Saturday, July 10, 2010

What do we do when we are old and all washed up?

Since no one has a new post ready and the 4th of July is getting a little old, I guess I'll stick this up. If you have a better option ready, please go for it.

My recent adventure in elderly rescue has been a big dose of reality shock. I know you guys are past being tired of listening to my woes and I’ve been real tired of thinking and talking about them but this adventure did put a scare into me. It made me realize this could be me one day and that day may come sooner that I want to realize.

I have no kids to worry about me when I’m old but I do realize that having kids does not provide any immunity from finding yourself old, alone and helpless. I used to carry my SF’s old cousin, Ms Bessie, back and forth from the nursing home to SF’s and mom’s house, for every holiday, so she could have dinner and spend time with us. She spent the entire trip to SF’s house crying. She quit just as we got to their house. Bessie’s daughter was an only child and from what I could tell, she was spoiled rotten. She moved to Florida, married some rich doctor and then got divorced…..I don’t remember the rest of the story, I mostly remember the crying.

Bessie’s daughter had the same name as I have, Carol. I remember hoping that the old Bessie didn’t ever get the two of us confused. After Bessie’s daughter left home, she pretty much had nothing again to do with either of her parents. SF, on at least a couple of occasions, one was when her father died, sent her money to come home. Amazingly, she did also manage to make it to her mom’s memorial service when she died, she even participated in it. Wasn’t that thoughtful.

Well, back to my worry about being old, alone and washed up. I haven’t exactly figured out what I need to do to prepare. I need some help. Anyone have any ideas? I have slipped away from worrying about eating healthy and exercising. I’m hoping to drop dead suddenly. Last night, as a start, I had both Shrimp and some, full throttle, ice cream, with chocolate shavings on top. I figured that was a good start. Now what do I do next?

89 comments:

Carol said...

I just finished opening and looking thru that, "help I've fallen and I can't get up", kit I ordered for SF, AKA the Medical Alert System. It was only $25.95/mo. and it looks pretty neat. I might just get one for myself. I need the, "help I've fallen down the stairs and an alligator might get me", version.

Carol said...

I'm sorry if my, what do we do when..., guestion causes any discomfort. I'm checking into long term care insurance just in case my shrimp and ice cream diet method isn't effective. I also have the possibility of BP gasing or washing us off the face of the map. I really prefer the former rather than the latter, it might give me a few more years.

Anonymous said...

"Now what do I do next? "

Get back on that horse and let it know who the boss is!!

If you don't, then you may lose control. That may seem safe for a while, but it's sure to catch up with you. That feeling of control is 'all' we have. Baby steps Carol, baby steps.

Anonymous said...

Carol, I'm not talking about controlling others, or controlling the world. I'm talking about controlling the only thing you can control - yourself. All the rest will take care of itself (believe it or not).


Ignore that doomsday stuff, and get back on track! You don't have to take care of the rest of the world, but you sure as hell had better start taking care of yourself! That's your main job. Do that, and everything around you will have a beneficial effect.

Carol said...

Well, now off for my new weekend recreational activity, SF management. I'd welcome a new, more pleasant post when I return.

Anonymous said...

You may be on the ship Carol, but you're not the Captain. Let go of some of that feeling of responsibility and enjoy the ride.

Carol said...

Thanks Chloe. I didn't hear you tiptoe in. I need more specifics girl.

Coreen said...

Good morning...

Sorry Carol, no really good answers to your
concerns about the future...you can investigate
long term care insurance, the costs are pretty
high & the coverage is not always what you thought it would be...I would be cautious before investing in it, but it does work for
some...

For those of us who have no children/relatives(who you trust & hope will take care of you), there is no good solution...however, not sure that those with kids have any guarantee that they will be cared for either...

The aging boomer population does create problems, as far as I am concerned because the
medical industry/technology has far outpaced
the natural life of the human body, therefore,
we can be kept 'alive' while not necessarily enjoying that life...

Most people as they age are not interested in
giving up the life they have known, leaving their familiar surroundings & such, that is why
the very thought of elder care presents such
a challenge....I have no good answers & though
similar thoughts enter my mind, I try to just
go about what is happening now & deal with the
future concerns as they may occur...

