The Coffee House Is Open

[mom2jennifer]

Violetta,

Good to hear from you again.

I will do my best on the laughs, the music, well you know who's got that one covered!

Love, Chris

[mom2jennifer]

Shouting a hello to all from Vermont...hey it was about 28 degrees here last night! Winter's coming...

I just had to share... boy as though I didn't feel old enough already today AARP sent me a letter for their membership. Can't they at least wait until I'm 50?? Talk about depressing, they aren't even going to let me leave 49 with dignity...

Tomorrow going to get my eye exam and I know they're gonna stick me in glasses...

Move over Grandma Lee, I'm gonna dye my hair brown and get a bowl and put it on my head and give myself a haircut and then I'm going to go out and tell them - -

I DON'T WANT TO BE 50! I DON'T WANT TO HAVE MY MOTHER'S HANDS and they look like them more and more every day I DON'T WANT ALL OF MY BODY PARTS AND SKIN LOSING THE FIGHT WITH GRAVITY and yeah, uh huh, they are...I don't want to grunt like I'm 85 every time I stand up cuz the knees are shot and I am not getting knee replacements..AND WHAT THE HECK IS IT WITH THESE AGE SPOTS ANYWAYS and why does there seem to be more almost daily??? IS SOMEONE PAINTING THEM ON ME WHEN I'M SLEEPING? Arms, hands, bad enough but jeepers do they have to appear on my FACE? Looked down at my hands once with reading glasses and YIKES..No don't look up...going to get an eye exam, need no line bifocals... what??...go to get my hair colored and my hairdresser has to add a little somein somein to the mix cuz the white on my temples is resistant to the dye.....arrrrrggghhh NOT READY FOR THIS AGING STUFF

Hey Lord isn't my youth supposed to be renewed?? (Psalm 103:5) Um still waiting on that one, any time now...DON'T laugh! You're laughing aren't you? Not funny Lord, You aren't aging..


Chris

[mom2jennifer]

And Bill do you think I am actually going to allow someone to get photograpic proof???

[mom2jennifer]

Violetta,

How are you doing?

Chris

[mom2jennifer]

Wow this economy is so pukey. So many businesses downtown now stand vacant and they just closed our movie theater and the one the next town over closed about a year ago. I don't drink or do the bar scene so that sure eliminates what I can do here for fun.

I want to see 2012 which comes out on Friday. Looks good and looks like one with all the visual effects to see on the big screen. I think there might be a theather 45 min or so from here...

Chris

[mom2jennifer]

Boy talk about an experience, another one that I just had to share. Violetta this one's especially for you as I know you need the laughs at this time. As I share the story just picture my FACE as this event was unfolding and you'll be on the floor laughing.

Ok so today I tried yet again to listen to a few different opera tapings on You Tube to see if my taste is changing yet. I remembered what you had said about checking out You Tube and I also wanted to check out Puccini because Barbara made mention of it being very emotional. Ok so I listened to a few things and this one called "Puccini For Beginners" came up so I figured ok and clicked on it. So up comes a song called Sunny Came Home by Shawn Colvin (I do like this song by the way) and a clip about 2 lesbians, maybe it was a movie? Ok so as I am clicking off my eyes scanned where someone had titled the clip "Two Lesbians Kissing" and I couldnt get out fast enough. What the heck did this have to do with Puccini? I am stumped and revolted. I seriously think I am SO DONE with watching unknown surprises on You Tube.

Ok Violetta you MUST be laughing by now!

While I was there I watched the Barbara videos again and for what little I know about opera (which is obviously nothing) she is still the best I've ever heard and how could she NOT go far?

I listened to her without seeing her too and it just doesn't have the same impact which is why I am hoping for the releases of dvd's down the road. Yes, her voice is awesome but I enjoy watching the emotion and her performance as a whole.

I noticed too how very nasty people are to one another on You Tube when commenting about opera, yikes.

I have those moments that I title "Note To Self"...
Note To Self: Don't watch videos on You Tube unless you know what they are first.

