Can we have a forum for "older" people with bc?
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Pray for me. First post mastectomy mammo today. I have had a headache the past two days, I expect it to go away once this is done with.
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Mary: Praying that all is well with mammo.
Jackie: You had asked for feedback on the Thanksgiving meal from Maggiano's. The meal was wonderful. It included a large portion of turkey (breast) with a delicious stuffing (all raved about it) and tasty gravy; large portion of sliced ham with mashed sweet potatoes; mashed white potatoes, caesar salad (2 containers), additional containers of stuffing and sweet potatoes; 2 containers of spaghetti with meatball (hard to divide 1 meatball between 4-5 people); 2 containers of 4 cheese ravioli; bread and butter; and 2 slices of pecan pumpkin cheese cake. I do think they are stingy when it comes to desserts because no matter how I try, I am unable to serve 5 people from 2 slices of cheesecake. Dessert is a family favorite and they want more than a bite plus the nuts are on the top. I did order a whole cheesecake at extra cost and it was expensive but again, it is a holiday splurge. As a bonus, they included 4 apple crostada which we have yet to eat. I sent home leftovers (including desserts) with my DD and DSIL and will most likely freeze some of what I have left since it will be multiple meals for us.
We ordered it to be "ready to eat" rather than having to "reheat to eat" which they offered for 2 days before Thanksgiving at a 10% off deal. I did not want to have to even heat up the oven or dirty a serving dish so this was better for me. It was truly the most relaxed Thanksgiving we have ever had. All I had to do was uncover the food, stir the gravy, provide serving spoons and forks, and add the dressing to the caesar salad. We laughed about how it used to take all day to prepare the meal which then took about 20-30 minutes to consume. So we ate in about the same time but the prep took far less than in the past. Even clean-up was a breeze with no pots and pans to clean. Just put lids back on the containers and refrigerate. As a family, we decided this would be our new tradition for Thanksgiving.
There was a slight mix-up with the cheesecake since I had ordered it in advance and it was not included when they went to pick-up the food. My DD had them check the original order and they did realize the error and corrected it. They might have been running short on these but that is why I ordered it in advance. DH said they were doing a landslide business for both in house eating and take out. Knowing how crowded they can be and even with pandemic restrictions, I am not ready to resume in restaurant eating.
Hope everyone had a pleasurable day.
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Mary just said a prayer for you and your mammogram. 🙏
Betrayal that all sounds delicious! We ordered most of the meal from a local caterer and had a similar easy time of it.
Have a great day all. Stay healthy.
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Thanks Betrayal. I remembered the good food at the X-mas party yrs. ago now at Maggiano's. There was an upstairs room rented. Came with waiters and bar should someone want something on drink with their meal. I thoroughly enjoyed it all so much. Really the Thanksgiving meal they provided sounded fairly elaborate if a little shy on a couple of the go a-long's. You are sooo right about dessert. The holidays would be nearly boring w/o something delicious to the point of near sin. Good thinking -- and glad the error was rectified.
We have leftovers of our roast because I also make sure to have. So much you can do with it. You can take cold roast and shred, add some onion, chopped sweet pickle, and mayo for a great sandwich. You can also make some hamburger patties, side of potatoes, gravy for the top, with a side salad, and just have an extra few meals w/o lots of prep in it.
Mary -- prayers and in your pocket for your mammo.
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Mary, in your pocket today and prayers for good results on mammo.
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Mary, I think we all know the anxiety of the mammogram. Thinking of you and hope you get results fast. I feel very fortunate that mine gets read while I wait but know that doesn't happen for everyone.
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Mary - I'm hoping your mammo went smoothly and your headache is gone. Prayers.
Foods all sound delicious. Thanksgiving cooking at home was always so much work! Ex husband many many moons ago would go deer hunting, while I slaved away. Don't miss those days.
GF went out for dinner, sent pictures where you could see people spaced far from each other. 400 dinners were "to go" and sold out.
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Mary, hope you had the most boring of mammograms--scanxiety, begone! (Mine's Wednesday--if they'll even do it since as it's once again "routine screening" rather than "diagnostic," it might be considered "elective"--and NorthShore is canceling elective procedures left & right).
