Aberrations

Good Morning Garlic Fans ...

Apologies for the lack of posting yesterday ... It was one of those days.

The Aunt and a hospital run.

Beginning Tuesday evening, we had the start of come complaining, of aches and pains, that fell into the category of de rigueur, the typical daily routine.

However, it also effected her sleep that night, and into Wednesday morning, the complaining continued, and I soon realized we had an aberration, and aberrations demand action.

A telephone consultation with her doctor yielded a direction to get her to the hospital, and away we went.

Nearly 6.5-hours were spent in the Emergency Ward (and less than 30-minutes of that actually doctor-time) and accompanying that was the soundtrack of my Aunt, asking, demanding, pleading to "Go home", "Let's go home", "Get me outta here", with nary a break.

The results: Cat Scan okay, one of the blood tests showed an inflammation (though not specific, and in elderly, not uncommon), and the prognosis was a "nerve inflammation", causing the pain to travel to another location. Tylenol, and if it persists, or gets worse, follow up with a neurologist.

So far, this morning, after a zombie-like nights' sleep, A-Okay on the homefront.

I had one post written yesterday (though, not edited) and two others started, but not completed, so, we'll be getting those up today, along with anything else that sparks inspiration (or demands attention).

Thanks, as always, for visiting and reading The Garlic!

Editor's Note ... Hang In There ... Good Stuff Is Coming!

Good Evening Garlic Fans

We hope, and trust, that you are all doing well (or, as well as it can be, considering the times).

I, in hindsight, probably should have posted this a day, or two ago.

As you may have noticed, I have been on somewhat of the light side, as to posting the past week, a week that has been riff and ripe with material to play with (It is much to do with my own standards - Unless I do 20, or more posts/week, I feel like a slacker)

It's nothing more then things being a bit cumbersome on the homefront, which has cut into my writing time, reading time, leaving me to turn on the creativity at odd hours, and rather out-of-sync.

The Aunt that I care for has had an uptick in her dementia (an increase in wanting to be taken "home", in which she is referring to her childhood home), which, at times, can be quite draining to deal with and bat down, getting her back on an even keel.

What seems to be effective in breaking the spells, are long walks, pushing her around in the wheelchair, going down the square, shopping (or taking her in to shops to look around) and, spending time (if they are out-and-about) talking with the neighbors.

We finish these type of activities and it's like the previous 2, 3, or 4-hours of non-stop, looped conversations never happened.

So, bear with me, good stuff is always a few free moments away.

Many Thanks, as always, for coming out and reading The Garlic

Peace
JTD

Editors Note: Lost Days (Literally and Figuratively)

Good Morning Garlic Fans

We hope you are well on this fine Sunday Morning (though, for those of you in the Northeast, it won't be lasting long - yet more thunderous storms, biblical rains and who knows what else is setting up to barrel in later today).

As you quite know, we were absent posts the past few days.

Nothing more than homefront events overtaking the schedule, leaving this writer pretty drained (and, to help matters, getting beat-up by allergies).

Thursday was a pretty good dementia day for the Aunt, that included the battle of having a home-visiting nurse come to draw blood, in preparation for the Friday regular check-up visit with the Doc.

This has, recently, become arduous, as the Aunt believes she has a finite, limited supply of blood and doesn't want to give it away.

Friday AM brought the two-hour loop of "Why do I have to go to the doctor, I feel fine" and "I don't wanna go", and "I'm not going to give them any more blood", with always bringing it back to "Why do I have to go to the doctor?".

Yesterday was back to the regular dementia, and the new wrinkle of calling me on the telephone, just to let me know she was downstairs.

Not even her favorite Lawrence Welk program would deter her from this new messaging service.

So, I plan on getting back in the saddle, with catching up and posting later today and tonight (have a family gig to attend this afternoon) ...

So, stay tuned and, as always, Mucho Thanks for visiting and reading The Garlic.

Editor's Note: I Scream, You Scream, We All Scream For Ice Cream ...

Say Hey Garlic Fans;

We hope you are all doing well (at least those of you not trapped in the heat and humidity, which is to be oppressive over the next few days).

I meant to post this last evening (see above heat and humidity), that I wouldn't be posting yesterday.

Things just got too jammed up on the homefront, and, then, too burned out (drained - see above heat and humidity) to sit down and be creative.

Something new (which goes to explain, to some extent, the odd-timing of posting) this month, is I got my Aunt a wheelchair, so as to get her out-and-about more often.

