" THEY MADE ME STIFF "

YESTERDAY MIKE HAD THE SECOND SURGERY ON HIS NOSE FOR THE SKIN CANCER.  IT WAS QUITE THE ORDEAL-MUCH LIKE THE FIRST TIME AROUND.  I TRIED TO MAKE THE HOURS GO BY FASTER BY BRINGING THE GAME "PHASE 10" WITH US.  IT DID HELP SOME, BUT MIKE STILL WANTED TO KNOW WHY WE COULD NOT GO HOME AFTER EACH TIME THEY TOOK HIM BACK TO CUT A LITTLE MORE.   THEY SAID THAT FOR SURE MIKE WOULD NOT BE ABLE TO BEND DOWN FOR AT LEAST TWO DAYS, AS IT WOULD MAKE HIS NOSE BLEED, AND I STARTED TO REMIND HIM OF THAT WHILE WE WERE STILL THERE.  HIS REPLY??  "THE GROUND WILL WONDER WHERE I AM".  ALTHOUGH I AM SURE THAT HE THINKS THIS IS CORRECT, I ASSURED HIM THAT THE GROUND WOULD BE THAT MUCH HAPPIER TO SEE HIM WHEN HE IS ABLE. ALSO I TOLD HIM TO THINK OF THE FUN HE WILL HAVE WITH ALL THOSE NEW WEEDS TO PULL.  IN CASE YOU DON'T REALLY KNOW MIKE-YOU'VE PROBABLY ALREADY GUESSED THAT HIS PASSION IS PULLING WEEDS, AND DOING OTHER YARD WORK.  THINGS THAT WOULD TIRE OUT A 20 YEAR OLD, MIKE CAN DO WITH EASE.  HE CAN SPEND HOURS EACH DAY PULLING WEEDS, AND WORKING IN THE YARD.  HE NEVER SEEMS TO TIRE OF IT.
THEN THERE WAS THIS COMMENT ON OUR WAY HOME "THEY MADE ME STIFF".  I NOT UNDERSTANDING WHAT HE SAID, ASKED HIM TO REPEAT IT.  HE ONCE AGAIN SAID " THEY DID SOMETHING TO MAKE ME STIFF".  STILL TRYING TO UNDERSTAND WHAT HE WAS TRYING TO TELL ME, I ASKED HIM WHAT HE MEANT, WAS HE STIFF ALL OVER OR WHAT EXACTLY IS STIFF.  HE REPLIED "MY NOSE, I CAN'T MOVE IT-IT'S STIFF".  I ALMOST L.O.L. THINKING TO MYSELF, DOES HE THINK HE IS LIKE SAMANTHA ON BEWITCHED AND CAN TWITCH HIS NOSE?  WHO MOVES THEIR NOSE???  JUST ONE MORE OF THE FUNNY THINGS THAT IS COMING OUT OF MIKE'S MOUTH THESE DAYS.
OH, ONE MORE THING.  MIKE SAID HE COULD NOT SLEEP LAST NIGHT BECAUSE I WAS HAVING A BARKING CONTEST WITH OUR TWO DOGS!!!  I ASKED HIM JUST TO MAKE SURE I HAD HEARD HIM CORRECTLY- DO YOU MEAN I WAS BARKING LIKE A DOG-WOLF WOLF??  HE SAID YES, AND IT KEPT ME AWAKE ALL NIGHT!!  OH WELL, SOMETHING NEW I LEARNED ABOUT MYSELF-I APPARENTLY THINK I AM OF THE K-9 PERSUASION AT TIMES!!!  TILL TOMORROW-JUST ME

" THEY CHEATED ME AGAIN!! "

