Hello friends :)

Well, taking steps towards taking care of my brother's passing, my sister has spoken to someone who recently needed services in the same town, and she has some phone numbers and contacts - minister, sexton, cemetery person. I put in a call to the social worker for info about Steven's apartment, but he hasn't called me back yet.

And I can't remember if it said it here, but I just was not close with my brother. I can't remember any good times as kids, he was such a loner, and as an adult just too uncomfortable and downright unsettling to be around. So I haven't even cried!! :?: I didn't mean to not mention his health, but it was NOT good, congestive heart, Obstructive/pulmonary/cardio deal, overweight, and I hate to say it but none of these are congenital, all from a unhealthy lifestyle.

Tonight life got a teeny bit more complicated as a roof leak appeared, it's dripping onto the stairs from the second floor. It was inevitable, we've lived here 30 years, and in tje past couple years have noticed pieces of shingles blowing off. Roofs are expensive...I know we could put it on a credit card, DH wants to get materials and hire people to do it yourself..I'm all for saving thousands but am not sure if comfortable with Plan B :p

At least...I'm of the maturity to realize that the roof is a money thing, and easily solved with money..whereas if it was a heart attack, health is not so easily solved. As long as we're both working, we can manage.

Enough of me , I am thinking of you all !!

Coop, wow having to possibly wait til March is a heck of a long time!

Lisa, again it was so great to hear that you have a doctor who LISTENS and that is game changing isn't it!!

Kathleen hope so much things are better on teh home front.

We are still thinking of you, Holly.

You might still mourn your brother, even though you were never close. Life and relationships are weird like that. You never know, sometimes, how you are going to react, when life throws you a curve.

Much love and good thoughts to you, Holly.

Miss you other ladies too, very very much.

How are you Holly????

Miss you, Holly, thinking about you. Check in when you are up to it.

I am so incredibly sad and hurt today.

I asked a friend to repay a loan to me. She owes me $1800. She said she sent me $100, 9 days ago. I still have not received it. I have been constantly asking her, via text and voicemail, to help me locate it. I get silence.

I have $10 to my name.

I am beyond hurt. I want to cry but I am in public.

Holly still keeping you in my thoughts. Do you have a date for the funeral yet?

Lisa it's awful your friend is snubbing you - I hope you get your money back soon. If you don't hear soon, I'd suggest you go to small claims court (or whatever the equivalent is in Washington) to get your money back. Sending hugs, and hope you get on ok til you have money again.

P.s. has anyone else been having problems with the site recently?

I'm sorry to hear about the headache your friend is putting you through. . I hope something comes around for you with your situation so you can recover the funds.

Its not so much the money, its the trust. I'm so hurt.

Hello friends :)

Lisa - I would be feeling like my heart was punched if a 'friend' did that!! :?: what is wrong with her?! I hope so much that she wises up NOW and apologizes and tries to make amends!! love to you Lisa!!

Hi Coop :hug: and :hug: to everyone :)

This Saturday will be my brother's service. He has been cremated..his remains are in my car. I have been to the Post office of his town to make forwarding mail arrangements. We contacted the sexton of the cemetery where we have plots (he will rest by my mother and near our grandparents) We have written obituary and the funeral home has it on their site http://www.guareandsons.com/obituary/steven-brunelle

if you would leave a message on the guest book it would mean alot to my sister and I to see messages there :) and I submitted obituary to 2 local papers. We have made a million calls and emails. We are having a graveside service, then a reception at a cousin's home (she is wonderful to offer her nice home for this!!) She is in her 70's and said she could offer hot coffee, tea and cold cider only..we hastened to tell her that was wonderful and we would provide food.

my sister wanted to call for catering prices but I just said 'let me and husband do it' :) as we are food service professionals. I bought some pretty, dark blue paper plates and napkins, I have a nice white damask tablecloth, a dark blue runner and I will pick my remaining flowers to have in little vases. We will make a platter of finger sandwiches and a platter of rollups; and today I baked brownies, cookies, and cheesecake bars.

My sister has been going through photos and will have a posterboard of pics, a framed pic, and a guest book to sign.

I KNOW my mother would be so proud and so happy that her daughters are trying their best to honor their brother!!

