*** Singles' Christmas and Holiday Thread ***

December 6, 2008

[rabidralph]

LOL! You’re at the top of every girl’s Christmas wish list, Laz!

[rabidralph]

You and your dad have my prayers, Snugs. Thanks, for all you do around FR.

[snugs]

I did not know you could get Rowntrees Jelly in the States the great kids favourite over here I think the number one seller is raspberry.

I will try to get him to eat jelly again but it was jelly he aspirated on (in my opinion) though the hospital think it was the feeding tube in the wrong place. Afer this he was very nervous about jelly and is happier with things like apple sauce but pureed.

The hospital often serves stewed fruit at lunch time which I let get cold and give him at supper because they tend to provide hot milk puddings at supper which he does not like.

Unfortunately he is not a soup eater but I like the idea of the egg drop which I may adapt also baby food, I in fact did get a cauliflower cheese and pasta one today which I will try him with tomorrow I am just a bit concerned that they will be low on sugar and salt both of which they want him to have a fair bit of. Apparently with a stoma you need a fairly high salt diet.

Tinned fruit is a good idea as well I did not think he would be able to cope with this but he managed very well with a fresh strawberry today, I could not believe it that the shops have actually got strawberries in.

Once again many thanks for your suggestions.

At least today he is drinking well and actually asked me to get him a coffee from the coffee shop today.

[Albion Wilde]

How are you doing?

As we say in the old neighborhood, "what's the use of complaining?" LOL!! Hope all is well with you.

[Albion Wilde]

We do not have Rowntrees anything in the States, unfortunately. I can still remember my first taste of heavenly Rowntrees Fruit Pastilles the first time I went to London way back in the late 60s, especially the blackcurrent flavor. Blackcurrents actually were forbidden to import into the U.S. until 2003 because they host a kind of plant disease that threatened the logging industry -- presumably there is now a cure. So for 30+ years, I seriously craved blackcurrents until recently. Now I can buy blackcurrants as a juice or jam, and some produce stores bring in the actual berries around the holidays, but they are still quite rare in the U.S.

Regarding gelatin dessert, the most prominent brand in the U.S. is "Jello," and it is so popular that most Americans refer to any form of gelatin by that brand name, jello (which is a no-no -- companies try very hard to protect their brandnames). If your jellies are by Rowntrees, they must taste wonderful!

I'm glad your dad can eat some fruit and light fare. Continued Godspeed with his recovery!

[Hyzenthlay]

Thanksgiving... I invited a college friend who couldn’t make it to her home on the other side of the country over, she spent the night and we watched funny youtube videos and played video games most of the time, then we ate and dropped her back off on campus and I went to work.

My Christmas plans are pretty non-existent, and cover less than 24 hours... get off work on Christmas Eve, go to a candlelight service with my family, sleep in Christmas morning (or beat on my sister with my pillow if she tries to get me out of bed too early), open presents, eat something, then go to work and back to my normal routine.

[Nowhere Man]

As always, it’s great to see you. I tend to agree that we may be entering a time when we must rely on good friends more than ever. I’m more and more unhappy with my employer even though I’m paid very well. I’m stuck as a second-class citizen in this company. I’m paid extremely well, but I’d be willing to take some cut in pay to be in a company where I’m treated more equitably. My biggest fear in making any kind of move is that I work with so many good people and would not have them available.

I know, that is a huge fear. I was working for Fed Ex through a temp agency but here, I do not, no "middle man" which is good. Sometimes it is "who you know," my buddy of over 30 years helped me although I was the one that got myself in, he just cracked the door for me. I don't know what I would do in your case, jobs are tough to find and if you have good friends there, I'd stick it out if it looks like they will keep you. I know myself, I'm using muscles I didn't know I had and I get achy all over, I'm 42, not old of course, but my body does tell me, "you're not 18 anymore." I don't complain, I just pick up the heavy stuff and load it in the truck or car and go on, if I need help, I call for it. I got a 70 year old mother and 4 cats to care for. Most of the time I'm on the road almost constantly so I listen to Glenn Beck thru Sean Hannity every day. B-)

[Nowhere Man]

God bless you Nowhere Man.
I sure hope your car holds out until you can fix it so it’s safe for you hon.
& I sure hope you like your new job & make plenty of friends. & by all means...continue on with the Hussein jokes! LOL

((hugs))
Kristin

Thanks. Yeah, I'm also getting to know more and more mechanics, hopefully even if I buy the parts, they can do some work at a discount for me if I cannot do it or not have the time. My buddy did that and he cut the cost of repairs down from $1000 to $300.

