Can we have a forum for "older" people with bc?
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Beautiful day here! Sunny and a predicted high of 82. That's a little hot for me, but it could be the last warm weather. Friday-Monday will be in the low 60's with rain. My birthday is toward the end of Oct. and it has never had sunny weather here. We might get a few days more, but we can't count on it. And to improve the day, it's my first watercolor class for fall quarter. It's thru the Lifetime Learning Center which has all kinds of classes for very low prices. I get 8 weeks of watercolor classes thru them for the cost of 1 or 2 classes elsewhere.
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I just want you all to know that I am still alive and well. Fixing the damage from Irma is so much more than I expected. And we are considered a small claim! I cannot imagine what the people who lost their whole home are going thru.
At this point, all of the laminate flooring in the house is gone except for my room. They did everything else yesterday, but said I have the heaviest furniture, so the are going to move it out of the room, and not put it back until the new floor is down- they hope only one night. They are doing the floors in the closets as well, and my whole closet has to be emptied so they can remove the shelves to get to my floor. I have a closet that runs along one wall in the room, with two sets of doors. My daughter made her own system of organizing the closet when it was her room, many years ago. I use one set of shelves for my jeans and capri's and I have 2 hanging rods (one higher, the other lower). Unfortunately those rods are between the two sets of doors, and it is quite an effort to get to them. The rest of the closet is storage- suitcases, old records, a small file cabinet, and toys. It is a mess.
So I started to clean it out earlier. I just don't have the strength or stamina to do it. I have set up some tables in the garage to put things on, but I get so out of breath and my back hurts after 2 or 3 trips- and I am not carrying anything heavy. My brother is out today, trying to set up a plan for 3 days at Universal with his 3 kids in early Oct. He is really excited because it is only going to be the 4 of them- no girlfriend/ boyfriend, daughter-in-law, no granddaughter. It will be the first time the 4 of them have been together alone in many years. He should be back soon, and I know he will help, as will my grandson when he gets home from school.
We have gotten 2 estimates for the roof. Their prices are about $1500 apart, but their plans are very different. One says we have to add a slight pitch to the flat roof, so the rains roll off instead of pooling up there. He is totally okay with removing and replacing the solar panels. The other says no pitching needed, but the shingles we have now only handle 90mph winds, and the ones he wants to use can handle winds up to 130mph, and he is totally against solar panels. We have two more estimates coming next week.
We are replacing the laminate floors with tile that looks like wood. I told you a friend was doing it and I trusted him totally. My brother had never met him and was a little skeptical, so he said he wanted to sit down with Ron when he first got here, to make sure they were on the same page. That didn't happen, because Ron and his brother had arrived and started working while Rob was in the shower. By mid-day, Rob is saying, " can Ron fix the patio ceiling? Can Ron fix the family room doors and kitchen window?" I told Rob I had already asked Ron and he said sure. My brother asked me how much I was paying Ron, and I said I have no idea. I do know that his price will be lower than he charges normally, and the work will be done well. I was comfortAble enough yesterday to leave him and his brother here working while we went tile shopping. The daughter who lives with me was married to Ron's nephew. But long before that,Tracy was their babysitter, and she babysat a lot. They couldn't afford to pay her most of the time, but when a church youth group or school trip came up, they always bought her tickets. Ron also sent my oldest daughter a dozen red roses for her 18th birthday, with the note saying, "Every woman deserves to get roses delivered to her job at least once in her life.
I hope all is well with everyone. I will check in again soon,
Anne
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I may be talking out of the hole in my head, but seems I heard that solar roofs made utilities quite economical and is this another kind of solar panel and for something else. Just my way of saying if that is what the solar is for --- I'd be inclined heavily to want to keep that. Also, pooling water is causing some issues at my house. Not with my roof generally --- it is a metal roof. It managed to seep under somewhere ( I don't get up there so not sure where ) and had made part of the wood unstable and it needs replacing. Thankfully --- the metal can be taken off to do that -- then put back. The thing is we have a partial flat roof since our house was added too a long time ago. Sounds to me though like giving the roof some lift/pitch and not having pooling could be a good thing unless your sun can dry the " pooling " area really quick.
