KarenK

Not laughing at you guys at all! Although it is much more humid here than it was years ago due to tons of swimming pools and a zillion golf courses, I'm sure it doesn't compare to your humidity. Plus AC is a given, here in the Southwest and we're not outside much. Makes you wonder how the early settlers survived. I remember it being in the 90's in KY, like a sauna and I couldn't breathe outside. The kiddie pool idea sounds like a good one.

ECR, Hope will help you on this treacherous journey through grief. It will walk beside you as we all will. It will allow you to slowly make your way out of the deep dark hole you are in and see the sunshine again and in time it will help you adapt to this future you never planned. I'm so very sorry for the loss you and your little one have suffered. May you find peace in your soul.

My accomplishments for the day were washing 3 throw rugs and fixing dinner. Felt like I'd run a marathon. Just so little energy. I was always so meticulous and organized about everything. I hate that it's become "hit and miss", but it's the best I can do and I don't even have the pain you do. I guess I just hate getting old. I think in order to keep a routine in these times, you would have to be a true hermit. As long as others are involved in your daily activities, there's always the possibility of something changing. I hope you get your dishwasher fixed without delay. It's so nice to finally have mine working again. I don't file federal returns, but my state return usually processes in a couple of weeks. This year it took 3 months. Covid did a number on everything!

There's such a difference in the way each of our loved ones were treated or mistreated during their final hours. Our hospice was wonderful. A nurse stood by his bed the entire time and gave him meds if he appeared in distress at all. He just faded away and stopped breathing. The "Hospice From Hell" in Kentucky took hours to arrive when we'd call about Debbie. She was already getting morphine, fentanyl, and dilaudid while still screaming and convulsing. It was unbearable to see her suffer. You'd think there was something else they could have done. Their answer was "Call us when she dies and we'll come out". I should have simply shot them when they arrived. Gwen, to make you feel a tiny bit better, it's supposed to be 118 here tomorrow.

I think bars and restaurants are open again, at least to the point of people being killed in them. That's nothing new around here, an every day occurrence. Masks are still required in some places. Except for difficulty breathing, I don't mind. It keeps me from having to wear my dentures. lol I'm one of the non vaccinated "morons" you refer to. I rarely leave my house, but wear a mask when I do.

Marg, Black toes!! That's a new one. Have you maybe bumped your toes, not hard enough to cause a lot of pain, but enough to bruise? I know it takes almost nothing to put a bruise on me, another gift of old age. Made me think of the "Blue People Of Kentucky", although their blue tinged skin color was caused by a recessive gene carried by both original parents, and passed down through the generations by intermarriage due to isolation in the remote hills of Kentucky. They were shunned by " normal" people.

Kay, Since everyone seems to be depending on you for answers, it might be a good idea for you to contact an attorney who handles elder law. Peggy has not been deemed legally incompetent by a court and no one should be allowed to remove anything from her home(except the spoiled food, of course). If and when she is found incompetent, I would imagine a conservator could be assigned to handle her affairs. Not a fun responsibility unless you really want it. Sending hugs!!!

Wow Kay! The black cloud is definitely over you right now! I don't know much about dementia, but I do know if a person is severely dehydrated, they will act like you're describing. Surely they have checked her for that. That's crazy about your car. I wonder if they didn't tighten the filter or something. And why no warning light? Computer problem maybe? Hope there was no damage and it gets taken care of. Keep your chin up girl. Sending hugs.

Dee, How perfect! Just the kind of setting I dream of. Those family get togethers were a lifetime ago, almost 60 years. You're right. Probably not the norm for current times. Sad that family time has become so unimportant. If they only knew......

Sorry I've been a bit lax in contributing lately, Gwen. Nothing much noteworthy happens here unless something breaks down or some new ailment pops up. Pretty mundane existence. I don't even make little side trips like you do to escape boredom. When I go somewhere in town, it's for a specific purpose. If I was in the mountains, I'd go just for the sheer joy of being outside and exploring new places. How the heck did I end up living in this crummy desert? Moot point. I'd love to have some new adventure or trip to report on. After Ron and Debbie died, I had this crazy idea that Marley and I could just jump in the truck and travel. Of course, it never happened and now I've gotten a bit too old and unsteady to try it. Plus, I'd have to rob a bank for traveling expenses. lol I'm hoping to make a trip to the mountains during Robert's vacation this month, but time will tell.

Dee, family dinners reminds me of when I was married for the first time in 1963. My ex's entire extended family lived here in the area, paternal grandparents, parents, 2 brothers, 3 cousins, aunt and uncle, most with spouses and a bunch of little kids. Every Sunday it was almost mandatory for everyone to gather at his grandparents' for a breakfast of steak, biscuits, and gravy. Believe me! They knew if someone was missing and you better have a good excuse! it was sheer pandemonium, but fun and we all got along. lol His grandmother loved it!

If I was a drinker, I'd break out the champagne. My dishwasher is finally fixed. Now if you could only get yours fixed, Gwen.

Gwen, any possibility you can see another back specialist? The way you're being treated is just awful. I don't understand the "no pain meds" thing. Not good patient care at all.