MIKE WAS SPEAKING OF THE LOTTO WHEN HE SAID THE WORDS ABOVE.  HE SAID "THIS IS THE THIRD TIME TOO"!!.  IT SEEMS THAT EVERY TIME THE NEWS PAPER DOES NOT LIST THE FANTASY 5 NUMBERS (WHICH IS WHAT MIKE ALWAYS PLAYS) HE THINKS IT'S BECAUSE HE WON, AND THEY DON'T WANT TO PAY UP.  I TRIED TELLING HIM THE NEWS PAPER PROBABLY JUST DID NOT GET THE NUMBERS IN TIME TO PUT THEM IN THE PAPER, BUT THAT WAS QUICKLY REJECTED.  HE SAID "ALL THE OTHER NUMBERS ARE LISTED-WHY NOT MINE"??  I HAVE ACTUALLY HAD TO TAKE HIM TO THE LOTTO HEADQUARTERS ONCE, AND HE WALKED AWAY WITH MANY PARTING GIFTS FROM THEM, LIKE TWO BEACH TOWELS, TWO TEE-SHIRTS, AND MUCH MORE!!  I JUST THINK THEY WERE SO HAPPY TO GET RID OF HIM THEY WOULD HAVE GIVEN HIM STOCK IF HE WOULD HAVE STAYED THERE MUCH LONGER!!!  HE ALSO HAD A PROBLEM WITH PUBLIX TWICE BECAUSE OF THE LOTTERY.  IT WAS HYSTERICAL-YOU HAD TO BE THERE!!  HE GOT THEM TO CALL THE LOTTERY HEADQUARTERS TO FIND OUT WHY THE NEWSPAPER SAID HE WON $11. DOLLARS, AND PUBLIX SAID HE DID NOT HAVE A WINNER.  ANOTHER FUNNY THING MIKE WILL DO, IS LOOK AT THE NUMBERS THAT CAME OUT THE DAY BEFORE, AND THEN PLAY THEM AGAIN!!  THEN WHEN HE LOOKS AT THE PAPER THE NEXT DAY HE THINKS HE HIT THE LOTTO, BECAUSE ALL HIS NUMBERS ARE LISTED THERE (FROM THE PREVIOUS DAY)!!  HE IS CONVINCED THAT HE HAS WON THE LOTTO SEVERAL TIMES, BUT WHEN HE WINS, THEY FIND A WAY NOT TO PAY HIM.  IT SOUNDS FUNNY I KNOW, BUT YOU SHOULD SEE HOW FRUSTRATED HE GETS OVER IT.  ANY HOW I ALWAYS TELL HIM WE DON'T NEED TO WIN THE LOTTO, THAT WE HAVE ALL OUR NEEDS MET, AND THAT IS ALL THAT MATTERS.  HE IS ALSO A HOOT WHEN IT COMES TO USING THE PHONE.  HE TOLD ME THIS MORNING THAT HE TRIED TO CALL THE LOTTO TWICE BUT NO ONE WOULD ANSWER THE PHONE.  ALL THE WHILE, WE HAD NO DIAL TONE AS THERE WAS A POWER OUTAGE FROM BRIGHT HOUSE, AND IT WAS JUST FIXED.  OH WELL, ANOTHER DAY IN PARADISE-NOT!!!  HOPE YOUR DAY IS PEACEFUL AND JOYFUL-JUST ME

" HOW BAD WAS I " ?

YESTERDAY I TRIED TO HELP MIKE THINK ABOUT WHERE HE IS (COGNITIVELY) NOW, AS OPPOSED TO HOW HE WAS A MONTH OR TWO AGO.  I WAS REALLY TRYING TO SEE IF IN HIS OWN MIND ANY OF THE MEDICINES HE TAKES IS DOING ANY GOOD.  HE BTW, COUNTS THEM EVERY DAY (13 TO BE EXACT), AND ASKS ME WHAT EACH ONE IS SUPPOSE TO DO FOR HIM.  HIS RESPONSE TO MY QUESTION-"WHY, HOW BAD WAS I"??  MIKE HAS DESCRIBED THE FEELING INSIDE HIS MIND AS COBWEBS.  HE DOES UNDERSTAND THAT HE HAS FORGOTTEN MANY THINGS, YET, IT DOES NOT SEEM TO EFFECT HIS JOY OF THE DAY.  HE SAYS I CAN REMEMBER IT FOR HIM.  IT IS HARDEST FOR ME WHEN HE ASKS QUESTIONS LIKE "WHY DIDN'T WE GO TO MIKE JR.'S WEDDING, OR "WHO DOES JAKKI BELONG TO"? ALSO WHEN HE TRIES TO FIGURE OUT WHAT MONTH WE ARE IN-HE HAS TO START FROM JAN. AND WORK HIS WAY UP.  ADDING OR SUBTRACTING SIMPLE MATH FOR A 3RD GRADER IS ENOUGH TO STUMP A MAN FORMERLY KNOWN FOR HIS MATH SKILLS-EVEN ALGEBRA!!  HEARTBREAKING INDEED, BUT AGAIN THERE HAVE BEEN SO MANY BLESSINGS AS OF LATE THAT I CAN'T HELP BUT BE THANKFUL FOR.  MIKE HAS BECOME A GENTLE GIANT, AND MUCH SWEETER THAN IN PAST YEARS.  MAYBE IT'S BECAUSE (AS HE SAYS) "STRESS ? I DON'T HAVE ANY STRESS".  OF COURSE THAT IS TRUE-IT IS ALL ON ME NOW.  AS LONG AS MIKE STAYS THE WAY HE IS, I FEEL SURE I CAN DEAL WITH WHAT EVER LIES AHEAD.  HOPE YOUR LOVED ONE IS GETTING KINDER AS TIME GOES ON AS WELL-NO MATTER WHAT YOU ARE DEALING WITH-REMEMBER IT IS MUCH WORSE FOR THEM, AND THEN HAVE YOURSELF A BLESSED DAY-JUST ME

" WHAT GIVES ?"

