Rant VII: Now With 25% Less Drama

[Hailey Knight]

That sucks, that's one of my recurring fears, too. I've made sure there are a small number of tasks that, if I am not here to perform them weekly, great and terrible inconveniences will be felt by those who are left behind.

Had she been there a while maybe she could have done that too, but she's very much about doing things diligently, much more so than I am.

I'd understand her getting fired if the funds weren't there or if she was doing a bad job, but this was entirely about spite. Now he can hire someone less-qualified and cheaper to simply maintain everything she set up. She won't be a thought in his shit head on Monday.

 

[Cajungal]

My grandma's really sick again... down to about 85 pounds and has drug resistant staph, among other things. She's been refusing food for a while. Mom told me she's gonna have to have a conversation with her soon about whether or not she wants to keep fighting. I think she might say that she doesn't want any more treatment. They're been talking about this moment ever since the first time she got very ill. It makes me sad for what's happening now, but it also makes me sad about the future. Mom and Mama are both very practical. They've always said, "life is for the living" and they don't like the idea of lingering and being a burden. I know that there's a chance I'll have to hear my mother say that she's not bothering with treatments or surgery, that she just wants to die. I know that's not something I should worry about now, but this whole ordeal with Mama D's decline just has me thinking about a lot of things. I just want something else to happen at this point--watching her wait around in bed all day, huddled up in pain is heartbreaking.

 

[evilmike]

My grandma's really sick again... down to about 85 pounds and has drug resistant staph, among other things. She's been refusing food for a while. Mom told me she's gonna have to have a conversation with her soon about whether or not she wants to keep fighting. I think she might say that she doesn't want any more treatment. They're been talking about this moment ever since the first time she got very ill. It makes me sad for what's happening now, but it also makes me sad about the future. Mom and Mama are both very practical. They've always said, "life is for the living" and they don't like the idea of lingering and being a burden. I know that there's a chance I'll have to hear my mother say that she's not bothering with treatments or surgery, that she just wants to die. I know that's not something I should worry about now, but this whole ordeal with Mama D's decline just has me thinking about a lot of things. I just want something else to happen at this point--watching her wait around in bed all day, huddled up in pain is heartbreaking.

The one upside of a patient entering palliative care is that making the patient comfortable takes precedence over curing the patient. That means a lot less pain and stress for the patient. And it isn't the same as hospice care where the only concern is the comfort of the patient.

For my Mom, it meant that she didn't have to get blood drawn 4-6 times a day and she didn't have to endure an automated blood pressure measurement 4-6 times a day. It also meant that they were more liberal with the pain medication and she no longer had to deal with the complications of blood thinners. It made the end a lot easier on her and ultimately that's what mattered.

 

[Cajungal]

That's what I keep telling myself. This upcoming change is making all of us very sad, but maybe it will mean that she can have a little peace again. She's bounced from home to an assisted living center to the hospital and back too many times.

 

[Dave]

My grandma's really sick again... down to about 85 pounds and has drug resistant staph, among other things. She's been refusing food for a while. Mom told me she's gonna have to have a conversation with her soon about whether or not she wants to keep fighting. I think she might say that she doesn't want any more treatment. They're been talking about this moment ever since the first time she got very ill. It makes me sad for what's happening now, but it also makes me sad about the future. Mom and Mama are both very practical. They've always said, "life is for the living" and they don't like the idea of lingering and being a burden. I know that there's a chance I'll have to hear my mother say that she's not bothering with treatments or surgery, that she just wants to die. I know that's not something I should worry about now, but this whole ordeal with Mama D's decline just has me thinking about a lot of things. I just want something else to happen at this point--watching her wait around in bed all day, huddled up in pain is heartbreaking.

This is exactly what I just went through with my dad. Almost word for word. I so know where you are coming from and you have my positive thoughts, no matter what happens.

And in Dave's Life is Grand news, just found out that my mother-in-law went into the emergency room last night with a possible heart attack. She's in intensive care right now and I want to stop the world and get off.

 

[Cajungal]

Oh, Dave, I'm sorry. I'll be thinking of y'all.

 

[LittleSin]

Time to buy Jet a nice suit.

I don't think my grandmother, who was give 6 months to live...three years ago and 72 hours (max!) to live a week ago, has much time left.

In a morbid way I am kind of...happy? She has been fighting cancer tooth and nail all this time...I think she needs a rest.

 

[fade]

When my grandmother died a month ago, my dad was weepy for a few hours, but after that he was relieved and happy. No more suffering, and she lived a long life. I don't think there's anything wrong with it.

 

[Cajungal]

I feel the same way about my Grandma, Sin. It's normal to be sad but also want your loved ones to be at peace.

 

[Dave]

Update: Kerri's mom did NOT have a heart attack. Still don't know what it is but they think it had something to do with her rheumatoid. Don't ask me how or what. Apparently she had trouble breathing and it was painful to breath. They suspect that she'll have to up her steroid prescription.

But she's still alive, if not necessarily kicking.

 

[Gared]

Jesus Dave, I want to post a "well, that could have been much worse" but I worry that if I do, it will become so.

 

[Dave]

Lately, Gared, any victory, no matter how small, is something I'll gladly accept.

 

[LittleSin]

In relation to my previous rant: Is it okay to bring a toddler to a funeral?

Will I end up scarring them for life? I mean, I went to my mothers funeral but I was 12 at the time...and I really don't remember it that much. I actually don't even remember that whole MONTH very well.

 

[Dave]

Toddlers won't know what's going on. It'll be fine. Only issue might be if they don't want to sit through the service.

