Welcome to another year. It is midnight. Art is still up. Wish he would go back to going to bed at 10 instead of trying to wait up for me. Hope all have a quiet night.
Last night (Sunday) when I took Jasmine out at 11 there walking up the road was the coyote. 3rd time in the month I have seen him but the other times it was like 2am not 11. When I saw him I walked down to where Jas was by the flowerbed and coyote was walking towards the other side watching me. I told him/her to forget. Stop and looked at me then the dog. I yelled get out of here and off it took running down the road looking back as it did. Jas didn't seem at all afraid, in fact she wanted to take off chasing it. I am glad when I stay 'stop' she stops most of the time. From the view under the street light he/she is nice looking.
Been doing at getting Sage trained to come in at dark. Wish I could get Jasmine to use a pee pad but she won't, so have to go out standing in the cold waiting on her to find just the right spot!!
Yesterday I received a phone call from the place but was driving so she had to leave a message. She also sent an email both trying to talk me into placing him there. She even sent me the name of a mobile home/rv park 7 miles away in Oregon. First I don't want to move to Oregon, second the reviews for it are awful.
The aid came in today to do his shower. Found he did scrap his back up by his shoulder blade when he slipped on the frosty step last Thursday. The last three days he has been complaining his back hurting to the point of it making it hard for him to get up out of the chair or bed. Either he bruised his tailbone or it was from his butt crack being raw again because he hasn't complained since his shower and having the zinc put on it.
Oh yes, very familiar with coyotes, they roam all around here. Several properties here meet at the top where it is heavily forested and I'm told that's where they have their dens. They come down to our pasture to the creek, occasionally have one that crosses in front of the house. Our German Shepherd is 2 now and big enough to keep them at a distance. Only one time did he come close to tangling with a big male but I guess the coyote didn't think it was worth it, he finally turned and ran down the creek. They cross over into our neighbors pasture who all have cows but I've not heard of any problems. The men around here all believe they need to be shot but as long as they don't give us any trouble I won't shoot them.We see a lot of them because of the creek and there are lots of trees down there. However, three of our four cats don't go out, the forth was here when we moved in and pretty wild, but dh finally gained her trust and she goes in and out. Been around this property for at least 5 years that we know of, was always wild till now. She evidently knows how to take care of herself. When I first started seeing them I did a lot of reading and figured our horses were in no danger so I don't pay them much attention unless the dog gets pretty worked up. We do have this little dog now which will follow the big dog where ever he goes and she's about the size of a big cat so keep her on a leash when she is out or in the kennel till we get a fenced area for her. I love the wildlife, even coyotes :)
Charlotte, you certainly have your hands full. When I get to feeling sorry for myself, I remember how long you've been doing this. The only experience I've had with placement was with my mother, and I'm sure that was nothing compared to what you've been going through. I hope you find something that works for both of you. Personally, I wouldn't be able to make a drive like that very often and think your winters can be pretty bad.
We were alone for Christmas this year too, I can't remember a time I didn't put up a tree and decorate and have family around. We had dinner on Christmas Eve with our neighbors but wasn't family. I would have probably been as sad as you if I wasn't so tired from all that's been going on. Seems like I've slept for a week straight and finally feel rested. Last week we had a different nurse since one was in the hospital, found out today she died Christmas Eve. Just 33 yrs old. Still not really sure what happened, she was here two weeks ago. It was very sudden and unexpected and all day I've thought about it. We have some problems but have lived a long time and her with a little 3 year old daughter is gone. I'll never understand life.
We were up to see the new year in but wasn't a sound around here :) The years go so fast now it's all I can do to stay up with what day it is. Every year I notice a little more decline in my abilities - worries me but we'll continue like we are as long as I'm able. Dh carried on a long conversation today with the nurse, sounded very normal - but not a bit of truth in it. I didn't say anything, I think she's pretty much aware. He remembers bits and pieces from different times and weaves them together so it sounds pretty good if you didn't know him, LOL. Be sure to take care of yourself, I know that's hard but important for you and Art both.
