how about drinking?
Comments
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Cami, for the most part we are home until March, then it's another trade show. Altho we will go somewhere during Xmas, maybe down to Tucson or Old Tombstone.
NM, I will try and be more aware when out around others, since I don't do flu shots, and keep my fingers crossed! I remember you talking about Dicks wife and the Alzheimer's, I guess I didn't realize or see where she had passed.
Hey Sue, so happy to see you and glad that the brain is NED. Still sucks that you have to do double MX. Beings that you already had implants, it might not be too big a deal to do the recon? And don't worry about catching up.
Jazzy, I will take a look at the website for Harry and David.
Sandy, I always found it so odd to "fry" a good steak. I did it once, and it was horrible. However, I did not use my cast iron skillet, I guess that's the secret?
NM, so sorry about you getting let go. It's ok, and things happen for a reason….right? Mixed feelings are ok. LOL on the DOTD, "Just Got Fired".
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I had to stop right now for SusyQ---Yahoo Miss SusyQ NED, prayers shining thru. Boy I think Recon is a big and personal issue good luck with whatever you decide. Pretend there re streamers and balloons, I still can't figure out how to do pics.
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I'm bock!!!
Lori I type so slowly and keys stick so I'm on here forever LOL, I get pushed in the pewl nd I push too, but now it;s cold out here and we had snow last nite. And now my puter doesn't always take me to the next post to read, then I miss some, ooohhh confusing to me.
NM I missed the part where u were laid off. But like Jazzy said u re now independent nd I honestly think they missed out, but as long as ur OK with it fine--uve been taking on a lot anyway.
All of u have amazing work ethics, unbelievable to me, I've told u manytimes I never did---this is the only time that I actually have them---My mom would be proud.
Sandy I have to tell u, I enjoy reading ur personal DOTD, there are so many I'm not familiar with and I actually look them up just for fun. I always enjoyed wine, well not lately, but it was my drink of choice for many years. And every so often I want a glass but I think of all these meds so I don't, UGH.
Ill I'm glad u pooped in u must be doing well and it great for you.
Karen how are u doing, I keep hoping it gets easier for you. But I always think when I don't see u here u must not be feeling well. I'm so sorry.
Lori u remember the leg thing too, ugh it was really horrible the way I remember it. How is ur DD doing??? U don't hear on the news things anymore.
Jazzy u always sound up and feeling good. I think cuz ur so active that really helps everything. And u have so many interesting things to do plus friends that enjoy them too.
Oh we had a business "meeting" at my house yesterday--some new stuff for me, well Jodie always tells me to write things down, of course I didn't, now I don't remember everything maybe it will come back to me, he gives me easy stuff but.........I can't even ask for a raise cuz now he comes during the month and gives me extra money or a gift card so I can shop, even if I got raise he's giving me more this way, he's so good. Plus the guys are easy to look at, like my own live calendar, and u know I tell them that.
Hoping everyone has a good day.
LUBS U ALL
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Good morning friends- I had a fabulous dinner with my friend last night, some great food, wine and conversation. She is doing well, some interesting things too! We both had the Prix Fixe dinner last night (3 courses with three wine pairings) and enjoyed a delicious beet and goat cheese salad, fabulous seafood pasta, and a ginger bread cake with orange marscapone cheese for desert. YUM! The wine pairings include a Viognier, Federalist Chardonnay and a Ruffino Proscecco for desert. All that for $25, smokin' deal. I brought home half the pasta and will have the rest for dinner tonight.
Mema- I had missed your post about the NED with the brain MRI (we may have been in the pewl at the same time yesterday). Such great news sista! Let us know when your surgery is so we can be in your pocket that day. I think there are some good success stories here about recon and others who can advise you of anything else you need to be aware of. There are several kinds of recon, so I have learned. I think it is a very personal decision for each woman and know you will find the right decision for you.
Cami- I can teach you how to do pic postings. Will PM you.
Goldie- glad you have some places to think about for Xmas. I have never been to Old Tombstone, it sounds fun. Might need to google that one!
NM- I am all about the graceful exit in any situation. I have also worked each lay off situation for cash (the consolation prize as I call it), but with contract work, I just move on and am sure I can leave them in a good place as best as I can or be there until they find a replacement. Being of service is the focus you need to have when you are a self employed person, but you have to really take care of yourself. Even if it was not the right thing, dropping off your badge and info and thanking them for the opportunity. People do talk so you want them to perceive you as professional even if the work does not work out. And good to remind yourself your life is not dependent on this job either!
Chi- wow about that law firm using your name on their letterhead. I have had people try to use my credentials under their own name to posture sales. With my earlier collaboration this year, I was one of two consulting groups teaming together with another software group to sell a new optimization solution. I had agreed to sub through the larger firm and they kept telling me they were going to tell everyone they were bringing me to the table for the work. I told him I was bringing myself to the table, I had just agreed to sub through them for simplicity. I was the project designer for this beta (never done before) project and the other guys were really sales people. Anyways, the other consulting group tried to force me in to signing a bad contract and my atty said to not do it. No work has ever been sold for this after a year and I drifted away. I also found out from my client who sponsored the beta that the solution needs a lot more R&D to be ready. My new collaboration firm is much more reasonable and we look forward to new projects together soon.
Got to get to my day and wishing all of you a peaceful Thursday. I am thinking of Hsant knowing she is in the LA area and hope she is safe.
