[FaithWalker]

Another nod here for Top Gun: Maverick.  Yes, Cruise, who just turned 60, is in fabulous shape.  I won't be missing the next Mission Impossible movie when it opens in 2023! 

Nice update.  You have a lot in your life to enjoy and be thankful for.

Hey SB!  I hope you have been enjoying your summer break.  Yes, I want to see MI in 2023 too.  Too bad we don't live closer and could see it together.

[FaithWalker]

I worked with Tom Cruise once, about 5 years ago... really lovely guy.

Oh wow!  That's pretty cool B.   

[FaithWalker]

Hi FW,

Glad you are doing well this summer enjoying life.   You are truly are a great example of GAL in the wake of the MLC destruction.  Top Gun Maverick will be worth the wait, and I actually have just started binge watching Stranger Things while I'm in isolation for COVID.   Truly awesome show and brings back so many memories from my childhood.

Hope you enjoy the rest of the summer.

HF

HF, sorry to hear about the Covid. 

I was very resistant to Stranger Things when the kids first started watching.  I'm not great with scary things.  I love riding roller coasters and things like that, but the intense build up in scary movies freaks me the heck out and it better not be something scary that could really happen in real life.  I tend to stay far away from those types of shows.   But somehow, watching it with the kids made this one okay, and also the 80's nostalgia helped lol.

[FaithWalker]

You know my daughter framed and hung the family photo of both her husband and hers family in her home and every time  I go there it is the first thing that I see. The picture for en is awkward as you can see my X feels disconnected, but it is all over her family. Both sides. I love that she wanted it hung. I love that your daughter chose a happier time photo and she hung it. It’s the way it should be. Those are her parents and will always be. It reminds me that when telling kids your getting divorced you tell them when they are young it’s nothing to do with them and we both still love you. So, we try to instill that nothing changes in our love for you, so then why should their vision have to change of that original love that brought them here on earth. I love it!

Yes, so true ML.  It was really her choice, plus she rescued that photo.  Most of our wedding photos and paraphernalia are in an old trunk that I have locked away and somehow that one didn't make it into the "casket" - she has access to many photos that include us with the kids.  But she chose that one for a reason, only fully known to her what that reason is, but it is definitely her prerogative and I won't darken that for her by making a fuss over it or anything, even if it is a bit disconcerting to see when I go in her room.

[5hilmerton]

Finally caught up, i have a tough time keeping up.  Glad to see your updates and how handy you are with a level and a drill.  I did not know there was a level on the phone.  Or did i misunderstand??

FW, sounds like you are well.  I am on round 3 of binge watching Stranger Things.  My daughter's and i sit down in the evening with a glass of wine and watch a couple of episodes most evenings.  But we must watch together so we can pause and discuss our theories.

Take care,
5hil

[FaithWalker]

Sorry, 5hil, I have been away for a bit.

Yes, there is a level on the Iphones.

I'm glad you have been enjoying Stranger Things with your D's and a glass of wine.

My D and I are supposed to start a Series together soon, and I need to go to the movies with my BFF, we haven't gotten together in a while.  S17 and I have been watching "The Office" together.  He had seen it, I hadn't.  I get really mad at Michael lol and I'm thankful that my work does not have that level of toxicity.

[FaithWalker]

Long overdue update:
Today is the last of a 4 day weekend I intentionally took.  A little over a month ago, M had mentioned that she wanted to get over to Castle Rock to see her Aunt and Cousin.  Her Aunt is about 92 and lives in the basement with her D and D's husband.  I had contacted them about bringing M to see them but they were leaving for a trip to GA and FL and didn't get back until last Friday.  So we scheduled it for this past weekend.  We spent Friday evening and Saturday with them and then Saturday evening and Sunday with my B's family.  They live about 45 minutes from Castle Rock.

M was so grateful to be able to get over there and see everyone.  Her memory is still so-so and she has to ask me a lot what the plans are for the day, etc.  Sunday morning, we stopped for a quick bite and she decided she wanted a hamburger and a smoothie, but no fries.  By the time she got to the table, she had forgotten she didn't order fries and preceded to steal mine off the tray.

Let's see what else is new with me.  I've been dealing with a little bit of a health issue, possibly a side effect of Covid making it worse, targeting a weak spot.

Ever since the D, every August I get a stye or styes in my eyes.  Usually a warm teabag or microwave compress will do the trick and they will go away, but this time they have been buggers.  I have consistently had 1-3, in and out bothering me since August 13th.  I had to see my Optometrist and then an Ophthalmologist.   We have been trying to be aggressive with them so that hopefully I don't need light therapy or surgery.  Basically, my Meibomian glands are having a dysfunction.  In November of 2020, when I battled my first bought of Covid, in December I remember having a stye, and then it was about 6 months before I could wear my contacts after Covid, or put on mascara or fake eyelashes or anything.  I didn't have an issue last September with the Covid variant, but this August and September have definitely been a battle.  I was hoping to do some family photos at the same time that we did Senior photos for S but kept putting it off due to my eye issues.  I have been on an aggressive treatment and finally hopefully making some headway.  At one point, my right eyelid was so swollen, the "stye or chalazion" was almost the size of a marble and it was messing with my vision.  My glasses prescription in that eye is a -3.75 and I was seeing at a -.75 which is totally crazy!  But then as I compressed it, my vision would change, so it made for some very rough weeks with lots of headaches from the ever changing vision.  It's settling down now though.  They are still there, but not nearly as disruptive.  Hopefully they will be gone completely soon.   I go back for a follow up in 8 days.

In July, I went in to see my regular doctor for a check-up.  Thankfully my bloodwork all came back good.  I do have a couple of issues that I am battling.  I have joint pain without inflammation.  He called it polyarthralgia.  I also have a genetic thing called hypobilirubinemia.  It's a good thing I live in Colorado where the sun shines a lot and I can generally get out in it for at least 30 minutes and bask.

But, my antibiotic for my eye thing means that I have to really lather up as it makes me MORE sensitive to sun.  Sheesh.  Conflicting health issues is no bueno.

But I'm hanging in there and hoping it's just a blip for now and that I will be feeling better all around.

[FaithWalker]

Mom's doctor visit went well.  We both like her new doctor.  Mom has been so gracious with accepting help, taking herself off of driving and being able to say that she knows there is a problem with her memory.  I am so glad that she is allowing us to help.

The doctor did do a memory test so that at each visit we can see what the progression is like.

I might have silently failed some of the memory test too!  Ruh-roh.  I did pretty well overall, but I could only remember 3 of the 5 words she told us to remember from the beginning of the test. 

[HeavenlyFocus]

Hi FW,

I'm sorry to hear about your Mom but am very glad that she is accepting help and acknowledging her memory issues.   I used to work in a hospital and took care of many elderly patients as they dealt with the issues that come with age.   Confronting these  issues with grace and dignity with loved ones at your side is so important.   Wishing peace and joy for your Mom, you, and your family.

HF

[FaithWalker]

Thank you HF. 

Bless you for the work you did with those folks.