September chitchat

[agate]

Virginia, maybe your alert system is different but I've had experience with several of them now, and all of them work within a fairly wide radius of their speakerphone/box. Are you testing yours every month? Every time I test mine, I press the wearable button from anywhere in my apartment and it works. I mean that I'm able to hear the person on the speakerphone and that person hears me. I'm pretty sure I'd be able to give them instructions during that phone conversation too. Someone comes on the line and asks if I need help. At that point I would tell the person what the situation is if I could talk. If not, the caller would probably go ahead and call 911.

Just an update on that system I have (Medical Guardian): I was wearing the button as a wristband but it was causing a rash. I asked if I could replace it with the pendant. It would have cost $50 to make that change. So I took the wristband off and have hung the button part around my neck on a chain I happened to have.

[Virginia]

Agate, that is who I have also. They sent me the pendant and the wristband. The wristband also broke my arm out. About pushing the pendant around my neck. I can hear that the box is answering, but my house is large enough that they cannot hear me unless I am in my bedroom where the box is. There are walls and hallways and rooms that is has to go through. They ask if I am alright and if they could not hear me answer they are supposed to call 911. My house is not real big, but it is not real small either. It is about the average size of a house, but the downstairs is laid out so that it is more long than wide and with all the walls and rooms I don't think there is anyway they could hear me. I might ask them to try it with me, but tell them ahead of time that it is a test and not to call 911. Anyway, since I had brought my cellphone in my office in order to call Spectrum it was better for me to do the talking to them last night.

I am still so shocked and humiliated that I still feel like crying and I have lost all confidence. I think I will try to go to the store because I had already planned it. I want to see how I do pushing the cart in a grocery store.

[Earth Mother 2 Angels]

((((((Hugs to All)))))) ~

Virginia ~

I am so sorry that you had to go through this ordeal. Your feelings are understandable, and it was a trauma, so of course you still feel shocked. Please don't feel humiliated. The firefighters, who responded, have seen everything, and they understand about Seniors not being able to get up off of the floor. Thankfully, they arrived quickly, were kind and compassionate and checked out your modem for you.

Did you go to the store today? I'm hoping you didn't, because I think you should rest a couple of days. That's what I would do.

Is there any way that you can get your modem off of the floor and onto your desk or a table, so that you don't have to get on the floor to unplug it from the power connection? You may need a surge protector strip or an extension cord, but it would be more accessible and safer for you to have it at sitting height.

Do you unplug the modem from the modem connection or at the outlet/surge protector? I guess if the modem is on the floor it doesn't matter. But when I reboot my modem, I disconnect from the modem. It's easier for me, and I don't have to get on the floor to do it.

Also, before you reboot anything, check your TV and phone to determine whether there is a Spectrum outage. If all of your devices are out at the same time, it's likely an outage. Then, call Spectrum to confirm whether there is an outage. If not, then speak to a representative for help.

Sometimes, we have to rearrange our environment to suit our needs properly. Anything, which might require you to get on the floor probably needs to be elevated off of the floor. Or, you need the assistance of someone, who can get on the floor and get up without a problem.

We all remember when we used to be able to get up off of the floor or do a million other things, which we can't do now. I think about what I used to be able to do and compare it to what I'm able to do now, and it's disheartening. But, we have to accept that we are aging and changing. All we can ever do is our best, be aware of our limitations and not exceed them, and be grateful for the abilities we have and our independence.

I hope that you are feeling better now.

agate ~

I didn't think William had a "real" iPad, but his ability to use it is wonderful. How learning tools have changed over the past 50 years! Wow!

Prayers for all. Stay safe and be well ~

Love & Light,

❤️❤️❤️❤️

Rose

*Virtual Hugs Are Germ-Free!


THANKS!

[agate]

I'd like to echo everything Rose said.

Virginia, I'll have to revise what I said earlier about the Medical Guardian system. I just put my pendant through its monthly check and happened to be farther away from that speakerphone than usual. They didn't hear me. I had to move a few feet closer to it. My voice isn't big, and that may be part of the problem but I understand what you mean now.

