Can we have a forum for "older" people with bc?
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cardplayer, I have four grandchildren. I always knew I would love them, I just never realized how MUCH I would love them! They are the best gift I ever got! I always wanted children, but when it came to grandchildren, while I hoped I would have some, I never brought the subject up, feeling instead that it was my children and their spouses choice, not mine. My poor daughter had a very difficult time getting pregnant but it finally happened! She is such a wonderful mom of two! My son and daughter-in-law are awesome parents as well! I am so happy for you! That is exciting news! Do they know if I they are having a girl or boy? As they say, you like what you want, but you love what you get!
I am so sorry for those who live in the heat zones! Great weather here in PA, in the 80’s and sunny! We had some rain but could use a steady rain instead of the downpours we’ve had.
Happy Labor Day weekend everyone!
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As I have tried and failed and tried again, I have discovered that if we are to flourish as creative beings, if we are to grow into Wholeness, we must bloom wherever we are planted. Right now, you might not have the perfect career, home, or relationship. Few of us do. But if you have the gift of today, you've got another chance to re-create your circumstances and make them as perfect as it's possible to do with the resources you have. Today, you get another chance to get it as right as you can make it. What more could you desire? -Sarah Ban Breathnach
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MinusTwo, as to your book -- Dh and I lived in the Ventura area ( Santa Paula to Santa Barbara ) for the 25 yrs. I lived there and the 30 Dh had under his belt. Beautfiful area and for us, while we saw some smoke a time or two and even smelled a bit, the closest a fire ever came was on South Mountain in Santa Paula. Steve McQueen lived on South Mountain just as a bit of an aside. So all the fires save for one at Santa Barbara came after we left. Long time to go w/o a serious event, but then finally enough had burned before you got there for it to finally happen. I do hope all stay save and that nothing gets any closer to you Lisa. I think it is harrowing and very frightening and that is before you even get evacuated, if you do.
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We are awaiting rain by the way. Expecting the kids home tomorrow. The rain events sounds like ( may have mentioned it before ) they may occur for a week or more. Not good for those perhaps having to travel in the area for Labor Day. Un-like my kids I'd have likely been home by now or not long from now. Proponent of giving myself time to un-wind well. Daughter Kate has to be to work on Sunday.
Did I mention that I found a site that has a lot of no salt products. It is a market and they have orders by mail. I'll be trying some of their things. I've sure enjoyed some of the few things I've found locally that are either no or very low salt. Our Schnucks store here has no salt Bread and Buttter pickles and so I can now have extra pickles in or on the food I normally always did before. After yrs. it is hard to either go totally without or have so few you barely realize they are there. I think they also cater to diabetics and others who may need dietary adjustments.
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the last big fire here we evacuated to the Navy base. The wind was blowing west to us and the ocean. Figured if it got that far, we could hop on board a Navy ship. We spent a couple of nights in the base gym on cots and cautiously drove back to see if the house was still there. It was. But it was a close call. Funny the things I threw in the cars. Only had 15 minutes.
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mavericksmom - it’s a girl. We live about an hour away, so I’m sure we’ll be visiting as often as she needs.
Illinois - what’s the link to the site that has no salt products? I have burning mouth syndrome (something I developed during chemo that I haven’t gotten rid of) and salt if one ingredients that triggers the burning. I’ve tried to reduce salt / eliminate where I can. Thanks.
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Cardplayer -- it's called Healthy Heart Market and if you type it into your computer it will take you to the site. Just as an aside -- I did find no salt Bread and Butter pickles at our Schnucks market here. Just saying that if you have the time you might actually run into some no-salt foods in your local grocery outlets. Also, found Miracle Whip at Krogers. The Kroger we go to has the Boar's Brand meats that have a lot less salt as well. As for the Miracle Whip -- I think it loses about 50% of the salt and the cholesterol. Cholesterol is another of the 'heart healthy' adjustments that the site tries to help ou with.
That said, there are some prices that look difficult, but I have to say that overall I'm paying a lot more at the places around here where I've found items I felt I could use. Like peanut butter or spaghetti sauce which is over $6.00 at Walmarts and is only a bit less in salt -- so the Healthy Market becomes somewhat cheaper and I think only a miniscule portion of salt in it.
