Phyllis4732

Ah shucks! Much thanks for your kind words. Now I am going to hide in the corner at chat - right next to the food.

Ann, I haven't "been around" much so your home plans were real news to me. That is great! It must be nice to do something like this without small county hassels. I hope I can find the picture of the place. So very exciting to have a place of your own and not have to hound and beg for everything. Kind of similar to having your loved one in a SNF or having him home. So glad you had a good day and Bill is doing well, perhaps better than you thought. I am going to go to the beautiful Memorial Day ceremony that is held at the city hall square. We are fortunate to have an area where residents "park" their planes in their backyards (John Travolta once lived there) and they provide a touching fly-over with the 1 man missing formation. When it is over, everyone places the carnation given to them at the eternal flame. I will remember Bill and thank him along in my memory when I think a few thoughts when placing my carnation. Phyllis

:happydance: I sent this to my friends as an email. But since some of you are not on my email list, I am sending it as a blog. Sorry a little long. My Friends are divided into 3 groups - those friends that I have met from school, work, some who do not have email etc.; those who love the chihuahua breed and my Stroker Brothers and sisters. Time is divided into weeks in reference to babies, months as they grow older and later we count years. There comes a time when milestones are celebrated in segments of 5, such as anniversaries. A few of you may not know this but, At about 11 pm, I celebrate the 1st milestone of my brain bleed. I am a survivor and as such wear a lightning bolt charm on a chain around my neck; I have earned it. LOL! It is the international symbol ofstroke because it strikes just as quickly. I was very lucky - the bleed was in the cerebellum area of the brain which leaves one with the symptoms of having lifted their elbow too many times. The areas affected are numb not paralyzed. I had a friend who called everything an experience and how true that is. Except for the first 6 days when I was zonked out of my gourd to allow my brain a chance to heal, it has been very interesting seeing the workings of the brain. I never thought much about that funny organ and what it would be like when it didn't work, but as survivors, we all agree we learned fast. If you are in the other two groups, consider yourself lucky, because with stroke your life will never be the same again. In time we learn acceptance and through hard work we make the best life available for ourselves. It is difficult for me to have an easier time than many of my sisters and brothers and like non strokers I can't imagine their problems. I do want to say something to the non strokers reading this. we are the same people we have always been. We just do thinks more slowly, speak more slowly, are perhaps a bit clumsy because we struggle with one hand or not our dominent hand etc. but our hearts are in the same place, we love being accepted as a friend and we hurt when many don't call as much or at all. We've discussed this and can't decide whether it is brought in front of you and although it is not catching, you stay away from fear the same may happen to you, or if someone has never been as blunt about it as I have. This is my gift to my brothers and sisters- to start a spark of knowledge about the way we feel and also the ice cream and cake at chat tonight- virtual of course, so no calories or sugar. LOL! And to the non strokers, my gift to you is that if you or a loved one find yourselves as a survivor or caregiver, come to us; we are the experts and will help you find the way. We also have a writing called A message from your brain. I will email it to any of you who may be interested. It is a very powerful piece. So today, Happy anniversary to me and back to working toward perfection tomorrow.

when do you draw the line between hope and acceptance? AS I see it, the answer is NEVER. For your own happiness you must have acceptence but that doesn't mean that all hope is gone. Everyone must still hope - not onlt those who have had a stroke. I'm sure you have a dictionary. Look up the word "hope". An old Webster I have has hope as being "a desire for something with a feelingn that the desire may be fulfilled". I is a "future" thing; Acceptance is mor final I's say., therefore there will/would always be a line between them and no "when" entering into it. So what is the answer? I think to make the lovely smile you have and know that what happened because it was known that you would be a true survivor, I was recently thinking sbout you recently and thought that you are almost finished with your Freshman year at college. A wonderful achievement! I remember how you had so very many concerns about how you would be able to do things like your cafeteria tray, managing on snowy days etc. You did manage everything and did it with flying colors. And..... you will continue to do so. Because, you've "got the stuff" to do it. Phyllis

