I guess Beagle. 
Nope. Hints: Sporting Group, same color as my horse.
< checks Facebook pictures >
Irish Setter?
Malaria and scurvy have been staved off for a day or two at least. Given my extreme fondness for g&t, they may return at any time, however. Been watchin’ Windsor on Netflix. A very funny and most irreverent parody of the English royal family.
Wordy fwiw, hospice was a sad but good experience for the last four weeks of my mother’s life. The level of support care, and compassion was outstanding!
**Pilot ** sounds like that will be a wondrous way to celebrate her ladyship’s birthday and welcome to Medicare.
Tonight was craft tacos & specialty margaritas. Which was indeed good as usual. Tomorrow night is swanky birthday dinner.
@overlyverbose: I skipped over your hospice discussion earlier. I’m sorry I missed it. Here’s a thought.
My wife got to the point where there were really no more treatment options that her depleted condition could tolerate. She was in no sense mentally ready to give up or to die, although she certainly understood she was going that way faster than the rest of us. At which point the doc offered a break in treatment to see if her energy & whatnot recovered, at which point they could talk about trying one or another treatment of the few that remained plausible.
Which plan for a break she readily agreed to. That was a sort of de facto hospice without the scary word. She got the pain meds & other meds she needed, but nothing directly addressing the tumor growth. We also reduced the frequency of checkups to monthly. She didn’t really want to talk about it with me, but I believe she understood what was really going on.
She perked up a bit as the effects of the last chemo wore off, then had a month or two of relative stability, albeit weak & lazy the whole time. After that, she started losing interest in eating despite knowing clearly what that meant. By now it was all just too much trouble; I just want a nap.
A month or so later she developed an acute severe condition she’d already decided and told us she’d not seek treatment for. At that point we called the hospice folks, they came out to the house, and she lived 3 more days. Although not inccoherent, she was beyond caring by the time I actually signed those papers on her behalf. She was worn to a frazzle, resigned to her situation, and there was no possible going back while the acute problem killed her.
You may find a similar plan works for you. Mom wants to be optimistic, and may equate giving up with suicide which may have religious overtones for her. “Hospice” may sound a lot like “suicide” in her ears. It may also sound a lot like you or Sis or doc writing her off. Dying is lonely enough without the people you love and depend on seemingly walking away from what they’re all declaring to be your lost cause.
You & the doc don’t want to do anything to deceive Mom. But softer words for the same plan may work better.
In my wife’s case we had discussed all this stuff in depth in prior years while her end game was still pretty theoretical. That helped when the end loomed near, but we still had communication barriers. if you and Mom have never discussed these topics at a time of relative health & remission, this will be made harder.
Wishing you all the success possible on one of life’s worst journeys with your Mom.
All of us should make the time to talk about this stuff with our families & get our own plans, our outline of our desires, and paperwork in order sooner rather than later. Break that ice while it’s still liquid, not 4 feet thick.
Ask not for whom the Grim Reaper comes. He comes for thee. And sooner than you wish.
Enjoying the twilight, and hollerin’ for Monkey to get his furry butt back home.
Last night’s chicken is gonna be tonight’s spring rolls. I have fresh cilantro (shhh!) and butter lettuce, and all the sauces and accompaniments anyone could want.
I just got home … what’d I miss?
Donnie is guilty on multiple counts, and Santos is indicted in a sealed indictment.
Trump libel for 5,000,000. to e Jean Carroll, and santo to surrender to charges tomorrow morning. Quite the news day.
Can I just add a “Huzzah!” to the evening news? I haven’t grinned at the news in quite some time.
Goddamn bastard better show the fuck up. I’m getting worried.
He has a jingle-bell collar, which is breakaway for safety, and he’s usually good about hustling back when I call him. To be gone this long, especially after dark, is unlike him.
Too much sad pet news around here lately. Get your furry ass home now, Monkey!!
Doom-scrolled for a long time, ate, etc.
Took a walk around the block, yelling “Monkey!” into the darkness at 1:30 a.m. like the completely sane human being I pretend to be. (Several of my co-workers know where I live, and are all like, “You walk around at night? By yourself?” Me: {shrug} Yeah.)
Gave up. Lights off. Cried. Brushed teeth.
… when what should my wondering ears should appear, but the far-off sounds of a stupid Wal-Mart jingle-bell.
