Can we have a forum for "older" people with bc?
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Cold outside as has been the case every morning here. We may get a bit more warmth -- up to 40 degrees, but then if so, a chance of some rain as well. Seems like all weather predictions for the next few days, if any warmth is included also brings rain possibilities. Well, that would mean snow possibilities too since there is warmth to produce rain but this time of yr. it will cool down a lot afterward. We seem to be still in our month of cold temps. mainly w/o snow.
February before has generally meant warmth returning. I recall quite some time back, temps. sneaking into the 70's then although they didn't stay that way -- but sure a welcome treat. Who can say with the odd weather patterns of the last few yrs.? Cross the fingers and hope.
My finally finished pantry looks so very good. Just waiting to see what will happen when others use it. Likely some small adjustments but the usable sections are ready to go. I have some storage items that need a decision as to whether they stay or go. Bread machine, Belgian Waffle Iron and a couple of other appliances that have sat for some time. I have a bigger waffle iron so no real reason to keep the small Belgian one. Shouldn't be that difficult to pass it on.
Nothing special for today since my major work is done. Some of my laundry needs doing so that is my list for today.
Couple more days for my booster to kick in. As noted before, I won't be looking for excursions out. I don't feel ready as yet in the stamina dept. even if willing at this point to take chances. I think the Omicron might leave as quick as it seemed to take hold, but also depends on your area. I think mine still sounds risky as yet. Some like even Fauci have predicted this could go into an endemic rather than pandemic and of course I hope for that. I think it was a hope on Dr. Fauci's part as well
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I had grabbed a few plastic storage bins, a wide 3 drawer unit and a 7 drawer plastic tower from our curbside hunt on Wednesday night. Guessing an eviction or a breakup as many items were out. I cleaned everything with Lysol wipes out in my garage and yesterday attempted to fill them.
The 3 drawer now stores my St. Pats, some Easter, and Halloween w some fall decorations. The 7 drawer I was hoping to fill with all my craft crap to free up a dresser drawer in guest bedroom. Well, I couldn’t put paints nor candles in it, it will reside in the garage (FL summers!). They’d dry out the paints, and melt the candles. So the 7 drawers are pretty much empty. Good intentions, ran amuck. The other storage bins now hold large Christmas throw pillows and a throw. So not all a waste. And it forced me to clean up the back corner of the garage for storage. A win win I suppose.
Before my day was over I got out the step stool to clean out a cabinet in my laundry room. Not as much to toss or donate as I anticipated. But near a dozen washcloths that must have been used as rags. I’ve told my partner, at some point we’d use them and toss them out, no need to launder. That’s about it. If I still had a period, I’d say I’m on one of those binge cleaning frenzies. But we know that’s not true!
It rained here late afternoon, then poured during the evening and again at night. It’s only 62 now and really gloomy like it could rain again. No plans but the grocery store when the mood strikes us to go. Enjoy the weekend
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The basement floor installation is almost finished. He just has to put spacers at the doorways to protect the edges of the porcelain tile. The carpenters came yesterday to install the baseboards and quarter round but we discovered that in the areas where they were not planning to put new baseboards that the profile on the new ones doesn't match the current ones. So the current ones will need to be replaced because not only is there a profile difference but there is a stain discrepancy. Where they abut it is clearly noticeable. It is only about 42 feet so we do not expect any pushback. The baseboard installers did not finish so they will be back anyhow. The tile installer also was able to chisel out the damaged granite tiles in the foyer and since we had extra ones, he was able to use those to repair the floor. There is a small gap in the grout that I will point out to him for fixing. It is just large enough that it will be a dirt collector. He now just needs to replace the marble "saddle" at the door to the master bath. That had been hit by a joist from the attic and it broke it in 2 places. Luckily, it also held up the ceiling so I had an escape route.
The basement painting is to start on Tuesday. Not the original painter because the carpenters told me that his son (his assistant) has a cervical neck issue that has required 2 surgeries and is now a current issue. He's a nice young man so this was hard to hear. So I need to finalize the color and get this info to him before Monday. Still on the fence about choice of color. I'm of an age where any decisions I make now about paint, etc. will most likley be final ones. The last I checked to have Sherwin Williams make small sample cans was quite costly ~$25 for about a pint of paint so I was trying to avoid that cost. But this is a large area and it would cost more than that to repaint if I don't like the final color so I may just bite the bullet and donate what I don't use to Habitat for Humanity. We have 32 square feet of the flooring we had installed previously leftover (its new) and we will donate that as well as some wallpaper I had left over from other projects to Habitat as well.
