how about drinking?
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Father/daughter dance last weekend, Nora was SO excited! My son said it was lots of fun but a bit exhausting because she wanted to be swung thru the air all night!
I’m at the infusion center waiting for a room, my appointment was 40 minutes ago...ugh. Appointment at SSI went really well, the guy was so nice. He said d/t my dx they will fast track me and I should hear within 30 days. $300 more for disability then my SSI so that’ll be nice! Typing on my phone I’ll pop back later0 -
Hi friends- happy March! I meant to write yesterday but was busy with the nice weather and house things. I took a walk last night at sunset (hence the reflective trees in the puddle on one of the roads I saw) and think the trees will be out any time now. We are on track for the blooms here in the first week of March. I will continue to be checking out the trees on my daily walks and will take pictures. The promise of spring is there for us all, especially those further north of me.......
I checked in with the client on the little gig that came up last week. Her meeting went well on Friday and she said what I put together was exactly what she needed for her conversations with the joint venture. Success! She said she won't need anything else in March, so I will wrap up a few things today with my invoice and W-9 for her for future 1099 reporting. She wants to keep me as a resource for the future!
But also this morning, someone I was supposed to meet today for lunch (we moved to Thursday per his request) contacted me today and is interested to hire me for some part time project audit work. So we talked about that, submitted my qualifications and will see what he thinks if I am a good fit for this work? That may start in a couple of weeks. Another great work from home opportunity with some occasional meetings with the client site. A lot of time, these part time things grow in time and my plate should be fuller as we go forward. I like the idea of a couple things going on simultaneously now and work from home arrangements with some periodic meetings and/or travel.
My sister sounded a bit better last week for the first time in awhile. Perhaps she is adjusting to the new normal since everything changed almost five months ago. But then she told me this weekend she believes her partner will be stable for the next two years. I was rendered speechless once again........
Goldie- I am glad your son is getting help. We have all kinds of addiction problems in our family, and seen too many not choose recovery. I am glad your ex is helping DS and that he feels ready to this. And men are grudgy creatures, I learned that long ago. It is best to put aside difference when loved one need your support to help them the best. No one says you have to be BFFs, just find ways to get along for the higher good of another?
Genny- I am glad you are in getting your treatment going today and wishing you the best. I suspect today is a long day for you. Those pictures of Nora are just wonderful, she is just a lovely child and just love her little fashionista look every time I see her. Hoping DH is able to be there for you. So glad you are going to get your SS pushed through. It will help things.
Janky- keep enjoying that FL sunshine. I was going to try to go visit some friends and family in FL later this spring and just let them know travel is off the table right now with the virus on the move. One of my friends there who has a lot of health issues and had a bad viral infection for a month just told me in an e-mail this am that there are confirmed cases in FL now. Be careful sister. I hope your dad has a good visit up north.
MinusTwo- oh I see a shower chair in my future too. But you know what I really want? One of those walk in hot tubs. I have a small jetted tub in my master bathroom that has never fit my body quite right. My mother used to have one of those at her rehab place and loved it. Expensive upgrade though, but if I am to age in to this home, it might be worth the investment at some point.
I am keeping tabs on the Corvid-19 virus too. I went shopping Friday at Sam's Club with all the other apocalypse shoppers and stocked up on bottled water and a few other things. Heard a couple things that said as this hits in a bigger way, hospitals will fill up and best to prepared to be home for a couple weeks with self containment if you get this. People who are in and out of healthcare facilities right now, wash those hands often and keep them away from your face and mouth. Those are the two most practical things I have heard we can do right now?
NM, Cami, CeliaC, Teka, ChiSandy, JCS, and some of the newbees whose names I still forget, wishing you a good start to the month.
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Kim - thanks for the shout. Needed that today. And Jazzy. There's just no way I can keep up with you lovely ladies, but I do lurk & follow as best I can. Goldie - when is the sale? Cami - I love the stories about your Mother.
Since this is a drinking thread - here's my report. I pretty much give up gin & tonics for winter (even though Houston stays pretty warm) and go with red wine. I'm not a fan of sweet and tend to drink cabs & zinfandel. I've found a bunch that I like around $10.00 at Total wine, but will go up to $19 for special occasions.
The best part is my 'good night' sips. This for my health mind you. A "wee dram" is approximately 1/8 oz. I used to "take" only Tia Maria. Then I started drinking Godiva Chocolate liquor occasionally, or Chambord (yum raspberries). Lately I switch between Tuaca and Amarula. If you all don't know about Amarula, it's a cream liquor made from the Amarula Fruit in Africa that the elephants love. Sooooo smooth it's hard not to pour more than a . Google it...
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Hi girls, got thru all my appts today, each one took a lot longer than I thought, didn't even have time to stop and eat, I was starving by the time I got home. SSI took 1 hour 45 min but the guy was so thorough, he back dated everything to see if he can get me disability sine my stent placement, well almost, he said he can go back one year so the best thing about that would be that I could get Medicare in 1 year instead of 2. He seemed to know what he was doing and he said either way I am fast tracked and I'll know within 30 days. The Faslodex shots were fine, they used 2 nurses and got me in both cheeks at the same time, took maybe 90 seconds. My butt's a weebit sore but not too bad.
Jazzy, so happy for you at getting the job leads, hope they all pan out. Thanks for the well wishes, glad to get that first one done. Nora is a sassy one, Ill give ya that.
Well that's all I've got tonight, just caught myself dozing off, time for bed...G"night
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Good Morning, Loungettes!Happy Twofer Tuesday! Getting up to fog this ayem. Lots and lots of fog. The temps have come up and the snow is melting.The trees and bushes were ice coated yesterday ayem, they were sparkling in the sun shine, it was so pretty. Sadie wasn't impressed yesterday or today, the back deck wasbit slippery. The looks she gives me when her feet go out from under her is just too funny!
Genny--wow, sounds like you had quite the day planned! I hope all appointments went well.