 

[Cajungal]

My nieces and cousins all went to funerals when they were toddlers, as did I. It's a little strange and scary, but I find that kids that age start wondering about the concept of death around that time. They might have seen a dead pet by that time or have at least heard of people dying. It can be handled gently so that they understand but aren't really frightened by it (that depends on the temperament of the child, too...). The crying might upset or confuse him, but imo he won't be as uncomfortable about it later if he grows up knowing about this natural part of life. Of course, that's a totally personal choice. I just find that there's nothing wrong with it if it's handled the right way. Nothing wrong with waiting a while either.

 

[Dave]

Hell, I was a pallbearer at age 5. One of my friends in kindergarten was in his dad's auto shop and a truck frame broke free and killed him. I remember my friend and that it happened, but not the funeral.

 

[LittleSin]

God, I feel so morbid talking about this. She isn't even dead yet!

I still have to consider it. Husband just started a new job and is in the process of testing for ANOTHER position so he won't be able to make the trip. Jet...seems to understand things going away. The cat has brought home a dead mouse and I had to tell him we couldn't help it...and he's seen characters die in some of the cartoons we've watched, like Optimus Prime.

I guess I'll take him along.

Oh god. I just compared my grandmothers impending death to Optimus Primes death.

Edit: Now I can't stop laughing.

 

[Cajungal]

Aw, heheh, nothing wrong with finding a little humor in tragedy. I am very sorry, though. It's never easy, but I'm wishing you and yours comfort in this difficult time... and that your grandmother can be comfortable as long as she sticks around!

 

[Krisken]

So a couple weeks ago I was overjoyed that my car could be fixed for $160, thinking it would cost a lot more. Lets fast forward to tonight, shall we?

Driving home on the highway my cars transmission went kaput. $85 to tow and heaven knows how much a new transmission is going to cost ($900 and up would be my guess). There goes all that money I paid off on the credit card. Fuck, I just can't win.

 

[ThatNickGuy]

(Note: If this reads awfully familiar, I just posted this rant over in the "Last movie you saw..." thread.)

I likely would have enjoyed the first half of John Carter more tonight if some incessant teenage brats sitting beside me hadn't kept chatting. One girl in particular, sitting right behind me, kept whispering to her friend. Early into the movie, I turned around, taking the high road, and said, "With all due respect, I hope that you won't be talking during the whole movie. Thank you." That shut her up for the most part, though when she started getting chatty again, her friend told her to shut up once or twice. About halfway through the movie, it got worse again. So I finally, with a lot of dramatic effect, flung my coat over to the empty seats in front of me and climbed over. I managed to enjoy the second half of the movie much more.

UGH. You would fucking think that, after actually showing some goddamn respect to her, that she would show the same in kind. Hopefully, that brat felt at least a little bit of remorse when I loudly sighed and moved ahead. Likely not.

I'm by no means innocent when it comes to talking during a movie in the theatre. For me, though, it's quick comments during scenes without dialogue. Just enough to say something to my friend but not enough to disrupt the movie or the people around me. Hopefully, this disrespectful puke will learn that some day.

 

[Hailey Knight]

She would've learned it better had you went and got someone from the lobby. You're living here in the U.S. now; you're allowed to get people kicked out.

 

[Cheesy1]

Nick, what you went through is just one of the many reasons why I absolutely HATE the current movie theater experience.

 

[ThatNickGuy]

I almost did that, but a) I was digging the movie and didn't want to miss anything and b) I'm not that much of a prick. Though towards the end of the movie, their incessant prattling got a little louder that I almost turned around and shouted, "Really? REALLY!?"

Honestly, Cheester, this is one of the rare few times I've had a bad experience in a theatre. Most times, everyone's totally respectful of each other.

 

[Shegokigo]

She's not going to learn, if she's 13-15 she'll be back in 2-3 years with her young toddler and no baby daddy to be found, in a Rated R movie where the kid will never shut-up and she'll do nothing to help the situation.

 

[Espy]

Go watch the "God Bless American trailer a few times. It will make you feel better Nic.

 

[fade]

I went to see The Iron Lady, and she didn't put the suit on even once.

 

[figmentPez]

I am in so damn much pain today.

 

[checkeredhat]

Due to some technical issues I had a rough start to my first day on my new job today, but I think its going okay now. Its so weird to be working from the same room I woke up in.


*EDIT: Meant to put this in the Random thread.

 

[Gusto]

I need a better job and also to stop being depressed.

 

[Piotyr]

I need a better job and also to stop being depressed.

Maybe those two are related. Catch 22, perhaps, but related.

I am not qualified to fix depression, and I'm well aware that the advice to "just stop feeling depressed, then" is patronizing and insulting. So, my fallback is...therapy?

 

[ElJuski]

Want to be a teacher's assistant for shitty emotionally disturbed and learning disabled kids in DC? I could get you a job by next week.

 

[ThatNickGuy]

It feels so good to get my bicycle back on the road, but man, I'm out of shape. Biking up the hill to school, which is only a mile away, didn't wear me out, but certainly made my legs a little sore when I get there.

No, no I'm not out of shape. I mean...round is a shape.

 

[GasBandit]

It feels so good to get my bicycle back on the road, but man, I'm out of shape. Biking up the hill to school, which is only a mile away, didn't wear me out, but certainly made my legs a little sore when I get there.

No, no I'm not out of shape. I mean...round is a shape.

Hey, at least you got on a bike before your body started taking the contours of whatever the hell it happened to be put in/against at the moment.

 

[Cajungal]

It feels so good to get my bicycle back on the road, but man, I'm out of shape. Biking up the hill to school, which is only a mile away, didn't wear me out, but certainly made my legs a little sore when I get there.

No, no I'm not out of shape. I mean...round is a shape.

I like to think of it as being squeezable... like a stuffed animal or a stress ball.

 

[Emrys]

Squeezable ThatNickGuy, coming to a Toys R Us near you.
It's what's for Christmas.