Don't get me wrong. To be honest, I love gifts. They don't have to be expensive or even something that is really needed, so please understand this when you read the bad section. THE GOOD: If you have heard some fowl words being ottered by someone, it was me. I love those el cheapo can openers that you could buy for 25 cents. Nothing fancy, didn't last a life time but did the jobs. OK, like everything else the prive went up - to $1. Still the best as far as I am concerned. They are around but you have to seek them out. I am a righty and the stroke affected my right hand. Opening cans with the wonderful new openers has been very difficult. I even had to buy a new one when doing a food demo necessitating opening cans - and had trouble with it. At home, even a tuna can becomes a chore using my sisters openers. I had/have? an electric can opener which is packed away waiting for my move but right now I haven't got one. Not that I eat a lot of canned foods and not freah, but things like tuna, salmon, tomato sauce etc. have to be opened. Well, I'm sure you all know about the One Touch can opener which is supposed to be shown on tv, but I didn't. It is magnificent! You only have to put it on top of the can and push the button (it's battery operated) and it goes around the can, has a magnet to hold the severed top and is supposed to stop when complete. It cuts the can on the side not the top but you still have to be careful. Best thing since sliced bread. THE BAD These things didn't happen to me but are something else - LOL! My niece, my sister's youngest daughter, has always looked around when visiting and observed what is needed and would get these things as gifts. I tried that method this year and it worked great! Several years ago when Game Boys came out, we had gotten them to play Tetris- a good brain game. My sister kept hers on the bookcase headboard. It stopped working though, and she did not, for whatever reason, throw it out. My niece mentioned it to her and my sister simple said- "It doesn't work" Well, since she has lots of books, magazines and other "toys" there, she did not realize that it was missing. Today, she had a small shopping bad and in it was a Game Boy. Looking at it, it looked old and in fact like hers. Apparently, my niece had put new batteries in it to surprise her mother. Guess she didn't try it and- it still isn't working. The laugh was on her...... I guess when a person is old, you don't think they have the sense to change the batteries? But, the "best" bad of all and really the funniest, was a gift with others in a very pretty flannel decorated draw string Christmas bag. It was from her friend who is a hypochondriac - Are you ready? a bottle of Vitamin C! Hello? This is Florida - we have all the citrus one could possible want and right in the yard- and no! My sister does not have to take Vitamin C for any problem. LOL! :roflmao:

Being bulimic is bad; but when compared to a symptom of a bleed, perhaps it would be #1. But, not wanting that either, I finally used a cola and am about to have another to relieve the residuals of being a buffet pig! Oh, everything was so good! We went earlier than we should have and there were many people there and we parked in the last row, but the walk back after in a very light rain wasn't too bad. I started out ok with veggies from the salad section and a few T. of salads, tuna, surinam, potato, macroni. and honeydew and canteloupe (fruits r good- LOL!) and then my second plate of a "mixed salad" with everything including tiny cubed turkey and ham, chopped egg etc. etc. Now a normal person would stop here but Piggy was there for the turkey, steak and all. Unfortunately, they said that steak wouldn't be available until 4 PM and no way we would still be there- but as I was finishing the turkey and additions, the woman next to me had a steak so I thought I'd have a look, and sure enough, they were managing to serve steak to those who wanted it, so my dessert would be steak. My mistake was not to drink enough with the food to wash it down. I finally decided that a slow pepsi with my evening pill may help and it has.........gingerale with lemon would probably been better. So now, at 10:00 pm, I'll have another and Piggy will then settle down with the ads for Black Friday. Next year, we'll time it better and I'll dilute my intake better- LOL! Hope all of my friends here were smarter than this Piggy was . :im stupid: :big_grin: :cocktail: :roflmao:

Hope your day went as planned ad everything came out OK. You did your homework. It is wise for all to cook the way you did, settin everything out and measured. Even non-strokers can learn from you.......Enjoy having the family, especially your big grandson.Phyllis

Glad you had the time to relax and get ready for the next wild month. How often are you able to go? Is it your choice when you want to go if there is room, or are you only permitted a certain number of days.Anyway, glad it did the trick Phyllis

