Can we have a forum for "older" people with bc?
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Been there, done that too, also in my youth.
Many years ago (1989) I was on Jenny Craig maintenance of a 50-lb. weight loss when we took a trip back to the PNW, where we'd lived for 7 years between our wedding day and Bob's med school graduation. We decided to visit Olympic Nat'l Park and stay in a bungalow colony across the road from Lake Quinault Lodge (which had been fully booked for nearly a year). My diet maintenance plan required 8 glasses of water a day (you can see where this is going). We set out on the 2-lane road to the top of Hurricane Ridge, and in front of us was a plodding RV driven by (what we "thirtysomethings" considered at the time to be) an elderly couple. And when I say "plodding," I'm not kidding. Turnout after turnout went unused. The 8 glasses of water began to take their toll until it was truly painful--no way I could hold out till a rest area, much less the visitor center at the top. So I saw a nice jacaranda bush and had Bob spot for me (and try to explain to Gordy why Mommy was going potty outside). I did my business and was about to pull my jeans up when a tour bus going the other way came around the bend, full of foreign tourists waving amiably and aiming their giant camera lenses out the windows...
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Cindy, good news that your wrist surgery went well.
Yesterday was a beautiful day but a little windy. We were vendors at the Farmers' Market in Park Rapids. We made better sales than last Saturday. Our customers who not only admire but buy dh's beautiful wooden bowls are mostly summer people, not locals.
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Cindy - Glad your surgery went well.
ChiSandy, funny story about "al fresco" toileting! In younger days, have also been there, done that. Before DD & I taking a driving trip in Alaska, purchased some "travelers bags" specifically for women (#1 only) in case toilet facilities not available. Fortunately they were available, although much more rough & ready than your traditional facilities.
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The world is my country,
all mankind are my brethren,
and to do good is my religion.
- Thomas Paine
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Done that in Japan where public facilities have squat toilets. What’s interesting is businesses in shopping districts have people handing out small packs of tissues with an advertisement for their business. My DS explained that not all toilet facilities have tp. One of my daughters and I had to use the bathroom in one of the train stations. Next thing I know I hear a camera go off. Yup, she took a picture of it
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The grossest "facilities" I ever encountered were on a Li River sightseeeing/lunch cruise boat from Guilin, China. There was a trench in the floor, to be straddled. No privacy whatsoever. I've seen "squats" in restaurant restrooms in Italy: there were footprints painted on the tile floor with grab bars on the wall. With your feet on the footprints, your private parts were right over the hole in the floor, with pants & underwear safely out of the path of excreta.
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Encountered a "squat" type restroom at a shopping center in Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia. It had metal things like "pedals" to place your feet in & a grab bar. Also, no privacy & stunk to high heaven. My bladder was about to burst, but I held it until we returned to our hotel.
Once while sailing, as the only female crew member, had to resort to going below deck, using a bucket with rope attached to the handle, made my bladder gladder and then just dunked the bucket in Lake Erie.
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Yeah, on a fishing trip out of Puerto Vallarta, the "toilet" was a bucket and a bath towel.
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All this reminds me why I'm not ready to travel yet!
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Yup, I've used squat toilets in Turkey and Hong Kong, where you'd kind of expect them, but I remember seeing one in rural France. That was unexpected!
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I used one in France. No grab bar either. I would have felt much better with one.
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I am home. I didn't have to squat. LOL There are port-a-potties along the way. The tourist attractions are still closed. We saw deer, a ground hog (I think that is what is was), bunnies and many birds. It was beautiful. After 5 hours on the Blue Ridge Parkway, my niece was getting car sick. Luckily, it was just before the exit where the lodge was. I had made reservations before the trip.
Mom's service was generic. The preacher didn't know her, but she is now laying next to Dad and that was the most important thing.
When I got home, I found a beautiful new front door. Jim had the house clean. It was nice to be home.
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We need to promote greater tolerance and understanding among the peoples of the world. Nothing can be more dangerous to our efforts to build peace and development than a world divided along religious, ethnic or cultural lines. In each nation, and among all nations, we must work to promote unity based on our shared humanity. -Kofi Annan
If humans are to survive, we will have learned to take a delight in the essential differences between people and between cultures. We will learn that differences in ideas and attitudes are a delight, part of life's exciting variety, not something to fear. -Gene Roddenberry
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petite, glad you are back safe and sound and loving your new door and clean home. Yay !! Sounds like most all was positive and that is a good thing especially in todays world.
