Wednesday January 24 2024

Ado Annie, ASN, RN · Jan 24, 2024

Joe, how far would you have to go to see the total eclipse?

We have talked about trying to see the totality of the eclipse. First thought we might drive to San Antonio and visit my sister. Also briefly considered driving to Indianapolis and including visits to family back in Indiana. As it turns out, I need to fly to Phoenix the next day. We *could* go to San Antonio and I could fly out of there, but sister's house isn't in a state where she could have guests right now and I suspect motels are full or filling up fast. Plus, what would we do with Gma? I'm not sure if Hubs is hoping that Rose-the-Gma-sitter would stay with her a couple of nights? I doubt she'd be up for that. Our pets make her nervous. (she's kind of scare of cats, and apparently Dory the dog snapped at her once).

Anyway, one other possibility is to make a day trip of it and drive to southeastern Oklahoma. There are some state parks where we could go to see the eclipse. I like this idea, and Rose might be willing to stay through a really long day with Gma. It's probably a 3-3.5 hour drive. We could leave around 7 or 8 and be home by 7 or 8, I'd think. We could do the same and drive to Dallas, but ... ugh... Dallas traffic is horrible under the best of circumstances.

No Stars In My Eyes · Jan 24, 2024

Slept well, woke up at 10:30 AM, but did not go back to sleep. Sitting up in bed having coffee; Momo has had her trip down to the den, she ate her breakfast, and did her biznezz on her peepad. What a GOOD GIRL! Now she is under the down blanket by my feet.

I turned on the electric fireplace so the den will be warmed up for Nannie when I get her up. Gosh, I wish I could just get up and go out. I feel so STUCK here at times.

How can I do errands or make appointments (bank, lawyer, nail-salon, pet store, Walmart pharmacy, Lowe's, SSA, thrift shop....) if I don't know what days or times I can choose? I'm feeling kind of edgy about it, but SiL assured me again yesterday that she will be able to give me some more time off "soon". She actually asked me if I would consider going on Medicaid so I can be paid to take care of Nannie through their family care-givers program. My answer was Uh-Uh, no way! I am not giving up my Medicare coverage, for numerous reasons.

Time to get OOB and get dressed so I can start my day. (meh.)

Ado Annie, ASN, RN · Jan 24, 2024

Stars, Hubs has often expressed that he feels stuck like that, too. I hope you can get to where you know you'll have a certain day of the week "off" because your SiL will plan to have Nannie.

No Stars In My Eyes · Jan 24, 2024

Ado, I remember when I was VERY young, going out in the EARLY morning to climb up to the widow's walk in my Dad's boss's house (where my parents used to live before I was born) to see a total eclipse of the sun. According to Carly Simon's song, you and/or Joe should fly "your Lear Jet up to Nova Scotia, to see the total eclipse of the sun...." (from her song "You're So Vain", although the rest of that song doesn't actually apply to either of you!)

I hate to say this out loud, but at the age of 94, and in her condition Nannie should really be moving along. She is so afraid of dying I think she is digging in her heels deeply about it. Of course that would start another round of paperwork, since I am the sole beneficiary, except for the 1/2 of 1% of the value of the house. I don't plan on selling or moving out any time soon. But it would still mean lawyer's appointment(s) and other bureaucratic B-S. Not to mention having her funeral and burial, etc. UGH. This is under the heading, "Be Careful What You Wish For". Anyway, I know y'all understand where I am coming from about all this. *sigh*

Stars! Get up and get dressed, NOW!

allnurses Guide · Jan 24, 2024

Hello all from far Northern CA.

I only occasionally check out AN but may change that. I have some time on my hands now that I took a break from hospice nursing. Although, I'm busy being grandma too.

Spidey is married and has a 7 month old daughter. I think he was just a few months old when I found AN. Crazy.

I still hang with many of you over on FB. I know Tweety is headed to a great vacation. I've actually become a vegan due to his influence (and trying to get my cholesterol down). Nice to see that so many of you are all still here.

steph

Ado Annie, ASN, RN · Jan 24, 2024

Wowza. Spidey's a dad. Good to see you here! My guys were probably about 10 when I stumbled onto AN when I was trying to decide if this would be my new career. And since they just turned 29...

toomuchbaloney · Jan 24, 2024

NEB had a colonoscopy this morning, it was -31° with clear skies and no aurora when we left for the hospital in the dark.

Good to see you posting again, Steph.

Stars, many of us retirees feel stuck from time to time. Finding other ways to occupy our time and thoughts is important as the book clubs and gatherings and meet ups reflect.

No Stars In My Eyes · Jan 24, 2024

Spidey is a father now????? Holy Smoke, he was kind of a pipsqueak when I started posting with AN. // Steph, I still think of you when I type out the word "sloth" because you used it so regularly (NOT because I think you are slothful!) Anyway, it's good to see you back here; so stick around!