DON'T KNOW WHAT IS GOING ON WITH MIKE AS OF LATE.  HE IS GOING TO BED LATER AND LATER, AND GETTING UP EARLIER AND EARLIER AS WELL.  LAST NIGHT MIKE CAME TO BED AFTER MIDNIGHT, AND WAS SCRATCHING AND PATTING, SCRATCHING AND PATTING MY BACK STARTING AROUND 6AM. THIS WOULD NOT HAVE BEEN SO BAD HAD I BEEN ABLE TO SLEEP AT ALL LAST NIGHT, BUT SADLY-I DIDN'T!!  I HAVE BEEN SUPER BUSY THE PAST COUPLE OF DAYS (SINCE MY SISTER VICKIE FELL AND BROKE HER WRIST), AND THAT MAY HAVE HAD SOMETHING TO DO WITH IT, BUT I ALSO HAD THOSE LOVELY LEG CRAMPS LAST NIGHT AS WELL, SO WHO CAN TELL WHAT ACTUALLY DID ME IN.  ANY HOW, I AM RELUCTANTLY UP THIS MORNING WISHING I WERE BACK IN BED SAWING SOME SERIOUS LOGS.  MIKE ON THE OTHER HAND IS FULL OF ENERGY, READY TO WALK THE DOGS (WHICH I ALREADY FED), AND LOOKING FORWARD TO WATCHING THE SHUTTLE TAKE OFF AT 8:46AM.  I TOO AM HOPING THAT IT WILL ACTUALLY GO OFF THIS TIME, BUT FROM WHERE WE SIT-IT LOOKS A LITTLE CLOUDY AND OVERCAST.
HERE ARE A COUPLE OF CUTE THINGS MIKE HAS SAID IN THE PAST COUPLE OF DAYS.  WHEN MY SISTER VICKIE'S HUSBAND GEORGE WAS ALIVE, SHE WOULD OFTEN CALL ON MIKE TO COME PICK HIM UP OFF THE FLOOR (HE DID A LOT OF FALLING TOWARDS THE END), AND MIKE AND I WOULD GO OVER AND ASSIST.  WELL WHEN MY SISTER VICKIE FELL AND NEEDED MIKE AND I TO LIFT HER UP, MIKE SAID "IT SEEMS LIKE EVERY TIME WE GO TO THE BONELLI'S, I HAVE TO PICK SOMEONE UP OFF THE FLOOR"!!  THEN A FEW DAYS AGO TORI'S SON ALEX WAS EATING DINNER, AND ASKED HIS MOM IF HE ATE ALL HIS FOOD COULD HE HAVE A SNACK.  MIKE SAID " DID YOU SAY A SNACK OR A SMACK?"  HE HAS GOTTEN VERY FUNNY IN HIS LATER YEARS-AND I LOVE IT!!!  THAT'S  IT FOR THIS AM-TILL TOMORROW-JUST ME

" I'M A LOSER!! "

