Coffee and...For Monday, Dec 05, 2005

Did someone say the chat is gonna be open longer! Tell me more.

Took MIL to the heart guy today - gosh, I wish I could record what goes on. The doc cannot stand MIL. She stopped taking her heart pills because a 'nurse' she talked to told her she could. Dr says 'no nurse from this office would have told you that' - this went on and on. They did a heart test and she was in the midst of a arteriofibulation (sp x) Anyhow she is back on the pills (she asked for free ones....LOL) Doc told her he wanted her back in a month and she said the roads would be too bad to come in. On the way out I mouthed 'thank you' to the doc!! I chuckled to myself all the way home.

Neighbor came over to have DH fix his snow plow and brought some beer. I can always tell when DH had some - he is so stupid acting. After listening to him I asked if he had some 'brew' - guy paid him to fix the plow and DH gave me half of it (brew is good for something!)

Bal - send over that carrot cake - I love that stuff!! Never make it because no one would eat it but me. LOL at the pup - she gave you a workout didn't she!! stinker...

Darius - glad you and Bob were able to accompolish so much. I wouldn't leave anything for your landlord (except some dust bunnies)

M5- I'll be thinking of you and Oskar - waterworks are just fine during this....

Made a meatloaf, squash and potatoes - there's plenty for anyone who's hungry!!

I'm baaaackkkk,,,LOL

bal,,,,,,,Glad to hear DW didn't leave much in Vegas,,,,,,, what a little stinker Immy sounds like,,,,,,,you sure had your hands full,,,Ummmm, I feel sorry for you about the carrot cake,,,however that would not be a problem here,,,LOL. When we had Mooshka spayed, she wouldn't come by me for a few days, although she has to go down stairs to get outside and up to get back inside,,,,she was ok the day after her surgery, The day of, I took her out a different way where there is only 3 stairs.

mg,,,good for you, you little chat brat,,,,LOL (your words, not mine,,,LOL)

darius,,,,,The home stretch now,,,,yeehaa

Mary,,,,Gosh I love those pics you post,,,,looks so relaxing and beautiful,,,keep em comming. My microwave also is a piece,,,the only button that actually works on it most of the time is the 1 minute button,,,,,I refuse to buy a new one until that one quits working,,,,which now I'm sure will be any day,,,since I just said that,,,LOL

M5,,,,,whew,,,tired just reading all you did today,,LOL,,,,,so sorry to hear the vet news,,,,I can't imagine what you are going through,,,my thoughts and prayers are with you though.

I'm glad all you have decided what your doing for dinner,,,,here it is 4:30 and I;m sitting here reading through posts,,,now with tears for M5,,,and I Still have *NO* idea's for dinner. Sucks to be me,,,,Bill will be home any minute wanting to know what's for dinner,,,,,,um and I don't think I can get away with saying Reservations,,,LOL,,,,Well, better go find something.

tt4n,
Kelly

Kelly, if I didn't think the roads would freeze before I could get back home, I'd go out for supper tonight even though the local fare is both sparse and lousy. Hey, kinda like my kitchen right now, LOL. I think there's some dry-pack tuna on a shelf and still some mesclun in the fridge and half an avocado on the counter.

Awg ... can't stay away from here. LOL LOL but the DH is due in and I'm making out the shopping list. Just had to drop in and send hugs to M5. Catch the rest of y'all later!
... Elaine

{{{{M5}}}}...........no words, but heart hurts, have 5 of my own.

Joy

love ya meez

Hi everyone,

Had a much lazier day today than I should have. Really didn't get enough accomplished; however, I've always been something of a night-owl, definitely NOT a morning person, so I may still get more done today!

