Living in Australia, I'm not as affected by what is going on in the USA debate Pro Choice and Pro Life. I actually don't like the name Pro Life, I don't believe that anybody who is Pro Choice is not Pro Life, in fact unless you're some insane terrorist or serial killer, I'm pretty sure we are all Pro Life. Even serial killers are probably Pro Life cause hey if they don't have anyone alive to kill how are they going to get their rocks off.
I don't believe in abortion as a form of birth control, never have and never will. I don't get how women can just get up one morning find out they are pregnant, shrug their shoulders and go off to the clinic. Having an abortion is not and should never be an easy decision. No matter when you believe those cells become a life, it should not ever be an easy decision to step through those clinic doors.
Pro Lifers would have us believe that from the moment of conception those cells are a viable life, we all know this is not true. If the mother died, the cells could not live outside the womb, so the cells are not sustainable in anyway. Now if this is what Pro Lifers believe, then why aren't they down at the courts demonstrating during the trial of someone who may of caused a car accident or got in a fight with someone, causing a woman to have a miscarriage, even if she is only a couple of weeks pregnant? Why isn't the guy who pushes his pregnant wife/girlfriend down the stairs causing a miscarriage being charged with murder instead of assault on the wife/girlfriend? What if you're pregnant and have a miscarriage, should you be charged? No you shouldn't, of course not, these are ridiculous fucking questions.
Woman all around the world should have the choice for themselves. Crusty old men in Parliament have no right to tell us what we can and can't do. They certainly can't turn around, like some, and say we should be using birth control. Why is it the woman's responsibility? Why isn't one of those men blocking the door to the clinic passing out free condoms to all his mates, his church members and his family? Instead of standing there and attempting to intimidate, man the fuck up and spread the word to all males you know, take responsibility for your own fucking actions. Everyone who has ever used one form of contraception or another, know that it is not 100% fool proof, it can fuck up. But in the Pro Life world they'd have us believe that it hasn't, we are just lying and not really using it.
I think the big difference between the 2 groups is that Pro Choice's are all about it's your choice, your decision, your body. The Pro Lifers are all about not your body, not your choice, you're going to burn in hell. How that translates into real life is someone else telling you what you can and can't do when looking at your choices in making a huge decision. They are saying no one can advise you of your choices, no once can give you counselling. It's like my neighbour saying to me "You can't park your car there, it's killing the grass." When my car is parked in my yard killing my grass. My neighbours don't interfere in my personal life and I don't interfere in theirs. Of course if one of them was killing the other, or if they were being robbed, I'd interfere LOL.
I hear and read so many comments about how it's murder, it's not and if you believe it is, then go to your representative and demand the law be changed so that, as I said before, if someone causes a miscarriage or the death of a few cells, then they must be charged with murder. The lady who accidentally tripped down the stairs has to be charged with manslaughter, sounds ridiculous doesn't it? Yep my point exactly.
Now in the States there are people who continually say that Planned Parenthood are using Federal funding to abort babies and sell the parts, ummm, I researched and actually found this to be a total lie. I'm not even living there and I know more about it than a lot of people who do live there do. Planned Parenthood provides breast screening, medicals, contraception, just to name a few, and yes you can get an abortion there, but that is only an extremely small part of what they do. If just one person can have a mammogram and have cancer detected early which saves their life, even if they can't afford it. I'm all for it.
The fact remains, when all is said and done, Pro Lifers are really Pro Choice, because they are choosing for themselves to go ahead and have that baby, even if they do give it up for adoption, and because they are making that choice for themselves they have to let other woman do the same. You cannot tell anybody else what to do unless you are willing to step up and take over the care of that mother and baby. As I said before I am not all about abortion as birth control, that is a horrible thing to do, the choice is hard and once it's done, you can't take it back, so back off and let us all make our own choices. There are many reasons a woman will get an abortion, they aren't all about birth control, but it must remain a decision for the individual, no one else should have a say.
Catch yas
Cathy
As always this is my opinion, I don't speak for anyone else, kind of like staying out of others business really lol.
Tuesday, February 14, 2017
Sunday, January 1, 2017
My One and Only New Years Resolution
It's all well and good, people going on about how they are going to do this and that, become better people and help others as their New Year resolutions. But all you need to do is read a thread on Facebook to see how much hate there is in the world and then you realise a lot of it is coming from these same people saying how great they are going to become.
One simple comment can set off a vicious attack on someone that isn't even known to their attacker. People get up on their soapboxes and spew their sick words and there are others who lap it all up. The name calling is atrocious, the constant line 'freedom of speech' pisses me off. Sure you have that right but seriously, grow the fuck up and act like an adult. There is no need to attack someone over a simple comment of how they agree or disagree with the post. If you disagree then say so, it's simple all you need to do is say 'no, I don't agree with you.' and that's it. No need to go on about someone being a 'muslim, racist, terrorist, liberal, baby killer, retard or redneck'. You don't even need to comment, wait what, you don't need to actually comment? Nope you don't. Read it and move on, or better yet don't read it, cause most of them are total bullshit anyway.
By acting like a child you are nothing but a bully. We have enough of those in the world already thanks.
With the recent election in the States, the rest of the world has been subjected to it all whether we wanted to be or not. The total fabrications that people posted and swore was true was completely laughable to those of us who actually use their brain for something other than vitriol. Blaming the media is ridiculous, the media print what people want to read, they have lied from the moment they realised they were a business and had to make a profit. A happy story about a dog reuniting with it's owner on the front page, does not sell newspapers. The obvious headlines that grab the attention are the ones that are filled with hate. I am constantly surprised that there are actually people in the world that believe the crap they print.
It's the same people that believe politicians are always honest, hello people, they want your fucking vote, they lie to get it. The make promises they cannot possibly keep, and it's only after they are voted in that the John Q Citizen seems to suddenly realise they were lying all along. Wait? What's that you say? A politician lied? Fuck yes they did, they've been doing it since politics began it doesn't take a rocket scientist to see it LOL.
