Collwen- Woman of varied worlds

Hello, I'm looking for a ride to the party. I have 12/31 off (but have to be in Albany on 12/30, so something like coming back from the Snowmoon gang party won't work out).

I then just have to sort out getting to the train station (which would be on a holiday schedule), so I can meet up with Marnen in NJ for New Year's Day.

Wednesday night marnen and I are going to New Haven, CT for the vegetarian Thanksgiving with Bernie (Marnen's dad), Sally (Bernie's girlfriend), James (Sally's son), and Audrey (James's girlfriend). I'm not sure if anyone else is going to be there- it's possible.

Thursday we will be at the Stronghold for dinner with the group there (with the addition of at least purpura's parents). Note to self: cheeses and pickles and olives.

Friday, I have off. Have to figure out with Marnen if that means we head up to Albany/Pittstown during the day or sleep in and wait for later.

Saturday is big move stuff for my aunt's place. We're still looking for some people to help out.

Sunday Marnen has a rehearsal in NYC and I might have a Penny Social, where I get to tell my Rebekahs Lodge that I have to step down as Nobel Grand because I'm moving, and that I won't be able to take District Deputy President the next two years like we were talking about.

Basic Update: My aunt is still alive. I'm sick... as in the coughing, stuffy head, chest congested, raw throat, voice sounding like sandpaper type of sick. And 4 days away from LJ = a long time to catch up.

Detailed update:
Thursday night I went and was part of the District Staff that installed my own Rebekahs lodge. (I'm the District Chaplain... yes, the pagan woman got asked to be the Chaplain). I had a surprise when four of the ladies from Rensseleaer District, including the NY Assembly Warden, came down for it.

During this meeting is when my throat started to get sore.

Friday morning I wake up and my throat is even sorer, and I'm coughing a little. I helped marnen clear out his car, then headed up to East Greenbush to visit my Aunt. She's not doing good. She's not eating solid food again, and at times was having trouble even swallowing water.

Friday evening Ed met up with me, and we had dinner with Neffi, tetsujinnooni, and chickipu_no_oni at Garcia's. I also started my laundry somewhere before going out and finished it that night.

Saturday morning Ed picked me up and we went apple picking with a whole bunch of people. Well, it seems that we got there first I think. Ed and I each got a bag of apples. Johnagolds are incredible apples, tastey and HUGE. We also picked up some cider and other stuff at the barn store. We then stopped off at the nursing home but Aunt Glady was sound asleep. We left her her reading glasses (Ed had fixed them) and a piece of maple sugar candy, which should disolve enough for her to be able to eat.

Saturday evening Ed went back to the apple party, I ended up with a migraine. So I went back to the Halfway House and slept. Then dranks lots of peppermint tea with lemon and honey while watching some eposides of House. OMG I love this series.

Sunday, we all slept late. I felt even worse. I realize that I'm not going to get going in time to hit the Wool and Sheep Festival in Rhinebeck. At some point we went to Pearl of the Orient over in Loudonville for food. Hot & Sour soup is good for sick people. Right after eating, I felt a wave of heat come over me and I got flushed... oh great. A Fever.

So it was back to the Halfway House for more and more peppermint tea, a couple more episodes of House. I decided to crash there, with the hopes that I would feel better

Monday at about 3am, after having woken up a few times already, I made the decision there was no way I was going to make it into work so I called into the automated system and took the day off.

Today I tried to sleep in, kept feeding myself tea, and watched Logan's Run. Then Tersha and I met Jon for lunch. Ruby Tuesdays now has these mini hamburgers, and a combo of 2 minis, a small amount of fries, and the salad bar. The minis were good, the fries just enough, and the whole package actually reasonable for lunch. Then I got the car inspected at the Adorondack Tire place in Schenectady where Tersha's gone a number of times and has a good rapport with the mechanics. I had to get new windshield wiper blades (not just a refill), and I'll need to get someone to look at the breaks when I get my next check. Then after a quick Sam's Club stop for Tersha, and then I dropped her off at the Halfway House and then headed home.

other quick update first- Last weekend I went to the baby shower for lilianafriendly and curlyeric's little girl, who was born last week. Welcome Beverly Vera!

This weekend was the last weekend for the NY Ren Faire in Sterling Forest/Tuxedo, NY. I got in a lot of tupan playing, a few compliments too (including, "You've only been doing this for about a month? I wouldn't have known"). One of the vendors, Van Ness Studios is now doing wood carving and lathe turning. Andy made me a smaller beater to go with my drum (the one I got is larger than the drum itself), and it works wonderfully!

My brother Ed came down for Saturday- it was our birthday present for him (gas, getting in, food...).

Saturday night we ended up going to dinner with Paul, Olyssia, Scott (all from Karpathos), and some of the other Faire vendors/workers. In that grouo was the owners of The Neon Gargoyle, who had been so nice in letting us hang out (rain or shine) and store our stuff there between sets.

Because it looked like it could turn at any moment, we ended crashing up at the Stronghold on Saturday night (getting a chance to see prisoner007) instead of trying to deal with a tent and the wet and the dark. Even though rain threatened... there were only a couple of drops here and there all weekend.

And twice during the little bit of visit time before everyone crashed ioldanach and marnen came up with the same line at the same time.

Marnen got a pony tail holder from Medieval Metal. I might order one later. As neat as a lot of the stuff was at the faire, there wasn't a lot that said "buy me or die". I might get boots from Renboots when I have the money though. Or wait until next year when I can try them on again... boots and me can be such a tricky thing.

I think I'm going to miss the Faire, and I look forward to the next season.

