Hello From Rockville fplatzer@mywdo.com

Another rainy day at least there is no snow.

Sue cleaned today and it is so nice to come home to a clean house, I wish it would stay that way it even smells clean.

I was having a problem with my car wipers, I stopped at McKay's and they replaced them. They were noisy and didn't wipe well, the mechanic that replaced them and told me there could have been tree sap on them, they were new so no problem with getting them replaced and now they work well.

Harlan called me several times today, he wasn't sure what to do because of the rain. When he calls me during the day I know he isn't sleeping and should sleep well at night. Because of the rain I picked up candy bars and we had coffee at the VA, then he noticed it wasn't raining so out for a treat we went. We had our treat at the Pizza Ranch, as always it was good, a small pizza and coffee.

He didn't think he wanted supper but when I left he was checking his supper out I hope he drank his milk or juice, he does need the liquids as he drinks so little water.

While we were having our Pizza Sue (Daughter) called, she bowls on Wed and says she does better when she calls us lol!!!. Harlan had a conversation with her and seemed to hear her well, and he did chat a bit usually it's, "Hello, Here's Mom," not today though.

Today was a good day, you have a Good Night and I'll talk tomorrw.........Fran

Hello From Rockville fplatzer@mywdo.com

This forenoon I went into Cold Spring to pick up a prescription for meds for me and met Harold & Marilyn and Ed for lunch, we had a good visit and good laughs. The three of them used to live in this building and I miss them.

After lunch I stopped at the dollar store and picked up some much needed "stuff" like earrings. We are having a pot luck Halloween eve and I needed something for the occasion.

After my shopping spree I went in to see Harlan, I had received several calls from him because changes in anything causes him stress and they were replacing his night stand with a new one, he just doesn't understand he thinks he has to pay for it and I can't make him understand it will not cost us anything. The night stands are very nice looking, they are wood instead of wood look over metal, but they are smaller and there is not enough room on top for the stuff he needs like a telephone, lamp, Kleenex, TV remote, hearing aid container, clock, container of drinking water and his neb machine. The old one was crowded but the new is several inches smaller in all directions but taller, the drawers are also smaller, not enough room for his clothes, like t-shirts, shorts, sox and hankies, all of this has to fit in one drawer. We put everything in his new night stand and then got permission to put everything back so he has his old one but I'm sure that will change and he will get the smaller one in the end.

We hit Perkins for his treat today he had breakfast, and I had a bowl of soup.

I left when it was supper time and for Harlan, because he had eaten at Perkins he didn't want to eat. He called me when I got home and was concerned about my working and changing his night stand he didn't think I should have done that, some one there should, that was so nice of him to concerned for me, and I love him for that.

Until tomorrow, Good Night....Fran

Hello From Rockville fplatzer@mywdo.com

This morning was a rush I slept in until 7:30 (not on purpose) and my hair cut appointment was for 8. Oh, did I rush even showered and was a little early, I'm glad she is about five min away. The day was really nice, I cleaned up all my "dead" flowers around my patio and planted the mums Megan gave me for my birthday, they are so pretty I hope they come up in the spring.

Harlan called me this morning and wanted to know where I was as he hadn't seen me for a while, when I explained I had been to see him yesterday and reminded him we had gone to church at the Chapel at the VA he said he remembered and I really think he did.

When I went in to see Harlan he was up and waiting for me. For our treat today we went to The Pizza Ranch and decided to try something different, Cactus bread, we won't do that again. It was good but too sweet and too much for just Harlan and me. It would be good for breakfast, it was much like having a Danish with cinnamon and frosting and served up like an 8" coffee cake.

Tonight a young lady from the Rockville fire department came to help us set up a plan if we ever have an emergency such as a fire or some other disaster. The sad part is not everyone showed up, it is so hard to get people involved, but this was something we needed to do. We all have patio doors we can get out of but if we get very much snow that exit may be blocked. We talked about an alternative plan and to use some kind of a buddy system.

