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Life and living before diagnosis till who knows
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am I blessed or WHAT!!!
Most of grand and great gran
GOOD MORNING to you all
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Dalton is the youngest in the family for Tim and Denise except when Lilly visits. He lives at home and is also looking for work in a town to small for lots of work. He gets side jobs once in awhile.
He and adam must be very healthy as they put the mles on their fet daily. They walk everywhere. Dalton has always given grama a big thank you for everything.
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Here you see Uncle Adam He is my grandson. Years ago Tim and his family lived in Hawaii. It was some very special times. Adam is looking for a job and living at home with Tim and Denise. Wish I could turn back the times when we were all together and add the rest of the family. Adam gets to work a few side jobs with my brothers also painters and helps dad once in awhile.You can send a little prayer for him a job also.
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Say aloha to Denise. She is one of those daughters I was speaking about. Early in my diagnosis of AD I met her for the first time and she voluntered to drive me to see my son Todd in Utah. 2 day drive What a trouper. Had some AD incidents but all that did was make her more understanding of the disease. She cotinued learning about it. She also traveled with me join Leeza at two new openings. Denise was really the first in the family to understand and accept my diagnosis.Others took awhile but now are so suportive. She is a new grama and loves our Lilly. She runs a restaurant in town that has a bar conected. She works very hard. She hired Keola when he left Hawaii to start a new.
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This my proud GRAMPA. Tim is my oldest son. He is a very hard worker and has ben employed since highschool. He now has a printing business with his wife Denise. As painters go the weather dictates and they live in WA. Luckly it does do well . They have beautiful home and they designed it overlooking a sanctuary of wild birds and animals you can drive thru this. I have a good time here when I stay
cuz it is full of comings and goings. Kids in and out and working at all hours. Tons of homemade food. Tim and denise have 4 children. You wil meet them all.
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Can you tell it is middle of the night and i am not sleeping so have time to get to this plan I had long ago to introduce you all to my wonderful family
This is my only daughter.
Traci is a new grama and fills Erins's life with love. Traci is a PA and doing well but havig problems with a non appreciative boss so she is looking for a new job. Please say a little prayer that she gets that dream job working at something she loves so much. I am so proud of her. She has two beautiful daughters Rian and Ally (mom to my ggd) and stepmom to Jason who passed away. She also has a son in law who is a #1 daddy. will show pictures of them soon. She and Deb have a home and Deb's mom and Rian live with her. When I go to the mainland I always have great times at this home.
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Take a look at my beautiful grandaugter Jen
with Lilly my great grand. Jen is the oldest(except for Jason who oassed away last year). of my grandchildren and a very hard worker. She recently got hit with the downsizing but now has 2 jobs. She is really a go getter.She moved back home with Tim and Denise to get a new start. It is wonderful to have a great family.
This calls for an apology but most of you understand how very hard it is to get to this  some times.
Now that is is almost over I am looking for some good health news.
A few friends in my prayers
Today antie has her testings. It is time they find an answer to her health problems. She must be living on
someone elses ensrgy as hers is used up Please help her. Also her hubby
Sis is awaiting good news for hubbys job and keeping the health of her son. I also pray for a special secret for Sandy dealing with understanding.
I talked to Ben yesterday and he sounded ok. I did tell him all of you said hello and hugs.
Sista need to get over her badtime too
Alan and val are dealing with a hard ne wproblem Val has Parkinsons
Frank need prayers as he goes to respite as he feels lonely there
My son Tim and family all are down with colds etc
Traci daughter is looking for a new job although still working. Right at the moment I am having a hard time remembering the chat people names sorry I missed you.
What a birthday month I am going broke.wish I could hug them all well her it comes a big hug from mom/
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I truly cannot believe it has been since the 17 of jan since I have been here. So mch has passed so guess Id better get off my trip and speak of the last two months. I went from thhigh of being with my family to the low of results of moving 6or 7 times in 6 weeks results. I did not fel very down except that the weather did not warm me but I wore the same clothes as walking in the snow. My accupucturist said my pulse was so light hard to get and from my toung and the different pains I felt with the pressing points before the needles. My lungs stomach kidneys and sinus were all oout of wack. Went to Dr. Brandon who wnats to retest my skills this month. Was not into food much and could not get warm. This month after a chinese pill and then something stronger I am doing great. Have all and more of my energy back. Gooing to temple often and getting the spiritual back on track also. Hearing from the kids pretty often and that helps loads. I am truly think I have gone more up in the last 2 months than down and even feel the power of words beginning to return. Still get lost on bus but not dwelling on that keep cell phoe in hand. Even got to cleaning my room and ridding myself of many things making urtaihns. Had a great DR. MItch chat on compassion meditating. Learning to live the secret and help others every moment I am able. Having all children gone is a hugh adjustment but now know that living there I would go downhill so fast that I have to get them here instead of me visiting them there. I still am working although not as much . Been able to go to chat more often now and that is a big boost. I am donating 2 books to the library across the street and probably giving a lecture. Feel like I just jumped out of a cocoon and am on the run.... think my temple and living in compassion as often as I am able has somehow gotten into Verns being. He is very much different MMost of the time and I count my blessing for this.
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Yep its grama with mana in the trailor. This is the oldest of the two ladogs One slept with me each night.They are such a kick. had a wondeerful dinnersteak, mac salad and maybe I forgot already. Got up for breakfast after settling down in a park and it was nice. They have a toaster that actually makes the english muffin onin the slice place and cooks an eggwith melted cheese oin a pan thing on the toaster and then had a jimmy dean sausage patty to top off an egg mcumiffin nothing like mckey ds This is the life.One day I will have to spill the beans to you all about Jimmy Dean and myself.....At the course inUtah Arizona or Nevada only minutes apart it was sun shinning and 50 not my cup of tea for golf but they had a great time and i drove my own cart. Loved it.
1 18 09Another day of golf and another beautiful course the prettiest I have ever seen cept for a few in Hawaii. All hilly and and then desert strange but geoorgous. Drove the cart so badly not really just fast that Ilost my brand new glasses never to be found.and one earing from taking scarf off and on. well never should have worn them foolPlanned $200 for plane and son said Happy Birthday Mom. from both of them so sweet.so spoiled they would not even let me cook or help clean up.was 60%
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Yep thats her my Lilly well AdamIn military and Ashley did have something to do with her and the new grama and grampa here share her a little with me. They have her in bed with them everymorning. Are they douting.She is talking up a streem with sounds and almost giggle and a bit of yelling that she loves hearing her happy vooice. So do we lolTim got hurt at work we accused him of just wanting to be home with lLilly but he was in pain. Can't even drive to help oout. Think I could in the country.No phone or computer. Wonder why phone will not work always did here at tims.Lots of little girls in Hawaii are called honey girl so now I have a Lilly -girl. First birthday Kiss was from Llilly then Ashley. Ash has a party while I was in Utah. Her birthday in the 12thWent for a walk in the snow cuz thought I lost camera one of the treasures of my life. Not lost tho thank God.Son dropped me off at airport to go to Utah as only had to scan ticket. Well many man minutes later did it with help of a young man. met a girl from Hawaii that had an 8 hour flight delay. Since I was there 2 ours early we talked.wheel chair in Utah and so great to see Todd and Tamra waiting for me with heated car seat....Tomorrow we take off in their moble trailor for 5 hours. to golf and see where Todd wants Vern and me to move.....
i am so independant in HawaiiSeems like if I was there I would only see other kids one time per year so what the use of it.I know the busses and town so well and can walk all over.Just love them so much from here. Well this christmas I will have money to brong them all over. I am counting on it.The travel dogs weigh 45 and 55 lbs and they think they are lap dogs. They are bull terriers.
Grandkids already called me to see when I am commming back to make their special pancakes. They call it out and I make it(princess, turtle ,rabbit ,gun.sports car,space ship.)
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This is Deb Tracis partner and little Erin her GD also.
Another day with family so nice to have everyone near. Same group for a woderful lunch. Denise made the Kahulu Pig and did a great job.
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This is Traci daughter with her 1st grandchild by blood and my little not so little erin. She is beautiful as you can see.
Wish I could walk from kid to kid all in one neighborhood.30this big party for kids and siblings. sat and pl;ayed with lilly. adam and Dalton (GS) had some of the
terraki seaweed their favorite from grama. and left.
Tedd(S) Melinda girlfrinen so far and mother of the kids came over with the 3 grandkids angelo anthony and annabel.gave them gifts from grama suitcase. Then came Traci,Deb RianGD and the happy baby in the picture Erin Mom was at work.
Ashley gets so much free timewith all the new GP and cousins and GG
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This is my daughter in law but really like a daughter. She is holding my Lilly only 3 mo old have lots of pictures but picked this one without looking
1-8 from my journal
The airplane was the roughest I have ever flown. It was a bit like a small plane on a rough day hopping all over the sky. This was for most of the 5 1/2 hours. I was in the pot and the stu told me I shoould be in my seat I said I am cannot get up. Oh well guess out of yearly or more flights it is time I had a rough one.Glad I did the wheel chair helps the stress of getting lost.Was in the chair when I spottes Lilly her mom ashley my son tim and grandson adam. I jumped out of the wheel chair and ran the guy pshing me so carefully just laughed as I remembered to tip him after hugs and tears.OMG she is beautiful and sooo tiny.Looks exactly like her mom as she was my first blood grandchild and so tiny also beautiful as she still is.Slept with long johns 2 turtlenecks 3 blankets a sweater coat with hood and a neck scarf. everyone else in t-shirts. Going to join the winter and not fight it this year( my gosh it worked to be positive)
Some gone to work waiting for mom and Lilly to wake up for 4 hours now it time to bang pots and pans. patience is over ...Te kids left all Christmas up for me and wow was it beautiful ..I spent days looking and smelling .Long time since I saw a full on Christmas.They have a very well behaved dog and cat. Traci called to check my schedule I told her you and denise need to make it for me please...sent boxes but left bikinis behind dumbell. Keole got them out and Vern sent them off for me. Prepaid GO TO MYPC and left # to get in at home.
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These children are my life Going to try to keep track of this vacation it seems so important to be with family even moreso than before. I still have last years photos to put in a book a cd get put away I still am from the old school wher turning the pages bring me joy.In haste I sent tons of photos to each child as my mom cut photos upwith her Alzheimers.Now when I go to visit i am bringing some back. Thats me indicision and disorganization. i want to journal this trip and have gone to an old book foro3 not yet filled. It seems to be hard to get to computers and when stuff seems like too much trouble anymore I don't gt stressed I just let it go so you see why nothing just gets done. I cannot remember the names of my 2 new greatgrandaughters it kills me when someone asks and im not near one of the 5 places I keep it written My new grampa Tim oldest chile sent me a piicture of his baby and I pushed a button and watched her turn from happy to cring and heard it. wow new stuf to me. I bought 3 pair jogging pants on sale and when I thought I would be in NW for november i sent them on to someone to keep for me. Now I can't rmember who... Went to another celebration of a famous musician who was in the SURFERS in the 50s-70 and the entire island showed up to share their talent to send him off What a show. Tapes could have sold for hundreds of bucks. oops cds wish they would just call stuff the newwest adn forget changing the names.guess you heard we had an entire black out on the island the lasted from 7pm to 630am at my place and others were up to 40 hours. Oh the wonderful Island life. Trying to get solmeone to help me follow thru with caroles new years eve chat but we neew one in each chat as unfair to ask someone to get up at 3 4 5 am to be with us. I got a card in the email from Peter and Ann oh my gosh forgot last name but you know from England but I could not open it like all the rest i got sowill email. Gooing to chat after a couple of calls to have someone there. Love you all. THE MORE FULLY WE GIVE OUR ENERGY,THE MORE IT RETURNS TO US. ALOHA FROM PARADISE Jeanne
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MELE KALIKIMAKA
SURE DO MISS EVERYONE
SEEMS LIKE EVERYTHING IS JUST TOO MUCH TROUBLE THESE DAYS.
lOST A PHONE BILL AND ENDED UP OWING $400 BUCKS WHILE SCREWING UP MY CHEECKING ACCOUNT EVEN WHEN VERN PAYS ALL MY BILS. GUESS I WAS HAVING TOO MUCH FUN BEING WITH MY BOYS TWO AT A TIME. NOW I GET TO BE WITH ALL FAMILY MAYBE THAT WILL HELP MY BRAIN GET CLEAR. mY FRIEND WHO i TRAVELED WITH SAYS jEANNE IF YOU NEED AN ADVANCE I KNOW WHERE TO FIND YOU. WHAT A FRIEND NEVER EVEN THOUGHT OF ASKING ANYONE.
MY MOUSE IS SHOWING UP AS FOUR HEAVY LINES ANS IS IN THE WAY OF MY TRYING.
NOW TO THE GOOD STUFF ITS A BEAUTIFUL DAY HERE WHILE ALL MY CHILDREN ARD SMOTHERED IN THE WORST STORM FOR THE NW IN MANY MANY YEARS. WELL GUESS ONLY HALF OF THAT IS GOOD BUT GETTING LOTS OF PICTURES OF KIDS IN THE SNOW. aLSO TODD IN UTAH IN BURRIED IN SNOW. THEY ARE ALL PRAYING MY GRANDAUGHTER AND GREAT GRAND WILL BE ABLE TO LAND IN pORTLAND AND THAT THE STREETS WILL BE CLEAR ENUF TO PICK THEM UP. TEDD GOT STRANDED IN sAN fRANCISCO ON HIS WAY HOME.
kEOLA AND i SPENT THE ENTIRE DAY TOGETHER YESTERDAY. hE DROVE ME EVERYWHERE AND WE EVEN SHOPPED THE MALL WHERE HE GOT THE BEAUTIFUL GIRL IN THE BABIES BIKINS TO PUT IT WITH HER DISCOUNT SO i COULD AFFORD 2 OF THEM. mAN SO LITTLE BIT OF MATERIAL........
i WISH GOOD HEALTH AND THE WARMEST ALOHA TO ALL OF YOU AND YOURS........ JEANNE LOVE YOU ALL
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Started this to get a baby picture to you but it is ow1 hour later and cannot get it. 3AM TO 4am I give up
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This is a burial at sea will try to get another photo of flowers from the boat. This is my friend Tammy. We cut the lei and throw the flowers over(no string to hurt turtles and dolphin. My friend who passed Rill was diver and taught lessons therefore so close to the dolphins. A school swam buy and around the flowers but too busy cring with joy to snap a picture.
What a geat surprise to see you in my 600 emailsafter beig off the computer for over a month I thik. while cleaning my room and building a new cabinet I unpluged my computer and poof that was the end of that. Having Tedd here I just put my cable on hold ill it was fixed and sure felt lonely out of the family chat. Guess I will do my joournal instead of puting it all here. Love you and ty for being so kind as to mis me. Thats to my loyal friend Sandy. Thanks to Lynne,Linda and Dutches also for appearing in my emails. I did so much deleting my finger got sore tok 3 days for that alone. Also got to talk to Mari struggling with such a long bout of pneumonia.wSo much has been happening with bad eye surgery 3 almost connecing colds. Guess itme to work on the low imune
system. But so much special pictures of my great grandaughters filled the screen through the month. Wow what blessing. The next good news is I had a chance to work extra and earn a plane trip to the girls, grankids my kids and all bros and sisters and hopefully a get together with 8th grade graduates of 54.Tim my son and his wife denise sent Ashley a ticket for she and the baby to get to Washington .Another trip in the winter but will be ok as I will be deep in baby blankets.
Have gone with cold and all to the exibit The Bodies simply amazing. Concerts and sea burials of a couple of friends and a celebration of all departed elks from our chapter here. Beautiful. Tedd and I have donee temple, visiting,youga, vegetarian thanksgiving on wed and regular on thurs that I put on for 7 people outside then joined a group at the beach for pupus and cheer.
Vern and I have gone out to dinner a couple of times and my room is looking really good. Did lots of getting rid of but not enuf yet. Went to a jewelery party. Tedd and I walk and do accpuncture. I stayed a few days at a time at his apt. Lovingly rented to him for a very cheap rate as I did cleaning for free and furnished all paper goods etc etc.
Spent more time that usual with Keola as the two boys are so close and took mom too.Have all my clients taken care of with the help and love of friends. The Christmas gifts from my cllients began flowing in as I worked on fri am s usual and got a magazine soap and lotion gift plus a note to say happy aholidays take the rest of the year off. Plus my usual $50 and a check for $150 to cover my days off. next was$50 and a dinner for 2 at a great spot. More to come and by chance I have 5 days off Christmas week.Tedd will be going home as he extended his 3 weeks onthe 20 and it is coming too fast but I get to see him soon. He did so well throwing away all his cig and everything else. He needs his mom and brother to deal with problems as he has NO support at home. God Bless he is so strong going thru pain galore and lack of sleep but he has begun a new life and I know he will give the world a run for its money. Say a little prayer for his success. (and a mothers peace of mind()
I love you all went to chat for 2 hours cuz did not know my hours now ended up at Alz chat. Hope to talk soooooon
oh forgot the 2 red hatters meetings that were f very holiday.......
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 Well this easy catart surgery urned into the horrorss. I got infection and am missing lots of work. Oweeeee Now putting in drops one 6 time s per day and the other 5 still seeing fuzzy. next appointment on thrusday. Did go to red Hatters with my hugh dark glasses but wnet home early. This bed is getting pretty boring. Hope my pal mari is feeling better now she was pretty weak with pneumonia when I last talked to her. Dutchess is getting ready for her cruise I am so happy for that and Dear Sandy got to go to daughters. hope chat picks up a bit can;t see much to type but will do better in a day or two it is improving now. Hugs to you all. My son arrives a week from yesterday I am so excited wil cancel other eye for that day want to enjoy him.
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 Mornin''''' Blessings come in small packages. Since getting into Shinnyo-en Vern seems to be doing better. That is I now see what he is trying to do to help that only made me angry before oh to turn on a lightbulb. Been coming down with a cold and fighting in with all I have because have to cancel both surgeries if not. Verns Uncles funeral was so wonderful a celebration of life. He had a video to tell of his life and tributes to all his childrenincluding cousins and the family each got one. All the grandchildren spoke like at my moms.It was very chicken skin. I miss my chat family so much wish I had note book to take along with me to work I could take a 1/2 hour off and work a bit longer. Those who are awake live in a state of constant amazement.
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 Good mornin" Having a hard time think I should live in my temple or at least make my body my temple. en to the most beautiful Youn Adult Speach contest there. The love that just blooms from each heart is so strong when in the temple all people glow. I learned so much from these younger people. Boy do I have lots to change in me for once I step outside the temple I judge people. Last ight I was trying to meditate and fell asleep and an ugly wicked woman and I were in the same room she was trying to either kill or hurt me. I was screaming so loud Vern came to me and rubbed my back bringing me back to reality. It seems trying to remember names and things where to go ofr help are lost somewhere in my mind. ow I have to go to my guiding parent and ask for some help to make notes to keep with me at al times thee short chants and the governing things of Buddah. Aren't I so lucky to take my problems to help me do better.
Any how I could not sleep so tried to picture the lady who so inspires me to be in this tempe and for some reason I turned on the hawaiian music on my tv and I could picture her clearly. What a peace came over me. Wow I am where I belong but learning to live in love like the Buddah and the followers will not be an easy task but worth every moment I put into it.
Sending off gifts for one family that says Happy Birthday and could be Merry Christmas. Others I said if I do not get some sign you received this count it as your last. Shoping, packaging,getting to post office and earning the money to send small things is hard as heck for me please show my you appreciate. Is this what you remembrer from childhood or do you remember sending cards and at least calling.
Well got those things off my mind. Now to make room for loving thoughts.
So sad today only had 20 min for chat before work but MT no one there
We coould certainly slow the ageing process down if it had to work its way thru Congress.....Will Rogers
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 The picture of Vern and I reminds me of the happier days, and a longing for them to return. How can I let someone elses depression get me down. I have tried everything i know possibe to help Vern and of course he says he is not depressed wow does he think I am too stupid to read the picture on the wall or the man living in front of the tv with no friends left. Often I feel he just has nothing in common with me anymore since my talking skills leave much to be desired. And his choice in tv leaves me bored. I go out with friends to keep my spirits up. And of course like chat today Mari always helps me. Wish she did not get kicked off so often would really get me down. Love her dearly and pray for them lots they have had a bad couple of years and it is time for it to end. They are such a great couple something I miss that lots of my chat friends have. Missed Sandy and Lynne and Dutchess they are good for me too. Frank Chris and Tony were there and great to have them. Tonight i am going to the October fest and looking forward to everything but the clothes choise but I do have uniform muumuu so that will do. I miss my kids so much as Nov was my time to go see them but had to cancel as baby great grand is being born in virginia and wanting to help my son( his first grandchild) to ge there for his new one. I am happy that hopefully my third son and grandson will be here for the xmas season. That should perk me up. But worried that my Vern will not be happy with them staying here part time. My family can squeeze and be happy his stays in a rich hotel ..and he does not like company. This time I am pleasing me and thats it, if he had a friend he could stay with them but he is loosing them also. Guess I will get the help I need from Temple tomorrow depression is something I cannot get into or I will go donehill so fast. Tonight I will be with friends that keep me up so that will be great. I hate going out so much and leaving him home but we have not much going for us together. Much to my sadness but what can I do? But cry I made a copy of this and left for Vern when I am out tonight. He need to know how aI feel and we cannnot talk
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 Hope you all an red this blown up. TY Sandy for going to my book to sign. Today is a good day working on my room and got to chat with my favorite people. I have been prtty busy and loving it. Just one small complaint that is working on my mind and that is I feel Vern does not talk with me because I cannot carry on a good conversation which sefs me back but could be he woould rather listen to TV.. oh well got to remain social so do it on my own. Going to red hatters tonight and hope to have a picture for you lol of the old ladies having fun fun fun.
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 This week or so has been so full. withing 2 weeks I saw all my docs. eyes brain bones and skin next week. All were late......grrrrrr. My little AD lady went to hosp with very low blood pressure. she is ok now.the foot I dropped the bed springs on is healing good. the one from the bus accident 3 1/2 years ago is finally being helped but notw the insurance says I spent the $10.ooo so not more. That was after the $800 dollaar MRI that found all the inflamation beneathe the ankle that was causing all the trouble. Suure hate gettinga attorney but what can i do.went out to Hawaiian music at a food court. Beautiful. volunteered at homeless feeding and service with singing. Went to see Miss Saigon amazing and voluntered at a place hanging banners. I should not mention this stuff cuz it seems like bragging but so proud ogf what the temple has got me into. daughter in law birthday this month. .. There is a path of fear and a path of love. Whicg will we follow hugs alll
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Some how with all I have to do I got stuck in this thing I was #77 and when I was botn top song was Frenesi by Artie Shaw Well sure cannot remember that one but did all my kids and they are all real clear. It is fun try it
Other than this i have a DR appt for anohther AD check up. Aloha Jeanne
That which is timeless is found now.
Http://www.joshhosler.biz/NumberOneInHistory/SelectMonth.htm
Put the name of the song below and keep it going! And be sure to send
It back to the person who sent it to you.
1. Justine - 'You Send Me' by: Sam Cooke
2. Denise - 'My Love' by Petula Clark WHO???????????
3. Angela - 'I Honestly Love You' by Olivia Newton John
4. Michelle-'Hello Goodbye' by The Beatles
5. Gayle - 'I Can't Get Next To You!' by: The Temptations
6- Claire- '(There Ought to Be a) Moonlight Saving Time' by Guy Lombardo
7- Dianne- 'Moon Love' by Glenn Miller
8- Rose - 'Rum and Coca-cola' by Andrews Sisters
9 - NANCY - 'My Dreams Are Getting Better All The Time' by Les Brown
10. Denise- The Song from Moulin Rouge (Where Is Your Heart) Percy Faith
11. Debbie - I'm Sorry - Brenda Lee
12. Renee
– It’s Now or Never - Elvis Presley
13. Kathy
– “Don’t/I Beg of You”
– Elvis Presley
14. Judy
– At The Hop by Danny & The Juniors
15. Chas
– Boogie Oogie Oogie
– A Taste of Honey
16. Lisa--Someday We'll Be Together--by Diana Ross & the Supremes
17. Janet -- Mona Lisa -- By: Nat King Cole
18. Wheel of Fortune-- by Kay Starr
19. Some Enchanted Evening' by Perry Como
20. Tammy: 'Looks Like We Made It' by Barry Manilow
21. Robin Pony Time by Chubby Checker
22. Melissa hooked on a feeling
23. Amber: 'Tonight's the Night' by Rod Stewart
24. Ramona: 'I Wish' by Stevie Wonder
25. Debbie:
'Mama Told Me (Not to Come)'
by Three Dog Night
26. Ann: Goodnight Irene by Gordon Jenkins & the Weavers
27. Jill: That Lucky Old Sun by Frankie Laine
28. Ron: Twelfth Street Rag by Pee Wee Hunt
29. Christina: He's So Fine by The Chiffons
30. Kimberly: 'Rock With You' by Michael Jackson
31. Kate: 'Night Fever' by The Bee Gees! (WOW)!
32. Lynn: BESAME MUCHO by Jimmy Dorsey
33. Ginny: Sentimental Journey by Les Brown
34. Betsy: Rum and Coka-Cola by The Andrews Sisters. (IT FIGURES).lol
35. Judy: Till the End of Time by Perry Como
36. Kitty: Heartaches by the Number by Guy Mitchell
37. Jim: Your a sweetheart by Dolly Dawn
38.Denise: Ode to Billy Joe by Bobbie Gentry
39. Lana: Soldier Boy by the Shirelles
40. Denise S.: To Know Him is to Love Him by the Teddy Bears
41. Helene B: Manana by Peggy Lee
42. Kathy : Purple People Eater - Sheb Wooley
43. Nancy JS: A Little Bird Told Me - Evelyn Knight
44. Cindy: That Lucky Old Sun - Frankie Lane
45.Frank:
'Mule Train'
by Frankie Laine
46. Lynda: 'Ballerina' by Vaughn Monroe
47. Perry 'Lovely to look at'
by Eddy Duchin
48. Alberta Tuxedo Junction by Glenn Miller
49 Jane
"Little Things Mean a Lot"
by Kitty Kallen
50 Lisa -
Theme from 'A Summer Place' by Percy Faith
51. MaryMoo
...
