Less that 600 days!

592, to be exact. Just thought I would throw that out there because, on occasion, that is the only thing that keeps me going.

What an adventure today was! I'm supposed to be going back to work now. The "company" says they need me. I suppose maybe. Anyway, the great plan was to take mom back to her place about 8:00 and show up at work at 9:00. Only two hours late.

There were two snags in my little plan.

1. Mom didn't wake up until after 8:00; and then when she DID wake up
2. She refused to go.

#2 was the big problem. She told me that she felt abandoned and wanted to go live in Texas, or wherever my brother lives (he lives in Florida) and be with someone who would actually care about her, take care of her and help her. She wanted someone she could count on.

I probably don't need to go into detail on my feelings about those statements. Not that my brother wouldn't fill all those rolls. He's utterly awesome and would SO be there for her if he didn't live 3000 miles away. My thoughts really centered around me. It's all about me, after all.

But I digress.. After an intense, long and emotional discussion she agreed to go back and CONSIDER living there. But first I took her to get her hair done (I know.. girls! The things that make them feel better!) and then I took her to lunch (Food! The universal fix for anything!). I settled her in and left her alone for two hours - as a test. She passed.

I have charged a couple lol's (little old ladies) with bringing mom into the community environment. Yeah Cinny and Barb! They promise to drag her kicking and screaming (if necessary) to bingo games, bunco games, crossword puzzle hour, music minute, wii bowling..

Now we wait to see if she is able to tolerate the night and the next few days.

Slumber Party!

This is Silverton Reservoir. It's beautiful in it's fall colors. I was there today enjoying beautiful weather and gorgeous scenery.

You see.. I made a mistake at work. About 3:00 I said to a co worker, "Only 3 more hours and I'll have worked a WHOLE day! How unusual will that be??" Shortly after my phone rang. My mom was in a panic. She was claustrophobic and wanted me to come and remove all the stuff on her walls - and her furniture - and well.. everything. I went over and whisked her away for a drive in the country. I thought for sure that would make her better. Then I bought her ice cream and a hamburger. Ice cream almost always makes ME feel better and I was raised to believe that food fixes everything. ("Here Sharon, have some cookies/cake/soup/jello/pork/potatoes. That will make your stomach ache/broken heart/fender bender/bad day/lost car keys all better!")

When I got her back to her apartment she was still unsettled. I removed all the photos that we painstakingly hung. Not good enough. I removed the TV I had Peter take over there on Sunday. Not enough. I removed the lamp and hid the plants and clock and .. well.. everything. she was still in a tizzy.

So I brought her home. I hauled Peter's bed down the stairs, set up her room for her and made her comfy. She was asleep in less than 20 minutes.

Tomorrow I will feed her a really big breakfast and add some ice cream and cookies. That'll fix it!

Halloween costume?

Guess again..

I'm sick. I have cooties. A wracking cough, stuffy nose, laryngitis, a bit of a fever even. I was all snuggled in on the couch, covered up, working at sweating away my germs.

The phone rings. The mom is in a panic - she's having chest pains and she needs her niece there. I resisted suggesting she call her (don't you think that took amazing self control?) and told her I would be right there.

Once I got there I was issued this lovely accessory. The on-call nurse and I determined that the chest pains were "normal" and that she just needed to breathe as her heart was oxygen starved. Of course Mom couldn't hear me and with the mask she couldn't read my lips so fun and games ensued.

Now I am going to reposition myself on the sofa - I wish someone was here to bring me a hot toddy!

It's a hat!

I know.. It doesn't LOOK like a hat.. but it is. Or at least it started out that way. 64 stitches wide.. just like the pattern prescribed. But as I completed rows I noticed my stitches were not a consistent tension. So I decided to turn my hat into a practice piece. The good news is that I've picked up the knitting again.

Things have been a little crazy in my house in the last week. We moved mom into an assisted living facility last Friday. My office, not satisfied with my return to normal hours, has yanked my telework priveledges, plus we have the mandatory furlough day tomorrow, my laptop died and Jill and I have cooties.

Work, cooties & laptop issues are transient and not a big deal. Mom is settling into her new place fairly well. I've gotten three or 4 phone calls from her in a panic, or semi-panic asking how to turn on the shower, how to get to the dining room, that sort of thing. I called the facility and THEY took care of her. How nice is that? Don't get me wrong - except for today I've been there at least twice a day to help her adjust. But she sure doesn't need my germs so I will keep my distance until I'm germ-free.

I heard from Korinna of The Goat King's daughter this week. She has offered to let me milk one of her goats. How cool is that? I'm thinking of making this a Sunday excursion.. but I haven't contacted them yet and don't know if they are available - it may have to wait a few weeks.

So there you are.