lucius septimius 8/9/2021 5:20:42 AM

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Occasional Reader 8/9/2021 6:51:13 AM

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Occasional Reader 8/9/2021 6:51:36 AM

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Reply to lucius septimius in 1:

How come?

vxbush 8/9/2021 7:04:09 AM

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In #2 Occasional Reader said: It’s… muh birthday.

Well, aren't you just special? You just had a birthday last year!

////

buzzsawmonkey 8/9/2021 7:26:27 AM

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In #2 Occasional Reader said: It’s… muh birthday.

I offer you my Filene's Basement congratulations---many happy returns!

buzzsawmonkey 8/9/2021 7:27:07 AM

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Meanwhile, they're certainly beating the drums about "climate change" today on NPR, the NYT, and BBC, aren't they?

JCM 8/9/2021 7:31:25 AM

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Reply to buzzsawmonkey in 6:

Have the claimed climate change is a public health crisis?

buzzsawmonkey 8/9/2021 7:35:48 AM

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In #7 JCM said: Have the claimed climate change is a public health crisis?

They were citing the floods in Germany, the wildfires in California, etc., and in Greece, and claiming that we're much closer to a catastrophic climate change involving droughts and temperature and sea-level rises which can, of course, only be addressed by immediately dumping fossil fuels and uniting against this imminent threat.

JCM 8/9/2021 7:52:09 AM

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lucius septimius 8/9/2021 7:59:48 AM

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In #3 Occasional Reader said: How come?

Trying to schedule home visits from the nurse and PT -- they've been trying to call mom since Thursday but she doesn't hear the phone.  Luckily I got them today.  She desperately needs a visit, not to mention a bath - she's starting to smell like a French hobo.  Meanwhile trying to make sense of the rest of her appointments.  It will be fun this afternoon driving her to a doctors' appt. in what looks to be a typical midwestern summer thunderstorm.  Meanwhile, about to start the third load of laundry (I'm averaging three a day for her bedding and "lounging area"), clean the shit and piss off the floor, and generally get in touch with my Central-Eastern European alter ego Stepan Fečic.

But she doesn't need full-time care, you see.  No.  She definitely doesn't need that.

vxbush 8/9/2021 8:18:16 AM

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In #10 lucius septimius said: But she doesn't need full-time care, you see.  No.  She definitely doesn't need that.

Ouch. I'm so sorry, Lucius. Prayers for you all around--and for her. 

buzzsawmonkey 8/9/2021 8:38:40 AM

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Reply to lucius septimius in 10:

Taking care of my mother in her decline was an incredible stress on myself and my two siblings.  If you're doing it solo, that ramps it up several notches.

Occasional Reader 8/9/2021 8:47:15 AM

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Reply to vxbush in 4: Reply to buzzsawmonkey in 5:

Thanks youses!

Alice in Dairyland 8/9/2021 9:01:36 AM

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In #12 buzzsawmonkey said: Reply to lucius septimius in 10: Taking care of my mother in her decline was an incredible stress on myself and my two siblings.  If you're doing it solo, that ramps it up several notches.

Lucius Septimius, I also had two siblings helping me with my Mom, but I still feel your pain.  I love how there are supposed to be programs to help with these problems/needs, but trying to get them is near to impossible.  You run down many dead end alleys a lot.  Lots of paperwork and applications, only to find out a month or two later she didn't qualify for that service.  There may be good social workers out there, but I have never met one in real life.  I shocked a lot of my coworkers (I had to deal with it on the phone at work, that's the only time they were opened.) when I said I would never again judge a person that went into one of these offices with a gun (not that I ever would have done that) and totally lost it.  It can truly drive you to desperation.  Remember, you have friends here that you can unload on.  It does help to be able to let that steam off on understanding people; not so much on the people you are dependent on for help right now.

Alice in Dairyland 8/9/2021 9:03:37 AM

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In #2 Occasional Reader said: It’s… muh birthday.

