Covid19 Spare time

customboss · March 24

1 hour ago, Donstar said:

Immersing yourself in a good book is a popular way to spend free time. My education and subsequent career found me doing a great deal of reading, but I don't read as a leisure activity in retirement. Research and teaching myself new skills have also found me buried in a book however Google and YouTube has largely taken over! Grumpy will be happy to know that I spent hours combing through our family version of the Good Book this past week. My mother kept a record of family births, deaths and marriages in the book and I needed to solve a family disagreement. I was shocked when I found notes to me and my brother written by mum before she died 12 years ago. She knew that some day I'd crack this book! (again)

Loved reading most of my life. Dementia has made reading and comprehension a real challenge. I operating on muscle memory. If you can still read good for you! Enjoy it.

Grumpy Bear · March 24

2 hours ago, Donstar said:

Immersing yourself in a good book is a popular way to spend free time. My education and subsequent career found me doing a great deal of reading, but I don't read as a leisure activity in retirement. Research and teaching myself new skills have also found me buried in a book however Google and YouTube has largely taken over! Grumpy will be happy to know that I spent hours combing through our family version of the Good Book this past week. My mother kept a record of family births, deaths and marriages in the book and I needed to solve a family disagreement. I was shocked when I found notes to me and my brother written by mum before she died 12 years ago. She knew that some day I'd crack this book! (again)

:crackup: But did you read it?

KARNUT · March 24

Fifteen years ago now my wife had 5 years of corrective surgery’s from a bad original surgery. I spent lots of time in waiting rooms. I got into reading Dick France’s books. I read them all then I started over. Once you were able to get TV on the phone that all ended.

Donstar · March 30

My doctor referred me to a sleep clinic and the result is I need to go for an overnight sleep study at a store front clinic. (They say I can't do the at home version because I've had a stroke.) I can't imagine going to sleep while being closely watched. They tell me I'll eventually go to sleep but I think I'll prove them wrong! I know I'm very lucky to receive such a high level of care and that such a test is for my benefit. However, after 70 years, I have a good idea of what will keep me awake at night. At least when I'm at home, I can get up and go back to bed when I can sleep!

KARNUT · March 30

1 hour ago, Donstar said:

My doctor referred me to a sleep clinic and the result is I need to go for an overnight sleep study at a store front clinic. (They say I can't do the at home version because I've had a stroke.) I can't imagine going to sleep while being closely watched. They tell me I'll eventually go to sleep but I think I'll prove them wrong! I know I'm very lucky to receive such a high level of care and that such a test is for my benefit. However, after 70 years, I have a good idea of what will keep me awake at night. At least when I'm at home, I can get up and go back to bed when I can sleep!

My wife is a late riser and stays up at night. I go up at 8 watch TV in bed until about ten. My wife from day one would go back downstairs at that time. Fast forward 40 years kids are gone I noticed more and more my wife would be in another bedroom when I woke up. Turns out her being a light sleeper tossing and turning she would be afraid she was keeping me unsettled. Now the last ten years when 10 comes around she goes downstairs I go to my man cave. I get up at 6 go up at 8 wake her up, every body sleeps well. Now I read it’s a trend for a healthy lifestyle.

customboss · March 30

2 hours ago, Donstar said:

My doctor referred me to a sleep clinic and the result is I need to go for an overnight sleep study at a store front clinic. (They say I can't do the at home version because I've had a stroke.) I can't imagine going to sleep while being closely watched. They tell me I'll eventually go to sleep but I think I'll prove them wrong! I know I'm very lucky to receive such a high level of care and that such a test is for my benefit. However, after 70 years, I have a good idea of what will keep me awake at night. At least when I'm at home, I can get up and go back to bed when I can sleep!

I’m on a CPAP as of last year and highly recommend doing the sleep study. Just relax best you can so they can help you.

Donstar · April 13

"Covid" is still around us but most the fear has disappeared. The experience of living through a pandemic gave me a greater appreciation for how I spend my time. Over the past several months, we've escalated our "downsizing" efforts. There are tools and supplies in my garage that will never be needed or used simply because of my age and physical abilities. We also have stuff in the house that haven't been touched in years and are not wanted by our children. Downsizing to what you need/want for your senior years can be sad but I appreciate being here to downsize!

KARNUT · April 13

1 hour ago, Donstar said:

"Covid" is still around us but most the fear has disappeared. The experience of living through a pandemic gave me a greater appreciation for how I spend my time. Over the past several months, we've escalated our "downsizing" efforts. There are tools and supplies in my garage that will never be needed or used simply because of my age and physical abilities. We also have stuff in the house that haven't been touched in years and are not wanted by our children. Downsizing to what you need/want for your senior years can be sad but I appreciate being here to downsize!

My wife made the same observation after it took 5 months to clear out her mother’s house. She’s now in assisted living and very happy. The house is ready to rent. Her father’s house in Fayetteville which was too far away we did an auction. Made some amazing money and sold it just two weeks. We couldn’t do that with my mother in law. She likes to hide things , even money. It was a treasure hunt from hell. That’s all behind us and maybe a normal life will resume. I almost forgot both happened at the same time with my wife executor for both.

Edited April 13 by KARNUT

The Zip · April 13

6 hours ago, Donstar said:

Over the past several months, we've escalated our "downsizing" efforts. There are tools and supplies in my garage that will never be needed or used simply because of my age and physical abilities. We also have stuff in the house that haven't been touched in years and are not wanted by our children. Downsizing to what you need/want for your senior years can be sad but I appreciate being here to downsize!