YESTERDAY WHILE MY SISTER WAS OVER AND WE WERE ALL PLAYING OUR USUAL GAME (OR GAMES) OF RUMMIKUB, WE SOMEHOW GOT ON THE SUBJECT OF PLACES WE HAVE ALL BEEN WHILE HER HUSBAND GEORGE WAS ALIVE.  ABOUT TWO YEARS AGO WE WENT TO A LOVELY BEACH CONDO THAT WE THOUGHT ALLOWED DOGS-IT DIDN'T, AND WE WERE BUSTED THE VERY FIRST DAY.  NEEDLESS TO SAY WE WERE ALL BUMMED OUT, BUT THEY DID LET US STAY FOR ONE NIGHT.  WELL, I'M GETTING TO IT-I JUST NEED TO SET THE STAGE.  ANY HOW, IT WAS AROUND 10PM, AND MIKE SAID HE WAS GOING TO WALK THE DOGS.  GEORGE AND I STAYED UP PLAYING CARDS.  I STARTED HEARING THIS LOUD POUNDING WHICH SOUNDED LIKE IT WAS COMING FROM THE ROOF.  I WAS SURPRISED THAT ANYONE WOULD BE WORKING ON THE ROOF AT THAT HOUR, BUT WE JUST KEPT PLAYING.  ALL OF A SUDDEN I REALIZED IT WAS ALMOST 11PM, AND MIKE HAD NOT GOTTEN BACK YET WITH THE DOGS.  GEORGE SAID "I'LL GO FIND HIM", BUT KNOWING THAT GEORGE ALSO HAD ALZHEIMER'S, I SAID I WOULD GO WITH HIM.  AFTER A THROUGH SEARCH OF THE GROUNDS, WE COULD NOT FIND MIKE ANY WHERE.  THEN I HEARD THAT POUNDING AGAIN, AND LOOKED UP, AND SURE ENOUGH, IT WAS MIKE ON THE LEVEL ABOVE OUR UNIT JUST POUNDING AS HARD AS HE COULD ON THE DOOR.  I WENT UP TO GET HIM, AND HE WAS VERY HAPPY TO SEE ME.  HE SAID " I JUST COULDN'T UNDERSTAND WHY YOU WOULDN'T LET ME BACK IN"!!!  THEN THERE WAS THE TIME WE ALL WENT TO PALM COAST.  MY SISTER AND I LEFT THE BOYS ON A BENCH OUT SIDE OF THE OFFICE WHERE WE NEEDED TO CHECK IN, AND ASKED THEM BOTH TO PLEASE STAY THERE FOR JUST A FEW MINUTES.  NEEDLESS TO SAY THAT WHEN WE CAME OUT, GEORGE HAD WALKED WAY DOWN THE HALL, AND THERE OF COURSE WAS NO SIGN OF MIKE.  WE TRIED TO ASK GEORGE WHERE MIKE WENT, BUT AT THAT POINT OF HIS ILLNESS HE COULD NO LONGER SPEAK, SO HE JUST SHRUGGED HIS SHOULDERS.  WE ENLISTED THE HELP OF THE MANAGER, AND ALL OF THE EMPLOYEES TO HELP US FIND MIKE, AS THE COMPLEX WAS HUGE.  ABOUT AN HOUR OR SO  LATER HE WAS SPOTTED AND BROUGHT BACK TO US.  HE SAID HE WAS TRYING TO FIND OUR APARTMENT.  THE MANAGER TOOK HIS PICTURE, SO IF HE WERE TO GET LOST AGAIN, THEY COULD FIND HIM MUCH QUICKER BY DISTRIBUTING HIS PICTURE TO ALL THE EMPLOYEES.  FINALLY-THE POINT OF THIS WHOLE STORY.  WHEN A COUPLE OF THESE INSTANCES WERE MENTIONED YESTERDAY-MIKE LOOKED AT US, AND SAID-"I GUESS I'M A LOSER"!!  ACTUALLY-HE'S A KEEPER.  PLEASE KEEP US IN YOUR PRAYERS, WERE GOING TO BE TAKING ANOTHER LITTLE TRIP TO PALM COST TO SPEND A FEW NIGHTS ON THE BEACH!!  THIS TIME DOGS ARE LEGAL, SO THEY WILL BE WITH US THE WHOLE TIME. I MAY NEED TO PUT MIKE ON A LEASH, AND WALK ALL THREE OF THEM MYSELF!!!  TILL TOMORROW-JUST ME

" TOILET SEAT LID "

WELL, YOU KNEW IT HAD TO "COME UP" SOONER OR LATER-RIGHT??  SO, TODAY IS THE DAY.  MIKE HAS ALWAYS BEEN VERY GOOD ABOUT PUTTING THE TOILET SEAT BACK DOWN AFTER EACH USE-UNTIL LATELY THAT IS.  IMAGINE MY SURPRISE AT AROUND 3AM WHEN I GET UP OUT OF BED-EYES CLOSED-MOSTLY ASLEEP, TO TINKLE (WHEN YOU GET OLD LIKE ME YOU'LL UNDERSTAND WHY), AND THEN  I GET MY BEHIND BAPTIZED!!  IT IS NOT A GOOD EXPERIENCE TO SAY THE LEAST, AND NOW FOR SURE I AM WIDE AWAKE.  I HAVE OF COURSE HAD TALKS WITH MIKE ABOUT THIS IN THE MORNING, BUT NEEDLESS TO SAY (GIVEN HIS CONDITION-ALZHEIMER'S), HE QUICKLY FORGETS.  IT HAS GOTTEN SO BAD THAT LAST NIGHT, I EVEN HAD A DREAM ABOUT FALLING INTO THE TOILET, AND GETTING STUCK!!  FORTUNATELY IT WAS JUST A DREAM, AND I WAS NICE AND DRY IN THE AM.  THIS BEHAVIOR IS COUPLED WITH ANOTHER, THAT IS CONSTANTLY CAUSING ME TO BRUISE.  MIKE NOW BELIEVES THAT DOORS, AND DRAWERS ARE MEANT TO BE LEFT OPEN.  IF HE LOADS OR UNLOADS THE DISHWASHER, THE DOOR IS LEFT HANGING DOWN, AND WHY I FAIL TO SEE IT THERE IS BEYOND ME, BUT I RUN INTO IT ON A REGULAR BASIS.  I HAVE HIT MY HEAD ON OPEN KITCHEN CABINET DOORS, BATHROOM CABINET DOORS, AS WELL AS SOCK DRAWERS, PANT DRAWERS, AND UNDERWEAR DRAWERS.  BTW, DOES ANYONE ELSE OUT THERE KNOW OF A PERSON HAVING TWO DRESSER DRAWERS FULL OF ONLY SOCKS??  MIKE HAS ONE FOR WHITE SOCKS ONLY AND ANOTHER FOR ALL HIS OTHER COLORED SOCKS.  OK, I FEEL LIKE I HAVE DONE NOTHING BUT COMPLAIN IN THIS POST, SO I WILL SIGN OFF FOR NOW.  HOPE YOU HAVE A BRUISE FREE DAY-JUST ME

