What are you doing?

[Addie]

Addie, our Maltese likes to sit on the chair or couch right smack up against your leg. He is obsessed over DH, just like Teddy is with Spike. He follows him everywhere he goes, to the point that he gets annoying. If we go out, we leave through the cellar door. He lays right by the cellar door until we come back. Does the same thing if DH goes down to the cellar for something. A couple years ago DH didn't feel well. I took him to the ER and they admitted him. When I came home without him, Pupper just ran around barking because DH wasn't home. When I locked up the house and turned off the lights, he did the same thing, giving me the oddest look. Finally he realized that DH wasn't coming home and he got into his bed and went to sleep.

We got Pupper when he was 5 years old. His owner had died, and her husband was also in poor health. The man was in the hospital so much the last year and someone was going to the house to feed the dog, but he was not getting any socialization. When the man finally passed away, his sister was trying to find a home for the dog and we took him. He was terrible. Bared his teeth and snapped at everyone. DH was retired and was with him 24/7 so he eventually warmed up. He no longer bares his teeth, but still snaps at some people.

Are you sure you don't have Teddy there? Teddy will nip at your ankles if he doesn't know you. My apartment is in an alcove. Let someone be in the long hall and he runs to the door to lets us know that there is a stranger there. Whenever Spike or myself is laying down, Teddy will get up on the bed right next to your leg giving you almost not room. If you move, he moves with you. We both have noticed that Teddy is understanding some words. His favorite place to go on his walks is the beach. We have to spell it or he gets all excited and wants to go out. Bath is another word he understands. Not his favorite activity. Teddy is spoiled rotten by Spike and myself. I just can't help it though. I love him to death.

 

[CrazyCatLady]

I am creating a cat-proof Christmas tree. If we live through it and it works, I'll let you know.

 

[Aunt Bea]

I am creating a cat-proof Christmas tree. If we live through it and it works, I'll let you know.

We used to put the tree in a corner and tie a fine wire around the middle of the tree that we could anchor to the wall on either side.

Remember it's Christmas for the family cat too!

Good luck!

 

[Addie]

I am creating a cat-proof Christmas tree. If we live through it and it works, I'll let you know.

Where have your been? We have missed you. Good luck with your "Cat-proof" tree.

 

[Addie]

I got up this morning and set up my pills. Had a piece of toast with a cup of coffee. Took my pills and about ten minutes later I was so sick. When I was able to function a bit, I looked up the pills I had just taken. The only new ones were the Tylenol with a narcotic capsule. I had stopped taken them before because I had gotten sick also. But this morning almost disabled me. So I called Winthrop. The consensus is that I am possibly allergic to the coloring of the capsules. Any time I had Tylenol prior, it was always in tablet form. No reaction from them. So it was decided that I would not take them and just discard them. I am really having a rough time trying to get my medical act together. It always seems like something else will go wrong. All I want to do is take my meds like I am supposed to do and feel better for it. How silly of me.

Last night's supper was so good, I am going to finish the leftovers off tonight. I got my notice from The Ride. I can use it only in the winter. They are expecting me to be walking in the good weather. I can't even walk ten feet. I thought of appealing their decision, but it is not worth it. I haven't used it in more than a year. But it is nice to have for emergencies.

 

[creative]

Posting this seasonal quote on various forums....


Christmas is not a time nor a season, but a state of mind. To cherish peace and goodwill, to be plenteous in mercy, is to have the real spirit of Christmas.

(Calvin Coolidge)

 

[CarolPa]

Addie, since winter is now here, use The Ride when you need it, and in the spring you may be able to sign up for it agan. The people making the decisions don't know what your condition allows you to do.

Both DH and I take the same blood pressure meds. White pills. One time they switched us to a different manufacturer, pink pills. Both of us had our blood pressure go sky high. I don't know if the dye in the pills made the difference, but they had to put a comment in our files that we are only to receive the white pills.

