I’m sorry for your troubles Joyfull, both the car and your plumbing. So is a new set of wheels in the cards for you?

Oh my, I am sorry you are having so many problems. Prayers for you.

Apart from for reasons of health ... I don't like walkin' ... especially in winter.

Especially when you live about 8 miles from the village, and about 16 from the city.

Hitch-hikin' in Feb. isn't considered a viable/acceptable/recommended sport, in these parts, where the temp has been around zero (F.) for several days.

So I'm looking for a replacement vehicle.

ole joyful

Sorry to hear this! Did you have the doctor address the blood and bowel issues, while you were in for the catheter? I admit I cringed when you DIY'd your own catheter fix! I'm glad you have a new one.

Hope you find a replacement vehicle soon!

Sorry about your troubles. More about you than the car. My husband is one of the people repairing and saving. Every time his 94 Villager goes to the service I am telling them to just call Goodwill to pick it up.

Oh my, troubles always come in batches. Hope you have good luck dealing with these.

It sounds like your getting taken care of. ie: a wood fix for a leak, now a new catheter. New is good. Looking for a new-er car. Hopefully you find something soon. You sound pretty spry and involved for 88. Good for you!

Hoping all these troubles stay in this year, and 2018 is trouble free!

Sorry about the car. Glad the plumbing has new tubing and the bowel is behaving.

Best on finding new Wheels. I keep fixing up my older Minivan. Recently my problem was mushy brakes all the way to the floor and then they would kick in. Next time it's going to be kicked to the curb.

Take care of your health and hope you can get yourself a good dependable car. You are a special person oj.

Both of our cars had over 250,000 miles on them but were starting to have some pretty expensive problems. After years with no car payments, I’m not happy about having them again, but I do feel better knowing the chance of a breakdown in subzero weather is much less than it was.

Ole Joyful, Having dependable wheels will be a breath of fresh air for you especially with the demgraphics you describe. You need (and deserve) reliable transportation.

OJ, I always think of you fondly. I am sad to hear that your body is betraying you by not maintaining it's continence.

Why, why, why did you attempt to repair the catheter? Is it because the car was acting up and you weren't able to get into the ER? I do understand your desire to be thrifty and present an environmental low impact, but some things are just important to replace (like this sanitary system). I wish you would/ could just have replacement tubing on hand for situations like this. I understand that the leak was a rare occurrence, but it happened and how neat would it have been to have just replace the downhill part. I suppose they are a single tube and replacing the entry point couldn't be done without medical assist? Is there a model that could contain a splice part that could be replaced by the patient, thinking of a barb fitting (maybe I am thinking too much of an actual plumbing part). I really don't understand the actual mechanics of the catheter only it's function.

Blessings to you and prayers for you that things get better for you soon. You are always so positive, I want the best for you. Is moving into town where the hospital is located a large obstacle for you? Does your son live closer to you in the village now or is he nearer the city?

You had quite a time. I’m sorry for your troubles and hope you can find a replacement vehicle soon.

Sounds like some major issues Ed,be it your car and your body.

Well,nothing lasts forever.

With what your car would need to repair,obviously you are aware that something road worthy and not too expensive is the way to go.

As far as your body goes-well,88 is nothing to sneeze at....you are doing well for your age,in my estimation.

Take care of yourself for what is left of this year...and see you around the table next year!!!

Thank you all for your interest, concern and prayers: I appreciate them.

I have some extra tubing, but the leak was from one of the three tubes at the end of the catheter.

The catheter, one of whose three branches leaked was installed in late November, and it was about five days later that I noticed moisture in the bed - much less than when the link between the catheter and the receptacle bag pulls apart.

It took some investigation to find the drops at the open end of the third exit tube, and I figured that it'd be a good idea to plug it, which I did, in a two-step process, as the small wooden stick had four flat sides and there was a much reduced leakage along them, which the rubber band, wound around about 8 times, fixed. It held or almost a month, till the clot at the entry to the catheter necessitated another visit to emerg. on Thursday. About three weeks ago, while visiting a member of an investment group that I've attended monthly for something like 15 years, and who has known cancer and other health issues, I wondered whether a golf tee would do the job, and he figured that it would, and was going to give me a couple ... but we forgot when I was making my departure

As part of the installation procedure they stick a needle into one of the branches, then blow some air up there, to inflate a small balloon at the top end, to keep the catheter from coming out of its own volition (which helps when you have a long tube to the night bag, that sits on the floor, or you carry with you on occasion, e.g. while dealing with breakfast, and you get it tangled around the leg, or some such other slightly careless action).

