Granny Nanny

Update!!!

2010-09-19T12:11:00.000-07:00

Oh I'm so far behind in my Granny Blogs and posting my scrap pages..... I do think I am going to start a new blog for my scrap pages tho it might be easier and give you two blogs to follow....hopefully I can keep up on both blogs....now for the updates...

Well first of all my computer bit the dust..... and I got a new one.. a laptop.....I was finally ready for a laptop vs a desktop!! I am very happy with it..it is a Toshiba and after getting it and returningthe first defective one I am finally getting used to this on. I am even using internet explorer vs Aol....so much to learn..but it is fun...and frustraiting too.. Thanks so much for my friend and personal computer geek...Nick... I am getting all set up and going forward.

On to my Granny status........just got a new granny..Joyce.....3 overnites a week...that is great! she is in her 70's and has Alzheimers and needs 24 hour care. I get there at night and she is already in bed.... but starting around 3am she gets up several times till I leave around 7. So I have to stay up all night. some nights if I'm really tired I sleep till 2am and set my phone alarm so I can be awake and alert when she starts getting up! have to keep convincing her to go back to bed because its too early!! I always tell her its an hour earlier than it really is... she always goes back to bed. She is very sweet...she is a retired school teacher and thinks alot of her family are her students... she forgets people so she just calls us "her girls"...Great place to be so cozy and they leave me snacks and stuff..lol I feel like a 17 year old babysitter....anyway I just sit and watch cable TV and play on my computer all night!!! Two of the days right after I go to my grandpas for a few hours then home to bed!!!..I got this lady thru a good friend...joyce is her daughter's new grandmother in law.......gotta love those referrals!!!! Thanks margie..
Other update.....my last overnite lady...Marge D. passed away on the fourth of July. they say her husband came to get her. he passed away on the fourth of July 4 years earlier. She hung on for about a month....She just slept stopped eatting and getting up..we gave her droppers of water and just kept her comfy till the end. The family had a nice memorial service for her at her home a few weeks later it was a real tearjerker. I am glad I went.. All the family stories reminded me of my Mother...who unfortunatly passed away at the young age of 62....I never really got the chance to take care of her in her "Late years"..But I was fortunate to be able to spend lots of time with her while I had her........
Still have my grandpa Ray and Grandma Helen..they are so sweet.. they just love me! they are in their 80's but seem much younger...Ray does have Alzheimers and can't remember stuff...but they get along fime I got there 3 days a week for a few hours to entertain them! lolol They are so Cute!!!
And there is Jenny.my Friend and x-sister in laws mom.....she is so sweet too and from going to her building I have picked up a few side jobs with some of the other residents......Nice!!! for them I just do some cleaning...they think I'm jenny's cleaning lady.....Works for me...
Well I'll try to keep up with posts this fall....inbetween scrapbooking and walking and taking care of my own house..but maybe with this new computer and time at the grannies at night I'll be able to do it.....thanks for following and besure to check out my other blog with my scrap pages...coming soon!

Granny Collection Update..

2010-06-06T21:01:00.000-07:00

It's been a while since I posted a blog on any of my Grannies..
I still am very busy with my Grannies.
Jenny...She is in the OLV Independent Living Apts. She is great..She loves to help me do the things I was hired to do..then off I go to put in her wash and then get her in her "Spa Like Bubble Bath" After wards we make her lunch and we visit for a while. Lately her friends have been "Accosting" me in the elevator..they want to know what I do for Jenny... so far Collette hired me to "Spring Clean" her place...pay was great and I got a big tip!!! Nice!! Then another woman inquired about me in the main office... so they took my number to hand out...I need to make cards..."Granny Nanny" for hire!!! I could slide them under all the apt. doors!! While I'm there maybe I'll get on the list for a place..I'll be needing it in the near future!!! Wonder if I'll have to give Jenny a finders fee?

Then I still "Sleep over" with Marge. She is really slowing down tho. She is just so content to just stay in bed all the time now. The day time girls do try to get her up a little each day but by afternoon she is so limp no one can maneuver her so they are finding it better to let her stay in bed and entertain her in her room. Once in a while I get to be there during her waking hours but I mostly get there after she is asleep. Lucky me! Since the weather got better they opened this old window in her room way up high over her bed...and now no one can get it closed..so at night when it gets chilly we turn up her electric blanket to keep her warm and come morning we just wipe the frost off her nose and start the day!!!! Kidding!!!! fortunately it hasn't been too cold and hopefully when her son gets home from vacation he will get the window fixed!!!
Then there is Ray and Helen...sweet old couple...oh they just sit by the door 3 days a week waiting for me to show up. They get so excited always asking what we have planned for the days excitement!! But my time is short there and after I get a nice gourmet breakfast made and medicines dished out, everything cleaned up and a few chores done my time is up...I really need to be there a little longer..but for now I'm only scheduled for 2 hrs on my days. Wednesday is "Shower day" and that takes me the whole time to fight off Old Grandpa's advances!!!! Too Funny!!!! I told him I was gonna stop his viagra pill if he doesn't chill out!!!!!
Lastly there was my other Marge....Sweet woman..I was there just Thursday afternoon for a while.. got her pills ready for the week and did a few chores and chatted. after my first two weeks she took to her bed and slowly faded away..I was spending allot of time with her just visiting and feeding her ice chips and keeping her comfortable..and by Monday Morning May 3rd she was gone. This is the hardest part of my job!

Well I am always on the look out for more Grannies....I love my job!!!!

May Scrap Pages...

2010-06-06T19:33:00.000-07:00

April Scrap pages

2010-05-01T19:11:00.000-07:00

Got back into doing some scrappin....got all my pages ready for the crops at the convention in VA in the summer.....Now I can Scrap!!!

Over the River and thru the Woods......

2010-02-24T12:37:00.000-08:00

Boy going to Grandma Bea's is so cozy...and shes so cute! She literally lives over the river and in the woods...

Love going to Bea's her place is like a cabin and she always has a warm Fake fire going in her fake fireplace infront of her massive real fireplace..
We watch the Olympics and Bea sits there eating popcorn and jello... at 10Pm she shuffles off to bed and I get her all tucked in with her bed warmer and fan and her pile of cookies...and her TV which goes all nite long!!! it must lull her to sleep...She is pretty good , she stays in her room till about 9AM then shuffles out to use the bathroom telling me she's not staying up..she's going right back to bed. Tells me it is way to early for her to get up!! Can't blame her..its way to early for me too!!!!! I get up at 10 and leave at 10:30 to head over to Help out Grandpa Ray... but he's a story for another day!!!!!

Oreo Cookie Monster!!

2010-02-16T12:53:00.000-08:00

Grandma Marge...gotta love her..she loves her cookies.... Sweetest Old lady.. we had a little dinner last night and watched the Olympics..she is loving them and makes quite a few snappy comments...she is too funny!!! but about 9:30 she wanted to turn in.. we pre warm her bed and got her nightstand all preped for the night...4 glasses of water... a big bag of chips and a pack of Oreos... 10 of the individual cookies stacked within easy reach!!! then she settles in snuggling up in her toasty warm bed with a fan blowing on her on HIGH!!! and we put on her TV and she keeps it on all night.. She lays there till the wee hours watching TV and eating cookies and junk food!!!! Guess she is usally up several times too but the two nights I've been there she has been falling asleep and staying asleep till at least 10 am and which time she gets up and anounces she just needs to go to the bathroom and then she is going right back to bed because she's not ready to get up yet!! Works for me... I feel the same way!!! today she got up and she already was into the cookies.. crumbs were all over her face and nightgown..too funny!!! no wonder she dosen't eat her first meal till early afternoon!!! I'll have to keep an eye on her and make sure she dosen't attract Ants and Mice in her bed!!!!!!!!!

January Scrap pages

2010-02-16T12:50:00.001-08:00

Valentine's Day

2010-02-16T12:42:00.000-08:00

What a nice Day!! I slept in and missed Church....but it was pretty snowy and blowy up here in the snowhills so I will use that as an excuse. Steve gave me a beautiful bouquet of Roses which I thought came from my son Steve..Oops... got that straightened out..no hard feelings.... Then we planned a nice dinner out..but as it turned out we couldn't go...the weather didn't get any better throughout the day and we decided to stay home ...that and the race went on a lot longer than planned!! No problem we plan on going out to celebrate another night. Monday when i awoke I saw that 9 of my roses had wilted! That sucked so I ca,,==lled the place to let them know and 2 more dozen are on there way today. Not here yet tho!!!!! But actually i don't mind... I perfer my roses "Dried" then I keep them forever...got quite the collection of them around! Adding to my collection of STUFF I need to pare down! lol Oh someday. I'll have to check my "How to be and Old Person" Manual to see the time line for dumping lings like "dried roses" In the mean time I will enjoy all of the flowers....Happy Valentines Day everyone..

Nanny Grandpa Ray

2010-02-16T12:30:00.000-08:00

Grabbed me up a sweet old Grandpa to care for. Ray.. and his wife Helen. both in the 80's Helen needs a little help with Ray and a few reminders of her own.. Sweetest couple. They were referred to me from the co-worker of the Daughter of my last Granny... Gotta love that word of mouth. Ray is a sweet elderly gentleman who loves hugs!!!! and he is so compliant ....and easy going...one of my new jobs is to help him shave....lolol don't think I've done that before...I think I need some practice...can't practice at home ..Steve has a full beard!!! any volunteers???? I think I can manage that and everything else...we'll see.... getting a pretty busy schedule... but 2 Grannies are overnites and I can sleep and the others are mid day! Finding that most elderly are not a fan of getting up early! I guess all these years I've be practicing for MY old age!! I am taking note on how to be an dependant old person...got some good tips so far....oh my poor kids.......lololo
I do find most elderly have the same routine and basic needs... sleep late do things at their own pace...love sweets and snacks watch a lot of TV and Movies... and just like to hang out!!! I truly love my job!

December Scrap pages

2010-01-12T17:14:00.000-08:00

Only had time for 2 pages..had to finish my Christmas Cards and get ready for the Holidays....

Friday Nite Party Girl!!

2009-12-16T01:16:00.000-08:00

Seems my new Granny only stays awake on Friday nites now! This was only my second time there and again she was still awake! What the heck...she goes to bed and to sleep every nite at 8:30 except for the last two Friday nites...My nites... She has Alzheimer's..how does she know its Friday nite? How does she know its my nite? Think she's faking and knows I'm coming and wants to stay up late with me because she knows I'll be up watching the good TV shows and probably eating some good junk food!!! She's a sly one....... My first Friday she was up till one but this week I sat with her in her room and it took only about a half hour to convince her to stay in bed and try to fall asleep!..Not bad... lets see what this Friday brings...

November Scrap pages

2009-12-02T17:07:00.001-08:00

New Sweet Granny for me.

2009-12-02T17:02:00.000-08:00

One of my old high School friends hooked me up with a new Granny. Perfect for me...over nights and she is only 4 miles away!
Marge is her name and she is 90 years young. She has alzehimers and you need to keep an eye on her. I get there she is already in bed and she loves to sleep in so I'm gone before she even gets up!! Perfect! Oh there will be the ocassional day time shift but for now I am the permenent a few nights a week overnight gal.. Got my own bedroom.....and a video monitor to keep an eye on Marge..
Met her today..She is so sweet and kind. Looking forward to starting this Friday nite..

New Scrap Pages from July to Oct 31,2009 check them out!!!

2009-10-31T21:05:00.001-07:00

New scrap pages 7-09 to 10-09

My Newest Granny

2009-09-21T21:55:00.000-07:00

Jenny...Sweetest Granny going. I see Jenny once a week now. She just moved into a new senior complex. What a great place...I wanna live there. It is fairly new... great size...nice safety features and security. She seems to be adapting quite well. Once a week I go over and spend time with her. helping with what ever she needs doing. It took a few weeks to get her ready to move..lots of stuff to sort thru! That part was sad for her..but she was able to give her family lots of nice mementos and things that she will be able to visit..I makes me think about the big job ahead of me when I move and start unloading all my "Junk"! Jenny is still pretty independent. She still drives and volunteers at a few places. She stays pretty busy. Soon she will be a great grandma again. time marches on..there is no stopping it. We all just adapt!

See you later Grandma Dottie

2009-09-21T21:50:00.000-07:00

Unfortunatly due to unforseen circumstances I no longer care for Grandma Dottie. ...Sad ending. And guess who pays the price? Sorry Dottie..but they are right you just can't pick your family!!!!

Looking for Granny..

2009-08-30T17:18:00.000-07:00

Hello everyone...know any Grannys that need looking after? Please contact me...Looking to love your Granny!!!

More Scrap Pages..

2009-06-15T20:23:00.001-07:00

Goodbye Grandma Eleanor

2009-03-10T15:37:00.000-07:00

Thursday March 4th 2009 Grandma Eleanor passed away from colon cancer. She was 84 years old and remained in her home cared for by her family and a few other caregivers till the very end.
Monday March 16th the family is having a memorial service at Mt. Calvary Cemetery and there will be a luncheon after.
This is a sad occupational hazard for my job.. But these elderly people are so sweet and it is such an honour to meet them and to be able to care for them in there final years. I wouldn't give it up for anything!!!!!!
So I am back down to my 2..Grandpa Bob and Grandma Dottie...
I did need a little break between tho ..seems I had a slight heart attack last week. But today I am back to my old self!!! Nothing slows me down!!!!!
So life will go on..hopefully more grannies will come into my life and then sadly they will slip away too!!
So so long grandma Eleanor it was a great pleasure to meet you..see you someday on the other side.

Good News..We called off the APB!

2009-02-25T23:00:00.001-08:00

Hey they found Dotties Choppers!!!! Yes they were still in the building. They were found in someone elses room in someone elses drawer! How they got there we'll never know! All I know is that when I got to Dots today and got the cards out...well there they were starring up at me from the drawer!!! Maybe someone else needed them for a while! Yuck!!! Dot did say she scrubbed them up really good tho. I sure hope so...Hum Maybe she left them one nite while visiting someone elses room!!!! Dot you sly dog you!!!!!!!!

Put out an APB....

2009-02-18T22:32:00.000-08:00

Today Dottie was in her robe when I got there..seems she didn't want to get dressed. Also I guess she loves to change her clothes several times a day! But the bad news....Dottie's Choppers are missing! She had them... she thinks.....but she can't find them. Looked under the pillow...in the nightstand drawer...and her pockets..of everything she owns!..No sight of them. The nurses tore apart her room..No where! We even had her check her Bra...yep she likes to stuff things in her bra...
She checked..said No no teeth in there..then she even pulled all the "Stuff" out of her bra to prove it!!! (see pic) not the brown furry thing but everything else!! Well they called down to the laundry and they will search the trash. Hope the girls found them!! Good thing she likes to take them out to eat..hate to think she would starve without them...But she won't leave the room without them tho.

Scrap pages I did in 2009

2009-02-16T23:06:00.001-08:00

Hello Eleanor welcome to my Blog!!

2009-02-16T22:47:00.000-08:00

Got me another new Granny. Dear Sweet Eleanor! She is an 80 something woman with endstage colon cancer.
My neighbor Diane is her main Caregiver but they need a weekend girl and someone to fill in! So that's me.. I will spend Saturday and Sunday afternoons with Eleanor and her poodle Shelby! I also will do a few over nites and a few week day afternoons to fill in for the others. I'd really like the night shift tho..10p till 8a. So hopefully that girl will burn out soon so I can take over. Granny also has a very nice doggie...A poodle named Shelby..Shelby is no trouble..just lays around and everysooften comes over by Eleanor's bed so she can pet her..and lets me know when she needs to be let out!.
I am sure this will be a temporary job tho..it's day by day. Eleanor lives just a few miles from me which is very nice. And the best part...the daughter scrapbooks!!!! and has a great little scrapbook room set up right in Granny's house!!!!!!Marsha the daughter can't wait to see my scrapbooks! next thing you know we'll be great scrapbook pals and she will have to find diff rent help cause we'll be too busy scrappin!!!! hahaha,..anyway...back to granny! well she is pretty easy..She sleeps in a hospital bed right in the main room and we sit and chat..some times she is with it and other times she just spins her own stories...We just all play along! Eleanor loves to nap..and that is great for me..cause I loves to nap too!!! Nap and Scrap my two favorite hobbies!!!!!HaHa..