Have a HAPPY BIRTHDAY then.  Hope you have many, many more.

Occasional Reader 8/9/2021 9:09:09 AM

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Reply to lucius septimius in 10:

wow. Wishing you strength.  You are a good son.

Occasional Reader 8/9/2021 10:12:03 AM

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In #8 buzzsawmonkey said: and sea-level rises

Boy, I’m sure glad I don’t own an $11.75 million mansion that’s near sea level on Martha’s Vineyard, aren’t you?

Occasional Reader 8/9/2021 10:12:37 AM

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Reply to Alice in Dairyland in 15:

Thanks!

lucius septimius 8/9/2021 10:14:41 AM

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Reply to buzzsawmonkey in 12:

My sister has been doing most of the heavy lifting, though she hasn't been in the house 24/7 which gives a somewhat different view of the situation. 

lucius septimius 8/9/2021 10:15:26 AM

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Reply to Occasional Reader in 2:

Sorry I missed this -- Happy Birthday!

buzzsawmonkey 8/9/2021 10:16:01 AM

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In #17 Occasional Reader said: Boy, I’m sure glad I don’t own an $11.75 million mansion that’s near sea level on Martha’s Vineyard, aren’t you?

And, do you know how long it takes one of those electric private jets to charge?

buzzsawmonkey 8/9/2021 10:17:45 AM

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In #19 lucius septimius said: My sister has been doing most of the heavy lifting

Mine did, too---and she's still, I think, recovering from the stress involved, almost 3 years after Mom died.

doppelganglander 8/9/2021 11:50:30 AM

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Reply to Occasional Reader in 2:
 Happy birthday!

doppelganglander 8/9/2021 11:56:45 AM

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Reply to lucius septimius in 10:

That sounds very difficult. I hope you can get the healthcare aide in soon, and that she'll accept the help she needs 

lucius septimius 8/9/2021 12:34:05 PM

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Reply to doppelganglander in 24:

This is giving me a clearer sense of exactly what she needs.  Sis is here a great deal, but she isn't in a position to watch her the entire day, from wake-up to bed time.  

She's been getting up earlier than usual, but I think that is hangover from hospital schedule.

@PBJ3 8/9/2021 1:03:37 PM

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Reply to Occasional Reader in 2:

Have a very happy birthday!!!

vxbush 8/9/2021 1:19:24 PM

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In #25 lucius septimius said: hangover from hospital schedule.

Which is absolutely a thing, and is annoying to boot.

Occasional Reader 8/9/2021 1:28:58 PM

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Reply to @PBJ3 in 26:

Thank you!

This has been one wonderfully lazy day for me.  I didn't even work up the gumption to go to the shooting range as planned. 

Occasional Reader 8/9/2021 2:18:37 PM

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buzzsawmonkey 8/9/2021 2:35:30 PM

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Reply to Occasional Reader in 29:

Lazy Day

Kosh's Shadow 8/9/2021 3:18:00 PM

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Occasional Reader 8/9/2021 3:30:10 PM

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Reply to buzzsawmonkey in 30:

leave it to you to come up with exactly the right song from the 1930s for the moment! Thanks.

Occasional Reader 8/9/2021 3:30:27 PM

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Reply to Kosh's Shadow in 31:

thank you!

Kosh's Shadow 8/9/2021 4:31:54 PM

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In #29 Occasional Reader said: I permitted myself a Dogfish Head 120,

So you're having a hoppy birthday

doppelganglander 8/9/2021 4:39:13 PM

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Reply to lucius septimius in 25:

That's important, especially since your mom tends to minimize her difficulties. 

lucius septimius 8/9/2021 4:42:31 PM

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Reply to doppelganglander in 35:

She doesn't hear 90% of what the doctors and nurses say to her.  Also, talking with her nephrologist today, her numbers aren't great but they're about as best as one could expect given her overall health and age.  But she hears that as "you're fine."