This week I have archery practice, a Rebekahs meeting, and Carla's baby shower/staying on Sunday at the Stronghold to finally meet sagefemme11!!!

2 multiple hundred dollar car repairs within one month
+ a screw up at the bank_______________________
not having the $ for Hunter's Moon

Also, If I don't go to Hunter's Moon, I can work Labor Day and get an extra 8 hours of pay.

I'm also re-thinking about going to Barleycorn, but since I should have the OT check for Labor Day in for then I might be able to swing it.

Since I was planning on going to the Ren Faire for closing weekend (which is the same weekend as the equestrian event in Concordia), I might not get a chance to see people in a SCAdian context until Ceilidh.

I will be up in September at least once (probably the last weekend at this point) for the usual hang out and visit my Aunt Glady who's in the nursing home in East Greenbush.

First off all, with yesterday off I'm slogging through LJ for updates... and just found out that ragnarwolf is in the hospital for tests. Candle lit is in my mind and good thoughts all along.

My Aunt
Because the aids picked up my aunt to take a shower and had closed the door, they had the conference without us. We did get to talk to one of the main nurses, and she's going to set it up so they call me after the future ones instead of having to take the day off.

She's eating a little bit more. We've given the nurses a list of foods she likes in hopes that this will encourage her to eat more. The nurse is also going to get the speech therapist into the works to see if there is something physical interfering with her being able to swallow.


This weekend
Just found out that some of the people I was trying to see at Southern Region aren't going to be there... and since that was going to be the primary reason to go... Now considering on not going to SRWC. The Stronghold could use a hand, and Jack's birthday party is Sunday. Also, zimarra is about to leave for AmeriCorps and it's her last weekend in Albany....

So might go over Friday to the Stronghold, stay the morning, then go up to Albany for Shirra's goodbye, then have more of the day Sunday to make it up to Glens Falls without having to worry about breaking down a tent and packing...

Her heart is failing.  She's in Evergreen Commons in North Greenbush.

This place is good.  Mom and I got there and the nurse was working with her.  The place is nicely set up, clean, spacious.  There's multiple nurses in the section. There's a doctor for the section and that *is* his practice- his only patients are in that section and he's on call if he's not on site.  They gave us a welcome packet with all the phone numbers, including the unit manager and the social worker.  We went to lunch, came back, and the doctor talked to us, sorted out the care orders (not only the DNR order but the no-tubes, etc. orders), and got things started with the social worker to get the proxy paperwork set up (something that Samaritan didn't help out on- expecting Ed to be able to get Aunt Glady to sign the papers on his own).  Then the social worker was there within a half hour and got the paperwork set up, the doctor to witness her nod to the question of if I could make decisions, and even got the paper signed.  I have the original and a copy of it already.

The idea is that we're going to make her as comfortable as possible.

Marnen got out of work early, and got there just in time to play a little bit for her before visiting hours were over.  Her room-mate also enjoyed it.  Aunt Glady relaxed to the point that she bare got out telling him "thank you" before going to sleep.

Then a whole group of us went to Garcias for dinner, including Ed and my mom.

I'm now sick... from sore throat to that weird pressure not pain in my ears to now coughing and feeling like I need to just curl up and make the world go away.

Ed and Marnen may be going up to Glenn Linn today, but it looks like court may be tomorrow.  So we're going to get a report from Virignia when she gets up there and make a decision from there.

I'll be at the nursing home for a good part of today.

Oh, I took the train up here on Thursday and I was delayed by a tree going across the tracks north of Hudson.

So, yesterday and today the AZ account got slammed, so I've been able to get some overtime. With today (6-9) I'll have enough hours to make up the fact that I'll have Friday off.

8 extra hours between 3 days.

need sleep.

One minute I'm fine. The usual combination of bored, horny, and ok (for the lack of a better term) that I usually am while at work.

Then I'm horribly depressed, mainly about my aunt.

Several things struck me yesterday. If she's not able to get in enough food/water, then she's possibly dehydrating and starving to death. And checking with my brother he's of the same mind, we'll confirm with Aunt Glady but we pretty sure that she doesn't want to be hooked up with tubes and machines... so if we have to make the decision that will effectively kill her.

Neither of those are a happy though by themselves. Now put them together and see what happens to my brain and emotional state....


I'm taking the day off Friday to go up to the hospital and sit there until I can talk to an actual doctor to get a real prognosis, and not something filtered through my mom. If I get up early enough, I'll try to get to dance practice, but I won't make any guarantees.

Tuesday night:
Got to Albany
Cleaned out Jon's car
Went to Garcia's for dinner
Slept

Wednesday:
Got up
Got picked up by Mom
Dropped off paperwork for Aunt Glady's pension
Went to the Salvation Army on Rt. 2 in Latham

REFRAINED FROM BUYING THE PEDAL POWERED SINGER IN WHAT SEEMS TO BE THE ORIGINAL CABINET FOR $99.40

Did buy a blouse, a copper mold (I've been collecting them), and a candle powered warming tray, and a couple of tops for Mom.
Went to meeting with the staff where Aunt Glady is (a rehab/convelescent home).
NO NURSING HOME!!!!
She'll have visiting OT/PT nurses, a visiting aid, and 1 meal from Meals on Wheels a day.
Got Mom a tank of gas
Got an earlier train to Poughkeepsie then expected
Started cleaning out the car
Went to an event at the Poughkeepsie Grand (What Women Want)
Came home, finished cleaning out the car.
Posted to LJ
( took this Dr. Who character quiz )

Going to bed now