May You Arrive In Heaven An Hour Before The Devil Knows You're There!

Last Saturday we ended up at the Palms Krystal Bar in Port Huron. We were there for the famous Chicken in the Rough. The place was jumpin' even at noon and owner Russ Schultz treated us to a sample bowl of his famous Shepherd's Pie made from real prime rib roast beef. He makes these up special for the week.

We had a good visit with Russ and used the two 'free chicken dinner' coupons that Chicken in the Rough franchise owner Jack Carroll gave to us last summer. One green beer was enough for me. I was afraid it would colour my teeth. Anyway I was driving. I saved this entry so I could post it on Paddy's Day. If you are ever in Port Huron Michigan, be sure to visit this amazing place.

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Goodbye Dear Hazel

When I think of you, I will always think of fashion, the colour red, your happy smile, parties around the pool, baked treats, rural living, and your love of all God’s creatures.

A classy lady indeed!

May peace and eternal freedom from pain finally be with you.

'Circle of Friends' member Hazel passed away peacefully at 12:47 PM on Saturday March 13 2010.

I put up a blog in her memory.  CLICK HERE to view
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We're Booked!

ITINERARY

DAY DATE PORT ARRIVE   DEPART Sun Apr 4 Fort Lauderdale, FL 5:00pm Mon Apr 5 At Sea Tue Apr 6 At Sea Wed Apr 7 St. Maarten, Netherlands Antilles 8:00am 4:00pm Thu Apr 8 St. Lucia (Castries) 8:00am 3:00pm Thu Apr 8 St. Lucia (Soufriere) 5:00pm 6:00pm Fri Apr 9 Barbados 8:00am 5:00pm Sat Apr 10 Fort-de-France, Martinique 7:00am 1:00pm Sun Apr 11 St. Thomas, U.S. Virgin Islands 8:00am 5:00pm Mon Apr 12 At Sea Tue Apr 13 Half Moon Cay, Bahamas 8:00am 4:00pm Wed Apr 14 Fort Lauderdale, FL 7:00am

Don't Read This If You Are Bored

If this isn’t the dullest month, it has to be my dullest blog entry so far. I don’t know if it’s just because March is the last month of the winter or if it’s any more dull than any other of the winter months, or is it simply that there is fewer things to do this time of year, but whatever the reason, I’m really finding it hard to get motivated to do anything at all. Winter blahs I guess. Wendy is bogged down too, and depressed from all the stress of her mom being in her new environment in the nursing home. It’s been an emotionally hard month with the recent death of our good friend Ron, and serious health issues plaguing some of our other friends.

We need a change, something to aim for in the short run. Maybe I should book a cruise. Our cruising friends Cheryl and John really want a trip in April and have been hoping someone will go with them. (Holly and Barry don’t think they can go at this time, and Pete and Donna have something else booked for the summer, so Donna can’t get off work)

I think it would do Wendy good to get away from here for a week or so. Sippin’ rum on a white sandy beach could be good medicine don’t you think? I’ll keep you posted on how I progress with this goal.

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My New Eyeglasses Arrived

 I feel funny wearing glasses but I guess I'll get used to it.

Except for reading, I've never worn glasses before so I didn't know what to expect with my new prescription glasses from Zenni Optical  They arrived from Hong Kong to Canadian Customs last Thursday which means they took two weeks and three days (not counting Customs) since my order was placed back on February 8th. That's amazing service considering the price. Fifty bucks or so for excellent glasses with progressive lenses. 

I can notice a slight improved difference with my distance vision but the biggest thing is, I can now see the instruments and gauges on my dash board.  I used to have to put on my reading glasses then look over the top to see the road. (not easy while driving)  I had the same trouble with the GPS in the car. I love my new Zenni Optical glasses!

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Note: I wish I did, but I do not, make a commission from Z.O.
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Patient: I always see spots before my eyes.
Optometrist: Didn’t the new glasses help?
Patient: Sure, now I see the spots much clearer.

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Gene Moved Today!