Doing the closet floor sounds like such work --- but I can see in the end how much nicer it would to have the continuous floor. My closet floor is done. Had a thought though it might not be possible due to just the amt. of door it would take, but almost all my closet doors open from the middle and fold back. So wondered if it would be possible for you to do something similar -- maybe even an accordion-style door. If it would upset the woodwork balance or not might be a question. I just know that it has made my use of closets much easier here, but I have to admit -- the closet doors were that way when I got here -- sooo..
I'm glad you have Ron and can feel trust for this project and get it done in timely fashion as well. Sounds like your brother got on board really quickly. I do think many things can be big projects when they are done correctly and it did sound like you are correcting some situations that were a bit out of kilter from smaller renovations -- like having continuous floors. Probably one of those things that feels so great after it is all done and tedious until then. Sending you lots of patience and humor when needed to carry you through.
I'm taking a little time off. Dh has today and tomorrow off so I'm not starting anything for him to get in the middle of at totally inopportune times.
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FWIW, Frank Lloyd Wright houses have a terrible time getting sold (or go back on the market shortly after move-in) because of the flat roofs that leak like sieves--adding the slightest degree of pitch cancels the landmark status and lowers the value. And my friends with solar actually get paid by their electric company for the power they sell back to it. Finally, tile in FL makes so much more sense than laminate. Just sayin'...
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DS has solar and sells power back. Last winter he got an email that he wasn't producing any power, asking what the problem was. He answered it was the 2 ft of snow on the roof, not to mention that it was still snowing. There's a scheme in Hood River where the company puts it's solar panels on the roof and both the company and the home owner profit from the electricity generated. You buy into the scheme, but it's far cheaper than putting it up yourself.
I was visiting my brother in Oklahoma a few years ago. Everyone was discussing what kind of roof they were going to put up after the latest hail storm. Someone said the metal roofs and get dented by large hail and then the seams aren't tight. I don't think there's a way to win there. Hail storms happen pretty frequently.
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Mornin all,
I have been awake since 7:30am which is very rare for me, but I have lots to do (not that I am actually doing any of it)...We got our solar water heater when they first came out. At that time, there was no talk of selling power back to the utilities. But- we were a family of seven, for five years a family of nine or ten, and that solar heater was a Godsend. When the kids were younger, everyone except Dad, including me, showered or bathed after dinner. Everyone had all the hot water needed, whether they were first or last in line. During power outages of several weeks after hurricanes, we were the envy of everyone we knew- we still had hot water. Several close friends would come by just to shower. That, for me, is an easy choice. I can't imagine our electricity bills without it. Our bills climb into the $400 range during summer as it is now.
The closet in my room does have double accordion doors, Jackie. It is a good sized closet, but not a walk-in. My problem is it is not organized in a way that works for me. Everything is out of it now except my capri's and jeans. Those will stay till the very last minute. My biggest problem is that I don't know how to organize it better. My daughter graciously said that if we have any insurance money left over, I should redo my closet. I have to chuckle at her so often- it is my house, my money and my choice! And I don't intend to wait till we're finished with all the repairs.
She started to say something like that about my brother's kids, who are all flying into Ft Laud for their trip to Universal-"Idon't have any more beds for them, they cannot stay for long, I just can't have that many people in my house while I'm working...etc., etc. I just look at her and without my saying one word, she backs off. My look says very clearly that this is my house, and I will let anyone I want stay as long as I want.
Since it is 10am and I haven't moved from my couch yet, I think I better start moving. Have a great day, everyone
Anne
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Kindness is perhaps the most essential quality of being fully human.
- Jonathan Lockwood Huie0 -
Anne, good for you. Now as to organizing, I use to be pretty fair at it. Unfortunately either age or the medical insults to my system have reduced my ability to organize severely. It is mainly why -- after all the yrs. I've been NED I'm still working on things that most people would have had done a few months after txs. were over. Let see, how many yrs. now -- well how about 2008 -- which is when I was done with all my txs. I haven't given up and never will, but it is sometimes embarrassing to admit. I'm hoping you will figure something good out -- maybe I can copy if you do. I know some things, but momentarily they really aren't possible -- unless I win a lottery because they are part of a long list of things that should be done here.
In the end, I usually see all ( at least here for me ) as being another life lesson -- and I'll do the best I can and be happy and grateful for the chance. Gloom for the most part is not in my vocabulary because if I dared let it in I don't know when I'd get rid of it.
