Monday Morning Staff Meeting - The Prodigal Blogger

First of all, I would like to apologize for being gone so long. The creative well had run dry, so to speak. I added up my combined blogging efforts and it was almost 1,800 posts. Add to that my current living situation and you got .... nothing! Still, I cannot believe I left you for so long with only that stupid sandal to look at.



We are all as well as can be expected for our age and circumstances. Since last we visited our son moved out into a townhouse, which is a good thing because this was quickly becoming an assisted living facility and he gets enough of that in his job as a nurse. That leaves the Farmer, the Other Mother and yours truly. The Farmer and the Other Mother have both been in the hospital, the Other Mother's diagnosis is ..... "She's 91-3/4 years old." The Farmer was in the hospital with a diagnosis of .... "faux heart attack brought on by stress". We must change that situation so that the faux heart attack doesn't become a real one! He's joined a gym and is working out 3-4 day a week. He's doing good. I've had eye surgery, a cataract is each eye. The surgery is really nothing these days, I remember when people had their head sandbagged and couldn't move for a very long time. It does give you pause though, to think that a surgeon is coming towards your eye with a scalpel. Sorry for the mental image. Honestly, the surgery is a breeze and the results are really terrific.

Let's talk dementia. Both the Other Mother and the Mother are suffering from dementia. Since the Farmer is still working I have the burden of responsibility for the Other Mother. My sister has the burden of responsibility for the Mother and I am the backup. So you can see where this is going.

I do not have a life.

I am not even kidding about this.

So, what's to write about? Well, remember when your mom said if you don't have anything good to say then don't say anything at all? Well, that's pretty much been the situation. Believe me when I say that caregiving is the most isolating experience ever.

When the Other Mother was released from the hospital she was so weak she couldn't get out of bed. The conversation with the doctor's office was the most bizarre exchange ever!

ME: "Now she's so weak she can't get out of bed."

OFFICE: "OK, well bring her in so that we can check her out."

ME: "Hmmmm, well that's a little difficult because like I said, SHE CAN'T GET OUT OF BED!!" 

OFFICE: "Well, we need to see her in order to make a referral or recommendation."

ME: "OK, well thanks. This was the most ridiculous conversation I've ever had."

We clearly needed some in-home help. Thank heavens for the internet because we didn't even know these type of companies existed. It's is not skilled nursing care, but basically what a CNA would do in a clinical setting. The only problem was that the minute the Other Mother was out of bed and mobile, she fired them! If she's not flat on her back there's no value in it for her.

The bottom line is that you cannot leave a person with dementia for any siginificant period of time. You can run a quick errand but that's it. And so, there you go. That's a quick synopsis.

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I haven't even been reading blogs. That's bad. I did check in with Chocolatechic one day and see that she's blogging once a week on a Monday. I think that's a good idea and a way that I can try to get back into blogging. Certainly I can find ONE thing to write about during a week's time.

My visit to Chocolatechic's blog was serendipitous because it was the day she was talking about adopting a U.S. Soldier. Hey, I could do that. I'm basically housebound with plenty of time on my hands. I love to write - it's a match! So I've adopted two soldiers through Soldier's Angels and I also write to some others through their TLC team.

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 I forgot to mention what I am serving this morning. We are going to share some shrimp and grits! Look, if you don't like grits it's only because you haven't had them cooked right. Trust me on this.

Get the water boiling good, add the grits and still constantly for at least one minute. Continue to cook the grits until the water is almost absorbed and then start adding some heavy cream, a little at a time until they are real creamy. Put olive oil in a fry pan, add chopped onion and green peppers, fry until the onions are translucent. Add the shrimp and cook for a few minutes. Deglaze the pan with some white wine and add heavy cream to make a sauce. Serve the shrimp mixture over the grits.

Heaven on earth. I could eat grits every day.

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My upstairs sewing room has been transformed back to a guest bedroom and all my machines and fabric now have their own spot in a studio in our basement. It's a good set-up and I continue to make aprons, wallets and whatever else strikes my fancy. When the Farmer is home on weekends I'm able to get out a do a few craft shows and farmer's markets. The online shop is languishing a bit until I get some photography work done. So, that's basically it for me.

I'd LOVE to hear what you've been doing. Please share!!