A prolonged hospital stay can wear anybody down, so we are hoping that Gene's condition will improve once she arrives in more peaceful surroundings. Today is the last day we have to transfer her into the Nursing Home or the bed will be relinquished to someone else.

She's been in the hospital since a week ago Saturday and the stay has been a load on Wendy. I know that the next few weeks will still be 'trying' to say the least, but the new place is specifically equipped to deal with people with Gene's condition, so in the long run maybe it's all for the better.

Once she is settled and we get the phone connected, her friends will be able to call. We have been promised by Rogers that we can retain the same phone number that she has had for 65 years and we will be able to slide it over from Waverly Mansion.

Update: All settled in and the phone and TV cable are connected. She has a nice view out her window

Summer view from road courtesy of Google Maps, Street View.

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Frustration Builds As Gene Waits For Her Bed

The Bureaucracy In Health Care. What A System We Have!

The Nursing Home does not accept residents on Friday because if the new arrival has some trouble adjusting, there is a reduced staffing on Saturday or Sunday. Therefore there is no way she could get in until Monday. Unfortunately, when we were unable to move her in on Wednesday, the home made other arrangements so that Monday is booked up for new arrivals.

Tuesday then, is the earliest Gene can move in. This is providing her situation remains stable until then. If her condition changes and she has to stay again in the hospital past Wednesday, we will lose our position in line and must then revert to the one to nine month waiting time. No one knows where she would wait if that happens since we have signed out of Waverly Mansion.

Gene is sleeping now after being awake for two days. When we arrived this morning, they had her bed out in the hall in front of the nurses station. This is because she was so agitated that she was keeping the poor man in her room awake with her talking and activities. They tried all kinds of sedatives and anti-anxiety drugs but to no avail. A hospital is not a restful place. It will be a miracle if her condition doesn't deteriorate before Tuesday.

Gene will need support at the hospital to help keep her on a somewhat even keel. The object is to get her signed in at the Nursing Home. Once she is signed in, she can come back to the hospital at length but will be guaranteed her bed. We have to keep her in good shape until she signs in and it must be before Wednesday.

Meanwhile there are desperately ill people unable to get beds in hospital because of this kind of hold up. It seems like a terrible waste of three days for a hospital bed in the Cardiac Ward that somebody else is dying for.
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Time to Move On.

A Carroll Hospital Bed from my old company in new Nursing Home room. Not much room for Gene's own furniture though.
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I don't usually write about other people's health issues but since this blog was conceived to keep everyone up to date on events and happenings in the lives of Wendy and I, and since I began the story about Wendy's mom a long time ago, I felt this update on her situation was justified.

It has been three years January since Wendy's mom Gene went into Waverly Mansion. She is an amazingly strong woman, especially when you consider that she came from a very large family of 11 other brothers and sisters (almost all of whom she has outlived) and was bedridden as a child for a year or so with rheumatic fever and heart problems ending up with a murmur and arrhythmia that precipitated the installation of a 'pacemaker' a dozen or so years ago.

Now at eighty-five her condition of chronic heart failure and dementia from either previous strokes or Alzheimer's disease, has meant that her general condition is trending downwards. This has been most evident in the past couple weeks. Wendy has been Gene's primary caregiver for at least the last ten years, even though she has been in the retirement home for the past three. It is now apparent that in spite of the extraordinary efforts of the fine people at Waverly, in many cases going beyond their mandated level of patient care, Gene will require, if not twenty four hour nursing care, at least more care than is available at Waverly without adding extra personnel and/or a sizeable amount of supplemental expense.

Last Saturday night, (Feb. 20) Gene was admitted to hospital to deal with swelling of the legs due to a fluid build up. This is just one of the symptoms of her heart failure as the condition progresses. Unfortunately, the underlying condition of heart failure is not reversible, even though the symptoms are. Since Gene is easily stressed by changes to her living environment, Wendy and the Doctor in charge feel that now is the time for Gene to make the transition from retirement home to nursing home and that the transition would be smoother if she was not returned to Waverly, but discharged directly to the nursing home.

