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mouse from merced
Trad climber
The finger of fate, my friends, is fickle.
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Apr 14, 2015 - 12:31pm PT
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Wish I had something to tell you @ Patrick, Ghost, but no, not a word.
Werner's link is sort of like fifties sci-fi/horror stuff. Just the thought of a "blob" always makes me think of Steve McQueen.
And there's news on the drought from the southland today.
http://news.yahoo.com/southern-california-water-agencies-brace-water-cutbacks-163714112.html
"If approved by the board of the Metropolitan Water District of Southern California on Tuesday, regional water deliveries would be cut by 15 percent beginning in July. The district serves parts of Los Angeles, Orange, San Diego, Riverside, San Bernardino and Ventura counties."
This morning has been really windy and this should help to melt off the snow.
When it rains, it pours.
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Patrick Sawyer
climber
Originally California now Ireland
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Topic Author's Reply - Apr 14, 2015 - 03:07pm PT
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Has anyone heard from Patrick Sawyer (who started this thread)? He's made just one post since February -- which is pretty unusual for him. Hope he is okay.
This post is not water related and is off topic but…
On November 5, Jennie woke up. "I love you immensely Patrick." Got up and was in good form when the agency carer we would get from 10-11 M-F came to take her for a spin.
I went into my office at home to finish an article for a former editor. Did not notice they did not retun by 11. At 11:40 a social worker (battle axe, wish her boss had Jen's case, she's much nicer than the battle axe who I have butted heads with and crossed swords) phoned and said that Jennie does not want to return home.
That is the last I have seen or heard from her. She has been in a nursing home since November 6, and I am told by the social worker that Jen does NOT want to see me. I do not know what I did to upset her where she never wants to see me again. I miss her big time, she is a lovely person.
I am still trying to figure it out. I have never mistreatred her. I was her full-time carer since August 26 2010 when she came out of hospital, engaged since September 27 2007. I gave up a good journalism job to look after her and went through all my savings (about €200,000).
November and December I sat around the lonely house moping and crying. In January several people told me to get out. So I am now a volunteer with the Order of Malta Ambulance Service and with the Irish Coast Guard Volunteers Unit down here in Rosslare Harbour, near Ballytrent, where I live.
But I need to find paid work. And I am not coping very well with Jennie's absence. I see a counselor, and I have stopped drinking for good.
But I really love and miss her. While I understand her dementia (Korsakoff's Syndrome), just the transition that Wednesday morning (November 5) from love to never wanting to see me again.
But I am very sad. A couple of times Jennie told her closest friend Eileen she grew up with in Dublin, why was I not visting or writing her (I do write and send books - ballet and WB Yeats mainly - clothes, chocolates, flowers, plants, letters, photos.) Then she is adamant, so I am told, that she doesn't want to see or live with me again. I would like to hear it from her own mouth face to face, but I am being denied visitation. Even one visit. I live in vain hope and wishful thinking that I can see her in the future and that she will change her mind about being with me.
She turned 64 April 9 and I sent flowers and chocolates. She is too young to be in a nursing home IMO. To be institutionalized, though she does have her own room.
Most people I speak and write with (California, Seattle, Dublin, London - a close circle of friends and relatives, and others such as my GP, counselor, HSE assessor) - they all find it "strange" and "weird".
I have taken it to mediation because I felt the social worker has been keeping me in the dark and being very economical with the facts. My landlord has offered to pay for a solicitor and the court costs if I take it before a judge. I am not so sure.
I hardly sleep, I still cry, I get depressed and that is why I have not been posting much on the Taco Stand.
Again, this post is off topic but just writing it helps.
Thanks for your time STers.
Dementia sucks. Big time.
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stevep
Boulder climber
Salt Lake, UT
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Apr 14, 2015 - 04:27pm PT
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That's rough Patrick. I hope things improve and you get some clarity.
You've probably considered this, but is it possible that she was in a state of mind that she felt she was more of a burden to you than a companion, and was also lucid enough to convince the social workers that this meant she would rather be separated from you so that she wasn't a burden?
