DDA Chapter 27

[babytrees]

In May I went to Disney with Dorinda and Kathie. Kathie lives alone in a townhouse. Wednesday night she fell off the ladder to her attick and broke her tibia plataue. She was able to crawl to her phone and call 911. They transfered her to a local hospital but that hospital basically had her in the hall of the ER all night long-they didn't even really give her any pain medicine til a ortho doc came in in the morning. They transfered to a Boston hospital Thursday and yesterday morning they operated on her and put in a metal plate and screwed her tibia back together. They said she'll be non weight bearing for 3 months. Not sure how's she's going to do that. Not sure when they will release her. Her Mom (in her 80s) is coming up from CT but not sure how Kathie will get home/into the house/ect... She says she can just live on her living room couch (not sleep sofa) but she only has a 1/2 bath on that floor.

I went to see her last night with Dorinda. She was in good spirits and looked good considering all she's been through. Another friend is going in today. I told her I would bring her the Sunday times if she's still there tomorrow.

I know the feeling of no weight bearing for so long...hopefully she gets it figured out. I did a lot scootching on my butt and using a wheeling office chair.

Laura received notice of her new roommate yesterday, and they started texting a bit. She found out that she is a smoker. We are not ones to vilify smokers, but she doesn't really want to live with one. There is no smoking in the dorm rooms, but we are worried that the smell will follow her back in. The guys that did our bathrooms smoked (though never in our house), and the smell lingered for days. The roommate said that she wants to cut down or quit before college, but also added that she has been smoking for 4 years. Laura was thinking of calling to ask about a switch, but there is the possibility that the new person would have just lied on the housing form and is also a smoker. This new roommate is also quite the partier and was out drinking on her boyfriend's boat last night, but that is something that she knows she may just have to live with and work out. The smell of the smoke on the other hand...

What do you think? Should she go in with a positive attitude and hope for the best or call someone's attention to the fact that she'd rather not live with someone who smokes? Again, it's not that we think that smokers are bad, but there are odors that she is sensitive to that could come into play if she has to live in the same room.

I actually have to have somebody else defect out items that come from a smoking home...and I can smell when a guest service person has been on a smoking break. So I know I am super sensitive to smoke but it's probably best to ask for a new roommate now instead of risking her health.

 

[PNO4TE]

Beth - Have Laura call the school. The roommate must have lied on her form because colleges do not put non-smokers and smokers together.

 

[PNO4TE]

Happy Independence Day, DDA!

 

[Tammi67]

Good morning.

I'll be on my way back to VA today, without the kiddos.

Bernadette - I was going to post what Elin did. I can't believe that a college doesn't screen for that. If Laura doesn't want to be with a smoker, don't just "try to stick it out". With all the transitions that go on Freshman year, if you can alleviate issues, do it now.

 

[bethbuchall]

Beth - Have Laura call the school. The roommate must have lied on her form because colleges do not put non-smokers and smokers together.

I think that she must have lied, too. Laura sent a message to the person in charge of putting the roommates together and received a reply that there was no way to change it now. The dorms are filled. The housing rep told Laura that the roommate could not smoke in the room or within 25 feet of the building and that they should discuss it. I'm not exactly sure what there is to discuss. You can't tell someone that they can't smoke outside and then come back to the room. Laura is deciding whether to call on Tuesday or not. She is a little worried that they could put her in with someone else who lied and not find out until they are already there. Laura also feels that maybe it would be helpful to the new roommate's efforts to stop smoking if she lives with a nonsmoker instead of a smoker. I guess I've said my piece and I need to leave it to her now. I'll support her if she asks for it, but otherwise I'll stay out of it.

Thanks everyone who replied for at least letting me know that I wasn't crazy to be upset about this.

 

[Glynis]

Hi everyone! I'm back. Well, I've been back for a few days, but things here are not so good. Our A/C broke, and our house has been horribly hot. We can't get a repairman out until Wednesday afternoon, so I've been trying to find things to do outside the house.

The documentary is done, and delivered. By all accounts, the screening of it went over very well. Hooray!!!

Terry - Miss Vivian is absolutely beautiful!!! Love the Special Delivery picture!

Beth - I would definitely call. At least find out what options there are.

I'm now going to go in search of a diet Coke to try to get rid of this heat headache.

 

[my3princes]

Terry. Vivian is absolutely precious
Bernadette. Sorry to hear about your friend. It sounds like she's got some rough months ahead

Beth. It is unlikely that the. Roommate will quit smoking especially with the stress of college. If shee is already a partier then the drinking and smoking are likely to get worse and other drugs may enter the picture. Working in a bar I see and hear a lot.

I totally remember why I quit designing too. It's a labor of love

Tia. I hope Terra has fun

Tammy. I'm sure you'll miss the kiddos

 

[my3princes]

Hunter is feeling better

We head home tomorrow. Its been a nice trip though it rained today. Chris and I took Colby to Santa's Village yesterday afternoon and finished up today. It is such a nice little amusement park. Very clean and well taken care of. They do a nice job adding attractions and changing shows too. Food is reasonable. Great place to bring the 10 and under crowd.

 

[Tammi67]

I hope everyone has a safe and happy holiday.

 

[MrsHeg]

Happy 4th Everyone!

Off to work for me

 

[tmfranlk]

Beth - Good luck to Laura as she figures it out.

Tammi - I must have missed where your kids were now. Are they staying with your parents for a little bit?