They show you lots of reviews and are not shy about putting in the negative ones. As for Peanut Butter -- I have been getting the Maranatha Brand and it has no salt or sugar. I think it is pretty tasty, but I think for me -- it is likely the taste of no salt to fit into my days allotment that makes it taste so good. In my order that I'm getting ready I'm going to try some of the Healthy Market peanut butter ( chunky ) because I read good reviews of the brand elsewhere.
One other thing -- if you buy $78.00 worh of items I think they mail for free. I read some of the reviews that said the cost of shipping is often close to the price of your order -- so something to think about. I will spend enough to get the shipping for free. They have a lot of " Dash " products.
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Grace is goodness and respect given freely and unconditionally. A sense of divine love and protection bestowed on us when we need strength and renewal. Grace helps us know we are not alone and believe we are cared for and cherished. Grace is a drink of clear, clean water in the desert.
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Raining this morning. Started during the night sometime. My kids are on the way home from Agusta, GA and I think they are going to drive in a lot of clouds and rain as well. They think sometime between 9:30 p.m. and mid-night. They have 'Georgie' with them and he is old, partly senile, and needs to stop to have a bite to eat and go potty -- so it will take theem extra time.
Kate has to work Sunday starting at noon so they have to keep going. At least they will have a few hours to sleep. They helped my BIL from Florida build a fence on his property. It took up the whole vacation. The Fla. soil is wet and swampy below ground I guess so ir was not an easy project at all. The visiting time they hoped to have ended up devoted to the fence.
Well, I have lots of things to do inside so I don't mind the rain today. It will help settle our dust -- which wasn't super bad, but the yard always benefits from the 'slow' rains we have so hopefully we won't get super pour-downs.
Hope you all have a great Saturday.
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Thanks for the information on the healthy heart market, Illinois. We have two grocery options- Walmart and Martins which is owned by Royal Ahold. We have a Whole Foods and Wegmans about an hour away. I’ve ordered no salt items off Amazon before when Martins was out of stock on items.
My sciatica calmed down, so I was able to walk this morning. It was good to get outside in the sunshine.
Enjoy your day.
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cardplayer, so nice to hear you are going to have a granddaughter! Glad to hear your sciatica is better, that is so painful!
There is supposed to be a Wegmans being built near my house and I am thrilled! Where I live there is a plethora of grocery stores. I find myself only going to Shop Rite or Giant. Occasionally I will go to Redners, which is a locally owned store.
I can live with low salt, but I don't think I could do "no" salt. I guess to lessen the sodium in recipes, maybe. About the only thing I salt is pasta, potatoes, and corn on the cob. I must admit, I was surprised at how much sodium is in many foods now that I am focusing on the labels for sugar content. Interesting that there are actually salt free products.
illinoislady, so nice that your kids are on the way home! I can imagine how difficult building the fence was! That was so kind of them to do that!
My husband has been glued to the TV now that college football is back! I like football but I can sit for more than one game, and sometimes not even for one!
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I just booked an appointment for the newest Covid booster at a local Walgreens for Friday. If I run a fever the next day from the vaccine, like I did the last booster, then at least I have the weekend off. They are only starting to give them on Wednesday. I get Moderna.
Why are Covid vaccines such a pain in the *** to get??? I was able to book mine, another Moderna, but not my husband because he got Pfizer at CVS the last time. I guess the new Pfizer vaccines haven't become available in our area yet. None of the CVS stores in our area are giving them. I was going to book his for a Moderna this time, because they say you should switch them up, but the form at Walgreens wouldn't allow that. Every Covid appointment we ever made from the very first one, has been a hassle! I never had problems getting any other type of vaccine!
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We had our Labor Day potluck dinner last night here at the resort/campground. The owners paid for a woman with karaoke equipment to come for the entertainment after the meal. They also supplied strip steaks. This the "last hurrah" of summer as kids will be going back to school. Full time summer residents have their plans for returning to winter homes.
We plan to stay and see the fall leaves and head south when the weather turns "unfriendly."
