Dianeham - reading and other stuff
This is a continuation of the topic Dianeham - up late reading.
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2dianeham
I’m working on my project to read a book for every year I’ve been alive. I’m almost done the 50’s just have 1957 left.
1950 The Martian Chronicles
1951 The Day of the Triffids
1952 The Killer Inside Me
1953 Thousand Cranes
1954 The Tree and the Vine
1955 The Chrysalids
1956 A Dram of Poison
1957
1958 A Case of Conscience
1959 The Listening Walls
So far 1950 and 1955 were my favorite.
1950 The Martian Chronicles
1951 The Day of the Triffids
1952 The Killer Inside Me
1953 Thousand Cranes
1954 The Tree and the Vine
1955 The Chrysalids
1956 A Dram of Poison
1957
1958 A Case of Conscience
1959 The Listening Walls
So far 1950 and 1955 were my favorite.
3dianeham
Filled in 1957
1950 The Martian Chronicles
1951 The Day of the Triffids
1952 The Killer Inside Me
1953 Thousand Cranes
1954 The Tree and the Vine
1955 The Chrysalids
1956 A Dram of Poison
1957 Eye in the Sky
1958 A Case of Conscience
1959 The Listening Walls
Starting Family Ties for 1960
1950 The Martian Chronicles
1951 The Day of the Triffids
1952 The Killer Inside Me
1953 Thousand Cranes
1954 The Tree and the Vine
1955 The Chrysalids
1956 A Dram of Poison
1957 Eye in the Sky
1958 A Case of Conscience
1959 The Listening Walls
Starting Family Ties for 1960
4JoeB1934
I was so excited to see you thread on my list this morning! Events have been pretty hectic for the last few months. Seeing your project of reading a book for every year of your life seemed propitious to me as I will be having my 90th birthday this week.
I have been quite reflective recently and I came up with a plan to look back at my life by use of photos of key events, locations of significance, family members and any other objects that bring to mind what I was doing and when.
Missing in my thinking was how to describe the world I was living in as environmental to my life.
Your plan provided me with an idea that goes like this.
While I certainly wasn't reading books at the age of 5 I could find a book to read that was published that year. So, a cover photo of that book would insert into my life history the element of what was it like in life during that time, even if I wasn't aware of it.
I thank you for that and I wish you well in your journey also.
I have been quite reflective recently and I came up with a plan to look back at my life by use of photos of key events, locations of significance, family members and any other objects that bring to mind what I was doing and when.
Missing in my thinking was how to describe the world I was living in as environmental to my life.
Your plan provided me with an idea that goes like this.
While I certainly wasn't reading books at the age of 5 I could find a book to read that was published that year. So, a cover photo of that book would insert into my life history the element of what was it like in life during that time, even if I wasn't aware of it.
I thank you for that and I wish you well in your journey also.
5dianeham
>4 JoeB1934: Thank you, Joe. I’ve been feeling out of step here lately. I’ve been gravitating toward books that entertain me. Life has been pretty overwhelming so I’m trying to keep it light. But I do like having a project when I get some psychic time. You are very inspiring as far as projects go. You always have a focus.
I wonder if you can get pictures of the original covers when you look back at 90 years of books. Covers have changed so much on some of the more popular books - like 1984 among others.
I have a thread in 75 also where I’m mostly posting about life right now. https://www.librarything.com/topic/360539#n8572730
I wonder if you can get pictures of the original covers when you look back at 90 years of books. Covers have changed so much on some of the more popular books - like 1984 among others.
I have a thread in 75 also where I’m mostly posting about life right now. https://www.librarything.com/topic/360539#n8572730
6JoeB1934
>5 dianeham: I have read your thread in 75 and am so sorry to learn about your coping with such serious medical issues. Not being close to everything you need is especially hard.
I feel your anguish and pain because I lost Cynthia, my wife of almost 68 years of marriage on June 22. Cynthia was blessed by the rapidity of her decline, even though she had that medical triumvirate of diabetes, kidney and heart problems. Up until about 1 month prior she seemed to be coping reasonably well and then a rapid decline came.
My plans outlined in a very limited way in >5 dianeham: came about after she left us.
I feel your anguish and pain because I lost Cynthia, my wife of almost 68 years of marriage on June 22. Cynthia was blessed by the rapidity of her decline, even though she had that medical triumvirate of diabetes, kidney and heart problems. Up until about 1 month prior she seemed to be coping reasonably well and then a rapid decline came.
My plans outlined in a very limited way in >5 dianeham: came about after she left us.
