how about drinking?

celiac

Not technically drinking, but someone at the office brought in bourbon chocolate covered cherries. Absolutely delish with my AM coffee. Will have one for dessert in a few minutes, if any are left.

chisandy

Had a glass of so-so “champagne” (probably Andre or Cook’s) at my gig tonight, but it was bought for me and it would have been churlish to turn it down. Did have two cups of hot Earl Grey with lemon & honey. Took a Lyft to the club--cheaper than I’d expected. My drinks were free, my dinner half-price, so no complaints. I got paid half again more than expected, and a colleague drove me home—so I came out ahead after all. The show went very well. Amazingly, it was warmer when we left the club at 11 pm than at 7:15 when I set out.

Gordy got home about 2am (flight delayed half an hour, and had to circle). He and Leslie’s folks hit it off quite well. Fingers crossed!

nativemainer

Good Morning, Loungettes! Happy Hump Day! Another chilly start, then temps should move up, then a storm tomorrow with possible blizzard conditions, then the arctic cold comes back. Gotta love winter in Maine! Not sure how people without furry bed warmers are managing.

Goldie--Poor Sadie, indeed! She can stand at the door with just her nose out for minutes at a time. I have to talk to her or bump her butt to get her to move. Once she steps out she moves into high gear and moves FAST!

Cyncyn--yup, you beat me! And you beat me with the next vacay, too!Good for you!

Celia--bourbon choco cherries? YUM! I bet the office is happy today!

Chi--half priced meal and free drinks sounds like a nice perk. More pay than expected is even better! Glad Gordy is home safe and sound and had a good visit with Leslie's family.

Lit Teetotaler's DOTD:

karentwriter

Hey all!

I'm going backwards on these, so bear with me. First of all I finally started Taxol and so far, so much less horrible than the Red Devil. Thank you thank you thank you!

ChiSandy,

I had Barefoot Sweet Red. Not bad at all. My dad preferred Korbels, but that was the brandy I believe, not the champagne that he drank. Anyway, I also tried my first Tom & Jerry's, but the mix was homemade by a friend. Delish. 😊

I'm glad you had a good show! 😊

I'm not sure I followed any of the post regarding the computer problems. I'm not illiterate by any means when it comes to the computer, but that one requires 5 reads before I perhaps follow it.

CeliaC

Hello, I'm newish to this site…September/October.

NM,

Sounds like the bitter cold here in Minnesota. So awful. I refuse to leave the house if I don't have to, so I'm with Sadie.

I need to try Downtown Abby! I'm binge re-watching charmed. Lol!

There is also some kind of drama in my family. Lol! Oh well.

And taxes…I do tax forms for 5500s at work and I have done my own on taxact.com for years. SO I'm no expert, but I throw it on tax act for them and show them how to use it. It's made pretty simple if you don't have anything overly complicated to report. Otherwise, I have accountant friends that I tap on. I will have to do that this year due to my book and wanting to be sure I'm writing things off correctly, which I don't think that I am.

Goldie,

Your poor feet, though reminds me to watch mine as they are so dry no matter how much stuff I put on them. Time to get the expensive stuff. Heal up fast. ☹

MemaSue56

Good luck with the surgery and quitting. I was not strong enough. I tried the gum and lozenges which only burned my mouth and I ended up spitting it out. I think I will have to try Chantix, which my surgeon recommended, but my oncologist doesn't like…ugh. I will be thinking of you and what you are dealing with as I know how hard it is. 😊 Sending love!

Camillegal

Thank you for the well wishes. SO far so great. I don't even have nausea at this point and not taken a nausea med. I actually go nauseated before they gave me anything. All the memories and smells made me so sick. I have gotten so sensitive to that once I think of treatment or I get there thanks to the red devil. Blah! My onc said that most people breeze through the Taxol. I'm hoping. I need the break after 8 weeks of crap. How is she doing?

We went down the road on New Years to a friend with my DD for a couple hours for a Fondue. But not your old school version with cheese and chocolate. But oil with steak, mushrooms and shrimp. So awesome. I want to add that thing to my registry. I didn't even think about resolutions this year either. I don't want to disappoint myself for the 40^th year in a row with unattainable goals. So instead I'll set 6 realistic baby goals daily.

Cyndielou

I feel sorry for us northerners too. After Christmas it's time for warmer weather I believe. I would be happy with 20 degrees and no windchill though. Good luck as you head back to work and with the sleep. I get that issue. I was up at 300 am again…for no reason. Will Donese be back soon? Or is this for the duration of her treatment?

Illimae,

I love Stranger Things I need to get caught up. But the Roswell visit looks awesome!

Dara

Hello to you as well. I feel like I have seen you on another forum on here though. I love New York! Have fun Or I hope you did. I'm MIA for days at a time it seems lately.

Jazzy

I have to agree with your secret admirer. 10,000 posts! That's a lot, but if it helps another woman in these horrible situations, more power to you. I'm hoping to be more of that person once my treatment is over. Or at least on pause. You will also be my inspiration for exercising. Lol!

