Bill Tidler Jr.
Retired N&W/NS Signalman
Good morning!
For a man as productive as you are it's as easy as pie.Louis: That's too much work...![]()
I'm sorry to hear about your Mom's trip to the ER.Well, howdy there internet peeps.
It's Troy again. Today's story is about changing traditions, cute paramedics, and oxygen.
Grand Nieces are heading our way in a few hours, along with Mother and Sis-in-law. There should be about 10 people total for the Thanksgiving dinner.
I remember growing up, we'd have a couple of places with large extended family gatherings. Either the country home (very rural) of one of Mom's uncles who used to fly model aircraft, or hand-crafted kites. His basement was always fun to visit.
Or, we gathered for the other family side, at the marina along the river. Not as interesting stuff to gawk at there, because the basement was the business of engine repair and fuel sales. But, we had more cousins to hang out with.
Something we've noticed on both sides of our families, the dynamics have shifted. Larger families in the older generations, and mostly smaller ones in the newer generations (with an outlier of one big family with multiple divorces in the younger generation).
In my side's case, we've got three siblings, but all are in small residences, so no desire to host a large family gathering. It'd be claustrophobic. And my sister who's dealing with a recent divorce is really trying to get the larger extended family together to make up for the holidays. But, my wife had already committed us to her side.
In my wife's family, it's the younger generation not wanting to let go of the gatherings of their youth... but Great Grandma doesn't have the large house to host any longer. And the next generation down is in smaller homes. We're pushing to get less than a dozen total dining in the same level of the house. And I don't want to start the habit of people putting their plates on the train table.
One of wife's grand nieces was going to show up at Great Grandma's senior apartment with crock pots full of food, and start trying to have the dinner... in a 400-500 sq foot apartment. Yeah, NO! So that's what my wife volunteered for. About 10 of us total... This year. suspect it's going to grow next year, despite what the wife says now. We'll see...
I hope the grand nieces bring ham... I'm not a turkey fan.
If you all remember the old man from A Christmas Story, I'm the exact opposite. Turkey is not my thing. I much prefer ham. Or a good burger. Or beef hot dogs. Or a bowl of oatmeal to turkey. The Bupkisses' dogs can have my share of the turkey.
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My younger sis got a turkey and tried to invite us over. But we'd already committed to wife's nieces. So Sis got Mom to agree to attend (Sis has to manage transport since Mom can't drive).
But, two nights ago, Mom decided she REALLY wanted to see that cute paramedic again.
So she got dizzy in the bathroom and tried to sit back down. But missed, and ended up on the floor kind of stuck between the tub and toilet. Fortunately, she could reach the help-needed string. And the paramedics came. But when they come, that's an automatic trip to the ER.
Wife and I got to break mom out of the hospital yesterday afternoon. They sent Mom home with a portable oxygen machine. She probably needs it but is already saying she isn't going to use it. She's just supposed to use it when moving around, like walking down to the cafeteria.
Oh, joy.
Yesterday, Mom was tired and grumpy and wasn't wanting to go out today. Something about being in the hospital makes her tired and grumpy. Probably being awakened at all hours, and being told to get up and walk with the nurse.
I hope Mom reconsiders and heads to my sister's house. She'll probably leave the oxygen machine at home. She's naughty like that.
Here's a pic of Mom about five years ago, on the Queen Mary, looking at a model of the QM. This was prior to her needing a walker and the oxygen.
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As he should! Everyone should be enjoying the day with their loved ones!MEL's giving everyone the day off today.
Bill- I am really glad that you are posting again.Good morning!
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Yea, the ScaleTrains sale was a bit of a disappointment! They had some really good sales in years past. I held off on a lot of purchases in Oct, Nov in anticipation of their sale, and it was a bummer to me as well. They ran pretty much the same sale at Halloween.I did some online retail therapy yesterday. It was more frustrating though than satisfying as the “sales” in a few incidents were a joke (looking at you Scaletrains). Let’s have a 15% off sale off the regular selling price of in stock items. That would be a great sale, if they had inventory to pick from!
Much the same here. The same stuff the companies couldn't sell last month or the month before. Some of the second hand items were more expensive than new ones of the same model?Yea, the ScaleTrains sale was a bit of a disappointment! They had some really good sales in years past. I held off on a lot of purchases in Oct, Nov in anticipation of their sale, and it was a bummer to me as well. They ran pretty much the same sale at Halloween.
