(Old) Don't Sleep On The President's Day Sales - A Mattress MMP

Miscellaneous and Personal Stuff I Must Share
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Heaved. Weren’t extra hours today. I guess Carole figures if they squeeze hours enough, they can get people to quit, an save on UI and moving costs. And there are are 260 people ahead of me in seniority in the building, depending on what all the crossed off names mean(retired? Transferred? Eaten by a grue?)

A turtle that can chase down a cat is definitely mutant. :wink:

Yay!

{{{{FairyChats}}}

It is a Dead Milkmen song, though.

I :heart: you.

Reminds me of the one friend who after he got to stop paying alimony(he put a countdown number on the checks), spent the same cash taking his kids to pretty much where you have been going, in between meet and greets with his friedns in Metalica.:smiley:

J-Bats you did everything right. Good on you.

Yeah, cause I down a sleeve of Thin Mints like a chilled shot of Patrón.

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And a good evening to all. Have fed myself adequately and done most of my YouTube group catchups, and it is still only 8pm. Will probably waste some more time, but do want to get the garbage/recyclables out to the curb tonight so that will take a small degree of effort. Need to make a decision tomorrow on laundry, either do it here and bear the extra water leakage or spend some money and visit the laundromat…leaning toward the laundromat, at least I can get all 3-4 loads done at the same time and bring them home for the drier to work on. We’ll see how ambitious I feel tomorrow.

JtC, bet the box and label show up tomorrow…Murphy can be a real bas**** sometimes.

nellie, I remember BBBoo mentioning you could order suckers via Amazon (and as I just remembered that, went to Amazon right now and ordered two 25-piece bags of Root Beer Dum-Dums…pricey but what the heck, it’s root beer Dum Dums!!)

Cookie, you ain’t helping the weight loss program here, y’know? Haven’t see the young ladies out at the Kroger yet, but I suspect it’s only a matter of time…Thin Mints and Adventurefuls look pretty tasty…

Alright, the garbage/recycle cans ain’t getting to the curb this way. Take care all and I’ll catch up with you on Thorsday.

183

Happy Hump Day!

Made it to the park this morning, 34 felt like 27. I had a rough night, up half the night in pain. I didn’t want to go but it’s good for me and the dogs.

I know I’m doing the right thing for the GR. I wanted to hold off a little longer to make sure their growth plates are closed, but I also want to get it done before they start spraying.
I don’t want any aggression issues either. Unneutered males at the park always seem to cause trouble.
Surgery makes me nervous though.

So far none of the dogs are pushing the flap in each other’s faces. The problem for Echo is, Rayleigh will run ahead of her and he bursts through the door like the Kool-Aid Man bursts through the wall. Echo is usually right on his heels and gets smacked by the door.
Misiu is just a wimp.
His bark still sounds like a squeaky toy. Sixty-pound squeaky toy. I always tell him to stop barking, it’s embarrassing.

Welcome back StickyBuns!

{{{FCM and Family}}}

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Hah! One time I gave out treats and reminded students, “You are what we you eat!” They could choose between Smartees and Dum-Dums. Dum-Dums were the clear winner in every class. Either kids didn’t believe in the old adage, or they took pride in being Dum-Dums.

This cracked me up. Too funny!

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Dum-Dums for me, thanks - I’m a cheap date. (Those fancy Ring Pops dazzle my inner 7-year-old.)

Except for the root beer ones. Them’s nasty.

I LOL’d! Hafta remember to share this one next shift …

I’d be soooooooooo up-to-date on my vaxx!

I admire and salute your restraint, sir.

ETA semi-ninja’d by JtheC

Sir, I regret to inform you we can no longer be friends, as I am suspicious of your motives and indeed, your very standing as a decent human being.

For 1st day, Old New Guy seemed to work out fine so far. Oven Master calmed his shit down, and we had a damn smooth night.
Plus, being shadowed for training meant having a minion, which meant shit got done fast and we had a very swift close.