My DD certainly makes me laugh and drives me nuts. She keeps me on my toes. 😊 I'm feeling so much better now, so that's good. And so far not even feeling nauseated. So that's good. However, the neuropathy cold be worse.

Happy New Year everyone.

I have lots of errands to run today. Blah! I have financial paperwork to mail before it's too late. I need to get my car traded in as the lease is due. With my financial issues I've been in touch with a lawyer, so will need to do some drastic measures, but before I do, I have to get into a car before I do anything else. I still need one of those for work and my DDs school and such. Then I have to drop tax forms to my friends as they have no car. And post office…and the list of phone calls for this medical stuff and life changing things does not stop. Not to mention making a wedding dance song list. (this is not easy to choose father daughter ones when I have my Uncle and Step dad and not my dad) Ugh!

But on the bright side, when it's all taken care of and just done, it's a lot of good. It's just doing these things really. It's not a complaint as much as what a complete list of things to accomplish. I will have to divide it over the week.

We have wonderful plans for DFs bday with some friends and I'm looking forward to that, but it must be the weekend as I don't like to drink the day of treatment or even close to it. And I don't feel I process alcohol the same anyway. Anyone else experience this?

Just a random share from Summer of 2016. She loves her rides and one of my besties is an awesome photographer.

jazzygirl

Happy January friends!

Been a busy start to the new year and enjoyed two really awesome music parties on New Years day. The first is an annual jazz jam with a good friend (also cancer survivor). Smaller group this year, but still very fun. I also learned about a couple other jazz jam opps to check out beyond one on Saturdays I never seem to get. Second party also music friends, but no playing, just really cool like minded folks with great conversations to be had. Great way to start the year with my music community.

I think you all know I started swimming in a bigger way this year which helped me to push through and loose more weight. I am coming off the AIs in another 2.5 months and want to get down to my goal weight I discussed with my endocrinologist last year. I have another 18 lbs to go and refocused on dropping the rest. I am going to do the South Beach Phase 1 diet for a couple weeks starting 1/15. It is a cleansing diet focused on proteins and veggies (no fruits, processed carbs, etc.) and always good to do post holidays and to help get the weight loss going again.

So here are my swimming stats for 2017 as of April of last year when I rejoined the city Olympic pool again: 3948 laps for a total of 56.38 miles over 59.5 hours. My peak was in the summer with swimming 600 laps per month (when I was loosing up to 6 lbs per month during one month), but slowed down with a foot injury in the fall. I am back up to 600 laps/mo as of December, and if I swim 2X a week for 1 mile each time (70 laps), plus a third day 1-2 times a month as I can, that is my 600 goal.

I lost 23 lbs in 2017, 14 of which came off when I began swimming more and most of that came off from April to June. I have lost a couple more pounds since mid summer but mostly been plateaued. I know that is also the body's way of taking time to adjust so I have not pushed on it, but ready to again. I am down a total of 32 lbs from my highest weight ever (2012 before bc, then lost 40, put about 30 of that back on with time). I dropped a couple sizes and took a lot of my too big clothing to consignment for the better stuff or donated otherwise. I figured I needed to get the bigger clothing out so I would not regrow back in to them.

I feel committed to keep this going and to not regain the weight ever again and keep my fitness up with swimming.

Will write more later but just wanted to share my fitness updates with you!

chisandy

Was up very late last night, as Gordy didn’t arrive home till 2:30 am. Dealing with having to re-establish all my accounts (only some showed up in my Keychain so I had to go through the whole password-reset doo-dah) kept me up past 5. Spent the next 2 hrs. continually waking up Bob to answer his phone calls & pages (one missed call or page can result in a lawsuit, not to mention harm to the patient). Fell asleep, only to be awakened at 8am by the shin muscles over my R tibial hardware firing like crazy and then a nasty neuropathy beneath my R big toe (felt like a yanked band-aid ripping open a blister. So I took a Lyrica. Fell into a long, realistic and fascinating dream (they all involve int’l & cross-country travel, as well as performances) and next thing I knew my alarm clock read “3:37 pm!” Slept through breakfast, lunch, Bob getting up & out, housekeeper gathering laundry (in my room) and my 2:30 mani appt. I don’t know how people with chronic neuropathy can take the stuff 3x/day as prescribed and not be zombies.

Shopped for odds & ends tonight (after fixing my MedAlert charm bracelet yet again—stupid jump rings on the ends keep coming loose and slipping out) and put together a shrimp & veggie Pad Thai for tonight. Tomorrow night will be bison strips in harissa sauce over couscous. (Or the leftover grilled chicken salad Bob just brought home). He stayed over at the Oak Lawn Hilton last night (early office hrs.) after spending a day kickin’ it old-school—he’d left his phone home and had only his pager and access to landlines. Oh, the humanity! And tomorrow night, it’s back to the hotel, for early morning echo readings. He asked if I wanted to go (and take our Oak Lawn friend and his son to dinner), but Fri. morning I have my rescheduled mani (which was tough to rebook). Sigh.

