Best/Worse/What did I learn today? chat with friends old & new..always welcome newcomers!

Linda K, you and family are in my thoughts and prayers.

Thanks Pat.

Betty, you did good with your sales. Will it be an annual sale? Do you have to get permits?

LK - sorry about your brother. He's in my prayers.
Betty - nice job on the sales!!
Nice dinner last night at Senior's Centre - turkey & all the fixings.
Bob woke me up when he got sick and was choking on it - scared me, because I had trouble rousing him. He finally woke up & staggered (with my help) to the bathroom. This morning I did the shovelling of our neighbour's gravel driveway because Bob wasn't up to it. Good exercise, and I didn't feel like I'd overdone. I could have done more (feeling rather healthy). Bob's feeling better now, but I'm going to make a light supper, sp he doesn't upset his tummy again. I can't believe just how sick he was........ poor guy..

Linda, sending prayers for your brother. Strokes are mean.

Betty, good job on you sales.

Susan, sorry Bob got ill. Could it have been food poisoning? You are in good shape if you could shovel snow.

We are suppose to have a freeze tonight. The majority of my zone pushing tropical plants are in the garage. Today was pleasant because we had no wind. High was around 55. We still have hummingbirds but it appears they are all male. They stay all year.

All is well here with Vern and I. Just taking a day at a time.

oh yes Sharon - I am in pretty good shape - looking forward to replacing our parquet flooring before Christmas, if Bob's up to it!
He says he's feeling better, but still being easy on his tummy. I hope it Wasn't food poisoning, but one other person that was there fell ill too. It was turkey, after all, and she had to travel with it for 1/2 hour to get to us. I don't know how she stored it on the way. If you try to keep it warm on the way (not hot) it can develop bacteria (some people put it in the oven at 200F and that's the worst you can do with poultry).

Sorry to hear Bob was sick.

Sharon, so nice to see you pop in. We miss you.

Morning -6 with feel like -12 a cold one,always happens when it garbage day and I have to make a few trips to the curb brrr

SHARON so nice to see you post..wonderful that your specialty plants are safe in the garage,hope you had help getting them there. Great news that you and Vern are feeling ok.

Susan, hope Bob isn’t suffering from other than food poisoning..maybe it’s in addition to what he had a few weeks ago with losing balance..when did you say specialist appointment is?

LIndakay how is Jim doing? Hope there has been good news.

Girls come this morning, yesterday I went to Barrie and got fur, not quite what I had but they will be able to make more gnomes. Looked at the table topi have to clear before they get here and only a couple things left.

Having my coffee and thinking what a good place I’m in, no rushing about as all my Christmas shopping is done or made and wrapped, I can relax for the rest til Christmas..still not sure where Christmas will be, here or Mel and Greg’s, hoping here..have to check.

Housework done, just need to vacuum so atit I will go then downstairs, maybe I’ll cut beards for the gals

What are you up to?

No change in my brother. Because of his stroke, they don't want to sedate him. But because he has no clue what is going on, he is very agitated. They have to keep him in restraints, as he is fighting with the staff.

You would think they would want to sedate him, less stressful for him..lot better than restraints.

Girls left at noon, guess who has a lazy on 😴

Want to go to midland for a few things but I’d have to find some energy first!

LK - sorry that you brother is so agitated. That makes everything worse for him, and everyone else, of course.
Betty - waiting for the specialist to call with an appointment. Dr said the call could come anythimg to the end of the year. So, we'll wait to hear.

I am SO upset with an elderly friend of ours. We live an hour away from his city, and he's gone & changed his home phone for a cell phone, He doesn't know how to use it/turn it off/retrieve messages, and he's forgotten how to get his email, so we can't reach him. Calls to him go straight to voice mail, so I suspect the battery's gone dead and he doesn't realize he needs to charge it. He doesn't have a car, and some of his friends don't either, so they can't see if he's home. He's trying to save $$ oh his phone bill, and thought a cell phone would be a good deal. He's also changed his phone #, so a lot of people will not be able to get in touch IF he did know how to use the phone..........

Lordy Susan, not a good situation, will you be going to the city any time soon that you can explain things to him like get regular phone..I soooo hate cel phones, I’m much like your friend,I’m lucky that if in an emergency I could make a call...guess I have no knowledge for simple reason is I’m not 8nterested in having one, only have it so boys quit nagging.

