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Grex > Enigma > #379: Lynne's "I aint got no baby" Diary. | |
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| 25 new of 160 responses total. |
slynne
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response 21 of 160:
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Oct 23 02:12 UTC 2003 |
I could never have a list like that because looking at all the things I
havent done would just depress me ;)
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slynne
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response 22 of 160:
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Oct 23 02:15 UTC 2003 |
I have been reading a lot lately about this Terri Shiavo case in
Florida and it has gotten me thinking about stuff.
I dont think Ms Shiavo even has the cognitive ability of an infant.
Seriously. And if I were in a state like her, I have to say, I wouldnt
care one way or the other what would happen to me. I wouldnt even have
the cognitive ability to care. I am not married so my parents would
make choices about my care. I would want them to make whatever choice
worked best for *them* If I ever get married, I know that means that I
would be giving that power about medical decisions to my husband.
Again, I would want him to make whatever choice he felt was best.
starve me, dont starve me. It wouldnt even matter.
I have decided that I dont need an advance directive. I probably should
mention my feelings to my folks though. Just in case.
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mary
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response 23 of 160:
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Oct 23 12:46 UTC 2003 |
Maybe what would work better for you is a living will.
It would make it clear to what extent you want to be
left in a vegetative state. Then your parents won't
be put in such an agonizing position.
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slynne
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response 24 of 160:
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Oct 23 13:57 UTC 2003 |
That is the point. If I were left in a vegetative state, I wouldnt care
if I were left in that state or allowed to die. I have no preference.
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remmers
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response 25 of 160:
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Oct 23 17:12 UTC 2003 |
In the absence of a living will, I'm not sure that your caretakers
would be allowed the latter choice. This has expense implications
for the caretakers.
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slynne
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response 26 of 160:
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Oct 23 17:57 UTC 2003 |
I think they would be able to make the latter choice unless someone
else in the family wanted to fight them about it. Which I doubt would
happen. At least that is what the experts on the show on NPR were
saying. They said that for a lot of people, instead of leaving specific
instructions the best thing to do in a general sense is to appoint a
trusted someone to make the decision. So, I probably should find out
about *that* paperwork just in case someone like my sister who married
a republican wanted to fight my folks on whatever decision they
happened to make. haha. I dont really think she would ever do that
though. ;)
I dont know what expense implications this would have for my family. My
parents and siblings cant be forced to pay my medical bills. I assume
my health insurance would cover the costs for the most part anyway so
that isnt a worry for me. I dont have enough assets to be a major
consideration. And yes, I honestly wouldnt mind if my folks made a
decision that cost my insurance company tons of money if it made them
feel better emotionally. Most people feel the same as I do which is a
big flaw in our health system: the people who make the health care
decisions (patients and doctors) arent the same people who have to pay
the bill (insurance companies).
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mary
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response 27 of 160:
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Oct 23 20:15 UTC 2003 |
Michigan's response to the precident setting Nancy Cruzan case was
to offer it's citizens a free legal document that would give
individuals a way to control end of life medical care. If you want
to have someone else make those decisions should you be unable to
do so, then you need a living will designating a medical power of
attorney. If you want to be specific about what you want and don't
want, then you need a living will advance directive. Either will
do. Both are free, can be obtained and filed at your doctor's
office, clinic or hospital. They are simple to complete and you
don't need an attorney. Michigan did good here.
There are two compelling reasons to take the time to fill one out.
First off, if you're dying on a ventilator with flat brain waves,
your family isn't going to have much trouble at all convincing the
medical community that you should be allowed to die. But it gets a
little cloudy when you're breathing on your own, without oxygen,
and managing with a feeding tube, but your brain is in a vegetative
state. Either of those documents could allow food and water to be
withheld until you die. But without those documents, you could be
laying there, lights off, a very very long time, and there is
nothing your family could do about.
The second reason to plan ahead is the same reason some folks
arrange their funeral, having financial wills, etc., - to spare
their family from having to deal with it. Or not. Afterall, you
won't be around to see them struggle with the lingering issues.
