Ohhh Canada....Pt.1.

Yikes, don't tell me you all turned Catholic? Anyway, how are all of you? This end you ask,....Status Quo.

• Mrs. Titus:....still sick
• Grandma:....doing better and wanted to try living on her own again.
• Neck:...still fucked up. Disability rating jumped from 7% to 17%.
• Local commercial development in neighborhood:....moving ahead, maybe some of my property value will recover after all.
• The "Branch":....still sucks. Looking for a tie dyed "Barack Obama 08" shirt for casual Friday. I figure hell, why not stir up the hornets nest.
• The ex:....child support went from $400 to $1500 per month.
• Mrs. Titus:.... finally decided to move forward with a career change. She was accepted to school and will start in May.

So....Mrs. Titus and I have been discussing retirement for the last several years. As it stands, I can retire in just over nine years. Considering how my neck has deteriorated in the last three years, the reality is that I may only last another three to five. The kids are almost grown and should be on their own in two years. We have planned to look for property in the pacific North West. If we are able to unload some of our California assets in the next two years, our relocation time line may move quicker than expected. I've been in the California Bay Area my whole life. Frankly, I'm sick of it! One plan we are researching would have us relocate north of the border :>). With Mrs. Titus having a new career (and the old one to fall back on for side work) and my retirement....we should be able to live well.

More to follow....
Jake

The Female Mind

As indicated by my very brief post two days ago, I have had ten or so days of hell. I had every intention of writing about my miserable week and a half. I wanted to rant. I wanted to scream at the top of my friggen lungs. I was simply waiting for time. When the time came, I was going to puke my rage out onto the pages of my blog. One huge misery purge.

Then, the time came. Low and behold. . . . . I didn't feel like spewing all of this shit out! I've gotten over most of it and the rest I'm trying to let go of. But that still leaves the blog. So instead of doing a bullet point rant of all this crap, I am instead going to write about an observation I made last week.

On "Good Friday" Mrs. Titus began to feel like crap. This continued for several days. On Monday I had the day off from work. While she slept in I got up from bed and started doing shit around the house. Here is a brief list.

• I emptied the dishwasher.
• I filled the dishwasher and ran the load.
• I took Grandma to her doctors appointment.
• I took Grandma to her lab appointment.
• I went to the pharmacy to get Grandmas medicine.
• I went home and emptied the dishwasher.
• I folded the cloths in the dryer.
• I did two more loads of cloths and folded them as well.
• While in the process of vacuuming the house (including the stairs from hell), Mrs. Titus wakes up and the following conversation and event transpire. . .

Me: Hi Honey. How are you feeling?

Her: Like crap. Can you make me a tuna sandwich?

Me: Sure I can. Do you want chips with that?

Her: No, just the sandwich. . . thanks.

Me: No problem, you just lay down. I've got everything under control around here.

So I proceed to make us tuna fish sandwiches. Rather than stay in bed, she chooses to come down stairs and eat at the table. Now let me remind you, the house is DIALED IN!!!!! I bring her her sandwich. She takes ONE bite and says. . . .

Her: There is way to much tuna on this sandwich and you also used to much Dijon. I knew it! You just don't love me anymore!

Me:?

Women often say that men are babies when we're sick. For the most part, I agree. But, after having the flu I have never gotten out of bed and discovered. . .

• The oil had been changed in All of the cars, and the Harley.
• The lawn is mowed
• The plants and bushes are trimmed and fertilized.
• The cars are washed and gassed up.

you get the picture. . .

See I don't expect that. But believe me If that happened, the last thing I would say is. . .

Me: Honey, you are a heartless bitch. You fucked up my lunch!

Help me out here. Am I off base? WTF

Grandma

My wife’s grandmother will turn 80 soon. She is a sweet, kind, happy, and giving person. I first met her about eleven years ago. She has treated me like family from day one. As I see it, she is more family to me than the one that I was born into. Until recently she has been independent and active. I appreciate her. Even the days when her requests seem ridicules or her stories don't quite make sense, I appreciate her. Since November her health has declined. The once independent and strong willed woman that I knew has been replaced by someone else. She has become feeble and weak. Her memory is less than sharp. She suffers random pains that often keep her confined to bed. For several months she had a private apartment in a senior assisted living facility. Two weeks ago that changed. We realized that her confusion and memory lapses were becoming more pronounced. Sometimes she forgot to take her medicine. Other times she took too much. Her appetite diminished and she lost weight. We knew she could no longer live on her own and a rest home was out of the question. We took her home with us. Everyone said we were brave for taking on her care. We saw no other option and insisted she be with us. They were right. It has been difficult and all consuming of our time. Last week she began having periods of unresponsiveness. The doctors admitted her to the hospital. Test after test has failed to pinpoint what is wrong. We have been frustrated with the situation and the system. Last night we had a breakthrough. It did not come from a doctor but from my wife. A new medicine prescribed last November for Alzheimer’s. The timeline matched the onset of symptoms. The internet gave us an extensive list of side-affects. They matched her complaints and symptoms. We stopped the medication. Her condition has improved ten-fold in the last 24 hours. WTF, don't doctors make enough to figure this shit out? She has a cardiologist, internist, gastrointestinal specialist, and case manager. Who figured it out? It wasn't an expert but a Freelance Graphic Designer. So, Grandma is back. Her memory may decline over time but she is comfortable and happy. I know it will be hard when she forgets our names or no longer knows where she is. I don't look forward to that day but at least she is not suffering.