I'm running like a chicken with my head off, but I'll make it. I get to skip the second trip to Sandoval today and that is a big help. I won't get everything done but I'll be close enough so I can be happy and fulfilled anyway.
Hope you all have had a wonderful day. Today is by the way sunny, but not hot.
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Yesterday was lovely here. It was sunny with a breeze but chilly enough for a jacket. My book club (5 people) met at one person's large deck and it was easy to be 6 feet apart. We brought sack lunches and the hostesses provided soft drinks and cookies. We sat in the garden later and a hummingbird visited the delphinium right behind me without paying any attention to the people. My neck was sore last night from trying to turn only my head to see him up close. Today we're back to rain and enough wind to make it unpleasant outside.
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Petite, that Blue Ridge Parkway is gorgeous, but because of the low speed limit the drive is loooooong! No wonder your niece got queasy, what with all the ups & downs & switchbacks through the mountains. Was the lodge the Skyline inside Shenandoah Nat'l Park? I loved that place--sat on the terrace and played my first dulcimer (which I'd bought a couple of days earlier in Cosby, TN).
Been kind of chilly here by the lakefront until today--even so, still didn't make it into the 70s. But starting tomorrow it'll be warm and by Wed. downright hot (90s). Today I am celebrating needing neither heat nor A/C.
I might be kinda scarce around here for awhile. The biennial MCLE (mandatory continuing legal ed.) deadline is June 30, and I need to have completed 30 hrs. by then or report by July 31 that I need an extension. Got 8 hrs. of lectures on last year's Israel trip, and thus far have watched 4.75 hrs. of excruciatingly boring law videos. 17.25 hrs. to go. Oy. (At least I can play solitaire while I listen). Unfortunately, my cat Happy likes to plop himself across my lap or chest and try to mess with the laptop's trackpad. I'm pinned into my recliner for an hour at a time, so my shoulder is getting sorer and stiffer as we speak. I may come up for air every now & then.
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Sandy, why aren't you getting those things done at a reasonable pace over the whole two years? Unless you are wondering why you are maintaining your license, and panicking when the date for re-licensure gets closer.
I had a busy day. Took Tippy to be groomed, got a ride to another town for an echocardiogram to make sure there was no damage from the herceptin. Had to wait for a ride home. Ate a bit of lunch, then got a ride to the dentist, another town in the opposite direction. This time, my ride was waiting when I got out. Went home, got my scooter out and when to pick up Tippy. Report was that he was difficult, so I paid extra. Picked up the paint, but was late at the post office to pick up my chamomile tea. We will go out there for our first walk of the day tomorrow.
I got a call from the oncology office, my echo was unchanged, ejection fraction is good. Dentist gave me bad news, he recommends pulling my remaining three teeth on the upper, they are too fragile to withstand the stresses of supporting a partial.
One woman told me that I am beautiful! LOL. She liked my hair, and choice of a denim skirt and red t-shirt and red zipper hoodie.
A busy day came together without any problems.
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Sandy, I continued my CE hours for 10 years after I quit being emp!oyed. Really appreciated that I was able to read materials, take tests (which were relatively easy, basically knowledge regurgitation rather than application) to meet the requirements. Sorry you have to deal with videos!
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Well, when I was in practice, I attended seminars regularly. But after retiring, it became a major PITA to go downtown to the Bar Assn. And last year (as I do every year) I went on the CBA's "CLE Abroad" trip, this time to Israel, where I got 8 credit hours attending lectures, touring Israel's Supreme Court, etc. I had planned to do the same this year in San Diego--until the pandemic hit the brakes on all business travel. It's not such a pain taking the video route--only 2 hrs a day for just over 2 weeks will earn 30 hours (there's an IL-specific package I bought). And seeing as how I already have 14 hrs. now, I can easily (though mostly boringly) complete my hours in plenty of time. What's surprising is that many videos I thought would be snoozefests turned out to be interesting (even though not relevant to my practice situation, nor even in my "wheelhouse" before retirement); and some to which I looked forward were difficult to watch because of hemming-and-hawing slow-talking presenters. (I never developed the expertise to do any instruction myself, which can count as CLE). And the most boring and irrelevant videos? Great for when I wake up prematurely and can't get back to sleep. I am a procrastinator extraordinaire, which is why I'm glad I was able to retire.
