic and sweet...though he cries a lot, unless he gets imm. attention!  So far, there haven't really been any spats btween he and Angeline, which is good, as my room just got a tad smaller & there's no place else to go for either of them...at least, now, Zottie isn't picked on by the cats in the back, now, so he's a lot less nervous, poor thing. The cats in the back, Mickey and Sparky, are feeling let down, as everyone's been so busy with matters medical in the front of the house.  I try to take out at least 1 hr, every day, to pet and hold either of them, so they don't feel left out. I am doing pretty good, going on 4 to 4.5 hrs of sleep/night, while going to work.  I will be looking forward to the day when they let me go, or decide to keep me, here.  Much as I keep striving to do a good job, am told the same things, over and over about being too slow...well, so be it...at least, for now. I must get back to the desk.   Wishing everyone a good day & many blessings!