[Virginia]

Well, the humidity was low today and I needed groceries so I went to the pharmacy for just a few minutes, maybe 15. Then I went on to the grocery store. It had been quite awhile since I had gotten groceries so I kind of stocked up on some things that I could. I ended up getting 17 bags of groceries. (Still didn't make it to 30 Ann) I came home and it took 4 trips in to get it all inside. Then I put it away and set down to eat some food from the deli in the grocery store. I had baked chicken, potato salad and slaw, but it was not good and I threw most of it away. Then I took 4 bags of trash out. No, I wasn't keeping that much trash but I had a filter that I had changed upstairs and needed to take the old one out and I took some food out of the refrigerator and some out of the freezer that I knew I would not eat plus all the 17 plastic bags that I had brought in. I took them in two trips.

My knees were sore today and my legs were a little sore, but I did about like I usually do when I go to the store. I attribute much of that to the low humidity.

Rose, it really isn't age so much as it is MS that kept me on the floor last night. I am not aging normally or like most people would. That is due to the fact that I have MS. I know what my older neighbors can do and if they got on the floor they could still get themselves up. A couple of them would even come and try to help me up, but I just can't let them do that. They could easily hurt themselves pulling on me. One told me last night that if she couldn't get me up she could call someone in the neighborhood who could. She meant one of the men. I think that would be even more embarrassing than having the firemen. They were young and strong and I knew they would not injure themselves. I have a nephew who is that strong and he could easily pick me up, but he doesn't live here.

I think my brother or maybe both of them will come and put my modem up high. That will leave only the printer plugged in to the wall outlet that is low on the floor, so that should help some.

I wonder what Labor Day programs I missed today. I hope all of you had a good day. Keep your phones with you if you live alone. Yes, Howie you too!

[agate]

Happy Rosh Hashana for those who observe it! It is the Jewish New Year, 5782!

[Howie]

Is 5782 the year it is?

[Virginia]

Good question Howie. Maybe Agate will come on and tell us.

[Virginia]

Why do I have so much paperwork laying around??? I start to get rid of something and realize I can't. There is always something pending about it. I can't imagine how anyone is going to put my surge protector up on my computer hutch or my desk or the 2 drawer file cabinet with the printer on it.

Today I spent so much time on the phone with my old home insurance company. I changed insurance companies back on August 1st. The old insurance company wants to charge me for almost a month because they say I did not notify them. A lady called me on two different occasions and I told her I would not be renewing because the premium had gone up so much. What else was I suppose to do? I ended up on a 3 way call with the old insurance company and the new company. The old company was waiting for an e-mail to come through to them verifying that I had indeed had insurance with the new company - which was the last thing I heard. I hope they work it out, so I can throw one more letter in the trash and get one more piece of paper off my desk.

I have been trying to exercise my legs as much as I can, but there is only so much I can do since I use to do a lot of them on the floor and I can't get down there anymore. The bed is not as good, but I am going to try anyway. I am doing some standing ones. I am with Ann, in that I am suffering some MS fatigue today - more than yesterday when I went to the grocery store.

[Earth Mother 2 Angels]

((((((Hugs to All)))))) ~


Virginia ~

I understand that MS is the factor in your problem with getting up off of the floor. RA is what prevents me from getting up off of the floor, but my age is also a consideration, because my RA has increased over the last several years. I'm sure it isn't the same, but it may be similar.

I'm not surprised that you had knee and leg soreness from being on the floor, and getting 17 bags of groceries! Wow! That's a lot regardless of the humidity. I absolutely know that I couldn't do what you did yesterday. That is why I use Instacart. It was a big deal for me to walk from and to John's car and the length of the store, when I got my vaccine shots. So, I applaud you!

You can leave your surge protector on the floor, and use an extension cord to move only the modem to a higher location. As for unplugging your modem and your printer, you should be able to unplug the electrical connection from both devices, rather than from the outlet. I'm sure your brothers can figure it out for you, when they see your set up. When I disconnect to reboot my TV cable, my computer or my modem to reboot them, I do it from the device, not from the outlet.

Too much paperwork laying around? Oh, believe me, I understand that. I have bags and bags of papers, which need to be shredded. Someday, I will call a mobile shredder and get it done.

Insurance companies can be quite annoying. I hope your situation is resolved by now.

Try to get some rest and relax. Breathe. Let go of the stress. Healing prayers on the way ~



When Rose Caved In And Got An iPhone ~

I ordered my Apple iPhone SE today, and it will arrive tomorrow. My provider had a Labor Day sale, so I saved $200 on the phone! Great deal!