Meantime, seems that at least for the short term, there is a little breather in your SF
care situation...

Carol said...

Uh, what happened to the last post? Is someone screwing with me. I just got home from watching some of my river rat neighbors jam and the last post is gone. I know it wasn't my imagination.

Carol said...

We have had comments disappear but not the entire post.

Coreen said...

Carol, there was a post by Chloe earlier...

Don't know why it is gone, I suspect Chloe would have had to delete it, since I don't think anyone else can....

Have no other explanation....

Glad to see you got out for awhile.....

Carol said...

It was a very good day Coreen. Don't even mind that I had to move my chores until tomorrow. Haven't had the opportunity to hang with some of these neighbors in a while.

A couple of my favorite camp friends are back out here on weekends. They sold their camp a while back. I missed them. They are now renting another friend's camp. They were having an impromtu band jam session. It was fun and I would still be there but my golf cart doesn't have lights and our road is very dark at night.

Carol said...

Sis sent me a link to an article that is similar to what you posted today on your disappearing post Chloe.

When we give up worrying, we will experience peace

Ivy Green said...

There was a wonderful post by Chloe where she linked from the Great Scots Blog a quote about "hope" by Vaclav Havel. It was a good one...when I came back, it was gone. I don't think I imagined it...

"Hope, in the deep and powerful sense, is not the same as joy that things are going well, or willingness to invest in enterprises that are obviously heading for success, but rather an ability to work for something because it is good, not just because it stands a chance to succeed. The more propitious the situation in whichy we demonstrate hope, the deeper the hope is."

Ivy Green said...

When you go to Al_anon or any group based on the Twelve Steps, you will learn that not-worrying is better than worrying, but also the the how-to's of letting go of worry. Practice, practice, practice...sometimes you start with "act as if" even when you're not feeling it.

Carol said...

Ivy, I'm still scratching my head over where that post and all the comments went.

While I was out I did pull up the post on my Iphone. It was right before the post disappeared. I hope I didn't hit anything that made it go away. That Iphone screen is so small and trying to navigate on it, I have worried that I could hit something wrong.

Carol said...

With my new life assignment, I found that I went thru the grief process, from denial to resolution, rather quickly. I do realize that I could slip back and forth. I do realize that this may not all work out but I did give it my best shot.

For one thing, God threw some pretty good help my way. She made the venture as tolerable as she could for me. It also helped a lot to be able to express my feelings and frustrations here.

jan said...

Hi folks, I am just checking in after 24 hours. We got home about noon. I swam and then out to a b'day party for 8 y/o GD - she will be 9 next tues.

I did not see the post you all are talking abut that disappeared.

Carol, I will just add ditto to Chloe, Ivy and Coreen's suggestions as to your questions about what to do as we get older.

I don't know the answer. Having children or other family members does not guarantee that one will have anyone who will even visit or call them when one gets old.

jan said...

Carol, I like the article that your sis sent to you. It makes a lot of sense.

jan said...

Carol, hangin out with some friends was a good thing.

Carol said...

Hey guys, I inherited the worry gene; it's not entirely my fault. Just like ya can inherit high cholesteral, diabetes, and hypertension, I inherited worrying from my mother. I don't think it ran her family though. It may have started with her. I don't remember her mom being much of a worrier. Since her mom left all her children for a man, I don't think worrying would have been one of her particular problems. Mom's real dad died shortly after she was born so I don't know if he had a problem with it.

I do think that mom finally achieved the ability to stop worrying shortly before she died. I was taking care of her one day and I told her that the State Board was giving me hell. She just smiled. I knew then that she had lost enough of her mind to overcome that worrying problem, because if she had any of it left, she would have been suiting up for battle. Mom wouldn't have let anything/anyone mess with my nursing career. I've told y'all that it was as much her career as it was mine, maybe even more hers.

