Well, yesterday was crazy busy and I have a lot to do today, but I feel really good, having gone on a lovely 4+ mile run in the hills. I wonder if it made a difference eating a cookie and half a cup of tea before I ran? I usually don't have anything, or maybe just a tangerine, but I had so much more energy than I did yesterday morning...

I really do recommend that people have The Talk with their parents: is there a plan? How are their finances? And all that. It's uncomfortable, but so vital. Me, I kept trying to have the talk, and they just refused to engage on it, which resulted in this endless series of moves. (Of course, we didn't expect Mom to get so difficult the way she did...)

I keep having new talks (now) with my mother, because stuff comes up, and I think it's easier to bring up one thing at a time. Like, when my parents first set up medical powers of attorney, they were each others, but now I need to be my mom's.

What's tricky for my mom about her living arrangements are they are dependent on both my father and her mother. On her own, my mother would sell the house and move into an apartment for sure. Ideally, an apartment in the coop building where she's friends with all the other people who live there, but that's a long shot. BUT! My grandmother's not moving anywhere, and who knows how much longer she'll live. And who knows what kind of care my father will need and when. We haven't actually talked about it, but I can't imagine her moving him if it's not to a facility -- I mean, if my grandmother died tomorrow and they could sell the house, I don't think my mother would.

I dunno, man. I would move into the downstairs apartment after my grandmother dies, except my mother rightly pointed out that the two of us don't really want to take care of the house.

So we'll see.

In awesome news, I came home from yoga and did dishes (including some that had been in the fridge for too long) and cleaned the stove top, and my apartment is still kind of a hole, but not in those two spots!

Staining done! Now I might just indulge the Loki and take him for a walk. Then I'll swim. And do my nails! I have to clean this weekend, but I'll leave that for tomorrow. Also, new trash can since I really would prefer to have a lid....

Are there any Buffistas babies in the 18-24lb range (or who need a size lg, if that is meaningful) who could use a fleece sleeper?

-t, do you mean something like this? [link] If so, then I would happily take that off your hands.

well, it rained, but too early to cancel the soccer game. crap. I do not want to dress and leave the house. stupid stupid stupid life stuff. Well at least I slept until noon and I have made coffee.

Spring Break started out here yesterday so, of course, we got a huge dump of snow. And the forecast says we may get up to 7 more inches today. Welcome to Colorado, V.

I haven't been brave enough to have that conversation with my dad. He turns 75 this year and is going strong. For now.

Kate, it's got actual legs. Like a onesie? The tag calls it a sleeper, but maybe that's not the right term. Like this [link] but made of polar fleece type stuff. Eta: if that's something you can use, shoot me your address and I'll send it out.

Hm, I know my dad's funeral wishes (mom, afaik, doesnt care, perhaps i should clarify with her) but not their plans for long-term care, etc. I suppose I should find that out sometime. I am geographically closest, after all, and the sibling with the least other obligations.

They are off in the gold country celebrating the 50th anniversary of their first date this weekend. I'm really grateful that they are both doing very well with being in their 70s so far.

My neighborhood has an old-fashioned toy store named Tom's Toys. They are florescent-lighted and dingy, but they wrap gifts, have an excellent board game/lego selection and they aren't Toys R Us. My mom sent $25 to each kid and the kids decided to go to Tom's this morning. So we went and they picked out toys. Grace got a puzzle that we are going to put into plastic easter eggs, one puzzle piece per egg, for easter, since we can't do candy. Noah got a bat and ball of some sort.

Next door to the toy store is the crazy old lady place I get bras. Across the street is Coffee Bean, where they always know which 3 drinks I buy. Up the hill is the Y and down the hill the other direction is our pharmacy.

I love living up here.

My parents are in a retirement community where they are now in a house larger than the one we grew up in and has graduated care through to nursing home/ Alzheimer's care if they need it someday. Mom's 79th b'day was yesterday and they just got back from a trip to Disneyworld. I want to be them when I retire.

Echoing what Consuela said about talking early. My parents' place gave them a health test before they were able to buy in so after something happens may be too late to actually have a choice.

Mom's 82nd birthday is on Wednesday. I must buy her something, but I'm damned if I can think what. Sigh. Probably jewelry, I guess, since she can't really read anymore. Or maybe some dvds... Hmm.