"Jingle Jangle Jingle"
by Kay Kyser
52. Beti.....
"Woody Wood-Pecker"
by Kay Kyser
53. Patti.....
"The Battle of New Orleans"
by Johnny Horton
54. Gary Rags to Riches byTony Bennet
55. Sharyn ...."(Will You Love Me ) Tomorrow" by the Shirelles
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57 Nancy Hello Goodbye" by The Beatles
58 Allan ..... 'I can't stop lovin you' by Ray Charles
59 leeann- "Love Child" by Diana Ross & the Supremes
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 This is my Erin and her cousin Jason Yep its good day off. Got to sleep in and play on computer, add research to blog and now got to journal. Wow Had a good time last night and made it an early night. great friends and good music and even good food. The night outside by the ocean only added to the fun. I should look thru my journal to see how many times I say I have to get to my room. Sat is a good day cuz got the house to myself and can have my music loud. I got g-mail and do not quite understand it yet but it will hopefully put a stop to those $$ signs that keep comming up at the worst time. The man that was living in my storage is not under the cover in my backyard the is owned by someoneelse. Keep giving him deadlilnes and it is stressing me out. The last one I told management is tuesday I hear him snore and cough and fluf his sheet at all hours and it is only 3 feet from my bedroom. I cannt even go outside to water plants without seeing his face the landlord left town without taking care of the problem...... well got to go for a walk to calm the nerves and now Tuesdaya is deadline. Hope I can make it without a hatchett. Love to you all "Karma can change life like the swish of a horse's tail." goves me too much to think of what I can still do and not ruin another piece of Karma
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 This sleeping is something else. wake up at 12 -3am and cannot go back to sleep. Had to cut work by 1 hour as legs were giving out on me. Guess I am blessed to have such wonderful people to work for as I just told her I had to go home. Other than that life is G R E A T !!! Saw the screenng of Nights in Rodanthe so very good a great romantic story. See it if posible. News of the hour guess my son and grandson will be here for christmas and New Years this year. I feel so blessed. I said just come we will go camping if we cannot find space. Had a spot but e had problems with airline tickets so lost it. Told him if my friend or x friend coould sleep in my storage so could he. Our family is happy with floor space . Chat today was for smilinng. Sounds like Barbie is dooing so well, Dutches has her real diagnosis and Mari is doing well and going to get groomed with Dave. I am putting a queen sizedown fluff on my twin bed. I t would make funniest movie for tv but to busy to take the movie. I now have to have a stool at the foor of my bed to get in. Hope I do not fall off.. If I get through with this effort I will get a picture here otherwiose not. I am almost to the ceiling with 2 mattresses and this. need to store mattress for family when they come. Have to get Vern into the idea that my family is welcome. he is a loving hermit but his family is rich and stays at the finest. Just VAUNTS TO BE ALONE???????????????? I am so excited over this AA Service Dog Project hopefully coming to the USA from Isreal. I know there are a few here already but sure cannot find them so not very well advertized plus not many actual trained dogs in our world. It needs to be a vry public opening.
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Had a great time at temple yesterday. am loving this group and the earthy giving helping others that amkes it run. What a passel of people loving and working to be and do better. I love it. My son and his # 2 son may come for christmas I am so very excited and have all sorts of plans for them. Talked to Alan NZ today at afternoon chat. What a special guy. He had a visit with fmaily and first grandchild and he is in heaven.
Gooing to a screening of a movie tonight night of the ??? oh well tell you tomorrow. Love you all and huggs huggs huggs
thanks dutchess and jaque for the special messages. ALOHA
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This is for all my chat buddies sorryI can't move this over
Subject: FW: Maya Angelou Poem
Amen!
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A WOMAN SHOULD HAVE ...
enough money within her control to move out
and rent a place of her own,
?even if she never wants to or needs to...
A WOMAN SHOULD HAVE ....
something perfect to wear if the employer,
?or date of her dreams wants to see her in an hour...
A WOMAN SHOULD HAVE ..
a youth she's content to leave behind....
A WOMAN SHOULD HAVE ...
a past juicy enough that she's looking forward to
retelling it in her old age....
A WOMAN SHOULD HAVE .....
a set of screwdrivers, a cordless drill, and a black lace bra...
A WOMAN SHOULD HAVE ....
one friend who always makes her laugh... and one who lets her cry...
A WOMAN SHOULD HAVE ....
a good piece of furniture not previously owned by anyone else in her family...
A WOMAN SHOULD HAVE ...
eight matching plates, wine glasses with stems,
and a recipe for a meal,
?that will make her guests feel honored...
A WOMAN SHOULD HAVE ...
a feeling of control over her destiny...
EVERY WOMAN SHOULD KNOW...
how to fall in love without losing herself..
EVERY WOMAN SHOULD KNOW...
how to quit a job,
break up with a lover,
and confront a friend without;
ruining the friendship...
EVERY WOMAN SHOULD KNOW...
when to try harder... and WHEN TO WALK AWAY...
EVERY WOMAN SHOULD KNOW...
that she can't change the length of her calves,
the width of her hips, or the nature of her parents..
EVERY WOMAN SHOULD KNOW...
that her childhood may not have been perfect...but it's over...
EVERY WOMAN SHOULD KNOW...
what she would and wouldn't do for love or more...
EVERY WOMAN SHOULD KNOW...
how to live alone... even if she doesn't like it...
EVERY WOMAN SHOULD KNOW.. .
whom she can trust,
whom she can't,
and why she shouldn't take it personally...
EVERY WOMAN SHOULD KNOW...
where to go...
be it to her best friend's kitchen table..
or a charming?Inn?in the woods...
when her soul needs soothing...
EVERY WOMAN SHOULD KNOW...
What she can and can't accomplish in a day...
a month...and a year...
Thank you for the blessings, knowing you has given to my life...
The Yoo-Hoo Sisters
A
ND REMEMBER:
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GOOD FRIENDS ARE LIKE STARS.
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YOU DON'T ALWAYS SEE THEM,
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BUT YOU ALWAYS KNOW THEY ARE THERE!!!!!!
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Never miss a thing.?Make Yahoo your homepage.
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Aloha Kakaheaka thats good morning and i do mean morning. Another am of waking up at 2,3,4. My accupunccturist says that is the kidney hour so guess no more evening wine for awhile. Lets see if that changes it. This picture is our new SuperFerry cars and all and this was the maiden voyage when I ws on Lani. Going to get to take it again next month. Got a friend who wants me to go with her to a remote hotel with the old hawaiiana not tv not phone no computers just the ocean and music. She will pay the hotel am I blessed or what. It is $136 PER NIGHT AND WE WILL STAY 3 NIGHTS. The kids have all been so busy feeling a bit lonely. My daughter in law has a full e-mail box so can't even email Keep my son inyour prayers as he and girlfriend not getting along. They have 3 children. Also say a prayer for grandsoninlaw in Iraq. My sisters birthday the 15 and just got a call she loved my present. It is so fun when everyother week now I get to go to chat. That is like bringing a family togther to help , laugh and solve the problems of the world. I am into a great thiny where I hope to bring Dementia dogs into the US thru amybe AFA. The man is from Isreal and takes Collies from Corvalis oregon and does the training and wants to get established in US. Also mari and I are working with a Ph.D. from Mn who is working on a research program. I involves working for an earlier diagnosis of dementias by using peoples writings, lectures,tv appearances and nterviews to show the signs of early stages. He seems so grateful to have us in the study.Went to a liquor show last night with my friend Alan and the food and gifts we so good.Nice tasting new wines out. filled with allthe latest liqour but only tasted the blueberry and chocolate vodka. Today i have a day off hope to get a swim in and pick upa check.
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This is a special toast to all my friends from Maui at the old Pioneer Inn with my two special friends and two especially anty and Jan who maybe were toasting me in a coffee cup when they visited.. We had so much fun Ill put some pictires in soon I will be driving you nuts with pictures now that I'm doing it right. Got to the bottom of 3 blister packs (thats my pills) which are dated and put into only 2 spots each day for pills. Well they got lazy and put my osteopoorisis pills in a seperate box which I did not find til 3 weeks late. Darn why do they think I bother with a blister pack. Saw an odd pill on the bill and called and left my question no one called me back or I would have ttlked with them and found it was a new genetic and in a seperate box.Trying to reach my ashly in Virginia............. to see what her plans are but I lost her and cell# changed. If I can get it all together I will have some #s to reach her... I hope cant have my next great running around where I cannot find her. Got lost on the bus today its a jeanne thing but talked to my friend in Oregon to check on the service dog for me. Will see if I can afford it. They have a miniture collie farm which trains alzheimer dogs. Hope this finds you all calm and happy hugs and kissessessssssss FROM STORIES OF INSPIRATION AND HATTITUDE.::::: SUE ELLEN COOPER "PERSONALITY CAN OPEN DOORS, BUT ONLY CHARACTER CAN KEEP THEM OPEN" "BECOME THE CAHNGE YOU WANT TO SEE,THOSE ARE THE WORDS I LIVE BY " OPRAH
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I think I goot it oh my 2 pictures in one day now this is fun
Of course this lovely man holds his grandaughter who is now a senior lol but he is still georgeous
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Hope I do not bore you to death but here is a bit abut my day yesterday. Worked at my regular monday job and inclluced a tuesday with it. The lady i work for ,very sweet lets oe of the workers sit on her you know what while she watchers her mom my favorite little lady with AD. And wants me to do my 33 hours of work and 4 hours of fixing lunch and taking care of her mom. Well I have learned to speak my piece. So now the rule goes Your mom is my priority and work will come when she is napping. Today had a wonderful day with May is her name. I fel like she is my sister and she laughs most of the time I am there. I love her dearly. She is 92 I believe(forgot) and when I turn on Hawaiian Music she will dance for me. Blessed day. Walked home in the red hot sun about 2 miles. Taking vern to dinner tonight to a Japanese place since I do no do tons of that coking or should we say any kine cooking Last night was the red hatters and it was great the picture is a onth ago when I sponsored it and we did atrsy faartsy things. Someone suggested since they were new to each talk about their lives. It ws wonderful even learned lots about friends I knowtomorrow I will put in a picture of the group on my day.had my nails done my r and r for the month and went to work and ruined them before I got to the redhatters oh well such is life Vern just served me a glass of red while he is taking a showr to go to dinner Can't tell you how wonderful things are going since I have slowed down and got the idea that I needed to take care of me and it was not selfish but a given. Love the temple and its thought and llive it daily and that helps it also. reading eat pray and love and that is up my alley and helping me to sitick to it all. Funny when money becomes secondary of 5th it becomes less important. Whopie Jeanne has seen the light. Love and hugs to all y very very special family.
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Two bitthhays down and today is my sister Julie.
having a bit of a hard tme getting the facts about my grandaughter gooing to the other side of the family to have her baby. he will be in Virginia and that will be a hugh ticket to pay for so that even changes my time in the mainland. Kind of like living on a yoo yo.
Today is Dr appt hope she lets me take less mg of this pill keeps me so tired
Talked with Sandy today and I think our men are from the same batch. lol We know they love us but listning to us is anothet thing. Guess it is a dreamworld to think someone would turn off the TV just to talk story about our day and disease. Oh wll keep wishing......
Missing chat all to often but my mornings are usually time for appts work and fun since I do not see night fun much cept for red hatters which is next week
Today I am back in my care my solace my space. I need a housecleaner for my edroom. I get a project gooing and there goes a;; my flat spaces. Today starting with my desk which has stayed pertty wwell I AM.... going to clean and toss.
Went to the park across the street last night to read my book was noisy around here.. Lots of birds and all kind of activity goiong on.
fiinishing one book that is good ans so ready to get intoone so many of my friends are reading Elizabeth Gilbert...... "Eat, Pray and Love" A Womans Search for Everything It is so good I cheated and started it before finishing my "The Cove" I cannot go back and forth. It is so nice to read a book again since accupuncture and namenda
Got to get to my room
THE CHALLANGES OF LIFE ARE FOOD FOR THE SOUL
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Today I had such big pland for a day off.started on my new date book as the other one looked so ugly I could not read it or carry it and open in front of any one. To fill in the months with my jobs appts and fun from aug to december tok 4 hours. Then I wanted to type amalies address phones and emails and that took another 3 hours. wow hope I can reuse these pages....next yearor 2010 if I am at all able. It took so much thinking and rereading and checking to see I did not transpose I am pooped.
now I am at chat and no one here. Yesterday was full and wonderfun maybe wwe should change it to 3 times a weekfor evening. It is so sishartning to sit and hope someone shows up.
The pill I amtaking for hallucanations was so strong I cut it 1/2 now even that is keeping me tired all day. Had a wewll needed accupuncture yesterday. Between that and the temple last night I slept very well and long.
Sure wish I could just flick a wand and my computer would be all organizedi have sets of photos from cds on here sometimes 3 times and some cds are 800 pictures. take pictures as have some left then put the whole thing on computer again. Now so many I cannot deal with deleting them as may delete too much. Sure miss my friends here at chat.
HOW WE TAKE LIFE IS HOW LIFE TAKES US..................
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 Thats Grama Traci , MY great, Erin Lynn, Ron and Ally (MOM nad DAD) I hate that date box why can't it tell me what day it is and not me have to tell it....... Not to bad only 2 days. Think I should keep a better journal as maybe some of this mess I am in will help others. At work this am I needed to leave about 1 hour after I got there. I tried to miss the yard work on the complexes as they are really noisey. Many times I change times to do that but forgot to write them down so have probably been repeating same times. Came early to miss and they were already there. Turn on music not loud enuf turn on vac and it is not loud enf so wrote they begin to rake after 2-3 hours of cutting and weed wacking that is 930 so now I will begin at 9 30 and see if I can handle. That is if I remember before I hear the horrible noise. Went to bed a 6:45 before dinner and worke up at 7 for work. Think if given a chance and a cool place I could sleep the clock around Jen and Tim got their gifts today and Pat hers a day ago at DON HO birthday party. The music was so wonderful wish I could have bought all my friend fans of him a cd. Gee what I could not to with money but off that subject since I am downsizing jobs. extreemly excited about going to the Shinnen-yo Temple this Sunday. It is not a sunday religion but something you keep in your person when you leave and live loving humanaties and giving all you can to help with diversity of communities. They met with me after I sent a letter saying how much chicken skin and tears the program broought to me. That was the floating lanterns one. I wa sthere when Jason my grandson passed away so I knew all signs were leading to me checking it out. I met with all the officers and it was family in one moment. do not know if I mentioned I was making this trip to the kids 2 months long so training someone to take my place. Just need more time with them. Wish the fares were not so high so I could get them here. They all miss it but to bring a family here is for the rich. Still waiting to win the big bucks. Me and Cinderella. Saw Mama Mia and altohough the music was lots it was so upbeat and fun. Loved it. I had gotten book of free movie tickets and saved them for Vern to go with me tallked him into coming to his choise dark something a bataman movie. He came after work and we waited to go in I gave them the tickets and they were the last two in the book one for popcorn and one for coke. OOPS its a jeanne thing. Thought he would be really upset but said it could not be helped and he refused to pay $9.50 for the film. We go to the 1$ ones. He really liked and took to heart the letter Richard wrote in ite AFA booklet bout understanding between carepartners and us. well written. been 3 lovely days after that and emeotinal anger readings. i just cannot say what I mean and when he reads something it makes life so much easier for days or weeks. aloha for the night looking for a pictture
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 Howz this for some special friends. Jeanne ,Kalani, Fran and Truman having a great day at Pearl Harbor and the Arizona Memorial with the expert and special personal tour guide Kalani who was THERE. We have so many persons with dementia contributing to helping others in our boat and those who fail to learn as much as they are able from us. Our loving and caring caregivers really need input from us in the earlier stages so they inturn my be able to understand us, our needs, our differences from them, our ups and downs and the whys of them. Stress is a real pull on the downhill struggle and can be nearly stopped with just understanding and conversation about everything................ My Letter to Richard after his article.
Richard although I cannot possibly begin another project I will send off my blog www.simplesite.com/AlzheimersAwareness-Hawaii as I do journal and ask myself questions and try to answer them and will join you when I am able.
At this moment I have found a new spiritual and meditation ,social,comunities and diversity and harmony direction I am trying, I still work, am writing second book, keep up with chat, keep social, listen to my music, read what I am able,visit my ocean and exercise regularily and eat well,keep current with 5-7 Foundations and am working on the newsletter for persons diagnosed with dementias for AFA. Spreading myself too thin resulted in hallucinatins and horrible nightmares which is a good point to share with your readers. My Doctor said "just slow down and use the time you have wisely." I know I am doing that by downsizing and life is gettig better by the hour but it took me years to get here so accepting it is working slowly. I want to say I enjoyed your article in the AFA Caregiver Quartly. I am sure it awakened many carepartners to our needs for understanding. It came at a great time for me as I have been trying to say the same thing with no avail to my partner. Hearing it from someone else (in really better words) has opened his eyes somewhat. It is strange how articles given to a carepartners often help more than us trying to get the point across ourselves. Wish it was not the way it works. Also Our DR. Mitch who comes to DASNI Chat had an article on "Emotional Anger" which appeared on my computer the morning after an outburst of anger from my carepartner. I could not even calm down enough to express my feelings but copied his transcript and gave to Vern and just said what a timely thing for you to read. I thank god for all the persons with dementia who share all they can and those who seem to understand a bit more about us and living without dementia. I think you have great ideas and keep it up.
This month is birthday month with my grandaughter Jennifer, son Tim, sister Julie and friend Pat. That is whom I can think now. Maybe Mary.
I so miss chat when I get busy. Aloha to all you out there and especially Sandy who takes time to sign my guest book something I do not get to when I visit others.
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Count your blessings when your children are near and you could get a family picture any month of the year. Keola is missing because we could not afford to help him get there with us.
Well guess it catches up to one. I feel like once I made up my mind after I got a horrible scare I will stick to i. Even to planning a couple of months with my kids for the holidays. Wish Vern would come but maybe I can talk him into going to his sons. I worry so much leaving him home that long but better believe I will have frend looking after him. Figure better spend good days with kids so will not return to them for the ugly care. I am sure it will take some time to come back as I did it good this time but know it will be ok next month. Really this time have got someone to train in all 13 of my jobs so that when I am feeling just tired I can just sleep in. Bout time I learned money isn't that important. I have seen plenty and been blessed that way.
I do not like the med the doc put me on as it makes me tired all the time but it helps the flickering all day and night. So will be a good girl for one week then see if I can cut it in half.. aloha sure wish chat was busier but then I am not there very often either. I can't yet get there easily in the am and nobody can a t night but alan from NZ and thank god for him.
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Lost yesterdays long journal makes me so mad. Think I talked aboout working too hard Well late yesterday I went to doctor and wow did I get told I was pushing my body to the point of stress burnout. I had been trying to sleep after working a very hard week and whenI clossed my eyes it fllickered like an old movie with a day a week or even years blinking. She has to prescribe me an antisychotic for each night. Also been missing lots of pills and she made 4 pill times into 2 and put my ibuprophen into a bottle and out of my blister pac. I was hallucinating and had to canel todays work just to do nothing but rest. I knew it as did you all but it had to hit me in the backof the head and thank God it was appointment day. Almosr canceled the doc and she said I would have ender up in the hospital. She made me write down steps to download some of my work. Why would ning shut down Our site during chat times. Horrible.
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God Bless someone up there for givng us chat and the wonderful people who keep it going. And most of all the people who come and share and help each other. Seems like not a day goes by someone or a few need the help of each other. Be sure I do not mean it is a sad or complaining room. We need each other as who else really understands our lives and what we are either up against or most of all living a great life but it takes each other to be there and chat does it for me. My computer days are getting more confusing as the months go on. Organization of this thing would be a great help. The time someone needs to spend with me would be so expensive I could onot do it. I am beginning a list of things that come up and thanks to Mair from chat I can keep them on the screen with sticky notes to continue to add each thing as it comes up. This will help the cluter of smal notes all around my computer. Thanks Anty. Add Sandy to the chat today and we had so much in comon we were laughing our heads off. Thanks my friends for helping me thru a tough day..... How about this only a feew days in between my journal postings lol
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Wondering a bit about sleeping. Seems as tho every time i get off work and come home I sit in the chair and fall fast asleep. Often I fall asleep about 4 or 5 pm and go to bed and sleep 8 hours or more if no work. Not often do I thinkaboout going downhill but his may be. I just got notice from 2 people and then read it from Alzheimer's Daily news. Dimebon is the newest from Russia and helping to bring back some memory. Heading for my wonderful friends in chat, Will work on more regular put ins.
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I seem to have a few extra moments and ready to put time in here. I love working with AFA but do not like cancelations. I have to juggle so many things to get ready and then oto be on the phone instead of a job put me late for work even tho it is all arranged . So now i iwll be home for chat which makes my day.The do 2 jobs then tomorrow is my short trip. Going with three gals(one i took the cruise with and another whose hubsband just passed away). She has not been off islandfor 8 years caring for hubby. So nice to hear her laugh again. Its another travel work it off for Jeanne. For a poor person I surely am blessed with going places. We fly over and take our new ferry back It is a sailing race that ends at the Lahina Club and my friend belongs to it. LaHina is one of the most fun places on the Islands Has a Banyan Tree that takes of 2 blocks. We are stay9ng at the Pioneer Inn wher all the whalers stayed in early times. Inside refurbished but outside olooks exactly like the olden days. I will miss Verns Birthday but he said it is just another day go have fun. Got him a great card and will bring him home a surprise. Fixed 2 meals for him but he can do the rest. He is cooking a bit more so the practice is good. He cannot make and egg without breaking the yolk but no complaints from me as long as he helps.It is a day early and I am all packed Did pretty wel with clothes at7 outfits for5 days and nights. One is a warm one for airplane is early morning and always cold on planes They could give cheeper fares if the would lower air on our city bussess too.Have not even talked to kids for a week. Aloha and wish I was meeting you all in LaHaina.
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Well soon I will be back to normal and out of the high life. Surely has been fun but 2 more days then its clean up time.., Talk soon. Aloha honi honi
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Have just spent Fran and Trumans vacation 4 days and 4 nights with them all but the sleeping part. We were on a world wind fun time trying to fit 2 weeks into this time They are lovely generous people and would not let Allan notr myself pay for nothing. Think we finally got to pay for our oun Luau and tip for last dinenr but not one cent besides that. I am sure they will need one night of their 3 in LA sleeping I know I will need a nap after the Conference Call today. The excitement for the Conference call and really getting going on the ideas the Group has begun is wondeerful. I so want a Town Hall meeting of sort her in Hawaii as I am trying to bring Awareness to Hawaii all by myself. Kalani is my only chat pal here and although my other pals are a lifeline and family I admit I really really need help. We are so far behind the real picture of Dementia here in the Islands they still do not recognise me as needing help. My time with the AFA will generate a higher soapbox to stand upon to teach. Hope to see many of you who feel you can help to join the bandwagon. Just email me if interested. Aloha H
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Sucha busy two weeks and lot sof prayers going out for Mari,Sandy's son. Dutchess and Vince and now dear Dave. M grandsons family in healing and anyone needing a prayer for anything.God bless you all and my everything turn out great.
Have been working franikly on the newsletter and help to promote and design it for AFA Early Stage Awareness. Loads of house cleaning and a graduttion or 2 and Fran and Truman coming to visit. Looking for a slow down come July but knowing me as hard as I try does not happen. Love to all who read love you
put new info on research this time
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This is the letter of thanks sent to the two main persons in charge of the events......
Her Holiness Shinso Ito and Roy Ho
The words that come to mind are thank to each person who had anything to do with giving me two days of love, harmony, tranquility and peace. Also how very close people felt at the Sheraton to total peace and love. The program was so well done in elegance and harmony. The Pu'olo Kukui Ceremony brought tears to my eyes and many others around me. The music, dancers and video just brought it all together. Paula Akana beamed of everythng the Floating Lanterns and Na Lei Aloha Foundation represent.
Living with Alzheimer's these feelings seem near and dear to me but the ceremonies opened places in my mind and spirit I did not know existed. I have not missed one of the 10 years for Floating Lanterns plus I have also seen them on the Ala Wai Canal years before. Trying to live what I take from these events is part of my new journey to help others with the dementias as well as anyone I have a chance to share peace and love.
Alzheimer'Awareness-Hawaii (my business) allows me to lecture, travel and promote awareness,harmony, peace and love around the world.
If there are flyers left I would like to mail them or if you have the flyers from both days on your websites I will emai them to my contacts around the world.
I wish to share with you a special thought that will forever be in my heart. My grandson passed away during the ceremony at the Sheraton. The night before I had sent out a lantern for family and friends. After the presentation I left with tears for many reasons. Walked to sit by the ocean to think of him and reminiss the days ,when a lady carrying a bowl of flowers came to put one behind my ear and saw I had been crying so I told her I was going out on the catamaran to send love and she gave me a handful of flowers to throw to him. "ONLY IN HAWAII "
I have lived here 40 some years and these two days touched me so deeply I will live with chicken skin and share peace and harmony..
Jeanne L. Lee
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Sorry to spill my horrors with you.
This comes from yet another I"m sorry Letter from Vern for yelling last night. This is my reply..............
This will be long because it comes from so far down about all the upsets and Im sorrys that I push down instead of being able to toss out. If you will never let me explain myself and listen to me during your arguement(as I have not a chance to vent or explain when you are angry) this is what my life has in store for me and it is not the way I want to or will llive. It is time for outside help.
This morning I cannot even go to worl till after chat. I need them. I have no that loves me enuf to discuss this disease or how it is turning my life upside-down.I can also hear you say you have an answer for everything of course it is my life it does not come naatural I work so hard to stay from going downhill. I think you do not recognise how very hard each mment of my life reall is.
Vern I know you mean sorry but this goes way deeper than that. Yhis is two extreemly stressors in 2 weeks and I am still have problems with the first. I am feeling like these things are pushing me further into the disease. I go on chat and peole know when I have had a big stressor. I am readable. My typng changes , I talk less am an not the positive person that I normally am.
