Good Morning Diners. Flo, coffee please.
howmusAnd why are you calling me Mom?" I would then tell her "because I'm your son Bud"! Then she would start to cry because she thought I was my Father
BATMANI always regret not having taken him flying as we had always intended to go.
Back to the sadness of Alzheimer's, my wife's grandma is in a memory care unit of an assissted living place. The family got a call last night that she had kind of lost it and attacked several of the workers (she was convinced they were actively murdering her long dead husband) and a couple of the other residents (for being in her house). We still don't understand how she accomplished that much as she pretty much needs to be in a wheelchair most of the time now. Must have had an incredible burst of strength and energy.
Hopefully someone has some good news to share today. I think the diner needs a pick me up!
Mike
Good morning
Some sad things to read here. I'm sorry you and your mom had to go through that Ray. Also was saddened to hear of the seriousness of your back and legs Dave.
Lifes hardships are certainly unfair to many. Makes me stop and think, while realizing one needs to never take their good health for granted, and thank the Man Upstairs every day for that.
Sorry about your MIL Brent, and I'm hopeful your wife is on the upswing soon Seem to remember you saying she looks almost exactly like Meryl Streep
maxman Track fiddler My daughters want to go on an Agate hunt this next weekend. So someone has lost their marbles?
Track fiddler My daughters want to go on an Agate hunt this next weekend.
So someone has lost their marbles?
Yep, probably did that years ago Dick, perhaps that's why we still go out looking for them
They do kinda look like marbles, don't they? Ya know, I've never found one on the pebble shores of Lake Superior. I've heard how magnificent those ones are, but it seems the shores have been picked through by tourists for too many years to find one. We have better luck finding them in gravel pits.
Thoughts prayers and best wishes
TF
Track fiddlerMy daughters want to go on an Agate hunt this next weekend.
(We used to call them "aggies".)
Hi David, TF, John and Brent,
Thanks for your concerns about my mobility issues.
I have two separate but related issues. One is neuropathy in my lower legs and the other is back pain.
The problems started more than 20 years ago when my back started to hurt if I walked more than about 30 paces. That got worse over time and I had to start using a cane. In 2008 I woke up one morning screaming in pain. An MRI revealed that I had serious infection in my spine and the infection had partially destroyed two vertebrae. I was put on intravenus antibiotics. I had an IV tube in my arm for 10 months. The tube fed the antibiotics directly into my heart. The infection was also the likely cause for the back pain. It may have been festering for years.
Once the infection was gone, an MRI revealed that the bone in the two vertebrae had grown back in an irregular pattern that was pinching the nerves that go to my feet. I had to have my spine fused or it might have collapsed. The pinched nerves are why I have no feeling left in my feet with the result that I can't balance without holding on to something. The knee replacement set me back a bit too. That's why I was bragging about taking 4 steps without hanging on to something.
Cheers!!!
Dave
I'm just a dude with a bad back having a lot of fun with model trains, and finally building a layout!
BATMANWe just got a call that my wife's stepmom who is in a home with Alzheimers at 87 has just come down with covid and is not expected to live.
Oh!!! Brent! Thinking of you and yours! Hang in there!
73
Ray Seneca Lake, Ontario, and Western R.R. (S.L.O.&W.) in HO
We'll get there sooner or later!
Thanks, TF
When my dad's Alzheimers started to get bad the Government sent in health care workers to stay at the house to help out for about a year until he got bad enough that he had to go into a home.
He was in the care home for about two years and I was the only one he ever recognized. There was a used bookstore near the airport and if I had a few minutes I would go in and find him big picture books of trains. He loved it when I brought them to him and the staff said he would just sit and look at them for hours and it had a completely calming effect on him.
Because he had Muscular Dystrophy we couldn't do a lot of the usual father/son things together so model railroading was it. I was on my own for everything sports. We also fished a lot as sitting in the boat was easy for him. I always regret not having taken him flying as we had always intended to go. Getting him into the Piper I was flying would have been very difficult. I would go for a rip up through the valleys in the mountains North of Vancouver to Whistler and back and my girlfriend would take video, he always said he would have loved doing that.
