Small Talk: The Prayer Closet

[Marshmallow Mollie]

I put out my hummingbird feeder in the late afternoon yesterday. I thought I saw a hummingbird near it an hour later, but then I figured my eyes were just playing tricks on me. Nope! Today I have two!! 

[crazy8s]

5 hours ago, Scarlett45 said:

And there is more snow in the forecast. I cannot. 

mr crazy8s, trying to do 180 locations for facilities is welcoming the cold and snow because it is delaying the need for lawn service at 180 locations which is banned by our current stay at home order. 

he just keeps telling bored location managers who want their lawn treatment/ landscaping work now "it is still snowing and you will have dandelions this year and that's ok, everyone else will have them too"

[Jeeves]

I got more tulips, so I'm sharing again, in case it cheers anyone up. (It's snowing here and I'm about to start talking to my tulip friends. Just saying. 😂)

[Absolom]

My lawn service continues.  He wears a mask and stays outside.  I stay inside with all doors and windows closed.   With all the rain we've had, I'd be growing crop grass without it getting cut.

[Ijustwantsomechips]

Here’s an ironic turn of events 

https://www.wafb.com/2020/04/16/report-attorney-representing-la-pastor-defying-governors-stay-at-home-order-hospitalized-coronavirus/

[crazy8s]

23 minutes ago, Ijustwantsomechips said:

Here’s an ironic turn of events 

https://www.wafb.com/2020/04/16/report-attorney-representing-la-pastor-defying-governors-stay-at-home-order-hospitalized-coronavirus/

he says "I just wasn't careful"  no you fool you were willfully arrogant

Edited April 16, 2020 by crazy8s

[Oldernowiser]

Well, I guess that’s a new twist on ambulance-chasing lawyers...

[GeeGolly]

I am officially bored. Only so much to do everyday when sheltering in place.

[Oldernowiser]

2 minutes ago, GeeGolly said:

I am officially bored. Only so much to do everyday when sheltering in place.

I also find that my initiative to do things like clean, organize, cook, brush dogs, etc. is now less than zero. I spend much too much time sitting in the side yard pretty much staring straight ahead.

We did shlep the dogs down to the empty mall parking lot to walk them this morning....we do this because most of our idiot neighbors let their dogs run loose, despite the leash law. As I am in no way prepared or equipped to break up a four-way dog fight, we drive ours twenty minutes to the mall parking lot to walk them.

The things we do for love...

 

[On the Bias]

2 hours ago, Jeeves said:

I got more tulips, so I'm sharing again, in case it cheers anyone up. (It's snowing here and I'm about to start talking to my tulip friends. Just saying. 😂)

Thanks, @Jeeves!  Tulips are my favorite flower, and yours brightened my day again.   Btw, I wouldn’t worry about talking to them, they look as though they’d invite a confidence, don’t you think?  If they start to talk to you, though . . . .

[Mindthinkr]

4 hours ago, Ohiopirate02 said:

Can you get near the beach in Southeastern North Carolina?  I ask because the Outer Banks, Beaufort, Atlantic Beach, and I think Emerald Isle are all closed to visitors.  I would love to take a drive and at least walk on a beach.  

They plan to open Wrightsville Beach next week, but with limitations. You can still drive to places like there, Fort Fisher, Surf City, and other beaches. They may not be open yet, but you can open your car windows, watch the surf and smell the salt air and hear the seagulls. Also look for areas near rivers where you could get out and watch the brook go babbling by with a picnic. This just challenges us to work out of the box. Find secluded places to enjoy nature. Not the normals, but there is a lot of beauty out there. 

[ChiCricket]

13 hours ago, Scarlett45 said:

And there is more snow in the forecast. I cannot. 

I know! And my husband got it in his head today that he needed to cut our grass today...I'm like..give it time to grow!