My thoughts of meditation go out the window when I try all I can hear when looking for some spiritual time is hearing the words you scream at me and the feelings go deeper and deper. I try to meditate to relieve stress and myy disorganizational mind.
I pray for others including you daily and can't even do this whenupset
I go to write in my journal and finally have to put down just what is on my mind. It is such a big big part of whats on my mind when we fight I need to put it somewhere and guess the group is who will help me to understand,
Our lack of being able to talk it out is unacceptable to me and I am working very hard to get help with this but am sure you are not willing to get help when it is you that explodes. I do only after you will not let me explain........ and cal me ames and try to put me into your thoughts of what my life should be.. This alone means it will be the rest of my llife.
I feel theis is thee most cruel thing thing I do believe that has happended to me in my life.
Who the hell are you to tell me who I can grieve over. Jason IS my grandson he is tracys step son who she paid out of her own pocket his support in full when the father drank his money. She saved the money to go visit him she talked to him on th ephone almost weekly and wrote him from small child sent cards and followwed his illness emailing him daily thru the tough times. The emails were sent to me and I filed in a ffew words ......... and he is a very very close brother to my grandaughters
I never forgot his birthday or christmas as well as sent him small Hawaii things keola and I were with him for 2 weeks and after that he caled me occassionally and emailed me his progress and his cd when It cmae out. How dare how dare how dare you say he is not my grandson and I have no right to my tears.
I care for people and will continue to be involved lots of this although hard to keep up is a very important part of my journey and why I am on this earth.
you have 2 or 3 people you love and 2 of them you woould do anything for I am not sure I fit into this. You will not go learn how to llive a good life together.
time may help this but if you willnot get help it is only a bit of time till its another I'm sorry.
Down hill in this disease is coming faster than I want and you nor anyone in my life will I allow to push that button too often. The worry I understand and try so very hard not to call you for pickups, not to ask for rides instead of bus,cook as much as I can, listen to sports and the same programs so I can sit in the same room with you. Seems like everything is at your convenience. To the store to the can ad bottle return, where I need to walk to for you to conviently pick me up and let me off(no matter what I am carring, tv programs, meals(better than before and I thank you for that.)movies you pick now we do ot even go if I pick dinner out you do not like the place you talk walking and never go... My life seems to revolve around fu things I do by myself or with friends. Are we just existing with each other . do we have any fun together? What is our love based upon? What do we do to show eachother love.? All I neded was a hug or an Im so sorry he is dying honey
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all I wanted was a hug and im sorry honey is that too much
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Yesterday forgot to mention a very good conference with AFA think we are on the right trail.
Today I went to work a bit late as was hurting over grandson and needed chat. God I oove these people. went in late and worked but afternoons are so much harder than am.tired and heat make it 2 x as hard
DId a bt of hs]hoping and had pt on a meatloaf well forgot to turn the crock pot on so we had soup.tomorrow mloaf
I bought my grandson a couple of cards one singing and it was a HBirthday card but told im I know its not your b but thought it would make you laugh. bought a few as to keep them comming. Friday he will move home todie. God why?????I wa sand am so upset with Vern when I showed him the card i began to ry and he screamed at me its not even yourgrandson.... He is not blood but HE IS MY GRANDSON. We got ito a horrible fight till I went into my room and am really thinking of seperating. Never new someone could be so heartless. i do not want to see or talk to him i need this time to hurt and pray. Is it me?Why can I not hurt and shed tears..... His words are ringing in y ears.So much I wnat to leave him. Wodering wher the understnding and sympathy wil n=come for me. Sorry toexpleode but here is where I have people tha t really love me day t day
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I live on a yo yo this day is so special I began to walk alone to the book and music fesival o the way I walked into a furniture store and had a nic talk and cup of coffee with a sales person. Stoppe d at safeway to get water and tomatoes for my lunch. The sistane is aboout 4-5 miles. Then I say family day at the Honoljlu art academy so went in for some wonderful cultural. On ot hte festival/ it sould have been the best day in my lif efor awhile. first saw greade schoolo kids dancing and singing nec=xt an author telling childrens stories then another author reading stories the nex was a panel of persons my oh my one a buddah person the other a person written a book abot decent forgot the word but searching for trightneoous in government and the a hawaiian activist just looking for what is due her people she believes you do not have to be hawaiian but just love the place you live and peotect it. Went on to buy books visit and talk with peopel more music then went to a special lecture from the buddah/ wow he ade so much sense I could follow him anywhere to reach the enlightenment. All in all it ws a spcial dauy and happy I did it alone so much time for innert hiking.
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Help Vern and I need to get out of this VOG. I am having a ard time breathing and vern coughed all night long. He truly thought he was going to die on the golf course whenhe could not get his breadth from coughing. Our beautiful Islands are all under heavy Vog watch and the tradewinds will not return till monday and then will take 2 days to clear. I am sure the persons with asyma are worse off than us. I hear ambulances all night long. Other than that things are going good. Today I will work and then just rest and make the fish receipt mari sent us. maybe touch on my room or change the sheets. MMMMM great coffee this AM. If Vern sleeps late I will go to work late and then I can join chat. We have two newer members and are enyoying them a lot. Babyboomer and oh darn I forgot but hope to fill this in after chat. Sure miss chat in my afternoon as less jobs at that hour.Trying to call my daughter and taking full advantage of her dr assistant knowledge. She has learned so much after getting top grades in her course for a few years. I am so proud of her. Now I am wondering if I missed Tim and denise anniversary. Better call had it set up on computer and it came up everymonth so I called them this month I ignored it and its the right one. I can screw up simple things on this computer. Everything seem easy to do but when it is wrong then I get overwelmed to change it. HOONe "honi" Kiss hugs and lovin give moma honi honi.
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 Today I foound out how dishonest a union can be. My best friend has been a pilot for Aloha Airlines for almost 30 years. About to retire and they are hiring for cargo which she has done for all those years. They made the pilots with enough years take tests on the cargo end. She knew it indide out but got the ax and pilots under her in seniority and who played golf with the bosses are now in her job. I hurt so badly for her luckly she can apply at Hawaiian but will start at the bottom when only 2 years from retiring. Where the H is the justice.????? On a better note mt friend mari sent me a great receipt for fish and my dear dear sister of dementia took all the troouble for get me the dementia card from dasni that I couod not get. She printed and sent it to me. Nearly brings tears to my eyes at how close we are here in dasni.Another speacial one got her meds canceled and is upset as is her dasni family. Dutchess go get em!!!! got a new pix message and it was my great gd oh she is growing toooooo fast how beautiful wish a picture could return with a real hug in it. got to chat tonight 1/2 hour late. We used to have more on evening chat last year when DLS time was changed. it is sad when anyone comes to chat and is alone wish that could change. Today oour VOG is so bad I could not walk 6 blocks without stopping to get my breadth. How do people live in consatnt SMOG? Thanks god for our usual clear skies. I am so tired tonight maybe the vog. going to bed and it is 4pm cloud in hawaiian ao aaaao
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Well things do get better for patient persons. But I stress before I wait. Must learn that one over.last night we had my sonKeola and girlfriend CI CI over for awhile and she was speaking of the hard time a family was having because of the fathers alzheimers. Vern came up with you have to tell the family members to step into his reality cuz he could not step into theirs. He said he yelled at me and it was not the way to handle it. He is so interested in doing the best he can. I love him so much....
My mothers day was so special Traci was the first caller and talked to Deb also. Tim called from the restaurant some of my kids and grandkids and even a great grand one in the tummy of Ashley his and denise daughter. Then my flowers arrived from Todd in Utah followed by a call from he and tamra.had numerous calls from sister and friends. Then ash called me. Then Tedd who was home after the brunch with all 3 kids so his wife coould stay a bit longer and enjoy mothers day.Then Keola said hed be over soon 6 hours later they arrived that the hawaiian in Keola and I am used to it. We had a wonderful time wiht them. I had called all DIL(my daughters and grandaughter to wish them happy MD. I felt like queen for a day vrn did most of the prep for food and we had a vew beers with the kids then took them to the buss to see her parents across the island. Another great day in the life of a mother I am having great response to my new book
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Today after sleeping from 6pm to 6:16 am I am better and the reason being I went to chat 2 times maybe 3 can't remember. The regular chat persons are the closest people in my life only my family comes in before them but even the family cnnot do for me what the chat does. No wondeer I agreed to write a book to birng out the social part of the disease. Today I am talking to a friend person I work for to see why I am loosing $400 dollars in 2 weeks as she is home and I undersand that. But the girl I got to work for me on my vacation was called in her 2 days, I let heer keep wwednesdays. Now I am about to see why. This is the family I have not only given my heart to but also my spare time and all the love and care I can muster. It may have a good reason but surely set me in pretty deep depression and I need an answer. I depend so much on the money also and my friend does not need it at all she is just doing it for me cuz 3 days plus my reg jobs is too much. Thank God and my angels for chat being here and available for moments like this and just regular days when dasn family is here with joys and sorrow Do not know who has seen this but think they hasd me in mind when they drew it Picture a circle with pie cut shapes cut in1/4 is sleeping, 1/4 working i5 eating and the rest Looking for things I had just a minute ago.............
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What a fun evening I had. Went to a paint by number interpitive dance. Sounds silly but 10 dancers danced and threw paint at paper on the wall and floor(very graceful ) and then did each other it was truly beautiful n during and in the end. I could have bid on one of the wall hangings if they were for sale and if I had money. Missed my 9:23 bus so deceided to call a cab with my friend. Always the deal is with Vern to call. I had my phone off for the play and turned it on to call the cab hense the thought of calling Vern went out the window. I know he worries when I am out but I call him when I need him for an emergency as that is the time I think of someone who loves and can help me. If the thought to call him comes to me first I do and to ask him it never happens but I know I do quite often.. I know he loves me and worries so much when I am out. I just cannot get him to understand just because he says call me when you are on the way home it will happen that way. It is not that I do not try or am doing it to worry him for gods sake I would do anything to make him not worry anything that is possible for a person with a memory problem for 13 years.His realty is so very far from mine yet when I tell him that he says everything I say you have an answer for. Of course I do because I am thinking in my reality not his. My world turns upsidedown when I cannot get thru to him. He hollers and screams and its over after we both apologize but mine goes on for days of me trying to THINK how can someone in my state make others really see thru my eyes and brain. I cannot so why do I beat myself up. It is really not possible for others to walk in our shoes but only to try to understand. I only wish he would talk with my doctor so she could explain it better than I. I pray so hard things will get better and for a time they do he understands and comforts me and I love my lilfe. Guess I expect to much from him. Thank God Thank God for chat and persons in my perdiciment. I guess that is why my doctor really wants me to get another book out. We last long because of our friends in the same boat and helping others who need help. We remain above average persons with dementia because we work the heck out of our brains with books, lectures, caring,sharing and we exercize and also we have a great Doctor who is using us as samples of the pioneers of early stage movement and awareness. We have wonderful carepartners who come to help us and get and give advise. We have members of DASNI who have been with us mostly for support for us who have had dementia persons in their lives but nolonger have.. We have another group so advanced in early stage work it needs to be mentioned often DementiaUSA. Between the two I would guess at over 500 members which possible2/3 have early stages of dementia. Many are on the Boards of theirs and other groups to keep our pioneer projects on the move.
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I think I must write this in a bright color because it is in the past but it was horrible. 3 days after I got home I noticed I lost all keys. This is 9 house keys one gate key and 2 $100 security keys. Both Vern and I remembered me taking them from the doornob and putting tehm in my room out of the way. To shorten the 5 days I tore my house apart and emptied every drawer in the house. Vern left for Las vegas. I had 2 persons checking on me and stayed at their homes a feew days. My girlfriend did one of my jobs for me and came to get the keys. I had seperated them and she had taken them all. When she called oone day she said I have your keys. Told her no need cuz I did not need to clean that home for 1 wk. She called another time and i was in tears. Told her what I had bee up to and she came right over. Well she made my month. No lost keys and both Vern and I are having memopry problems lol. Cooked my coffee and left pot on and a cup in micro for 3 days.bought a broom and dustpan and had to carry it to 3 jobs and left it at the last one. Lost my date book and thank God I had begun to fill in a calenndar for Vern to help me. The reason being one evening a lady I work for called me to see if I could give he the usual haircut after cleaninng said yes and put scissors immediatel in ppurse. WSet my alarm for 5am as I looked at date book and saw I had to be across the island next daygot on the second but to go across island and the haircut lady called me and said where are you, I was looking at the folllowing week. Got off bus and went to where I belonged.Waalked to girlfriends to go to lunch and it also was next week.Got on computer and was getting help when I discovered my printer I thought was not working was on and working. I asked one of the dasni gals to maybe giving thought to writing in my book i hope to deal with then had a hard time telling her some suggestions what I wanted.. Went to a class for computer updates for learning how to do documentaries. Way over my head but the lady is doing one and wants to talk with my doctor and myself for info on early stage things. Vern came home and he says I keep looking lilke I want to think of something or looking puzzled and thats the way I feel lots nw.Trying to organize one little corner of room and toss stuff and all I can do is move it from room to room or pile to pile. Wonder if my mind can work it out.Left umbrella in someones car. Paid to get into movie and forgot what I wanted to see. When I told the snack bar lady she says just look at your ticket. OOOOOOO These are just a feew I wrote down but seems as at least 3 trajadies. per day sometimes in the same hour
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My trip to see the kids,grandchildren,Siblilngs and an 2nd grade pal from way back The highlight was a new greatgrandaughter. Seeing my daughter beam at the whole thing. I knew the feeling she was having and then there was me. Oh my god what a feeling to think the blood line just goes on and on. And I am a part of this little thing born 67 years after I came into the world. And another one coming in November. We had a couple of parties for siblings and kids and kids and grand kids and the new Erin Lynn. Todd and Tamra came up from Utah for the parties, golf and brought their new mobile home wow so nice and 2 dogs. So wonderful to have 4 out of 5 kids together even 3 of mine and Tamra had birthdays together. Think they have never had their names on the birthday cake together. made me cry. Tedd, Melinda, Angelo, Anthony and Annabel and grama went to the most wonderful hotel and indoor water park miles from their home.It was a great place and we all had a ball. I climbed up the 5+ story steps 5-7 times to go down the very scarry slide. Really got a grama workout. Got to see the boys play baseball,tball and both in Karate. They both excell. Had a day with Bel and shoping with mom looking for the good stuff at Trader Joes. and presents for Tedd. Another wonderful 2 days was a long ride (80 Miles in Hawaii thats far) We had snow, sleet, sunshine, and hail. Mercy what a fun trip. We just stopped wherever and whenever, bought oysters from Oysterville slept in a wonderful place right on the beach. So much fun and they took a different rooute home so I coould see stuff I had forgotten. Next to top it off Traci and Deb and a few of their girlfriends and the 2 moms drove up the Columbia Gorege What a sight to behold. They pulled up to this lodge where rooms rent for $500 and had the best brunch. The place wher the food was looking nummy was the size of a few restaurants. the trip was filled with beauty snow capped mts and flowing river dam many waterfalls . This was truly a memorable trip.
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had my time with baby and missed 2 out of three chats all three days. so confusing being away from home. I think if I were to say my worst enemy is change. I cannot work computer and pack and unpack is wow.
I sound like i am not happy to be here which would be so wrong everyone is so great to me. traci has me in mind when she is at home work and shoping. She is so great. Today I am in her red snow outfit. Yesterday i woke up to hard snowing it was beautiful. had to call vern and tkae pictures. it was as I forgot 3 hours earlier and even vern who wakes at 4 o5 was asleepp i was coounting the wrong direction cuz that is the way I count to guess the time here.Whee
played withmy erin lynn most tof the day and cleaned a bit for the kids. Took over one night to let them sleep but think now they need some time alonewith the baby hard to dobut I understand. What a neat mommy and daddy. Erin looks likea little rosebud.
Traci and household treated me wonderful and rian my nieceis a computer wiz and beautiful growing so fast I did not recognize her at the airport.
Today we are driving up to tim my oldest boy and denise dil. They and tedd and menindasecond youngest son want me there. I sent aheard 3 they say 5 boxes but not much mine in there of mine
It will be like christmas, easter and birthdays. nothing big as the #s are so big but they love the carepackages of the foods they love from hawaii etc.
today snow is gone and the entire household is still asleep at 10:12am I have been up since 6:30. Last night Traci got into my gotomypc so easily and this am I cannot do it again. I am on chat 2 hours early waiting for a friend to talkw ith.tim is in a fishing contest n the river today so of course mom will worry till I see him. They havs a bull dog the spits and licks his but and snores and a wee one tht yelps and growles. Got hair on every inch og my clothing. Kids with the baby ahve a wonderful well behaved one so cute and protective of the baby. and next home has a nice one.
Amazing how I can have tome for journal when not working and socializing lol Love you all.
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Boy am I blessed on another vacation.
Could you tell that woman on the last entry to PUT SOME CLOTHES ON it is 40%.
Spent 18 hours at the airport and did not make it on 5 flights. Looked into monday and it was worse so went home for monday and reported again at 4:30am tuesday made the first flight to San Fran and from there the first flight to Portland. Made so many calls on easter my phone went dead and guess what my charger was already in Portland. IT"S A JEANNE THING. last time I asked verizon to charge it as I had alzheimer's and needed to call home/ they said we cannot do that "ba humbug on rules and being the pushy braod that i am i called the boss and got permission. My fear of going to an airport all alone without my connection to family was really scarry. So again the angels came to my rescue and thanks for all your prayers that got me here.
Here was lastnight seeing my wonderful daughter and grandaughter who began to spoil me that fast almost did not recognise her so eautiful. Straight to the new one ERIN Lynn ? oops forgot the second name. Oh my God a few kisses to new mom and dad and took my girl. She is so blessed with realitives I must become tutu(hawaiian for grama) She is so beautiful and they are all doing well cept the mom ally is suffering a hugh itchy rash they cannont put a name to. Dam hospitals. saw all the birth photos and the grama had to have her turn. heard the hardships of new parents and deceided to stay there to help.Well SIL would not let me sleep on the couch and I would not make him leave his bed so I could sleep with Ally. So this afternoon they are getting me a place to sleep so I can play with my GREAT WONDERFUL great grandaughter. She looks so much like her mom and anty it is wonderful. She smiles coos and poops lots. but she also has a cry. Loves to kick her feet with NO diaper on. Of course grama cover her in enough blankets and sox that I need and she was warmer than me.
Today I will call everyone here and hope to see many who come to see the baby. Allys husband Ron is a wonderful daddy. So proud and even had tears at the birth, now thats a man of love in my book. No scanner here so cannot pass on a picture but will soon.
I am on my connection to my computer so hope to get the time right will call vern to see wha tit is. Rian GD is in school treaci at work. Deb sleping as is great grama here and 2 dogs one tht snores Aloha from the cold
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Well I finally got some pictures to a few the rest will have to wait till I return.
My doctor really wants me to do another book and tell what it is like to live the dementia . She wants me to include dasn persons and others pushing the pin to stay active. did not think I had it in me but do have lots on my ccomputer to help and with journals or no hope lots of you can help me. Time for bedbut having lots of troouble with too much on my mind seem to be running in cirlcles. God bless to all healing people I love and a special to Vince and Dave, Sandy and Lynne.
HO'OKAHI NO LA'AU LAPA'AU, O KA MIMI
The first remedy is forgiveness
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getting close to finished tonight is formal we had a tenor tonight. The Ryndam serves 600 meals per day. Did my morning walk on the tread. I coould not figure oout how to work it after using it over 10 times so got help so stupid the girl. Had floral demo so eat. prom nite in the crows nestMany went on a scavanger hunt and I know we could have won between Pat and I we had EVERYTHING plus. But we were too late oops agaion. We never got upset about anything. pat is a very fun person to travel with. lable said motown music but they grew up with a different motown than us. Our cruise director was such a funny, helpful, smart, and coould be a bit sarcastic when someone needed it MAN. This was his last cruise and boy they will have a hard time replacing him.Breakfast we had 3 places to eat continental buffet, full buffet and tab;le service Lunch full buffet deli and salad bar, burger hot dogs tacos and table svc Dinner casual alternative,early seating late seating open seating antd the Pinnacle Grill which cost $15 for lunch and $30 for dinner. Pats travel agent gave us a free dinner there and oh my was it wonderful. Then there was always a late noght snack between 11-12 mid. and of course any time in your room and we did this plenty also especially when going on a tour.there were 9 spots to get a drink. Can't remember all the times I went dancing but lots. Pat came sometimes.
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oh boy think I got mixed up on where we were any how next stop Puerto quesal guatamala or day at sea we passed ovr equator and had a fun party dousing crew in lokok like throwup and ofered them to neptune to let us return. I was a 2 hr show and very funny and messy some had to sit in sun in all mess and some got to jump in the water captain was the king neptune so funny. we stood up and sanf YMCA and I could not follow I finall tried too much and sat down My brain could not keep up .our tour driver had very good english but had a few words that came out funny like explain+explicane. They have dole banana factory here we went on the bus to coffee factory later about that
there are 3 million people in guatama city.founded by spanish in 7.6 per one dollar 1 cinco white background 20 green and 100 red.
maya goes by the sun calendar and most in central and south america only have 2 seasons wet and dry. 20% agriculture coffee thirds place in world because of heighth grown and hand picked so only red berries get picked, sugar cane,bananas.flowere roses all this grows year round. It has more than 150 traditional dress their diet is black beans ans corn tortillaschool runs from jan to oct. all food free at school start at 7 years old land of volcanos over 250 56 active and some shhot us as high as 10,000 feet we saw twoactive , most children born at homeand health care is free alsodiabetes #1 cancer #2. beer is $2.oo at restaurant the cemetaries are so heavily decorated looks like a festival. They also fly kites to send mesages to dead. It was the feast of the immaculate conception.and there was a parade coming. 45 floats and tons of walking peopel. they drink more hot chocolate than coffee they have a nestles factory there.here also it is illegal to change the outside style of the homes.grivilla grow in the coffee orchards for shade.avacados grow year rundthey take an herb for stomachthe streets are cobble stones.football is soccer taxi is tooc mohogany and ceday are used for furinturebeef chicken and beans for food.driver was speedy gonsolas and cherito(little cowboy was guide. at the cofee factory a very handsome man took over and we met his wife and child when reutrning to city. He was so helpful. on the streets of the coffee are piles of wood I mean lots and it is for workers to take home for heat. Caffinca is harvest time.Generally antiga coffee has not blends.barista is bartender. delango is land of coffeeafter picking coffee left in sun to dry with 2 washingsflowering coffee is orchid family they have a chicken bus to carry people and chickens most coffee bought from Italy Japan turkey French aribic Dubai. We ate the food tried the beer and bought coffee wish I had bought more but would not fit in suitcases or box.there was local music and they had persons dressed in guatamalan dress they were holding ladders under the dress and danced and swayed in the plaza as we ate what a site. whew. off for a couple of days as much as I woould like to finish yu cannot imagine the papers it take s to tell this story.
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after rounding Cabo Blanco wwe enter the pacific ocean againfollowing the coast of Nicagara.here in San Juan Del Sur nicagara we will use tenders. we have ashort day here but have planned colorful ngranada tour this sounds familure oh wellchurches cathederals very poor and very rich nice people saw lots of vendors and bough ta few items. say mayan ruins lots of poor sites on the bus lots of history as founded in 8000 BCthe beer here wasVictoria and Toniathis is ijn my notes lol 7/12/18/21/ Rum mystery lol. we taaveled a bit on the apan american hiway. tha alone gae me chicken skin thinking how long it is.this place has 400 islands of indegious Halandra 3190 sq miles 45000 people normal is 8 childrenfresh water sharks and goat and sheep meat good.San Sebastian coffee strong.bumpy roads cept pan am !$=.20 cents cordolla bananas 50 for$3 schools go from 6:45 to 12 then12:45 to 4 and then 4-8. Jade museum nice. casual today formal tomorrow.
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Yesterday I turned into the drama queen and could not stop crting my heart out. Poor Vern he just does not do wel with tears but rubed my back and tried to help. Thank God for turning my day into a DR Brandon Visit. I quess a few persons have mentioned that they are getting just 2 $$ signs on my emails. I did ot put them all together. Now let me know if you got some If you remember getting some of these. So none of the emails I have sent out for 2 months may have not made it. I spent 2 hours with roadrunner, 1hr 40 min with outlook express and the to HP for over 2 then back to microsoft for 1 hour paid the 59$ and then my phone went out. this was the second time i would have had to start over so left it to today after chat. I just cannot handle all this upset with no hopes of solving the problem. One of the ladies I clean for lives in CA and she thoought I was mad at her about money or her check bounced . It wwwent on and on and on.hours. Dr. Brandon always cheers me up about all I CAN do.and we chatted for 1 full hour. Not at all looking forward to all this agaon. I have another day off. This feels good but owuld love to do something besides spending it in tears.