7labfs39
All reading is good, Diane. Please don't feel like you have to read a certain type of book to hang out in Club Read. I've had years when reading at all was a challenge, and when I did it was most likely romantic suspense. Not my usual fare, but it got me through. Hope Michael is doing okay. I'll stop by your 75 thread once I'm caught up here.
9vancouverdeb
>8 dianeham: I am sorry life is so hard, Diane. Take care. I think of you and Micheal every day. Any book is a good book. TV is good. What ever cheers you a bit, or gives your mind a break.
10dianeham
>7 labfs39: >9 vancouverdeb: hi you two.
I started a book of Lispector short stories but didn’t get more than a few pages. I am really not a short story person. There are 5 books in my currently reading list but I’m not reading any of them. I started reading The Andromeda Strain last night. I can use that for my 1969 book. I remember reading it when it first came out. I was also very fond of the movie. Our friend Joe who drives us places was listening to Prey in his car yesterday.
I started a book of Lispector short stories but didn’t get more than a few pages. I am really not a short story person. There are 5 books in my currently reading list but I’m not reading any of them. I started reading The Andromeda Strain last night. I can use that for my 1969 book. I remember reading it when it first came out. I was also very fond of the movie. Our friend Joe who drives us places was listening to Prey in his car yesterday.
11dianeham
I haven’t posted in here in a long time. I’m posting for the people who don’t read my topic in 75.
My husband had stage 4 lung cancer with bone metastasis. First in his tibia which they fixed and then in his spine. They were unable to control the terrible pain he was in. He hadn’t eaten in many weeks. He went into hospice on 10/23 and passed away on 11/4.
My husband had stage 4 lung cancer with bone metastasis. First in his tibia which they fixed and then in his spine. They were unable to control the terrible pain he was in. He hadn’t eaten in many weeks. He went into hospice on 10/23 and passed away on 11/4.
14WelshBookworm
My deepest condolences Diane. Thank you for taking the time to let us know. Keeping you in my thoughts.
15AnnieMod
>11 dianeham: I am so sorry :( Hugs!
16FlorenceArt
I am so sorry Diane.
19dianeham
Thank you all. I spent 4 days last week - over thanksgiving- at my nephew’s. He has a 1 year old baby who was sick while I was there. Now I’m home and I’m sick. It’s mainly in my chest - coughing, body aches, etc.
My health insurance has been cut off because it was through my husband’s retirement plan. I should be working on finding new insurance but don’t feel up to it.
The past 2 days I’ve been watching a tv series called FROM. Eventually I’ll probably start reading again.
A few weeks ago I ended up in the hospital. The left side of my body was numb for a short time so they thought I had TIAs. I was also unsteady and fell a few times. Those symptoms are gone now.
My health insurance has been cut off because it was through my husband’s retirement plan. I should be working on finding new insurance but don’t feel up to it.
The past 2 days I’ve been watching a tv series called FROM. Eventually I’ll probably start reading again.
A few weeks ago I ended up in the hospital. The left side of my body was numb for a short time so they thought I had TIAs. I was also unsteady and fell a few times. Those symptoms are gone now.
20WelshBookworm
>19 dianeham: That sounds scary! Please don't delay too long getting health insurance. Perhaps there is someone who could help you?
21kjuliff
>20 WelshBookworm: Ditto on insurance. I have Medicare with the highest level supplementary insurance and am finding it hard to make appointments. Last week my opthmologist canceled an appointment I’d made 6 months ago and I changed it - I had to - to tomorrow. I am too sick to go tomorrow so called and the next appointment is not till March. I’ve been a patient there since first diagnosed with the disease in 2017.
I asked the customer service rep what’s going on, I’m meant to have 6 monthly checkups. She said “I dunno everything is changing now” .
I asked the customer service rep what’s going on, I’m meant to have 6 monthly checkups. She said “I dunno everything is changing now” .
22kjuliff
Did you sort out health insurance? Surely they give you some months to find another plan. Can you get someone in your state to help?
26dianeham
>25 rachbxl: thank you. Flu turned into bronchitis but I have meds for it.
27rv1988
I hope you're feeling better, and I'm so sorry for your loss: condolences, and best wishes for your health.
32dianeham
Youse guyz! Thanks. My life has changed so much this past year in so many ways. I’ll post more later. I’m still processing.
33labfs39
I'm glad you are feeling better today, Diane. Will you be going to your nephew's house on Christmas?
34rocketjk
So sorry to hear of your husband's passing and your other life difficulties. I'm happy to see that you're beginning to feel better.
35AlisonY
Glad to see you back posting, Diane. Hopefully it will bring some positive distraction every now and again.
