For Crying Out Loud

I'm coming home for thanksgiving and i read your blog. i ran into an interesting study on alcoholics who develop amnesia. This is usually seen at its worst during alcohol withdrawal symptoms though long term alcohol abusers can develop the amnesic symptoms. Pappa should know that amnesia is not simply the forgetting of past events but that a development of anterograde amnesia will cause a person to be unable to create new associations. It seems that, because a person has consumed so much alcohol, alcoholics have a weakened ability to process nutrients and that they tend to consume fewer nutrients because the alcohol fills them up. Whether or not grandpa is still consuming alcohol is largely irrelevant. What's the matter is that his body may have stopped producing or significantly decreased its production of enzymes that help to metabolize B-vitamins which have been associated with short term and long term anterograde and retrograde memory loss. Basically, B-vitamin deficiency can cause memory loss. so, for anyone who cares, it might be a good idea to try giving grandpa a B-vita supplement as his "placebo". B-vitamins are water soluble and so, if taken in large doses, will not harm him so long as they're taken with water. Grandpa may experience a few stomach problems at first while his body is struggling to remember how to make enough enzyme to metabolize the vitamin but after that we may see some improvement in his cognitive functioning. If anything it's worth a try. and, papp, i know that you are opposed to changing the diets of the elderly because it is what they are used to and keeps them regular, etc... I agree with you, however, i feel that if their diet is not especially healthy it might be a good idea to to augment small changes to provide them with more nutrition without trying to change their world. also, this isn't a guaranteed cure or even method of improvement, though alcoholics who develop this amnesia (it actually mimics a lot of dementia's symptoms) seem to show some improvement in their symptoms when they begin taking B supplements. Furthermore, it helps to reduce the quantity of confabulation (not that grandpa is still at the point where he's going to be making up stuff because he can't remember it, likely the reason for multiple stories that involve world war two that are conflicting). Enjoy

Is there a website to find this article? Or is it on paper somewhere? You got to watch it with Vitamin B. It can cause you to flush and vomit. I know, I took it -- once! It was supposed to help with hot flashes. I preferred the hot flashes, and we all know how fond of those I am. And, at this point, does it matter that Grampa can't remember anything? Yes, I would like to see him eat a more healthy diet, but I can't remember why.
How is Kristen's grandfather? Why doesn't Kristen have her own blog? Does she not want one?

Kristen's grandfather just had aNOTHER heart attack (you may have known this?). I think this might be his fourth. And he still smokes... in the closet... really, in the car- it's foul. It seems that he's taking euthanasia into his own hands. So, I personally have no clue where my family's Thanksgiving will be.

Why doesn't Kristen have her own blog? I'm not quite sure... I suppose it wouldn't be a bad idea to locate a space for myself, because it's not as if I don't want one or have a lack of things to say...

As you said, you already know that we are coming.
so, turkey for two :) I hope daddy is making his famous crannburry sauce...nothing tops it!

I agree! It is totally the BEST! (Daddy's Cranberry relish). It looks like we will be about 12 for Thanksgiving. I'm not sure about Gramma and Grampa. We went over to their house for dinner last night. I love it Gramma -- invited us to come and when I asked if she thought it might be too much, too soon (only 24 hours out of the hospital) she said, "No, because you are going to cook!" So I got there and made dinner, which I am happy to do. I barely cook at home. (Daddy is turning into a good cook, by the way, sort of fussion-ish. Mixes all sorts of things that I would never think of. I am still sort of stuck on the center of the plate and now that we have almost eliminated meat, that becomes challenging.) Anyway, I made meatloaf, which made DaddyVery Happy!, mashed potatos, broccoli (which made me happy) and applesauce. Not too bad for you. I also made a mushroom gravy, because Gramma and Grampa need gravy! Gramma was in good spirits and was so happy to have heard from various of her grandchildren. It totally made her day when you called. Grampa is more out of it then ever. Or maybe just more into himself. It is sort of sad to watch. I don't know if Gramma and U. Gene can get him to come out of the apartment to come to Thanksgiving. I can't think of the last time he left it. I know it was before Gramma's surgery.

Kristen, I think it is a great idea that you get your own blog-spot. I'm sure Nae will be happy to set it up for you (right, Nae?). Then you won't have to refer to yourself in the third person as if you don't quite belong. :-)
I'm sorry to hear that your grandfather isn't taking care of himself. The last heart attack I heard about was the one in the beginning of Oct, the weekend your mother and Mark came down, bringing the computer for Mensch. Sometimes when I hear that old people are privately doing themselves in, I have to ask why we fight it so hard. Maybe we should listen to what they are trying to tell us. When it comes my turn, let me go. . . no, encourage me to go.

Well, y'all know I'm a no-show.

I'd love to post and tell you just how much we are loving Spain, but I can't figure out how to type my password in on the Spanish keyboard - no joke!!! All the diacritics are in different places and I can't figure out where the one I need is! Anywho - we're loving it!! We're in Barcelona right now, we've seen a bunch of Gaudi stuff - which is like fairy tales come alive! Today we had some amazing paella - best we've ever had! Well, I'll tell more later when I can access my blog!

Feel free to comment all over our blogs until then. I love finding random comments scattered about.

By Thanksgiving I should have the digital camera, so you can look for photos. Now this is assuming a lot.
One - that I actually manage to choose a camera
two - that I order a camera
three - that I figure out how to use the camera
four - that I figure out how to load the photos on the blog
five - that my juno connection is fast enough to handle loading the pictures.
So keep your fingers crossed. I am going shopping (much like I did with Mark and Mara) on Friday. I hope to make up my mind that day and order on line when I get home that day. So it should come in time. And, of course, I need to practice using it so I will have it working for me in Israel. There are several things I have spotted around the house that I want to share with everyone, so that will give me topics to shoot. One snag and nothing to do with photography -- my passport hasn't come yet. It has been just about 4 weeks, but I am starting to get anxious.

GET THE KODAK. (Mark´s comment)

I'm sure your passport will arrive soon. Don't bother being anxious until after Thanksgiving :-)

We LOVE Spain!! I think Rae would totally dig it - especially Barcelona (since that's what we've seen most!). It's beautiful, clean, European, not Israel ... I never realize how much living in a country in such turmoil (ok, ok, wartorn country) stresses me out, even if I don't really see it, until I GET OUT!

I'm sure Rae will also be happy to know I've been discussing success and failure with Mark and our friends. The furthest I've really gotten is that I can point to very few things in my life that I STILL consider as failure - even if it had been a failure in the past, I don't really consider it a failure anymore.

Get the Kodak?!?! I had just about convinced myself that I would NOT get the Kodak. As I read the reviews,it really isn't the best one, even for the dollars. It is easy to use. On the other hand, I would like to think I am trainable. But having a complicated camera that you have to relearn each time you use it is no fun either. I will keep these things in mind when I go shopping tomorrow.

Anyone hear from Nae recently?

Success and Failure?

yeah...we chatted about Gabon:)

also, I am happy to hear that you are talking about success;)

Okay, who chatted with whom about Gabon? and does this have to do with digital cameras, Nae, or success? Yes, let's all focus on Success rather than failure.

Okay, no. The real question is why Gabon?