The Ultimate Frosting Experience-I’m Just Sayin’ Tuesday, Nov 10 2009 

Humor , , , kwlaff 3:03 pm

Since I don’t know any of you personally, cannot share this info with you in person and have your best welfare at heart, I’ve written down some tips for canned frosting consumption that I’ve learned in my vast personal experience while consuming store bought frosting directly from the can.  I do not want you to fall prey to the same pitfalls I’ve experienced.  If you take these suggestions into consideration before beginning your quest for the perfect ultimate store bought canned frosting experience, you will find your ultimate experience elevated to a superior level. Take these ten steps very seriously. I don’t share them lightly.

  1. Stick with the name brands.  Off and store brands claim they are the same.  They are not.  Betty Crocker means it when she says she is the best. When it comes to canned frosting, it is all about her.
  2. Pay the extra few cents for ‘deluxe’, ‘creamy’ or ‘whipped’.  The regular canned frostings are merely okay, but since you are searching for something more than just ‘okay’, the few cents extra pays off.
  3. Pick a flavor you already know you enjoy.  Experimentation gains you nothing while seeking the ultimate frosting experience.
  4. If you own a long handled spoon, such as an iced tea spoon, use it.  Shorter spoons may allow your fingers to brush the top of the container as you advance into the depths of the frosting. Touching the frosting container distracts from the full flavor and texture experience.   If you only have short spoons, it is okay to use them, although a soft long handled spatula might be a better choice.
  5. Canned frosting need only be refrigerated once it is opened.  But, when the frosting is ‘fresh’ i.e. unchilled, it is easier to place larger amounts of the creamy concoction on the spoon.  It just slides on the spoon waaay too fast.  This can lead to a container of frosting being consumed faster than intended.  To slow, and therefore savor the canned frosting experience, chill the frosting before consumption.  A minimum of 22.5 hours is recommended.   For those of you with sensitive teeth, the chilled frosting is not so cold that it might become an issue. (It is not frozen like its sweet cousin, ice cream.)  Microwaving the frosting to remove the chill is not recommended.
  6. Although there are those that advocate spreading (or globing) the creamy mixture between cookies or on top of other types of baked goods, supplementing the frosting in any manner, while tasty and certainly more socially acceptable, only reduces your ultimate frosting experience.  You are not seeking the ultimate dessert experience. (That’s another topic altogether and not likely to fit in one email) You are hiking the Mt. Everest of the canned frosting experience.  Therefore, it should be about the frosting and only the frosting.
  7. For those of you that may be concerned with the possibility of additional calorie intake due to the consumption of canned frosting, I’ve found that multi tasking reduces this risk.   This may take some time to master, but for you right handed persons that have difficultly using your left hand for anything productive, practice holding the frosting spoon (empty of the frosting) in your left hand while using your right hand to click your computer mouse.  Once you’ve mastered this ability (it may take awhile, my left hand is not normally good for much of anything), load the spoon with your frosting, keeping the open frosting container close for spoon refills.  Then spend your time browsing the web or playing computer games while slowly partaking from your spoon full of canned frosting.  This practice also slows down the consumption rate.  This may allow one can of frosting to be utilized over two computer sessions.  For left handed persons, try the above referenced action steps using your right hand.
  8. For households with more than more frosting experience underway (this is one time I do not suggest sharing), label your can with a symbol or word that is only yours.  You may use your name if that’s all you can think of.
  9. Consumption of canned frosting immediately after a full meal, during which you’ve most likely eaten too much already, reduces your pleasure experience.  Waiting till your meal has ‘settled’ or consuming the frosting in place of the meal is recommended.
  10. Store bought frosting containers come with a plastic sealing lid.  Always close and seal your frosting container securely when placing the partially consumed treat in the refrigerator, to protect the full and robust flavor of the frosting.  Once again, this is all about the frosting, and nothing is worse than dreaming of a chilled, creamy frosting snack, only to find it tastes like the deer sausages you left uncovered in your refrigerator.

I am sincerely hopeful that these tips and suggestions (hard learned) will enhance your store bought canned frosting experience.    And as I like to say around here, don’t knock it till you’ve tried it.

