When Mom was in hospice, they were tossing out morphine and Xanax like candy. I can only assume it was the mechanization of her amazing hospice team. Because Dad wasn’t equipped to fight that kind of red tape.

That’s some insane bullshit.

When Mom was in hospice, they were tossing out morphine and Xanax like candy.

More people in San Francisco died from opiate overdoses than Covid over the same time period. It's a huge problem here. There are just a thousand hoops to jump through and all the pharmacists are pistol whipped and flinchy because it lands on them if any box is unchecked.

I'm glad you could run like a superhero! Breakthrough pain is no minor problem, it baffles me how cavalier even nurses can be about getting people their pain meds.

When I was in the hospital the last time, they were five hours late with the drugs and I finally started crying and my tiny redheaded sister charged down the hall yelling in full Karen mode until a nurse finally got them to me. We told the doctor about it and he was (calm but) visibly angry. The whole crew that night were awful.

ION, did you ever yawn and sneeze at the same time? The decompression almost blew my eyeballs out

David, I wish that you did not have to learn as much about the medical system as you have had to learn.

Also yay to bureaucracy smashing people. They are very much the best.

We're receiving the suction machine from hospice today for her G-Tube. I'm going to need some insider tips, kat!

We never suctioned Grace's g-tube because she didn't have any intestinal blockage issues etc. But in general, suctioning any stoma can be extremely scary and extremely straightforward at the same time. Just ask whoever trains you how deep the suction catheter should go and look for the markings on the catheter itself and hold that spot with your fingers so you never go deeper than that. I'm not sure what size cath you'd use on a gtube, but if you happen to need 8 Fr, I have so many that it's stupid.

So happy for you, smonster!

David, you're amazing. Now I'm picturing you in slo-mo running while Chariots of Fire plays in the background. Heroic film shot. Nope, not quite ready for levity. In any case, I'm glad you got there in time.

Oh man, Hec. I hope hospice gets their shit together so you don’t have to pull crazy hero shit when you should just be spending time with her.

Seems I have to meara more often lately!

The lesbian thing explains the moving-in thing. :-)

Bwah! Okay, that made me laugh. So happy for you smonster.

I found some good books for ltc today. Who inexplicably is going to be 8 tomorrow!

Happy birthday, ltc!

We just got back from the cocktail bar, because now that she can legally drink hard liquor (here), of course she should.

Awesome! It was 18 in NY when I was that age, but I had already had plenty of experience, as one does.

it was Emmett who carried her up the long steps in his arms into the house.

Yes, all the feels. I know she was safe in his loving arms.

Good to hear that Tim is progressing with the healing. Is he a patient patient?

I came home today to find the downstairs toilet spewing water.

I hope there wasn't water damage.

Let me tell y'all about two more people who deserve Fucking Champ recognition

You and Jacqueline deserve to have so many Fucking Champs in your camp after all you have done for so many over the years.

Oh gosh. I missed y'all.

And we have missed you and all the Buffistas who have been absent. We miss your fonts!

I finally have a work area set up with my computer here in the construction zone. Still going to my sister's when the workers are here being noisy.

Excellent meara, Laura! Are you able to, like, sleep and/or cook and/or shower there yet? Or, I guess... live there yet?

I did actual yard work yesterday. WHAT.

I am vibing that all the home care arrangements settle to regular, Hec.

Are you able to, like, sleep and/or cook and/or shower there yet? Or, I guess... live there yet?

Sleep is working for us. There are 2 other bedrooms that were filled with stuff that was cleared from the kitchen and living room, but I am getting through that and hope to have them sleepable by next weekend. Which would be helpful since I have visitors arriving then. Cooking is still iffy, but we have an interim plan to place the appliances with basic frames and plywood for a countertop. That way I will have oven, dishwasher, sink, and room to do my cooking. I love to cook so that has been missed. When they do the actual cabinets they will just pull out the appliance, build the box then put it back. Bath and shower was first on my list and it is quite lovely. Even has a heated floor which makes for happy toes getting out of the shower. I didn't mean to have it on, but it goes on automatically with a power interruption. I got out of the shower and stepped on the bath mat and realized it was warm. Nifty! It can get really cold here overnight, even in the summer.

But yeah, still pretty basic with most of the walls still open and beams and jacks and plywood floors for the most part. They do have the pine walls up in the kitchen, bath, and laundry, as well as the back porch. The floor is only done in bath, laundry, and porch.

It's a process to live in a place being gutted, and I do have plenty of family if I need space for me or guests, so it works out.

So happy for you, smonster! Yay, healing, Tim!