My Grandmother also went through every Grandchild's name before getting the right one.
We just got a call that my wife's stepmom who is in a home with Alzheimers at 87 has just come down with covid and is not expected to live. Great day yesterday, stinker today. Easy come easy go.
All the best to all.
Brent
"All of the world's problems are the result of the difference between how we think and how the world works."
Track fiddlerOn a more positive note, If you can see the humor, my grandmother, although never had alzheimer's, but would go through all the grandchildren's names before she got to yours when she talked to you. We just chuckeled as she did too, while giving her a big hug put a quick end to her embarrassmentSmile
Hmmmm...... That sounds like "What's his Names Disease" to me.
Near the end of her life my Mother would see me and say, "Well! There you are! Where have you been? I haven't seen you in such a long time!!!" I would tell her "Mom I came to see you two days ago". She would say "No you weren't! I would have remembered! And why are you calling me Mom?" I would then tell her "because I'm your son Bud"! Then she would start to cry because she thought I was my Father...... Dementia is a terrible thing!
My Mom ultimately broke her hip and fell. (In that order!) Surgeon tried to make her more comfortable..... I was escorted in to see him after the surgery and found him crying at his desk. He pointed to the exray on the wall and said, "See these shadows? That is where her bones are supposed to be. There is nothing left!"...... My Mom had several painfull conditions in her old age and spent most of her time just lying on the couch and complaining. That made her osteoporosis much worse.
Knowing what happened to her is one of the reasons I keep running!!!
Hi Brent, nice to hear how you helped your dad out. A good son, and always good to hear how family is there for each other.
Sorry your dad had Alzheimer's nearing the end, as always a hard thing on the family to go through. My friend Erv's mom is going through a hard time with that. It was hard to see my friend in tears one day, and just as hard to hear him tell me about how most times she doesn't even know who he is on his visits. He asked me, do you know how hard it is to feel like a stranger trying to take care of your mom, who took care of you a big part of your life. Couldn't even imagine that.
On a more positive note, If you can see the humor, my grandmother, although never had alzheimer's, but would go through all the grandchildren's names before she got to yours when she talked to you. We just chuckeled as she did too, while giving her a big hug put a quick end to her embarrassment
Good morning from the soon-to-be sunny West Coast.
Dave, sorry to hear of your health issues. My Dad had Muscular Dystrophy and all through my growing up his health would go up and down and he would be in and out of a wheelchair at times and even when he was able to get up, walking was an issue. From a very young age, I had to look after maintaining the house for my parents, I would move back in with them for a few days or a couple of weeks at a time when he got really bad, and this enabled them to stay in their house. If Mom would have had to give up her dogs and all she did with them it would have destroyed her.
In the 1980s my Dad put on about 60 pounds in one of his bad periods and the result of that was horrendous. All of a sudden when he could barely move himself around he was lugging an extra 60 pounds. He was in a bad spot mentally as the love of his life who was thin and fit was out traveling and training her dogs in field work. I had a serious talk with him and asked if I could make a point and he agreed. I put a backpack on him and put 40 pounds of Presto logs in it and he agreed to keep it on for a day. I said you are 60 pounds overweight, and you just saw what it is like to carry an extra 40 pounds for just one day. He lost the 60 pounds and he was well enough to start traveling with Mom again. He had a very small electric scooter that would fold up called an Amigo that they took on trips, the airlines never charged for it. He used it on bad days but most days did not need it. He ended up getting Alzheimer's in the end but had a few good years before that happened after I whipped him back into shape, he never stopped thanking me for being such a hard-ass with him about that.
I have to take my wife to Vancouver for medical treatment for her Neurological issues today, this will lay her flat for a day or two. She wants to take two of the dogs for a walk and swim by the ocean on the way before she is out of commission. She is one tough lady.