Day 2 of turkey coma. Upside is that I have no desire to do a bedtime carb-snack. Downside is that the stuffing & cranberry sauce aren't exactly keto-friendly...
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Losing an illusion makes you wiser than finding a truth.
- Ludwig Boerne
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Good luck with the mamo, Mary.
We celebrated our anniversary at home with wine, roses, chocolate and steak. Between Thanksgiving and that, I feel pounds creeping up on me. LOL I have been reading "The Woman in the Window" by A.J. Finn. During the pandemic, we all may feel somewhat Agoraphobic.
Everyone have a pleasant weekend.
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Hmm, yes it is about those lbs. I do think though this yr. whatever we over-indulged in, we had reason ( very good ) to celebrate. A person to throw heart and soul into the virus and getting us back to as much health as possible as well as a new start for the first of the yr. So, a bit of celebratory calories I think is well earned. Just hope we all can stay well so as to take advantage of the vaccine when it finally is available to us.
It is cool here but sunny and I think due to stay that way for a while. Suits me perfectly. Hope you all have a stress-free happy Saturday.
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Mary - More hopeful thoughts for your mammo.
Sounds like many had lovely TG food celebrations! Went an easy route this year. We had a delicious 1/4 spiral sliced ham with glaze from Trader Joe's (fully cooked, just had to heat up & apply the glaze) / dijon mustard & ginger mango chutney as condiments / also from TJs, a wonderful creamy potatoes/sweet potatoes/shrooms casserole / roasted carrots w/orange & herb butter / scalloped apples for dessert. DOTD was white wine & Chambord spritzers.
Cool and sunny here today, but early next week is supposed to be a bit dodgy. Happy Saturday to all!
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Happy anniversary, Petite! Hope the mammo went well, Mary!
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I called my Dad on Thanksgiving. He's 94 and lives in Burnsville, MN, near Minneapolis and about a 4 1/2 hour drive for me. We discussed Christmas and decided it would be safer for me not to come this year since both of our buildings now have covid. At that time his building was saying no visitors Dec. 26 and onward. That means I'd have to leave for home on Christmas Day, and with our unpredictable weather there's no guarantee it would even be safe to drive that day. Today Dad emailed me that their rules have changed to no visitors at all from today until further notice and they can't socialize amongst themselves either. It'll be the first Christmas ever we haven't spent together. He doesn't do Zoom or Facetime.
I've had my icicle lights on my patio railing for a couple weeks, put them up while the temps were warm so my fingers wouldn't get cold. Today I went down to the garage storage unit to get my Christmas tree and decorations. When Curtis built the unit for me last February and put the Christmas boxes on the top shelf we figured he'd come and take the tree and boxes down for me in December. My building is only allowing essential visitors too, M-F during office hours. I was very careful and managed to get everything down by myself and tomorrow I'll start decorating. The snow we'd gotten has melted so everything is brown and dingy, need some color and twinkle.
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As we weave the tapestries of our lives, we gradually begin to see our designs from a wider angle of years. We may or may not be pleased with what we see. Yet, no design--not in the living world--is carved in stone. We have the gift of free will to change our designs as we wish. We are each a thread in the tapestry of our human family. Our outcome is woven of endless possibilities, because we can choose from a universe of endless possibilities. Every person can make a difference. Each thread is a possibility, chosen by the design of divine imagination. Our life-time designs arise from our divine gifts, unique talents, desires, thoughts, choices, and actions. At times, old choices--old threads--wear out. We see the past while we live in the present, and we can replace the old...with new ideas, new choices, and new actions. We can view the future through today's eyes, and time blends all experiences, dark and light, into an awareness of authentic joy. May you live joyfully and abundantly today and throughout every season of life! -Steve Brunkhorst
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Petite - happy anniversary
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Connie, I admire you for decorating for Christmas for yourself. I will get out the giant poinsettias for a very large floor vase and a smaller red berry arrangement. I bought the smaller vase a few years ago when I was with you and doing a bit of shopping. I used to be gung-ho on having a Christmas tree but I can't seem to muster that "gung-ho-ness" the last few years. I think Christmas is more fun when there are small children to be enchanted by the Christmas lights and decorations.
