Tank birthday, 47+ years

[MikeyZo]

Ah, 8 tracks. I miss them. Something about the click noise as it changed was satisfying.

So Doogie Howser sent you away with crap meds and wants a chest x ray? Did he even suggest why? Did he hear anything in your lungs or was he just saying “wow, umm, yeah, he’s older than my dad, I better do something more so this war vet doesn’t kick my butt…”?

 

[smitten with ocean life]

oh wow paul. thats rough. i hope you can rest and feel better soon!

 

[Rocks reef]

Bean will get his copper fish when they start to make pennies out of copper again. Now they are made out of old Toyota Land Cruises or 8 track tape players. (google them)

I should have figured this doctor had a problem when he wrote on his "Etch A Sketch" with a Crayola purple crayon.

Did the crayon match his Blues Clues sippy coffee cup?

 

[Paul B]

Did he hear anything in your lungs or was he just saying “wow, umm, yeah, he’s older than my dad, I better do something more so this war vet doesn’t kick my butt…”?

He said he didn't hear anything in my lungs, but those X Ray technicians don't get paid for sitting around feeding their fish.

I took two of those pills and threw the rest out. If I want to walk around in a stupor, I would take LSD which is probably cheaper. The co-pay for that stuff was $50.00

 

[Paul B]

I think I am a little better this morning but it was again a lousy night. My wife fell in the kitchen last night and I couldn't get her up. This seems to be a way of life from now on and I am not quite sure what to do. I'm just glad she didn't get hurt.

 

[Reefering1]

I think I am a little better this morning but it was again a lousy night. My wife fell in the kitchen last night and I couldn't get her up. This seems to be a way of life from now on and I am not quite sure what to do. I'm just glad she didn't get hurt.

Sorry for your troubles Paul. Might be time to consider a live in assistant. A supermodel that could feed the fish and clean their glass, help with the wife and around the house. As the dirt turns to dust, whose going to clean that up? There no shame in that sir! Most will never live to be half the man you are.
This wasn't easy to write, but it's from the heart.
-David

 

[Rocks reef]

I think I am a little better this morning but it was again a lousy night. My wife fell in the kitchen last night and I couldn't get her up. This seems to be a way of life from now on and I am not quite sure what to do. I'm just glad she didn't get hurt.

Paul, I am sorry to hear that my friend. I am sure you were able to find a way or get some assistance to get her up. If I were closer, I would be a phone call away my friend.
This is the point in life where things get harder. I see every day when I am at work. As you recall, I am a Registered Nurse and take care of America's Heroes. I hear stories, see the pain on their faces and feel their heartbreak of the issues and problems they endure. Most of my Veterans are of the Vietnam Era, with a few Korean War and a couple WWII vets. Life doesn't get easier as we age, however, you sir are living testimony to keep putting one foot forward and marching on.
Intestinal fortitude sir! You remember that I'm sure.
You have the support of this group my friend.

- Keith

 

[Rocks reef]

Sorry for your troubles Paul. Might be time to consider a live in assistant. A supermodel that could feed the fish and clean their glass, help with the wife and around the house. As the dirt turns to dust, whose going to clean that up? There no shame in that sir! Most will never live to be half the man you are.
This wasn't easy to write, but it's from the heart.
-David

^ This. Period.

 

[Paul B]

Thanks guys. Thank God that I am in excellent shape except for a cold/covid, mono, or some other silly thing but much better now. My wife on the other hand isn't going to get better, this only gets worse but it happens so slowly that we don't notice how it's creeping up. 6 years ago when we moved here she walked with a cane. Now she can't take one step or even stand up without at least a walker and even with that, she falls.

She has no control of her right leg or foot and her right arm and hand is no better so if you can't feel or move your right side, falling is easy and you can't even stop yourself from falling like we can.

She has had this over 20 years but it was pretty fine until about 7 years ago. Life goes on. I can get help but it wouldn't do much because she would need help 24/7 and she doesn't want that yet. She still can get around and we go out to dinners and parties all the time, I just have to be vigilant with her and not let her go anywhere by herself.

I let her drive for haircuts and have a "left foot" assist on her car so she can drive using only her left foot. That is her independence and I can't take that away. She wears one of those things so if she falls, it calls me.

Yesterday when she was on the floor and I was helping her to get up, which took about 15 minutes and dragging her to a place where she could grab on to she was crying hysterical, and I can't blame her. I felt terrible and also started crying as there is only so much heartbreak you can stand. It breaks my heart to see her going through this especially that it is only going to get worse.

