Stressful Stuff: Hospital, Furnace Break Down , Bat in Basement

Wouldn't you know it? Goes down to 24 below zero and furnace breaks down. 

A lot of stress lately. The Better Half has been feeling poorly lately. Visit to her kidney Dr revealed low levels of iron and hemoglobin. This was on Wednesday Feb. 4. He admitted her into hospital for blood transfusion and an iron infusion. She was there overnight, came home on Thursday. At same time our oil furnace began acting up. Blower motor wouldn't shut off. Then when it did and seemed ok it began short cycling, that is the burner would stop before reaching the set temperature. The burner and fan were not working together. Seemed to me the Fan Limiter Switch was bad. Anyhow, it acted up. By Sunday morning it was 24 below zero. Called Bartlett's heating left message. They came out Monday morning. Got things going. Blower appeared to be working properly. Technician Wade left at 12:30. Blower was on. And stayed on. By 3:00 it was still going. Something wrong. Wade came back. messed around ith wiring and switches. I left him in basement for about 10 minutes. Went back to basement n discovered he had everything buttoned up and was gone. No word to me about anything. THEN, the blower would not come on at all. The burner would light and burn until it was shut off due to overheating. 

Today another guy came out, left without a repair. Need parts. Supposed to come back tomorrow, but will be someone else he says. When he left I was able to start and stop the blower manually with a jumper wire. After a couple hours I shut it down. When I tried to use jumper wire again there was nothing but a clicking sound. Like a relay not working. So tonight once again no furnace. Warmer tonight so less worry about freezing plumbing. Wood stove n kitchen gas stove keeps first floor comfortable. Just hope tomorrow they come back with parts and get it working properly. 

On another note, yesterday I walked 6,781 steps. Today was 4,824. 

OH! Horror of horrors, as cold as it's been I went to the basement last night to check temperature as there was no furnace going. I opened the door and saw a BAT flying round. I was astonished. Called Eric Jewitt a pest control guy that deals with bats. He is supposed to be here about 9:00-10:00 tomorrow morning. I searched the basement today and could not find any signs of the flying creature. 

Today is the Better Half's 77th Birthday

Wednesday October 15, 2025 

View from our backyard, Chaumont NY, a beautiful day.

Today is the Better Half's 77th Birthday. Outdoors it has been a lovely autumn day. Temperature at 55 degrees, clear sky, sunny, mild breeze. It simply can't get better than that. (Well, figuratively speaking.)

In the afternoon we took a drive, started by going down the Millens Bay Rd, having herd there was a nice farm stand somewhere along it. We came upon it and it was closed. Sign said it's open Saturday and Sundays. From there we made our way to Clayton and to Watertown. We had dinner at  the Texas Road House which was quite good. The tab came in at $100.00 and change. 

Here she is, my Better Half on her 77th birthday

My iPhone reports I walked 4,784 steps today.

Farm stand on the Millens Bay Road between Chaumont and Millens Bay

Farm stand on the Millens Bay Road between Chaumont and Millens Bay

The Texas Road House, Watertown, NY

Sunday at the Emergency Room

 

We spent yesterday (Sunday September 14) in the emergency room at Samaritan hospital in Watertown. The Better Half had some lumbar injection tests done on Monday the 8th at the Spine and Wellness Center, Syracuse, by a Dr Trasilo. Her pain got steadily worse with each passing day until finally we had her checked out at the ER. They did a number of tests and images and ruled out the most serious and worrisome things we were concerned with. We arrived at the ER at 11:00 and left there at 9:30pm. 

4th of July and Better Half is in Hospital

Today is Independence Day, the 4th of July and the Better Half is in St. Joseph's Hospital, Syracuse, NY, recovering from surgery. She had a section of large colon removed after a few years of problems with diverticulosis/ diverticulitis. 

This is the surgery waiting room at St. Joe's hospital in Syracuse, NY. It's and older part of the place and is visually interesting. 

She is doing well and  was up walking around 24 hours after the 7 hour surgery.

Tuesday July 2nd the operation was done by Dr. Dantu. 

Strawberry short cake at sister Sue's

I visited the Better Half in the hospital today and at 3:00 went to sister Sue's place in Utica area.Sister Carol was there as well as Sue's granddaughter E. We had grilled steak, salad, salt potatoes and strawberry short cake. It was all yummy. Headed home to Chaumont about 7:00, arrived at 9:00.

I Don't Want To Be Sick In The Hospital For Christmas

The Better Half with great grand daughter Winona, at 4:42, Adams, NY.
About a half hour later she would be sprawled on the ground with a broken femur.

 "I Don't Want To Be In The Hospital For Christmas". 

That was the mantra I heard from the Better Half, beginning probably some time around Halloween and leading up to Christmas. Her side of the family was to be here Christmas Day for dinner. 

The mantra came because a few years ago she spent 10 days in hospital over Thanksgiving. This year she was 4 days in the hospital a week or so before Thanksgiving. Her problem has to do with diverticulosis. An attack occurred and sidelined her for a couple weeks. She was able eat dinner without too much difficulty.

After that she was concerned with rise in cover and flu cases. Between that and the diverticulosis she couldn't help herself but to keep reminding me, "I Don't Want To Be Sick In The Hospital For Christmas". 

What could go wrong? Well, on Thursday, December 22 as we were leaving grandson J's apartment in Adams, NY she slipped on some hard packed snow & ice. She broke her right femur. Snapped in two pieces. It was scary and horrific. 

A misty rain began to fall. There was an approaching blizzard set to begin overnight. A once in a generation HUGE storm they said. 

Adams ambulance service was only a few blocks away, BUT, they were out of service. Had to send ambulance from Guilfoyle in Watertown. She was in pain, we both were scared, praying it wasn't a broken hip. J brought out 3 blankets. We wrapped them about her as she sat on the snow. She had me lean into her for support. 

This began at about 5:00pm. 13 minutes later she asked me to call 911 again. We were told the ambulance was on it's way. A few minutes later some firemen showed up to offer what they could in way of reassurance and comfort. Soon we heard sirens in the distance. The sound grew louder and louder and then they were there. It took about 25 minutes. 

The crew was excellent. The Better Half was scared but alert and listened intently to everything the EMT's had to say. She is a good soldier and follows orders, trusting in those she should. 

At 6:31 she arrived at the Samaritan Medical Center in Watertown, NY. 

The emergency department nurses, doctors, technicians and support staff did all of the things they do and at 5:00am she was settled into a room to await surgery. That would take place later that morning at 10:30. The head doctor of the team that patched her up was Dr. Dave Leu a trauma surgeon. 

The Better Half arrives at Samaritan Medical Center at 6:31pm
with a broken femur, December 22nd.