Valentine's at the HOME

2009-02-16T22:29:00.000-08:00

Took Dottie some valentines goodies and a handmade card on Wednesday..... Candies in a special heart box..cookies and specialty coffee from Timmy Ho's. When I got there Dottie was up at the nurses area where alot of them all hang out..helping them... got one from her room and then had to wheel her back... took one to the bathroom... and then didn't want to leave one old lady she was sitting visiting with when I got there! But finally she did..she told them all to stay there and she would be back in a while to help them get back to their rooms!
Back in her room her room mate had a cute valentines tree on her night stand and she proceeded to tell us a 20 minute story of how her daughter now decorates the tree for every holiday! She's never heard of such a thing..but she told me she likes the idea! laughing!..Her new roommate is a hoot never shuts the hell up!! I thought we were bad..She has us beat hands down now! Christ its like shes in charge Dottie says! Wednesday she sat on her bed in a top and just panties..shouting out orders to Dottie and I..Dottie runs right over and tends to her every wish..like its her job! I think Dottie thinks she works there now. We finally got to play some cards and enjoy our goodies. Was a good day for Dot she was kicking my Ass in cards left and right! She must be practicing when I'm not there! Anyway Dottie can't wait for the snow to stop and the weather to get warm again because then she can go home!!! Sure Dot..start packin!!!!!

Never a Good Bye...

2009-01-20T22:22:00.000-08:00

It was a sad day at Autumview. I went in to visit Dottie and I walk down the hall I am usually greeted by Glen, another resident. He spends his day sitting in his wheelchair in the hall watching out the window and watching the action up and down the hallways. I always say Hi he is so sweet he smiles and says hi back. Well I haven't seen him in a while..then I noticed his room was empty and cleaned out and his name was off the door. Yesterday the nurse told me he passed away. At least he is in a place with a better view out the window and he no longer needs his wheelchair or his oxygen tank!
Few days later I went back in to visit my Dottie. I spotted her in the hall. They were just coming back from activities. her aide spotted me and said "Oh Look Dottie..Look who's here!" "Who is it" Dottie says.."I can't see that far?" I say "It's me..old whats her name! She took a fit of laughing!!! and was so glad to see me. Said she was afraid I wasn't coming anymore because of all the snow! I told her it wasn't too bad today so I came out for physical therapy and came to see her. "Oh good she said!" When we got to her room I noticed something different. The room looked a little sparse and different. Another new roommate for Dottie! Poor Annie she passed away from pneumonia. Bad month at the home!!!

So I said to Dottie..."I see you got a new roommate." "Yes that is Charlotte". Dottie introduces me..kind of.. she says "This is Charlotte' knowing Dottie never remembers my name I say..."Hi I'm Sharon Dotties friend." "Nice to meet you ..." Dottie then blurts out." She likes to talk alot! Charlotte pipes in..."Yes I do and Dottie probably gets sick of hearing me talk all the time"..Then Dottie tells her that I like to talk to..but that my talking makes her laugh and she likes to talk to me. We get to Dotties side of the room and get out the cards and Dotties says to me kind of out loud.."she talks and never shuts up..I just want to strangle her to shut her up!"..We laugh and get all set up to play cards.
Get the cards dealt..tops off our coffees and the donuts out and she starts!!! Blah Blah Blah..yakity yak..yakity yak..wah wah wah.... NONSTOP....we laugh..then the poor nurses aid comes in and makes the mistake of asking old Charlotte how she doing? Charlotte starts in...going on and on and then says to the aid well you're looking better than you did yesterday..The aid says well shes feeling better today.. tells her she is pregnant and and Charlotte says.."Was that such a good idea?" Wow What? I'm thinking. She replies..."Yes it was a good idea we planned it!..But Charlotte just kept on blabbering the poor girl could not get a way! The more she talked the more Dottie and I laughed!!! Finally the poor Nurse was able to get away.. But bad for us...she just kept going not missing a beat! We tried to ignore her..and finally she left us alone...She fell asleep!. All was quiet..except for us..we do tend to get a little silly and rowdy ourselves! Dottie told me she could talk alot like Charlotte and then they could call her Ditty Dotty!!!! So she kept saying "Ditty Dotty..Ditty Dotty...Ok that got pretty annoying too!!! I had to tell her to knock it off!!!!!!! I guess the other night some people were fighting there..she heard alot of yelling and screaming! She thought someone didn't want to go to dinner. But she told me she didn't blame them the food was so bad and getting worse every day! The other night they even brought her dinner to her and left it saying they heard she wasn't feeling good. Dottie was fine but she was afraid they would make her go down to dinner so she went along with her and said "Yes I haven't felt well all day!" Faker!!!! "Ditty Dottie the faker" I called her! But whatever works! She was hoping dinner would show up again too! All of the sudden we heard all this commotion! Screaming and yelling.. Someone yelling ' "Just get the hell out of here..before I call the police!..this is my house and I want you out!!! Get out of here..Help Help police Help me!!!!Osifer Osifer..she yelled...We laughed and laughed!!!! Osifer...get these people out of here!!!! Guess she didn't want to go to dinner either cause the food is so bad..maybe Dottie was right!!!!! They came and got Dotties roomamte for dinner and it was a good thing because she woke back up and started to yak again!!! as they wheeled her out of the room I said to Dottie.." I hope they give her a big bowl of "SHUT THE HELL UP" for supper, That was all it took and Dottie and I laughed so hard we had tears in our eyes..and couldn't play anymore!!! I had to go!.. ..Good luck with that dinner thing! See you soon! Hey if you are reading this send Dottie a care package!!!!!! Yum Yum!

Up To Date Scrap Pages for 2008

2008-12-30T23:05:00.000-08:00

Did some scrapping this summer at Lindas...and a few pages in December...

The Nut House

2008-11-20T21:49:00.000-08:00

I love visiting Dottie.....
Started out a typical visit...Dottie was glad to see me. Found her down in Activities..coloring..She hates art now even tho in her younger days she loved art and did some drawing herself! Today I guess she was entertaining the class with her stories of the olden days when she was an acrobat! Yes old Dottie was an acrobat.... I kid her about it all the time. Whenever she talks about falling, which she does occasionally, I have to laugh because I picture her falling...going into a rolling summer salt...flipping over and popping right back up arms up in the air..yelling "Viola" !! She has tripped over the rug...she has fallen out of bed... stumbled over the chair and even went down on one knee while we were strolling thru lovely East Aurora one day. She is so resilient tho she gets up and laughs too. I guess all those years of being quite active gave her strong bones!!

Today we got out the old cards and began to play. Got our coffee and our cookies out..and the rustling of the cookie bag always brings her roommate over! Anne loves sweets..so we share She just rolls over in her chair and starts to babble..knowing she's gonna get cookies!! Today the babbling was about the laundry. ..
She wanted to know who did the laundry there and did I do my own laundry. I told her they did her laundry there for her. She said "oh I know the man told me he would take it down but do I have to go get it?" "No" I told her .."they come get it and a few days later bring it back and put it away . That is why all the clothes are labeled with your name!" Dottie told her "put them in your laundry basket." then Dottie looked at me and laughed and said "I just throw mine on the floor behind my chair like I did when I was a kid...I make them look for them." "Good idea" I told her "in fact I think I will start to bring my laundry in once a week and throw it behind the chair and get it the next time I come in! They will never know..I'll put Dottie labels in them. We laughed..and good old Anne chimed in again .. like a broken record..stuck on "the laundry"
But I gave her her cookies and she rolled away stashing them on her night stand for later... That shut her up! We went back to playing cards..Or "kicking Dottie's Ass" as I call it!
All of the sudden we heard all this commotion and heard Anne yell! Gabriel..the big visiting dog strolled in must have smelled Anne's cookies and scared the BeGesus out of her...it was too funny..he was like a big smiling Lummox!!!!

Too Cute. So they brought him around we all gave him some attention and kept him away from Anne's cookies. Over he comes to Dottie and tried to get her coffee cup and then spotted her cookies!
He sat right down and just stared at them.."No use Gabe buddy...you can't have the cookies... I asked, but your mean master said no!! After Gabe left..we could hear all the people down the hall having fun with the dog...and Dottie looked at me and said ...I live in a damn Nut House!!!!!!

Did you ever play checkers?

2008-11-13T20:57:00.000-08:00

Dottie asked me one day....Did you ever play checkers? Yes I answered..do you like checkers? "I love em" she replied.. Dottie wanted to play checkers so I got us a nice new checker set. We first noticed it sure wasn't like checkers of the olden days...Nice wood board..heavy wood or plastic checkers that fit together with those grooves...Nope the board was a paper cardboard folded in fours with a split in a section just enough so it won't lay flat!! then cheep little plastic checkers that we couldn't even pick up off the board..had to slide them around the opponent and then off the board! And the ridges weren't even deep enough to hold all my KING MES!!!! But what the heck Dottie was so excited...we played... For a game she loved she sure stunk at it!! Maybe she was confused about the rules.. First we played regular checkers the kind I thought you tried to avoid getting jumped and tried to get to the other side by jumping your opponent and get KINGED!! well apparently if you don't jump and you could your opponent can take your checker and apparently your opponent just moves her checker in front of yours so you have to jump hers...making it so I won every time...never did she try to move a checker that couldn't
get jumped or to just get out of the way..or just to move closer to my side so I could KING her!! Then she suggested we play another checker variation...called Give Away!(Thought that's what she was playing!) This is a game where you deliberately move to get jumped to be the first to loose all your own men. I guess she didn't realize that's what she had been playing all along! Oh well she loved it! kept asking why I was so good at it...even tho every game no matter who had the checkers left on the board..I told her she beat me again! She loved it!
Finally she got board with that and wanted to play our old standby..rummy. That kept us going for a few hours. Finally it was time for me to go meet my friends for Birthday group. Dottie was sad she wanted me to go down to dinner with her but I had to pass! Dottie decided not to go to dinner anyway she was too full from the two big chocolate chip cookies she ate..Hers and Mine! Got them out and we just kept breaking pieces off and eating them, I had two bites and was too full so after Dottie ate all hers she just helped herself to mine not realizing it was mine...so yes she ate two big cookies! So that was her dinner!!!!
So we cleaned up our card game and Dottie suggested I leave the cards there so I didn't have to lug them back and forth.( They are her cards and they stay in her drawer!!) So I did I left the cards and Dottie and headed out! Nite Nite Dottie see you again soon.

I'm Back

2008-11-11T20:09:00.001-08:00

Well I have been away from my blog as you all know. I have been busy. Lots of things have been going on in my life and I am trying to keep up! My old comp injury is beating me down..might have to have neck surgery so that is upper most in my mind. Dr. visits, test and therapy occupy a lot of my time. Still involved in my Birthday Group
with my Forever Friends, singing in the church choir( no this pic isn't the church choir.. it is birthday group at womens weekend as California raisins) and taking time to enjoy myself too.. therapeutic massages and spending lots of time outdoors walking!

The weather this year has been so cooperative! And of course still being the biggest Band Groupie of all times!!
HP ,
ELR and hitting all the Joe Shows.

We also want to move..time to down size...This old house is too big and too full and its closing in on me. I'm feeling claustrophobic! A lot of it has to go! Everything except my Scrap stuff!!! We are looking forward to a smaller place (with a scrap room of course) down off the hill in a nice quiet neighborhood within walking distance of something...anything..other than barns and open Fields!! I want to walk to stores, shops, food joints anywhere with people. So we begin the process..the next step for empty nesters....move to a smaller nest!
Before we can move we need to unload this place! so yes
"House for Sale" any takers? Got a little fixing up to do and like I said "Unloading of the 36+ years of collections", along with inherited stuff from 2 generations of both families. Never thought the day would come when I would actually want a smaller place and not so much "stuff". But I do and I am "Stuffed out". So if anyone out there wants some of this "stuff" yell now or forever hold your peace! Sarah and Al are claiming some of it...nice...and then I have been ebaying my ass off..Starting with the attic and basement. So if you kids know of any of your things that are in the attic and you want them..best come get them.. or you will be buying them up off eBay!!! Like dad and his siblings did when his mom cleaned out and took a lot of there stuff to the flea market across the street at the community center when they were kids. They we so mad..they had to buy all their stuff back..even stuff they really didn't want just to piss their Mom off!!! I won't do that tho...I'll ask you first! Got thru all the baby stuff already. keeping some stuff for grand kids...Ya grand kids did ya hear that..somebody..anybody..GRANDKIDS!!!! Kept all the handmade things my mom, Grandma,Great Grandma and I made. I did give a few handmade things to my Great Niece Julianna
, that her grandma and Great Grandma made. But I can get those back! We are also sprucing the place up..lots of paint and DUCT TAPE!!! Lots of help to from Scott and Al..Poor Al got the job of painting most of the shed but I forgot to get pics that day..
I'm sure this will be slow going.

I figure at least 2 years to be all set to go. Then we can move on and look for a place anywhere between here and grand Island where Steve works. Not too far I still plan on keeping and seeing all my old friends and close enough to bug my family and extended family!!!!And of course I will still be at every band gig. Like it or not!!! Keeps me feeling young and happy!! I am actually excited..as my family knows I love to move..I think because I moved alot as a kid...we always kidded we moved alot because my dad was trying to stay one step ahead of the law!!! Or was it that he was hiding from The Beneficial Finance Company harassing phone calls! Who knows...But now I love to move...something I haven't done in 20 some years!
Then did some traveling down to visit my sister Linda. Got to see her twice this year.
She was here in June for our annual scrapbook convention and scrapping marathon. We took a road trip to our
brother Terry's too. Then I drove to her place in August.
We did some exploring in her neighboring towns...fun times..shopping ...spa treatments..
did alot of scrap booking and eating!
We even got to meet Stevie at his place and went to brunch. I saw my first Broadway Production.ever! it was so exciting!!..
"Spring Awakening" it was terrific..Thanks Jim!!! Had a wonderful time relaxing and getting to know their new dog..
Gypsy AKA Rickety Cricket...Sweet dog! And the real highlight of the trip..Going to philly to meet my first Grand Niece Julianna..
What a Princess!

Still doing the granny nanny thing. Still hanging out with my old friend Dottie a couple of times a week..We play cards and eat and laugh the time away. She looks so forward to my visits. Now that the weather is turning yuckie our field trips will be very limited!!!!! Oh well she would rather sit and play cards anyway!!!She is just too cute!!!! Then there is Bob whom I care for a few times a month..
His wife is active with the seniors and me and Old Bob just sit and watch TV . Works for me..he's got a great cable set up..every channel imaginable!!!!! and I get to control the remote!!!!.
Sadly September 18th my Ruthie passed away in her sleep.
We knew it was coming. She had been declining for months now. She was a sweet old lady and I was blessed to get to know her and be able to be "her girl" and take care of her till the end. She was 87 years old she was a feisty old woman..had 7 kids and raised many foster kids as her own. She was the inspiration for my Granny Nanny blog and there were many a story about her! So now that makes three I have lost...Hum..I am detecting a pattern here!!! No its just an occupational hazard I guess...Yes that's it..a hazard! First was Charlie Wetsell..another 80 something gentleman I was caring for....he thought I was there just to clean! Did not have a clue I was there to make sure he ate and took his meds and was not alone. Till one day I found him all dazed and confused. Called for help and found he had a twisted gangrenous bowel. He almost died but we got medical attention just in time and he ended up in a nursing home after that for many many years. And you can bet the family thanked me for that!..HaHAHa,,bye bye daddy's money!!!!!
Next was Stevie's friend's Grandma, Norma, again in her late 80's only got to stay with her twice. She had a heart attack and passed away the morning I was to come care for her. And then Ruthie....God Rest her Soul. This is one job I really really love! Now I just have good old Dottie and Grandpa Bob...Uncle Billy didn't work out, was there a few times, but that is a story for another time! I am looking for more grannies if you know anyone needing elder care I got a few spare hours! Call me. 1-800-Nan-neee
What else could be occupying my time you ask! Yes I'm glad you ask...my daughter Sarah and her hubby Al have moved back to Buffalo! (Lets see how long we can keep them here). So far they are loving it!
They got a nice flat in the city in the Elmwood village area and they are taking in all that the city has to offer! Walking everywhere and trying all the restaurants..hitting all the shops, stores and Bars(thanks to little baby brother). I have been there a few times...making curtains and helping them get settled but I don't want to crowd them..you know how mothers can be..But I am so excited. Sarah and I have never lived this close to each other since she was a real "grown Up" So I am really looking forward to time with her..as soon as she is not so busy Writing her new book... Oh yes did I forget to mention Sarah is a published writer! Her first book
'Twenty Boy Summer' was picked up by Little Brown and will be out June 09. That is only about 7 1/2 months away and you can feel free to pre order it now from amazon.com..oh here..click here...http://www.amazon.com/Twenty-Boy-Summer-Sarah-Ockler/dp/0316051594/ref=sr_1_3?ie=UTF8&s=books&qid=1224989621&sr=1-3 We are all so Proud and excited for her!!! But that is why she is so busy..book two is DUE...oh those dreaded deadlines!!!!
Her afore mentioned Baby Brother is very happy they are living down near him! But they are a little older and have a hard time keeping up with him!!! And of course she is so busy..So we keep in touch like all other modern families... on "FACEBOOK"! Oh what would I do without it!! I can keep track of all my kids, their friends, my nieces and nephews, some of my friends and cousins too! I Just click on FaceBook every day and night...yes that is really what is taking up all my time!!!!!!! I am a FaceBook Addict!!! I admit it...
I "facebook stalk" as my kids say...a "creeper" they call it...haha but they love it..I love it! Oh modern technology!!! The kids all look forward to my comments and pics..keeps us all in the loop!!!!
My next mission in life is to get my son Steve to move back to Buffalo but that ain't never gonna happen he says. They can't pay him enough in his Field to make it worth his wile to move here!!! That's Ok Steve..stay there and make tons of money so you can support your parents in there old age!!! Plus that just gives me another reason to visit NYC..You and Linda's family and Al's family... I hope to be going there alot!!!!
And since Sarah's book...which I did get an advanced copy..I have been reading every chance I get. I read 'Twenty Boy Summer' by Sarah Ockler twice now and cried both times...Cried because it is a tear jerker...and because it is so well written and because it was written by my daughter! I also am reading the popular 'Twilight" series. just started book three..oh by the way..the photographer for the book covers for that series..well yes he is the photographer for Sarah's book cover!!! that is a BIG DEAL...Took the time to read the book uncle Tom wrote and a book on Back pain Linda sent me..bot that was an eye opener both books actually...
I also took time out to mourn the loss of a dear friend,
Pat Garra. Pat was Band Jay's mom. She was a BAND MOM in our BAND MOM CLUB. Pat battled ovarian cancer 15 years ago and won.. or she had hoped. Well it returned and within a few months that dreaded disease took her from all of us! Pat was very active in Roswell Park's "Ride for Roswell". Her family sponsored a rest tent for many years. This year a few of us from our Church went along to help out..We had a great time! She was dearly loved by many and will be sadly missed.
And as you can see my scrap booking has taking a back seat to all this.
But now the winter is coming and I am putting away all the summer things and getting ready to snuggle into my nice warm cacoon and get ready for the holidays.
Sarah and Al will be hosting our family Thanksgiving this year and they are so excited! But our hostess being a vegan..I'll be making the turkey..at home I think..not sure meat is allowed in her oven! And we will be bring the traditional family movie.."Christmas Vacation" for our holiday viewing pleasure!
The next day....The Christmas Crunch begins!!!!!! Blair the Christmas music..decorate the Whole house.......set up the tree with the millions of ornaments..make and send a million Christmas cards and get ready for our Christmas Pajama Breakfast with the Wetsells.
Speaking of Christmas..this is starting to sound like a yearly Christmas news letter so I better stop. hum..good idea I can print this out and include it in YOUR Christmas card!!!!
So there I am all caught up and hopefully well be back into the full swing of granny blogging and I will post the scrap pages I have managed to do this past summer.
Check it out!!!