Charlotte, I'm not sure I remembered to mention to you that when I talked to my son he was familiar with people in the area fixing up RVs and older mobile homes. Not sure how they're doing it but makes sense since the land isn't going to be released from State control for 3-5 yrs, people who owned their homes could certainly live on the land in an RV (at least I think they could). I've no idea why that's the process with the state but until it's released they have to maintain fire and liability on the land....and I guess the ashes. Maybe it's going to take that long to clear the debris and they might find more remains. The fires are old news now, but to see the videos that are being released and follow the state 's debris removal is still unbelievable. Reminded me when I was in New Orleans, several years after the major hurricane, that so much had never been had never "recovered", huge piles of debris on the river banks, complete neighborhoods were still boarded up and some neighborhoods had simply moved to a new location.
We are looking to a sunny and warm week beginning today, a wonderful change. Very unusual weather but I'm sure not complaining. Hope you are able to get the information you need to make your decision about a new place for your husband. Saw my doctor today and she cautioned me to take better care of myself and not to put off placement until I'm no longer able to handle things. Having total responsibility is a major stressor - as if we didn't already know that, LOL.
The delay could be to make sure all hazardous materials are removed which could include human remains.
I gave him a storage tub to put his stuff in that he is collecting. He will sit and mess with it for hours. Last night he put his pictures in a grocery bag, then put his coat on. Asked him where he was going and he said he was going home to go to bed. Then asked where the bed was. I told him it was 'back there in the bedroom' pointing to the back of the MH. Today he comes in after the bus dropped him off with some story about how when he was down there (pointing towards the office) some guy was looking for him but didn't know where he lived. Something like that. Getting more and more stories now. The 6 week respite actually helped me to separate from where I thought he was to the reality and accept it. I am doing much better accepting the 'new' Art and not be upset because he isn't how I think he should be. AND this after going off my antidepressant - last took it the 25th.
I went off to see if it was that vs the hysterectomy that is causing the horrible hot flashes since that can be a side effect. Unfortunately still getting them. Usually in the winters they have been minimal but not this winter. Not during the day but am at night. The wellbutrin should be out of my system by now but maybe it is not yet. In place of it I am taking Serenity Formula that I someone here recommended years ago. I have taken it off and on over the years even when on the Wellbutrin but now will take it daily.
I spent New Year’s Eve and day with much loved cousin, his wife and favorite Aunt and Uncle. Cousin is now caregiver for “the old ones”. It was very nice and fun. I even stayed a little longer than planned. But before I got to the hwy for return trip I was hit from behind and my mustang was crushed between that guy and a pickup in front of me. Everyone is saying it is totalled, but don’t have that determination yet. I am ok. A bit stiff and sore, but better each day since the first. Spent yesterday learning about Subaru’s. Have been admiring Outbacks for some time. Am very angry though since they will not give what the car is worth because although it is old it only has 26,000 miles. Jim bought me my first Mustang as a Christmas present back in the mid 1990s. Been a Mustang girl since. Driving a Nissan Rogue rental. The engine noise is just NOT acceptable! Might have to get another Mustang even though it is getting harder to get in and out as I age. Even though he was beyond helping with business negotiations I still wish he was sitting with me at the dealership.
I'm sorry to read of your accident but glad that you seem to have escaped major injuries. Strange, isn't it, how sometimes the happiest of times can be followed immediately by a shocking event. For a brief moment, it makes me wonder if there are lesser gods who like interrring with humans below. I scrap the idea immediately because my Irish mother believed in fairies, and it confused the heck out of me. I had a similar thing happen with my Honda: an old car with low mileage, totalled. They allowed me $8,000.00. The insurance company hounded me so badly, a couple of phone calls a day, that I hired a lawyer( who had once worked for them and knew their procedures), and I referred all phone calls on to him. One thing I learned was not to settle quickly. The insurance company would like you to, but it's not to your advantage. You can replace your car, but leave everything else open. I've found a Toyota is easy to get in and out of.
Isn't it the truth - the value we place on cars is not what insurance will. The same thing happened to hb years ago - rear ended and pushed into the truck in front of him. He was fine but the car was totaled. We have always covered seats to keep interior nice for resale value. It might help when you are trading in but not in an accident. Our insurance did manage to get about $1000 more out of the company of the guy who hit us which enabled us to buy another used car. If not, I would have considered hiring a lawyer for a civil suit against the guy who hit him.
When I saw your FB post again last night I was wondering how you were doing.