Scooped him up, scolding him and crying and snuggling him all at the same time. I’m just barely getting my shit together; this would have been too much.
He’s snarfing down his kibble like he forgot what food was. (Guess he hadn’t adopted another family.) He’s also GROUNDED … for as long as I can put up with his inevitable cabin fever.
Thus endeth Shoe update.
Anyone want an idiot cat?
… sorry. Can’t have this one. I’m too glad to have him back.
(He’s gonna wedge himself in my way when I try to sleep. He’s gonna walk on me howling for attention juuuuust a few minutes after I fall asleep.
… he will be forgiven. Just this once.)
Fuckin’ cat. Made me cry.
Morning, mumpers! It’s currently 12c/53f with a predicted high of 15c/59f, and mostly cloudy. Weather app says “Every cloud has a silver lining. Except that one. That one is giving you the fucking finger.” Actually, it’s sunny and very pleasant out there - I’ve been outside as I’m on campus today. The weather warning for thunderstorms has passed, and it looks like we won’t have any more coming through. Shame really, I do like a good thunderboomer.
GodBod congrats on the college thing! I agree with the rest, pining will wear off soon enough - look forwards, never back.
Pilot happy birthday to Her Ladyship, hope you enjoy fancy dinner when the time comes.
shoe glad to hear Monkey made it back again! We were really worried about Rental Cat on Monday as she disappeared somewhere in the house and didn’t reappear for about 14hrs in the end. We were convinced she couldn’t have got out, but there was always the worry that perhaps she did even though it wasn’t possible. Bloomin’ mogs…
wordy yay for sister’s visit! Having another person around, a voice and an opinion may be just what you need. My mum never made it to hospice care, she died in hospital a couple of weeks before the appointment we’d set up with the hospice folks. She had a friend who did get into the hospice for the last couple of weeks of her life, mum visited and said it was a lovely place with wonderful staff. I’m just sorry she never made it there herself.
Normal irk day for me, I have a lunch date with a friend today and a team meeting this afternoon but otherwise my calendar’s clear. Hopefully it will be a quiet day today but that’s probably going to jinx it. I have to go over to my friends’ house later to feed their ferret as they’re on holiday, then we are off to the pub for a curry. One of our local pubs has a Nepalese kitchen and does amazing food, tonight is a good opportunity to have some!
Little jerks do that, don’t they? Glad he finally made his dramatic return.
Taz used to do that, and we never did figure out where he hid. Like I said - little jerks!
Today is new lease day!! MIL and FCD have an appointment at 1030 to do the initial walk-thru and go over all the paperwork. The truck is full of boxes and stuff, and once they have keys in hand, FCD will help his mom with unpacking. She called me the other night to ask if I’d take her grocery shopping, since she’d done her best to not buy much once she knew the move was coming up. And I don’t mind at all. I read labels for her and let her know if there are any specials as we wander the aisles. Anyway, YAY for moving day!!
The difference is the boat doesn’t run away from me! Whatever we do there, I can plan and pace, and if I need a short break, I can take one. You can’t do that with a toddler. Unless he’s sleeping, I have to be on constant alert. Plus he often wants to interact with me, which involves a certain amount of rasslin’ or chasing. Unlike his sister, he won’t sit in my lap to read a book - he’d rather climb me like a jungle gym.
We’re promised a loverly day today, which means I take the kids to the playground. Roxy’s easy - I turn her loose and she finds a best friend for the day. Not so with the younger one. He’s still figuring out how to interact with folk his size.
Speaking of interacting - when I go to pick up Roxy after school, he gets hugs and pats on the head from bunches of her classmates. I can’t wait till he’s old enough to attend there - 2 more years. They do offer day care for kids his age, but Daughter can’t afford it and for the moment, we can’t afford to help with that. But in 2 years, we can save enough to cover his tuition. I hope…
And so my day begins. I had a pretty sleepful night - only woke once! Dare I hope my energy lasts??
Happy Wednesday!!
Good morning everyone.
It’s currently 45 degrees and dark outside. The day is supposed to be sunny, with an expected high of 72. The weather was pretty nice yesterday, so my husband mowed the lawn. Thank goodness, it was getting long with all the constant rain we’ve had lately. He STILL hasn’t changed the dang blade on the mower, so I think I must do it myself. That’s not surprising; he is always in a hurry to get what he thinks is an unpleasant chore done and often cuts corners.