Got my new distance glasses today and some clip on sunglass lenses. I didn't want to spend the extra $85 for the tinted lenses. As expected, the glasses don't help much, maybe about 10%, but I can live with that. I can see well enough to drive as long as my BP is okay. Had to postpone my dentist visit. He is in the hospital with pneumonia, a residual from Covid he had in Jan. Sure hope he'll be okay as he's close to 80 and pneumonia can be deadly in older folks. Starting yesterday, something weird is going on with my legs. When I stand and walk, my muscles are weak and feel like I've run a marathon. Can't stand for very long. Never had anything like this before. Have a doctor appt. next week for BP so will talk to him about it if it persists. Finally received all my dishwasher parts so Sears coming out tomorrow. Fingers crossed on that one. I watched the new Tom Hanks movie "News Of The World". One of the better movies I've seen lately.

Wow Gin! You're going for broke, teeth wise and financially, all at once! I, at least try to wait a month or two between the destruction of each tooth. lol My latest broken one is being pulled on Wed. The previous one broken off at the gum is still there, but is starting to bother me now, so it will have to go next. My last top left molar is half gone and temporarily filled. When that's gone, I'll be left with 6 whole teeth. Tried once eating with the dentures.....wasn't comfortable, so my diet is limited. Meat is mostly hamburger. I miss salad a lot, but lettuce is a no go. I'll just keep wearing the ol' mask. Nobody to smile for anyway. 😐

In earlier years, summer meant going to San Diego for Sea World, the zoo(which I loved), then up to Disneyland. After the kids were on their own, we spent a lot of time at the cabin using it for home base to trips to Colorado, New Mexico, Wyoming. Of course, there were the trips to Kentucky to see Debbie and the grandkids. All of it gone now. It's a hard pill to swallow. Now I spend my summer days sweltering in the furnace. Don't miss being stuck for hours in the holiday traffic though. Guess the pandemic didn't hit me as hard as some. I was already used to being isolated.

Gin, sounds like he has been through the wringer. Hope he is on his feet again soon and all goes well in court.

Yes, Gin! Wondering how your son is doing? Also, we haven't heard from Dee in a while. Wonder how the move is going?

Marg, most of us hijack posts unintentionally. We're not trying to deter from the original post. I think it's just the way conversation among friends happens. We don't mean to offend anyone.

Well, shut my mouth and call me old fashioned! I just find it strange to have to be "screened" by a GP for basic health care which I thought Marg was seeking. Until I lost Ron and Debbie, I only went to a doctor once a year for new BP scripts. Aging of course combined with lingering grief changes things. My doctor requires a visit every 2 or 3 months for Tramadol which works somewhat as my anxiety drug. Lately with each passing day, I wonder what will "break" next. Hell of a way to live. Believe me, I have met a few nefarious health care providers who professed to care for Ron's health needs over 40 years. Some of them contributed to his death.

Gwen, all my sympathies over your dishwasher fiasco. Both of our repairs have received the worst service from Sears that I have experienced in 30 years. They have always been such a reliable company in the past until Kmart bought them out. What a mess after that! I so hate the way we are lied to about things. At least you got an opportunity to bitch to a stupidvisor. No one ever called me back. I've actually only had one appointment over several years when the tech didn't show up(last year). It's all the other crap they pull that ticks me off.

Wow Marg! What happened to doctors who accepted you as a patient simply because you needed their help, not because you qualified. Makes you feel like a side of beef that has to be inspected before being sold.

Gwen, don't know if this is an option for you, but if the van is running now, you should be able to take it to O'Reilly Auto Parts. They put a new battery in my truck for me. A glimmer of dishwasher hope......An experienced tech showed up yesterday. After explaining everything, he looked at the broken part and was astounded that the original tech had not ordered the part he broke. He ordered it right then and reset the appt. for May 26. So another long wait for a part. Will see how this plays out. Would really like to talk to this "Stupidvisor" that's supposed to return my call. I plan to ask her if their reps are specifically trained to lie to customers. Other than that, I'm really depressed. Like you Gwen, I'm falling apart faster than I can keep up with. In addition to my vision difficulties, I broke off another one of my remaining 7 teeth while eating a piece of bread earlier. That tooth was the anchor for my denture device, so that will have to be reworked. I think I'll just wear a mask the rest of my life and learn to love soup. Just rambling on here.

I've just about reached my frustration limit with Sears and this dishwasher. Was told on Tues. if parts didn't arrive on Thurs., that there was already a claim in progress for a replacement. One part arrived, but not the part the tech broke removing the door. Every person I spoke to previously assured me that part was ordered. Today the guy tells me only one part was ordered and no replacement claim pending. Can't speak to a supervisor. They have to call you back within 24 hours(that's a joke). They scheduled an appt. for tomorrow. I told them not to come because I don't have all the parts. If it weren't for my very old AC unit, with this kind of service I wouldn't keep the service contract I've had for 30 years. Gwen, Ron used to laugh at me and say if they were giving away free watermelon rinds that I would be first in line. I do love sales, but I'm not that extreme! I'm not a wine drinker, not much of an anything drinker except coffee and coke. I did my share of drinking in my 20's, but grew away from it. I drink a pot of coffee a day(probably why I can't sleep).

You're not insane, just a thrifty shopper. I have been one all my life with sales and coupons. Ron was that way too, for the most part, but he always bought so much stuff. My big freezer was always full. I used to cringe when he would pay $11 for a small bottle of "real" maple syrup for candied yams though. Log Cabin was fine with me. We never got low on food. My son has been doing most of the shopping since Covid. He hates to go and will wait until we're down to bare bones before he'll go which drives me crazy. You probably have the "4u" savings at Safeway like I do at Albertsons. I follow that religiously and it kills me to miss a sale price because he wouldn't go to the store. When you think about it though, there's so many more important things we should worry about. lol