Good day, and welcome to week four

Week four of my visit to greater Palm Springs is fairly productive while also being boring. Right now I'm here watching Your Seattle Mariners as they get eliminated from this year's playoff race (I'm assuming they'll lose or Texas will win—ooh, just saw an update on the Texas score, the Mets are thumping them!—technically, if the M's win their final five games and Texas and the Astros lose all their remaining games there's still a chance? There's some sort of tiebreaker formula Rob Manfred BS that would come into play; won't happen) while Dad naps and Marty catches some rest. More power to him, man. This is a stressful reality to live in.

Dad had a surgery followup yesterday, X-rays on his repaired shoulder looked good (lot of hardware in there now) but because he doesn't do his exercises unless a physical therapist is here his range of motion still stinks. He was supposed to have a PT visit yesterday as well; he sort of did, but it was a bit of a mess. The agency that employs these folks seems to be a bit lax when it comes to communication; this was the second reschedule for this visit, and when someone did show it was hours ahead of the appointed time while we were out at the doctor's office and it was someone new, who said he was covering for someone we'd never heard of, and confusion reigned. He left when no one answered the door, Marty went through in intermediary to remind the agency the appointment was for 5:00, and he came back then, but because he knew nothing of the history here is was a rudimentary intro visit rather than continuing the therapies that have been in progress for weeks. Hopefully the former PT will return soon and there won't be more random restarts. Bureaucracy, man.

We met with a potential in-home care aide today, I think she'll be good. I'm a little concerned with her being understood—English is her second language, Marty's hearing sucks, and I can envision their respective accents getting in the way. But she's local (by real people standards, not just by southern California standards) and it sounds like she's plenty capable, plus the expense won't break the bank. I feel OK with her in the mix, assuming it works out. Hope so, because a stopgap is definitely needed while we wait for the state paper-pushers to approve them for subsidized home care, which seems like it'll be weeks away still. Bureaucracy, man.

Dad was cogent-ish for both the surgeon followup and the home-care interview visit, but afterwards not so much. I never know what to say when he asks me "if we're staying here tonight or going home," since the obvious reply, "you're already at home, Dad," would short-circuit him like he's Norman the android. "We're staying here" has been OK, but it frustrates him because at such times he thinks he hasn't been home in weeks.

We still need to finalize a couple of things, get their trailer sold and make sure the home care will fly, and there's getting Dad in for a brain scan Friday. Then we hit the weekend, and barring complications I'll start for home Saturday or Sunday evening. I'd like to be home Monday night, but Tuesday sometime would be OK too.

I need me some kitty time. :)  And maybe some rain. I've had enough 100° weather for a good while.

Also, hello to a few of y'all who've reached out and whom I've been bad about getting back to. I appreciate the texts/emails. I promise to be a better correspondent after I get out of here.