Almost 4-1/2 years ago, was my last day merchandising in a department store. When Sir Bleed came, some individuals were given the gift of some great jobs and I ended up in rehab. In about 2 months, I will start my 20th year as a Field merchandiser. I loved the work and still do, and I think of all the lines I've serviced in that time, I most enjoyed the department stores, especially during the holidays when they all were decorated big time. I worked several "part time" jobs and the work was very varied from sunglasses to carpet metals many feet taller than I.I worked in every department store in Dade, (now called Miami Dade), Broward and Palm Beach County (Burdine's (a Florida chain), now turned into more Macy's, Macy's, Lord and Taylor, Saks Fifth Avenue, Neiman Marcus, Bloomingdale's, J C Penney, and some no longer in business in Florida like Bonwit Teller and Jacobson's (from Indiana). And of course the office types like Office Depot, Office Max, the appliance places, Circuit City,Best Buy and of course, Home Depot, K- Mart, Target that I loved ,and what ended up being the icing on the stroke Wal-Mart. Oh and numerous small individual shops. Today was a Red letter day, I returned to the department store scene going to Belk's to service Tandy Products both of which I never have done in all that time. When I entered the acute rehab, the rehab doctor who I imagine decided what I needed, asked a question he does all of his patients- "What do you want". The answer for me was easy. I said I knew I wouldn't be as good as I was, but that I wanted to go back to work. With the wonderful therapists I had there and those at the step-down, in about 4 to 5 months I was job hunting and soon able to drive to the first job I had gotten. Things were different here, I'd only be working in 3 counties (actually 4 I think by mistake) and each county only had perhaps 2 or 3 if it is as larg as Volusia County where I live similar stores (as a chain store) That meant that department stores were few and the people in the position were happy with their jobs and stayed. This area is big on grocery chains and resetting them or the home improvemen stores that have those very high ladders - not the thing for a person with bad balance. Also, you worked not by county but miles from your home especially with gas as it is now priced. The Belk's store just opened in Flagler County where I will be living and within the mileage from here and that gave me the opportunity. I do it for a company that is in the same city as the company I worked for when I worked in Target. When I applied a few years ago and they found that out, they knew I knew my stuff. I hope I will get the new super Target they are building in the dame town as Belk. Was it east going back? To be honest, no. The groceries, and mass merchandisers like Lowe's, Home Depots , K-Mart, Walmart and even Target have carts which are a blessing and very similar to using a rollator (but no brakes). In a department store, you're all on your own. But, did I enjoy it? You "betcha". I was in seventh heaven returning wallets to the state they should be in- zippers closed, snaps snapped and price tickets inside. The fixtures looked as they did when the store first opened. If I must say so myself, I did well.

Fred, for as long as I have known you. you have been a believer; therefore, put your body in Who you believe in. In some strange way, it's proven it works. As for your fried turkey, I have never had any. I guess though that because I love fried food, I'd love it. I know it's popular here in the south. I suppose our northern cousins perfer to roast the bird because all that roasting and baking, as well as make the home smell good, also heats the home. I agree -of course I don't have to live with your wife - go for it! You've got all you need to do it so go man go! Just tell the good Mrs . King that since you are making the turkey, she can make all of the healthy things like veggies. LOL! Bonnie, your tests have proven your way of treating osterporosis must be working. Any change for the good, no matter how small, is a positive. I can smell the desserts now......... I really enjoyed reading about your grandson. He certainly is a big one!. Tell him if the coach thinks he has the potential to go for it. He appears to have the physical requirements. If he wishes to go to college, this is the way to go because unfortunately (perhaps) atheletic scholarships usually include everything, and with todays expenses, that is a big help. That, of course doesn't mean that studies are to be overlooked. From there, if he can continue to excel, he can get a chance with the pros, and from there, if he is smart and doesn't blow the money he makes at it, he is set for life. If, in the end though, he decides not to go further, he will have his education paid for. The bright side also is that if he does go pro, he always has his degree when those days are over. Not all young men have that opportunity. Have a great time with the family and as I do and everyone should, enjoy the holiday! Eat to your heart's content, well almost if you have problems such as diabetes or high cholerterol and then, the theory from dieticians is if it is hard to resist, just cut the portion sizes of those things and figure them into your diet plan.