Day 16 at sea
beautiful as usual smart casual and tribute to john denver with a look alike sing alike. Sort of forgot this day will get to pat to find out why
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Manta Ecuador Ecuador is the size of Nevada and means land of the equator 6 active volcanos, bird watachers paradise Indegious tribes. can stand with one forot on each side of the equator when we cross back over the equator have to make sacrifices of the staff it was fun (later
The water runs one way on one side and cross over and it imediatly changes directions.Ecuador imports roses.Here we have pyramids but too far and tooooo expensive to get to.11 different kinds of yams forgot what that meant lol. the guimon plant grows here and it is the treatment for maleriawe had breakfast in the LIDO saw my son only one tho. The equator has 12 hrs of day and 12 hrs of night only..all year long. They love toourists here and had a band to welcome us and fireworks to send us off.I could have spent a few days here.Manta was founder in15 century and a military base came in 1999 there economy flourished and they changed from their money to ours. This is where the best panama hats are and went to an old burlap bag place to see the old way of weaving with a foot pedal. these are used for the coffee and they only make a ew a day. also went to a button making factory talk about interesting the Tagua tree only grows in Ecuador the nut is called Mococha and it dries so hard like a rock they also carve them to sell bought a couple of small carved and bottons. we were given samples too as we went from strp 1 to ster 5 thru the factory. factory workers did not speak much english but were so happy to be in our pictures. So said Feliz Navidad and back on the bus. Our driver spoke wonderful english with a few cute mistakesOur tour was Manta, Monticristo.south of manta wer the signs of the earliest settlers in souoth america. Can you imagine I was out of north america. wow how blessed am I.The beach had a spot that was crowed and it turned out to be where the fisherman bring fish to seel to the locals. This is wheere one of our 6 went off by herself for a swim and took a short cut back to the ship Litle did she know she was going around a secutrity point here they carry machine guns and asked her ?????? they helped her down and sent her A.... back to the boat. See not only me got into trouble. One night I went off ship with one of the 6 not my usual Pat and we checked out a night club. Each wahoine in the place had boobs that did not move and tummy tucks all must have been perfect before but the gal we taalked to was from brazil and told us they were better here. oh well not for me.... I yam what I yam wrinklles that I earned and all and guess Ill keep all the sag too. tomorrow into sanjuan nicagarua.And back across the equator fo the fun with staff. here is where Alana and I cam home late and all were out dancing when an alert told people I was not on the boat my card had registered off but not on I was the talk od the ship and worried a few. I was in bed sleeping and did not see the note on my door to call security to back onto the ship . oops....
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I am listning to this jute box thing that plays all day while I do whatever I like on my compputer you can pick from 40 to whenever. now it is frank Sinatra. the website HTTP://www.streamaudio.com check it out go forward and backwards it free just a small donation if you want. Yesterday I listened about 12 hrs and today is 4 already. We are in day 13 andwe meet the chef he has such a sence of humorvery there for everyone. He is from Germany Chef Klaus Paatsch.today at sea dress is smart casual highlights a re sock hop call my bluff speakers the huichool Indians of mexico the system used on the ship is GPS 24 operationalsatelllites even distributed between six orbital planes,at an altitude of 10,900nautical miles or 20,200 Kilometers.this ensures a minimum of 4 sattelloites are visable to a receiver anywhere on the earths surface at any time. Bought tickets to the lottery for the carribean cruise for 2 One of our group walked away from it. I think one of my highlites of the trip was fruit carving demo. I will put these pictures on alsowechoo are the indians meaningmirrors of the gods.ancient wisdom held onto sacrifice the white deer for safteyin the panama canal we filled the gas tank 160,000 galons how wouold you like to pay for that it took 6 hours.Saw crocodiles basking in the sun along the shore pelicans were abundant.we traveled over 7000nautical miles on the entire trip..it took hours in canal but interesting. We saw where the train I took went. one lock went up 54' and anothe 85' to pass on to next lock. we passed under 2 bridges the Pan American and the centinial. a bit of gambling and a feew more wines. Our wine steward took such good care of us (PAT AND ME) he even bought us a bottle of wine and offered to buy us a bottle each when he went into town.Next land of the equator....... |
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Actually my real life should not be in black as opposed to pink. Vern is dooing so well to help me with housework and cooking. mostly he will cook for himself but these days it is my hardest part. I am eating blended foods. He also has been driving me a lot more and helping me with pills and i have place where I keep things for him to help me remember. It is so great. I feel we are getting closer and closer.Keolas phone is off for awhile but get almost daily calls between tim and todd pretty strange when you stop calling some friends you have been keeping up with long distance the calls stop. Humm wonder how long I ben doing all the work.....
EWelcome to Gatun Lake PanamaCanalWhile anchoring overnnight the bridge si still manned so checking if anchor is slipping some timeships wait her days to take their turn thru the locks.Now it is time for moving.cana opened in1914.850,000vessels with more than 6 billions of cargo have passedThere is only 4' on each side of the ship and it is captianedby a specialist from the canal captains. some ships get avoout 6 " it is pulled by a sort of little train engineCurrently the canal is handlilng 13000 a year(ships and being enlarged for larger ships.Another smart casual
entertain,ent which is same most night is aleksander at piano with singer but better without her., steve at piano bar,dance to Yu 4,coffee,congnacs and Classics with evergreen evan almighty at the mmovieslecture from willie again but this time on culture republic of panama former american community and canal itself. Then there was the electric bluegrass of a musician. Ballroom dance class later others,. just thought one time I would put it all in and then there is gambling jeweelery and lots of shops ad for me a trip to see my special galls at the front desk. also had a historial to talk aboout the canal. 20 persons on this subject woulld not be enuf. So much to learn and see. back into the pacific ocean and on to heading south for the coast of ecuador......This day we got a chance to earn a certificate for swi,ming in the panama canal. Lots of fun stuff with a bucket of panama canal water in the pool. Yipeeee!!!!!
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I have lost the 10 day but got it from Pat roomate so can add it later. Today I made reservations for the train ride thru the canal well long side of it.Such tropical rain forests and jungles.there are 73 species of animals and birds. panama is the only place the sun rises in the west and sets in the east.They have eagles 2x the size of our bald eagles and they eat hollar monkeys. the train is 56 miles from Pacific to carribean or atlantic 55 min where as the canal can take many hours. Tomorrow we will line up in Gautin Lake to take our turn thru 2-3 locks so get the best of 2 worlds.One wonderful thing after another. I am so happy to share this. Supose to be lots of crime here.The pan American Hiway goes from Alaska to Argentina and over the canal. The macaws come in yellow ,red, Blue, greenand white.I guanas camens Puma(jaguar crocodiles 39 snakes and 21 of them poisness.Colon is on the atlantic side. The anilals here are more than all of europe. smithsonian has 4 labs heremany animals got stranded when canal was put in and only live on therie sidetonight I asked for wasabi for my fish. Took them an hour to get it and they brought me enuf for an entier luau guess they don't use it often. I took it to my room and used it on stuff till it dried out.The night was smart casual. The train had great snack box and of course I was there with friends I meto n the ship. My other partners went on a tour thru the forgot the name but needed ss numbers to get in . I was invited but been to one of those in barcelona . The train had local entertainment and one of the instruments was a turtle. shell of course. love it so much but were really rusher on the other side said see that ship it is in the atlantic and off we went at 30 mph I boought a shirt on the run. It was a wonderful happy laughing day. That nightthe other group was tired and rushed . We had a group called the Beach Toys and they were so very good could have sen them another 3 days. beach Boys looking,singing,dancinf etc out of this world took us all back. This paarty ws on the dec and so much fun with barbecue. had a movie about 3 times per day but too busy to go tonight was ultimate gift..got to see lots of the museum type molas from the speaker I had to buy one but not the real fine ones. Hope to have it put on a dress. she wore them all the time such talend these kunas.on the ship saw som beautiful flower arenging from japanese to big ballroom learned that when vase flowers look wimp take oout cut and puound the bottom of the stem so water can go all the way up. Man does it work also when rosed begin to droop put in tub after pooundigg and they come back to fresh. this guy ws great. took lots of notes.i have pictures of this and the fruit carving will knock your boots offthis is the day I think alans entered the singing contest and and caroline and renee did decathalon for dam dollars. We run into agatha often trying to get som r and r time by the pool or in spa. Forgot we took tenders to shore which I liked another adventure except for the desil fule. we had freshly baked panama rolls served by my then 2 sons. They were so sweet and kept mamader happy all the time.lots of hugs and kisses. The kunas had a rich man visit and asked what he could send them he had a tie on and he sent them hundreds and hunderds of neck ties since they were short when they gathered in a group with ties for a picture the ties came about tohalf way to knees so cute in shorts hats and ties no shoes lol.the kuna women rule and choose their husbands sorta like here lol.danced the night away.after pat and I visited the piano bar. can't remembeer when pat began to film steve the piao player but he wanted some shots of himself and the gang for advertisements pat and I will look for a job for him here lol just needs to learn a couple of HI songs. He has a wonderful personality and took a lilkin to pat.well got to look for day 10 and then get on to 12 in gautin lake.
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eating with cotton in my mouth is really tough. I wish I had it in me to do the rest of this trip in one day but NOT> I just added some new research to my site
day 9 is crusing senic golfo dulce
Tonihgt is FORMAL whenI get my cd working and scanner I will input pictures it is too hard now.We had the most wonderful speaker dureing this day at ses. Name Willie FriarShe is retires from Panama Canal Commission ofPublic Affaire and after was retired and given the key to the Locks there. One of VERY VERY FEW.She has authored boks and the 2 for children I bought. She knows more about the canal than most but her love of the indegious people is the best story. The Kunas of Panama and their fabulous hand stitchworkTheir reservation consists of 400 Islands on the atlantic coast of Panama 75 miles from the enterance to the canal. Except for the pigmies they are the smalest people in the world.their special art is MOLA. It is tiny stitches as in aplique? to depict occassions and their life. The tinier stitches the more expensive. Totally amazing and full of color.
On to the panama canal it is the engenering wonder of the world.It is a water elevator and give me chicken skin just like the first time I saw the statue of Liberty in person. The canal wil pick you up inthe pacific and take you to the atlantic Carribean)thru jungles.63 pyramids and dirt and rocks removedthe train that halled thins away could have stretched 3 times arounf the equator and cost $352 million to build 4x what the expectation 5000died during the 10 years It is the crossroads of the world. This takes us into amador panama aloha and a bit of what was happening on ship. Think Pat gotcaroline hooked on the slots. Another day another feew dollars. Watcher some pool games someone lost a diamond ring and in and out these older????people near heart attacks . They found it. That was more fun than the games.Pat and I did a llittle more of our unteamed trivia.basketball spa treatments and planning next outing was going on in our group. Tonight we had majic and commedythen we had the disco Ball Had to check that out all dressed up with nowhere else to go All these men paid to dance with us were great. Till one o them asked for a pair of my undies to hang on his wall so men would be jealoous. Told him I only broought one pair.But really had 28. Every evening when Pat and I go back to the room we have a new ani,mal in oiur room. No darn just one made out of towels by our steward. So cute hope to get a feew pictures of these also..
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Another day older and deeper in debt. What a non memory day pretty scarry latelymade 2 appts. yesterday one for denist and another for nails. Hoped the bus to get to nails by 8:30 much walking in high boots. Got their early. waited and looked at date book the 8:30 was for ssat with denist. my phone was saying no service for 2 days so had time to go check it out 4 busses later got there to early waited till open and it needed to be reset. Darn I just keeping screwing everything I touch UP!!! any how it is good not so got a but to go back got on an express and had to walk an extra 6 blocks just to get to the place the earllier but left me off anothe 4 blocks from there and that was after one more bus. This is horrible I feel so crazy. Anyhow I worked on the cotton for upper teeth to fill out lip but when I got to do nails I felt no front teeth on bottom kept my mouth shut as much as possible after nails went to drink a beer for my lunch since cannot eat. wwell it p;layed havoc with the cotton so vern picked me up after golf and we came home now it is nap time but think I will try daydya 8 smart casual wonder if i missed 7 oh well this is taking so long
Today we are in Puntarenas Costa Rica I love Costa Rica and they work very hard on chools and learning english for the tourist trade building. These is still the very wealthy and very poor ot much in between. It is very clean and they do such wonderful things a build their many fences with live branches and when they grow they make anothe post it is a living fence and never needs to be changed and never rots. oh sorry to cold to type later. This is where we took an ariel tram thru the rainforest.They protect their rian forest by building this so it would not be trampled by walkers hikers and picknic people. It was so beautiful and the gondola we were in held 8 after walking thru paths of herb gardend and snakes i did not look at one of them and had chicken skin al the way big and huge and poisen uck we have NO snakes in hawaii. We then ate the food of the culture very good. I went to gift shop and picked up a ffew things for kids and they did not take chg so went to bus held bus while pat and I tried to pay for it with cash lol IT"S A JEANNE THING we could not buy the shoping bag full
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 Something new ahs been added to my research page.I must not forget to mention my wonderful children who made my first trip to heaven this very same year. So very special. I need to get these pictures too. So hard these things now feel like i would do so well with a little person sitting next to me to help before I go into my long time mistakes. Yesterday 2PM I put on a full screen slide show of my pitures thought only my latest but this morning it was stillplaying at (am did not know how to shut it off so turned main power off. Scared to check if I still have them. At least I got a picture here its a jeanne thing Today we arrive in Huatulco Mexico, now this is really nice smaller and get to see the people. OAXCA (wah-HAH-kah) 150 miles from Mexico city A very large indigdenous peoples.shopping history and culture are strong here more later off to the accunctpurist? Tonight is formal 91 during the day.During the early hours we went thru the Gulf of Tehauntepec lots of winds in this area make it hard to doc the ship. This is the place we did not know the time of our tour was changed. We walked and got so many driving us nuts for their cruse finally we go a great deal ayoung(sems like I told this story before)took us out in the bay and then to the ocean we saw babara strisand's hillside complex. Wow she owed the mt. Then we saw blow hole turtles light house for my daughter. I did take lots of lighthouse pictures for she and Deb.pat was looking for this mix that goes with tequila called Sangrita got that and put some tequila in water bottle cuz can only bring wine onto the boat ran into a man with booze in his boots flat bottles lol guess we were not alone later we discovered anything goes.as were leaving I spotted 30 or so dolphins out the window Pat made it to see them and I called one of our mates they got to se them also. Many times people saw dolphins off the ship Me only 2 times I think.e next day will be at sea nnd a real Jeanne thing. Tune in forgot that nights entertainment was comedy funny and up to steves place at the piano Bar name that tune and sing along this is pretty much where the roudys f the ship met. Sorry Pat she had her fun too lol.
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Today did one job and then dove into my bathroom olly to come to a complete stop in the middle one side looks new and claen the other is things I am getting rid of and cannot deceide what to throw and what to save for others. It feels good to downside as I am also dooing with clothes.
Today it is mostly sunny as we have had all days 87 tonight is smart casual dress forgot to mention another formal somewhere.Welcome to Aczpulco , Mexico. We did go on a tour here and it was beautiful to get out of the city. Divers were on and off again and think we did not see them only maybe we did. No to impressive when all our kids dive of higher rocks. It was a fiesta so much going on.we went into the beautiful areas above the bay and city. This was beautiful a chapel darn forgot the history but someone was burried there and we got to see a baptisim with all loval people. beautiful flowere and clothing and the view was amazing. went to a hotel form the 1900 where many movie stars stayed. of course forgot their names.this is the spot our tour driver turned us over to his cousins???? Ha ha they were so pussh and rude it turnes us off shopping so all my aculpoco stuff came from the sip. One lady followed me so closely and when I told her I had not money she said open your wallet let me see your charge card. My spanoish came back and I said vamanos.or get lost I hope. but would have loved to tell her to go to H. ATE A WONDERFUL MEAL AND HAD A TID BIT OF WINEOUR ENTERTAINMENT WAS LARRY lINKIN WOW IS THE WORD FROM HIM IT WS SILENT IN THE VEMEER LOUNGETHAT NIGHT LATE WS A SHOW BY THE PHILIPINO CREW. Think we missed this one but not sure.wonderful piano players in lounges singers dancing and name that tune. When we got back to the sip we were kind of relieved from the pressure.
Tomorrow will be Huatulco Mexico one of my favorite places.
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Today I have a day off with pay. It is really time to put the summer clothes away. Keola and his friend came to visit after we went out for a nice dinner. Iparking was so hard Vern had to drop me off and park 4 blocks away. This should have been a clue to me. We got seated in a busy noisey room .In the middle of my glass of wine Vern could see me stressing. So we made the order to go. Just waiting for the orderwas horrible. Got home to our cozy home and had a great dinner.
This is day 4 an we are at sea. It is a wonderful way to travel se so much and only unpack one time.We will reach Acapulco at 8am tomorrow.Today we met the crew director his wit is top of the line he is so fast and funny. He is Canadian and great. this was his last trip so he had lots of fun with us.once the anchor was up we headed for the enterance to Baja, California.We kekpt the coastline of mexico most of the day.This was the first day of search for th Pyndam Supeerstar and our Alana was practicing with Steve of the piano bar.We all went up to the crows nest to support her. Meanwhile Renee' ans Caroline were going for dam dollars and Angela was having a great getting her dam dollars and basking at the pool.Joe the tour director filled us in on tours in Puntarenas, Costa Rica, Amador, Panama Manta and Equador. think this was the day we went to the chef cooking. had a chance to buy Jackie Kennedy replica jewelry LOL LOL.Black jack tournament but pat caroline and I stuck with our machines. Mine the 2 cents theirs 5 I think.Went to catch a phrase in th epiano bar. Seems to be the meeting place for the happiest people on the trip. lecture liberation of mexico very good.The spa raffle to win $500 treatments was won by our own Angela so she got pampered off and on the whole tripit was showtime and we had a juggler uck guess he was talented but neither of us like juggling.guess he was comedian too.Seems like the dancing is real fun on the at sea days but we reall did not rush to anything that was the special part. I thing angela Pat and myself did that when ever possible while the other half ran to things and kept a very busy schedule.oh at this time I was still doing the tread mill.
must get to picking up my messof 13 days wow now time is flying. And want to be in chat as NO WORK but 3 tomorrow. Last of the 3 a day for ever I hope.
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If anybody is listning it would surely be nice for this date to be thae date it is. My trip was so fun but oh my god if my family could have been there it would have bben even greater.
TODAY wea re at sea and it is every bet as much fun as in port.Throught the day Ryndam will contineu on a southeasterly heading, Paralling the coast at a distance of 15 nauticle miles, crossing the tropic of cancer also known as the 23 parallel.We will pick up a California current which extends to the mexican currentthen we pick up the Pacific North Equatoial current ( guess you can see I am copying this)Pat and I joined the gals for breakfast so nice. the captian welcomed us and his staff think we must have gambled in here somewhere. That night I danced so much It was so fun. I hope my roomate can read thin without literary or journalisim experience. She has such a way with words. Its another day of Pat and I choosing many things for the day and missing many of them. Ya know that was the fun of the trip. others with us ran and stressed to get somewhere had ti be a certain place at a certain place and pat and just did what we did not upset by missing something. There was always gambling for a second choise. But we had our special machines and when fill we moved on. Later Pat tought Caroline to get into the fun stuf. Well she created a monster. Fun was had by all.
I did the tredmill(watch for this to slow down) We went in to the vemeer lounge to hear from Joe the tour specialist about things to come we were heading for the sports courts but got lost oh well we ended up with a shoping expert doni who must get good commission for the places she sends us. By this time Kat the wonderful person at the front desk knew me by name. She was a jewel. All the girls were great. and while I am talking great our
room steward was top of the line. So sweet and efficient. His name was Sam and two of our friends also had him. He just folded the towels into wonderful animals each night. what a talent he was. think it was this afternoon I met my son john I looked llike his moder and he asked if he could call me that........ So I got treated witth special service the rest of the cruise.Well we missed th singles and solos and that was ok also. Pat and I went to team trivia but just did us thing no team it was fu.Pat is good I may have gotter 2. The night we had cortez and the conquest of Mexico. All thes lectures we so great. whish I had payed more attention in school geography and history.there was a friends of Bill w always going on itn the Hudson room we pictured a wealthy man wiith his friends when we thought about slipping in we found out it was an AA meeting and goodness sake we DID NOT NEED THIS lol lolCaptians welcome and piano player Juan Pablo Subrina Did I say that already oh well nitee nite..........
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Sorry Linda and Mari packages did not make the mail but sending today.
Welcome to Cabo San Lucas, Mexico Nestled off the tip of Baha California. Pirated were the first to settle here seeking refuge from the seas.Gateway to the gulf of California and the Pacific. Pat was shocked of the changes.
Today is the first port. Did my morning stretch andhit one out of 3 baskets and got a DAM Dollar. Beginning and end of my decathalonWe missed our tour and got a greeat personal tour in a smaller boat. This kid was well spoken and working for his captains license. He showed us Barbara Striesand's home it was an entire hill side so beautiful. Saw a turtle and had our picture taken with boat driver. He took us out so I could get a picture of the lighthouse for traci we say blow hole the mexican one.Went through a shopping area and went to Cabo Wabo someone important owns this one >///??forgot to write that one down. We all the group 6 ladies were there and had pictures taken. Rene went cigar shopping and brought me one or two. Pat and I had the mexican beer sol I think and then we went back to the place were were met by two great bar people who asked us to come back for the best margahrita? they were full of fun and had pictures taken with them.The evening show was Broadway Simply wonderful by the cast on the ship Then went to the Bow for stargazing learned lots but Pat is a sailor and think she knew it. Then our visit to the Piano Bar met Steve the Piano Player then went to crows nest and a note on our bef to turn the clocks forward one hour...Forgot to say we used tenders today to get to shore.
Today I worked just one job arrived late and told my boss I may do this more often and may take a little longer to do the work. Said I have been on a slow down and do not want to change not. She said more power to you you know ahnything you deceide goes with us...All clothes hanging in the closets but floor is still not clear. Trying to put a little blog together which takes lost of paper from Different places.
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Aloha to all my family and friends
Back home and ready to start my fun trip to all of you. Ill beginLeft HNL for San Francisco and on to San Diego. We spent the night in quality Inn after touring city walking the waterfroont Park riding the trolley and riding the carrosole. Pat my roomate for the trip is quite short and got on a horse when it was down but when it came to getting off it was high up. So I got off and paid for another trip around for her. Next time a bit lower but surely no her level. Lost it if we did one more time but it was sure a great stare to a fun trip together. Met friends at the mecician rest in old town .... first we met Pats friends daughter and she took us to a mexican rst where we had pizza.. I will not spell check this so if a little ????? just make it up.
it may not be in order as I did do a journal but one thing triggers another.
this will be the third person helping me with my luggage Vern"honey you will get charged for this oversized and overwt. The porter "where the heck are you going with this anty....me on a cruise...."you will sink the ship...laughter but no chharge just a large tip and the last one was the ride to airport in sandiego" This weighs mpre than me can we empty it and I'll crawl in......
ship proceedures busy but finally in a wonderful room with a view of the ocean a larg view.
Just as I thought something is wrong with cd it will not open so later
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Oh another hour trying to put a photo on this thing mine are stored all over this computer. I am working with a guy that helps me over the internet but lost my telephone to call him. It's another Jeanne thing.
Today I have piles of clothes to try to mix and match boy when the brain does not help much it surely is hard. I just sit looking at them and knowing it is toooooo much to take.My bed is full and many hanging. Now they want my shoes on top. well that will wrinkle everything so I have to take a bag with shoes only plus a change of clothes in San Diego before we board the ship in 18 days. Oh shucks thought it was earlier because I have been telling everyone I was leaving on the 16. And this too is a Jeanne thing.
We have about 15 out of 23 really dress up,got that covered with 5 tops that go with my long black skirt, 10 others glad I have a hugh suitcase hope I do not go over lbs. Then need the day things and pretty nice dinner things when not real dressy. Oh my I am tired just typing this.
Hope I remember to call the kids when I find my phone so they won't be panicked can't remember if they all have Verns # guess this is a good time to do that............
Vern is golphing today. I do like these days when I am off and he is gone. Love him dearly but love my space also guess that is why we travel seperately. Except for an occasional (?) visit to vegas. We have been together for over 22 years and all my grandkids hav not met him just a few. Even one sister either.
I have ignored those piules long enuffffff
OLA MAI ILOKO MAI ... HEATLH COMES FROM WITHIN
UWE KA LANI, OLA KA HONUA....WHEN THE SKY WEEPS, THE EARTH LIVES
NANA NA MOE........LOOK TO YOUR DREAMS
Aloha I am doing that!!!!
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I am so proud to be here so soon after my last visit. I continue to two or more jobs per day to gain enough money for the cruise. I know it will be all worth it.
Today I was so happy to meet the young man who chats with Austin Tracis son. My how wonderful it is, this is a great start to have children understand what is going on with a parent. What a world this would be if it started with the young. This campground needs all the hipe it can have. It is Traci"s baby and Carole is very into it. Give support when you are able.
I am finding so many healthy recipes I think I will share one day.
My children Tim and Denise sent me thee most wonderful doll in a godmother form. It is from an artist from england who has perfected the wrinkles as we get older and I am proud of mine. The card that came with this wonderful doll is
" A Fairy Godmother"
She looks ahead with a steadfast mind,
With words of Love most soft and kind,
She paves a trail of sunny days,
Awarding you with hope and praise.
She'll whisk away your scornful frown,
And help you laugh when the "chips are down"
Providing faith in all you do,
She yearns to make your dreams come true.
Now can you imagine children that know me so deep and appreciate it?. My son picked out this particular one they were looking for maybe because it had moms old hair do when he was small and Tim's wife Denise is truly a caregiver who knows me and has traveled with Leeza and myself. She got the story of my problems when she was kind enough to take me to see another son many miles away when we had only just met and many did not believe the diagnosis..
I cannot think how people without children ever get the real meaning of love. I am soooo blessed to have 5 and all the loves they bring to our family. They even paid for the most wonderful trip to Lani Peaceful and luxerious. Darn I am truly blessed Aloha now I am in tears as I am each time I show this lovely lady to anyone, she will cruise with me as she makes me feel safe......
Aloha
This is the beginning of tribute to my wonderful children and all the ones they love.......
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Aloha Do any of you out there with dementia develope coping skills to help yourself, not like notes but somethings with not much commmon sense. One thing is I have a small low stool by shower and we dry the bath mat on it. Lately I have been stepping upon the stool to dry. guess I feel it is faster than taking in to the floor or forgetting to put it back. Also when making a sandwitch or breakfast cereal I leave the ref open so as to rememberwhere to put things back. same with medicine cabinget for toothbrush etc. In the cupboard i go to get 1 thing if I need 2 or 3 i leave it oen. When going out I start the night before and put things one by one on the floor infront of the door wher I cannot step over them. The list goes on and on. BUT IT HELPS May drive Vern nuts but he does not mind and helps me. We laugh if we had a fire we probably could not get out the door for when I go oout it is for many things . I canceled my appt with my doc for my trip to Lani then I forgot to make a new one. Finally it came to me I had not seen her for awhile so going next week. I could go every 2 months but I really miss her and the encouragement. She knows eveerything about me and folows what my children are doing. I feel I get so much from her. My prayers are going for my son having problems with greedy realitives over the will. For Mari's daughter in Law, Sandy's son and all the friends with dementia getting into the AFA advisory Board. Of course for the family and friends. Did I tell you that my son and dil that do not get much time off called me crusing down the sacramento river. They go to fly into Sacrameto see her father etc and had a wondefful relaxing time. Not something they do very often. I could not be happier if it we me on the river. I am anxious for great grandchild. My grandaughter moved to colorado to be close ot hubby whenhe comes home from the service.
