I am not working yet I have a calendar full of stuff to do.
Today I had created the following assignment for myself:
Collect and finish all unfinished Art projects
Take books back to the library and get a good DIET cookbook
Drink more water
Join the Eastern shore Art center
What I actually did:
Cleaned the bathroom and kitchen (including under and around the yukky stove)
Cleaned out the top drawer of my bathroom cabinet. Rearrange medicine, makeup, etc.
Helped husband put the bike rack on the car.
Washed towels, ran the dishwasher, threw dinner together for 6 people
Cleaned up the kitchen again
Talked to my father, twice. Explained to him how to find ESPN on his TV.
Drank more water (yahoo)
Am I maybe AVOIDING Art or something????
Tommorow is Doctor day for the parents. That assignment takes all the wind out of my sail.
Wednesday, January 6, 2010
Sunday, December 6, 2009
Fairhope Vice - News from sleepy town
http://blog.al.com/live/2009/11/update_fairhope_police_standof.html
Turned out it was the bipolar owner of the building who had way to much to drink after a fight with his wife.
The new Police Chief of Fairhope is from Miami and is reported to using big city tactics.
Turned out it was the bipolar owner of the building who had way to much to drink after a fight with his wife.
The new Police Chief of Fairhope is from Miami and is reported to using big city tactics.
Thursday, October 29, 2009
More real life horror stories from Customer Serv
I know everyone has their horror stories. I seem to be acumulating a bunch this year.
Toyota Dealer.
We buy 4 brand new tires. After returning home I glance at the invoice. It has the WRONG name. My husband is Patrick. They have sold the tires to J. Patrick (who just happens to be my husband's cousin in another town). So I call Toyota:
Me: I explain that we just purchased new tires, wrong name, need to change the name.
Women on the phone: OK, I have changed the name (right, like she could do it that fast).
Me: Go to the Toyota dealer: I explain the purchase was in the wrong name.
Service Advisor: tries but fails to be able to change the name, no one at Toyota can change the name. They make a note in the file. They tell me the tire purchase is tied to the VIN number of the car.
Me: Bring my car in to Toyota for a checkup, with the new tires that include free rotation
Toyota: charges me for the rotation, THEY did not know we bought the tires from them
AUUUUGGGG!!!!!!!!
Next chapter - I have been offered a federal job, contingent on my backround/credit check and a few other things. All I have to do is login to their system and accept. The catch, I cannot logon to their system. THREE DAYS and two customer service records later and all I have is a userid and password they sent me for someone in MIAMI with a completely different name.
Toyota Dealer.
We buy 4 brand new tires. After returning home I glance at the invoice. It has the WRONG name. My husband is Patrick. They have sold the tires to J. Patrick (who just happens to be my husband's cousin in another town). So I call Toyota:
Me: I explain that we just purchased new tires, wrong name, need to change the name.
Women on the phone: OK, I have changed the name (right, like she could do it that fast).
Me: Go to the Toyota dealer: I explain the purchase was in the wrong name.
Service Advisor: tries but fails to be able to change the name, no one at Toyota can change the name. They make a note in the file. They tell me the tire purchase is tied to the VIN number of the car.
Me: Bring my car in to Toyota for a checkup, with the new tires that include free rotation
Toyota: charges me for the rotation, THEY did not know we bought the tires from them
AUUUUGGGG!!!!!!!!
Next chapter - I have been offered a federal job, contingent on my backround/credit check and a few other things. All I have to do is login to their system and accept. The catch, I cannot logon to their system. THREE DAYS and two customer service records later and all I have is a userid and password they sent me for someone in MIAMI with a completely different name.
Tuesday, October 27, 2009
Customer Service Never Never Land - AGAIN
With the job market in the toilet you would think the people that are working would be sharp as a tack.
Husband's ATM card was destroyed when he left it in an ATM machine.
I called our Credit Union to request a new card, told them the story. Asked for a new card for my HUSBAND.
Two weeks later a card arrives in the mail, with my name on it.
I call the Credit Union and told her I had received a card for my self and I had requested a card for my husband. The Credit Union person proceeded to quiz me for the number on the card and told me "no no no, the card number should be xxxx". I repeated the card number to her and she had to call the Card issuing people!! Finally she was convinced that I, the customer, knew my own name and she agreed to send out a duplicate card for Husband. More LATER.
Husband's ATM card was destroyed when he left it in an ATM machine.
I called our Credit Union to request a new card, told them the story. Asked for a new card for my HUSBAND.
Two weeks later a card arrives in the mail, with my name on it.
I call the Credit Union and told her I had received a card for my self and I had requested a card for my husband. The Credit Union person proceeded to quiz me for the number on the card and told me "no no no, the card number should be xxxx". I repeated the card number to her and she had to call the Card issuing people!! Finally she was convinced that I, the customer, knew my own name and she agreed to send out a duplicate card for Husband. More LATER.
Saturday, October 17, 2009
A LOOOONG HISTORY Story
My mother has had three strokes. The first stroke was a warning - a watch your blood pressure stroke. Mother did not like taking her BP medicine so in 1984 she had a major stroke. Dad was still working. Mother had a live in nurse for three months. In 1994 mother had the second major stroke. Instead of going to rehab she went home and Dad started taking care of her. He has been taking care of her, doing all the grocery shopping, bill paying etc. Mother has not gotten herself a sandwich or a drink since 1994. When I moved to town in 2000 I started helping, and each year I was doing more helping. Then in 2008 Dad had a health problem and then in February of 2009 we moved the both of them into assited living.