Fortunately, as prescribed by our government here in Ontario, Gene is already registered on a list of candidates for admission to the nursing home of our choice. She has been signed up for over three years, so she is at the top of the list. Now we wait to see how quickly a bed becomes available in the Nursing Home. In the mean time Gene waits anxiously in the hospital.

Update:

Just as Gene was to leave the hospital, the tests showed a dangerously low sodium blood level (hyponatremia). This stopped all our plans.

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Goodbye Ron!

So long old friend. Click the picture to enlarge. Circle of Friends Christmas Party Dec. 2008

Our good friend Ron,  the husband of 'Circle of Friends' member Pat, passed away peacefully yesterday. He was a gentle and kind man with lots of good stories to tell. He will be sorely missed by all of us.

Visitation Monday Feb. 22 at Forest Lawn Chapel, 2001 Dundas St. E. 11 am to 1 pm. Service at 1 pm with a reception after.

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CLICK HERE to go to a blog in memory of Ron.

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Welcome Back!

To all those who endured the password through a Google account in order to access this blog  -  I realize that this was an inconvenience at best and I thank you for you perseverance! To the rest of you, who struggled with the password 'crap' and gave up - welcome back!  

The password was integrated into the blog to enable some security to prevent unwelcome readers from accessing on line. You can understand that in this marvelous, wide open world that is the Internet, there are bound to be unsavory types who would take advantage of the information on the blog. (eg. knowing we are away etc.) A few months ago we received an 'odd' phone call from USA. The caller referenced the blog, so my son Tim insisted we put in some form of security. Unfortunately the password effectively stymied most of my friends.


My new plan is to monitor who is visiting this new site. If I notice an unknown reader, I will move on to a new address and you will be notified of the change. Otherwise,  I plan to migrate the blog at an unannounced time every two or three months. I'll send an email each time I change addresses. The blog is not public on the Internet and the search engines have been instructed not to list it. That's why if you do a Google search, you won't find it. Most visitors come by invitation, some stumble upon it. I may have to come up with a different security method if this doesn't work out so I thank you for your patience in advance.


As you can see, there is nothing different on the blog. If you've been away, you've got some catching up to do. Remember, the farther back you go the older the posts get, so you might want to go back first and work forward.

Again, welcome back. I'll try to post something every few days, so check back often.

Cheers
Tim

SURPRISE!

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One cold morning a few weeks ago Wendy said "I sure wish I had a heated toilet seat!"  Unfortunately Christmas had already passed but when I typed "heated toilet seat" in to eBay, I knew I had to buy one. I was thinking that the next calendar event was Valentine's Day and I don't know whether it was the heart shape of the toilet seat, or just the warm sentiments that are aroused on this special day, but regardless of "suitability", this was to be my Valentine's Day gift to my very special lady, for her own bathroom. After all, it's a gift that keeps on giving (unlike flowers or chocolates) and I figure she'll get a warm feeling when ever she uses it. I hope she'll think of me.
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Believe it or not, the instructions say the new seat  "is dishwasher safe". I got mine on eBay right from the factory, but here's all the poop from their web page: http://www.heatedtoiletseat.com/
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There Are Many Ways To Make Money On The Internet

My 'bear movie' doesn't look so bad after you view this 'promo' ad:

I think I'll stick to 'stills'.

World's Dumbest Form - All Subversive Organizations Now Must Register

NOTE: No joke is needed at the top of this blog page because the content will steal the show. Read on:

 

Click To Enlarge

I never thought I'd see such a stupid form but this one seems to be the real thing. Could the government of South Carolina be trying to pull off an early April Fool's joke or something? And it even costs $5 to apply!  I know the people of this state are not ALL morons because I have met some really nice people from there. I have a cousin living there and I have always respected her intelligence but then again I have never met one of their politicians. Here's where I got the form:
http://www.schneier.com/ 

My son Tim explained that the form will not seem as dumb to a lawmaker/politician. By having a form and a stiff penalty for non-compliance, the state thus creates another charge that they can lay against the perpetrator.  I doubt though, that Bin Laden or any of his buddies will send one in. 
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Democracy: Where any two idiots outvote a genius. 

