Just need to talk to my friends (203)

Lorita

Morning, wind has blown 40-50 mph all night. It's in the 60s here but in the 40s West of us. In a couple of hours the wind will switch to the north at 40:50 mph and it will turn colder. Storm.chasers are driving around watching for fires.Those guys do a wonderful job in n conditions like this and in stormy weather. I wonder.if other states have storm chasers. There are blizzard warnings for Kansas. Just said it is 43 in our panhandle.

G Ps are still sleeping and one of the cats, probably Sammy, ts rattling the doorknob to the bathroom wanting in here.

I need to check over the tax papers and take them to the tax person tomorrow. Also need to return a stove I.bought to WM. I think it may be too early to buy plants but may look.

They have evacuated near Oak Grove in Pawnee County, west Southwest of Tulsa. Need to shampoo my hair before it gets cold. Back later.

Just let the GPs out. Girls are out front waiting for feed. It is very hazy- guess it is dust, in the north and it is already colder. Sometimes Spring isn't fun in this part of the Country. Darwin, Carol and I can't remember it ever being so windy for so long. Not just a good breeze but flat out windy.

jfkoc

off to Dr's appt…

Iris L.

Eagle, I'm sorry about your friend.

Lorita it's great that you gathered your tax preparation papers! The high winds are terrible!

Iris

Carl46

Dust in the wind here, 30-35 mph and rising, people with asthma advised to stay in. Temperature 58, down from 65 two hours ago. Spring doesn't start until tomorrow, guess this is Winter saying goodbye.

DS's clothes are missing again. I'm heading out to get that straightened out. Hang on to your hats, TTYL

jfkoc

back…seems like we are all set for taxes…good for us

still windy in Oklahoma…Mother nature making her annual spring debut

trees still holding their own with the crabapples ready to burst into bloom…they bloom at the same time as the quince and they look terrible together…one tulip has a "bud"…Several years ago I ordered white tulips online…they bloomed cream…I was not concerned because I remembered my mother saying that tulips were an annual…Ha! not here. This year there is bumper crop of tulips.

I am not planting Caladiums this year….will instead put in some Mexican Heather and some some white vinca. The Iris will provide some height. Also adding some sod and will trim back some overgrown bushes on the east side where they are about to grow into the street. The volunteer bamboo against the back fence also needs to be tamed. Finally my lawn looks horrible but so do other lawns on the block so will wait and see what might be needed

Darling caregiver friends…please know you are doing a good job and give yourself a pat on the back!!!

Lorita

I thought you ordered caladiums, Judith. Sounds like you have a lot of work ahead. Have you seen the Mexican petunias? They make a pretty, annual shrub with petunia like flowers. I have one tulip on the south side. Did have pretty yellow ones on the north outside of the yard but the girls ate them a couple of years ago. Now I have one of them.

Driveway alarm went off and a white OG&E drove up. Their electric line runs along the north side of the farm. We had pretty trees all along there, Mostly Bradford pears. Three or four years ago they sneaked in and sprayed them. Most died and are falling onto my fences and into the ditches. He came to tell me they are going to be trimming on the east side of my gate Monfay. I told him I expect them to get the trees off my fences and to not trim trees unless they are near electric lines. I will be down there Monday. A few years before they sprayed I saw them down there cutting back trees. Got that stopped. Seems like you have to keep an eye peeled ball the time. We are.not on OG& E, no idea why their line is there. The one we use is on the other side of the road and crosses over to come to our house.

Finishing my tax prep, just need to copy the paper showing income and deductions. Wind is gusting to near 50 from the west and it is 50 degrees but feels like 42. GPs love the cooler weather.

jfkoc

In response to those who posted on another thread…It. is imperative that those of us who live alone ( having a LO living in the house is still alone) have some sort of contact with the outside world every day.

My wish is that those who post here consider sharing their phone # with a porch rocker who can check with a rocker who has not posted. If you do not want to do this please invest in some kind of medical alert.

PLAN B IS ESSENTIAL

jfkoc

Lorita…I am not going to do the work…days past I could have

Lorita

You are so right. Judith. I know.both you and Sasue have my number and I have.both of yours. I also talk with Darwin morning and evening. We never know what will happen and when. Medical Guardians or alerts are really important, too. We could talk with someone and be fine, then fall ten minutes later snd.not be contacted in til the next day. The most important thing is NOT to fall which sometimes is easier said than done.