 

Chapter Five-Alzheimers Story Sunday, Nov 8 2009 

Alzheimers Story and Elder Issues , , , , kwlaff 5:32 pm

But I Already Have My Lipstick On:  Our story of dealing with Alzheimers

Chapter Five

After our Wyoming trip, we decided, with input from other family members (Emma is in the medical professional field) that it would be appropriate if Belle visited with a medical professional regarding her memory issues and behavioral changes.  Belle had a professional relationship with the internist she and Jim had gone to for years, as had several other relatives and that was well known to the family.  We strongly suggested she go visit him and allow Scott to accompany her.  She agreed.

At the visit, the behavioral changes, including short term memory difficulties, were discussed by both Belle and Scott.  The doctor asked a few perfunctory questions of Belle to determine her memory level.  Although her ability to answer the basic questions was not perfect (some of the questions the doctor did not know if her answer was correct, like – what did you have for lunch?) and no further tests were completed, it was determined that all was fine and that the symptoms we were witnessing were normal aging and most likely stress related.  We were doubtful, but relieved.  This was normal aging and nothing to be concerned about.  A doctor with a history with Belle said so.  We had no real reason to be concerned.

Within a month of that doctor visit, Belle had received an invitation to attend a distant relative family reunion, a branch of her mother’s family she had lost touch with. Belle loved researching genealogy and this reunion would be a great way of doing that along with reconnecting with her relatives.  It was a 4 hour drive away and she wanted to attend although she was concerned (so were we) about her making this trip on her own.  With our relief fresh from the doctor’s mouth, Belle, Scott and I discussed the situation and came up with a plan.  Belle would go and Deacon would go with her.  Although only 12 years old, Deacon knew how to drive (thanks to Jim) and could, if an emergency arose, help out.  He was also a good navigator, so he could assist with a map, in case she became confused.  And lastly, Belle and Deacon would take her newly purchased mobile phone with them, a new fangled devise Belle had trouble with but that Deacon, a child of the electronic age, could use with ease.  The mobile phone would give them a method to stay in touch and was an excellent emergency measure.  Deacon agreed to go along.  We discussed with Deacon what we expected of him and he was well aware, after the Wyoming trip, of some of a Belle’s shortcomings of late.  We stressed how important it was for him to check in with us and to assist Belle “Granny” as he called her, if she became confused.  Scott had Belle’s car checked out and all plans were finalized.  We saw them off on the adventure on a Friday morning.

By Sunday afternoon, when we had not heard anything from them, we doubted our decision. Scott tried calling the mobile phone several times, with no success. He then started a calling campaign to track down the long lost relatives they had gone to visit.  Although we had a few home phone numbers gathered before the trip in case of emergency, no one was answering.  In the days before wide mobile/cell phone usage, if someone wasn’t home, they were not able to be contacted by phone and it might be difficult to track them down.  After an afternoon of calling, talking with distant relatives he had not met, Scott finally located a relative that had seen Belle and Deacon at the reunion.  All had been okay and they had headed home a few hours before.  We were awash with relief.  Later that night, the wanderers arrived home. Everything had gone well, according to Belle.  She had had a good time and felt vindicated that all our worry about her abilities was unfounded.

After leaving Belle, we debriefed Deacon, who knew from the moment they arrived that something was wrong by our concerned faces.  Scott asked why he had not called and checked in as required.  He said that they had no sooner pulled out of the driveway, when Granny told him to turn the phone off to save the battery and she had not allowed him to turn it back on at any time during the trip, as no emergency had occurred.  They had gotten lost once and Deacon had navigated them back to the correct road.  So although we thought we had impressed upon Deacon his inclusion in the trip was to be the adult with all mental abilities intact, the adult by age overruled him.  She was his Granny and in charge. Although he was, at the time, functioning at a higher ability and memory level, by age he was still the kid and followed the adult’s instructions.   Part of his debriefing including his impression of how his Granny was not as sure of herself while driving as she always had been in the past.  (This situation is a good example of the dilemma most children of Alzheimer’s patients encounter, especially during the early stages.  When the person with diminishing abilities and recall is in charge or is the authority figure, how does the caregiver exert authority?  In my experience, there is no answer to this question and it is difficult for both parties to the situation.)