The newsreader you love? Well they get paid for what they say whether it's the truth or not. They get told what to say, and on the rare occasions they are actually speaking for themselves they are usually doing it just to get attention and have their 5 minutes of fame.
Put people online and they become completely different animals. Oh and as a side note, please don't think I'm talking about everyone, I know the difference between one person and another (had to add that after seeing so much about 'all muslims or all whites and all blacks') I realise there are actually fantastic people of all cultures and religions in the world. But for some once that computer is turned on, or the internet accessed on a phone, the world is open and they can spread their hate.
Every single thing that someone has posted or done is there, that doesn't make it real. I can go onto Wikipedia and post something that is a total fabrication, make someone up and of course it would be an incredible story about how heroic they were or something like that, but you know what, it wouldn't be real. There is an option to edit and add, so I take that to mean anyone can go on there and say whatever they like. And once that happens there is more bullshit online that people will be quoting and saying is real. I can post a picture and say it's me, and only my family and friends would know it isn't. The fact is that you never know what is real or isn't.
How many magazines are there in the world that are being proved to be publishing fake stories, hundreds of them. The difference between that and the internet though, is that you actually have to purchase the magazine and read it first lol.
The internet is a wonderful thing, without it I couldn't blog, I couldn't keep in contact with friends around the world for next to nothing, and I wouldn't of had the chance to become friends with them. I wouldn't be able to see all those cute puppy and cat videos, all the hilarious memes, and I couldn't of studied at home with as much ease as I did. All of the positives though come with all the negatives as well. We just need to realise that just because someone says it's real doesn't make is so. The internet does not always give us the complete truth. The same people who lie to us in real life, lie to us online, it's just that online they can hide better.
So for 2017 I'd like to see more puppies and kittens gambolling, more goats laughing, more babies giggling and more positives. Lets leave the hate back in 2016. I wish that I was naive enough to believe that will happen, but I'm not, so instead I resolve to read less of the hate, and watch more of the cute stuff. I'm pretty sure that unlike any previous resolutions I'll be able to keep this one :)
Catch yas
Cathy
Monday, December 26, 2016
Life in the Twilight Zone - It's Christmas Every Day
For someone with Alzheimers it can seem like Christmas never comes, for those close to this person it's even longer.
Mum started thinking about Christmas in October, and by that I mean we would go shopping and she'd start loading her trolley with chickens and corned beef, and I'd say, why are you getting more chicken and corned beef, and her answer would be for Christmas.
"Mum, Christmas is 2 months away, we haven't even had Dales birthday yet."
"No next weekend is Christmas."
"No Mum next weekend is just a weekend, we still have 2 months to go."
"Oh, are you sure?"
"Yes Mum, I'm sure, I don't have Alzheimers."
Keep in mind we go shopping every week, so this went on for 2 solid months. Along with the shopping I'd get phone calls from her.
"Oh Cathy, what do you want me to bring for Christmas Day?"
"How about we wait till it's closer to Christmas and I'll tell you Mum."
"But we only have a week."
"No Mum we have 2 months. Sorry I need to get off the phone I'm working. Can you please not call me, I'll give you a call after work."
"Oh sorry, I won't bother you."
And of course that last is said in a tone of voice dripping with sarcasm and designed to make me feel guilty, which of course it does.
I call her when I finish work.
"Oh it's lovely to hear from you. How are you? How are the kids?"
"Hi Mum, every ones fine I'm just calling you back after your call this morning."
"What call? Did I call you? Why would I call you when your working?"
Sigh, sigh, sigh
This would be repeated at least twice a week, I swear I need to just make a recording of responses, would save my voice LOL.
By the time we hit November, I was ready to explode. The constant Christmas Christmas Christmas was driving me insane. My birthday rolled around and she said, it couldn't be my birthday it was December. Sorry to disappoint you mum but it is my birthday LOL.
With the end of November I knew I had to start reminding her I was going to be on leave and wouldn't be around for a week at the start of December.
"But you'll be away for Christmas."
"No I won't Mum, I'm going to be back before Christmas."
"Oh, but what about my pills and shopping."
"I'll take you shopping before I go and after I get back, and I will make sure your pills are done for you."
"And what about Christmas Day, who will pick me up? Am I going with you?"
"No Mum, Christmas Day isn't till after I get back. Plenty of time to think about that later."
And so it went for 2 weeks before I was on leave.
Naturally I called her while away to let her know how I was going and to check on her. She had completely forgotten that I was away.
"When are we going shopping?"
"When I get home Mum."
"Oh are you out?"
"I'm at Caryns remember Mum."
"Really? Why didn't you tell me you were going? I would of mad sure to buy some presents for the kids. You should of bought the car around."
"Okay first, I did tell you, but don't worry about that I expected you to forget. Second it isn't Christmas yet and we already bought presents for the kids, they are here with me. Thirdly, you don't have a license anymore, and I have the car."
"Oh, okay then well have a nice time, bye."
Click. She hung up while I was still on the line LOL.
The next day she rings wondering where I am, and when we are going shopping.
"I'm all dressed to go shopping, where are you?"
"I'm at Caryns Mum, I told you."
"But you said we were going shopping."
"Nope not till I get back."
"Oh, when are you back?"
She pretty much called everyday then. And the convos were repeats of the others. I said to Caryn, I shouldn't of called her in the first place LOL.
On the way home, it's a 6 - 7 hr drive, I had a stop over to refuel me and the car. I noticed a missed call from Mum so I called her, why oh why do I do it, whyyyyyy.
"Why didn't you answer the phone, I've been calling and calling, I've been waiting to go shopping."
"I didn't answer because I didn't hear the phone, and when I'm driving I'm not going to answer."