Chris

[violetta]

Hi Chris,
I haven't been commenting for a while - I am just so very busy. Nothing much new. My mother lives part of the week at her place and part of the week at mine: she had a catheter put in to drain fluid that builds up in her lung, and this is something I do every few days. Then she stays at my place for a couple of days, then goes back home: in my place the bathrooms are all on the 2nd floor, and my mom doesn't have the strength to go upstairs. Will probably try another chemo soon, though I'd imagine the chances it'd help are pretty slim. I didn't want to go into much details really, as it seems like not something that anybody is really interested in, but you've been pretty candid about your mom, so I figured I'll share... Sometimes I am just not in the mood to ask, sometimes I feel like I need a little break, just a few hours for myself, but then I feel guilty of not spending this time with my mother given that I don't know how much time I'll have with her.

I wanted to go to Met HD broadcast of Turandot, but couldn't leave home yesterday - we had visiting nurse coming and teaching me how to drain the fluid. Interestingly, when I checked for the tickets a couple of days ago out of curiosity even though I knew I wouldn't be able to go, it was all sold out. And the movie theater had it shown in two rooms this year and both were sold out a few days in advance. Now, the Met does a lot of advertising, but I am wondering if Barbara's performances on AGT further increased people's interest in opera.
Yes, it's funny how you found something, and yes I needed a laugh - thanks.

As to comments on YouTube - people have some strong feelings and strong likes and dislikes. There are those who have listened same arias sung by different performers and notice little things that most people don't; there are professionals, there are people with simply different preferences and then there are jerks who like to insult people who don't agree with them or just crazies. As everywhere, really, though operas are about strong emotions so maybe they attract strong emotions too: historically, Italian audiences have always been very vocal about their likes and dislikes.

[mom2jennifer]

Violetta!

Hi I figured you'd been quiet just because you probably needed a break and I get that you need one and then feel guilty for taking one. It's like when I get frustrated with my mom not doing what I THINK she should be doing and there is part of the problem right there. She is her own stubborn person (where do you think Jen and I get it??) and she is going to do what she's going to do. But I try and capture moments and freeze them in my memory box like not too long ago she sang one of her Polish songs to me out of the blue and then laughed and said she is getting old and her voice doesn't sound that good anymore..oh when I hung up I just held the phone to my heart for a minute, it was one of those moments and one of many things I will miss one day. So I get frustrated yes, and then I feel guilty. I have tried to be somewhat candid to let others see while the situation may be different, so many of us are going through something and I know being able to talk about it helps.

Violetta did you get your mom one of those portable potty chairs that you can just keep in her room downstairs for her when she is there? If you haven't it is so worth looking in to. Many of the elderly I worked with when I did elder care when I was younger had these in their rooms to make things easier.

I am sorry things are difficult for you right now. I may still be a stranger but I do care and I'm willing to listen.

[violetta]

Chris, thanks for caring. I do wish you all the best too, and for your mom and Jennifer as well.

BTW - when I mentioned bathroom, I really meant like shower or bath. I do have a half bath on the first floor, but mom likes to be clean .

Regardless, just wanted to say hi.

[mom2jennifer]

Violetta,

Thanks for posting, as you know my conversations with you is the reason I opened this spot plus the hopes others would join in. I am not sure why but getting people (beside the handful of us regulars) to post is like pulling teeth. I guess it's just easier to read and fly. That would be easier for the rest of us too but thankfully some chose to interact with one another as we gather together on this "fan forum".

