~ Watery's Pond ~ Here's to a happier New Year!

[Watery Star]

Lemon - We normally have dinner when he comes home.

npixelz - Thanks, sorry to hear that you've dealt with similar issues with your brother. Mine has had anger management in the past and I believe religion helps him but his attitude doesn't seem to have changed.
Eagle is my s.o. It's his online alias.

It's been really cold outside. 30 has been the high this past week (or maybe that was the week before). Been more around the 20's and as low as 10F with a windchill near -10F. I've been warm inside but had to go out a couple times. Two appointments last week and have an appointment on Monday. Going to my parent's Tuesday or Wednesday so hopefully it's not so chilly then.

[Lemon Cheesecake]

Keep bundled! The below freezing temps are so difficult on the lungs, it can feel like the air is razor sharp when temps got so low.Wrap a scarf around your face to neutralize the air. Glad you are getting appointments, that's a good sign right?

[npixelz]

Np, yeah, it was tough and I'm going to counselling in order to move on from it. I personally don't believe in any gods or goddesses, however, I'm not going to say that they definitely don't exist. I'm of the mindset where I believe in the possibility of any of the religions being true, but I'm not going to say with certainty that they either exist or don't exist. I'm sort of in between. I'm sorry to hear that his attitude hasn't changed and I hope it works out.

Ah, I see, that makes sense, still a cool name either way though, better than mine at least.

[Lemon Cheesecake]

Watery: How was your visit to your parents? Were you able to keep it on a nice friendly tone and not get into any family drama?

Npixelz: I do believe in a specific God because I have seen too much evidence in my life not to. I think my faith is what has gotten me through some very difficult times, just believing that there is something better and that God can mold my character into something better if I let Him,and that He gives us grace when we need it to handle the difficult moments. Even if people do not believe I think that most would agree we need to work towards a better purpose or higher calling to improve this life and the world around us.

[npixelz]

Yes, I do agree that we all have to work towards a higher purpose, a better today, and a better tomorrow, and I believe that everyone should work towards that, regardless of their faith. It's like what my mom says, she says she doesn't believe in the bible, but she believes in its teachings; of goodwill to all, and peace and love, etc. One thing about what I've just said though, is I said a better TODAY, as well as a better tomorrow, as a lot of people talk about a better tomorrow, but they should also work on making the present times better as well. But I will not be swayed in any direction when it comes to actual religious belief, whether it be towards one religion or another, or towards believing in nothing, I will not be swayed, lest I reach some sort of epiphany. I will tell you what I do believe in though; I believe in life, I believe in love, I believe in laughter, I believe in helping one another out, regardless of differences, and I believe in good. ^^

[galled]

I would say I'm spiritual, but not religious. I think the problem, for me as I see it, has been that we as humans, in an attempt to make things more understandable is my guess, attributed too many human (let's call them "issues") to things we can't explain or fully understand. Then of course, there have been many who have twisted things for their own benefit--further clouding things and making it distasteful and sometimes dangerous.

I believe everything is related and everything shares a commonality, and that the universe is infinite. This "commonality" is part of what religions strive to celebrate and have personified/humanized too in many forms. (George Luca called it "The Force" -- although his implementation of it for dramatic purposes is self-serving, but I think the idea of something greater than us and good and evil are worthy.)

So whether you call this thing/being/force God or whatever, I think it'd be a pretty empty world without considering it exists.

[npixelz]

True, true. Twould be quite a sad world if no one believed in any such things as the supernatural, the divine, the spiritual, etc.

[Lemon Cheesecake]

-peeks in to look for Watery Star -

[npixelz]

*peeks in wondering how Lemon can post when it says she's offline*

[galled]

*peeks in wondering how Lemon can post when it says she's offline*

Lemon is everywhere!

[npixelz]

She's magical! ^^

[Lemon Cheesecake]

ha,ha you are too cute! I'm not sure how all of that works but maybe you caught me just as I was logging on?

speaking of people offline...I hope you are doing ok Watery... you are missed!

[npixelz]

^^ I don't know, it was weird, I saw you post something, so I looked to see if you were on, and it said you weren't, then it happened again! At least two more times!