It is cloudy and windy and 46 degrees but feels like 35. What a change in temperature. The guys fed this morning and afterward drove trucks away from the girls. At least.one got out. Wondering what was wrong - cow trying to calve or what. It was in a lower place so could.not see what it was. Back later.

jfkoc

Lorita…your cow story reminds me of Santa Fe. I left the house and a large stag entered the road ahead of me. I moved to the vcenter of the road to protect it as we made out way downhill. When I arrived at my appointment I could not share tha there had beena deer on the loose.

This information was met with stares. I repeated, there was a deer on the loose. More stares. I ex-plained that I was from Chicago and had only seen Deer at the zoo, contained. What a laugh at me they had.

GothicGremlin

Made it back home - the drive from San Francisco to the greater Seattle vicinity is about 14-15 hours, but break it up over two days and it's quite doable (I think I was a long haul truck driver in a past life). The weather coming home was nice too - spring is springing, we saw a lot of trees waking up, so pink and white flowers everywhere.

Mint - I'm sorry about your mom's delusions. I remember needing to step back a bit too when my sister's delusions got out of hand.

eaglemom - I'm so sorry to hear about your friend. If it means anything, I'd probably do much the same if I were in your friend's situation. I wouldn't do it to hurt anyone, for me it would be more that I wouldn't want anyone to worry, or be sad, or feel like they had to walk on eggshells around me. I'd want them to be happy in the times where we were together, and not think about the fact that I won't be around in the near future. I'd eventually tell people, like maybe a couple of months out. So maybe your friend is thinking something similar?

Lorita and Carl - that wind and dust would freak me out.

By the way, I also agree that we should have contact every day with the outside world. Also, when I go somewhere, I let pretty much everyone know where I am. At least half a dozen people knew we were at the Death Guild anniversary the other night - just in case. And the same number knew that we were driving back yesterday and today. I've done this for years and years, probably starting around the time I hit 45.

I got smacked by this over the weekend … We had brunch with the ex of one of my exes (I tend to stay friends with people). She told me that our mutual ex's brother passed away and wasn't found for several weeks. She only found out about his death because the brother's friend found another brother's phone number on a people finder website. Then everyone connected. It was really sad …. the brother who passed away had untreated depression and would avoid everyone when he was in that state. He was 80.

On a happier note: my Death Guild swag! I love the mug! I think the gummy candy eyeball is the "spooky treat" that we were promised - I'll be giving that to someone else - I don't like gummy candy. But best of all is the USB key - it's got a DJ set from each of the house DJs, so about five hours total of their favorite tunes. This is the main way I keep up with what the goth kids are listening to these days. 😄 I took a photo of the drink special that we all thought was pretty hilarious, but I'm not sure if I should post it - it's kind of political. You can let me know if I should just keep it to myself.

ladyzetta

Hello Friends.

Lorita. You talking about carrots, reminds me of years ago, I was probably 5. My grandma had a salesman named Jim, trying to sell her pots and pans. He was in her kitchen, with me watching him cook carrots. They turned out so good, I would ask my grandma to cook some of Jim's carrots, so they were always referred to as Jim's carrots. It's funny your Sammy rattling the door knob. My cat Sammy, will rattle the bells we have hung on the door, for the dogs to rattle when they want out.

Mint. I remember when you're mother was living next to you, how challenging she was, to you and your sister. You took good care of her and stepped back many times. Please try not to let her get to you, she is in a good place, with good caregivers.

Eaglemom. I know what you mean, about a friend not telling you things, that you felt they should have. I had a friend of 30 years, she had some type of cancer. She shared everything with me till the end. She said she was going to the hospital for a check up. when I went to see her, she said she was going home the next day. She did not say to pass away the next day. Her DH, said she wanted it that way. On my phone, I still have her last text, telling me she was good, that was the day before she passed. 😥 it's still hard to think about that, it's been 2 years now.

Sorry for all of you dealing with the wind. It seems to be a problem for a lot of you. Your all in my prayers 🙏

Hugs Zetta

ronald71111

Pulmonary function test was worse than last time. Pulmonologist put in a request to VA for Pulmonary reabilitation. Being out all day yesterday has also increased the neck pain. I still get up every morning and go to bed every night, so I can't complain.

Ron

Lorita

Ron, have you tried rubbing your neck with an analgesic cream. I used Theragesic for years until they stopped making it. Now I use their substitute Pain Relieving Cream but there are many others. How about using a heating pad on your neck?