I can remember very few times in my life when I wasn't worrying. When I do something, I usually try to do it to the best of my ability, well, most of the time. When I stop worrying about something, I worry about why I'm not worrying. I think I may have even made a list of my worries, so I wouldn't have to worry about forgetting one. At least then, forgetting a worry was one worry off the list.

They can write all these wonderful articles on how it's not good for ya to worry or that you can't change anything by doing it but there's no switch up in my head that I can turn off and no surgery I can get to fix the problem. Don't ya think I would have done that if I could?

They do make some powerful drugs and other chemicals that can stop some of that worrying but then those drugs/chemicals can give ya a lot more to worry about. Hey, I see that everyday where I work. Lots of people with my problem are trying that option.

BTW, I'm still worrying about why Chloe's post disappeared and I hope I didn't accidentally do it. Since I'm the administrator of this blog, I have the ability to remove posts. That worry is on my list, I know, I just checked my list and it's there.

Carol said...

I'll just betcha that I'm not the only one here, on this blog, with that worrying problem. With all that is going on in the world these days, it's hard to avoid, that is, if you haven't achieved "pod" status yet. If you have already been replaced by a "pod", you have nothing to worry about.

Carol said...

Ivy, I went over to that Scots Macblog and was reading. He talks about some remodeling he's doing at his home. I've noticed that some people, who have lost a spouse, remodel their homes shortly after that loss. Do y'all know anyone else who did that?

Maybe remodeling a home, after that kind of loss, might be part of the grief process. It might be part of the resolution/acceptance stage.

Carol said...

And Jan, I'm glad you are home. Now I don't have to worry about y'all being on the road. I can scratch that off the list.

Carol said...

Ivy, I think that Scots guy looks alot like Robert Duval.

Carol said...

Oh, and another thing...worrying is not all bad. Some stress is necessary for growth whether it be physical or psychological.... probably spiritual also. In order to build more muscle mass, you have to stress the muscle. You stress it just enough to stimulate growth and then you must give it adequate rest in between to allow for that growth.

Of course too much stress has the opposite effect, even in muscles, it causes destruction of the muscle.

Sorry for all my blabbering this morning. I woke up in a heavy ponder mode today. Maybe it was that jam session I went to last night.

Anonymous said...

Hi everyone.
Carol, I removed that post because I decided it was inappropriate for me to put it up so quickly after you had put this one up. I thought it would be OK, because it only erased my comments, and frankly, I'm a little tired of hearing myself talk - LOL.

A few things have come up that I need to take care of, and I won't be around fro a while. Just letting you all know, so you won't worry. I'm still going to check in whenever I get a chance, to make sure all is going well with everyone here.

Carol said...

Chloe, Don't be silly girl. I never get tired of reading your posts or comments. They are always very therapeutic and insightful. I get lots of compliments on your posts. I've tried to pass that on to you. I couldn't have my own counselor who could do a better job than you do trying to keep me sane!

Carol said...

There is this 60 year old woman who will be attempting to swim 103 miles from Cuba to Miami. And I have the gall to whine about things.

Carol said...

And Chloe, you noticed I didn't use the term Shrink. As far as being therapeutic goes, Shrinks are on the bottom of my list. My personal pecking order of people who are therapeutic would start at the top with a good friend/counselor and end with a Psychiatrist.

Now a good psychologist can be close to the top also. Most don't prescribe drugs and any time a prescription pad is involved, efficacy is reduced.

Carol said...

I'm curious Ivy, did that friend of yours, who recently lost her husband, do any remodeling or buy some really big new stuff?

Ivy Green said...

Chloe,
Your post was magnificent. If you still have those comments saved somewhere, it would be wonderful if you could re-post them. You always inspire. Best wishes in taking care of what you need to take care of. Say "hey" whenever you can...

Ivy Green said...

Carol,
I think she is getting ready to tear down the lake house where they had so many wonderful parties and music, and rebuild it new.

Carol said...

I just heard on Meet the Press that the Republicans are worried about taking the majority back. Why? Because they know they can't fix all the horrible problems.

I think we discussed this back before Obama took the reigns. I figured that they made such a pityful attempt to win the presidency in 2008 because they didn't want the job. Come on, McCain/Palin was the best the could do?