"The least you can do is pull over and take my call. Did you know it was me?"
"Mum, stop, I didn't hear the phone, I'm driving I've got the tunes cranking and I can't hear it."
"Well I'm waiting, hurry up."
"Mum, sorry but we aren't going shopping till tomorrow, I'm on my way home from Caryns. I won't get back until late this afternoon."
"Then why did you tell me we'd go shopping today, you should of told me. You shouldn't of ignored my call. I can't help it that I can't remember."
And then she started crying. My stomach turned over, and I was no longer feeling hungry.
"Mum, it's okay, I'll call you when I get home."
She sniffed fine, and hung up.
When I did finally get home, I unloaded the car and called her.
"Oh Cathy, how was your holiday, did the kids like their presents?"
It was as if the other call hadn't even happened. No way was I going to remind her about it LOL.
From then until the week before Christmas, we were back to the normal routine, of no mum it's not Christmas yet, yes Mum all the presents have been bought, blah blah.
I took her to a local Millers, and got her to pick something out for Christmas. She wanted to take it straight away, but I wouldn't let her. The way I figured it she would forget what it was in a week, and she'd get a surprise. She tried to convince me she wouldn't because it was clothes and she never forgets clothes LOL.
Saturday, Christmas Eve, we went shopping, and all talk of Christmas had stopped.
"Why are there so many cars in the car park?"
"Because it's Christmas Eve Mum."
"No, we already had Christmas."
Sigh lol
You can imagine how the day went, with Mum constantly going on about the crowds, and me constantly reminding her it was Christmas Eve LOL.
I decided to call her that evening to remind her I'd be picking her up in the morning, and sure enough she'd forgotten. But I figured she would hence the call.
Christmas Day was spent at my eldest daughter, Tara's place. It was a good day with the kids running around enjoying their presents and family gathered. I was outside with Pippa and Stella, showing them how to play totem tennis, when I heard Mum talking to my brother.
"Have you see your father lately?"
"No, haven't seen him for a long time."
"Well, he's had his legs lengthened, he looks very strange."
"Ummm, what?"
I interrupted then to say it hadn't happened, and she got all shitty and says.
"I know what I saw Cathy, he told me all about it when he bought the deeds to the house up."
"Okay Mum, but it didn't happen and you've had the deeds for ages."
As the day wore on you could see the change in her, she started to repeat everything constantly, told the same story over and over again. But hey no big deal, at least she forgot about the leg lengthening surgery LOL.
So I'm glad Christmas is over, but I do love it. I'm not sure how Mum will be next year, so all we can do is have fun and celebrate for as long as we can. I know the day will come when she doesn't know any of us. It's not a day I look forward to, so we'll make the most of what we have. I'm glad that we share the same sick sense of humor and can make fun of the situation. I would hate to be normal, so to speak, and spend the whole time crying about it. Life is what it is, it sucks, it's great, all we can do is take one day at a time as they say, and make the most of it.
Oh and I was right, she had totally forgot about the blouse I bought her for Christmas, point to me LOL.
Catch yas
Cathy
Mum started thinking about Christmas in October, and by that I mean we would go shopping and she'd start loading her trolley with chickens and corned beef, and I'd say, why are you getting more chicken and corned beef, and her answer would be for Christmas.
"Mum, Christmas is 2 months away, we haven't even had Dales birthday yet."
"No next weekend is Christmas."
"No Mum next weekend is just a weekend, we still have 2 months to go."
"Oh, are you sure?"
"Yes Mum, I'm sure, I don't have Alzheimers."
Keep in mind we go shopping every week, so this went on for 2 solid months. Along with the shopping I'd get phone calls from her.
"Oh Cathy, what do you want me to bring for Christmas Day?"
"How about we wait till it's closer to Christmas and I'll tell you Mum."
"But we only have a week."
"No Mum we have 2 months. Sorry I need to get off the phone I'm working. Can you please not call me, I'll give you a call after work."
"Oh sorry, I won't bother you."
And of course that last is said in a tone of voice dripping with sarcasm and designed to make me feel guilty, which of course it does.
I call her when I finish work.
"Oh it's lovely to hear from you. How are you? How are the kids?"
"Hi Mum, every ones fine I'm just calling you back after your call this morning."
"What call? Did I call you? Why would I call you when your working?"
Sigh, sigh, sigh
This would be repeated at least twice a week, I swear I need to just make a recording of responses, would save my voice LOL.
By the time we hit November, I was ready to explode. The constant Christmas Christmas Christmas was driving me insane. My birthday rolled around and she said, it couldn't be my birthday it was December. Sorry to disappoint you mum but it is my birthday LOL.
With the end of November I knew I had to start reminding her I was going to be on leave and wouldn't be around for a week at the start of December.
"But you'll be away for Christmas."
"No I won't Mum, I'm going to be back before Christmas."
"Oh, but what about my pills and shopping."
"I'll take you shopping before I go and after I get back, and I will make sure your pills are done for you."
"And what about Christmas Day, who will pick me up? Am I going with you?"
"No Mum, Christmas Day isn't till after I get back. Plenty of time to think about that later."
And so it went for 2 weeks before I was on leave.
Naturally I called her while away to let her know how I was going and to check on her. She had completely forgotten that I was away.
"When are we going shopping?"
"When I get home Mum."
"Oh are you out?"
"I'm at Caryns remember Mum."
"Really? Why didn't you tell me you were going? I would of mad sure to buy some presents for the kids. You should of bought the car around."
"Okay first, I did tell you, but don't worry about that I expected you to forget. Second it isn't Christmas yet and we already bought presents for the kids, they are here with me. Thirdly, you don't have a license anymore, and I have the car."
"Oh, okay then well have a nice time, bye."
Click. She hung up while I was still on the line LOL.
The next day she rings wondering where I am, and when we are going shopping.
"I'm all dressed to go shopping, where are you?"