Gordy had a great time. Turns out it was the family’s “Meet the Boyfriends” weekend—Leslie’s sisters brought their boyfriends home for the first time. Everyone pitched in on cooking. Being Texas, there was much football and DIY alley fireworks (not set off by any of them, whew!). They went to several rock concerts. Gordy introduced Leslie to Kosher deli (the only one in town) but they didn’t get to try any Indian stuff (their Indo-Pak community is the equal of Chicago’s).

DOTD: leftover Piper Heidseck champagne with the Pad Thai. Made up for the awful stuff I drank the night before. Oh, and then an almond-milk hot chocolate.

Cyndielou

Good Morning, 39 degrees here...cold....I know cold is relative...back to the 70's starting Sunday...Yeah....I'll take it.

Hi Karen.....fondue is my all time fav.....The first time I had it was a French restaurant in Phoenix...did the steak in oil...soooo good..and they served it with several kinds of sauces to dip the cooked steak in. Their crepe's were amazing too and the chocolate martini....I could go on and on about that place.

Donese and I will be together again possibly in March..we are looking into that otherwise it will be the summer time. She isn't in treatment...thankfully. She was a caregiver to her partner who ended up passing from the RB.

Sandy...sounds like a great night at the club. Champaigne , all tastes the same. My group of drummers when performing at a local hotel tiki bar were given free drinks and free food. This gig seems to have been suspended for the time being..too bad..it was a blast while it lasted.

Jaz....are you swimming competitively or just for fun and weight loss? I may try that once it warms up around here...the crazy snow birds still get in the water but I'm sure not right now while is freezing.

Have the best day all

nativemainer

Good Morning, Loungettes! Happy Blizzard Day! Yup, snow has started in the southern part of the state, looks to start here any time now. Woops, it's started. And the wind is already starting to pick up. The real wind isn't supposed to start until midday. I told them at Hospice that I'll work tomorrow instead of today cuz of the weather. 5 minutes later the Office Director announced that he wants everyone off the road by noon time today. Sadie and I are going to just putter around the house and watch the snow and wind. Maybe more Downton Abbey.

Karen--so glad the Taxol is better than the Red Devil! I pray it stays that way! This particularly bitter cold is on the extreme end of things for us here. Usually we're seeing temps in the 20's this time of year. Sub zero for days and days is not the usual. Great pic ofDD!!

Jazzy--those are impressive swimming stats! So good you can do that, and that it helps so much with the weight control.

Chi--sounds like you have very entertaining dreams. When people take medications like Lyrica regularly the sleepiness side effect tends to wear off after a week or so. Glad Gordy's visit was successful and he enjoyed himself. Poor Bob having to "old school" it with pagers and land lines! I remember when that was the norm! Cell phones have made some parts of life a lot easier to deal with.

Joy McSparkles' DOTD:

The Snowman Cocktail is the perfect drink to warm you right up during the holidays! This delicious beverage is easy to make and tastes great!
Rim the glass with white sprinkles. Garnish: Marshmallow Snowmen

+ Vanilla Ice Cream
+ 1 oz (30ml) Vanilla Vodka
+ 1 oz (30ml) Whipped Cream Vodka
+ 1 oz (30ml) Creme De Cacao
+ 1 oz (30ml) White Chocolate Liqueur Blend

illimae

Robin McSparkles, lol

jazzygirl

Greetings from Eve McBlizzard- from what I hear too, the northeast is about to get pummeled with a blizzard too!

NM-I heard some sobering numbers that you may be waking up to -14 degrees tomorrow? Sadie is NOT going to be happy with you when you try to get her to go outside tomorrow morning. Normally any water dog would love the snow, but not in those temps. Be safe friend.

Chi- it sounds like a very successful visit for Gordie and his girlfriend this holiday season. Do keep us posted on what happens next?

Cyndie- no I don't swim competitively, but did get the idea last year (and with the support of swimmer friends) to go for the senior Olympics. They are end of July and last year, I had only been swimming in a bigger way for a few months and not ready. Plus it fell during follow up week and already had apts set up. So I may do it this summer, and just need to figure out where I will compete. I am more of a distance swimmer than a fast swimmer, so I am not sure what fits? I need to learn how to do the flip turns and there is a lifeguard at the pool who said she could help me learn that (swim lesson), but could not work it out last year. I saw her doing a lesson with someone yesterday so time to ask again. Swimming makes me happy and keeps me strong!

And as I go to yearly follow ups starting this summer, I can more easily just move my apts out a week without any problem. I just need to determine with some new project work if I can be off that week. I hope to give it a try to compete in the new year!

Ill- I love your snowperson name. How are you doing friend? Any issues from your treatment last year?

