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Well I *can't* go off with just anyone, obviously... X just corrected me. So rest assured, Jen. Apparently I need a 'keeper'. Anyone know where I can find one? I suspect the right one is hiding in plain sight- one of those that gets overlooked by everyone else cuz my name's on her. :D Well, I can hope, right? ;)
CWR! You're Back! Woo!
define "back". i'm here, yes, but not sure about back yet.
though i'm about 100 pgs behind in TD.
Knot-your dinner sounded delightfully wonderful.
Welcome back CWR! :D It is your turn, as I must go to sleep. My old body needs lots of sleep. ;)
Now Kit, be good for CWR. :p
Goodnight TD!
G'night, Jen!
well, it's almost over. M-i-L went to her granddaughter's for one night.
She'll be back with us tonight, and then is leaving via bus or one of my sons tomorrow depending on whether it is snowing in the mountain passes or not.
Having her around is tough. She has alzheimers. She used to be difficult for me to be around but now add no short term memory to that.
We have to follow her around and open doors that she's shut and shut other door so she doesn't get lost.
At least 2 times each evening she loses her room, and that includes midnight of
christmas eve where she went up and down the hall (right next to my bedroom) and opened and shut the noisy sliding door to the closet about 10 times. DH slept blissfully through that one. I finally got up and discovered she'd misplaced her purse again. I told her to go to bed, we'd find it in the morning.
DH made her santa claus which means she had to hand out the presents.
I think it broke my kids' hearts because she forgot who is who and was trying very hard to get clues from our faces before handing out the gifts because she wasn't sure who they were for.
So today will be very peaceful and quiet. No "can I help" 5 times a minute and poor m-i-l standing in the kitchen in the way of everything. "Did I give you my refrigerator cookier recipe? " (being in the kitchen makes her think of this one and she says it almost every time she walks into the kitchen) She can wash dishes though.
Well, i see Kit has an xgf now. I hope it wasnt a traumatic break up.
Nanci's house doesn't sound so good. Particularly since she's in Hurricane country. Do you own the house? For now you can cover the whole thing with plastic on the outside and put a heater on the inside wall to dry it out.
I love Snap's christmas story. Those are the kinds of Christmases that stand out in your memory..
so CWR, how are your feet?
Mimi-- This time of year, it could've been incredibly traumatic, but my "big sisters" have been helping me out so much... and there really aren't words to describe my gratitude. It's still sorta rough here and there, but nothing like it 'could' be.
Why am I up? It's 6:49. My alarm goes off at 6:40 but it has been turned off... yet here I am, up and posting. geez. I think my ohio trip just 'set' me in the EST timezone! I who used to be nocturnal!
Going shopping today for household necessities, going to the bank, escaping to the local wifi coffee shop, and doing my best to stay on the right track. yay, yay.
Chica- I think today it's your turn to watch me...
Mimi,
My heart goes out to your family AND to your MIL, dealing with the heartbreak of Alzheimer's. It's such a backwards awful thing one one's mind goes before one's body, and one is still fully mobile. I can't imagine how awful it would be to be in a constant state of confusion and feeling like a burden to everyone. I guess it's a blessing that they continue to forget about the confusions of the hours before. Sounds like you did your very best to make her stay as comfortable and non-traumatic for her as possible. It's hard to dig deep to find the endless patience needed for this. At least she is not living with you- that would be so incredibly difficult- a fulltime caretaker job.
This was my first Xmas without my mother, and much as I miss her terribly, it was comforting that it was a "good" departure and I was able to make it peaceful and loving for her all through the end.
You can relax again soon when MIL goes home, knowing that you did a GREAT job giving her as nice a Xmas as was possible. Happy that you have a loving and appreciative partner too. One of the special things about the holiday is the good feeling of going the extra mile for each other and others in your life. :o
The lights in my livingroom and diningroom are burned out. Gotta go get some CF bulbs tonight after work. They really do seem to last forever, and they don't heat up the flush-to-the-ceiling light fixtures my apartment is stuck with.
Ug. Back to work...
Mama Knot packed me a container of leftover pork loin, potatoes, and squash. Breakfast of Champions!
Not to dwell on misery, but my father had it too, and he had it for almost 20 years...Quote:
Originally Posted by Lisa S.H.
MIL lives with DH's brother. the strangest thing. He was always a totally selfish AH. Now he is taking care of his mother and cooking all meals for his aunt and uncle (uncle is dying) every day. Although his kids have disowned him, he's turned over a new leaf. It's the strangest thing.
