Saturday Greetings

Aww, hell, Jeannie, you just made me cry.  Thank you sweet friend for your understanding of the situation.

I'm sorry about your hubby and the candy.  You know, Butch is also diabetic (although he's lost so much weight this year, it's practically a non-issue at this point), and I used to try and tell him, "Every single thing you choose to put in your mouth has a consequence.  That's includes the beer you drink daily, and the scotch or brandy you have in the evening."  He would never listen to me.  His philosophy was more along the lines of "I take this medicine so that I CAN eat or drink what I want."  I would say, "You take the medicine because you won't control what you eat or drink."  It was a never ending battle.

Of course now, I count it as a victory if he'll eat or drink anything at all. 

Anyway, thank you for your kind words today.  It helps.

Vickie....I just took a drink of my peach tea and read about your conversation with Butch about what he eats/drinks. I spit my tea all over my monitor and keyboard. You are so funny....glad you still have your humor!!! 

Love you bunches and sending bushels of hugs....connie d 

Hello Jeannie....you will have an exciting visit with your grandchildren!! They seem like really great kids!! Now that they know why your hubby shouldn't have candy, they will be watching him closely and reporting to you!!! 

I agree with your post to Vickie....we are all praying for the same things. God Bless them both. 

Who on OFF is your sister...besides all of us!!! 

I love you very much...have a beautiful day..HUGS..connie d

Hi Jeannie,

You story about your husband's secret candy stash reminded me of friends I have back in PA.  Same story, but worse consequences.  Husband diabetic, wife wouldn't bake goodies for him, but his daughter would.  First, he lost some toes.  Then, several years later they had to take a leg up to a knee.  He almost died before they amputated.  He had to stay in a VA rehab center for a long time, learning to walk on a prosthetic.  When they came to church, he used a motorized wheel chair he had.  His wife had a similar mindset as you do, if he's going to eat sugar, she wasn't going to take pity on him when he got sick.  His lack of following his diet made her crazy till he lost the leg.  I think that was when he realized what he was doing to his body.  

Before I had my surgery, at my highest weight, my doctor told me I was prediabetic, because my A1C was just below the diabetic threshold.  He gave me a come to Jesus talk about losing weight or becoming diabetic, and kidney damage and losing toes.  It was shortly after that I explored WLS.

Hugs,

Trish

Hello ladies,

Well round 1 of our big work weekend is complete.  The old backyard shed is demolished and all components in the dumpster! As I think I've mentioned before, my husband and I bought this house from his parents, and all told it has been in family ownership for 57 years.  My husband vaguely remembers this shed being constructed by his father, grand father, and great-grandfather - who was a stone mason in Italy. Well, this thing was built to last.  And so it did, for around 53 or 54 years... Hurricanes, floods, blizzards, you name it and that thing survived them all.  As we brought not down though, we realized it was just infested with ants and it would have collapsed for sure this year.  So it wasn't just an eyesore, it was ready to go! Anyway, it's down, demolished, and ready to be hauled away. I sure don't need to do any strength workout today, I will tell you that!  We decided to get up early and get right to it so we can take tomorrow, Sunday, as a day of rest. Quite motivating! Next round of work begins in about 30 minutes... We are taking a well deserved break.  But we are making great progress!

Trish, I'm praying you get a crowd of hungry, generous folks at your bake sale today! Good luck. 

Vickie, you do deserve and need a break. Ugh! But Butch's quality of life will improve with the oxygen. I hope all goes well. We love you! 

Carla, a safe and fun travels my dear!

Jeannie, I hope your husband gets the candy under control. Golly I used to hide my eating like that too.  Take a few deep breaths, meditate... And hopefully all will calm down!

I will check in later, on another break! Till then - take care everyone :-)

Hello Christine....WOW....you made quick progress taking down that shed!!! I love those old houses that are kept in the family. You are so lucky to live there!! I know it can be a lot of work but so worth it! 

You are right honey....you sure are getting in a great work out!! I would be useless!!  Soon the new one will be up and ready to use. I hope this one can handle storms!!! 

Much love and bunches of hugs to you...connie d 

Hi Christine,

The Bake Sale was a success.  Here in Michigan charities tend to not price baked goods, but have a donation jar.  It looks like people were way more generous than I anticipated.  Some people just put money in the jar, others were putting two or three dollar bills in, and just taking a few cookies.  Far more than I anticipated.  All in all, we received around $77 for the Relay.  My friend and I were thrilled.

I know you are relieved to have the shed project done. Congratulations.

Hugs.

Hi Trish and my OFF family:

Vickie, I hope you get into a routine with the hospice people and things get calmer. 

Jeannie, your post said it all. What more can I say?

On my cat forum, there's a guy who was kind of like a moderator, although he didn't really moderate. Mike started the group, more or less. Well, a year or so ago, he moved from Seattle to St. Cloud, Minn., got a job there as a bill collector (his profession), started hanging around with another woman on the board, bought a house (with no plumbing, lost his job ... and then he started drinking heavily. Pretty soon, he had no electricity in his house either or gas, so he was living in a dark house with no indoor plumbing. And then he got really sick ... liver failure. My other friend Eve kept checking up on him and his five cats and she was appalled at what she saw ... but he wouldn't let her take him to the ER, or take the cats. Finally, two weeks ago, she called 911 when she saw him in there and he was barely moving. Animal control took the cats, the house was condemned. Yesterday, Mike died. Slow suicide. And I don't know what happened to the cats. Eve lost her father last year to pancreatic cancer ... he, too, refused to do anything at all. She is very depressed about that yet and now this. I have tried to help her get through her grief. I told her I understand she is grieving but eventually she has to start living again. She feels responsible for Mike because she didn't do something earlier ... well, he wouldn't let her. 

And then there's Vickie and Butch ... Butch, who has fought a valiant fight and it's time to end. I wish you peace at the end of your fight and good time to spend with your family and grandkids. You did your best. You didn't quit. 

Anyway, not much happening here. Gary won't be able to move down here now until September ... his Social Security won't start until the middle of the month, nearer to his birthday. So now I have to tell my landlord that. 

Have to start thinking about getting ready for work. Hope all is well. Take care, everyone.

Hello Eileen...I still haven't met Eve or Mike and they live/lived here in St Cloud. I am so sorry to hear you lost your friend Mike. That is so sad.  I hope the cats find good forever homes. Eve has nothing to feel bad about. Eve shouldn't feel bad about not being there more for Mike. He would let her!!! I said a prayer for you and Eve.

So sorry Gary can't come until September. I hope that is the last change of plans!! I feel better that Gary will be there soon. I know HE is out of state. He still moves around a lot. You never know where he will end up! I am glad you know others that are keeping a good watch on him!!

Have a good evening at work...love and hugs to you...connie d