When we were out running errands yesterday, we found a big display of Christmas cards in one of the stores. I refuse to even think about Christmas when it's so hot you nearly faint when you get in your car after shopping!
I'm glad to see August in the rear view mirror. During August, we had a tornado go through the little town where we live, with warnings of other ones on different days. (Pretty much everyone in this area is now very jumpy about the weather.) While out running errands, the brakes on the car suddenly and completely went out, and either during towing or working on the brakes, the muffler and exhaust system were destroyed and had to be replaced. DH's doctor said he had no idea what to do to help with a life-threatening medical problem. DH and I toured a nursing home and put his name on the waiting list. And an older family member--one of the few people from either family who has been supportive through all this--had a serious fall and even after weeks in the hospital and rehab, it is not known if they will recover.
One day I looked up at the cute little calendar in my kitchen that has a quote for each month. August's quote said, "The only difference between a good day and a bad day is your attitude." That made me so angry that I turned the page to September so I wouldn't have to see that quote again!
On a slightly lighter note... You know how people talk about "on a scale of 1 to 10"? I recently saw where someone used the phrase "On a scale of 1 to "Heavens to Betsy!". I loved that. A lot of times saying "ten" doesn't seem descriptive enough. Saying "10" seems subjective, but pretty much everybody can identify with a "Heavens to Betsy!" situation.
Here's hoping we all have a good month in September.
My dad told me that for all of his life he never got a haircut without Mom telling him to. But once, while doing his usual early morning shave and seeing himself in the mirror, he said to himself, "I'm going to do something today that I've never done before in my l1fe. I'm going to get a haircut without being told".
Well....... as he and Mom were having breakfast, Mom looked up at him and sternly said "You get a haircut today"...........Poor Dad......
As for myself, it was the same. Helen would always tell me when it was time. In fact, she would call for an appointment. Helen's been gone for four years now and I've moved into an old folks community called Hillcrest. After six months here without a haircut my hair was a mess. I have a sister who lives here also and she finally got tired of looking at the mess and told me that I needed to get a haircut. Not being familiar with Hillcrest, I asked her where I could get a haircut around here and she directed me to a place called the Beauty Salon.
Well..........I'd never been to a Beauty Salon before but I wandered in there and was told by the stylist that she could take me next because she had a cancellation. I watched the haircut through a big mirror and saw myself change into a really handsome movie star that didn't even look like me.
In leaving, I complimented her and told her, "Now all these white haired ladies running around here are going to have the hots for me and I'll be in big trouble".
There just happened to be one white haired lady sitting there who overheard this and when she quit laughing, she said. "Can I be first on the list? "
Love your story, George. I just love stories in general, but the ones that make me smile are the best. And yours made me smile. Thank you.
Just wanted people to notice that we have a new member who logged in in the "up and running" discussion". Her name is Sadness, and I said others would be on to greet her.
I'm writing this from the shed. It's a spectacular early fall morning, a one-day respite in a stinking hot humid summer. "The hottest summer on record," as they say every year. Yet by mentioning the warming of our planet I guess am breaking the "no politics" rule of this site. Common beliefs and principles that are accepted by the scientific community are considered to be controversial in this country (unless you have treatable cancer, of course). But the warming has not affected me too much. Although we are under water restrictions due to severe drought, I can hand-water my veggies and patio pots every even-numbered day. Although our summer nights will probably never again be cool enough to grow delphiniums, there are many other beautiful blue-flowering plants.
I promised myself that I would not waste this summer and I kept my word. Although I've spent many days hiding in the house, I've also forced myself to welcome guests, go out with friends, and go on garden tours. The once-a-week tours are all of group-members' yards and very few of us have magnificent properties. Yet everyone has worked wonders on their own patch of land and . . . [now back in the house since I was typing this on my cell phone and the charge ran out] . . . you would not believe what they have done. Two weeks ago we visited a house where the small yard was entirely planted as an English cottage garden, with paths leading here and there and tropical plants in pots that the gardeners moved into the house for the winter. This Monday we had our end-of-season potluck in an inner city garden which contained many unusual plants and whimsical sculptures that the gardener had collected over the years.
Words for those who seek beauty in an often ugly world.
"Sweet are the uses of adversity, Which, like the toad, ugly and venomous, Wears yet a precious jewel in his head; And this our life, exempt from public haunt, Finds tongues in trees, books in the running brooks, Sermons in stones, and good in every thing."