Fell asleep, now think8ng I’ll run into town and get a few things8nstead of break8ng up my day in do8ng so tomorrow, besides offers me the chance of looking at the lights at the shine

no, we hardly Ever go to Calgary. We'll have to see IF we can get through to him to meet up in Calgary. Not going on the off chance we don't know where he is. He often goes to the mall, because he's lonely, and wouldn't you know it that we'd arrive and he wouldn't be home......
He's highly independant, but frankly I think he needs to be in a care home, not that he would go - too expensive for him. We've known him for many years, and know how "thrifty" he is.

he had a regular phone, and gave it up because he thought it was more expensive. He's thrifty to the point of ridiculous. He doesn't have quality of life - won't get new hearing aids (his are broken, but continues to wear them) so he doesn't hear people on the phone or face to face. He can't buzz people into his apartment because he needs a phone for that - cell phone doesn't count. He's what my dad used to call "penny smart & pound foolish......"
People wanting to see him hope he's home, follow someone else into the block and knock on his door. THAT, he hears.

Oh Susan my heart just aches for you friend.I am so glad that he has you and Bob as friends. I've known a couple of elderly people. who were the same way.

Stormy out there. I had planned to take the garbage out the lane and get a couple of things at Foodland but it can wait. The dump is open on Sat. so I will borrow Steve's trailer and load it up.

Have most of the things for my Santa Warren box ... just waiting on 1 thing then off it will go.

Great to see you drop in Sharon. I am on the look out for your sleep angels most nights.

Debbie come out, come out wherever you are.

Stay safe, , warm and well.

This message was edited Dec 5, 2018 9:29 AM

Morning all,

It’s -3 with a -8 feel like but unlike you Dianne it is clear and crispy..Ziggy crying at door to get out..

Dianne, maybe Steve can do a run for you Saturday. You’d do well to stay inside today, am sure you have a good book to read and the TH would love to lay at your feet. Do you bring in enough wood for a few days?

Sad Susan, know you are both worried..maybe he will call you.

Still in my Jammie’s, watching President Bush’s funeral, have things to do but they am wait.

Doug doesn't even know how to dial the phone. Guess the keys are too tiny?
Anyway, our "friend-in-common" met him tonight & he and someone else showed Doug (again) how to use the phone. Doug's also going to get his landline back. Hopefully by Friday & he'll apparently keep the cell phone, too. I hope he gets his old ph# back, but we've already gone to 2 area codes because Alberta is running out of ph#s. I hope they haven't reassigned the # to someone else. *hope hope!!*

Linda,glad you now know he is "OK". I was going to suggest a "well check" by the police since no one could reach him!

Got Sam's bid on the bathroom, just under $16 K and I expect I will add a few more things not currently in bid. 3 safety grab bars, a medicine cabinet (he had mirror, not medicine cabinet in original drawing and bid). . To name a few...

Start date January/2, he was willing to start earlier but NO way do I want to have son & wife, then my step daughter, all coming during the construction. I might have the rooms switched by then though! Marie's carpet gets delivered to me tomorrow. I am hoping we can move everything out of old guest room this weekend and schedule the carpet layer ASAP.

I bought another barn TODAY, it gets delivered tomorrow, all the bedroom shifting stuff should be easier with a place to temporarily hold "stuff". I need to arrange some more help. son laughed at me... did you buy the barn just so the move would be easier?? NO... but it was big factor in getting it bought NOW!! LOTS to do... gotta do a few more things and then bed. Praying for GOOD night's sleep

.

Glad to hear he is ok Susan.
Pat, that sounds like a lot of money for a bathroom make over.

Some good news for my Brother.

He was seen by 3 therapists yesterday. He's talking better and making great strides

Thanks to everyone for the prayers.

Hooray, LK - such wonderful news! Sounds like he's on the road to recovery!
Pat, that's a huge amount for the bathroom reno - no wonder he was willing to start so soon!

I'm so pleased that Doug's going to get his landline back. He wasn't happy that he couldn't buzz peeople up into his suite, and didn't have his old phone # with the cell phone.

Good morning,
A busy week since last week and I am just now able to sit and catch up.
Went down the hall at 7:00 for bathroom, everything looked green outside.
But now by 10:00 it was totally covered and the big fat fluffy flakes just flying down.

