I am a World Class Worrier

Jamál (Beauty), 13 ‘Azamat (Grandeur), 168 BE – Sunday, May 29, 2011 about 12:54 PM Pacific Time

I took Parade’s quiz “Are you a world-class worrier?” My score was 77%, which confirms what I already suspected. I am a word-class worrier! I can see the worst-case scenario on a clear blue sky. In the sport of worrying, I am a professional athlete. My list of worst-case scenarios is infinite.

Since worry causes stress, I need to come up with a plan to stop worrying. I need to take a deep breath and remember what a friend once told me. She said that the things she worried about never happened. The things she never worried about and never thought to worry about occurred. I have to remember this when my worst-case scenarios rear their ugly heads, invade my mind, and cause my dark brown hair to turn white with stress.

Stress interferes with the solution to the problem. If I am worrying about something that may never happen, I cannot solve the immediate problem. I suggest that anyone who worries about anything go to the Parade website and take the test. This test is fun and educational and it will give you an idea of the type of worrier you are. Click on this link Are You A WorldClass Worrier

I changed my cell phone to a monthly plan

‘Idál (Justice), 9 ‘Azamat (Grandeur), 168 BE – Wednesday, May 25, 2011 about 6:25 PM Pacific Time

For the past three or four months, I have ran out of minutes before I ran out of month. Therefore, I changed my cell phone to a monthly plan. Last year, when I bought the phone 300 minutes for 60 days was fine. In fact, it was more then I used and the minutes I did not use carried over. However, the past two or three months I have ran out of minutes before I ran out of month.

At the end of last month, I bought 600 minutes for 60 days and ran low on minutes last week. Therefore, I changed to an unlimited monthly plan. Now I do not have to worry about running out of minutes before my check hits the bank. True I cannot carry over the unused minutes, but it is worth the price because I do not have to worry about using minutes at the end of the month.

I can now call anyone I want without worry. I do not have to consider whether to answer my cell phone when it rings. In addition, I have discovered a new definition for unlimited. Life is good.

Mom begins Adult daycare this week

Kamál (Perfection), 7 ‘Azamat (Grandeur), 168 BE – Monday, May 23, 2011 about 6:50 PM Pacific Time

The schedule for my mother to begin adult daycare is Wednesday, May 25. I do not think Mom is going to like going for the first few days, but once she gets used to it and it becomes a part of her routine, I think she will be all right. It will be good for her to get out of the house and interact with other people.

I am looking forward to see how she likes the experience. I am looking forward to having some time to go to the laundromat without having to worry about Mom. I would prefer to do the laundry at home, but I have to have the pipes behind the washer fixed and that will cost more money then we have right now.

I plan to schedule time at the laundromat on Thursday and Friday this week. I plan taking three baskets of laundry each day, I will be happy if I get one of those days to do laundry. It seems that I encounter some sort of difficulty when I schedule a specific time for any activity. In addition to the laundromat, I have to take my car into the shop because I think there is a problem with the thermostat. I need to do a couple of other items, but I have to do laundry on at least one day.

Still waiting for Adult Daycare

Istiqlál (Independence), 4 ‘Azamat (Grandeur), 168 BE – Friday, May 20, 2011 about 2:40 PM Pacific Time

I am still waiting to get Mom into adult daycare. The doctor has not gotten back to the daycare center, so they cannot take her until the doctor contacts them. Mom needs to go to the daycare because the staff has experience with Alzheimer’s patients. Mom needs to get out of the house and interact with other people.

When I take, Mom out she does not want to leave the house; however, once she gets out she enjoys the experience. Mom may not like going to the daycare center at first, but once she gets there and begins interacting with other people then she will enjoy going.

Since Mom got out of the hospital, she is in a better mood. Going to the daycare, she will have access to exercise and other things that will keep her active. Now that she has two hearing aids she can hear what is going on much better then she could before, so the daycare experience will be more enjoyable.

I would like to get her started next week; I know it takes a while to get this going. I am just not sure it should take this long. Maybe I am becoming impatient.

Boneless Skinless Chicken Thighs

Istijlál (Majesty), 3 ‘Azamat (Grandeur), 168 BE – Thursday, May 19, 2011 2:04 PM Pacific Time

When I went to the grocery store on Tuesday, I bought a package of boneless skinless chicken thighs. Normally, I buy the chicken thighs with the bone and the skin still attached, but on Tuesday, I decided I wanted to try something different.

I like the way the way the boneless thighs cook. In addition, it is easier to eat and fix in different recipes. Mom seems likes the chicken better then any other type of meat, since she does not want to eat with her fingers the boneless thighs are easier for her handle.

Early Voting

‘Idál (Justice), 2 ‘Azamat (Grandeur), 168 BE – Wednesday, May 18, 2011 about 6:49 PM Pacific Time

The Municipal General Election is on Tuesday, June 7, 2011. Early voting begins on Saturday, May 21, and ends on Friday, June 3, 2011. I received my sample ballet a few days ago. I look at it a couple of times each day, attempting to figure out what day to vote.