I made jambalaya with smoked sausage and shrimp and got compliments on my "rice dish." This is cheesy potato country and rice is not a popular starch. I used brown rice, which is what we eat. At home in Louisiana, white rice is the norm.
I am feeling some inner excitement about going home to my comfortable house with washer and dryer, dish washer, three toilets, large kitchen, space.....
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I called the local clinic Friday. They only do Pfizer, but I told them that there were some recommendations to switch. I want to get the flu vaccine at the same time, but that won't be available until September.
Mu fitbit was on the charger all night last night, but I think I slept well.
My kitchen is divided from the living room by the counter and some cabinets, which makes it necessary to keep my kitchen neater than my personal standards. I have had some lace curtains to further divide the areas, but they are dusty and dirty and difficult to wash and starch and iron. I used part of a sheer sari to make new curtains, plus a matching one for the window of my front door (which also has plastic on it to break up the light into rainbow colors). It is plainer, but I like the effect. The lace ones are in the tub, I will rinse some of the Epsom salts out of them so that they can fit into a lingerie bag.
I think I will harvest mint today and pick okra, choosing my most relaxing activity. I have too many jam-jars, so I might transfer mint from the quarts so that I will have enough quarts for the sweet tomatillo pickles and dill okra pickles. A quart of dried mint lasts a lot longer than a quart of those pickles. Maybe make a soup. I have enough vegetables, and some cooked hamburger in the freezer.
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carole, you had me at campground, but when you said jambalaya, my mouth started to water!!!! When my kids were young, we had a pop-up Starcraft camper. Many of my best family memories were of camping! When I was a kid, I was lucky to travel all over the USA and abroad, because of my father and his work. We always stayed in hotel/motels, many very classy. Nothing compares to campground camping! You get to meet people, most everyone is so very friendly, and the activities were always so much fun! I miss those days.
One of my favorite childhood vacation memories is when we went to NOLA and stayed in the French Quater at the Royal Orleans.(long time ago, not sure that hotel is still there) I was just a few days short of being 18 and was bummed that it kept me out of many of the nightclubs. The jazz was amazing, the food, jambalaya, was out of this world! Southern food is the best!
Anyway, thanks for sharing and stirring up those great memories I haven't thought about in years!
mcbaker, so were you not able to get an appointment for the vaccine? I signed my husband up for a Moderna, he had Pfizer before, but I heard mixing up is good. I actually had a J&J for first dose because it was all I could get, then Moderna boosters. My husband is getting a flu vaccine at the same time. I already got mine because I can only get vaccines in one arm.
Your house sounds lovely. I laughed at your comment about a clean kitchen. I like a clean kitchen too, but I have a plaque over my sink that is shaped like an apple and says "My kitchen was clean yesterday, sorry you missed it!"
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My uncle is from NOLA although he’s lived in Maryland and NOVA for most of his adult life. But he makes excellent jambalaya. Every Thanksgiving he makes dirty rice as one of our sides. My stomach issues keep me from sampling his cooking these days.
I’m hoping my PCP offers the latest covid vaccine. Otherwise I’ll go to CVS to get it when the begin to offer it. Need to make my flu shot appointment for October.
Lots of college football (yesterday) and baseball on our TV as well. Next Sunday, NFL begins. I’ve got several books to listen to, so I’m ready for the season. DH is a big sports fan.
Enjoy your Sunday.
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We were planning on being at a camp for end of year “ring of fire” event. Everyone on the lake has a giant bonfire on the beach and fireworks dot the sky as camp owners try to out do each other. But as of mid day yesterday it called for 70% rain so our host cancelled. Instead we’re going to their home for dinner and a smaller gathering. Now weather looks like rain out there at 11 PM, but rain starting around 5 PM here.
I ran to Lowe’s for a new azalea, partner mowed over a smaller one we had in a side garden. It may have been crushed already from the scaffolding for the chimney but he truly did it in. Clearance rack had some azalea plants but barely alive at $4. I opted for a rhododendron plant, much larger, healthy and full of buds for next year’s blooms, $7. Can’t beat clearance.