Goldie--I hadn't thought about the stock market being affected by the virus, but I guess it really has been. There are rules in place for taking someone's driver's license, but the whole process depends on someone starting it. No one ever wants to the be the person who took Mom's or Dad's license away. Mom won't b/c then she'll have to drive him around all the time and he wants to go into town at least once and often 2 or 3 times a day. Glad to hear your son is in good spirits. And glad to hear the counts are down a bit. Be sure to take care of yourself!
Cammy Cat--Yup, the virus thing is scary. You aren't far off, this kind of thing has been going on for as long as there have been humans and animals that could catch diseases. A disease emerges, hits populations hard, the populations develop resistance, illnesses become fewer, a new one emerges, and the cycle begins again. The only real difference is that with technology advancing we hear about it sooner and the spread goes faster. It's going to be interesting to see what happens over the next few weeks.
Janky--Sadie is very well, thank you, and she says Woofies for the extra belly rubs and tummy tickles. She loves getting the tummy tickles! Not that I mind giving them, mind you.
Genny--What beautiful pics!Fast tracking at SSI and an extra $300 will both be nice.
Jazzy--Nice to have that little job done so easily, and left you set up for future work, too! Work from home with occasional travel sounds like a very nice situation. Good luck with the newest project! Glad your sister is sounding better, but concerned about the 2 years stable comment. Part of her is still not processing, but nothing to be done about that except listen and support and pray someone or something reaches her in time to prepare before things get worse.
Minus--I like your 'good night' sips! I love Chambord, have tasted Godiva Chocolate and love that, too, haven't heard of Tuaca and Amaruta. Gonna have to see if I can find some of those.
Genny--sorry the appointments took so long. Ouch on the faslodex shots.
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Janky, how long are you away for? I'm sure you are enjoying some warmer temps.
Mary, the father/daughter dance, so special and look how adorable aNORAble is. Love the pose and her hair looks very pretty. She looks very excited. They asked me if I wanted my Faslodex both at the same time, I declined. Reason being, when they do one side at a time, you can take the weight off your foot on the side they doing, doesn't hurt as bad that way, since it's going in the muscle.
Jazzy, sounds like you have some good work coming your way and working from home an added bonus. Oh dear, your poor sister is in some huge denial. But I am surprised that your SIL is still with us, which is a good thing, I guess. Thoses walk in tubs are quite nice, my DH's aunt in VA has one, and she has one of those chairs that takes you up and down the stairs.
Minus, we don't when the sale will be, playing it by ear. Want to make sure we get everything there and priced. Have a camping trip scheduled for the first of April, so sometime after that. They must have drunk elephants in Africa!
NM,What on earth does Dick do when he goes to town? I had a little chuckle that your mom doesn't want him to lose his license so she doesn't have to drive him around.
Well, my son got out of the hospital, but not into rehab. That happens Friday, and I will be the one taking him, as it is in the same town as my brother, where I will be staying. My other brother and I will go pick him up at his dads on Thursday, he will stay the night with me and I will take him on Friday. I guess they keep you in 2 week intervals, throw ya out if you aren't following the rules.
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Mornin ladies,
Janice it's so nice u and ur sisters are so good to your dad and he gets to travel a bit. Weather is kind of OK here this week, but again u never know. Yes mom mom was a nitemare shopping, my sister is like her <not as bad> but she was the only one who could consistently take her shopping every week, I always stayed with my dad and loved it. But when they were in their 70's my dad would wait in the car for 3-4 hrs waiting for my mom and my aunt and never complained.
Oh they announced on TV last night 2 cases of this corona, a couple in their 70;s but they were home not in a hospital, now they said it might be like Sars for the treatment??? Just find it.
Oh Lori I can't stop thinking about ur son, I pray it's going well.
And Illi I pray today is a better day too.
Mary Nora is absolutely beautiful, what a super pic. And how much fun is a father and daughter dance. Her dress is so feminine with her hair style. Just Anorable.
Wow Jazzy u sound busy trying to get some things done, plus organizing 2 different jobs. BUT I know u can do it, so no worries for you. This is what u shine in.
Kim these DOTD'S are so pretty to look at, they have to be good. Mud season will be there soon and who knows what else in March. I know we both get crazy March but sometimes urs is worse. But so far there have been no closings this winter, usually there are 1 or 2 but we never had really bad weather. So now we wait.
Tuesday is taco day, not that we'll have them just thought I'd bring u all up to date. <very important>
Hoping everyone has a good day
LUBS U ALL
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Glorious weather here outside of Charleston. We have been to two state parks, the beach and relaxing on the deck. I love having no schedule and being lazy. Might have thunderstorms tonight. The plan tomorrow is to visit the S.C. Aquarium since it is supposed to rain most of the day.
Sounds like people have been busy dealing with family issues. Some good, some not so good. My youngest just found out he has to replace the sewer lines to his house. Quite a bit of money and cannot use the toilet until it is fixed. The fun just never ends!0 -
I'm off in the morning. Thank you everyone for your thoughts, prayers and good juju. Will check in when I can.
JCS, enjoy the aquarium!
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Goldie - hope all goes well & you get your son settled in rehab.
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Lori praying everything goes as planned with ur son.I know u have to show strength for ur son and I know u will. But it isn't always easy but I know u'll have this covered. U r a woman of strength and it's time to call it up for ur use now. Safe travels and a pleasant ride. The weather is supposed to be OK so that's a relief. <well for me>
Illi <<<HUGS>>>
Mary r u doing OK???
Jazzy FANTASTIC PICTURES. Were u right up front, oh u must have enjoyed that. I know I would. U do such fun things.Every concert I catch is on PBS, but I'm fine with that. I hope u get to talk to ur sister soon.
I'm falling asleep so...................
LUBS U ALL
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Good Morning, Loungettes!Happy Hump Day! Did everyone get out to vote yesterday? Or earlier if you do the absentee ballot thing? Hmm, what this one a nation wide one or just select states?The big news in Maine is that the new law doing away with non-medical vaccination exceptions was upheld.The yelling and crying has already started, along with the warnings that soon we won't be able to make any choices for ourselves, the government will be making them all. What a hot potato topic! Sadie doesn't care, she says give her whatever shots it takes so she can keep living with me. So I guess I'm doing ok as a doggy Mom after all!