Very, very, very important as not to leave this responsibility to another family member when you pass away. What you like, consider to have monetary or sentimental value, will not be the same with a family member left behind responsible for the downsizing. When the eldest sibling passed away unexpectedly, the siblings were left with downsizing due to no children or spouse to consider "value". Man you're talking about chinaware, silverware, fine rugs and clothes, restaurant size pots and pans. Siblings, nieces, nephews don't know what to do with that kind of stuff. Who has a China cabinet today? Young folks will look at you and say, what is a China cabinet, is that some place where you keep your paper plates? Some will probably say, I don't want anything to do with that country.

So yes, I will totally agree to downsize while you can and be sad now to spare family members the frustration of being sad later.

KARNUT · April 14

15 hours ago, The Zip said:

Very, very, very important as not to leave this responsibility to another family member when you pass away. What you like, consider to have monetary or sentimental value, will not be the same with a family member left behind responsible for the downsizing. When the eldest sibling passed away unexpectedly, the siblings were left with downsizing due to no children or spouse to consider "value". Man you're talking about chinaware, silverware, fine rugs and clothes, restaurant size pots and pans. Siblings, nieces, nephews don't know what to do with that kind of stuff. Who has a China cabinet today? Young folks will look at you and say, what is a China cabinet, is that some place where you keep your paper plates? Some will probably say, I don't want anything to do with that country.

So yes, I will totally agree to downsize while you can and be sad now to spare family members the frustration of being sad later.

Downsizing is different than getting rid of (hidden treasures). We considered downsizing. We even built a smaller home on the back of our property for retirement. We rent it out. The kids and grandkids treasure the family gatherings we have at the family home. It would almost be like a divorce. I remember when my grandparents and parents stopped family gatherings. It was an adjustment. My mother in law was a junk collector. She would go around the neighborhood on heavy pickup day and drag stuff home. The Salvation Army knew me by name by the time we were through taking stuff there. We gave the family in Fayetteville a couple weeks before the auction of the father in law’s furniture to get what they wanted. Some missed out. It’s a good idea to tell trusted family members your secret hiding places. It makes it so much easier. My father in law did that. A detailed will and his accounts had designed payouts. Have conversations a head of time. Some of the junk you get rid of could be a memory for a loved one.

Donstar · April 14

I have cleaned up after those who have passed away and know how I hope to leave things. The "stuff" you leave behind can create family squabbles that last long after you're dead. Timing to get rid of some items can be tricky as you don't want to live out of a suitcase waiting to be called. Last week my wife and I were making some tough decisions with respect to unloading some furniture when my wife was asked by her 91 year old friend to take her furniture shopping! I truly appreciate how fortunate I am to be able to face such quandaries as there are many calamities that find individuals leaving their homes with just the clothes they are wearing. However, I think it is important to discuss these things as there are some worrisome future considerations for us "lucky" ones. I joked with Mrs. Donstar and told her that when you visit the Doctor with a concern when you are young, most of the time you are told to take a pill and come back in two weeks if it still bothers you. When you visit the Doctor with a worry in your 70's, it inevitably is an affliction requiring specialist attention!

KARNUT · April 14

47 minutes ago, Donstar said:

I have cleaned up after those who have passed away and know how I hope to leave things. The "stuff" you leave behind can create family squabbles that last long after you're dead. Timing to get rid of some items can be tricky as you don't want to live out of a suitcase waiting to be called. Last week my wife and I were making some tough decisions with respect to unloading some furniture when my wife was asked by her 91 year old friend to take her furniture shopping! I truly appreciate how fortunate I am to be able to face such quandaries as there are many calamities that find individuals leaving their homes with just the clothes they are wearing. However, I think it is important to discuss these things as there are some worrisome future considerations for us "lucky" ones. I joked with Mrs. Donstar and told her that when you visit the Doctor with a concern when you are young, most of the time you are told to take a pill and come back in two weeks if it still bothers you. When you visit the Doctor with a worry in your 70's, it inevitably is an affliction requiring specialist attention!

I went to my doctor a year ago during allergy season, it was especially bad. I complained about chest congestion and pressure. Being on blood pressure meds I was inquiring about a safe allergy medicine. Instead I got six months of heart related tests. Never got the allergy med recommendations. I found out online. With my daily walking and yard work I was confident my ticker was fine. It’s better than fine as it turns out. As far as eventually becoming my older self, probably ten years from now. Assisted living as I experienced with my mother in law. Is a blast. Like a cruise on land.

Grumpy Bear · April 18

On 4/14/2024 at 8:51 AM, KARNUT said:

I went to my doctor a year ago during allergy season, it was especially bad. I complained about chest congestion and pressure. Being on blood pressure meds I was inquiring about a safe allergy medicine. Instead I got six months of heart related tests. Never got the allergy med recommendations. I found out online. With my daily walking and yard work I was confident my ticker was fine. It’s better than fine as it turns out. As far as eventually becoming my older self, probably ten years from now. Assisted living as I experienced with my mother in law. Is a blast. Like a cruise on land.

Children's Benadryl. 4 = adult dose so I can tailor them to my need.

Grumpy Bear · April 18

15 hours ago, Grumpy Bear said:

Children's Benadryl. 4 = adult dose so I can tailor them to my need.

Reminder. It will make you sleepy. Read and follow the warnings. Everyone is affected differently.

KARNUT · April 18

29 minutes ago, Grumpy Bear said:

Reminder. It will make you sleepy. Read and follow the warnings. Everyone is affected differently.

I’ve found quite surprisingly that regular Tylenol works very well. I have to be feeling pretty bad as I don’t like using medication if I can get away with it. I take a mild blood pressure medication, have since I was 19. So I’m careful with other medications to avoid a problem. I have joint and muscle problems that started after my second Covid shot. Can’t say that’s it for certain. Could be age related, blood pressure med side effects or genetics. But it did more prevalent after those shots. But I also got older. Can’t do much about it so that’s life. Thanks for the recommendation.