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Wintery Scenes - Wendy Recycles!

If a tree falls in the forest, and it hits a mime, does anyone care? Maybe someone should speak up for him!

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Wendy never lets me put the Christmas tree out for garbage collection. Being the resourceful girl she is, she always has me drag it around to the back yard so it can 'live out its days' looking like any other tree in the garden. She also uses the festive boughs and branches for her squirrel feeder. They've been out there for nearly a month with no snow.This morning, with the light dusting we received, the little tree looked very much at home don't you think? I know the squirrels appreciate her recycling efforts.

Click pic to enlarge

Prescription Eyeglasses From $8 A Pair! Can't wait!

An old snake goes to see his Doctor.

"Doc, I need something for my eyes...can't see well these days".

The Doc fixes him up with a pair of glasses and tells him to return in 2 weeks.

The snake comes back in 2 weeks and tells the doctor he's very depressed.

Doc says, "What's the problem...didn't the glasses help you?"

"The glasses are fine doc, I just discovered I've been sleeping with a garden hose for the past 2 years!"
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Every two years I go to my eye doctor for a check-up. He not only checks my ability to read the eye charts, but also measures the pressure of the eye fluid and examines the retina, looking for things like macular degeneration and other serious things that can develop from the eyes. The images he took of the retinas showed they were healthy and in excellent condition. Happily, the only thing he found wrong was a rogue eyelash that was growing backwards touching my eyeball. I never even noticed it, but he pulled it out and I think I can feel a difference.
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I have always had good distance vision so I don't need glasses for that, but I use two different pairs of close-up glasses. One pair to read at about 12" to 15" or so and the other to view my monitor at around 24" to 30" away. We discussed progressive lenses and bifocals because I am always doing a shuffle between reading glasses and another pair for viewing my monitor. Unfortunately, my traditional eyeglass supplier (Dollarama) can't provide a prescription pair so I turned to the internet for help.

My daughter Erin has in the past used a place called Zenni Optical. I think her/our friend Andrew found it. Zenni's 'Regular' prescription glasses cost only $8. WITH standard frames included. You can also order upscale titanium frames, special coatings and extras like clip-ons. This California company takes your money (MC Visa etc.) and places the order in China. In a few weeks, you receive the glasses directly from the manufacturer in Hong Kong. They ship right to your door in Canada for $6.95. She has saved hundreds of dollars. The low price has allowed her to buy multiple pairs from a selection of dozens of styles. 

With my latest prescription in hand, I decided to try my first ever pair of prescription glasses. After talking with the doctor, I ordered progressive lenses. In my case, the total bill came to $49.85 USD and that included a pair of Polaroid clip-ons.  In a few weeks, I'll write about the experience. Here is a review about Zenni Optical, here's a YouTube video and below is my order:

Order id: #970345
Order date: 02-08-2010 2:30:34 PM
Products ordered
SKU Product Item price Quantity: Total
1 pair 4163 Metal Alloy Full-Rim Frame with Spring Hinge
Options/Prescription:
Frame Colors: 11 Silver
AR Anti-Reflection Coating: No Coating
Lens Tint Choices: No Tint
Clip On Polarized 80% Sunshade: 1 pair
OD-SPH: +1.00
OD-CYL: -1.25
OD-AXIS: 73
OD-ADD: +2.25
OS-SPH: +0.75
OS-CYL: -0.50
OS-AXIS: 72
OS-ADD: +2.25
PD-Pupillary Distance: 71*
Prescription and Lens Type: Progressive(No-Line Multi-Focal) -
Prescription Strength: Standard Strength
          
Subtotal:      $42.90
Shipping cost: $ 6.95
Total:         $49.85

*Most times the PD (distance in mm between the two pupils) is not shown on the Rx. You can ask the eye doctor or have a friend measure it. 
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Now there are more overweight people in America than average-weight people. So overweight people are now average. Which means you've met your New Year's resolution.
  
    Jay Leno (1950 - )

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