June Scrap Pages

2008-07-01T00:43:00.001-07:00

Prayers for Ruthie..and my job!!

2008-06-30T23:30:00.000-07:00

Well we think Ruthie had a slight stroke Wed. Nite. She is slowly going down hill. She seems to be sleeping alot. That is ok then we don't have to worry so much about her falling! We think this stroke took her eyesite. Some times she seems ok but other times she is drifting away. Sunday when I was watching her she seemed really out of it. When Joanne called to check on her I had her come up. We ended up calling the Dr. then an ambulance and Joanne took her into Mercy Hospital. Well good news, she just has an urinary tract infection..a little IV antibiotics and shes back!!!! She will be coming home in a few days. Gotta love it..I need my job!

Who's Been Sleeping in My Bed?

2008-05-22T22:35:00.000-07:00

Dottie was telling me "That man was in my bed again this morning" "Same man as before" I asked? "yes, Dot said, He must think this is his room" "Did you kick him out?" "Yes I told him he better leave" "Maybe he likes you" I told her.."He does" Dot said! "Well don't thro him out then!" Teach him to play cards or something I told her... "No" she said "he old!!!" So we played cards and had lunch then it was Dotties nap time again..... She needs to set an alarm to keep that man away!!!!

My Great Mother's Day Gift to me!!

2008-05-22T21:57:00.000-07:00

I got the best Mother's day present for my self...the makings for a great scrapbook table. But Steve had to build it for me.. My design with a little tweaking from Steve. We did it tho in 2 days..3 if you count the day I painted it. I helped and did the painting. Steve did the sawing and building and Snickers did the supervising!! But it is a finished completely Steve project!!!! So that makes it a Rare item!!!!! I just love it. See I stand to scrapbook. But it is very hard on my neck and back...So last week I stood at my old table scrappin for hours 3 nites in a row..Boy did I pay the price. I "Killed my neck and back" Pinched a nerve and now my hand is still numb. Tried a massage..then saw the Dr. Got some great drugs but it takes time to heal I guess..But that doesn't stop me from scrappin. I have been using my new table. It is a great height and if I want to sit I have two stools. I still need to make cushions for them tho..got the foam gotta find fabric I like now. Anyway can't wait for Linda to get here so we can scrap on the new table!!! We'll never leave my room! Go check out my May scrap pages old blog..I posted more scrap pages..done on my new table!!! Check out the pic.... <

Ya Born in a Barn?

2008-05-22T19:41:00.000-07:00

Ruthie was way out there today. Kept pointing to the rug and asking why the hay and the straw was all over the floor? It was so messy she said and wanted to know who was gonna clean it up? NOOOOO Not me I thought I don't do mucking!!!!Or windows! I guess we'll have to leave it for Cheri to clean up on Monday..cleaning day! Tonite Ruth had two dinners. Her first one was at 5 with the aide and then again at 7. She asked me when dinner was and I told her she had dinner before I got there. Well she wanted dinner again she said because she couldn't remember having it tonite! So I fixed her a bowl of chili. While mine was heating up she asked.."Aren't you having any dinner tubby?" Oh boy if she wasn't so old and feeble!!!!!!!!! Too funny. Any way spent the rest of the nite chatting about her going home and where the hell was John..old Dead John!!! she just isn't getting it!
Got her interested in the birds outside her window to shut her up. The birds were out late tonite it was well after 8pm and they were still coming! she does have some great birds here.

This is why I "Love my job"

2008-05-14T23:16:00.000-07:00

Today I went for a massage and got a call from Joanne. Could I stop on my way home and pick up Grandma from the Liquor store where Joanne works. Seems the Will care aid didn't show up and the earlier babysitter had a Dr. appointment and had to leave. I get there and good old grandma is sound asleep in her wheelchair in the store room. Joanne kicked the boxes out from under her feet and woke her up. We got her into my car and no sooner than I get her door closed..she's back to sleep. I planned on going home before going to babysit today but plans changed so I figured i would just take granny to my house and I would run in quick and grab my ditty bag. We get to my house and she was sound asleep.
I left her in the car and ran in..peeked out ..still sleeping. Cleaned my kitchen..still sleeping...picked up the family room...still sleeping. Next I went out in my yard did some gardening, planted more flowers, weeded, hung a bird feeder...filled my bird feeders. brought the dog out..still sleeping! sat on the front porch swing...did my nails.
Finally I peeked she was awake looking around. I grabbed my bag and got in the car and said " Oh I see you woke up..I just ran in real quick to grab my bag..now we can head to your house!" "OK" she replied. We get to her house and she did not want any dinner..I finally got her to have a PB and J on toast..and then Yup..back to sleep Joanne showed up at 6:30 and I was History!

Sleepy Grammy

2008-05-10T12:11:00.001-07:00

Poor Ruthie. She was having a bad day..or so everyone thought. First her granddaughter was concerned because all morning and Early afternoon all Ruthie wanted to do was doze in her chair. Tammy could not wake her up to eat any breakfast or lunch. She didn't even want tea! The her aide came and she was real concerned because Ruth wouldn't wake up and she said she looked so pale. When I got there the aid told me she slept all day and would not eat at all and she just woke her up to try to get her to eat some dinner but she refused and started to mumble incoherently. She did drink some juice for the girl tho. So now I thought she would wake up a little and be hungry in a while. But nope she fell back to sleep She didn't want anything not even ice cream which she never refuses!!! So I figured let her sleep I was not spending the night anyway so I didn't care! Plus usally on my shift when she is awake sometimes she talks non stop the whole time. So this was a nice break! Around 8 o'clock Ruth bolted up right in the chair and as clear as a bell said "I've got to get to bed I am so tired!!" She started to take her clothes off in the chair so I went and got her night gown and changed her right in her chair. it is like dressing a BIG toddler! then she got up no problem and walked with her walker really fast to her bedroom and got right into bed. I figured she would probably wake up part way thru the night to start her day. Again I was glad I was out of there at 10ish. And at 10 Joanne showed up to relieve me. I got home and within 10 minutes Joanne called.....No nothing was up with granny..but Joannes daughter just had a baby and was having major complications and Joanne had to go back into the hospital so I headed back over to stay with grandma! Great I thought lets see how this goes. Surprise she slept thru the night woke at 7:15 and was alert and very coherent. She got dressed had some toast and sat at the table looking at old magazines. Nice! Joanne came back to get her at 8:30 to take her to daycare where they give her a big breakfast. I guess she ate very well there and stayed awake all day. Oh an Joanne's daughter Kelly is fine... she is going to stay a few extra days tho..and she had a boy whom she named Patrick Henry. There you go Sarah.. There is the name for your new boy character. Patrick Henry then cal him Hank...cause his dad was a Patrick too!!!

A Smaller Place

2008-05-08T12:45:00.001-07:00

Good old Ruth seems to think shes moving. Usually she wants to pack to move back home. Thinks that she is in their vacation cabin by the lake. Always bugs to go home and asks who's gonna come get us and does her family know shes there? But today she was telling me that John (Long dead and gone John) has been thinking about moving to a smaller place!
Seems he is in a pretty small place now..couldn't get much smaller there!!!!!! But anyway.
Says the taxes are too high and the place is getting to big to take care of. he wants them to move to a little place where he can put in a little garden. But he hates to garden so she doesn't know why he wants to do that. But she looked around her place now which is a little cottage mind you.. and says "Yes John is right. This place is way too big for the both of them and I guess they should move." Ya look at the pic of the place..I can see that it is WAY..to big!!!!! So she wants me to find some boxes for her so we can start packing before John gets home and gets mad.. cause when he gets mad he drinks then he gets mean. So I start with the excuses....we have no boxes, we'll have Joanne bring some home from work! So we should wait till she gets home to figure out what to pack first. this usually works. Chill out Ruthis you're gonna be here for a while!

Beauty Spa Day!!

2008-05-08T12:23:00.001-07:00

Found Dottie in the beauty shop the other day. I guess Delores (Dot's long gone sister)made her a hair appointment. But Dottie questioned where Delores was. Did I see her lately? She wondered why Delores hasn't come to visit with her. Then she told me it was odd that Delores wasn't in because she was back from Florida! Wonder if she's nice and tan? Then she asked me if she had a sister Dorothy too. I think she did. Seems she had some brothers too but she said she can't remember. Ya I wonder if I will ever get that old that I forget I have brothers? I hope not!!! I'm sure they won't let me! Anyway, Dot got her "do did" and she looks so nice. Nice color, cut and style. Then we walked a little so everyone could see it and back to her room for lunch and cards. Wore that poor Dottie right out. Soon it was nap time (for both of us) and I was on my way.

Oh Aren't We Moody!!!!

2008-05-04T21:14:00.000-07:00

Ruth was in rare form today...Seems she was not happy! She wants to go home! Says "this place is a shit hole!! and it looks like shit." So I just sat at the table with her, listening to her complain. She asked if I was there for the dinner party. I asked her what dinner party? She told me people were coming at 7:30 and she has to get dinner ready for the tupperware party! Oh great a tupperware party! I told her it was almost 7 now and she had her dinner and no one was coming that's why I was there to stay with her because no one was coming to be with her. Then she started complaining about her family putting her in this place... and that they kept all her stuff! I told her all her stuff was there and had to go around and point out her "stuff". As I went around to point out her stuff I found a box of her silver that she likes to sort.
put it on a chair next to her and that did the trick! She began to pull it out and sort it and left me alone to do a half of a puzzle book.
Soon it will be bedtime..Ya good luck with that!!

May Scrap pages.

2008-05-04T21:06:00.000-07:00

Well I got all my kits together...gotta tweak them a little and the convention is May 29th and 30th so I can post those pages when I get home... I put together 20 kits so we'll see how many I get done at the convention. then Linda and I plan on scrapping here too but they will count as June pages!!!
Well Guess what? I'm back into scrappin. Got some pages done. Got a great scrap table for mother's day. I'll post a pic when it is completely done! here are my latest pages.....

April Scrap Pages

2008-05-04T21:04:00.001-07:00

Again nothing...Still getting my kits ready for the convention. But I did make several cards..7 birthday cards 3 sympathy cards 2 mother's day cards

Worry Worry Worry!

2008-05-04T17:25:00.000-07:00

"When are they coming to take me home? Does my family know I am here? Why did my family leave me here? Where are my clothes. How will they fit my piano in the car to take it home..(as she points to the buffet) there is no piano!!!!!
I tried to distract her by pointing out the squirrel out hanging off the metal bird feeder. Ruth looked and said it better not bite the wire box because it was hooked up to electricity and it will get electrocuted! And if that didn't kill it she would have to go get her SHOTGUN and shoot it..then she remembered ..she had no gun! Thank God!!!!! So she looked at me and told me to turn off the TV before they come down and catch us watching it! I told her it was ok they bought the TV just for us to watch while we were here.
She went for that and we could keep it on. Finally I told her her dinner was ready. "How much do they charge for meals around her?" she asked. "Meals come with the place" I told her..."You have the meal plan"! Funny thing, as we were talking she kind of did a double take and said "OH you got your new teeth! You look so nice! Now you can smile at school and the teacher will call on you! Ok Ruthie..no new teeth..and remember I'm too old for school!!!!!!! And if I was still in school..like my brother Rick said I'd be in 42nd grade!!!!! Hey I should be Graduating soon!!!!

I Think the "BE..OTCH" is FAKIN!!!!

2008-05-04T14:56:00.000-07:00

So I go visit my old friend Dottie today and as usual she is napping..her favorite hobby! (mine too!) She hops right up happy to see me. Today she is doing great. Last month she needed help standing and walking..this month she up and attem' like her old self. We started our visit with a walk around the block (the halls) usually we get to the end of the hall and she has to go back because she's too tired. Well today we took the long way around the block with no problem what so ever! We get back to her room and it was still a little too Early for lunch so we watered the plant and straightened up the place.
Dot says.."Hey you wanna play cards?"..now mind you last September she "Forgot" How to play cards telling me she never played rummy before! I even had a really hard time getting her to follow along to play GoFish!! So I said "Sure I'll play cards" Thinking wow this aught to be good! So I get the cards out of the drawer and our pad and pencil from the last time we played many months ago and figured we'll give it a shot. So I asked Dottie what she would like to play and she said "Rummy" "Ok" I said. So she proceeded to shuffle and say.."seven cards right?" "Right" I say. She deals and we start to play..Damn if she doesn't remember!!! Holy Crap! So we played for a while..
I seemed to be beating her at first..but that quickly changed..Again just like old times we pretty much stayed neck and neck.
I couldn't believe it! I guess I'll have to go every day before she remembers she forgot how to play!!!! So has she been faking it the past few months...looking for attention.Or is she getting better because she tells me as soon as she's better she's getting out of this place!!!!!!

It's Spring!

2008-04-30T22:49:00.000-07:00

Today Dottie was doing really well in spite the fact that she told me she had a stomach bug last month and hasn't been able to eat! It didn't seem to affect her weight any! And all the candy is gone from her Easter basket along with a few pieces out of the fancy box of chocolate!!! Seems she just doesn't want the real food..just the goodies! Can't blame her. Actually since I was sick this past month I lost any cravings for sweets. And again it hasn't affected my weight either! I got there and Dot was resting but she told me she couldn't fall asleep so she was glad I was there to visit! She actually missed me. Been sick half of April! So she hopped right up and we went for a stroll down the hall. Last time I was there Dot could barley make it down her short hall from the nurses station, needed help and had to lean on the railing. I half expected to find her using a walker or riding in a wheel chair when I got their today, but she surprised me and was walking like when she first got to Autumview! Wow! What a difference! But she told me she is trying to get better so she can leave "This Place". Seems she don't like it there! I asked her if she had any complaints and she said no. I asked if her nurses were treating her ok and she told me she hasn't seen a nurse since she got there..Last year! Wonder who she thinks those people are that pop in and out of her room several times a day??? Today she didn't eat much and when I asked her why, she told me she can't eat in her room! So I asked if she wanted to go to the dining hall and she told me no..she can't eat in the dining hall! Well lets go out side then and eat! Nope she can't eat outside either! Wish I had that problem!!! I can eat anywhere. So I did! I ate my lunch then some of Dots! It was actually pretty good.
Today she told me she was wearing yellow because it was "springy and it was Springy out"..Too bad it was only 46 degrees..but then again it is Buffalo, what do you expect! Tomorrow it will be 80 and by Saturday down in the 30's. Each day is a surprise!!!! Buffalonians invented "Layers" and driving around with your winter coat, gloves and boots in your car till July! hey ya never know and you always want to be prepared! Could snow, then if you get stuck in a ditch or on the thruway you can put your coat, gloves and boots on and walk to the nearest bar and wait to be rescued!!!! After a nice visit Dot was looking tired and kept looking at her bed, so I asked if she was ready for her nap. "No" she said "But you'll have to leave soon so I can take my nap!!" Oh ok what a good idea!!!So I left...bye bye Dottie see you in a few days.