During the day, one hooks it up to a bag hung on the leg, held by a couple of elasticized flat strips and I need to drain it once or twice a day. If I let it get too close to full, so that it's so round, so firm and so fully packed, as the old cigarette commercial used to claim, I pretty well have to tear my clothing apart from the waist down, as the pant leg or long john get quite resistant to being dragged up over that bundle. I've been thankful that I've been able to operate it along with my recently-installed long johns.

I am not at all interested in replacing the catheter on my own, thank you very much.

Sincerely yours,

ole joyful

Oh, sorry. I really just didn't know how involved the process was.

Ed, are you posting from the library? Or, your son's place?

Too bad about the car, learn to hot-wire a car and steal one, that you get you taken care of.

((((ED))))

I'm sure the wood in the catheter was not an approved repair, but it made me laugh. That sounds exactly like something my father would have done. He would be 91 now, so he's of the same era and mindset you are, everything could be repaired with enough ingenuity and spare parts.

Please find a reliable car.

We all get pretty concerned about our Joyful, now take care and listen to some good advice here. Cars are a PITA. Hope your son or mechanic can help you find a good one soon.

While I am in awe you are accomplishing all you do in the frigid weather, I do hope you will be able to get a newer car very soon! No one needs to go through what you just went through to get help. I’m sorry for all your troubles lately and hope things improve in 2018!

Oh my, what adventures! I'll add my best wishes to everyone else's.

Please keep walking (in clement weather, or indoors) even if you don't like it! That's what we tell our Dad, who is a few years older than you. Movement is good for you.

I think you & my husband would get along very well. His Ford F150 is 28 years old, & he keeps it going. Wishing you a happy & healthy New Year!

Good grief, O. J.! What an 'adventure' you have had! I really, truly, admire your good humor about it all. Also your ability to adapt and invent. (Fixing a leaky catheter with a piece of wood! ! ? ! ? Oh my!) I'm glad that situation got taken care of, also that your 'plumbing' seems to be working properly now. I pray that it continues to do just that!

Also praying that you will soon find a car that will be dependable, serviceable, and affordable. Oh, and likeable, too. :^) Dependable transportation is both needed and deserved!

A happy, healthy, and prosperous New Year to you!

Rusty

Ack! Double Ack!! (Your personal 'machinery' plus the car trouble.)

Is it time to revisit this whole scenario? Not so long ago we talked about the point at which you'd be wise to rent somewhere closer to civilization. You could use public transportation or taxis rather than buying another vehicle and insuring it. You'd be close to medical care...and people. (We know you are a people person.)

Time to run the numbers, Ed?

I doubt whether bowels, sort of like many teenagers, pay much attention to lectures ... but I'm not of a mind that they might be more amenable to a gentler, softer approach, either.

In any case ... perhaps mine, being at least partly aware of my consternation, made an effort to be more cooperative ... and is behaving admirably.

I'm enjoying my two-day (so far) visit with my son, and am using his computer, much closer to where I eat and sleep than the library, about 10 miles away (and increased time option).

The medical people don't seem to be too concerned about some occasional bleeding - I had quite a bit of radiation to my prostate almost two years ago, and occasional bleeding seems to be one result. Also, I suspect that part of the reason may be that they judge that there may be very little that they can do to repair it.

Son's SUV (Montana) had a kissing situation with a tree/lamppost or some such, a number of months ago, putting a bit of a dint in the bumper and in the hood, such that it doesn't open, and it sat a spell, the battery ran down, so it's been immobile for a while. I proposed having a body shop get the hood open (which involves replacing it) and getting the battery charged, or probably it's frozen and will need to be replaced, on my tab and my borrowing it for a while (he hasn't been using it, anyway). The official scenario was spring, as he needs it in summer for travelling to shows and festivals over a wide area, blowing up balloons into animals, swords, etc. shapes for kids. But I'd figured that I'd use my car until near emission test time at the end of January, to give me time to find a replacement, and give his back soon.