Speaking of Mom, things are blowing up on the Mom and Dick front. Mom noticed that someone has been looking through her financial papers (bank statements, in particular). She is furious. She thinks Dicks daughter is the one, and she confronted her, and now the daughter won't come and see Dick (she been coming at least once a week to help Dick with financial things). Mom is going to start moving her more valuable stuff out of the house and into storage or a safe deposit box and islooking into getting an apartment in a retirement community. And the only reason Dick hasn't been moved into a nursing home or assisted living place is because Mom is still in the house, and the daughter wants that situation to go on as long as possible so Dick doesn't spend down his assets and the kids will inherit more. So, naturally, Mom's blood pressure was through the roof before her procedure yesterday.Oh, and I'm not supposed to tell my brother any of this so he isn't worried while he's in the process of changing job locations.
Cammy Cat--The melting has started, mud season is just around the corner, Yay!Of course, we get blizzards in March, too. . . It will be interesting to see what happens.
Goldie--Dick usually goes to a hardware store, sometimes a grocery store. Sometimes he buys something, sometimes he doesn't. I think it depends on how close the wanted item is to the front of the store. He is having a harder and harder time walking with his bad ankle. I'm glad your son is getting into rehab, hope he can stay out of trouble between now and Friday. I wish him luck on his journey.
Librarian--Homeownership is a never-ending list of things needing doing and money to be spent! I'm lucky that I haven't run into any hugely expensive work, yet. Great pic. Do you watch the thunderstorms from your deck?
Safe travels, Goldie
Jazzy--those pics are great!Looks like it was a great show.
Mississippi Mud Pie Martini
Ingredients
For the Martini:
4 ounces RumChata
3 ounces vodka
2 ounces kahlua
1 ounce chocolate syrup
For the Crust:
6 chocolate cookie wafers (any plain chocolate cookie)
2 tablespoons chocolate syrup
For Garnish:
4 tablespoon chocolate shavings (use a peeler and shave a chocolate bar)
Instructions
Crush the cookies in a plastic bag.
Pour into a bowl and mix together with the chocolate syrup. Divide the cookie mixture in half and spoon into each martini glass.
Add the ingredients for the martini into a cocktail shaker only half filled with ice cubes.
Shake well and divide equally into each martini glass.
Top with chocolate shavings and serve.
From <https://www.mantitlement.com/recipes/cocktails/mississippi-mud-pie-martini/>
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Good Wacky Wednesday Morning. I have been busy at work and trying to fit in home jobs. I have been so tired after work that I just get done what I need to. I don't sleep well, so I need to fix that and exercise/move more, that should give me more energy. It doesn't help me saying it if I don't do it. lol
Goldie- prayers for your son, hard for him and all his family. Two weeks doesn't seem like enough time, hopefully it gets him a good start. I am glad that he came to you and his father for help. Dealing with grown kids problems make you miss the time when they were little and you could fix everything. -- I didn't think about the stock market and the virus. That is kind of interesting how one thing affects everything else.
NM - It sounds like your mom is in the middle of a lifetime movie or a soap opera. Maybe this makes her housing decision easier if she is thinking of an apt in a retirement community. I truly hope she is wrong about Dicks kids, but there are people out there like that. Out to get what they can.
Jazzy - It was great to see your concert pictures and glad you got some jobs lined up. I see the walk in tubs in on commercials or magazines; and you are right that if would be a good investment for your future self.
Minus - I had to look up the drinks you have, but it is interesting about the Amaruta coming from a fruit in Africa. I do learn so much here. I don't know if this is considered useless trivia floating around in my brain, but I do like learning about things so keep it coming!
Genny, the pictures of your son and granddaughter were so beautiful. That will be such a sweet memory for her.
JCS - Hope you enjoy your day at the aquarium, that is a really great way to spend a rainy day.
Illimae- glad you are feeling better...slowly, but better. Soon you will be back at your travels.
I read everyday, even though I don't post often.
Is chiSandy traveling, haven't seen anything from her lately.
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Hi ladies- happy hump day. Another sunny and warm day here and spring seems to be moving in here early. I think the ground hog predicted it, and I had lunch with a friend yesterday and she said it had been unusually warm lately. We have had a lot of moisture though this winter, while it was sunny and mild here yesterday, down in the southern part of the state, they got a big snow storm! That is unusual for the south
I started some birthday celebrations yesterday with a good friend who also has a milestone birthday this March (she turned 70 yesterday). We went to a new location for a fav place of mine and had some wonderful salads for lunch plus she got a free dessert with a sparkler in it. She is the same friend I did my pay it forward to with the recent eye surgery assistance (she is doing well with recovery).
And then of course, the concert last night, ooh la la. Harry was in prime form both with his singing and engagement with the audience. He had a great 7 peice back up band that included a NOLA style horn section
NM- thanks for voting yesterday and super Tuesday only covers some states, not all. Our primary here is one of the last, early June. I used to think all the primaries were the same day for the most part too, but we hear more about things these days. We are a large state area wise with a small population (under 2 million). I heard our current governor is trying to get us pushed up on the schedule in the future. Attached is the link for all the states and their events, plus the conventions. So no, I did not vote but I will and we usually have early voting locations here for everything which makes it easier. I just saw on the news there were people waiting in line way too long yesterday in some locations.....
https://www.270towin.com/2020-election-calendar/
Oh accusing the Dick's daughter of going through the paperwork. Could it be that Dick went through it (and realize that he may not remember it?) Accusing a family member or visitor is never a good move. Maybe she just needs a secured file or something so the paperwork is out of sight. I know this movie too as my sister's MIL was always misplacing jewelry when she used live alone, but then accusing people who maybe came to visit or drop off some things to help her (she never drove) of stealing her jewelry. They stopped visiting too. I would tell your brother anyways as an fyi, not fair for the burden to be on you. I always reminded myself as the roles reverse with parents, we have to really step up the adult role with them. Wishing you better days sister.