Lets Make Pickles!!!

2008-04-23T22:44:00.000-07:00

So old Ruthie had it in her mind she wanted to make pickles! I guess she was fine..or kind of with it thru dinner but shortly after she got on this pickle kick. That's when I came in. Her daughter and son-in-law left me to deal with old Ruthie and the pickle problem! Well she insisted...we told her Spring has just arrived and the garden wasn't even planted yet so there were no cucumbers to make pickles. Oh but she insisted and persisted!!! Then she wanted the cookbook with the pickle recipe. Shit! good luck I thought. Where the heck am I gonna find that? So I kept telling her I was looking and that kept her quiet for a while..but she started up again! I finally found it, in the junk drawer, an old notebook with hand written recipes! Wow what a cool cookbook! and yup there it was her pickle recipe. Now she wanted me to copy it on a piece of paper. I kept asking why..it is in the book she can just follow it right out of the cookbook. Nope she wanted it copied and got a little pissy and asked for a pen and paper. So I gave it to her..you go for it Grandma.. she again took about a half hour to scribble some stuff that made no sense I don't even think they were real letters.... Then she wanted an old recipe box from the cupboard and that I found. She went thru that and found her daughter's favorite ice cream recipe.."Butternut squash" Oh nice flavor! Right! A little confused are we. So now she wanted to make ice cream..had to keep telling her we had no squash!!!! But she kept insisting! Spent time telling me how the minister came to call and she told him she was just about to make ice cream..so he invited himself in and stayed for dinner and ice cream desert before she could get rid of him!!! Reminded me of my Reverend Horton stopping in unannounced story...but that's a whole other story we won't get into to now!!!!! Back to the ice cream making.. That battle went on for 2 hours! Finally I got her a dish of ice cream the store bought kind right out of the freezer. That made her happy.
After that she must of forgot about making anything and decided it was time for bed! Thank God!!! Good Nite Ruthie!

The Grandpa Short Bus

2008-04-23T22:35:00.000-07:00

Well here I am at Grandpa Bob's to meet and greet him on the short bus..Seems they won't let him off unless there is an adult present to get him!!!
So I got him ...wheeled him in the garage..he climbed up 3 stairs to the kitchen, grabbed his walker and walked himself right into his bedroom and climbed in for a nice nap! I went ot and watched some TV and did my puzzle book!...And I get paid for doing this!!!!!!!!

Let's Ride the Granny Chair!!!

2008-04-17T22:46:00.000-07:00

How to keep Grandma entertained...for hours and hours!! Poor Ruthie she was sitting in her chair with nothing to do when she started banging her chair controller on the arm of the chair. Thought she was trying to get it to work, but it was working fine.

She got it to go, up and down up and down..over and over I guess it was easier than rocking. Its the new more modern version of rocking!! Just ride the chair up and down. At least it won't make you dizzy!!!! Then she started baging it and hollering for John, her dead husband. "John John..bang bang bang...John, John!" All the while looking down on the floor on the side of her chair. What did she think... he was under there? Hiding from her? Um...maybe he was! Never thought to look under there! Nah! he can't be. He's been dead and gone for almost 4 years now! I guess the stink could be gone by now! I best look next time I go there! Finally I had to tell her he was not under there! She beleived me and settled back down to watch TV. Poor Ruthie!

New Occupational Tital..

2008-04-16T23:11:00.000-07:00

Well I'm really not exclusively a Granny nanny...I do throw in the occasional baby! So Now instead of being a Grannynanny it's...Hey..."Diaper Duty For Me" Any age...young, old...and in between! Today I babysat a Young.
Leslie a sweet 6 month old. Leslie is the baby daughter of friends of Scott. Scott's friend Mark is living in and remodeling an old double in the city for his uncle. Scott is working for him and when Kim goes to work they hire a babysitter for Leslie so Mark can keep on working! Works for me. I went today for 4 hours. 45 minutes of holding Leslie. Changed then fed her. Put her in her swing..with a teething biscuit..5 minutes later..sound a sleep! for 3 hours. Nice! I watch TV and did my puzzle book..all with a big fat cat on my head!!!! Really...Look!
after the nap...warmed her bottle changed her diaper fed her and traded her back to her dad for $60.00 and out the door! Nice deal! Gonna go back and do that gig again soon!

New Addition to my Collection of Old Fogies!

2008-04-01T14:49:00.000-07:00

Hey got me another Granny person...actually can't really call him a granny or grandpa. He is actually an Uncle...my Uncle. Uncle Billy! O my my what a sweetheart. I am going to put some hours in caring for him. As most of us know Uncle Billy had a stroke 4 years ago and was left paralyzed on the right side. they said he would never be able to walk or talk or eat or really function hardly at all.. But Pat brought him home and has been caring for him for the past four years and he has come a long way. Yes he is parlayed on the right and he cannot speak, only to say no..but you can understand alot of what he needs or asks for. He does need assistance walking and dressing but other than that he is great! Today was my first day and I pretty much learned his whole routine.. it will be random hours maybe overnights and even go away on some trips with them..NICE!!!! Pat is so very nice and doing a really great job with uncle Billy. What a situation. Pat works alot of odd hours. She is a professional hair makeup and dress up artist for the DEAD!! Yup the Dead.. She gets calls from almost all the funeral homes around and goes and works her magic! She loves it! EEWWWW..Well it takes all kinds I guess. and it pays very well! Hopefully all will go well.

Is She John's Girlfriend or Jim's Girlfriend?

2008-03-27T20:31:00.000-07:00

Ruth was so confused tonite. First I thought she was with it. She was telling me Jim and Joanne should just get a divorce. Seems she thinks Jim has a girlfriend but its ok cause Joanne is just as bad! I guess John's girlfriend went downtown with Jim last nite..now remember John has been dead since 04 and he was in his eighties and I am assuming his girlfriend was no spring chicken!!! Well apparently now his son-in-law Jim is dating the girl! Nice! Jim is in his 50's Maybe he likes older women!!! Some guys do, so I'm told! Apparently John (Who is dead) may commit suicide cause Jim is dating his girl! Why would Jim do that to his father-in-law Ruth wondered!
She thinks we should go downtown and try to find them they are probably in the bar all drunk! So she wanted her shoes and her comb to get ready to go out. I told her we didn't have a car and we would have to wait for Joanne to come home and then she could take her. Mind you she is talking about downtown Hornell! I ain't driving there tonite its snowing out and looks awful shitty out! Finally she fell asleep in her chair. At 8:30 I gave her her sleeping pill and shuffled her off to bed! sweet Dreams ole Ruthie!!!!!

The Wedding is Tomorrow!

2008-03-26T19:50:00.000-07:00

Got to Ruth's tonite to relieve Jack and his wife Shirley. He told me he had a job for me tonite...I had to find Ruth's girdle and her wedding dress and a turkey! Seems she's getting married tomorrow. She needs to press her gown and get turkey dinner cooked for all those people. But she needs to get the turkey defrosted first! Every time she asked for a turkey, which she does on occasion. I tell her it is in the freezer in the basement and that the basement is locked and only Jack has the key!! But fortunately when Jack left she forgot all about all that wedding stuff! But.. all night long she kept telling me her daughter Mary was in the basement rummaging around and she better come up. First because it was getting dark..then because it was cold and she will freeze to death. Then she was concerned that Mary was taking all her good stuff! Told her no one was here with us..it was just her and I! Then she began to talk nonstop..all the while she was chatting her teeth kept falling out! I hate teeth! I couldn't look at her..... Yuck!!! I gave her he ice cream hoping that would shut her up! It did for a while.
Finally she nodded off! Joanne showed up just in time and I grabbed my crap and headed to the door! "Hey" Joanne yelled.."Did ya find the dress and her girdle?" "Nope" I said. "think Mary is in the basement now looking for it! She should be up soon..it is cold and dark down there. goodnight now!!"

Spaghetti Day

2008-03-23T21:21:00.001-07:00

Boy Dottie loves her spaghetti!!!Good thing they give everyone a bib! After lunch we went for a nice walk where Dottie confided in me. Seems she doesn't like that place ...She says "You know I don't like this place? I'm gonna tell you why! "The other night there was a man in my room." "Oh", I asked..."did he hurt you or was he just there?" "oh yes he assaulted me" Dottie said. "Did you tell anyone?" I asked? "No" she said "I was too ashamed". I told her she should have let the nurses know but she was afraid they wouldn't believe her! I told her next time he comes in her room she should push her nurse call button and they will come and get him out. "Good Idea" she said. Then she told me they have rats and mice in this place too. "they do?" I asked, "did you see them running around?" "No but I see their holes...there are holes all over the place!" "Nice" I said "better stop leaving the candy and goodies around, that's is what is attracting them! They like all your goodies!" Then I wanted to tell her..maybe it wasn't a man that assaulted her, maybe the rats did! But I didn't want to freek her out!!!!She'd really hate the place then!!!!
Here she is getting all dolled up in case that man shows up again tonite!!!! You Go Girl!!!

Do you like Coon?

2008-03-20T21:47:00.000-07:00

Well according to Ruth her divorce is final! John finally signed the papers and moved out. But she said she doesn't have a copy of the papers yet. But that was OK because he won't be coming around anymore because she called the sheriff the other nite cause he grabbed her by the throat and pushed her down and ran away! So the sheriff said he better not ever come back to the house anymore! Which is fine by her now she can sleep in the bed all by herself! And she can pick now between two boyfriends. One is a single chap the other is married but if Ruth picks the married fella he will leave his wife for her. Right now the married guy took 2 weeks off. One to go hunting. He hunts coons. Ruth wanted to know if my husband hunts coons. But I told her no just deer. He told her "Honey you can have all the coon meat you want!" But before she can marry him, her and Joanne (her daughter) need to move out of the house but she was afraid her son Bob took everything anyway so there won't be much to move. So needless to say she bugged me most of the nite..wanted newspapers and boxes to start packing! Told her we had to wait for Joanne to come home from work..she was bringing the boxes home with her. In the mean time I got her mind off packing with her dish of ice cream..ooh Raspberry rumble..then I had to play beautician and set her hair. After which she wants to know how much she owes me for setting her hair and rummages around in her pocketbook looking for money. Funny she never finds any so needless to say I never get paid for setting her hair! but I tell her "No Charge"! Mainly cause I do such a crappy job! LOLOLO. Doesn't matter tho by the time she gets her nitie on and gets into bed most of the rollers have already fallen out and she doesn't even know it! Her hair always looks the same every day anyway!!!!

I Wear Glasses!

2008-03-19T13:05:00.000-07:00

I just went to the dentist..ya right .and got my eyes checked! My vision has changed since chemo and the fact that I am a few years older now. Was complaining of floaters..kind of like fruit flys flying around in my peripheral vision. Well those are NORMAL..for OLD people! Damn! But getting pretty new glasses in a week or two. Nice! Was surprised to find out our insurance covers half. Wow nice! I'll post pic of me now and then me in my new glasses when I get them!

I Won't wear Glasses!

2008-03-18T18:16:00.000-07:00

Ruth was sitting all afternoon reading books. She has tons of books . Books on lots of antique glass and dishware, old bottles, lots of stuff. She loves to sit all day and look thru them. She reads the paper or any other magazine I might bring. She owns about 4 pairs of glasses and they are all over the place! She complains all the time she cannot see and needs to go see the eye place and see the dentist! (Dentist?) well whatever. No wonder she can't see very well! Maybe she needs braces!!!! That should help!!!!! Like mama her glasses are so filthy no wonder she says she can't see! So I clean them for her and she is so surprised at how much better she can see. Now she tells me she is afraid to go back to have her eyes checked because they will tell her she needs glasses! She doesn't want to have to wear glasses! Hum..doesn't that look like Ruthie has glasses on??

Are there Cows in here!

2008-03-18T14:02:00.000-07:00

Had a nice lunch with Dottie today. We did have to wait a half hour for them to bring lunch down tho. and Dottie wanted to rest till it got there.
She did hop right up when it came, seemed she was hungry! They brought her what they called chicken pot pie..looked like chicken ala king to us tho!
I brought my own lunch and stopped and got us two of those wonderful cinnamon rolls from that Southtowns market..OH too bad Dottie didn't want hers she had her carrot cake instead so I took her roll home!!
All of the sudden during lunch we heard this funny noise..I think someone was dragging something heavy...Dottie thought it sounded like "Cows" Dottie asked "Are there cows in here? That's funny that they let cows in here..I wonder where they stay? I don't ever smell them!" I told her they usually just wander the halls after lunch! She laughed. Later they were vacuuming the hall and Dottie asked me to go ask them to turn down the milking machines because they were disturbing her and she wanted to lay down for a quite nap! I laughed and told her it was a vacuum there were no cows in here!!!! Again she took a fit of laughing!!!!!! Too Funny!!!

Hunters and Gatherers!

2008-03-17T19:36:00.000-07:00

Showed up at Ruthie's Sunday to spend the afternoon so Joanne could celebrate St.Pat's dinner and a family birthday with her kids. They started at Grandmas..making the dinner and lovely desserts and then gathered it all up and kissed grandma goodbye..leaving us grilled cheese for late lunch!!!! They did leave us a small chocolate cake with green mint frosting tho..so I guess that made up for it! Poor grandma got left out of the big family party. But what the heck she can't remember half those people anyway, and she had to wait at the cabin for John to come home from fishing. She asked me if my husband fished. I told her no he was a hunter..he liked to deer hunt. She told me her husband John was a hunter but he only hunted women and fish! She said he better get his fish soon before they are all gone! Because tomorrow when we have to leave it will be all sunny and we won't want to leave! But we have to because summer is almost over. Damn if she ain't right it gonna snow again by Tuesday! Again she asked when John was coming home and kept it up asking about him and complaining about him...thank goodness he's dead...Well maybe not this week..seems she thinks he's out on the lake fishing and she is stuck in this tiny cabin till he decides to come home if he doesn't go live with that woman from across the street! She kept asking me when we were going home and who was taking us there? "We are home Ruthie you live here!" "No" she insists she needs to go home and she asked if I had a car. I told her no I got dropped of today! then she asked if I knew any cab companies around here and how much would it cost? Told her I had no idea on both counts! I told her we would find out when she was going home when Joanne came back later that nite. That kept her quiet for a few minutes..But then she started up again..She wanted to call her house to see if John was there with his girlfriend taking all her stuff.. Again I had to remind her she has all her stuff in the (House) cabin. and that John is dead and I showed her his obit.
She still questioned the obit even tho she read it and it is in her hand in the pic!!!!! Said she gets all different stories from everyone! She doesn't know who to believe. She is right about that..cause we kind of tell her what she wants to hear at the time till it gets so annoying we just have to tell her ..JOHN is DEAD and this is your HOME!!!!!!!!!!! She says.."OH" and then cries a little and then forgets and starts all over again! And these are the "Days of our Lives"

How can you F**K up a cup of tea?

2008-03-14T13:16:00.000-07:00

Well seems I did it! Went to babysit Ruthie the other nite for just a few hours. She was not in the best of moods. Always questioning who she is and where she is and why her family abandoned her. You know the usual old people stuff! I always reassure her and sometimes she calms down and sometimes she keeps going. The times she keeps going I get her a bowl of ice cream and make her fresh tea. She drink tea continuously all day long..same tea made the same way every time..... Well that's what I did and it worked she forgot that she was whining about her life and she enjoyed her ice cream and tea and was back to her pleasant old lady self. An hour later her daughter comes in .
Joanne asks "How you doing Mom?" Oh Boy!!!! Mom replies.."Oh not well..I am terrible..and look at this (she hold up her tea cup to Joanne) look at this tea look what she gave me..its not fit for the dogs..it is the shittiest cup of tea I ever had and she made me drink it..smell it, there is something wrong with it! She put something in it! And it's ice cold she made me cold tea I wanted hot tea! Send her home I want her to leave!" Joanne takes the tea..smells it..tastes it says.."The tea is fine mom it smells like tea it tastes like tea and it is still warm...!" Mom takes it back and trys it and says ok "I'll drink it" What Ruthie didn't know is that it was hot tea with "Dick" in it! maybe that's what she didn't like!!!!!!!(OLD FAMILY JOKE...a lot like the pee hole joke..you had to be there!!!)or maybe you wouldn't wanna be there!!!!!