We tried to have CAA tow it to a body shop nearby on a non-emergent basis, for several hours on each of two days over Christmas, without success, and it's to be towed by a private operator on Wednesday, so we hope to have one pair of wheels available near next weekend.

I've thought of renting, but need my credit card, which is at home, so not currently available ... and I think that CAA had some difficulty using it to renew my membership, so it may need to be activated or something.

Also, I'd got a report of my givings to a couple of churches that I relate to, and figured that I had one more Sunday to add some more to it ... but it looks as though that isn't going to happen.

Unfamiliar as I am with the operation of the transit system, I'm trying to assemble a list of routes and times that'll help me get to some of the places that I want to go. They have a route that runs mornings and afternoons, Mon. - Fri. to the village en route home ... but that entails about an 8-mile or so hitch-hike through the last of the journey, but I doubt whether available on Mon., Jan. 1.

I think that I'll make the suburban church tomorrow ... and maybe someone there'll be willing to drive me home.

Good wishes to all of you for a great, fulfilling, blessed New Year!

ole joyfuelled

Your toughness and independence is remarkable, Ed. Thank you for keeping us updated. We are all rooting for you, always. May you have a safe, healthy, and trouble-free 2018!

Oh, my. I can't help but worry for you, Ed, but that's my nature. As I read through your post I was feeling relieved that you are spending this very cold period with your son; is your landlord back on his feet and back in your house?

I agree with Chisue that you might take the time to do some calculations to see whether bus, Lyft, if available, and/or senior transport might make more sense for you. I DO hope you're kidding about walking many miles alone in the cold!! I know you're tough, but I wouldn't sleep at night knowing you are walking here and there.

Glad to know your health is holding steady. It's lovely to hear from you!

Won't walking be hazardous to your external Plumbing. I mean freezing them Or at least won't they make you colder? I think you should find a different form of Transport for now It doesn't sound safe to me :-)

I appreciate that you're able to talk to us more frequently while at your son's place.

Happy New Year and all the best to you and your family.

You are correct. There comes a time when its best to put the repair money toward another vehicle and bid the present one good-bye.

You most likely would benefit in getting a block heater for your next vehicle. The upside: Much easier starts on a cold morning and quicker getting warmth our of the heater. To benefit, You do need to plug the heater in about 1 hour before starting, however, even a half-hour of pre-heat is beneficial; The downside: It could strand you by allowing a poor starting car to go in the morning and then balk later in the day after being parked several hours with no electrical outlet available.

If you should ever become incontinent (heaven forbid), you'll be the first to know!

Thanks for the update. I enjoy reading what you are up to. Gee the catheter sounds like a lot of work! Hope it doesn't leak again. It sure wouldn't hurt to look at some housing options along bus routes or in town, just to see whats around at the very least. They may have buses specifically for seniors. In my Mom's county a senior bus is $2 for anywhere in the county, except for going to the senior center-that is free transportation plus free hot lunch served daily. I'm glad everything is worked out for now, but check out some options,

Got bus tickets to get to church (and back) in the morning - at $1.90 each (gift from son, actually - but he's got veggies over the years).

Time for my beauty sleep.

Have a lovely New Year party!

ole joyful

It was on the Wednesday before New Year that the car had a really hard time starting ... then was noisy, indicating that more work was needed on the exhaust ... and it was missing, only a few of the cylinders operating, so it was somewhat weaker, and I didn't try to drive in fifth gear on Wednesday, as I visited the garage, who said that they were not too busy and to bring it in tomorrow.

I visited son and we had some discussion about getting his car going and my possibly borrowing it for a few days.

It was overnight going to Thursday that the catheter blocked, and in the early hours of the morning I wondered whether I could get through emerg and get to the garage about opening time ... but it turned out that some complicating factors meant that I didn't get going till time to go directly to the garage. Then I took a cab to emerg, and after the new catheter was installed I walked back to the garage ... and they told me that the car couldn't be used - they didn't want me to even drive it home.

The car did me a favour, as I was about 55-45 about replacing, or fixing, it - and it made the decision for me.