If something ever happens to me, DH is in deep trouble. I handle everything about ordering his meds. He doesn't even know what he takes. If asked, he says "A big pill and a little pill." When I worked at Medco, we used to get notes from patients that said "I need a refill of my little blue pills." LOL

 

[tinlizzie]

CarolPa and Aunt Bea, sounds like a thoughtful thing to do. There is so much to do even when there isn't a lot of assets involved--the paperwork (here it is common to get 12 or more death certificates), filing the final tax return, canceling the passport, insurance, etc., etc., etc. Taking care of funeral plans is a nice gift to leave those you leave behind, IMO.

first, though -- nice quote, creative.

On reading your comments, CWS, I opened a new document and made a thorough list of useful information. It occurred to me that it would be helpful to me as well if/when I seriously begin to forget things. It runs a couple of pages and lists account/policy names and numbers and the addresses and phone numbers relative to them. At this point I'm still handling the insurance for house, car, dental insurance, etc. but this list could come in very handy one of these days. It should save whoever may be assisting (or cleaning up after) me a lot of time hunting for these details.

Thanks a lot, CW, for the nudge.

 

[Addie]

Addie, since winter is now here, use The Ride when you need it, and in the spring you may be able to sign up for it agan. The people making the decisions don't know what your condition allows you to do.

Both DH and I take the same blood pressure meds. White pills. One time they switched us to a different manufacturer, pink pills. Both of us had our blood pressure go sky high. I don't know if the dye in the pills made the difference, but they had to put a comment in our files that we are only to receive the white pills.

If something ever happens to me, DH is in deep trouble. I handle everything about ordering his meds. He doesn't even know what he takes. If asked, he says "A big pill and a little pill." When I worked at Medco, we used to get notes from patients that said "I need a refill of my little blue pills." LOL

I am very fortunate in having three kids (and a fourth that lives in Vermont) that live only seconds from me and at times they drive me and Winthrop crazy. They know every single aspect of my health problems and keep track of every thing I do. If I don't feel well, The Pirate will clean and cook for me without one word of complaint. Spike takes me everywhere I want to go and will even wait for me. I don't know where he gets the patience. I hate taking so many pills almost around the clock. So The Pirate makes sure I take them on time and that I do take them. I take the morning ones all right, but for the rest of the day, I am not so good. And he is right. I only feel lousy when I don't take them as I am supposed to. So I do try to please him. After all he does for me, it is the least I can do for him.

My pills have names that I can't even pronounce. I get a list of them every time they deliver them. Once a week. There are three full pages listing them. At the end of the day, providing I took all of them, I am a walking pharmacy.

I am supposed to take two Vicodins, three times a day. When I do, the kids say I get high and full of energy. So today, I am only taking one before I go to the cardio doctor. The Pirate just asked me how many I took. He said if I were to take two, I would be arranging all the furniture at the hospital. He is so right.

 

[Cooking Goddess]

first, though -- nice quote, creative.

On reading your comments, CWS, I opened a new document and made a thorough list of useful information....

What 'lizzie said about your quote, creative.

I want to add that planning a funeral before you need it can actually be fun. Seriously! When each of my parents died, we made plans in the moment and it was very stressful. When my aunt was in the nursing home, the patient advocate at the home stressed that I needed to arrange and pay for Auntie T's funeral before her funds ran out, since that money was protected from being needed to pay her home fees. The family funeral home had a pre-arrangement specialist that walked me through the entire process. Picking out a pretty dress or nice-but-practical coffin was totally painless. Besides, if you plan it all, your loved ones HAVE to "plant" you in your gardening clothes with a trowel in your hand if your directives say so.

 

[Andy M.]

...Besides, if you plan it all, your loved ones HAVE to "plant" you in your gardening clothes with a trowel in your hand if your directives say so.

Sadly not true. When you die, your remains become the property of the family and they can ignore your wishes if they choose to.

 

[GotGarlic]

Sadly not true. When you die, your remains become the property of the family and they can ignore your wishes if they choose to.

That depends on the state: Who Has the Right to Make Decisions About Your Funeral?

 

[Andy M.]

That depends on the state: Who Has the Right to Make Decisions About Your Funeral?

I should have realized there would be differences by state. Thanks.