I told you I don't remember!!!!

2008-03-13T12:29:00.000-07:00

Dottie was in rare form today. Seems she took a tumble and hit her head. She can't remember when she did it she told me the fall effected her memory...Ya it made her forget she has dementia with memory loss..So maybe that's a good thing!
Anyway because she was an acrobat when she was younger every time she falls I remind her of her old abilities and ask her why she didn't recoup with a cartwheel and a few flips and up back on her feet..in one fluid motion! I'm sure she could do it! I think her background is what helps to prevent hip fractures when she falls!!! Lucky her! She laughs..it must stir up some old memories...I think that is so cool she was a professional acrobat...kind of like "Circus People" LOLOLOL So we proceeded to go get her lunch tray and she again told me she fell. I asked "Did you fall today?" "I don't know" she replied "I told you I don't remember".."If you don't remember how did you remember you told me already that you don't remember"..I asked her? She laughed again and said "I don't know because I don't remember!" So we sat for lunch and her nurse came in to check on us and I asked her when Dottie fell...she didn't know anything about it and asked Dottie.."Dottie did you fall today?" Dottie replied "I don't know, ask her(pointing to me) she knows because I told her because I don't remember!" By this time Dottie was all worn out from trying to Not remember when she fell! I got her to eat some lunch but she seemed bored with it..drank all her Boost Milk shake tho! and ate her cookies! After lunch we cleaned her room...What the heck!.. its the worst I have seen it since she's been there. 3 pairs of pj's strewn about..the sheets and blankets in a heap...socks and slippers all over the floor! And now she has a new roommate(Seems Henrietta moved on to a bigger and better place..if ya catch my drift!) So now her roommates dirty laundry basket is under the vanity on Dotties side..oh yuck!!!!! And she was kind of encroaching on Dotties space with her big furniture! So while she was at lunch I did some rearranging myself! There ya go Dottie..much better! Reminds me of sharing a room with a sister when you are young! better go get the masking tape and mark her territory!!! Ya that's a project for my next visit. By this time Dottie needed her nap..so she laid in her freshly made bed and we chatted a while and she dozed of..(My favorite pasttime!)
So I headded out... see you soon Dottie!

Hey! Let's do Lunch!...I'll have my girl call your girl..well you know how that goes!!

2008-03-13T00:32:00.000-07:00

Yep..I had to go be trained to have lunch with Dottie. had to go for occupational training. Hope I get a certificate..then I can put it on my resume..Granny feeding..It will look good! Soon I'll have to do that occupational training for ass wiping and diapering!! Then I get a big fat Granny Nanny Raise!!!!!!! the bigger and stinkier the Ass the more cash!!!!!! You all hear that????
Anyway back to Dottie. Seems she is not to thrilled with the home or the food anymore. that is part of her attitude problem. so a few days a week I go and have lunch in her room with her. It keeps her out of bed and encourages her to eat. Seems to be working. but before I could do that..I had to go in for training! so I did which consisted of standing in the hall and the therapist handed me a set of instructions that said...
Wash hands and the clients too
make sure she is sitting in the proper position
Make sure her teeth are in properly ( no she eats better without her teeth!)
Cut food into bite size pieces
If spoon feeding give little amounts
make sure to give liquids between bites
encourage her to eat all her meal
blah blah blah.....
I get her tray..she eats what she wants...I eat what she dosent...(Notice she is reaching for the box of candy on her tray?)we laugh and talk and play with our food and eat the junk food I bring we then wander the halls..have coffee in the atrium wander back..Dottie takes a nap I return her tray to the dinning room and go home! Another fun day at work!!!

Only 5 More Years Of This......

2008-03-13T00:06:00.000-07:00

Had to Babysit Ruth on Monday for Cheri. Mondays are always fun..that is cleaning day and because it is cleaning day Ruth thinks she is there to clean! She was a cleaning lady for some woman named Norma years ago..many many years ago! So she sits in her chair and asks me.."What are we gonna do today" I tell her we're gonna just sit and relax and watch TV while I do the cleaning. "Oh" she says "I'll start with the floor I will scrub it" "Oh I can do it" I tell her.."you just sit and enjoy your tea" And I proceed to clean. She tells me she is only going to be working here for 5 more years then she is going to get married, but first she has to get rid of Freddie! "Who's Freddie?" I ask "Oh he's my boyfriend, he gave me boots and an umbrella for Christmas". Nice is that why you want to get rid of him? She laughed and said "No" Then tells me when I am 13 years older than this year I can get married too...I tell her.."No thanks, I did that once! And Once is enough" And besides I'd have to get rid of Freddie too! Maybe I can trade him for BOOTS and an UMBRELLA! Something useful!!! Just kidding....Then she tells me I look tired and asks if the baby is still sleeping. I am tired I tell her I hadn't planned on getting up this early to come babysit..I just went to bed 3 hours ago! and good thing the baby is still sleeping (What baby?) cause as soon as granny nods off and she will..I'm gonna too!
Screw this cleaning crap...I think that's why Cheri called off anyway..she didn't want to clean either! so screw that I'll leave it..Cheri comes back tomorrow nite..it can wait for her.. I'll just whip thru and make it look like I cleaned!!! Gotta go nap now!

BoB

2008-03-12T23:31:00.000-07:00

Well here's Bob. Bob is a nice elderly gentleman. His wife Janet is 80 and she doesn't look or act a day over 60. Seems she is quite active and needs a frequent babysitter for Bob so she can get out and about!!! Works for me. Bob loves to just sit and watch TV. Doesn't matter what is on..He watches and every so often he turns and looks at me and laughs..even when its not funny..Now that's funny! he tells me I can watch anything I want so I do and then he says.."is there anything else on?" So I cruse thru with the remote looking for something else I can watch..he's good for a while than says hey find something you want to watch...I tell him "Its OK I'm watching this" he says "OK"..minutes later he says you can turn the channel and find something else you'd like to watch..I say "I'd like to watch this!" he says "OK" and looks at me and laughs....And then he dozes off! Nice! I then watch what I want read my magazines..snooze alittle myself..and get PAID! Nice!

March Scrap Pages

2008-03-12T23:25:00.000-07:00

not sure if I'll get any done this month either..getting pagekits ready for the scrapconvention crop nites. linda and I will be attending the convention again here in Buffalo the end of May. We will be doing 2 nites of all nite cropping so I need to have page kits prepared to do so my scrapping is again put on hold till I get enough put together for the convention..But hey keep checking..ya never know i could sneek a page or two in!!!

Where the Hell have I Been??

2008-03-12T23:07:00.000-07:00

I guess some of you missed me!..Well its been a hectic few weeks.

Well Sarah my daughter, was home for 3 weeks and she kept me busy along with the granny sitting and going out with Sarah and the band boys... .Then I have been moving my scrap room up out of the basement back into Scott's old room. this time any of the kids come back..they can have the whole basement to themselves..like a little apartment! I'm taking over the now guest room..guest have be relocated to the family room couch too!!!

I moved tons of scrapbook supplies back up little by little No wonder I'm having big problems!!! Then we had to fix my computer that crashed during a power outage! So no time to blog! But most of all I had a problem with my Thoracic Outlet syndrome that old comp injury from 03 that was made worse by chemo for my cancer in 05.. and I just went off some medicine that I guess was helping me...so seems I had a few episodes that were a little scary..saw my Dr and then she recommended i go to the ER the next time it happened which was this past Monday nite. By this episode I kind of new what was causing the problem and i did not want to go to the ER. but I gave in so my new Dr wouldn't be pissed at me for being non-compliant. What a waste of time just like I figured it would be! first we got there and found out every er in buffalo was filled to capacity and closed including mercy where i went ..but by the time I got there the state made them open back up...needless to say they had to take every emergency in the City of Buffalo which made the rest of us wait for ever! Thirteen hours to be exact before I was seen only to have the 3 Dr's come to the conclusion I was having breathing problems due to anxiety attacks! I told them what was going on and that I was to be seen while it was happening and I came in as soon as I could so they could see...but 13 hours later I was fine!!!! so part of the problem was pain in my chest from the thoracic problem and funny breathing but there was alot more but all that was better by this time..so they told me it was an anxiety attack..I told them no it was a flare up from my nerve damage problem and the Dr said "I can't do anything for that..that needs surgery to remove a rib and we can't do that in the Er.. so call your Dr and tell her what is going on... Duh I did that she said to come here!!! She was afraid it was my heart...but I knew it wasn't so we basically wasted everyone time!!!!!!!But I'm back now.... ready to "Rock and Roll" as they say! So back to my granny blogging!.....

Feburary Scrap Pages

2008-02-08T02:15:00.000-08:00

Well let's see what Feburary brings as far as pages.... Ya..NONE!!!!

A Day To Remember

2008-02-08T02:03:00.000-08:00

For a short moment in time I had me a new granny. Norma Martin. A very sweet elderly lady. She was Steve's friends grandma. Got a chance to be with her twice and then she was gone. I went the first Saturday to meet with her to see if she approved of me. I guess she was not fond of everyone! I passed the test and was invited back. Went 2 Saturdays later. Saturday was her pampering day or Spa day as her daughter refered to it. Karen her daughter did most of her spa tratments before I arrived. I got to just enjoy her company for a while. We did her nails and then had tea with milk and honey..her favorite. We chatted and watched old movies and sitcoms for the afternoon. She was such a sweet lady, a real pleasure to care for. I had a third date set up with her but unfortunatly she passed away in her sleep eairly that morning. She was so fortunate to have God take her while she was sleeping. That is the way to go. I'm sure she will be sadly missed by everyone who knew her and I am sorry our time together wasen't longer. It was nice to meet you Norma..maybe we'll meet again on the other side.

He's Coming...and I can't find it!

2008-01-28T00:10:00.000-08:00

"Mom what are you looking for?" Asks Joanne when she went to help her mom get dressed the other morning. Seems mom was standing in front of her dresser wearing 2 pair of panties and that was it, rummaging thru her underwear drawer saying.."Where is it" "Where is what mom?" "My bra...I need to find my bra before he gets here!" "Before who gets her mom?" "The bra man..the bra man will be here at 9:30. that's what time he came yesterday. and I have to have a bra or he can't help me!" "Who is the bra man mom?" "That man that was here yesterday to put on my bra"..."OH that was your son Jack!"
So now Joanne can't wait to tell Jack He has a new job, every morning going to moms to put on her bra.."Jack the bra man"..Hey Joanne can I have his number??? Well I guess according to Joanne..he's better at taking them off than putting them on!!!!HAHA

Whats This Word "Uppity"

2008-01-27T23:12:00.000-08:00

Ruth told me today she remembered she was Ruth Blowers. I told her that was great and could she remember her maiden name? She did..(of course I forgot what it was.) She told me she remembered it because she had famous relatives with the same name. It was her cousin and she owned the big Floral Shop here in Hornell by that name. She said she wouldn't tell anyone they were related or interfere with business because they were very "Uppity" and she didn't want to drag them down because she has sunk so low in her life. "After all look where I live she says" This is all I have left in fact the people here took my purse and my wallet and I had a $50.00 dollar bill in there and I bet its gone. And one of my daughters was in a gang and they made her drink and do bad things..but she finally got out and made new friends but she still drinks!"
So I proceed to tell her she led a good life and has a nice retirement home to live in and a great pension so she never has to work again so I tell her she made out pretty well. And that all her family comes to take care of her. Then I go into her room and get her purse she searches it but the $50.oo is gone. I tell her she probably didn't have it to begin with. That all her money is safe in the bank. Then she frets and lays her head in her hands..."Oh I have no clothes here"..."Yes you do Grandma" tell her "Ok" she says "Can you take me there? I want to be with my clothes now" "Sure" I tell her.."while we're in there you can get your nitie on" Ok she says and does and gets into bed..and falls right to sleep...Hey that was easy!!!

Do You Know Who I Am?

2008-01-24T19:55:00.000-08:00

That is what Ruth asked me again tonite. I guess she gave the will care girl a run for her money today. Was very mean and non cooperative for her.Would not eat anything or take her shower and when Chrissy tried to clean and vacuum Ruth bitched at her and told her to get out she was disturbing her. Poor Chrissy didn't know what to do. She never acted like that to her before. Ruth kept insisting she leave and finally fell asleep In her chair. Chrissy finished her house work including her vacuuming and Ruth stayed asleep the whole time! I got there at 5 and hoped she'd wake up so she would go to bed for me since I was spending the nite with her. just as Chrissy was leaving Ruth woke up..pleasant as could be.. Like Dr. Jekyll and Mr. Hyde! She kept telling me what a nice place I have here its so warm and cozy she said. She told me she really likes it here and hopes I let her stay. She asked how long I had been living there. I told her that this was her house that she moved here 4 years ago when her husband died to be closer to her daughter. Then she asked who she was did I know her name and asked what it was and she said "Hum no that's not it" "Yes it is" I told her...I asked her what she thought her name was? she said she didn't know. I told her she was married and had 7 kids. She said she knew she had kids but weren't there little kids that come to play at her house too, and where where they how come no one comes to visit us? I told her some of her kids and grand kids and even great grand kids come to visit but it was 6:30 at nite now so it was too late for visitors. She finally got up and walked to the bathroom then to the kitchen table all the while telling me what a lovely home I have. She refused dinner but I got her to have tea and peanut butter toast. that is her favorite. Then a hugh piece of cake and some ice cream. Then she sat at the table asking me over and over again " What are we supposed to do now? What can I do? What is there to do? Its such a gloomy day do you think it will rain because it looks so dark out today. I tell her it is nite and its going to snow more after all the 2 1/2 feet we already got isn't enough! So I gave her tonites paper and that kept her busy for a few minutes. Then she asked all over again. "Do you know who I am?" "Yes I know who you are" She asked "Do you know who you are" I tell her.."That's a tough one ..let me think about that one a minute!!!!!" She laughed. After asking me hundred times what are we gonna do I got her to go to her comfy chair and told her we're gonna watch some TV and it will be bed time soon.."BED TIME I Just got up!" It was just a short nap I said its night now and almost bed time! 5 minutes in her chair and she was back to sleep. Finally at nine I woke her and got her to go get ready and get into bed. She fell right to sleep... Her daughter called to let me know she was coming up and I could go home to nite and aslo told me the eairly girl today thought Ruth didn't have her morning pills and gave them to her again!!! NO wonder she was so sleepy and crabby!!! Nice going.
OH ya notice no pics? I don't have my camera...Soon as I geyt it back (Scott has it) I'll fill in with some pics.

TAXI...TAXI

2008-01-22T22:02:00.000-08:00

Had to pick Ruthie up from old lady day care today. Took 15 minutes from the time I got there till we were in my car. First she had to use the bathroom before we left. Then we got all bundled up and out the door and she remembered her pocketbook. Had to walk her back in..sit her on the bench and go get it. Back out to the car and off we went. First she remarked about the cold and all the snow, and actually the snow had almost stopped thank goodness I hate driving in the snow..especially with a passenger. Then she asked if I liked driving a taxi cab. HaHaHa..."Yes" I told her my dad was a "Cab Driver" or was he just self employed? That's what he told us to tell people! "I guess I inherited my cab driving from him." there was quite a bit of traffic out today and Ruth said it was fair traffic. "Boy the cold and the snow doesn't stop all those fair goers does it?"
"I guess not I tell her" Didn't want to tell her the fair was in August, 5 months ago! Then she proceeded to tell me that Hornell looks terrible and they need to fix these roads and her dad will have to come tell them how to fix there town up nice! HELLO....this is Boston you moved from Hornell in the 60's..and haven't been back since! But yes you're right ..it looks like crap here in town. Then she tells me she likes my little car and it's nice that it is a Ford because her husband worked at Ford and he wouldn't want her riding in anything but a Ford. "Yes" I tell her "It's a Ford Nice car!" I say. (It's a Hyundai) We arrive at her house. YUCK!! Snow piled everywhere..seems Jim plowed and it made a burm in front of the ramp and no shovel in site. This should be good. I get her out of the car and hang on to her as we shuffle our feet to get thru the snow she can't lift her feet up high enough to clear the burm so we had to plow thru it.. now its up hill on the ramp..she keeps trying to brush the snow away with her cane and I needed her to lean on her cane to keep from falling.. then she tried to pick up the cane to brush off the had rails...Wow what a work out to get her up the ramp....but we made it!!! That sucked good thing I get extra pay for that!!!!! In we go got settled into her chair and had some tea. Then it starts.. where are we...does anyone know we are here stranded in the snow. Did I know how to put wood in the furnace? I tell her its a gas furnace we're good! Oh she asks will we run out of gas..it is so cold. No I tell her it is pumped in and it just keeps coming! "Oh good" she says. "Is there enough oil in the furnace?" she asks...The furnace is gas and we won't run out..we're good I tell her again. I fix her dinner and she starts worrying about all her important papers. "where is the filing cabinet?" she asks. I tell her there is not one here. "Where are all my important papers..John will be mad if my kids have them..there is stuff he doesn't want them to know!" I tell her she has been here for almost 4 years and all her important papers are hidden away and I don't even know where they are so no one else will find them so shes OK. "Oh OK" she say. 2 seconds later she asks again..fretting all the while. Now she starts is there eggs...is there cereal.. milk..tunafish? Yes I tell her there is plenty of food here we're good! "I don't want to sleep up stairs tonite..I'll sleep down here and you can sleep on the couch we have plenty of blankets" We have no upstairs here I tell her..your room is right doewn the hall and I am going home tonite Cheri is coming to stay the nite! We watch the news and a few minutes into the 5 o'clock news she tells me to turn the TV off. OK I do it.. So I say..."Now what are we going to do..I thought you were watching the news." "I was" she says but it is almost over and its almost 10 o'clock" "No its only 5 o'clock..we just had dinner?" "OH" she says "What are we going to do?" "Well I thought we could watch the news.." "Oh yes good idea she says put it on" Good idea!!! She finally settled down and and watched TV. TV is good Cheri shows up inspite of the crappy weather and I'm otta here!!!!!