Saturday, May 21, is out because I have food to pick up that morning. Mom has someone to stay with her, so I do not have to take her with me. However, I do have to be back to the house by 11:00 or 11:30 AM and will not have time to drive to any of the early voting polls.

I think I will vote either Sunday, May 29, or Monday, May 30, because the early polls are located near my house. I am working the polls on June 7, so I have to vote early and I enjoy voting early. The only thing I have to do now is decide whom I am voting for, I will decide before Saturday, just in case I get a chance to vote then.

A New Hospital Bed

Jalál (Glory), 17 Jamál (Beauty), 168 BE – Saturday, May 14, 2011 about 5:51 PM Pacific Time

Mom has a new hospital bed in her room. The guy delivered and set it up earlier this afternoon. Mom has acid reflex and it is better for her to sleep with her head raised. Unfortunately, pillows do not do a good job of keep her head raised. Mom also has to have her feet raised because she retains water and her legs swell.

Mom has not seen the bed yet, so I do not know how she is going to react. I hope she is not too upset about it. I will move her old bed into the spare room and see if I can get a new mattress and box springs to put on it. The mattress of Mom’s bed is newer then my mattress, so I will put that mattress in my room.

Friday Thoughts on Friday the 13th

Istiqlál (Independence), 16 Jamál (Beauty), 168 BE – Friday, May 13, 2011 about 1:35 PM Pacific Time

It is Friday the 13th, which is supposed to be bad luck. I doubt that today is any unluckier then any other day of the week or any other Friday. It is a bright sunny day in Las Vegas and I am waiting for my mother to come home from the hospital. Since someone is bringing Mom home, I do not have to go after her. I am looking forward to having Mom in the house again.

I began this about 11:00 AM and someone interrupted me, so I am going to post what I have before I encounter another interruption.

I miss my mother

Kamál (Perfection), 12 Jamál (Beauty), 168 BE – Monday, May 9, 2011 about 2:22 PM Pacific Time

Last Monday, May 2, I called an ambulance to take Mom to the hospital. I thought she was having a heart attack. I wasn’t a heart attack, the doctors at the hospital sent Mom to a Care and Rehabilitation center. Today is one week in the Care Center. Mom is seeing a physical and voice therapist. I don’t know when she will be released.

I spend the morning with Mom, but I still miss her here at home. I know she wants to come home. When she does come home, she will spend five days in an Adult Daycare Center. The Daycare Center has a nurse, so there is someone there to give Mom her medication and see that she gets the proper exercise. I know Mom isn’t going to like going to a daycare center, Mom doesn’t like being in the Rehab center because she would rather be home.

It’s good for her to get out of the house. At the Daycare, she will get exercise and participate in other activities. Mom will receive three meals a day and be with other people. Once she gets used to going to the Daycare, she will enjoy the experience.

Update since my last post

Istiqlál (Independence), 9 Jamál (Beauty), 168 BE – Friday, May 6, 2011 about 11:30 AM Pacific Time

My last post was on Sunday, May 1. It has been a busy and stressful week. On Monday, May 2, I called an ambulance for Mom and they took her to Valley Hospital. I thought Mom was having a heart attack because she indicated she was having chest pain. She was not having a heart attack.

On Monday evening, the hospital transferred Mom to a rehabilitation hospital and care center. Mom is still there and has two therapists working with her. One is a physical therapist and the other is a speech therapist. Monday I spent all day at Valley hospital and then on Tuesday morning I went to see Mom before my 10:00 AM appointment.

Wednesday and Thursday, I spent the morning at the rehabilitation center. On Thursday, Mom seemed to be doing better because she was out of bed; in addition, Mom went to the gym with the physical therapist. I am going to see Mom this afternoon. This morning I just could not make myself get up when the alarm went off. I am still a bit tired, but I am not too tired to drive to the care center.

Mother’s Day is Sunday, May 8, 2011

Jamál (Beauty), 4 Jamál (Beauty), 168 BE – Sunday, May 1, 2011 about 3:14 PM Pacific Time

Mother’s Day is in one week. I am not sure what to get Mom, last year I bought her a giant Mother’s Day card at the 99¢ Only Store. I would like to get her something different in 2011, but I have no idea what.

I found a photo of Mom and me, which I am posting with this entry. We set for the photo several years ago when Mom still worked at the Showboat Hotel Casino in Las Vegas. At the time, Mom worked as a food server in the coffee shop.

Mom enjoyed working in the coffee shop and she liked the people that worked with her. I do not know how much Mom remembers of that part of her life. I do not know if Mom remembers sitting for the photo. The Alzheimer’s disease has taken its toll on her and on the family. I never know what Mom remembers of yesterday or of the past ten or twenty years.

I attempt to get her to talk about the Showboat, sometimes she will talk about those years and sometimes she is silent. I will see what I can do to get her to talk about it this week; perhaps she will say something that I can use in a Mother’s Day gift.

I miss the woman my mother was before the Alzheimer’s disease. I am my mother caregiver and Mom is not the same woman who worked as a food server in the coffee shop at the Showboat. Then Mom was independent and happy.