Diabetic Update & Arizona Critter Sightings

Diabetic Update: 
The Little Brother continues to improve. He's a bit worn out sometimes at the end of the day, but he's doing more and healing well. He's been spending some time at his apartment, organizing and going through totes from storage. He's still staying with the DH and I and still gifting us with his cooking some evenings and doing a very good job managing his diabetes.

We go see the Retinal Eye Doctor tomorrow to check if there was any permanent eye damage from glucose-saturated 2011. We'll see what the doctor's advice is regarding the LB getting back into driving.

Arizona Critter Sightings:
This handsome fellow was supervising last week as I hung out laundry:

 I believe it's a Cooper's Hawk.

    

 

Whilst plotting this blog, I remembered a few other Arizona Critter Sightings that had never made it to the blogosphere. So - here are some more Arizona Critters:

These are Desert Tortoises a friend of mine inherited:

                       

  

I've blogged about these beautiful creatures before.
Yeah, I know. As a knitter, my fear of yarn-eating moths should flare at the sight of any moth - particularly one of this size. They're large - usually more than 2 inches long. This one was close to 3 inches long. Sphinx Moths (or their larvae) do not eat yarn.
I saw this fellow resting in the stairwell at the old office last July.

I saw this family of hawks in the bushes - also near the old office.
Apologies for the less than stellar photos. I don't recall if I was clueless on how to work the then-new camera or if these were a feeble attempt with the old used iPhone I had for a bit. I believe one of the younglings is in the foreground and the parent-hawks were on the left and resting in the shade of the bushes.

Lastly, here's a very odd photo of a critter I hadn't seen in the "wild" since I was a child.
This is a Horned Toad I saw during a walk up in the White Mountains. The photo is surprisingly good considering it was taken with my very basic cell phone.

Just dropping off LB this AM, I saw a small bird of prey flying above. Whilst hanging out laundry, I was visited by a hummingbird and geckos ran by on the wall.
Consider taking a moment to look around and admire nature where ever you are. Night.

Chivalry is Not Dead!

On my way to work this AM, I stopped at a traffic light in the foothills. I happened to be in the "slow" right lane and first in line at the intersection.

I witnessed an older gentleman across the intersection attempting to push his, apparently defunct, vehicle out of the opposite left turn lane. He was trying to achieve a u-turn to get it out of traffic, pushing the car by himself.

No one stopped to help him.
Cars behind him in the left turn lane just went around.

When the light turned green, I pulled through the intersection, parked my truck and jogged back to the intersection to help him.

The light had changed so the traffic in the opposite direction started going and we had a reasonably clear shot to u-turn his car, pushing it out of the way. We were then joined by another woman who had also stopped to help.

When she joined me at the back of the vehicle, she said disbelieving..."I can't believe no one stopped to help". I offered a wry grin, agreed and noted "Except 2 women". {Women Rock!}
We got the car rolling and he hopped in to turn/steer and the woman and I pushed his car slightly uphill, out of traffic, and onto the side of the road behind her SUV and my truck.

The gent thanked us both, shook our hands and I asked if he had someone to call for help with his car - he assured me he did.

I wished both the gent and the woman a good day and I walked back to my truck thinking - with a bit of irony:  "Chivalry is not Dead".

Diabetes Update - Home again! But which home?

Well, the time has been streaking by. Life has been a blur and things seem a bit blurry to me. Woof.

The Little Brother was released this week from the Transitional Care Facility and allowed to go home.
But not his home.
He has chosen to come to live with the DH and myself for a little while. I'm pretty tickled that he chose to do so and I feel a bit more comfortable knowing that he's got company 24-hours a day.
Ok, it's not human company 24-hours a day, but for the most part either the DH or I are home for the majority of the day/night.

I think the Little Brother and the cats have been enjoying each other's company. There is usually at least one cat following LB around and I have witnessed a goodly amount of purring, snuggling, and pets. LB is learning why I am so well trained {wry grin} and he thinks my cats understand English.  ;-)

I've been taking him to various doctor appointments and the home health care nurses have been visiting him here as well.
My "new" job has been reasonably understanding about my odd hours and my working from home or staying late to make up time. Although I have to admit, I have not yet made up all the time expended. But I will. (The pros and cons of being a work-aholic.)

The Little Brother is doing an excellent job of monitoring his diabetes and selecting his meals. His blood sugar ranges have been MUCH more reasonable and I think he feels better. Bonus - he's had dinner ready for me the last two evenings when I got home from work! (And he's pretty good cook too!)
The walking he started at the last facility has been converted into exploring my neighborhood 2 or 3 times a day.
I'm impressed and tickled and generally extremely pleased that he's doing so well; that he is taking his recovery seriously and with an excellent attitude.

I'm proud of him. Again. Still. Ever.
Hugs.

Oh - and now that he's facility-free and home...I hadda show my "Whovian" Little Brother this "I built a Tardis" video by Sillysparrowness (with whom I am quite smitten...if you have time, take a look at her other videos too. Fun, charming, silly, clever...Quite spiffy!).