There is Snow Here on the Island!

2008-01-21T21:40:00.000-08:00

I got to Ruthie's today..in the snow..poor Ruthie was in her chair freezing. I jacked the heat up to 72. I felt warm enough but she was cold. We started our visit like we always do..with a cup of tea and then I plunked my butt in my chair hoping she would doze off so I could nap. But she looked at me and told me that I remind her of her mother (again.... oh brother...she told me that once before..that we were both short and fat!) but this time it was the way I was sitting seems her mom always sat like I did on her feet..hum..then she told me her eyes were really bad today and that she just came home from the eye DR. and he told her he wants her eyes to "come back down"....Well she said I want to go to the islands..and he told her she could if she wanted to..so she said ok and that's how she got here on the island. Oh nice..hope its a tropical Island..but with the snow..it ain't looking good! She told me she is going to stay here and the family is going home so she hopes they know where she is! She again complained of not being able to see..she said everything looked cloudy and grey she had me clean her glasses...Nope she said its not dirty lenses...I guess its just that it is cloudy and gray out.......As luck would have it...Ruthie nodded off..and so did I....I woke about 4 and she slept another hour..right as I got my coat on to go she woke..all confused and tried to get up and had no idea where she was or where she was going..she just knew she had to go and do something! So I was stuck there till Joanne gets home...Guess next time I better be a little quieter when I go!!!! Hey how do I get off this Island anyway?????

Looking into the Future...

2008-01-19T20:34:00.000-08:00

Wow...granny sitting is really like looking into the future. I can see where I am headed. It makes it nice, I think to be able to see how everyone cares for there aging parents. I never got the chance to do that with my parents dying at such young ages. So who knows how long I'll be around! I better start planning my future..my babysitters..my routine for when I am old and will require 24 hour care! . It seems everyone is the same. Each Person has family members caring for them. Same daily routine meds meals entertainment. They all seem so nice and I really enjoy it! I hope when I get to that point my family does the same for me! (You writing this down kids?) just move my bed into my scrap room...hook up cable and I'll be all set!!! But for now I'll put in my time taking care of these elderly people..and hopefully when my times comes...well whatever!!!!!! Hope I last that long!

OH Boy!!!! 2 More Grannie People to add....

2008-01-18T22:01:00.001-08:00

I got me 2 more sweet old people to add to my repertoire. One is an elderly gentleman. He is actually Connie's cousin Diane's father- in- law, Bob Noody Sr. I get to meet him Sat Nite when I go to babysit for the evening. They live in West Seneca. I go to church with Bob's son Bob. Bob is also in the Choir. Last Sunday we we talking about "Old People" and he mentioned his parents and how they needed help and I told him that is what I do and he took my number and his mom called. The other is a little old lady. She is Stevie's friend from colleges' grandmother she lives in Holland. Her name is Norma and Norma needs an overnighter on weekends I can pick my nite. I am going Saturday afternoon to meet Norma. I guess Norma dosen't like everybody.. So we will see!!! Nice I love those overniters! So now I have 4....More stories.......

OH EDDY..EDDY..EDDY..What are we gonna do?

2008-01-17T10:52:00.000-08:00

Ruthie was asleep when I got there and slept for a good 2 1/2 hours more. Nice for me. I love to get paid to nap! But I paid for it when she woke up! Boy was she confused. She kept asking me if I knew who she was and did I know who I was....So I told her who she was and where she was but she didn't believe me...nor was she really getting it! So then after the 10th time asking me if I knew who I was I told her..."Yes I am Sharon" "Who" she asked..."Sharon" "Sharon..Sharon louder each time..."OH Eddy" she said..."Oh Eddy..Eddy..Eddy.. what are we gonna do? Do you think they will ever find us?" I told her we weren't lost that everyone knows where we are. Then she asked a million times "Where are we? Are there other people here? Do they have a bathroom here?" I told her there was a bathroom down the hall across from her bedroom... so we used the chair lift to get her up and the higher she went the more "Gas" escaped!!!!!! If ya get my drift! By the sounds of things I knew we better hurry!!!! and old people don't hurry! I was a little nervous but we made it in time..stopping in her bedroom door and she looked in and said "who sleeps there?" "You do I told her" "No that's not my room my room..well I don't know where my room is" "Yes look around" I tell her "look.. that is all your stuff" Then she asked me "who's clothes am I wearing?" "Yours" I tell her...... Thinking who else would wear them!!!!Oh ya me..I forget I go me some..or had some of the same items she owns...But I got rid of mine!!!!! Well this went on part of the night..."Oh Eddy,Eddy,Eddy " She kept saying....I did distract her with ice cream..twice and finally it was her bed time and She was off to dream land. Not for long at 10:30 she was up.. wondering where she was and again who I was...again I told her I am Sharon the girl that stays every Thursday nite. And I told her it was midnight and she needed to go back to bed...and she did. till 11:45.. from that point on it was up and down every 30-40 minutes finally starting are day at 3:30 AM.. Crap that sucked..Now I was tired and wanted to sleep. But I tried to and she played in her room..getting dressed and making her bed and playing around till about 5 or so then she was out of her room. We had breakfast..she wanted tea and toast and cereal. I had tea... she finished and went to her comfy chair to sit. She asked why it was so dark out and that it must be going to storm out. No I tell her its 5:30 in the morning..day hasn't even started yet and we should be in bed asleep still! "Why are we up then?" I tell her..." I was wondering the same thing!" And back to bed she went. I did have to wake her then at 8:30 to get ready for her day care group. I went home to bed...Nite nite now! Hey...isn't Ed Edd and Eddy a TV show? Maybe thats where she got my name!!!

January Scrap Pages

2008-01-07T17:43:00.000-08:00

Ok New year..lets see if I can do a record amount of scrapping!! Got lots to do thats for sure. Keep Checking back to see what I have added... 12 pages so far...

HAPPY NEW YEAR.....CELEBRATE 2008

2008-01-06T14:06:00.000-08:00

Happy New Year everyone. Hope the New Year is Good to all of us...Health, Wealth and What ever!!!
Everyone get all the partying out of the way? We had a good time. First time out in a few years...In fact our last New Years Outing was a house party at Terry and Shelly's in 03 I think! Went to a small party at the VFW in Lake View with 3 other couples. They had great food and cheep booze..and the entertainment..Well they were just like the Saturday Nite live skit the Lounge Lizards... 2 old people...no personalities but the music was OK 50 and 60's tunes. And I got the pics scrapped already! Nice!
Nice surprising news for the new year...I'm gonna be a Great Aunt...(Substitute for Grandmother I guess) Can't wait. Jim and Tracey are due in June. OOOHHH it's so exciting. next New. Mike and Melissa are moving to San Diego. Mike took a job with the US Border Patrol and after months of training he will be assigned to San Diego. Good luck to them both! Sad to see them go...
My only New Years resolution is to clear out the "SHIT" Give it away...eBay it..trash it...whatever!....like Sarah..unloading all I can just don't want all this crap anymore!!! it is getting to be so overwhelming! And its gotta go!!!..

What do you think..too much stuff???? and this is just over flow in the basement! Ya know a "fire" might be better! But I got to get the good stuff out first! And my second resolution is to get moving!!!! so we'll see what the new year brings!

HEY GIRL.....

2007-12-31T15:26:00.000-08:00

"Hey Girl..you lost some weight...Are you dieting? How did you loose that weight...They won't be calling you fatty anymore!!!!" That's how Grandma Ruth greeted me after coming back from the Holidays! Nice...compliment..only she is the only one that ever called me fatty! Well Maybe not directly...but several times indirectly!!!! And funny thing...I actually gained weight. It must be her eye site is going bad...Tunnel vision! Her eyes are probably like carnival mirrors...everything looks tall and skinny! Nice! Actually Ruthie missed me..and was glad to see me..she always tells me how nice I am to her...Didn't think I had it in me did ya??? so I got there in the daylight in time to take some nice bird in the snow pics.. I also spotted the Abomibidal Snowman too...but he seems to be frozen solid in the snow in Her yard!
WOW What a discovery...Do you live at the North Pole Grandma??? HELP ME..I'VE FALLEN AND I CAN'T GET UP!!!!

Her place looked festive and there were homemade cookies in a tin on the table..Yum Yum..I need more of them! Don't know why I'm gaining weight! Oh well my 2 Drs. say that is good..I don't want to be having any unexplained weight loss!!! Well things were going fine with old Ruthie for a while.. the she wanted to go to the bathroom..and she wondered where she was gonna sleep tonite...I told her in her room and showed her where it was as she headed for the bathroom. When she came out she went in her room..I thought maybe she was going to get ready for bed..But...Well she likes to "Play" in her room.. So I left her alone...I went to check on her and there she was sitting on her bed folding the laundry...
Seems she folded the whole basket of laundry..her dirty laundry! Oh well sure kept her busy.. She finally came out and we watched the "Sound of Music" I have seen it several times..but this time I actually paid attention! Wow Now I got it! Same with the "Bells of St. Mary's" I loved that movie and I watch it every Christmas...I watched it at 3am the other morning and paid attention to that too...holy shit...I really should pay attention to movies when I watch TV instead of trying to read or do something else while watching! I got a lot more out of it!!!
Well back to Ruth.. she wanted to go to her room again and told me I should leave..john will be coming home and he'll be mad if I'm there and she doesn't want me to get into the middle of it all! He will be mad and will have his girlfriend with him..You never know what he might do when he's drinking! He left her once for 2 years she said and that's why she lives in this cabin at the lake now.. but he knows where it is and he'll come looking for her! And she doesn't want me to get hurt! So I better call my dad to come pick me up. Because she may want me to come back this week again and I can't if I'm hurt! NICE!!! Where is that combat pay????? So I tell her again..John is dead he won't be here tonite...and I am here to stay with her so she isn't alone! Then she proceeds to tell me she won't be alone..She has plans.. A gentleman caller..he's coming at 11:30 because he works nights. And he won't want me there..so I better go.. Again I tell her she shouldn't be alone and I will stay till he gets here!.. She says well..she has to go get ready...I tell her she needs to get ready for bed now... she responds..."I know it He'll be here soon!" Oh nice a sleep over buddy!!!Gotta see this! but we wait..no one comes she keeps hearing cars but I tell her no.. that's the fridge kicking on.. But she keeps it up. Finally I get her her evening ice cream and sleeping pill and she forgets about the Mysterious Man... and heads off to bed. I tuck her in and pray she sleeps thru the nite!...but nope up several times...yelling for John! I tell her John is dead..."Oh Ok" she says and goes back to bed!!!!! WOW too bad that guy was a no show last nite..And Granny in a new nitie...and great big giant sexy underpants!!!!!! oh well his loss!....Bastard!!!!

CHEERS

2007-12-31T13:08:00.000-08:00

Here is a copy of MY Christmas news Letter...Some of you may have gotten it and others have been spared!!!!
This year I again made MOST of my Christmas cards..but like every year I ran out of time and some were not hand made..sorry to those people... But I figured I would share my New Letter with everyone on my blog! It was a synopses of 2007...Hopefully 2008 will be happier and healthier and more prosperous for us all! God Bless us everyone!!

Gotta love this news letter stuff! Always get them. never send them. But I’m starting to get into it! I guess you really need some exciting news to want to send “here’s an update on my suckie life” letter.
Well Steve finally found a job he loves and is happy with. He started at GP50 in August and is very happy therefore I am happy too! But to occupy most of his time Steve is writing a book. He has had it in his head for years and finally he is putting it to paper. Wish he were that enthusiastic about other “projects” around here! Just needs a little motivation or a swift kick in the ass… I prefer the latter!! But as far as Steve is concerned. he is much happier and healthier since he found this job, is writing his book and drinking lots of green tea and yes still the occasional glass of red wine!
As for me, I am still cancer free..2 years this past October. Still have a problem with the nerve damage due to the workers comp injury in 03 and the aggravation of it by the chemo. But on the bright side. I cannot work and I am collecting Social Security. Love checking my bank website to see if the government paid me to not work!!! Gotta love it and I do. But I kind of work anyway. Not real work! I help to take care of two sweet elderly old grannies. My brother Rick’s girlfriend’s mom and my friends mom. They are both so sweet and too funny. That dementia boy makes them a laff riot! So much so I have a Granny nanny blog check it out….http://Grannynany.blogspot.com/. it is also other life stories and pic of my scrap booking . Which brings me to my all time consuming hobby. Scrap booking and card making. Moved it to the basement and took over a huge section of basement. I love my scrapbook retreat in the basement I spend hours down there recording our family history and life story. Someday I hope my kids appreciate the effort I put into these memory books! Other than that I like to travel to visit my kids and my sister and her family, I spent time with my birthday group girlfriends and I follow Scott’s band! All of that keeps me very busy.
Sarah and Al have been married 2 ½ years now and are leaving Colorado to move back to NYC. Sarah has sold her very first book. We are all so very proud and excited. LittleBrown picked her up and also wants a second book sight unseen! Sarah is a “Young Adult” author. Her first book “Twenty Boy Summer” will be out spring of 2009. Her and Al plan on doing some international and state side traveling and then settling down in NYC. Closer to me! Al has his own company doing freelance computer work and is doing very well.
Steve is still in NYC working for JCDeceaux still. He is head of the multimedia dept with several people under him. And he and his friend started their own company too. Freelance web work and it has really taken off. But he is not ready to give up the “Real” job because of the pay and benefits. Steve and Erica have been together almost 2 years now and are doing great.
Scott is moving out again. this week. Found an Apartment in the Elmwood Village and can’t wait to be all settled. A bunch of his friends live down there too! He is Still at Hilbert College and working full time at the Olive Garden and still the "amazing" drummer of his rock band “Helicopter Pilot". They have been “Rockin Socks” since 2003 and are still going strong! He is single and loving it right now!
Snickers. well he is Snickers……….. Love to all, The Ockler’s

Ockler Family Christmas.

2007-12-31T12:05:00.000-08:00

We start our Christmas season the first of December. I try to drag out my decorations little by little.
This year I did some real greenery fancied up with red berries and crystalie sparklie things to look like ice cycles! This is to be my new trend. I already bought after Christmas sale stuff for next year! Then I slowly put up some of my tons of decorations. I put a lot back in the attic..I guess I really have way too much crap to display! And I am getting quite lazy in my old age! Next I wanted the tree up! And knowing how fast Santa's little elf works at doing that..I dragged it out 3 weeks before I needed it all up! I plunked the box right in front of the TV so it could not be missed!!!! And each day and night I asked..."If you have time could you start the tree?" Finally after 2 weeks sitting in the box..The little elf dragged it out..it took all day to get the stand and the trunk and one row of branches up...You see it took a lot of diddling by the Diddle Master.. Then I guess it had to settle for a few days..Finally after 5 days He got back to work at it from Early morning till 4:30pm Saturday nite..it was finally Up and the lights were on!!!!!
Now I had to decorate it! The first thing we had to do was fix our poor Traditional tree topper "The Blue Haired Angel of Death" as Sarah lovingly refers to her as. We pulled her all apart ad re glued her and added some fancy ribbons and bows and tried to fix her hair!!!!
She is good to go now...she has been on our tree top for 35 years now..hopefully she will last another 35 more..at least, and then be handed down to the lucky recipient..hum who will that be I wonder???? So amidst the cleaning and cooking for Sunday nights family dinner..
I got it all decorated..I did have to pull an allnighter tho! But I work best late at night anyway!!! No baking anymore..but I do like to display my millions of Christmas cookie cutters! But that was OK Linda sent her traditional tin of cookies and for the first time ever they came before Christmas...but sorry everyone..the day after our family dinner..and they were really good too! Well we would of had Robin's wonderful cookies for Christmas dinner but oh...she forgot them. Too bad for everyone else...but nice for us..I went and got them Christmas Eve..and Wow was I glad...A huge can of wonderful goodies....So now we had twice as many wonderful Christmas cookies thanks to Linda and Robin..Oh ya..I will be returning the tins for next year so you guys can refill them!! YUM YUM!!!! As far as shopping... Well we have really cut back..with the kids all being gone. Scott really made out he got lots of things for his new apartment..Sarah and Al I gave them there gift when I saw them in NYC after Thanksgiving..and Stevie well he's way too hard to buy for ....so he just gets what he wants..he's an Ockler alright!!!! And our Family Christmas gift this year went to Linda..I guess it was her turn this year..It was her reward for being brave and going thru 2 surgeries on her face to remove a malignant melanoma....You are still in all our prayers... My Christmas gift was really getting to go to NYC and seeing Linda and her family and Sarah and Al and his family and Stevie and Erica. We all had a great time.. Stevie came home this year for Christmas. he had a nice 10 day visit with us. Sharing his time equally with us, Scott and his old school chums. Erica was away on a SPA Vacation with her family. Christmas dinner was here on the 23rd..in hope Terry and his Family could join us..but it just didn't work out this year...Maybe next year it can happen!!! Dinner was nice.. We were ready...but the guests staggered in and out..Rick and Robin arriving first then Dan... Then Joy and Luke..then Rick and Robin had to leave for another engagement..then Little Mike came stag..Melissa had to go to the Cleveland Clinic with her sick mom. Yes we are all praying for her..and sorry Melissa had to miss Christmas with us..Then Ben and Jessica showed up..Then Dan left ..then Mike and Ricky showed up..Finally all the kids wanted to go and go out downtown..so that kind of broke up the party...the place was cleared out by 11pm and we settled in to watch TV and spend some alone time together..
See how well that worked out!!!!!!! Anyway it was nice to have dinner before Christmas nite..so everyone could enjoy other family on Christmas.