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Goldie,
Yeah I think I'll leave the outdoor play with the DD to others, like her soon to be step dad. I can't remember why they said steroids either. Lol! But I won't be getting neulasta if I do the treatments weekly with Taxol, versus every two or three weeks because they will be smaller doses. But I'm wondering about the eyebrow. Only hair besides eyelashes that are intact. I was recommended to take clariton specifically because there was an ingredient in it that countered bone pain. I think the generic has it too as that is what we buy, but I still get some of the rubbery feeling in the legs.
Camillegal,
Thank you! I feel like I did make a huge accomplishment, self published or not. I'm so looking forward to finishing the second, but I've lost my ability to talk with any intelligence lately. Fumbling over words when I'm agitated to a worse degree than is normal. Hello chemo brain.
I love the cookie thing too as the memories with my mom that she made. So I'm excited to create these memories with my cutie pie.
My feet were starting to have pains in them after second treatment. Balls and heels, but not what I think is neuropathy. But you never know. I hope that this ends soon for her.
The crazy fam is the one that makes life fun, though, right?
NM,
I just read that on facebook on the flu. What a waste putting my daughter through that. You would think they would figure that out before they push it onto everyone to take it. Can't they run tests? I don't have a medical background, but super frustrating with a 5 year old in the house. We both had the shot, but if it's only 10% what good is that. The last time she took it was worthless too and she got the flu. I didn't give it to her last year and now this same thing happens again when I get it for her. Not sure if I will continue to do this if the odds of it actually working are slim to none.
I remember making clay statues with my mom from a homemade dough that we would bake and paint. That was so much fun. Want to do that with Melina next week if my mom gets me the recipe and tells me the right paints.
I've had the same experience years ago and it's so disheartening and messes with your head, but one thing I learned is that some companies just don't care about policy or protocol, like letting you in on not doing well. I had a 3 month review where I could do no wrong and suddenly 2 months later I was the worst employee ever…huh? It was bizarre.
Jazzy,
I'm feeling okay, very tired though and stressing from the bombardment of politics that enrage me on facebook. I so want to shut it all down, but I've had enough with all of the stuff out there. Not good for my stress I'm guessing. Lol! Sounds like a fun busy day for you.
Enjoy!I have some things to do around here, that won't include the news, but maybe rest and wrapping presents since my mom is keeping my DD over night. Have a lovely Thursday!
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Claritin is the brand name of the antihistamine loratidine--which is the only active ingredient in the pill. Doctors don't know why loratidine works on bone pain while other antihistamines in that class (e.g.,Zyrtec/cetirizine and Allegra/fexofenidene) don't. Get the cheapest store brand generic you can find. The rubbery legs are probably fatigue and mild neuropathy, par for the course.
Flu vax may prevent only 18% (not 10%--don't take Facebook as gospel) of this season's flu virus strains, but if you catch a different strain it does make the symptoms milder and duration shorter (not unlike the Zostavax shingles vaccine does w/regard to shingles even if you catch it). I trust Consumer Reports much more than Facebook (which is unmoderated and has no filter to determine a post's validity--no better than plain ol' Dr. Google). It also builds "herd immunity" and makes it less likely that the viruses would spread through a community. It is the responsible thing to do. Claims that it causes flu or autism are bullshit. And as to the preservative thimerosal, there are versions without it--ask for them if you think you're sensitive to mercury. Far worse to watch someone hospitalized (or worse) with flu & its complications than to "put them through" vaccination. As to the shingles vax, there's a new one out there called Shingrix--that is 98% effective (Zostavax is only 50-60% effective). Shingrix is FDA-recommended for those over 50 (Zostavax was for 60+), even those previously given Zostavax. Downside is that it's pricey, requires 2 doses a few months apart, and might not be covered by all insurance plans. But shingles sucks a helluva lot worse.
The law firm didn't "use my name" on its letterhead or bldg. directory--it was a "courtesy" they extended to all associates regardless of the duration of their tenure. No way it would have boosted business: this was 1975, when I was a green-as-grass 24-yr. old newly minted lawyer with no ties to the Seattle establishment and thus not poised to bring in clients. But it'd have been nice if they had told me I was only a temp, so I could have gotten a heads-up to find a successor-job. (Perhaps if I were male, not Jewish, or better-"connected," they'd have bitten the bullet and paid the agency commission and kept me on. But that's water under the bridge).
Lori, pan-searing is not "frying," especially because there's no added oil or fat. The key is using a cast-iron skillet preheated to screaming hot: cast iron comes up to temp slowly, but retains heat much longer and more evenly than, say stainless steel (bare or nonstick) or aluminum. A well-seasoned cast iron pan will develop its own nonstick patina. The very high heat of the pan gives a good, even sear--as does flipping the steak at 2-min. intervals until it reaches your desired degree of doneness (some chefs rely on how the meat feels when they gently press on it, but I use an instant digital thermometer). The long and even heat retention helps the interior cook uniformly. Some people use a cast-iron "grill" pan whose ridges mimic a flame-grill's grates and create grill marks without dripping the meat's juices & fats on to an open flame and causing flareups.
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Dont get me wrong, I'm all on board for vaccines. This one just is seemingly worthless at this point to me. I never had it as a kid, but it doesn't mean it will do terrible things. I don't think that by any means. Just seems hard to deal with a kid that fights tooth and nail not to get the shot. It is truly heart breaking to watch.
Yeah, I try to look up things on facebook too. Especially about politics. Sometimes it's after the fact and I have egg on my face, but I own it.
I also have not experienced the bone pain, so the clariton must work. I do love my doctors. I feel I have a nice team that is very knowledgeable and gets back to me quickly and with a great attitude. Makes a terrible situation, better.