 

Thoughts as I post this…. Sunday, Nov 8 2009 

Alzheimers Story and Elder Issues kwlaff 5:15 pm

Just as when I was working on writing our little story, re-reading it to edit it, brings back a gush of feelings, many of which feel remarkably like a mini version of what I felt at the time we are going through it.

 

Chapter Four-Alzheimers Story Sunday, Nov 8 2009 

Alzheimers Story and Elder Issues , , , , kwlaff 5:12 pm

But I Already Have My Lipstick On:  Our story of dealing with Alzheimers

Chapter Four

Belle’s relocation to her new home now placed her much closer to us and allowed Scott and/or I to drop by on the way home from work to check on her.  Both of us worked full time in positions of responsibility in our companies, were raising our two sons, attending high school basketball games and maintaining our home and yard along with other family activities.  Now we also began regular maintenance of Belle’s yard and home.  We also began a routine of including her more intimately in the activities of our family and ‘updating’ other family on her status.

We began to arrange things in her life to make the loss of her spouse, transition of her move and her occasional forgetfulness easier for her. We obtained a phone with large speed dial buttons and programmed in our phone numbers.  I created a phone number listing with her new phone number  and address (which she had difficulty recalling) along with all the contact numbers for family and friends, which I had laminated and posted at various locations around the house for easy review and access. Although we had regularly spent time with Belle, our level of interaction was increased.  Scott felt responsible for his mother’s well being and intended to ensure that her transition to her new home and life without Jim went smoothly.

And it seemed the transition went well. Belle continued to be active in her church, with her Sunday school class and with her women’s group.  She made friends with her new neighbors.  She spent her days ‘sorting papers’ and ‘going through things’. We were very glad she was active, and taking the time to get things in order, because there were many things that needed sorting (and disposal).  The move had been so fast that we had not had enough time to review things and clean out unneeded paperwork or belongings.    Overall, the move seemed to agree with Belle and we released a big sigh of relief.  Everything was going to be okay. We explained away any inconsistencies in her behavior at every opportunity.  It’s been a tough year, too much change, and we are over reacting, were our most common excuses.

In July 1995, 11 months after the death of Jim, Scott, our youngest son Deacon (aged 12), Belle and I vacationed together.  Larry, the second oldest brother, lived in Wyoming and he and his wife Emma traveled each year to the Snake River south of Jackson Hole, where friends and family gathered to go white water river rafting over the 4th of July week.  We decided to join the festivities and invited Belle to go with us.  Although we visited with Belle frequently and Scott had daily verbal contact with Belle, and we had traveled together on short trips back to East Texas for family reunions, we were unprepared for the frustration of traveling with her on this long distance trip.

During the drive through Texas, New Mexico, Colorado and Wyoming, the repeated reciting of long ago tales and events with different than normal details escalated.   Reminders that we had already heard the story did not prevent the repetition.  Belle developed the uncomfortable habit of reading all bill boards, license plates, road signs, street signs and bumper stickers, often with a lilt of surprise or exclamation in her voice.  She began to interrupt current conversations with comments or observations regarding conversations completed hours before.  Belle had never really been a person that rattled on for the sake of talking nor would she normally, due to her self imposed manners, interrupt conversations of others.  She practiced her ability at conversation and prided herself on being a good, polite conversationalist.  During this trip, however, she seemed to be repeating stories, reading signs out loud, interrupting others and talking in general as if these activities created some level of reassurance for her. The reading of the signs especially seemed to create a feeling of reassurance for her as she said each word or phrase with a surprise or exclamation ending.

