Part II August Chit/Chat

[agate]

Peg, I'm so sorry about your husband. Maybe he can relax and have more time to do things he'd like to do during retirement, though--?

Hope the union can come through for him.

renee, those HUD inspections are a pain. I prefer to be here myself because you never know who's coming in to your apartment or what they might accidentally break. Also, I'm interested in just what it is they're inspecting.

Jeanie, those Idaho fires look really bad. I understand they're only about 7% under control and are threatening Yosemite.

[Cherie]

Lovely here on the East Coast with temps in the 70s and humidity in the 80%and RAIN for 2 days followed by forecast sun. It doesn't get much better than this

[SalpalSally]

It's Hump Day..LOL... Only registered and activated users can see links., Click Here To Register...

[Cherie]

LONG day at work. Then Mom and Dad call to say they have decided not to do the recommended therapy for Dad's prostate Cancer because of the beginning to middle Alzheimer's. dad does not want to take care of Prostate when Alzheimer's may have him in a nursing home for months or years. His doc is upset. But more than that, since treatment plan has been changed it means I need to go back up in three weeks and go back to the doc with him so he knows the consequences of his decision. He cannot start the next suggested treatment until November at the earliest and the interim therapy, if he does not do the treatment planned, is chemo and he does not want to do that.

Saw my PCP today and he is saying I need to sepaarte myself from this...yeah, right! How many of you, with a parent who has a progressive chronic cancer, would not go back to the doc for treatment reset???

Not a good night.

[Jeanie Z]

:) Hi everyone. Today was the busiest day I have had in along time. I began at the vet at 8 AM for grooming. Then to my mechanic and made an appointment next Wednesday to fix my van AC leak as it was 105 today and it is only warmish cool air.

Then to the beauty salon to pay my hairdresser the $10, I owed her. I picked up the dog and went to the Post Office and then to the Credit Union to deposit the check from the family trust, which is now closed YAY! Bill got the house listed with a realtor and I found a new man to do the lawn, hedges and edging at the house for $40 a time.

When I got home I watched the US open Tennis on the computter. I took 1/4 of a Provigil this morning so I made it through all that. I also went to K mart and got a string self wringing mop, a sponge mop and a new bucket. My dog going on 17 is peeing in the house on the tile 3 to 5 times a day not. I am keeping a bucket of Spic and Span and bleach so I can wipe them up each time I find one. That is getting very old and I have to be careful not to run the scooter where the mopped spots are until they dry.

My new little house scooter is wonderful. It is so much faster than my old one and the charge lasts longer. Gary please let us know how you are doing. Peg sorry about Joe's job. Anyone who has not checked in here in awhile please do. You are all in my prayers. Jeanie :)

[SalpalSally]

Jeanie, get some doggie pee pads and scatter them around. Doggie will be
attracted to them and pee, even poo. Praise him and hopefully, he'll do it
there, every time. Gather up and pitch. Won't have to mop floor each time.

I love my little indoor scooter too. Don't know what I'd do without it. I even
used it in the hospital for rehab.

[Cherie]

Spasms starting again and fatigue is getting pretty intense. I think this has a lot to do with the stress of running back and forth to NY to tend to parents and still trying to keep working and on top of rentals,etc. I think I need to get the pool going again and resume daily exercise. When I am this exhausted , it tells me I need it.

Dad and Mom called last night to say they have decided to stop the cancer treatments and let nature take its course. It "doesn't seem like good stewardship" of the resources available when dementia is taking hold and BP and Blood sugars are poorly controlled. Even though the prostate cancer is very advanced, the docs have told him that is probably not what will take him out and he really does not want to be in a nursing home with the cancer under control and his mental capacities gone. I cannot disagree with him. He saw his Dad live 28 years being treated for prostate cancer, have three strokes and dementia and go that way in a nursing home. He saw his sister spend the last 2 years of her life in a nursing home not knowing family and frustrated and angry because she was not "free" to be where she wanted to be. I think he is getting scared. But this means instead of the next couple of months off, I probably have to go back in just about three weeks.

I have decided that I need to go off two Boards of Directors for our condos (as treasurer on both) at the annual meeting in November. It is an unnecessary thing and there are others who are willing to do it. I have also set hours for my time at work and am cutting back from about 35 hours a week to 25 without sacrificing income. Today, I bought another small filing cabinet and have organized my home office so there is not the clutter visually that can be tiring in a small space where much time is spent. So...I am taking my advice (Gary!) and trying to work smarter and letting unnecessary things go and focus on energy conservation and relationships.

