Marilyne, I am sorry to read of AJ's stroke. Sending prayers for a speedy recovery and prayers for you also..you need to look after yourself too at a time  like this.

MarsGal...quoting: " without having emergencies and disasters on top of it all" ( i am assuming you read the " famine " clip )
... i guess one solution is to turn off our news tv, dont read the newspapers or computers headlines and carry on as if our world is as it should be..we have a choice, face it ( our realities ) or ignore it ( as if they dont exist. )..." turn a blind eye to them, " and if we listen to it, read it, when we really dont want to know, we only have ourselves to blame..

Marilyne..
.. thinking of you this morning, i hope your hubby AJ  is recovering well...

Marilyne, so sorry about AJ's stroke... you know, we really are and no other way to say it. Guess we have all had the fear of stroke drilled into us as we grew up, but for sure there are better ways to help now. Can't remember in my life when it has been more stressful, even during WWII. But knowing that AJ is being taken care of may give your body a chance to relax for a few days, you think? The older I get the more I accept that "life happens so roll with it" and make the best out of what each day offers. Take advantage of anything that comes along to make you smile. (((hugs))) are a good thing so maybe we can get some back soon.

I do miss Mary Ann, knowing that she has remained family strong and joyful for 94 years. My brother, same age, died the first part of this month and I wasn't ready to lose him, either. A long time friend with that 94 year old birthday also passed away recently so been watching news of Queen Elizabeth (94) and Prince Philip, my dread that she will give up when he dies. Something about her reminds me of Mary Ann, their ability to "remain cool", no matter what is changing around them. I was impressed with how Mary Ann handled losing Norm, that she kept the whole family close, including Norm's widow. I know this discussion was "Norm's baby" and she felt responsible for keeping it going, hope it stays active in her memory. I haven't been a regular in here, do most of my visiting in the Soda Shoppe, I lurk often. My thoughts this morning. Shirley

Shirley...
... I so agree, we owe it to both Norm and Mary Ann to keep this room going in honour to them..I believe this is what they would want..they made this room what it is today..Oh how we miss our departed members..far too many to mention have parted from us..Ten years i have been a member and i so remember how thriving with activity we once was...Do you remember Joan FL ( Soda Shoppe ) cleaning out the rickety old bus of the smell of fish from the year before and collecting us from all corners of the globe...so much fun we had in that bus..

Quote from: MarsGal on April 22, 2020, 06:50:54 AMI do so admire all those who are able to write with such sympathy and compassion when one of us is having difficulties. I always feel at a loss for words.

This whole Coronavirus event is stressful enough without having emergencies and disasters on top of it all. I am thinking of everyone and hope you are doing well in spite of it all. My thoughts are also with the Tock family, as well as Jason who could use a good turn of events, and Michelle whose cancer, hopefully, will not be back.

Marsgal,  thank you for posting this.  I am the same way and that's one reason I don't participate as much as I used to.  Feelings are there but I just don't put them into writing and usually only mention it once.

After a beautiful sunny day yesterday - today is dark enough to need lights on and there are to be Severe Storms in various areas across the state.  Hope one of them isn't mine - but no guarantees.

Super! Xfinity's (Comcast) website is not working. I can get anywhere on the net except their website, and consequently, my e-mail. Maybe overload? Been this way since I was up on the net this morning. Looks like it is pretty wide spread, but I can find nothing specific. Oh well.

Hi Callie. Thanks for that. Keep safe.

A sad good morning to all you Bait and Tacklers.  I'm sure you are missing Mary Ann.  She has been a good friend to everyone who posts in this forum.  I know her family misses her as we all do.  My condolences to her family and friends.

Sue

We are having a warm sunny day.

Marilyne, I'm thinking of you and AJ and hoping all is going as well as possible.

What a time it is.  Marsgal, I also am always at a loss at putting what I feel into words.

Today hasn't been a good day so today was a day for TV dinners.  They were better than some I've had.😊. I did get some computer work done.

Marilyne, My iPod came today and I got my playlist ready for listening.🎶🎶

Hope everyone has a good day.

Quote from: CallieOK on April 22, 2020, 11:47:36 AM

Quote from: MarsGal on April 22, 2020, 06:50:54 AMI do so admire all those who are able to write with such sympathy and compassion when one of us is having difficulties. I always feel at a loss for words.

This whole Coronavirus event is stressful enough without having emergencies and disasters on top of it all. I am thinking of everyone and hope you are doing well in spite of it all. My thoughts are also with the Tock family, as well as Jason who could use a good turn of events, and Michelle whose cancer, hopefully, will not be back.

Marsgal,  thank you for posting this.  I am the same way and that's one reason I don't participate as much as I used to.  Feelings are there but I just don't put them into writing and usually only mention it once.

......