DH is feeling a lot better. Thanks for the well wishes. He took it fairly easy today too, which I thought was a good idea. He did hump an almost full 50 lb. bag of bran outside though, as I finally identified it as the source of the "pantry moth" scourge we've been going through lately. We bought the bran for a project that I've been putting off tending to for the past several weeks. We just couldn't afford to keep buying mealworms from Grubco (or even more expensive little containers from Petco) and did hope to see the bluebirds again, so I decided to try a little "grub-farm" in the basement. It's worked, after a fashion, though the life-cycle takes a lot longer than I'd figured. Now, though, I have to sift the old bran through a screen and put the grubs in new bran, pick out the dead Darkling Beetles and throw the old bran into the compost. NOT a chore I'm looking forward to! Now it's been complicated by the *%$#* moths getting into the bran that we'd stored in the outdoor shed. (Actually, the eggs were most likely already in the bran when we bought it). Oh well, I'm sure we'll work it out somehow.

M5, again, I really don't know what to say except that I can certainly empathize and sympathize. Our cat was really sick and we went through tests at one vet who thought that it was a liver problem, but didn't have the equipment to do an ultrasound test, then more tests at a different vet who DID have the equipment. They said that her liver seemed okay but that blood tests showed a calcium spike that suggested cancer. They told us to force feed her because she was starving herself to death. I did that and it made me almost as sick as she was. Finally, they told me that she had a "foreign object" in her stomach. I should have known better, but I gave them the okay to operate. The "foreign object" turned out to be the tumor they hadn't been able to find and they took 1/3 or her stomach out with it. They were force-feeding her again (and she was nearly 18 years old at this point) and saying that she could come home as soon as they could get her to try to eat on her own. We visited her at the cat hospital and she obviously wanted to be left alone. The next morning I got a call saying that they had found her dead when they opened in the morning. I still feel horrible for putting her through all of that. I really, really don't want this to make you feel worse while you are going through this with your pet, just trying to tell you that ending his suffering may be the kindest thing that you can do. I wish that I had done that, as painful as it would have been. Sorry, I'm crying again. All of this happened years ago, but it still hurts. I have her ashes on my bedside table as I want them to be scattered with mine when I die.

MG, nice to "see" you again. I'd try the chat again, but just don't think that I can keep up with the pace!

Darius, glad your packing is almost done. I hope you did leave enough out for you to survive on for the next few days.

Mary, I love your pictures, even though I'm generally not into photographs.

Hi Ann and Anne, Julie, GG, and 101.

Maria, where are you?

Joyous, good to "see" you again.

Dmcdevitt, every time I see one of your posts, I mean to mention that I once went through your town. It was over 30 years ago and I was a passenger who had arranged a ride with two slight acquaintances to get to Montreal where I was supposed to spend college break time with my then boyfriend's parent. (Can't remember at this point whether I was staying with his mother or his father that time, as I stayed with each at one time or another.) We approached your town and saw a huge, billboard type, sign announcing "Schroon Lake". The second topic of conversation in the car at that time (after the "I can't see the road" topic--- since we seemed to be in the middle of a blizzard) was "I know what a loon is, but what the heck is a "schroon"?. We stopped to take a break from the weather and walked into a scene reminiscent of a Stephen King novel. (NO, I don't mean some otherworld monster or scary background music! It was more of an old "Downeast" scene.) I felt kind of out of place!

Can't think of much more to say at the moment, so I think I'll go grab my supper and try to get a bit more accomplished today.

Yeah, where is Maria??

Okay, I finally turned on my IM, and Maria always leaves her computer on and the IM, even when she's away from the computer. (I guess she has cable internet.)

Anyway, she's NOT signed on, most unusual. I DO remember she has a massage today??

darius,
ooooo meager fare for sure. Poor thing you,,,it's almost over. LOL

McCool,
Glad to hear DH is feeling better. Grub Farm sounds icky,,,LOL. Your story was so touching.

Kelly

Okay, trying to get this straight in my head. Y'all can tell who's signed in on your puter? And what is an IM?

IM is an instant message, Elaine, so you can talk to your friends in real time. Lots of people use it, I dont.
Mc Cool, I know you are right, further intervention is pointless.