"I'm at Caryns Mum, I told you."
"But you said we were going shopping."
"Nope not till I get back."
"Oh, when are you back?"
She pretty much called everyday then. And the convos were repeats of the others. I said to Caryn, I shouldn't of called her in the first place LOL.
On the way home, it's a 6 - 7 hr drive, I had a stop over to refuel me and the car. I noticed a missed call from Mum so I called her, why oh why do I do it, whyyyyyy.
"Why didn't you answer the phone, I've been calling and calling, I've been waiting to go shopping."
"I didn't answer because I didn't hear the phone, and when I'm driving I'm not going to answer."
"The least you can do is pull over and take my call. Did you know it was me?"
"Mum, stop, I didn't hear the phone, I'm driving I've got the tunes cranking and I can't hear it."
"Well I'm waiting, hurry up."
"Mum, sorry but we aren't going shopping till tomorrow, I'm on my way home from Caryns. I won't get back until late this afternoon."
"Then why did you tell me we'd go shopping today, you should of told me. You shouldn't of ignored my call. I can't help it that I can't remember."
And then she started crying. My stomach turned over, and I was no longer feeling hungry.
"Mum, it's okay, I'll call you when I get home."
She sniffed fine, and hung up.
When I did finally get home, I unloaded the car and called her.
"Oh Cathy, how was your holiday, did the kids like their presents?"
It was as if the other call hadn't even happened. No way was I going to remind her about it LOL.
From then until the week before Christmas, we were back to the normal routine, of no mum it's not Christmas yet, yes Mum all the presents have been bought, blah blah.
I took her to a local Millers, and got her to pick something out for Christmas. She wanted to take it straight away, but I wouldn't let her. The way I figured it she would forget what it was in a week, and she'd get a surprise. She tried to convince me she wouldn't because it was clothes and she never forgets clothes LOL.
Saturday, Christmas Eve, we went shopping, and all talk of Christmas had stopped.
"Why are there so many cars in the car park?"
"Because it's Christmas Eve Mum."
"No, we already had Christmas."
Sigh lol
You can imagine how the day went, with Mum constantly going on about the crowds, and me constantly reminding her it was Christmas Eve LOL.
I decided to call her that evening to remind her I'd be picking her up in the morning, and sure enough she'd forgotten. But I figured she would hence the call.
Christmas Day was spent at my eldest daughter, Tara's place. It was a good day with the kids running around enjoying their presents and family gathered. I was outside with Pippa and Stella, showing them how to play totem tennis, when I heard Mum talking to my brother.
"Have you see your father lately?"
"No, haven't seen him for a long time."
"Well, he's had his legs lengthened, he looks very strange."
"Ummm, what?"
I interrupted then to say it hadn't happened, and she got all shitty and says.
"I know what I saw Cathy, he told me all about it when he bought the deeds to the house up."
"Okay Mum, but it didn't happen and you've had the deeds for ages."
As the day wore on you could see the change in her, she started to repeat everything constantly, told the same story over and over again. But hey no big deal, at least she forgot about the leg lengthening surgery LOL.
So I'm glad Christmas is over, but I do love it. I'm not sure how Mum will be next year, so all we can do is have fun and celebrate for as long as we can. I know the day will come when she doesn't know any of us. It's not a day I look forward to, so we'll make the most of what we have. I'm glad that we share the same sick sense of humor and can make fun of the situation. I would hate to be normal, so to speak, and spend the whole time crying about it. Life is what it is, it sucks, it's great, all we can do is take one day at a time as they say, and make the most of it.
Oh and I was right, she had totally forgot about the blouse I bought her for Christmas, point to me LOL.
Catch yas
Cathy
Tuesday, November 8, 2016
Life in the Twilight Zone - No Longer a Driver
Mum is convinced that if she was just given the chance she would be fine driving. Forget that every doctor she sees recommends she doesn't drive, forget her license has expired, she would still be a good driver if given the chance.
Firstly, she was never a good driver, she was an okay driver, but never good. She drove a big arsed station wagon without power steering up and down the mountains, but that doesn't make her a good driver. She knew the road rules and was competent, but looking at every car she's had and all the scratches and dings on them, yeh, not so good. I remember before she was diagnosed finding a ding in the back bumper and asking her about it,
"Mum, how did this happen?"
"Oh, I reversed into my trolley."
"Ummm, how can you reverse into your own trolley? Didn't you just put it back in the trolley return, couldn't you see it in the rear vision mirror?"
"I forgot to return it, and didn't notice it in the mirror. Actually I might not of checked I can't remember."
Yep, there's those good driving skills mum. Oh and lets not forget the time she was dropping off me and Dale. I was standing there talking to her through the window, and Dale was getting out of the back, hadn't even shut the door, and she goes bye and starts to drive off, stopping suddenly on Dales foot. Luckily he wasn't hurt, and all she said was oh I thought the door was shut, then she drove off LOL.
The number of bushes and trees that have scrapped along the side of her cars, and the fact she never remembers it happening, are signs that maybe she shouldn't be behind the wheel. But the only damage she did, apart from Dales foot LOL, was to her own car, so we sucked it up. Because she's 80 she has to go for a test, but her doctor won't fill out the form for her so her license expired. She'll jokingly say she still has a car key so she might just take off one day, which of course won't happen because she'd have to walk to my place to get the car lol.
So, driving to Penrith on Saturday because I wanted to get my haircut and was taking Mum shopping, she loves to go to Penrith, no idea why, it's crowded and people are fuckwits. Anyway we get to the bottom of Old Bathurst Rd where it joins the Highway and she goes,
"Hahaha, did you see that, those cars are going through a red light."
"What red light mum? The arrow to turn left is green, the light to go right is red."
"Oh, isn't it illegal if one of the lights is red?"
