Belated Updates
While it appears that I have recovered from having Influenza B, I am sooooooo not right.
My energy is zip and has been all month. I am also just not, well, right. Like with something as simple as typing. I have now corrected the previous sentence. Here is how it first looked:
Likewith somethinga simpleastyping.
WTF? I type with two fingers but my brain seems to no longer process that I need to space between words. Is this related to my recurring bouts of vertigo? Which I now think have been caused by ear crystals. This well explains:
A few weeks ago I bent (A few weeksagoIbent) down to pick up a crumpled paper towel. My first try failed. I thought I had the paper in hand, but missed it completely. It took FIVE tries for my hand to connect with the paper. This is when I recognized: Whoa. My depth perception is WAY off. And wonky ear crystals can do that.
For most of my life my body has been kinda super-human. While I was never able to able to leap tall buildings in a single bound, all my friends would endlessly comment: “Your energy is amazing!” I know, many of you are nodding agreement.
All of a sudden though I feel decades older. More 87 than 67. I also find that my focus…also something I have always excelled at…is now fuzzy. It has been difficult to concentrate. And I keep forgetting stuff (like my wallet, now TWICE!) This does not seem related to errant ear crystals.
In short, Ross has not been a happy camper.
This has manifested (Thishasmanifested) itself by my arriving at the Carriage House expecting to do X, Y, and Z, and struggling to find the energy for half of x. S0, I get back in the car, drive right back home, and take a nap.
The last time I felt normal was when Eric and I did the Citadel wall on the rear deck. That was March 20nd. Ahhh, those were the days!
When I purchased the Cross properties in 2014, there was an area of missing plaster in the stairhall (left). Every single time I went up/down the stair, this bothered me. So, imagine my great excitement in my doddering old age with…
…THIS! It is like a miracle! Even with vasty reduced Ross, I made the Baby Step effort to get some joint compound on this friggin’ wall every day. And, now, it is almost ready for sanding and painting.
Opposite though, sigh, is this mess. When the house was converted into a boys home in the 1980s (I think) the lower stair walls (and second-floor hall) were covered with plastic panels, glued on. In removing them in 2014, this was the result.
Newly ancient Ross is sooooooooooooooo not gonna repair all this mess, so he will install bead-board-style plywood in the hallway. He will have Justin help.
The turret bath has changed. My worry about water lines in the dead space of the turret caused the tub to be shifted. Mary made such a suggestion previously. But the water lines forced such a move. Now, the water lines actually run under the tub and THEN down into the dropped ceiling void. The turret void is, thus, wholly avoided. And this make Ross happy. Note, too, the trim gone missing on the right window.
I have been planning to strip the triple windows as they were shellacked in 1894. All the other trim is from, it seems, the circa-1921 conversion and was painted originally (waspaintedoriginlaly). I will strip the latter and repaint.
The plan was to refinish the triple windows In Place but doddering Ross protested this, furiously. “”Find an easier way! Damn it” So, today, I tried to see if I could remove the trim without damaging the plaster, and trim. This proved successful and the trim is now sitting in the workroom of the Big House slathered in paint stripper. It will sit as such till Sunday.
I also removed the trim on the 1921 entry door to the room. It has a glass transom. The trim is visible in the above image, left. All the nails have been removed and on Sunday the trim will head down to the Big House workroom to get stripped.
This is the most I have done in WEEKS! Another miracle.
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Poor Ross!
You need to rest and more rest. You have to listen to your body and it seems you are; albeit kicking and screaming …hahaha
I’m amazed you get anything done when you are sick.
The work will be there, as you know.
Amen Sandra D Lee
Have yourself checked for TIA (transient ischemic attack). My friend had it recently but it was garbled speech. They did an MRI and she had some narrowing of vessels in her head. She is now on cholesterol meds to help dissolve the plaque. While that may not be what you are going through it is better safe than sorry.
I LOVE THE TUB! I want to take a bath in that tub. Even if you are a shower person, after the bathroom is complete you should take at least one bath in that tub, gazing out the window. And now you can get in and out of the tub on either side, whichever you prefer.
Are you going to put a lovely chandelier in that bathroom?