I stayed with son till Sunday, walked a few blocks to downtown and caught a bus that dropped me right in front of the church, ten minutes before church time. One of the generous parishioners drove me home.

I spent a quiet New Year's eve, contemplating the year ahead, along with my future.

It was a few degrees above zero F. through most of the week with snow on several days, and a fairly heavy wind through most days of the week.

The neighbour has a small building with a boiler near his house that sends hot water in to heat the house, and the smoke from that fairly high stack has been sent flying over the field at a fairly stiff pace ... which discouraged me from showing my nose outdoors, let alone hitch-hilking. As cars drive through patches of snow on the road and a dusting of snow flies up - the wind sends it scooting into the nearby field at speed (not quite a fast as the car).

My landlord's son lives in the near edge of the city, his truck was parked near the shop on Wednesday, and he agreed to drive me to the city when he went home that afternoon and I was all packed and ready to go at five ... but he didn't show.

I'd visited my neighbour to call my son (as my phone isn't working) to tell him of my expected trip to the city, but the next morning it was pretty windy and cold and I didn't walk the third of a mile or so to warn him that the plan had fallen through: old guys aren't supposed to leave people who care about them hanging like that, you know.

During that week of enforced isolation, with little of consequence to do, I did quite a lot of checking to find my credit card ... without success.

I'm to take oranges and bananas regularly related to one of my medicines, was out of bananas for much of the week and was running really low on orange juice and milk.

On this week Tuesday I was to have a blood test for my urologist, the weather was mild(er!), with no snow forecast and little wind, so I decided to head for town.

Left home just after 2, walked a half mile to a rather busier corner, was soon picked up and the family was going right near where I was to have the blood test and I needed to get some money from the bank to pay the body shop for opening the hood of son's van.

Took a bus to near son's place and we got his van mobile this (Wednesday) afternoon.

Let me assure you, in no uncertain terms, that I was over the moon to have our own wheels under me as I drove the six blocks from the body shop to son's place.

I'm to take son and friend shopping in the morning, to go to the Old Farts' coffee and conversation, after two missed weeks ...

... and the next item on the agenda is to look for serviceable (rather ole) wheels for ole joyful!

Wish me luck.

ole joyful

Good grief, OJ! You do have adventures, don't you. Things that would stop guys half your age, you seem to take it all in stride and in good humor! I want to be like you when I grow up!

Thanks for the update, we do care about you, and definitely good luck with the search for some dependable wheels ! ! !

Rusty

I missed your New Year's greetings. Thank you. Happy New Year to you as well and all the best for the year ahead!

I do admire your pluck ole joyful. despite your Misadventures you continue to go forward.

Sorry landlord's son was a no-show particularly around the holidays that's not fun.

Also very best of luck in finding those perfect for you Wheels. :-)

Happy New Year Joyful !

I want to be just like you someday, and I hope that you get a car you like soon. Please be good to yourself and know we care about you always.

The minister at the village church told me of a guy at a dealership in a town nearby where he used to be minister in whom he has substantial condfidence ... and has some older cars that, being somewhat unpopular, would probably be available at an advantageous price. On Sunday morning after church his wife made the same recommendation.

I made a detour over the parking lot at the suburban church to speak to a lady with whom I've been somewhat friendly to give her good wishes for the New Year ... and she told me that when she upgraded her car recently, she lent her old one to her sister ... and it'll be available for sale when her sister has other plans ... come April.

It felt rather good to be able to get to a gathering at church today for our usual discussion, once or twice during most months of the year, of various issues being dealt with by the monthly magazine related to our denomination.

The "Change oil soon" message on the dash of the van had me planning to buy an oil filter today (I have a jug of oil at home) ... but I hadn't made a list (bad move!) ... and forgot. So I'll have to make a list for Thursday, when I visit the Old Farts' Club. They have a celebration of birthdays monthly and mine was this month, so last Thursday they gave me a cupcake with a candle, and after they'd sung ...

... I held the cupcake at arm's length and blew.

The candle produced smoke.

I figure that if I succeed (which I have, so far) ... they'll figure "Blow-hard" ... and if I don't, it'll be, "So ... it looks as though he bit off more than he could chew!".

Laughter, whichever eventuality.

Life does have some interesting experiences, no?

ole joyfuelled