" THE PERFECT JOB "

LATELY MIKE HAS BECOME SUPER FRIENDLY WITH EVERYONE.  THE OTHER DAY A COUPLE OF LADIES WERE TRYING TO PUT SOME CHAIRS THEY HAD JUST BOUGHT AT PUBLIX INTO THEIR CAR'S HATCHBACK.  MIKE WALKS OVER AND TELLS THEM THEY NEED TO PUT THEM INTO THE FRONT SEAT, WHICH OF COURSE THEY WOUND UP DOING WITH HIS HELP.  THEN HE PROCEEDS TO START CLEANING ALL THE LEAVES AND DIRT FROM THE HATCH BACK OF THEIR CAR.     I'M LIKE HONEY NOW WHAT ARE YOU GOING TO DO WITH ALL THAT STUFF? WELL HE OF COURSE PUT IT IN THE TRASH BIN IN FRONT OF PUBLIX, AND I GAVE HIM A HAND WIPE TO CLEAN HIS HANDS.  THAT'S NOT THE ONLY THING HE DOES THESE DAYS.  HE GREETS EVERY BODY HE SEES WITH "HELLO, HOW ARE YOU DOING TODAY"?  THEN WILL ENGAGE IN CONVERSATION WITH COMPLETE STRANGERS.  THIS HAPPENS EVERYWHERE WE GO-WHERE EVER THERE ARE PEOPLE.  AGE MAKES NO DIFFERENCE-HE WILL TALK TO ANY ONE MOVING INCLUDING YOUNG CHILDREN.  I'M SERIOUSLY THINKING OF GETTING HIM A JOB AT WALMART AS AN OFFICIAL GREETER!!!
THEN THERE IS THE TALKING IN HIS SLEEP AS OF LATE.  HE WILL SAY SOMETHING AND I WILL THINK HE IS WIDE AWAKE UNTIL I REALIZE WHAT HE IS SAYING MAKES NO SENSE.  LIKE LAST NIGHT FOR INSTANCE.  HE SAID CLEAR AS A BELL THAT THERE WAS A BURGLAR IN OUR HOME. I TOLD HIM WHAT MAKES HIM THINK SO (OR AT LEAST I THINK THAT'S WHAT I SAID) AND HE REPLIED "YOU TOLD ME THERE WAS".  THEN I SAID GO BACK TO SLEEP HONEY THERE IS NO BURGLAR IN OUR HOME. THEN MIKE SAID "WHAT DID YOU DO WITH HIM"?  SOMETIMES IT'S HARD TO KEEP FROM LAUGHING AT SOME OF THIS STUFF HE SAYS OR DOES-IN FACT I DO QUITE OFTEN.  I THINK THAT'S WHAT IS MAKING THIS JOURNEY SO MUCH EASIER FOR ME.  MIKE COULD NOT BE ANY HAPPIER.  HE IS TOTALLY UNAWARE THAT ANY THING IS WRONG.  HE KNOWS HE HAS ALZHEIMER'S, BUT THAT DOES NOT SEEM TO TAKE AWAY ANY JOY FROM HIS LIFE.  IN FACT HE HAS MADE MINE SO MUCH RICHER BY HIS NEW PERSONALITY.  HE SAYS THE THINGS I WISH HE WOULD HAVE SAID YEARS AGO.  LIKE WHAT A GOOD WIFE I AM.  CAN YOU BELIEVE HE HAD NEVER IN ALL OUR MARRIED LIFE SAID THAT TO ME UNTIL THIS MONTH??  HE IS MELLOWED OUT, AND IS GENTLE, AND KIND.  I WILL LOVE EVERY MOMENT OF THIS AS LONG AS IT LAST, AND THEN DEAL WITH WHAT EVER COMES NEXT WHEN IT GETS HERE.  HOPING YOUR WEEKEND WAS SUPERB, JUST ME

" MORBID THOUGHTS "