I took Nannie out with me to do a few errands, but left Momo at home. She went up to our bedroom , and came barreling downstairs when we got back.

The pharmacy did not have Nannie's Mirtazipine filled when we got there. I had to call the doc's office to get them to fax it in and make sure they know she has been out of it for two nights, so we can get it ASAP..... but I am not planning to go out again today. It better be there by tomorrow. I'm going to TRY to get up earlyish , like, in time to be able to sneak out and get the med, and a few other items. COFFEE is the first on my list ("of the best things in life!"--Hall and Oates.)

Nannie told me 8 times in 20 minutes that I was such a good driver and she liked going out in the car with me. But she also started being a back-seat-driver, which she has never done (with me, anyway) before. "There's a car coming out up ahead.", "There is a man who is at his mailbox.", "There's someone walking on the other side of the street."....and she actually pumped the brakes a couple of times! Kind of like when she explains something on the TV that I am watching with her; I tell her that I am watching the same thing as she is and she doesn't need to tell me what's going on, or who said what about what. ? (I did NOT say that 98% of the time she has the people identified wrongly, as well as their actions.)

I told her when we got back home, that since she didn't have her afternoon nap, she could go ahead and doze off for a few hours until I have to wake her up to eat supper.(Lasagna tonight) She demurred, saying she wasn't tired at all, but now she is on her way to Nap-Land regardless of how sleepy she says she isn't.

I spoke with the receptionist at the lawyer's office about how much it would cost to change my will, and "with all four things" that need to be changed and specified (beneficiary, power of health attorney, financial attorney and something else) it will probably cost between $350-$400. EGADS!

The SC Health Dept has cashed the $15 check I had to send them for two copies of hubby's birth certificate, so I SUPPOSE the documents are on there way to me....now that I don't need them because BiL found a tattered copy of hubby's birth certificate yesterday or the day before. So, I can't call them and ask why it has to take 6 to 8 weeks for something to get done there, and tell them to return my check and say "Thanks for nothing!" I mean, y'know, It's NOT a big city there, even if they are under the umbrella of the "SC Health Dept." Ah, bureaucracy, I hate it more and more every day, for all the good THAT does me!

I hope to be able SOON to make an appt with SSA, because I have all MY ducks and all hubby's ducks in a row. But I can't make the appt until I know when SiL will be here for Nannie-duty! Maybe I should just go ahead and make the appt and let SiL know when it is so she, or BiL, or my niece, could step in for me for a while. Things are still complicated, but at least we are incrementally inching forward. It can be a little excruciating. As they say in the Armed Services, "Hurry up and wait.."

I have to snack on something to calm the little irritation bug circling around in my brain right now.

nursej22, MSN, RN · Jan 25, 2024

Good, rainy afternoon. I was able to get out for a short walk between rain showers. The dogs, rain, and snow melt have turned the backyard into a swamp. They come in looking like creatures from the black lagoon. They both have white legs and white bellies, but sometimes you can't tell. I spent the morning teaching myself, via YouTube, to crochet a hanger onto a kitchen towel. MiL used to make them, but they've all gone threadbare, and dh won't use a kitchen towel otherwise. I'm taking a break and watching Killers of the Flower Moon on my computer. Youngest ds and I won the virtual trivia last night, out of 14 teams. He knew most of the apocalyptic movies. The only 2 I even knew were Mad Max and the Matrix. He is also good on the music round. I'm good for general knowledge and 60s and 70s TV shows.

I'm sure NEB is finished and home, had a good meal and having a nap. I don't miss having to go out in -30 weather. That's so cold your bare skin just hurts.

Stars, my sister has Medicare/Medicaid and seems happy with it, but I think it varies from state to state.

Where is the eclipse? We had one here about 5 years ago, and I thought it was very cool. It was almost eerie as the sky darkened, the temperature dropped and the birds stopped singing.

Hi Steph! And welcome to grandma-hood. 7 months! Such a fun age. Smiley, and drool-y, but they can't move and get into trouble, yet.

Editorial Team / Admin · Jan 25, 2024

Hello all!

We had a good day at Disneyland yesterday, got our steps in and visited with a few ppl. Saw the other "dapper" couple again, that was nice! We have been going on Tuesdays to hopefully see some ppl we met, who had dressed as the three fairies (Flora, Fauna, and Merriweather) on the last Dapper Day. We saw them once after Dapper Day, and haven't bumped into them since, unfortunately. It was nice weather and good to be outdoors. Heard some good bands.

Today I walked with my friend S, we got two miles in, and although we broke no speed records, at least we were moving for an hour! 57 degrees while we were walking, which is SO much nicer than 97 degrees in the Summer! She left me with a lemon bread and some scones she had baked, which we will enjoy tonight.

I see Tweety landed safely in Delhi and is at his hotel. It's so nice to travel vicariously!

Not much else planned for the rest of the week.

Have a good evening!