Take your time in choosing one. Keep in mind getting in and out won't be any easier in the future. Subaru is suppose to be one of the safest in accidents and last long but I understand your love of Mustang.
I agree with Charlotte that the Subaru is the safest in accidents. Our daughter-in-law was in an accident a few years ago & was barely hurt. When our son arrived on the scene, the paramedics told him they couldn't believe she was alright, after they saw the condition of the car. The Subaru saved her life.
I’m biased towards Subarus. I feel safer driving my new one than my 20 year old one. I will recommend against the Isuzu for you since you are having difficulty getting in and out of the Mustang, I think this is an issue with most compact cars. The Outback or their Crosstrek might be the easiest for entry/exit but to being higher up. I lik the panel layout and adaptive cruise control.
Glad you are OK. Insurance wants to pay as little as possible and they are going to base what they pay on hypothetical resale value. Older low mileage cars do worse than they should in this scenario. Do some research, you should find something to justify getting more for your car.
I am so ticked. This morning went to leave and my car would not start. My great neighbor came out in his jammies to jump start it for me. This is the second time he has helped. If I remember right, the parking lights were left on the first time it went dead. With the car if lights are on when you open and close the door it shuts them off. But, if the key is in the ignition (whether on or not) they will turn back on. So I must have had them on, opened the door then left without realizing the lights had turned back on.
Went to Les Schwab to get a new battery. They said they could get one - would take an hour. In the meantime I asked if they could rotate the tires which they said no problem. They weren't busy so thought they would do it then. Nope! Battery came in after an hour - wrong one and can't find a right one. (being a 2001 Prius it takes a special battery). Took them another hour to get the tires rotated. Needless to say I was not happy.
Now I have to go to Toyota after Art gets home to get one - they have one in stock. The biggest complaint besides being an odd size and hard to find - once they go dead they will need replaced before long. Praise the Lord it is not the hybrid batteries. I need to remember that.
I recommend having one of these around if you need to jump start your car. You need to check if it is appropriate for your Prius. I've used something similar to it to start my car a few times and helped others.
I like that my car's lights turn off when I turn off the engine and open the driver's door. They stay on only if I turn them off and then on with the engine off.
Because the battery was weakened when it went dead a couple months ago, it didn't take but a couple days for it to die this time. And yes, the door being ajar so it triggered the sensor will drain it. He said because it is highly electronic with gas/hybrid systems there is always something drawing juice from the battery. That said, when he came to tell me the price I said 'that is not what the parts department told me when I called earlier'. I told him $260 and $25 to install. The price he quoted me was $100 more for the battery and only comes with a one year warranty. He got the price including parts and labor to $300 which I accepted. (really had no choice). If Les Schwab could have found a battery it would have come with a 3 year warranty.
Yes, I will need to find the jumper cables. I think they are in the front passenger bay which means the porch will need to be moved to get into there.
I belong to a couple RV remodeling FB groups. Getting some great ideas and starting to believe I can make changes in here - once Art is out.
Watching an old Laurel and Hardy movie. I am laughing more than hb.
NASHVILLE, Tenn. (WZTV) — A nationwide study is testing a new drug to help combat a disease that plagues five million Americans - Alzheimer's.
The study is testing "troriluzole," a new investigational drug that might help to slow or stop memory loss and thinking problems with those already diagnosed with Alzheimer's disease.
"Troriluzole is a drug that modulates glutamate, protecting against neuron loss," the Alzheimer’s Disease Cooperative Study said in a release. "Glutamate problems in the brain can lead to brain cell dysfunction and disease, including Alzheimer’s disease."
"T2 Protect AD" study is testing folks from ages 50 to 85. It's being held in more than 30 cities around the United States.
According to the ADCS, about five million Americans have been diagnosed with Alzheimer's disease right now, and the number of people diagnosed with AD is expected to triple by 2050.
"The drug being studied in the T2 Protect trial is a neuroprotectant that may be beneficial to people with Alzheimer’s disease by improving symptoms and/or slowing the progression of the disease," ADCS said.
ADCS says this study is different and is meant to help people who already have mild to moderate Alzheimer's - while most other studies seek prevention.
Troriluzole was approved by the FDA in 1995 to slow progression of ALS, or Amyotrophic Lateral Sclerosis.