And what are non-medical vaccines? I thought all vaccines were medical? 'Splain that to me please!
Goldie- I hope you are to your destination by now and that you can have some visits with your son. I don't know how rehab works but think sometimes you can't visit in the beginning, but don't know that for sure. I hope you get to see the goils while you are there, I know you are looking forward to it.
Shout out to ChiSandy and also Genny, you guys doing okay?
Mistyeyes- I have problems with insomnia sometimes too and find that if I exercise even a little bit, it helps me to sleep better. Sometimes a short walk is enough. I try to get a 20 min walk in each day, but also swim and do yoga. The ways to get a quick walk in are to do it before work, at work at lunch time, or after work. I have had walking buddies sometimes at my client sites and jobs and found a walking buddy to go with depending on where the work site is and any safety concerns.
JCS- that is too bad about your son. I had a friend here in my city who lives down in an older area near the university that was required to replace the lines to her home too. I guess the pipes were aging out and it was on the property owner to replace them and it was something like an $8K financial hit. She had to take out a loan to pay for it, and said it was not like she was even doing something fun with the house.
And yes, although I am getting more contacts, I am learning to ask different questions now when someone approaches me. Sometimes what is initially said turns out to have some hidden obstacles you need to ferret out. For example, yesterday someone contacted me about doing more work at the place I just left two months ago. I happen to know they are shedding consultants and also have a hiring freeze? A friend called last night that still works there and she confirmed that is still true. SMH. Tomorrow I have lunch with someone who contacted me about some new work and have lots more questions for him too.
Gotta run to Social Security to get a new card ordered for real ID next month as well as an updated passport. I am late to the party with this but hopefully will get everything in time (otherwise I will be getting my liscense done twice this year).
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Hi girls, hope everyone is having an ok day. I worked today, 1 more down 7 to go and I'm all done. I'm ready, I have so many things to tackle around the house and I've got to start working out more. All my appointments went fine on Monday, not even sore from the shots. Doing fine on the Ibrance so far too. Did not like the new cardiologist one bit, he was one of those arrogant types that wants his patients to do what he says and never ask questions, I won't be going back, going to look for a female I think. Not my kind of doctor, I like to be able to ask questions and that seemed to annoy him. All 3 pooches got groomed today, they look bootiful but it was $180 plus $35 tip, yikes, I've never spent that much on my own hair!
Cami, when you were talking about lent it brought back a memory, I went to catholic school in the 60's, nuns in long flowing habits, anyway, on ash Wednesday we always had mass and we got the ash cross on our foreheads and every year 6th, 7th 8th grade I woke up with a bit zit right in the middle of my forehead where they made that cross, wanted to wash it off after 6th grade but didn't dare, oh I dreaded that zit! By 9th grade I was a heathen and in public school so I didn't have to worry about it anymore. Thanks about Nora, I think she"s awfully pretty but I'm partial. Joey doing ok?
Janky, Are you still in sunny Florida? Hope the weather is great, and you're continuing to have a good time with the kids. When do you go back to the cold? You've got a good size family, sounds like lots of support for your dad. Yes a long, long run on my current meds would be nice, don't know if I have any other options but IV chemo so I'd like to get years out of this.
Jazzy, looks like great seats for Harry, was that your first time seeing him? Spring seems to be coming early here in Ohio too, I noticed some tulips starting to pop thru the dirt today. I had to apply for a new SSI card when I was there for the same reason, for the life of me I can't figure out what happened to it, figure it'll turn up as soon as the new one arrives. LOVED the bar shower!
Lori, safe travels, praying for your son, seems maybe the timing of your trip was meant to be. Yay on markers going down, sorry about the D, hope it doesn't interfere with your travel!
NM, Wow, talk about it hitting the fan with your mom! good news I guess is that it may push her into a retirement home situation instead of trying to buy a house. And it might be nice if she can concentrate on herself and not have to help take care of Dick. The retirement home I work in has a movie room a game room a fitness room and even a pub, hardly a bunch of old folks sitting around sleeping and drooling. They are going to exercise classes and happy hour! I'm with Jazzy, not sure what a non-medical vaccine is either.
Misty, I'm sure my granddaughter will always remember that dance, now her new thing is the Disney Zombie movie and she keeps making herself up like a zombie, I'll have to post some pics. I do a lot of talk about exercising more too, probably does work better to actually get up and do it!
Hi Minus and Sandy and whoever else I'm missing, time to cook dinner altho I'm really tired and may cook it and skip actually eating it and just go to bed. DH will be home later but I thawed chicken and told him I'd cook it, now I might just eat a "special" cookie and call it a night. Oh and I made an appt to get my MMJ card, I go next Friday, I was surprised at the cost tho, it's $280 first year and $180/yr after that. I didn't expect it to be that much!
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Genny- I am glad to hear you are doing okay this first week. Hoping the treatments kick butt and leave you with energy to do all you need to. Our houses really do require a lot of time from us sometimes, yes?
This was actually the second time I saw Harry Connick Jr, but it has literally been decades. I saw him when he was up and coming in the mid 1990s and probably in his late 20s back then. That was a great concert too, memorable for someone like me who has been to many concerts since the 1970s. This one was even better, because of that band he had with him this time too. He has evolved from being a musician into a full spectrum entertainer. I love him too in the movie, Hope Floats, if you have seen that (runs on HBO a lot).
Got a lot of things accomplished today including my social security card replacement ordered (should be here in two weeks) and my passport application went in the mail. I should have everything back by end of the month and then can go get my Real ID and have this done (plus everything else current). Someone gave me a tip on going to this SS office in the town just to the north of ABQ and I was not there 5 minutes before I got helped. I figured I would be there for hours. And when the time comes to get my SS benefits with retirement, I will know where to go for help if I need it.