We're having a very dreary day with rain. A front is supposed to come through and bring colder weather for next week. Aside from trips to the supermarket, outings to the gym for Silver Sneakers exercise classes, and the occasional golf round, I am house bound and do suffer a bit from cabin fever. I may have to resort to getting out and walking around in a few stores with my mask on, even though I have no urge to shop. I definitely have enough clothes for my current lifestyle. The challenge is not outgrowing them!!!
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Petite 1: Belated happy anniversary.
Puffin: Good for you decorating for Christmas. Sorry you will miss your Christmas visit with your Dad. Perhaps safer for both of you though?
I have been painting doors and door trim. We had the kitchen drywalled last fall and I just did not have time to paint the back hallway doors and wood trim. It is now done and looks so white and crisp. I have the window in the laundry room and the baseboard behind the washer and dryer left to finish that room. Although the painters for the restoration were painting bedrooms, they were not doing any baseboards, door trim nor the backs of doors. They did do the windows and trim beause they were all replaced. So I have been on a tear to paint the backs of doors, the trim and baseboards on the second floor. I have the window in the hall bath to finish that room, the baseboard in the second bedroom (did the closet doors, interior of the closet and back of the doorplus trim already), the linen closet backs of doors and trim are finished, and the third bedroom still needs the closet doors, trim, back of door and baseboards painted. Once the fourth bedroom is debulked of the master bedroom contents, I will do the closet doors and trim, the windows and trim, the back of the door and trim and the baseboards. The master bath window and trim need to be painted as well. Painting is a way of escaping the insanity of my unfinished house stress. Plus I am getting a lot of positive vibes for my efforts. It looks so crisp and clean.
They have finished installing and finishing the oak floors in the master bedroom and they look so good. They are "curing" but I should be getting the furniture (sent for refinishing a year ago) back in two weeks. I need to call for the bedframe and mattress I purchased a year ago to arrange for delivery. LOL I purchased an insurance policy on the bed at that time which has since expired. I will talk to the store about this and see what they can do, if anything.
So progress, though very slow, is being made. The tile guy is coming to replace the marble sill for the master bedroom bath on Tuesday and this room still needs to be painted. The painter was having the paint custom blended since the color is no longer available. The attic is still off limits due to A/C work, electrical work and bath exhaust fan work that still needs to be finished. It is the littlle things that are holding up restoring the rooms to their original look and use which is somewhat frustrating.
Have a good Sunday. It is sunny here but cool. I'll take the sun though.
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It is a good feeling to finish painting and enjoy how nice it looks.
A friend moved to a new house with her 2yo son. She was painting her walk-in closet so there would be at least one place she could go that didn't need work. I could empathize.
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Gutter guys are coming today or tomorrow, ahead of the lake effect snow expected for tomorrow night into Tuesday, The only leaves remaining on the trees are the dead ones on the sycamore & oaks across the street--out back, our locust is bare (though during the warm spell, our magnolia actually started to bud). Our east neighbors had their walnut, maple & pine removed when they had to clear their yard enough to build their new garage; our west neighbors' locust (the twin of ours) is also bare.
I am alarmed that my size M scrubs are no longer too loose on me--gee thanks, back sprain (2-1/2 weeks and counting now). As badly as it hurts, I will have to bite the bullet and squat low enough to find & hit the "on" switch on my treadmill. That, and go back to near-keto once the leftovers are gone (taking my carb-blockers before each meal in the meantime). Also, see if my old cheap recumbent bike is easier on my back than my upright. (I would dearly love a recumbent elliptical, like the ones at the PT clinics--but besides the $4K price tag, those suckers would take up half the bedroom).
