Jane's Rainbow: for all needing support & comfort

Subject: RE: Jane's Rainbow: for all needing support & comfort
From: GUEST,pete from seven stars link
Date: 19 Dec 13 - 04:44 PM

must be difficult not to let a little sarcasm slip, wendy. my dad will be 89 next month, still living more or less independently and a bit cranky , so some people tend to avoid talking to him. my brother and I try to discourage him from being so tight spending on himself, even though we assure him we are not worried about what he leaves us.
I do know he appreciates that I see him most days ,and I am sure that even in your mums dementia ,she will know what a lovely daughter she has.

worryingly tommys x ray today showed no improvement. in himself ,he swung from vigorous resistance to the face mask, to later weakness and sleeping. beckys back has been feeling the strain this morning when a friend she expected to help did not turn up, and staff didn't help much. she made an official complaint. I was visiting dad, not knowing she was struggling.
thankyou for your support. bless you    pete.

Subject: RE: Jane's Rainbow: for all needing support & comfort
From: billybob
Date: 19 Dec 13 - 02:04 PM

Pete,
sending love and prayers for Tommy, hoping he will be at home with you for Christmas.

You are always here with love and blessings for all of us, so sending blessings to you and your family for a healthy and peaceful Christmas from Billy and I. xxxxxxx

Much love to Sins, Linn, Gnu, Spaw, Nigel, Tam, Janie, Ranger and all who need a hug at Christmas.

Still trying to go onward and upwards, mum is progressing mobility wise but the dementia is worse, finding speech almost impossible and it is so frustrating for her and now my brother is questioning the cost of her carers? Hope we don't fall out just as Christmas is near, but how do I convince him that mum's income and savings are for her to be confortable and safe and not for an inheritance?? Harsh I know but I am finding it very hard not to tell him what I think!! My father worked hard all his life to give mum a secure future and I promised him the day he died that I would look after my mother.

Christmas a time for peace and love ( difficult sometimes ?)

Wendy xxxxxxxxx

Subject: RE: Jane's Rainbow: for all needing support & comfort
From: SINSULL
Date: 19 Dec 13 - 11:44 AM

A real prayer, Pete. Not just a spare.
SINS

Subject: RE: Jane's Rainbow: for all needing support & comfort
From: GUEST
Date: 19 Dec 13 - 11:28 AM

You got em Pete!

Lovely posts, guys.

Great update, Linn.

Subject: RE: Jane's Rainbow: for all needing support & comfort
From: GUEST,Bat Goddess
Date: 19 Dec 13 - 06:57 AM

Yesterday morning stopped at Goodwill to pick up reading material for the flight home, then on to lunch with my sister and a cousin who, until Mom's funeral on Monday, I hadn't seen for going on 50 years.

Drove around a bit and discovered that neither my sister nor I had actually ever been to Greendale, one of the three Greenbelt communities (for middle income working families) that had been built during the Roosevelt administration (1938-ish). The town is celebrating its 75th anniversary this year. We did a quick swing through before lunch, then came back afterwards to further check out the Vistor's Center which is also the test kitchen for Taste of Home magazine and others. Then we drove around a few other places closer to our youthful home in West Allis.

Back at home had enough time to set up a visit with a childhood neighbor family (house on the other side of next door) and 2 possibly 3 of the kids we grew up with. I also called my 93 year old great aunt -- the only one of my grandmother's siblings still alive -- and talked for quite awhile, though we won't visit. The funeral Monday sapped her energy and she's still recovering, so talking on the phone is better than sitting in her living room.

By that time it was quite dark so my sister and and I went out to check out the Christmas lights around Milwaukee. There were some pretty exuberant displays close by, but I was disappointed in the downtown displays. (And quickly realized I really don't know Milwaukee anymore...downtown has changed so dramatically since I worked downtown in the late '60s. So many of the buildings I knew along Wisconsin Avenue are gone or changed dramatically.) Shorewood had some good lights, but Whitefish Bay was better -- combinations of some pretty interesting architecture and lighting displays. Then down into the Valley to check out the very impressive lights around Miller Brewery and on to Washington Highlands, another interesting neighborhood.

Went to bed not long after we got back to my sister's apartment -- had to be up early this morning to check in with Southwest and print out my boarding passes...which I'm waiting to do right now (have about 15 minutes to wait until it's 24 hours before the flight). Alas, as you can tell, I woke up a bit early and couldn't fall back to sleep for another hour's rest. Sigh. Tomorrow will be an even earlier morning.