Sorry the pulmonary function test wasn't good this time. Hopefully the pulmonary rehab will help.

How many beds does the Shreveport VA Hospital have? Ours used to have over400 when I began work there. Now it is down to a little over 80, mostly outpatient. They are building a new hospital in Tulsa which will make it harder for veterans in far SE Oklahoma because they will have to travel 60 miles farther for appointments. The hospital in Tulsa was the bright idea of one of our retired senators- probably will be named for him.

Hope you can sleep well tonight.

Carl46

Ron, I used to exercise in a hospital-run place that had pulmonary and cardiac rehab as well as some desk jockeys like me who needed to lose weight and get some exercise. The pulmonary rehab guys were getting fitter so their lungs didn't have to work so hard. Is that what you're getting?

GG, your trip sounds like a great time. It's good that you and your husband like the same thing.

Judith, that's a funny story. I have deer walk right through my yard, it seems so odd to live in a place where there aren't any. I spent two weeks in Chicago for training in 1981 and liked it a lot. Didn't see any deer, though.

The wind gusted to 55 mph here today, which felt pretty brisk while I was putting air in a leaky tire, but Joplin (75 miles west of me) had gusts to 70 mph. I saw a young woman trying to set an advertising sign in the ground, and she was forced to lean her shoulder into the sign while she pushed the legs into the ground. It was 65 degrees this morning but dropped all day from 10 AM on and is now 34. We're getting rain/snow mix but expect less than an inch. The power went off about 9 PM but came right back on. In other words, it's March.

Spring officially starts tomorrow morning at about 4 AM. I don't plan to be awake to see it. If any of you see Vernal Equinox, tell him "Hello" for me.

Mint

Good morning

Judith appreciate your kind words.

GG did the delusions your sister have ever lessen or go away? This has been going on a long time. My sister went yesterday and mom was a bit better. I will go tomorrow Good Lord willing.

Ron hope pulmonary rehab works out good for you.

Not unusual to see several deers at a time around here.

BethL

Good morning Porch Rockers.

Eagle, sorry to hear about your friend. What a shock! This will likely be very overwhelming for the children, with their father in a facility and their mother near death.

Mint, I am sorry your mom is not doing as well as she was prior. So glad you got her into a good place that can care for her and take some of the burden off you.

Ron, I am sorry to hear your pulmonary function is worse. I hope the rehab will help.

Some parts of Iowa got 12" of snow or more. Just a trace here; no accumulation. It was very windy though.

Regarding taxes, we met with the accountant and she gave us preliminary figures for what we owe the government. She is continuing to work to finalize them.

Watching ducks swimming on the pond right now. We saw a great blue heron yesterday. We live in a newer development and there are no large trees in the yards. There is a line of tall trees on the other side of the pond and plenty of birds and squirrels there - few birds in our actual yard. I hope to plant some things that will attract them.

VetEly

https://alzconnected.org/discussion/comment/238824#Comment_238824

VetEly

Lorita I got a great Pyrenees puppy free. Here is a pic he is 4 months. I named him Sparky

IMG_20250320_080541.jpg

Shirley

jfkoc

Carl…Great Lakes or Ft Sheridan?

Carl46

https://alzconnected.org/discussion/comment/238914#Comment_238914

Social Security Administration, in a downtown hotel. This was during Jane Byrne's Chicago Fest, and we had a blast when we weren't at work.

eaglemom

Good afternoon all. The horrible winds are finally gone, now we just have 25mph winds and that seems almost normal! At least the sky is blue and the sun is shining. That's so much better than the brown dust we've been having.

Thank you everyone for your kind words about my friend. Sadly she passed in the early morning hours. Such a strange set of events and quick - less than 3 weeks. It's just sad. but enough of that.

We meet with the tax accountant next week. I don't know why, I've had everything ready, I just didn't call in time for a Feb appointment. We've never filed in March, usually in early Feb. I guess I need to just make my appointment for next year before I leave his office this year.

We have a sky light in our office. I've heard the geese flying overhead all day. They must be making their way back north. Its so funny to heard them then look at the dog who is intently starring at the sky light. She's not quite figured out that they aren't coming inside her house!

Let's be safe everyone. DH has an MRI on his neck this afternoon so I'm turning it into dinner out!!

GothicGremlin

Hi everyone —

I'm just now getting back into the swing of things now that I'm home.