"No mum, it isn't"
I distracted her from her musings by pointing out the beautiful jacarandas near the river, they look absolutely gorgeous. We drive on and get to the Mulgoa Rd lights and she goes.
"Why aren't those cars stopping? We have a red light."
"Geez mum I sure am glad you're not driving. Those cars are moving because they have a green arrow, you're right we have a red light so we aren't moving."
And she wonders why we don't want her driving lol.
It must be hard not to be behind the wheel, I'm sure she misses the freedom, I know that I love driving, not sure what I'd do if I couldn't drive. But safer for the rest of Australia if we don't let her drive, you can all thank me later LOL.
Sunday she called me and wanted to know when we were going shopping again.
"Mum, we went shopping yesterday."
"Are you sure, I need so many things so I don't think we did."
"Mum I'm the one without alzheimers remember?"
"Oh, yeh that's right. Okay so when are we going shopping again?"
The only way to deal is to laugh, probably why I post so much on my blog LOL. People always say laughter is the best medicine, in my eyes if we don't laugh we'll shoot ourselves, so laughter it is.
Catch yas
Cathy
Firstly, she was never a good driver, she was an okay driver, but never good. She drove a big arsed station wagon without power steering up and down the mountains, but that doesn't make her a good driver. She knew the road rules and was competent, but looking at every car she's had and all the scratches and dings on them, yeh, not so good. I remember before she was diagnosed finding a ding in the back bumper and asking her about it,
"Mum, how did this happen?"
"Oh, I reversed into my trolley."
"Ummm, how can you reverse into your own trolley? Didn't you just put it back in the trolley return, couldn't you see it in the rear vision mirror?"
"I forgot to return it, and didn't notice it in the mirror. Actually I might not of checked I can't remember."
Yep, there's those good driving skills mum. Oh and lets not forget the time she was dropping off me and Dale. I was standing there talking to her through the window, and Dale was getting out of the back, hadn't even shut the door, and she goes bye and starts to drive off, stopping suddenly on Dales foot. Luckily he wasn't hurt, and all she said was oh I thought the door was shut, then she drove off LOL.
The number of bushes and trees that have scrapped along the side of her cars, and the fact she never remembers it happening, are signs that maybe she shouldn't be behind the wheel. But the only damage she did, apart from Dales foot LOL, was to her own car, so we sucked it up. Because she's 80 she has to go for a test, but her doctor won't fill out the form for her so her license expired. She'll jokingly say she still has a car key so she might just take off one day, which of course won't happen because she'd have to walk to my place to get the car lol.
So, driving to Penrith on Saturday because I wanted to get my haircut and was taking Mum shopping, she loves to go to Penrith, no idea why, it's crowded and people are fuckwits. Anyway we get to the bottom of Old Bathurst Rd where it joins the Highway and she goes,
"Hahaha, did you see that, those cars are going through a red light."
"What red light mum? The arrow to turn left is green, the light to go right is red."
"Oh, isn't it illegal if one of the lights is red?"
"No mum, it isn't"
I distracted her from her musings by pointing out the beautiful jacarandas near the river, they look absolutely gorgeous. We drive on and get to the Mulgoa Rd lights and she goes.
"Why aren't those cars stopping? We have a red light."
"Geez mum I sure am glad you're not driving. Those cars are moving because they have a green arrow, you're right we have a red light so we aren't moving."
And she wonders why we don't want her driving lol.
It must be hard not to be behind the wheel, I'm sure she misses the freedom, I know that I love driving, not sure what I'd do if I couldn't drive. But safer for the rest of Australia if we don't let her drive, you can all thank me later LOL.
Sunday she called me and wanted to know when we were going shopping again.
"Mum, we went shopping yesterday."
"Are you sure, I need so many things so I don't think we did."
"Mum I'm the one without alzheimers remember?"
"Oh, yeh that's right. Okay so when are we going shopping again?"
The only way to deal is to laugh, probably why I post so much on my blog LOL. People always say laughter is the best medicine, in my eyes if we don't laugh we'll shoot ourselves, so laughter it is.
Catch yas
Cathy
Monday, September 26, 2016
Life in the Twilight Zone - What's Real and What's Not
So Mum rang up last night,
"Did you try to call me?"
"No, wasn't me"
Strangely when someone tries to call her she presumes it's me, I tell her that if it was me I'd try again, don't call me and waste your money on the call, and yet she still does it.
"Oh well wasn't important I guess. Anyway, I went over to the shops today to pick up a few things. I searched for that Doctor but couldn't find her."
"What Doctor Mum, if you need to see a Doctor I can make an appointment for you as soon as Sam gets back from his holiday."
"No it was the blood Doctor."
"Ummm what? You don't have any blood tests to do."
"No not a blood test, well it is, but we drew our own blood and had to drop it off. But I can't find my vial."
"Oh ok, ummm, number 1, I'm not drawing my own blood or yours."
"No no, you me and Andrew went to Penrith Showgrounds and we ran into her there. She gave us all we needed to do it, and told me I could drop off the samples on Monday."
"Again, we aren't drawing our own blood."
"You can't possibly expect me to believe this one was pure imagination. We all went and it was real."
"Yeh it was your imagination. I haven't been to the Showground for years, and I know Andrew wouldn't go and bring home a vial to draw his own blood."
"No, it was real, I can't remember her name, but......"
"Mum, stop, it wasn't real sorry but it is your imagination, the Alzheimers playing tricks on you. If we needed a blood test we would go and see the professionals, not get a dyi kit and do it ourselves. Think for a minute, does that really sound like something we'd do?"
"Yes sounds reasonable to me, are you sure?"
"Positive Mum, would never happen in a million years. Please believe me."
"Well it's just as well then, I can't find the vial of blood anywhere."