Who would want that job? It wasn't fixable after Bush and the Repubs broke it and we discussed that whoever was last to catch that hot potato would be who would get the responsibility for all the problems.

That was one reason why I was secretly glad that Hillary didn't get the job. She may have been able to do a better job than Obama has but if Hill got it, all of us women would be taking the heat.

Carol said...

"I think she is getting ready to tear down the lake house where they had so many wonderful parties and music, and rebuild it new."

I knew it Ivy. Even though it may be therapeutic, it is such a waste. I know that place must be wonderful already. There should be a moritoriun on construction for about 5 years after the loss of a spouse. I know of one friend of mine, who spent every bit of her husband's life insurance on unnecessary changes. She suffered for it from then on. Her entire family did.

Ivy Green said...

Carol,
I learned how to let go of much of my obsessive worrying in Al-anon. Worrying is a learned behavior - a set of behaviors, actually - but it can be unlearned. I also discovered it is a choice - mine - and if I really didn't like their program they would gladly refund to me my pain and misery.

Carol said...

That kind of grief response even ended up affecting me because it happened to the mother of one of my roommates years back. She moved in right after her father died. It was really hard on her.

She worked with her mother in a family insurance business. When her mother wasted all that money on remodeling and buying new stuff, my friend ended up channeling a good bit of her salary to her mom. Then she quit paying her half of the utilities/expenses at my house. That went on for years and I didn't do anything about it so I paid considerably for her mom's grief resolution. Then this friend, ended up with this weird injury that happened at Lowes. She got this huge, close to a half million settlement from a lawsuit and moved out.

Yep, I have sucker" written all over my forehead. Believe me, she has suffered some karma. She's has this awful chronic pain syndrome now.

Carol said...

I just went out to sit on one of my little decks where my Hummer feeder is. A hummer flew up the feeder that still had several hots days old juice in it. The hummer looked at the feeder, didn't drink, and then looked at me. I swear I think I heard it say "lady, get off your ass and fix this problem". I did.

Carol said...

Well I think I have procastinated starting my chores for as long as I can. I guess you can see that. I'm all ready...set....go!

jan said...

It is so good to be home. I am sitting on my front porch having my 2nd cup of tea. It is cloudy so not hot yet. The doves are cooing and people are walking their dogs. Our little tomato plants have 4 tomatos on them. A wonderful neighbor watered them while we were gone. This is the neighbor with Willie, the dog with one eye. You can guess what John and I call Willie (in private).

Chloe, I do hope you check in often. I too enjoy all you have to share here. I wish you would repost what you took off.

Carol, John's daughter just posted some pictures on Facebook of some vacation shots. One of the pictures has a rounds spot just like pictures you have posted on here. I wrote her and asked about it, she said she didn't know what the round circle was. If I can, I will download the picture so you all can see it.

jan said...

Carol, yes, I think the hummer was talking to you LOL. There is one little bird that shows up most mornings when we are sitting on our porch. She sits on the same tree limb and looks our way like she has come to say hello. It looks like the same bird to me.

jan said...

I can't recall anyone who has done any construction when a spouse has died. Food for thought!

jan said...

Ivy, I too think Alanon is a very helpful group. I have often thought it would be great if there was a group like Alanon that people could go to whenever they needed people to talk with. The 12 step program is a good one in almost any circumstance.

jan said...

"Worrying is a learned behavior - a set of behaviors, actually - but it can be unlearned. I also discovered it is a choice - mine - and if I really didn't like their program they would gladly refund to me my pain and misery"

Ivy, thanks for this comment. I need to remind myself of this too. When I begin to "worry" about stuff, what works for me is to walk or swim. After that I usually am able to let go of the worry. Then if the worry is involving someone I love, I call them and just visit with them and see if there is anything I can do for them. Oddly, this usually relieves my mind and I am not worried any more. My worries usually involve a family member.

Ivy Green said...

