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The
Squamidian Report – Jan. 17 / 26
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#1234
Sus ****
From Nova Scotia Sus
All our beautiful snow is gone and now we are fighting ice everywhere with the temps hanging above zero. I found my slip on ice tracks for my boots that is making it easier to get around. Its been a crazy winter with up and down temperatures. Sure glad I got studded tires for my car this winter. Not much going on these days....looking forward to spring.
Sus ****
From Wayne
Hi mid-January
Squids: 
Gabi wanted ice
skates from
Santa for Andrea, her doll. So I made a pair for her
while Sylvia
made the skate shoes and also a pair of rain boots. No
picture of the
rain boots but here are the skates.
Oh! By the way, we have no snow! Wayne3
****
From Carol
We certainly became buried in snow here in Kitchener. A couple of days ago we had no snow on our lawn (although the banks along the roads were still high) and now there is at least a foot. It wasn’t a heavy blowing snow storm but it kept coming down. This made me think about past storms we lived through. 1978 and 1979 brought us unforgettable storms. Do any of you have stories to tell about that? The one snow storm I will never forget is one I didn’t realize was happening as I was driving through it. Hans had already moved to Ear Falls to work in the mine and now the girls and I were taking the 1,300 mile drive to join him. I was 24, the girls 3 and 4. I had a roof rack on our red VW bug, all our clothes, kitchen items, toys etc were packed and on the roof and in the front trunk. We had left Wawa heading west. It was snowing but the way the wind blew nothing stayed on the road. It was a Sunday and back then most places closed on Sundays and up north many just closed for all of winter. I passed many closed stations and was starting to worry about running out of fuel. It was very strange that I never met another vehicle nor had one come up behind me. Finally, with my fuel tank on empty, the road curved and suddenly it was full of snow. I coasted down a hill to gas pumps where the guy was shutting down for the night. They couldn’t understand where I had come from because it seams just after I left Wawa authorities closed the highway at both ends, no wonder we never met anyone. The only reason this station and restaurant were still open was because they needed the plow to come and lead them home. The men carried the girls inside where the lady made us something to eat. The plow driver had us follow him to a motel, there is no way we could have driven without his help because the snow was way, way too high. They say ignorance is bliss but I think back then my ignorance was just ignorance.
Carol ****
From Gary
Hello fellow Squamidians. We had January thaw and all but the snowbanks gone. Turned cold and southern Ontario got hit bad. Picton got 30cm (12”) but we only got about 20cm (8”) . We get less snow and rain here. It’s amazing the difference 2 km away. Maybe because of the escarpment on the other end of town. Dropped to-18 last night and steadily climbing until morning with a high of -1 all tomorrow. Update on the break job. Max couldn’t get the calipers to sit in right. I called the recommended shop ( jones) . They quoted $200 using my parts. Total less than $500 including tax. Canadian Tire wanted 2x that and the jeep dealer was 4x . I’m very happy. Nice not having pulsing breaks again. That’s it for now. Take care and stay safe.
Gary ****
From Doug
I think I’ll just do an update on Sue’s health. You may remember that she was diagnosed with Alzheimers about a year ago but she had been showing early symptoms long before that. Part of me wants to keep this stuff to myself but many of you know her and are concerned. Basically, she is not doing very well. She is not ‘her’, she is an empty shell containing a very angry 3-yr old. Thats actually not fair to 3-yr olds because they can to a limited degree understand and comprehend. She can’t. Her short tern memory is zero, her long term memory is not much better, very confused and convoluted. Often she does not know me. At times she does know my name but not who I am. She tends to think I am her father a lot of the time. At times she can’t understand why I am here and why I haven’t gone home. Most disturbing is that she constantly tries to leave, usually at night but she will do that anytime of the day. As far as I can tell she is trying to ‘go home’ home being her childhood home on Patricia Ave in Kitchener. She will pack a grocery bag with hats and mitts and perhaps a house coat and her iPad and try to get out the door. She gets very angry, confrontational and upset. She is not far from having to be placed in a care home unless things change, which they won’t. Meds can sometimes slow it down but can’t stop or reverse it. Here’s how some of our days play out... She got out last Sunday morning at about 2am. By the time I could go after her she had come back in as it was dark and raining. She does not understand ‘dark’, nor does she understand day, night, or any thing related to time. Luckily she does not like the rain. Last Monday night she tried to sneak out. Instead of turning on any lights she was using a flashlight to get her stuff together. She didn’t know I was observing her. She hesitated to open the door as I had installed an alarm system that would ring like chimes if the door is opened. I approached and asked where she wanted to go. She said she wanted to go home so I told her I’d driver her. She was satisfied with that and got into the car. I drove her to the emergency department of our little hospital. I didn’t know what else to do. I’ve taken her there several times lately so she recognized where she was but for some reason didn’t get upset. All they could do there was check her over and suggest more meds. We’ve had 2 nights this week alone where I have had to stay somewhat alert in order to intercept her trying to leave. Pulling all-nighters after being on guard all day is taking it’s toll. I’m exhausted and can’t keep doing that. I can’t trying to sleep or even take a short nap as she somehow sees that as a chance to escape. She has even tried to trick me into letting my guard down so she can ‘go home’. The only room in our house that she says is somewhat familiar is the spare bedroom that she has been using for a year or so now. A doctor appointment this week has resulted in some changes to her meds, and, some communication between him and the case worker regarding doing a respite to see how she reacts to that in prep for a full time care home post. Sue has her father’s temper and can be very vindictive, and, tends to remember negative things. So, we are getting into some dicy areas but her safety is also at risk now. So, there you have it. She can come across like nothing is wrong and 2 seconds later be out of control. Sherry calls her daily, some days Sue will talk to her like everything is just fine, other days she won’t even take the call. Alzheimers is a hideous disease and beyond difficult on everyone. Doug ****
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