My Left Wing - Recent Comments

hiccup

puzzled — Mon, 15 Mar 2010 12:10:03 GMT

It's going to be one of those Mondays--I can feel it already.

Damned daylight savings time.

{{{danl}}}

puzzled — Mon, 15 Mar 2010 12:08:47 GMT

I'm so sorry. I know it's inadequate, but I know how you feel, and you have my understanding and sympathy.

{{{danl}}}

puzzled — Mon, 15 Mar 2010 12:08:46 GMT

I'm so sorry. I know it's inadequate, but I know how you feel, and you have my understanding and sympathy.

ramblin' 'n' rantin'

danl318 — Mon, 15 Mar 2010 04:56:27 GMT

It's 12:30, I'm beat but still up. There's a pile of dishes in the sink, I should be washing them, but I need a break.

The wind's blowing from the wrong direction tonight, from the northeast. Storms usually blow in from the west; they pack a wallop when they come from the east. The rain pelting the kitchen window makes me jittery, it's gone on all day. Gusts slap at the flat roof over the kitchen and a piece of asphalt, loosened by the last windstorm, smacks the back of the house.

I've been taking care of my mother in law since she moved in with us this past November. I've got plenty of help, there's money for outside care every day, but she's my responsibility from 5 to 10, six or seven nights a week. During the day, when our wonderful caregivers come in, Mom still needs me to tell her what my plans are for the day, where is this or that, the endless litany of little questions that Puzzled accurately pegged as a need for attention.

This work challenges me, forces me to scramble for patience. At 8 PM she asks me, for the fourth time since 5 PM, "Is today Wednesday?" At 9:30 PM, when it's time to get ready for bed, she wants to rearrange her back issues of Time magazine. At 10 PM, when she's had an accident on the toilet, I nearly lose it when she won't stop trying to clean the floor herself. Honest, I don't mind cleaning up the mess, I've got rubber gloves and bleach and disinfectant. She's stiff and frail, she can't bend, her knees are shot. It's so hard on her, it breaks her pride to have me cleaning up her messes, but dammit, she's going to fall and break her hip trying to spare me the work and save her pride.

It wears me down and cuts into the time I use for tasks that require concentration: applying for jobs, setting up a basement workshop, writing. (I'm way out of practice writing snappy blog comments.) I can't get any traction.

The traction issue, it's been with me forever, don't think for a second that I'm blaming this on Mom. I used to take really nice photographs. I've created a few eye-catching brochures. I can type nice words. I got the fire in the belly. Problem is I never figured out how to make a go of it and these empty ghosts of dreams dance away and fade. I'm left yearning, empty, like reliving a lost love, sweet, but so, so sad.

Weeks ago, Kathleen pointed me to a website that offered guidance for finding my path. The essence: think of a path to follow, then another, then another, until you imagine the path that makes you cry, then follow it. I've started, but I have not yet found my tears.

Things which don't exist

Lasthorseman — Mon, 15 Mar 2010 02:46:37 GMT

911 truth

Climate geo-engineering efforts(to alleviate "global warming") like HAARP,EISCAT, chemtrails even if mainstream media and Congress and China, Russia have published and advanced their existence.

The immunity from prosecution for big pharama advanced well before the outbreak of the vastly non-lethal swine flu global killer.

The bailout for billionaires of the engineered financial crash.

Yeah, figures:(

rich1107 — Sun, 14 Mar 2010 20:01:18 GMT

You can donate them to specified charities or someone with enough miles to obtain a ticket could book a ticket for someone else.

(^.^)

RiaD — Sun, 14 Mar 2010 19:44:41 GMT

~♥~

Good thought, rich.

Edger — Sun, 14 Mar 2010 16:25:42 GMT

But no such luck. Neither WestJet not Air Canada will accept transferred AirMiles points, unfortunately.

Air Canada

puzzled — Sun, 14 Mar 2010 14:06:17 GMT

although their fares are more expensive, if you're looking to use miles, they partner with more airlines than WestJet, and the mileage requirements would probably be the same for either airline.

do you by any chance

puzzled — Sun, 14 Mar 2010 13:01:02 GMT

have a picture of yourself locked up in a closet somewhere? Have you developed an unusual craving for human brains? Do you find yourself sleeping all day and only coming out after dark?

I'm sure we can reach a diagnosis eventually.

And Ria

Madscientist — Sun, 14 Mar 2010 09:21:11 GMT

thank you for remembering to give positive feedback where it is deserved.

All I know

Karmafish — Sun, 14 Mar 2010 06:20:39 GMT

is that I never get sick.

I never seem to age, either.

It's very odd.

on laughter...

danl318 — Sun, 14 Mar 2010 04:45:51 GMT

Over a year ago, sitting with 12 fellow employees, we were told "Sorry folks, we can't keep you on any more." I had been with the company 7 weeks. Overwhelmed by the irony, I started laughing. The HR rep looked at me astonished and said "What's so funny?"

During my exit interview 30 minutes later, the HR rep apologized for putting me on the spot. "You can blame it on my mother-in-law," I said. "Mom says 'If you don't know whether to laugh or to cry, go for the laugh.'"

Mom is 92 and living with us; there are a lot of things that keep her going. I believe that her ability to laugh at herself is a key element of her longevity.

Sure just let me know whzt they tell you:)

rich1107 — Sun, 14 Mar 2010 03:45:05 GMT

Lovely response, puzzled

Madscientist — Sun, 14 Mar 2010 03:44:15 GMT

and beyond what i deserved.

My bet is that you don't need my advice on those things. Again, my guess, you are more likely to need the advice on taking care of yourself.

Your remark to me describes your essay: heartfelt, but bound to prick hearts of anyone open enough to feel it.

I'll call the airline in the morning

Edger — Sun, 14 Mar 2010 03:37:36 GMT

and ask if that can be done...

thanks, puzzled n/t

Madscientist — Sun, 14 Mar 2010 03:28:52 GMT