Jan,
The wonderful thing about Al-anon is that the doors are always open, and no one can determine if you "qualify" but yourself. The fact is, just about every one of us had "adult child" issues from growing up in homes were there was no such things as "normal" behavior, and therefore, we are qualified. All the people who first qualified me were dead before I was born. Dead or not, their influence continued to affect my life in behaviors that were passed down from generation to generation. I have since learned not only who they were and how they've affected me, but how to forgive them and let them go.

Ivy Green said...

The Scottie Man put up a new post this morning with more tragic news. His Scottie dog drowned this week. Very hard to take even from afar.

I am grateful that our wheaten Scottie Meg has recovered from her life-threatening infections of the past few months. I thought we were going to have to amputate her tail, but that did not become necessary and she recovered. She even marked her 11th birthday this past week. But this upcoming week, we are being forced to make a change in her diabetes treatment by switching her from veterinary insulin to human insulin. It is going to be a delicate operation, and I'm praying for guidance.

Carol said...

I'm baaaack. Not quite thru yet. I still have a load of clothes left to dry. Did my shopping and even hit two stores. This week I didn't get ice cream but I did some of those chocolate covered grahams Chloe. You know, the ones that Walmart leaves out in the heat to melt. There's still good. I've been having a hankering for those cookies for at least 6 months.

I can do the cookies cuz I lost several pounds down below my goal weight and there's room in my pants now. That's a little plus of that stress for me, it kicks up my metobolism. You may be thinking...but what has it done to your blood pressure?? Right now my Bp is 117/70 and I had to quit one of my Bp meds. Only take a little beta blocker now. I must be doing something right. It might be the cantaloupe??

Ivy, that is so sad about Mr. Scottieman's little dog. Darn.

Any particular reason you are having to switch your pup's insulin? Shouldn't be a problem except that unit for unit it may not act exactly the same. I'm sure your Vet told you that. Human insulin is so easily available, even without a prescription, that using it has that advantage. I wonder about cost. Since more of it is used these days, it might be cheaper also.

Do you know how to check your pup's blood sugar. That would be a plus but I bet my Maggie wouldn't let me do that.

Carol said...

Jan, I would love to see your orb pics. Let me know when you download them. I can't wait.

Carol said...

And big sis, if you are reading here, I got me some of that cold brew green tea with mint. She left me a sample of it to try. No note, just the little package laying right on the counter. I'm also using my organic sugar in it.

One day when I called her, and she could tell I was up on the ceiling with all that mess going on at the hospital, she told me I needed to stop all the coke I was drinking and drop down for some Yoga. I was kinda up to my eyelids in alligators back then. It's kinda hard to drop down for some Yoga when there are all those gators around. I mighta sucked in a gator with one of those deep cleansing breaths.

Carol said...

Ivy, did you quit reading on that Scottie story before it got to the good part? Burnsie didn't die. He almost did. Scottieman snagged him from the grip of death. He's alive!

Carol said...

He's gonna get Burnsie a lifejacket to wear from now on when he's near the water. Maggie has one.

Ivy Green said...

Carol,
You are right. I couldn't handle the thought of him perishing. I've been trying not to worry about Meg and I just had no room to take on even the thought of more loss. I guess that's called projecting. Maybe this will be another lesson in gratitude for what I have today. And to slow down before Olympic-style jumping to conclusions. lol

The makers of Vetsulin have taken it off the market, is what my vet is saying. She can no longer get hold of it. Apparently there was a recall and their decision is to quit making it.

Carol said...

It will be OK Ivy. You will just have to be careful when changing insulins. Pup will need some blood sugar monitoring when changing. I bet they do keep their blood sugar a little on the high side just to prevent hypoglycemia. Low blood sugar is much more dangerous than high blood sugar for people and dogs. Also, a pup can't run to the frig for food if their blood sugar drops.

Ivy Green said...

Carol,
I know we have to be cautious, and I was concerned that Hubs was not taking the change-thing seriously enough. He was irritated that we have to throw away half a box of unused pet insulin syringes and switch to human ones. I was worried he will think it makes no difference and use the old ones ("Why isn't a unit a unit?). In the meantime, after debating with him, I've simply taken the old box away and left just enough to finish the doses of vetsulin we still have. Tuesday will be the switching-over day. We don't do the blood monitoring ourselves, but will take Meg to the vet on Wednesday for all-day testing.