We did our usual Pajama Breakfast trek to the Wetsell;s Christmas morning. It was a very good time! Great food and nice to see everyone..especially Carli and Joe's little girl Taylor This was her first Pajama breakfast!
She seemed to like it! Anyway we got home about 4 in the afternoon..Scott went back to his place to sleep and get dressed and we came home and napped. needless to say we just laid around for the rest of the nite!!!
Spent a few more days with Stevie and he left Friday afternoon...he had a long train ride home... Well God knows when I will be taking the Christmas stuff down..its up longer and longer every year... But for now I'll just enjoy it..and All the cookies..Thanks girls..they are soooo goood!!!!!!Merry Christmas to All and to All a good night!!!!!

Deaths comes in Threes...

2007-12-31T12:02:00.001-08:00

Or so I was always told...And it really is true..2007 brought Three deaths for us to mourn. First the passing of Robin Logan's dad.. Dennis Pollutro in October. Second was Brent Ellis' mom Edith Ellis in November. Third was Kathy Gerken's brother Michael Hynes. Well I guess we are going to be ok for a while!!! Hopefully the rest of us will be in the CLEAR!!!!

Christmas..A time for Passing??

2007-12-31T11:29:00.000-08:00

Christmas is always a special time for everyone..It is so festive . Decorations and beautiful lights and a time to reflect on love and family and friends. It brings many families together, a joyous time. A time to celebrate. Sadly for a dear family friend it was a time to say good bye. Kathy Gerken lost her younger brother Michael. He succumbed to a massive heart attack on December 15th..my birthday. He was only 42 years young! How very sad to be stricken at such a young age..and at this time of year! For the dearly departed I guess it is a very nice time of year to pass and I guess it makes it special for the family too in a way! They will always remember the Christmas Mike passed away. Mike was a U.S. Customs Official and Customs had quite the showing at the wakes, standing guard the whole time. Then there was the Funeral..The church was filled with Family , Friends, Loved ones and co-workers. The mass and the music along with the special reading were beautiful..His younger brother Jim got up to pay tribute to His big brother..it was a tear jerking speech..which his dad was trying to signal him to cut it off..he was rambling on too long! But how can you ever stop bragging about your brother...come on Pete!!! I know lunch reservations are at 11...but the food will keep!!!!! So Jim finished his eulogy with not a dry eye in the place. Next we processed to the Hillcrest Cemetery..the line of cars were amazing! Many were Official U.S. Customs cars with all the flashing lights..it was quite impressive!
A beautiful ceremony was held at his final resting place. First words from his Pastor then a nice color guard ceremonial laying on of the gloves ceremony! I asked a Customs person the signifigance of the gloves but they really had no answer for me.."Just a tradition we do" he said...
What a beautiful and sad day for everyone. Michael will be sadly missed by everyone who knew him. He was so loved by all.
Here's to you Uncle Mike!!! Love John

Christmas Week..

2007-12-31T10:47:00.000-08:00

Joanne wanted to put Ruth in Respite... Christmas Boarding for Grannies! But her brother wouldn't allow it! So he decided to take over her care for the holidays. Giving Joanne a much needed Holiday Break! Jack and Shirley came Wednesday and set up Ruthie's tree and finished decorating her house and brought gifts for her to wrap for her great grand kids. That made her very happy. They spent the night...oh fun for them. Thursday I did my regular night and Ruth was very antsy and did some cleaning in her room.
It kept her busy but she kept dropping and clanging things all over the place!
finally it was puzzle time again and then bed time! The night went very smoothly and I was gone in the morning.. after getting my pay and a nice Christmas Bonus!!!! not to return till the Thursday after Christmas. Nice break for me Gave me time to get ready for my own Christmas.. Should of had Jack come do my tree too...It took Steve a record 3 weeks this year to get the tree up! But that is a whole nother BLOG!!!! But this year was kinda low key anyway..not as many decorations went up as usual! getting kinda tired of dragging the ton of stuff I have out..and then having to put it all away later!!!! I gotta start being like Grandma Conroy and give my crap away as gifts to friends and family...then years from now I can accuse my family of stealing my stuff like Ruth does!!!!!! Hey Happy Holiday's..

Keeping Busy!

2007-12-31T09:58:00.000-08:00

Well Grandma Ruth is was on another Tirade!
Wants to get everything done because Christmas is tomorrow! I kept telling her she had plenty of time ..that Christmas was still a few weeks away! But she wants to decorate..and bake..and shop! We make list after list..Gift lists...grocery lists..Several times a day! So we dragged out so more decorations and got them put up. She goes thru the boxes unwrapping stuff and I re wrap it and put it back in the box! Once in a while I leave something out! I keep telling her to wait for her son Jack to come..he is going to help her do her cards and decorate and put up a tree. it takes some convincing but she finally gives in and stops hounding me!
I get her to come in the kitchen to work on a puzzle with me ,but she changes her mind and wants to do the dishes..Who am I to argue so I play and she works!!! Again nice job eh?

Going Away for the Holidays..

2007-12-31T09:38:00.000-08:00

Ruthie is sad. No one comes to visit her at Christmas time. Even her son the Minister is too busy for her. But if they do visit they will be mad because she didn't do any baking! Oh how she frets! She thinks she will go away for Christmas so her family can't find her. I asked her where she would like to go .."oh I don't know" she says.."maybe to Florida to visit my son" "Oh that would be nice" I tell her. She told me no one will find her there! John might be there too with his girlfriend" She tells me. Oh that WOULD be fun then! I'm figuring! But poor grandma can't even get out of her chair..so how will she ever get to Florida? "I can walk" she says.."I'll ask the neighbors for directions..they are nice people" "well they should be..its your daughter and her husband! and if you ask them for directions to Florida then they will know you are going!" "Oh that's right" she says! "I guess I'll just stay here then" Good idea I tell her.
So we posed for our Christmas Picture and then took naps..Oh how I love my job!!

Dottie is still not feeling well!!!

2007-12-11T22:32:00.000-08:00

Went to visit Dottie today to take her out again for the afternoon. But when I got there poor Dottie was under the weather and the covers! Seems her stomach is still giving her trouble. Thought we had that problem fixed but I guess not. She kept telling me her mother wants to know why she is still sick and its a good thing it is not her gall bladder because that was such a painful operation. So we sat and had a nice visit anyway. Seems i can get her mind off it a little and then she feels yuckie again. Wish they could figure out her problem. Says she is not eating very well that she has no appetite, not even for the coffee and goodies I bring. We walked around a little bit and then she wanted to try to go back to sleep. So I sat for a while till she dozed off..Feel better Dottie, Santa is coming soon!!!! "DO NOT DISTURB"

Grandma is Missing...

2007-12-11T22:19:00.000-08:00

"Should we call the police?" Not right now Ruth it is 4:30 in the morning they are not opened yet. "Well who should we call? We need to let someone know Grandma is missing". I tell her Grandma is not missing she is dead. She passed away years ago. I tell her "Ruth you are 87 how can grandma still be around she would be well over one hundred years" "I know" she tells me "But this is her house, she lives here and she's not here we have to find her." "No Ruthie she is gone she passed away years ago you live here now?" "No I don't" she tells me..."Yes you do" I say..look around at all your things" "These are not my things, these are grandmas things" And right she was, some of the things in her room were grandmas..now what do I tell her? So I proceed to tell her she inherited grandmas things when Grandma passed away. Ruth tell me, no Grandma was just asleep in the bed with her. I tell her no one was in bed with her we are the only two in the house. Now she wants to call her daughter to tell her grandma is missing. So on and on it goes till finally Ruth gives in and goes back to bed only to wake up at 5:15...I go in and tell her it is only 5am and she needs to go back to bed. "No I don't " she tells me "I am getting dressed now in case they come to take me home" Oh boy, who's coming to take her to "Which" home..the big home in the sky?" "Ok" I tell her.."but I am going back to bed!" I know it takes her an hour or more to get dressed and then she plays in her room for a while . And that she did. Finally at 8:30 she came out of her room just in time for tea and for Joanne to show up to take her to her senior "Play group" Have a nice day Ruthie! Grandma and I are going back to bed!!!!!

Easy Job!

2007-12-10T01:19:00.000-08:00

Boy today was easy with Grandma Ruthie. I got there around 4:30 and the aide told me Ruth was asleep and had been all afternoon. Great!
I thought now she will never sleep tonite! But that was ok, not my watch tonite. So I curled up in my chair with another Afghan and went right to work....napping! Hey when in Rome. I let her sleep a little longer and around 6 I woke her for her dinner but she didn't want any. She fell right back to sleep..Oh Great! around 7 I woke her again and asked her if she wanted something to eat and again she said no. I did convince her to at least eat a PB and J. Ate the whole thing . She stayed awake for about a half hour and dozed again. I woke her at 9 and had her take her shower. Gave her all her night time pills including her sleeping pill, and got her off to bed. Fortunately I left at 10 and she was still sleeping. lucky for Joanne she did pretty much sleep thru the nite only to awake at 7 am. Glad I didn't stay the night. I work so hard for my pay don't I?

Holiday Spirit

2007-12-10T00:34:00.000-08:00

This is the front of Dottie's Home. they have it all lit up for the holidays. The inside of the place too is all decked out. A beautiful tree is in the front atrium and other decorations are all around it is very nice. Dot and I the other day put on the Christmas music in her room and sang along with the Christmas tunes. We had a lovely time again Dot and I did a puzzle.
Dot did a few pieces and I did most of it. She does enjoy watching me get it all done tho. Said she would rather watch me do it but I don't let her..I make her work at it too! We enjoyed our pumpkin cappachinos..they are so yummy and Dot enjoyed it very much. After we get puzzles together we put them around her room like doilies They are very festive! Her Dr. happened to come in to see how she was doing. Her stomach ache seems much better but when he asked her if she had any complaints she answered him.."I sure do..I hate this place and wanna get outta here! If I keep complaining can I get out of here?" He said he had no control over that, but how was the food here? She answered him "Oh the food is good, but I don't eat it!" "Oh ya" she said ..my other complaint..they lost all my bras! Look at this"..we look as Dot flops her big boob around in her hand! The Dr and I both took a fit of laughing and he told her he would look into that complaint! They did put an APB out on her bras. Hopefully they will show up in the next few days..she has a outside Dr. appointment soon. And going without a bra wouldn't be good. After all where whoulod she stuff her socks?

Who is that Grinch that stole Christmas?

2007-12-07T23:46:00.000-08:00

That "Old age Grinch"!

You reminisce about the Christmases past and dream of the Christmases to come hoping you will be there for at least one more. You used to be the "Queen" of the Christmas commotion. It is your favorite Holiday. Every one's Christmas memories were created by you. The decorations, shopping, entertaining, cooking and the baking were your responsibility. Christmas music and familiar smells filled the air! You made sure everyone was in the Christmas Spirit! It was a busy fun time of year. Year after year that was your job. Tons of decorations...lots of ornaments store bought and handmade hung on a large brightly lit tree. Candles burning giving the season a warm glow. Loved ones all around filling your home with Joy. Night after night you sat writing Christmas cards to all your loved ones. Gifts were bought...counted...wrapped and placed under the tree..stocking were stuffed along with every ones bellies! Oh such a wonderful time of the year! There were many parties to attend and give. Fast forward many years. The kids are all grown and off with their own families. They now begin the Christmas family Traditions of their own. Oh they try to include you..they try to make sure you are part of all the hoopla but it gets harder and harder every year. You live in a smaller place your tree gets smaller and smaller every year! You no longer can lift all those big boxes of decorations or have the energy to put all that stuff out! Slowly year after year you begin to give those treasured Christmas things away. Your kids take some..your grand kids take some more. You sit to write out your Christmas cards but your hands shake so your handwriting is no longer legible. So you just look forward to receiving cards and reading them and rereading them. Thinking of the senders and their families and their Christmases. You sit there worrying about the shopping you can no longer do and how were you going to get gifts for everybody..especially the little ones, but you cannot even remember everybody! You want all your old decorations out and up but there is no room in your place, and you wonder where they all went too, you were sure they were in those boxes in the attic..you no longer have an attic! You want to bake all those wonderful cookies and sweet treats, but you cannot manage in the kitchen alone. Everyone is busy. Maybe tomorrow someone will help you make cookies! You are always anxious...Christmas is tomorrow and nothing is ready. No, it is weeks away you have time, they tell you. We'll get the decorations out tomorrow..we'll put up your tree..tomorrow..I'll take you shopping ..tomorrow. But tomorrow you're always busy with your own family and Christmas. You forget I fret..I want Christmas back! I want to do it all and I cannot. Help me make my small place festive! Bake with me to fill my place with the wonderful smells of the season. Shop for me and let me wrap some gifts. I want to hear music and sing Christmas carols. Listen to my stories of Christmases long ago. Remind me we have time until Christmas Eve but help me hang on to my memories of Christmases past and build new memories of this Christmas. I still want to enjoy all the wonders of the Holiday Season but at a slower, quieter pace. All I want for Christmas is the gift of your time and your love, your patience and your understanding. Make this the best Christmas ever! For it could be my last and I want to carry those memories for ever in my heart!

December Scrap Pages

2007-12-04T13:20:00.000-08:00

That ain't happening....We'll see! soo busy makin cards...decorating..celebrating.

Well its official....No Scrap Pages done in December at all!!!!!! Too freekin busy!

About Me Being Gone!

2007-12-02T23:13:00.000-08:00

Well did you all miss me..my blogging? I bet my Grandma's missed me. Well I went to visit my family in NYC. I drove Fri to Linda and Jim's. Plan on staying till the following Wed. Linda had a great dinner ready for me.
Her kids..Chris and Katie and Jer and Amy joined us.
Katie made fudge..that didn't "work" didn't stop us from eating it tho!!! My kids couldn't make it. That was disappointing for their cousins. After diner Linda and I hit the "SCRAP HEAP".
Of course we scrapped...till the wee hours of the morning..every nite! Saturday we got up around noonish and scrapped some more and then went into the Big City for dinner.
We went to a great place in Time Square called "Trattoria Trecolori" Great Italian food..The Guest list included
Linda and Jim,
myself.
Stevie and Erica,
Sarah and Al, and
Al's Mom Susan and his dad Greg and his brother Ed. We had a wonderful visit. We sat there for 3 hours! And Dan we had dessert right there so you would have got off easy!! Sunday Linda and I again slept in and got up to scrap again. Monday we had planned on meeting Sarah in the city and going for lunch with Steve near his work but Linda did not feel well so we blew them off...
Stayed in to.. you guessed it..scrap! We did go out around 6 to AC Moore's and met Jim at Chili's for dinner and then back to scrappin!!!!Tuesday Sarah took the train to Linda's and the 3 of us went to Nyack for the day...lunch at Strawberry Place then we shopped up and down thru town. Back to Linda's.
Linda read mine and Sarah's cards. Sarah was very interested in seeing what they had to say since her job loss! and I was too..And of course our readings were very "ON" and interesting to say the least! We then left and met
Jim up Town for dinner at a Portuguise place called "Quinta Steakhouse" Good food..too full for dessert tho. Sarah then caught the bus back to the city. She was meeting Al and Ed in Brooklyn and spending the nite at Ed's place.
We also wore the dog right out!!!!!He spent all his time following us from the kitchen to the scrap room and back...
see all the scrappin we did!!!
Hey check out Jim and linda's house . they had it sided a few weeks ago..Looks Great!!
Wed I got up and packed up all my scrappin stuff and headed home about noon..Had a really great time as always but had to get back to my Grandma's and of course Steve and Scotty. As it was I missed 2 HP gigs and 2 Joe gigs..I was going thru withdrawal!!!!!!!

