Campfire

[bikerchic777]

Hoping everyone had a Merry Christmas! I am at my DD's. It has been a number of years since I spent Christmas with my grandkids. I'm so glad I came! Wasn't so happy about the weather, arriving in DM, as it was snowing. It kept snowing into the night and was a wet, slushy mess in the morning. Planning to stay until Sat. morning. Heading back to my DM's, in IA, for a few more days. Will get to see my niece and nephew and his wife. They're the ones who got married when I was on my way to MI, this past June. They had the cutest barn wedding! My DB and SIL will be heading back to TN, that morning, so we already said our goodbyes.

I did meet a wonderful guy at Amazon He's in Chicago, now, so planning to drive over to see him on my way back to IN. I left Myrtle down there at the RV park. He left his RV down there, too, so he will ride down with me to pick up Minimus Maximus. We tried to spend as much time as we could, together, getting to know each other. It's tough when you're both working OT like crazy, but so far, I think he is amazing!!! I call him Chicago Rick. He has some remodel jobs to do, then will head out west to visit his mom in Tucson and we will meet back up again. I'm excited

[IrishIroamed]

The Eagle has landed...only 1 so far at Starved Rock SP because of the mild temps (so far). A little shaky because it was really windy up on the Eagles Nest lookout point.

[BarbaraRose]

Wow, Linda! Another guy! You sure have no trouble meeting men! I hope this one is a great catch for you.
I thought you were kind of back together with Ken tho. I know you thought he was too old for you.
Can't wait to hear more about Rick...

[gingerK]

Cheryl, there's an eagle hanging around near my house; DH has seen it when he's been out hunting. He thinks it may be nesting near the river.

[IrishIroamed]

Cheryl, there's an eagle hanging around near my house; DH has seen it when he's been out hunting. He thinks it may be nesting near the river.

Kathy - It may be the same one I saw last year as I was driving over "The Bridge" (evil music playing). Nice to know it came back.

I'm also waiting to see if the pair in Palos Heights (near Wolf & 131st) come back. I'll be able to tell if they come back by the folks parked on the side of the road blocking traffic.

[BarbaraRose]

Just put some cookie dough in the oven for my bedtime snack before hitting the hay.

Glad to say my dad has agreed to go into a care center for transitional care. I will be picking him up tomorrow morning from the hospital and taking him to a care center near his house where he was last year.
He is speaking good now but still has periods of confusion about where he is, etc. The doctor would like to see his G-tube removed and so would we. Maybe we can finally get it gone! He hardly ever uses it anymore and doesn't really need it since he eats pretty much anything he wants without any problem.
The doctor also feels my dad shouldn't go home anymore and should go into assisted living. We all agree, except for my dad. That will be a really tough sell.

My brothers are actually helping out quite a bit now. They do better during a crisis than on a day to day basis. We have been working together pretty well thru this. Once things settle down, it will be all back on me again, I'm sure.

Sounds like California is going to get some snow tomorrow! Northeast of San Diego near Pooker and Sharon will see some snow and up to 8+ inches in the mountains there. Even Palm Springs is supposed to see snow flakes with highs in the mid 40's on Wednesday! They do need the moisture but sure not used to temps like that and snow down to the 2000ft level! Even Las Vegas is supposed to get up to 3 inches of snow! Hope you gals in the desert brought your gloves, scarf, earmuffs and boots! I want to see a photo of a desert snowman!

Time for chocolate chip oatmeal cookies...help yourself and grab a glass of milk too!

[snowball]

Barbie this is the first I've seen you mention cookies in forever...wondered if you had given them up?????? glad to
see some things haven't changed!!! bet they were good
Glad things are going better with your dad and hopefully he will see the reason to move into assisted care...not an easy sell
I'll bet...
sheila

[BarbaraRose]

wondered if you had given them up??????

Heck no!! Never!

I do have to share my cookies with Chelsea Ferret. I make her roll over for each bit of cookie tho. I don't just hand over my cookies that easily! (She doesn't get any chips tho. And the pieces she gets are very tiny, barely pea size). She also gets to lick the last drop of milk from my empty cup. She is very spoiled!

[Bethers]

Barbie without cookies - could never imagine that!