Add me to that list.
I miss all those that we've lost here and one very close one in my family. Probably due to the way I grew up I just (reluctantly) accept it as part of life.    It's not easy.

Thinking of what to do if one should get sick are have a fall .in my area we have 3 large medical centers with at least 900 doctors but no idea how  to reach any of the ones I have . Had 2 appt, for check ups in April but letters canceiilng  them . Most of mine are specialist. And not doing  any apptments at all. I do use a convenient doctor for just BPres. And no idea how I am going to get that prescription filled. Will just call the drug store and let them find him.
Use to be that one had a family dr. Who could treat you for every thing . Now they all seem to just make you a appt. with another dr. Who handles just certain things. I set up all mine when I came to town . Even my dentist that was 45 years and worked great in the last 4 years they have mostly died or retired  hard to find new ones to replace them under the new system. .

First of all, I want to thank everyone, for being concerned about AJ, and for wishing him a swift recovery from his stroke!
Today he was released from the hospital and is back home again!  It was too soon, but that's the way they are handling all non-Covid-19 illnesses now, unless the patient is sick enough to be in the ICU.  The coronavirus is so contagious in a hospital setting, that the sooner you get out, the better. He was there for only two nights, and I would have preferred he stay one more night at least, but he is home now.

He slept most of this afternoon, and seems to be doing well.  Certainly better than the last time I saw him on Monday afternoon!  He has some slurring of speech, and is walking with a cane for balance.  Under normal circumstances,  our son, or one of our daughters would be here to help me, but they all have to stay away because of possibility of carrying coronavirus to AJ or to me.  So, it's just the two of us, until the SIP is lifted!  We are living in strange and scary times, so we have to adjust to the circumstances. 

MarsGal, Callie and Jean - You're all too hard on yourselves!  All three of you said just the right thing to me.  You all do a fine job of expressing yourselves, with sincerity.  Under the same circumstances, I tend to go in the opposite direction, and always say too much!  I write and rewrite, and proof read, trying to say exactly the right thing, so I end up with a message that is repetitious or too long.  I'm probably doing it again now, so will just say Thank You, again to everyone - that also includes Jackie, Tomereader, Shirley, Amy, Rammel, JeanneP and SCFSue!

Marilyne,
So sorry to read that AJ had a stroke and at this time when other Viras is raging.  In lock down here so miss seeing my two carers who would visit when not at work.

I grieved at the loss of Mary Ann but could not find place for my message to family. 
I remember JoanFl who was our leader and who greeted all with such cheerfulness despite her own health problems.
Do hope your family can visit soon and you are taking care of yourself.

I find our S & F's forum so comforting and caring, even though many have-had never met one another, yet when we lose a longstanding member we grieve over there loss as if we have lost an old friend or one of our own relatives, as over the years we have got to know them so well, their likes, their dislikes, their close family, their hobbies,their enjoyments, their happy times, their sad times, there humourus side, their life's ups and downs...when we lose one of our members we mourn them, and sadly there have been far too many who have passed to the other side who were once part of our forum...we shall always remember them with fondness and love...
I do wonder what they would think of our world situation today..

Has anyone noticed our Bubble has been missing for the past three days apart from her recent posting in setting up a page in Tranquil Cove for our Mary Ann on the 21st April..her last posting was on the 20th..i hope she is alright and we see a posting from her today, she is usually an early morning poster along with me from UK, so it feels strange when i dont see her name pop up and a morning posting from her..

I got a message from Bubble yesterday and no mention of a problem.
See - https://www.seniorsandfriends.org/index.php?topic=11.msg175179#msg175179

Rammel...
...after i posted my above message i noticed Bubble came into our forum..this must have been when she posted from your above link...thank you for your alertness..

Oh my, it is with great sadness that I come in to find our Mary Ann is gone.    She will be greatly missed here and many places in the Senior Net.

Also, Marilyne, sorry to hear about AJ.  Danny (my hubby) suffered a stroke 4 years ago, was in the hospital 5 days, but is still going strong.  His memory is slowing, but then everyone at this age is slowing down.  I do hope he comes thru this as well as Danny did.

A fond hello to all in here, I just do not have the energy (?) to come in here every day like I used to.  But I do think about you all and remember the good times we used to have.

shirleyn
(~_~)

We are having an overcast day.  We had some rain earlier but it seems to be clearing now.

Marilyne, good news about AJ and trust he will keep improving each day.

I fixed "meatloaf for two" for our meal today and that means we have enough for another day.  I peeled the potatoes and Larry did the mashing.  I've been like a zombie the last couple of days.  I twisted the wrong way and pulled a muscle.  I got up during the night and took an Advil and this morning took another one.  I very seldom take a pain pill.  Hope I am able to rest better tonight.