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ech time I come I try to get a picture to the site again failed. think my photos are in too many places. Oh well we call that a jeanne thing.
Trying to answer a survey from memory bridge I think it is wonderful but so intense for me it will take me month to fil in profile.
Guess thats part of the disease. Seems like so many things are getting harder. Without chat, my will to go on and Vern i may be in nowhere land already.
I forget to call my kids till the hours difference makes it to lale then the thought is gone in the AM. My work is wow so hard to keep trach even now when I do same each week. Almost the same I can still spot things that need dooing but then I may forget a regular. My people are so much like family they think or say I do fine.
i still can feel the hot rock and seaweed assages I had in Lani. I htink this trip will last forever and thanks to the kids we had a wonderful time.Now the planning and paying for the cruise is getting confusing. I will do it no matter what. Just my yellow fever shot will take 120$ and I should have 2 more but not essential. So say some prayers for me to come home in one piece and not ill.
Even with Vern is home I am forgetting to turn off stove but do not cook alone. i just develope one more coping skill for each thing wonder when I will forget those. I am forgetting to flush the toilet which is a horrible one even with a hugh sign flush it goes over my head if something important pops into my head
I am so happy mari and dutchess and their men got to meet and to for barbie and mary. Meetings are the best.
Our chat is getting so slow it is hard to join and sit alone.
i had 10 thigs to mail and looking for 3 baby uh tshirts guess I will have to screen my own ....Thats for new babies in my sisters life Julie is the first in our siblings to become a great grandma and 2 grandchildern all in 1 month. I have another shot at great grama in about 7 months. saw the wondeerful sonogram and saw my grandaughter and new hubby kiss on the internet. LOL Internet and computers are my best thing and worst wnemy often. Well thats the news or what I remember of it. A big hi to Kalani whom I miss a lot. Being to busy for friends is never where I want to be!!!!!!!! I love the fact that this site does no stop me with spell check so have at it. aloha and hugs to you all.
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 There we are The DVD has a couple of bad spots but I will send it off it ya want to see it. Had fun at the ball game and we won. Heard from Todd this week he sounds good as usual. He and Tamra have good life I am so happy.Then yesterday afternoon we went to the beach and watched the sunnset after the picnic about 20 showed up this time. Met Alans new friend Pat she is lovely. Hope to keep connected. She is from Sacramento. Going to work on my passport today. Talked with Traci and Ally the other day. Got all the good and fun news. Tim and Deise are so busy with workand a full house. And they touught they would be lonely when all the kids left. Also heard from Ashley she will be moving to Colorado.She and Ally are grandchildren. Soon Ill get to put a great before that word. Chat is keeping pretty busy. Wishing to hear from AFA soon.. My email is driving me crazy I save to much.
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here it ias Sept 1st already.
My friend had me pickup tickets for Hawaii to play colorado. The hype is big. The stadium usually has rain so here I am with my cute outfit of blue jeans white diamond tshirt and green and white striped shirt then I will have my bright orange golf rain gear. It should be fun 4 ladies plus me and we go to murphys for a $10 dinner and board the bus so not traffic for us.
I asked Vern but he would rather watch it from home no fuss no hassel. I swear he is getting to be more of a hermit daily.Got to love hime for doing what he likes and any kind of stress is not included. Of course my stress he takes on well. He wrote me a note to have a great time. If his buddies could see all the sweet notes(thoughtful) he leaves for me they woould not think they came from him. Later this month is my OLDER sisters birthday lol.well need to do some housework before I go.
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thats my mood for the day talked to todd son and traci daughter.... good news is i will be a greatgrandmother next year. It is so fun to call my daughter grama but she will be nana. I like that better. Ally was so excited and I heard Rian is excited to be an antie. I heard Ron my SIL was so excited about the ultra sound. I think back to my first children where none of this was possible Lots more in the miracle of life We never had the coisse to se if we would have a boy or girl so I am a little left in the old world where I really do not want to know but progress has actually left me behind for years. I am so excited for Mari to go to her class reunion and happy dutchess made her sil with vince a very happy woman. The next trip will be for relaxation. Lynne my friend is on meds again and stil loving the flocks of all flying things that she feeds. Aloa my sista linda has just got her cast put on. The pictures are priceless sista I have tried to send the last preview to kids but now I have so many on my address book I do not know haw to just use a feew of them. Computers,cell phones,digital cameras should all come with a real person for replacement of the instructional cd or bok. I need a real person to talk to. Love to all nite
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I will begin as to the reason I have been off journalizing. 15 day in bed only to get up to work and even missed a few of those days. Antibiotics then a rotator cup from to heavy vaacum up and down stairs. Since dec 2006 I have been disappointed trying to get to Lani and I will not go into those problems..... On the good side we had my oldest son have a birthday his daughter and my sister JULIE.
Well on the 19 of this month the trip to Lani was on. Verns good life of golf and TV continued which made him very happy. Plane was 6:35 am. Of course we left home at 4am. This story will be about me as Vern did not accompany me much of the time. Talked to a nice couple on the plane and met them again at the pool. Since breakfast was covered I left my things with the conceier till the room opened. Check in time was 3pm but not till 4 so they covered lunch. Kept some breakfast for lunch so had an early dinner by the pool. The breakfast was $28 and coffee was 5$ there went a $8 tip. for one. The kids paid for everything golf spa included bathrobes slippers got upgraded to an ocean front hugh room. all breakfasts etc eeetc only tipping was left for us. And that is for the rich.
Went fo my first spa which was done with hot rocks very smooth. It was 80 min of luxury the cost 156$ SO HAD TO TIP ON THAT COST. OH BUT HOW WONDERFUL. They allow you to do steam baths jaccuzzi sauna and the best rain showers they call them any time you want. I was in heaven.for many hours. For lunch I had a bloody mary for 11.50 plus tip. Then I deceided I would go to town for a bottle of wine. The bussess take you all over the island for $33 the entire time you are there but drivers get a small tip..... The island is small but nothing is close even need to tale a bus from manele hotel to manele golf course. It had only 9 holes but oh so beautiful. A little piece of heaven dropped right onto this island. I bought Vern a hat for 31 bucks. also some souveniers for my wonderful kids who made this all possible. ( not at the coursse tho did some of that in town. Well after getting into the room Had a glass of wine and went to the pool. They exchanged the class for plastic and said they were sorry. I said I would drink from a coconut iof they wanted me to. At the pood they of course set you up with towels on a lounge bed. they pass by with cold towwels every hour and in between a spaay of aviar mist to cool you then a pop stick I had strawberry. Then the attendants see if you like shade or sun and move the umbrella to keep you happy. The water pool has a jacuzzi and hot tub in it but I prefered the pool. as you get out they come with a dry towel and around it goes againVern loved the golf but prefered tv big screen to outdoor. I walked down to the beach and spent a bit of time there where they set up a chair like by the pool. Took a dip i the ocean. We went to dinner wher wwe met another couple with a child. I took their picture after asking them if they had a camera as I said this is a kodak moment it was so cute so we said hi and had a drink together while the llittle girl had a baby sitter.They were great and from NY. The man remembered names but of course I did not. Went back to the room and dressed to go listen to music. Took my own wineand sat in the free section. Wonderful music. Happened to run into a prince with 12 entoroage???? what an ordeal. they had the whole section I was in ordering galore things I went to move and they told me no need please stay.Can't remembert eh details but now I see the other side of this world they looked like arab or the likes Not much english.The beds had thick down matress covers and down cober. Felt like I was on a cloud floating thru the night.I did not want to sleep thought it may go too fast. Awoke at 5:30 am Vern off to Lodge at Koele for golf this would take most of his day 18 holes. I went to breakfast and had a repeat of day one. Only my massage was the massage then wrapped i seaweed and plastic while they gave me a head and foot massage. before and after I did the water stuff. took the bus up to the lodge to see how beautiful it was and took pictures of the course. Wow. I then played croquet on the grass and shopped . back to my hotel as it wqas warmer and sunshine. took the bus to town for more wine. Back and lunch by the pool in the restaurant. such friendly people .I had a bber with my 31$ cup of soup and sashime which cost 8.50 oh well you only live once.I could not believe the day was going so slow. They had a cute little bag the had verns newspaper it in each morning.The lani had a couch with fluffy pillows in golds and yellows and a table and chairs to view the ovcean. I once fell asleep oout there. The maids came in 2-3 times a day or whenever you left to remake the beds and put orchids o them plus replentish the soap, lotings, bath and new slippers if worn. the little soaps and stuff will keep us in toiletries for months lol.I told them I had alzheimers and they really watched after me. The groounds were so hugh I got lost everytime I went to take piictures. When I learn how to get the pictures from my new camera I will put some on. The last day was more of the same ho humm but it ieven went slow and the last plane out left time at the airport. So small and so cute and the last of the wonrful friendly people. I could go on andd on but think you will get bored. Love to all and thanks so very much to the kids who gave so much of themselves to make such a special present to us. Blessings come is the best ways and I am so blessed to have children wo give so much. I love you all and vern says thanks so much.
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Today is a day to praise all my dementia friends and others a DASNI. What a family. They can pull me out of the deepest depression and illness.
I have been struggling with this 3 day vacation since Dec 06 when the kids sent it. Finally I just had to have my girlfriend call the other friend and give her the facts after a night inemergency with pacin atach. What it boils down to is my stress from to many changes in last 2 weeks. My friend was changing it into her vacation and seemed as my vacation was when she wanted it. And worse I was feeling guilty for not letting her do it. Who knows if this looses a friendbut one can only take so mush bfore the bust.
Today I am feeling good and on last antibiotic pill.
My dear friend Kalani reads my posts and is busy takinng care of wife so i will forward this to him. He sends me the cutest jokes makes my days/
My grandaughter Ashley got married and will relocate to Colorado
It is a Happy Birthday to my grandaughter Jen today.
They are all growing up so fast.
There is so much hope with al the new research for Alzheimer's I really feel I will not have to see the ugly end but it will be stopped in its tracks.
have been helping a husband in Kailua with a wife with Alzheimer's still very young.
Got a letter from th TV station they want me to run a monthly program. have not called them back as my state of mind is not god yet but very exciting . Would like to get AFA involved in it hope they will. aloha
Going to clean house today for someone else but wish it was mine.
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I guess this is a woe is me again. I cannot understand how very hard with using my own money and on the phone 24/7 things just keep getting harder and harder for me. If I do not talk about this month I am gooing nuts.My trip is bieing canleled for the 2nd time. I planned to have the month of august, sept andoct to save for this trip. which if I worked all my days would not be enough. now with the cancelations I have lost 210 $ and next week if it gets canceled again I am looking at loosing so many bucks at 2 jobs on most days. i planned on 3 mo to work my haradest now I only have 2 which I cannot earn what it takes. a coupee lof weeks ago i tried to use the memory card my son boought me only to find my camers was outdated for that one .His girlfriend went on ebay and got one that works but cannot send to hawaii so sent to son. He sent it right on and fed ex said not such address. Son called adnsaid fed x has sent many things to sqme adress it then came in 2 ays which is unheard of. I could not make it work so Keole cae to help me my camera is too old to accept9 such a high amt of gb. Keola rushed to my home and it is not working. Will anything run in my favoe or as I think when will something go my way. had a call from a man here whose wife is early diagnosed and 95% ok on her own.Alzheimers Assoc told him not to listen to me. Now they are still telling him early diagnosed live only 5 years. I want to bomb their office just so I can help where I know I can. I have to sleep before I cannot mind is going 900 miles per hour aftera all things falling apart. I do not where to get off orfind help. I love my dasni friends. And wait for something to go right for me.
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Well I keep preaching it ain't all that bad wel darnit it is.up and down. Yesterday I got a cal from my friend who was planing a trip with me you know the one and she has to have a tooth pulled and doc suggested she wait a couple of weeks before going. I got my hair color done got my nails done and ws packed. moved all my jobs and made plans for vern. Everything is in an upset and may loose the entire thing. She is working on it. Needless to say I am upset but not her fault. Then to get things off my mind I was happy I voluntered to work the transpac. To make a very long story short i was in the wrong place for 1hour sent to another wrong place and finally someone helped me correctly and I took the ferry to where I was suppose tobe that no one ever told me everyone else knew and surmised I knew also but my first time and they knew what was going on for 25 years. Today I am in that ole black hole wondering if again I am falling down tht ladder I just started up again. It is getting harder and harder to say tomorrow wil be better. Again if someone says hi I want to cry. My journal days are getting further apart as writing about hard things is not good but it is life for me. And the good news is it was fun but lasted to 1or 2 am. This morning when I awo
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Should be a good day 7-7-7. Got to get the last 4 days off my mind so here goes the b....... I seems like when I write it down I can get it off my mind. Before I go into my problems can you spare a few prayers for my friend Mari and her hubby Dave who have problems making mmine ok minor.. Dave will be in the hospital after a patch is sewn o his eye and his devoted wife will need some help too. Verns birthday is the 12 and Daddys was the 6th so I called my bros and told them to tip one for me to dady. Angelo my grandson has a birthday this month along with god daughter Shelly(now known as Michelle) The stress this last week makes me feel like I have gone downhill 2 stages. Nothing is clear and even canceled a day of work. The first day I slept 20 out of 24 hours and the next one about 16 hours sleep and last night I had 12 hours and woke up tired. Details are not important they were just hugh in a normal life and in mine I fell apart. Totally amazing what stress can do to us.I could not figure out what to do in bathroom, what to wear,how to cook, could not concentrate on on tv ,could ot read. Put things strange placeswent to water plants outside and stared at them for about 15 min before getting water. then forgot many and tried again. I feel like a lost zombie going from one room to another.Tried to pray could not treid to talk with someone anyone that was nice to me made me cry as well as crying duning advertisements and the drop of a pin. The dog barking next door made me leave home to fet some quiet then when I had quiet I cried and needed someone. Chat helped me temporarily but when leaving them it all got bad again. Vern has been kind but cannot get me out of is so tries to leave me alone and hopesI sleep plenty. Ya know tonight is red hatters and I must get out of this mess I am in. This will help too. Hope very much for better news my next visit here. Aloha
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Must be feeling better clean room and office clean mind. Off on the lecture tour in Hawaii. Alzs spoke with a lady from AFA and on my soapbok to get some oahu places to have a freguency area for the Project Life Saver where a transmitter is in your bracelet or ankle band to alert searchers to know just what area you are wandering. We out of 7 Islands have only 1 and it is miles away from Oahu. Now i am off to work and feeling like weights are lifted but then I lifted a bed and strained my back. vacuuming will be a bit tought today. Going to miss early chat hope I make the second one.
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Think I can wear a happy face today things have gone well. One small thing I crossed the street in a cross walk going away from where I wanted to be. It a Jeanne thing and I can laugh with a DUMMy !! included Went to exercise class this am and it always gives me lots of energy. Getting boxes ready to send i just fill envelopes and small boxes and then 2 mo later I send of course except for birthdays. Got a call from Tim and Todd and emails from Denise and Melinda.. Have heard nothing from my newly weds but then they must be busy lol Chat has been a little slow but the faithfuls mari and Lynn still show up almost daily mari needs help darn ......
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Aloha All Today is a better day as I slept in till 11 am. I was suppose to host chat but Vern deceided I need sleep more so sorry folks but is felt wonderful. Last night I had a great chat with Kalani checked when I could not sleep and he came in. What a fun evening. We had fun reminissing and planning a get together. I will take my x to the arizona Memorial. He has been in a nursing home since he was 52. Try to take him out as often as I am able wheel chair is hard if not a flat surface. I love for my loved ones to meet Kalani as he is a SURVIVOR OF PEARL HARBOR and I am so proud to show him off. Besides that he has a heart like no other.
Got my daughter back in my new phone (darn this thing but think I am conquering some of it.) So nice to have notes vocal and printed, all emails and phone 3#s in same place,calendar that reminds me one day before hand the email and internet when I am away and pay the 44$.
Got a grandson birthday commin up this family they are all young so send something to each one just more to birthday one.
I tried to get a picture in today but 1/2 hour is long enought to try.Maybe next time.
Did a double lecture a bit ago one at UH for AD and one for American Business Women who call theirselves RED HAT wantabees so two of us gave them the rundown on that. Both were fun. Hit lots of baby boomers at the AD lecture all with jaws wide open. Listen up world!!!!!!
Nice to have Dutchess back and I am putting something on DASNI to get help for Mari and others who do too many hours at chat.
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 This got thrown in the wrong place but it is my friends and myself at the very interesting Missile Defence Advocacy. Our country is getting really sage from land and sea. If anyone is interested it this kind of a deal go to MDAA.com
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Please anyone reading this try harder to understand persons with dementia. Yes we look normal and yes we can do things for for gods sake we are not nornam and to appear this way it takes a mountain of work to appear this way. Some times I feel I woould be better off if I stopped trying and then people would understant the boat I am in. Today i had my palns set to meet a friend get nails done then I was going to a movie with someone else as she has seen it.I was set to do chat work on room till 112 then get picked up. She changed all the plans and had me picked up at 10 am. My whole world was thrown up into the air and where it landed I know not where.She did not realize what that could do to me because she says I can not believe there is anything wrong with you. I am worse than you.So I tried to go with the flow in my stupor of not even knowing what was going on. We ate and she was late for her nails which woould make me late and then she had the full nails instead of a fill which would make me late for the movie. I canceled my nail appt to make the movie and she called me later to laugh about the situation. I cannot even be civil to Vern. I am going to copy christines chapter on what it is like to hlive with dementia ad pass it to all my friends and vern and family. It is so hard to make the best of it all so no one knows what is going on inside this head. I am in tears and wish I could sleep for days.Whwn my friends have a problem serious I look for all the info I cna get on it and try to help them with it.Not even the man I love with all my heart can really se my hard times in just living a day at a time. Well I now feel better hope this is not depressing but I need to get it out.I know only persons with dementia woould understand this but god forbid why can't it get out into the open so others will understand and not say YOU DONT LOOK LIKE YOU HAVE ALZHEIMER"S or other dementias. And while I am complaining I really hate it when the children I taught thank you notes or calls have not to passed that to their kids. If you receive a gift ESPECIALLY from a person with dementia say a thanks do you not know how much they went thru to get that to you? It is not just a shop and a drop it is month of thinking ,planning, forgetting,rerembering and sending or forgetting to send. Good Night Gang!.
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 Darn cannot enlarge this Photo. I awoke a 3am thinking of my children this picture Keola is not yet born or even a thought.. Since I could not call them at that hour lucky I can go to chat at that time spoke with Roo, Ann came to bring music to him, Ray, Frank,and a New carepartner named PJ. It is so special to talk with persons all over the world. Seems like a year since I was with all the family but really has only been a few months. last week my daughters phone # just was lost. Talked to son to get it and forgot to ask. So emailed her now it is all settled she sent me a great grooup of phone # now if I can get them into my phone without transposigg I will be doing well.. Sounds like my other son and DIL get to have a weekend together alone. They work so very hard. I thought I was late for grandsons birthday and emailed him to say sorry and my other DIL wrote me you are early mom not till July. This son is the one I email blue sky pictures to during the winters of Oregon. Talked to Todd and Tamera (another son) last week al is going well they are back on the golf course every moment not working. And my son here and his fiance are also busy working and saving for their wedding and a first home. Well now I feel as tho I have been with them. Thanks for reading. My bed is calling it is now 4;58 AND JUST AS I oops fall of to sleepthe alarm will ring. Aloha and love the sunshine in your heart.
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Whistle while you work is my new motto. Surely hope i am still alive when it comes time for this cruise I am killing myself to enjoy. Seems like the faster I go the more behinder I get. Had great time with no computer turned on but now that it is giving me trouble and is off and on it is stressing me out. Can't win for loosing........... Finally I have made the plans or our trip to Lani that the kids obought us for Christmas. Vern my dear one is a real procrastinator. So after giving him dates for 3 month I could go and said you put yours in so it will be best for both of us.Well God love him 3 months later he is still not sure. So I promptly got on the internet and made all reservations and there wwere almost none left in July. Ok no more B.... we are going 29 30 31 of July. Then I can start saving for other trip. Had to shaaare this with someone lol... I need to get on the phone to each child and grandc as when I do not call the calls spresd out too much for me. Those mainlanders get so very busy. I was re-reading Dancing with Dementia Christines book and it was llike new again. Again I loved it. I need to get to the store for Charleys use to be I read them all when they came out but now I need them on books on tape but trying to read a bit to see if I still am able. I have deceided a good time to write my Journal is when waiting for a person to talk with on the phone. It makes waiting much more enjoyable and the time passes fast. aloha
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Let me share my relaxed 3 days. I stayed with a friend and turned off phone,did not touch a computerand did relaxing things. Friday went to have dinner and llistened to my live Hawaiian music. Sat got up to a leisurely breakfast. Went to massage and accupuncture where my friend will be newly introduced to the art. Then had a great lunch at a golf club. Went back to her beautiful home for more relax then had a glass of wine and went into the hot tub with all the strong jets.
Just do the computer and phone thingy you will be thrown into another world.
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Oh how time flies when you are running in circles and getting nothing accomplished. Once again I have put too much on my plate trying to help too many people then I can do nothing for me. The extra chat is not a problem if I get some helpbut I really feel for Mari as she mans so many days and nights and only gets help from a few faithful helpers. It is not fair to drain one or three people so the others can chat all. Different people act differently with these diseases and I try not to judge just wish the best for all the faithfuls. I will be asking for help for Mari as she has company a week. Tomorrow is Mothers day and I will be going with friends of long ago for dinner and my son and CICI will be taking both moms out on tuesday to Keolas restaurant when it is not so crowed. That will be very enjoyable. Smart kid he knows moms bad times.they can't afford for vern and her hubby so I feel bad for vern but will bring him home a great doggie bag which he may like better than going. Changed my room and no longer have an under the bed which means aplace to find for winter stuff. never have been able to follow fen suei or however you spell it. Haven't had room in a place since moving to Hawaii. The trying to get all organized where it goes is a tough one I have to walk away often and end up with lots of piles on my bed only to be moved to a chair and back again in am.When I think baack one of my jobs was organization and timemanagement for corporations youd think I could still have a little but I think I am at a really big minus. Have been talking with Mari, Alan Lynne, Kathy and Sue often on chat. our vernon showed up we were all worried about him but he lost website. Even had Sue 's daughter come on wow that gives me chicken skin I have to make it a point ot send web to my kids and grandkids maybe one day one will join us. The hours are hard for most working people but with a bit of planning think all who want could get there. It would make the person with Dementia feel SOOOO great. My kids and I laugh lots. Kathy is such a worker and her website ( here on mine) is so fun she and her dad with Alz laugh lots. |
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I have begun a new page with tidbits of intrest to my readers about research for the Dementias and activities that help us slow the progress. This came to me when my grandaughter Ally and her Hubby sent me an article of intrest about my disease. It made me feel like I was really not alone in this dease. I know others in the family read and think but I believe she and Todd are the only ones to pass it on in such a loving way. She is the first in the family I have passed my info for my site to so far. It is hard to understand how mainlanders really have not to much time for friends and family as we do here. Wonder why? Guess it is not fare to put it in a package like that but on my visits to many places things are not like here. Guess I should just count my blessings. However I must say my last trip to OR WA and UT was the best ever everyone in the family got together and had a ball. The sister siblings did too.
Got a great wake up e-mail about my friend"s cat Porgey. Had her surgery and now healing and training my friend Pat to be a better master. The cat went through getting the stitches without shots but my friend needed them.lol
mari my dasn friend was so kind as to send me instructions for selecting, copying and pasting. Think it will reall help me.
Dutchess another pal from DASNI is about to go on a cruise to Alaska. Best of fun and relaxation to she and Vince.
We have been growing in our chats for quite sometime now and the feeling of new persons to our family is great and helping them and learning from them completes the circle of our lives.
I joined Dementia Rescue and it is a great and helpful site. This site is done by Tracy one of our young members.
Seemes like Lynne is doing better healthwise and Lynn is home from her trip.
I will be gooing toKnowitalz.com to ask some questions for the doctor for Kathy who is a fairly new member of dasni.
Tonight is Lei Day in Hawaii and I will be going to a hugh outdoors concert by all the best of Hawaii. have not missed this one in 30 years.Another big celebration of life for Don Ho on the 5th.
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"What A Difference A Day Makes" I spoke with a woman about her 94 year old mom. (My phone bill goes over much of the time and I have loads of minutes.Vern gives me his at night as he has so many saved minutes.) The mom has been living alone and daughter thought ok but after a fall she sees many problems not noticed when picking her up a few times per week to enjoy. We chatted for about 1 and 1/2 hours and she said she learned more from me than the doctor and all her RN friends. She was given loads of help and bad comments from many who are not it her shoes. At 94 they want her to get a hearing aid and catarak surgery can you imaging what that would do to her? Think I really helped her to know she was doing the right thing moving mom in with her and not taking their advice for driving her nuts with new aparatus..It takes so little to help persons in distress and makes me feel like I still do help others. Our chat does the same for me. Today I feel so good hosting chat that I am reading the paper. Well some of it. When in a dither I cannot make sense of the paper. Had a slow but great chat with Mari, Dutchess and Frank of DASNI. My room also has given me a clear look at what to do today. Did not procrastinate came to my site's journal and got a packet ready to mail to the lady I spoke with. She has no computer skills so I often send out packets to read. She will call again I am sure. My honey is busy collecting the garbage and sweeping the floor. I told him Mari's Dave was dusting and Dutchess's Vince was ironing Frank said we were slave drivers lol but I know we are just blessed. I just reread all my joournals back to 2001 I think. Yes the downhill struggle still goes on.. Hope my forgetting great events with family is not offensive to my greatest kids g kids siblings and friends. I am gong to try to make a list of people I love and give them the password to my simplesite so that they may read and maybe add to the journals or pictures. It woud mean so much to me to have this be an open book for outers to write about the journeys we travel so others can share our love.