Oh kit, join the rest of us early birds.. :) I am glad that your TE TD sisters are helping you out. That's pretty cool.
Mimi - my grandmother was the same way. When she'd visit, she would pack to go home just about every day. We would hide her suitcase, so she'd pack her purse. She never quite remembered where she lived - sometimes she was going home to Van Nuys, other times Leisure World. I don't think she ever announce she was going home to Moscow, Idaho - where my dad grew up. ;) It's sad, but you gotta smile or you'll be overwhelmed.
My aunt is in the early stages of Alzheimer's now, but seems to be doing well. She lives in an assisted living place, and is on some meds that seem to help. She's even got a boyfriend!:D She and mom talk on the phone once a week (Aunt Dorothy live in Richland Washington).
CWR - belated welcome home!
Kit - I'm proud of your strength; and glad to know you've got your TE sisters to watch out for you. You should think about coming down for Cinderella.
Trek and Knot - wondered when you two would "come out" publicly!:D
I'm convinced men have a stubborn gene. Dad is still fussing with the sink - I'm about to call Rescue Rooter. Don't like washing dishes in the laundry tub!!
Snap, there is plenty of funny stuff with people that have alzheimers.
At dinner, one of my mother's guests (who doesn't know my MIL) asked her
how old she was. MIL said she was in her 60's. the guest, knowing my DH was 56 more or less said B U L L S H I T. we all cracked up, what else can you do?
but then MIL fortunately remembered her birth year, and said "Well, i was born in 1926, you figure it out" and so everyone applauded her for being 80 "a toast, a toast to being 80"
Or when she said to me, " did this used to be grandpa B's house ?" (someone who died in 1950)
My response; "but didn't he live in Oregon? " "oh yes" was her response. She doesn't know what state we're in but makes for conversation.
Hi crew, I've been quietly watching this thread for a while, but as I don't know any of you I haven't felt a need to contribute. But Ihave to say, I've laughed pretty loud, to the point where my DH comes to see what's so funny.
Anyway, this is a topic that I can comment on. Unfortunately, I have had the luck to deal with many people in my work and my family with various forms of dementia, Alz included. And I have a lot of really funny stories. Because you have to have a lot of really funny stories. There is nothing worse than looking at someone you knew well and loved, seeing the same face, talking to them and expected them to answer and then realizing when they respond that the person they were is long gone. My heart goes out to all of you dealing with this type of disease.
OK - funny story. I used to get phone calls, (pre-caller ID), we'd answer and no one there but you could always hear a radio or TV in the background and whoever it was wouldn't hang up. Finally one night I got the idea that maybe my grandma had fallen and that she was trying to call me for help, maybe only able to reach the quick dial and lying helplessly on her floor. So I hung up and Called Grandma back, busy. Called again, busy... So over to grandma's I went. She was fine, watching the hockey game but her phone was off the hook and she had no idea why. So I hit redial and sure enough it was my house. She denied calling me and said I was crazy. So when I got home, I called Dad. He laughed uproarously. Apparently my quick dial number on her phone was the same as the channel number for the local hockey coverage on TV and she was getting her cordless phone confused with the remote control!!
My advice, laugh as often as you can at these things, even if others think you're insensitive, it's the only way to keep your spirits up.
That was Trek's idea. Ain't she sweet? I figured most people who had any interest had already figured it out anyway.Quote:
Originally Posted by snapdragen
I was at my Mom's for the weekend, so didn't see her post until I got back last night. (or I would've responded sooner):D
Snap - oh yeah, Kit is coming down for the Cinderella. I've given her no choice, no excuses. :p So, now all we need to do is have a contest to see what she is going to be wearing... How's about butch-mountain-girl-biker-chick? :rolleyes: :D And yes, Kit, you do have to wear the tiara! (Jen says so.)
Knot - I repeat my earlier sentiments. Aren't you two just the cutest! :cool:
CWR - Hey woman! Welcome back to the land of TD. I missed you. How's about we chat tonight if you have time? I need to talk to you about something. :)
BMo3 - Hope you get to feeling better today. You're in my thoughts, hon. (((Jen)))
Arrgh! The day after the holiday sucks! Everyone moaning that they have to work. Cry babies. I'm always just glad that it's not me lying on the litter getting xrayed. Some people's kids.... :rolleyes:
well kit that was an interesting night of watching you. you sleep funny, you know that?
mimi feet are ok. i have decided to do surgery one foot at a time and my first surgery is on the 5th of january. though i twisted my ankle while on vacation and its really sore still. i'm accident prone!
uh oh.... does that mean i'm in trouble again x? i swear i watched her all night!