Up to 80 today, but since we don't have humidity --- it is doubtful that the a/c will come on. That is the value of all the shade in our yard. I hope you are all going to have a fantastic day.
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Anne, Google closet arrangements and you'll get lots of ideas. Mine is very tiny, built into the eaves. It could use some rearranging. I think it's time here to put away summer clothes, so I'll be trying on clothes to see what fits. I think I'll put dress up clothes at the back where it's hard to see. I only wear those 2-3 times a year.
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Walking exercises the whole person. It exercises the body-- it gives the arms and legs a workout. It stimulates the flow of blood; expands the lungs. It is gentle and relaxing. It exercises the mind-- it shakes up the brain cells. It fills them with oxygen; drives out the cobwebs. A famous scientist says he does his best thinking on the two miles of sidewalk between his home and office.
Walking exercises the emotions. It gives you a chance to observe and enjoy the world. Open your eyes to beauty. See the homes, the trees, the gardens. See the shining faces of little children. Listen for the church chimes, singing birds and the laughter of happy people. -Wilferd A. Peterson0 -
Owning our story can be hard but not nearly as difficult as spending our lives running from it. Embracing our vulnerabilities is risky but not nearly as dangerous as giving up on love and belonging and joy—the experiences that make us the most vulnerable. Only when we are brave enough to explore the darkness will we discover the infinite power of our light. -Brené Brown
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People take different roads seeking fulfillment
and happiness. Just because they're not on
your road doesn't mean they've gotten lost.
H. Jackson Browne0 -
Just going to say --- I'm so sad this morning for what occurred in Las Vegas last night. Glad they were able to stop the responsible person. Another reminder that we don't know the number of our days or how they will end.
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The shooter killed himself. Little is known about him other than he was a retired accountant, millionaire property owner, and most recently a professional gambler who had been losing tens of thousands of dollars a day in the casinos. And his father was one of the FBI's top 10 Most Wanted criminals back in the day, who had been described by prison shrinks as "psychotic & suicidal." The shooter left no note or manifesto, and had no social media interactions. His brother never saw it coming but admitted he was "not normal."
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I heard that Trump is reversing the Obama decision to add mental illness as a reason to deny guns. It only applied to people who had been involuntarily committed to a state hospital. Most people with mental illnesses don't achieve that level.
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Involuntary commitment to a state mental hospital went the way of the dodo by the early 80s--the only people who end up there these days are those found not guilty by reason of insanity, "guilty but mentally ill," or temporarily mentally unfit to stand trial. And IL has closed most of its state mental hospitals.
Now I am all in favor of equal protection for the mentally ill--someone who has recovered from depression and is well-controlled on meds, and someone with garden-variety neurosis such as anxiety and panic attacks should not be prohibited from owning a gun if their psychiatrist certifies that they are no danger to others. But schizophrenia? That's characterized by delusions such as hallucinations and hearing voices. Also PTSD from combat experience. (Sorry if that offends veterans). Those conditions should be disqualifying for firearm ownership.
And being a civilian should disqualify one from owning automatic weapons and silencers. There is no reason on this earth for a civilian to possess the same or greater firepower than the police--who needs to be able sneak up silently and mow down a hundred deer without spooking the other wildlife? If Paddock had silencers on his guns, who knows how many more people he'd have killed because they couldn't tell where the shots were coming from?
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We actually have involuntary commitment in WA. Usually the person clears up once they're back on medications. Occasionally they do go to the state hospital for a few months. I agree about automatic weapons and silencers. If someone wants to have that, they can join the armed services.
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I agree, NO ONE needs assault rifles or silencers! My son lives in Vegas area and they go to many concerts. Was holding my breath until I heard from them, that they were OK.
Saw my surgeon last week. I asked about getting off the Arimidex. He said now they recommend 10 years or more. Since I am at 5 years was hopin. I think it made my arthritis worse and has contributed to weight gain, Was hoping. He said to talk to my onc, when I see him.
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I am still learning--how to take joy in all the people I am,
how to use all my selves in the service of what I believe,
how to accept when I fail and rejoice when I succeed.