I thank you all from the bottom of my heart, I don't think I could bear this without you. DH is just in total denial, and is no help at all. Spoke with my DD tonight, and I think I'm going to have to make the decision alone. Told her that's why DH is not in charge of my living will. She says that even male clients (who had no female partner to dump the chore on) would avoid making the final decision, putting it all on the vet to say when the time was right. I have to do it, Oskar won't even come to me now, because I am the one who takes him in for needle sticks and such.

Sorry.

Here I am, just can not keep up with you busy people, life is kind of quiet around here but have been reading all your posts with great interest. Yes, do have cable, Darius, computer is never shut off except when msn decides to butt in or the AMI that has been off today but just came back on.. Did not have Massage as planned because thinking by the time I get home snow may fall in quantities, will not drive in bad weather besides it is icy, Instead I baked a cranberry cake here it is, have some! also threw some tennis balls for Samson, he loves the snow, eats it as he tries to catch the snow flakes and goobles it up as he runs with his tongue licking it, he is lots of fun.

the cake just for all of you

Ahhhhh, now I knew that! I was trying to connect it to DG somehow. I went looking all over my homepage to see if I had missed something that showed who all was signed in. LOL
M5, hugs to you. Wish I could be there just to sit and keep you company.
... Elaine
edited to add ... Hi Maria! Give Samson a hug for me please. And thanks for the cake. I helped myself to a piece as it's my fav!

This message was edited Dec 5, 2005 10:26 PM

Hi guys! I'll try to do better tomorrow. Busy today, laundry among other things...but got a lot done.

Tomorrow's DAILY is UP in the Parking Lot.
Here's a link if you need it:
http://davesgarden.com/forums/t/561018/
(Who's going to be first tonight?? LOL)

~julie~

Well, I have not checked in all day. Was a busy beaver. Slept until 8:00, so unusual. DH was up and gone way before that. Either I was in a coma, or he was extra quiet. Our church has a program that it supports, called Mountain Missions. We send clothes, household items, etc. that we don't need to the Applachian mountains in Eastern Kentucky. This area is super poor, the main work there is coal mines, which are on the downturn. Anyway, a truck comes once every 3 months to collect our items. All Methodist churches in the area participate. Anyway, I took 13 boxes of things to be picked up. Took me all morning, as I had to make 2 trips. Car wouldn't hold it all. Most of it was bowls, pans, griddles, etc, and clothes of mine that did not fit due to my 30 pound weight loss. Don't start patting me on the back, as this was from illness. After that was done, cured 4 country hams, and got them hung up. Also 2 sides of bacon. Packaged ribs, chops and back bone, put in freezer. Can anyone say 3 freezers full of food? Only 2 of us, so it sounds like I need to do some heavy entertaining!! Afternoon, DS and girlfriend came. Visited with them, then took DM to have picture made to go in church directory. Home, cooked supper, ribs, kraut and mashed potaoes, and my last ripe tomato. Read some, and talked to DGD on phone. Called to say that she has found a horse she wants for Christmas!! So she and Granddad talked about it. So, I have been super busy today. Tomorrow looks like a repeat of today. Just different jobs.

Don't want anyone to think I have ignored anything that was said, I have read it all, and laughed, cried, chuckled, and groaned my way through it all. Even made notes to comment on, but this post is long enough. The one thing that stands out though is Meezer and Oskar. Meezer, hugs to you, and soft pats for Oskar. Give him a goodbye kiss for me, and know that he appreciates your good care of him over the years. Don't you wish that they could give us a few clues that they are not feeling well, enough time to get them some help. So hi to all of you, and I hope that you have a good restful night. I will try to do better tomorrow.

Good Night.

M5,
No need to be sorry,,,,,those are the rules of coffee and...., at least the way I understood them,,,we're here for each other and appologies aren't necessary. I am feeling so sad for you and will be thinking of you and crying with you.

