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FUBAR

I learned the application of FUBAR today and it convinced me if I didn't have bad luck, I wouldn't have any luck.

I was returning home from getting a money order for $10 to renew my IAM page at BME when my car caught fire. I pulled over and stopped, grabbed a towel from the back seat and tried to stomp it out. The flames moved under the passenger seat and everytime I reached under to brush out the flames, my right hand got burned more.

As luck would have it, my glasses fell off and were incinerated along with the my car...a total loss. Strangely, I don't miss the car as much as I miss my glasses.

I can barely see to type and walking without glasses is almost surrealistic, especially since I had to walk about six blocks home in what seemed like a mist.

Now I'll be able to empathesize with my neighbors without cars who bring their groceries home in shopping carts. However, I will save $37 a month on car insurance. I'm calling the insurance company to see if it was covered for fire damage.

Now if I could only see to the numbers to dial the phone - lol

I planned to go a few miles to the hospital tonight to see mom. It will be interesting for two reasons: (1) I haven't walkedd two miles in one day in years and (2) without glasses, I could end up anywhere

While I'm at the hospital I might drop in the ER to see if my hand burns are serious enough to treat. Several spots blistered up so I popped and drained them and scrubbed them with warm, soapy water. Pain is only minor now.

Addendum...or in mmy case, addenDUMB

I was covered for uninsured motorist, public liability and property damage but no fire insurance. Now, at least, I won't worry about getting it smogged. I do have a second car but it needs tires, battery, an alternator, probably a tune up and it hasn't hasn't bneen smogged in 4 years. It hasn't moved an inch in 4 years either.

Ain't life a kick in the head

FUBAR

MacTheWolf (imported) wrote: Wed Oct 03, 2007 8:43 am I learned the application of FUBAR today and it convinced me if I didn't have bad luck, I wouldn't have any luck.

jenny (imported) wrote: Sat Sep 29, 2007 3:04 am .................................................. .................................................

Dear Mac I know you are going through a difficult time and it must be so hard for you, I just read your latest letter O wow your car caught fire and you lost your glasses and burnt your hand,

Well, that say things come in threes, lets hope this is the end of your bad luck, as I see it things from here on can only get better, as to not being able to see without your glasses, well welcome to the club, I am what is known as blind as a bat without mine.

recently I managed to totally destroy mine, I was having a shower stepped out reached for the towl that I had balanced my classes on before hand, then managed to stand on them twice, I then tried to find My spare pair but could not see to find them.

I could not drive to town to get a new pair as I could not see to drive, so I phoned a friend up to run in to the Opticians , when i got there and walked into the shop, while being fitted with a new pair I was told I had my top on inside out, I think the optician was a little taken a back when I took it off and put it on the right way, Well why worry I am sure he has seen a pair of boobs before.

I am wondering off course here Mac, all I wanted to say I wish you and your mom good luck. as you say with out any bad luck you can never have any good luck that I am sure is now on well on its way.

Take care Jen

Actually, one good thing did happen this eveing. The nurses told me mom was improving and she could talk

Two miracles in one day occurred:

1. I took a bus for the first time since high school the 3-5 miles down to our Inland Center Mall to Lenscrafters. A good friend from here had told me he'd cover an eye exam, new frames and lenses. So Now I can sing like the song: ...I once was blind but now I see....

2. When I arrived home a few hours later my first thought was to get online and tell everyone of my good fortune in getting new eyes. Unfortunately, my computer wouldn't turn on. I thought to myself, "crap, I get new glasses so I can see and now my computer dies." I unplugged and replugged in everything I could think of. I hit every on/off button and ones I thought might be reset buttons over, and over, etc...nothing worked. This went on for two+ hours of frantic actions. Suddenly, the screen suddenly lit up and it was working. I don't what caused it to work again but I'm happy.

I think my soul is in this computer though I can't recall selling it to Apple.