Ya know, I shared a hotel room with her 2 weeks ago... I can vouch for that. :eek: :rolleyes:Quote:
Originally Posted by chickwhorips
Yes, I do believe you when you say you watched her all night but somehow she still managed to shake you by stuffing pillows under the blanket and sneaking out. Now she's on the loose somewhere (God knows where) and the public isn't quite safe. I bet she's wearing cammo just to make it harder to spot her too. :D (Salsa... ya may want to give a call to your contractor and warn him. :o)
... in a way she's never had it before?Quote:
Originally Posted by KnottedYet
Trek, do you still have that video?
Great story, Wahine! Your story is a perfect illustration of dementia. The fact of the matter is, even if she had tried to call you, she might not have remembered two minutes later.Quote:
Originally Posted by Wahine
CWR, glad you are having 1 foot done at a time. It would be awful if you needed to get somewhere and could only drag yourself along by your arms!
Uh...no. I think such a surprise would be a nice treat for him.Quote:
Originally Posted by Xrayted
So yesterday....hahahahaha. I--not much of a crier--managed to cry in two different airports yesterday. Didn't sleep the night before, had to get up at 3:30 am anyway to make 6 am flight out of Albany. Northwest Airlines was having a sickout on Christmas Day. I made it from Albany to Detroit. All Detroit-Seattle flights were canceled. They rebooked me through San Francisco. The San Francisco-Seattle flight was cancelled. The next one did go. I got home at 8:20 pm (instead of 11:30 am). We waited till 10 pm for my bag. Not yet found. Hohoho! We're going out to find breakfast now. Hahahahaha, hohoho!
oh, geez, Salsa, it never ends!!!Quote:
Originally Posted by salsabike
note to self: DO NOT TRAVEL DURING THE HOLIDAYS EVER!
Yeah, it was kind of like the elephant in the corner...saw it but didn't want to point out the obvious. :DQuote:
Originally Posted by KnottedYet
Duck: no, I sent it to you :DQuote:
Originally Posted by Duck on Wheels
Snap: there were people who did not know?
OK. I'll search the collection. If I find it I'll have DH make a DVD copy for you.Quote:
Originally Posted by Trek420
Hmmmm, this sounds interesting....:DQuote:
Originally Posted by Duck on Wheels
Salmon misadventures? Something fishy?
It's a long'ish story but some years ago Julia Child had a special on PBS called culinary highlights of Norway.
So I set of the VCR to tape it.
It was a hoot!!
There was Julia on mountaintops, stave churches, in the snow, tops of fjords, cross country skis...being shown dish after dish and it all featured "salmon! in a way I've never had it before!!"
The last scene she's at an outdoor BBQ, the fish is wrapped in aluminum foil. The chef wraps and wraps and wraps and .... runs out of foil goes to get another industrial size roll and wraps and ... Julia quiped that she hopes he owns stock in the aluminum co...then the fish is done and they open it up...
"salmon! in a way I've never had it before!!"
yes, strange sense of humor in my family
Ladies, please! Enough about my sleeping habits! I promise- I'm MUCH more entertaining awake! :eek: ;) :eek:
CWR- I actually slept really well last night. I don't know WHAT you're talking about... ;)
X- I similarly have no idea what you're talking about, missy. If we all wanna talk dish, we can talk dish. ;)
Salsa- I'd want payment up front before I go nuts on your contractor. You know how it is... gotta pay the bills, gotta make rent, gotta whack peoples' contractors...
at least one of us slept well last night.
WILBUR BUDS! they are so cute! and good to eat too.
X, i got your cute christmas card AND the delish wilbur buds.
DH and I together each ate a dark and a light one at the same time.
what fun!
meanwhile, on the MIL front, the pass is so bad that they might cancel
the bus runs tomorrow and we'll be stuck with her for another day!!!
EEEEeeK!