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Good Morning, Loungettes!Happy Thirsty Thursday! Another lovely warm day, even if windy, today. I guess the wind should be dying off today, that will make for abeautiful, spring-is-coming day. I haven't been asked to cover any shifts this week or next, that is a really good sign! I am busting butt getting caught upand trying to get a bit ahead before the next staffing crisis hits. Making for awfully long days in front of the computer, though. Sadie says Woof to everyone!
Misty--I hear you about the feeling tired and needing to move more to get more energy. If you find a strategy that works, please share it! Today I'm going to set an alarm to get up and walk around every 30 minutes while I'm at work and see if that helps. Mom does sound like she's in the middle of a life time movie, doesn't she? My personal opinion is that Dick or Dick's daughter did look at Mom's bank statement, but not out of any nefarious intent but to verify or clarify something in Dick's finances. Mom tends to jump to the worst possible scenario conclusions and then act on that without actually getting facts first. Dick wouldn't necessarily remember doing it, and I know how accusatory and nasty Mom can be when she thinks she's been wronged. But, this daughter does have a history of doing questionable things with her mother's money under similar circumstances. The whole thing makes me glad Mom and Dick kept their finances separated. That will make things easier in the long run.
Jazzy--I just saw a news item about people waiting more than 2 hours in line to vote, I didn't catch where that was. I suppose it's pretty egocentric to assume that if Maine has a vote, all the states have a vote going on! It is easier to find out about stuff like that now, though, than it used to be. OK, and now I just figured out why they call it Super Tuesday! I always thought it was because that was the national primary vote day!Talk about being naïve.I hope she gets a secured file of some kind, she currently keeps her mail and bank statements and such in a pile on the kitchen table or counter. There was a note written on one page "start here" that is not in Dick's handwriting, and not in Mom's so someone has looked at the statements. BUT, I really wonder if Dick and Dtr were looking to help understand something in Dick's finances, and Mom over reacted. I think Mom is going to keep her papers somewhere else now. I am going to call and talk with kid brother this weekend and up date him, just so that he knows what's happening. I feel kind of crappy about doing that, but this is one area where Mom may not know what is best. Ah, the joys of having aging parents!The non-medical isn't referring to vaccines, it's referring to exemptions from vaccinations.In Maine, it used to be that children were allowed to attend school, preschool, or daycare without having any vaccinations. Parents could choose not to have vaccinations given to their children for any reason.The growing number of children who are not getting childhood vaccinations has caused a resurgence of a number of illnesses (chicken pox, measles, whooping cough primarily) breaking out in schools. When this happens unvaccinated children need to be kept out of school for their protection, and if a large enough percentage of children are unvaccinated or get sick, the school has to close until 14 days after the last case is diagnosed. Children have been missing months of school time, schools are starting to have trouble getting the required minimal number of days in, and infants, older people and ill people are being hospitalized at higher and higher rates with these disease and the complications of them are causing an increase in the death rate of Maine's elders and disabled. Legislation was passed eliminating the non-medical exemption last year. Parents can still opt not to have their children vaccinated, but unless the child is exempted from vaccination for medical reasons by a doctor (children in treatment for cancer, children with a documented allergy or serious reaction to a vaccination, children with diagnosed medical conditions that make vaccination unwise) that child may not attend public or privateschool, pre-school, or day care and may not be allowed to attend public events when certain illnesses are circulating. In other words, parents who choose not to vaccinate for philosophical reasons will have to home school their children, will not be able to take their children into stores or to movies or concerts or sports events during flu season or if there is chicken pox or whooping cough or measles cases in the community, can be prohibited from visiting in nursing homes and hospitals. There was a people's veto on the ballad this week, and the veto did not pass by a large margin.
OK< gotta head to work, kechup tomorrow!
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NM, ahhh, thanks for the explanation. I'm on the side.. if you want your kids to go to public school they must be vaccinated, to me the risks far outweigh the benefits. Having all these almost nonexistent illnesses having such a resurgence is a shame. I think part of the problem is that this generation of parents did not live through the german measles and chicken pox as some of us older folks have. I know a guy just a few years older than me with his leg all shriveled up from polio. I can remember sitting in a dark room for days with the measles. But I know it is a hot button topic.
Jazzy, sounds like we'll be getting our new SSI cards at the same time. Glad you enjoyed the concert.
Gotta run, dogs to walk, hair and feet to do, I'm SO ready to be retired!
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Jazzy - I saw Harry Connick many years ago also. He was fantastic. A girlfriend saw him recently and was able to meet him back stage. I have long thought he was very handsome and a great musician!
Genny- I agree, everyone should get vaccinations for the childhood illnesses. I am not a fan of the flu vaccines. They do not seem to really help, but do make money for the pharmaceutical companies. Maybe this current virus will teach people about hand washing and how to keep viruses from contaminating others.
We are heading home today. I am ready to be in my own bed as well as start some projects. The chemo vacay has been fun. The scans the end of the month will tell if it gets to continue.
The aquarium was interesting and fun. We got to do a behind the scenes tour of the food prep area, the holding tanks for new animals and the top of the 42 ft deep ocean tank. I learned that a sea turtle will fight a shark for food! They have to separate them at feeding time.
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Good morning friends- just a quick message as I have someone coming to the house to look at a table for a furniture repair as well as thinking I may have them look at a rocking chair that needs the seat recaned. I have a business luncheon today with the colleague that has some possible work for me. I submitted my quals earlier this week and will see what his thoughts are. I think a lot of businesses are trying to figure out right now how to respond to the workforce needs (even non-healthcare) right now.
NM- I thought maybe the vax thing had to do with the whole movement around the anti-vaxers. Public health vs. freedom of choice is a slippery slope. Thanks for explaining for us. Also, it makes sense that with Dick and your mom's finances separate, and and kids having to step in soon, they are probably trying to figure out what he has for resources for group care and the longer term. Separating the bills is a good start. Talking to the adult children on the other side is probably a good idea so you have a plan for how to help your mom. I think wine should be involved.....
JCS- he is quite handsome! I love the aqua pics. I hope your scan later this month keep you off chemo longer.