Besides this major event...we had the roof leaking, i know I spoke of that already, we have been up there on ladders in the freakin cold rain and it is not a fun homeowner thing to do :rofl: slippery! and high up!! I *think* we have it temporarily patched.

AND THEN have you heard on the news about the destructive wind/rain storm that ripped through New England?? Our home *only* lost power for 6 hours early Monday morning...the town where the RB's store is? No power since Monday morning! I have not been to work since Sunday because the store is closed! and closed tomorrow!! I feel bad that the RB will lose thousands in inventory ... but I feel worse about being without a paying job!! I actually called our State's Unemployment Insurance dept. today to inquire..and yes, I can file for Unemployment benefits because it was no fault of mine, that I cannot work at my job. But I wont'get any money for at least 10 days. thank god I have my piggy bank money!!!

Okay, so death in the family, leaking roof which means there is damage we can't see...no pay for at least 3 days...but payment needed for funeral...sheesh I am so glad I got my winter tires already because that money would be commandeered!!

BUT the bright side...I am happy that we are trying to honor our brother with a nice ceremony and reception; the roof is not leaking now :devil: and my health is good :) and I've gotten back to doing the Leslie Sansone walking working as often as I can, and today i did some pushups and crunches for the first time in MONTHS .

WHEW I blabbed alot :devil:

Coop - I never get email notification when a post is made here, yet I get notifications on threads from like a year ago...but the major irritant here, is that I log in, spend maybe 3 minutes typing a post, hit submit, and it says 'you are not logged in'. Then have to retrieve the post, hopefully.

is that link to the obituary working??

http://www.guareandsons.com/obituary/steven-brunelle

Holly your plans for your brother's funeral sound lovely - I'm sure your parents would be very reassured to see you both taking such care of your brother. I hope the service goes well & stays dry for you.

It never rains but pours as they say, and through the roof while it's at it :lol: they say bad things come in 3's, it sounds like you've had them all now - here's hoping it turns around for you soon!

I keep getting redirected to a blank page when I come to the site just now - I have to be quick to click on a sub-section before it has the chance to redirect me, or I can't see anything at all. It's strange.

I definitely agree with Holly - homeownership sucks! As they were finishing the en suite, they somehow broke the new sink, then our other bathroom flooded. :dz: Then we discovered a vent pipe in the loft has been venting sewer gases into our loft for ages. Lovely! Our apartment is cursed at the moment :lol: we're getting pretty stressed out trying to manage all the threads, and get OH's dad's house on the market too. Fingers crossed nothing else happens for a while!

My nutritionist asked me to get some additional tests run for my thyroid. I got the results today, and it basically shows I'm going develop an under/overactive thyroid in my future, I just don't have a problem now.

At least I know why I've had problems losing weight!

Coop, it's always good to get the facts isn't it! I hope you can work with the uncooperating thyroid in the future :)

Oh my gosh @ the problems with your flat!! haunted, :devil: well that is as good as explanation as any :D BEST wishes that there are no more unpleasant homeowner surprises in store for you!!

and thank you for your condolence message :) took me a second to think 'who do I know in the UK' and then it flashed on me :)

This is how selfish and self-centered my sister is - she said 'WHO are all these people leaving messages on Steven's page? I don't know any of them!" and I said, 'they're either my motorcycle peeps, or just people I know online". She says, "well they're saying YOUR name, and not mine, I feel left out!" :eek: :tantrum: Is that a good example of what she is like :mad:

today we met with the pastor and I just gripped the table the whole time, listening to my sister's take on history ("our father left us at a young age") well, they divorced,that is NOT the same as 'leaving us'...("Our brother thought he had to be the little man of the family") NO that is not true either...("we bounced around so much I didn't even know where I lived") Bullsh*t!!! :mad:

It was an hour of that. !!!! but finally it was over.

Then I got the key to my brother's apartment and OH so warily opened up the door...okay it wasn't that bad, Home Health people had been in to clean, so it didn't smell, but everything is in boxes, and there are aLOT of boxes. I tried to look for important papers and correspondence but could only find a couple things from SS, the landlord, and a few debit cards. No bank statements or such. I have put in a request for forwarded mail so I will just have to wait a month or 2 to see what is lurking out there.

I did pick up a couple personal things to have on his 'memory table' at the service, a chess set, one of his mechanical calculators, and his watch.

