Crone and Geezer

May 20; 12:34 am. Busy Day

Claudia — Sun, 20 May 2012 05:52:17 +0000

Weird day. Over slept but we really had nothing planned. Then just as I was starting to get the Geezer up Kevin called. He was at Juliet’s soccer game and thought they would stop over after the game. He said he would be here in 20 -25 minutes. I said I was just getting the Geezer up but I would unlock the doors. I was super fast and the Geezer was super helpful and we were out in the kitchen in 30 minutes and Kevin and Juliet arrived 5 minutes later!!! Anyway, after Vern finished his Malt-A-Meal (his favorite childhood cereal) Kevin decided to take him out for an adventure. So the guys went out and I went to Kohl’s and the Roundy’s. I got back here at 2:10 and Kevin and Vern came in the door at 2:16!! Kevin left and we ate lunch. Then the Geezer got put into bed for a nap and I took a shower. He was asleep when I got done so I went and rested in the recliner. I opened my eyes and glanced at the clock AND it was not a short time. It was 6:10 pm!!!!! Then the Geezer called. He required a really though cleaning and we got out of the bedroom at 6:40. Then I called Pizza Hut for 1 perfect pizza, The Crone and Geezer Special, half his way and half my way. So by 8 pm we were eating. Then some TV watching and cleaning. I got the Geezer in bed and came in the office to write this blog while my 1/2 quart of custard softened up. It is now perfect to eat. So I am going to do that!!!!! I will not eat all of it tonight.

May 18-19: 12:19 am – Exciting morning

Claudia — Sat, 19 May 2012 05:39:54 +0000

Today, I came around the bed talking about breakfast and what would the Geezer want to eat when I finally glance at him and then I think I just went “oh! Oh! NO, NO, NO! DO NOT TOUCH YOUR HEAD!!!”. But it was too late, the Geezer had totally ripped the healing up skin cancer “bump” on his head out. Blood was running, yes, down the back of his head. Blood on his face and all over his hand and arm, on the sheets and the pillow. I yell “don’t move your hand, don’t touch anything” as I race into the bathroom for a wash cloth. So I did some first aid stuff. Stopped the bleeding, cleaned up his head and arm and hand. Put a bandage on his head. Then got on with getting him cleaned up and changed and dressed. Before we left the bedroom I changed the bandage and cleaned up the wound some more. Had to change the bandage in the afternoon and at bedtime as it was still seeping out liquid (blood and stuff). Then the rest of the day was the usual normal stuff except for the phone visit with Ann and the phone call from Donna Morrow who said she and her husband, Allen, will come and visit on Sunday!!!!! They should be here around 12:30 – 1. That is wonderful news!

May 17: Just plugging along

Claudia — Fri, 18 May 2012 05:04:04 +0000

Regular normal day: slept in. Eventually got up. Got the Geezer up. First surprise of the day: he was moving pretty good and following directions! Breakfast and pills and bakery followed. I read part of the paper to him. Every Thursday we get an insert about the comings and goings and crimes in this area. I usually read him some of the crime stuff. We have drunk driving (lots) and some robberies and quite a lot of shop lifting. Ages for this misbehavior range from 10 to 70!!!! Lots of elderly are lifting booze from shopping markets! No wonder I always feel like someone is following me around!!!!

After the paper there was the laundry, dishes, sweeping and keeping the Geezer entertained while I did the chores. I did put more effort into dinner. Made spaghetti and sauce with ground sirloin added. Also had steamed carrots.

Tomorrow I plan on paying the bills and showing the Geezer some of the email’s he got and some of the stuff on Facebook. Also, he has not yet seen Brian’s new blog set up and I think he should see it – it is really great.

May 16: Happy Stuff

Claudia — Thu, 17 May 2012 04:10:25 +0000

So now begins my third or fourth or….whatever time to be more faithful with my Blog entries.

Happy stuff today. Kevin came over. I got my haircut. Kevin helped get the Geezer in the car and then Kevin rode his bike home and the Geezer and I had a few low-key adventures. We drove through the park near us. Got some money out of the bank. Picked up some Mexican food for a late lunch and stopped at Kopps for custard. The Geezer liked the park the “best” and the Mexican rice dish I got him was like the best Mexican food he “ever had”! I tried it and it was very, very good.

May 15……time moves fast and slowly

Claudia — Wed, 16 May 2012 04:36:13 +0000

I really don’t know how it got to be May 15 …. seems like I just did blog and that was April 21! My days are just like the month. Time either moves too quickly or drags on. No DRAGS is not the word. In some ways time is not even really real. Taking care of an adult full-time is a lot of work or resting between work. I think I have said before that when I start getting the Geezer out of bed in the morning it takes about an hour. Longer if we are having problems. Then it takes another 90 minutes in the kitchen: teeth, pills and food. He may be on his own (in locked wheelchair watching the CNN) for about 20 minutes, while I clean up the kitchen, load the washing machine, check email…… But he needs me near by so I join him and we may then watch something I have taped the night before.

