For Older People with Sense

PJ she lives at the Mayflower

Martha, It's growing and it looks like you have eyebrows also.  Those are great looking pumpkins....the one looks like those comedy/tragedy masks they use in the theater.  I baked a bunch of cupcakes tonight for Halloween.....am going to take them to my doctors tomorrow. 

Martha, what's that I see? Hair? Real hair? YIPPEE!!!!!!!!!!! We could write a musical about it.....

Hauntie, I'm sorry things are going down with your father. Alzheimer's is so cruel. My mother has it and doesn't remember from one day to the next what she's done. I take comfort in knowing that when I call she knows who I am but I don't know how long that will last. It's been almost 2 years since I've seen her - my parents and sisters live in Los Angeles. She's also in a wheelchair because of a severe spinal stenosis and my father said she's starting to lose some function in her arms also. Right now she's home and has someone who comes in every day from 9AM-9PM so my father is able to manage but I don't know how long that will last. My father's health is, well I guess I would say sort of OK. He had a pacemaker put in a few months ago and his doc wants him to do cardio exercise so what did he do? Joined a gym and got a personal trainer! Not only that, his insurance pays for the gym .You know how we always brag about what our kids and grandkids do? Well, I brag about my 86-yr-old father who goes to the gym and has a personal trainer!

I also live with the guilt - I'm so far away, I can't do things for them, I know they miss me, etc. My sisters both live close to them and can help with whatever they need. From a purely practical point there's really nothing I could do if I were there that my sisters don't do and right now neither of them feels like there's a large burden but the guilt is still there.

Leah

Marthah, you look great!!!  That look is very "in" here in Portland!

Ozzy the dog is going nuts over a guy whose cleaning moss off our roof!  And he's driving me nuts at the same time.  Trick or Treating tonight with 5-6 kiindergarten-firsts.  The adults are going as frantic parents!  

Lisa, your roses are so beautiful.  Even though Portland is the rose city our roses have wilted long ago.  Best thing about fall, though--we just harvested 8 acorn squash.  They are completely delicious.  We also grew pumpkin-pie-pumpkins.  Orange food!  I'm in heaven.

Dragon 

Chrissy, thought of you yesterday when we trooped through Balboa Park..we found a place to park where I waited for you..lucked out...

Awwww...you ladies are awesome! Thank you for all the kudos about the hair. And yes, my eyebrows are coming back too! Lost all of my eyelashes about 2 weeks ago, but new growth is showing.

I've always known I was cutting-edge for Iowa...the unfortunate part is that whatever is vogue on the coasts doesn't hit the midwest for about 2-3 years...I'll have hair by then!

LynMichel, I didn't loose all of my hair via chemo; I shaved it off to a fine stubble. Lost stubble at the front hairline and across the back of my head, so probably lost about 30%. It stopped falling out after my 2nd infusion. I was really glad I shaved though...much better to have stubble come out in the shower than clumps and handfuls everywhere. But everyone has to make that decision for themselves. The chemo was making the skin on my scalp crawl anyway. 

I tried going topless again Sunday afternoon at the grocery. It didn't go quite as well...felt like I was getting a lot of stares, so put my stocking hat on for most of it. :::shrug::: Will keep trying...

Thanks again, ladies! You really made my day! 

Martha I'll probably shave my head too.  A hairdresser told me that your follicles get sore from chemo.  So it is better to shave your head.

   I only had four trick or treaters last night.....very sad....I told my neighbor I think next year we need to put up a sign pointing down our street...........sooooooo, I shall be taking a lot of leftover candy to the office today.  

 Just hang in there with the hair, Martha....wear it with pride, you earned it....and if people give you strange looks just give them a big smile and say something like, I am just so thankful it came back or I just got sick of wigs. People can be downright rude.....my mother always told me don't stare, it could be you.   My hairdresser who also went through chemo told me NOT to shave my head, just buzz it really short.   Right now mine is growing like crazy and I cant get over all the dark stuff growing in.

I will tell dear old Dad hello from you when I talk to him Chrissy.....actually I am talking to him again, got over my mad about the car.   But now he is having regrets already.   He has not said anything to me,but Ron my old beau, has been there for a few days finishing the tile in the bathroom (finally) and he said my father is saying things like "I am not going to be able to afford this car payment", "Maybe I should have just rented a car when I needed one"......He won't dare say anything to me I am sure.  The sad thing is, even if he took the car back now, he would still end up losing thousands of dollars since it depreciates the minute you drive it off the lot.  I have already told Tim we are not going to help him pay for it, but we will help him figure something out.

     The bathroom is looking good and I will post some pictures when it is done.  I am going to start planning for a big  Xmas party there so people can come and see the changes we have made in the house.

    I went back to my onco's office today, gave them a copy of the email the onco at MDA sent me specifically stating the records he wants to look at so maybe this time, they will get it right.   The halloween cupcakes I took them yesterday should help.

Have a good day everyone.....today is my early day.  I sure do hate going to work in the dark. 

I live in an over-50 "lifestyle" area, so no kids. I hated the ring of the doorbell and Halloween really stressed me out. I made my DH go to the door. I have NO idea why it stressed me out so much. Like, what am I repressing???? Even now when the doorbell rings I stress out. Same with the phone. I consider both an invasion of my privacy, someone trying to break into my haven of peace.