Maria,
That cranberry cake looks scrumptious,,,mmmmm.

defoe,
Whew, busy, busy you are. Tired just from reading your list of things you got done today,,LOL

Kelly

Hi, Maria, I was also wondering where you have been. Love the picture of Samson. My dog when I was a kid just loved snow and to chase the tennis balls in the snow. He would end up with clods of snow under his chin and we had to thaw them out so he could come inside!
Love a piece of the yummy looking cake. Will have some for desert tonight. Thanks.

Sheila, my heart goes out to you and Oskar. Yes, give him a gentle goodbye hug too. Do make the decison yourself with the vet. Nobody or animal should have to suffer in this life!!!

Bal, I wanted to say that I would love a piece of your carrot cake too. That is my most favorite cake. I should have driven up to get a piece, lol. Love your woodwork too. Am glad that Immy is keeping you on your toes. By the way, did you get that phone yet???

Went to a gardening club meeting tonight and we made wreaths, swags, and table centerpieces. Had fun and have a swag to hang outside my door and a nice centerpiece too.
Later, Carol (DR)

Hi everyone. OOOO nice looking cranberry cake, just what I need to top off a good bean soup dinner. Maria, I noticed that there isn't much snow there without a doggie footprint! That's lots of playing, just what a growing dog needs. And you get a fair share because he keeps bringing the ball back, and isn't it amazing how heavy a wet tennis ball can get!! Hope you are wearing gloves as a barrier to the dog slobbers.

M5, my heart just aches for you and your poor kitty. It's such a hard decision but we must remember to love the animal enough to put them first. I had a cat put down a couple of years ago after I realized that he was not having any more good days. I knew I would have some bad ones but he would never have any more good ones. ((((U))))

Elaine, I think living in tornado country would be scarry. I remember seeing the Weather Channel's Storm Stories about some people who hid in a storm shelter of some kind in their basement and when they came out they had nothing left. The lady was blind but she said she could tell when she came up that everything was different. What kind of a safe spot do you have to shelter yourself from a storm? Do they sound a siren when a storm is coming?

Darius, you seem to have things pretty well organized and packed. I hope you left yourself enough food for the remaining time. Tuna and half an avacado sounds pretty good, and no dishes to do might be the best part of that.


McCool, grub farming? tell us more. We might want to try it if cabin fever gets the best of us.


This afternoon I went to visit a neighbor about 2 miles up the road. She says the deer have been in her yard eating her cosmos, something they haven't done before, so she is wondering what kind of winter we will be having. The animals are so much more perceptive than we humans. I look at the coats my horses grow but none of them seem extra fuzzy this year although they do sort of resemble teddy bears. There are lots of folklore things about how to predict a hard winter, caterpillar stripes and such, but I donno how much truth there is to all of it. Maybe I should check and see what the Farmer's Alminac says.I've wondered how they can predict our weather patterns (with some success) several months in advance and the highly paid meteoroligists can't get it right for just a few days. Hmmm.

About noon today 10 deer walked across the pasture, without any trees or brush for cover. That's unusual, usually they are out in twilight and dark and go hide somewhere and sleep during the day. And they definitely don't want to be so exposed during the middle of the day! Makes me wonder what they know.

Bed time. See you tomorrow.

Hi all, Just popped in to say ((((((M5))))) and ((((Oskar)))). I know where you are and I feel for you, the only comfort is, we can do for our furry friends what we cannot do for each other, ease the end.
To everyone else, I have "heard" what you are saying just been too busy to answer.

Night Gracie
Carol
The English one

Okay, I'm off to bed. See y'all in the morning. Sleep tight!
... Elaine

M5 - God gave Oskar to you to love and care for. You gave Oskar the best! Now it seems it is time to give him back to God for an even better life. We all love you both and we are here for you. Grief shared is divided. (((( ))))
ginni