Audre Lord0 -
Bonnets -- so glad your son is fine. You had probably mentioned somewhere in passing that your son lived in Vegas but I'm so forgetful I'd have never remembered unless it was last week so I'm joining you in your sigh of relief. I hope you are able to get GOOD clarification from your Oncologist about the Arimidex. I was advised I could stop after five yrs. though I do and was getting all tx. from the V.A. They tend to go with tried and true medications --- so I've had a thought now and then about the Arimidex ( generic Anastrozole, ) and taking it longer. I followed what they said and I'm here, but have only been off it for 5 yrs. So --- I guess for me the question might be what has changed and been learned between the previous recommendation and now.
My thought about guns -- who needs one that will kill a whole lot of people at once. Makes no sense to me unless you are enlisted and in a war.
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Bonnets, So glad your son is OK. You must have been terribly worried. My Onc said 5 years was enough for me. I'm 77, so if it reoccurs in 10 years, I'll have lived longer than most of my family did. And who's to say it wouldn't be a new primary? I'm not going to worry about it. Alzheimers is much scarier IMHO.
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Those who humble themselves shall be saved;
Those who bend shall be made straight;
Those who empty themselves shall be filled.
Lao-tzu0 -
May rain a bit today. It did yesterday but was mainly a minor event. It is not the rain that we sure can use to settle the deep dust as much as is possible but the dislike of too much gray. Lots to keep me busy today so it won't be as bad as it would normally be --- and as well, this is only the second gray day. It may clear a bit and break things up a little.
Everything outside has that tired Fall look to it and there are plenty of leaves on the ground. Going to be a lot more -- you can see lots of ground through them. We have trees that drop early -- so we will be into November at least before the raining down of leaves ends. I don't like to see it come but everything needs a rest --- and maybe winter will be nice this yr. We barely had one this past winter season. With the global warming trend we have dismissed predictions since they mainly seem not to happen in our section of the country. This past winter, for instance, was stated as being a brutal one for us, but it never came -- so we wait for whatever comes which doesn't mean we ignore forecasts -- but just try to prepare for anything and no matter what comes you are okay.
Hoping you all have a good day.
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Supposed to be 75-85 here today, but have a cool front coming. Some rain over the weekend. We haven't had a REAL winter in a few years. Every time snow is forecast the storm splits and we get a dusting! Glad DH isn't still in the snow plowing business! Have had a few trees loosing most of their leaves, others still green. The squirrels are going to be happy this year , as our black walnit had a bumper yer. Also my oak is making the chip monks happy!
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Bonnets......so glad your son is ok.....hopefully that was not a concert he attended......I love country......and my favorite is Garth Brooks....if I lived in Vegas, and he was there........I would have been in that crowd.........insane moron........what I want to say.....I am to much a lady to post.........
Now anyone who knows me...knows I am not always a lady.....LOL
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So I got my 23andme profile results this week, and there were few if any surprises. I am 98.3% Ashkenazi Jewish, 1.6% "broad non-Jewish European," which dovetails with the story that the reason my dad's birth surname didn't turn up in any Jewish name databases* was--according to a docent at the Library of Jewish Genealogy at the U. of Tel Aviv--that it was a Gentile name and whoever brought it into the family tree converted to Judaism. After a couple of years of dead ends on various genealogy forums, a guy in San Francisco with that surname told me the story of two of his ancestors who were brothers from Alsace, where the family owned a winery and 300 yrs. ago, often traveled to Russia to sell wines (Russians were fond of French wines and Alsace was, as it is again now, French). On the way back through the "Pale of Settlement" (the part of E. Europe where the Tsars allowed Jews to settle), they fell in love with two Jewish girls--and in order to marry them they had to convert to Judaism. Assuming there was no further intermarriage on either side (until Bob & me), that 1.6% sounds about right. The other 1% is divided between "southwestern" (Iberian) and "southern" (likely Italian or Greek) non-Jewish European--could be those were somewhere in the brothers' own lineage.
(My sister & I are the only ones still alive on our father's side who know he was adopted by his stepfather after his birth father died young--his other siblings were all younger and only one was a full sibling).