Amen. Fred, I wiah you a very Happy Thanksgiving and a Healthy year.

Have a great one, Marty! Youm Mrs. Marty, the kids (ha!) :cocktail: and the dog. Hey, are you stealing the crumbs that are supposed to go on the floor for the dog? For shame! I am one who DOES go shopping on Friday. Unfortunately my favorite place is at least 165 miles away (to the closets) but, I have some goodies here. First to Lowe's, Maybe somehow, the pointsettias I buy for my place will eventually get into the grown before they die in the pots. I just lost the last of last years. AND< MOST IMPORTANT, I again want to thank you for teaching me how to find the car in a parking lot. I use it all the time (LOL!) and have even had people say, it's over there. You can be sure I will be hitting the panic alarm (or the lock) on the key chain. :big_grin: :roflmao:

Of course neither of the other two animals would tell us where he could be or gave any indication that he was not there and hiding. He had disappeared in thin air. Friday, at 8 am my sister had a Dr. appt. but tried to get the Humane Society to see if he had been turned in but they don

This past week has been an awful week!!! As those of you know from my blogs or come to chat, I have been having trouble getting the building permit so that I can have a modular home set in a rural area- on wetland. You also know that I am living at my sisters and she has 2 cats; I have a 6 lb. chihuahua. And you know, that the older cat by about 6 months is a short-haired common white cat- very sweet and terribly stupid as well as being a wimp. His name is Pinky because of his pink nose etc. I call him Mr. Pinky because he is the only male in the house - neutered male. The other cat Little Kitty is female (also spayed) long-haired, looks like a Maine black person so is large, tiger striped , smart and a "female dog". She hates me and my dog as well and the longer we are here, it doesn't get better. And, you also know she has spit at me and used her claws when all I would do is walk by her- too close. The rule for the longest time was if I wasn't in the house, Snooty, the chi, had to stay closed in our bedroom. Now though, she will allow Snooty to be in the same room and all 3 animals enjoy my sister's bedroom, Little Kitty, on the bed; Mr. Kitty on the comfortable chair and Snooty on the floor where the sun comes in the window. The other thing I must say is that Little Kitty is a night cat and will stay outside and enjoy the air, either while sitting on a chait im the patio, on the stairs leading to the balcony oron rare ocassions in front of the house under my car sometimes until 5:30 in the am. Pinky may go out for a few minutes but then comes in and goes to bed. My permit did not come, but an email denying the permit did. I turned to the DEP (Department of Ecological Protection) for advice and suggestions since they work closely with the ACOE (Army Corps of Engineers) whose permit you must get in order for the DEP and County permits can take effect. They usually respond right away but when nothing came, not even an email stating that they could not help me by Wednesday night, I was quite upset. I couldn't sleep well because I had to get up at 4 am to go to work Thursday. and I "was waiting for the alarm to go off". I got to the job in plenty of time and managed to stay awake. When I finally was able to drag myself into the car and arrived home, the first thing I did was to check the answering machine in my sister's room, being careful to notice which cat was on the bed; it was Pinkie and so I petted him and came upstairs to go on the computer. The time was about 1:40. At 3:00 I had to leave for Stroke Support and as computer was shutting down, I saw a message from the DEP and it was great news. They were going to contact the ACOE and see if they could resolve some of the mess. I quickly left and attended the meeting, passed out about the Monday "support" meetings I was having and got back home at about 5:15 pm and came upstairs to my computer to wait for my sister to come and tell her the good news. Of course we spent some time speaking about it. I came back to chat and the computer. Later that night when it was time for the kitties to go to bed, she asked me if I had seen Pinkie. I told her that the last time I saw him was 1:40. We started to look for him and call him since this was unlike him but no Pinkie could be found. All doors were opened (to the 2 attics and the other rooms on the second floor which are not used except when family comes) all cabinets, because he likes to get in them and hide when it rains (and there had been a shower) everywhere, but he wasn't in the house. She went outside and called him and he didn't show up. She walked to the street north of this one which gets a lot of traffic during the day and early evening hours but no Pinkie's body, and I got in the car and drove for several blocks and around the circle we are on (about 1/2 mile) and found no cat that had been hit. So the wait for a few hours in case he did decide to stay out, but by morning he still wasn't home. Part II: Tomorrow