Mint - This probably isn't what you want to hear but … Peggy's delusions (and hallucinations) never got better, they only got worse. It was only within the last few months of her life that they got better, and that was only because I got her on hospice and they gave her very strong drugs. I felt terrible about the drugs, but the alternative was that she might get kicked out of memory care, and we all agreed that that would be worse for her.

The things that are different than your mom are that Peggy was early onset, and she had Alzheimer's as well as FTD.

Zetta - I'm so sorry to hear about your friend, I can only imagine the shock that you felt.

Carl - 55 mph winds? "Brisk" is probably not the word I would have used! 😄 As for the music - my guy and I have very different musical tastes from each other. We're both just good at going along with the other person. He'll put on his happy face for goth/industrial, and I do the same for him when he wants to go to a psytrance thing (I can't bring myself to wear the colorful psychedelic colors though).

Beth - it sounds like you have a lot of wildlife around. It's nice to see squirrels and birds every day. We have squirrels, birds (including owls), bunnies, raccoons, and the occasional bobcat.

Lorita

Shirley, glad you got the puppy. So very cute. Have you ever had a Pyrenees before? They are most wonderful, inside and outside. I was able to get both of mine without cost, too. I imagine they are expensive. I would take another one in a minute. Are you doing all right? One suggestion start trimming Sparky's nails while he is a puppy. I didbI that with Stormy and I can trim his. Sheena was a year old and I didn't do that so now there's a problem in getting them trimmed.

I have my taxes done!!! And, I didn't have to pay Uncle Sam!!! And get $4O back from the State!!! My CPA retired after doing ours for 4O years so went to Jackson Hewitt in the town close to me. . She did them in about an hour. I had income and expenses added with receipt so wasn't bad. It cost about $100 more than with Sam but worth it. I will go back next year.

Incidentally, remember I told you about the big fire on Tiger Mountain? Well she lives at the bottom of ut. I-40 was closed for a couple of hours and she couldn't get home but the firemen stopped it from jumping I-40. She said the traffic was backed up for miles. I-40 is the main interstate across Okla. The night before the fires she said they heard sirens from Highway Patrol going back and forth all night. They were looking for the guy who shot the police woman in the face in Webber's Falls that night. I would thought he would have gone east but he went west and they got him in New Mexico. Shot himself in the stomach before being arrested. I think he lived.

Eagle, wasn't it wonderful to have a beautiful, sunny day without much wind? We so deserved it but they are supposed to return tomorrow. Stopped bat my doctor's office to get a copy of ny.lab results and asked about the measles vaccine. They aren't giving. Called the Health Dept. When I got home and they aren't either. They did say if you had them when young you are immune. I didn't plan to get it anyway.

Shirley, I left the Pyrenees outside while I was gone and they were so happy when I got home. Sparky will be, too, when you get home. Mint, I hope your mother starts doing better. I know you are worried but she is getting care. Beth, we have four big geese on the pond. Two pair, I think. I hope they stay around and have little ones. Also a duck or two.

Carl, I know there are deer around here but I haven't seen one in a long time. Used to see them in the pastures.

Judith, I bet it was exciting to see one in the road. You know in the 80s we were coming home from work and one ran a cross the highway in from of us and we hit him.. Just made us sick. They are so beautiful - can't understand how someone can shoot them.

So sorry this was so long. I will do better next time. Happy Spring!!

jfkoc

If one had rubella / German measles they are not immune to what we are having now. At least that is what my Dr told me.

Carl…I hope you enjoyed Chicago in the Summer with all the sailboats on the lake.

Mint…is it possible that your LO has Lewey Body Dementia hallmarked by delusions? My husband eventually had that diagnosis and the meds for that are not the same as for Alzheimers

VetEly

https://alzconnected.org/discussion/comment/238936#Comment_238936

II got Sparky and a blue healer puppy. I bought a plantation house in Orangeburg SC. My youngest son is a single dad and has 4 kids under 13, that will live with me. We have chickens,goats and will be getting pigs and calves. The kids need to be out in the country and enjoy farming. I get a little sad sometimes when I see some of Bill's things but with all the kids to keep me busy it doesn't last long. My son is a certified mechanic for 30 years and does work for several dealers and other People we know. I will start timing spirit's nails tomorrow.

Shirley

ladyzetta

Good afternoon to my Porch Friends.

