May chitchat

[agate]

I'm with you on that. I can't imagine watching movies or TV on a phone or tablet, either, yet I have seen people doing it as well.

I have an old 32" flat screen TV connected to my PC. Not only can I see what's happening on the screen, I can read it....usually (lol).

ETA: Kanopy looks interesting, but our library doesn't issue cards. You show them your driver's license or state ID card, and if your address is in town, you're good to go. I'm not a university student or professor, either, so I guess that leaves me out. :(

I've never been to the actual library here though I've lived here nearly 14 years. I have no library card though I seem to have a library card number. The library system here has an outreach program, and many towns of any size have such a program, I think. They mail out books, audiobooks, DVDs, etc., to patrons, and include the materials for returning them (usually a zipper bag with a preaddressed card, and you don't pay any postage). The library Website shows what materials are available, and you look up movie titles and request them. The loan period is usually about 6 weeks. Have you checked to find out if your community has a program like this? You shouldn't be doing without library services. They're supposed to be available to everyone, not just certain people.

[flatcap]

I haven't thought of that and will have to look into it. Except for following the news, which is depressing, I have been lax about reading in general.

To change gears a bit, I was wondering if you have ever seen the 2014 documentary, Alive Inside: A Story of Music and Memory? I thought of it today and decided to post a link to it.

The documentary is primarily about the power of music therapy in the treatment of dementia and Alzheimer's. There is also a look at the freeing effect of music on a bedridden patient with MS. The link will take you directly to that part of the film. You can reload the page to start at the beginning, of course.

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

As for licensing in this case, EncourageTV appears to be a legitimate YouTube channel. It has the blue verification check next to its name, so I don't think there are any copyright concerns.

Last but not least, the film is a critique of the American health care system and how it treats senior patients. That alone makes it worth watching.

The runtime of the video is 1:17:50.

[Ikoiko]

Flatcap, I, too, ruminate about past mistakes. Maybe everyone does. Sorry about your therapist.

[agate]

flatcap, thank you so much for the link to the movie. I hadn't heard of it and look forward to watching it. I've been busy lately catching up in my slow way on everything that went undone in the last two weeks but movies are important, and I intend to make the time to see it.

Losing your therapist must have been painful. Someone you've known that long must seem like a very close friend even though the person was a therapist.

The longer we live, the more regrets we're apt to have. Your therapist was probably absolutely right in saying that having regrets is a waste of time.

[flatcap]

You're welcome for the movie link, but I should warn you: Be prepared to cry watching it. It always touches me deeply, and I have seen it several times.

It might indeed be normal to reflect upon our past mistakes as we age.

I also think about the past decisions I made that hurt others. You could even say that I was cruel at times. I can never take back those things.

I think some of the way I behaved among others was a consequence of the way I was raised and the abuse I suffered as a child. My father died when I was eight, and what came next was a nightmare.

Among other things, I was never taught forgiveness. It is a concept that I can only imagine putting to good use, but as far back as I can recall, which is forever, I have never experienced true forgiveness nor given it. I have no idea what it is on an earthly or spiritual level.

If I perceive that someone might hurt me, I immediately head for the door. No explaining, no apologies, just escape. Hit the eject button and get out of there.

This still happens today. I often think about it afterwards, but I am unable to change it. I go into hiding at slightest indication that conflict might be brewing. Let it boil over into just normal conversation, and I am gone, never to return — and I mean never.

I worry that I will disappear from here someday without explanation, but I will try to fight it off. I like it here and hope I can stick around this time instead of running away.

[flatcap]

Ikoiko, sorry to seemingly and suddenly leave you behind in the conversation. That was not my intent.

[Snuggles]

Hi everyone,

I am trying to catch up on the posts here! Sorry for being missing for a while.

My sister came into town over the weekend and I had a small picnic with her, my BIL, my brother, my SIL and my son, his wife and kids. I served hamburgers, hot dogs, some side dishes and everyone brought a dish. The shopping and cleaning were tiring for me. My hubby helped a lot and he cooked the burgers and dogs. Everyone seemed to have a good time and we had great weather for an outside picnic with temperatures in the mid 70's and partly sunny.

We had a lot of leftovers from the picnic and we have been freezing the leftovers and eating the rest. I ate too many desserts that were leftover even though everyone took some home. I will not get on the scale until sometime next week when my body has normalized some! I'm sure I gained a few pounds.