Goldie- I hope you made it okay and time with son is going okay. I know you are going to see Cami and Mary soon too. I can't wait for the pics.
Hope everyone's day is good and tomorrow is Friday already and don't forget day light savings this weekend too!
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Is ChiSandy off traveling?
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No travel, ladies: mea culpa (as I would have said Ash Wed. had I been Catholic). I've just been elsewhere online, as well as various appointments (PCP, DDS, MO, GYN, DPM, hair, nails, car, satellite/cable/phone techs, repairmen, etc.), "special" dinners out, a pro bono landlord/tenant case, getting taxes done, dealing with other financial stuff (trying to strike a balance between panic and sensible profit-taking), Bob's partner's b.c. and his own increasingly rotten knees, stuff for choir, and glued to the TV (I'm a politics junkie).
Mary, may the new regimen slam the brakes on your mets for a good long time. And typing was the only class I ever flunked! (My mom, who was a legal sec'y, typed 65WPM on a manual). Lori, hope your son goes into rehab tomorrow as planned, and that it "takes." Kim, so frustrating dealing with aging parents (beats not having them any more) and siblings whose interests conflict with theirs. Ilona, may that sleeping L vocal fold nerve finally "wake up" so you can safely imbibe the cocktail of your choice. Jazzy, so envious you saw Connick--glad you enjoyed it. I'm not really interested in any rock concerts for awhile (the only newer act I like is Vampire Weekend, and AFAIK they're not coming to Chicago,). We are seeing Audra McDonald on the 14th, though Dominican U. (the venue) had a student (or staffer, I forget which) test positive for COVID-19.
Bob was worried that the virus causing people to avoid concerts & sporting events would imperil Gordy's job at Vivid Seats.com. Gordy replied that had he stayed in his original customer svce. job it might have; but he's a "fraud analyst" now and as he puts it, "fraudsters gonna fraud." Identity thieves and hackers aren't afraid of any viruses.
I have a trip to San Diego (Chi. Bar Assn. continuing legal ed.) coming up at the end of the month--combining it with celebrating my law school classmate in Moreno Valley's 30th anniversary (and 6-months' remission from colorectal cancer). But not sure if the CBA will be cancelling the trip. We also have a timeshare trip to NYC in May (combining that with a visit to my recently-widowed cousin-in-law), but Bob is starting to get a bit nervous about the prospect of being sealed into an airborne metal tube with >100 other people and recirculated air for 2 hrs.
The Thurs. after Ash Wed. was Cellars' NOLA-themed "Lundi Gras" wine dinner. Yeah, it was more of a cheat meal than other winemaker & celebration dinners of late. We started with Domaine Collin Brut cremant de Limoux. With the appetizer, a white Graves; with the fish course, a Macon blanc Chardonnay; with the gumbo (I avoided the rice but there's no way around the roux, and I did eat a bit of the cornbread) Domaine Dupeuble Beaujolais-Villages (not as tasty as their Nouveau); with blackened steak, a Kermit Lynch blend of Rhône-Ranger varietals from the Languedoc. Dessert was bourbon bread pudding--it was a small slice, and I did eat it--accompanied by a "Boulevardier" cocktail of a L.I. artisanal bourbon, Campari, simple syrup and Luxardo cherries. Only drank a third of it (and only an ounce of each wine), but as boozy non-sweet cocktails go, pretty darn tasty.
Sat. night we gave the Palm another chance. As an aperitif, I ordered a flute of Piper Heidseck brut. What arrived instead was suspiciously sweet with larger bubbles--sure enough, it was a Prosecco (supposed to be half the price of Champagne). I made the waiter taste it to confirm. He took it back, and poured me a glass from the bottle of Piper--which this time was the real thing. I suspected that the bartender probably thought that their now-mostly-tourist clientele thought all bubblies were alike, so everybody who orders a sparkler gets Prosecco. The waiter said he put "Piper Heidseck" into the POS system at the beginning of our order, so the fault was definitely the bartender's...unless it's now the new mgmt's policy to cut corners. They remodeled to double the size of the bar and put more TVs in (all turned to sports, of course). At least the steak was good. With it we had a bottle of Sokol Blosser 2016 Willamette Valley (OR) Pinot Noir. That was the first OR winery we ever visited, back in 1989, so our choice was for sentimental reasons.
Saw my MO today, who wasn't at all concerned that I hadn't lost any weight since last week's weight clinic visit--she was delighted with my overall progress. We had a heart to heart about letrozole--and she confirmed that the mutation takes years after the end of AI treatment to manifest. She compared it to taking penicillin for decades for every little infection, and then coming down with a penicillin-resistant bug. She'd like me to stay on my AI through the end of December, since the most benefit happens during the first 5 years--but would prefer I do 7 years as the "sweet spot." She says that at present my recurrence risk is about 5%; but that in a Stage IA survivor it can rise to as much as 20-30% 15-20 years after treatment ends. So I'd be 70 if I stopped letrozole at 5 yrs and 72 if I did so at 7 yrs--she prefers to delay the perhaps-inevitable as long as possible unless it negatively impacts my life. She is concerned that the risk of osteoporosis-related fractures rises dramatically after 5 yrs. on an AI, so she hinted that my Dexascan results (I take it next week) might warrant going back on Prolia. My main beef with letrozole isn't weight gain or lousy metabolism (now that I've lost 53 lbs.)--it's that it worsened my blood lipid profile (higher LDL despite the weight loss; the resulting statin raised my glucose too, though the a1c is at a healthy level for now due to weight loss). And with my family cardiovascular history being a train wreck on both sides...
Speaking of that MO visit, things have changed at Kellogg Cancer Center due to the virus. The mask dispenser in the lobby is empty (duh--patients & visitors had been taking them to hoard), and I worry how chemo patients will be able to protect themselves. At check-in, no more signing in: no touching the stylus, just getting an iris-scan instead. And the free coffee machine in the alcove by the parking pay-station has been replaced by one that won't take a tall travel mug--had to waste a paper cup after pouring the coffee into my travel "Ember." (Their coffee is still weak, so I pull a shot of espresso into the Ember at home whenever I'm headed to any appts. at a NorthShore facility).