Well, September has started off with a bang down here in FL with hurricane Hermine! We managed to escape any damage, experiencing just wind and rain. Not too much rain either where I am. Was expecting it to be worse. As I ran around bringing in the plants and lawn furniture I realized my better half always handled all of that. Living in FL, it's part of the drill. He was my own personal weather man. He worked mostly outside and was always watching the weather to see what he was in store for. But it's up to me and my son for cleanup and cleaning the pool. All this stuff that I now have to do myself is sometimes overwhelming and stresses me out but I try to just take one day at a time. At least I didn't have to work! Hopefully, the remainder of hurricane season will be uneventful.
Thinking of taking a little weekend trip in a bit to go farther north to see the leaves change. We don't get much of that down here, lol!
marche, It's my very favorite quote. I never thought of putting it in the shed but it would be perfect there. I think I'll begin with, "And this our lives . . . " but I'll have to figure out how to write it in big letters on a board or something.
Myrtle, those garden tours sound so delightful. I will write down the quote from "As You Like it"...never was a huge fan of Shakespeare (I think it goes back to high school!), but there are things there that are worth keeping in the mind & heart.
My rant for the day about dentist. I took hb in cause he has some gum inflammation but also last part of a tooth the is in the gum after the crown came off a few years ago. Two years ago he had to have one tooth pulled due to abscess. We didn't have this partial tooth pulled because didn't have the $160. Went to a new dentist that offers free exam and x-rays. He has one cavity to watch, they want $160 to pull what is left of the one (no root), and wanted to put a crown on another. I told the dentist no crown but he kept pushing. Why do they do it? Don't they read his medical problems - I put Alzheimer Disease in big letters. I had to say outright he has a terminal illness, don't you read the paperwork? Oh ya, he knew it said AD, but guess he didn't think or know it is terminal. Why would I spend $1400 or so for a crown on a tooth that has no root? I asked how much to have the rest of that one tooth pulled and a basic cleaning? $1100! He needs antibiotics along his gums so they can't do a basic cleaning. Bologna!
My rant besides the outrageous cost? Why do they make me sit there and explain why I won't spend thousands of dollars on dental care? Do they get some enjoyment out of hearing me say right in front of him he is dying or are they that ignorant/dumb?
They also gave me all this paperwork for a paste for his gums and other expensive stuff. What has happened to dentistry? I will take care of his gums by having him rinse with peroxide at night. That is what I do and it works fine.
Wow Charlotte, to me that is just outrageous. Dan is now at the mercy of the care facility's dentist...hope that works out for us. I went to my dentist for a cleaning, & couldn't have it done because of chemo. My immune system, which is something I don't normally think about! They didn't charge me for the time I was there while discussing this..I guess I am fortunate with the choice of the new dentist.
Those of us that have been watching the eagles Harriet and M15 in Florida are in for a real treat this season. At the end of the season last spring the nest fell apart. They have now started to rebuild. So fascinating to watch. Here is the link to Dee Kelly's blog on the beginnings: http://deeagle59.blogspot.com/2016/09/nest-building-101-more.html?spref=fb
A breath of sunshine in the midst of all we are going through.
Charlotte, I agree. The dentists are out of control with their prices. I read somewhere that they graduate from dental school with so much debt that they charge these exorbitant prices. Also, unlike medical doctors, who seem to practice in groups now, most dentists seem to be on their own.
When our dentist retired, I asked around about someone who would be good with an Alzheimer's patient. It turns out that this man is very good with my husband. He actually cleans my husband's teeth himself. On our first visit, the dentist evaluated his mouth and recommended only conservative treatment. So I was happy with that. However, when it came time for a crown for me, I was shocked at the price. $1,400 for the crown and $326 for the base filling. I recently broke a tooth and now need another crown but I just can't shell out that kind of money. I have never neglected my teeth but I guess I'll have to start now.
I saw a documentary not long ago about how much not caring for our teeth can affect out heart health and other organs.
We have a school of dentistry not far from us and quite a few seniors go there as the price is much better. They need mouths to work on and there is always a Dentist watching over them.
Took hb for his eye exam at the VA today - he gets one every two years. I asked the doctor if she was familiar with the belief you could tell in their eyes early signs of Alzheimer's. She said yes but was surprised to not see them (yellow spots or something like that) in my hb. So I guess all AD patients do not show signs of the disease that way.
Was a nice 60 mile trip there - not too hot and winds not too bad. Yesterday he came home from day care so restless he couldn't sit still. Hopefully now that he had a long drive which usually settles them down (weird huh?) he hopefully will be better tonight.