I went up to Evanston yesterday afternoon for some more Beaujolais Nouveau, and Wilmette to pick up an indoor basil starter kit. (One of the basil sprigs I bought in last week's grocery delivery has sprouted roots in water--and its plastic-bag "greenhouse"--and is developing new leaves, so I needn't buy more fresh basil...yet). Across the parking lot from Evanston First Liquors, I noticed the Barn steakhouse has greatly enlarged its tent and installed heaters, so we made a dinner res. last night. Unfortunately, they seated us in what had been the warmer part of their summer tent--retaining the fabric roof and infrared overhead heaters, shoring up the sides with ship-lap, and adding a ventilation system and standing radiant propane heater. I had some trepidation at the fact that it was warm enough to remove our coats, but the breeze did reassure me somewhat.
At 7pm, we were the only occupants of the four distanced tables. But as the meal progressed, the other 3 tables became occupied--including eventually the closest one, by a loud Gen-Y "girls' night out" party of five who unmasked themselves and began drinking, talking & laughing practically as soon as they sat down. Even Bob, who is normally philosophical enough to say "you need to weigh the probabilities of the risks you're willing to take" (citing that as his willingess to have pre-Thanksgiving inside the house with Gordy & Leslie, who prudently declined and celebrated outdoors with us instead), said "let's skip dessert, pack everything remaining, get the check, and run." We peeked through the fabric tent's windows as we walked back to our car--it had six far more widely-spaced tables, only 3 of which were occupied, two open window flaps and a couple of propane heaters. So that's where we'll insist on sitting next time, willing to keep our coats on and freeze if need be...should there be a "next time," given that we will carefully and assiduously check out other more prudent restaurants with vented tents & igloos, but do pickup as our first choice as much as we can.
Missing Cellars already. Had to make my own Sunday brunch for the first time in months. Hope they can reopen late this winter or early this spring.
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Sandy, we do love the Barn abd outdoor eating. We went with friends of ours whosevson is an emergency room doc in San Francisco and went to New York in April to help out with Covid. He forbid his parents to sit in a tent unless it was completely open on the sides and even then... We went to Convito with them and later by ouselves and sat at tables outside the tent. Cold though, even with heater. Thank you for introduction to Evanston First Liquors. Gil has been going to Binnies
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Attempting to "fit in" is not a worthy objective.
There is no point in feeling sad or upset when your plans, your ideas,
or even your fundamental nature do not "fit in" with the majority view.
Be the courageous hero and stay committed to your greatest ideas and ideals,
however they are received by those around you.
Do not follow where the path may lead.
Go, instead, where there is no path and leave a trail.
- Ralph Waldo Emerson0 -
We'll look for outdoor dining in close proximity to heaters, from now on. Otherwise, it's pickup or delivery. Everest is doing a 3-course meal (Alsatian-style scallops, filet of beef and cheesecake) for takeout, and Bob will likely drop by there en route home one night this week. He has decided not to stay at the Oak Lawn Hilton the night before an early EKG/echo-reading morning (which he's increasingly able to do online) because it simply isn't worth it without the amenities that come with Gold membership--lounge, gym, pool, restaurant (except for carry-up to the room) are all closed.
Our HK & I have decided not to haul out & assemble our tree, nor decorate indoors. Nobody's going to see it anyway. Besides, the neighbors across the street have lit up their homes and put their trees (one of them rotating) in their front windows.We've got the wreath for the door, large flocked bows/fake garlands/battery-powered white lights for the front banisters. I bought some more weatherproof battery-powered lights for the arborvitae out front, and will see if anyone on NextDoor will help me put them up. (I could do it with a reacher tool and a stepstool, but the ground is still too soft to keep the stool from sinking). We will put the electric menorah in the front window at Hanukkah, though. (I think I have 44 candles--assorted types--remaining for the actual menorah we put on our stove).
We have also decided to ditch our exterminator till this is all over. We will let the cats take care of any rodents that might take refuge in here (Heidi is a hunter extraordinaire); fruit-fly season is over, and if we see spiders we trap them in cups and release them outdoors.
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Interesting day here. We had snow flurries several times. Have no idea what may happen tonight. We may wake up to a little dusting out there in the morning. I'm thinking nothing much will be open here other than carry out. We have foregone eating out much at all since this all thing started. Also, since daily I read more it seems in our hometown paper -- I get even edgier about being out.