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Karen- glad you are doing okay and fatigue is and unfortunate part of the treatment ride. It is hard to explain the fatigue to others too because it is not like the tired you get when you have not had enough sleep, etc. I had really bad fatigue after my first round of internal rads and was working and struggling. A former friend from another time and place kept telling me I was depressed and needed therapy. Eye roll. Well, anyways I told her that the fatigue was from cancer treatment and then moved on. Just get as much rest as you can. I know not easy with a little one either.
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Jazzy,
I hear the rads are the worst for fatigue, so I'm trying to buck up as I sense it could be worse than it is now and it will get there when I start the RADS.
Too bad your former friend didn't understand or didn't try. Watching my brother go through this seemed different. He didn't seem as tired, but he was always more tired then most his whole life.
Now that I think about it though, he was very tired at the family reunion, which I believe happened after the RADS ended.Right now I'm two days out from round three, my taste and tongue feel weird, my back hurts and super tired. But then the steroids are done tomorrow, so Friday will probably turn ugly for a couple of days.
So I will definitely rest tomorrow as much as I can since I did get a few things accomplished. Very happy about that.
Well I am going to play a little Oregon Trail with the Fiance (the new card version) and then crash out for the night.
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Karen- it is hard to know how you will feel through each part of treatment. I was told with internal rads I would not have fatigue as much as with external, but did find the first go around was really exhausting. The second time went better. Just focus on the current treatment and know you will get through each one and you will feel different during and after each one.
The one thing I was least prepared for was how other people would react to my diagnosis. A couple people really could not deal with it and well, through time and space, relationships changed. Some became closer, others just were there when I needed them, some drifted away or I from them.
I learn a lot about myself and other people each time I go through anything major in life. We live, we learn, we grow.
Keep taking good care of yourself friend.
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Good Morning Ladies,
Well my phone finished bout 11pm last nite and started at 5am this morning---FURNACES, it's cold outside and my computer froze hahaha, So I improvised Everything got done tho.
Karen I'm so glad u share with us, there are so many ladies here with good advice to maybe help, even a little. I know I told my DD to use only plastic utensils, it seems to help sometimes with that weird feeling and taste, don't know why tho. Leslie has been soaking her feet in Epsom salt, seems to help little bit anyway. Joey has a cold now so he can't help, and I'm useless so Marty is really doing double time, but so far no complaining.
OK my cousin's adventure. I call my cousin <Joanne> every morning to see what's happening and how she's feeling, extremely weak. So yesterday I called and she said she was home---holy chit. Then she tells me the afternoon before she was taken to rehab, and said it wasn't fit for any one and it smelled. So she calld her husband and said come and get me and he did. Now she's in a mess, nothing is ready for her nd she can't walk at all. <weak>. She's so stubborn so I told her everything she needed to help, but she really needs therapy---if I lived close enough I would go and teach her what to do, well if I was also strong enough LOL I.m pretty sure there are repercussions from medicare when u just walk out, well carried out, I knew she would do something like this---oy vey. But there is a party for her GGS this weekend and she DID say she PROBABLY won't make it. She's crazy I told you.
My phones are crazy now, this is the longest time it hs taken me to write this post, so I'd better get going.
LUBS U ALL
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Good Morning, Loungettes! Happy Freid-day Friday! Yesterday was a very interesting work day for me. When I took my ID badge and key in to the Clinic the director wasn't working, so I took them to the receptionist--I'm not going to leave stuff like that in a mailbox, I wanted to give them directly to a person. The receptionist was visibly surprised when I told her I had been let go. She didn't say anything, and there was another nurse in the office at the time, so no chance to talk, but I felt a bit better knowing that I wasn't the only one surprised by this turn of events. Then at the Hospice office I was chatting with one of the Clinical Managers. The census is a bit low right now, not unusual for Hospice this time of year, but they currently plan to keep using us Per Diem nurses (I think there are 5 or 6 of us now) regularly. This will let the newer full time nurses build up their caseloads more gradually, which makes it a lot easier to manage. Also, the area that I was covering by myself is going to be divided into 3, yes THREE, territories, due to the driving time! There are 2 new nurses taking over 2 areas, still have an open position for the third area. So for the time being, I am going to be regularly going to that 3rd area, which is where I've been going right along. I remember arguing with this same Clinical Manager that the entire area was too much for one nurse, that it really needed at least 2 nurses, and the one odd ball nursing home 60 miles out beyond that area needed to be looked at separately and being told that the driving wasn't any more than anyone else was doing! All I can do is shake my head and be happy that other nurses are going to get reasonable geographic areas to cover. It's nice to see some good coming out of all my misery and complaining and ultimately cutting back.
Goldie--Yeah, now I can say I've been fired from a job. I suppose everyone has to have that experience at some point in their working career. I still feel a little funny about it, but find I can brush it off pretty easily. And I've learned to make sure that I know what the boss expects up front. I cook steak in my cast iron fry pan all the time and love it, I think the cast iron does make a difference.
Cammy--I just got the let go call Tuesday evening, so this is still brand new news. I think you may be right that I had taken on too much, I was beginning to worry about how to juggle all 3 positions once classes started being scheduled, so this may be God's way of fixing that for me. Like I've said, I have mixed feelings, but I am trusting that it will all work out for the best. It would make more sense to focus on the teaching job as that has potential for advancement. I am giggling at the idea of you having your own personal hunk-of-the-month coming in to visit you! And your boss treats you so very well.
Jazzy--Wow, that dinner/pairings for $25 is a real steal! Sounds like it was very yummy, too. I think I pulled off the graceful departure thing as best as could be. The director wasn't working yesterday so I dropped them off with the receptionist, who was surprised to hear the news, told her how much I enjoyed working with her, reassured her that the payroll mix up was not an issue for me (my time didn't get put in the system last week), exchanged social niceties with the nurse that was working (I hadn't met her yet) and left with a smile and humming a Christmas carol. I don't think there's any way to work getting fired for a cash consolation prize, but it's a fun idea to think about!