I was actually on a huge organizing/cleaning spree just now. Then he came in from mowing (part of)  the lawn. (We have a teeny tiny house with a huge lawn)

My husband: "I need a new lawn mower! That one I have is No Good anyhow!  Can you look on your internet (lol) and see which Sears stores are open?"

 Me: (without looking ) "none" (knowing they're closed because covid)

Him: "What?! How are People supposed to cut their grass!?"

Me: Leaves evenything I'm working on, goes and turns on tablet, and looks up Sears online... "OK..There's one regular store and one outlet store left in Illinois, but you can't go in them, you can only order online, and then do pick-up or delivery."

Him: "Well can you look at your thing (my tablet) and see if they have any floor models?!"

Me: Looks up lawnmowers at Sears outlet..where they only have a $4,000 riding lawn mower, and a bunch of lawnmower parts listed.
 
Him: "can you check the regular Sears?"

Me: shows him everything available..and then repeats the whole dang routine for Menards and Home Depot when he hates the prices at Sears.

 Him: Never mind..I'll just keep using the one I have.

Me: I thought you said it was no good?!

Him: .... no...it's just kind of shaky...never mind anyhow (then walks away without a word of thanks.)🙄😂

Edited April 17, 2020 by ChiCricket

[Bewitched]

54 minutes ago, Mindthinkr said:

Fort Fisher, 

The site of half my elementary and middle school field trips. 

[Oldernowiser]

6 minutes ago, ChiCricket said:

Him: "Well can you look at your thing (my tablet) and see if they have any floor models?!"

I vote you get on your “thing” and order him his own thing!

(My husband is driving me bonkers on the regular, too...and I’m sure he feels the same about me. Of course, as I am perfect in every way, he is wrong.😇)

[latetotheparty]

18 minutes ago, ChiCricket said:

I know! And my husband got it in his head today that he needed to cut our grass today...I'm like..give it time to grow!

I was actually on a huge organizing/cleaning spree just now. Then he came in from mowing (part of)  the lawn. (We have a teeny tiny house with a huge lawn)

My husband: "I need a new lawn mower! That one I have is No Good anyhow!  Can you look on your internet (lol) and see which Sears stores are open?"

 Me: (without looking ) "none" (knowing they're closed because covid)

Him: "What?! How are People supposed to cut their grass!?"

Me: Leaves evenything I'm working on, goes and turns on tablet, and looks up Sears online... "OK..There's one regular store and one outlet store left in Illinois, but you can't go in them, you can only order online, and then do pick-up or delivery."

Him: "Well can you look at your thing (my tablet) and see if they have any floor models?!"

Me: Looks up lawnmowers at Sears at outlet..where they only have a $4,000 riding lawn mower, and a bunch of lawnmower parts listed.
 
Him: "can you check the regular Sears?"

Me: shows him everything available..and then repeats the whole dang routine for Menards and Home Depot when he hates the prices at Sears.

 Him: Never mind..I'll just keep using the one I have.

Me: I thought you said it was no good?!

Him: .... no...it's just kind of shaky...never mind anyhow (then walks away without a word of thanks.)🙄😂

Get him a goat. Goats are cute and their milk makes delicious cheese. 

[Mindthinkr]

40 minutes ago, Bewitched said:

The site of half my elementary and middle school field trips. 

Hmm...the aquarium and the war sites. Hopefully you got to see Venus Fly Traps in the wild. Have you heard of the Fort Fisher Hermit? He was an actual person. Lots of history in New Hanover County (besides Michael Jordan being from Wilmington lol).  

[ChiCricket]

40 minutes ago, Oldernowiser said:

I vote you get on your “thing” and order him his own thing!

(My husband is driving me bonkers on the regular, too...and I’m sure he feels the same about me. Of course, as I am perfect in every way, he is wrong.😇)

  Believe you me..I have tried to get him online...my whole family has seen me try, over and over, for years.  Of course, many of them thought "well *I* can get papi(dad) online..he just doesn't listen to mom.. I'll teach him."  H A !

