tuesday

It is Tuesday night, time for me to go visit my brother.  I try to visit him once in the evening during the week and once on the weekend.  I take the train home from downtown Chicago, stop at my home and grab a diet Coke for the caffeine. Usually I am pretty tired.  Today was a hard day at work, I work for US EPA and the working climate is kind of depressing.  Resources are shrinking, people are bailing out and retiring as soon as they can, and everyone is trying to do more with less.  Management keeps on changing.  It's impossible to lay people off who have stopped working years ago.  The Agency is under attack by some elements of Congress.

So I got home and got into what was my Dad's car.  It's a 92 Camry and falling apart, but I like to drive it because it reminds me of my parents.  My father passed away last year, my mother in 2006.  Then it's a 30 minute drive to the nursing home.  So far, I haven't minded that part that much.  It's some time to myself, and I get to listen to the radio, which I never do because I take public transportation to work, and the rest of the time I try to walk as much as possible.  It's even a bit relaxing.

Today I found my brother in the activities/dining room with his head resting on the table.  I didn't like that. However, he perked up once I got there.  I changed his hearing aid (I still haven't gotten the staff tuned into that task), we sat in the tv lounge, and then we went for a walk in the building.  He hasn't looked to good lately, his skin has been looking kind of orange or red,, a little flushed.  Today I looked closely and realized that he was dirty.  It turns out it has been more than a week since he has been showered.  It's the day time CNAs that are supposed to bathe him, but I did speak to the evening nurse and hopefully he will get a shower tonight.  I stopped by the director of nursing and spoke to her about it.  I didn't even get an apology.

But despite these issues, he seems ok and he is adjusted.  I just hope it lasts and that the boredom doesn't completely do him in.  I am very appreciative that he is not reproachful towards me.  I felt a little bad when I told him that I wasn't coming to visit this weekend because I am taking my daughter to a college tour in Ohio.

I am feeling good that I don't have to visit him for several days.  I hope I can relax a bit on this trip,although the college thing brings on its own stress.