YESTERDAY IN JEST, OUR DAUGHTER ASKED MIKE "HOW LONG IS IT THAT YOU PLAN ON LIVING TO DAD-109??.  TO SEE THE HUMOR IN THIS YOU NEED TO UNDERSTAND THAT HE FIRST DECIDED HE WANTED TO LIVE TO 93-THAT WAS HIS GOAL FOR A LONG LONG TIME.  THEN HE WOKE UP SEVERAL WEEKS AGO WITH THE REVELATION OF "GOD'S PLAN" (WHICH I POSTED A BLOG ABOUT-VERY FUNNY).  SO YESTERDAY WHEN SHE ASKED HIM IF HE WANTED TO LIVE TO 109, HE SAID "YEAH, THAT SOUNDS ABOUT RIGHT"!! OF COURSE WE BOTH SMILED AT EACH OTHER, BUT WITH HIS DESIRE TO LIVE LONGER AND LONGER, THAT MAY HAVE TRIGGERED MY PANIC.  I DO  KNOW THAT WE SHOULDN'T THINK TOO MUCH ABOUT TOMORROW-JUST KINDA TRY AND GET THROUGH TODAY.  YET, I'M REALLY NOT SURE IF I HAD A BAD DREAM AND THEN WHEN I IT JOGGED MY MEMORY WHEN FELINA ASKED MIKE THAT.  ALL I KNOW IS  I STARTED TO THINK SERIOUSLY ABOUT SOME OF THIS STUFF.  STUFF LIKE WHAT WOULD HAPPEN TO MIKE IF SOMETHING HAPPENED TO ME FIRST.  I THOUGHT ABOUT HOW NO ONE EVEN KNOWS HIS PILL SCHEDULE OR EVEN WHAT PILLS HE TAKES.  THEN I THOUGHT ABOUT WHO WOULD TAKE CARE OF HIM.  WOULD HE WIND UP IN A HOME??  HE LOVES OUR HOME AND WORKING IN THE YARD AND TAKING CARE OF THE DOGS IS HIS LIFE-HE WOULD NOT FARE WELL IF HE HAD TO MOVE SOMEWHERE.  THEN THERE IS THE QUESTION OF THE DOGS.  HE DOESN'T EVEN KNOW HOW, WHEN, OR WHAT TO FEED THEM.. KNOWING HIM, THEY WOULD BE  EATING MOST OF HIS FOOD. WHICH BRINGS ME TO ANOTHER PROBLEM.  WHO WOULD FEED MIKE?  MAKE SURE HE ATE BREAKFAST, LUNCH, AND DINNER.  WHO WOULD KEEP TRACK OF HIS DOCTORS APPOINTMENTS, AND GET HIM THERE?  WHO WOULD BE ABLE TO CHANGE HIS OSTOMY BAG WHEN IT LEAKS?  SO MANY MANY QUESTIONS.  I THOUGHT I SHOULD START MAKING A LIST OF THINGS, THAT WOULD BE HELPFUL TO WHO EVER WOULD BE IN CHARGE OF HIS CARE.  A LIST OF DOCTORS AND THEIR PHONE NUMBERS.  WHERE I ORDER HIS SUPPLIES FROM AND WHERE I GET ALL HIS PRESCRIPTIONS FILLED.  I WOULD SO HATE TO LEAVE ALL THIS FOR OUR CHILDREN TO FIGURE OUT.  THERE IS A SAYING THAT "NO ONE IS INDISPENSABLE", BUT AFTER REALIZING ALL THE THINGS I TAKE CARE OF FOR MIKE-I DECIDED THAT CLEARLY THERE ARE EXCEPTIONS TO THAT!!  I ALSO MADE ONE OTHER DECISION.  I NEED TO TAKE BETTER CARE OF MYSELF SO NONE OF WHAT I JUST WROTE ABOUT EVER HAPPENS!!  HAVE YOURSELF A WORRY FREE DAY-JUST ME

" TALKING TO THE DOGS "