Karen--Loratadine is the chemical ingredient of Claritin, and loratadine has been knows amongst us Aromatase Inhibitor uses to help block bone aches and pain from that class of drug. Not surprised it's being recommended for chemo and neulasta related bone pain, too. The pain in your feet probably IS neuropathy, please mention it to your Med Onc before your next treatment, you may need a dosage adjustment to keep it from becoming a permanent problem.
The flu shot thing is becoming more and more controversial over time. At best flu shots are 40% to 60% effective, which, for any other immunization would not be considered effective enough to qualify for approval. The problem is that manufacturing of the flu vaccine needs to be done before the flu season starts, so the CDC and FDA make their best guesses about which specific flu strains might be circulating next season, compare that to what strains are commercially available and decide which 3 (trivalent vaccines) or 4 (quadrivalent vaccines) to use.The second big problem is what's called "antigenic drift" which is the subtle changes in the virus that happens as it circulates, so it's constantly changing a little bit over time. The current vaccine manufacturing process takes a specific virus, kills it, andextracts a specific antigen that is grown in eggs. This creates a vaccine that teaches the body to recognize one specific virus but does not take drift into account. That's the focus of current flu vaccine research, trying to create a vaccine that will account for drift and be more general and less specific that the current one. It's that drift that allows the flu virus to continue to circulate, the human body becomes immune to any specific virus that we catch, so without constant change the flu would die out. But it also means that the flu vaccine strains will not completely match the circulating strains in usual circumstances. There is a great deal of pressure toget as many people as possible vaccinated every year, even to the point of making it mandatory for health care providers. In some hospitals and nursing homes an employee will be fired if they do not take the flu shot. This is to protect the patients/residents. Flu vaccines are a major money maker in the pharmaceutical world. I was amazed this year to see retail pharmacies advertising having flu vaccine in late August, yet many doctor's offices were not able to get flu vaccine until near the end of October and into November. The doc's offices order flu vaccine a year ahead of time, but pay a lot less than retail pharmacies.
It does mess with the mind a bit to discover all of sudden that you haven't been performing to expectations for months, doesn't it?
Chi--It would have been nice to have been told you were considered temporary. It would have been nice to know how long the temporary assignment was expected to exist, too. If they knew it was temporary, they must have known how long it would be, as well. Good description of cooking with cast iron. It does take time to warm up to cooking temp, but once hot, it's hot for a while!
Cammy--Yikes, your cousin sounds like a strong willed person. Have her or her husband call her doctor and order home health services, they can come in and help with getting her back on her feet. She can still get into rehab for a while if she finds that she can't managed at home. The home health social worker would help with that if it was needed. Still, if the rehab placed smelled that bad she may be better off at home. A well run and maintained facility should not have bad smells that last any length of time. I can imagine people want working furnaces if it's getting cold there now.
Lit Teetotaler's DOTD:
Jingle Juice
Ingredients
- 4 c. Cran-Apple Juice
- 2 bottles red moscato
- 1 bottle prosecco
- 1/2 c. vodka
- 2 c. frozen cranberries
- 1/3 c. mint leaves
- 1/2 c. sugar, for rimming glasses
- 2 limes, sliced into rounds
Directions
- Using a wedge of lime, wet the rim of your glasses. Dip in sugar until coated.
- Combine all ingredients in a punch bowl, stir together and serve.
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Hi ladies- just a quick message for now. I went to see the endocrinologist CNP today (think I told you that my MD left the medical group) and had a good visit. My blood sugar and all the rest are stable. I don't need to see anyone for another six months (whoot!) Yay, more doctor visits I don't have to do in the new year. That is also my last medical apt for 2017.
The CNP told me I had done really well with the weight loss, and congratulated me with being almost to my five years. In six months, whether with her or the MD (if she goes back into her own practice), there is a good chance more things will change for the better. I can probably come off some of the current blood sugar meds (I know my Prolia shots will end too) and do expect I will loose more weight again. I am still coming down a few pounds here and there, but not that quickly anymore. I remember when I came off the AIs for a break in 2013 when I was having a bad time with them, that I immediately dropped 10 lbs that month without changing anything else. I am not sure if that is water retention or something else, but I hope to see the scales continuing to move down after I come off those meds in late March.
I felt really good leaving the apt today and if the MD is gone from the area (always possible), then I still have a good resource as things change into next year.
NM- my experience when leaving a job where I was asked to do 2-3 jobs and being told it was the norm is that it always took multiple folks to replace me. They don't listen, people leave and new people coming on say "er, I don't think so!" They only change when new employees create the boundaries as they are coming in. Very hard to do once you are in. Other duties as assigned. It is good they got it and won't kill the new people. It NEVER looks good with the managers if they are driving good people out. That comes back to hurt them big time!
Cami- it is cold now and no doubt you are busy. Sorry about Joey's cold. I hope you stay well sister. No cuddling Joey right now!
I need to get some more stuff out of the car from my errands today (did a bit of holiday shopping and had fun this morning after my apt). Tis the season to be jolly?
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BTW, if you have not seen this footage on the news or otherwise, this is sort of like what my sister and her partner were dealing with on Tuesday. It looks like you are driving straight into hell here.