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Some days it is easier to get here than others. I have been pretty busy and lots of things have been going wrong. I can't even say what they were guess t is lucky I forget easily. I need to come here and tell the bad with the good. I am sure it will help me thru the hard times to get it out. I think I need a planner to keep me on track not the book I have that but a person who can help me thru all of this. I know one of the things that gets me down is a messy room. vern cannot undeerstand how I can make so many other homes so beautiful and keep all our rooms clean but mine just seems to go for awhile then flip into a disaster. I so need to downsize files and computer but it is overwelming. I start something then drop it for something else soon I find myself on 5 things and not doing any of them. Off to work on my room I have everything on my bed and hope to get it filtered into the rubbish or files. Aloha for the night. Lov eyou all. |
I have just made some mistakes that will cost me money. This is a given these days over and over. I ordered business cards for Cici and Keola and for my business Alzheimer's Awareness-Hawaii. I ordered 3 duplicates for myself and mispelled one name for the vice presidents. It is hard to make a coping skill for this as I do lots on my own when Vern is not home. Guess I will have to have everything proof read except my journal. I hope that all reading it will just smile at my mispeled words. If I hae to wait for corrections I will not continue a journal. Had another sons birthday yesterday. He is my son in Woodland WA and great father of 3 of my grandchildren.( the youngest.) His wife is a very good mother. My hopes to be a great grama have gone as my sweet grndaughter and her husband have lost their baby. This must be so tough on the first child. I had one still born and lost another at 6 months but was still blessed with 5 healthy ones and 13 healthy grandchildren.. I was going to Nordstroms today to renew my collections of shorts. Got to cover the top of my legs that jiggles when I walk lol Now to the knees is a must. Can't wear a swim suit like that so live and let live I say on the beach. Must wait as the cards cost too uch to replace.
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I get really upset with myself when I type a days journal and loose it. Here we go again. As I was saying CHAT is a hold on life for persons with dementia and a meaningful resource of friendship and sharing for carepartners. Our Pwid chat has been going since 1999 with Mari at the helm. We have grown and stayed a family for all those years, adding new persons often and supporting each other through the ups and downs. We also have a chat for carepartners where some of us go when we have energy to share and can help others by sharing in our lives. We cannot be there all the time but carepartners can share with eachother also. This site is http:// http://www.alzinfo.org/community/alzheimers-chatrooms.asp the persons with dementia meet in the DASN Room and the carepartners meet in the Alzheimer's Room . When one in our family is having one of those hard days or weeks we all feel it and want to help in any way we are able as most of us have been there also. It is a feeling like no other can feel without living the dementia. Even often the closest persons to us have a hard time truly seeing through our eyes. We are still intellegent capable beings with early stages but are not equiped with that of a person living without dementia. We think slower and get confused some times but we can work with our own coping skills that get more numerous as the time goes on. It is finally becomming apparent living with dementia is more of a new journey than a death sentence or sentance lol. Going to host chat is a half hour hope I have a full house. |
 Traci and Todd two of my 5 had Birthdaysthis week. One is the same age for 5 days. Pretty busy that year. Tedd's is on the 16 along with a few neices. How can one have so much fun on the Red Hatters Day and fall apart just 4 days later. Took a bus to a new place and wrote all directions and addresses so carefully. Well,,,,,,, got off bus and could not tell myself if 1350 was before or after 989. Walked up street to no avail. oh well doing good today. Did my Host chat but only Frank and Vernon came better than sitting alone like I thought I would on Easter Sunday. My Alohas to you all and work on coping skills when all else fails, do not call someone who wants to reteach when stressed.. Keola my my youngest 29 gave his girlfriend and my special girl an engagement ring for her birthday. I am so happy she will stay in our family. They are such a cute couple and the ones who escorted me on my trip this time. Picture is them on Kauai. Love is grand!!!!!!
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It the fun day of the month THE RED HATTERS I really enjoy this few hours. This is my time to run the deal and I just finished wrapping a few very small gifts to give after they answer a bunch of questions about wine. My choice you see.We are eating at Shabu Shabu (seems like I have said this oh well) where you cook veggies and meat thin;y sliced at your own table in a pot of water seasoned with something. The sauces are so good and my favorite I fill with shreaded daikon.Numm. Report of fun will come soon. I changed my purple dress into a bit sexier by making a slit in the front. ZAZA getting gutsy or chasing my earlier years lol. It seems like I do my joournal daily but when I actually get here I see I only thought about it and did not get here to do it.Mari is the queen of the journals.
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I thought I would enjoy lots of days off but think the cleaning is keeping me going. I feel a bit lost whith so many hours for just me.
In case I forgot to mention I found the keys in a friends car.
Chat is hopefully now going to be a place to share with people in oour boat and caregivers will be next door where we can visit also.
I wento to see Pursuit of Happiness with Will Smith and his son. Very heartwarming. I go to the dollar movies. A bit older but so much cheaper and so many I would not pay 6 bucks for cuz have to have my popcorn.
I am waiting for my new business cards for 4 of us for Alzheimer'sAwareness-Hawaii and then they will help me try to get going on a monthy series for hawaii TV. I did got my producers license sounds important but anyone could pass it.The director and camera person are free but producer has to check them out. can't wait to get going. Hope it is not too late I planned this a year ago but with no help it was pretty hard.....
I need not only a driver but someone who can take my ideas and make them real. Please have a wonderful day.
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My grandaughter just set me a text sound of our babys heartbeat. It was so loud I thought I was there. Whopie I am going to be a greatgrama......
Today in chat we got into some discussions about our PWiD chat.I do believe there are times when each of us needs time with each other. We all like helping others but need to do it in another room. The times as like the last two days when a person with dementia has a problem and really wants to talk with someone in his or her boat. I had a few days like this and could not get my point in and left frustrated and could not sleep. . Today and yesterday yet another was going thru something needed to be discussed it did not get taken care of till overtime in chat. This is not right. We are hoping the chat rooms can be renamed. Many caregivers are being shut out and we do not want that. We hope to have a room for caregivers at which we can go in and out of when we are strong enough to help someone else and not feeling to stressed. They really like talking to us and we to them. My true feelings on the problems with the chat now locked is that no caregiver can really feel what we feel and many of us have been diagnosed for 6-11 years and our troubles are getting more severe and need help instantly if not sooner. There are many special people in the other rooms and the persons with dementia are mostly in the very early stages and have much more energy, to share. I hope it all works out for everone and am sure it will. We just need to rename the chat so every one understands just how much each can give away to help others. Each day is different.
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 Well I need to enlarge this. Kalani here in the aqua is thee Pearl Harbor Survivor in my life and I am blessed to have him as a friend and member of DASNI. He has met a few of my friends here and has met many on chat God bless him for the kindness and knowledge he shared with us at the Arizona Memorial.What a great new friend in my life. He is also a friend for Vince and Dutchess, Debby and Sam and for Tanya (Kalanis arm around her) who was doing her last sign up before she retires.(Not many get to do this on the Arizona Memorial.) Well no keys as of this morning. I received so many helpful hints from my friends at DASNI of where to look. It really seems impossible as my reality(which is not othere) tells me I have it at home. These kind of stresses really put me into a place where nothing I do is right. I try to walk away for awhile but it comes with me. The party I was to host last night was nice but I had to leave very early as I could not keep my mind off my keys. My friend cynthia brought me some red hatter things from her trip. It is so nice when peole think of me when away. I appreciate it so much.
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Today has been so very hard. It is the second time I have lost keys for clients and my home. All I know have to be in my room. Why cannot I find them. Last time after days of knowing I put them someplace I would know where they are and now this timeIi came home from work had to open the door with a key then left and keys were not in my purse after putting them on a neck thing they have to be home my friend was in my purse and they were not there. How can one live without stress when loosing important things becomes a habit no matter how hard I try. Makes me want to stay home and in one room so I actulally know where they are. Tonight I host a party and really would like to stay home maybe it will help the stress to go away for a day. Thanks to so many visiting my site aloha Jeanne
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 It is so fun getting people at my site. Today I am planning the Red Hat Society Dinner they caught me unexpected while in mainland and I said yes. We are going to a Shabu Shabu where you cook your own in a pot at the table. It is so very good and they serve SAKE which I only have about 1 time per year. Well did not know I was to host a SAKE tasting party so 2 times per year lol.Have been working no-stop on my site and loving when I do something right even if it does take me 2 hours to do it. seems like the feeling of accomplishment is so much bigger these days. Like skiing felt like a champ. Going to visit my friends for chat. Made business cards for Alzheimer's Awareness-Hawaii and also for Keola and his girl Cici for fun. My room is still clean hope I can say that for a long time Hope Hope Hope
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It seems funny after leaving my journal for a few years to begin again.
Last night I watched my special supporter and friend Leeza Gibbons on Dancing with the Stars. She has my total respect and I have traveled with her. Her life has taken a change since her mother and grandmother were diagnosed. She devotes much time with her partner Jamie Huysman into making the message of persons with dementia and and carepartners foremost in the eyes of the public. Other organizations and where I began are such a part of my life. Dementia Advocacy and Support Network International (DASNI) was my cling to life when I thought I was alone. Mari Lockhart our chat moderator found me out there in cyberspace and my life has been a giving and learning experience since. Hawaii offered no help for early stages so I began my own group for 3 years but foound myself asking many of the same questions I had in my head. I then formed Alzheimer's Awareness of HawaiiLLC and have help from friends. I lectured 4 times a month for a couple of years and now get phone calls for help and requests for lecture work and even gave a motivational lecture for the Supervisors of the Postal Workers of the Western USA. . Alzheimer's Foundation of America I searched out and found to be a great group very interested in myself and setting up a group for Advocacy to bring about some changes in learning and using early stage persons along with their very successful program and I was elected to the board. Soon after the USA seemed to be behind Europe, Canada and Australia in treatment of early stage persons. I began working with DementiaUSA. I will remain on that soapbox I climbed upon in 1995.
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 June 22, 2002  Things have been so hectic but the turnout is wonderful. I do get to go to Barcelona. I really thought I would get there by hook or by crook because I know it is a part of my journey to awaken these islands. Hopefully Carolyn will get to meet me there. She is on vacation so the plans are not written in gold. Mine are and my ticket is paid for thanks to family and friends namely one special friend. Vern is pretty excited but both men are worried. Just cannot understand why??? Well maybe just a little. Here I am still wearing a bad cold. Just hope it is not pneumonia again. If the weekend of rest does not do it then guess I will take the last resort and go to the doctor.
Traci and girls arrived in Vancouver, WA just in time for an unexpected funeral. They are doing well now and all the cousins are together as much as possible.
Martin gave me tickets to the red carpet opening of “LILO AND STITCH.” Having no grandkids close enough, I took my Hanai grandkids and mom. It was unreal. Treatment to the stars I felt. Their budget must have been immense but being Disney, I guess that is not hard to imagine. Got lots of autographs of the people behind the voices and the writers etc. and ate and ate and had entertainment and the movie prizes and the best bag of goodies when we left. WOW.
I am trying hard to prepare a AGM for DASNI at Barcelona. That is the first and last duty of my term as a director. Well, maybe not the first, but head of, I should say.
I am home from work to get a little rest and I have been on the computer for 3 hours. Time just flies for me. And being mixed up about half of the time makes it go even faster. Knowing that too much is on my plate, I am trying to systematically clear it. Aloha…Jeanne
June 21, 2002
This weekend is Keola's birthday. My baby is 24...oh my!
I'm a little nervous about another chat which will get to me at 9:00 pm a bit past my bed time. This one is from Australia and New Zealand but the same DASNI group. Looking forward to it if I can keep my eyes open and my brain semi alert.
Got a pool next door so may try to swim every day( if not to crowded with kids.) Need to loose this tummy in the worst way. And giving up a cold beer or two at the beach is out of the question.
Traci and the kids go to Tim and Denice's. Lots of the cousins will get together and Traci and Denice are like sisters. I'm down for the count as you can see with my typing...aloha jeanne
June 12, 2002
 I don't really know if it is the 12 or 13. I got a bad cold and have been still working been pushing the sudafed and ibuprophen. Tired really fouls me up. I cannot think and everything seems to hard to tackle. I don't know if I mentioned I am in a "feel sorry for me" week. Guess after 5+ years I am entitled to it.
I received an email letter. It was such a nice change from jokes and poems. Not that I don't appreciate the jokes and poems but sometimes I get too many in one day. I'm sorry if yours is the one I deleted.
The brain has really valuable space. Kind of like an expensive rental. So little remains there...I hope to make room for the few things that do. By the by, thanks to Barb Bosh for the letter.
Got to hit the bed tonight early and everyone thinks 9 is early. That is late for me and I think this cold came from staying out till 11 and dancing with Christina, Denny and Alan. Oh well we had a ball. aloha all...Jeanne
June 5, 2002
 Another Day another Dollar. I am trying to cut a few hours off my work schedule so that I may get into more lectures. The Island seems so much more open to my ideas than the AD group. I think my journey includes this awakening of the Islands so I want to give more time to it. Guess I'll never have money so why not expand on a good heart. The feeling lasts longer than the money. The satisfaction of hearing the Q&A sessions show how very behind we are here in the islands.
I really want to thank those who keep up with me in my journals. I am truly blesses with many friends.
I have been having a pretty hard time with seeing things that are not there but thank goodness it is not the slimmy, scarey green, bloody men coming thru my window as before. This is more words on signs and bugs and people I think I know and the like. Who knows what to chalk up to AD and what not to so guess I have the right to blame it all on AD...Aloha Jeanne
May 31, 2002
 Seems like a lot has happened since I last wrote but the only thing that sticks is that my son and his wife are expecting their third child.
Martin's sister does not want him to travel so the move is put off awhile.
Ally graduated from sixth grade.
My Barcelona trip is down the road I think, so guess I can concentrate on the AD Cafe and maybe a trip to the mainland.
I did a real stupid thing. I went swimming right after work the other day and had no sunglasses. Well did not feel it coming but burnt the heck out of my eyeballs. I had to take two days off from work and went to the doctor. Lots of dark and cold compresses.
Been jotting down notes so fast I cannot even read them the next day. Lots to do about nothing so more later… Aloha Jeanne
May 26, 2002
 This is a copy of a letter that I sent to the persons in charge of the Ad Café. I hope to start an AD Café in Hawaii. You can see why I have been so very busy, but I am thrilled about the progress.
To Whom It may Concern
I became aware of your progressive ideas over the internet and immediately became interested.
I have as of yet not received your manual, but a friend who did received it, sent me a few pages. I can see that we differ just a little but have the same intention.
Hawaii is a little slower than the other States and International Locations in even understanding that there is a need for early stage groups. I will include a few papers to share some of the things I have been doing for the cause. I have been on a soapbox to try with the Alzheimer's Association's Association to start groups. They are doing well with caregivers and funding but there is no place for us with dementia's in the near future.
After a five-year struggle I began my own early stage group and see your ideas and plan could be my conduit in spreading the word much faster.
If you could please read over my ideas for grant monies to begin to spread your ideas to the United States. My home is Honolulu, Hawaii and I am anxious to proceed with this project. As you will see these are only beginning ideas and I would plan to work closely with your form adding a bit of what I think would bring persons from Hawaii to accept and participate.
After speaking to my grant writer yesterday I find I have access to a non-profit license, a home for the group and a great amount of advertising in place.
If you could comment and we could work together to open the eyes of Hawaii to the Early to Middle Stage needs I would be eternally grateful. Jeanne L. Lee in Hawaii
Some Additional Information
ALZHEIMER"S CAFÉ
" A Place To Forget Your Problem's"
Parts of this idea were born in the Netherlands where it is thriving
Network with the Community.
Back up the AD Assoc as their main causes are funding and caregivers. Help those to ashamed to seek a diagnoses so that they may reap the benefits of early diagnosis.
Help the Islands to achieve what National and International have been doing 3-6 years now and are growing in helping Dementia's tremendously.
Make sure none of the communities have persons alone in their disease.
Take the pain away and make sure no one who needs a shoulder to cry upon or someone to laugh about the things going haywire with them are denied this because doctors are too busy.
Allow dementia computers with which to connect to the other parts of the world dealing with the same problems , challenges coping skills and successes
An Ad Cafe allows Persons with Dementia's (PWIDS) to drop in at their leisure to join one or many persons struggling with similar things.
It is also a place where the public could understand Alzheimer’s begins with A and goes to Z…not starting with P and moving on to Z the diagnosis, then to death.
Most of employees will be Pwids with the exception of counselors and a general mgr.
Secondly This can be a connection between TABS, (Temporarily Abled Bodies) for any day they could be joining us) PWIDS (Persons With Dementia's) and Care Partners (our term for caregivers) So many questions come up from all persons concerned and who better than a person living it could help.
Make Connections with…
AD Association
Churches
Retirement Homes
Diagnostic Clinics
Hospitals
Medical students
Medical Professionals (who can learn something books do not teach)
Counselors
Exercise therapists
Families
General Public
We will have speakers on…
Safety
Capabilities
Early Diagnosis
Coping Skills
Medications
Wills and Power of Attorneys
Wandering
People living with AD and doing extremely well
Pharmacists
Long Term Care
Staying active
Using the Computer
How to talk to your doctor
We will have roundtables table discussions on things that come up amongst the group or the internet family
We will conduct…
Outings
Hikes
Movies
Swimming
Everyone must carry own Insurance?
About monies
Apply for ________status
Begin with a cafe already in use but closed evening or morning and must be on bus stop
Monies from profits from cafe because most positions will be either volunteer or minimum wage.
Set up dues on monthly basis.
Establish a program to be included in the wills of Dementia persons
Apply for funding or donations from various businesses.
Exercise times.
Many uplifting features.
. Those who say it can't be done are usually interrupted by others doing it....Joel Barker.
May 24, 2002
I have been working on getting an Alzheimer's Cafe going. This idea was started in the Netherlands and I have lots to explain, but tomorrow I am going to meet with a man interested in helping me write a grant to help pay for this project. I am still working on the proposals for Barcelona. I'll never give up. Been giving at least three lectures a month or so.
Now my newest thing is that Martin Denny wants to travel with his daughter and spend half or more of the year with her in Oregon. He wants Vern and I to move into his 1/2 million dollar apt and at very little cost to us. He will keep his room and then split the bills with us while he is home. Should anything happen to him in the years to come, we will keep the place for his daughter to visit once a year or less.
Move yuck. Lots to think about but I would have lots more floor space for you all. Vern and I are trying to weigh and measure a decision without thinking we would be living in heaven. The surrounding windows of the apartment look out over Hawaii Kai waters and the ocean to Diamond Head and the scene is completed by the mountains and trees on the opposite side. If you stand back from the windows, you are even unable to see any other houses.
The apartments have a recreational center, pool, exercise room, library, and a place to use for large parties with a barbecue pit (some) . Start saving your money, Kids.
It is hard to imagine that there is any decision to make, but we are on a year lease and have lots of stuff. We would leave behind all the furniture, etc., but take our camping gear, my files, and my computer etc.
Just another thing to think about instead of sleeping...Aloha Mom Jeanne Grama
May 20, 2002
Think the meds are getting back into my system. I am better.
The hardest things I am encountering now:
# 1. I feel as though I explain things so thoroughly and very understandably but I am not . And after someone needs another way of saying it. I think how can they not understand what I am trying to communicate? Is so clear to me.
#2 My checkbook finances are a big problem. Vern tries to help, but I am unwilling to accept too much help and he thinks he can teach me to do it differently. Explaining has become something that is too stressful.
#3 I am hurt by my family not visiting my website more. After all, that is where my life in a nutshell goes up and down. Sounds like I am on a feel sorry for me. But no, I’m just putting it down so I can trace it for the doc and me.
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#4 I do not understand why people who speak once or twice to what they judge to be a conference or large group to be more important than some of us that speak for small audiences. Are we not all on the same level of promoting our cause?
Now that I have spit out my feelings, I feel much better and am sure I can overcome them all or cope!!!!!! aloha from Jeanne.
May 19, 2002
 Back again. It has been pretty muggy here for a few days. Work, work, work and more work. Seems to be work for a job or work for the computer need to get back to enjoying both then it is not so much work. Had mom on my mind for a few days. She must be wanting to tell me something.
This DASNI group is moving with such speed. It truly is amazing what we have accomplished in two short years. I am still trying to get my funding for Barcelona.
The kids are all doing great. .. aloha Jeanne
May 16, 2002
 Happy Belated Mother's Day.
It has been awhile. Things seem to take so much longer especially with the computer. It seems to take me weeks to correct a problem. I have been so busy with trying to get the word out about early diagnosis.
Mother’s day was not to climactic. Got a wonderful violet plant with a beautiful pot. The card was the best. Hope this reminds you of grama. (my mom use to raise violets in our dinning room) Hope mom is watching and won't let me kill it. Tim called as did Todd. Tedd was a little late but the greeting was the same. Keola spoke the words as I got to see him on Mother’sDay. Mel, my newest daughter -in –law, sent a very nice card. And as for me I just sat around and did nothing. Now that is Mother’s Day. Vern ordered a pizza and a half gallon of pickled mango nummmmmmm. Vernon gave me a nice t-shirt.
Don't know if it is the pharmacy's fault that I am so tired. I just take naps right and left. They screwed up my pills and I hope it is only temporary problems. I seem to be wanting less and less company. I really like being alone. But not as much as I found last night!
I forgot my keys so put all my stuff on the front porch and went into my back yard and took a blanket off the line and went to sleep. Two hours later Vern showed up and we laughed so hard… aloha Jeanne
April 30, 2002
 Good morning, Family. Did Carolyn send you all Anty Jan's surprise Birthday thing? If not, I will ask her to do so. This is my very favorite relative and I hope you can make her feel real special.
I am feeling pretty lonely for all of you especially after the movie. This is why I choose in the later stages, not to turn any of your lives upside down by living with you. I am very grateful that I am not there yet except for tying my shoelaces. Guess it is good I wear slippers. lol
Just an update on my feelings lately. I seem to be real anxious and disorganized. I finally found a description for inside my head. People are playing dice inside. lol
Our group has a couple of good sayings. When you go overboard in spending money you haven’t gone on a shopping spree…it is "retail therapy." When you get overwhelmed and tell someone off or just spill the beans at someone, it is an "emotional enema." (saying…”emotional enema” copyrighted by ‘Resa…LOL!) These are some of pitfalls of dementia.
I am still high on going to Barcelona (praying) and am doing speeches and lots of planning for helpful things for others. Guess this has always been my journey and now I know it is to be “THE JOURNEY.” I am happy about this since some people never get a clear picture of why they are here.
I love you all. Talk soon Aloha Mom
From my son-in-law I call my son Chris:
I Love You, Mom. Just ain't told you in a while :)
Take Care,
Chris
April 28, 2002
 Last night was so special.
A friend from my Tahiti trip called to take me as a guest on the sail boat’s full moon cruise. First we thought we missed the moon when up from behind Diamond Head came this flaming orange ball. So huge that it was amazing. Looked like a sunset in reverse.
My head has been so full I cannot get stuff out one at a time and when I can, I loose it ( but while on the boat all is cleared. It felt so good. I guess that is part of the disease. It sure keeps me from completing anything in a timely manner. And sometimes it keeps me from completing anything in any manner. I guess I have always been a list maker but in earlier days I actually got the tasks at hand all completed. What a hard switch! I think of something that goes on the list and between the thought and the pen to paper… it is gone!
I guess I need to dwell on the good days and let the bad ones pass.
Had a musician friend die last week and the funeral is Tuesday. Somebody else…I can't even remember this afternoon. Wow, better get on the boat again.
Called Tedd (son) today to find that my sister-in-law is in the hospital but I can't get hold of anyone to find out why. She is in her middle 80's. Keep her in your prayers….Aloha Jeanne
April 26, 2002
Just wanted to tell everyone that I did not miss Todd and Tedd's birthdays I just forgot to mention them. I sent todd tee shirts from Hawaii as he always wants them and my kids all have more money than I do, so it is hard to send money. Tedd got a video of Kikida a superman character from childhood.
Sometimes I write more but I can’t get it to attach and go through the email to get placed in my journal. I will write more tomorrow the 4/27, for tonight I go on a full moon cruise or sail I mean. I need that every so often as just getting 5" away from the dock begins to release my stress and soon my head is empty so I can really rest my brain...Aloha Jeanne
April 24, 2002
 I think the 6mg added to my Exelon is doing wonders and many people have noticed a difference. I am so full of energy and ideas. I cannot get off this computer.
I am overloaded with a list of to do as long as 10 weeks and it all needs to be done this week.
Now from my TV appearance (another coming up)… I am getting calls. Most of them thought I still had a group. It may be necessary for me to do one again while waiting for the AD cafe to appear.
April birthdays are gone and it is almost another month. They go so fast these days. I want to put a hold on time till I can get more accomplished. Got to get to my work….Aloha from Jeanne in Hawaii
April 20, 2002
Decided to get fancy in my old age!
This has been a week of every day work. I am so happy to see Friday night.
I was ousted out of the speech to the nurses of queens because the doctor had never heard of me or my DASNI. Well he will know soon. I sent him a packet of information and had a hard time not addressing him as ...............god of medicine. Sometimes they are so self righteous. Think they are intimidated because they may have to learn something from us demented people lol The nerve.
The only thing is he pushed me to call Kaiser and talk to the director of professional's. She is setting me up to speak to doctors. Now if this gets to the podium point I still have to pretend that they are gods and I want to maybe add to their knowledge because I am living It. Hope this one gets to be a go. I have sent my pleas to another tv station so may get another interview on a different station.
Sure is hard on this island just to help people who need it. So simple. Hope my talk with the Board of Directors (secretary) is opening a hole for me. I am NOT giving up to these behind and backwards people. I am on the agenda as well as DASNI for this months Alzheimer's Association meeting this month. Can't wait to hear from them!!!!!!! Oh what I wouldn't do for some exciting news. Aloha Jeanne
April 13, 2002
 I imagine you can call this a letter to a son that may have been better in words before his unfortunate incarceration. Although it is not the worst offense it is an offense against himself and his part in society.
