Do you know Carl?

Guess who turned 82!?!?! There were cupcakes and balloons and ice cream and loud singing. And yes, I made a woman with emphysema blow out a candle. Hey - she's grateful she's still here and can! There were presents and fun was had by all. No, no face painting. But my daughter introduced us to Talking Carl! Ever heard of him?

Yes, he's an app. He's a rubbery looking little red block you can poke or tickle and he yells or laughs. And he imitates voices or sounds he hears. Mom thought it was pretty funny so we loaded Carl on her phone and then .. Dani's Carl said "Hi my name is Carl" so my mom's phone said "Hi my name is Carl" a bit higher toned - so Dani's Carl said the same thing back and Mom's Carl ... well, you get the picture. At some point the Carl's had stopped imitating each other and one of us would say something and both Carls would imitate the words. We'd all laugh and the Carl's would laugh and then Mom started to cough. And the Carls coughed! It was hysterical. Except then I had to stop and make sure Mom was okay. She was. Haven't seen her laugh like that in years and years.

Mom got phone calls from her other 3 kids from different parts of the country, my sister's son sent her some chocolate covered strawberries, me and my kids were there, her brother called as well and there was lots more chocolate! It was a good little party.

And you know you want to meet Carl.
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When we were leaving Dani said "Gee I thought Carl was just for kids - " uh huh - kids and old people apparently! Whatever works. :)

Bret Michaels didn't show.



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Maxine Monday

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** I didn't forget last night, Blogger was giving me errors! (angry face)

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Priceless.

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Have I mentioned lately how tired I am? Been leaving the house at 8:00 a.m. most days and not coming home till after 8:00 p.m. Left the house later than that on the weekend, but came home later too.

My mom is a trip and a half.

Did you know that if an elderly person has an infection - say - a urinary tract infection - or is dehydrated - it can send them into a very confused state? I sure as hell didn't, and all of a sudden I thought my mom must have had a stroke or we were in the middle of a Colombo episode and pretty soon a scruffy little man in a rumpled overcoat was going to come in and start investigating the boogie men that were surrounding us. Er . . . her. I didn't think there were any boogie men but boy I was hoping somebody would tell me who they were and what they were doing in my mom's room!

That hospital Mom was in before? Still as nice as I remember but boy it gets old after a while. Especially when you spend almost a whole 4 day weekend in it. And when you have one admin person, one aide, one nurse one doctor and one Episcopalian Minister ask if you have a DNR on file, you start getting really nervous.

Several blood tests and CT scans later, hydration and antibiotics and Mom is back at the nursing home with a bit of color in her cheeks eating Jell-O and speaking in full sentences again.

There was a point when I had to ask the doctor if she was trying to tell me that my mom didn't have much time left and she answered "Yes. Let me say it will happen sooner than later."

So really, what the HELL does THAT mean?

Apparently didn't mean much to my mom because she's as clear headed as I've seen her in a long while and enjoying her iPhone. Okay yes I admit it, I got her one. It was worth the expense for several reasons but one in particular. Mom's emphysema is pretty advanced. Any exertion sends her into a breathing episode which is exacerbated by the anxiety she feels when she cannot breathe. Medical staff on hand was quite surprised when Mom was struggling so badly and I stepped in and handed her the iPhone - telling her "here Mom, delete the pictures."

I kid you not, she LOVES to delete pictures from the phone. So I go around taking pictures of everything and anything and nothing at all, just to pile up a hundred photos or so, so she can delete them when she is trying to breathe. And as she flicks from one picture to the next, deleting some and moving past others, her breathing slowly becomes less labored and ragged, and finally comes to a point of calm. She continues to delete the pictures until eventually they are gone and she is past her episode. It works. Every. Time!

Worth every penny, I tell ya!




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We remember ..

. . . on this Memorial Day -



. . . and many others as well. Thank you.

Maxine Monday

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Guess who is back in the hospital?

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Too tired to explain right now, and not wanting to be all boo hoo and wha-a-a wha-a-a about it now either. I took this picture and ... wait ... is that Bret Michaels in my Mom's hospital room???



Wow, he really IS popping up everywhere, isn't he? Amazing!

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There's something to be said for a little recovery time.

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I mentioned my concern about Bret Michaels, Poison front man and man-whore extraordinaire. He is diabetic, has been since he was 6 years old and insulin dependent. He had an emergency appendectomy in April and maybe 10 days later he suffered a brain hemorrhage. If that wasn't enough, a short time into his recovery he had a "warning stroke" which led to the discovery of a hole in his heart that will have to be surgically closed.

So it was with trepidation that I turned on the finale of Celebrity Apprentice Sunday night, he was expected to be there.

Yes, Bret Michaels was there, albeit moving a little more slowly than usual but it was obvious he's still the same fun, enthusiastic guy. After the show people managed to interview him outside and he admitted that his doctor had said it wasn't a great idea that he travel to New York. And it turned out they had to land in Nashville (part way there) so Bret could get out and walk around because his head was hurting so badly.

I thought wow - this is a guy who honors his commitments! Admirable quality, sure. Except he didn't stop there. He went on Leno. He went on The Today Show. He went on Regis & Kelly and he went on Ellen. Last night he showed up on the finale show of American Idol - and he performed! Today? Today he went to be on Ryan Seacrest's radio show and is supposed to be on George Lopez tonight. And from what I understand tomorrow he goes back on the road in Biloxi, MS to begin his tour again.

So now I am wondering, where will he show up next?

Dancing with the stars?




Maybe he's hankering to show up on Grey's anatomy.



Y'never know, maybe he wants to join the cast of Glee!




At this point I might not be surprised to see him in the new Sex in the City movie.




I mean hell, I swear I saw him at President Obama's press conference today. Maybe he has an idea for plugging that oil well!



But honestly. Really. I hope someone who knows this man has told him - GO HOME AND TAKE A FREAKING NAP! NOBODY WANTS TO SEE YOU DROP DEAD ON NATIONAL TV!
Cause that's what I'm thinking.

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