Every single one of them (my grown kids and grands) couldn't do it either (and no, I wasn't there, intimidating him..I left each time.) 

  Btw, he is very smart and capable in so very many ways, just not going online.💗

He does our all our house upkeep..can fix anything to do with our plumbing or car maintenance,  mows our huge yard, shovels snow, paints ...etc

heck...

after he retired he even started doing  the laundry! He says he "likes" doing it!😱

So yeah... I'm SURE I'm not perfect. (far,far from it)

I'm just lucky he can't get in here to write about me.😁

Edited April 16, 2020 by ChiCricket

[MargeGunderson]

It was snowing here this morning when my sprinklers went off. That’s a New England spring for you. 
 

[Westiepeach]

56 minutes ago, ChiCricket said:

I know! And my husband got it in his head today that he needed to cut our grass today...I'm like..give it time to grow!

I was actually on a huge organizing/cleaning spree just now. Then he came in from mowing (part of)  the lawn. (We have a teeny tiny house with a huge lawn)

My husband: "I need a new lawn mower! That one I have is No Good anyhow!  Can you look on your internet (lol) and see which Sears stores are open?"

 Me: (without looking ) "none" (knowing they're closed because covid)

Him: "What?! How are People supposed to cut their grass!?"

Me: Leaves evenything I'm working on, goes and turns on tablet, and looks up Sears online... "OK..There's one regular store and one outlet store left in Illinois, but you can't go in them, you can only order online, and then do pick-up or delivery."

Him: "Well can you look at your thing (my tablet) and see if they have any floor models?!"

Me: Looks up lawnmowers at Sears at outlet..where they only have a $4,000 riding lawn mower, and a bunch of lawnmower parts listed.
 
Him: "can you check the regular Sears?"

Me: shows him everything available..and then repeats the whole dang routine for Menards and Home Depot when he hates the prices at Sears.

 Him: Never mind..I'll just keep using the one I have.

Me: I thought you said it was no good?!

Him: .... no...it's just kind of shaky...never mind anyhow (then walks away without a word of thanks.)🙄😂

Um... are you also married to my husband? Because I swear we have had the exact same conversation...

[Ohiopirate02]

50 minutes ago, Mindthinkr said:

Hmm...the aquarium and the war sites. Hopefully you got to see Venus Fly Traps in the wild. Have you heard of the Fort Fisher Hermit? He was an actual person. Lots of history in New Hanover County (besides Michael Jordan being from Wilmington lol).  

I had to laugh at your aside.  Everyone in all of Eastern North Carolina knows MJ is one of us.  I have three siblings and I believe he (and him not making the varsity basketball team as a freshman) was brought up at all of our high school graduations.  

[ChiCricket]

3 hours ago, Westiepeach said:

Um... are you also married to my husband? Because I swear we have had the exact same conversation...

So...how is he managing his double life with this whole lockdown thing going on!? Does our husband have a super secret tele-port machine to travel between our houses?!

 

Edited April 17, 2020 by ChiCricket

[ChiCricket]

DISNEY SING ALONG on ABC right now if anyone is interested.

( yes,I have eclectic tastes) 😊  

If you missed it, they're going to replay it tomorrow on Hulu. 4pm central (you'll have to do the math for where you are)

Here's the full line up if anyone wants to see it. (it felt way too short to me.)

Edited April 17, 2020 by ChiCricket

[CherryMalotte]

If the weather turns decent after the snow I'm going to find a couple of out of the way BFE cemeteries I've been wanting to visit.  What can I say...I love old gravestones, and I do have a lot of pioneer relatives around these here parts.  I haven't visited my grandma's resting place (I was working, long story, no service so no big deal) yet so I could take a drive out that way.  I'd normally give it a couple more weeks when the tree leaves are finally making their appearance and it's pretty out in the country but I'm starting to get a bit of cabin fever.  And I need to get away from the husband for awhile.  For a long while. 