04/13/02
Good Morning Keola,
And I do mean morning because it is 3:15 am. I am thinking of you so strongly, that I have to get up and write you because, as you know, my thoughts will be gone in the morning.
This letter, unlike most of my letters, will be a lecture to you. You may choose to read it or not read it; or as you grow into your age you may read it many more times than this one. (Of course most letters contained a sentence or two of mom things but all because I love you.
I will never be so bold as to say you had a perfect life, but you did have many who loved you unconditionally. Your life had its up and downs and if your father and I had it to do again, I am sure we would do it better. You must understand that most children have up and down lives. None have perfect lives that I know.
We had a good family life while you were growing up and you were the apple of the eyes of your parents, brothers and sister, grandparents, Babun, Aunts, Uncles and very many calabash family and friends. There could not be a child with more photo albums of love.
You had a first birthday where family traveled from far away when they could not really afford it, just to be with you. Your family here spent weeks preparing for it. You had two grampas who thought the sun rose in you, and two gramas who put so much love into your life.
It seems as though you were an appendage of Grampa Lee. His eyes lit up and the smile never left his face as he carried you proudly. Grama Lee spent many hours with you from birth till now, giving you all she could give you.
One of my favorite pictures of you is grama and mom with you in her tummy watching a loving dad and grampa putting together your beautiful new crib. When the day came of the party you were the king and I am not too sure you ever totally lost that title.
Your family on the mainland “oood” over your pictures while here. Your Antie Lori gave you love and gifts that have never ended. Babun loved to play with you and taught you some Japanese. (I wish you had learned more from her.)
Antie Karen and Uncle Butchie were a big part in your life also loading you with love and gifts. Antie Mary took you every place she went when mom was working and Traci or Grama and Grampa Lee did not have you.
Mom and dad lived through you and your brothers and sister for years going to the beach, sailing boats, school conferences (good and not so good), taking friends with us wherever we went. We fished, collected crabs, shells and eels.
We never missed a school function or a sports activity. You and Tedd were buddies from the start. In fact Tedd was very upset with mom and dad that we did not name you Tarzan to match the "T's" He thought you would grow hurt. You went camping, built a pool, and shared holidays.
Your older brothers Tim and Todd took you surfing, your sister Traci even took you to school, Antie Mary took you every place she went when mom was working. And as you grew older you gained many more aunts and an uncle and added to the long list of cousins. Vern became a factor in your life. He loves you and did his best to try to guide you.
You did get into your boyhood troubles and that was pretty normal. But for many reason your troubles grew with you. I really think the lying and getting away with it is your worst fault. It is a hard one to stop. Many of these lies past and present are not fooling anyone but you.
Step up to the man you are and put the lies behind you. We love you enough to take the truth and will stand behind you. There is no need to resort to lies.
Start today and think before you speak a lie or exaggeration of the facts because it hurts all of us. Make a promise to yourself to put that (talent) or lack of character behind YOU.
You are surely not the only one to take a few wrong paths but that is behind you and I wish that the family would let it be. I know you will not appreciate now, the fact that I am expressing to the family, to give you a little incentive to earn money by matching or doubling or tripling or whatever that YOU yourself EARN.
It is a given that too much money makes one less appreciative and lazy. It is now your time to give everyone something new to converse with you about. And that would be, the wonderful qualities you will be bringing out in yourself. Then and only then will there be a new you.
You are such a wonderful, caring, generous, decent, intelligent and handsome man. Please do develop each one of these qualities to the max and be the person you are under that skin. Let it all come to the front and shine.
Now that you have chosen a lovely wife and family you must act as a family man. You have a wonderful ready-made family just as your dad did. Love them with ALL of your heart and give them the most you can.
One day, you will have a great job and a home to call your own and within this little world you will teach your children to do right and avoid wrong. You will want to provide an example for them of how to become upstanding and loving people in this world, to be decent, to really care, to learn how to respect this world.
Keola above all, you and Mel can gain and never loose or damage, the respect you will have for each other because if you have respect you have everything.
Give your children the best you can and you will earn a life worth living. Life will be good to you when you give to It.
Please give it every inch of your thoughts to get a job, and/or go to school. This will be a sign that you have truly seen the light and are going to change for the best.
Lying in bed and eating are not two forms of repentance. Please know that this is from the bottom of my heart and only for YOU. My fondest hope Honey, is that you become all that you can be and that I get to see it.
I love you so very much and never forget "We are under the same big sky"
April 11, 2002
Yesterday was Martin Denny's birthday. He had 14 guests and I was fortunate to be one of them. I sat next to a lady who is a famous bandleader's wife and is 2 weeks younger than Martin who is 91 years young. We had food to die for and Martin played the piano for us when dinner was over and signed a CD for each of us.
I borrowed his favorite picture of he and June who has passed away, and had it enlarged and framed. He had a place set for her and was so happy with the gift. For anyone who knows I draped a Maile Lei over it.
Can't wait to hear from my son as I sent him a tape of KIKIDA which is a (superman type Japanese). He used to watch it every day when he was small. They just happened to be playing it for 5 Sundays. He was so impressed when I bought him a Kekida doll (he’d kill me) a couple of years ago that I found at an antique place. It is a collector’s item now.
Last week I sent Traci a gift certificate as she is going to her cousin’s graduation from college. The next son got some clothes with Hawaiian stuff on them. He was my big wave surfer and loves that sort of thing so he is easy to please. The next two birthdays are in June and August.
I have been feeling better but got my face slapped by yet another Doctor. Boy, why there needs to be a God when we have doctors I do not know. The doctor told the head of the nurses and nursing students that he would not work with me because he had never heard of our DASNI group. At the present time I am gathering materials to send him to acquaint him with the year 2002. He will know it by the time I get through if he will just bother to read.
Again I have too much on my plate but handling it a little better. I am taking the contract for my book to my attorney Tuesday to make sure it is both good for my book and me. Aloha for now…Jeanne
April 3, 2002
I am getting so very busy seems as though my mind is working 24 hours a day.
I have been on 3 more mg of exelon and not only myself, but many others are noticing a change for the better.
I have been sending out proposals, grants and posts to DASNI. I wake up 5 times a night to write something I must tend to tomorrow. It is like drinking a pot of strong coffee. The will to slow down is not a factor. I have thought of many small ways to get help for Barcelona and starting a DASNI branch here in Honolulu to get the early stage information out to the professionals as well as dementia persons and anyone who cares.
I wish family was closer to help me in my journey. I am so lucky to have many brilliant children and children by marriage.
April 2, 2002
This email message that I received has been kept alive and moving since 9/11. In memory of all those who perished this morning; the passengers and the pilots on the United Air and AA flights, the workers in the World Trade Center and the Pentagon, and all the innocent bystanders. Our prayers go out to the friends and families of the deceased:
IF I KNEW
If I knew it would be the last time
That I'd see you fall asleep,
I would tuck you in more tightly
and pray the Lord, your soul to keep.
If I knew it would be the last time
that I see you walk out the door,
I would give you a hug and kiss
and call you back for one more.
If I knew it would be the last time
I'd hear your voice lifted up in praise,
I would video tape each action and word,
so I could play them back day after day.
If I knew it would be the last time,
I could spare an extra minute
to stop and say "I love you,"
instead of assuming you would KNOW I do.
If I knew it would be the last time
I would be there to share your day,
Well I'm sure you'll have so many more,
so I can let just this one slip away.
For surely there's always tomorrow
to make up for an oversight,
and we always get a second chance
to make everything just right.
There will always be another day
to say "I love you,"
And certainly there's another chance
to say our "Anything I can do?"
But just in case I might be wrong,
and today is all I get,
I'd like to say how much I love you
and I hope we never forget.
Tomorrow is not promised to anyone,
young or old alike,
And today may be the last chance
you get to hold your loved one tight.
So if you're waiting for tomorrow,
why not do it today?
For if tomorrow never comes,
you'll surely regret the day,
That you didn't take that extra time
for a smile, a hug, or a kiss
and you were too busy to grant someone,
what turned out to be their one last wish.
So hold your loved ones close today,
and whisper in their ear,
Tell them how much you love them
and that you'll always hold them dear.
April 1, 2002
Happy April Fools Day all!!! it is almost traci’s birthday. I’m so glad my labor was long enough so Traci did not have to be an april fools daughter, especially since she is my only daughter till my boys got married.
i was just checking out my web site and am so grateful to my web mistress. she not only did a beautiful job that 1541? people have viewed, but she remains a best friend, and helps me so often. if i had a payroll she would be on it. i do try to keep ahead of my requests with a few bucks but there is no way i could afford to pay her what she is worth.
each time one of the kids has a birthday it reminds me about their parties, cakes and games we played. some of them were so funny. the one game that comes to mind, is the one where we put clothes in two suitcases by layers and layers, and then we formed two relay teams. the kids would put the clothes on and run to the other end and take them off and then the next kid would put the clothes on.
those of us not in the game, would laugh so hard we were crying. the boys putting on bras and girls getting into work boots was so funny… lol. even makes me laugh tonight.
i have a perfect mental picture even of some of the bodies but they no longer have faces to go with those bodies . the kid’s friends are not very clear any more. oh, some special friends are but not all!
got to go to bed so i can get up early enough to call traci in arizona before she goes to school to teach. next is todd’s birthday and he has not answered my e-mail. i seem to have lost his address for his present. that’s the story of my life, so i don't get too upset about it anymore. it just makes for more confusion, if i let it get to me.
got a nice letter from one of the group that said she noticed a difference since my meds were increased. I also have received another request for the book. aloha…*yawn* from Jeanne
March 31, 2002
Happy Easter from Hawaii!!!
March 29, 2002
i guess the end of the month is a good time to total up a few things. i met a wonderful person on the board of alzheimers here in honolulu. she has helped me to understand and has alerted me to so many things that are happening. she has me on the agenda for the meeting this week or next.
i also received my sample contract to look over. the few things that aren't greek to me sound good. vern has a cousin who is an attorney. i have gathered some of the yes and no's that others in the group have given me. they have published books and helped me to recognize certain things.
sent off tracis birthday present. todd is next and tedd in the middle of the month. 3 out of 5 in april think that is pretty unbelievable. also my brother and niece and then there is martin denny's 91st. he is only inviting 14 people and vern and i are two. he said since i was at the same place with he and june the day before she passed it was only fitting. i feel very privileged.
worked hard and then went for a walk around majic island. boy do i need to walk more. the winter makes me lazy. happy easter
if anyone has any ideas on how to get funding to barcelona to speak just drop me an e-mail. not getting many results from the ones i sent out...aloha jeanne
March 25, 2002
I received this poem by forwarded email and liked it so much that I thought I'd include it in my journal for my readers:
The Smile Starter
Smiling is infectious,
You catch it like the flu.
When someone smiled at me today,
I started smiling too.
I passed around the corner,
and someone saw my grin.
When he smiled I realized,
I'd passed it to him.
I thought about that smile,
then I realized its worth.
A single smile just like mine,
could travel the earth.
So, if you feel a smile begin,
don't leave it undetected.
Let's start an epidemic quick,
and get the world infected!
I'm smiling. Are you???…aloha jeanne
March 20, 2002
tomorrow at 8:15 i will be on tv. speaking always about how things fall into place. here is one of them. i had sent a tv news show and community recognition at the end of the news. i asked to talk to the main person. i told them in my packet of things that i would call at 10:00 on thursday to speak to her. i called and she had not received the envelope. so we spoke and i told her of my plight and she said, “can you come on tomorrow?” well that is how it started.
later in the day, i was mentioned to an education specialist for the geriatric dept. she was amazed to learn that i had been put off by the directors for 5 or so years. she got right on the problem and is fully on my side. i feel that i was cheated out of 5 years i could have been spreading the word of early stage persons.
she speaks of dementia’s and not only ad. i think this is the break through that i have been looking for in hawaii. i felt i was so alone in mapping out my plight. now i find out that i am far from alone. thank those little angels for steering me to the right people, when it was a good time. i am on a run now. look out world…aloha jeanne
March 18, 2002
went to st. patricks evening dancing in the street. sure had fun but was ready to go home at 8:00. worked mon, tues and tomorrow. i should hear from the tv station soon. who knows…aloha for today all.
March 15, 2002
today is the 15th and i can't even imagine where the month went. next month has lots of family birthdays. i am one up on myself, for i already have traci, todd, and tedd gifts.
hope i am not repeating myself but one of the ladies i work for is a doctor and she is trying to get help for my funding. i truly work for the best people. like today another lady wrote on my eps. jeanne my best days are when you come here. guess i can still do that well. as of late i am even doing a good job on my own. my bedroom is just about as i want it but not to fung shui??? cuz lots under my bed.
a full day off tomorrow. sunday vern and i have been invited to the home of the man and his girlfriend i met on the boat three weeks ago/
last night the girls got together for corn beef and cabbage. they really miss me on the outings i use to attend. such as st. patricks day parade and the blocks of people drinking green beer and the place is so noisy. I bow out of all those kind of things anymore or if i go i leave very early.
i think this i good news. went to dr brandon yesterday and she has been checking out a new limit on exelon. seems as though i can take up to 12 mg of it instead of 6mg.
March 12, 2002
i keep hoping i will wake up to the old me not the old me as before diagnosis but two weeks ago. I do not think this is how things go but for me the last few days have been way less than two weeks ago. maybe it is too much stress, maybe pneumonia, maybe yet another large step into the disease.
i am neither down nor anxious just having things harder than usual and making more mistakes. all i can do is pray it is a temporary thing. it seems like this has happened before.
Dalton and Melinda had birthdays this month and next is a big one for me.
I went to the beach to sit in the sun (under an umbrella) just to see if i could bake a little of the illness out of me. my immune system must be that of a 100-year-old woman.
I got a new desk for my computer. I’m picking it up tomorrow. then I can take it off bed stands and a piece of plywood.
i am forgetting things before the pen in my hand reaches the paper in front of me.
March 7, 2002
today is the first day off i have had since the 1st. I could have unpacked boxes but choose to stay in my nitie and vegetate. spent lots of time on the computer to try to get the funding solutions straight . it seems to be too much for me. the first one went well and i should have done them all at the same time.
i am also working on yet another speech to give to the students and staff at Queens nursing school. and then there is keeping up with email and chat which i love.
i have been working double shifts but martin is doing better and he is going to get wheels on lol meals on wheels. that will cut down the doubles.
the news of yesterday was my son Keola eloped. what a surprise! he is a father of two and i am a grama of two more making it 13. also i have a new daughter-in-law. if he is happy so am i. he loves being a mr. mom. the kids are 2-3. i have not met them yet, but hope to do so very soon. they are repeating it for family next feb 14. i am happy for that.
what else has happened? rian my granddaughter had a birthday. i have been very busy with DASNI. the reason i have been with martin denny is he had congestive heart failure but is amazing for a 90 year old recovering.
well guess i am back to the 18 when i wrote i worked 2 jobs today. what’s new? . my cousin’s son was killed in portland running for the max. he was only 26. i can’t imagine what it is like to loose a child. i have 2 girlfriends who have lost a son also.
at least i got a week or so down for the journal when it will get entered i know not…
got to go make meatballs for a sail tomorrow. went dancing at the elks with friends yesterday… aloha jeanne
March 10, 2002
i have so much to say. i have to do it fast, before i forget it all. today the doctor i work for, got my introduction flyer for my book. it was wonderful that she had no idea i could have ad. she is now trying to find me some help for barcelona. she has become real interested in my journey. i am so lucky. just got another speaking engagement and a tv appearance is coming( I hope )
i really am on a roll with the help of wonderful people. i am in hopes my association in hawaii can give me just a little bit of help to at least show support. I am meeting with a man sunday who has an interest in writing a grant.
things are happening so fast for me. trying to get out a few more proposals and i want to go to churches and meeting places around the islands to make even the smallest communities aware of the benefits of early diagnosis.
i want the islands to know about DASNI and my book also. got news that my book is still a ways off. all authors tell me to be patient but I’m not so i have to work on that. that’s all i can do for today. got to put the tacos from taco bell on the table…poor vern! but i worked two jobs and went to chat. more important than food in my mind. he is very capable and often does his own. here’s to travel and if any of you have rich relatives, i am taking donations any amount lol jeanne
March 1, 2002
it is already the 1st of march. how the time flies. my grandson has a birthday the 7th. must have mentioned my last son married a girl with 2 children so i now am up to thirteen grandchildren.
i have had such a busy week. i think that is why, i am having a hard time.
just found out that the speech i will be giving for the nursing student body and staff at Queens, was not the one i thought it was to be.
i got a call from the director of nursing at kaiser to set up a date for speaking. i am so confused as to how i got two for hospitals. oh well they are dropping from the sky. that is ok with me.
trying to get help from aol today and in the middle of using what they sent, i had to ask another question. by the time i had the email up, i lost my thought. oh well it is a jeanne thing.
i was off my wellbutrin for 3 days and was crying at a fly flying around the room.
we got a new stacker washer/dryer yesterday and today a new refrigerator, which made me cry. guess that is one medication i must remember.
my problem is sometime work is to early for food and i get deathly ill if i do not eat. so in my pocket the pills go only to be found in the wash or much later. keeping a system seems to be so difficult for me.
i finally got two more proposals out of hawaii alzheimer’s…ha ha ha and i am now looking for an address to send to the reagan foundation.
i really want to go to the next conference. well if i go to bed, i may wake up with all the brains i went to bed with last week. somewhere i lost some. aloha for tonight.
February 8, 2002
today i came to clean Martin Denny's house and am staying to help him recover from congestive heart failure.
i love staying with him (even though my room still is 1/2 full of boxes. oh well, patience is a good practice.
that's it. i forgot my exelon for two days and was wondering why the confusion. i have asked a lady from Kaiser hospital to look up the person i need to talk to be able to do a lecture for them. i talked to a small group of nurses before but why not,they were thrilled with the information.
on the 21 of this month i go to university of Hawaii for a lecture. guess i can spread the word without the ad group...aloha from Hawaii.
January 31, 2002
i am so beside myself. literally i do not know which me to ask to do the next thing on my list. too many to things to mention so, i will only give you the happy one.
we found a nice clean quiet cottage in which to reside. i am so happy. every thing has been so mixed up that all my thoughts can be blocked into one long entry and that is how i have felt for the whole month of January.
if it were not for the dasn chat, i would probably have gone down 1 more level. thank god for my spiritual side that knows it will work out.
now that my bio and letter of proposal are ready to mail(after i get all the addresses) i can get them off. that was such hard chore, even with the help of a a generic proposal. my life sees thousands of words to change.
before i start babbling, let me say goodnight. now i have to pay all my deposits again and turn in all of my change of addresses. i must pack, unpack, downsize, and get the stuff to storage for the kids or to use in the new place.
i will not reread this so put on your thinking caps and try to decifer (ardie and mari) i love you all for caring and i will be ok in a week. im ok
January 1, 2002
i was at traci's and todd came to visit. traci's family was so good to me and for me. the kids and traci and i stayed up to ring in or rather blow in the new year. it was great to be with family for a change.
altho i cannot say that our new years is anything but boring. we have streets covered with red from the fireworks. it is a religion thing here for most anyhow.
can't remember which days...but we went to the mall, ate lunch out, dined out and opened presents. traci helped me get stuff to the other mainland kids.
right before my trip, i had a very bad bout with pneumonia. still coughing after 3 or more months.
the shaws and ratermanns called and sent wonderful pictures for us to download on xmas eve. the computer really is a wonderful thing. wish keola had one. he is the hardest to keep up with and the closest to me. he is with a jehovah witness girl so they did not do christmas. i still have his gift to get to him. at least, i did not spend 2004 ON HER KIDS ONLY TO HEAR HIM SAY GOODBYE LAST YEAR.oops.
i got to travel first class to and from la. that is such a treat. especially now in my state, when a room is to full with three in it sometimes.
think we went out to see xmas lites with traci. i still enjoy that so much and there were some beautiful ones.
vern took me to see the lights here before i left. i really missed him while i was away. we have a life like no other but really love one another. he gave me a card last year that said we did it our way. that brought tears to my eyes. i keep it up all year.
as for the dementia at xmas, i was pretty disoriented at first, but the kids were so helpful that i soon felt at home. i even played a few games with ally and rian. they did have to help me thru a few things.
i am back to work really full time now. i have one of my friends jobs, along with 7 that i work into the week or longer. one couple are monthly but turn out to be weekly most of the time.
i know i have too many jobs but i need to put some money away for barcelona. i really mean to get there by hook or crook. i want to be so much more involved with DASN than my assoc will allow. they are so archaic with their belief about early stages. they tend to push it out the door. i know i could be of such good help if they would only allow mw to do such.
the best new year's news is that the contract for my book is on its way to me. i need all the help i can get with the contract. i am having an attorney to look at it for me, but am not even sure what i must have in it. christine of our group got stuck with one she was not happy with. larry of another book has been giving me a few tips.
i feel i am in a good spot to start a new year. you will hear from me on my soapbox even if i have to go other places to be heard.
thanks to my family for christmas and a new year beginning well. i wish my family and friends especially DASN family, the best the new year has to offer. may we all be heard and may our plight be observed.
today is the 19th of january. i do not know where the time goes. when in arizona a great friend of mine took traci and four kis and myself out to lunch. it was so good to see ardie. we went to different high schools together if you know what i mean. she seems so content and enjoying life. she may come to hawaii soon. hope i can see she and john. by the by she is one of the ones that follows my journal to see what i am up to or down with. it is great to have a friend care that much so i'd better get to my journal.
i miss my web mistress so much but she is busy with her new grandson and i would not take a minute of that pleasure from her. she is such a great person and i'm sure the time doing something new, is just what she needed. my 61 birthday passed with many phone calls gifts and parties.
our DASN group is very actively sending out proposals for funding to go to the international alzheimers convention in barcelona. i have been putting money away for awhile now.
i missed the new zealand one, and it was very eventful in the understanding of us as people with dementia, able to speak and teach ourselves. it makes me feel as though i still have worth.
i have been able to give small lectures and question and answer sessions here and there, but most of the ones who get the most done, have either phizer help and/or their association helping.
my group here needs the help getting caught up with what is happening with early stage dementia. i plan to do that, but they are really into caregiving and fundrasing. two very necessary parts of alz. but certainly not all of it.
they need to know that persons with dementia (PWiDs) can be the ones who can put the need for caregivers so far back. we can teach caregivers what we need. the list is so long and i guess i am not on my soapbox in my journal. but believe me my box is made of steel and i have been on it so long it is an appendage and i won't be knocked off. our group is more recognized by the international alz than hawaii. does this tell you something?
i have taken on two more housekeeping jobs and i know it is too much. if i could get my room in order i'd hire a housekeeper myself.
i do not know what it is, but i keep 6-8 houses in great order and one of them is not mine. i just look and become overwelmed. today my list is:
1. call for price for airfare to barcelona
2. check about shots
3. make more time to deal with two storages
4. chat with dasn two times
5. catch up on journal entries.
6. find a new place to live
7. refile my filing cabinet
8. make additions to the proposal to send to my ad and to international to plea for help to get to barcelona.
9. make a box for big bros/big sis of clothes
10.start a 4th box for joley of artasy fartsy stuff( thats tracis ) inc material,paints baskets and stuff collected for 10 years or so. my artsy has turned to fartsy
11.pack a couple of boxes for the move feb 15??
the rest will come to me as i work or cry whichever comes first.
yesterday after my job, i went to storages, TWO and got rid of 5 boxes to someone going to swap meet. most of the stuff i saved for when i go about 5 years ago. guess i won't make it and the money i would have made will no way pay for the storage. wonder if that is a dementia thing or just dumb? THIS CALLS FOR CAPS I AM DOWNSIZING. if i send my 16 boxes of pictures to the kids...it will be a good start. aloooooooooooooooha
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Journal 2002 July - Nov
Click Here To Order My Book
This is my special place to leave my daily thoughts and remembrances
and maybe just a few "pearls of wisdom"
treasuries I leave for you...
And although we all occassionally find
our ships tossed about on the rough seas of life...
I hope that you can leave my sanctuary
feeling positive and refreshed after your visit.
Jeanne's Journal 2002 Jan - June
November 25, 2002
November 29, 2002
 It is time I begin to tell you all about the good times cuz they all were more outstanding than my bad ones. The first day I woke up at 3 am raring to go but I let Carolyn sleep. We had out first breakfast in the parlour. This hostal was so beautiful and in old town where all the fun action was. We were on La Rambla. The most traveled strip in the city. Although it was a little noisy when the bars closed it was worth it to be able to over look the tree lined walkway. Our balcony was one of those like out of Shakespeare. The rounded iron and heavily scrolled. We were two blocks from one of the two main hubs in the city for all transportation to everywhere. The largest car I saw was a Mercedes. All small foreign card and hundreds of scooters and bikes. The sidewalks in many parts of town were much wider than the streets. There are outdoor restaurants and bars all over. And we did our share of checking them out. The vinos were wonderful but you don't order a glass you get a bottle that is about 3 glasses and you don't order merlow of zinfandel you order roja or blanko red or white. The cervasa (beer) was stronger than my Bud. Back to the walk of the day that lasted 9 hours and only 40 min of sit down for lunch. Blisters were the evenings pain. However I just bought slippers and kept up the pace.
We saw the La Rambla where you could see mimes every 20 feet for blocks. The funniest was one that was painted silver and sat on the toilet.(TOY_LETTE) Which by the way is how you ask for the restroom in both Spain, France and maybe all over Europe. Restroom bathroom potty don't get you there. One time I held myself to let the girl know where I wanted to go. I did not learn the word for days into the trip.
On La Rambla there are many newsstands, beautiful flowers, birds, trinkets, musicians, etc., etc. There was not 10" of nothing for about 12 blocks or so. Then we hit the beautiful Mediterranean and it is as DEEP blue as one can imagine.