Karen- I am glad to hear the Taxol is going better than the red devil. Love the photo of your DD on the carnival ride. She looks so happy.

If you want to feel festive at the friends party, but respect your body's need to not have alcohol right now (I did not drink at all during treatment, just figured my body needed to focus on the medical care), get some nice sparkling water to bring to the party and and some limes or lemon slices. I love Voss water if you can find it, just tastes so good. Put it in a wine or champagne glass. Let the friends enjoy their adult beverages, and you can participate in a different way. Sometimes just making a blanket statement that alcohol is not recommended during treatment is all you need to say. No one usually will argue it. I say usually, because there is always that one in every crowd......

Well, I bought two powerball and two megamillions tix yesterday. I never do the lotteries, until the pots get big. And ooh are they big! No powerball winner last night, up over a half a billion now? I don't know about you, but I would like just a bit of that myself. Mega is tomorrow night. Good luck to all if you are playing this week!

Ha ha, my dream if I won big is to buy a villa in Tuscany and live there. My sister asked me last night if that was still my plan (yes, and even more so now....) After my last visit there in 2009, I told myself if I ever had the money, that would be my dream place to live. I bet all of you have one of those too?

Got some things to get to ladies and hope to finish putting away the holiday decorations today. Wishing everyone to be safe in the storm if you are in that part of the world.

chisandy

Rosie McSnowflake here. (Those who know my political bent know how apropos that surname is).

DOTD thus far: an Aeropress of fabulous Ethiopian coffee from beans Gordy bought in Houston. (Also had some yesterday).

Lazy day today--the music store where I need to get my Martin repaired was closed today. (The pickup's preamp housing came loose from the inside of the guitar, and it clunks around. I prefer to neither mar the inside wood of my guitar nor be my own percussionist). I'd fix it myself, but the Velcro's adhesive came off and I can't get my forearm far enough into the soundhole to reach it; besides, I don't want to use an adhesive that could harm the wood.

Bob's in Oak Lawn tonight, and Gordy's spending every day & evening with Leslie until school starts again Monday. So I doubt he'll be eating the leftover shrimp Pad Thai from last night; and I don't want to make and eat an entire batch of Moroccan bison stew (and the roasted rainbow cauliflower I was going to make to go with it). So probably going to have the other half of my brunch bagel & lox sandwich (that was one humongous bagel!) along with the chicken-and-spinach salad Bob brought home last night. Should use up the rest of the very ripe beefsteak tomato I used for the bagel & lox before it rots, so it looks like tomorrow's lunch will be a BLT. Might have a mini-flute of the Piper--Bob didn't kill all of it off last night. Between the Coravin and that little flute, it's pretty easy for me to limit my wine to 2 or 3 oz. when dining in (and when my meal even warrants a wine).

karentwriter

Out of the box question...on taxol, can I use teeth whitner? Want to work on my teeth for the upcoming wedding?

chisandy

If it doesn't aggravate mouth sores, I don't see why not.

Cyndielou

Not much to say about today except blah. At least it’s my weekend. Cheers!

karentwriter

Thanks ChiSandy! Time for bed!

nativemainer

Good Morning, Loungettes! Well, storm Greyson has passed, I now have 20 inches more snow, poor Sadie is swimming in the stuff when she goes out, poor thing! Now the bitter cold is coming back in on the winds that are blowing the powdery stuff around. Sigh. Back to work for me today, got a light day of visits but it's going to take longer to get there, so it will all even out, I'm sure. Miss Sadie is going to stay home and comfy today.

Jazzy--that level of cold will work in through the day today. Currently 18 degrees, with a wind chill to 2 degrees. The new snow is literally as deep as Sadie is tall. Going to try to get a video of her out in it to share, but it will be a short one! My when-I-win-the-lottery dream is to buy a small island in the middle of one of the lakes around here. The whole island, and build a camp. Someplace where I can go and let the doggo run loose and not worry about her running off.

Chi--Love the meal planning notes!

Morning, Cyncyn, Chi, Karen!

Joy McSparkles DOTD:

Blizzard

Instructions

Mix all ingredients in a shaker with cracked ice until frosty. Serve in a chilled tall glass.

Ingredients

• 1 Oz Cranberry Juice
• 1 Tbsp Lemon Juice
• 2 Tbsp Sugar - Syrup
• 3 Oz Whiskey - Bourbon

goldie0827

He all, sorry to have been MIA. DH had his moh's surgery on his temple Wednesday and I had my 8 hour round trip. Even with the rising TM's, onc isn't concerned just yet. Mainly because I have no symptoms to cause concern. SE's don't warrant scans or even too much concern. So, I'm good for the next 6 weeks!

NM wow, thanks for the "milk" lesson. However, I will not remember it all! Will look them up when I need to/want to make something that calls for something other than milk.

Celia, glad you got to imbibe, even iffin it was a chocolate!