When your child does something that is aggravating, you tell him/her to stop it or divert their attention elsewhere. If the activity continues, you might get harsher. It is not really possible to handle an aging parent in this manner and it was not possible for us to handle Belle in any type of harsh manner.  Our attempts to point out that her activities were frustrating or irritating or that quiet time would be great were forgotten almost as soon as mentioned. Our glances at each other to convey our frustrations with the situation increased (and went completed unnoticed by Belle) and we discussed in hush tones out of her earshot, what could be done.  In the end, our son retreated to his tape player with earphones for most of the time spent on the road, while we determined that,  there really wasn’t anything we could do about her behavior.  Although something was wrong, the trip was good for all of us after the last year we’d been through.  We vowed we would survive whatever levels of frustration may occur and have a good vacation.  Along with adopting the grin and bear it theme, Scott and I also developed a personal code to underline our frustration to each other and laugh without cluing in Belle or Deacon.  Scott, in one of many moments of frustration during that rip, created the code by pinching me (hard), looking at me sweetly and declaring in his best voice that I needed to feel his pain.  From that moment on, anytime the frustration grew, we took turns trying to out do the other with a first pinch and laughter would normally ensue. I am sure it saved the vacation.

Once we arrived at the camp site, a no facilities, right there next to the river type place, Belle stayed nights with Larry and Emma in their travel trailer and we stayed nights a short distance away in a small town motel.  This break from each other kept spirits high and frustrations low.  While we spent our days in rafts on the water, Belle stayed on the shore visiting with others in camp. Larry, Emma, and a few others at the camp site, noticed some of the changes in Belle’s behavior.  Although the subject was not dwelt on, questions were posed and comments made by those who did not have daily contact with her and without Belle being present, regarding the inconsistencies in her conversations, how easily she became confused and her short term memory difficulties.   Overall, as with the rest of us, the issues were contributed to the multitude of changes in Belle’s life and the rough past year.

Scott and I kept the code.

 

Chapter Three-Alzheimers Story Sunday, Nov 8 2009 

Alzheimers Story and Elder Issues , , , , , kwlaff 5:01 pm

But I Already Have My Lipstick On:  Our story of dealing with Alzheimers

Chapter Three

In addition to Scott’s closeness to his mother, our oldest son Cooper had an extremely close relationship with Jim, or “Papa” as the grandkids called him.  Since Scott’s parents had moved back into our area in 1983, the close relationships between Scott / Belle and Jim / Cooper led to many of our weekends being spent at Jim and Belle’s country home, in addition to the telephone contact during the week.   The impact of this constant interaction on our marriage is other matter that has little relation to this part of our story except as it will later relate to our involvement with Belle.  However, due to the time spent with and talking to Belle, Scott had maintained his intuitive ability to notice when things were slightly off with her.  As time passed, Scott and I advanced from glancing at each other during Belle’s story telling to discussing other unusual behavior.   And with his antennae up, Scott began to notice more little things. Nothing that was noticed was by itself a reason for advanced concern, but the combination of small items began to congeal our suspicion that something wasn’t quite right.

Belle would tell Scott about an event and regale him with details.  When the information transfer was complete, Belle would start all over again, with hardly a breath in the middle, telling, verbatim, the same sequence of events or story as if the information had not already been recited. Don’t misunderstand; we all repeat ourselves, especially if we have told more than one person and cannot recall who we’ve told and who we haven’t.  (We’ve all been there.) But under normal circumstances when it is brought to our attention that the listener is aware of the details of an event, the teller then recalls having already spoken about it, usually with a laugh included.  This was not the case with Belle.   When this happened the first time or two over the phone, Scott mentioned it to me and we wondered out loud between us what was happening.  The details of her stories were slightly different from the stories we’d heard for years, and she was repeating herself. This type of activity was not normal for her. I began to pay more attention to the conversation between Belle and Scott, providing Scott with feedback, verifying that what he thought was happening was indeed happening and that he wasn’t over reacting or making something of nothing.  When Belle began to repeat a story when speaking to Scott in person, we decided Scott should try little things to see if she knew she was repeating her stories. Belle’s reaction caused us more concern.   After the first telling and while launching into the second, Scott would give clues that he had heard the information already, which she did not seem to notice.  Or he would gently remind Belle that she had just told him the story.  When he reminded her, she would stop talking, hesitate, and glance around.  Then a look of confusion or nervousness would pass over her face.  After a beat or two, without saying anything to knowledge his reminder, she would then continue as if he had not said anything, but with an underlying nervousness in her manner that was also uncharacteristic.  The story would be repeated once or twice more with Scott listening patiently.  I used to joke with him that I wished he had that kind of patience with me.  His reply was his standard regarding Belle: “she’s my mother”.