Sigh
Then she moves the conversation on and starts talking about going out to Sydney for a day with her friend Heather. Apparently Heather called and they are going to go walking around the Harbor to check out all the changes. Now that sounds feasible, but is it? That's the biggest problem, the fantasy about drawing our own blood, yeh that's impossible, but Heather could of called her, and they could of organised a day out in the city. It wouldn't be the first time they've done it, and it is entirely possible they will again.
But something in the back of my mind will say, is this real, did Heather really call? I have no fucking idea LOL. To me though it sounds great, so if it's real then I'm all for it, I know Heather would meet her at Central off the train, I know Mum can get herself onto the train, she has, after all, done it for years, so it's not something new she's learning. And I know she'd have a great time. I also know that she will tell Heather all sorts of stuff that isn't real, but she is convinced has happened, but I also know that Heather will just listen and laugh at her stories without being mean and not quite believing her like me LOL.
When the time comes for Mum to come home, Heather will put her on the train, and call me so I can meet her at the station. All will be well. I actually hope that this will happen.
Now if only I can get it out of her head that my brother and his wife are not divorced LOL. That one is harder, she is convinced of it, and when I mentioned on Saturday that they were meeting up for a holiday in the US, she said, oh have they gotten back together then.
7 times she tried to convince me it was real, that it really happened, and despite me knowing it's not true, it would be so easy to just go along with her, but this is one of those few things I won't go along with. If she says that she spoke to someone she knows from way back when at the shops, and yet I know that person died several years ago, I'll just nod my head and let her continue. If she says, she's been trying to get her washing dry for a week, I'll just agree with her, when I know that she did the laundry that morning, and it's all on the line drying in the sun. It's easy to let the simple things go, but when it's something that makes her sad, I can't. After finally convincing her it wasn't true, she breathed a sigh of relief, but I know it won't last, she'll be back on the story in no time, because it is a new thing to her, the new things are not something she can remember. As soon as she's told something isn't real, you can see the wheels turning and the light go out, before it flares to life again, and she repeats exactly what she just said as if it was never said. I hate it, but what can you do.
There is no cure. The medication she takes just slows it down. She has good days and bad. We laugh together, and insult each other (in a friendly manner) just like we always have, and that's good cause as we have always acted like that, she remembers it. She laughingly tells people I'm mean to her, when I say she can't buy something she already has. She'll tell them her daughter is now the mother and laugh. But we both know this is reality, I am becoming her mother, I have to watch what she does, I have to make her appointments and keep her pill jar full. For now, while she is not fully gripped by the disease, we can still have fun. It's exhausting work, especially when I have a job to do already, but it's something that must be done. We've gotten Power of Attorney done, the Enduring Care done (medical), I jokingly tell her that I now have the power to say pull the plug LOL. It's daunting though, and not something I'd planned on. But I guess no one ever does plan it. Life is just like that. People live and people die, diseases come and steal away the person you've known your whole life. I know this happens, I've watched my soul mate die. I always presumed I'd live longer than my parents, but who knows anything can happen. And now I can rest easy knowing that precautions have been taken for Mum, for when she gets to the stage of having to leave home, forgetting who we are, and slowly turning into someone else.
I sometimes think that it would be nice to believe in God, then at least I could pray or believe in miracles, but I don't and that's not going to change. Life is wonderful, creating a family is beyond belief, we live we love and we laugh. It's all what is supposed to happen and right now the easiest thing to do is go with the flow. Enjoy the funny moments, forget the heartache, I've done it before when Don died, I'll damn well do it again now LOL.
Catch yas
Cathy
"Did you try to call me?"
"No, wasn't me"
Strangely when someone tries to call her she presumes it's me, I tell her that if it was me I'd try again, don't call me and waste your money on the call, and yet she still does it.
"Oh well wasn't important I guess. Anyway, I went over to the shops today to pick up a few things. I searched for that Doctor but couldn't find her."
"What Doctor Mum, if you need to see a Doctor I can make an appointment for you as soon as Sam gets back from his holiday."
"No it was the blood Doctor."
"Ummm what? You don't have any blood tests to do."
"No not a blood test, well it is, but we drew our own blood and had to drop it off. But I can't find my vial."
"Oh ok, ummm, number 1, I'm not drawing my own blood or yours."
"No no, you me and Andrew went to Penrith Showgrounds and we ran into her there. She gave us all we needed to do it, and told me I could drop off the samples on Monday."
"Again, we aren't drawing our own blood."
"You can't possibly expect me to believe this one was pure imagination. We all went and it was real."
"Yeh it was your imagination. I haven't been to the Showground for years, and I know Andrew wouldn't go and bring home a vial to draw his own blood."
"No, it was real, I can't remember her name, but......"
"Mum, stop, it wasn't real sorry but it is your imagination, the Alzheimers playing tricks on you. If we needed a blood test we would go and see the professionals, not get a dyi kit and do it ourselves. Think for a minute, does that really sound like something we'd do?"
"Yes sounds reasonable to me, are you sure?"
"Positive Mum, would never happen in a million years. Please believe me."
"Well it's just as well then, I can't find the vial of blood anywhere."
Sigh
Then she moves the conversation on and starts talking about going out to Sydney for a day with her friend Heather. Apparently Heather called and they are going to go walking around the Harbor to check out all the changes. Now that sounds feasible, but is it? That's the biggest problem, the fantasy about drawing our own blood, yeh that's impossible, but Heather could of called her, and they could of organised a day out in the city. It wouldn't be the first time they've done it, and it is entirely possible they will again.
But something in the back of my mind will say, is this real, did Heather really call? I have no fucking idea LOL. To me though it sounds great, so if it's real then I'm all for it, I know Heather would meet her at Central off the train, I know Mum can get herself onto the train, she has, after all, done it for years, so it's not something new she's learning. And I know she'd have a great time. I also know that she will tell Heather all sorts of stuff that isn't real, but she is convinced has happened, but I also know that Heather will just listen and laugh at her stories without being mean and not quite believing her like me LOL.