It does make me giggle a bit though - he could give a shit about distances and is bitching about why no one can work, the numbers aren't real, blah blah blah.  He had been dropping in on his brother thinking they'd sit and listen to music loud and watch random concert videos but his sister who lives with the brother isn't having any of it.  She gets very pissy when they start in and basically makes such a pest of herself my husband has given up going over there.  Awwww ain't that too bad?  Doesn't your heart bleed?  

If I make it through the next month without divorcing him it'll be a frickin' miracle.

Edited April 17, 2020 by CherryMalotte

[Ijustwantsomechips]

This story is getting more ridiculous by the moment. It’s the same church that violated the governor’s orders.

https://www.wafb.com/video/2020/04/16/elderly-member-life-tabernacle-church-central-dies-covid-records-say/

[Jynnan tonnix]

Various things going on here....Even though I suppose there are those who think our way of basically combining three households may be slightly outside the ideal, it is what it is right now. My mom has basically moved in with us as she is in too much pain to even think about managing by herself, so we are down to two houses, and I still watch my granddaughter for a while two or three times a week so my daughter can comfortably do her job as a librarian from home. And my son-in-law is still considered an essential worker, so is going in every day, but so far continues to be so far so good as far as any illness in his workplace. Mr Jyn basically does all our shopping, so we are basically down to one person with a job, and one person doing a weekly shopping trip between our three addresses.

Anyway, as I mentioned, Mom has been in tremendous pain lately. We've been talking to her Nurse-practitioner at the doctor's office (her long-time primary physician just retired), and trying to find a balance, because a lot of her pain is nerve-related , residually, from a bout of shingles she had long ago which has flared up again, plus some sciatica and other nerve pain from the spinal surgery she had a couple of years ago which helped some things but gave her more problems otherwise. She also has severe constipation, partly because it's been a long-term issue, and partly from the Tylenol 3 she is taking....so, basically she is almost catatonic with pain, and I don't know what to do for her. I have a bunch of things I want to discuss with her nurse when she calls again tomorrow, but I still feel a bit helpless. I've given her a couple of enemas over the last two days, which have helped some, but not a whole lot.

Son-in-law's birthday is on Saturday, too, so we will do a little get-together of our family group for that. Will try to come up with a reasonably festive dinner out of what's still lurking in the freezers LOL.  I't kind of amazing the sorts of things I;m still able to glean from them. I don't have a good birthday card for him or a present, at the moment, but have been working on a drawing of my daughter and granddaughter from a photo on my daughter's facebook recently in place of a card. Hope he likes it. It's coming along pretty well so far.

[Oldernowiser]

I’m so sorry your mom is in such pain... I spent a year with chronic pain with a tailbone and right butt area injury so severe I couldn’t sit down, lie down or sleep...it was hell. I tried everything. 

Some ideas...lidocaine patches can work pretty well sometimes and don’t have the systemic side effects. I honestly never had much relief from any of the opioids (like T3) and as you noted, the side effects were brutal. Have they prescribed any stool softeners or Miralax with those? My best combination in the end was diazepam plus ibuprofen in conjunction with physical therapy. 

Big hug to you, Jyn. Sounds like you’re holding everything together beautifully but that doesn’t mean it’s easy!
 

[Love2dance]

@ChiCricket, mr. dance and I are doing pretty well with this stay at home thing, all things considered, and are trying to not get on each other’s nerves as much as possible. But, what we don’t do is watch much tv together....our tastes are polar opposite. He likes action programs with way more violence than I can stomach, and watching the Duggars or Project Runway would be torture for him. Fortunately, he has a man cave, in what used to be a garage, where he watches tv, and I hog the living room tv.
But where we are JUST like you is that he doesn’t really use a computer and I am his computer executive secretary.
Hang in there....it’s quite a challenge for us all!