Ivy Green said...

P.S. I am not "throwing away" the syringes. I am taking them back to the vet for proper disposal.

Ivy Green said...

The posts are getting mangled and lost this afternoon.

Ivy Green said...

Okay, two posts have reappeared, but one has not. I will wait a bit to see if it shows back up.

Carol said...

Ivy tell me what your Vetsulin reads, how many units per cc. If it is U-40, then there are 40 units per cc. Humulin is U-100, 100 units per cc.

Carol said...

I looked it up. Vetsulin is U 40, 40 units per cc. You will need new syringes. You need U-100 syringes which are what you usually see for people. I bet it isn't easy, or even impossible, to even find U 40 syringes at the drug store these days.

It will take much smaller amounts of insulin now than it did before. Number of total units may not be that different but the amount of liquid will be.

Ivy Green said...

Jeez, Carol, you're asking me to do math. I was just getting ready to buy a tee shirt that says, "They promised me there would be no math."

Carol said...

I wish I could be of more help to you.

Ivy Green said...

The pet med needle has 20 units divided into five sections. We only had to inject Meg once a day, but now we will have to give her two shots a day, one every 12 hours.

Ivy Green said...

One the pet med needle, we filled it up to 16 units - almost the full amount it holds. At one time, she was getting 18 units. She had to hold still for many seconds while that was going in. Meg was better about it than me. Now at least, it will be a shorter injection.

Ivy Green said...

"To sit with a dog on a hillside on a glorious afternoon, is to be back in Eden, where doing nothing was not boring - it was peace."

Milan Kundera, quoted by Ken McLeod at the Scottie blog

Ivy Green said...

Carol,
Thank you, you are always a great help with medical questions. Our "go to" source. I had told Hubs you'd be the one to ask if there were any problems.

Carol said...

Don't use U-40 syringes for the Human Insulin. Need U-100 syringes.

I just read that the Vetsulin was inferior and not stable. That is why it is coming off the market. It was also more expensive. You can return your insulin to the Vet for a refund from the company. Maybe they will refund the syringes also. I'd ask.

Ivy Green said...

Only problem is I should have kept my mouth shut about it because Hubs is all worked up again.

Carol said...

This info has been available since November last year Ivy. I wonder why they haven't switched you before now???

Carol said...

Tell Hubs to drop down for some Yoga! Everything will be OK.

Ivy Green said...

The vet put us on notice some weeks ago. Meg was having so many other problems then, it seemed like she was not going to make it through. Insulin would have been a moot point. The other patients made the switch already. We are the last ones to do so. Hubs had a mini-stockpile of vetsulin and we decided we would use it up before switching her. So mostly, it was our decision. Now we have no choice because they is no more vetsulin to be had.

Ivy Green said...

Hubs has one yoga pose to his name. It is ironically called "Child's Pose." lol

Carol said...

Next door neighbor is having a party for some young people. They are drinking and I don't think they are of drinking age but I can't tell anymore. Everyone is looking young to me these days. I wonder if he realizes, if they are underage, he could go to jail for that??

It's been one of those days for wreckless, dumb men. First there was this young, about 8 or so, year old kid driving a golf cart down the street. He looks like he has a developmental problem, maybe FAS. Then there was this guy on a 4 wheeler, riding a 3-4 year old, getting ready to turn on to this busy hwy with deep ditches on both sides. Now this.

I was relaxed....

Carol said...

It says the company will reimburse you for the Vetsulin Ivy.

Carol said...

What I've seen and heard today is a big reason why I don't have my own man!

Carol said...

And I think I'm the only sober person on this river today. I hope there isn't a big body count out there.

Ivy Green said...

Thanks, Carol. We don't have any Vetsulin left to get refunded. There is only one dose left and Med will get that in the a.m. We have the half-box full of U-40 syringes left unused. I don't think they were that expensive.

Carol said...

I looked up Child's pose Ivy. It looks painful on the knees.

Ivy Green said...