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mary
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response 28 of 160:
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Oct 23 20:16 UTC 2003 |
s /precedent/precident
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slynne
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response 29 of 160:
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Oct 23 21:12 UTC 2003 |
Hmm. Well, it cant hurt to fill out the form. I will see if I can
download one. One thing I wouldnt want would be for some stranger to
force my body to stay alive if my family didnt want that. Thanks for
the comments.
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slynne
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response 30 of 160:
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Oct 23 21:24 UTC 2003 |
UofM has one:
http://www.med.umich.edu/1libr/aha/umlegal04.htm
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mary
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response 31 of 160:
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Oct 23 22:50 UTC 2003 |
You are welcome.
I still need to fill one out too. Your
comments gave me a push to get it done.
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slynne
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response 32 of 160:
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Oct 24 13:53 UTC 2003 |
Some of my cousins were in town last night for a funeral of their aunt
(who I am not related to). Since they are all from out of town, they
stayed at my folks' house. So, I went up there and got to hang out with
the cousins. One cousin and his wife are from a suburb of Cincinnati
(Florence, KY). The other cousin is from Rochester, NY. Anyhow, it was
a nice dinner with nice wine and nice conversation. I now know the
history of the "Florence Yall" water tower ;) I know a bit about
playing tuba in a Rochester orchestra. BTW, that cousin says that even
though it would have been fun to dot the i, it wouldnt have ever been
worth going to OSU ;) It is kind of cool to have interesting relatives.
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slynne
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response 33 of 160:
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Oct 24 13:54 UTC 2003 |
I am really tired. I woke up at 5:30a because that is the time my cat
decided she wanted to wake up.
A few years ago, in my last apartment, my downstairs neighbor started a
fire in his kitchen. He came home from the bar drunk, started cooking
something and then went and passed out in his bed. My smoke detector
never went off. But *before* my apartment filled with smoke too badly,
the cat jumped onto my pillow and meowed and meowed until I woke up.
She may have saved my life. The apartment totally filled with smoke and
FAST. I mean I remember waking up and being able to just kind of smell
smoke and not see it. By the time I had my pants and shoes on, the
whole apartment was filled and I had to feel my way out. I was only
barely able to grab the bird cage and the cat and run outside. I puked
all over the place because of the smoke and I could barely breathe.
(Luckily, the dogs were at my parents house).
Ever since then, whenever the cat tries to wake me up, I JUMP out of
bed. She has figured this out and often wakes me up if something in her
world isnt quite right. You know how it is with cats. She will wake me
up if she doesnt have enough food in her dish or if she is bored or if
she wants to sleep in the dog bed and the dog isnt responding to her
demands or *whatever*.
I am happy that she saved my life and all but I also would like to
sleep through the night a little more often.
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slynne
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response 34 of 160:
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Oct 26 02:30 UTC 2003 |
These are the ways I have abused my cat today:
1) When she went outside this morning, it rained on her. In her mind, I
did this and she isnt happy that I made it rain on her.
2) I fed her dry food instead of the mushy food. I have cans of mushy
food and she knows it. I withhold them as a form of torture.
3) I wouldnt let her sleep on the computer keyboard even though, since
she is a cat, she was born with a right to sleep anyplace she wants
4) I spoke to her in baby talk which insults her dignity.
5) I showed her that picture of a cat with a lion cut and told her that
is what happens to cats who annoy me.
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jaklumen
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response 35 of 160:
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Oct 26 20:50 UTC 2003 |
This is why I want a dog.
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slynne
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response 36 of 160:
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Oct 27 14:37 UTC 2003 |
I went to my friend Gary's annual Halloween costume party which he
always throws on the Sunday before Halloween. It is a photographic
scavenger hunt so I have lots of pictures.
We did pretty well with our clues. First we went to Coner O'neil's
Irish Pub and took a picture of our whole group crammed into a bathroom
stall. Then it was off to the Real Seafood Company where we took a
photo of the stopped clock in their bar. Then, we had to take a photo
of "Arthur" the crocodile that is behind the bar at Louisiana Zydaco.
We paused to drink a hurricane there. Whew.
Our group did really well. We found even some of the more obscure clues
like "the wall of gum" and some very small graffiti that possibly made
reference to our host, Gary.