It's very cold here, in the 20's and not my favorite temp weather but its sunny so that makes up for it. Doing laundry, will try to get to the grocery store and maybe the paint store as well. Have a good Saturday.
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I would take them off when it warms up and put them back tonight. I think it might be too warm if you leave them all day. That's pretty darn cold for NO.
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Carole - I didn't uncover my plants yesterday, high made it to 50, and I'm not going uncover again today since it will be 30 or less again tonight. Tomorrow I'll pull off all the blankets & water well. I think your roses will probably be OK either way. Knock Outs are very hardy.
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I live in PA and we have Knockout roses. The winter doesn't seem to affect them. But given that it is an extreme temp change for your area, covering them at night is probably wise.
Called Sherwin Williams about getting sample pints and they cannot provide them nor quarts due to shipping issues. So they sent me to Lowe's where I was able to get small samples (about 4 oz each) for $5 each. Glad I did because the one paint looks great even though it is darker than what I currently have in both natural and indoor lighting. The one that was close in color is actually a bit lighter and difficult to see so it would drive the painter crazy trying to cover the old paint. I even had difficulty seeing the lighter one where I had painted the squares. I tried my Navajo rug (a wall decoration) by the new color and like it so it is a go. So new floors, new wall color and a new perspective for this space.
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I don't have roses, but the rosemary, thyme & oregano are going strong--and the parsley & mint are still sprouting here & there despite the hard freeze.
I didn't cry at my diagnosis, because it unfolded in stages--the third biggest shock was finding out about the "focal asymmetry" the morning after my mammo, since I'd been getting them annually for years. Next was when the radiologist turned the ultrasound monitor around so she could point out the little black jelly bean on the screen. Biggest shock was the initial biopsy report--I'd always assumed that all breast cancers started out as DCIS, so the words "invasive ductal carcinoma, grade 2" knocked the wind out of me. We had a bottle of bubbly chilling, supposedly to celebrate--instead we toasted to "kicking cancer's ass." I think the ocular melanoma dx was a much bigger shock, since it came from out of nowhere--not even any symptoms, accidentally discovered at a retinologist's exam to investigate a floater in the other eye.
Definitely not getting a fourth shot unless indicated for everyone my age. The Israeli study showed that while the initial increase in antibodies after the post-third-shot level was dramatic, after only a few weeks it fell back to where it had been, with a concomitant backslide in protection against severe disease. But Israel & the US define "severe disease" differently. Here, COVID is considered "severe" if it requires hospitalization and at least supplemental O2, even if not an ICU bed or vent. Israel considers it "severe" if a patient complains of shortness of breath and O2 sats are <94--even if the patient doesn't need urgent care, much less an ER visit or hospital admission.
According to the NYTimes, scientists posit that one of the reasons Omicron infections seem milder and limited to the upper respiratory tract is that so many reported infections are "breakthroughs," occurring in patients with boosted antibodies that "call out the cavalry" of "memory" killer T-cells to shorten the infection. That doesn't explain why it seems to be milder than priot variants in the unvaccinated, except that the stickier mutated spike proteins take up residence in the nasopharynx and don't migrate to the lungs. But many of those unvaccinated may have had prior variant infections--even asymptomatic. There is a warning about trying for "hybrid immunity" (3 shots + a mild-to-asymptomatic Omicron infection): antibodies acquired via a mild or asymptomatic Omicron infection might not be as numerous or lasting.
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I think it's important that we give back to society and our fellow human regardless of our professions. We all need help at times. And when we support each other, we're all a little stronger. -Rhonda Hopkins
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Surprising about the Omicron/Israeli studies, Sandy. Sort of sad that we all held our breath to get the 'booster' and now seems that it may not be covering as well as hoped. I guess i will go back to hoping that the many scientists who feel it is possible after Omicron for covid to become endemic may happen.
Due to be a bit warm today with some sun during the morning hrs. No rain at present but I know it is going to end up in the forecast if those warm temps keep cropping up. Not too much planned as usual. Some laundry left to do, and since I spent the night kowtowing to a needed water pill ( gained 2 #'s which is the trigger ) I was up often. Happy though to have lost the wt. and that and my blood pressure fine this morning -- so I'll trat myself to a nap later.
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Jackie, I think Sandy was commenting on a fourth shot, not the third shot booster. In Israel, some people were being given a fourth shot.
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The sun is shining and it will gradually warm up. I turned off the dribble of water that we ran in the sink. I will be going outside to uncover the roses. And will also remove the tent of sheets over plants on the patio. DH had moved all the planters together some days ago and arranged a tall stake in the middle to support sheets.
Happy Sunday to all.