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Patrick Sawyer
climber
Originally California now Ireland
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Topic Author's Reply - Apr 14, 2015 - 08:00pm PT
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Stevep, that point has been raised by several people, but she wasn't a burden in my eyes.
Well, I had to give up a week ice climbing trip to Ben Nevis, put off my scuba course and quit my Day Skipper course, but I was willing to do that, and I do not reget being her full-time carer, I'd do it all over again just to see her beautiful smile every day.
Okay I went from €51,000/year after tax to a Carer's Allowance of €204/week, which I am now going to lose.
Also in Dalkey, she had friends around, neighbors, agency carers and there is a lot to do in Dublin (zoo three times a years at least so she could see her beloved giraffes), though she did not like to watch me climb in Dalkey Quarry, it scared her.
Down here we are isolated, nearest neighbor is over 200 yards away (unfriendly farmer), I would use the TV as a 'carer', put a ballet on or something for her to watch and go into my office. And there is not a lot to do down here (fine beach - Celtic Sea - is a minute's walk away so I kayak and boulder). I think she started getting lonely.
The first 10 or so months seemed fine, she had no desire to walk (wander, abscond are the old terms) like she did in Dalkey (which is why I had electric gates put in).
The first time she was found in the pissing rain walking down Dalkey Avenue with no shoes, a dressing gown and pajamas. The second time it took the Gardai (police) and I three hours to find her and she was only about 300 yards away, confused down a cul de sac.
Down here I started slipping in my Duty of Care. I started not coping very well, I asked for help but the social worker turned a deaf ear. So I turned to the bottle as a very poor coping mechanism, and that was a part of the problem (besides her dementia), and stupid stupid me was letting her have low alcohol wine, so counterproductive for an alcoholic. Her GPs and others told me that, and I said it relaxes her. How stupid of me. Korsakoff's is caused, in most cases, by long term alcoholism
I no longer drink, at all, forever.
I am told she is very happy where she is, has settled in (the first month she stayed in her room), mingles with the other residents, likes the staff.
I have to realize that she is in a good place for the foreseeable future. As one of the mediators put it, "Patrick, she is happy, she is healthy, she has a team looking after her. Your did it on your own for years, it is not a one-person job."
Still my conundrum is while I am happy she is in a safe and secure environment, I want her back home (with better support and assistance). No go for now, especialy since she does not want to come home.
Again apologies to all for an off topic post. I should have actually started a new thread. I sort of did on January 31.
OT Social workers, some good, some bad OT
http://www.supertopo.com/climbing/thread.php?topic_id=2571529&msg=2571529#msg2571529
EDIT
I will start a thread on Dementia, and repost this.
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MisterE
Gym climber
Being In Sierra Happy Of Place
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Apr 14, 2015 - 08:56pm PT
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Justthemaid and I have decided to quit buying almonds and to seriously curtail our beef consumption because of the drought.
We like almonds and beef, but cashews and chicken are good too!
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limpingcrab
Trad climber
the middle of CA
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Apr 14, 2015 - 09:06pm PT
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A ranger in Sequoia said that a biologist there thinks that this is the driest year since the year 800 based on tree ring data.
Nothing official or published, but interesting.
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Jan
Mountain climber
Colorado, Nepal & Okinawa
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Apr 14, 2015 - 10:37pm PT
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Regarding Werner's blob of warm water off the coast of California. I noticed a similar thermal hot spot down the east coast of Japan the summer before the big earthquake and tsunami. Mt. Fuji is overdue for another eruption, so I surmised that must be the reason. Then came the massive earthquake and tsunami and I realized it was tectonic friction. It would be interesting to note what plates or faults are in the region of California's warm blob. If only Juan de Fuca were still here.