We made up some things though. We were supposed to go to the cube and
take a picture of us doing cartwheels but we decided to just draw a
picture of a cube in chalk on the sidewalk and also of cartwheels. :)
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slynne
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response 37 of 160:
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Oct 27 21:21 UTC 2003 |
Aaron knows that I have been discussing the Terri Shiavo case and also
partial birth abortion online here so he sent me a link to an editorial
in the Washington Post http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-
dyn/articles/A21857-2003Oct26.html.
Obviously, I agree with this editorial for the most part. However, I
have to admit that I am particularly aware of what the legislature is
doing in this case because I happen to disagree with it. I probably
would be more forgiving of them if they were doing things I do agree
with. However, it seems to be a commmon thing these days for the
legislative bodies to pass laws they *know* will be struck down by the
courts and that feels kind of wrong to me. For one thing, it is a waste
of everyone's time and energy. For another thing, it is an easy way out
for them and that bothers me. They get to pass laws that make it look
like they are doing something but they dont have to actually deal with
the repercussions of the act.
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slynne
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response 38 of 160:
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Oct 27 21:22 UTC 2003 |
http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/articles/A21857-2003Oct26.html
Oops, that link didnt post too well.
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jaklumen
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response 39 of 160:
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Oct 28 03:08 UTC 2003 |
*chuckles*
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slynne
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response 40 of 160:
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Oct 29 16:24 UTC 2003 |
I have always had a bit of a problem with seasonal depression. Once
again, it looks like this is going to be an issue for me this year. I
am trying to decide if I want to get medication or light therapy. UGH.
I just hate all this darkness. I feel like someone has come and made me
a lead suit or something. All I want to do all day is sit around and
watch movies and stuff. By myself. That is so dangerous because I am
always in danger of isolating myself too much from people. I turned
down a dinner invitation last night. I think that is a bad sign.
I have made plans with a co-worker for tonight though. We are going to
drive out to the country to see if we can see the Northern Lights.
Hopefully the sky will clear by tonight. It is cloudy now.
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jaklumen
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response 41 of 160:
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Oct 29 18:15 UTC 2003 |
My sister had problems with the SAD thing... she really hated where I
am working now, and I don't blame her too much as the building is kinda
dark.
Which is cheaper, meds or light therapy... and which would you think
would be more effective?
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slynne
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response 42 of 160:
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Oct 29 18:51 UTC 2003 |
I think the light therapy is cheaper except that my insurance doesnt
cover it. The meds cost more overall but they wouldnt cost *me* more
because I have insurance. But there are side effects to the medication
albeit minor ones. On the other hand, I dont think the light therapy
has been studied as much as medication.
Of course, one thing I know about depression is that if it is mild (and
mine is, thank goodness) even if you just take small steps to get rid
of it, it helps. I think the placebo effect is greater for things like
depression. So if I go buy the special light and I believe it will
work, it will work.
Anyhow, I am leaning towards the light therapy now. Which might not be
a good thing. I have developed Doctor anxiety lately and never want to
go even for a check up.
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jaklumen
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response 43 of 160:
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Oct 30 00:13 UTC 2003 |
*confuzzled* Well, if you get it figured out...
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slynne
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response 44 of 160:
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Nov 2 16:51 UTC 2003 |
I went to go see Michael Moore speak Friday night at EMU. I was
supposed to go with Aaron but he stood me up (although with good
reason). It was awesome even though it was weird going to an event like
that all by myself.
One thing you can say about Michael Moore is that he is one funny guy.
I also found myself agreeing with him a lot. He had a lot of good
things to say. Like that it is important to stand up for what you
believe in even if what you believe in is pretty much not centrist.
Anyhow, it was a very good talk and I was glad I went even though I had
to go all by myself. I cant wait to buy his new book but I have to wait
two weeks because then I will have an opportunity to buy it at a pretty
good discount. Oh well, two weeks isnt that long.
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slynne
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response 45 of 160:
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Nov 4 16:26 UTC 2003 |
Aaron has started a blog called The Stopped Clock
http://www.thestoppedclock.blogspot.com/ . It is pretty good. I think
it is interesting how different my blog is from his blog. His is much
better written than mine. Certainly his grammar and spelling are better
than mine ;) His reads like a newspaper column. Mine is a little more
informal. He doesnt talk about his life at all. Just his opinions on
things. Weird
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