Two miracles I can see and my computer came back to life. I'm so happy I could kiss a nun...on the facial cheek. Heck I'd even kiss two guys from Escondido except they carry firearms

Hi Mac,

I really happy to hear you are getting some new eyes. I would miss all your post and the occasional PM that I should be in bed. As far as your computer goes, it sounds like it could be a faulty power supply or the the graphics card. I'm just guessing though, but those seem to be the two things that get weird as computers get older. By the way which MAC do you have?

Hugggggs

Jema

Yep, another sign of advanced age, needing new glasses because you cant see out of the old ones but when you have had the old ones sense Dino was a baby you are do. Glad you can see again OLD MAN.

River the Younger

Jema

iMac non-movable screen, less than a gig of power, 600Mhz... I bought it in early 2001.

I leave in about 40 minutes to meet mom's doctor. It seems she's unable to swallow so he wants to insert a tube into her stomache from her side to provide her with nutrition until her swallowing problem is fixed by the antibiotics. Fortunately, thanks to two great friends, I can see where I'm going on my walk up to the hospital

THREE OPTIONS = Same result..Mom has days, weeks maybe a few months to live.

I sat down with a doctor, nurse and a social worker. Considering her age, they gave me three choices:

1. They could choose to do nothing and let her die on her own. I said no way.

2. Option two is to insert a tube into her stomache to feed her and one down her throat to help her breathe. The risk of infection is high and if mom, in one of her psychotic moods, pulled out the tube, death would soon follow. I rejected that one too.

3. They will continue to give her antibiotics for the pneumonia, treat her for a uninary infection and feed her electrolytes through an Intaveinous tube BUT they would take no extraordinary measures to save her life such as cherst compression since it would break the ribs of a 93 year old person and electashocking the heart could kill her as much as save her.

I chose the last option and pray to God I made the right choice. If she recovers from the pneumonia and can swallow asgain, she could survive at home for several more months.

Mac, i have just read all your posts and the commenting posts on your situation, and am sorry to hear of all your problems and those of your mother.

My mother decided that she would not take care of her elderly mother after her husband died. So my single bachelor gay uncle, who did not live in NY but AZ was forced to come take her to live with him, uprooting her from the home she had known for 30 or so years. Her dementia was becoming severe, and she (thankfully?) did not drive, but lived too far from stores or services to walk. For a while, my uncle tried to care for her, but whether it was the natural progression of old age, the shock of losing my grandfather, or moving, her physical health quickly deteriorated. She died within the year. I recall, at times, the heartbreaking words of my grandfather before he died, saying that "M. occasionally has hours or days of complete lucidity where she knows how bad her mind is, and she cries a lot when that happens."

For what it's worth, I think you are making the best ethical decision possible.

And you are probably right to have tried to keep her in her home as much as possible. You have the patience of a saint. I wish you strength.

You have done well by your mother. You soon will have a new realm to explore and new problems to face. Be kind to yourself.

Wolfie, You and I talk almost every evening. You know how much I care and love you and your mom just like my own family. I wanted you also to know I pray every night that she gets well and the best treatment she can get. You know I had a similar problem with my mom not to long ago. You were lucky to have your mom 22 yrs. longer. I miss my mom very much. I know she is so much better off where she is because she had so many health problems. So, you I wanted you to know again, I only have best wishes for both of you.

Love you dearly and big , Lilac

Thank you, Lilac

I missed the bus today and walked the mile up to the hospital to see mom. Three weeks ago I had sprained my left foot but the pain had subsided. It returned half way there and all the way back. I stayed off my feet the rest of the day.

I talked to mom but she seemed too tired to say anything but "I'm thirsty." The nurse said she hasn't had any water in four days and still can't have any because of her unusual condition.

The nurse said anything she swallows has been going into her lungs instead of her tummy. Apparently there's a "flap" in the throat that moves one way for food and liquid and the other way for air. Mom's flap is stuck opening the lung entrance only.