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Happy thirsty Thursday, my computer has been wonky, but seems okay today! DH and I had a lovely lunch, where I reconnected with a cousin I have not seen since 2000 - 20 years ago!! Her mom, my dad's sister, passed 6 days before my mom in January which is when we first chatted. We live in totally different provinces a few thousand miles apart, but she and her hubby spend 3 months up the road in St. Petersburg, FL, about 50 minutes away from my son's so able to visit in sunny Florida! Ughh computer acting up...
genny - glad your 'shots' were not a 'pain in the butt'
I am in Florida till March 9, then huby and I are driving to St. Simon's Georgia to visit with dad for another 9 days, then home to Alberta March 17.NM - Our aging parents can drive us to distraction can't they?! My mom accused a few people of stealibg her jewelry, but it usually turned up in a drawer. Though I now miss all of her 'forgetfulness', and her wonderful smile - she could light up a room. Glad Sadie enjoyed the tickles.
I have to head off now, though I was hoping to reply to all - thank you for your support, this is the best place to be if you have to have cancer...I wish us good health, good humour and all good things. Cheers! Janice
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Well, I spoke too soon. Just got off the phone with the activities director at the CBA: the San Diego trip's been cancelled. Too many law firms in town have imposed travel bans, and the city of San Diego has declared a state of emergency and cancelled all conventions. Oh, well. Hope SW refunds my airfare, and that I can get refunded all 820,000 HiltonHonors points (plus $379 for the extra night) I spent for my room at the Embassy Suites. My friends in Moreno Valley will be disappointed too.
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Good Morning, Loungettes!Happy TGIF day! I've got to admit I am looking forward to a sleep in tomorrow ayem. Also got to admit I am not looking forward to the time change. Oh well, I'll adjust, I always do, right? And Silly Sadie just rolls with the flow.
Genny--I think Mom will discover that being in a retirement place is a good thing for just those reasons. There will be other people around for her to interact with, things for her to do, and she doesn't have to stay stuck in the apartment if she doesn't want to. I also think she is going to miss having something to do, but hoping she'll find some volunteer work or something like that. BUT, that's what I want for her, and I need to remember to keep my mouth shut about all that and stay focused on what she wants and what she thinks. You probably already caught the explanation, but it's not the vaccine that's non-medical, it's the exemption that's non-medical that's going away. Well, actually, the exemption isn't going away, the consequences are changing. One of the groups behind the change is parents of children with cancer. Many were being told that they should not let their child attend school during treatment due to the growing number of unvaccinated children and the increasing rate of outbreaks of preventable diseases in the schools every year. Most childhood cancer treatment regimens last a year or even 2, and being able to attend school and interact with friends is really important to the kid's development and coping. Yikes, that MMJ card is expensive!
Jazzy--if you have a passport do you need a Real ID?Maine just started having a Real ID option this year, and I've been using my passport for anything that asked for a Real ID without any problem. Will getting a Real ID cost more like it will here?
Genny--yup, the whole vaccination thing is a hot button, for sure. I've taken care of babies with whooping cough and it is a terrible thing to watch. The coughing spells are so intense, and so frightening, and nothing you can do helps, in fact, touching the child and trying to comfort the child often makes the coughing spell worse.Sitting with a mom watching her baby coughing until it turns blue and stops breathing is gut-wrenching. I wonder if anyone is finding old iron lungs and refurbishing them so they will be ready for a bit polio outbreak. I wonder how today's kids will handle not being allowed to go to public pools and summer recreation programs. Parents today never experienced neighborhood quarantines due to polio outbreaks.
Librarian--I'm skeptical that the flu vaccine actually accomplishes it's stated goal of decreasing the hospitalization and death rate of elders from flu and flu-like illnesses.The rates don't seem to drop in synch with the flu vaccination rate nationally, but I don't see where it does enough harm to make it worth the fight of not getting one. The aquarium looks like a fun visit! I love going to aquariums. I didn't know turtles would fight sharks for food. Pretty tough critters!
Jazzy--The legislation wasn't aimed at anti-vaccers so much as it was aimed at protecting those who do vaccinate or medically cannot vaccinate from consequences of choosing not to vaccinate, and making it easier for schools and business to stay open and do what they do. There is a public health element in that children too young to be vaccinated are more protected from vaccine-preventable diseases by keeping voluntarily unvaccinated children (and adults) out of public places during disease outbreaks. The Public Health vs Freedom of Choice is a slippery slope. If a parent's choice to not vaccinate a child only affected that parent and child it would be one thing, but that choice forces consequences on others that they have no control over, and that's not fair, either. It's a complicated situation.
Yogatyme--Welcome, and love the pic!
Chi--sounds like you've been busy! Good point that "fraudsters gonna fraud"! Interesting changes at the clinic around the coffee machine. Makes me wonder how important all that signing in stuff really is anyway.
Janky--taking care of parents is hard work, I'm discovering!
Good Morning, Loungettes!Happy TGIF day! I've got to admit I am looking forward to a sleep in tomorrow ayem. Also got to admit I am not looking forward to the time change. Oh well, I'll adjust, I always do, right? And Silly Sadie just rolls with the flow.
Genny--I think Mom will discover that being in a retirement place is a good thing for just those reasons. There will be other people around for her to interact with, things for her to do, and she doesn't have to stay stuck in the apartment if she doesn't want to. I also think she is going to miss having something to do, but hoping she'll find some volunteer work or something like that. BUT, that's what I want for her, and I need to remember to keep my mouth shut about all that and stay focused on what she wants and what she thinks. You probably already caught the explanation, but it's not the vaccine that's non-medical, it's the exemption that's non-medical that's going away. Well, actually, the exemption isn't going away, the consequences are changing. One of the groups behind the change is parents of children with cancer. Many were being told that they should not let their child attend school during treatment due to the growing number of unvaccinated children and the increasing rate of outbreaks of preventable diseases in the schools every year. Most childhood cancer treatment regimens last a year or even 2, and being able to attend school and interact with friends is really important to the kid's development and coping. Yikes, that MMJ card is expensive!