I've talked with my optician about signs of dementia in the eyes. He said they are working on it and it promising but they haven't figured out yet. That was a year ago.
Myrtle, the price you were given for a crown seems reasonable if you don't have dental insurance (I got 2 this year and 2 root canals, with a crown due in Oct when the new insurance year starts). Of course prices vary by location, my area is a high rent one. I used up all of my dental benefits this year and my dentist said the crown can wait. Even with insurance the crown is expensive.
Jazzy, you are very correct about the relationship between dental health and general health. People die from dental infections (in the US low income medical aid tends to poorly cover dental care). I have my dental work done in my college years at the dental school at my university. It saved my a huge amount of money (pull all wisdom teeth for $36, gold fillings for around $16). You do have to pay in time, plan on spending at least an extra hour for a procedure than if you paid a dentist. Dental professors always check the work so quality shouldn't be an issue.
About the dental health thing...I remember reading a few years ago about when they found the tomb of Ramses (I think that's who it was), examined the body & bones, it was determined that he most likely died from the infection of an abscessed tooth. Of course, no dental care then & oh the pain must have been unendurable.
On another note, today, Sept. 8, 2016 I had my (hopefully) last chemotherapy treatment. My "numbers" are excellent, an extremely good response. A CT scan in about 3-4 weeks, blood work will be ongoing, so now it's a waiting game to see if it lasts. I am hopeful & counting on it! It's also a waiting game for HAIR. :D Just need to get through the next couple of weeks of the after effects of the chemo....gets a little more intense with each one, & lasts longer. But I'm on my way.
Great news Mim. My friend is starting 3rd year of chemo - just can't get her number down. They are trying taxol and avatin. A lot tougher than the other drugs they have tried but two treatments and her numbers are finally coming down after the first 3 weeks cycle to 253. So it is great that the first time has worked for you.
Thanks Charlotte. Your friend has certainly been through a lot, my heart goes out to her. Who knows how I will fare on down the road, but for now, I'll take whatever good news I get!
The hair is & has been completely gone. It doesn't shock me as much now. Will be interesting to see how long it takes to come back & how it comes in. I guess, from what I've heard, it could become itchy or come back in clumps....how delightful that will be!
Well one good thing is all the lovely hats and scarves you can use if you wish. My friend had a great time when one of pals showed up with a striped toque of really bright colours that she had made for her. It was cold out and believe me everyone could see her coming. It brought a bit if fun and laughter to her life.
I have been talking to a few people in the park the last couple days and they have mentioned how much change they have noticed in HB this summer. They are right. I wonder if sending him to the day care where he doesn't have to work to appear normal has allowed us to see the decline more. A couple weeks ago we were sawing a board and he cut himself. Yesterday I went inside to get the ends for the hose (we were cutting a hose to the length we need for the winter) and I left him with the new utility knife I just bought cause we can't find the one I bought a few months ago. Here he comes with his finger tip bleeding all over. Three times I had to rewrap it because he kept taking the bandage off. :-(
Fall is here. The nights are cool and the days now in the 70s. Can't complain.
Thanks folks...yes there are pretty things to wear on my bald head. The mother of one of the patients at the cancer center crocheted a couple of caps for me for when the weather turns cool. There are still good people in this nasty world, the ones we just never hear about. Feeling pretty bad here for several days now, but my attitude seems a smidge better today. Attitude is half the battle! I guess that applies to all of our situations, doesn't it?
Beautiful weather here too Charlotte...my kind of days!
Isn't it odd how the affected one still can reach somewhere down deep inside to make themselves appear normal to other people? Dan has always been good at that, maybe not so much now though. I will post a little more about him when I find the energy & brain power to do it.
Charlotte, six days ago you wrote this about Harriet and M15: "At the end of the season last spring the nest fell apart. They have now started to rebuild. So fascinating to watch." Now that I have my new computer glasses I can add my two bits worth. On my daily walks I find myself studying the branches that have blown down from the wind and thinking,"That one would just suit the nest. Wish M15 were here to pick it up." 'Ol Don sure did us all a big favour when he posted the link for the SW Florida Eagle Cam. I learn so much from them: Never give up. Do the job. Trust your instincts.
Yes, Harriet and dad are going to town on the rebuilding of the nest. It is so fascinating to watch how they manage to get the branches intertwined, bring in grass, moss and I guess there are air plants that grow on the trees they get. At times they are hilarious. Will be glad when Pritchard gets the nest cam back up then we can look down on it.