I only spent 45 minutes in there but left with heightened heartbeat, and my cheeks were flushed like bright red..just from anxiety of thinking of how we have to take care of every single item in that apartment eventually...

OK but then I tried to look on the bright side of things on my way home..."I'm alive and in good health..my car is working..i;m driving home to our own home and husband who loves me...my kids are happy and healthy..I have a job with a RB" :devil:

holly :wave: no problem for the message, I'm glad it went in ok, I couldn't figure out how to view them at first.

Your sister sounds like she has a bit of a victim complex going on! At least you have a positive/true spin on things, sounds like you have a much more positive mentality. Especially if your thankful for working for the r@t!!

Hi Holly, Hi Coop,

Hi ladies,

Not much to say here. Getting my health insurance and meds lined up. I see my Dr again, on Monday, my second visit.

Ohio State is getting their asses kicked. grrrrrr


Today seems like Sunday.


I'll do personals another day. Just kinda quiet.

Much love to all.

Hi ladies,

Sorry I have not done personals in a while. Let me get this out and explained and then I can concentrate on you all.

I went back to my new Dr again today. My blood work came in and I have type 2 diabetes.

My Dr was very supportive and we have a game plan. I am on a 4 week "diet."

Protein shakes, meat (again protein), 1 helping of beans a day, 1 helping of fruits a day, no dairy (except almond milk) I can have cottage cheese (which I LOVE). I can have fake eggs. 1 helping of nuts a day. Tons of vegetables. Nothing white (potatoes, rice, regular bread. (nadda)

No more pop. (ugh)

I can have regular food, 1 day a week.

I knew something was wrong and I suspected pre-diabetes. I was praying it was not full blown, I was wrong.

I have not felt good physically in about a year. So it is what it is.

Oh yeah, she upped my blood pressure med. I am on a med to lower my cholesterol. I am on a very good med to help me get my sugar under control. She said it was a fantastic drug.

Thats it.

Much love to all.

Hello friends!

Lisa well..I guess it's good to know exactly the truth and you are doing something about it! My husband had fantastic results going on the type of eating that you just described, he lost alot of fat very quickly and got his numbers MUCH better and controlled. As you will too!!! Sorry about no pop ... can you stand the sugar-free ones at all? or maybe stuff like Crystal Lite. I am not a plain water drinker myself. Best wishes Lisa!!! I bet you will feel better soon with these blood sugar changes! :carrot:

Hi Coop!

Hello to everyone else!!

My brother's service was very nice. If you can say a funeral is 'good', his was good :) Unexpected family and friends came to support, which was wonderful; it didn't rain on us at the cemetary, wonderful :D and my husband and I made 3 big platters of finger sandwiches, and I had 3 platters of sweets, the table looked beautiful, plenty to eat, and the reception was at the large renovated beautiful farmhouse of a cousin, so plenty of room for people to sit or mingle and reminisce. I KNOW my mother would have been so proud of me and my awful :devil: sister , for what we did for our brother :angel:

Now the ugh part will be to take care of his apartment and belongings. I havent even been contacted by the landlord yet :?: so I don't know how much time we have.

Lisa sorry to hear about your diagnosis, that is a tough one. Your diet sounds like it will help get your blood sugars under control though. It sounds like the whole 30 challenge I did earlier this year, tough but you'll get used to it.

If you don't like plain water, could you add slices of lemon & mint leaves to flavour it up a bit? I'm wary about diet drinks, as the sweeteners are so controversial.

Holly I'm glad your brother's funeral service went well, it sounds like a lovely send off. I hope you get his apartment sorted alright!

I've had an update on the mugging - I'm to go to court in February. I'm nervous already!

Hello Friends,

I have lost so many long posts in the past month that I had given up.

This morning I seem to be having no problem...who knows.

Holly, I am so sorry to hear about your brother- I tried posting on the funeral home website about a week ago, but it did not show up for some reason. AGH!

Coop, chances are you will not have to testify, although I am not sure how things work in the UK. Here, the DA would tell the perps attorney that they had eye witnesses, etc. and his best chance would be to cop a plea.

Lisa, you might be able to get off the diabetes meds by following the diet- like Holly's husband and my father did. It doesn't work for everyone, but hopefully will work for you. Can you drink seltzer water?