[ChiCricket]

2 hours ago, Love2dance said:

@ChiCricket, mr. dance and I are doing pretty well with this stay at home thing, all things considered, and are trying to not get on each other’s nerves as much as possible. But, what we don’t do is watch much tv together....our tastes are polar opposite. He likes action programs with way more violence than I can stomach, and watching the Duggars or Project Runway would be torture for him. Fortunately, he has a man cave, in what used to be a garage, where he watches tv, and I hog the living room tv.
But where we are JUST like you is that he doesn’t really use a computer and I am his computer executive secretary.
Hang in there....it’s quite a challenge for us all!

The bolded part is us! How are so many of you married to my husband!? 😁

  My husband and I only have one show we watch together now (Survivor.)  Used to be more, but he (or I) lost interest in any other shows we used to watch together, like America's Got Talent, American Idol and Dancing with the Stars.

We even have separate DVRs...I can't stand what he records, and vice-versa.

Oh! I came here to say for anyone interested: 

(you can join a live chat, but I don't know if that's any good?)

 

Edited April 17, 2020 by ChiCricket

[ginger90]

@Jynnan tonnix When you speak with the nurse, you could ask if a TENS unit would be appropriate for your mom. Some have excellent results with it.

Edited April 17, 2020 by ginger90

[doodlebug]

22 minutes ago, ginger90 said:

@Jynnan tonnix When you speak with the nurse, you could ask if a TENS unit would be appropriate for your mom. Some have excellent results with it.

Let me endorse the TENS and lidocaine patch for pain relief.  I used both before my knee replacement and they worked as well, or better, than oral medications with no side effects.  Your mom may need a combination of approaches to manage her pain, that tends to work far better than opiates alone.

If the nurse practitioner doesn't provide the guidance that you need, ask her if there is a pain management specialist that can be consulted.

[Jynnan tonnix]

7 hours ago, Oldernowiser said:

I’m so sorry your mom is in such pain... I spent a year with chronic pain with a tailbone and right butt area injury so severe I couldn’t sit down, lie down or sleep...it was hell. I tried everything. 

Some ideas...lidocaine patches can work pretty well sometimes and don’t have the systemic side effects. I honestly never had much relief from any of the opioids (like T3) and as you noted, the side effects were brutal. Have they prescribed any stool softeners or Miralax with those? My best combination in the end was diazepam plus ibuprofen in conjunction with physical therapy. 

Big hug to you, Jyn. Sounds like you’re holding everything together beautifully but that doesn’t mean it’s easy!
 

Thanks! Yeah, I'm going to ask the nurse about the patches. My father-in-law had them for nerve damage from shingles as well, and they did help some. Of course, he was also on some pretty heavy opiates as well for years. He passed away about five years ago. I'm sure mom would want to stay clear of those. From what I hear, it's really hard to get prescriptions for those these days in any case. 

Mom asked her nurse the other day about options for hospice care, but I don't know what the requirements are for that - I would have assumed that one would have to be diagnosed with something terminal and be in the last stages, but I really don't know. I was surprised that the nurse didn't tell her that, though, but said they needed to set up a meeting for next week to talk about it, so maybe I'm wrong. She doesn't have anything that we know of, but on the other hand, they have found spots here and there which they have not identified when she had scans for other things. She refused to have them looked into, though, because she doesn't want any treatment if she has any sort of cancer. She just wants to die at this point, and preferably sooner than later. I told her she should still find out what those spots are even just for planning purposes and because palliative care would be easier if there was something they knew they were dealing with.

[Scarlett45]

I attended a first bday Zoom call last night- my God Sister’s baby turned 1😀. 
 

Beautiful- only lasted about 15min. 
 

A few hours later I get texts from my God sister that two of her husband’s friends saw me on the zoom call and asked about me because they thought I was really cute. 
 

Trust I did not look cute on this Zoom call, but it was at that weird angle where your head looks really small and your breasts really large so maybe that helped?? Hahahaha. 
 