Out for the afternoon.

2007-12-02T22:51:00.000-08:00

Dot and I spent the afternoon out Friday. Got her bundled up to go but she said she didn't have any gloves. She asked me who's gonna get me some gloves and a warm coat? I told her, her winter coat and gloves must be at Robins and we will get it but for now I had gloves for her. So she was happy and off we went. First stop was Wal-mart. We wandered around and looked at Christmas stuff and I got a gift for Grandma Ruth's birthday which I missed while I was away. Then we left there and went to Tops. I got all my groceries for my thanksgiving dinner with the Ockler side of the family. I had Dottie drive the cart..she was having a good time. she proceeded to tell me her whole Christmas list! She wants Santa to bring her lots of stuff this year! hope she gets what she wants! then a stop at Perkins.
the hostess sat us in the fire place room..it was so nice and cosy it was snowing out side and so windy!!! But we were warm as toast by the fire eating our goodies and having coffee. it was so nice! We'll have to do it again real soon!

Holiday visit is over..back to my Grannies

2007-12-02T22:28:00.000-08:00

Well I am home. Was in NYC visiting family after Thanksgiving for a week. Came back to get back to my Grannynanning..went to Ruths Thursday nite. Seems she is obsessing on Christmas..Fretting is more like it! Dosen't have any shopping done...No cards sent out..no decorations up. hasen't gotten her tree yet. Oh when is she going to make cookies? And on and on it goes. Seems she is driving her daughter crazy..to say the least! Joanne keeps writing in the notebook to avoid talking about the holidays and if Ruthie brings it up change the subject! Well up to now she was fine with me...But that changed Thursday nite. She started!!!! No gifts..no cards..no decorations... on and on.. She asked "what am I gonna do?"
First she sat at the table looking at photo albums.. then I told her "well what your gonna do is come work on this christmas puzzle with me". So she did. We sat fohours..until her shower and bed time, working on a really fun christmas puzzle. She works so hard with just a few pieces near her..and I do the rest but she keeps busy and likes to do it! then i put the radio on a christmas station and we sang along with the carols and talked about christmas' past ..She was so happy..not her usual frettful self. Finally she had her shower and ice cream and of to bed! Joanne called to check on her mom since she had been so obnoxious about christmas she was sure she was driving me nuts! I told her we had a great nite. singing and chatting about christmas's past and we were fine....Joannes response..."you bitch" I laughed I guess..still...mom likes me best!!!! off to bed for the both of us. BUT>>> I went back Friday nite for a few hours and Wow grandma was on a roll....she insisted on getting the Christmas stuff down from the hall closet...it was up on a high shelf and I didn't want to drag it all out. I kept telling her her son was coming the next day to help her get it out and decorate and do he cards. Ok she would say and go back and sit in her chair..for 5 minutes..then back up and down the hall she would go again trying to get the shit down.. Stuff was falling out all over... it was jammed up there and I didn't want to get in to all that..we did pull a few things out and again I would convince her her son would help tomorrow. Back in her chair..only to get up again 5 or 6 times she did that.. Finally I convinced her to stay put..have ice cream and then Joanne came home.. glad to get out of there !! Told Joanne to have fun...... Bye Bye. i go back Monday nite again best bring the puzzles and some Christmas music. Hope jack got there to help her with all that Christmas crap!!!!

HAPPY HOLIDAYS...YEA RIGHT!!!!

2007-11-22T20:37:00.000-08:00

Well dealing with Alzheimer's.....don't ever tell them of upcoming holidays!!!!! OMG! Grandma was up at 5:30 AM ready to get crackin on Thanksgiving dinner..mind you...its Wednesday..."Grandma go back to bed Thanksgiving is tomorrow. We got lots of time to get ready..but not today". Thought that worked but no a few minutes later I hear her in her room again moving around. She's up and atem' won't go back to bed! Wants me to go into the basement to get the turkey so we can thaw and stuff it! First of all Grandma...if its frozen..we won't be stuffing it today. Second of all the basement is locked (to keep Grandma out!) And Jack is coming with the key and he'll get the turkey later. We don't need it till tomorrow! She says her usual..."OK". next we go to the kitchen I ask her is she wants eggs and toast for breakfast. No she tells me she has to get the stuffing made or John will be mad when he gets home and finds nothing ready for thanksgiving. "John won't be here today..he is hunting.. and it's only Wednesday." "Oh yea" she says. Now shes on a "HUNT" where is the bread for stuffing..We don't have it yet I tell her..we don't need it till tomorrow...
"Oh my gad " she says what am I gonna do? Make a list for the store..put bread on it." Next she heads for the frig.
She proceeds to pull EVERYTHING out of it looking for celery and anything else to stuff in the dressing! Grandma we don't need to do it till tomorrow! I tell her.."Oh yea".. Next she pulls thru the freezer looking for stuff for supper...Company is coming and she has nothing for supper.. she is frantic! Grandma I tell her..Jack is coming today and he is bringing you dinner. We don't need to find anything. She pulls out some freezer burnt burger. I leave it out on the stove.
Next she takes a big onion asks for a plate and a knife. At first I was worried about her and a big sharp knife!!! But she did ok and sat for over an hour chopping half of that onion for the stuffing! while she is doing that I'm reloading the frig and freezer with all the crap she pulled out. Onion all chopped she wants to pull out the table get out her table cloth and dishes and set the table! "We don't need to do that today, Grandma... thanksgiving is tomorrow! "Oh Right" she says.." oh my gad she says I didn't get no presents I have no cards .
what am I gonna do?" "Grandma I say tomorrow is thanksgiving..Christmas is a month away..we have lots of time to think about that later. Back to John being mad cause nothing is ready for thanksgiving dinner.. Over and Over we go....Wheres the bread for stuffing...go down and get the turkey..I better get the table set... What are we gonna do about dinner...write this on the shopping list! On and On she goes.....Oh my God I wanted to Gag her!!!!!!! Fortunately at 10:30 good old Jack (her son) shows up. I give him the low down on granny and say Have fun I gotta go..happy Thanks giving...bye bye!!!! kiss grandma and off I went!!!

You Can't Scare Me!

2007-11-18T23:43:00.000-08:00

Another fun nite with Ruthie. Ruth was pretty good tonite. She did keep asking for John and made me check every few minutes to see if his car was parked outside..running! No I kept telling her. He's not out there..You are hearing the furnace kick on or the frige running. Two minutes later she would make me check again. She wanted to know if my husband was out there in the car with him waiting for me? No Ruthie my husband is home. No one is out there! To get her mind off it I told her we'll have our ice cream now. She agreed and that worked for about a half hour... Then she wanted her hair set. So I told her to take her shower first and I could set her hair while it was damp that would be better. So on the way to the bathroom she had to go look out the back door for John sitting in his car. Still won't believe me that he is not out there! No car..good now to the shower. Got that out of the way and Ruth came out to get her hair set. I was scrapping all nite..so i put down my stuff and went to set Ruthies hair. Rolled the first roller and realized I had RED INK..on my hands and now Ruths hair had a nice pink tint to it!!! I laughed...Oopps now what? I figured ah let it go..Some old ladies have blue hair others have..well..pink! I kept going.. a few more pink streaks to finish it off and I was done! I'm sure it will be gone by morning...I hope! So back to her chair...Ruth asked for her ice cream. I told her she already had her ice cream before her shower. "So what" said told me "I can have more..It's mine! Ok I said and got her more! No wonder I'm packing on the pounds!!!! But instead of a second bowl of ice cream for me..I had a bowl of the best soup I ever tasted!! Joanne makes great soup! Finally off to bed. I get he up off her chair and get her moving with her walker and she stops, looks at me and says "where am I going" "To bed " I tell her. She responds " I'm lost where is my bedroom? I don't live here? "Yes you do " I tell her and steer her towards her room. She stops at the bedroom door and again asks "Where am I?" "In your room " I say" "No I'm not...I don't recognize this room" So around the room I go..."see here is your dresser...here are you bottles..here are your slippers...and so on!" Finally she believed me and got into bed.. Lights out..nite nite. That lasted a few hours and she was up. I hear her in her doorway... "Girl...Girl....I'm lost?" Over I go.."no you're not lost this is your room and you are heading across the hall to the bathroom" "Oh ya" she says..and she uses the bathroom and opens the bathroom door and hollers...."I'm lost.. where do I go?"...I tell her.."you;re not lost you are in your bathroom right across the hall from your room!" "Oh ya" she says!!! Oh boy gonna be a long night I think. Back into bed she goes... as I go to pull the door almost closed like she likes it she hollers.."Leave the door half open so I can see if John sneaks in with the ax!!!!!! OH GREAT!!!! I tell her he won't be coming here tonite he's fishing. "Oh that's a man for you..never tells you when they are going fishing!" So I close the door...half way and went back to my scrappin. Ruth did sleep the rest of the night and No John never showed up wielding an AX!!! And i did have another big bowl of soup!!!!! Yum Yum

Oh...Who's Your Friend???

2007-11-12T16:38:00.000-08:00

Dot was in the activity room when I got there today. She saw me at the doorway and she gave me a big smile!!! I fought my way over to her..thru a sea of "OLD PEOPLE" in "Bumper wheelchairs!" They damn near killed me! Guess they didn't want me to spring Dottie!!! Anyway I made it over and good old Dot says...."HI I thought that was you isn't that funny I thought that was you?" "Yes" I said "Funny that is Was me" We go to leave and one of the aide's asks Dottie..."Who's your friend Dot?" Dot looks at me and then at the girl and says "OH this is So & So" Nice now I am SO & SO!! I guess it beats being the "Heavy set girl"! Boy I sure do take some abuse! Anyway I told the lady who i was and we all got a big laugh out of it. Dot couldn't stop laughing all the way to her room! Real funny I told her..."my name is Sharon..but you can call me whatever you want, as long as you think its funny when recognize my face !" Whats a name anyways! Maybe each time I go I'll introduce myself with a new name! "A name of the day game"! She'll never remember..she didn't remember before on her best days! Oh well who cares...
We get to her room and the first thing she does is throw my purse on the floor off her chair and bitch about someone leaving there junk on her bed! That junk was mine! A box of cookies and a puzzle and board. When I told her that..again she laughed..She likes to laugh..I think she drinks during the day...Someone is slipping it to her!!!!! Anyway I tell her I got some anise pizzells and a puzzle..so I get the puzzle open..dump it on our board and put the cookie bag in the table. Dot tells me they smell good. then she asks as shes fingering the puzzle pieces..."are they real"..."yes" I say they are real puzzle pieces not those fake ones I usually bring!" and she proceeded to take a bite of a puzzle piece.!!!! "Dot" I said that's not the cookies..that's a piece of puzzle!" Oh again she took a fit of laughing..this time till she had tears in her eyes! "Oh ya" she says...I knew that!" I told her the puzzle was real and so were the cookies..but we can just eat the cookies..not the puzzle! Now I am worried! I have been leaving the "done" puzzles on her furniture tops like doilies! Hope she doesn't "EAT" them!!!!!! WoW! well we drank our pumpkin coffees and had a few cookies did the puzzle and played cards. Busy afternoon. Wore her right out! I think from laughing!!!!!

2007-11-11T13:17:00.000-08:00

The snow is falling now which sucks so now what will Dottie and I do??? I stopped and got us some pumpkin cookies and Mickey "D'S coffee. Even tho Dots stomach has been bothering her she sure pounded the cookie down.
We put a puzzle together she really enjoyed that even tho she couldn't get the pieces together she had fun playing with it. And it made her laugh..she laughs at everything now!!! Then we played "Go Fish" OH BOY that was a challenge. You would think it being such a simple game..it would be simple... but NO not the way we play. But at least Dot and i can razz each other and laugh about it! What else can ya do? I'm gonna have to stock up on my jigsaw puzzles to keep us going all winter my other granny likes to play with them too!!! keeps them busy for hours!

Gad! She Can Get Ornary....

2007-11-03T23:03:00.000-07:00

Day started out fine. Got to Ruth's and she was having a homemade cinnamon roll that looked so delicious! I had just stopped and got myself a large pumpkin cappachinno and a warm buttered cinnamon roll was just the thing to go with it! And it was. After that..before she could even move away from the table I got out another puzzle, a smaller and easier one than last time.
That kept us busy for only about an hour. She kept rubbing her eyes and complaining about them. I got her over to her comfy chair and to my advantage she fell asleep. I love when she does that...Not only is she fun to take pics of then, but she make entertaining noises too! And she's not bugging me and I don't have to feel so guilty not doing work around there! I got to scrapbook..Sometimes when I scrap book she acts like a kid and keeps asking for stuff, demanding my attention. She can get quite annoying. What does she think I'm there to take "Care" of her???? Anyway I got 4 more pages done today. Ruth woke about 2 and wanted to hit the shitter..litterally...She went to wash her hands and she went into the bathroom to do just that and when she was done she turned away from the sink and pulled the door closed. I heard a "THUD" I go to the door and ask if she is alright..I figured she bumped back into the vanity..and she said yes she was ok..I walked away. it was really quiet for a few minutes then I heard Ruth call.."Girl...Girl...can you come here? So I go open the door and sure as shit there she was on the floor. "Ruth" I said "I just asked if you were ok why didn't you say no?" Well she said "I am ok I just can't get up!" NICE! so I hoisted her ass up and made sure she was OK then left her to take care of business. I went back out to get some stuff done for her so she thinks I'm so useful..Vacuumed and dusted and did up the dishes, fixed our lunch and went back to scrapping..Well Ruth decided to get "moving" as she puts it, and do some cleaning. Told her it was all clean..I just cleaned it! No she had to go to the kitchen and move some big plants Joanne just brought inside and dropped one.! Dirt all over the floor..Well theres something to do now..."CLEAN IT UP" I wanted to holler. So I grabbed it put it in the sink and cleaned up the mess. So I figured she'd go to the sink and pick off the dead leaves...no she walked over that way picked up my large coffee cup and proceeded to drop that on the floor..another fine mess..for me to clean up! (And I didn't even think to snap some pics of that..I was too annoyed...and it takes a lot for her to get me annoyed!!!) All the while telling me I can go home now she doesn't need me anymore! She told me to turn the kitchen lights off because the electric bill was too high and she can't afford to pay it! Now I can't see to scrapbook! then she asked why I was there and when was Joanne coming home and she couldn't hear my answer so she yelled at me to turn the damn TV off..Hey! I was watching the "Behind the scenes" Brady Bunch special..Oh maybe that's why she wanted it off! HaHaHa. So I shut that off and told her I was staying until Joanne gets home which was soon..I hoped!
She pulled open the silverware drawer and emptied that. She stood playing in there a bit so I pushed a kitchen chair up to her and told her to sit and do that so she doesn't fall.
She did, and was sweet as pie after that! And there she sat till Joanne showed up . Someone new to bitch at!!! Bye Bye I'm out a there......

What? You're 55 ...I thought you were 30 something!

2007-11-01T21:11:00.000-07:00

Oh yes I am only 30 something!!right!!! Poor grandma she is always telling me to call my dad to pick me up. And is surprised every time I tell her I drive myself! I have to keep reminding her I am all grown up...and have 3 kids of my own. She acts so surprised..and says oh that's nice and then asks me how school was or does my boyfriend mind if I'm there with her? I tell her my husband wouldn't like it if I had a boyfriend..In fact I showed her a scrap page of Helicopter pilot the other nite and pointed out my son and she asked..
"Which one was my boyfriend" WoW she even has my "number" HaHaha..So I pointed him out too and told her not to tell my husband! Sometimes she even thinks I am her dead husbands girlfriend! Nice he died at 83..does she think I would be with someone that old? Be real Grandma!!!!!!! Go back to the HP scrap page!!!!!!!
Tonite I kept her busy with another puzzle.
Again I did the whole puzzle she spent 3 hours with a hand full of pieces down in her corner! hey works for me!
Got our pic doing the puzzle but we mostly were laughing... Then we watched TV and I spent the next 2 hours running to the door to check for Johns car cause she kept hearing it! I had to keep telling her it was the frige motor kicking on but she never believes me! Finally at 10:30 in come my relief!!! Bye Bye Ruthie see ya soon!

November Scrap Pages

2007-11-01T20:53:00.001-07:00

Click on each pic to enlarge..thanks for looking....30 pages