These were also several instances when we relayed information to Belle that she would, at a later date, be absolutely certain we had not told her.  Her insistence would grow into frustration when we would explain the detailed circumstances of when she was told.  Even with this recount of the event, she could normally not recall it.  Our confidence that she had been told would cause her to doubt herself and on each occasion the situation would diffuse with her laughing and commenting that she must be crazy.  Saying she was crazy became a routine comment for any situation that made her uncomfortable.

The months after Jim’s passing where financially difficult, as money was tight until the country house was sold. Scott began to help Belle, on a limited basis, with her budgeting and bill payment.  We attributed her willingness to let Scott assist with this activity, which once again was slightly out of character, to the stress of her changing financial situation.  While reviewing past payments and check register entries, Scott was surprised to find his father’s writing in the register and upon further inspection, that he had actually been paying bills.  During the years of their marriage it had always been Belle’s responsibility to keep the checkbook register and pay the bills, with Jim carrying around a blank check or two in his wallet for use as needed, and hopefully remembering to tell her he had written a check, so she could account for the item.  But reviewing the most recent register and a few previous registers, along with the checks issued, it was obvious that Jim was handling the checkbook.  This circumstance was highly unusual and we wondered what it really meant.   Later on, with 20/20 hindsight, we decided that the changes we were noticing in Belle had been occurring prior to Jim’s death and he had been slowly beginning to cover for her.   But at the time we just asked Belle why he had been handling involved in the checkbook. Belle could not provide a reason for the shift in responsibility, although she did acknowledge it had occurred and that it was about time he took on some of her duties.

Scott and Susan spent more time with Belle then other siblings during the months preceding her move to her new home in the city.   Susan had begun to notice the repeating of information, the forgetfulness and the confusion that seemed to be involved with Belle’s activities and mentioned it to Scott in passing. However, with Belle in good spirits and some of the issues seeming so intangible, the subject dropped and slipped through the crack of daily life.  During the move, which involved all the siblings, Scott asked everyone if anything unusual had occurred, or if anyone had noticed anything out of the ordinary with Belle.  No one mentioned any concerns or anything out of the ordinary.   Life went on.

 

Chapter Two-Alzheimers Story Friday, Nov 6 2009 

Alzheimers Story and Elder Issues , , , , , kwlaff 10:05 pm

But I Already Have My Lipstick On:  Our story of dealing with Alzheimers

Chapter Two

Belle Marie was born to a lumber mill family in 1923, a premature first child named for both her grandmothers.  Her parents never had much money and supported their growing family as many families did in the early part of the 20th century, the best way they could.  Slim worked whatever job was available usually in the lumber industry and Mae was a homemaker.  Through the years, it was not uncommon for an elderly relative with an illness to stay with the family and for Mae to take care of them until they were better or until they passed.  This situation had a lasting impact on Belle which she would recall and recount in her later years. 

Belle was one of the first in her family to finish high school, although she was already married at the time.  She married Jim in January 1941 during her senior year of high school, a few months before turning 18.  Although they had lived in the same rural area of east Texas all of their lives, their families socialized in different circles and attended different churches.  Belle met Jim through his younger sister, who was a classmate of Belle’s.  Jim was two years older than Belle and was already out of school when they met and began their courtship.  Their relatively short courtship often included double dates with Belle’s younger brother Paul with whom Belle shared a close relationship.  The last two months of Jim and Belle’s courtship occurred via mail while Jim located employment in South Texas and Belle attended school at home.  Letters between the two of them during this time frame display her attachment to Jim and her hopes for their future together.

Their life together, during the over 50 years they were married, had its ups and downs and included some volatile, unsettling times.  After the premature birth and death of their first child, a daughter, their four sons (born in 1942, 1944, 1957 and 1958) and one daughter (1962), witnessed good times and bad, with the bad times including displays of their father’s temper or rumors of his infidelities.  Throughout all of her adult life, while raising her children, attending church, moving from home to home, living at the piney woods farm, and relocating to the big city, Belle strived to become a person other than the lumber mill ‘country’ girl that defined how her life had started and what, under most circumstances, her life would have been destined to remain.  She was determined to be a modern woman, a good person with a refined essence, along with being dedicated to her husband.   