Guess who put a reminder in their phone to inquire more about said friends when social distancing is over. **investigate new potential sex partner**

🤣🤣🤣🤣🤣🤣
 

Yes it’s snowing. 

But at least it’s Friday!
 

 

[Ohiopirate02]

4 hours ago, ChiCricket said:

The bolded part is us! How are so many of you married to my husband!? 😁

  My husband and I only have one show we watch together now (Survivor.)  Used to be more, but he (or I) lost interest in any other shows we used to watch together, like America's Got Talent, American Idol and Dancing with the Stars.

We even have separate DVRs...I can't stand what he records, and vice-versa.

Oh! I came here to say for anyone interested: 

(you can join a live chat, but I don't know if that's any good?)

 

I have that production of Phantom as a DVD, and have been thinking about watching it.  I might just have to pull it out and do just that.

[peppergal]

52 minutes ago, Jynnan tonnix said:

Thanks! Yeah, I'm going to ask the nurse about the patches. My father-in-law had them for nerve damage from shingles as well, and they did help some. Of course, he was also on some pretty heavy opiates as well for years. He passed away about five years ago. I'm sure mom would want to stay clear of those. From what I hear, it's really hard to get prescriptions for those these days in any case. 

Mom asked her nurse the other day about options for hospice care, but I don't know what the requirements are for that - I would have assumed that one would have to be diagnosed with something terminal and be in the last stages, but I really don't know. I was surprised that the nurse didn't tell her that, though, but said they needed to set up a meeting for next week to talk about it, so maybe I'm wrong. She doesn't have anything that we know of, but on the other hand, they have found spots here and there which they have not identified when she had scans for other things. She refused to have them looked into, though, because she doesn't want any treatment if she has any sort of cancer. She just wants to die at this point, and preferably sooner than later. I told her she should still find out what those spots are even just for planning purposes and because palliative care would be easier if there was something they knew they were dealing with.

Hospice isn't just for terminal care.  When my mom was doing her chemo a few years ago, the nurse who came out to remove the pump she had to wear for her "take home meds" and flush her port was part of the hospice service.  Come to think of it I'm pretty sure the nurse who came to attach the pump before she checked out of the cancer center was hospice as well since I think they owned the pump she was being loaned. 

But you are right that she has to be diagnosed with something that the hospice can be treating for it to be an option. 

[Marshmallow Mollie]

I think I have shared this before, but my brother works in theater production. He used to travel with Phantom, and he made $5k/week as a technical director with it because it is so difficult, specifically the safety of the falling chandelier. He spent most of the fall in China (including Wuhan) and South Korea with Phantom. He was supposed to go back already, but it’s all shut down for now.

[doodlebug]

1 hour ago, peppergal said:

Hospice isn't just for terminal care.  When my mom was doing her chemo a few years ago, the nurse who came out to remove the pump she had to wear for her "take home meds" and flush her port was part of the hospice service.  Come to think of it I'm pretty sure the nurse who came to attach the pump before she checked out of the cancer center was hospice as well since I think they owned the pump she was being loaned. 

But you are right that she has to be diagnosed with something that the hospice can be treating for it to be an option. 

There is also the option of Palliative Care in many parts of the country.  This branch of medicine is concerned solely with quality of life and can be used by anyone with a chronic health condition affecting their life.  A palliative care specialist can prescribe pain meds, physical or occupational therapy, dietary consultation and all sorts of things with the only goal being to improve the life of the patient, no matter how long it may be.  Many oncology services refer all of their clients to PC, whether they're terminal or not, just to make sure that the person has someone they can turn to to address all of the things that pop up in the course of treatment, and try to prevent or ameliorate them.

I have a close friend who trained as an infectious disease specialist and practiced for about 30 years.  Then, in her late 50's, she made a career change and did a fellowship in palliative care and now works as a physician specialist at a long term care facility in North Carolina. She likes her work, finds it very rewarding.