The best reporting year I had was 2016: in 2015 (between my ultrasound & biopsy) I attended a 3-day entertainment law seminar in New Orleans, and was even able to do a coffeehouse gig (and have my friend, a renowned Cajun fiddler, sit in). It took my mind off worrying about whether I actually had breast cancer. Then in spring 2016 the CLE Abroad trip was in Lausanne, Switzerland--16 hours on diversity & inclusion. So I enjoyably got 32 hours, even though I needed only 30.
The IL MCLE Board only requires we attest to have taken the 30 hrs., but I download and print each Cert. of Completion after each video just in case I ever have to "show my work." When they start requiring testing, that's when I officially change my licensure status to "retired."
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I continue to enjoy this thread and reading about the "magic of everyone's ordinary days" (if anyone remembers the Hallmark movie of that name).
Petite, your comment brought back memories. My sister, 10 years older than me, and her husband took me as a 12 year old with them on their first trip as a married couple(essentially their honeymoon) by car to visit family in Western North Carolina via the Blue Ridge Parkway. It was an amazing trip. Who does that??? I asked her why they did it and she replied simply "You hadn't been anywhere and we thought you'd have fun." They've been married 48 years now.
My day was ordinary with a lot of office work, church work and cooking. I started a new weight loss effort and am trying to be very careful to get some weight off. I did spend time on the deck reading however as it was cool and breezy and took a short walk.
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Hi, checking in after a crazy semester working as an adjunct and suddenly teaching online. I retired in January, 2020; then immediately took on a single course which met 5 hours per week. When spring break came, we never went back. I had to work about 5 hours per day to put my entire course online, make written assignments, type video notes on every online resource, become a Blackboard expert, a Zoom expert, while grading 3 times the papers I usually see in a semester. It's over! And I now feel officially retired.
Anyway, I am still doing well...in remission from ovarian cancer for 15 months now. I am blessed to have this time of health. The hard part is the quarantine...I have this urgency to visit with my kids who are spread across the country from Boston to CT, NYC to DC, and Boulder CO. I miss them. Other than feeling isolated, we are doing fine with staying close to home. Our town is not affected much. Much of New York City has moved to Eastern Long Island to their summer homes. And now that our restaurants have opened for outdoor dining, week end crowds are to be avoided. During the week we can go to the beach or hike on a trail with very few interactions with others. We can drive anywhere, and there are no lines or shortages in my area. It could be worse.
I hope everyone is well and holding up during these restrictions. No one really knows what the future holds; so as in most of life, it's one day at a time.I enjoyed reading back this last page including interesting bathroom experiences! When I was in Tanzania, I encountered my first squat toilet; however, there were two of those, tiled, each with a door and a hose, and one western-style. A single sink outside the building had only one tiny shared bar of soap. When no rest rooms were nearby, we would stop in the middle of the road - men to the front of the truck and women to the back. We were not allowed to find a bush because there could be lions, hyenas, etc. I became pretty adept at leaning against a bumper and being "discreet, neat and efficient" :-D
I wish everyone well during these difficult days.
Be safe, be well, and be happy...
Joan0 -
Petite1- your trip had to be emotional for your moms service. I'm glad you were to get back home safely, and to a clean house with a new door.
Sandy - I worked with a group of lawyers that would get sent across the country to attend week long seminars for CLE's. I'd forgotten all about them. Now they'd all be in the same boat as you.
This morning I sat out in our screen house with a friend chatting for close to 2 hours. Very enjoyable weather, and we kept our social distance. Around 2 PM I took my book out to the deck to finish it. Wrist bandage, no swimming, most I can do is sit out & enjoy a good book. I came in after 5, and around 7 we reheated left overs for dinner.
As I scraped my plate I looked out through the back porch, seeing something was funny, off. It looked like wood up against my pool to the side of the garage. I went out to look. It was the pool itself, it had tore open, dumped 15,000 gallons of water, and was empty! An OMG moment.