Now I get to chill with y’all for a while! (And Monkey, who is curling up in my lap as I type this.)

Damn, that soup last night was good, though. It made me feel so much less crappy.
Now tonight, I feel grrrrrrreat, and I want … more soup!

186

I started taking actual notes on the thread this morning, but things got away from me, so I’m gonna try to hit the high points, even though I know I’ll miss some stuff.

FCM, you have all my best wishes. We went through this thoroughly shitty phase of life with my FIL a few years ago, and there’s absolutely no wisdom I can pass on that you don’t already have. The only thing I would say is that if you can find ways to lean on others instead of trying to do it all yourself, it’ll be easier to go the distance. You have all my sympathy.

swampy, back before I became a heathen, I used to lead adult Sunday school classes (once they kicked me out of teaching second graders after I tried explaining allegory to a child who expressed doubt that two of all the animals could fit in even a big boat). My signature move was to blithely assume I could wing it up until Saturday night, when I’d feverishly scribble notes into the wee hours. I’m sure you’re much better than that!

Sticks_and_Scones, you have what may be the finest username/nickname I’ve ever seen. I’m delighted that I was here when you came back, and I’m going to call you Sticky_Buns all the livelong day!

Boo, I’m glad to hear you’re following up on complaining about that driver. There’s no excuse for him, and that might just light a fire under the Uber company to improve their driver pool.

WetOne, I hope your knees are feeling better tomorrow. I’m interested in hearing how the shots do. I had cortisone shots in my hips a few years back, and they were magical, but now I’ve been told they can actually accelerate deterioration. I understand the kind of shots you got are much better, but I’ve never talked to anyone who’s gotten them.

shoe, I’m glad you’re feeling better! Your talk of your papasan chair makes me wistful for the one we used to have, but our living room’s not big enough for one now.

Pilot, I’m amazed at your vacation endurance! You’re an inspiration for getting out more.

J-Bats, you did everything you could in that situation. You can’t make people stick around to be helped if they don’t want to.

flyboy, my condolences on the mandatory office bonding, but the food is a consolation. One of the joys of retirement is not having to go to meetings or trainings or staff retreats.

JtC, you make me wonder if some of my neighbors with chicken can use the wilted produce that’s more than the compost heap can take.

nelly, my pharmacist hands out suckers to all the adults getting their vaccines. Your doctor should do the same!

187

I’d be surprised if they say “no.”

What shoe wants, shoe gets.

Last night was semi-fancy pho instant soup, cuz I was under the weather and needed sumpin’ nice.
Tonight was basic broke bitch Maruchan, but ooomph’ed up with an egg in addition to the usual hoisin/cilantro/chili oil addition.

Now I’m fading fast. Off to DreamLand.

188

I could say the same about the veggie-beef soup I made yesterday. MIL actually had 2 servings! OK, they were small, but she rarely asks for more. And it was a huge pot of soup - I have 3 full quart bags in the freezer and there’s still some leftovers in the fridge.

Life has gotten interesting. We discovered to our dismay that the walker won’t fit thru the bathroom door, so MIL can’t go by herself. Even if she could walk holding on to the sink (which she barely can) there are no grab bars, so she can’t get up off the commode. But we’ve made accommodations. Unfortunately, one of those is that I get up if she needs the bathroom at night. Which is why I got all of 4 hours of sleep last night. It’s bringing back memories of Roxy as a baby.

We brought in a stool from FCD’s shop that’s the perfect height for her to perch on so she can brush her teeth and do whatever she needs to do at the sink. She and I have worked out a bathroom routine to ensure her safety but give her as much privacy as we dare, since she’s a serious fall risk. And tonight we’ll probably figure out a shower routine. She’ll use our shower, since getting in the tub is pretty close to impossible. When I go to her apartment today, I’ll bring back her shower chair - it’ll be more secure than the stool we have.