Oh Ann, you don't know my happiness for you. I had been so depressed when Bill had to go tot the SNF. He seemed so fine when you were here in Florida (yes, it was a while ago) I so feared that this was going to be his forever home............but miracles do happen and even the few mild changes aren't very bad ones. So tomorrow is the day and know that someone here in Florida is going to be jumping for joy!

Sorry Bonnie but I have been in a different world. I was going to ask in chat this afternoon who Tracy was. I didn't have a clue. The brain really gets strange when we are focused on something else like being so tired we don't know an "a" from an "o". So now I know and I'm real glad that Tracy's surgery is all over. Even though surgery for a gall bladder is different today from what it was, surgery is still a bad word. The good thing is that she no longer has to worry about her gall bladder since we only were given one. As for your being tired, it certainly is understandable. The worry alone can do it plus just the getting and doing. I'm sure the next vacation in 3 weeks will be more pleasant. Rest up for it.

You tell them, Marty. From the old broad, to the young no manner brats to the corporate nuts........Packages- humbug! Phyllis :cocktail: PS. Guess dinner went well or was it 4 for 4? :i_did_it!: :big_grin:

You love this country and you should. I gives you and the democrats the right of freedom of speech. This right therefore allows bashing the present administation as well - however, you seem to forget a few thing. I don't know your age, but I am going to teach you a few things. 1) If the previous administration had taken some action when the TwinTowers had previously been attacked, there wouldn't have been a 9/11. And the embassy bombings which also killed Americans wouldn't have happpened either. But all of that is hindsight. You bash the President, which your freedom of speech also allows. Check out a senator from Massachusetts who also bashes the present party; people who live in glass houses should keep their mouths shut. 2) You say you don't understand why this country does not providw health insurance for the children. let me explain this to you. I am a child of the depression, although I came into this world at the end of that difficult time. People then, our parents, were different. Insurance wasn't as big as it is now. My parents had to pay for an ear operation for my sister and two for me with doctor visits weekly inbetween them. They had the money to pay for them because they saved for a rainy day. I guess the depression taught that. Today, go to any supermarket and stand by the check out lines and observe the steaks sold for 5.99 a lb, the cases of beers and the general junk. Go to the movies and see the line of people paying big prices just to get inand then the tubs of popcorn and jugs of soda consumed while watching the show. Most people own a tv and we used to sit around the radio as a family and listen to Jack Benny and The Shadow, and occasionally go to a movie and but a bar of candy for a nickel. Go to fast food restaurants and see whole families stuffing their mouths with burgersm fries and drinks and often king-sized, Listen to the amounts of money paif for just that small amount of food. Go to the high schools and see the huge student parking lots. Those lots are paid for with the tax dollars we pay for schools which is at the top or close to the top on out tax bill. Go inside the schools and see the cell phones that the students have (although some schools are banning them now). Parents says they are able to know where their children are; our parents always knew where we were with cell phones. 3) Social security was never intended to pay for our old age. It was meant to add a bit more to our savings. You say you love this country - well you should, but it 's flawed a bit. One word, RESPONSIBILITY, was forgotten. It was substituted with "it takes a village" as in it takes a village to raise children. Where is the responsibility? Where are our priorities? I'm not saying to not enjoy life, but there is a better way, and that is to take responsibility for your own life. Children are a responsibility. They need health care more than the fast food, cell phones, cars, etc. It is not the responsibility of the government .......and that is why the bill was not signed. And before you bash President Bush and say he doesn't have a heart; you do not know him and apparently not seen his tears. They were not for photo ops; they were the real thing. He is human just as you are, and yes with a heart. There are two sides to every story. Take some time to look at the other side. JMHO!

oh wow! Congratulations! And.........we're all going to be Aunts and Uncles! Have to remember virtual gifts too at party. Let's see - Middle of July? Maybe June. or August????????? Gonna be great!