I thought it'd be a good idea right now to say my services do not extend to family or extended family. Non-negotiable, even inlaws. :rolleyes:
Exes and such are all still okay. :D
good grief, WHAT services?Quote:
Originally Posted by Kitsune06
Refer to the 'services' I was offering Salsa re: her contractor....
what kind of services were YOU thinking about??? :eek: :eek: :eek:
*sigh* - X walks away shoving the $1 bills back in her pocket... guess more will NOT be revealed. :( :eek: :D
*watches X's face fall and rummages through her trenchcoat 'o pictures* :p well... more could be revealed... anyone remember the page # for Knot's pics? 180something? bah! oh wait, I guess Trek has rights over Knot's azz an' abs now... *sigh*
Nope, X, I suppose more will not be revealed afterall.;) :rolleyes:
Hey TD! Made it there and back to the coast without too much trouble. Managed to spend 3 nights with my semi-disfunctional family and not kill anyone. Ate way too much. Drank too much. Now I need some R&R. My darling daughter is coming over for dinner tomorrow night and then she's heading back home to Vancouver so I'm really looking forward to spending an evening with her.
Did anyone get any biking stuff for Xmas? I bought my son a beautiful Giant Rincon MTBike for Xmas. He also got a new helmet, gloves, and a camelbak from his grandma. He has no idea how lucky he is... My mom gave me some money so I may buy something fun, or I may be smart and save it for Europe.
Well I'm off to read all the pages I missed.
Glad to see you're back CWR. Hope you had a good trip!
Happy Boxing Day everyone!
barb
Thank you, Trek, for the Julia Child story! I can just hear her now...:D
Snap--you and your family continue to impress me, but I *do not* want your dad coming near my sink...:p
We're getting my mom a computer with all the trimmings for her b'day/Christmas/Mother's Day present. ("We" being my brother, sister, and their spouses) She's retired from the library, so needs a 'puter at home for emailing. My BIL, a softwear engineer, researched it well. Then, through a series of stuff, they couldn't use their credit card to order it. So he printed out this long sheet of instructions for me to order it online. I called him at 10:30, the night before they're leaving to go to Israel for 2 weeks, and went over the whole thing with him. Then he said..."Or you could just give me your credit card number". Sheesh! :rolleyes: It's an elaborate exchange of checks between us, anyways, so if they'd just said, "Lise! Give us your credit card #", it would have spared me a day of anxiety, in which I was certain I was going to screw up the order! :rolleyes: :rolleyes: :rolleyes: I'm a goof. So it's all squared away, and Mom will get her computer for the new year. Yay!
J/I/my family/his daughter all had a very nice Christmas. We came together in various combinations over the 24th and 25th. J. and I got Christmas morning and early afternoon to ourselves, which was so nice. Fun times with family on either side. Now he and his daughter are off skiing for a couple of days. Among the presents he gave me are a framed poster of the swim start at Kona, and a Triathlon Life calendar! Now there's a little motivation to get my laaaazy butt back out there and start running again! Not to mention the pool at the Y....:eek: :rolleyes: .
I was going to run in the AM, but I'm not doing my usual night shift tomorrow, so I think I'll come home and run after work, instead. It's dark AM or PM this time of year! I'll run in well-lit areas. I love the "I'm a bum" thread, in which folks haven't run for ~gasp~ a week! I, who haven't run for ~:eek: ~ over a month....:o ...well, I've got to get started again sometime. Off to bed--sleep tight, TD!
Reading the past few pages has brought a much needed smile to my face.
Trek, Knot, DoW- Thank you for the salmon threads, I had a hard day and needed the smiles the three of you brought me. ;)
Mimi-warning, the Wilbur Buds are delicious and addictive. :D
KG-Nice to have you back. :)
CWR-I hope your night it better.
Kit and X- behave, please. :p I must go to sleep. ;)
Lise-I am so pleased to hear your Christmas with J, and various family members went well. :cool:
Good Night TD!
Wow, has TD really been this quiet all night, or is it my computer?
Um, we were behavin' like we were told. Be careful what ya ask for ladies... :p
TD was quiet, but mother nature wasn't. It POURED. DH went out at 10pm
to move water (literally) in the back yard.Eventually he asked my son and I to help. Flooding was averted and I decided i needed a waterproof raincoat.
oh, Kit, sorry, too much going on here for me to focus well on the thread drift.
I got biking stuff, a helmet winter kit, unfortunately it's for the metropolitan
bell helmet and mine is the CITI. I can see how someone could get the two confused.
that's okay, i can trade it for a Burley rain topper hat to go with the Burley raincoat I guess I'm getting.
No kidding. Geez. *bleary blinking* *wipes eyes* Tired.
Y'know...
We behave and no one says anything.
I think X and I need to misbehave more. :D
Mimi- it's ok. apparently some people got confused on the svcs offered, too. Whacking, not sacking or photo dispensing :)