I am sure it will just be for the day, but I closed my FB. I swear I can't get anything done, and my messenger ding ding ding....I deactivated that too! I want to be strong and keep it down for 2 days so I can get some things done. I am addicted lol

LInda Kay such good news about your brother. Prayers continue.

DH and I took his dad out yesterday, it was a disaster. I have never felt so bad for my DH as I did yesterday. His dad is deteriorating rapidly...taken a few falls just this week. I showed up last Thursday and found he had fallen in the kitchen.
Yes he has people there to help off and on throughout the day....but I think he needs someone 24/7 to be with him. He needed the life alert when he fell and the battery was dead in it....so that did no good. He managed to crawl to table and pull himself up.

Waving to all....be safe I am here reading....but REALLY trying to get house decorated.....and then I bust into tears and say WHY. No reason to do it. Wanted to set fire to the ornaments last week and know the memories won't burn with them.

Hugs to all,
Debbie

Afternoon..

Such good news LIndakay on your brother, may he continue to improve

Susan great that someone is trying to get your friend on track as well.

Dianne, think you sent me your winter storm..need to go out for the 2nd shovelling.
Good day to be home, got some wrapping done, laughed with a friend, said the 25th is a long way away when you’ve everything done and just sitting waiting for the day to come.lol

I need bread, should give myself a push to go to foodland, perhaps when I go out to shovel.

Hope you are all having a sunshine day

Sorry to hear about your father in law Debbie. Sending prayers.

We crossed posted..sorry to hear how things are going,you need a trip to Betty’s.
Bad time of year emotionally and you’ve mega things to deal with....hugs

Good afternoon everyone.

Managed to get into the village and remembered to do all on my list.Lane was icy - it is just so cold. The TH didn't want to stay out long. Chaos is still such a puppy - he was trying to catch snowflakes.

I'm in until Monday. Might go out on Sat just to get the TO Star.

How's Bob feeling now Susan ?

Now our Debbie is sending me a snow storm. Betty you are probably sending me snow too.

Have wood in - miss Stormy when I bring in the logs to burn. Diesel needs to pay more attention - not everyone he picks up makes it into the house.

LK good news about your DB. Continuing to send positive thoughts and prayers.

Stay safe and warm

Dianne by the looks of things you’ve sent me the snow..going out for 3rd shovelling..

YIKES, sounds like serious snow falling. JUST seems very cold here right now and it's nothing compared to what some of you get!

Debbie, it is difficult to see loved ones failing and needing more help than they are getting. The personal emergency buttons are only as good as the client's compliance. It is a shame when someone has one and it does not help.

Linda, glad to hear there is improvement, maybe he is turning the corner to a rapid recovery now.

I think the 16K is a bargain. They have to cut thru cement and add the plumbing etc, etc. that part of house is not on crawl space. I am not sprucing up a bathroom but starting from scratch with all plumbing and fixtures.

Snow hasn't arrived..... guess it took a right turn.

My DM 'lost' her life alert. She looked and looked. After a couple of weeks my nephew and his wife stripped the apartment.. Lisa found it between the mattress/box spring and wall. Apparently mom had set it off a few times accidently (????) so was taking it off and hanging it on the end of the bed.

You're a brave lady Pat taking on all those renos. The first house we gutted and rehabbed we were so green we did the small and only bathroom first. It was a good thing I was teaching PE then - we could shower in my office for the 2 weeks it took us to get the bathroom up and running. I tiled around the tub and sink - had never tiled anything in my life. Good thing DH and I were young and silly.

Chaos and Diesel are stretched out asleep on the bed - I hope to join them soon.

Sharon needs to send her sleep angels.

Morning,

Bright day out there but bitter cold, Andrew came and plowed so I’m able to go to town shortly, sour milk in coffee is yuk.

This afternoon I think I’ll go 8nto Midland and look for Jammie for the boys, should be looking for new Jammie’s for ME, mine are king of looking sad, hmmm maybe I will.

Yes Dianne the snow headed my way, calling for more Saturday and then overcast rest of the week.have done many reno’s Over the past years as well, no could do now, can’t even think of myself doing any, body too tired.

1st night in ions that I slept through the night, woke up when I heard Andrew plow8ng. Guess sandman might be heading your way Dianne.

Santa Warren pressie being mailed today.

Good sunny, bitter cold morning. No snow yet.

I was in our PO yesterday and they could hardly move so much mail/parcels. Hope Canada Post has stopped their shenanigans and get things back on track.