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YESTERDAY WHILE I WAS IN THE KITCHEN,  I HEARD MIKE TALKING, SO I WENT INTO THE LIVING ROOM TO SEE WHAT HE WANTED.  HE SAID "I WASN'T TALKING TO YOU-I WAS TALKING TO THE DOGS".  OK I SAID, WHAT DID YOU TELL THEM?  IT SEEMS THAT OUR YOUNGEST DAUGHTER HAS FINALLY CONVINCED MIKE THAT OUR TWO DOGS ARE OVER WEIGHT.  SO, HE WAS TRYING TO EXPLAIN TO THEM HOW WE WERE GOING TO HAVE TO CUT BACK ON THEIR FOOD, AND WHY THEY COULDN'T LICK HIS PLATE CLEAN ANY MORE.  NEXT THING I KNOW HE IS PICKING PRESLEY UP AND GETTING ON THE SCALE WITH HIM.  "IT'S NOT WORKING" MIKE SAYS A LITTLE UPSET. NO PROBLEM HONEY, I WILL HELP YOU. SO ONE BY ONE WE WEIGH THE DOGS, AND THEN MINUS THAT FROM WHAT MIKE WEIGHS, AND SURE ENOUGH, MIKE FINALLY AGREES THAT BOTH THE DOGS ARE OVER WEIGHT.  HE TALKS TO THEM ABOUT OTHER THINGS TOO.  HE WILL ASK THEM IF THEY HAVE ANY PROBLEMS, HOW ARE THEY FEELING, WHAT WOULD THEY LIKE TO HAVE OR DO TODAY, ETC.ETC...SINCE ALZHEIMER'S, MIKE HAS DEVELOPED THIS CHILD LIKE INNOCENTS, THAT TRULY AMAZES ME.  PRISKA (OUR FEMALE DOG) WILL SOMETIMES HIDE WHEN IT'S TIME FOR THEIR WALK.  MIKE CONTINUES TO WALK THEM TWICE A DAY FOR WHICH I AM VERY GRATEFUL.  PRISKA IS NOT AS FOND OF THE WALKS AS IS PRESLEY, AND THERE IS A GOOD REASON FOR THAT.  MIKE SOMETIMES FORGETS THAT HE HAS ALREADY WALKED THE DOGS, AND WANTS TO WALK THEM AGAIN. SO WHEN PRISKA SEES HIM WITH THE LEASH FOR THE THIRD TIME IN ONE DAY-SHE TRIES TO HIDE.  I'M VERY FOND OF THE WALKS, AS WALKING THE DOGS GIVES BOTH THE DOGS, AND MIKE SOME EXERCISE.  MOST IMPORTANTLY,  IT ALSO GIVES ME ABOUT 15-20 MINUTES TWICE A DAY TO HAVE QUIET TIME, OR TO READ A BOOK OR  MY BIBLE.  WHEN MIKE IS HOME, IT IS LIKE HE HAS FORGOTTEN HOW TO READ SILENTLY, TO HIMSELF. HE READS EVERYTHING OUT LOUD, AND IF YOU HAVE EVER TRIED TO STUDY, OR WRITE WHILE SOMEONE IS READING OUT LOUD-YOU KNOW EXACTLY WHAT I MEAN.  NOT POSSIBLE!!!  ANY HOW, WE CONTINUE TO BE BLESSED-WE ARE STILL ABLE TO TAKE CARE OF EACH OTHER (AND TWO DOGS), SO NO COMPLAINTS FROM ME.  HOPE YOU'LL MAKE YOUR DAY A GREAT ONE!!  JUST ME.
P.S.  PLEASE DON'T FORGET TO PASS THE WORD THEN "PASS THE GAS" ONE MAY 15TH!!

" CONGRESS AND ALZHEIMER'S "

MY POST TODAY IS MOSTLY ABOUT WHAT'S GOING ON IN THE SCIENTIFIC AND POLITICAL REALM TO GET A BETTER HANDLE ON THE STARTING POINT OF THIS DISEASE (ALZHEIMER'S, AND DEMENTIA).  CONGRESS HAS INTRODUCED A BILL THIS MONTH THAT WOULD CREATE SPECIFIC MEDICARE COST CODES FOR ALZHEIMER'S DIAGNOSIS, INCLUDING STEPS INVOLVING DISCUSSIONS BETWEEN THE PATIENTS DOCTOR AND THE CAREGIVERS.  EARLY DIAGNOSIS IS REALLY THE KEY TO THIS.  OFTENTIMES FAMILY MEMBERS NOTICE THE SYMPTOMS IN THEIR LOVED ONES, BUT IT TAKES YEARS SOMETIMES BEFORE THEY GET DIAGNOSED BY THEIR DOCTORS, OR UNDERSTAND WHAT RESOURCES ARE AVAILABLE.
THE MOST STRIKING ADDITION TO THE GUIDELINES CONCERNS METHODS THAT ASSESS BRAIN CHANGES INVOLVED WITH ALZHEIMER'S, INCLUDING BRAIN SCANS AND TEST OF CEREBRAL SPINAL FLUID.  SUCH METHODS MEASURE WHAT ARE CALLED BIOMARKERS, PHYSIOLOGICAL INDICATORS THAT SOMEONE IS LIKELY TO DEVELOP DEMENTIA EVENTUALLY, JUST AS CHOLESTEROL AND BLOOD PRESSURE ARE BIOMARKERS OF IMPENDING HEART DISEASE.
THEY ARE SAYING THAT FOR NOW, THE GUIDELINES SPECIFY THAT ALZHEIMER'S BIOMARKERS-INCLUDING ABNORMAL LEVELS OF THE PROTEINS AMYLOID AND TAU, AND SHRINKAGE OF CERTAIN BRAIN AREAS-SHOULD NOT BE USED WIDESPREAD, BUT RATHER ONLY WITH PATIENTS ENROLLED IN CLINICAL TRIALS.
THIS IS NOW ME TALKING AGAIN.  THAT IS ONE OF THE MAIN REASONS WHY I AM ALWAYS SEARCHING OUT NEW CLINICAL TRIALS FOR ALZHEIMER'S.  THEY HAVE ACCESS TO THE LATEST INFORMATION AND UPCOMING DRUGS TO TREAT THIS TERRIBLE DISEASE.  SO FAR NONE OF THE CLINICAL TRIALS MIKE HAS BEEN INVOLVED IN  HAVE PROVEN HELPFUL, BUT THAT DOES NOT MEAN THAT WE DO NOT REMAIN HOPEFUL.  WE BELIEVE THAT SOON THERE WILL BE A DRUG THAT WILL HALT THE PROGRESSION OF BOTH ALZHEIMER'S AND DEMENTIA, AND WE WANT TO MAKE SURE THAT WE ARE FIRST IN LINE FOR THAT CLINICAL TRIAL!!!  THANKS FOR READING-HOPE SOME OF THIS INFORMATION WAS HELPFUL-TILL TOMORROW-JUST ME