Since last year (the first hospital run, when, after getting her admitted and settled, 20-minutes later, she fell and broke her wrist), she has been reluctant to go out.

She walks fine (with the aid of a four-post walker), so it is more a dementia/mental thing, rather than physical, and I was loath to think of another summer with her sitting in the house all day.

Surprisingly, she has embraced it (that was a big worry).

There was some minor carping ("what will the neighbors think", or "people will think I'm crippled"), but that has subsided and she's groovin' on it.

(There has been a downside to it though, her dementia. More-and-more, she is getting confused, asking me to "to her home" referring to her childhood home. Now, with each wheelchair excursion, when we get home, it's a 15-or-20-minute thing, that she is in "her house", recognizing all her "things".)

Aside from walks around the neighborhood, we've taken her to the supermarket, out every morning down to Central Square, to get the paper, and, slowly, easing her back into going to the Senior Center.

And, that's where we where yesterday afternoon, for an "Ice Cream Social".

Yes, it was about as exciting as that sounds.

About 30+ elderly, gathered and sitting around tables (in their clicks, of course), being treated like kindergarteners by the staff person running this "Ice Cream Social" (including speaking in a, forced, patronizing, slow voice), and giving agonizing directions how all those 30+ elderly would get up, come to the ice cream table, and get their "two scoops", and then the choice of three different toppings (bowls, barely filled of Cool Whip, sat on the tables).

Though, no one asked, I expect it was verboten to put two, or all three toppings, on your two scoops.

And we definitely got tagged as subversive, when I only got my Aunt one scoop (which she didn't finish).

At least we left with party favors (small lollipops, and an even smaller bottle of Bubble Blowing something, which didn't work very well).

So, we'll try to play catch-up today (provided the heat-and-humidity doesn't overtake me) and, as always, endeavor to keep things sharp.

Many Thanks again, for visiting and reading The Garlic

Peace
JTD

Editor's Note ... Again, Lo Siento, For The Low Posting

Good Morning Garlic Fans;

We hope this day finds you all well.

I suppose, my ambition for the past week was, alas, overly optimistic, following the latest episode on the homefront.

Turned out to be a most cumbersome time, loaded with interruptions and, as in the case yesterday, completely time-consuming and draining.

About all the strength I had last evening was to sit and veg out in front of the television ...

Oh, wait, that didn't work out so well ... They're still running with the Russertpalooza ...

Sigh!

So, while my aim continues to be high, we'll just have to wait, and see, how this coming week plays out.

Happy Dads Day to all those who hold the title!

Peace
JTD

Editor's Note: Yes, Again ...

Good Evening Garlic Fans

We hope you are all well, especially for you reading from one of the sections of the country stuck in the 90+ degree heat ...

No posts today, specifically due to another homefront situation with the Aunt yesterday.

Once again, had to get her to the hospital, as multiple complaints were building up and, in the "better-safe-than-sorry" mode, took her up.

Surprisingly, she only had a minor ailment (it was not heat-related), and was not admitted, so we got home late last evening.

Today brought extra monitoring of her, primarily due to a new med being introduced (as well as the heat, before we got cooled off with a sea breeze), a detailed consultation with her doctor (a variety of items), meeting with Elder Services, visiting relatives, and rescuing a neighbors' car from the tow trucks (due to street cleaning).

So, with a rather hectic past 24-36-hours, not feeling especially creative this evening (trust me, my "Deleted" file is packed with attempted narratives of a handful of hot news items).

I had intended to do another post, or two yesterday, and will get the one completed up tomorrow.

Stay Cool!
Peace
JTD

P.S.

So, not to leave you empty-handed, groove on this classic (a personal favorite; IMHO, the best rendition of this tune) ...


'Dindi' by Willie Bobo

Editor's Note: A New Look For The Garlic!

Good Afternoon Garlic Fans

We hope you're all doing well, only hours away now, from the Celtics-Pistons tonight.

If you are a regular visitor (if not, sign up for the daily feed), you notice we have a new look today.

Yes, gone is the original, 3.5-year-old all-black template, in favor of this new, snazzy, Sand Dollar one.

It is something we have been contemplating for the past few months, and intentions were to make the changeover at the beginning of this month, but, the Aunt situation put the kibosh on that.

Rather than wait another two-weeks to sync it with another new month, we threw caution into the wind and made the switch early this morning.

Now, the perfunctory, dull, boring tasks of tweaking everything, getting everything back working as previously, and, of course, making it entertaining and crisp for your satire-reading pleasure.