Kathleen, I hope and pray things have straightened out for you and your family. Please remember to take care of yourself first- you are no use to any of the others if you don't.

This is my sad and lonely time of year. I am trying to do projects around the house, and I am volunteering more at the library. I am also going to the Y every morning to try to help myself.

Take care, everyone.

Monica

Coop let's hope and wish very hard that you don't have to go to court for that!!

Monica great to see you here!! so sorry that your posts kept disappearing that is so very frustrating!! And oh gosh I am so sympathetic about your sad and lonely time of year...I don't have the loneliness but I do already feel the lack of interest in ANYTHING. and it's only the beginning of November!! You are great to be pro-active for yourself AND philanthropic for volunteering!!

today is my first day off, that since my brother died, I don't have to do anything funeral related. However I've got to do steps about his apartment, gah!! If I am forced to clean up someone;s living space, i want it to be mine :devil: but i don't have that luxury to whine, that's my sister's department :devil::devil: I'm already researching area landfill/solid waste/recycling places, for items in his apartment. Again, thank goodness that it is a tiny efficiency apartment with one bed, 2 bureaus, bookshelf, a table, a chair for furniture; but boxes and boxes of stuff.

Doing really good being back on the exercise wagon :strong: geez that's at least ONE thing we can control in our lives.

Have to do yard clean up also, have to take care of all my now-dead plants :( we had a real frost last night, it was 22 degrees and plants are gone. :(

Monica thanks for the advice! I really am hoping he pleas out - it's similar to the US in that he'll get a lesser sentence for pleading guilty. When my sister was a juror, the person pled guilty minutes before the trial, and I hope this guy does that here.

This site is so frustrating at losing long posts - I find it's better if you tick to 'keep signed in' when you log in, if that helps!

Holly sorry the frost has taken your plants now - winter must be on its way! Is the skiing season underway yet?

kathleen hope things are easing at home. Please let us know if you need any support!

I had another thyroid test carried out, and it looks like I do have thyroid problems after all. I'll eventually develop an underactive thyroid, but my symptoms are mild for now. I don't think I can prevent it, but hopefully I can get on top of managing it upfront. It turns out my condition causes anxiety & depression though, so maybe this will balance my bad periods too.

Copy EVERY single post before you submit your reply. Its so easy. Highlight and copy.

Then if you lose your original post, you still have a copy of it.

Lisa that is super-correct advice and I don't know why I don't always do it, lol, but you're right, it's the way to NOT lose a nice long post and get all frustrated!

Coop Yes the ski season is underway in Southern Vermont, Killington ski area, they always try to be the first open. There is still green grass down around the lodge LOL but they do have snow, man-made, to ski on. In our area (Stowe/Smuggler's Notch) there is no natural snow yet but if it's consistently below freezing, they can make/blow snow.

I am ALREADY feeling the dreaded cold weather blues. I don't want to go outside, I look forward to nothing. I just exist. It sounds very dramatic, I'm not trying to be like that, just stating the facts! I *guess* I can look forward to May..yeah, wishing 6 months away!!!

I put in another 2 hours in my brother's apartment today. I guess I am making slow progress. I did find out the rental agency wants someone else in there by Dec. 1st!! are you kidding me :?: I work full time and it's 25 miles away..how am I gonna accomplish that.

BUT I did my workout this morning, I am in a warm house, have a husband who loves me, 2 great sons and a daughter-in-law, and a job (for now :devil:) so yes I am counting my blessings...every minute... :devil:

Holly, keep counting your blessings. I know you struggle during the winter months. I kinda do too. I am so happy here though. I think that will help. You always have us, Holly.

Coop, I am so sorry about your diagnosis. I hope your Dr keeps on top of it. There are things they can do for your thyroid.

I also hope you don't have to go to court. Lets hope he pleas out.

Monica, it sounds like you are doing wonderful things to keep your spirits up. Keeping busy is so important. We've missed you lately. We really have.

Hi Kathleen, I hope things round your house have stabilized. Please post when you can.

We are always here for you.

Good morning,

Holly, have you considered donating your brother's furniture to a local charity? There are several around here that will pick up furniture and other household goods. You do not sound dramatic to me- I feel the same way, only with loneliness added on. Many of my neighbors live elsewhere in the winter, and my sister and cousin who have homes here live in the Boston area. Many of my favorite gift shops and restaurants are closed until Spring. Agh!