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I also use blue painters tape to label soups etc when i put in the freezer
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Hi All. I was diagnosed at age 54, I'm now 61. I live in Florida, I haven't had to cover my plants in years! It rarely gets below freezing here. Cold today though - 48 degrees in Orlando
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Welcome, HomeMom.
There has been a later Israeli study showing a definite benefit to health workers who got the fourth shot. Too early to tell how long that will last, and unlike the first study, only Pfizer recipients were tested. But if it's offered here for folks our age and health workers, we'll roll up our sleeves again and not wait for the multi-variant vaccine to hit the market.
Wishing Bob had been able to get a fourth shot, because a couple of hours ago, he mentioned his nasal snot was yellow and though he's feeling fine he could never forgive himself if one of his unvaxed patients were to die--so we rapid-tested. His turned positive right away and mine was still negative 15 minutes later. (His shots, including booster, were Pfizer and mine were Moderna, with the booster being full-strength). Anyway, he's halfway relieved to have a week's vacation but I have a full week of work ahead of me--including garbage and cat duty. HK says to just put clothes in a trash bag and not do laundry till she returns--hopefully, next Monday or sooner if I stay negative and Bob re-tests negative). Weird thing is that he feels fine--no sore throat, headache, muscle aches, fatigue GI stuff or fever--just the yellow snot he's occasionally gotten for years (thanks to his deviated septum). Hoping he can clear his viral load quickly. I called Gordy--who went out to eat with us last night--and he's testing. (Leslie was home with a toothache, and had root canal this morning--already feeling better).
Birthday (at least pre-birthday) was great--wonderful dinner at Regalia, and the kids bought me "Barcelona-in-a-Bag:" 4 Spanish cheeses, jamon iberico, iberico chorizo spread and smoked octopus. When the coast is clear, I will have them over for tapas & paella.
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ChiSandy - it is strange about the symptoms that people get with Covid. My niece had gotten covid from school, so my sister and BIL tested and my sister (who also works at the school) was negative and my BIL was positive and had no symptoms at all. It makes me wonder if there are more people who have it with no symptoms.
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Sandy - hope Bob is better sooner than later and that you stay negative. My husband and I have talked how we would quarantine should G-d forbid one of us test positive and the other negative. Being in the schools 4 days/week, I'm exposed to more people than him.
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I'm pretty sure that Bob got it at Union Health from one of his policeman patients (their union is vehemently anti-mandates of any kind). At the hospitals they make him wear an N95, but I think there was a viral load in the air in the break room where he'd have his lunch. Or perhaps he caught it at a restaurant near the clinic or at one of his hospitals in the SW suburbs--where masks seem to be the exception in restaurants deapite state mandates.
It's actually harder for only one of us to be positive, as semi-isolation is a pain (I bring him his food to eat in his recliner in front of the bedroom TV, and have to haul the bedroom wastebasket down to the kitchen traah can and back up again). I had to show him how to "work" the dispenser-canister of Lysol wipes for the upstairs bathroom (doctors are used to having everybody do the most mundane things for them). He will sleep in the guest room. I'm okay on our bed, as I sleep atop the duvet (I prefer to use my lightweight down quilt)--will cover his side with a fresh sheet until our HK strips the beds next Monday (I hope). During the spring 2020 2-month quarantine, changing the duvet cover after doing laundry was (aside from emptying the litterboxes and taking the litter bags out to the snowy alley trash bins) the chore I hated most--despite all the YouTube hacks, it took me at least 30 min. each time and left me sweaty and exhausted. Could be why I continued to lose weight while everyone else was getting the "quarantine fifteen." HK has told me to leave the laundry alone, and put Bob's clothes into a trash bag (the way I did back in the day after his "hospital Hell" weekends, which he had to spend at a hotel near Christ Hospital). At least I don't have to Lysol his shoes and then put them in the sunny window to disinfect--he won't be wearing shoes indoors. (Maybe now he'll wear the UGG scuffs I bought him for Christmas). And if he does wear shoes to sit out on the (freezing, snowy) deck, they won't be full of ICU germs.
I will still quarantine, of course, while Bob isolates. Back to using Amazon, Instacart and takeout-meal deliveries. All that being said, I hope I stay negative till either the end of Omicron...or the next booster. BTW, the friend who will be officiating at Gordy & Leslie's wedding has gotten COVID for the third time, "collecting the matched set" of wild-type, Delta & Omicron. He just can't stay away from the gym--where even in L.A. few people wear masks while working out.
I'm so glad I bought a Litter Genie, which makes poop-skimming less burdensome (though I do have to take the bags out to the trash eventually). HK completely emptied, bleached and refilled the litterboxes on Friday, so I've been spared that chore for now.