As with many women of her generation that dealt with the double standard of the infidelity of a husband, Jim’s activity impacted her with a direct hit to her self confidence.  Somehow, some way, she seemed to think, at least in those early years, his inability to be faithful to her was her fault. Thus, her focus crystallized on prevention through self improvement.  She took study courses in business, art classes, taught Sunday school and Vacation Bible School and became an active participant the Women’s Republican Club, serving as its president for a time.  She studied interior design through mail order courses and magazines to assist Jim with the family business of home building.  She determined what she considered to be ‘sophisticated’ and strived to achieve this desired sophistication in her dress, manner, conversation, interior design of her home and the behavior of her children.   Appropriate behavior was stressed, as it was important to her what others thought of her and her family and to preserve the appropriate perception of her family that had become a measured part of her self confidence.     

Scott is the youngest son of the family of five siblings, with his only sister Susan being the youngest child.  Throughout his growing up years, he was extremely close to his mother and this closeness continued throughout his adult years.  Scott and his siblings grew up, for the most part, on a working farm, which entailed, as farm life always does, many outside chores.  Living in the custom built farm home in the piney woods of East Texas was ideal for the family that had started with virtually nothing and succeeded.  The family members, regardless of age, pitched in to ensure chores were completed.  Scott, it turns out, was allergic to pine trees and pollen.  As one might deduce, this type of allergy is a problem for someone living in the middle of a national pine forest.  Due to this allergy, some of his chore time changed from outside activities to indoor activity,  assisting his mother with chores, such as cooking.  He had an aptitude for this type of activity and his one on one time with his mother created a close relationship that the passing of time, even years,  did not substantially diminish.  Scott became a son that could easily read his mother’s moods, determine her wishes and anticipate her wants and desires without much conversation between them.  He became her confidant. He knew the nuances of her attitudes, speech and stories.  So, in the weeks and months that followed the death of his father, when the stories and behaviors of his mother began to change, Scott noticed, before the rest of us, that something with Belle seemed slightly amiss.

 

Chapter One-Alzheimers Story Friday, Nov 6 2009 

Alzheimers Story and Elder Issues , , , , , kwlaff 9:59 pm

But I Already Have My Lipstick On:  Our story of dealing with Alzheimers

Chapter One

We began to notice the changes in Belle, my mother in law, soon after the death of her husband.  Jim’s death was sudden and unexpected at the age of 73.  Belle was 71 at the time and handled the difficult changes in her life with the same calm, efficient, sophisticated manner that people who knew her associated as her style.  Everyone marveled at how well she held it all together.

In the months after Jim’s passing, plans were made to move Belle from the country estate 10 miles from town she and Jim had shared for 10 years, with its large house, large yard, required maintenance and undesired expense, to a more suitable home in the city, which would be closer to us.  With the help of a close family friend that was also a real estate agent, her country home was sold and an appropriate new city home, appropriate both in price range and location was selected and purchased.   Although this move seemed hasty, occurring about 4 months after Jim’s death, Belle, who had already been weary of country life, was ready for the move and welcomed it.  Scott and I welcomed it as well, as most of the yard upkeep and other maintenance of any home Belle owned would fall to us now that Jim was gone.

The selected new home, which was smaller than the country home, needed a few alternations before the final move in to more fully meet Belle’s needs and wants.  My husband Scott took charge of coordinating the projects and during the Christmas season that year, his siblings, Chuck and Susan both of which lived in the area, Mike from East Texas and Larry from Wyoming, converged on the new home and along with moving Belle into her new home, completed the various building and decorating projects.  So much time was spent on the move and getting the projects completed during December of that year that Scott and I did not decorate the outside of our home for Christmas, which was something we did each year without fail.  But, progress on the projects went smoothly and Belle moved into her new home Christmas Day 1994.  The family pictures of that move in day, including one of the five siblings and their mother standing in front of the fireplace, capture the faces of a very tired family.  Although the siblings had a history of discord from time to time, no major flairs up occurred. 