I do care how you're doing. I don't know where everyone is at who doesn't post but things have been extremely difficult for me in this job search and worrying about my mother's health too and then being there to support Jennifer in things she is dealing with right now, plus a cat not breathing right and me worrying big time over her (comes and goes,I think it is weight related but I so want to bring her to get checked out and I can't wait to clear my bill so I can but in the mean time I am praying) but I can't take her to the vet as I still owe $149 for the last stuff Boo Boo went through and wound up costing me over $300 then the starter on the car went as I mentioned here...my knees and back hurt all the time and I just keep going...my plate is piled way high and I feel exhausted and emotionally drained YET (yes, I had a point, wait for it - grin) I still take the time to post and interact here because I am not going to get buried in my junk and throw a one man pity party. So all of us here who love Barbara (AND KYLE and Elizabeth) if we can also help one another through the rough spots and keep speaking words of encouragement then we are doing our part to make the world a little better. This is what Barbara is doing, this is what Kyle is doing, and this is what we all should be doing. Sometimes the world really stinks and it hits you with suckerpunches or curve balls and things that are just plain not fair, each one of us out here has something he or she is dealing with, yes some have more on their plates than others but those others in times past have had their plates piled sky high with stuff too. If we can be there for one another then we lighten the load. Remember how New York during the 9/11 atrocities strangers banded together to help one another? I thought that was awesome but I always wonder 2 things. Why does it take a disaster and secondly why do people stop helping each other shortly thereafter? So I want to lay my head down each night and be satisfied that I did the best I could do for today. I want to help people, whether it is here or in the grocery store or wherever PEOPLE are. I am a mom and to the moms out there you know that changes a person. I am a social worker. I am a Christian. These things are parts of me, and I don't want to stop being kind, helpful, caring, whatever just because right now things for me personally could be going better. I still want to be that person who reaches out, who cares and certainly not just because I am getting a paycheck (which I'm not LOL) but because I care. BUT (as I tell people time and time again) I am NOT a mind reader. So people need to talk to me for me to get a feel for what is going on and then I can do my best to be supportive. But sure it would be EASIER to maybe fly in here and read a couple of posts and fly out, it would be EASIER for me to withdraw (as I live alone) and really talk to no one. Sometimes (I know you all won't believe this) it is just as hard for me to reach out, to talk, etc. as for those out there who don't. But I make the effort and am so glad when others here do too. It's probably going to be even quieter now with Kyle gone. I hope they are having tons of fun!

Chris

[Bucks Owin]

Just dropped in for a "coffee" and look around. Saw the talk about feral cats, I'm not much of a cat lover myself but always tolerated them for the kids. Then my 12 yr old son Conner wanted to adopt this little feral rascal with a 6 toed foot at each end and I allowed him to. She's kind of grown on me and apparently our 120 lb wolfdog too!

[mom2jennifer]

Hi! How is it going?

Glad to see people haven't forgotten to stop by and chat! Seems like things have been way too quiet lately and I guess I get a little tired of doing most of the talking!

Ha to owning a cat!! I have always said those who say they hate or dislike cats have never owned cats! Glad you took the chance for your son and this is a great picture!

Chris

[violetta]

Didn't really have much time. I did have time for a post here and there, but usually it's a limited amount of time. So if I want post something on one thread or two, that's it, no more time. Oh I start writing and then my mom calls me from downstairs, so I just stop without submitting and go.

Mom is now part of clinical trial - we used to have to go to NYC every 2 weeks, but now it's once a month. It seems to keep things stable, but no dramatic improvement we've been hoping for. She now spends about half a week at her place (so that my father can have his own TV and so that she doesn't need to climb the stairs to take a shower, and half a week at mine (Friday - Monday). She is not in pain, but she gets tired and out-of-breath just from walking to the bathroom (the half bath downstairs) and back to the sofa. Some days are better than others... She is also very anxious whenever I go somewhere, especially alone. For example, I want to go to the city (NYC) to a theater, if I go with someone she is kind of OK, but if I go alone, she gets really nervous like I am a little girl. It's a bit silly, but it's no performance in NYC or anywhere is really worth it for me to get my mother's all upset.

Bucks Owin - this picture is adorable. I do like dogs too, especially German Sheapards. I wanted to get one, but it's way too much work for me. Cats are much lower maintenance.

[mom2jennifer]

Violetta,

Sorry to hear things are still rough going with your mom but I am glad she is not in any pain.