 

[twentyleagues]

Thanks guys. Thank God that I am in excellent shape except for a cold/covid, mono, or some other silly thing but much better now. My wife on the other hand isn't going to get better, this only gets worse but it happens so slowly that we don't notice how it's creeping up. 6 years ago when we moved here she walked with a cane. Now she can't take one step or even stand up without at least a walker and even with that, she falls.

She has no control of her right leg or foot and her right arm and hand is no better so if you can't feel or move your right side, falling is easy and you can't even stop yourself from falling like we can.

She has had this over 20 years but it was pretty fine until about 7 years ago. Life goes on. I can get help but it wouldn't do much because she would need help 24/7 and she doesn't want that yet. She still can get around and we go out to dinners and parties all the time, I just have to be vigilant with her and not let her go anywhere by herself.

I let her drive for haircuts and have a "left foot" assist on her car so she can drive using only her left foot. That is her independence and I can't take that away. She wears one of those things so if she falls, it calls me.

Yesterday when she was on the floor and I was helping her to get up, which took about 15 minutes and dragging her to a place where she could grab on to she was crying hysterical, and I can't blame her. I felt terrible and also started crying as there is only so much heartbreak you can stand. It breaks my heart to see her going through this especially that it is only going to get worse.

Thats awful. I am sorry for you and her.

I think I may have mentioned it here maybe not. I moved my mom in with me from Colorado after my divorce. Shes in her 70s still works (from home) and trys to be fairly active. She has lymphedema and it causes very bad swelling in her feet and legs, fluid leaks and ulcers on feet and legs. It was not real bad until about 2 years ago. Her legs are so heavy she has trouble walking and doing regular stuff like going up or down stairs. She has seen a doctor and had a specialist coming to the house but that stuff runs out. I had to learn how to wrap her legs to continue treatment but I am not a Doctor or a nurse. I was a line cook, a sioux chef, a restaurant manager, auto tech, parts guy, parts store manager, asst. parts dept manager dealership. I dont know medical stuff. But I can work with my hand and I learn quickly. I have no idea how to assess these issues, some days it looks better some worse. The Doctor just keeps telling me just keep doing what I am doing and if anything changes for the worse let them know other than that they will see her in December. She has fallen 2 times luckily she was not hurt but she can not get up by herself. The last time she fell I was at work she was outside doing something with the flower beds she tripped and fell and was stuck outside on the ground and it rained twice. Of course she is too stubborn to actually carry the cell phone I got her with her when outside especially. She learned that day to keep the phone on her person.

This stuff is very traumatic for all involved, I am sure more for the person actually going through it but I feel for you and her.

 

[smitten with ocean life]

oh paul that just breaks my heart. i cant stand to hear that. i wish i was closer to run over and help. i truly would. i have been a caregiver and know how exhausting it is. but for it to be your wife that you love would take it to another dimension.

 

[Paul B]

Twentyleagues, I feel for you. My Mom died at 99 but at about 95 we had to put her in an assisted living then a nursing home. There comes a time when we can no longer do the things some people need and they take better care of them in "some" places. The place we put her in was run by the Carmilite nuns and all of them were like saints. I loved the place and they took care of them with dignity. Took them outside on nice days, read to them and anything else that made the end of their life as comforting as can be.

Of course, eventually they have no idea where they are and are basically comotose so nothing helps and it is heartbreaking. That went on for about 10 years and as soon as she died, my wife's Mother started and eventually she was in the same places we put my Mom so we did that for about 15 years.

Both my wife's Dad and mine died at age 47 so we both grew up with just our Moms.

I think I'm in perfect shape. No high blood pressure, no diabetes, no nothing that I know about which is why I get up early, like 4 or 5:30 every day, rain or shine and walk an hour. Much of that is up and down the 176 steps down to the beach. When I get home I wait for my wife to get up and I make breakfast. Usually we invite our lifelong friends for breakfast as they live right next to us and we share a deck.

If my wife was well, I would be the happiest man in the world as my wife and I still share the same love for each other that we had 55 years ago.

 

[Paul B]

Smitten with Ocean life. I know you would. Thank you.

 

[smitten with ocean life]

keep on loving each other

 

[Paul B]

My wife wants to throw me a book signing party for my 2nd book. She threw me on for my fish book about 15 years ago and it was a big hit. Lots of friends and she had it in an Italian restaurant. She wants to do this one in the Condo Clubhouse here and we still have many friends, many from high school. We always had a large crowd, and in the 6 years we have been living here, we have many more very good friends.