In my previous post, I didn't mention gabapentin/Neurontin to manage chronic nerve pain; but I presume your mom has already tried that or is currently taking it.

[Jynnan tonnix]

5 minutes ago, doodlebug said:

There is also the option of Palliative Care in many parts of the country.  This branch of medicine is concerned solely with quality of life and can be used by anyone with a chronic health condition affecting their life.  A palliative care specialist can prescribe pain meds, physical or occupational therapy, dietary consultation and all sorts of things with the only goal being to improve the life of the patient, no matter how long it may be.  Many oncology services refer all of their clients to PC, whether they're terminal or not, just to make sure that the person has someone they can turn to to address all of the things that pop up in the course of treatment, and try to prevent or ameliorate them.

I have a close friend who trained as an infectious disease specialist and practiced for about 30 years.  Then, in her late 50's, she made a career change and did a fellowship in palliative care and now works as a physician specialist at a long term care facility in North Carolina. She likes her work, finds it very rewarding.

In my previous post, I didn't mention gabapentin/Neurontin to manage chronic nerve pain; but I presume your mom has already tried that or is currently taking it.

Yes, that is what she is currently taking, but she only started late on Tuesday, so it may not have quite kicked in yet. The nurse did say it could take a few days before she felt any relief. I hope it does something for her, as the pain she is experiencing is pretty unbearable 

[Scarlett45]

@Jynnan tonnix so sorry to hear about your Mom. 

[Nysha]

I know in the scheme of things this is trivial, but I may have to smother all the other living beings in my house. My household consists of me, my 26 yo son w/schizophrenia, and 3 cats. All but one cat has decided my sole purpose for being at home is to amuse them. I, on the other hand, am trying to work from home. I moved my office space from the living room to my bedroom so I could shut the door for privacy, but it doesn't matter. The son is in and out every 10-20 minutes. the two needy cats climb all over me and my desk, and if I lock the bedroom door the son bangs on it and the cats sit outside of it and cry until I open it. It's not that I don't love them, but I'm not use to being smothered with attention all my waking hours.

[Scarlett45]

10 minutes ago, Nysha said:

I know in the scheme of things this is trivial, but I may have to smother all the other living beings in my house. My household consists of me, my 26 yo son w/schizophrenia, and 3 cats. All but one cat has decided my sole purpose for being at home is to amuse them. I, on the other hand, am trying to work from home. I moved my office space from the living room to my bedroom so I could shut the door for privacy, but it doesn't matter. The son is in and out every 10-20 minutes. the two needy cats climb all over me and my desk, and if I lock the bedroom door the son bangs on it and the cats sit outside of it and cry until I open it. It's not that I don't love them, but I'm not use to being smothered with attention all my waking hours.

Why does your son want to come into your room??

My bedroom/beauty room is a cat free zone, but I do think the cats have been confused that I’ve been in here all day for days on end. (Rather than lap time with them).  Mr Norris (20yrs old next month) has been hanging right outside, so a few days ago I opened the door, he came in, sniffed around and left. 
 

Mom only works two days a week but the other days she does NOT bother me at all during the work day. My sisters caregiver will text me if a package arrives but that’s it. Thank goodness for boundaries. 

[doodlebug]

1 hour ago, Jynnan tonnix said:

Yes, that is what she is currently taking, but she only started late on Tuesday, so it may not have quite kicked in yet. The nurse did say it could take a few days before she felt any relief. I hope it does something for her, as the pain she is experiencing is pretty unbearable 

It does take a few days to help and also the dosage often has to be increased from the baseline to get the best results.  So, if it seems to be giving her some relief within a week or so of starting it, you can ask for an increase in her dosage to see if that works even better.