I will not miss my Coolpad Snap, because it was tedious to use. I think I will be able to learn to use the iPhone without too much difficulty. I am sure that I will be happy that I upgraded, once I get used to it. And, a few years from now, when I need to upgrade to another phone, I will probably be reluctant to do so!

Creature of habit, and I like what is familiar to me.

But, we can't resist change. It happens, and we have to keep up with it.

In my heart and soul, I will never change. But in trying to keep up with the world, I have to change.

Be well, stay safe, avoid stress, and find joy everyday ~

Love & Light,

❤️❤️❤️❤️

Rose

*Virtual Hugs Are Germ-Free!


THANKS!

[agate]

Good question Howie. Maybe Agate will come on and tell us.

Well, I'm no authority on these matters but the Jewish calendar is different, and the Jewish year is now 5782. If you read this quote below and add 2021 to the 3761 it mentions, you'll get 5782. I'm not sure how they figured out when the creation of the world happened but somehow they did.

The Jewish calendar, derived from the ancient Hebrew calendar, has remained unchanged since about AD 900. It is the official calendar of the modern state of Israel and is used by Jewish people throughout the world as a religious calendar. The starting point of Hebrew chronology is the year 3761 BC, the date for the creation of the world as described in the Old Testament.

(from Only registered and activated users can see links., Click Here To Register...)

[Virginia]

Thanks Agate, an interesting little piece of Jewish history that I did not know and I bet Howie didn't either. I always thought the Jewish New Year and Holiday season came at different times each year. I remember when I was working for a Jewish Doctor and he seemed to take off at different times to celebrate the New Year, but then he also took off every Jewish Holliday he came up with plus all the Christian Holidays. He said we didn't get patients on the Christian Holidays. The other Doctor who was in with him, was Christian and only took off on Christian Holidays. I kind of felt like he came out on the short end of the stick.

Well, they removed all my shrubs this morning. I could hear them working outside but was so fatigued I just could not get up to go watch them. When I finally did get up, I stuck my head out the front door and it looked very open without all those big shrubs. I am going to have to get soaker hoses I guess and get someone to run them all around the house in order to water the plants. I can't possibly stand out there. Then there is the problem of getting to the water faucets to turn the water on and off. I cannot walk on uneven ground. I am going to have to see if Laura can get some kind of board to lay down that I can walk on. I have to walk from my sidewalk over to the side of the house through the new shrubs. I hope they plant some hardy ones. I will also have to remember to take my cell phone with me every time I go out to water them, just in case.

Rose, I understand all that you are saying, but I just have to try and remain independent and this is the only way I know how. If I totally give up I will be where Jeanie is. I am scared of it every minute since I started going down hill, but I can tell what is MS and what is aging.

I wish we would hear from DAR again. We don't even know if she got to go home or is in a facility. Also Renee needs to be heard from again.

[Earth Mother 2 Angels]

((((((Hugs to All)))))) ~

Virginia ~

You are doing quite well at remaining independent, and I would never imply that you give up.

As I mentioned, I couldn't shop for groceries and carry 17 bags up stairs, unload, and put away all of it. Until 2018, I could do that, as well as care for Jim and Jon. It wore me out to the point of exhaustion, so when I discovered Instacart, I was very happy and relieved. When I placed my order this morning, I had accrued 300 hours of not shopping at a grocery store. I don't know what condition I would be in now, if I had spent those 300 hours grocery shopping.

If I overdo, I have severe unrelenting back pain. So, I pace myself and plan my days according to what I can accomplish without incurring pain or fatigue. Last week was exceptionally trying for me with the tree trimming and John's two visits. More standing, more walking, in and out, I even swept the deck so that John and his friend wouldn't fall on the hard blossoms from my neighbors' ornamental fig tree.

Like you, I definitely want to remain independent, and I have no intention of giving up. But, I am processing the reality that I cannot do the things, which I used to be able to do, and the more that I extend myself beyond my capabilities, the bigger price I pay in pain and fatigue.

For you, I just want things to be accessible instead of on the floor or near the floor, like the shelf you cleaned a little while ago. I've met quite a few Occupational Therapists over the years, and that's the first thing they would tell you to do.

About your shrubs ~ I thought they were being installed by your HOA. If so, why do you have to water and tend to them? How did you water your previous shrubs? I gather that you had them all replaced? Would it help to contact your HOA about how difficult it is for you to water the shrubs? They might be able to provide you with some help or suggestions. I'm sorry that you have this situation.