I have decided to do a bath and a half over- I have not touched them since building this house almost 30 years ago. This is definitely a big project, and I have been busy looking at vanities, flooring, etc. I have a meeting this morning with a contractor.

Kathleen, thinking of you!

Hello to everyone else.

Monica

Copy and paste before hitting submit :d
 

good morning friends!

Monica, yes I am going to call the mental health agency who was helping my brother, and ask if they can use the items? since they deal with getting people in apartments.

I have been in email contact with the landlord, and left a couple voicemails, at least he is not strong-arming me or being pushy about getting out.

that is cool, Monica, that you're going to do a room makeover, lots of details to go over, hope you have a productive visit with the contractor! :) I know that won't get rid of your loneliness but yeah a project is good!

Hi Lisa and as always it's so nice to read your kind and caring words to us!! and How great is it for you to type the words "I'm so happy here"!!!! :carrot:

Hi Coop is it freezy cold in your area??

Missing our Kathleen :hug: and hoping things are OK for you!!

Woke up to white outside :fr: the dreaded SN*W (it's a four-letter word to me) last night :( Yeah I know it's inevitable. It might be gone in a few days, I think I saw 40's degrees coming and rain. At least, this covering of white is the sober reminder and kick in the butt for me to do final preparations outside, remove flowerpots before they become final-frozen to the ground, and other barriers to snow shoveling (GAH)

I just had my 2 days off from work, so when I go in today, I get to hear about the prospective buyer's visit. I had a weird dream last night about my job so it is on my mind, at least my subconscious is thinking about it :devil:

Monica, that is exciting. I bet your bathroom will be beautiful. It will keep you busy too and in the winter, that is a good thing.

Holly, I hope you can get someone to come get your brother's furniture. One less thing you have to worry about. Delegating is always a good thing.

I love snow, we got a dusting last week. I hope we get snow this winter. I brought my nice winter boots with me from Ohio. I need a coat though. I want something I look cute in. Now that I love in an apartment complex, I don't have to worry about shoveling snow. wooooooo

Maybe you need to get yourself a snow mobile. LOL Use that snow to have fun.

:)

Alright, Kathleen, we miss you like crazy. pop in when you can.

Gosh, who else??? I am forgetting many ladies, I know. I apologize.

Much love to all especially to those ladies I am forgetting. :)

Lisa I know, I really need to make friends with the snow don't I :D instead of complaining and ranting about something that is inevitable!

Yes a BIG hello to Kathleen, we miss you like crazy but completely understand if we don't see you here. But we are thinking of you!!

Hi Coop !!

Hi Monica!! !!

and I hope I'm not forgetting anyone else who IS a part of our group :hug: but hasn't said hi lately, we are still a suppportive group for you :)

I am s-l-o-w-l-y adjusting to all plants being dead outside, it just takes time for me. And yes I can look forward to next spring, and anticipating doing what I love all over again.

I need some boots...ones suitable for these Vermont winters, ones to wear when I have to shovel, or just to trudge :devil: through the snow and ice. I've had a pair of Merrells for gosh like 10 years!! I remember at the time when I had to pay $120 for them I was like :eek: but I sure got my money's worth didn't I!!

We still need to wait and hear from the State if they considered my brother destitute; the State pays up to $1100 towards funeral costs if so. If not...then we have to come up with that money. So I might hold off.

No sun here today :sunny: but I love looking at that symbol :D
and I love our will power symbol :dust: so here's that too :D
have as good a day as you can!!

Hi ladies,

I'm busy trying to find out more about the healthy food needed by a person with type 2 diabetes. I have joined a message board about diabetes. The posters have so much information, food wise and health wise. There is just soooo much to learn.

I'm on amazon looking at low carb cook books and chair exercise dvds. I lost the other ones I had in Ohio.

I have an appt on Thursday at my new ortho, for my knees.

Much love to all. I'll do personals soon.

Lisa finding as much info as you can is great! then you can find what works for you, hopefully :)

I've got to leave in a bit, have to work with my dreaded sister on our brother's apartment more :cry: She STILL is not understanding how we are splitting up the costs of the funeral!! very frustrating. I almost want to just say 'screw it' and pay the extra but I work too hard for my money to do that!!!