The changes in Belle during this time frame, after the passing of her husband and a major move, both stress events, were not much to notice at first. When the subtle alterations in the details of her regularly recited stories, the stories we’d heard for years, were noticed, my husband and I, would raise an eyebrow and glance at each other from across the room whenever she was in the midst of a story that was now suddenly different.  We mentioned it to each other on a few occasions, found it curious, even joked about it, but the situation did not raise a red flag of any major problem, nor did it cause any type of undue concern.  We merely noted the changes and attributed them to the stress she must be experiencing.

 

Alzheimers Story Friday, Nov 6 2009 

Alzheimers Story and Elder Issues kwlaff 9:55 pm

Friday.  Wonderful.  It’s a nice fall day.  We don’t get that many of those here.  I’ve updated the Alzheimers Story (book) to change the names to protect whoever might need protecting.  And who knows, that might be me.  I guess over the weekend, as time permits, I’ll start posting it.  Once again, since no one knows I’m here, what’s the big deal?  I’m still not sure why I’m doing this blog thing at all.

 A friend of mine turned 44 yesterday.  Had dinner with mutual friends at PF Changs.  It was a nice dinner filled with somewhat raunchy conversation.  The waiter was great, joined in when he was around, paid us extra special attention.  I didn’t even mind being called sweetie.  And as I always seem to do, I got the doggie dog and left it on the table.  Duh.  The ‘party’ for his birthday is Saturday.  Looking forward to it.

 

The Blog, The Book Wednesday, Nov 4 2009 

Beginner Blogs , kwlaff 7:22 pm

Since my first post, I’ve been thinking about what direction this blog could head.  Since I am not an experienced blog designer, I’ve read some background info on design and such and realized I could set up difference categories and tags.  This has given me an idea for one use for this blog in addition to just my daily musing, opinions (of which I have many) and rantings.  I’ve been married a long time and since he doesn’t want to listen to me carry on ( I think I can actually hear the click when he tunes me out), I figured I’d just blog it on out. 

 Then it came to me, in addition to that—I’ll put my little book out here.   Am I brave enough to do that?

 About a year ago I wrote a short book.  It details, from my point of view, my family’s trip through Alzheimers with my husband’s mother.  I wrote most of it before she passed away, but finished it up after she passed away October of 2008.   

So, I’ve created a category labeled Alzheimers Story.  As I proof each chapter, and change the names to protect the innocent and guilty, I’ll begin to post.  Everyone has a story.  This book is part of ours.

 

A New Day, A New Thing Monday, Nov 2 2009 

Beginner Blogs kwlaff 9:33 pm

So, how many people have started a blog with, I’ve never done this before, or this is all new to me?  Okay, no need to answer that.  I am not the first, nor will I be the last.  I am not the oldest either, although I found as I’ve tried to format this without any prior experience that my age might be playing a factor.  Maybe I should have taken a class.  I’ve posted on blogs before,  so to my way of thinking, how hard can writing one be?    Not that hard.  I’ve read some.

I have no plans for this one.  Some plans may develop as I go along, and when they do, I’ll let you know.  In the meantime, since no one but me is even listening, it really is all about me.  During my life, I have at various times, kept a journal about happenings, musings, thoughts and such.  Although it has been some years since I’ve done that, I find I miss it.  I used to think it was the feel of the pencil or ink touching the paper I liked, or the actual book I used.  I’d spend hours looking for just the right book to start a new journal.  But I did not stick with it after the special book and lovely pen were in place.  So, you might ask, will she stick with this?  Only time will tell.

I’m married, have two grown sons, one grandson.  Both my parents are still alive and kicking and live close enough to me for it to be inconvenient when something is needed.  I’m not complaining (I know it sounded like I was) as my husband would kill to have his parents around, no matter how far away they lived.  I’m a sister, aunt, cousin, sister-in-law, etc.  I have an opinion on almost everything, and if I don”t when the conversation starts, I will by the time it ends.  Some topics I can argue both sides of and if need be, win the debate regardless of the side argued.  It’s tough for me to ‘just let it go’.   I can be kinda pushy. But with that said, I love to have fun.  It is essential to survival.  It doesn’t have to be crazy over the top, in danger of being arrested fun.  But it needs to include smiling and  laughing. 

So, that’s it.  That’s my start.  Short.  Simple.  Hardly like me at all.

 

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