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Can't begin to imagine what it must be like in SoCal, Jazzy. So far, my cousin in Altadena and law school buddy & his wife in Moreno Valley are okay (they're in scrub desert with nothing but scattered chaparral, nowhere near thicker vegetation, much less trees).The Urgent Care doc around the corner prescribed Clavamox (unlike me, he can take penicillins) plus OTC Sudafed, Tylenol and saline nasal spray. No improv show (and no hanging out chez girlfriend) tonight--lest he become the friendly neighborhood disease vector. Last thing he needs is to get Leslie sick 10 days before she heads down to Houston for Christmas w/her parents.
Armory senior center show (w/my next-door neighbor) was fun though technically challenging--the sound equipment they said they had was definitely not up to snuff (wrong jacks for the mics & cables we brought, and their little cheapo mic was barely adequate). In retrospect, we should have just brought two little amps instead of one. We started about 5 min. late and had to end 5 min. early because Mayor Emanuel arrived on his citywide holiday-greetings swing. (He's much better-and-younger-looking in person).
Bob is Christmas-shopping for me tonight: I told him all I want is a new Cuisinart (the Custom 14 recommended by Cook's Illustrated/ATK; if he can't find that model, I'll muddle through with my 35-yr-old Model 11). The mall he's visiting, in the near SW suburbs, has neither a Sur La Table nor a Williams-Sonoma, just Bed, Bath & Beyond. I don't need any more jewelry--I barely wear much of any I have. He wants January tix to Turandot at the Lyric Opera (despite horrid reviews) and the new John LeCarre novel. (Those I can get online). Then going down the block to Ethiopian Diamond for dinner.
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Cami, at least our pewl here is nice and warm and no snow! My daughter is doing fine. Things are still rough on the island and there are still some without power and damage that hasn't been repaired. Love all of your family relationships and I'm jelly you have your own personal calendar. And don't you be wearing yourself down over those late night and early morning calls. Oh I can hear ED now! I hope things go ok for your cousin.
Jazzy, that was quite the dinner you had and if you get two meals out of it, all the better. Glad your doc appt. went well.
Karen, hang in there girl. Even if the eyelashes and eyebrows go, they will come back. As the rest of all the hair. There is a weekly taxol thread here on the boards, you might find some good information there. Welcome to chemo brain! IT IS REAL! I hope you're taking it easy and resting when that fatigue hits. Nice that DD went to grandma's and that gives you a little reprieve. And yes, rads are good for fatigue. Take that nap, you will be glad you did, don't fight it. I always looked forward to the weekends cuz you kind of got to get rested up to start again the next week.
Sandy, thanks for the tips on cast iron. I'll have to give it another shot and use my cast iron skillet. I hope you get your Xmas gift that you wanted. I'm with you on the jewelry, I have enough.
NM wow, 3 nurses to cover what you did alone. You truly are SuperWoman! Glad things are turning around with hospice…thanks to YOU! I like the DOTD "Jingle Juice", so cute.
No internet yesterday morning, hence the missing post. Thinking too of Hsant, and Jazzy's sister in CA. My step daughter, whom we just visited has evacuated. They were in the "voluntary evac" area, so they did to be safe. Haven't heard anymore since late yesterday morning. They are staying with her FIL, 12 people in one house! Was up way too early this morning, 3 am! I'lll probably be in bed by 6!
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Good Morning, Loungettes!Happy Saturday! First real snow of the season expected to start this afternoon, looks like 3 to 5 inches expected. Not enough to plow the driveway, enough to have to clear the back deck tomorrow morning,enough to look pretty when it's done. Could even be enough to stay until Christmas if it doesn't get too warm between now and then. Sadie will have fun with the snow when it comes. I'll try to remember to get a video or a couple of pics of her playing in it tomorrow.
Jazzy--You had a really great endo appointment, you must feel great! You are working really hard on the weight and it's paying off. I didn't think they'd ever find someone who would do what they were expecting me to do, travel wise. It's funny to hear them talking about an area as a "black hole", too far away from everywhere else to be easy to schedule too when they used to talk about "being right next door" to other places. It took 3 of us changing work schedules or leaving (me, another RN before me, and an LPN after me) for them to take it seriously. Ah, well, they do now, so things should be mellowing out a bit soon.
Love the Therapy session!
That fire footage is terrifying. Just terrifying.
Chi--glad your friends are safe from the fires. Praying they stay that way. Like your Christmas lists, all practical, usable stuff!
Lit Teetotaler's DOTD:
White Christmas Cocktail
Ingredients
- 2 oz. white crème de cacao
- 1 oz. almond liqueur
- 1 oz. vodka
- 1 oz. cream
- Dash of chocolate bitters
- White chocolate
- Glass type: coupe
Instructions
- Add your white crème de cacao, almond liqueur, vodka, cream and chocolate bitters into your shaker with ice.
- Shake.
- Think of the snow falling.
- SNOW!
- You're really just whipping up the cream, but still.
- Snow.
- Once you're done, pour into your coupe.
- Let it settle for a bit.
- Grate some white chocolate over the top.
- Now it's really snowing.
- Enjoy while watching "White Christmas."
- Or just by itself.
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Hi Jazzy,
Yeah, this time around I feel okay, which is scary to me for some reason, like waiting for the other shoe to drop. But I am taking advantage with chores and filling out applications and whatnot.
I have found myself greatly disappointed in some people that I expected something like a text from. When my brother got sick, when he died, when I got sick..nothing. That was a little jarring and made me angry. I do understand that people a lot of times don't know what to do or say and only learn through their own loss. And sometimes that just isn't going to happen, right?Thank you for the kind words, as usual. J And sounds like you got some good news for the month too. Yay!!!
