Crap! Ice storm is moving into the area and we've already had a few "flickers" with the power. I HATE losing power......please, no power loss!


I'll deal with the icy roads in the morning......

The rain started sometime last night and we now have around 4 inches total here. The temps have been slowly falling all day. It was 38 degrees this morning and now stands at 33/34. They still say we're going to have an ice storm so we've been getting ready in case the power goes out. We've cooked a stew and a small ham both of which can be eaten either on the gas stove top or cold. We've also got a lot of wood for the fire place for heat. I'm hoping it's all for nothing and the power stays on. My brother is in St. Louis and I think he's lost power there.

The roads north of here are getting bad and the airport has been canceling flights. This wouldn't normally concern me except my mom is in the inpatient unit at hospice and is not doing so well. If the worst comes there's no way I can get there, either by car or plane. I am hoping things will stabilize, but no one can say for sure how long she has. She's defied the odds before so I'm hoping this time will be the same. I talk to her daily so I have no regrets about "things left unsaid" but I'd like to be there if possible for her and to support my sister. I'll just keep up the prayers and good thoughts and deal with whatever comes....

Everyone stay safe!

I'm home today with the latest round of creepin' crud that's going around at work (i.e. stuffy nose, fever, chills, sour stomach and voice like Lauren Bacall). I always feel guilty about taking sick days which is probably why I have 850 hours of sick time built up. I just decided today I wasn't going to push it. I also had five resident interviews to do for prospective docs joining next year's class, so that CERTAINLY would make someone want to come to our program with me looking/feeling like hammered dog shit. So I'm nursing my symptoms at home and sleeping on and off.

But now it seems we're in the "cone of uncertainty" for the coming ice storm this weekend. I don't mind winter weather, but I really hate ice storms. With snow or sleet you stay inside and occupy yourself, but if it's a bad ice storm the power goes out and it's back to candles and the fireplace for light and warmth. So I am hoping we don't get the full ice storm, but can get through with either cold rain or sleet/snow. Robert's heading out to the store before people start buying 8 gallons of milk at a time.

My sister called and they put my mom back inot the inpatient hospice so they could better manage her pain. She sounds OK but she gets very confused on the pain meds so she sometimes says odd things. She's also not eating well and she's short of breath. I have honestly been through these episodes so many times I cannot tell if this is the beginning of the end or not. My sister is more pessimistic/realistic than I am, but then again she's up there with her so all I can do is pray and wait, taking each day as it comes. I hope the weather doesn't get bad up in Little Rock because the hospice is way up on a hill so my sister would be unable to get there if it gets bad. I hope she rallies and can come home like she wants, but we'll just have to see how it goes..