I have a list of stuff to do: I try to follow the list but when I “struck out” on a phone call or the computer search is too confusing I just (A) get mad or (B) give up. All of that are signs of depression. Sure I’m depressed and sad. I thought I could do this caregiving here at home. I am sure I do better than nursing homes…..maybe not……

So see why I do not post. I should just delete this. It is not at all funny. I’ll try to find some really funny thing tomorrow to blog on.

In Honor of Mother’s Day

Alan — Sun, 13 May 2012 11:56:47 +0000

Happy Mother’s Day to the Crone! A couple of photos in honor of the day–carefully selected to show the world how playful, introspective and warm-hearted Mom has always been. (Also selected to show how hungry for cake Ann was at one time). Click the images for a better view.

April 21…..short report on last week

Claudia — Sun, 22 Apr 2012 04:37:03 +0000

We had a pretty good week. We are laughing more because I now know that laughing is what the Geezer wants us to do. Laughing is uplifting. Laughing gets more air into my lungs and I think that also helps me keep a clear head. Mary did some quick food shopping for me on Tuesday. Kevin came over on Thursday and took his dad back to his house while I went to see my Doctor (normal 4 month check up – that I was a month late for!!!!! My sisters, Joanne and Mary Kay, called and talked to me as did sons: Nick, Brian and David. Plus Mary Kay drove in on Friday. We spent a lot of time talking and laughing. Weather here has been windy, rainy and colder (high 30 – low 40). I did not get much cleaning done this week. I am hopeful, I will accomplish more next week! Oh, I have not eaten all of the Easter Candy and I am only giving the Geezer small parts of his white chocolate bunnies so they will last, I think, through May! (I did buy too many of them).

the crone is in a rut…….

Claudia — Sat, 14 Apr 2012 05:58:17 +0000

I just want everyone who checks this blog to know we are still here. I am not getting out of the “rut” I have been in and so am moving slow……or I become very “wild” and try to do too much at one time. In the past few weeks I have tossed lots of stuff out that I have been “saving” (or “hoarding”).

Anyway, we will not be going to a federal prison for delinquent Taxes. I did find every thing back and I went to HR & R Block and everything is done and filed and I mailed a small check to the Federal government and did not owe Wisconsin anything.

Now I need to make a few appointments with Dentists and Doctors for the Geezer and I. And I need to really work at getting the Geezer into a Nursing Home as he is really getting way to hard to care for here at home. There are way too many times now that he becomes a “dead” weight while I am moving him. It is just getting too dangerous for him and for me.

Hope all of you had a nice Easter. We did. And we do enjoy the sunny days and the flowers that are up.

A week of restfulness

Claudia — Mon, 19 Mar 2012 05:07:28 +0000

I did not blog this week as we were resting. Mostly that is what we did. Visiting is wonderful but we do get tired! I did start a project which led to another project and one more “to be done” project” so the dinning room table and the office are in “PROJECT DISARRAY”. My goal was to finish 2 of the three. Needless to say, I did not achieve my goals. I am moving them up to this week. And if the Taxes don’t get done, well the Geezer and I can spend some time in a Federal prison …… that would be like a free vacation for me!

The other amazing event of the month…..year…..century is our current weather. Like it is late spring or early summer here. Wisconsin is breaking century old temperature records. It was 75 or hotter in this State today! Wisconsin appears to be in the exact right location for all of the GOOD weather patterns. Every state around us and below us have had horrible storms and we get maybe rain or some light snow or fog and lots of sunshine. That makes us quite happy!

Birthday Weekend Report

Claudia — Tue, 13 Mar 2012 05:25:06 +0000

I like the photos that Alan posted on this blog. We had a busy week getting ready for the visitors and then visiting with all the visitors. Brian flew in from Atlanta and David flew in from Denver on Wednesday night (late). Then David flew to Columbus, Ohio on Thursday morning (very early: 5:53 am) to meet with the building inspector as he and Kristen had made an offer on a house in Worthington. He returned to Milwaukee Friday morning very, very happy with the house. So they will be closer to us - only an 8 hour drive!!!! Alan and Anne arrived Friday night around 5:30 and everyone (that includes Mary Frances with 2 of her kids and Kevin with 2 of his daughters plus, Rory arrived about 7)- was over here by 6 or so. Kevin grilled brats. Had mashed potatoes and a big salad. Some fresh fruit. A peach pie and brownies and custard! I think the Geezer enjoyed his birthday weekend. Saturday everyone was here again (they were all staying at Kevin’s) and we celebrated with Pizza. This was also the weekend for the middle school play, CINDERELLA, and I was able to attend the 2 pm Saturday performance with Brian and Dave while Alan and Anne stayed with the Geezer. Kevin’s Daughter , Sabine, was in the play. The play was performed 4 times over the weekend. So Sabine and Kris (Kevin’s wife )were very busy. The two missing “kids” Nick and Ann both called here and talked with all on the speaker phone. Nick and Michelle sang “Happy Birthday” with us. And the Banner that Ann and her boys made was hung on the wall for the party!

Everyone returned to their homes on Sunday.

The Geezer and I were very tired and ended up sleeping in on Sunday and then taking a long afternoon nap!!!!!