"[T]here are infinitely many prime numbers whose decimal representation does not contain the digit 7." Source: https://www.theguardian.com/science/2022/dec/18/the-10-biggest-science-stories-of-2022-chosen-by-scientists
Almost everyone who is working or being with her right now says they love her, family, friends, and service providers. I'm seeing depth and strength in her I never realized was there; it's been a blessing to have this experience; this and the recent passing of my sister are reminders that the universe around us, regardless of any particular religion or belief, is a mysterious and powerful place, with beauty and wonder interlaced with grief and sadness -- and love.
I feel for you - I am in very much the same boat. My 98-year-old mother (99 in less than three weeks) is much the same. No sign of "dementia" but short term memory not great. I have been "caring" for her for a fair while. A year ago she was diagnosed as end-of-life by her GP (I still have the cocktail of drugs to help her slip quietly into the next world), but she soldiers on. Lives in the present, as you say, but last week when I told her she had a Christmas card from "cousin Richard", she told me what a wonderful man he is, that he has a great memory, and never forgets a birthday or anniversary... I know this for sure because she told me five times in as many minutes, but she did see the humour in it and laugh when I finally pointed the irony out... The other irony is that I have been joking with my brother that her life expectancy is probably now greater than mine because of the amount of motorway driving that I have to do to look after her (she is nearly a five hundred mile round trip from me) , and last week I got side-swiped by a big lorry and rammed into the concrete barrier on the central reservation. It did cross my mind as I approached the barrier at 50mph that it might be the last thing I see, however I didn't have time to think too deeply about it... I walked away though, and counted my blessings when I got home (eight hours later...)
Quite similar indeed, Hammer, and I return your sympathy. My drive is 423 miles each way (but who's counting?). No accidents thus far, though the road I drive is mostly Interstate driving, and that has a steady flow of semi-trailers (lorries). My daughter had me deliver a large collage of photos from daughter's wedding, and mom was thrilled to see it and go over the pictures, and had me set it aside until she could decide where to hang it up. Next day mom told me there was a big picture in the other room full of people she didn't know and she didn't know where it came from. Oh well. In the State where she lives, like most U.S. states, the law forbids any ultimate "cocktail of drugs" -- the idea being, I guess, that one must solider on till the very end, like it or not, and at any cost.
Not sure where to post this, here seems as good a place as any, but looks like you guys out West had better be digging out your extra vests for Christmas... https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/world-us-canada-64061588 "More than 90 million people are under winter weather alerts across 37 states. About 80% of the nation is set to experience sub-zero temperatures, including places as far south as Texas... The National Weather Service (NWS) said bone-chilling temperatures of -50F (-45C) and -70F were possible by the end of this week in some parts of the country." Good luck with that , find warmth, keep safe!
We're supposed to get 8-12 inches of snow with single-digit temps and 40-50 MPH winds here; in other words, what we call Friday this time of year. I'm guessing @Catriona Grace is looking at worse. Fought my way in and out of Walmart yesterday, and am all stocked up for the duration.
Temps are hitting sub-freezing in the middle of the night here, with daytime levels at the "Huh, I kinda wish I'd brought my gloves" level. Fatalities are expected.
Went to Schnuck's yesterday to stock up for the sock-in. Everybody else had the same idea. There were no carts in the little room where you first go in, they were all in use apparently. And the checkout line wrapped halfway around the inside of the store. I want to go back today. I forgot to get sour cream for the mashed potatoes. Maybe I'll try before it gets too late in the morning. Hopefully I get back before any snow starts. None yet, and it's 30 degrees, just like very other day recently. Of course, I've said and heard all of this before, many times. Often later we laugh about how worried we were, because it was just another normal snowstorm. But sometimes it does get pretty intense.
Yesterday was an interesting day: thirty degrees above and clear skies when I woke up at 6:30 and -18 and whiteout conditions by noon. Our power went out at 8:45 pm and by midnight, windchill had dropped the temps to just above negative 50 degrees. Power was out for five hours. We have a woodstove, but I'll betcha some folks got real cold before the power went back on. We live within sight of the substation and so know how long the electric guys and gals were at work last night. Good on 'em for it, too.
Shopping trip was uneventful. Just a light scattering of snow, tiny flakes more like granules. And it's still around 30 degrees. But man, that wind is vicious!! Cuts right through fleece like it isn't even there! Luckily I had brought an extra fleece jacket in my backpack, turned out I needed it. With both on the wind was quite tolerable. And now I batten down the hatches to prepare for the storm that might just fizzle out. Still there's a nice cozy feeling about sealing yourself into your house through bad weather.
Headline of the Day from The Daily Wire: Marines Receive Woke Report Which Says To Stop Calling Drill Instructors ‘Sir,’ ‘Ma’am’ Based on my experience, the drill instructors themselves did not get the memo.
Now if he could only act... Sorry, no idea why, but he's one of those people who triggered an instant and visceral loathing in me.
Only 7.9% of people working in the arts (writing, music, film/television) can claim a working-class background. After reading this, a lot of things are making a lot more sense to me now. I'm mostly referring to the contemporary art I consume, but also a bit about how difficult it can be for regular-ass people to squeeze their way in. "People who grew up in professional families were four times more likely than those with working-class parents to be in creative work, the study found." https://www.theguardian.com/culture/2022/dec/10/huge-decline-working-class-people-arts-reflects-society Edit - study was for the UK only, but I imagine it could only be worse in the States. Not sure about Canada.
not Natrona County.... but i know my Michigander friends have been circulating a dashcam video on Facebook of a state trooper just outside of Cheyenne with 0 visibility.
I saw that. I also saw exactly the same scene when I was driving home from an appointment yesterday afternoon.
its not as bad as where you are, but here, our city shut down so i got to leave work early got home just as the snow was starting up. right now, the wind is super loud and the snow is getting pretty deep (i sent my dog out there to run out some energy and chase the snow balls i threw)