" BACK SCRATCHING "

ABSOLUTELY NO ONE IN THEIR RIGHT MIND DOES NOT LIKE TO GET THEIR BACK SCRATCHED-RIGHT??  I SHOULD KNOW, BECAUSE MIKE AND I RAISED AN ENTIRE FAMILY OF BACK SCRATCHERS.  HOWEVER, ALL OF THEM WILL READILY AGREE, THAT MIKE IS THE VERY BEST BACK SCRATCHER OF THEM ALL.  ALL OF US PLAY GAMES (MOSTLY BACKGAMMON) FOR BACK SCRATCHING TIME.  SADLY, I'M MORE THAN A LITTLE ASHAMED TO ADMIT THAT LATELY I HAVE TAKEN SOME ADVANTAGE OF MIKE'S DIMINISHING PLAYING SKILLS, TO GET IN A LITTLE EXTRA BACK SCRATCHING TIME FOR MYSELF.  IN CASE YOU ARE ALL WONDERING RIGHT ABOUT NOW WHAT ALL THIS IS LEADING UP TO, I'M JUST NOW GETTING TO THE POINT OF IT ALL.  NO MATTER HOW MUCH A PERSON MAY LOVE GETTING THEIR BACK SCRATCHED, I DARE SAY NONE OF THEM WOULD LIKE TO BE WOKEN UP IN THE MIDDLE OF THE NIGHT BY IT.  YES, THAT'S CORRECT, AND THAT IS UNDOUBTEDLY ONE OF THOSE THINGS I'M CERTAIN I WILL MISS IF AND WHEN ANYTHING SHOULD HAPPEN TO MIKE.   BUT, AND THIS IS A RATHER LARGE BUT, I'M HONESTLY NOT TOO CRAZY ABOUT HAVING IT DONE AT THAT TIME OF THE MORNING.  PICTURE THIS-YOU ARE IN A SOUND SLEEP (FINALLY, AFTER A NOT SO EASY DAY OF IT, AND A ROCKY START TO YOUR NIGHT).  NOW AROUND 3AM, YOU AWAKEN TO SCRATCH-PAT PAT, SCRATCH-PAT PAT, SCRATCH-PAT PAT.  IT'S AS IF MIKE WANTS TO MAKE SURE I AM AWAKE ENOUGH TO ENJOY HIS SCRATCHING.  TALK ABOUT YOUR MIXED EMOTIONS!!  DO I STOP HIM FROM DOING SOMETHING I LOVE-JUST TO GET A LITTLE MORE SLEEP, OR DO I JUST TRY AND ENJOY IT THE BEST I CAN WHILE I AM WAITING FOR HIS HAND TO TIRE OUT (USUALLY 15-20 MINUTES)??  WHAT WOULD YOU DO???  WELL, I USUALLY JUST LET HIM GO FOR IT, AS I KNOW ONE DAY HE MAY LOSE THAT MAGIC TOUCH, AND IT WILL BE SORELY MISSED-EVEN AT 3AM!!!       ON A COMPLETELY DIFFERENT NOTE, I POSTED AN EVENT ON CRAIGSLIST TODAY CALLED "PASS GAS ON MAY 15TH".  I AM TRYING TO UNITE ALL SENIORS (YOUNGER FOLKS TOO) TO PASS THE WORD, AND THEN PASS THE GAS ON MAY 15TH, TO SEE IF WE CAN GET THE GAS LORDS TO LOWER THE COST AT THE PUMP!! WON'T YOU JOIN US?? LET'S SEE HOW BIG A STINK WE CAN ALL CREATE!!!  TILL TOMORROW-JUST ME