Yes, we will be posting during the renovations.

As always, thank you for visiting and reading The Garlic

Peace
JTD

Editor's Note ... The Pearl Is In The River ...

Good Morning Garlic Fans

We hope you are all well, on this very sunny, fine day here in the Northeast.

Well, our latest episode of the Elderly Aunt is wrapping up, as she returned home from the hospital yesterday, all repaired, healthy and more than happy to be in her surroundings.

Now, back to getting in the routines.

I wish I could say my low posting over the past week was due to a relaxing, restful, totally-chilled out vacation.

It was anything but that, with long days, doctor consultants, family updates and light sleep.

So, I hope to get something up today, as I did endeavor to stay plugged in to what was/is going on (and absolutely not looking forward to the unending loop that started last evening, of when Hillary bows out, with every blowhard pundit offering every possible scenario, regardless of how plausible it may be).

It may take a day, or two, to get back in-stride, so hang in there.

As always, many, many thanks for visiting and reading The Garlic

Peace
JTD

Editor's Note ... Still Jammed Up ...

Good Morning Garlic Fans;

We hope you are all well ...

Boy, it has been a week, and then some ...

The saga of my caretaking gig, and elderly aunt, continues through this weekend and into the next week.

While she is doing well, pain-free and comfortable, she does need to have a procedure done, and we thought that would be taken care of Thursday.

However, due to a timid staff at the hospital, and the feisty disposition of my aunt, she train-wrecked the procedure by being uncooperative and combative, to the point they could not complete it ... Or get it started ...

And I say "timid" as they are deferring (against my stated wishes, direction and information) to a 95-year-old with dementia and memory loss, as opposed to being assumptively assertive and finessing things, to the point of not getting blood work done, and the above-referenced procedure.

During the procedure on Thursday, at one point, it became a Marx Brothers movie, with the doctor performing the procedure calling me on the telephone, and then relaying what I was saying, to my Aunt, who was sedated some, thereby eliminating even the faintest hope of comprehension, which is a long-shot to begin with, when she is not sedated.

So the game plan is they go into the Operating Room on Monday, and using a stronger sedative and/or some level of anesthesia, to get the procedure done .... Barring complications, it's likely she will come home Tuesday, or Wednesday.

My game plan is to attempt to carve out some time, either today, or tomorrow, and get a few posts up.

Not sure how that will play out, so hang in there ... We'll be back on track within a few days.

Once again, many thanks for visiting The Garlic.

Peace
JTD

Editor's Note: Maybe, Only Treading Water For The Next Day, or Two ...

Good Evening Garlic Fans;

Just a quick note of trouble on the homefront today.

I had to take the Aunt that I am caretaker for to the hospital, and there went the day ...

I won't go into all the details, other than it was a close call to make, as to taking her to the hospital, however, with what went down this past winter, better to roll the Safe-Rather-Than-Sorry dice.

She's doing fine (yelping to come home), the prognosis is to keep her overnight for observation and monitoring and, likely, she'll be back home sometime tomorrow.

I am, possibly, going to attempt to get a post up later this evening (finishing one I started early this morning, before all the excitement commenced) ... If I don't, and only manage the housekeep Garlic History posts, don't hold it against me ...

Many Thanks, as always, for visiting The Garlic

Peace
JTD

Editor's Note: Down, But Getting Back In The Groove

Good Afternoon Garlic Fans;

We hope you're enjoying a fine day, wherever you may be ...

Lo Siento, once again, for the low (and lack of) posting the past few days.

While there have been homefront commitments that have cut into writing time, it has more to do with being absolutely hammered by allergies the past week.

We're talking sledgehammer, wrecking ball levels of discomfort, with, on one day, the medication taken didn't even put a dent in it.

Disconcerting it is, as it has been quite some time since I felt it this heavy, this early in the season.

Trees here have just started blooming, and I know the rest is following over the next two months (Oh boy, I can hardly wait for early June and all that grass popping up).

As the week progressed, both creativity and energy was draining out of me, such to the point, it came to not even wanting to sit at the computer and attempt anything beyond the most perfunctory reading of email.

The allergies are low today, and a good nights' sleep has the energy levels back up ...

So, taking it while it's here, we'll start the process of completing some half-written posts, as well as creating new ones and get back on track, today and tomorrow.

Many Thanks, as always, for visiting and reading The Garlic.

Peace
JTD

Editor's Note ... Getting Back On Track Today ...

Good Afternoon Garlic Fans

We hope you're well today ...