According to the Alzheimer Association, the leading cause of dementia in older adults is Alzheimer. The only way to confirm Alzheimer is with an autopsy.
My father has moderate dementia. He is taking two drugs for Alzheimer's, Nimenda and Aricept. Thankfully he has good medical coverage because these drugs are each over $100.00 per month, and there is no real hard data that they work. The drugs are designed to slow the physical progression of the disease but who knows if or for how long it works. Once a patient starts taking these drugs Doctors are very reluctant to pull them off because who knows, they may help.
At any rate, Dad still is still functioning at a pretty good level. He knows who his children and their spouses are. He knows who the grandchildren and great grandchildren are once he is reminded who they are. He goes to breakfast, lunch and dinner on time and he knows most of the people at the assisted living home. He has to be reminded to change his clothes or he will wear the same clothes every day.
He repeats things. While I was in California he lost parts of two teeth. Each time I visit. He tells me about that incident and usually shows me his teeth. I have to tell him the dentist recommendation over and over. I also have to make the decision about the Dentist, Doctor etc. He cannot make those decisions. My sister takes care of the bills and the money, he cannot not even write out a check any more. The Assisted Living takes care of medications, before they moved in I had taken over that task.
There is a person at the Assisted Living that does shopping at Walmart for the residents. I have been trying to get Dad to give her a list. He gives me the list instead. He has three different kinds of razors and wants a refill on all three. He wants asprin and rolaids. Then he complains of a stomach ache and it does not occur to him to take a rolaids.
His latest thing is negative behavior. I have had to drop back to trying to remember children and negative behavior. He grouches and says he is going to jump in the lake. I took both of my parents to the Fairhope pier where Dad threw a fit and I told him he could sit in the car if he wanted to. Then walking out on the pier he said he was going to jump, I told him to go ahead but I would never be able to save him. Anyway, it has taken me a while to figure out how to manage the negative stuff. The more I give in to it and say poor dad, the worse it gets. So I ignore or I say, sure, stay here by yourself. Mom and I are going to dinner.
At any rate, he had a GREAT time at the Pier and we had a nice lunch. So from now on I will be giving SHORT updates on their progress.
According to the Alzheimer Association, the leading cause of dementia in older adults is Alzheimer. The only way to confirm Alzheimer is with an autopsy.
My father has moderate dementia. He is taking two drugs for Alzheimer's, Nimenda and Aricept. Thankfully he has good medical coverage because these drugs are each over $100.00 per month, and there is no real hard data that they work. The drugs are designed to slow the physical progression of the disease but who knows if or for how long it works. Once a patient starts taking these drugs Doctors are very reluctant to pull them off because who knows, they may help.
At any rate, Dad still is still functioning at a pretty good level. He knows who his children and their spouses are. He knows who the grandchildren and great grandchildren are once he is reminded who they are. He goes to breakfast, lunch and dinner on time and he knows most of the people at the assisted living home. He has to be reminded to change his clothes or he will wear the same clothes every day.
He repeats things. While I was in California he lost parts of two teeth. Each time I visit. He tells me about that incident and usually shows me his teeth. I have to tell him the dentist recommendation over and over. I also have to make the decision about the Dentist, Doctor etc. He cannot make those decisions. My sister takes care of the bills and the money, he cannot not even write out a check any more. The Assisted Living takes care of medications, before they moved in I had taken over that task.
There is a person at the Assisted Living that does shopping at Walmart for the residents. I have been trying to get Dad to give her a list. He gives me the list instead. He has three different kinds of razors and wants a refill on all three. He wants asprin and rolaids. Then he complains of a stomach ache and it does not occur to him to take a rolaids.
His latest thing is negative behavior. I have had to drop back to trying to remember children and negative behavior. He grouches and says he is going to jump in the lake. I took both of my parents to the Fairhope pier where Dad threw a fit and I told him he could sit in the car if he wanted to. Then walking out on the pier he said he was going to jump, I told him to go ahead but I would never be able to save him. Anyway, it has taken me a while to figure out how to manage the negative stuff. The more I give in to it and say poor dad, the worse it gets. So I ignore or I say, sure, stay here by yourself. Mom and I are going to dinner.
At any rate, he had a GREAT time at the Pier and we had a nice lunch. So from now on I will be giving SHORT updates on their progress.
Tuesday, September 15, 2009
Woodland Historic Home Tour
Thanks to my friend Kim for picking me up and driving to Woodland for the Historic Homes Tour. It was really interesting seeing the magnificent renovations and preservation of those old homes. Looking at the homes NOT on the tour I was impressed with the amount of work an older home requires. The exterior alone is a job, pressure washing, painting, there is not end to it.
Woodland has an historic walkable downtown main street with lots of shops, art and restaurants. Here is a link to a stroll through History: http://www.strollthroughhistory.com/
In 1926 one of the Woodland families opened a grocery store. They held a contest to name the store. The winning entry was Nugget Market.
http://www.nuggetmarket.com/
Woodland has an historic walkable downtown main street with lots of shops, art and restaurants. Here is a link to a stroll through History: http://www.strollthroughhistory.com/
In 1926 one of the Woodland families opened a grocery store. They held a contest to name the store. The winning entry was Nugget Market.
http://www.nuggetmarket.com/
Pictures - Not
Call me old fashioned but there is something that you will never see in my blog, too much personal info and pictures of my family. I am currently on assignment in California assisting son and daughter in law as they begin their journey as parents. A newborn keeps the house hopping that is for sure. No pictures and no names because any nut on the internet can read this!!
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