Lucy, are ya stayin warm? I know it's super cold there in FL…..ha ha ha! Hoping Donese can make it in March. I'm hoping to hit Michigan the end of February and hoping for NO WEATHER as it is now.

Sandy, glad your gig worked out and more money is a good thing. Also good that Gordy and parents all got along. Leslie came back with Gordy?

Karen, not sure if your feet problems are the same as mine. You may want to ask a doctor. As with mine, you can see where some thought I was dealing with neuropathy, when it was Hand/Foot Sydrome (HFS). Mine will clear up when they take me off this chemo I'm on, unless it's a SE of the next treatment plan. I've never had neuropathy, so I can't comment on that. I used to smoke, and had surgeries with no problem. Of course it's not good for us, we all know that, whether a smoker or not. And don't let those doctors dictate to you, you do what you feel is best for you. So glad you are feeling better on the Taxol. I pray that continues for you. 2 months of weekly treatments? Don't think of treatment as being on "pause". Think if it as this is it, tossing that Rat BasTURD to the curb for good.

Jazzy, good luck with the new diet plan and we should celebrate when you come off the AI's. Also, hoping that will help a bit with the weight loss. WOWSA, that's a lotta laps! LOL at regrowing back into bigger clothes. I see you are still working on the flip turns. You wouldn't think they would be that hard. But they must be! Good luck on the lottery. We don't play. I have never been out of the country, except for Canada. And that was when I lived in MI and you didn't need a passport

Sandy, sounds like the hours you keep are similar to Dara's!

NM, no way would I want to relive that cold and snow. I know it's only temporary, but dang, it's BRUTAL! SugarPlum McSparkle here! Those name things can be fun. Oh my , that drink is so cute. Sounds yummy, but sweet. Oh, oh my. I'm so sorry you have to go to work in all that snow and cold. Be safe out there. Of course I know you will. And do you have survival stuff in your car in case you were to break down? I had to laff at you wanting an island and that Sadie couldn't run off. Doesn't she LOVE the water? So she may not run off, but swim off!

Karen, no clue on the teeth whitening. I would ask your onc and/or dentist.

All of you in the middle of this storm, stay safe and warm. I think my brother told me it was -30 with wind chill in MI.

illimae

Im doing well jazzy, thanks for asking. Chemo was easier than I expected, the surgical drains sucked but that’s in the past now and radiation was doable. I still feel like I’m carrying some rocks in my bra on the left but I know it will take some time to settle after rads, not a big deal for now. I had some night sweats from tamoxifen but that SE has gone away and my stiff finger joints are doing fine with glucosamine/condroiten in the mix. No impairment from the brain mets and feeling pretty darn good overall, now I just need to get off the holiday chocolate and back on the veggies!

Looking forward to a good 2018 with a possible trip to Hawaii, my medical retirement in June and a permanent move from the hustle and bustle to a quite mountain top.

nativemainer

Good Morning, Loungettes!Happy Saturday! Maine has dropped back into the deep freeze. Currently 6 below with a wind chill of 29 below. I was going to do some shoveling today, but I think I'll wait and see if tomorrow is a bit less dangerous for outside activity. Today is supposed to be the most brutal, with some moderating over the next few days. I don't mind the snow, this would be great for snowshoeing, but the bitter cold is just too much for me to be out in, no matter how bundled up I get! That's ok, plenty to do inside the house that will entertain Silly Sadie and keep us both warm.

Goldie--Glad to hear things are good, at least for the next 6 weeks! Glad to share the milk info. It always amazes me how much different a recipe can turn out just by changing one ingredient like milk. Yes, I do have winter survival stuff in the car in case of a break down or getting stuck. As to Sadie swimming off the island, I'm sure she would go swimming, but I don't think she'd go too far away from her prime source of belly rubs and doggy chow. But that would be something to think about if I ever find myself in the position of shopping for an island of my very own!

Illi-I am so glad you are already feeling better after the surgery/chemo/rads portion of treatment.A trip to Hawaii sounds like a grand time! Have you picked out your retirement mountain top yet?

Joy McSparkles DOTD:

Arctic Mule -

Ingredients

• 1 ounce pineapple vodka
• 2 ounces vodka
• 1/2 ounce sugar free peppermint syrup , optional... I used Torani
• 1/4 teaspoon Blue water enhancer I used Mio Berry Blast Electrolytes
• 1/4 ounce lime juice
• 6 ounces sugar free ginger beer
• Ice

Instructions

1. Shake all ingredients except ginger beer together until well chilled.
2. Strain into glass then fill with ginger beer.

illimae

NativeMainer, our mountain top is already bought and DH built a cabin, we just need to complete the interior, have the electrical done and hire out the stairs and deck. It’s in west Texas near the observatory pictured below and has the most amazing night sky I’ve ever seen.

I can’t imagine the cold many of you are dealing with, sure hope it warms up soon

camillegal

Jeez I've been trying to ketchup here for over n hour. effin phones, they don't stop.