Well, got the heat tape and insulation on the hoses. I am doing it different this year by moving the water filter outside the water bay so the hose that attaches to the motorhome is not bent but straight. So far no leaks (had a couple we had to fix) but am letting it sit for a couple days to make sure. I also moved the water pressure cage, which I have never used before due to loss of pressure, from the facet to after the water filter (which also reduces pressure) and that seems to allow us better pressure inside. So far, so good!! Now that I have the water almost finished I'm believing I can get the rest of winterizing done before my surgery.
Was so sore from doing that. Trying to walk hb through it was so exhausting not to mention my back from bending over and my already sore shoulders. I treated myself to the hot tub tonight then a nice shower!! :-)
I also bought me a new vacuum, one that is only 10 pounds. It has a long handle/hose so maybe I can get the ceiling vaccumed after 11 years (it is carpeted).
Thought that you may like this clip as much as I did. The rapport between the Father with Dementia and his son is a delight to watch (even though he doesn't know his son most days.) http://www.abc.net.au/news/2016-09-17/man-with-alzheimers-scores-record-deal-after-viral-car-karaoke/7854772
So ticked!! A couple months ago we received a message from Consumer Cellular that at the end of the year AT&T, whose network they use, was switching to 3G and my husbands phone would no longer work cause it is 2G. They gave us a credit which covers the price of their cheapest phone which is what he had. I procrastinated ordering a new phone. On the 12th a new phone arrived - said they were sending them out to all who had not changed. I was livid in the change because they knew about the change 2 years ago when we bought the phone. I was speaking with Wendi and she really ticked me off yesterday. I forget what she said but I asked if she read my email telling them my husband has Alzheimer's Disease and trying to teach him something new is nearly impossible. That even though the phones are a lot the same it still is confusing him. I hung up on her. She then sends me an email :
"Thank you for contacting Consumer Cellular, I’m happy to help you today. I am very sorry that my suggestion seems insensitive in regards to using the new device. Again, I apologize that your situation is frustrating to you in regards to the new phone as well. Please understand that we will be more than willing to assist you as much as possible with the phone. I have included a manuals and videos link for you to use to assist you with the new device"
My reply:
"Manuals and video links do nothing when the person has no short term memory. Unless you can fix his brain or come sit and go over and over and over and over, etc. with him, there is nothing you can do to assist me. He sits and plays with it. I expect soon it just won't work then one safety net I have will be gone."
Today I receive a reply from someone else. This is her reply which really really ticked me off:
"Thank you for contacting Consumer Cellular, I’m happy to help you today. I apologize for the inconvenience and frustration you have experienced with your husband's phone. Upon review of your account I see that you purchased the Motorola WX416 cell phone on 3/19/2014. Your Motorola WX416 phone is actually a 3G phone not a 2G phone and will continue to work after the towers are upgraded. In order to make up for the inconvenience that our customer's are experiencing we are sending them out free phones. If you wish to return the free Envoy phone that we sent out please contact customer service at 800.686.4460 for a return label. "
My reply:
"You mean to tell me all the hell I have gone through with you forcing me to change his phone was for nothing?
I contacted you guys when I first received the notice a few months ago. I was told it was 2g and would not work. Even the last few days with Wendi there she said it was 2 g and we had no choice. You people need to get your stories straight. No, I will not change back and go through that confusion again. Dealing with Alzheimer's Disease is no cake walk. Each change can be a nightmare on both the person with the disease and the caregiver.
You want to do something, give me a financial credit on my account. That would not change things but would show good faith."
The first sentence was in bold large letters although probably when they get it, it won't be.
Other than that am doing fine, enjoying the cooler fall weather. I have got the water almost all redone which was the biggest project. Heat tape all plugged in just have to plug extension cord in when it gets colder. I have two rolls of denim insulation ordered that will be in this week so I can finish up wrapping the faucet and then around the sewer connections.
The new vacuum works great - so far. I am debating how to weatherize the front. the last two winters I have a big insulated curtain I bought at Goodwill I put across the front of the dashboard and steering wheel. Might just put it between the dashboard and floor since we have bubble foil and curtains already on the front window. This week will go to storage and get the curtain and decide then.