Lo Siento for the lack of posting yesterday ... Just felt totally beat-up, with a double-dose of the two A's - Allergies and Aunt ... Energy levels were extremely low and rather then trying to wing it, I just settled for not sitting at the computer and let the world run by me for the day ...

So, getting back on track (the two A's are still present, but less-so today) and planning on a bevy of posts to be put up today and tomorrow.

Many Thanks, once again, for coming by and visiting The Garlic.

Editor's Note ... Slow Boat To Posting II ... Stuck In Dry Dock

Well, we had our big day yesterday, hopefully, providing the ticket to exit out of Computer Hell...

The technician showed up, wasn't convinced my problem was a modem problem (though it did show signs of giving a weak signal), hooked up a new modem, and, drumroll, please ...

The problem still exists!

The time it takes for an email to drop in, in some cases, the sender could print it out on their end and walk it over to me ... And, understand, while the computer cycles (and cycles, and cycles) to deliver this email, it slows down just about every other operation I may undertake.

(And, surfacing this week also, a secondary problem with Blogger, the host of The Garlic; It's back office stuff, not effecting what's on-line, yet, nonetheless, absolutely frustrating, perhaps more-so, the lack of Customer Service regarding this issue)

I performed a bunch of scans, defrags, etc, in the thought, with the new modem, perhaps something with take, but, alas, as, earlier in the week, after doing the same, no difference.

So, between this, as well as some other things on the homefront, left me pretty drained and, for a brief period, in a most foul mood, and to the point, not wanting to sit in front of the computer.

And, we were losing an hour (set your clocks ahead if you haven't already done it).

So, filed away the half-written posts and notes and chilled out.

The plan is to plod through it today, awaiting talking to a super-duper technician tomorrow ...

Thanks for hanging in and, as always, we are appreciative of your visits to The Garlic.

Peace
JTD

Editor's Note: Slow Boat To Posting ...

Good Evening Garlic Fans

Just a note to say we've been stuck in the much-dreaded Computer Hell the past two-days, though, not completely singed.

The issue has to do with a computer, operating at a snail's pace (causing, for instance, it taking nearly three-minutes-plus for a single email to drop in; and it going to error message and constant recycling if multiple emails are arriving).

Needless to say, I have been as frustrated as a superdelegate waiting for this campaign to end, and spent the better part of yesterday, running scans, tests, reloads, etc, all to no avail.

So, I called the "Big Bad ISP Computer Company", full expecting, as happened last month, when this issue first surfaced, of being dumped over to "Larry" in India, and enduring "Larry" reading down his sheet of prompts ("Are you at the computer? ... Is the computer turned on?").

It was painless.

A test email showed the technician that I was not exaggerating, and he then "pinged" my modem and it sounded like he said, a low, mumbled "Oh shit".

It be the modem, he indicated and the earliest I can have it replaced is Saturday (for some reason, the problem, or the modem is not such that I could unplug everything, go to their service center to return it, get a new one, come home, plug everything back in and be back in, presumably, operating business in less then 2-hours).

In the meantime, I can, likely (and that has been erratic) have normal operations - all I have to do is turn off my virus protection.

So, I will stagger and endeavor to get back up to speed on the posting (beginning this evening) and, hopefully, keep my sanity (yeah, right, like I had that to begin with).

As always, many thanks for coming to The Garlic!

Peace
JTD

Editor's Note: Another Delay In Posting ...

Good Evening Garlic Fans

We hope this post finds you all well ...

Well, as you can see, with no posts yesterday, or earlier today, you may ask, with all that's going on, what's up?

We have another homefront situation we're dealing with, having to rush my, now 95-year-old (we had a big B'Day bash this past Sunday) aunt to the hospital again, early yesterday (Wed) morning. The diagnosis, without going into unpleasant details, is that she is anemic, and a procedure will be conducted tomorrow to see just what-is-what (She is doing well, and in normal demeanor).

So, I am going to attempt to get a post (maybe two) up later this evening (or early tomorrow morning) but don't hold it against me if I don't.

There's a lot of good posts to catch up with, and, as always, a right sidebar chock full of good things to explore.

And as always, thanks for visiting, reading and supporting The Garlic

Peace
JTD

Editor's Note - Still Dealing With The SNOW!

Boy, coming directly off the homefront situation with my Aunt, and dealing with not one, but now two, early snow storms ... I sure hope that old adage of "What doesn't kill you makes you stronger" is still in play (Especially, after a special, 2.5-hour Lawrence Welk, 100th Birthday Celebration this evening - of all "Patriotic" songs)...