I can relate to your concern about the uneven ground. My backyard is tree roots and sod netting. I'm terrified to go out there! I do, but I have to very careful. I hope you can get this resolved easily.


My new iPhone arrived today, and it is sleek and just the right size! John will be here tomorrow so I can activate it, and he will put in the SIM card.

Prayers and healing energy for all ~ stay safe, be well, count your blessings, and find joy every day.

Love & Light,

❤️❤️❤️❤️

Rose

*Virtual Hugs Are Germ-Free!


THANKS!

[Virginia]

Rose, all 30 something shrubs will be replaced at the HOA expense, however I have to do the watering. I remember watering when I moved in here 28 1/2 year ago, but I could do it with no trouble then. Now I will have to come up with some alternate plans to help me figure this out. I am hoping Laura will come up with something. It would not help to call my HOA, they just do not get involved in people's different problems. I can kind of understand this. If others knew that I was getting help, then you can imagine what that could lead to. We have exactly 100 units in the complex.

I am thinking of somehow working in soaker hoses. Since these plants will be much smaller I anticipate there will be many more than I had before. I could not believe one neighbor that I saw outside when I went to the grocery store. She was complaining about the cost of water in Raleigh. I am the one with the big yard. She has an inside unit with just a small little area for plants. I was taken aback because she is a person that I would not have thought would feel that way. The best I can remember she has two scrawny shrubs left in her yard. I would be very glad to get new ones. I had 3 big Hollys that had grown into trees. My neighbor who has a unit like mine said she wanted one of hers taken down and I did also, so we called someone who does that kind of work. He supposedly had a sale on. He wanted $250.00 a piece to take them down. I just said okay forget that. This was recently and then we found out they were going to take them all down for free.

[agate]

Virginia, could you add some time for Laura and pay her more so that she could take care of the watering that you can't handle? Hauling hoses around can be quite a chore.

The housing people put in the shrubs but you have to maintain them? That doesn't seem entirely fair. Here the housing people put in the shrubs and maintain them. In fact they get upset when residents take it upon themselves to prune them or even when they rake pine cones off the ground.

But I believe your place isn't a seniors-only complex? Maybe the reason my building operates this way is just so there won't be a "liability issue." They don't want to get sued if one of us frail old people gets injured while raking or pruning or whatever.''

You've lived there over 28 years? I'll bet that not everyone there can say that. Is it possible that you could make a case for a new policy for the housing people--say, for anyone who's been there in good standing for over 20 years (maybe 10) would be entitled to have the yard maintenance/watering done by them if the person chooses? It would be voluntary, and you could sign up for that service. They might want to charge for it but you might even want to pay for that.

You wouldn't have to tell them that you can't do the watering. After 28+ years there I think you could get by with just suggesting this change in policy to them, and it wouldn't be their business what your reasons are. You might be just tired of watering shrubs after 28+ years.

[Sunshine 2]

Yet another acquaintance hospitalized with COVID. This one on a ventilator and will likely pass away. Another was hospitalized (unvaccinated) and very sick but was lucky enough not to pass away, and yet will have long hauler syndrome.

People, get your vaccines now.
It matters not whether you barely have contact with others. It only takes one instance with this aggressive form of Delta Covid.

The misinformation out there about the vaccines is appalling and those who spread it have blood on their hands.
No, there is no tracking device on the vaccine.
No, it is not a Chinese Conspiracy.
No, there is no evidence that in 30 years time postvaccine you will have major illness problems ,but there is plenty of evidence you will die or become very sick without it.
No it is not a liberty issue, any more than it is a liberty issue that you have to wear clothes outside your home, or you cannot poop in the street.
No, masks will not interfere with getting enough oxygen: But COVID will. Masks are not comfortable, but the discomfort is no where as bad as COVID.

And the list goes on. Perhaps you can add your own to the list.

[agate]

Sad news there, Sunshine. People are believing everything they see on the Internet and don't seem to know how to sort the reliable information from the vast sea of misinformation that is out there. I hope everyone here has been vaccinated but judging from that recent poll, it looks as if some haven't been yet.

This virus has shown us what it can do. It can develop other versions of itself that are worse. It is determined to survive. I don't know why we humans aren't more determined to survive.