But our weather is horribly cold too, just letting Sox out is no one wants to open the door, but he doesn't walk round sniffing like usual either, he's right back in.

Lori I'm glad ur Dr. is OK wit ur counts makes it sound better for u.

Sandy that really worked out well for Gordy, it was great they had other new boyfriends there, they had each other to help. He sounds like he's really getting committed to Leslie <her name right> U know u make some foods that I don;t even like sound good LOL

Karen so happy the Taxol is going better for you and u sound busy. Ur DD is just so cute, she has to make u happy every day.

Ill u too, glad ur doing well and feel like u do, it's just so nice to hear.

Jazzy I always like the way u have things planned and the swimming wow u must be strong and I too didn't know that turn around would be that difficult but knowing how u are I know u'll learn when u want too.

Wow Kim lots of snow for u---we're just getting the cold, maybe tomorrow tho. Jeez milk, who knew???

Cyn oh I feel bad that u don't get to be with Donese like u should be. But I am jelly <per Lori> about ur weather. U always remind me of the free spirit from years ago and enjoy ur pics on FB---I might have missed some things but how are u and Donese planning on staying in one place...

All the decorations are coming down today, I hate that, love all the lites. Joey keeps his up in his room all the time, he's like me.

These people calling, some r so mean <women, mostly> Oh I don't blame them for being mad about things, but I don't like being yelled at--I'm not Mother Nature---not my fault. I was almost not nice to someone yesterday but I held my Italian at bay-chit I wish I did have an Italian on a bay---oh well. I'm so tired I fall asleep working on the puter with my head either on the keys or just sitting in the same position, it's non stop here with worry and busy---U all know I'm not a worker, I love to be lazy, I mean I really do.

Leslie has decided to have the recon with the dble mast. now---they'll take it from the back, IDK I really wish she'd wait but for whatever reason she's back to that. I know she'll do what she wants so there's no point on going on and on so I'll just now keep my mouth shut. I'm still basically walking around the house without my walker, but all crooked, LOL I am thankful for MORPHINE big time tho. I can feel when it's time to take it about 15 mins. before the actual time, but I hold off so I'm right on time and continue with my codeine-right on time---can't let pills wait or they get sour, wait that's milk , ok we're back to milk see we got milk.

OK I've been on and off for 2 hrs now back and forth.

LUBS U ALL

chisandy

Gordy & Leslie flew home a day apart, on different airlines, but he was there to meet her at O'Hare Wed. afternoon. They're spending every night (and except for 2 hrs. yesterday, day) together because school starts back up again Monday and it's back to lesson plans, grading homework & tests, etc. until the weekend.

Was very cold here too. Haven't worn the shearling hooded coat since NYE, because it's so thick & stiff I actually got sore muscles from reaching around the back of my head to tie my scarf! But layers & leather seem to be doing the trick. Got down to 5 above today but the temp. is rising--10 at midnight, and they're expecting 30 as a high for tomorrow. But that comes with a price: at least an inch & a half of snow. (Nothing like you Easterners are suffering--yikes)!

On the way home from my mani yesterday I saw fresh ski tracks in the snow in the park along Lake Shore Drive--and just as we reached the end of the Drive, a guy trudging from his condo, carrying XC skis & poles. Had a pang of wistful nostalgia: I haven't skied in nearly 30 years, even though I bought new boots for my ever-growing feet the last year we had decent snow (I think Dec. 2014). Natch, as soon as I had the time the snow melted. Then the last two years, bc & arthritis got in the way. Now, with osteopenia, I'm terrified of falling, despite having bionic knees.

Spent the last couple of days setting up the new Cuisinart, and figuring out where to keep it. (Housekeeper & I have different ideas). It's the 14-cup model, but it comes with just one blade (they're not including the plastic one because the steel knife blade does everything the plastic one can do and more--and I guess they trust consumers with sharp stuff). Took awhile to drag out the old one (the 10-cup DLC-7, two years older than Gordy!) and all its accoutrements (extra work bowl, 7 discs--3 slicing, 2 shredding, julienne and french fry, plus the plastic rack & blade storage box)). Haven't used it in more than a couple of years, not since we hosted Thanksgiving and I made cranberry relish, and the last time I made latkes from scratch for Hanukkah instead of from a mix or frozen ones. It hasn't seen action during my low-carb days because there wasn't much to whip up in it--I was mostly grilling, sauteeing and steaming, or dining out/ordering in. I have vowed to go back and watch my backlog of America's Test Kitchen episodes that use the food processor--I'd mostly "zoned out" on those because it was too much of a PITA to haul the thing out and clean it up.