 

[Addie]

Well, lets see. I am now only 4'7.5" tall. Fold my body in half and I can fit in a large lawn green bag. Put me on the curb on trash day. Give the garbage men a small tip. After all I don't weigh very much.

Now does this post act as a document of my wishes?

 

[Katie H]

Just finished spending most of my day in my studio making Christmas goodies. About to complete two doll bed mattresses, pillows, blankets, dust ruffles, etc.

I bought the doll beds at Goodwill several months ago. $3 for the pair, which can also be stacked to become bunk beds. As far as I can tell, they date to about the '60s and are made of wood.

The headboards have Jack Be Nimble and Little BoPeep stenciled on them and are adorable. I repainted the rest of the bed a very pale pink. One of them was painted a gastric, yes, gastric blue-green; the other one was almost a glow-in-the-dark purple. Yuck!

The beds will be gifted to two sisters, who are the 3-yr. old and 5-yr old daughters of Glenn's youngest daughter. They're very "girly" so the pink will be perfect, along with the frou-frou ruffly trim on the mattresses and pillows.

I also applied the name of each girl on the bed that will be hers. At those ages, there's a lot of "mine" and "yours" that goes on and, since the beds look identical, I thought the names will reduce the squabble factor.

I'm having a ball and can't wait to get back to the studio tomorrow.

 

[Addie]

There is something so satisfying about working with your hands. The beds sound adorable.

Okay. Don't anyone yell at me. I went downstairs to wait for my ride to the hospital. The nurse made the appointment, but she failed to let the front desk know about it so they could make the arrangements for transportation. My ride never arrived. So I never made it to my appointment with my cardio doctor. This time it wasn't my fault. I intend to file a former complaint. They really need to work on their communication skills.

 

[CarolPa]

Katie, the doll beds sound adorable. So nice to receive a gift that had so much thought and work put into it. They will love them.

 

[PrincessFiona60]

Addie, since winter is now here, use The Ride when you need it, and in the spring you may be able to sign up for it agan. The people making the decisions don't know what your condition allows you to do.

Both DH and I take the same blood pressure meds. White pills. One time they switched us to a different manufacturer, pink pills. Both of us had our blood pressure go sky high. I don't know if the dye in the pills made the difference, but they had to put a comment in our files that we are only to receive the white pills.

If something ever happens to me, DH is in deep trouble. I handle everything about ordering his meds. He doesn't even know what he takes. If asked, he says "A big pill and a little pill." When I worked at Medco, we used to get notes from patients that said "I need a refill of my little blue pills." LOL

I make sure that Shrek knows the Brand AND generic names for all his meds. We were working on what they were for, but gave up on that one. I have several older drug books and keep one in his "go to hospital bag" in case he is given something he is not familiar with. I firmly believe that everyone should be as educated as possible about their medications.

 

[PrincessFiona60]

first, though -- nice quote, creative.

On reading your comments, CWS, I opened a new document and made a thorough list of useful information. It occurred to me that it would be helpful to me as well if/when I seriously begin to forget things. It runs a couple of pages and lists account/policy names and numbers and the addresses and phone numbers relative to them. At this point I'm still handling the insurance for house, car, dental insurance, etc. but this list could come in very handy one of these days. It should save whoever may be assisting (or cleaning up after) me a lot of time hunting for these details.

Thanks a lot, CW, for the nudge.

Smart, Smart, Smart. Shrek and I both have notebooks with all of that information. I keep them updated.

 

[Addie]

I make sure that Shrek knows the Brand AND generic names for all his meds. We were working on what they were for, but gave up on that one. I have several older drug books and keep one in his "go to hospital bag" in case he is given something he is not familiar with. I firmly believe that everyone should be as educated as possible about their medications.

Anytime I go out on a gurney I just hand the three pages to the paramedic. I know what each one is for, but they are listed in their generic name. I can't pronounce most of them. And when I call the paramedics, I usually am in no condition to carry on a conversation about my meds. Handing them the three pages saves a lot of time. I also carry a copy of them in my purse in case something happens when I am not in my home. I also carry the two cards for the lens I received when I had my eye surgery. I would also carry my medical history, but it is in two "Three D Ring Binders". Way to heavy for me to tote around.