RAMMEL, Remember the discussion about the Tv Ears?  Well, those TV Ears (that I learned about from Callie) have been a godsend for me.  Since we have been house bound due to the Covid-19, Larry has been watching a lot of TV or Netflix.  He can put on the TVEars and turn the TV volume way down and I have all this wonderful quiet time to read a book or play a computer game and don't have to listen to a movie that I don't like. 😊

I hope everyone is having a good day.  No sunshine today but we had rain but no storm that passed us by.

Marsgal, you were having a problem with one of your cats awhile back.  Did the medication take care of the problem?

  I've been thinking about Mary Ann's pal, Kendrick.  I wonder if Mary Ann's niece Annie/Cate will take him or if he will stay with Tom.  We won't have Mary Ann reminding us about the ship movements.  She sure was good at pinpointing the ship locations.  We miss you Mary Ann.

"RAMMEL, Remember the discussion about the Tv Ears?"

I recall that discussion, and I still have info about them in my puter. That was to be for my wife but she's sure it's not her hearing problem but a combo of the TV and my son's hearing that is the problem. So - we sit here and listen with the sound blasting away.

Did I hear my name mentioned? 

Jean,  actually, Larry could totally mute the sound on the t.v. and still be able to hear it through the t.v. ears.

Rammel, there is a model designed for two listeners but my son ordered mine on his own so I don't know the details.

I made my Mama's Meat Loaf tonight from some ground beef son had given me from the fresh beef he orders every year. No additives!
Mother's "recipe" was really simple:  A pound of hamburger, salt/pepper, one egg, half a small can of tomato sauce and enough cracker crumbs or oatmeal to hold it together. Put in a loaf pan and pour the rest of the tomato sauce over the top.  Bake at 350º for an hour. 
Mine has never tasted like hers did - even when I made it with her standing next to me and saying, "That's right".
We always had potatoes baked along with the meat loaf.
I baked some Grande biscuits to go with mine.

Hadn't thought about Mary Ann's Kendrick. I'm sure he's missing her.
 
Jean, have you found the "Boat Nerd" youtube live cam?  It's on one of the buildings "down river" from the bridge at Port Huron and shows the river to the left at the far end of the screen where some ships go to oil refineries and other places. 

Jean I never have figured out how my back went out. Lasted 7 days. Once friend said hers was a pulled nerve. Never had it before and don't want it again. Now can you take ADvil? They always worked good for me but was told you can't take them if take a BP pill.

Mary Ann sure did know how to watch. the Ships. she sent me 2 sights but I never was able to work them.
Wonder if a Obit could be found on their local paper. Its is so sad about funerals now. Seen 2 people I new and worked with in our paper this week and I know that the funerals would have been big with many people attending but was nothing. Had a big family also

From - https://obits.mlive.com/obituaries/grandrapids/obituary.aspx?n=mary-ann-tock&pid=196025960
Tock, Mary Ann 4/23/1924 - 4/19/2020 Grand Rapids Mary Ann Tock, beloved aunt to Tim, Tom & Terry passed away at home on Sunday, April 19, 2020. Born April 23, 1924, in Wellsburg, West Virginia. Her family moved to Grand Rapids in 1925. She was predeceased by her parents Norman Tock, Sr. and Merle Fleming Tock, her brother Norman Tock Jr., her nephews Tim Tock, Terry Tock, and cousin Steve Harton, grand nephew Chris Salcau, and cousins Jim and Joan Harton. She is survived by her nephew Tom Tock, nieces Jan Lancaster and Gina Partyka, cousins Tom Harton and Bob Harton, sister-in-law Dorothy Tock, great-nephews and nieces Paula (Eric) Mertins, Geoff Tock (Charissa Chan), Erin Tock (Andrew), James (Alicia)Tock, Cate Tock, and Adrienne Salcau; great-great nieces and nephews, Avery and Conner Mertins, Johanna and Eleanor Tock, and Isaiah and Ezra Tock, Robin Janulis Martilotta, a long time family friend and personal assistant capturing even more genealogy information in the final months of her life, and Kendrick, her cat she shared with Cate. She loved her nephews and nieces throughout her life and was very generous to them through her time, home, and gifts. She got a kick out of when others went south for the winter in their retirement she went north to Boyne City to live near Tom's family for few winters. Having graduated from Creston High School (1941) she remained a "North Ender" the rest of her life. She traveled throughout the American West with her father and to Guatemala, England, Denmark, Germany, Canada, and Alaska. Mary Ann worked for Consumers Powers for 43 years, was a member of Second Congregational Church for 75 years (attended for 92 years) and a long time member of the Daughters of The American Revolution. Mary Ann was passionate about the family genealogy and created volumes of materials for her family. The family would like to thank the incredible loving caregivers who served Aunt Mary Ann; Margaret, Darla, Markita, Amy, and Scarlett. Memorials may be made to Second Congregational Church, Emmanuel Hospice or the North End Community Ministry. Due to the COVID crisis, a family celebration of her life will take place at a later time.
Published in Grand Rapids Press on Apr. 25, 2020

Rammel...
... go to Tranquil Cove, there is a lovely large photo of Mary Ann, where Bubble has posted her obituary, if you have not already seen it....