And boy, did it have to be cleaned up! There was a thick film of grime on the discs that had been sitting out unused on the open rack, from years of dust & grease in the air. (Used=washed, unused+sitting out=yuck). And the plastic storage box that held the detachable disc stem and plastic & knife blades was so gunked-up I had to soak it in very hot water to loosen the prongs that held the lid closed so tight it was unopenable. I stored the knife blade on the machine, so the box held only the plastic blade and stem. Finally got it open, and washed it out (needed some scrubbing). But scrubbing wouldn't have done squat for the rack & discs--so into the dishwasher they went, and I used the "pots & pans" cycle. This morning, I found them sparkling. So I have done the same with the work bowls & lid. Meanwhile, before bed I'll clean off the machine housing (will cover the bottom with foil & plastic wrap so no water will get in). That's gotta be done by hand.

DOTD last night & tonight--couple oz. of Signorello 2010 Cab. Sauv., to go with steak that Bob brought home last night.

goldie0827

Illona, so glad to hear you are feeling well. That's a big plus for us stage IV gals. I thought you said you wanted an island in Hawaii. So you do own an island, but it's in TX? That cabin is adorable and I bet you can't wait to get in it.

NM, I think I remember in past you mentioning having survival stuff in your car, so I wanted to make sure you still did.

Teka, glad you are staying warm. Had a chuckle over you calling the decorations crap.

Cami, I imagine you are swamped with the phones and this cold weather. Can't blame Sox for not wanting to go out. So funny these dogs hurrying up to do their bidness. Nice to hear that Leslie has made her decision, re MX and recon at the same time. You know it might hard for us that are older, but she is younger, so maybe she will get through it with no complications and minimal pain. How is she with pain? Will she stop smoking for surgery? I hate when people call to complain about some like it's our fault.

Went to town yesterday, needed to pic up a few things and to the movies. Saw Jumangi, with "The Rock". It was actually pretty good, I was pleasantly surprised. Also funny. Hoping to get outside today and plant a few more things that I started in the house. Beets, mustard greens and lettuce. I keep traps set in the garden for those peskly little 4 legged rodants. Well I was missing a trap! I believe I caught something and a raven seen it and came in to get that meal and took my trap with him/her!

Cyndielou

Good Morning

Another chilly AM here in SWFlorida but things are looking up. It will get up to almost 70 today and 75 tomorrow. I'll take it..Im over this crap. I don't know how you do it NM and its only January. Glad you have an emergency kit in your car.

Illi....beautiful cabin...what a view.

Cami....what is it that you are doing on the phone? I love being lazy too and have fallen asleep while waiting for a call at work. Permanently, it will be about 6 years before we are able to live together. We constantly are looking at homes for sale and some day we will buy one but we have time to hold out for the "perfect" fit.

Goldie...I envy your green thumb. Wish I had a yard that I could garden in...some day.

Today is my last shift before .......yes, vacation again. Jodi will be coming in tomorrow...excited to see her.

Everyone stay warm..stay safe.

huggles

illimae

Goldie, lol! I wish I owned an island, sadly no. Hopefully, I’ll get to visit one this year though

nativemainer

Good Morning, Loungettes!Happy Sunday Funday! Today Mom and I are resurrecting an old Christmas tradition we had for years. We're going to watch White Christmas and eat popcorn and drink hot chocolate. We used to do that every year up until she moved in with Dick, then it kind of stopped. She found a DVD of the movie earlier this year, so we're going to start the tradition again. I am surprisingly excited to have this on the calendar for the day! Sadie will get lots of loving from Dick while we watch.

Teka--generators are good things!

Illi--Wow, what a nighttime view! And what a daytime view, too!And not much left to be done, really. Temps will warm up eventually, the big problem right now is the windiness, and that is calming down. The gusts will still make for dangerous wind chill, but at least it's not all the time.

Cammy--The furbabies know better than to take any more time outside than necessary in this cold. They aren't foolish! It's too bad people are so mean on the phone. Being angry and upset is one thing, but being mean to someone who has no control over it isn't called for. Good for you for keeping to your medication schedule. That will go a long way toward keeping the pain at bay.

Chi--I don't blame Gordy and Leslie for spending as much time together as they can until school starts up again. Work always seems to be getting in the way of life! This bitter cold/warm up and snow seesaw can break down anytime now. We've had our share of both for the season! Holy Moly, that is a lot of cleaning up work on an appliance you aren't even really using! Isn't it amazing how much gunk can collect on unused stuff? I've got some appliances I rarely use and have learned to store them wrapped in plastic wrap or inside a gallon sized zip lock bag to prevent the gunkies. Washing machines are wonderful helps for projects like this.

Goldie--Born and raised in Maine, I've been stuck in the car a few times. Not fun, and I know of a couple of people who have died in storms when stuck in cars. Not going to let that happen to me.I'll bet there's a raven, or maybe even an owl or hawk, that is thanking you for an easy meal! You probably don't care if a bird got a meal, but they could have left the trap! Maybe it will be returned? That would take one smart birdy!