Charlotte, have you tried a battery pack, something like a Clore Automotive Jump-N-Carry? (Can find it and many others on Amazon). I always carry jumper cables and the battery pack in my SUV. Have lent the battery pack to neighbors--have never used it on my own vehicle, but it seems to work fine if you re-charge it every three months--and they email you to remind you to re-charge. And I have (unfortunately) had to have my own SUV jumped once (my fault--stupidly left key in ignition on accessory--duh), and of course jumping works fine, but you have to have another person and vehicle to help you.
A Shout Out to paulc who recommended buying a car through email. I ended up with a respiratory plague after New Years so I started emailing the dealership and did the negotiating via email over the course of a Thursday, Friday, and Monday. It worked very well by giving me time to think about their price and my offer, ask that a trailer hitch be thrown in, and all from the comfort of my home and on my own time. I never would have thought of it if paulc hadn't mentioned it in passing.
Well, I'm here, sort of. I'm impatiently waiting for major surgery and will be glad when the pain is over. It will be sometime between March and June before a surgical bed is available here in B.C. I do check the board at least once a day to see how everyone is. I had a dream about Eric last night-early this morning. It was still early Alzheimer's, and he was functioning fairly well. We were walking down a winding staircase in a posh theatre to see a play. He was excited and in a hurry. "Put your hand out to the banister," I said, worried that he would fall. But he ignored me, and I was surprised how steady he was as he hurried on. I thought to myself, no one would suspect he has Alzheimer's. Waiting below, I knew they were serving sauerkruat and Ukraininan sausage (I could smell them), and I began to hurry, too. I had forgotten what fun we'd had together and how he'd enriched my life. I didn't want to get out of bed, wanting to savor the memory.
Been interesting lately. Art is in the phase where he packs and unpacks. He has a plastic tub that he uses. He took some of his tools, nuts, bolts, etc out of the cupboard above his chair, his collection of pictures from Navy and childhood and yearbooks. He sits/stands here for hours every evening packing and unpacking it all. He has a reusable grocery bag he has stuffed with things and his old CPAP zip bag he has stuff in. I need to dig through because two flashlights are missing. We had 8am doctor appointments this morning so went out at 7:30 to scrap the ice and warm the car only to find his grocery bag and yearbooks sitting on the car seat. He kept going out last night but I did not notice he took the stuff with him. He said he was going to see if the rain had stopped so he could leave. Another time was to see how cold it was. Messing around with all this stuff keeps him busy in the evening so I don't mind.
I took him to my doctor to get him established with a non-VA doctor. It went well. He scored 6/30 on the MMSE. He has an appointment with his neurologist on Monday in Portland. This will be our third try - third times a charm as they say! I am going to ask her about something for anxiety since when he was placed those 6 weeks he was tearing two of his fingernails off. Not by the end up but digging into them (how he did when he keeps them short I have no idea). I am still thinking about the place in College Place but will wait until after his neurology appt.
I am off the Wellbutrin - last time the 25th. Still having hot flashes so that wasn't the cause. Goes back to hormonal. He wants me to try Lexapro which has shown to sometimes help, so will try it. I really don't need the antidepressant anymore - I feel fine without it now. Those 6 weeks of 'respite' really helped.
The local hospital which was bought out by a large west side hospital has a residency program. I never got more than 5 minutes with my old primary so changed to a resident. I like him, so far appointments are long enough to talk. Helps he is good looking!! He was good with Art today too. He told me he worked in Alzheimer's research or something like that while going to medical school. Also, I was told back in 1974 that I had a heart murmur. No doctor has heard until last year when my gynecologist heard it. When he mentioned it and I told him no one has heard it since 1974, he said that was because he had an enhancer on his stethoscope which comes in handy for 'old folks'! This resident picked it up too. He said it was because he did a year in cardiology so learned to hear for subtle things.
Is anybody else cold today? This morning it's -26° Fahrenheit here in central Canada with wind chill (we use Celsius, but I converted it). Brrr…. I haven't gone out yet. Will be going out this afternoon to visit my husband - at least it will be a little warmer then. Sure glad my car is in the garage.