Exhausted again, having to deal with more snow, the still unshoveled driveway (including the street/sidewalk portion) before tomorrow's dump comes (and it's about a 100-ft driveway)

With it going from snow, to rain, and then dropping into the teens tomorrow night, it all will be freezing solid.

And with M/T/W predicted to be cold, highs only in the low-to-mid 20's, can't count on a Mother Nature melt.

So, not wanting to have huge "Ice Banks" and x-amount of inches of rain-soaked-turned-to-ice-snow, had to get out there again and dig into it.

Two angels appeared, in the form of neighbors (and one with a brand new snowblower) helped immeasurably and great (but not totally complete) progress was made (h/t to Mike and Les).

So, posts will be coming tomorrow ... Promise ... If I have to shovel with one hand, and type with the other, we'll get some fresh posts up (and, hopefully, update our neglected and abused Garlic Poll).

Thanks for hanging in there

Peace
JTD

Editor's Note: Still Making Our Way To That Light At The End of The Tunnel

Good Evening Garlic Fans

We hope you all had a good weekend (and for those of you up here in the Northeast, oh boy, here we go again, with the Snow/Rain/Sleet thing).

As we noted on Thursday, the news was good and there was Light At The End of The Tunnel. Even managed to squeeze out two posts (actually, wrote a few more that haven't - and may not be - posted).

Things are going well with my Aunt and, while still pulling my usual attention and duties with her, I was looking forward to spending this weekend getting back on track.

Boy, was that ever so optimistic.

Saturday, it played out that she needed a bit more attention and I, when not performing those duties, hit a wall.

I was exhausted. While my mind was racing, all kinds of great posts shooting around like that movie, Koyaanasquatsi, I was dead tired and just couldn't sit in front of the computer.

Anchored the sofa, took many short naps and, caught a funky little documentary (The Ice Kings)

Today, Sunday, pretty much a replay of Saturday.

So, we're still trudging towards that light at the end of the tunnel, and, hopefully, tomorrow, it will all kick back in and, away we go.

Many thanks for your patience and understanding, as well as your visits to The Garlic

Peace
JTD

Editor's Note: There's Light At The End of The Tunnel

Good Morning Garlic Fans!

Coming up for air today, as the news is good on the homefront.

As related in our Editor's Note of Monday, we had a family crises with my 94-year-old Aunt, having to get her to the hospital Sunday evening.

Turns out, she passed a gall stone, however, it either backed up into, or banged around her pancreas, hence, the resulting pain and discomfort.

Flooding her with fluids (to "cool down" the pancreas), and her own strong will, had her feeling better by Tuesday, and virtually fully recovered yesterday.

Kudo's to the nurses and docs at Mt. Auburn Hospital, here in Cambridge, MA.

She's due to come home today, and we will engage in a follow-up, non-evasive procedure, that will mitigate this type of situation occurring again.

Many thanks to those that called and emailed, and to all who visited, and read, The Garlic this week.

Peace
JTD

Editor's Note - Posting Delayed

Good Morning Garlic Fans

We trust that you're doing well ... Especially the folks up here in the Northeast, as we got our first snow of the season (here in Boston, not much, a few inches before it turned to freezing rain).

Following up on my post of Saturday, as well as previous notes of this matter, we had another family crises late yesterday/early evening and had to get my Lawrence Welk-loving Aunt to the hospital again. Prognosis is good, as it, surprisingly, is something rather ordinary and not related to her most recent issues (but then again, at the age of 94, that's all relative).

So, likely it will be a day, or two, where I am of time (and clear mind) to get back in the grind with new posts.

In the meantime, there's much to do during your visit to The Garlic ... Catch up on the daily offerings, or scroll down the right sidebar to indulge in some Garlic Classics, or check out some of the other great sites via the bevy of links available to you (and those folks would, very much, appreciate a visit, I'm sure).

Thank You again, for visiting and supporting The Garlic

Peace
JTD

Editor's Note - Lo Siento, Again ...

Good Evening Garlic Fans

My apologies again, for the low posting this week (and none yesterday).

Both, have been under-the-weather (cold weather creeping in + heat coming on = havoc on the sinuses), as well as things in the non-blog homefront have kept me hopping, more than a one-legged-man in an ass-kicking contest.

Will endeavor, as always, to be both more productive and consistent (as well as, hopefully, entertaining).

Thank You again, for visiting, and reading, The Garlic.

Peace
JTD