Joy McSparkles DOTD:

The Raven Cocktail

What You'll Need

• 1 ounce vodka
• 1 ounce rum
• 1 ounce blue curacao
• 1/2 ounce Chambord

How to Make It

1. Pour the vodka, rum, and blue curacao into a cocktail shaker filled with ice.
2. Strain into a highball glass filled with fresh ice.
3. Slowly pour the Chambord over the back of a bar spoon so it floats on top.

chisandy

Kim, if I don't get any takers among friends or family (the Cuisinart is a Pro Custom 11, DLC-8--it was so long since I bought it that I forgot the model #), it's going on my neighborhood blog for best offer; I'm not going to sell or give it away filthy. Turns out one of the work bowls was chipped at the bottom flange and won't lock onto the base, so into the recycling it went. But I wish all those discs fit my new one. They don't even make the julienne disc any more, so for that it's back to the ol' chef's knife. (Seriously considering getting an Asian veggie cleaver--the tall blade is stabler and makes it easier to bend my fingers under, and less likely I'd nick them. Anyway, the dishwasher did a terrific job on everything but the base, which shouldn't be immersed in water. (Simple Green on a green scrubby-cloth to the rescue).

Lori, when the raven flew off with the rodent & trap, did it caw "nevermore?"

Cami, this is awful weather for pooches. As I was going through the alley on the way to my garage late at night, I saw a neighbor walking his chihuahua. Poor thing--I couldn't tell from its trembling whether it was chilled to the bone, or just being a chihuahua. There's also a flame war going on at my neighborhood blog between the dog owners and the salt-spreaders. The dog-owners think people shouldn't use salt on icy sidewalks and even the city shouldn't salt the streets, because salt irritates paws. When someone pointed out he uses the expensive pet-safe ice-melt sold in pet stores (as do I), one dog owner said that's not good enough, because it (or cat litter) gets stuck between the dogs' toes. It got really ugly when another neighbor suggested it's more important to keep people from falling and cars from crashing, so why not use dog booties? The responses ranged from "it's too inconvenient when you have a dog desperate to do its business" (how about establishing a routine in that regard?) to "how dare you say your car or even your life is more important than my dog's comfort! You should shovel down to bare pavement without having to spread anything!" (Ever try to do that when it snows >an inch per hour and you're a senior &/or disabled)?

This is why I own cats (or they own me) instead, and never let them outdoors (except in carriers to visit the vet or groomer). And why I have a shovel-guy on retainer,

jazzygirl

Quick question for any of you ladies who did external rads, did you use any creams to help with external burning? My BFF is starting external rads and not a computer saavy person (so she won't ever use this site), so I thought I would ask those of you who had that type of radiation therapy what you used that helped?

goldie0827

Just answering Jazzy for now. I had burns, tried several things from wound care, the last one worked the best and I might not be spelling it right, but it's sulfasalazine, or something like that.

dara_diverse

Hi girls! How is everyone doing? I wanted to poop in and do some dwinking with mese goils. ~hiccupp, howz everyone doing I said?

So I visited the PS on Friedey and he is okay with how things look with my healing. I still have one area that is oozing but he had put a sulfur stick in the hole he made when he debrided and said something about the sulfur makes healing take longer but it is supposed to fight infection. I am now at a wait and see, call the PS if things get worse and not better.

Jazzie, I suspect that Cyndie Lou Who aka Lucy can give your friend some suggestions, she really had a hard time with the ext rads. I will say a prayer that your friend;s burns improve and she heals quickly. Congrats on all the weight loss for the year, you have done so well with all that swimming and it sure has paid off.

NM, sweet tradition. and a win win for Miss Sadie with getting pets from Dick. HOpe the popcorn/movie was all you wanted it to be and more! Hope you are staying warm, it has been cold here too. I was dying while shoveling the snow from that blizzard, the winds were hitting my face and it went numb in jest a few minutes. My hands were also freezing, I did not have the right gloves.

CYn, envy you there in Florida, time to make a visit, oh how I wish I could. I feel bad that it got so cool there but uh, not toooo tooo bad lol. The low here last night was 2 below the donut hole as NM would say! That is very cold for this area. And its been cold for so long, not typical here.

Lori, I cringe when I tink about the pics of your hands and feet that you posted, you poor poor dear. Saying some prayers for healing for you girl friend, breaks my heart!

Cam, glad that Leslie has made her decision and hope that her treatments are going well for her. Sorry you are so darn biddy at work.

Karen, glad the new chemo is being more kind than the red devil. Your little girl sure is cute!

Sandy, sounds like your son had a great time with his girlfriend. FUnny about meet the boyfriends weekend. Good luck in selling, hope you find a buyer for your cuisinart!

Goldie, lol on thinking that Ill owns an island, you silly blond you hehe. Love you.

Ill, you sure to travel quite a bit, getting closer and closer to retirement you are. I can't wait, have at least 8 more years to go. Hope you are feeling well today.

Hello to any bwest fwends whom I have missed, love all mese goils so much. Stay warm everyone and stay cool to anyone where it's warm. Hi Mema Sue, tinking about you as you approach the big day, will be in yer pocket fir shoah!

cheeRs!