The people here always invite us over for dinner and of course we also have get togethers and dinners, which I normally cook for. Christmas time we throw a huge Christmas party and we always did because Christmas means a lot to me as it is also my birthday.

I haven't decided If I want her to go through this with the book party as it is a lot of work, but it would be a lot of fun. The clubhouse is next to the condo pool which is the largest pool on Long Island.

Telly Savalas used to own this property. (google him)

 

[twentyleagues]

My wife wants to throw me a book signing party for my 2nd book. She threw me on for my fish book about 15 years ago and it was a big hit. Lots of friends and she had it in an Italian restaurant. She wants to do this one in the Condo Clubhouse here and we still have many friends, many from high school. We always had a large crowd, and in the 6 years we have been living here, we have many more very good friends.

The people here always invite us over for dinner and of course we also have get togethers and dinners, which I normally cook for. Christmas time we throw a huge Christmas party and we always did because Christmas means a lot to me as it is also my birthday.

I haven't decided If I want her to go through this with the book party as it is a lot of work, but it would be a lot of fun. The clubhouse is next to the condo pool which is the largest pool on Long Island.

Telly Savalas used to own this property. (google him)

First its awesome you guys have been together that long and still love each other. I thought I had found my soul mate but she changed so much in the 18 years we were together. I am no longer bitter and love hearing stories like this! I am very happy to hear these stories they help "restore" some of my faith in humanity.

Second while this party is a lot of work it may well be that it will be good for her. Maybe help take her mind off whats happening at least for a little while. I am sure your friends understand whats going on and can lend a hand as well if she will accept the help.

Congrats on the book btw! (if I have not said it before or even if I have)

 

[Freenow54]

In a couple of weeks my reef will will have reached 40 years old.
Unfortunately I don't remember when I was 40 but I remember when I set it up. I was a skinny 22 year old just back from Viet Nam.
It is still running very well, still using the same reverse UG filter, same dolomite substrait but none of the fish are original. The oldest one, a fireclown is just over 16, all of the older fish died in an accident that was due to my carelessness.
The tank is mostly LPS, gorgonians, giant mushrooms and a few leathers.
There are only three SPS corals, two of which have been with me for a few years and are growing nicely.
I am not sure is any of the original NSW from the Long Island Sound is still in there or any of the original amphipods but maybe much later generations.
I still can't take a decent picture and the tank is not as blue as these pictures but it is what it is.

Congradulations what did you do throw a grenade in it? unfortunatly all but one photo came through at my end can you try again ?

 

[Freenow54]

My wife wants to throw me a book signing party for my 2nd book. She threw me on for my fish book about 15 years ago and it was a big hit. Lots of friends and she had it in an Italian restaurant. She wants to do this one in the Condo Clubhouse here and we still have many friends, many from high school. We always had a large crowd, and in the 6 years we have been living here, we have many more very good friends.

The people here always invite us over for dinner and of course we also have get togethers and dinners, which I normally cook for. Christmas time we throw a huge Christmas party and we always did because Christmas means a lot to me as it is also my birthday.

I haven't decided If I want her to go through this with the book party as it is a lot of work, but it would be a lot of fun. The clubhouse is next to the condo pool which is the largest pool on Long Island.

Telly Savalas used to own this property. (google him)

By the way 40 plus 22 is? ( no comment ) Love Ya Baby how's that for aging yourself lol

 

[Freenow54]

If you do I would like to meet you along with your wife . \i have been with mine for 43 years and would bet she would have yours laughing in 5 minutes. But I cant stand her

 

[Paul B]

Congradulations what did you do throw a grenade in it? unfortunatly all but one photo came through at my end can you try again ?

Those pictures were from 2011 and over the years Photobucket lost those pictures and dozens more so they disappear on forums. I don't know why. I have those pictures someplace but they are all on regular film so would have to be scanned.

Just make believe there are pictures of fish, Supermodels, paper clips etc.

First its awesome you guys have been together that long and still love each other.

Remember, I met her when she was 12 and I thought she was my age of 18. I dated her older cousin who was also a Supermodel but now is morbidly obese, so I married the right cousin.
I think we were first married here so she was 18.

If you do I would like to meet you along with your wife . \i have been with mine for 43 years and would bet she would have yours laughing in 5 minutes. But I cant stand her

Drive south about 500 miles and bear left when you see this green lady.



And why would you bring someone you can't stand? I bet I would like her.

I like a lot of people.