I’ve moved furniture around to make a clear path for the walker - the toughest part is getting thru the bedroom door, mainly because of the way our house is configured. Thankfully, the bed is a good height - she needs to use a stepstool at her apartment, but our guest bed is lower. I emptied half of the dresser so she doesn’t have to live out of a suitcase and I made space in the closet for hangers.

She kinda cracked me up last night, worrying that she’d make a permanent dent in our sofa if she sat there all the time. OK, first off, that’s what a sofa’s for - sitting and/or lying down. Second, she’s maybe all of 100# - I don’t think she could make a butt dent if she tried. And finally, as I pointed out, it’s been climbed on by grands and critters, snotted on, drooled on, spilled on - unless she took a chainsaw to it, I don’t think she could do damage.

This is what will make me crazy - she’s so worried about being a bother that it’s starting to bother me. FIL was the same way. They were both always the ones doing for others so it’s as if they don’t know how to accept others doing for them. I know she’s grateful, but I do wish she’d keep it to herself - OMG, that sounds awful, doesn’t it?

I don’t know what the doctor said to her or what she heard, but she’s still got it in her head that she can get stronger, then go back to her own place. I heard her on the phone last night talking to her sister - she’s convinced this is a temporary situation. I suppose she could be right… maybe… but highly unlikely. I’ll need to talk to FCD about this.

Today’s plan is to go to her apartment and empty the fridge. Even if she does manage to get stronger, it won’t be before the milk curdles and the cabbage turns yellow. I think there are some snacky things in her pantry that I’ll bring also, but no canned goods and such. And apart from the shower chair, I may bring some more clothing - including whatever dirties are in her hamper, since tomorrow is laundry day.

She’s supposed to be visited by three spirits… oh, no, wait, I mean three health helpers - a physical therapist, an occupational therapist, and a nurse. I don’t know what their schedule will be, but we’re hoping it won’t be all 3 on the same day. From here on out, she won’t be left alone - someone will always be with her, whether it’s us, her other son, or our daughter (till she starts a new job.) And I’ll do my best not to make this my sole topic of posting. Feel free to skim and/or ignore… ooops - I shoulda led with that.

Happy Thursday. Send chocolate!!

189

FCM, I’m just sitting down to eat some low carb granola that I made for MusicMan. It’s sweetened with Truvia and has cashews in it. I’d happily share if you want some. It’s… ok (especially if you eat it with yogurt or rice pudding if you’re out of yogurt).

Today I am heading up north to hang out with my old friends from my college days. I love these women. Two of them were my professors and one of them was my business partner when I started catering. We only get together for about 1 1/2 hours at a time because of a husband who is greatly advanced in age and can’t be left home alone for too long, but it’s always a wonderful time!

When I have a minute to figure out everyone’s nicknames, I’ll have more to say, I promise.

See you all later!

190

Good Mornin’ Y’all! Up and caffeinatin’. YAWN 'Tis 38 Amurrkin out and N.O.S. with a predicted high of 72 and N.O.S. for the day. TWPTB say it will be windy as well. No biggie plans for the day at all, thus high sloth shall rule the day. Even sup shall be slothful as it will be leftover chikin 'n dumplin’s and baby lima beans from Tuesday’s sup.

Now I need more caffeine and to feed rumbly tummy. Then, onward into the day! Rah,

Happy Thursday Y’all!

191

In the book Hermione also implants a compulsion to emigrate to Australia to get them out of harm’s way

192

The wife is a minter, but I’ve always been a Samoas fan (they’ve changed the name to Caramel deLites, BTW).

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For some reason, I was exhausted yesterday and was in bed and asleep by 7 p.m. I have nothing scheduled for today. I should walk over to World Market to get coffee flavoring (big variety) and greeting cards (ditto). I should also go to the gym.

FCM, please keep posting about MIL. I’ve become fond of her. I confess I’m also a “don’t want to be a bother” person. I can see how it’d get old. What are the plans for her apartment? When does the lease end?

