It is Monday....just popping in to say hi..

Thank you so much Jennifer...I appreciate the kind words. You are always so sweet and nice to all of us!!!!! 

I hope all is well with you. Let me know what you have been up to lately. Any plans for the 4th of July weekend? 

Have a wonderful evening..love and hugs to you....connie d 

Hi again Dear Connie: not much new, just feeling so much better with IBS waning. Not planning anything on 4 July as ordinary Saturday here in Canada.

Our national holiday in Canada is always July 1, falling on a Wednesday this year. Having friends over to watch fireworks, otherwise just taking the day very easy.

You take things easy too on your national day!

Hugs

Jennifer

Hi again Jennifer....I don't know what I was thinking...I just read in my date book today that Wednesday starts your holiday in Canada. I forget sometimes where we all are...I feel so much like we all live next door to each other!!!

Have fun watching the fireworks with your friends.

I have no plans for the 4th. It is going to be to hot and humid for me to be outside. Maybe next year!!

Take care...love and more hugs to you...connie d

Good Evening Connie and OFF,

Oh Connie, I am so glad that your brother surprised you yesterday.  That is wonderful.  I miss my brothers terribly lately.  All of us were very close, for which I am so grateful.  We kind of grew close while Mom went through one of her many weird spells in 1989.  I knew I could always call one of them for a reality check, especially where she was concerned.  I actually was closer to them than my sister.  She's always had a wall, and I have given up trying to get through it.  We are as close as we're going to be.  I'm actually closer to my older brother's widow, for many reasons.

Mom's not doing well at all, and my poor sister has offered to go get her, to take her to her house, but Mom put it off again today.  I'm probably going to take the trip I've been putting off.  I had originally wanted to wait till October, because my 40 year high school reunion is around the time my niece is due to have Baby #2.  However, I don't mind going now, as Mom is a crying, red hot mess.  

Well, I went to get some fresh picked strawberries at the farm this afternoon, and managed to back into the building, denting the gutter and the corner of the siding.  The owner wasn't there, so I left my insurance info, and now I'm waiting to hear from the owner.

I hope Vickie is able to rest today, and hold onto Butch as much as possible.

Love, Hugs, and Prayers,

Trish

Hello Trish...I am so glad my brother surprised me too!! I am still thanking GOD today for answered prayers.

I gave up pretty much on the rest of my family. I have tried too many times and they just keep hurting me. I had to walk away. I do occasionally talk with my sister...the one that kicked me out!! I just don't feel the closeness we once had...I don't know how to make it better. She said and did some horrible things. He cancer  came back and I did forgive her....I just can't seem to forget it yet. That is another thing I am working on. My therapist says as long as I forgave my sister to not dwell on it. If it is meant to be it will be. So yes I do understand dysfunctional families...sad!! 

 Are you leaving to see your mom tomorrow as planned? Be careful driving. Traffic is crazy with people on vacations. I am sure your mom will want to see you. You and your sister need to come to some kind if understanding about what to do for your mom. It is hard on her and you to keep dealing with this all the time. I am praying for her and you too. GOD Bless.

The strawberries were wonderful I am sure...sorry about the accident. It doesn't sound like it was much damage. I hope you two can work it out.

I was standing in looking out my big living room window and saw one of our residents and a daughter of another resident backing into each other. It didn't look like much of anything. They talked for awhile and then they left. 

I really need to get off this computer...we got some serious thunderstorms rolling in.

Hope you have a better night...love and hugs...connie d

Hi Connie,

The situation with Mom is weird.  In February she had a double whammy.  Her bipolar depression combined with the mental effects of a urinary tract infection.  As soon as I get her to my sister's she began to improve.  My sister has expressed multiple times that Mom is welcome to live there.  But, she hasn't been willing to make it permanent.  Her psychiatrist and his nurse have both told her she shouldn't live alone, because of the depression.  Still, about every four to six weeks, Mom goes back to her house, and sinks almost immediately back into the pit.  Last week, she told Eileen she'd be back on Wednesday.  Well, she kept putting it off, and then over the weekend she began having complete meltdowns of crying jags, like in February.  

I have always believed that she has not been properly medicated for her bipolar disorder.  I've worked in mental health, studied it in depth, and have known multiple people, including myself, that have it and have managed to stay stable for years at a time.  Yet, Mom keeps riding a roller coaster, and has been since she's been going to this mental health provider.  I want to see if I can get her in to see my psychiatrist back home.  Not only has he helped me, he got my older brother stablized when he was alive.  Plus, unlike other shrinks, who only see their patients for 10-15 minutes, he gives everyone 30 minutes.  Mom seemed interested in switching to him years before I moved here, but kept putting it off.

Please pray.  The trip is of little concern to me.  Getting her stable, and keeping her there is all I desire.

Love,

Trish

Trish, I'm sorry to hear your mom can't get stable. I can imagine it's tough ... I know it's difficult enough for me with depression to keep off the meltdowns (nearly had one today). I hope you can get her in with your old shrink and she can get some help. Good luck! 

Trish....I hope your mom does get to see your psychiatrist. She definitely needs help. Are you sure she is taking her meds as directed at home? 

I will keep praying for her!! Have a safe trip!

Love and many hugs...connie d

Connie, so sorry you weren't feeling well with your COPD. I know it was humid here today too and my asthma acts up a bit. I do not have it bad and as long as I take my meds and keep the windows closed, I'm fine. 

I am not having a good day. First, we couldn't get the apartment we wanted because I have an eviction on my record (even though it's for one bounced check and I paid it off, the apartment complex manager said the owner wouldn't make an exception). I was really upset and I know Gary was a little ticked at me ... a couple of times he forgot to unlock the car door (I know it wasn't on purpose). We went to a couple of other places; one called the owner and they said no; another said she would just check Gary's credit; another said if I had proof I had paid it, they'd OK me. We wound up back at Princeton Court, not our first or second or even third choice, but it was available and she would take only Gary's credit, so that would work. We had settled on that, but on the way back to my apartment, Gary had a change of heart. He decided instead to move into my current apartment. And then we can continue looking for a better place. 

Then I go to work ... and somehow my iced coffee cup was just a little open and it spilled into my cooler. My cooler and everything inside was drenched. And once at my desk and starting to work, I started having computer issues and I just lost it. My boss took me aside and told me to cool it. I know I shouldn't have gotten so upset. It was just everything that had happened (plus this was a continuation of yesterday). 

So since then, everything has been OK. A coworker has pacified me with dark chocolate. Nothing else has gone wrong. I still hurt all over, but I have two days off coming, so I can rest. And now I have to start getting rid of stuff. Gary's moving day is coming up quickly. I have to make room for him in my apartment. We have to make this work (although he doesn't like the one bathroom, but we'll make it work).

Connie, glad you got to see your brother. I love my brothers. They are good to me. Hope you can find some relief emotionally at your doctor.

Eileen,

You poor thing.  It sounded like today was one of those days where everything that could go wrong did.  I am certain you and Gary will find just the right place for both of you.  I remember having one of those total meltdowns at work, when I was teaching.  I just called the office from my classroom, told them to get someone to cover my class, and ran down the hall just bawling.  The counselor grabbed me as I ran into the staff bathroom, put her arms around me and just held me in a hug while I cried, and then calmed down.  After I pulled myself together, I washed my face and was back in my classroom in about ten minutes.  Fortunately, it was near the end of the school day.  I really hated teaching at that school, and that day was a collision of my perimenopause, horrible students, and zero support from the principal's office.  Thank God I'm retired now.

Hang in there Sweetie.  It will get better.

Love ya.