36dianeham
>33 labfs39: Yes, going to nephew’s - 12/22 to 12/26. Looking forward to it. I am so fond of him, his wife and their baby. And becoming fond of their bunny too.
37dianeham
>34 rocketjk: thank you, Jerry.
>and Alison
There are a couple of "official" things that I should be doing and I’m procrastinating. No government agency I call answers the phone. SSA told me that they will talk to me on 2/3/2025! And the State of NJ won’t talk at all - unless I call at 8am and even then they simply told me to follow directions in a snail mail they sent me. I have to do something with the County too but haven’t called them.
>and Alison
There are a couple of "official" things that I should be doing and I’m procrastinating. No government agency I call answers the phone. SSA told me that they will talk to me on 2/3/2025! And the State of NJ won’t talk at all - unless I call at 8am and even then they simply told me to follow directions in a snail mail they sent me. I have to do something with the County too but haven’t called them.
38JoeB1934
>37 dianeham: Having my spouse, Cynthia on June 22 I have gone through the same set of questions, searching for answers. One excellent outline of what you need to do from AARP exists at this link:
https://www.aarp.org/home-family/friends-family/info-2020/when-loved-one-dies-ch...
Based on my experience, here are the steps I found to be needed:
(1) Search for an existing will and have a lawyer advise you.
(2) In my case we couldn't find the very old one. Colorado has online instructions of what to do in such a case, which is called PROBATE
(3) It is critical that you get quite a number of official copies of the death certificate. The funeral operator would order those for you.
(4) Contact any creditors, or banks that have an account for your spouse. Offer to send a copy of the OFFICIAL death certificate if they need one.
(5) It is VERY important to note that any debts owed by your spouse, like a credit card, are NOT your responsibility to pay. They must be paid by his personal estate assets.
(6) Contact Social Security on the web to find out what your social security payment will be monthly. This depends a lot on their rules about who earned what during his and your lives. You can establish an account on their web site if you don't have one yet, as long as you have been receiving Social Security.
This can be quite daunting, and my final advice is to engage a family member to help you along the way. My daughters did a lot of that for me.
Don't worry about deadlines for these steps. I found even dealing with creditors has taken months. The most important step is getting your monthly Social Security payment as soon as possible.
Take good care of yourself,
Joe B
https://www.aarp.org/home-family/friends-family/info-2020/when-loved-one-dies-ch...
Based on my experience, here are the steps I found to be needed:
(1) Search for an existing will and have a lawyer advise you.
(2) In my case we couldn't find the very old one. Colorado has online instructions of what to do in such a case, which is called PROBATE
(3) It is critical that you get quite a number of official copies of the death certificate. The funeral operator would order those for you.
(4) Contact any creditors, or banks that have an account for your spouse. Offer to send a copy of the OFFICIAL death certificate if they need one.
(5) It is VERY important to note that any debts owed by your spouse, like a credit card, are NOT your responsibility to pay. They must be paid by his personal estate assets.
(6) Contact Social Security on the web to find out what your social security payment will be monthly. This depends a lot on their rules about who earned what during his and your lives. You can establish an account on their web site if you don't have one yet, as long as you have been receiving Social Security.
This can be quite daunting, and my final advice is to engage a family member to help you along the way. My daughters did a lot of that for me.
Don't worry about deadlines for these steps. I found even dealing with creditors has taken months. The most important step is getting your monthly Social Security payment as soon as possible.
Take good care of yourself,
Joe B
39markon
Glad you're feeling better, and I'm so sorry for your loss Diane. Like Joe says, take care of yourself.
40dianeham
>38 JoeB1934: thanks Joe. I have a SS online account but couldn’t do any of this on there. I had to call them and wait 3 hours for them to call be back just to give me an appointment to talk to them on the phone in February. My husband’s monthly payment was $500 more than mine a month so they can switch me to that but I have to wait until Feb. I also have to do something with the county surrogate.
42JoeB1934
>40 dianeham: That sounds like you are doing very well with this difficult situation. Unfortunately, the wheels of government can seem uncooperative at times. I really appreciate your sharing your life with us.
43JoeB1934
>40 dianeham: I re-read your message, and I wanted to let you know what I learned about spousal death with regard to annual payments. I was the major beneficiary of SS and when Cynthia died, I lost all of her monthly payment but mine stayed the same.
When the major earner, like your husband, dies the spouse retains her monthly payment and gets a portion of the husbands payment. I don't know the rules about how much of his monthly you will get but you don't lose your own.
When the major earner, like your husband, dies the spouse retains her monthly payment and gets a portion of the husbands payment. I don't know the rules about how much of his monthly you will get but you don't lose your own.