Nicky, It's freezing here in New England, too. They're blaming it on central Canada! Mary, I was thinking of you today and wondering about your surgery. I hope you get called in soon. Charlotte, Is the College Park facility the one near you? I'm hoping you find a place there.
No, it is 65 miles away. He is still #2 on the one a couple miles away.
We are near 40F during the day and near freezing at night. Been a very mild winter which is fine with me as long as the mountains get snow. Right now they are at 72% which is not bad considering snow didn't start to fall until December vs around the end of October.
Myrtle - yes, we're "sharing" our cold weather with you!! The cold air is coming over from Siberia into Canada. Tomorrow night is going to be the coldest it's been since last January 15th, 2018.
As cold as this is, I'm use to cold temperatures, so the cold doesn't bother me much. I lived in northern Ontario, Canada all my life before moving here 6 years ago. Not only are the winters cold there, they last a long time. One good thing about living in northern Ontario, we didn't get much freezing rain, it was a lot of snow. Much easier to drive in snow than in freezing rain. The city was well equipped with snow removal equipment to keep the streets plowed, so with a good set of snow tires that grip the snow, we were good to go. Since I've been here in central Canada, I've seen a lot of freezing rain & I don't like it. When the streets, driveways & parking lots look like a skating rink - I usually won't go out in that.
Charlotte - wow, can't believe how warm it is where you are. Would you like me to mail you some snow??
Myrtle, thank you for your kind thoughts. They've started doing the preliminary stuff: blood work, ECG, and scans. I started to update my will with a new and expensive lawyer, but finally decided the old one is adequate, and I just don't have the energy.
Hi everyone. I’m still here too. Been car researching since my car was totalled on New Year’s Day. I’m going to get one in a couple of hours. Couldn’t sleep. This is supposed to be exciting. But it’s not. Salesman says it’s because the decision has been forced on me so it is stressful. Yeah, just a little! I’m still in shock really from Jim dying. Now in shock with my Mustang also dead. Back in the 90s he bought me my first Mustang for Christmas. He also got me a hat that says “Bad Girls Drive Mustangs”. But it’s been more difficult to get in and out of the Mustang and my friends (mostly in their 70s) can’t ride in it at all. So I need to buy an old lady’s car. I’m so angry and depressed. I want my life back. But that’s not possible. And I have so many advantages I can’t complain. Yet it hurts.... Will at least be a relief to get the decision done.
I'm looking forward to finding out what you get, bhv. (And who says an old lady's car can't be a Mustang? You're buying a car for yourself, not for your friends.)
In other news, I just saw a bald eagle flying across the park by the Hudson where I was walking my dog. It was a juvenile, so a little dark--just like Harriet's and M15's little birds that we all watch on the eagle cam. I thought maybe I was just wishful thinking--but it wasn't a hawk, wasn't a turkey vulture, certainly wasn't an owl, and wasn't a sea gull...I mean, I know what an eagle looks like, and this was an eagle. So beautiful and majestic, even though it was a young one. Then somebody sitting in their car with binoculars opened their window and said, "Did you see the eagle?" So it definitely was an eagle. There was an article in the paper just a day or so ago that said our eagle population here has doubled in just one year.
Yes our little eaglets are growing. Amazing to watch them go from uncoordinated little babes to strong fledgling eagles. There have been more than normal number of juveniles (seems anyway) fly around the nest area - wonder if they are previous eaglets all grown up coming back to check up on their parents and new siblings!
I agree with you Elizabeth - to want a car easier to get in and out has nothing to do with 'old' but easier to get in and out.
I leased a Mercedes of all things. Could have bought any number of perfectly adequate cars. Mercedes offered a prepaid lease deal that was not all that much more than some of the other things I was looking at. The sales tax savings from doing it this way pay for the added insurance and other operating costs.
It was funny, yesterday I had decided to buy one of the other cars and wait a couple years on the Mercedes. Was going to go home for lunch and decide between three of them, but my car turned into the Mercedes Dealer, seemingly of its own accord and I test drove it. Well, it’s easier to get in and out of, but drives and handles even better than my mustang!
And it was raining cats and dogs! It has rain sensing wipers. It handled light sprinkles to torrential downpour and back seamlessly.