I also got to Home Depot for stain & sealer to finally even think about stain sealing the 3 new pieces of privacy fence I purchased in October of last year! They’ve been waiting for me, taunting me, inside the garage. I’ll get to them before we leave for Florida. Haha! No promises on actually when. But after the bedrooms are painted, items returned to the rooms, and the U-box has been returned I might find time.
The current area rug in the one bedroom looks faded and not so great. Being the room isgoing to be near emptied I think it’s time for a new one. I have a 5x8 wool rug rolled up from previous use in the living room and may have to check it out before buying another. Mentioning it here, reminded me of the other rug! You ladies help me even when you haven’t read my post yet.
Enjoy your Labor Day weekend!
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Living in a society that under values the spirit, we who embrace it are tempted to apologize. We must stop apologizing, for no subject is more important. It is after all love's retrieval. It is the answer to global hatred. To invalidate the spiritual life is to shoot the fireman that is putting out the fire.
Marianne Williamson.
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Watching NBC nightly news and the weather and devastation in GA is awful. We are still quite hot even in the mountains.
Our Covid vaccines were 3 Pzifer and 1 Moderna. Have't thought what we will do for the next. We generally wait till October for flu shot.
Stay safe
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All the Labor day plans sound great. We are in a week or so of off and on rains. Sounds like they could be on and off all day long, all week long. Have to see how that goes. My kids got back safe and sound. They returned with a 2016 Honda Acura that was given to them by a family member from Florida. I've been wondering if that guy as any more just sitting around the house like this one was. Sigh !! Actually, it is one of those models that sit a bit low -- and added to it, you really do have to sit down INTO the car as well. That is something that is difficult for me at 77. So, any gifts from family will have to be SUV types which are what I can still get into fairly easy now. Not sure when the 'switch' came, but I know I'm not alone.
All food sounds wonderful to me. We almost always use brown rice when we have it. I don't mind white rice mind you, but during nutrition al class we learned to use and like the brown and it became the go to.
We are having spaghetti tonight ( my daughter's favorite ) as a little welcome home. I hope she likes it. I don' t have the new sauce yet, but will order 3 jars of it on Tues or Wed. Not sure when the store will be open for phone orders.
I think I've been doing okay with my salt and the 'odd' incidents os low blood pressures seem to have cleared up. I think I have figured it out, or at least I hope. When I have a bit more food in my stomach ( trying to schedule most of the pill taking at meal times ) it seems I do much better. The times at issue were times that I know I didn't have much food for the pill to land on. So -- fingers crossed. It feels yucky when it gets to 70 for the top number. Also takes longer for the correction.
I hope your day has been really good.
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We do flu and or vaccines as close to Oct/Nov as we can. That way our 'flu' injections protect us though all of the cold season and into Spring a bit too. Just feel a mite safer. We will also see about the boosters. May have to get them local as the 'local' .V.A. usually has clinic one day and last time we were busy. We have a pharmacy close by though that has the Moderna so could go there -- might anyway. I can only get shots in one arm so generally have to wait for a few days in between.
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Jackie, hate to break it to you but eating cholesterol does not affect your serum (blood) cholesterol. Regular mayo is more heart-healthy than Miracle Whip, which is loaded with sugar and corn-based thickeners, which will spike blood glucose and raise triglycerides as well. I buy Duke's mayo, which has no sweeteners or thickeners whatsoever.
As to salt-free foods, I recall that after my dad's first heart attack in 1965, they were incredibly hard to find back in Brooklyn. You had to go to a "health food" store (do they even have those any more?), and most of the brands were the vegan ones (like Worthington or Loma Linda) that catered to Seventh-Day Adventists. And they were dreadfully bland--instead of salt, he used "Co-Salt" (KCl) which had an awful aftertaste. He even had to be careful as to sweeteners, as some had socium (cyclamate, saccharin--there were calcium versions of both). Dad had to shun fats too, so he bought the first T-Fal skillet and nylon spatula I'd ever seen. I'd be awakened by a pungent smell coming from the kitchen: he was dry-frying an egg with every bottled herb & spice on the rack. We used a lot of lemon juice, garlic & paprika for flavoring. BTW, if you're looking for utterly salt-free bread, try an Italian bakery: the Tuscan kind has no salt whatsoever.