Today was a good day for Harlan and I, it seems the antidepressant is helping him, at least for now he doesn't seem nearly as depressed and his mind seems sharper. Tomorrow will be another day and we'll see how that goes.............Fran

Hello From Rockville fplatzer@mywdo.com

Today was not a normal Sunday for Harlan and I. I stopped at McD for coffee and got to the VA about 9:00 AM coffee in hand. Harlan changed clothes and we headed to the VA chapel for church we had to be there at 9:30. The service was about an hour long after which we headed back to Harlan's room, changed his clothes and went to lunch at IHOP.

The reason for the change, I had to be home by 1:00, I had been invited by Rale and Mel to go to Brainerd to see the Geritol Frolics. It's a show put on by people whoes average age is over 70 and the music they chose was of the fifties. On the way back we stopped at Perkins in Little Falls for dinner. I enjoyed the afternoon out and I didn't get any calls from Harlan, I think the change went well for him too.

Tomorrow at 8:00 AM I have a hair cut lined up and at 6:30 P.M. the Rockville fire department is coming to help us set up an evacuation plan if it's ever needed. In between I need to clean up my frozen flowers, plant mums Megan gave me for my birthday and spend time with Harlan, so until then, Good Night....Fran

Hello From Rockville fplatzer@mywdo.com

When I went in to see Harlan I brought in clean clothes for him. He is complaining that he is cold, I'll bring in a pair of lined jeans for him and if that works to keep him warm I'll get several more pairs. He doesn't seem to understand that he needs to cover up with blankets to stay warm when he lays down, he sleeps on top of the bedspread and the blankets.

Today being Saturday it was bingo, he played but was not as sharp as some other times. After bingo we went to Culver's for ice cream then back to the VA in time for his medication and neb, this went very well for him and when I left he went to supper, he was very tired and wanted to just lay down and sleep, I hope he ate something, even if it was only his milk and dessert. Tomorrow I'll take him to the Sunday service at the VA then out to eat. I'm going with Mel & Rale and Marie up to Brainerd making my stay with Harlan short, I hope the afternoon away from him goes well.

Today was a good day with Harlan, so until tomorrow, Good Night....Fran

Hello From Rockville fplatzer@mywdo.com

This is the third Friday of the month and the support group for spouse's of memory loss has their meeting. There were only four of us today, it was a good meeting. We met at 1:00 and from there I went to see Harlan.

I trimmed Harlan's hair again today trying to improve how it looks, it is better but because he lays down so much it seems to go in directions it never used to. The whole time I was trimming he kept telling me, "Don't forget that winter is coming!" When we got done he looked in the mirror and asked, "Is that what a hienni looks like?" (I don't know how to spell it but I'm sure you all know what I mean). After the hair cut we went to the dinning room for pop corn then out for a treat.

Harlan decided pizza would taste good and we headed for The Pizza Ranch and had a small pizza, one with everything except pepperoni and he always has coffee and me, I have pop. When we got back we took a little nap and that was interrupted when it was time for meds, Harlan's least favorite time. He took the pills but just part of the neb.

He hasn't asked to leave with me when I leave and complained about the long hall he has to walk to get to the elevator and up to his room and how he hates being there, I hope some of that is changing with the help of the antidepressant.

We had a good day and he hasn't called me so I think the evening went well, untill tomorrow I send my Love to each one that reads this.............Fran

Hello From Rockville fplatzer@mywdo.com

We had our social Pot-luck tonight I think 14 attended and as usual we had very good food a nice variety, I made apple crisp.

I went in to spend time with Harlan, I trimmed his hair and it does not look good. He sleeps so much that his hair seems to go in every direction and is hard to cut I think the only way to make it look okay would be to cut it really short and I may just have to do that and he'll have to wear a cap to keep his head warm.

We went to Perkins, I had a bowl of soup and Harlan had a sandwich and a cup of soup and they sent a chocolate chip cookie home with each of us for later, they sure spoil us!

Harlan is on the kick now that he has decided he is not going to take any of his meds, today he was really down and really wouldn't even take his meds from me he says they don't do him any good, I wish I had an answer on how to help him understand how important his meds are.

We had a good time together and when I go in tomorrow I'll try and figure out what to do with his hair, so until tomorrow remember God loves you and so do I.............Fran