I did start the motorhome up Friday - been a year but it fired right up. I should have taken it for a drive but too much work plus my sore shoulders. Finally brought the drivers side up some hoping that will help the black water drain. Hb has been putting so much toilet paper in it - I have decided that is why when I pull it, it drains some then stops before gushing again. The gray water does that but that is because it gets a suction in there. I thought that might be the black water problem but I had hb hold the toilet open when I drained it but did not make a difference. Thus the conclusion of him putting too much toilet paper and we were not level but leaning on that side. Thought that would be good cause it would drain the tank better. Next Friday will know if leveling up more helps.
I try to do things when he is gone so I don't have to 'walk' him through how to do it. Today we did unwrap the car dolly (have a tarp over it), piled the shovels, rakes, etc. on it along with the ladder, and rewrapped it. It is all ready for winter!
Went to a yard sale and bought more flower pots. I went and got strawberry starts from a lady whose 'babies' had rooted into the ground, pulled my beets and put them in that pot. My beets didn't get big - like baby beets but they taste good. Also took a long tray with dirt in it and laid some of the 'babies' onto it to root. So next year will have some fresh strawberries. I needed more flower pots like a hole in my head but people are sharing plus I have ones that need to be re-potted into bigger pots next year.
Friday at the day services they had a birthday party for hb. His birthday was yesterday. He came walking in with balloons and had no idea what they were from. He has a birthday card they gave him which he keeps reading plus wonders where the balloons came from. Son said he would call him on his birthday when I talked to him earlier in the week. I really did not expect him to so he lived up to my expectations. Hb wanted to know this morning if they were going to pick him up - told him no he only goes M,W,F and this is Sunday. So he does enjoy going. Still have not worked out the logistics on the day of my surgery.
Charlotte, You certainly have a lot of energy. I remember when you were thinking of moving into an apartment, (was that last year or 2 years ago?) but decided to stay in the motor home. Thinking back about it, are you glad you made that decision?
It was a year ago June we were suppose to move but it was too hot to do the moving. I am mixed on it. I would not have all this winterizing to do in an apartment nor would I have had the cost of a new hot water tank, furnace control board and cooling unit for the frig - all within a 9 month period. On the other hand, I like where we are with the open space behind us vs more apartments or homes; still having my own home not worrying about inspections that you have in sect 8 housing. There have been times when I got upset I wish we had moved but 90% of the time I am at peace still in the MH.
I'm glad to hear that, Charlotte. Nothing is 100% but it sounds like you made a good decision. Also, I think you said it was easy to take Jasmine out in the MH. I admire you for growing fruits and beets in pots. Even though I have a small in-ground vegetable garden on the far side of the garage, I find that my veggies do best in pots on the patio because being able to see them whenever I look out reminds me to water them.
Mid Sept already. We still have orioles here. Usually they leave mid August. It was 107 this afternoon. 102 in the shade. (Southern CA.) I went swimming! Cleaned the pool again.(Dh insisted we had to have a pool. Guaranteed he would take care of it.) This morning got him to mow the lawn. ( DH insisted on lawns. We live in basically desert. Again he guaranteed he would take care of them.) I did the edging. Getting better at that. Not so allergic to that as to the mowing. Then discovered he broke the sprinkler again. Of course we didn't have the parts needed. So trip to Home Depot on a Sunday.... finally finished at 4:30 pm Every time I attempted the last connection, another piece of pipe broke. God I hope this holds. DH "helped". His hands are still stronger than mine, but lordy, he keeps trying to undo what I just did.
Sounds like time for artificial grass. They have some real nice stuff that is hard to tell the difference until you are up close. Walking on it feels like grass too. Seen a lot of it when in Pahrump and down in Arizona.
Thanks Charlotte. I have looked into that. It's expensive, but my biggest concern is that it is hot. I don't need more heat in that area. May have to get a pool and/or lawn service.
I now have two students (married 30-year-olds) living in the basement. The young man is of Russian descent, and the smells of the cooking wafting up the stairs makes me want to go down, plate in hand , hungry look on my face and pulling at my forelock. Garlic, onions, green pepper, tomatoes, spices and meat (sausages?). My youngest son helped raise this young man, and when he heard they were coming here from the Interior to go to university, my son thought it would be a good idea to have them stay here. (I suspect he thought I would be safer, too; if I happened to fall, they would hear the thud and investigate.) He's majoring in music, and she's in the sciences. I'm enjoying them.
Mary, perhaps they will deliver a plate of that lovely food to your door one day. Here's hoping! I am glad that you don't mind them there as it really is good to know that someone would hear, if you crashed to the ground. I often think that no one would find me, for at least a week. No dignity in that scenario.