When the time comes for Mum to come home, Heather will put her on the train, and call me so I can meet her at the station. All will be well. I actually hope that this will happen.
Now if only I can get it out of her head that my brother and his wife are not divorced LOL. That one is harder, she is convinced of it, and when I mentioned on Saturday that they were meeting up for a holiday in the US, she said, oh have they gotten back together then.
7 times she tried to convince me it was real, that it really happened, and despite me knowing it's not true, it would be so easy to just go along with her, but this is one of those few things I won't go along with. If she says that she spoke to someone she knows from way back when at the shops, and yet I know that person died several years ago, I'll just nod my head and let her continue. If she says, she's been trying to get her washing dry for a week, I'll just agree with her, when I know that she did the laundry that morning, and it's all on the line drying in the sun. It's easy to let the simple things go, but when it's something that makes her sad, I can't. After finally convincing her it wasn't true, she breathed a sigh of relief, but I know it won't last, she'll be back on the story in no time, because it is a new thing to her, the new things are not something she can remember. As soon as she's told something isn't real, you can see the wheels turning and the light go out, before it flares to life again, and she repeats exactly what she just said as if it was never said. I hate it, but what can you do.
There is no cure. The medication she takes just slows it down. She has good days and bad. We laugh together, and insult each other (in a friendly manner) just like we always have, and that's good cause as we have always acted like that, she remembers it. She laughingly tells people I'm mean to her, when I say she can't buy something she already has. She'll tell them her daughter is now the mother and laugh. But we both know this is reality, I am becoming her mother, I have to watch what she does, I have to make her appointments and keep her pill jar full. For now, while she is not fully gripped by the disease, we can still have fun. It's exhausting work, especially when I have a job to do already, but it's something that must be done. We've gotten Power of Attorney done, the Enduring Care done (medical), I jokingly tell her that I now have the power to say pull the plug LOL. It's daunting though, and not something I'd planned on. But I guess no one ever does plan it. Life is just like that. People live and people die, diseases come and steal away the person you've known your whole life. I know this happens, I've watched my soul mate die. I always presumed I'd live longer than my parents, but who knows anything can happen. And now I can rest easy knowing that precautions have been taken for Mum, for when she gets to the stage of having to leave home, forgetting who we are, and slowly turning into someone else.
I sometimes think that it would be nice to believe in God, then at least I could pray or believe in miracles, but I don't and that's not going to change. Life is wonderful, creating a family is beyond belief, we live we love and we laugh. It's all what is supposed to happen and right now the easiest thing to do is go with the flow. Enjoy the funny moments, forget the heartache, I've done it before when Don died, I'll damn well do it again now LOL.
Catch yas
Cathy
Sunday, June 12, 2016
50 Gone Forever
I've been reading links and comments online ever since the mass shooting in Orlando. I can't help but be disgusted in the hatred that is spewing out from supposedly civilized people.
I don't give a damn whether the people killed were gay or straight, no one should fucking care about that. What they should be caring about is, someone decided to murder them, someone stole the lives of their loved ones, plain and simple.
They got up in the morning or afternoon, looking forward to a night out with friends, a chance to party, have some fun and unwind. They went out to a place they believed was safe, somewhere they thought they could have a blast then go home and maybe regret it in the morning. But those 50 will never go home. Their families and friends will mourn them, will never again get to hold them and say 'I love you', will never get to see them grow old. They are gone, they aren't ever coming back.
And yet we are forced to see comments like '50 dead fags, good' or 'If Obama wasn't president this wouldn't of happened', seriously? Get a fucking grip you idiots. These 50 were human beings, they were loved, maybe you didn't love them, maybe you don't like their lifestyle choices, but who the fuck are you to make nasty comments about them? If the people making these comments were actually human in any way, they wouldn't be saying it, they'd be quietly commenting things like 'RIP' or 'So sad sending love and prayers to their families'. But nope lets blame the victims, lets turn this into a political fight, lets do anything but have any sympathy.
This was a violent act of domestic terrorism. The choice the murderer made was his own. No one told him to go and commit this act. Free fucking will. I make no secret of the fact that I think the gun laws in America are fucked, I never have and I never will believe that the 'Right to bear arms' means that every citizen should be armed while taking the dog for a walk or going shopping. I don't understand why you need a gun in your car or even in your home. My blood boils when I read about a child getting a gun and shooting themselves or someone else, and then having to read the crap that spews out about it like 'My child would never do that, they have been raised to be responsible with guns.' well listen up dickhead, accidents can and will happen, and they do, every fucking day. People get complacent, they believe that because they and everyone else in the house are trained in gun safety then they don't have to worry about having guns in the house or car. Complacency is what causes accidents. Complacency gets people killed. If the gun is not there in the first place it is not there to accidentally get used.
Now I'm not saying that there shouldn't be guns, not at all. Farmers need them, police need them, the armed forces need them, but Betty Sue taking the kids to day care does not need one.
Sorry went off on a bit of a rant there and strayed from my original thought, but the thought of guns does that to me.
We are losing our humanity, plain and simple. As long as there are arseholes in the world making nasty little comments and being totally uncaring our humanity will continue to slip away. If you can't say anything that is sympathetic, or if you want to use a tragedy to turn it into your own agenda of hate, then fuck off, don't comment. Save your disgusting thoughts for your own personal blogs or facebook posts, something that is shared with your friends (if you actually have any). Keep them off the public pages, don't comment on someone elses post, get off the news links, better yet stop being an arsehole and actually think about the pain someone is going through right now. The loved ones of the victims are suffering and they deserve to know that people care, and that people are horrified by the actions of one man. They don't need to see their loss turned into a political agenda or a hate campaign. They don't need to see the lives of their loved ones disrespected because of their lifestyle choices, they need our sympathy and caring.