Glynis - Good luck with the a/c! We were without for a couple of days in June before Dad tried hosing off the unit and thankfully that worked. I know so many who have had a/c problems this year.

Deb - Glad Hunter is doing better and you've had a nice trip. Santa's Village sounds fun.

Terra has a WONDERFUL time yesterday!! The girl she was paired with was pretty much the same age as her. The other two were boys about the same age as each other (maybe 11 or 12) so it made for natural pairings. It was quite a full and fun day! They:
- got an official zoo name tag to keep and got to wear a zookeeper shirt for the day
- attended a staff meeting and met a bunch of other Children's Zoo keepers
- helped prepare breakfast for several different animals in the Children's Zoo
- took the otters their food and watched them eat, then hid the leftovers around the exhibit for the otters to find and eat later
- cleaned the goat barn and saw the two brand new baby goats that even most zoo volunteers haven't seen yet
- rode the carousel
- ate lunch with several zookeepers at one of the zoo cafes
- visited the stingray/shark exhibit to pet them
- cleaned the otter exhibit
- saw most of the Children's Zoo animals from behind the scenes
- learned how to hold and present a ball python and a screech owl
- presented each of those animals to the Children's Zoo visitors

Terra says it was one of her best days ever! She was practically bouncing from the time we got to the zoo until hours after we got home. It was the perfect birthday present and I'm so happy Phil's parents sent her the money for it. She had a disposable camera with her so I can't wait to see the pictures she took as well.

 

[lovesdumbo]

Tia-what a perfect day for Terra! Emma would love that.

Glynis-hope you get your AC back soon.

Beth-hope all works out for Laura.

Deb-glad Hunter is feeling better.




So I brought Kathie home today. She's doing very well considering. She say's she not in too much pain. She made it up her stairs with minimal difficulty so now she can stay there until she needs to go to the doctor to get the stiches/staples out at 2 weeks. The visiting nurses will come change the bandages tomorrow. I'll stay with her until her Mom gets here-I think tomorrow. I think she's sleeping now. I'm using her Mac. She has this cool office set up in the closet of her guest room.

 

[babytrees]

If you all could keep a couple of my co-workers in your prayers. Patricia's grandfather committed suicide by jumping into the Patapsco river friday night. Ambyr was beaten to within an inch of her life by her boyfriend on Saturday. She will be in the hospital at least a month. Such tragedy.

 

[MinnieMouseMom]

If you all could keep a couple of my co-workers in your prayers. Patricia's grandfather committed suicide by jumping into the Patapsco river friday night. Ambyr was beaten to within an inch of her life by her boyfriend on Saturday. She will be in the hospital at least a month. Such tragedy.

Oh how horrible.

 

[PNO4TE]

Tia-what a perfect day for Terra! Emma would love that.

Glynis-hope you get your AC back soon.

Beth-hope all works out for Laura.

Deb-glad Hunter is feeling better.

Perfect "quotable" post, Bernadette. Thanks! I am glad you were able to get Kathie home... hopefully things will go very smoothly for her!

If you all could keep a couple of my co-workers in your prayers. Patricia's grandfather committed suicide by jumping into the Patapsco river friday night. Ambyr was beaten to within an inch of her life by her boyfriend on Saturday. She will be in the hospital at least a month. Such tragedy.

What a sad few days for your friends and co-workers (and therefore you too, Theresa).

 

[PNO4TE]

Good morning, DDA!

 

[tmfranlk]

If you all could keep a couple of my co-workers in your prayers. Patricia's grandfather committed suicide by jumping into the Patapsco river friday night. Ambyr was beaten to within an inch of her life by her boyfriend on Saturday. She will be in the hospital at least a month. Such tragedy.

Oh wow, what a sad time for her. They will definitely be in my prayers.

 

[tmfranlk]

Good morning, DDA!

We had an enjoyable quiet day for the 4th. I did a little grocery shopping in the morning, hung out on DIS most of the midday, went to the book store for a little while until time to get Rachel from work and then came home to Mom grilling steak and chicken. About that same time Kristi and the kids came over to swim so Terra swam and ate later. We went to watch fireworks from an area parking lot so didn't have to brave the crowds, traffic, etc. It was fun with all of us, Kristi's family, our neighbors that I babysit for and friends of Kristi's.

This week will be nuts, okay not really the week, just the weekend. We're going to see Little Mermaid at the outdoor ampitheater on Wed and then Friday about 1 my van is leaving with me, Terra, Deva, Rachel, Chase and Connor for Oklahoma. I think Erin is leaving much earlier and the others will leave about 9pm after Dad works and Kassie finishes her last softball game of the season. My cousin is getting married on Saturday so we'll be busy with that then, have breakfast with other family on Sunday and hit the road for home. I'm hoping for the best with the wedding as the ceremony doesn't start until 7pm with the reception, etc to follow. Hopefully it's not all too overwhelming for Deva at that hour since it's 45 minutes back to my grandma's house and I'll have several people riding with me.

 

[my3princes]

If you all could keep a couple of my co-workers in your prayers. Patricia's grandfather committed suicide by jumping into the Patapsco river friday night. Ambyr was beaten to within an inch of her life by her boyfriend on Saturday. She will be in the hospital at least a month. Such tragedy.

How devastating I hope things improve greatly for all of those in your life

 

[PNO4TE]

Good morning, DDA!