I'm so glad I have passed the stage where I embarrass easily! While I can do far more with my affected hand than anyone expected there are still times I need help. I bought a pack of tortillas in a zip lock bag and could NT get the damm thing opened!! I was so frustrated I started knocking on neighbors doors to ask for help and a 10 year old came to my rescue.I think he thought I was crazy.

,but he got the bag open! Then last night I tried to open a box of cream cheese-it totally defeated me and is now back in the box in a disgraceful condition! my pharmacy continues to send my pills in child proof bottles and I have resorted to sawing them open with a serrated knife because you can't break them open with a hammer. Iknow because I tried! And yes I have requested non=child proof bottles. I wasn't surprized when I couldn"t. I di elight in finding ways to do things one handed like stepping into my bra and pulling it up from the bottem-it is funny looking but it works. scotch tape is my best friend when i need to hands for some things and I use my left elbow to hold things down. It works well for some things. At least I can laugh at myself and thats good. Any suggestions gratefully accepted!!

Recently I've been having a hard time finding things to be joyful about and I couldn't figure out why. I anally figured out why! I don't have anything that makes me laugh except Bill Mahr and the season is over. I need to find more things to laugh about. Netflix is going to be a big help. I've otdered Eddie Izzard(British transvestite and very funny and Ron White (Blue Collar Comedy tour"
and the funniest of a funny bunch!!I know these will make me laugh and that will help! A good laugh is as necessary as a good cry and Ive had plenty of those. I'm trying to find more Things in my daily life to laugh at-like the fact that I was on facebook at 2am to get things out of the oven on Yoville!! How stupid is that??I'm not recommending that for anybody and I have to admit I most likly won't repeat it but to quote Ron White You can't fix stupid! So, anybody know any good jokes?

Many of my family and friends know that I've been a hospice patient since my birthday last year. I"m a home care patient now which means my adorable.loving team comes 3 times a week. my aide TIna comrs three times a week.
,and does whatever needs doin from helping me shower to vacuming and taking out the trash. She is cheerful, energetic, loving and kind as is everyone associated with Hospice. My nurse Darcie fills up my pill box so Itake the right thing at the right time and checks me out every week. Because of having a year Long record of my blood pressure Which was always normal to low the Dr. feels my stroke was due to the small arteries in the back of my heart that are too small to be stented.zMy social worker Meg comes every week to listen to my woes and navigate the confusing world of medicare and on top of that she went out into the miserable,col wet weather yesterday to buy me coffee so I would have some this a.m! Above and beyond the call of ddity. If any of you have a friend or relative who is chronically and terminally ill(I qualify due to my heart condition and COPD)look into your local hospice for help and if you want to support a cause Hospice of MetroDdenver is a great one. The newest thing they are doing for me is looking for a volunteer to visit me to relieve my isolation!! ??"They are putting together a cookbook for sale and I will let you know when it comes out










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Well, I guess I'm about as moved in as I'm going to be for while. Nothing is hung on the walls-can't do that one handed! The left hand is better, but the knuckles are stiff and swollen-which seems to be permanant. I still can't make a fist. I miss my masks and my paintings but my truly wonderful aide Tina will help me next week! It's a quiet life and since reading has been so difficult since the stroke I mostly watch t.v. I watch the ducks and geese on the lake a lot and,Thank God Ihave my cats to pet! I don't think as much about dying as much as I use to-the stroke showed me that the time will come weather :I think about it or not, so I work more at findingpeace and love in my heart so that when the time does come I will be ready. I work at forgiveness a lot-not as sucessful at that as I would like but better than I was. There are many Things I have said were unforgiveable during my life that I have changed my mind about and I remember how my Mom was still bitter about things that happened years before. Id on't want that for myself. My goal is to die with a peacwful loving heart no matter what the circumstances.
So for all ofyou who are reading this if something unexpected happens Please know that I am leaving wiyh love.

Well I'm 64 today and that's amazing-considering that last year we guess God is not done with me yet. I'm not sure what he has in mind for me but I'm curious about itSince this is most likly the last year I can live on my own I intend to enjoy it as much as possible.I'm happy to say that I still enjoy my own company and my new apt is starting to feel more like home. I have my cats,loving family and the greateatest friends in the world. I
also have my hospice team back and yhey ae loving and supportive. So all in all life is good and I am looking forward to a good year! I' still looking forward to seeing what joy I can find!