Catch yas
Cathy
I don't give a damn whether the people killed were gay or straight, no one should fucking care about that. What they should be caring about is, someone decided to murder them, someone stole the lives of their loved ones, plain and simple.
They got up in the morning or afternoon, looking forward to a night out with friends, a chance to party, have some fun and unwind. They went out to a place they believed was safe, somewhere they thought they could have a blast then go home and maybe regret it in the morning. But those 50 will never go home. Their families and friends will mourn them, will never again get to hold them and say 'I love you', will never get to see them grow old. They are gone, they aren't ever coming back.
And yet we are forced to see comments like '50 dead fags, good' or 'If Obama wasn't president this wouldn't of happened', seriously? Get a fucking grip you idiots. These 50 were human beings, they were loved, maybe you didn't love them, maybe you don't like their lifestyle choices, but who the fuck are you to make nasty comments about them? If the people making these comments were actually human in any way, they wouldn't be saying it, they'd be quietly commenting things like 'RIP' or 'So sad sending love and prayers to their families'. But nope lets blame the victims, lets turn this into a political fight, lets do anything but have any sympathy.
This was a violent act of domestic terrorism. The choice the murderer made was his own. No one told him to go and commit this act. Free fucking will. I make no secret of the fact that I think the gun laws in America are fucked, I never have and I never will believe that the 'Right to bear arms' means that every citizen should be armed while taking the dog for a walk or going shopping. I don't understand why you need a gun in your car or even in your home. My blood boils when I read about a child getting a gun and shooting themselves or someone else, and then having to read the crap that spews out about it like 'My child would never do that, they have been raised to be responsible with guns.' well listen up dickhead, accidents can and will happen, and they do, every fucking day. People get complacent, they believe that because they and everyone else in the house are trained in gun safety then they don't have to worry about having guns in the house or car. Complacency is what causes accidents. Complacency gets people killed. If the gun is not there in the first place it is not there to accidentally get used.
Now I'm not saying that there shouldn't be guns, not at all. Farmers need them, police need them, the armed forces need them, but Betty Sue taking the kids to day care does not need one.
Sorry went off on a bit of a rant there and strayed from my original thought, but the thought of guns does that to me.
We are losing our humanity, plain and simple. As long as there are arseholes in the world making nasty little comments and being totally uncaring our humanity will continue to slip away. If you can't say anything that is sympathetic, or if you want to use a tragedy to turn it into your own agenda of hate, then fuck off, don't comment. Save your disgusting thoughts for your own personal blogs or facebook posts, something that is shared with your friends (if you actually have any). Keep them off the public pages, don't comment on someone elses post, get off the news links, better yet stop being an arsehole and actually think about the pain someone is going through right now. The loved ones of the victims are suffering and they deserve to know that people care, and that people are horrified by the actions of one man. They don't need to see their loss turned into a political agenda or a hate campaign. They don't need to see the lives of their loved ones disrespected because of their lifestyle choices, they need our sympathy and caring.
Catch yas
Cathy
Saturday, May 28, 2016
Ahhhh Winter
I love Winter in Australia. It's not cold enough in most of the country to snow, but it's cold enough for me to enjoy the hot flushes rather than curse them.
I can delay putting on the heater or a jumper, while I bask in the warmth of getting older. If I could I would force my body to only have a hot flush in Winter. Menopause is not fun, your moody, you're facing the fact that you can never have children again, some of us get headaches, we feel weak, and of course we feel old. I'm 56, my knees are shot, I can't shake a cold like I used to, I'm overweight, I should give up smoking, and I'm tired, all the damn time. Of course if I lost weight and exercised more, I'd probably be fitter, I make no excuses for not exercising, except that I hate it LOL.
In Summer the hot flush takes me to the edge, doesn't matter if I'm sitting in front of the ac or standing in a cold shower, I'm burning up from the inside out. Come Winter, I sit there smugly in my t shirt, laughing at everyone huddled in front of the heater. I put the window down in the car and let that cold fresh air freeze my poor mum. I snigger when told how cold someone is. I have the fan on when I go to bed, cause I can. I have doors and windows open in the house, while everyone else goes around closing them, I am a menopausal woman hear me roar LOL.
Of course there is a down side, there always is to something we enjoy. When the hot flush does stop, and believe me they do they aren't there constantly, I am absolutely fucking freezing. I put on jumpers and jackets, turn the heater on, throw my wheat bag in the microwave, put on gloves and curse the cold through my chattering teeth. And all of that in Summer LOL. Seriously though, I am freezing. My body has felt so hot for so long, it's like being in the oven, and then your plunged into an ice filled lake. And that's when I am cursing someone for leaving a door or window open. Luckily it isn't too long before the next flush comes and I'm back stripping off the layers and laughing at everyone shivering. Before long it will be Summer again and I'll be sweating up a storm, but for now I'll bask in my warmth.
There is, of course, other things I love about Winter. The smell of smoke in the air from fireplaces, the freshness of the air, the slow cooked dinners, the cat curled up in front of the heater and, since I live in the mountains the hint of snow in the air. Now I'm older and don't want to go swimming in the creek I loved as a kid, or plunging into the local pool I can appreciate Winter more. I used to hate it, we couldn't do anything we loved to do outdoors, cause it was just to damn cold. The only thing I liked was going to a pub and having a drink in front of a huge fire. Of course, I wasn't supposed to be in the pub, but hey, who's going to throw me out now LOL. Winter meant netball season as well, which I loved, crisp apples and apple cider, picking them straight off the tree. It also meant Dad would burn off all the leaves in a huge pile and we'd get our potatoes cooking in the embers. I didn't enjoy the cold legs that we had because our school uniform was a dress, not practical pants for girls.
Sitting here at the moment as I type this with my t shirt on, and thinking why is the cat looking at the heater like it should be on, it's a gorgeous day, the temp is perfect LOL.
Catch yas
Cathy
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