Lots of people have their X-mas decorations up. Many seem to want them up by Thanksgiving Day. Even when I decorated ( long ago now ) that was too soon for me. At least working on it early you can often sneak it in on much warmer days. I'm sure that was the idea as well with a lot of people here. See a lot of them turned on now though and driving past houses with their trees up and the lights turned on. I hate to sound like an old Scrooge, but having a tree up a month I'd be sort of tired of looking at it by Xmas. Many people leave them up well after X-mas as well. In fairness though I don't think they always have the lights on afterwards near as much.
Hope you all have a great Monday.
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For several years our daughter has sent us a "branch tree." Real evergreens, usually from Maine forests, cut and shaped into a small tree. Sits nicely on an end table and it has its own lighting and pinecone decorations. They last forever so I asked her to send it fairly early and expect it this week. Don't do much else. Hang the handmade needlepoint stockings under the TV and a wreath outside. I will get out the Spode Christmas dishes when we entertain our "bubble bubbies" a few times. We'll have Christmas Day there and they will decorate.
Don't know whether they will be here for New Year's Eve or not. Her son is thinking of flying in from Detroit and if he does, I don't want to see them for a week.
Have to find something for Ken's 3 year old great niece. For my side, after the kids were ten, we asked them to pick a charity for us to give to in their names. Their choices really have taught me more about their personalities. Debbie got a new floor and wants money or Amazon cards. I try to find something for her to open but haven't had an inspiration yet. Flooring seems so unfestive!
The gift buying I do is for a local group home of teenage foster girls which we do as our gifts to each other. This year they mainly will get gift cards but they each will get one to the store of their choice. Two asked for snuggly blankets and they have arrived from Amazon. Always the saddest for me is when one of them asks for a teddy bear.
Our "little" local Foodbank gave Thanksgiving baskets, which included a turkey or ham, to over 6500 families. Last year it was more like 6500 people. The lines you see on your local TV channels are very real. The Stockmarket may be going crazy but so are the Foodbank lines. I'd like to give ALL of our Congresspeople a kick in the you know what. Hanging on to their positions certainly hasn't helped their constituents. Okay, that ends my political rant for the night.
Stay safe.
Marge
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I put up and decorated my artificial tree today. It's covered with homemade ornaments. The women in Lew's and my family did a homemade ornament exchange for years and would write our initials and the date on the ornaments. I have ornaments going back to the 1970's. Putting up my tree is a trip down memory lane every year. I love the added color and sparkle it brings to the apartment, and will leave it up till New Year's Day.
I made seasoned oyster crackers and carmel puffed corn today and wrapped Dad's presents and got his box ready to mail. After Mom died those were the treats we'd have on hand over Christmas, he'd make the oyster crackers and I'd make the puffed corn. So this year I put a bag of each in his box so we can continue the tradition.
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Good morning, ladies. Freezing warnings, 30 degrees tonight. Hoping my tropical plants survive.
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Puffin: Love how you are continuing Christmas traditions. I have ornaments that date back to my childhood, some that I handmade many moons ago and these are what make my tree special. We always put the real tree up on Christmas eve and then leave it up until little Christmas in January.
When my children were small, their babysitter would put up a real tree in early December and one year it lasted until St. Patrick's day. She took off the Christmas ornaments in January and decorated it with hearts and cupids for Valentine's day. When that passed, she then put shamrocks and Leprechauns on it. It never dropped needles over these months which surprised me. The children loved it.
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The survival of the fittest is the ageless law of nature, but the fittest are rarely the strong. The fittest are those endowed with the qualifications for adaptation, the ability to accept the inevitable and conform to the unavoidable, to harmonize with existing or changing conditions. -Dave. E Smalley
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We had beautiful white frost this morning. I didn't get up until 8 am and didn't hear dh when he got up at 7 am and turned on the heat and the coffee pot and closed the bedroom window before he got back in bed. The sun is shining.
I will get out my few Christmas decorations and replace the sun flowers in a vase with a red berry arrangement. Replace the fall leaves in the giant urn with large poinsettias.
One of our local hospitals had stopped all overnight elective surgeries because of rise in Covid patients.
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