Camillegal,
Irony with the computer. Lol! That is craziness with your cousin. Sometimes you can only do so much. ;( You have tried and that's what matters, right? Sounds like she would rather be at home. Good luck with her and I hope that she at some points lets you help.
NM,
I agree with the badge turn in. I wouldn't want them claiming something was done wrong either. I was very careful with having co-workers take care of things for me on my desk that I feel my boss would definitely use against me upon my return. Sounds like they gave you the short end of the stick to cover their mistake somehow.
Yes the flu shot is definitely something that makes my head spin. Lol! Thank you for all of the information on it. It makes me feel a little better about continuing to get it. Most times my thought is, if it's not harming and possibly not helping, what's the big if I get it. Just hate that every time my kid (for the most part) goes to the doctor she is getting a shot. Makes each visit more and more difficult. Further strained by the fact that 50% of the time they won't offer much protection as far as the flu shot is concerned. Blurgh!
ChiSandy,
My fiancé is doing some Christmas shopping tonight! I have to try and remember to DVR the military football game. Good luck with that . lol!
Goldie,
Yes, I have a family that is getting into the line of fire on the fire…that's a weird sentence. But my daughter's aunt on her dad's side lives in Oceanside. L They just had a baby and I'm hoping that they can stop it before they potentially lose anything. But wow! The shear force of this thing. It's crazy
Yes, I'm about to eat some food and then rest. Speaking of Chemo brain, I took steroids yesterday, when the last day was supposed to be Thursday. Explains the burst of energy (that I"ve likely already mentioned somewhere in here and forgotten).
I have filled out a couple of applications this morning that my nurse navigator has sent to me. Just need them to fill out some too before I can mail them off. I have my little brother (who is going to be 15 in Jan) here as well. I thought I had a birthday party today for a 4 year old relative. But apparently, it's in January. And many more details like this I'm not hitting.
I will definitely need to check out the Taxol group and see what kind of side effect might be most common, but I'll enjoy not feeling as terrible this time around. J
Okay, I'm starving and so is the 5 year old and I need to stop the 15 year old from eating everything in the house, so I'll talk at you guys later.
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Karen- it sounds like you and I have some similar history. My brother died when I was 32 and that taught me everything I needed to know about people and how they respond to something really hard. But the best advice I ever got (from a therapist) during the time my mother had her medical crisis was "people respond differently in times of crisis- some will continue to come at you with their needs, some won't know what to do, some will not respond at all. Your job is to keep the people near you who will help you through and park the rest either for awhile, or forever, you decide."
That helped me so much when I got sick to sift through the people who were really going to show up for me (vs. everyone else). Be watching for the helpers, they are all around!
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Karen, people not knowing what to say plays a big role in losing friends and sometimes even family members. Men have left their wives over this disease. I always tried to make people feel comfortable around me and told them if they had any questions, then ask. I hope your DD's aunt is ok in Oceanside. So far mine is fine.
I got me one of those Roomba's, just a different brand. I really like it. It does work rather sporadic, going over places several times while not hitting some at all. But I rather expected that. Gonna plant some seeds today and get those going. Some for winter, and peppers for spring. We'll start the tomatoes at the end of the month.
OH! And I did the steak in the cast iron skillet. Turned out AWESOME!
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Good Morning, Loungettes! Happy Sunday Funday! 5.3 inches of snow here from yesterday afternoon to this morning. Looks like winter now. Didn't think there would be enough to plow but he did come by and plow, so now I need to remember to get that check sent out. Sadie pretty much took the snow in stride, but she did get her paws nice and cold and wet right at bedtime last night. Talk about anti-bed-warming!We will be celebrating Christmas next weekend, my brother and his wife are coming up, should be a very nice visit.
Karen--The more I think about it, the more I wonder just exactly what did happen at the clinic. And then I tell myself to let it go, it's not that important in the grand scheme of things. I know it's hard to see your kidlet getting shots, but take it from someone who has seen babies with whooping cough and meningitis, and chicken pox pneumonia and knowing some people who got polio as a child, the shot is a much better option. Over and done with, most are more than 95% effective. Weeks in the hospital, much of it in pediatric intensive care is not an experience any child or family should go through for a preventable disease.The flu shot is a different beast altogether, and one that I am not crazy about,but I'm not so concerned about it that I won't get it, I just don't expect much from it. I'll protect myself better by wearing a mask when there are respiratory illnesses in the nursing homes I visit. That way, if I do get sick, I can't be made out to be responsible cuz I didn't get the flu shot.Love the mental picture of the 15 year old eating everything in sight while you and the 5 year old starve!
Jazzy--good advice from that therapist!
Goldie--you are talking about putting seeds in the ground and I just got my first snow of the season.So not fair!!!
Lit Teetotaler's DOTD:
White Chocolate Peppermint Martini
Ingredients
Marshmallow sundae topping
2 peppermint candies, crushed
Ice
1/4 cup vanilla vodka
1tablespoon peppermint schnapps
1/4cup white chocolate liqueur
Steps
- 1 Dip the rim of a martini glass in marshmallow topping then crushed peppermint candies. Drizzle some marshmallow topping on inside of glass; place glass in freezer.
- 2 In a shaker with ice, add vodka, schnapps, and the liqueur. Shake until mixed; pour into prepared glass. Sprinkle with crushed peppermint.
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Good morning friends- really fun day yesterday up to the mountains to see the luminaries among the ruins. This area is where I go for my yoga retreats and a place I spent a lot of time in during my grad school days that was part of the reason I got lured here with time.