On the other hand, he will turn a 20-minute chore into an all-day task because he is a poor multi-tasker—case in point; the dishes. He will load a dish or two at a time, then float away to do something else. Then comes back and does the same thing all over again. All of this with a timer. I don’t get it, but I learned to go with it many years ago. He could be doing nothing, so I’ll take the small win.
I’m the opposite. Once I start on a task, I want to finish it and won’t stop until exhaustion or the job is done, which is weird because I multitask like crazy for work. I have to do that; too many interruptions and priorities. The only multi-tasking I do at home is doing laundry at the same time that I’m doing other chores. But mostly, I get one task done and move on to the next. For example, mow the lawn, weed, amend soil, plant, and water plants. Maybe it’s because of all the multitasking I have to do for work.
Happy Birthday to Her Ladyship, pilot.
I’m glad Monkey made it back home, shoe.
I am assuming you found Rental Kitty, boofae?
Huzzah for the move happening, FCM!
I went to the nursery on Sunday and bought a gorgeous hanging basket. I didn’t hang it, though; I put it on a plant stand. I will need to get a bigger plant stand because the pot doesn’t sit all the way in the pot holder. I posted a picture of it on the book of Faces, but it doesn’t do the plant justice. That thing is super heavy, but it was by far the prettiest basket there.
Wrangling toddlers and just under fives is exhausting! Both of my grandkids pretty much want to GO GO GO the whole we’re with them. I feel more exhausted after a day with them than do after a day of heaving weeding!
wordy, I’m glad you’re sister is coming to help and it’ll be good to have another voice or opinion with regards to steps for your mother. Also, it’ll help lift some of the burden from you. Taking care of someone, even if it’s just running them back and forth to all their appointments, can be wearying. The last few years of my MiL’s life were like that for my husband and I. Constant appointments, hospital stays, plus checking in on her. We loved her, of course, but between working full-time and that we were frazzled.
Time to finish my coffee.
Up, caffeinated, and sheveled. I shall do some touchup painting today
Glad he’s back. Got one, but thanks. Now i just need my idiot dog to come back, so I can amputate 3 legsbuy her a body harness so she can’t run away. And lots of Frosty Paws.
They are adept and not being seen.
HAPPY BIRTHDAY Her Ladyship
Good Morning Y’all! Up and caffeinatin’. ‘Tis 70 Amurrkin out and N.O.S. with a predicted high of 90 and cloudy(ish) for the day. I was a slug abed until seven-thirty. 
We shall procure provisions this mornin’. Sloth and general overall uselessness shall occupy the rest of the day. Sonny’s has the bbq sammich special every Wednesday for the rest of the month, so we shall sup there.
Shoe glad Monkey is home safe.
BooFae glad rental cat reappeared.
Pilot happy birthday to her ladyship.
Now I need more caffeine and to feed rumbly tummy. Then I must purtify and don attire appropriate for bein’ amongst the great unwashed! Such bother!
Happy Hump Day Y’all!
Morning all. Another nice day, temps in the 80’sF again, but another prediction of 60% chance of rain this afternoon and evening; we’ll see if the Weather Wizards are a little more accurate this time. Heading over to target for a couple of browsings and also want to try on the 42" waist flex jeans at Duluth trading (the 44" ones are a little loose, this weight loss thing is good for my health but bad for my clothing budget). Swim and Sauna a little later.
shoe, glad Monkey found his way home, hopefully he’s learned there is no place like it. Now rooting for doggio.
Taters, I’m a lot like you, once I start a task I tend to finish it…getting me started is the problem…
FCM, hope the move and settling in goes well for MIL.
Ok, need to dress (mostly) appropriately for being out among the populace. All y’all take care now.
glad to hear monkey came home.
lager was in a mood last night, i’m thinking he is having a flair up of pancreatitis. will see how he is doing tonight before i give him pain meds. it could have been a wild hair, or thinking i didn’t give him enough attention, who knows.
Morning to all of you over where it’s morning.
Busy, busy day! It’s so hard to keep up with things.
Something funny happened.
An acquaintance sent a voice message to me, then an very embarrassed text asking me to not listen to the message.
Of course, that left me with no choice but to listen to it.
Turns out, she was trashing me to another one of our friends. 
At least now I know the score!