After being surrounded by people with medical issues my whole life I know how important and how blessed I am to have good health, I will look after it the best I can.
I get two hours in the train room before we go.
Looks like Ed snagged another one for the back forty.
The Sierra mountains this month, ...Right!
SOLD!!
Image courtesy of Istock
Yep, looks like someplace I'd rather live in the foothills for sure
I'd have a motion detector hooked up to an alarm clock!, if the rumble didnt get my attention...
PS Where has our friend 'The Bear' been?
Flo, I'll have bacon, eggs, and coffee, please.
Dave, it sounds like progress is slow, but hopefully it continues. If you go on a long train ride, watch your step between the cars!
More layout work today, but the days are numbered until outdoor work takes up the time. The grass is already turning green, even though it snowed last week, and we still have below freezing temps at night. I really hate the idea of mowing the lawn again. I also have a long list of warm-weather house projects. The layout will suffer.
My granddaughter sent some pictures of the cherry blossoms in Washington, DC. Another sign winter's days are numbered. I wish I was there with them.
Have a great day, everyone.
Another Donner Pass photo:
Donner, party of 47, your tables are ready in the diner. Now serving the Donner Party... by Greg Brown, on Flickr
York1 John
Hello Dave, I'm thinking we all take our backs for granted, till those miserable times they're out. Then one knows their back is there, when it hurts so bad ya can barely move. Can't even imagine dealing with that kind of pain on a day to day basis.
My heart goes out to you my brother. I'd dig in my pocket for a PRP treatment to see if it helps you. That treatment worked wonders for my knee, after 7 surgeries through the years, never helped with anything.
That was about 6 years ago having that PRP treatment, and haven't needed another one since then. They've had such good results with this procedure, that from what I've heard, insurance companies have started to pay for them now, as the treatment is much more cost effective than surgury.
I'd dig in my own pocket like the last time, if another one was needed! But so far, knock on wood, another one hasn't.
Thoughts and best wishes you get some relief my friend
It never ends, does it? Finally have the HVAC guy stopping by to replace the AC's condensation drip pan and replumb the U-turn out of the overflow line. Been waiting for that guy for over 4 months.
That thing was leaking so bad in the humid Fall last year, it filled up a bucket every 2 days. Not many guys custom manufacture drip pans like that, so ya just have to wait.
Wonder how busy that guy is in the Summer? Job security, even in the off months while fixing furnaces. Gotta love it.
Have a great day gentleman
Good morning Diners. A coffee on the go please, Chloe.
Gosh! I am behind with what is going on. I missed it about you Dave.
Managing to do 3 or 4 steps? What have I missed? Take it a step at a time. Don't overdo, yet challenge yourself an extra step.
Our thoughts & Prayers for a Speedy Recovery.
David
To the world you are someone. To someone you are the world
I cannot afford the luxury of a negative thought
BATMANI had a great day today.
Hi Brent,
I'm happy to hear that you had a good day! Great picture of the pack!
I had a good day too. I can now take 3 or 4 steps without having to hang on to something. Sounds ridiculous compared to what you are capable of, but for a long time I had to constantly use both hands to keep my balance. I still have to be very careful to lift my feet up high enough that my toes don't catch on the floor. If I forget or get too tired my toes droop. I have had several falls because of that. One required 8 stitches to put my knee back together. It is what it is. I don't let it get me down.
Cheers!!
And if that's not good enough for your fancy, ya might-as-well go along with this one
PS. I'm thinking that was him Lion, last into the Castle. His tail kinda gave it away
Happy belated Mister B.
Sorry, ...They didn't have the birthday song or bagpipes like you like. But thought you'd prefer lots of black hats and a couple of horses hooves clucking against the pavement, as that ain't too bad either
Happy belated David
My daughters want to go on an Agate hunt this next weekend. Hope the weather continues to be nice like it has been. Ya gotta take advantage of this seasonably mild, but crisp weather while ya still can. Its gonna be a long HOT Summer
Evening
Mommy, We ain't in Kansas anymore
Good late afternoon from a wet West.