Linn

Subject: RE: Jane's Rainbow: for all needing support & comfort
From: GUEST,pete from seven stars link
Date: 19 Dec 13 - 05:05 AM

agreed chanteylass.

tommy is in hospital with pneumonia again. he is however looking like he will beat it again, despite the x ray looking alarming. but we don't get complacent as he can dip again. we don't want him in critical condition again, but we do know that a teenager with myotonic dystrophy is always in danger, so anyone with a prayer to spare....
blessings all    pete.

Subject: RE: Jane's Rainbow: for all needing support & comfort
From: ChanteyLass
Date: 18 Dec 13 - 11:40 PM

Nigel, Janie, lovely thoughts.

Subject: RE: Jane's Rainbow: for all needing support & comfort
From: Janie
Date: 18 Dec 13 - 09:37 PM

Sorry that I have been missing in action. Hugs to you Sins. You have people around you to offer love and support because you give so much of the same.

Linn, may you have a smooth and undelayed trip home, and even in your time of double sadness, may you hold the love and caring you got and gave among family and old friends close around you.

Tam, I hope you feel the loving energy of all our care and concern wrapped around you like a warm, soft fleece that you can reach out and hug to yourself on the worst days, offering comfort and at least some hearts-ease even when there is little physical ease to be had.

Thank you, Nigel, for your lovely gift.

maeve, pull up here a minute to the warmth around the galley stove and let me bring you a cup of tea. Put your feet up, just a little while, and rest here among friends who cherish you.

Up Spaw.

Stilly, I am so pissed off for you. Absolutely fuming. Not words of comfort, I know. Just what I am feeling.

Pete and Pete, Wendy, Chantylass, Gnu, Ranger, Sandra, and all who sail along here, thank you and hugs to you.

A motley and also hearty crew, all of us doing our best to live life on life's terms and not only helping one another to stay afloat, but moving a fine ship along such that it's sails sometime gleam in the sun and wind. The Old Ark's A'Movin

Subject: RE: Jane's Rainbow: for all needing support & comfort
From: ranger1
Date: 18 Dec 13 - 02:43 PM

Stopped in to deliver physical hugs and visit with Sinsull. She's doing OK - she was on the phone with Jacqui when I arrived.

Subject: RE: Jane's Rainbow: for all needing support & comfort
From: gnu
Date: 18 Dec 13 - 10:47 AM

Glad you got some rest, SINS.

Subject: RE: Jane's Rainbow: for all needing support & comfort
From: SINSULL
Date: 18 Dec 13 - 08:55 AM

Thank you all for the support.
I slept last night so today is all bright and happy. Spent the night downstairs with Alice and Fred. Spent an hour upstairs with Kitty and Momma. Everyone is eating, drinking, purring and cuddling. So we are off to a good start.
Now to write a short summation of Chris' life with his work friends for the funeral.
Tomorrow I go to work and start getting back to normal.
SINS

Subject: RE: Jane's Rainbow: for all needing support & comfort
From: gnu
Date: 18 Dec 13 - 06:51 AM

SINS... ya done good. Bless.

Subject: RE: Jane's Rainbow: for all needing support & comfort
From: Nigel Paterson
Date: 18 Dec 13 - 05:50 AM

I'm taking some shore leave, but before I go, I wish you all Happy Holidays, Season's Greetings, Happy Christmas. I have some gifts to give:
    To those of you who grieve, I send Peace of Heart & the comfort of a warm hand to hold.
    To those of you who are unwell & in pain, I send Healing Thoughts & the hope that your recovery is swift & complete.
    To those of you suffering with depression, I send you light to brighten the darkest corners & the strength to stand & face the world.
    To those of you who maybe alone this Christmas, I send Friendship & laughter & the sanctuary of Jane's Rainbow.
    To those of you with complicated Family situations, exacerbated by health issues, I send the Courage & Strength to endure & the Wisdom to Understand when you have done as much as any human being could.
    To you all, I send my Love & Gratitude. You have made Jane's Rainbow what it is today.
                      Wishing everyone a Happy, Peaceful, Healthy & Music-filled New Year,
                                                    Nigel & Ann
                                                    xxxxxxxxxx

Subject: RE: Jane's Rainbow: for all needing support & comfort
From: frogprince
Date: 17 Dec 13 - 10:59 PM

Mary, that's such a brutal thing to happen to anyone. So glad you have the really solid people there for support. We'll be thinking much of you here.
                        Dean

Subject: RE: Jane's Rainbow: for all needing support & comfort
From: Sandra in Sydney
Date: 17 Dec 13 - 09:07 PM

you certainly did well, Sins - more hugs heading your way

& a few extra to Maggie

sandra

Subject: RE: Jane's Rainbow: for all needing support & comfort
From: ChanteyLass
Date: 17 Dec 13 - 08:49 PM

Linn, the best thing about funerals is seeing people you haven't seen recently. I hope all goes well with your flight home.