The Mirador de Colon is a very tall skinny piece of ancient art and carvings. The elevator to the top only holds 4 people and one is the operator. The view of the city is amazing. A single file walks around and back down. You get a wonderful site of the harbor and the statues that adorn almost every building. The sail boats outnumbered Hawaii by thousands and that is lots.
We went thru the maritime museum, the Mall de Barcelona (fast), the aquarium, and a few more museums. That covered port Vell. We then walked along the sea for miles before taking a turn into Barcelonetta which is very old and seemed somewhat to be in poverty (I THINK) The streets were very narrow with markets on the corners and wash hung out of every window of about 8 story buildings. This is where we encountered our first taste of siesta time.
We were in a small market looking at a fruit that looked like an ironed artichoke and almost got booted out. So decided to have lunch and a cervesa. Ha Ha not even a clothing store or a curio shop open.
Back to the sea walkway. This walkway is so beautiful and comfortable to sit or walk. So we kept walking. On this walkway was arts and crafts, picasso, scarves, CD's, Spanish leather purses, etc., etc. I bought a CD from a group that just mesmerized us. I could not place the instruments. One was a palm harp and it must be played in heaven…SOOOO beautiful.
We were heading for the water Olympic Park when we discovered under the walkway and on the la playa (beach) that there were open food places. The water was so far out that we opt for a later time to touch our toes in the Mediterranean sea.
The food and Cervesa were welcome. The food I ate would fill this website so I will only highlight it. We tried everything. Not knowing Spanish got us a few weird things but we liked them all. One was a pizza with an over medium egg in the middle. After our 40 minute rest and lovely sites and people watching we began again. The port of Olympic was only 1/2 mile away but we thought about the walk home and saved it for another day.
On the way home we tried to get into the ritziest hotel in Spain and found you have to have a key or reservation to get into the lobby. So we snuck into the banquet area that had somewhat of an art museum as part of the decor. Then we went into the area we were allowed, the casino. We promptly gave $20 each and said the food was more rewarding. Since Hawaii has no gambling I felt the need to give a little money to the cause. We passed so many beautiful clothes stores and churches and gothic architecture, etc., but my feet hurt too much.
The next day I borrowed Carolyn's shoes because I did not find slippers till the bunion pounded ALL night. I can't remember that night’s meal, but I do remember they do not feed their lambs very well (great taste but thin).
Buenos noche for now. This is the first day but some days were much shorter to tell so don't tune out. Even if no one reads this…I will enjoy it for years to come.
November 14, 2002
 Just in case anyone thinks I have left this world I think I did. My trip was a step back in time a century or two. Think if I had all my marbles left intact I would move over to Spain for a year or two. May as well begin with the airports since they were the most memorable of all the bad things that could happen. Even with my don't loose me shirt with my itinerancy on it things did not run smoothly. Well, I do have to admit if I had control of a few languages things could have been way .......easier. It makes me a bit ashamed that we in the United States think English is all we have to learn. My Spanish began to come back and helped in a pinch but still did not help me order a pizza without an egg in the middle. I was proud to have tried hundreds of new foods. Lynn was a godsend many times with her fluent Spanish. This is a good one for us with dementia and the Spanish being up to date.
Helen or Verna arranged for someone to meet me at the airport to get me to my hotel as Carolyn was a few hours behind me. I got off the plane after 34 hours on the plane and in airports with suitcases 1 box and a carry on. Hitched a ride on a cart that made a terrible racket when I pushed it. Waited, waited afraid to move from the assigned spot. Well, a couple of hours Passed and I began to feel less guilty about leaving. Later we found out the People from the Spanish convention who were to pick me up could not find a registered nurse or a doctor to get me so they left me. Evidently they have not heard of early stage and they did not have one person with dementia at the convention. In fact, Peter I think was the lone person from Europe. But then I was the lone person from the US also LOL. I was soon off to my Hostal. More about it later aloha and I will be in the land of aloha in a day. whoopee and my Vern waiting at the airport.
October 12, 2002
The countdown is here. I have suitcases and boxes all over the house. Today is my first day off in a long time so it is really a go. Poor Vern is almost living on the golf course to let me spread out. However this is not a punishment for him.
It feels good to have a few of the overwhelming things cleared from my head such as taking care of the sick dog, the house, riding busses and the funding. It now leaves me time to pack and go to my last swim in the ocean.
Upon my arrival I will need to go directly to the ocean, find some sashimi (raw fish), smell my welcome home plumeria lei and hear some of my Hawaiian Music. Then I will know I am home.
I finally got the funding papers turned into the Alzheimer's Assoc. This was a great accomplishment with all else on my mind. I am sure they will have some questions or further information I need to fill out but it is too late. it is a pretty far reach idea anyhow. Most of the money goes for research. Although I feel it is research to include early stages they may not.
The excitement of the trip and everything it stands for is ringing cheer in my ears. I really think this will be a huge stepping stone for The Dementia Associations to finally include the many persons waiting through the Advocacy we preach to be accepted in the world as what and who we are.
I feel so blessed to have my sister with me. She is very smart and has traveled quite frequently. My Alzheimer's has my reasoning, spending monies and knowing where to be at what time in shrivels. I am a little afraid of the three major airports I land in by myself and change planes but the T-shirt should help. Think I am on the plane for 22 hours not counting the time in the airports. Thank God for my guardian Angels who will get me through it all. I thank all of the DASNI people for their support and my friends and family for the monies I could not get funded. Aloha for the month of October unless I can report on the trip.
September 29, 2002
I think it is time for the rough seas. In the last few days I have worked 3 shifts of 11 hours two of 9. I sprained my ankle and have only two days off till I leave for Barcelona.
On the 4th I will be back using only one computer which will remove so many problems.M
I have a couple of serious family problems again.
Tita the dog is having many seizures that they now think it may not be epilepsy. I am so afraid I might loose her before Martin gets home. He loves that puppy so much and it is the little part of his wife he can hold onto. I will be happy when I can deliver her safely into his arms. This will be a second relief.
All my customers want just one last cleaning before I go. My own house is a total disaster. Last night while flossing I lost a filling the size of a tooth. Now I have to get to the dentist and I have to ask for an appointment on Tuesday between 3 – 4, Wed 8 - 9 or 4 – 5, Thurs. 2 - 3 or 5 – 6, Fri 4 – 6, or Sat 9 –10, and if not I go on a prayer that this 5” gap will not cause trouble.
I have to go get my jewelry appraised so I do not need to pay duty on my own jewelry. The baskets and bookmarks are not complete.
The things I have to do for my book are mounting.
I printed flyers to take to the AD walk only to find it was on another Island yesterday and last week here. Guess they did not call me for the volunteer job. WHAT A SURPRISE!
Tuesday I work a split and go and pick up the dog from the groomer. This is 6 busses. Friday I work a split as Martin comes home and I have to be there then go back to work another 6 busses.
AND VISIT MY DOCTOR ON THE 9TH AFTER WORKING A FULL DAY. Other than that I think I will just lounge around the pool…lol my tan I was sporting for Barcelona is gone. ..aloha pray, pray, pray for me
September 26, 2002
 tHOUGHT i WOULD JOT A FEW WORDS WHEN THINGS ARE MORE UNDER CONTROL. yOU NOTICE i DID NOT SAY UNDER CONTROL. i THINK THAT is a gone deal in my life. (just check out this sentence to see how under control I am)
Dog is taken care of. Got my e-mails off today (of them). Talked to Martin and got his air info so I could arrange his pick up on the 4th of Oct. Got a real shock yesterday when one of my employers (that I clean every three weeks) said guess I won't see you next time.
It was the first I thought Barcelona was less than 3 weeks away. wow So many things to get accomplished for the trip and martins arrival but I am at least following my notes (when I can find them)
Last night I went to a Karaoke bar with 15 friends. There are so many talented people on these Islands. every family has one or two that dance or sing or play an instrument. I do the LA LA LA background well. As long as it is WAY in the background.
Tonight I am going to see the stage play Chicago. Guess I still find time to play. Just throws stuff off a day.
The book progress is going so well it makes me very happy. I am now working with 5 people from Purdue in my spare time. This is quite a project. Don't think Ill try it again. (well who knows, there surely is another one or two in me. But the process is tough on this old gal. Aloha Jeanne
September 23, 2002
 oh my what can I say but eeeeeeeeeeee. I am so loaded with stuff to do.
today my list is 18 things long and two of them will take most of the day. I am not quitting till pau (finished) oops always talk Hawaiian pigeon when rushing.
Of course you all know of the saga of Barcelona. Now the newest is I may represent the USA in a panel of "How the AD society can be more inclusive of early stage dementia. This is my soap box from 1997 and now I get to shout it way above the Hawaii ad group who has been pushing me under the rug through two administration and 5 years. I e-mailed the board of directors and really wanted to put nah nah nah but decided to remain professional.
I am 3/4 of the way finished with the bookmarks ribbons and forget-me-nots for the Convention. now I am wondering how much luggage to take and my sis is away for a week. Par for my life seems like nothing runs smooth. I feel like a jerk complaining when one of my good friends had way more serious problems.
Now that I have you captive in my journal I will continue to B----. Tita the dog I am sitting is having loads of seizures and needs medical attention. I have to travel in cab with her since the bus won't let her on and Vern is working that day.
This is a minor incident but needs attention. have not been able to join chat for a few days either because I cannot get in or I am working. That is such a good place to air things one at a time. persons with your same problems getting things accomplished in a timely matter are so great to chat with and cry with and laugh with. It seems as though if I do not get on in two or three days my problems become insurmountable.
I caught heck for making too much noise at the pool party and lost a front door key since I have been housesitting. Just to add a little excitement to my life.
Called a friend to see how she was and she needed to get to the doctors and was not able to drive. just like me I said that is no problem I have a friend coming and we can take you. Well, after she made the appointment I could not get my friend who was running late so had to call a cab and tell the driver not to let her know I was paying just pretend like he was my friend. After all this was settled my friend rang the bell and she called to tell me she thinks she will have no problem driving since she has been up for a while.
Just a half hour in the life of Jeanne. Oh yes I can go on. But keep in mind I have not burned down the house YET. Vern's son came here on emergency for his grama and he is staying in my bedroom with three computers in it and a few paper piles that are permanent fixtures in my room. Just a bit embarrassed he lives in a 5 bedroom mansion. oh well. When you are poor you are poor and I have been there so often in my life. That is my place and I too am living in a mansion.
I know there are four more real important problems I was to tell you about but I forgot them and I will be darned if I am going to TRY to remember them. Thanks for listening. Maybe the next journal will be all good news aloha
September 17, 2002
 It has been so long since I have checked out my own site or written in my journal that I am at a lost for words. I hurt so badly for my webmaster who is taking care of her husband with the later stages of cancer. Maybe I can walk myself and you backwards a few weeks.
This weekend I had a wonderful pool party at martins. We had food and drinks, swam, barbecued, laughed and had a wonderful time. The board of directors of the community had a few complaints but then there were so many of us tough. We had a ball. I have also been repaying a few couples or persons that have done so much for me and the family over the years with small dinner parties.
I have still been cleaning the other 6 homes but now the bus ride or rides are longer. I am baby-sitting a little teacup poodle with epilepsy. I am making 1100 book mark tags for our bookmarks in Barcelona. They have a little forget-me-not at the end of a ribbon. Planned to have lots of help but illness in the family of my friend made that impossible.
I have made about 15 turtles into our DASSY mascot. They are so cute I think I will do an auction after the Convention to raise some money for our group. Probably they will only interest our group but that is OK.
I am living in the luxury that I use to be in but it is free. The view of the Mts. ocean and ponds is something to relax the most restless. The pool exercise room and library are nice too. The party room keeps the homeland in perfect shape.
I have talked to all the kids almost every week and it sure is nice they all are doing pretty well. I will be in Washington for the baby shower for Melinda and Tedd. I have to tell them how much fun it was when mine for keola was both men and women.
When I return home in early October it will be only 9 days till B day Barcelona this is good because I always begin packing a month early and take too much. I am proud of myself to have chosen three colors and stuck by them. All intermatches. Since I do not own a coat I will be taking layers and blazers. The latest news is that we will probably get to go to France also. Carolyn is doing most of the planning and I am easy to please so I am sure it will be wonderful. of course she will have to do any driving. Love to take the train over there.
Lets see can I go back oh yes my great friend Barbara was diagnosed with schizophrenia. She was pretty tired when I spoke with her so I hope to find out more later. She will be part of a new drug trial and is happy about that.
Talk to my sister Mary the most often of the family. We have a close relationship from living here together. She is working lots and not doing much else. In fact think that is what goes on in the flett family except for Carolyn who lives out of a packed suitcase. She is on the go all the time. Well, deserved. She is like a mother to my Traci and her kids and a wonderful antie to the rest.
I will just add the last letter on my book so you can get the latest update.
Monday Update #2 Date: 9/17/02 4:28:31 AM Hawaiian Standard Time From: jaburdge@hotmail.com (Jessica Burdge) To: jleehawaii@aol.com
Hi Jeanne,
Your package arrived safely today. I've handed over your (very lovely)! photograph to our designer, and we're all discussing the pros and cons of putting it on the front cover. Before we decide definitively, we're going to have Dan (he's our designer) make up a mock cover, and see what it'd look like. I'll keep you updated on the decision making (as soon as one is made, that is...). As for your text: your notes are very clear, and I don't think I'll have any problems inputting this information. If I have any questions, I'll be sure to let you know. In addition to that, we received your thoughts concerning Cliff Reid, and it might be best to acknowledge him just once, in the acknowledgement section, as opposed to having "assisted by Cliff Reid" on the title page. There's no reason to give him excess credit when it's not due! Enjoy your week (confusing days and all!) and write if you have any questions!
Jessica
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
Jessica,
I love your Monday reports. It makes me smile and proceed with the work for the week without stressing over the book. I surely do appreciate your understanding of my disease. I forgot to put somewhere the names of Mark and Ellen Werner of Ageless Design as they truly are the persons who helped me to get the book in a form and provide you at Purdue with information to make publication a possibility. Where do you think they should be? I am so grateful for what they have done for me when I was in tears over possibly of letting it go or paying large amounts of money to get it out or putting it in the closet for another year. I am so thrilled that it will soon be out there helping people to understand just a little part of those of us living with dementia's.
Guess this is the important stuff I remembered…Aloha for now Jeanne
August 24, 2002
Thought I would jot a few words since my mind has been traveling at 100mph since 1:30 am. I finally had to just get up at 2:45 to get on the computer to get some of it in print. Sometimes that will help to get some room for the other things trying to get out. Guess with all this needing to get out there is no room for anything to get in. I really feel like a machine running on overload and I must unload to keep going. The body has become so clear to me on how it runs. Well mine anyhow.
My time to stay at Martin Denny's place. he and his daughter will be traveling and crusin' around Europe for a month. It will be such a pleasant place to stay but I have so much on my mind and so much to do. I have a hard time packing my purse foe an hour away so I know everything I need will be at the other house. Vern will spend a little time with me and a lot of time at HIS HOME (he hates to be away from our place (except for Vegas where he will be for a couple of weeks while I am away making it very hard to get stuff I need. Oh well the bus system is good but time consuming.
I am working on my trip to Barcelona and have been given the general management for the DASNI booth, which means manning setting up designing and making all the stuff I have ideas for to make it special. And of course I have to take two or three versions of a set up to make it just what I want. Plan to have material printed with our logo dassy on it. Oh before I forget I am having a shirt printed up for my trip with my itinerary on it and" do not loose me " That way I may have some help along the way so that I get to my destination. The total hours in the air for the round trip will be over 42 and the layovers I think amount to about 20 more so needless to say I will need it just to read myself every few hours. Hope I just remember my name by the time I arrive. I am so happy Carolyn my sis will be meeting me at the hotel in Barcelona and we will be together till I leave Barcelona. She is going to help at the convention and is doing most of the planning. This is such a tremendous weight off me.
Well wherever I was I have forgotten and If I reread this I will not get to my next thing so will continue another day. It is now 6:30 AM AND TIME TO GET UP LOL Hope I do not fall asleep at the picnic for the community theater or at the concert I am going to afterwards. no plans for Sunday maybe I can get in a little sleep. Aloha once more till we meet again.
August 19, 2002
Today is Tim's birthday and last week was Jennifer’s. Jen is my second oldest grandchild and Tim is my oldest son. Wow 41 am I old or what?
Have no idea where I left off in my life but am sure it was before the saga of my computer and the loss possibly of my hard drive. I finally after two weeks of daily screaming incidents with Hewlett Packard and comp USA I reached the second in command at Hewlett P. It use to take me minutes to accomplish the same thing.
I am on an antique computer with hardly any memory or hard drive left. Trying to work on the two biggest events next to children’s births in my life and they were a drop in the bucket compared to what this is doing to me. My book and 800 people I need to notify about the book to say nothing of my life for the last year. I have two good warranties and neither of them were doing much to help me.
Got to go to the bank and take a deposit that I have been carrying in my purse for a week and may have caused a bounced check.
Thank the Lord, Carolyn my sis will be going to Barcelona with me or I will meet her there. I was so taken back by all the choices for things to do places to stay prices etc etc I just told her to please make all the arrangements and I’d be happy.
I'm off to chat. This is life support for me. The topic is flying or traveling alone which I will be through Detroit and Amsterdam. I was not worrying about it a bit till all this stuff came up. Guess I’ll be ok when it calms and if it does not calm down soon I won't know what is going on so I won't care …lol! Love you all for being there for me. Aloha Jeanne
August 9, 2002
I know why Mari writes everyday for I have forgotten most of what i have done since the last entry.
I do know that I have been working a tremendous amount It is nothing new but I am having lots of computer problems.my children are in a better place now so that worry is mostly gone.
my book is giving me stress and it takes me weeks to get answers from the new person taking over. it seems that it will go through at least 4 more people that I have to deal with.
I seem to be getting more stressed amd much easier. when i send an e-mail and then do one more thing I need to check the sent mail to see if i have sent it. too many things going on in my head to keep them seperate. They all flow together and I get nothing done even if i am on the computer for 6hours a night or day sometimes more.
To add to the stress my electricity went out in the middle of dinner preperation. Vern went for tacos and we had to put a wonderful roast with potatoes, carrots and onions into the refrigerator. Thank god for my elactrician x husband. He came to the rescue. He is in a walker so that made it 10 times harder for him.
I now cannot listen to the tv and type. i get so confused with more than one sound. Like going to a rest. with music silverware banging and people talking. Can't stay. My Hawaiian music seems to be my solace. I need a swim in the ocean every day to get a grip. So guess Ill go try that before continuing the work I have to do. aloha jeanne
July 28, 2002
I have so much to say and no time to say it. 4 out of 5 of my kids are having relationship problems. Just heartbreaking for a mother when it happens to one. It all comes at a time I have deadlines to meet for the marketing of the book. I have typed over 420 names and addresses and lost the first 150 and had to do it over. I am trying to get addresses from all over the world in hopes that I get to do book signings. I have collected about 200 of people and organizations that have inquired. All this is very second in my heart now. Although I can do nothing but give support, my heart hangs very low. Somehow I always blame myself for anything that happens to them. Given these two jobs and a full schedule of cleaning 7 houses just leaves me in that old overwhelmed state. Wonder if there will ever be a time in this life when I will say I have something completed.
I was pondering over the accident I had a couple of years ago … or 3, before I quit driving. I was stopped at a stop sign, looked, saw a car coming, and plowed into the back half of the car. Now that I see some of the things I do, I feel I looked right, saw the car looked right saw no car forgot the other car and went. Please you folks driving with dementia think about it. The ole mind (if you forget) is not fast enough for the responsibilities of driving. Aloha for this week
July 21, 2002
My site was nominated for this award by my webmistress, Teresa Robbins and this is the reply I received by email from Bobbi:
I went to your site and you are a special woman and I would like to present you with this award for a special site...
Keep up the great work and spread your story. I am touched by it. I know you have helped others to understand Alzheimer's and I am very interested in this topic...
Angel Hugs
Lady Bobbii
ladybobbii@forever-me-lady.net
http://lifehappens.topcities.com/
This is a lovely award. Thanks so much Bobbi, and I send out my thanks to you for visiting my site and presenting me with this award...Aloha from Jeanne Lee in Hawaii.
July 21, 2002
My site was nominated for this award by my webmistress, Teresa Robbins and this is the reply she received by email from Ms. Mahaffey:
Dear Teresa,
Thank you for applying for my award for Jeanne's site that you maintain. I want to apologize for not getting back to you sooner, but I have been out of state for the last several days on business and just returned today. I am trying desperately to get some email taken care of before I have to leave again this Monday for a couple more days, and I wanted to get this award off to you before I leave again.
Jeanne's site is just wonderful!! I wish I could have spent more time there tonight, but it is after 3:00 AM, so I am trying to do this with toothpicks holding my eyes open. *S* Her site is VERY deserving of all awards out there, and please be assured I will be back to visit just as soon as I get back next week and hopefully return to a more "normal" life without so much running to do. *S*
May I congratulate her on a great job well done and all that she is doing to help others with the knowledge she has.
Please, give her my best and let her know I will be visiting in a few days and will then sign her guestbook.
May God bless you and her and all that she is doing.
With love and prayers,
Ruth Ann Mahaffey
http://ruthann1.com/
This is an absolutely beautiful award. Thanks so much Ruth, and Aloha with gratitude from Jeanne Lee in Hawaii.
July 15, 2002
Guess I will try to get into a journal entry. I have been on overload since the marketing procedure began for my book. This may be lots easier for TABS (temporary abled bodies) but for me as a PWID (person with dementia) I am having one hell of a time.
I spent 6 hours typing names and addresses of organizations and people to inform when and where the book will be available and then proceeded to loose the list. These names were taken from little scraps of paper filed but not all kept in one place, the phone book, literature, my e-mail (thank God I could Print that), and phone calls.
My wonderful friend printed out a very long list for me. I think I have about 6-800 so far and I am only up to where I started the list yesterday, or the day before it was lost.
I cried all night and went to all sorts of help lines to find it. I cannot remember the file that I was using to save my list in and I can find it no where. Now I am saving my new list after each entry and in three separate places. As you can imagine this is taking a lot of time. After this entry I plan to go to lunch and hop in the ocean. Hopefully it is not to kill myself…LOL.
A couple of the kids are having problems and that weighs heavy on the mind. I sent a poem to Angelo (grandson) for his second birthday and it was his third birthday. How ashamed and embarrassed I felt. Damn this disease.
I use to keep such good track of birthdays. My sweet daughter sent me an e-mail saying how wonderful the poem was but informed me that I had already wrote the second one and asked would it be possible for me to write for the third. I did that and it was cute.
I live in a world of mistakes and challenges…some much harder than the rest. I try to keep upbeat, but once in awhile I have to say, 'Why Me?' even though I know the purpose is for my new journey of helping people with dementia and others to understand.
I have plans and deadlines to be able to get ready for my trip to Barcelona. My room and work area is stacked so high with papers since I cannot move one thing for fear of forgetting something important that should be on my agenda.
Vern came into my room today and said, “One takes their life in their own hands to come in here!” Thank God, he was laughing or he may have been wearing the computer. I sure wish it was easier for others to understand how very hard it is to try to do things when your brain does not cooperate and will not tell you how to go about doing things.
I go to the doctor this week and can't wait to hear the Doctor’s build up on the miracle I am living and how much I get done. I’m glad she does not see this room. Although I tell her of my difficulties, it is not easy to explain what a picture would show.
I better sign off or my free lunch will be gone. I have been on the computer since 4:00 AM and it is now 11:30. I will take off two hours and come back to continue. Also there is a 3:00 PM chat and a 9:00 PM International meeting on the Internet I’m planning on attending.
I have at least another few hundred addresses to type, as I have been saving requests and contacts since I began the book in 1994 or ’95…Aloha…no spell check today as it would take another hour or so…Love you all, Jeanne
July 9, 2002
Well my little Angelo is three but when asked to write one of my famous poems for birthdays (they hang them on the wall) I sat and composed "well look at me I've just turned two etc., etc. They called and said, “mom it is another great poem, but we have one for two, he will be three.” Finally I can blame forgetting birthdays and ages on Alzheimer’s. Think I have only forgotten one or two in all the years of children and grand children but three mixed up this 7 months. Oh well.
Had a long, long cold. It’s happening to lots of people. It has kept me from swimming for three weeks, and that is too long. So today, I go into the ocean good or bad for me.
Thought of going to have an X-ray, as pneumonia three times in two years is unusual. Now I am reading about a virus that turns into pneumonia and resembles TB. It comes from old showerheads and the likes. Don't want to sound like a hypochondriac, but I have lived in 4 apartments that I could not even remove the very old showerhead to replace it. The Drs. here probably have not heard of this new virus yet.
Went to the beach and read a book with passing sprinkles. It was relaxing though.
So they say the final revised contract on the book went out on July 8. We will see. Sure would like to sell them in Barcelona. ‘Jeanne don't count on it----------forgot.’…Aloha Jeanne
July 5, 2002
I have no idea where the time goes. I wish I could recall the past week because I have not written events down, but that is past and so are the memories. That is not to say that I did not have fun. A couple of things I remember are going on a boat ride, going to the beach, working, and making travel plans and la la la la la la la la.
I again am trying to do 5 things besides work. I sure wish organization was something that I could grab hold of and work with it. You folks just do not know what a blessing it is to be able to have the powers of organization. To lots of you, organization may come hard to, but if you set your mind to it, you can do. I cannot.
I have one friend that will be worrying about my traveling till the day I get home. Thank God it is not Vern (he is worried but says he knows I'll go anyway.) This friend lives in "the what ifs" and it drives me so crazy that the friendship is narrowing. I cannot live with "the what ifs" or I would never have been able to move ahead in this disease.
Have a birthday this month? Angelo is three. I always write poems for the Ratermann’s birthday for the boys and they frame them. I also write a poem for my Daddy’s birthday. I sure miss him. I am lucky because he is so near to me and each time I smell fresh cut grass (childhood memories) we talk.
I just bought a juicer. I get tired of paying $4.50 per glass. Guess I still have a few creative juices in me cause I can blend of some great vegetable and fruit juices. I use that for at least one meal per day and two if I don't cook something really good for Vern
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