[Watery Star]

ellos! I'm back!
I had a good visit with my parents, went back home for a week then my dad picked me up and we headed to Florida!
Before we left I had to move my appointments for February, which fortunately all worked out. Trip lasted a week, the days felt long but all in all it felt like it went by quick by the end of it. It was really good to see all my family down there. Got to see most of them. My grandma is doing pretty well. My great aunt didn't show any signs to us that she had Alzheimer's but did have to lay down a few times while we were there. Not sure if I said something I shouldn't have, but my grandma took me to get my hair cut. Took off 8 inches and it's now a few inches below my shoulder. Feels lighter and healthier now. We didn't get to do much because of my mobility issues and getting exhausted easily. Mostly sat around and chatted. Before we headed to my mom's side of the family, we stopped at the nearby beach for a couple minutes.

My grandpa and Grandma , on my mom's side, are doing well. My grandpa is doing very well for 92. There are 4 "couples" on my mom's side of the family living in a senior's mobile home park. (It's actually pretty nice.) When we went over to see one of my mom's aunt my grandpa went with us and then walked back home himself. It was a decent distance away and from the window he looked like he was moving very well, better than me! He doesn't need any mobility aids neither! He did repeat some things and the conversation sometimes circled back to what we had talked about already but he was still very sharp.

The rest of my mom's family isn't doing so well. One of her aunt's has been taking care of her adult son for many years. He developed a brain tumor as a teen and hasn't been the same since. It's been really hard on her since her husband passed away years ago but her children have moved down to help her out. The one son, my mom's cousin, is on disability now and has to carry oxygen around 24/7. Another aunt now has to take care of her husband that's had Alzheimer's for over a couple years now. He'd like to add to the conversation but it would be something a little odd. There was this wreath across the way, prompted up, and he really wanted it removed. My mom joked about putting it on me and having me wear it. And that only fed into it. ^.^; It was sad seeing him not all together(I was able to hold it together until we left their house) but he seemed as well as he could be in the circumstances. His wife doesn't really know all of how to care for him. Her sister was saying how there were some basic things she needed to get and explain. Her son and his family recently moved in to help. The daughter in law sounds like she will be a big help, cleaning the place up and such. But it's sad that she's the only one working.
One of my mom's aunts is doing well though. They fixed up one mobile home and are living in it but now are fixing up another to be even nicer. They've been in the business of fixing up homes(I like mainly flooring) so this is just another project for them.

We just managed to see my dad's cousin that use to live near us. She's like an aunt to me. My parent's weren't able to reach her and tried driving to her house to see if she was home. We missed her house the first time we drove by because my mom didn't have the correct street number, it was missing a digit. But on the second time through they noticed a pod in the front yard and she had talked about it. We lucked out and she was there when my mom knocked at the door. And she wasn't mad at us for suddenly showing up lol OMG she has one of the cutest dogs named Athena. She let her out and she was so scared at first. The sweetest and prettiest pitbull. We all eventually were able to pet her. Then we went out to eat and got to hear how things were. She's living with a guy but it sounds like it soured quickly after she moved in, and she had moved from the DC/VA metro area. She's working on saving for a place. Athena was actually the guy's dog but she has been caring for her more, including paying the vet bills, and he now considers Athena her dog now. I'm hoping things work out for her. We weren't able to see her sister, though that's usually the case since she lives so far south.

We had head back home a day sooner because they were calling for snow. Thankful that my dad didn't try to drive straight back because he'd been doing so much driving already. The forecast changed and the weather was fine when we got back. Eagle picked me up the same night we got in. Our dog, Cooper had been spending the evening at my mother-in-law's because Eagle didn't want to leave him by himself. It started out fine him being there but towards the end of the week his mom was talking about keeping him, or he was better staying there. e.e So I really needed to get back home that night. The weather was bad next day, freezing rain and worse later as it froze. My first doctor's appointment back had to be rescheduled due to the weather.

So I've been well. Hope everyone else has been well too.

[Lemon Cheesecake]

What an adventure you have had! How cool of your Dad to drive you all around visiting family and it sounds like, other then being tired, you didn't have any set backs with your heath, which is great.

Your family sounds pretty supportive, I like the idea of a senior motor home park, they have their own space yet are close enough to visit without driving and available to help each other out.

I bet Eagle and Cooper were happy to have you back! A hair cut sometimes can make a world of difference. How fun for her to take you!

BTW, you were missed!