Musings on a Small Life

I just learned, a couple of days ago, that if you lie flat on your mattress and can slip your hand under the small of your back, your mattress is too firm and isn't give your body the proper support. Which would explain why I'm now on my third (different) mattress topper for the new bed, and waking up in such miserable pain every day. Actually, I'm not even sleeping a great deal, because of the pain at night, and moving around during the day isn't much fun right now, either. So on Saturday I'll be stopping in at the mattress store, to see if they have anything comparable that I can exchange my extra-firm bed for. My concern is ending up with something too soft (i.e. a pillow top) that will sag in a few years, as my old queen-sized bed did. I've looked at the mattress on their web site and don't see another (in my price range) that is not a pillow top and that can be flipped over, so I'm not hopeful. I also would expect a good warranty--t...

Well, I'm not meant to have a head board after all, at least not right now. Turns out it's too high, even for the original higher box spring with the mattress on it. Even with that, there was still a gap of a couple of inches between the top of the mattress and the bottom of the headboard, and the headboard was wobbling back and forth. So back it went and I'll have to get a refund. A bit disappointing, though I'm happy to have the lower box spring in the end. I still have to hitch my butt up a tiny bit, but at least I don't have to hop up or need a foot stool. LOL. I must say, the delivery guys were very kind, they put the head board on, tried both box springs with the mattress, then ended up having to take the head board off and pack it up again. No extra charge for delivery, btw, it's included in the cost of the original purchase (they claim free delivery, but I'm sure it's not "free"). I put the old king-sized duvet cover on until...

I don't want to see anyone's photos of their green grass and budding flowers. I don't want yet another email from my father with the weather update from the mild west coast. This is our view this morning, as we're stuck in the third polar vortex in this winter from hell, having our seventy millionth snow storm.   I. Can't. Stand. It. *** The new bed: I never did post a pic, not that you can see anything but how high it is, and the old comforter that doesn't fit properly. Snapshot from February 17th (before Derry got sick). The headboard will be delivered on Saturday sometime, and they'll be swapping out the high box spring for a lower one, thank goodness. I'm looking forward to that, even more than getting the headboard! *** The boys: Seem to be doing better, I'll do a post shortly on the Fuzzy Tales site, so won't bother updating here. Purrs from them and peace from me.

[I'm doing the update here, as the cat blog doesn't need yet another update at the moment.] Not much sleep last night, with Derry cuddled up next to me and doing that awful, noisy, pathetic and frightening mouth breathing. He didn't eat much this AM, either, no wonder. A little bit of his canned, warmed up and liberally sprinkled with FortiFlora to entice him through his stuffiness, three Temptations and 1.67 of his two Lysine treats. He got another steam "bath" around 11:30PM, for about 10 minutes, and I took him into the shower around 5AM today for another 20 minutes or so. (Not literally in the shower, of course. In any case, he's frightened of the sound of the water, so I have to steam up the room and shut it off before taking him in.) He's NOT a happy camper, is just so pathetic. I left him this morning, still with mouth gaping wide. But he did start sneezing a bit more this morning too, and shaking his head, which I hope is a good sign. ...

I wanted to do a quick post here, will post another time on the cats' blog. Nicki's still eating, thank goodness, but oh-so sneezy and sniffly; huge, violent sneezes and pathetic sniffles. Still sneezing clear, though, nothing gross. Lots of head-shaking too. But knock on wood, no more mouth-breathing. We're off to his regular clinic for 2:30PM today and I hope they'll have something for his stuffed-up head. Wish us luck, not only at the appointment, but just getting there. It's snowing again and I pre-booked a taxi, but they can't guarantee one will show up on time. And please cross your fingers we don't get stranded at the clinic again afterwards, assuming we make it there in the first place. *** My own cold has flared up, no surprise, with all the stress of this past weekend. Let's hope Derry stays healthy. *** I've booked duct-cleaning for March 5th, the earliest available date. I shudder at how rapidly I'm sinking further an...

We have a long weekend coming up, with Monday being "Family Day." Of course that means the family next door will be around. (It's also the little girl's 8th birthday, I believe. Can't wait for the party.) However, on the "plus" side, my mattress will be delivered on Saturday. They called Tuesday afternoon, after I had last posted and was home, to tell me it's in. They don't deliver in-city every day, so my options were Saturday, Sunday or Monday. So Saturday it will be. The headboard will come in another week, presumably. Nicki versus the snowbank. The snowbank's winning. Nicki is doing fine so far, knock on wood. He's so good about taking the Prednisolone--probably because it's chicken-flavoured and he knows he's going to get treats right after. I hardly even have to hold his head for the syringe, more to just steady him and make sure my aim is good. I've actually not heard him cough at all in a week, which ...

I went back to Mattress Mart yesterday and bought a head board anyway. Not expensive at all, but the best (for me) of what they sell. I want something that enables me to sit up and read in bed comfortably, so nothing metal, no "rails" or gaps. Photo from their web site In for a penny, in for a pound. Whatever. At this stage of the game, spending a bit more isn't going to make much of a difference in the overall debt load. So, fingers crossed the new bed gets delivered next weekend (oh, please!) and then the head board will come in a week or so after that. I wish they stocked these locally, but at least there will be no delivery charge (for either the bed or head board). I've been keeping my eye out for a new comforter or bed spread or duvet cover, but haven't seen anything that screams "Kim" and is the right colour scheme...and the right price. No rush, and no "need" either. Something new and fresh will come along eventually. ...

I have no regrets yet about buying the bed, so I guess it's a sound investment.  :-) I went back to Target yesterday and got another set of flannel sheets. I hemmed and hawed over them, because they're not cute like the first set and aren't in my colour scheme (sheets have burgundy, turquoise and grey stripes), but then I gave myself a mental shake and told myself to stop being foolish, that I won't find another $9 sheet set again anytime soon. Nicki checks them out. I also found a bed skirt, something I've never even had for the current queen bed.  I'm going all out for this new bed, apparently. I might even look for a headboard, if I can find one I like (I'm pretty fussy re: style and colour) for a good deal. If I had any talent as a DIY-er, I could make one with a sheet of plywood, some thick foam, glue, fabric and a staple gun. However, I've learned what happens when I attempt some project like that: a big FAIL is what happens. So ...

I bought a double bed today. (Mattress, box spring, metal frame; I don't have a head board or foot board, never have had as an adult.) That is, I willfully incurred further debt to buy a much-needed bed.   I got up this morning and decided that I'm tired of sleeping on my futon. Sure, it's much better than my saggy old mattress (currently in the guest room), but it's not the best for long-term sleeping when you have back and hip issues. (Been 3 or 4 years sleeping on the futon now.) And I'm tired of increasing my debt load substantially every year with nothing-- nothing --to show for it. So, what the hell. We only go around once, and in three years (or maybe sooner, if at all possible), I'll be able to renew the mortgage and clear the debt yet again. I knew it was a good omen to go to Giant Tiger (discount store) this morning and find 600-thread count sheets (double/full) for $30. Yep. That's a bargain here, for that thread count. (Cost is $60 a...