[Nowhere Man]

Glad to hear you father is going through his operation well, I know it must be a hard time for you. My prayers to you. I also pray my mother has a long, healthy life, I know if I had to go through what you did, I’d be a basket case.

[Nowhere Man]

Hey, welcome back, Laz!

[Nowhere Man]

BTW, liked the pic of the peacock. Did you know that peafowl and chickens are of the same group and family, they are closely related? I even saw a Youtube video where a rooster and a peacock were challanging each other over territory. It wasn’t a staged fight, they just chased each other around basically, no one was hurt. A coworker put it this way, “a peacock is a rooster with more bling.” B-) One interesting fact about chickens is they have the ability to grow teeth in their genetic code but it is “switched off.” They are also believed to be the closest living relative to the Tyrannosaures Rex.

[Nowhere Man]

Some winter, huh?

Yeah, the coldest in a long time, I keep hoping I have deliveries all the time to keep my truck warm. B-)

[ColdSteelTalon]

There is really only one hope I have for the holidays. I hope for them to be over as soon as possible. I know that many put special significance on the Holidays especially for Christmas. And I am grateful that Christ died for me and that I am reconciled to God.

But I also reflect upon this time of the year about what I have not been blessed with. Things I have prayed for for a long time. Prayers that have not been answered. So I am ready for the new year to begin already.

Christ is many things to me, my saviour being first and foremost. But I have learned that Christ is not a Santa Claus, giving you what you want all the time.

Its sometimes hard but I need to trust his wisdom and power especially this time of year.

[DollyCali]

you are like most of us

we are overwhelmingly blessed BUT we focus on WHAT WE DONT HAVE!

We are the half empty cup people!

I hope & pray all visiting here will work hard this coming year to see fruition in the dreams - and not disappointments

[Petruchio]

Thank you for the kind words.

I had moved in with Mother back in 1995. From the start we agreed that it would not be parent/child, but roommates. She actually was a lot of fun to be around. As her health went downhill I had to take on more and more of the tasks here. The hardest thing was when I had to tell her to do something or scold her. (example: she sometimes left the burner lit with NOTHING on the stove . . . ) It is very hard to be the authority figure with a parent. For the last year or so I had done everything except help in bathroom needs. So in some ways her passing is a relief.

I am surprised that I am adjusting to the quiet as well as I am. Over the last 8 years she had so many hospital stays that the ICU Nurses termed her a “frequent flyer”. Each stay would be 2 to 4 weeks so I have been getting used to it for a while.

So far Indiana looks to be an interesting place to move to. I welcome any single FReepettes posting convincing reasons to settle elsewhere . . . [grin] All will be considered.
Must allow concealed carry
Must have a reasonable cost of living

Anyplace other than the hellhole that Illinois has become.

[DollyCali]

when “OUR TIME COMES” I head south - dont like winter - but that is just me - find the cost living, red state & gun carry is imp too

Re; hospital stays - they can be much more demanding on caregivers) even though everyone thinks “you are getting a break” - you spread your available time in several places & must be an advocate/involved while they are institutionalized

[Rca2000]

Well..we had an unexpected death in this family. My Aunt Marie White has been somewhat ill since she had a stroke last winter. For MOST of the year, she was “making it” but over the last few months, she has needed oxygen to survive. She has smoked most all of her life, so that did NOT help her lungs any at all.

Last Thursday, she had to be admitted to the hospital, as she had a hard time breathing even with oxygen. They found a growth around her lung. So, they planned to operate, perhaps to remove part of one lung.

Meanwhile, while this was going on, her husband Tom, my uncle, was to have surgery to take care of a perforated colon. Up to VERY recently, he has NOT had much sickness at ALL.