I tested negative for all known variants for Parkinson's and late-onset Alzheimer's (no gene has yet been ID'd for early-onset); and two VUSes for macular degeneration and familial hyperchromatosis (the opposite of iron-deficiency anemia)--there is no actual correlation for those two variants. My DNA said I was likely to be lactose-intolerant (nope), fair-skinned prone to sunburn and with few freckles (yup), light-haired (I was born dishwater blonde before my hair turned brown during mid-childhood), and either brown or hazel-eyed (my eyes' irises are olive green with honey-brown centers).
But the most fascinating thing (for those of you who are either genetics geeks or into Jewish law) is that my maternal haplotype is one found only in Ashkenazi Jews--it is found in no other ethnic group. That one arose around...wait for it...in the area surrounding and bisected by the border between northeastern France and northwestern Germany. (i.e., Alsace-Lorraine or the extreme west of the Rhine watershed). Where does Jewish law (aka "halacha") fit into that? Well, according to Orthodox halacha, Jewish heritage is passed down only matrilineally (i.e., on the maternal side). The ancient rabbis said that was because while paternity could be ambiguous, maternity was obvious. But almost two millennia later, genetic science proves it.
I told Bob about that (his PhD is in somatic cell genetics) and he was fascinated--and determined to take the 23andme test himself because although his mom's German-Hungarian ancestry and the Scots half of his dad's ancestry was always assumed, the other half of his dad's ancestry was--according to various forbears--Italian, Swiss, Spanish or Peruvian (his paternal grandfather claimed to have been descended from Inca royalty).
At least Gordy can definitively claim he's half-Ashkenzi-Jewish. And halachically fully a Jew, should he ever decide to emigrate to Israel.
BTW, most people who claim Ashkenazi Jewish ancestry on both sides of their families are between 90-100% Ashkenazi because there was so little intermarriage over the millennia--and the reason why certain "founder" genetic mutations (e.g., BRCA 1 & 2, familial hypercholesterolemia, familial hyperchromatosis, cystic fibrosis, Tay-Sachs, Gaucher's, Canavan's, Gilbert's syndromes) are much more likely to be found in Ashkenazi Jews (and to a lesser extent, other more insulated populations such as Amish, Cajun and Quebecois). It also explains why most ethnic east Asians and up to 25% of Jews (Ashkenazi, Sephardi, Mizrahi) are lactose-intolerant.
*all other surnames on either side of my family are in that library's database.
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To be a person of true greatness...
Live with honor.
Respect yourself.
Respect others.
Act honorably.
- Jonathan Lockwood Huie0 -
Sandy, I've thought about having my genes done. I know all about my mother's family and virtually nothing about my father's. I had a Native American great grandfather. I would love to know what tribe he was from. DH's cousin had his done, so we have a rough idea of what DH's might be.
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I'm back home in Louisiana just in time for Nate! Some forecasts have the storm's path coming to St. Tammany Parish where we live. So far it's predicted not to be a strong hurricane and should move through, not linger and dump rain like Harvey did.
We departed this past Saturday and arrived home on Monday. Tuesday was a busy day putting things away. On Wednesday I got my hair cut and colored and visited my mother at the nursing home. I'm so thankful that she had a good summer and continues to feel good, despite the chronic UTI. Yesterday dh and I went to the gym. Today it's back to the nursing home to accompany my mother to an appointment with an "ear" dr. to have her ears cleaned out. She has quite a bit of hearing loss at age 94.
Nate is supposed to make landfall on Sunday.
I am a mystery fiction reader and am hoping to get some answers about the motivation of the Los Vegas shooter. I heard some numbers reported on tv that I have not fact-checked. The United States is 5 per cent of the world population and we have 30 per cent of the world's civilian gun violence. I also heard we have 50 per cent of the civilian-owned guns in the world. I don't see any reason a person who isn't military or police should own a semi-automatic gun, much less one modified to operate like a machine gun. I also don't think a private citizen should be able to amass a huge stock of guns.
Anne, good luck with getting your house back in good shape. I'm sorry you're dealing with so much pain.
Sandy, interesting information on your genetic background. Puffin has also delved into her background.
Happy Friday to all.
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This is the beginning of a new day. God has given me this day to use as I will. I can waste it or use it for good, but what I do today is important, because I am exchanging a day of my life for it! When tomorrow comes, this day will be gone forever, leaving in its place something that I have traded for it. I want it to be gain, and not loss; good, and not evil; success, and not failure; in order that I shall not regret the price I have paid for it. -unattributed
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