That's the explanation I was given. The nurse did say mom is getting a wee bit better though.

MacTheWolf (imported) wrote: Sun Oct 07, 2007 7:45 am Thank you, Lilac

I missed the bus today and walked the mile up to the hospital to see mom. Three weeks ago I had sprained my left foot but the pain had subsided. It returned half way there and all the way back. I stayed off my feet the rest of the day.

I talked to mom but she seemed too tired to say anything but "I'm thirsty." The nurse said she hasn't had any water in four days and still can't have any because of her unusual condition.

The nurse said anything she swallows has been going into her lungs instead of her tummy. Apparently there's a "flap" in the throat that moves one way for food and liquid and the other way for air. Mom's flap is stuck opening the lung entrance only.

That's the explanation I was given. The nurse did say mom is getting a wee bit better though.

Mac,

They should keep some of these (http://www.comfortbath.com/aboutOral.cfm) by her bedside.

You get them wet and swab the inside of her mouth regularlly. Don't put enough water on them for her to swallow, though. Have her attending physician write an order on her chart for the nursing staff to use one of these on her hourly. It will be one way to insure that she is closely watched.

The swallowing mechanism is a very complicated physiological process. She needs to have a diagnostic test done by a speech and language pathologist and a radiologist using a fluoroscope to determine the extent of problem with her swallowing function.

93 is a ripe, old age, Mac. My mother died over 30 years ago. I still think of her regularlly. Not every day, though.

Mac,

A-1 (imported) wrote: Sun Oct 07, 2007 11:18 am They should keep some of these (http://www.comfortbath.com/aboutOral.cfm) by her bedside.

You get them wet and swab the inside of her mouth regularlly. Don't put enough water on them for her to swallow, though. Have her attending physician write an order on her chart for the nursing staff to use one of these on her hourly. It will be one way to insure that she is closely watched.

The swallowing mechanism is a very complicated physiological process. She needs to have a diagnostic test done by a speech and language pathologist and a radiologist using a fluoroscope to determine the extent of problem with her swallowing function.

93 is a ripe, old age, Mac. My mother died over 30 years ago. I still think of her regularlly. Not every day, though.

We used those in the hospice with my father. They are a great help. A-1 makes wise suggestions. I had not thought of them

Blaise (imported) wrote: Mon Oct 01, 2007 4:31 pm . You and your mother are in my daily prayers.

I am sorry that you have walk to the hospital. Please get your sleep while your mother is in the hospital and eat properly. That is something you can do for your mother.

Yea Hi Wolfie.

Surely you don't still have a mouse plague?:-\

I have only seen one mouse.

I received the recent MOM pics. I honestly could not recognize one guy there with long gray hair and a white beard. He looked about 80 years old and I couldn't recall seeing him there.

Then it dawned on me. OMG, that's me and my first thought was "oh crap, I look like River's grandfather."

I had never seen myself from that angle before. Except for the burns on my hand and my sore left foot, I feel normal.

Yup, I look like Methuseluh. Hell, next to me Jesus and CraftyWolf (Sag) look like kids. That was bizarre awakening of self reakization.

On the other hand, I think I looked distinguished...venerable even.

MacTheWolf (imported) wrote: Mon Oct 08, 2007 8:12 am I have only seen one mouse.

I received the recent MOM pics. I honestly could not recognize one guy there with long gray hair and a white beard. He looked about 80 years old and I couldn't recall seeing him there.

Then it dawned on me. OMG, that's me and my first thought was "oh crap, I look like River's grandfather."

I had never seen myself from that angle before. Except for the burns on my hand and my sore left foot, I feel normal.

Yup, I look like Methuseluh. Hell, next to me Jesus and CraftyWolf (Sag) look like kids. That was bizarre awakening of self reakization.

On the other hand, I think I looked distinguished...venerable even.