The doctor could pretty much force an assisted living scenario - but it would be nice if you could get your dad to agree. So glad he's agreed to what's happening so far, and even happier that your brothers are assisting, willingly! Maybe if you could take your dad to an assisted living place - after YOU check it out and know it's good.

I posted pics on FB of the people I spent Christmas with - Maurine, the older lady in the pictures is on a waiting list for the assisted living residence that has been picked out. She wouldn't have to wait, but she needs a two bedroom unit (2nd bedroom for her husband). If only her, she'd be right in. Meantime, they are making do in their home, but even Maurine knows she can't do it on her own anymore. And now that her husband's health has gotten worse, he can't do the amount he was before - so this has become a must and they are on board. But they'll have a 2 bedroom unit in the facility - assisted living isn't a nursing home - at least doesn't have to be. But I'm betting that's what your father is thinking of it.

[bikerchic777]

Hope everyone had a wonderful Christmas! I drove a long day to my mom's from IN, near Louisville, KY. I left Myrtle down there and drove Penny up. Chicago Rick met me that morning for breakfast and we parted from there. He left his RV, Minimus Maximus, at his CG, also, and drove his truck to Chicago to spend with family. I went from my mom's, here in IA, to Lincoln, NE to spend Christmas Eve and Christmas with my DD and her family. I'm so glad I went! It has been 5 years since I spent it with my grandkids. Other than the chaos with 5 dogs, total, plus a cat, now , it was great! Ended up staying an extra day. I'm just now feeling like I'm catching up on my sleep and I leave tomorrow for Chicago. Yep! Going to spend New Year's with Chicago Rick and his fam Barbie...FYI, I haven't had a boyfriend for a few years. Ken and I are just very close friends. We mutually agreed that he is too old for me, but we have stayed great friends. Chicago Rick knows I will be staying with him in AZ. No jealousy. That, is amazing in itself, right? I had just recently decided that I was ready to be open to finding someone, but didn't expect this, even so. I am unexpectedly crazy about this guy!!! Amazed at our similarities and like mindedness. This could be the one! Wouldn't that be great??? He's going to ride back down to IN with me to get Minimus Maximus. Going to try to meet up with a past CamperForce friend, who now lives in IN, before heading to AZ. I hope the rest of the winter, out west, is warm. Not looking good, lately!

Happy New Year, Sistahs!!! See some of you, in a couple of weeks, in Q!

[BirdbyBird]

Doctor's really can't force a patient unless that individual has given up their rights or had them taken away through Probate. I ran into that wall personally when the hospital was discharging my father from the hospital and he refused to go to rehab. The doctor asked him a few questions and said that unless the courts intervened Dad was competent to make decisions...even if they were bad decisions..... The ambulance took him home and I got a call 3 hours later that he was worried about some additional health issues and we returned him to the hospital....it was while sitting in the ER that night that I got him to agree to go to rehab "so that he could get his strength back." Luckily my brother and I had already investigated and agreed on a choice and the Resident on duty trumped up a reason to admit him overnight so that the facility could receive him the next day.

[BarbaraRose]

I think we now have the final nail for the coffin (bad choice of words ). Just got a call from his renter who is in CA right now visiting his kids. He has decided to move to CA at the end of January. So without a renter to pay rent and someone to look in on my dad and help him out, my dad just can't go back home. Time for a family intervention... that wont be any fun for any of us.

[cnq50b]

Will continue to keep you all in my prayers, Barbie.
If he has a good experience in rehab, he may be more open to assisted living. Miracles happen, we can hope (& pray) for one here.
Take care, Catherine

[MandysMom]

Prayers for you and your family Barbie in this difficult transition.
Velda

[JudyJB]

No real campfires for me or even walking outdoors after dark here in Florida! The mosquitos are out in full force. I walked to the laundry facility about 400 feet away this morning and noticed I already had two very large mosquito bites and others hovering around trying to have a snack on me. I have never in my life reacted to mosquitos, but I am now, and these are about 3/4 inch in diameter and big lumps under the skin. I put on some cortisone cream and also took some Benadryl, so hopefully these will go down.

Did two loads of laundry and baked a chicken for dinner. Now I will freeze up little packets of chicken and stuffing so I can heat up a quick meal.