Child's Pose is very restful, Carol, and is especially good for stretching out the lower back.

Turns out what Hubs was worked up about was me "not trusting him" to not give Meg the wrong injection. We are straight now. lol

Carol said...

Ivy, it helps to be straight, if your going to have a husband.

jan said...

I just came onto the blog and falling on the floor LOL at the comments from you two. I don't know why they are funny - just are. Hope I am not offending you Carol & Ivy.

Ivy, so glad Carol can help you with med issue for Meg. I love the little saying about sitting with a dog on a hill. John has grieved for Lobie much more than me. I missed her a lot in the first weeks and now am ok. John almost bursts out crying sometimes.

Carol said...

Offended Jan, heck no. Hey, where's those pics with the orbs. I've been waiting all day for them.

I just got back from my visiting with my friends down the road. Didn't want to leave Maggie here alone for too long. She might have found some booze somewhere and tried to light up like the rest of this neighborhood.

Did y'all hear there was a solar eclipse today? I wonder if they can say we had a solar eclipse if only a few people on remote islands in the middle of nowhere could see it. Only had a few clouds eclipsing my sun down here today and welcomed every one of them.

Ivy Green said...

Jan,
No offense given and none taken. Glad to spread some laughter. Joy to the world...

Speaking of Joy to the World, I love Christmas in July. We'll be in Estes Park at the end of the month. There is a shop there that is all Christmas all the time. I can't wait to visit it.

Bear Woman already gave me her "wish list." She is starting to harvest fruit from their orchard to turn into jams and preserves for holiday gifts for us.

Jan, you asked a few threads ago about the long-standing friendship between me and Bear Woman. We met at Girl Scout camp when were were eleven years old.

jan said...

Carol, I just tried to send the group of pictures to your e-mail address. Let me know if they made it.

Carol said...

Jan, they came in but I fought with it for a while and couldn't make it work. It was trying to get me on facebook. It just wouldn't load. It is Apple stuff and my PC was not cooperating. I did catch a look at one pic with a red ring but that wasn't an orb. Not sure what that was.

Orbs are perfect circles of white. You can see thru them. I'm not sure what red ring was and I couldn't get to any other pics.

Carol said...

Coreen, where are ought thou?

Carol said...

Ivy, I want you to tell Hubs, for me, how much I admire and respect him and you for the way y'all deal with your pup's medical issues. With my knowledge and experience with diabetes, I'd be shaking in my boots if I had to do what y'all are doing with my Maggie girl. I'm not kiddin here.

After doing a little surfing on the subject yesterday, you aren't alone. There are many others who have the same problem with their dogs and cats. There's a special place in heaven for you all. When anyone does these kinds of things for their little furry friends, in their care and custody, it shows the utmost respect for life.

"And the King shall answer and say unto them, Verily I say unto you, Inasmuch as ye have done it unto one of the least of these my brethren, ye have done it unto me."

That Bible verse comes to mind for me. Hey, I'm no Bible scholar but I did spend lots of time in Church growing up and a few things stuck. That verse always had particular significance for me. It has significance for me in my current job. All my peeps at work are in my care and custody and I try hard to treat them like I would want my family treated even if I think they are evil. It's not for me to judge.... but can't say I haven't.

Ya know, the way people treat animals, both theirs and others, tells me all I need to know about them.

Carol said...

And Ivy, I can certainly understand your not being able to finish that blog story about Burnsie. I'm glad I did because it did have a surprise, happy ending. Maybe that is why I was called to go read it, so I could let you know that everything turned out OK for Burnsie.

I can't even watch movies, commercials, etc where there's something sad about animals. That commercial where they play that, "..in the arms of the angels..", song, I turn the channel immediately. I can handle watching or hearing about a little human cruelty, maybe not kids or old people, but not one second of animal cruelty.

And isn't that weird that Scotties can't swim? Very weird. I thought all dogs could dog paddle.

Carol said...

Chloe, I hope it's nothing serious that you have to deal with. Don't stay away too long. I can't deal with not have my therapist around for too long.

Carol said...

I moved the last several comments to a new blog post.

New thread.