Charmian Carr, best known for her role as Liesl in the film version of "The Sound of Music," died Saturday at the age of 73, her website and the Rodgers & Hammerstein Organization confirmed.
Carr died of complications from a rare form of dementia, her family said.
If you remember The Sound of Music ....another with dementia. What would be a rare form of dementia?
Cassie, I thought I would mind because I like to play old jazz tapes and didn't want to have to cut down on the volume. But the two young people leave early in the morning and don't get back until after six, so I play all my old Billie Holliday and Bunny Bergen tapes when they 're gone. The boy plays classical guitar, but I don't hear him, not yet anyway. This business of being on your own does have that fear, that no one would know for awhile that you were in trouble. I wear an alarm bracelet, which is fine if you remember to replace it after you've had a shower. Mine is super sensitive, or I'm super rough, because the least wrong movement sends it off. I've had to stop them a couple of times from sending an ambulance.
Lewy Body is one form of rarer dementia. Multi infarc dementia is another which involves strokes.
I hear the point about dying alone and no one knowing. I just hung up the phone talking to the university asking for money but the human I talked to before that was on Thursday Sept 15. I read an article about being alone in the NY Times where it said that lonely people have the worst record of any group including smokers. Great eh? Some people like living alone and they write books too and they often sound like they're just fine with it. I also notice that every sort of diet is backed by experts and that doctors often disagree on medication. Who knows?
I'm glad to hear the young people are working out all right Mary.
I like living alone but I do fear something happening and no one knowing. I have a daughter who lives 15 minutes away but if I'm unconscious how would I let her know? I have good neighbors but I don't talk to them every day. One of my kids calls me almost daily to check up on me after she gets home from work. I never worried about this until someone I know had a freak accident in her home and wasn't found in time.
Charlotte, I too have been winterizing my home, except I don't have to go through as much trouble as you do. My winterizing is making sure the garden is ready for the cold, windows and gutters get cleaned, furnace cleaned, etc.
The weather here in the Midwest is beautiful. It's 80 degrees and looks like it will be that way for awhile. My roses are blooming and my trees haven't begun to change color yet.
Last night I came home meaning to post on the "Spouse in Residence" thread but when I walked in my cat had cornered something. I got a glimpse of it and saw it was larger than a mouse but smaller than a chipmunk. I was freaked out and afraid to go into the office to use the computer and instead just proceeded straight to the bedroom, where barricaded myself in. I have no idea what happened to the thing. I asked our health aide (who visits my husband once a week) to come over today and search for a dead body -- she is not afraid of rodents -- but she found nothing. I'll post on the other thread later.
Just came back from visiting husband and saw dead rodent (possibly chipmunk) on floor of family room. Called health aide who is on her way over to dispose of it. (What would I do without her?) Have locked myself and cat in bedroom. Feel ill. Nauseated. Light-headed.
- - - - 30 minutes later Body has been removed. If my husband were here, he would say, "I'm going to give that cat an extra ration of chow." So that's what I'll do!
As absolutely everyone knows, all mice talk like Mickey Mouse and all chipmunks talk like Alvin Chipmunk but I understand completely because I would also lock my door against my least favorite rodent, the shark. There's really nothing terribly good you can say about having a shark around no matter how charitable one tries to be. There was a series of skits on SNL that involved a shark tricking people to open their apartment doors pretending to be delivering a telegram or a pizza which quite honestly I didn't think were that funny except, of course, the people kept answering the door and down came the big rubber jaws much like in the movie Jaws but with a much lower budget and terrible production values.
The doorbell would ring and this muffled voice said "pizza" and the person in the apartment would answer they didn't order a pizza and there would be a pause and the voice would say "telegram" and the person opened the door and the rubbery, cheap shark head would swoop in, which is funny unless you're afraid of sharks.
Now with mice and chipmunks which have sharp nasty teeth you need a magnifying glass to see, the real problem is that they are exhibitionists. As everyone knows, they all wear tops, usually sweaters but not pants - which is rather odd when you think about it. Why mice bother putting on a sweater and but leave the lower forty out there so to speak, is something that has been examined in doctoral theses but to no avail. We can blame Walt Disney.
The thing here though is that the hero has a name besides cat or your noble protector. It's unlikely the rodent in question had a heart attack. It's more likely that the x-rodent went fe-lying out of here because of the feline of the house. By what name are we to know this protector?