LK any news on your DB?

Need to get moving or I will fall asleep between Diesel and Chaos. Gosh I wish I could sleep/nap like them. I might watch Kelly and Ryan as Shania Twain is on.

My brother is doing better, they got him out of bed yesterday, gave him a nice shower, and a haircut. He can walk with the use of a walker, he is talking better. His left eye is messed up, and he is seeing double, so they gave him an eye patch. Still a long road ahead of him, but I thank each and everyone for the prayers.

Betty was it you who was looking for PJs? I got a catalogue Pajamagram.ca that you can get hrough Amazon. Nice, very nice options but a wee bit pricey.

Bob's feeling ok now.

Hooray - my friend Joan, after 6 weeks, is finally home from the hospital! She's very tired and weak, but at least she doesn't have to put up with hospital ward noise! She has to have bloodwork 2x a week, and takes chemotherapy for autoimmune disease, so travels 1/2 hour to the next town for that.

Morning,

Brrr, cold out there and snowing, calling for squalls

Dianne, will look at that Jammie site, sometimes you have to pay for a good set.

Great news Susan, am sure she will heal better at home providing she has some caregivers dropping in.

LIndakay have your been talking to your brother? He is lucky to be recovering even if it will take some time. Will they keep him in hospital for some time?

Woke up about 4:30 with room turning, still turning, so couch it is until this dizziness leaves grrr. Wanted to go shopping..was out yesterday afternoon but felt unwell so came home..what a nuisance.

Sorry to hear you are dizzy. What causes it?
By brother is improving a bit everyday. But it will take time. He is not paralyzed but his muscles are very weak. He can walk, but has to use a walker. They will keep him in ICU for a few more days, make sure he is stable. Then he will be moved to a rehab facility.

Linda, glad to hear your brother is doing better. Rehab can do wonders (and PRAYERS of course!!)

Betty, sorry to hear you under the weather again & dizzy. Bummer.
I have help coming so I need to get going. We are going to empty the guest room and move all spare shelves into the new barn. Thursday the carpet layer is coming.

Talked to my 3rd son in China. He knew the school was not renewing his contract and he has not found other work so he & wife & child will be coming to our house for "a while". Depending on whether he finds work, goes back to school for Masters, they may be with us as long as a year.

I am very nervous about this. My grandson will be 3 in April. Their method of parenting is VERY different than mine and I'm already under enough stress. I have to get up at 5.30 AM, and their child is not used to going to bed "on time" and is "very active". Really, at this point, all I have to go on is the video and phone chats we have. There will have to be some MAJOR changes in grandson's behavior and his parents parenting style for us to all survive this.

We discussed it last night and Kevin (son #2 who lives with us) is in agreement that it would be best if his brother & family took the guest room, not Kev as planned. Our plan was Kev would move into that room since the bathroom was planned.

We'll see. I desperately want to see my son & family, FINALLY meet my grandson and the idea of LONG term house guests scares me too death!

Sorry to hear about your son, but you are correct, set house rules or else they will run the house.

Oh Lordy that is not good news Pat, nice they are moving back but not the staying with you...with your hubby needing special care the having a 3 year old is a bit much..maybe over the holidays they could look for a small apartment..know funds are tight but it will surely create a lot of stress.

Made hot chocolate amd had a hot cross bun, not as dizzy as earlier but not well enough to be out and about.

Oh Betty our old but not welcome friend vertigo has been visiting me too these last few weeks. Nothing you can do but wait it out.I had a really bad session 1 day when my cleaning lady was here - she didn't want to leave me. I was like there's nothing you can do I just have to lay here.

Sunny but very cold. The wood stove keeps smacking its lips and saying more wood please.

Stay safe, well, warm/cool

This message was edited Dec 8, 2018 4:45 PM

I had LOTS of help today. Two of my sons for a couple of hours and then the 2 neighbor kids I hire. We did not disassemble the king bed frame yet but other than an empty dresser and the bed frame, the guest room is EMPTY!! It used to have 2 big shelving units full... and a full closet!

We even spent some time emptying another shelving unit. ALMOST have it empty and ready to move into the barn. Moved boxes out of my closet AND the computer room closet. I feel like we made real progress. I got rid of clothes that were too small. Still need to go thru MY closet yet and sort out a few more clothes. Still a lot to do but today was a real boost to my enthusiasm, doesn't seem so overwhelming now. .