Jean, Lucy is doing okay, but not very well. Sometimes she will eat her food, which is how she gets her medicine), sometimes she only eats a little. At best she gets one pill a day, but should be getting more. I suspect part of the problem with eating her food is that she has the same rhinovirus that Oscar has, only it is thicker and interferes with her eating sometimes. She is eating, but not enough. Her weight is about eight or nine pounds and feels light as a feather compared to Oscar and Shan.

Marilyne,  so happy to read that your husband is home.  I am hoping that he will be able to get some home care.  I would thing a hone care nurse would be allowed to come into your home.  I am still having a hone care nurse and a PT coming in.   Next week will be the last time for the PT, and I am not sure how much longer the nurse will be coming.  check with your doctor about having a nurse come in.  That would give you some peach of mind.  Medicare does cover that service. 

Joy

Good morning everyone.  Everything is running smoothly here, since AJ was discharged from the hospital. His only problem is with speech.  He has some numbness on the left side of his face, around the lips and cheek, which causes some of his words to be a slightly slurred.  Other than that he is okay.  Right now we're waiting for the physical therapist to arrive.  She will evaluate his progress, but I don't know what kind of therapy, will be advised?  We all have to wear face masks while she is here, and stay six feet apart. 

Joy - Do your therapists and home care nurse wear masks?  They are mandatory here, even when walking outside.  Our county has the highest number of CV cases in the Northern Cal area.  We have just under 2,000 cases here, according to today's map.  I hope your area is not so bad? 

MarsGal - sorry that Lucy is not doing so well.  I've forgotten how old she is?  You're fortunate that you can get her to take her meds, by mixing with food.  I never could get away with that trick, when trying to give meds to Winnie. Dogs are much easier than cats.  Wrap the pill in a piece of cheese or bread or anything, and a dog will swallow it!

Therapist is here, so I will return later. Hope you all have a warm Spring day?  It's beautiful weather here - sunny, with temps in the mid to high 70's.

Marilyne,  so happy that AJ is home and that p.t. is there. 

We used to have a "Cockapekeapoo" who would eat around any pill hidden in food and leave it in the dish.  However, she would gobble it down if I put it in vegetable soup!

OKC area missed the severe storms on Wednesday but the one that made the national news (Madill) wasn't too far from my hometown and moved in that direction.  A friend texted that night that the sirens went off but they didn't have to go to their storm shelter. 

Yesterday and today have been "open the door" days.  Hope that continues.

Marilyne,  yes, all the home care workers wear masks, gloves and do stay away except for when they take your vitals.  That's a little hard to do.  But, they are very cautious. Yesterday, I had to go for a PET scan, and there was a girl outside the door asking questions before they let me in.  Then inside the waiting room, the chairs were 6 ft. apart and there were only about 4 people in the room. The ones that were checking you in had a glass panel in front of them.  Thankfully, I didn't have to wear my masks while I was inside the machine.  I have such a hard time breathing with it on .  My glasses keep fogging up. 

I am pleased with the care I get from the Home Call people.  I just got back from walking up and down my hallway.  I made 3 trips up and back. I will do another walk up and back after dinner. I still have to do my standing exercises.

I hope the home care workers will do a great job.

Joy

Been up guess an hour already, time now 5.25 am, now sitting at the computer in the office drinking my first mug of tea of the day and listening to a blackbird ( my favourite birds ) singing - calling, somewhere, outside my window...at a distance but not too far away...

Not much to say, but wanted to come in and see how you all are doing.

We have been going through pictures.  Taking some out of frames and putting others in frames....oh my.....SO MANY pictures. 

MARILYNE, happy to read that AJ is home, and that he is doing well in spite of a few issues from the stroke.  I am sure he would have remained in the hospital longer if not for the Covid Virus.  Good to read that the home care nursing has started.  As concerning as it would be to have anyone come into your home, it is a necessity.  I just hope they are being extra careful now.  I know your family wishes they could be there with you to help out. You take care of yourself and stay safe.   

JEAN, sorry you twisted and pulled a muscle....it is so easy to do.  Hope it feels much better very soon. 

I have also thought about Kitty 🐈 Kendrick, and wonder how he is doing and if he will stay there in the house with Tom?  It still seems surreal that Our Mary Ann is gone. 

I wish you all a good night of rest.....pleasant dreams to all.

Jenn