[Marshmallow Mollie]

I used to work for the local humane society. We had a cat returned *by a veterinarian* because she said the cat was constantly wanting to sit in her daughter’s lap *therefore was trying to possess her daughter* Isn’t that strange? By that metric, my cat is trying to possess me. Don’t worry, @Nysha, your cats just want to possess you 😂😬 The vet, fortunately didn’t work in private practice; rather, she worked for the local medical school and with the animals used for testing. I think you’d have to be a little crazy to do that. 

[DangerousMinds]

8 minutes ago, Marshmallow Mollie said:

I used to work for the local humane society. We had a cat returned *by a veterinarian* because she said the cat was constantly wanting to sit in her daughter’s lap *therefore was trying to possess her daughter* Isn’t that strange? By that metric, my cat is trying to possess me. Don’t worry, @Nysha, your cats just want to possess you 😂😬 The vet, fortunately didn’t work in private practice; rather, she worked for the local medical school and with the animals used for testing. I think you’d have to be a little crazy to do that. 

This is crazy! My cat just want to possess me too because she is the neediest, clingiest cat ever. (But I love her anyway 🙂).

[Scarlett45]

My baby man Charlie who died last month was the original needy love bug. I miss him, but Blake and Mr. Norris are excellent company. 

[BetyBee]

Our cat is not a lap sitter, which was disappointing to me. We got him when he was 7. He sits beside us (he prefers Mr. BetyBee to me), but he is very sociable. He loves to be with people and he meows all the dang time! He's 15.  

My Mom came through her partial hip replacement just fine. Finding a skilled nursing care home for rehab during a pandemic is next to impossible. And frightening too, because we fear for her being in a congregate setting right now. Fortunately, it looks like she will be able to get into an accelerated rehab in the hospital where she is. It's still a hospital and also scary during a pandemic, but it's close and more familiar to her. She'd even stay on the floor she's on already. Fingers crossed - she may be home in a week or so. Normally, we'd want the usual rehab for her, but these are not normal times! I just got off the phone with her and she's tired, but very optimistic.  

[Ijustwantsomechips]

14 hours ago, Jynnan tonnix said:

She also has severe constipation, partly because it's been a long-term issue, and partly from the Tylenol 3 she is taking....so, basically she is almost catatonic with pain, and I don't know what to do for her. I have a bunch of things I want to discuss with her nurse when she calls again tomorrow, but I still feel a bit helpless. I've given her a couple of enemas over the last two days, which have helped some, but not a whole lot.

Hi @Jynnan tonnix. Sorry your mom isn’t feeling so well.  For the constipation, try Miralax in a cup of warm white grape juice if she can drink sugary things. For some reason, the white grape juice works better than others I tried, but you have to heat it for about 20 seconds. It was a lifesaver after I had abdominal surgery.  

[ChiCricket]

That's it for the rest of the Illinois school year for all of our kids.😢 

No graduations for my Senior in high school granddaughter, or the one in 8th grade.

https://www.nbcchicago.com/news/local/pritzker-to-announce-illinois-schools-will-remain-closed-for-rest-of-school-year-sources/2257533/

Edited April 17, 2020 by ChiCricket

[GeeGolly]

Some states are partially opening the doors May 1st. Kind of scary. I really want it both ways. I want everything closed and everything open. 

I guess I just want it to be completely over. Yesterday.

Great news about your mom @BetyBee!

Edited April 17, 2020 by GeeGolly

[Mrs. P.]

10 minutes ago, ChiCricket said:

That's it for the rest of the Illinois school year for all of our kids.😢 

 

Same for Texas. All of K through college.

10 minutes ago, ChiCricket said:

 

[On the Bias]

17 hours ago, Jynnan tonnix said:

Will try to come up with a reasonably festive dinner out of what's still lurking in the freezers LOL. 

@Jynnan tonnix, around here we just say that dinner is “Secrets of the Freezer.”

I’m sorry that your mother’s in such pain.  It must be really hard to see it and not be able to alleviate it.  With luck some of the things people here have recommended will help.