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Morning #2 in Madrid.

Yesterday was okay but difficult for SIL. She has barely been eating crackers due to a medication she was on until a couple of days ago so in addition to her aches and pains she has no stamina. We did do the private "bus" tour - it was more like an elongated golf cart (see picture below). She almost passed out when we got off. It was hot, but more than that for her. My other SIL had to go find a cab at the end and have him drive over to us because she couldn't walk even 5 minutes to where they were. Some nice Spanish ladies stopped to make sure she was ok (she was and she wasn't). When we got home I went to the local market and got her a sandwich and some yogurt which she ate part of. It definitely revived her quite a but. DSD arrived yesterday afternoon so she came over in the afternoon and we went to dinner at a cute little tapas place just at the end of our street. SIL ate some more real food - not much but more than she had been. She was much better last night. DSD is taking responsibility for figuring out how to arrange for a wheelchair at the palace and the Prado museum, which we want to view while we are here.

So along with the nice Spanish people (they are generally friendly around here and it is a nice neighborhood), someone wrote "F--k AirBnb" on the door to this place during out first night. Expressing their frustration at the lack of affordable housing. So we are being careful about locking the door.

Today my healthy SIL and I have to walk to the Apple Store to get her iPhone fixed. We don't know what happened but it is all confused. It talks when she tries to unlock it and won't accept her unlock code. A forced restart doesn't fix it so we need some professional help. Yesterday it actually dialed emergency and contacted her children as if she had an emergency at one point. She was able to assure the emergency people that it was due to a faulty phone and we had her text her children immediately on the iPad. Needless to say, they were concerned. Not sure what else we will do today. All is based on less healthy SIL's stamina. Right now it is almost 9:30 and neither of them are up. And I thought I was late getting up at 8:30!

Have a super Saturday!

Sounds like your aunt is progressing in her recovery. Hopefully she will need less and less help each day and that they will avail themselves of that extra help for a while. Again, so lucky that she has you.

And also hoping that during your visit with DD, you get to meet her new friend?!? My DH feels like he can't ever ask about his kid's love interests and just wait until it is offered up. I always try not to be TOO nosy but I ask more questions.

And yes you will develop a new "schedule" but it will be geared to your lifestyle rather than you having to fit into a work schedule.

Proud of you for getting up to 25 minutes on the treadmill. Hopefully DH does more than just shuffle around the stuff! Hoarding tendencies can be difficult. DC1 is a bit of a hoarder!

Greetings all

It is a sunny day and almost hot. I bet it is up to 70. Fine by me. Skipped the gym to meet up with a friend who needs some business help. I use the studio as my office. I also got a few things done. Yesterday I did the gym and got up to 25 minutes. Pretty good for this old hunk of protoplasm.

More clean up chores need to happen. Baby steps. DH is indeed moving some things but as yet I don't see much going in the trash.

Liz how fun to be in Spain and have pizza. Sounds like a great place. Glad you got some well earned rest.

Paula enjoy visit with the kids. And good for DC1 for finding someone hopefully steady. Makes for a better life. And yeah eat something girl!

So I am futzing around realizing I need to redo my will. Can't even find the old ones. Might have to pay for some on line help as I don't have access to document library like I once did.

Found out from my friend today that she won't come to group events it this one guy is there. She just dislikes him. This guy annoys me at times but not so much that I won't attend events.

I must admit that some days in the mid afternoon I drink a 7 ounce coke. So delicious. I don't need the calories but it sure is a late day energy boost.

We have been watching the series Fubar. Kind of silly but amusing. No Emmys for this show. Looking forward to The Guilded Age.

Diane S

I like the bus tour idea, I hope you were able to set that up. DH and I almost always doa hop on hop off tour in a new city to get the lay of the land.

Hope your trip to Milwaukee goes well Paula! How fun for your DSD to have you come and see her newlywed home.

Today is pretty much the same as the last few days. My Aunt is able to transfer off the toilet herself now, but needs transfer help in and out of bed, and into her wheelchair etc. There are many little tasks, changing jammies, keeping the pain med schedule, prepping the condo for the cleaning service today, washing towels, making the meals. i'm a little worried about leaving them tomorrow. I suggested that they should arrange to have someone to come in the next few days to take care of the housekeeping tasks, or I am afraid my Uncle will just get too worn out. They can order services by the hour, and they can get food from the dining room delivered.

I did have a break today. I helped my Aunt into bed for a nap, and then my Uncle, DH and I went to a BBQ lunch their building has on Fridays during the summer. It's served on a patio, next to a very nice garden. And then they had pride cupcakes for dessert. After I came back from the BBQ, I got my Aunt up, and made her a lunch and then I took an hour nap, which felt like heaven. I will sleep in their condo again this last night, so my Uncle can hae one more night of sleeping through the whole night to gear up for his caregiving tasks the next few days. Dear Aunt is napping now. We are going to have dinner around 7pm, and then I'm going to try and shower her. I've done some sponge baths, but she hasn't had a good shower for a week.

Tomorrow and Sunday nights we will stay with DD. Then home on Monday. I'm ready to return to my "retired" life. Although from what I can tell from all of you retired people, it's really trading one kind of schedule for another.