[Jeanie Z]

:) Hi everyone. Cherie I am sorry your Father is in that shape. I too can understand his thinking about the nursing home. I am really concerned you have so many obligations and so much stress and it cannot be healthy for you.

I agree the exercise helped you before and it might be helpful now too. Maybe you could turn over the treasurer duties now instead of waiting for November. I know you are Wonder Woman but put your health first. You and your family are in my prayers as are all this board's posters.

Sally I'd rather mop as he has about 20 favorite spots and he has a doggie door but because he does not see good he does not go out at night now. That is mostly when it happens and also when I am gone he does not go out.

I hope everyone has a good holiday weekend. Jeanie :)

[agate]

I have a question for the dog people here. Is there some reason why a dog can't be trained to use a litter box like a cat does? I've never figured this out. I've seen something called a Potty Patch (PetCo sells them) that is a patch of artificial grass your dog can use indoors.

[Frog42]

We have friends who live on a boat and they have two dogs. They've been litter box trained, so it can be done. I think they were puppies when they got them though.

[Jeanie Z]

:) Hi everyone. I tried pee pads when he had his first peeing accident over a year ago and he did not use them. I think at his age he is set in his ways. Also he obeyed everything David told him to do. When I tell him to do something he just ignores me. I thought if David was not here he would obey me but that has not happened. The only way it happens is if I offer a treat. The new sponge mop works great.

Virginia I read about your diagnosis somewhere on here and I am glad you are able to be independent. How is your brother doing? Cat how are you doing? Has anyone heard from Craig or Howie? Gary please give us an update, and how is Trish's Mother doing? I pray for all of you.

I am enjoying watching the US Open tennis. I used to play 4 to 5 times a week and at one point even taught tennis.

My son Jim has been so busy he has not been available to do some mechanical things I need done. I am trying to find a man I know well enough to trust and see if he would do some of them for money. Andy is here and doing stuff several times a week but he is not mechanical and I hate to ask him to do more.

The darn realtor told Bill he will not show the house until we have someone come in and clean it. Jim and I cleaned the downstairs really good and Bill always kept a neat home and has been there at least once a week checking on things and I am sure his apartment upstairs was left clean. I am frustrated as I'd like to get the house sold so everything is closed out.

Have a safe weekend everyone. Jeanie :)

[agate]

Vicky, that's really interesting. I never thought about it but living on a boat would make it harder to have a dog unless the dog could adjust.

Jeanie, I've been wondering about Cat Dancer too. Hope she'll check in.

I've been taking it very easy lately. It's summer after all and apt to be hot.

No word on the possible new wheelchair yet but it's been only a month. I was told it might take several months to process it.

Enjoy your holiday weekend, everybody.

[Cat Dancer]

I'm here. Thanks for thinking about me. Im doing a bit better. Have managed to stay dry at night this whole week, a record for me. Usually the most I've managed has been a couple of nights in a row. Maybe the Vesicare is finally kicking in. They are having me cath twice a day, once at night, each time after I've tried to pee "normall˙" just to see if I'm retaining too much fluid -- so far I'm not. So thats good, too. Nothing much else to add from here.

[Jeanie Z]

Please check in now and then!

:) Hi everyone. Cat thanks for checking in. I hope Cherie and Gary will too.

I hoped I'd find a friend who is mechanical to do some of the things I need done. Yesterday the young man, Shawn who used to work at the ramp van place came by. He is now doing pressure cleaning and mowing yards. My white tile roof needs pressure cleaning and David was going to do it. Shawn will come and pressure clean the roof and concrete driveway tomorrow. He is also going to check my ramp and see if it needs oil, etc.

He is also going to fix the two tiles damaged by the hurricanes in the past and then seal the roof. I am going to ask him if he can lower the closet racks so I can hang clothes from my chair. His wife cleans houses, so I think God is putting the people I need in my life. I am grateful.

If you are not posting and just reading how about hitting thanks now and then to let us know you are around and ok. Everyone take care. Jeanie :)

[agate]

Jeanie, you must have very high standards. I'm amazed at all you're trying to do now, after you've been through quite a bad time.

Maybe some of the jobs could be put off till later?

Cat, I liked Vesicare the best of the bladder drugs I've tried. The others were Detrol, Ditropan, and Ornade if I remember right.

Glad you're doing better!