I took five fleabags into the 100 acre wood early for a good scoot. There were large animal tracks in the bush yesterday so taking five dogs means the big guys will stay clear of us. We really motored in the pouring rain doing 10.9 km in 56 minutes. I got home just in time to get the call from the accountant.
I won a $100.00 bet from my 69-year-old cousin, she spends three months every winter in Hawaii doing high-level outrigger canoe racing and just got home to Vancouver Island. I am 67 and she smokes me in an arm wrestle in a second as her arms and shoulders are incredible, she is very fit. She asked me how my abs were looking and I said so so. She goes I guess you don't want to bet then, I said ya I'll bet. She then got very suspicious. So her husband and my wife take photos of our abs both saying neither one of us has ever grown up. I unexpectedly squeaked out the win. We are very close and have been competing in all things sport and fitness our whole lives.
I planted a gazillion Daffy bulbs last year and here they come.
Time for a bit of scotch, what a good day.
All the best to all
York1There is a 24 hour/day channel of The Red Green Show. All day, every day, nothing but Red Green! It has made my year.
Hi John,
One of my best friends, Brian, was responsible for promoting the Red Green Show. He had a riot! He said it was the best part of his working life! He was on set frequently and got to know all of the characters on a personal basis.
Apparently Brian did his job well because the show was syndicated all over the world.
Good afternoon, everyone. Just a cold beer, Flo. It's Happy Hour.
It's been a busy day today -- all unplanned. This is the first opportunity to sit and read the diner news.
I've had a major life-altering discovery! I have a TV on the wall in my train room, and the TV is on for background noise while I work on the layout.
Normally, there are Perry Mason or Matlock reruns on all day. It's like having some comfortable company in the room.
The TV is a Roku set, but I have very seldom used it. Yesterday, with nothing to do, I finally sat down and looked at the guide for Roku live TV.
There is a 24 hour/day channel of The Red Green Show. All day, every day, nothing but Red Green! It has made my year. I don't care how many times I've seen each episode, they're always funny.
Hope everyone has a great day. And remember! If the women don't find you handsome, they should at least find you handy!
The California Zephyr through the Sierra Nevada mountains:
Frosty Zephyr by Patrick Dirden, on Flickr
Afternoon diners. Zoe, sweet iced tea please.
Ed, glad to hear you are on your last week of treatment. Praying for more good news soon!
MisterBeasleyHe went on to form a group called Boston.
Mr B and David, happy birthdays!
Happy Birthday to David and Mr.B!
Warm sunny day here, about 40F.
Just came back from visiting MIL.
CN Charlie
NorthBrit Happy belated birthday Mr B. You are a day older than me. David
Happy belated birthday Mr B. You are a day older than me.
Then you share a birthday with a guy I was in a dorm band with, Tom Scholz. He went on to form a group called Boston. I didn’t. The world is a better place on both counts.
It takes an iron man to play with a toy iron horse.
Ed Sorry I have missed your posts.
Our thoughts & prayers for a speedy recovery.
York1 Several days ago, someone mentioned the April Fools article in Model Railroader. I've found two possibilities: 1. I'm too dumb to find it; or 2. The April Fools joke on me is that there isn't an April Fools joke in the April issue.
Several days ago, someone mentioned the April Fools article in Model Railroader. I've found two possibilities:
1. I'm too dumb to find it; or
2. The April Fools joke on me is that there isn't an April Fools joke in the April issue.
I finally did find it. But I did have to scan the magazine several times to do so.
Good morning! Yesterday was my birthday, number 77. We went out for dinner at a fine Indian restaurant a few towns over. I don’t usually have dessert, but I celebrated with a piece of chocolate cake.
Good to hear Dr. Wayne is still in the cab, and it's just his computer misbehaving.