Jazzy--if you have a passport do you need a Real ID?Maine just started having a Real ID option this year, and I've been using my passport for anything that asked for a Real ID without any problem. Will getting a Real ID cost more like it will here?
Genny--yup, the whole vaccination thing is a hot button, for sure. I've taken care of babies with whooping cough and it is a terrible thing to watch. The coughing spells are so intense, and so frightening, and nothing you can do helps, in fact, touching the child and trying to comfort the child often makes the coughing spell worse.Sitting with a mom watching her baby coughing until it turns blue and stops breathing is gut-wrenching. I wonder if anyone is finding old iron lungs and refurbishing them so they will be ready for a bit polio outbreak. I wonder how today's kids will handle not being allowed to go to public pools and summer recreation programs. Parents today never experienced neighborhood quarantines due to polio outbreaks.
Librarian--I'm skeptical that the flu vaccine actually accomplishes it's stated goal of decreasing the hospitalization and death rate of elders from flu and flu-like illnesses.The rates don't seem to drop in synch with the flu vaccination rate nationally, but I don't see where it does enough harm to make it worth the fight of not getting one. The aquarium looks like a fun visit! I love going to aquariums. I didn't know turtles would fight sharks for food. Pretty tough critters!
Jazzy--The legislation wasn't aimed at anti-vaccers so much as it was aimed at protecting those who do vaccinate or medically cannot vaccinate from consequences of choosing not to vaccinate, and making it easier for schools and business to stay open and do what they do. There is a public health element in that children too young to be vaccinated are more protected from vaccine-preventable diseases by keeping voluntarily unvaccinated children (and adults) out of public places during disease outbreaks. The Public Health vs Freedom of Choice is a slippery slope. If a parent's choice to not vaccinate a child only affected that parent and child it would be one thing, but that choice forces consequences on others that they have no control over, and that's not fair, either. It's a complicated situation.
Yogatyme--Welcome, and love the pic!
Chi--sounds like you've been busy! Good point that "fraudsters gonna fraud"! Interesting changes at the clinic around the coffee machine. Makes me wonder how important all that signing in stuff really is anyway.
Janky--taking care of parents is hard work, I'm discovering!
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Good morning girls, waking up alone, DH had to go somewhere, funny, I can't remember but it's a food plant, hmmm city/state has left me they all run together after awhile.Anyway, he took Hazel with him, he called the hotel and asked if they were pet friendly and she said, Is it a support dog? and he said no and the lady said, "well if you tell me it is, I'm not allowed to ask you for proof.'" So Hazel got her first sales call with dad. I'm off today and have no appointments so yay to that. I think I'll go do a yoga class and maybe a swim. I keep gaining weight, not eating that much, only healthy food and haven't had an alcoholic beverage since Sunday, and for those of you that know me, that's a big deal. Yet I get on the scale and the numbers go up, it's quite frustrating. I changed my diet around, went off the Keto, added organic fruit like apples and bananas, added healthy cereal and oatmeal, it's an anti-cancer diet I've been researching, but everyday I seem to add another pound. Not quite sure what I want to do with that, I'm working on cutting back on the cheese, meat, lunchmeat, bacon, eggs, all the things you eat on keto, and double up on veggies and grains but so far scale is going the wrong way. I absolutely HATE the idea of counting calories but that may be where I'm heading. Ugh!
NM, hope you get to have a relaxing weekend with NO nurse work stuff! The vaccine stuff is a hot topic for sure. My husband's neice lives in Asheville, if you all remember the youngest one 3 yrs old has lymphoma, 2+ years on chemo, meanwhile the 2 older siblings and half the kids in the town or at least all their circle of friends have not been vaccinated! Very scary, she home schools them and they are in sports with other kids/parents with the same beliefs, not sure what would happen if the little one with her compromised immune system. When my son was a baby I had a friend with a daughter that was maybe 8 mos old, she'd had the first of the DPT vaccine but had not yet finished the series when she got pertussis, or whooping cough. It was horrible!! Took months to get that baby well and so scary to watch the coughing fits, I cannot imagine being able to prevent that and not doing it but like I said these parents have not seen what it does. They think it's a big pharmaceutical/government conspiracy and this particular couple think that allowing children to pick up these "bugs" will build their immune system, "naturally." As for the flu shot, I said no for years but lately have decided it won't hurt, better to have it than not so I have gotten it last few years. Your mom may find that she likes a retirement living community but you are right, it's got to be her decision. I find at my place that the ones that are unhappy are the ones that say "my kids put me here!"
Jazzy, I'm looking so forward to daylight savings time, I love the longer days, wish they would change it over then leave it alone! Hope you are happy with your furniture repairs.
Janky, We had a family reunion for cousins last summer, most I had not seen in at least 40 years, it was nice to see them. I am the youngest of the first cousins, most are in their 70's so not sure if it will ever happen again. Vacation sounds like it's going well, enjoy!
Ah, DH just called, he's in Kentucky, mystery solved.
Sandy, hope you get your refunds, sorry your trip got cancelled, crazy times right now. I had planned 10 years on AI's, just had my dexascan and still osteopenia normal for my age so I was happy about that. Hopefully you can breeze right thru the 7th year and BC will remain in your rear view mirror forever.
Lori, hope things are going well and you get your son into rehab today without incident. I totally understand if we can't get together this time, your family comes first, we can always meet up next time.
JCS, glad to hear you are enjoying your chemo break, I'll be praying for good scans. great pics of the aquarium!
Cami, misty, yoga and whoever else I'm missing, hope you all have a wonderful day!
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Don't know if any of you are familiar with the Disney movies Zombie movies but Nora is obsessed with them, my son says she goes into the bathroom and comes out like this almost everyday.
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