We are in the middle of a stretch of good weather although the temperatures may be getting into the mid 80's later in the week. We turned on our air conditioner this morning for the first time this year. We wanted to make sure it still works since it is over 20 years old. It is cooling the house and still seems to work (fingers crossed).

We signed the contract for our new roof and they expect to install it within the next month. i will be glad to get that done!

Enjoy the day!

[flatcap]

agate & Ikoiko, another place to watch free movies is on YouTube. They must have tens of thousands of them, if not more.

A short list appears at Only registered and activated users can see links., Click Here To Register...

You have to put up with ads, but the price is right: Zero.

There are also quite a few movies on YouTube posted by individuals. Most are public domain, but some are kind of sketchy. If you want a good place to start, this is one of them:

Patterns (1956) Only registered and activated users can see links., Click Here To Register...

Once you've gone there, YouTube suggestions will guide you to other choices on the site. And once you've gone to those, you get more suggestions.

I spend a lot of time on YouTube watching documentaries and so forth. You could call it a bad habit at this point, but it seems pretty harmless.

[Virginia]

Flatcap, I am usually around quite a bit, but have not been due, to my own problems, since you joined. However, I did want to say how sorry I am about your therapist. I have found, in my quite lengthy life, that whomever we care about in our life leaves a void if anything happens to them. As far as having a sense of regret, all I can say is I just hope all the many mistakes I have made are not held against me.

[agate]

Good to hear from you, Snuggles, and it sounds as if you had a nice traditional Memorial Day outing. We with MS pay a steep price sometimes for our social get-togethers though, don't we? Too bad it was tiring. It would be nice if others did all of the effort but we can hardly ask that of them and want to do our part. Maybe we need a magic word to say and presto! There will be the refreshments, all spread out and ready to eat, and another magic word later to whisk away the remainders and do the clean-up.

[flatcap]

Virginia, thank you for your condolences regarding the passing of my therapist.

I hate to say it, but I walked away from her several years ago over a comment she made about my still having a lot of pent-up rage about events in my past. I took that badly and, ironically, did what I usually do: I bailed out.

It wasn't until last Spring when I had a major breakdown that I returned to therapy. I had just one appointment with her, then, like I said, she died.

I felt very close to her, and I seriously doubt I will ever find a replacement, if there even were one, which there is not. There isn't the time to run the entire film of my life, so it's kind of too late.

Moreover, my therapist was the strongest and bravest woman I ever knew. As they say, they broke the mold with her. I miss her greatly and always will.

[Ikoiko]

Virginia, any word on how your nephew died? I am just nosy, you don’t have to answer.

[flatcap]

I went to Who's Online today and it said there were over 800 users online. I find that hard to believe, given that there is hardly ever much traffic on the forums. Very few posts overall in the recent past, and most of those come from right here.

On more solid ground, we have Butter Pecan ice cream. If they didn't make that flavor, I don't know what I would do. It's bad enough that you can't find a decent donut around here.

A person can only take so much.

[agate]

I went to Who's Online today and it said there were over 800 users online. I find that hard to believe, given that there is hardly ever much traffic on the forums. Very few posts overall in the recent past, and most of those come from right here.

On more solid ground, we have Butter Pecan ice cream. If they didn't make that flavor, I don't know what I would do. It's bad enough that you can't find a decent donut around here.

A person can only take so much.

Most of those 800 users are bots. There doesn't seem to be much that can be done about them. If you look at the Member List you'll find any number of bogus registrations. Some of those bogus registrants may be the "users" who are appearing to be online here. They aren't real.

Will the real reality please stand up?

Where in the world might you be that you can't find a decent donut? I thought Dunkin Donuts was just about everywhere, all over the globe. Are their donuts any good? I've never had one. I've heard good things about Krispy Kreme but haven't had those either.

I'm probably not supposed to ask where you are. So please ignore that question if you prefer.

[Virginia]

Ikoiko, don't mind asking. There is no news. He and his wife were legally separated, but still married until June. Due to fact they were still married she is in full charge of everything. My brother called her and she wouldn't answer the phone. He left a message that he wanted his son's phone. This was Monday and we haven't heard anything. We want to know what text messages he sent and received anywhere around when he died. It is a stressful time for my brother and all the family.