The pool is/was close to 20 years old but still a shocker to see it. Called homeowners insurance, and as I was talking she asked if there was other damage. So I walked out to look in the garage (detached garage), just as 3 skunks were walking through! I think the 15k of water flooded out their home under my garage. Oh what a night. LOL
Bright spot, no one injured, and no neighbors property damaged. I hope you all had a better evening than me!
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CindyNY, OMG. That would be a shock. We had the filter bow up and empty half of the pool on an Easter Sunday. The pool service did a 911 call and fixed it that day. I still can't get anything to grow in the area that got flooded with pool water. LOL that was years ago.
When I retired, I retired. I don't take the CEU's or go to conventions. Most have a discount for retired NHA's, but I am over and out. My husband says when you are in your a guest, when you out you are a pest. LOL
Sandy, It was in Fancy Gap.
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Sandy - Oh, the continuing ed requirements! Still maintaining my KY CPA license (30 hrs required every year) even though retired in 2019. Fortunately, due to COVID, the CPA associations I belong to have offered a lot of free CPE and I will have no problem with this year's 30 hrs.
When I worked in Internal Audit at CVG, we had an annual CPA event for Airport Internal Auditors that was always a blast. Best one ever was held in Anchorage, AK. DD and I took a 10 day roadtrip around AK afterward.
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Today is a unique and special day.
It is unlike any other day you have ever experienced.
If you assume that today is like every other day,
you will never notice today's uniqueness.
If you practice keen awareness, you will get
to savor today's uniquely wonderful qualities.
- Jonathan Lockwood Huie
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Sadly, a strong southern wind has brought uncomfortable heat the last couple of days. We've had to run the a/c. And this afternoon and tonight there is the chance of strong storms and large hail. There is no cover for our Tundra truck. I hope the hail doesn't materialize and also hope there's no strong wind.
I have joined a nearby small executive golf course after playing the women's league last Thursday. The women are very friendly and one of them invited me to show up yesterday morning to play with whoever came to play. I enjoyed myself both days. DH is a better golfer and I am encouraging him to join a more challenging golf course that we played the past two summers. He prefers playing with men and I prefer playing with women.
Today will be laundry day. I'll get my exercise walking back and forth to the laundry room.
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Carole - I am a terrible golfer but being able to play has been a sanity saver for me. Ken quit playing about 7 years ago and hasn't missed it at all but I sure would. He mainly played with "the guys" but I miss our Sunday outings together. Had a later than usual tee off time yesterday and I suspect it was close to 100 when I got home at noon. But I will get up and do it again tomorrow.
Stay safe everyone. I sure don't like to see the surge here in AZ.
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Hello, Ladies. It is a nice pretty day. I decided it is time to see if my key fob for the gym still works. I have not been there for nearly a year. It is getting to hot to walk outside.
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We're the other end of the heat spectrum. 65 at 11:30am hoping for 71 this afternoon. Intermittent showers predicted (as usual). We lived in Houston for a number of years. I can handle cold better than hot.
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No golf for me, even though the Warren Park 9-holer is up & running. Not an easy one (par 4 or 5 rather than 3) by any means and I am 30+ years out of practice. I'll walk the perimeter trail instead.
Made my "escape" today to the emissions testing facility in Skokie (passed!) and bought my license plate sticker. So my car is street-legal again.
Checked with the MCLE board, and to my chagrin the 2018 Israel trip provided only 6 rather than 8 hours, due to our inability to visit the Knesset (it was in closed session). But I'm still plowing through the online courses, and will likely be done by this time next week.
For Father's Day we are going out Fri. night (Gordy is working Sun., and Sat. night will be too stormy to dine outdoors) to The Barn Steakhouse in Evanston. (Bob specifically requested steak). They have valet parking, but I'd feel safer self-parking in the city garage and walking the 4 blocks. I still don't trust valets to be virus-proof.
Most of my denim jackets are at least 2 (if not 3) sizes too big (bought over the years as I gained weight), so I ordered a new light-washed one in size M petite from Nordstrom Rack a month ago. It came today but to my chagrin it's "pre-distressed." Seems a bit "millennial." It does look cute, though. It doesn't quite close, but it's not really supposed to as it's a layering piece.
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