Mary, how lucky Chris's kitties are that you are a cat person!

Subject: RE: Jane's Rainbow: for all needing support & comfort
From: Jeri
Date: 17 Dec 13 - 07:59 PM

Mary, I'm sorry I missed this until now. So hard for you, but you always do the right thing... and a little more than that. Hugs from me.

Subject: RE: Jane's Rainbow: for all needing support & comfort
From: SINSULL
Date: 17 Dec 13 - 06:40 PM

Just got an email from Chris' sister. She wants to send a catered something to the office for his friends.So nice for the office and his friends. So nice for the lady who has cooked his breakfast every morning for three years. They will use her business for the catering.Brenda was the one who called 911 when I fell apart.

Kitties are settling down. A big sigh of relief. All is as it should be. A long chatter AT the Captain really helped. He listened, offered no advice and assured me that I did good. I am so lucky to have him and Jacqui and a few others who discreetly stand by if I need them.
SINS

Subject: RE: Jane's Rainbow: for all needing support & comfort
From: jacqui.c
Date: 17 Dec 13 - 05:48 PM

Mary - will ring you tomorrow. Take care of yourself.

Subject: RE: Jane's Rainbow: for all needing support & comfort
From: GUEST,pete from seven stars link
Date: 17 Dec 13 - 05:43 PM

almost felt the shock, sinsull, when I read your news.
peace and rest hopefully to you soon.
blessings all    pete.

Subject: RE: Jane's Rainbow: for all needing support & comfort
From: SINSULL
Date: 17 Dec 13 - 04:56 PM

Things have rolled out a lot faster than I expected. Chris' aunt and uncle arrived to clean out the apartment. I picked up the kitties and we visited the vet. He and i are both bloody. Found out one kitty has two paws on each front leg and she knows how to use them.
Shots up to date. New kitties in bedroom upstairs with multiple beds and nests, clean litter and food and water. Downstairs kitties are curious (Alice) and pissed off (Fred) . Literally - I picked him up for a long cuddle and he peed on me.
I am taking tomorrow off to decompress and help the cats get settled.
The family and police have me as a point of contact so I have been on the phone since 8AM and am very weary.
Chris is to be cremated and buried in his hometown. I hope he has the peace in death that he never had in life.
RIP my friend.
Meantime, a Christmas card arrived from a friend I haven't heard from in many years. A bright spot in my day.

Subject: RE: Jane's Rainbow: for all needing support & comfort
From: GUEST,Bat Goddess
Date: 17 Dec 13 - 03:30 PM

Mein gott, Mary! Wish there was something I could do -- you've got a cosmic hug coming your way. My thoughts are with you, too.

Mom's funeral and interment went without a hitch yesterday -- although the organist was making a valiant, though unsuccessful attempt to turn the hymns into polkas... The snow held off until early evening.

Got to see cousins and kids (now adults, of course) of neighbors whom I haven't seen for almost 50 years...and some elderly relatives I hadn't expected to see again.

Hope to have lunch with a cousin and see a few other people (though it looks as if my high school classmate and I won't get closer than the phone -- dealing with cleaning out her mother's old apartment and dealing with her mother now in assisted living are taking up all her time.

Have to check AccuWeather to see what I might run into on my 6 a.m. escape on Friday.

Linn

Subject: RE: Jane's Rainbow: for all needing support & comfort
From: gnu
Date: 17 Dec 13 - 01:46 PM

Ditto Wendy.

Subject: RE: Jane's Rainbow: for all needing support & comfort
From: billybob
Date: 17 Dec 13 - 10:48 AM

Just "love, love, love" to all, seems it is needed all round today

Wendy xxxxxxxxxxxxxxx

Subject: RE: Jane's Rainbow: for all needing support & comfort
From: catspaw49
Date: 17 Dec 13 - 09:39 AM

Sister MarySins....I am so sorry. That's something no one should have to endure. There aren't any words I can find to assuage the pain you must feel as the numbness passes. I'm a phone call away.

Much Love...


Pat

Subject: RE: Jane's Rainbow: for all needing support & comfort
From: Pete Jennings
Date: 17 Dec 13 - 06:36 AM

Geez, some heavy stuff going on at the moment. Sins, SRS, good thoughts winging their way to you both.

Subject: RE: Jane's Rainbow: for all needing support & comfort
From: gnu
Date: 17 Dec 13 - 06:26 AM

My sincerest condolences, Mary.

SRS... that sounds terribly disheartening. I am at a loss for words.