Right? They’d have to turn people away! “I’m sorry, Mrs. Frankowsi, but I can’t give you another flu shot ‘just in case.’” (Predictive text is not my friend. A “short” of alcohol?")

I guess I’m on this same list. I like root beer flavored candy. Dad used to take us kids to a Strutzel’s root beer stand in Maywood. Chicagoland Dopers of a certain age might remember Strutzel’s. Best root beer ever. Maybe it was the canoe paddle used to stir the stuff. I just now read they had a stand or two in Nebrsaka, Florida, and Louisiana, so perhaps Boo remembers Strutzel’s, too. Anyway, that’s why root beer means happiness to me.

This is excellent advice.

I think it was Lyft, if that matters.

194

:sob: :sob: :sob: So we have different tastes, but I still like you a lot.

FCM, sounds like the accommodations your doing for MIL are going to work, but yeah, my dad was the same way, they really don’t know how to react to other people doing for them what they would always do themselves. Hope it doesn’t get on your nerves too much. How about the kids visiting? She might like seeing them, but if it is for several hours that might be too much.

Sticky_Buns, enjoy the time with friends.

Need to do a couple things around the house, as in change filters in the Refrigerator and the Furnace spot, then need to do banking, shopping and laundry so that should keep the morning occupied. pedaling will be this afternoon or evening, we.ll see how that goes. Only getting to 67F today, but rain is predicted for this afternoon and tonight so best get the outdoors stuff done early. Take care all.

195

I’m not sure when her lease is up - April, maybe? But it’s a senior/retirement complex and I’m pretty sure there’s no issue in breaking a lease for medical issues and such. They’ve got a waiting list (MIL was on it for something like 8 months) so there’s no such thing as vacancies there. We’ll just play that by ear. FCD will deal with that.

BTW, root beer - ick. That is all.

I’m sure my daughter will bring them over and when they get to be too much, there’s the basement! Daughter will want time with her grandma - I hate that her last memories of her grandpa are of an unconscious man in a hospital bed. Aging is a suckfest.

I’m showered and dressed and waiting for MIL to wake up. I’ll need to help her tend to her morning ablutions and help her dress - FCD thinks his mom would be embarrassed if he helped her.

Supper tonight will be a ring of Polish sausage made by actual Poles in Baltimore. I get my mom to get me a few rings periodically and I found this in the freezer. Yum! I’ll do something with cabbage on the side and maybe instant smashed judge-ye-not. Or rice. I’ll decide that later.

196

I didn’t get to Nebraska til the early ‘70s and I seem to have missed Strutzels~I can however talk your ear off about kolaches and Czech dumplings….

Yep, Lyft.

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tonight is the big paint vote. i hope it will be decisive. i do have some early votes as some people will not be able to attend.

fcm, it reads like you have a strong plan. don’t worry about “posting to much”. i am a firm believer in learning from other’s lived experience. reading how you are caring and setting things up for your mil will inform others who will at some point be in the same situation. also others will have knowledge of things that worked for them.

i can say that having one bathroom that is up a flight of stairs is not ideal for aging in a house. it does bring up the subject of a commode. would that be possible for mil? just for night needs?

i’m glad that mil had good time with her family in indiana while you and fcm were away.

198

Another short heave. But they finally replaced the salad shooter on SSLAW #2. In the middle of the sort. :thinking:
Also, I just accidentally locked Spot in my closet. I got cursed out in his tiny 6 week old kitten voice. :smiley:

Sounds like you need to slow down on the morning margaritas. :wink:
but {{{{hugs}}}} on the while MIL thing

199

I laughed. Great turn of phrase.

Everything will be fine with the surgery. I must say that I have met some darn fine worriers in my time, but you are Olympic class in that sport. Everyone has to be good at something. My best sport is “bad example”, yours seems to be worrying. I’d invite you to chill, but I think that’d be more distressing to you than the worrying is.