I stopped on the way up at the retreat center as I got a note via FB that they were doing an open house and craft show. The owners know me well at this point after many times there, and glad to see me too! Some great snacks and also met this woman who makes this GREAT hemp clothing I love and usually buy at the hemp store in Santa Fe. I know, Cami thinks I am smoking it, but in fact, hemp is a really nice natural fiber and makes for both a warm layer and is breathable in the summer. I got two things from her and cool to meet the artist. She lives here in the area and said she can make me anything custom made if I want too.
I then went to a fabulous concert at the church across from the ruins that featured a choir of teenage girls with voices like angels. I am more spiritual than religious these days and found the whole experience to be so lovely and moving. Then I was out to the ruins for a few sunset shots before I left. This event gets packed, it was very cold and no reason to dawdle. Got home by 7-ish and crashed. Fresh air and sunshine are always great for a good nights sleep!
Today is home things, a trip to the pool and expecting to bake my first batch of biscotti later.
NM- I heard the northeast got a nice round of first snow. I agree it is good to not over think what happened at the travel clinic, although I tend to do that a lot myself when something does not work out. There is a lot of trial and error in self employment, so do learn from it what you think you can and then look for more good things in the new year. New budgets and money usually come with the beginning of the year? I hope Sadie enjoys her time in the snow. All water dogs love snow!
Goldie- I have had to learn how to have a conversation with people when I do disclose my cancer dx, which as you know, is rare for me. With other cancer people, it is easy, I just give them the synopsis of dx, treatment, how I am doing and then they share and if I can help them with any advice, I do. With people where I am not sure about their reaction, I do the same thing you do, which is to share my story and then leave it open at the end for questions. Sometimes there are none. On occasion I get a lecture about what I should be doing to keep it from coming back or with SEs (eye roll). In general, I keep my cancer conversations to a minimum with anyone who is not my immediate family, medical providers, and you ladies.
Karen- and Goldie is right, many a relationship has ended over difficult things like an illness and not knowing what to say. You may already know that from when your brother passed away (happened to me as well). People come with whatever coping skills they have into their own situations, as well as with those around them. I had to find a balance between sharing with people but not getting in to a place with people about explaining over and over about things or trying to make the adults feel okay about it. Think I already mentioned that. Spending time with your DD and making sure she is okay beyond your own medical care is key right now. Save your energy for the must dos!
I hope you are feeling better every day.
Where is Chevy? How about CeliaC? And Illmae?
Hope everyone enjoys their funday sunday.
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Here are some cool pics from the ruins and luminaries yesterday
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NM, too early to be putting seeds in the ground. Our morning temps have been in the teens. We are starting seeds in those little biodegradable 8 packs. I am gonna start some mustard greens and more lettuce, as I can grow those all winter, as long as I keep my water bags on them. 5+ inches of the white stuff. I can say I do NOT miss that at all. Yes we get snow, but not much usually and it never lasts more thana few days at most.
Jazzy, the other thing I do not like when talking about cancer is all the cures that people want to share. I just tell them, sure send over, I'll take a look at it. I get this a lot as we have cancer journey on our website. So you can only imagine how many "cures" I get in phone calls and emails. We too have been to many ruins. Most of them around here and the 4 corners. Have not it to chaco canyon yet, and there is one in Springerville AZ we have not been to either.
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Jazzy, those luminarias among the ruins are magnificent! Might put some LED tea lights in lunchbags to line our staircase--candles might catch fire and my stairs & porch are wooden. Meanwhile, bought some battery-powered LED mini-lights and dreidel lights in blue & white--which I will string on the arborvitae out front. No big deal if they get stolen (the Mardi Gras beads I hung last year did), since they were so darn cheap at Target. (The AA batteries cost more)!
I only mention my cancer to people I know, and only if they too are survivors or when it's a necessary explanation as to why I can't do something (less so now except I.V.s, why I can't set furniture onstage or carry heavy stuff up & downstairs, and why grocery checkers have to make half my bags lightweight). Had to be quite open about it two years ago when taking a hiatus from the Bar Show (didn't know yet if I'd need chemo or how long my radiation would be); but now I mention it in terms of having "had" it. Don't wanna jinx things, because I see my surgeon (not her NP) Tues. and I hope she doesn't find anything requiring imaging or, heaven forfend, biopsy.
I find it wild that Houston, San Antonio, Mobile, Birmingham, Jackson and even Pensacola have had more measurable snow than Chicago this year. It's a tad above freezing now, and whatever my neighbors didn't snow-blow away has melted and for the most pat evaporated. Think I'll throw some salt on the walk overnight to be on the safe side, since we may get some more snow tomorrow.
Didn't drink yesterday, but I might put some of that Remy 1738 cognac Bob brought home into my tea & honey later. Fighting off a nasty cold--was able to get through a voice lesson, though.
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Hi all, I’m here. I read the thread almost daily but don’t always have much to contribute, although, I will add my two cents on a few things.
I grew up in Southern California, I love Earthquakes and hate fires. My parents live inland right up against the Cleveland national forest and I’ve been too up close and personal, like within a mile, scary stuff.
As for relationships after cancer, I’ve been open at work and often make the bald and death jokes myself, I’m dark that way and I think it puts them at ease. My closer friends (2 sets of couples) having kept our Sunday dinner/watch parties on schedule throughout treatment, so we catch up on cancer related stuff for a minute then move on to who’s gonna die on walking dead or game of thrones and I’ve been lucky to not look or feel sick enough to feel awkward about, anyone else can go ahead and go but no one has yet. Of course DH thinks the world revolves around me, he’s who I worry about, the diagnosis really depressed him, despite his efforts to hide it but he seems ok as long as I do.
I’m working today on more hurricane Harvey flood contracts, so it’s pizza this Sunday, not sure if I’ll go quick and cheap or take the caloric hit and get something to moan about, leaning towards fatty, cheesy deliciousness and a glass of two of red.