Hello Ross – I hope you’re feeling better. What you’re describing sounds very much like ongoing or post-viral symptoms, such as fatigue and brain fog. I’m a public health researcher (not a healthcare provider) and know something about the flum but more about COVID. With COVID, and this is likely true of other viral illnesses, we say to rest “aggressively” (do as little thinking or physical tasks) for anywhere from 2-6 weeks to allow your body to recover and to lessen the risk of longer-term effects. The acute phase of being sick is really longer than most people realize. Please be kind to yourself and also seek your medical providers’ help if your symptoms don’t improve or worsen. Even if you didn’t have COVID (or if you did, but longer ago), someone with expertise in “post-acute sequelae of SARS-CoV-2 infection” (PASC) or Long Covid may be able to advise you. Rosa
1000%. THIS
*flu not flum!
I hope you feel better soon! Illness is especially hard for the energetic, maybe.
Oh Ross, I feel for you. My husband is 73 and works at two hospitals keeping me insured. He has been having heart and dizziness issues too. We are helping raise our 12 year old granddaughter whose mother recently committed suicide. Our youngest son, her father has Type 1 diabetes with gastric paresis and reoccurring hyperemisis. Husband and son both in the hospital this week. As i, too still work outside the home, our list of to do’s keeps growing….but we look around and are just too pooped.
I wish I won the lottery and could just pay someone to finish your extensive list in both the big house and carriage house. And get you and your cats living in one place.
I worried when you didn’t post for this bit….figured it was a health thing. Your energy and thinking will straighten out, but it may just take way longer than you want. We ain’t spring chickens and take our normally good health for granted. If I have learned anything ( and still have a lot to learn), is that good health is a BLESSING. And something money can’t buy ( but it helps! Lo!).
Prayers going your way. Patience, my friend.
My dear friend Ross.
I’m so sorry to hear of your health frustrations.
Please do listen to the others’ advice that you need to take this seriously, and also do the four letter word.
REST
It’s really important that you listen to your body because it is yelling at you right now.
You may have had a TIA. Or long-term covid. Or unfortunately the three lettered word that you don’t like to hear…OLD.
It happens.
And it’s ok.
And you’ll be ok.
Delegate delegate delegate.
Hugs hugs hugs
It definitely takes a golden years body longer to recover. I ended up getting sick this past week with allergies that took me int I a flu-like state. In my youth I could bounce back in a coupke of days but it’s been a week-long process and I still have some residual ear ache and mid-day slump, though I was able to sit up late and read last night rather than pass out early. I’ll be 71 this summer and the old body and mind simply respond more slowly.
So be kind to yourself with parience while you do whatever needs to be done medically to sort out the ear issue.
Dear Ross,
Sorry to hear you have to go through this.
If I might offer my advice as human biologist working in medical research, I believe you are experiencing post viral infection symptoms. Longer sequels of viral infection have gained some attention during the recent COVID pandemic, but they are not limited to this particular viral infection at all. Influenza can do the same, as can many other viral pathogens. Symptoms can last for weeks and months and can be very variable from person to person.
Please take your time and pay attention to the signs your body is giving you. Good nutrition, high quality vitamin supplements and probiotics might help to speed up recovery.
Rest and take care!
Sending good vibes from Vienna, Austria over the big pond!
Lis
Ross, I’m sorry you are having more symptoms Have you talked to a doctor about ear crystals and your lack of concentration? But, even though you are not yourself, you have managed to get quite a bit done. Take care, rest and eat healthy.
Ross, I’m so sorry to hear you’re out of sorts. Please take some time as others have said to allow your body to rest- it’s probably still recovering from being sick. You have done so, so much for this house, and it’ll be fine waiting for you to recover.
Dear Ross yes, there are many good comments here from the community of wonderful people, that you created, who really care for you.
I am like you and I do not like to rest. That 4 letter word mentioned above. But I do study ballet at my advanced age and I do know that injuries, like health issues, take time and we must obey the body.
I made vegetarian matzoh ball soup for Passover and I wish I could give you some!
Like you I continue rehabbing my large, 50 year old Tudor dollhouse, and think of you every time I work on it. I have discovered and fallen in love with Spackle! I am ripping out window frames to refinish them just like you, but in 1:12 scale.
Hugs and wishes for perfect health.
I’m glad you gave us an update! While I’m glad to hear you’re on the mend, I’m unhappy to hear it’s taking so long. Crossing my fingers that rest, rest, and more rest will help restore your energy and you’ll feel much better soon.
SuperRoss, I am afraid the lead exposure has been your kryptonite. There maybe some you are still coming in contact with.
Maybe you need a vacation. It is not a naughty word. Recharge yourself. A man can only be superhuman for so long.
Rick, my lead levels are almost back to normal!