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rick sumner
Trad climber
reno, nevada/ wasilla alaska
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Apr 14, 2015 - 10:57pm PT
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Jan, subduction zone plate boundaries extend all the way from california to Alaska's Aleutian Islands and beyond. The name of the one extending from northern California to northern Washington is called the Cascadia subduction zone. It generates 9.0 earthquakes on average every 300 years, the last mega quake was in 1700. The subduction zones off Alaska generate mega quakes on a more regular basis. Interesting observation on your part, but that blob has been a bit mobile. Recently off the coast from cali to Ak. I hope their isn't the relationship your observation could indicate. That would be one hell of a zipper.
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kunlun_shan
Mountain climber
SF, CA
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Apr 15, 2015 - 09:00am PT
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STEEVEE, that story is from April 8 2014, and the drought is even worse now!
edit - I see your comment below. Thanks. Interesting series!
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STEEVEE
Social climber
HUMBOLDT, CA
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Apr 15, 2015 - 09:10am PT
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No doubt!
The whole article is part of 12 part series about the water politics of the west. That's what I found interesting. That hasn't changed in about 100 years.
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STEEVEE
Social climber
HUMBOLDT, CA
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Apr 15, 2015 - 09:24am PT
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All one has to look at is commercial agriculture in the west to see the problem. Not only is the practice of industrial farming driven by water use it's also petroleum thirsty which just contributes to more greenhouse gas completing the vicious cycle of global warming hence drought. It's madness.
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Ken M
Mountain climber
Los Angeles, Ca
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Apr 15, 2015 - 10:50am PT
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Serious is the right word.
I get quite frustrated by the powers that be, that seem to treat the situation as just another tough day at the office.
One thing that was missed in the discussion about how much water is used to produce various foods: Actually, the water is NOT used. Unlike gasoline, which is gone once you've used it, the water is NOT gone.
Water is 100% conserved. It may have been transformed into vapor or wastewater. Something I never see addressed, when they talk about a gallon of water to produce a single almond: where did the water go?
The reason I mention this, is that I think it is a general lack of understanding about the cycle of water that creates much misinformation and confusion.
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STEEVEE
Social climber
HUMBOLDT, CA
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Apr 15, 2015 - 11:20am PT
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Water is 100% conserved. It may have been transformed into vapor or wastewater. Something I never see addressed, when they talk about a gallon of water to produce a single almond: where did the water go? Technically this is true, but remember that water for California agriculture that comes from ground water is being used faster than it is being replenished, That water evaporates into the atmosphere and disappears from California only to reappear in some other part of the globe.
Less than 3% of the worlds water is fresh water and less than that is safe for drinking due to pollution.
I'm just saying that the biggest dent in water usage can be made in how, where and what we farm. Edit:...since 80% of California's water is used in ag.
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Ken M
Mountain climber
Los Angeles, Ca
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Apr 15, 2015 - 11:38am PT
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DMT: not true in LA
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STEEVEE
Social climber
HUMBOLDT, CA
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Apr 15, 2015 - 11:38am PT
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DMT, I believe we both recognize the problem and that the drought is serious and will require multiple solutions and limiting or even halting housing growth needs to be one of them.
I have a feeling that what's waiting for us in the future in California will be a global issue.
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Jan
Mountain climber
Colorado, Nepal & Okinawa
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Apr 15, 2015 - 11:53am PT
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Thanks for the fault info guys. I know about the San Andreas fault (who doesn't?) but didn't know what lay under the ocean. As for the warm water down the east coast of Japan, it is still a mystery why there was no mention of it in English at least, the summer before the quake and tsunami. It was so obviously unusual to have water that far north that was warmer than the subtropical waters off Okinawa.
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BLR
Trad climber
Lower Eastside
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Apr 15, 2015 - 03:23pm PT
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We published a piece this morning by the photographer and Sierra snow surveyor, John Dittli: The Winter of His Disbelief.
"In a normal year, we’d expect to measure the equivalent of 10 inches of SWE at North Lake, but not only was the course free of snow, the meadow grasses were beginning to sprout, and the dismal reality of the bleak snowpack started setting in: North Lake 2015: 0” snow, 0” water."
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donini
Trad climber
Ouray, Colorado
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Apr 15, 2015 - 03:39pm PT
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Water for avocados and walnuts....shut down the cotton growers.
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