Subject: RE: Jane's Rainbow: for all needing support & comfort
From: ChanteyLass
Date: 16 Dec 13 - 09:09 PM

Maggie, I hope you find a new position that works for you.

Mary, what a situation to be in! Finding a friend dead is bad enough. Dealing with all those questions could only make it worse. Listen to some good music, and sleep well tonight.

Subject: RE: Jane's Rainbow: for all needing support & comfort
From: Stilly River Sage
Date: 16 Dec 13 - 08:13 PM

Sinsull, that is tragic - the last memory of a friend should be of a happy time. (That's why I never go up to view the body at open casket funerals.) I hope you can share stories with others and all come out with a better mental image.

gnu, it is five months since they hit the "reset" button at work, with the new dean playing favorites and treating us like checkers on a board, jumping people over others without consideration of qualifications or job experience. The job I created over the years, duties added by me or suggested by my boss as the need was perceived, there are now four people doing that job as a marketing department. Guess who had to train them, and hand over huge amounts of information and files? I still get questions about how to do stuff. Why am I not there? Because my MA is in English, not an MLS, but for this job the MLS is not necessary. The job description lists everything I did but has two extra words: "librarian preferred." I'm now in the basement preparing to digitize old analog recordings and to sort through institutional repository data dumps to determine what photos were put in (without the proper metadata.) I reported to the dean personally for 16 years and now I'm in the basement, out of sight, out of mind. Just visualize the guy in Peabody's Improbable History sweeping up after the horses.

SRS

Subject: RE: Jane's Rainbow: for all needing support & comfort
From: Sandra in Sydney
Date: 16 Dec 13 - 06:55 PM

more love & hugs heading your way, sins

samdra

Subject: RE: Jane's Rainbow: for all needing support & comfort
From: billybob
Date: 16 Dec 13 - 06:50 PM

sending love from us too Sins.

wendy and Billy xxxxxxxx

Subject: RE: Jane's Rainbow: for all needing support & comfort
From: maeve
Date: 16 Dec 13 - 06:46 PM

Thinking of you tonight, Sins.

Love,

Maeve

Subject: RE: Jane's Rainbow: for all needing support & comfort
From: ranger1
Date: 16 Dec 13 - 05:13 PM

Mary, so sorry to hear that. If you need any thing, you have my phone number. You're not so far away that I can't deliver a hug in person.

Subject: RE: Jane's Rainbow: for all needing support & comfort
From: SINSULL
Date: 16 Dec 13 - 03:28 PM

I found my friend Chris dead in his apartment today. The police took statements, multiple statements. I am exhausted.
HR drove me home and my manager delivered my car. i feel like I am in a fog.
RIP, my friend.

Subject: RE: Jane's Rainbow: for all needing support & comfort
From: GUEST,laptop gnu
Date: 15 Dec 13 - 08:44 PM

SRS. Oh my! That troubles me. Many herein are hard put but to hear you are between a rock and a hard place as well? I mean, I never thought I would hear such. It's kind of a shock. I guess it can happen to anyone these days. Sigh.

Subject: RE: Jane's Rainbow: for all needing support & comfort
From: ChanteyLass
Date: 15 Dec 13 - 07:47 PM

Lots going on with people here today! Be well, stay well, Everyone!

Subject: RE: Jane's Rainbow: for all needing support & comfort
From: Stilly River Sage
Date: 15 Dec 13 - 06:37 PM

I'm glad you got a mini-Florida vacation this year, Linn!

Tami, good luck with all of the doings - and give us a report in the declutter thread every so often!

My year has been particularly rough at work. At home everyone is healthy and thriving, but the reorganization at my university library last summer managed to throw a lot of workers under the bus into some really bizarre new jobs. I'm looking for a new job, hopefully at the same university to keep my health benefits and retirement in place.

SRS

Subject: RE: Jane's Rainbow: for all needing support & comfort
From: frogprince
Date: 15 Dec 13 - 01:55 PM

Good to hear that that which went up, and had to come down, came down safely. We're looking at a few hours of driving, starting Thursday mid day, with forecasts that I could be happier about. From southeastern MI. into IL., then on to southeastern MN.
Everyone here feeling fine, & thinking of each of you with struggles.

Subject: RE: Jane's Rainbow: for all needing support & comfort
From: GUEST,pete from seven stars link
Date: 15 Dec 13 - 01:39 PM

good that you are surfacing from that debilitating pit, ranger1.
hope you can catch up without wearing yourself out.
blessings all      pete.

Subject: RE: Jane's Rainbow: for all needing support & comfort
From: ranger1
Date: 15 Dec 13 - 12:15 PM

Yay Maeve! Glad you've arrived, Linn.