Had snow in Houston on Friday, first time since 2009, I ran around the house says oh f-ing s$&t !!! and taking pics, here’s a couple. It was super exciting and I’m easily amused.
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Found out yesterday that Feb.'s monthly breast cancer support group meeting will be our last--attendance has been very low, due to members' travel and other conflicting obligations. So from that point on, we'll either have to drive all the way up to Northbrook to the Cancer Wellness Center or take an Uber or train downtown to Gilda's Club for anything similar. When I joined, we had a couple of Stage IV people and even a nurse who had been Stage III in the group; but we've had a few "alternative treatment" aficionados condescend to the rest of us falling for Big Pharma & the "AMA." I wonder how much the rigors of treatment for the triple-neg gals, the passage of time for the long-timers & seniors, and the day-to-day work grind might have contributed to the attrition. The steepest dropoff came after our original facilitator suddenly succumbed to an unrelated primary cancer; we had a couple of doctors & social workers run a few meetings till we got our current facilitator--an oncology nurse who soon after taking over needed to take maternity leave.
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ChiSandy, funny you should mention the alternative folks, I’m sort of on the fence with some of it. I only ever took allergy meds before cancer and was the healthiest overweight smoker my pcp ever saw. I hated the thought of chemo, etc but at Stage IV from the get go, I opted for standard science first, so I quit the cigs, kept up my activity and continued my near ban of soda and fast food as a compliment to the pharma route. Had I been stage 0 or 1, I might have put chemo off in favor of more natural prevention but I regret nothing and people in general support groups should leave there condescension at the door. To each their own.
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Hi ladies- well so much for my ambitious plans for today. I am being a lazy bones, but think I needed it after a busy week and two very busy days the last few days. Been home catching up, reading, getting more things ready to mail (cards and gifts) and things to dole out locally. Tis the season to be sleepy.....
Chi- glad you enjoyed the photos. We have lots of beautiful ruins around NM but think the is the only place I ever heard does the lights at the ruins. Many of the others are in much more remote parts of the state where getting there is not too easy. The whole town of Jemez Springs was beautifully decorated and loved seeing it. The community is one of my favs. I think I will go to this again as I can and am able each year. End of the year is usually very busy with work and sometimes weekend go lives. So now this bucket list item that now may become a new favorite December tradition, me thinks!
Too bad about the local bc support group fading out. I have been there too with the alternative type lectures. I have gotten those lectures from both cancer people and others who don't have a clue. I saw a work colleague/friend who chose it for her bc and it came back 3 times until it took her. I have done holistic care for many things, but cancer is cancer and was clear about doing what the docs told me.
Ill- I heard Houston got snow and check those pics out. What kind of work do you do that you are working on hurricane contracts?
I love that your friends kept the dinners up with you, allowed you have some time to talk about cancer things at the beginning of your time together and then you could move on to other topics. I think everyone needs some vent time in the beginning of time together. I never felt I had to talk a lot about it with people, too much time explaining things even I did not have answers too most of the time. And well, a person dealing with cancer does need a break from the cancer thoughts and conversation.
Goldie- you are much kinder than I am to people who come up with their alternative medicine suggestions. I won't even listen to them or entertain their ideas at this point, I usually just say "thanks but I have a medical team to advise me". I can only imagine with the Stage IV though, you must hear it all the time and it may be easier to just say "send it along" to shut them up. I get lectures now mostly about the SEs on the AIs from people about the joint pains and the foot issues. I have found ways to cope but know all that stuff won't be better until we are done with the meds next March. I often wonder if people with other illnesses get the same type of lectures?
Hope the weekend finishes well for you all.....
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Well, I was stage IA right out of the gate, and I felt that just as one gets only one chance to make a first impression, so too do we get only one chance to strike the first and most appropriate blow against such a major disease. Had my tumor been larger, less "conveniently-located," spread to the nodes or been higher-grade, I would have thrown the entire book at it: mastectomy (even BMX), chemo, conventional long-protocol whole-breast radiation, etc.
What I learned from careful and filtered internet reading (BCO, Komen, ACS), authoritative tomes (Drs. Susan Love's & Elisa Port's breast cancer "Bibles"), and my care team (BS, RO, MO) is that there are as many different "books" to throw at one's breast cancer as there are individual patients, tumor types and characteristics. One size does not fit all. Hence, my decision to go for genetic testing (though I have no family history, I am almost completely--96.3%--Ashkenazi Jewish) and insist on OncotypeDX results before making further treatment decisions. I followed my team's advice based on the results of those tests--no chemo, short-protocol targeted rads, endocrine therapy, (My BS showed me a video and various slides demonstrating that my recurrence chance with lumpectomy + rads, while twice that of BMX, was still extremely low; and that both options had identical long-term survival stats).
As an empiricist (paradoxical for an artist), my response to any novel therapy suggestion is always "show me the science." Not the claimed results, not that it works but rather how & why it works. No proponent of alternative (as opposed to complementary) therapies have been able to answer that question to my satisfaction--instead, they spout all the usual "alternadoxy" that their chosen therapies have been suppressed by Big Pharma & Big Medicine (sometimes ignorantly conflated with and referred to as "the AMA"), in collusion with the government, because it would threaten the industries' profits; that the lack of scientifically-valid double-blind studies is due to none of the foregoing being able to make money off it; that "they" (i.e., the powers that be) "don't want us to know the truth," yada yada yada...
It is at that point when I wonder whether they have a tinfoil hat in their closet, and I look at the sky to confirm the absence of black helicopters.
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