Ashland, southern Oregon – Tuesday, October 13, 2026.
Gorgeous, full-throttled autumn day out there. All of nature is actively participating to give us the full fall experience of changing leaves, blue sky, and crisp morning air. We’re going to heat up to 70 today and expect a warming trend for the coming weekend.
Mom is still doing poorly. Mom complained that she was out of pads and feeling a lot of pain urinating, and several other issues. We discovered that she doesn’t tell the assisted living staff any of that, due to her sense of privacy. There are people who can help her with her issues, but she doesn’t tell them she’s having issues, so they don’t offer help.
My sister went over today with new pads and to check on Mom. Found her in the rec room with others. Gina reported that Mom is very lethargic. Mom’s room smelled like urine. Gina has been going back and forth with the assisted living director, Mom, and Mom’s doctors. Gina has also delved more deeply into Mom’s medical records on Mychart.
It’s a busy morning for us. Workmen were expected to arrive and fix the flashing around the bathroom skylight and a few other minor issues on the roof. They were expected between 9 and 10 but didn’t show.
Meanwhile, I’d scheduled the same time for a contractor to come by to inspect the fence and give us assessment about what needs done, if he’ll take the job, and all the details that go with it. He showed on time and that went well. The fence is in pretty good shape overall, with just three posts requiring replacement. He will do those repairs, power wash the fence, and then paint it.
After that, I called the roofers to see what was going on. The other job they were on took longer than planned. They just arrived at 12:30 to begin the work.
My doctor’s office called and told me the Cologuard results were in. My tests were positive, so they’re going to schedule me for some tests and surgery to see if I have colon or other kinds of cancer down there.
My wife is in a cranky mood. She has a nervous disposition and high anxiety and couldn’t sleep last night because of today’s appointments. So it’s one of those if it’s not one thing, it’s another kind of days so far. All in all, it’s still a better life than many others experience. I complain because that’s who I am.
Probably won’t be able to get out and write today, though, which is a bummer. That’s my escape from the insanity, my coping mechanism. I will write at home but it’s not quite the same. For one, I enjoy the coffee shop’s helter skelter energy. Two, when I write at home, my wife often interrupts. She will actually ask, “Can I interrupt you?” Yeah, I’m a curmudgeon of sorts. *smile*
Today’s music is “Where Is My Husband!” This is a 2025 song by Raye. It played on the radio yesterday morning as my wife and I did our food deliveries. I ‘adapted’ it to “Where Is My Congress?” The Neurons like that twist and kept it in the morning mental music stream.
I enjoy the song on its own, though. Here’s the sample lyrics for you.
Sample Lyrics
Baby (whoo-hoo), where the hell is my husband? (Whoo-hoo)
What is taking him so long (whoo-hoo) to find me?
Oh, baby, where the hell is my lover?
Getting down with another? (Whoo-hoo, yeah)
Tell him if you see him, baby, if you see him
Tell him, tell him he should holler
Why is this beautiful man waiting for me to get old?
Why he already testing my patience?
I only fear he’s taking time with other women that ain’t me
While I’ve been reviewing applications
Wait ’til I get my hands on him, I’ma tell him off too
For how long he kept mе waiting, anticipating
Praying to the Lord to give him to my loving arms
And despite my frustrations
He must need me (he must need me) completely (completely)
How my heart yearns for him
Is he far away (is he far away?), is he okay? (Is he okay?)
This man is testing me, uh-huh, uh-huh
Uh, help me, help me, help me, Lord
Of course, yesterday morning, I was singing, “Where the hell is my Congress!” Then I created other lyrics.
May this day find you healthy, peaceful, and ready to vote blue and take the nation back.
Thanks for visiting. Cheers
Events surrounding your mom sound like being on a roller coaster. Sorry to hear about your tests … hope there’s “nothing” that will require surgery.
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Keeping good thoughts for all of you, Michael. It’s a tough time. Hang in there. Sending light and strength your way. B
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Cheers to you, and to Mrs. Michael, too, and also to Gina and your mom. Whew, it’s been a day for you, all of you! I’m also putting healing, positive energy into the universe for each and all of you.
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I feel the need to speak with you on a very personal matter, on which I unfortunately am now a 42 year expert, issues of the colon. I have not had a colon going on 32 years, and life is hell! I have no shame, I do not have to keep this matter personal. But If you EVER have any questions, of any kind, we can discuss it on line or off, your choice. Feel free to make a note in a comment right after a post is published. Just ask for my help, and where and when you want to have a conversation. Just to let you know, I will try not to give you advice, but I do hope you will use me or someone else you know who suffers from a similar problem.
One of the worst things about a positive diagnosis is, bowel disease is an invisible handicap. Noone can see it, noone can understand what it is like to lose ALL control of one’s bowels. People will wonder about certain actions you might unknowingly display. Not one unaffected person will even imagine such a thing is possible.
Your mother, may her health improve soon, knows what loss of control of her bladder is like. IF you can imagine that, loss of bowel control is at least 100 times as bad. There are ramifications noone can ever anticipate without beIng.
The good thing is, when I had my surgery in was experimental, with a 50% failure rate. Now it is much improved. My surgery ended up being a failure.
I am not trying to give you advice, but I am ain expert on this subject. Since the time I contracted ulcerative colitis, which it took 10 years to be diagnosed because 90% of my symptoms were the near-total reverse of the expected symptoms. Nothing they gave me worked. Whatever your issue is, or whatever your symptoms may or not be, think hard before you make any decisions if the surgeon recommends a total colonectomy.
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I appreciate you sharing that information. One of my younger sisters went through a similar surgery and has not been able to eat write or have decent bowel movements since. I will accept your offer and reach for more if I feel the need. Thank you.
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Anytime.
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