For some reason, I have found that when I have a period of peace, quiet, and routine that I can expect a similar period of chaos to arrive in the near future. Usually the chaos that comes is more than a little disruptive and what makes it chaos is that it comes from multiple directions all at once. For instance, my life is pretty busy with taking care of Lynn and working full time. However, in the past month, my parents have moved in because my 82 year old Mom was diagnosed with ovarian cancer and needed help when she started chemotherapy; my mother-in-law was admitted to the hospital for excessive bleeding after a colonoscopy; my father-in-law fell and is in the hospital to rule out any broken bones; my son-in-law was in a wreck and totaled his truck (fortunately no injury); one of my four employees resigned; we received notice of a routine government audit at work that is very time consuming (and of course fell under the duties of the person who resigned two weeks before the notice came in so now it falls to me to figure out what to do); another of my employees may be facing medical problems; Lynn’s assistant who stays with him when I have to go into work can’t help because her husband has been in the ICU and last but not least, it’s Thanksgiving with Christmas right behind. Talk about chaos!!!
As a caregiver, one of my “bags of tricks” is the ability to adapt and be flexible; plus I never throw anything away that might be used to “fix” something later. With that principle in mind, I have a medical supply area and an equipment area of my house to help me address any mishaps to Lynn or to my family members. Knowing that chemo has multiple side effects many of which result in extreme fatigue and weakness, I’ve set up Mom and Dad’s room with all my discarded support equipment from Lynn’s early days with MS that were geared toward preventing falls and conserving energy. Also, rather than being her caregiver, I direct Mom’s care and let Dad do the actual hands-on as much as possible. That practice frees up my time for Lynn and allows Dad to continue to care for Mom.
Most of Lynn’s Mom and Step-Father concerns are taken care of by his sister; however, one of our main concerns for them is if they fall and can’t get help. His Step-Dad is legally blind now and his Mom has a neurological condition that results in very limited strength so if he falls, she can’t help and if she falls, he would have difficulty determining how to help her as well. Therefore, we have bought them emergency alert buttons to wear so they will have access to help when no one is around. By knowing they can get help, Lynn is not as anxious about their welfare or as frustrated in not being able to check on them. If he’s less anxious, then his demands on me are less as well.
With work heating up and becoming more demanding, I’ll need to go into the office more often. Therefore, I’m working on identifying other resources to stay with Lynn while I’m away. Having Mom and Dad here is an unexpected help in that regard in that my brother and his wife are able to come help with Mom and Dad and have offered to stay with Lynn occasionally, as well, if I need to go into the office and Lynn’s assistant is still not available.
My best strategy for dealing with chaos though is “don’t sweat the small stuff.” I do just enough cooking and cleaning to meet essential needs. I don’t push myself to attend events that aren’t essential or take on projects that deplete my energy level. I am giving myself permission to stop work at a decent hour and using paid leave to make up work hours so I can get sufficient sleep to have the energy needed to keep going every day.
One of my most useful strategies for survival is staying in the moment. I focus on what I have to take care of now and when I start thinking of ALL I HAVE TO DO, I stop, take a deep breath, and force my thoughts to the here and now. I’m a worrier by nature and a planner by instinct so it’s sometimes a struggle to be in the here and now but I’ve really working on focusing my attention in that direction. It’s amazing how it helps.
Oh, and one more survival trick…..humor with prayer. After a while when every phone call brings one more crisis, after I hang up the phone, I just have to laugh at how ridiculous it’s all becoming. It’s like a sitcom that you watch just knowing all those things can’t happen to one person all at the same time. I just have to laugh it off and pray for peace of spirit. The laughter releases the tension and the prayers lift the burden onto shoulders that are much stronger than my own. I use my faith to gain strength and know I’m not alone in the struggles and that knowledge carries me though. It’s just like that poem about Footprints. These are the times of my life when I’m carried in Jesus’ arms because I’m too tired to carry the burden myself. Of all my strategies for survival, this one works the best.
Much like Mumbai’s famous fast and slow locals, the proposed bullet train to Ahmedabad will have a slightly slower service that will make multiple halts. Still, it will whisk passengers from Bandra Kurla Complex to Thane in just 10 minutes and to Virar in 24 minutes.
The estimated travel time, the number and location of the stops, and other crucial aspects of the high-speed rail ride between Mumbai and Ahmedabad have been listed in the project’s operations plan.