Wolfie, the word is "extinguished," not "distinguisged."

kristoff wrote: Mon Oct 08, 2007 8:58 am Wolfie, the word is "extinguished," not "distinguisged."

Krister...unfortunately, I think you're correct. I get the impression from those pix that the past 3.4 years of being a caregiver has taken a toll on me, if not physically, at least in my face and beard.

On a better note, I walked two miles (there and back) to see mom in hospital tonight. Her nurses say, tomorrow, mom starts on real foods

Good News: I won't be be walking two miles round trip to see mom anymore after today.

Bad news - The hospital is tranferring mom to nursing home for two weeks on recovery. It seems she still needs the intraveinous feeding for another week to get her strength back. This place is called Highland Palms is about five miles from me and no way can this old body of mine cover a ten mile walk per day.

The hospital social worker did say they would look up bus routes and check on pricing so I could ride part of the way

UPDATE: Legacy Nursing Home agreed to take mom for two weeks at no charge. Legacy is only three blocks away from my house. I can manage that I think

I visited mom at St. Bernadine's Hospital but I must have caught her in an off mood. Mom looked at me and said, "get away from me you bastard." Gee, maybe she thought she was talking to some politician.

Mac, remember that cartoon strip the born looser? You can win for loosing but tonight when I pray to the many gods I will see what they can do,

or maybe I better leave well enough alone.

Take care my friend

River

MacTheWolf (imported) wrote: Tue Oct 09, 2007 6:26 am Good News: I won't be be walking two miles round trip to see mom anymore after today.

Bad news - The hospital is tranferring mom to nursing home for two weeks on recovery. It seems she still needs the intraveinous feeding for another week to get her strength back. This place is called Highland Palms is about five miles from me and no way can this old body of mine cover a ten mile walk per day.

The hospital social worker did say they would look up bus routes and check on pricing so I could ride part of the way

UPDATE: Legacy Nursing Home agreed to take mom for two weeks at no charge. Legacy is only three blocks away from my house. I can manage that I think

I visited mom at St. Bernadine's Hospital but I must have caught her in an off mood. Mom looked at me and said, "get away from me you bastard." Gee, maybe she thought she was talking to some politician.

When I was a boy, we had a neighbor and her young son. The mother was awful to the boy. She put him out in the heat every morning. She used to yell at him and call him a son-of-a-bitch. I suppose she knew.

MacTheWolf (imported) wrote: Mon Oct 08, 2007 8:12 am I have only seen one mouse.

I received the recent MOM pics. I honestly could not recognize one guy there with long gray hair and a white beard. He looked about 80 years old and I couldn't recall seeing him there.

Then it dawned on me. OMG, that's me and my first thought was "oh crap, I look like River's grandfather."

I had never seen myself from that angle before. Except for the burns on my hand and my sore left foot, I feel normal.

Yup, I look like Methuseluh. Hell, next to me Jesus and CraftyWolf (Sag) look like kids. That was bizarre awakening of self reakization.

On the other hand, I think I looked distinguished...venerable even.

The word your looking for is "OLD"

From River the Younger

MacTheWolf (imported) wrote: Tue Oct 09, 2007 6:26 am Mom looked at me and said, "get away from me you bastard."

When my mow talked like that I asumed she was getting better as it sounded mure like her,

Keep us informed Wolfe we are all with you

Love Jenny

Locally, when I still lived in South Africa, we simply acquired one of the several varieties of non venomous snakes and allowed them the freedom of the house. Beyond mice, we had a number of inhabitants that were both a nuisance and unhealthy. At one point I had both a Rock Python and two cats. There relationship was, at best, guarded, but they seemed to know that both had a purpose. In the United States there are a number of snakes that are routinely used on farms for the control of vermin in barns, crops etc. Whilst I can easily understand this isn't a programme many will pursue, it's a suggestion that might merit consideration. Particularly if you live in an area that is both warm and non-urban.