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I wish I would get the "cleaning bug" that some of you have. Lots of things I could/should get rid of. My days seem to be feast of famine - nothing to do so I don't get dressed until noon or meeting myself coming and going. Just realized that I had to trade my hosting book club with another member (if we can ever have in person again) because I am being nominated as Pres. of my golf group on the same day. Didn't seem very cool to accept the nomination in abstentia and fortunately it is far enough way that I could swap the book club duties. I should be able to join them at the meeting late, either by Zoom or in person.
I'm finding myself very discouraged for the future of Covid. Just too many people in the world who can't or won't take precautions. Hope Bob does well and you don't get it, Sandy.
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It was 26 degrees when I got up, but the sun is out and warming up, It should get to 58.
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Right now it is 13 deg. Tomorrow the peak temp is expected to be 2deg, with a low of -18. Wind chill is not added into this. However, wind peaks when temperature peaks.
Today I will be getting a haircut. Otherwise, I will be sewing.
I am wearing my knee brace again. I finally asked Dr. Google, and discovered that there are many things they can do if necessary.
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People only begin to grow when they cease to whine and revile and commence to search for the hidden justice which regulates their lives. And as they adapt their minds to that regulating factor, they cease to accuse others as the cause of their condition and build themselves up in strong and noble thoughts. They cease to kick against circumstances but begin to use them as aids to their more rapid progress, and as a means of discovering the hidden powers and possibilities within themselves. -James Allen
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Hoping Bob is fine Sandy and you stay negative. We do actually still have Delta but Omicron has been so pervasive that it is easy to forget. Hoping for all of us that we can stay healthy and if there is a 4th. covid shot, take advantage.
Always a few things to do here. Since we seem to maintain lots of furry kitty friends here I'm considering getting new boxes ( not sure if it is the kind Sandy talks about ) but a friend showed me hers which is a combo of three -- and you sift all the clumped and or other un-wanted materials out and then put the litter back in the cleaned container. Don't know if I explained that well or not. It did seem far easier than the scoop and at times scrap method. Anyway, we only have two boxes inside as the rest are outside in the screen room. Those would be the ones I would change out.
Going to get up to near 50 degrees today. We do seem to be getting the occasional warmth interspersed with the very cold. A sign of Spring but we do have to get through Feb. before we can even think of any possible consistency.
Hope you all have a good day.
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Lots of people and shelters are switching to the stainless pans that fit a steam table (like in a cafeteria). Easy to clean. My solution with my plastic box is a tool used to smooth walls when sheet rock is smoothed out. It gets the stuck stuff loose and it's easy to scoop after that.
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With only 2 cats, I am scooping all the time. Just getting ready to do it again.
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Gosh Wren, I wouldn't 't have thought of steel pans, but great idea. I use storage containers from Walmart. The mid-sized ones about half the size of the big (but not biggest) ones. They do well for the cats, even most of the kittens to get into, but they do wear -- especially with lots of scrapping. The handles on each side needs lots of care or they fill with litter, and they do get some stains in-between washings. Hard to wash here in the winter too. I like to do them outside with lots of bleach water and then a long dry in the sun. It is sure something to consider now.
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We use liners made for litter boxes so we can avoid the scraping, staining, and embedded smell of urine that we used to have. It is so much easier to just scoop daily and then when it is time for a change of litter to just remove the liners which have drawstrings and just toss.
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Betrayal. I have not tried the liners. Miss Felix has a special senior cat pot. It is low and flat, but large diameter. I wonder if one would fit. I will check online with the maker of the special pot. Thanks for the suggestion.
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I am a dog person. Too much salt has been put on sidewalks lately. I requested that my own container for salt be re-filled, I will do it myself. I also swept the salt off of my sidewalk. Tippy is much happier to be going outside. Regretfully, I can't yet take him out for walks, so he goes on tieout. He makes a little dance overcoming his fear of tieout and his trust of me. I let him work through it, I squat by the door instead of chasing him.
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My mother drew a distinction between achievement and success. She said that "achievement is the knowledge that you have studied and worked hard and done the best that is in you. Success is being praised by others, and that's nice, too, but not as important or satisfying." Always aim for achievement and forget about success.
Helen Hayes0 -
I love dogs as well as cats. When Dh and I first married we were renters. We were allowed cats but no dogs. I never understood this as both cats and dogs can have some bad habits. So it was many yrs. till we moved back home here and had our own home out in the woods before we indulged in having dogs as well. We started with 6 and only have two older dogs left. I can't envision never having any, but in reality -- most cats if kept indoors will almost always well outlive a dog. The cats like the dogs and vice-versa.
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