According to the document, the Railway Board wants two bullet train services on the 508-km corridor: a ‘Rapid Train’ from BKC with only three stops (Surat, Vadodara, Ahmedabad) and another with 10 halts (Thane, Virar, Boisar, Vapi, Bilimora, Surat, Bharuch, Vadodara, Anand, Ahmedabad). Both the services will culminate in Sabarmati near Ahmedabad.
The ‘Rapid Train’ will take 2 hours and seven minutes to reach Sabarmati, while the slower service will complete the journey in 2 hours and 58 minutes.
The bullet train is Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s pet project and route surveys, including soil testing on the undersea section, have already begun. The railway planners have set the ambitious targets of starting the construction next year and completing the work by 2023.
The project is estimated to cost over Rs 97,630 crore, 81 per cent of which will be covered by a loan from Japan, which is helping India to start bullet trains. Most part of the 508-kmlong corridor will be elevated tracks. The network will also have a 7-km undersea section, the first in the country, between Thane and Virar.
“The Railway Board plans to introduce 35 daily bullet train services in each direction. These include three services every hour in each direction during peak hours and two services during off-peak ones,” an official on the Board said. “We expect around 36,000 daily users once the services start in 2023. The number should go up to 1.86 lakh by 2053.”
The bullet trains will have business and standard sections with 2x2 and 2x3 seating configuration, respectively. The planners are also exploring the option of adding a convenience class with 3x3 seating.
The geo-technical surveys on the route began in January and they include aerial inspections conducted from a helicopter fitted with a highresolution camera and other sophisticated devices. Officials have also been drilling near Thane to determine the soil and rock conditions for the 7-km undersea stretch of the high-speed rail corridor.
Twenty-one km of the corridor will be underground. The section will run under the Trans-Harbour Thane-Vashi line and emerge before Dativali, where the bullet train terminal for Thane has been planned.
“We will try our best to meet the target of 2023,” said Anil Kumar Saxena, additional director general (public relations), Railway Board.
Florida is a perennial crowd pleaser when it comes to family holidays. Many of us dream of taking our children to see Mickey and Minnie. If you’re planning a holiday to Florida and you’re desperate to cram everything in, here is a guide to the best attractions on offer.
There’s no other place to start when it comes to drawing up a Florida holiday itinerary. Disney is expanding on a constant basis, and you may well need a few days to appreciate all the different parks. Stay on site to take advantage of themed rooms and character visits. Or choose a hotel nearby, which offers free shuttles. Once you’ve explored the Magic Kingdom, head over to Epcot and Animal Kingdom. If you fancy a splash around, don’t forget your swimwear. You’ll enjoy hours of fun at Typhoon Lagoon and Blizzard Beach.
Have you ever dreamed of starring in your own movie or following in the footsteps of your favourite superheroes? Universal Studios makes dreams a reality. Enjoy the thrills and spills of the roller coasters and rides and get your photo taken with Harry Potter or Shrek. Cause havoc with the Minions and challenge your might against the Transformers. Prolong the fun and book a hotel nearby. You can find some great places to stay just minutes away from the park if you check out HotWire deals.
America’s prime water park, Wet ‘n’ Wild has been enthralling visitors for more than thirty years. With rides and slides suitable for all ages, this is a fantastic family day out. Brave the rapids, navigate the doughnut trail or test your nerves with some of the world’s biggest slides. If you have young children, there are plenty of low-risk activities and baby pools.
Sea World is a fun-packed tribute to the magical creatures that live under the sea. There are rides aplenty and live dolphin and sea lion shows. Visit the penguin colony and watch these inquisitive animals scuttling and splashing around. Watch the orca’s tossing and turning in the water and don’t forget your souvenir photos.
Gatorland is a must for wildlife enthusiasts. At this brightly-coloured, welcoming theme park, you can expect to see an impressive collection of alligators. It’s also home to some rare breeds of crocodile. You can also spot countless bird species. Enjoy interactive displays and get up close and personal with the animals. Set your pulse racing with a trip along the Screamin’ Gator Zip Line. Head down to the swamp for a unique encounter with the alligators after dark and have your photograph taken holding a baby gator.
You may be craving some downtime after an action-packed week of discovering Orlando’s theme parks. Head to the Keys for some rest and relaxation. Kick back in the sun and enjoy fishing, walking and sailing. Drive south to experience the stunning natural beauty of the Everglades and keep your eyes peeled for alligators.
It can be difficult to know where to begin when planning a trip to Florida. Do your research, make some plans and prepare for the best holiday ever!