Hi Ann, I'm so happy for both you and Bill. While it will be more work, at least you'll know that he is getting excellent care. I pray and know that God will watch out for both of you. God Bless, Phyllis

I HATE PHONES! And demos, well they can be upsetting to say the least - as well as painful. This has been a difficult week. I had accepted doing a demo in Walmart. It was for hand lotions (doesn't matter which but both are very popular and also a bit expensive) Knowing this, I put a negative sing. It was people do not like demos that are not food (most important) and which allows the customer to sample the product but does not give a coupon. I guess it was my attitude that kept me from taking the test until I had to (most companies do not require this but this one did) So, finally I called. The first thing asked is the code number to get you the right message.The code was 0690. It is an IVR system which repeat what you put in and you must press 1 for yes, 2 for no. THAT is the #1 reason I hate phones! I detest a list of things and you must push a certain number! Want English, push 1; spanish push 2. Want to know such and such, push 1, so forth and so on, 2, this and that 3 etc. I haven't the patienbce for that. The day I called, I put in 0690 and the voice said " you put 4694, push 1 if correct; 2 if it is not. After doing it about 10 times on 2 different phone, I was frustrating and screaming!. I enlisted my sister and being an entirely different personality from me, she loves phones and called. The first time she also got the same answer, but on the second try, she got it and so she handed the phone to me. Finally, somehow I got through it. Yesterday morning, before leaving for the demo, I had to call and again give 0690 and yes, again it was stated as 4694! so fortunately she was here again and she got through that part and handed me the phone but other numbers I had to give also had 0's and yes, they also came out 4's on the other end. My sister made the call again and put in the numbers I had written down and that callwas finally also completed and I left for the store. The demo was ok but very hard on me. It is a 6 hour demo - standing- except for a 1/2 hr. lunchbreak, much spent also on my feet, walking to the other side of the store to get lunch and back and waiting to put my order through and receiving iand walking back. My sit down time was reduced to about 15 minutes, without even time to stop at the restroom. Now, a demo of 6 hours is just that but a demo of food seems to go faster because you are always busy, but any other is boring and seems 12 hours long. This was one of those. It was finished finally and I decided to come home and use the option of reporting online rather than making a call since my sister was home and there was no way I could get it through - and there is something to be said about reporting online and taking as much time as necessary. When I got out to the car though, I had to "help" my bad leg into the car - it was so stiff. Halfway though the trip, my gas light went on and I feared I wouldn't make it home and get stuck so, I had to stop and get out and pump the gas. As they say, "no rest for the weary". Got home, walked to the end of the driveway to get the mail, took the dog out for a fast trip, grabbed a cold drink and dragged up the stairs to my room and computer and guess what? There was no website to put in the report! I could not believe it. So I called a help number that there was and got a human person and asked what the corrrect site was (a typo perhaps?) She said that they were having trouble and gavce me instructions. Several hours later, I completed the report, faxed it, pasted it where needed (because my writing leaves much to be desired, and must fax again because the number that I faxed it to was also incorrect! Phones and demos!!!!!!!!!!!! Not for a while. Perhaps by then, I'll forget this experience. I do hope they have no trouble with paying............LOL!

How unusual.........then again to me with my odd beliefs, I shouldn't be surprised. My answer. Perhaps souls do go round and round and the little boy recognized you from long, long ago. Wouldn't this be the perfect setting for this...........Souls going bump in the night? As for going alone next year, there you go again, Marty. Maybe is "Mrs. Marty" gives you a "what for". your mind will go back to when you originally met the little boy. Keep trying, it's going to happen. :whack: just like this.

Bill, sorry about your bad news. They say deaths come in 3's so things will even out for you. Aparrently Bud is still doing ok after his surgury and that's good. It's a shame they are putting you through so much and took away your speech therapy, but it will be back when the idiots at insurance co, figure it all out. It's a shame. What do they think? That you are bored and this is a way to have some fun? Hope it straightens out sooon. Snooty says to tell Bud she stilll loves him and sends him smooches. LOL Take care of the two of you, Phyllis