Of course we only get an average of 1 to 11 inches of rain per year here in Southern CA. I just hope I don’t become afraid to drive it. Good grief! I am exhausted. It took all day. Then I had to get groceries in the pouring rain. And it took me a few tries to figure out how to turn it off LOL. Still not feeling excited. I wore a sweater and jewelry Jim gave me for Christmas one year and pretended he was with me. Thank goodness my salesman understood how stressful it might be losing my husband and then my car and being forced into the decision. He was patient and not pushy.
Hi all, Just thought I’d give you an update on things.
Called my step son’s mother-in-law and asked if she would be willing to pick up my partner’s guitars and give them to the grand daughters for Christmas. She did. A weight off my shoulders. Have no reason whatsoever to engage with her family again. Not even sad about it at this point. What felt a year ago as a jarring loss is now so far past as to be ancient history and irrelevant to my current life.
With help yesterday I filled a dumpster with items from my garage and cellar, both of which are now empty. Dumpster is being picked up on Monday. How much stuff one can accumulate in thirty-five years is truly amazing. Now I have the attic left to complete.
I have been learning how to sell stuff on line. Fewer possessions. More money. A good thing.
My grandchild is arriving in May. I truly hope to have sold my house and be moved to Greenbelt MD by then. I am buying a small co-op apartment that will be about half a mile from son and DIL. Close enough to walk to, far away that we will not be in each other’s hair. Plan is that starting in the fall I will be babysitting half time.
I dream of taking a cross country vacation this summer with my camper, something I was unable to do last summer. I’ll see how things are after my move. Have to to it soon, or else I’ll be too old.
Still miss my partner. Touch my finger to her picture when I walk by. Feel joy that we had 15 years, sadness that she is gone, pain that we both had to take the journey through AD, a poignant gladness that we could help each other through that journey.
I stop by this page close to daily and am ever grateful for the support you all have given me.
Lindylou, that’s such a wonderful thing with the guitars!!! The move and babysitting for a grand sound wonderful for you. Me, not so much. I was around some tiny grand nieces at Thanksgiving and didn’t last long before needing to take a walk. They are beautiful and wonderful but I wasn’t ready for that. Don’t forget if you come near Riverside in SoCal you can park your camper here and we’ll go exploring.
Charlotte, I don’t think I will post a picture on Facebook. I might email it If I get up and dressed before the storms get here.
It's 9 degrees Fahrenheit here this morning. We don't have any snow, but it sure is cold. It's good to read everybody's updates and news. Wow, a Mercedes, bhv. You go girl!
elizabeth - you can keep that cold. This winter has been mild with lows only in the 20s and I am not complaining!
Made it to Portland and his neurologist today. He scored a 5/30 compared to 11/30 in fall 2017. No surprise there. I told her about placing him and why I brought him home. She agreed medications are nothing to mess around with. I told her about the other place 65 miles away. She thinks it sounds nice even if that far away. She recommends placing him and then moving him closer when a spot opens.
We live in eastern Washington for the sun but we are stuck in an 'inversion'. Didn't see any sun until we were almost to Portland.
Thanks Elizabeth. I posted about it in a site on FB I belong to for spouses only and got a negative response that placing them moving they will go downhill - as if I didn't know this already. He is still #2 on the list at the facility a couple miles away. She also said that a place that only does memory care is better than where I had him (memory care/assisted living) because like I found out, those able getting better attention and the activities are geared towards them,, not memory care. So I will contact the place and see if we can get our schedules coordinated.
Ah, the website is back up! I was heartbroken this morning when I thought it might be down for good. I thought I might have suddenly lost many good friends. Since there is a likelihood that I may be traveling some this summer I am posting my email for the next 24 hours so I can have direct contact with those of you interested, especially those who might possibly like to visit with me when I travel this summer. My travel will be dependent on whether my house sells this spring. I hope you see this message especially, Bonnie. Others too.
Charlotte, I know moving a person from one facility to another is confusing for them, but placing him and them moving him to the place where you really want him is more for you than for him. Sometimes you do what you have to do to save your own life.
Elizabeth, I think if you are signed in and you click on my name you will find it. If you can't find it there I'll post it on this page. Email me if you find it.
I think I've solved the mystery: I have to sign in before hitting your name reveals your email. I'm in the habit of taking a shortcut: I go to "History" and read the new posts and don't sign in unless I'm going to post a message.