Barbe and Dragon.... another one here who really hates the 'phone . I will very rarely pick up the 'phone, even when I am sitting next to it. I have a special 'code' for the 'phone....only children and G/children know how to ring so I will answer...I won't use a cell 'phone...no way...I hate the things. Have major complaints from people who can't get hold of me....I don't want to waste any time at all chattering. My ex sister-in-law was always mad with me because I would never let her know what my 'code' was....she was a real chatterbox.

Winter must be coming....today I have found out, filled and hung up all my bird feeders. I love to watch the bird antics whilst drinking my wake up morning coffee. It has been so very cold here today. Sunny, but cold. I have switched on my central heating this evening....I was hoping to be able to last out another week or two, but it is sooo cold in the bathroom on a night, and even worse on a morning when I am getting dressed. I dread to think what it's going to cost when I ring up to get my oil tank filled. I only have about 2 weeks supply left from last year, and the cost of oil has absolutely shot up since last year. I filled up my car today, I had about a quarter of a tank left when I pulled into the garage, and it cost me £87...about $138. Central heating oil isn't as expensive as fuel for cars, but it's not far behind. As over 60's we get an extra allowance of £200 per household for a winter fuel allowance...that won't go very far....and it was announced yesterday that it is being CUT to half next year....it should be being doubled, at least, the way things are galloping out of control.

I have had a letter today to ask if I would like a visit from social services so they can  'go thru' my finances and see if they can see if I qualify for any extra pension. NO, they bl**dy well can't...talk about Big Brother is watching you !! ( What they mean is have a look see what's in my bank, so they can decide they have 'made a mistake' and I am being overpaid, so they will be taking away a slice of my pension !! ) The last people I want 'going thru' my finances is the Social Services/government !!!! We were all MADE to join a government scheme many years ago, on the understanding we would get a reasonable amount at 60....but they are wriggling and squiggling away to cut down the amount we were promised if they think we might have a few pounds in the bank ! Anyone with any savings is having to declare what they have and seem to be getting a lesser pension than promised. Those who have spent all their money on drink and cigarettes over the years, and have no savings, are getting alsorts of extra help. They are getting their rent paid (these sort never have their own property ) They get their local council tax paid, which is ( well mine is) £1750 ...$2,800..per year ,paid ...plus allowances for family to care for them as they become unable to cope....but can always manage the yearly trip to Spain !!  Just before I was 60 my accountant and I had a sort out, and on paper I now have just the minimum I am allowed to have...yes, allowed. I have worked 7 days a week all my life, and damned hard, and I am 'allowed' so much money in the bank before the pension that was promised to us is pared away. My accountant did some 'spiriting away' ....just as those who 'spirited' their cash into the pubs and on cigarettes had done for years and years. It has turned out to be a very unfair system pensionwise for most who worked hard for years. I am still officially working, It is all to do with tax allowances and earnings...which I always have to keep under a certain level...but I can still collect my pension, and don't want anyone messing with that.

Off for a nice long shower, in a nice warm bathroom, with nice warm towels. I might as well take advantage of the heating !

Isabella.

Chrissy,

Glad you have NO progression.  Great news.  Just hope they can diagnose the liver discomfort.  Snowing here today.  Trying to get photos of the birds in my feeders.  Will send you some if I do. 

Marybe, hope you can get the info to MDA that they need.

Lane  

Last year we had more kids trick or treating than this year.  We were left with too much of the sweet stuff.

Isabella I won't complain anymore about the price of gas compared to what you pay.  I wish the world would be a kinder place and everything would be more fair.

Marybe thanks for the advice on buzzing my hair.  I remember when I was growing up the boys looked like a bowl was put on their head after getting their head buzzed.

lgood to see you allyson.. Hope those moles turn out to be nothing. I just had the stitches removed on y leg from my mohs surgery. a bit sore, still, too near the musclr. but all good margins!

  wishing your MIL well....3jays

Chrissy  - so glad the CT scan came back negative. Maybe your liver is protesting your 6 week tour of the USA and all the eating out and fancy drinks.

No trick or treaters for me. I live in a basement apartment, in a single family home. If the kids would just walk around the side of the house (where an outside light is shining bright) they would get a twofer. I don't know why the kids don't bother to come. Most of the houses on my street have basement apartments, so it's not like they don't know I'm here. The only year I got any kids was when I put out a path of luminaries that led to my door. 

DB#2 trick or treat experience at Dad's house - doorbell rings - opens door - gives out candy. Dad asks "Who was that?" DB - "Trick or treaters. It's Halloween." Dad - "That's nice." Doobell rings again - repeat - over and over. I know it was frustrating for him. I probably should have gone over there and given him a break, but I didn't think of that until after trick or treat was over.It actually used to be worse. Once my Dad stopped answering the door himself on Halloween, he used to want the kids to come in the house so he could see them. He just couldn't get it that, unless they knew us really well, parents didn't want their kids coming into the house to get the candy. 

My avitar is one of 2 pumpkins I carved this year. The other was a witch/man in the moon optical illusion. I use the patterns, where you poke the holes and then carve by connecting the dots. Makes an impressive  carved  pumpkin, with not a whole lot of artistic talent involved.

Chrissy  - Just curious. What are the Halloween traditions in Australia?