GothicG. Thank you for mentioning my friend, it was hard, but she's in my thoughts daily. I thought about you on your way back to Seattle. You probably were on I-5. I made that drive 10 years ago, from Seattle to Sacramento. My mother was in the hospital I was in Seattle. I packed up my little dog Molly , and we drove straight through. We stopped at all ths coffee stands and rest areas. It's a easy drive as long as it's not snowing. I bet your glad to be home.

Shirley. That puppy is precious. And so cute.

Ron. I'm sorry things we're worse this time. Your in my prayers, that rehab will help you.

BBL, Hugs Zetta

Lorita

Congratulations on the nrw.home, Shirley. It sounds wonderful and I know the kids will enjoy it and learn a !ot from farm life. You'll enjoy it, too. A Great Pyrenees and a Blue Heeler- how old is th Blue Heeler? They will be the best of friends. Mother had one and he was so smart.

I know you miss Bill. Charles has been gone over ten years and I miss him every day. Your so n being a mechanic will come in handy on the plantation for sure. I bet you'll have a garden this summer and your own eggs! So good to hear from you. Stay safe.

Zetta, how is Miss Molly tonight? Looks like Sammy is going to sleep with me tonibht. He is a big baby.

Good night, everyone. Sleep tight and don't let the BBB.

Carl46

I loved Chicago. I remember the sailboats going over the horizon and appearing to be sinking. We have lakes in Missouri, but not wide enough to see the curvature of the Earth. The weather was so nice, with the breeze from the lake. The visitors from Denver and Seattle complained about the heat and humidity, but I lived in Kansas City and Chicago weather felt like Heaven to me. It rained hard when we flew in and when we left but was gorgeous for the whole two weeks we were there. I'm sure there is a refreshing breeze in winter too, but I missed that. 😎 I toured a museum that had some of Alexander the Great's things and saw lots of other interesting things. It was a great way to start a new job.

We had a pretty day here today. I just goofed off most of the afternoon, prowled Barnes & Noble, bought a puzzle book, drank a Coke in a park and watched the world go by. My daffodils and forsythia are in bloom, and the iris are several inches tall. I didn't realize how tired I was until I started getting some afternoons off.

Gotta go. Good night

Mint

good morning

GG thank you for an honest answer. That is what I want to hear. There’s no need to sugarcoat it, that won’t help me.
I don’t really know what age is considered early onset. This is probably has been going on since my mom was at least around 66 or so if not a little earlier. I have a feeling my mom might’ve been having delusions even before I realized it. My mom has no official diagnosis due to lack of healthcare because she would not agree to any. She still has no official diagnosis because the neurologist said that diagnosis had to be done as an outpatient at baseline. But when I was able to get into her chart recently, he said that she had certain signs, but I didn’t know what those words meant and I didn’t look them up. He did tell us that she had changes on her MRI that predisposed her to vascular dementia. Interestingly enough recently when I was reading up a little bit on vascular dementia it says it often starts showing signs with personality disorder presentation. The psychiatrist when my mom was in the hospital last time charted mom has significant personality disorder and delusions. so that was interesting to read and kinda confirms my feeling that my mom has vascular dementia, even though they won’t tell us that because of the setting she was in. I have no issue with my mom being sedated, if they need to I will request it. If they’re unable to do it on their own, I will request a psychiatric evaluation so that we can get her controlled enough to keep her there. Right now that’s not a problem. I have no problem with my mom being sleepy or sleeping a lot. I’ve not been able to have a normal conversation with my mom for a long time so whatever needs to be done to keep her safe and to keep me safe is ok.

Shirley it was nice to see you on the porch. Shirley that is nice what you are doing fir your family, helpful for all.

Judith, I don’t know. I would have to look into Lewey Body dementia. I really don’t know anything about it. When I first joined here, there was a patient on here with FTD. When I told about what was going on with my mom she said it sounds like your mom has FTD. I know people can have more than one type of dementia on an autopsy. I don’t think the testing will ever get done as to what exactly is wrong. Definitely could be other types going on too from what I’ve read.

You give me hope Carl, daffodils and forsythia. I see my hyacinth’s are coming up now too.

Lorita glad you got your taxes under control. I’m still waiting for the state to cash my check. I know they received it from tracking, but it’s been almost 2 weeks and they haven’t cashed it. The federal cashed theirs about two days after they got it. I sent mom‘s latest pharmacy bill about nine days ago and yesterday I got a call from them because it’s not been paid. I said well I it in nine days ago.

take care