I'm crawling up out of the bout of dark depression I'd slid into starting in late October. Unfortunately, that means I'm behind on so many things now. Sigh.

Subject: RE: Jane's Rainbow: for all needing support & comfort
From: maeve
Date: 15 Dec 13 - 10:08 AM

Hurrah, Linn has landed!

Thanks for checking in, Linn. We're heading for 18 inches of snow here.

Yesterday I painted a picture for the first time since the fire.

Subject: RE: Jane's Rainbow: for all needing support & comfort
From: GUEST, Bat Goddess
Date: 15 Dec 13 - 09:26 AM

Well...I flew out of Manchester, NH at 6 a.m. and finally landed in Milwaukee at 6 p.m. (EST). And in between was quite an adventure...with too many people and not enough oxygen. (Finally figured out a couple flights into the odyssey that dry, rebreathed air was what was complicating things, though not badly).

Got to BWI and found my connecting flight to Milwaukee had been cancelled. The sent me (immediately -- it was boarding, so no time to stop in the loo) first to Louisville, then (on the same plane) to Orlando (that leg of the flight the plane was full of exuberant kids). Spent about three hours in Orlando because the flight to Milwaukee had been delayed. Sure wasn't dressed for Florida! But, at least, I had time to grab something to eat besides the peanuts served on the plane. Finally got on a jam-packed flight to Milwaukee. Lot's of turbulence in between, but we landed safely in light snow at 6 p.m. EST. Arghhh! Then a looooooooong walk to the central part of the terminal. My sister hadn't made it back to I crossed over to the cab stand and headed to her place.

Sooooo good to finally get there! We talked, ordered Chinese which took another hour to get there.

Oh, yeah, when I finally got to sleep, I slept well.

Linn

Subject: RE: Jane's Rainbow: for all needing support & comfort
From: gnu
Date: 15 Dec 13 - 07:34 AM

Hehee. This struck me funny. Environment Canada : "Snow at times heavy beginning this morning."

Subject: RE: Jane's Rainbow: for all needing support & comfort
From: gnu
Date: 15 Dec 13 - 07:33 AM

I suppose Jeri will have to take a shovel to Linn's today. We're only suppose to get about 30cm today but the temp is rising to -3C so it might be heavy snow. My back is not amused.

Subject: RE: Jane's Rainbow: for all needing support & comfort
From: Sandra in Sydney
Date: 15 Dec 13 - 07:09 AM

if we all breath out strongly at the same time ...

Subject: RE: Jane's Rainbow: for all needing support & comfort
From: ChanteyLass
Date: 14 Dec 13 - 08:18 PM

Pete, the wrong kind of dairy and not enough fruits, veggies, and whole grains were my problem--I think. I had been very busy and because I had plenty of food on hand, I didn't bother to go to the store for what I should have. Instead, I ate what I had on hand. I was also getting low on milk, so I was eating a lot of cheese for protein and calcium. Without the fruits, veggies, and whole grains, I think that's what did me in. I was careful not to eat stuff that would make my blood glucose crazy but never gave a thought to the IBS!

I hope we hear from Linn about her flight out. Now let's concentrate on her flight back! Maybe it will take off on time and catch a strong tail-wind so that she lands early!

Subject: RE: Jane's Rainbow: for all needing support & comfort
From: ranger1
Date: 14 Dec 13 - 09:16 AM

I don't think she's as concerned about getting there as she is getting back, but I'm hoping for a delay-free, stress-free trip for her in both directions.

Subject: RE: Jane's Rainbow: for all needing support & comfort
From: gnu
Date: 14 Dec 13 - 07:14 AM

Apparently, Mother Nature isn't a Mudcatter. Just looked at the US Weather Service national loop. There may very well be delays. I hope Linn doesn't have any problems getting on the ground.

Subject: RE: Jane's Rainbow: for all needing support & comfort
From: Pete Jennings
Date: 14 Dec 13 - 06:29 AM

ChanteyLass, I had that IBS, oh, a long time ago, 1997 I think. I'd been working in the Netherlands for a few weeks so my diet had changed whilst I was there (lots of dairy foodstuff). I remember driving home to Bedford from Luton airport thinking I was going to die from the pain - every bend in the road brought more agony. Doc thought I had appendicitis until he got the results of the scans.

Fortunately for me, the tablets he prescribed worked very quickly and it hasn't reoccurred. But it wasn't funny.

Subject: RE: Jane's Rainbow: for all needing support & comfort
From: Sandra in Sydney
Date: 13 Dec 13 - 08:36 PM

onward & upward!

sandra (pulling on the lines, too)