The two worst insults to an elementary school age kid are:

  1. You’re dumb.
  2. You’re a Pointdexter.

#2 is by far the worst of the pair. As you of course know so well from all those years amongst the 2-legged ferals. Shunning the Smartees fits in with that perfectly.


My credit card statements are also an inspiration for … something. This will slow down after a bit. If nothing else, I’m already pretty well full until the end of April.

I’m also pretty well driven to hit the Caribbean now, before it’s too stupid hot and while it’s still too stupid cold in FL. Come about April it’s too nice in SoFL to want to leave until about October.

But yeah; my current attitude is that the only thing I don’t want to do is be sitting at home. Go out locally, or go out remotely, but go out.


I know you know this, but for the patient there is a fine line between the optimism needed to get out of bed and continue eating each day, and the fantasy that these setbacks are temporary. Knowing that a) you feel like shit, and b) this is the best day of the rest of your life, is a very dispiriting burden to bear.

Everyone gets there eventually, and how they cope between baseless optimism, sullen or stoic resignation, and overwhelming despair will vary day to day even as it evolves over time. The caregiver’s job is to pitch your mood close to theirs, but leaning back towards the center when they get too far out on one limb or the other versus the reality of their current situation as best it can be divined.

As others have said, your personal superpower is trying to do everything yourself and doing it up to 11. That’s also your Achilles heel. This may well become a lot more of a marathon than you now think. Pacing yourself will be key.

Good luck and {{hugs}} to everyone involved.


As to root beer:
The beverage is delicious. I’ve never tasted a candy that even remotely captured the flavor. All the candies are lousy. YMMV of course.


As to me:

Had a pleasant quiet dinner at the hotel. Early to bed and slept well. Awake just post sunrise and well refreshed. Due to injudicious use of sunscreen yesterday I’ve already had close to my dose of sun for yesterday and today. Need to be solar-circumspect going forward.

Expected to need to leave the hotel at around 8am for the ride to my 9am snorkeling tour. So was up early to get clean, fed, and daypack packed.

Typically I book these sorts of tours through an online clearinghouse that handles reservations and payment then the local outfit contacts you directly about transportation to/from. I was lazy yesterday and didn’t do any follow-up within my exploding emails, just assumed all was on-track. Checked first thing today and realized I had been given no transportation plans. Ominous sign.

So I call the tour operator directly.

Them: Sorry, we never got your booking. The good news is we have the same tour leaving at noon, and you’ll actually be happier with that one; all the six (!) cruise ships book the 9am tour with all the operators and it’ll be a zoo out on the water then.

Me: Crap. OK. Put me on the noon tour; we’ll fix the paperwork and money when I get there.

So suddenly it’s 0720, breakfast is done and I have nothing to do until 1145. And not really enough time or impetus to head into town on my own. The main tourist zone is near where the tour (and cruise ships) are, so I intend to explore all that after the tour and probably late into the evening, then make my own way home much later.

By the time I’m home again on Fri, this’ll have been a very inefficient trip and a poor use of the money. But that’s a good learning experience too. Still, for something whipped up just 9 hours before I left home to come here, it’s working well enough. Next time I hit this island it’ll be with more / better planning.

Cheers!!

200

Things worked out with the husband unit - all is well-er. Today is unexpectedly sunny and warm. It was supposed to rain, which is why my neighbor friend and I rescheduled our waddle to tomorrow, but I suppose I’ll just go by myself later. Sleeping in 'til 6 was really nice, though I woke up before my alarm anyway thanks to random household squeaks (I think).

I had a lot of dreams last night. I’ve been having a ton of them lately. A couple of nights ago I dreamed I was sleeping. Weird.

I’m working at home today, which is nice. While I was at the office yesterday afternoon, there were three dudes in black leather trench coats standing around the copier. It was almost 70 degrees yesterday, so I’m not sure why the trench coats. They just started laying people off again today - I started getting farewell emails a few minutes ago; I doubt that had anything to do with their attire, but it seems appropriate now.