By Saturday, Marie had contacted a “staph infection” at the hospital, and we (my mom, me and my sister) all saw her on Sunday. She was NOT good at all, but she did know who we were. we had NO way of knowing it would be the LAST time we would see her.

My mother went to see her on a lunch break on Wednesday. She was given the “run around” about seeing her and then—a nurse came out and told mo that Marie died earlier that day. Needless to say—mom was devastated. Her and Marie got pretty close over this last year, in fact all of us did, other than Brenda. She would NOT go to see Marie Sunday, and she would NOT go and see her on the many times we saw Her and Tom on Sundays after church. Now—she is probably feeling bad that she did NOT see her before she died.

Mom is taking things quite well. She knows Maire is in heaven , and God seems to be giving her comfort. We saw Tom last night, and he is recovering from his surgery in a different hospital, and is aware of his wife’s passing. He wants to delay the funeral till her is out of the hospital sometime next week. He seems to be in pretty good spirits, considering things. He is 80, Maire was 79.

So—a funeral right before Christmas. NOT exactly what was hoping for.

Some of mom’s friends have been supportive, of course, including her best friend Sylvia, her coworkers and my “sister” Laurie too. Laurie talked to mom Tuesday night, to try and comfort her, and this was BEFORE Marie died. She does know what happened—and said she will send mom a card of sympathy.

To make matters worse—my boss Patty, whom seems “upset” that I do not consider her “a friend to me like Laurie”,— (Laurie is VERY special to me...and I do not consider ANYONE to be the kind of friend she is...nor have I EVER)— Well Patty WENT OFF on me a couple of days ago like NEVER before,or for that matter, like few people EVER have. Over a misunderstanding regarding the cost of a repair of a tv of a woman who did not want to pay much—she said some VERY cruel things to me, including that “she did not feel we were as good of friends as she wanted to be”, that “I would cut her throat at the first chance” and that “she could not trust me”. Since that time....we have had VERY little to say to each other. Ironic,. as it is usually her husband Ray, who gives me a hard time. but he has been “ok” during this period, and he NEVER said ANY of those things to me before either!!

what brought it on?? I don’t know..I think Satan is VERY upset at me, because a couple of days before—I did some HEAVY DUTY witnessing to Patty, as “the door opened to do so” and I did not miss the chance. She has been hurt VERY badly by a church, basically, one would NOT baptize her grandson(IIRC), because Ray was “not a christian” and that HURT Patty. I let her know of some of the “nice things” that happened to me over the decades in church, such as being labeled a drug pusher, lied about and kicked out of doing sound TWICE in 2 different churches, having parents tell their children that i was a “bad influence on them” and to stay away from them or destroy friendships with me , and so on...BUT I am STILL involved in church, in fact , I am now doing sound AGAIN, at Dayspring, where we are now “firmly grounded”. I tried to convince her to go to some Bible-teaching Church before the end of the year, hopefully for Christmas..and she seemed “open” to the idea. Now..she has said some things that will NOT be easy to “take back”...but I WILL forgive her, if she “comes around”...It is a PATTERN, that when I witness to someone who REALLY needs it...something BAD happens soon after, usually between me and that person.

On a happier note—Tuesday night, Laurie had a present for me when I saw her before my radio club Christmas party. She had made some VERY good cookies and things for me, along with a nice Christmas card. Of course—she is NOT going to be forgotten for Christmas by me...in the LEAST!!

[DollyCali]

oh Jack - so very sorry about the death of your aunt & also your uncle’s medical problems. It is hard to say goodbye to folks we love, no matter what the age/situation

I think the New Year’s prayer & resolution should be for a better job, more money, and NOT crazy bosses.

Seems like this couple on & off are not the picture of stability & life is not good if you must continually work on egg shells

thanks for letting us know

Have fun shopping for Laurie - I know she has been a bright light for you (gift certificates are always great - Restaurant, movie or theater packages, Mall gift certificates)

[WFTR]

I’m sorry to be slow responding, but congratulations on the first deer. I hope this week has seen you in the woods again with similar success.

[WFTR]

Thanks for the bump and Merry Christmas!