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The Omni Royal Orleans is very much still there! It was our HQ hotel for Gordy & Leslie's wedding last April (though the kids, bridal party & Leslie's folks rented a Vrbo in the Marigny). Food was amazing--it was an extended dietary "cheat weekend," though I did lots of walking to cancel out much of the carb-fest. (Nothing cancels out beignets, though). Oysters were in short supply, so our po'boys were crawfish instead.
Speaking of jambalaya, I may try to make a version using riced cauliflower--which doesn't work for paella because it doesn't form a "soccarat" crust, nor for risotto because it has no starch to release into the broth or wine. Mine would likely be a Creole version, because of all the ripe tomatoes we had to rescue from marauding squirrels (which are increasingly marauding because it's been so dry that they are gnawing away at the 'maters for their water content). The green plastic mesh wine bottle nets, which usually work like a charm, are useless--the critters bite right through them. Might get desperate and sprinkle cayenne on to the remaining ones--small mammals cannot tolerate capsicum.
I got my Moderna "new' booster sppt. for next Sat. at Walgreen's. On the site, they ask which ones you've had previously, and will not list branches that have only Pfizer. They asked if I wanted a "twofer" with a flu shot, but I usually wait till mid-Oct. for that so it'll last me into April. Last time I combined a flu shot with another (Prevnar 13), was Sept. 2015 when I went to my long-time PCP (RIP, alas) for my pre-op clearance for lumpectomy. I had a meeting down in the Loop that evening; as I rode back home on the CTA train, I felt my arms get very heavy: by the time I got home they were so stiff & sore I couldn't lift my elbows above midriff-level. That was the only time I ever got a bad reaction from a non-COVID shot (though for a week after my first Shingrix I did get a red patch that eventually spread from my shoulder down almost to my elbow before it receded). Bob gets Pfizer--and will get it when one of his hospitals starts doling it out. He, too, waits till Oct. for his flu shot. (In fact, he used to bring them home for Gordy & me before pharmacies began giving them for free with insurance).
Our HK has been advised to wait till Oct. or Nov. for her shot, as she still has antibodies from her recent BA.5 infection. I am masking everywhere--even if I'm the only one in the store wearing a mask--so I don't catch another breakthrough before my booster appt. next Sat. I did notice today at the grocery & Petsmart that many more people than usual were masking; perhaps for the same reason.
Safe travels for everyone on the road or in the skies this weekend!
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we have three azaleas. Only one in the front of the house looks healthy. The other on in the front yard and the one by our back patio looks like they’re dying. None bloomed this year.
We plan to go to Home Depot tomorrow for bug spray, weed killer and some other things. DH has a list! I could spend hours and thousands of dollars in that store....of course I won’t....but I could!
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Sandy I recall bread in Florence having no salt! I love love love Italian bread and was quite surprised that I didn't like that bread. I thought my tastebuds were off or something was wrong.
Barely much rain here today and not until after 10pm. But tomorrow the high will be 68, so they say. Perfect weather to clean out that other bedroom, and not pass out from the heat. I have 5 more packing boxes to use, and some bins I'll get from my niece - borrow in the short term. I'm so sick of projects but will just keep plugging along.
Might look at appliances tomorrow, might not. I think some sales last the week so I might have some time.
Jackie, I'm glad your daughter and SIL got home safe. Mary, my Fitbit tracks oddly at times. A lot of my awake time are as I'm reading before bed and as I wake up for the day but don't get out of bed asap. I've almost left mine charging overnight too! Petite, I'm not looking forward to big fuzzy fleece jackets to wear, but I'm used to summer coming to an end and cooler weather hitting me. I don't have to like it, I just roll with it until I'm back in FL! Mavericksmom, look for the clearance rack. Maybe you can replace your azalea plants, they were marked down to $4 here.
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To those that are still working, have a pleasant Labor Day.
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I usually wait for flu vaccine until late Sept/Oct but got mine in August this year just because of my October surgery. I can only get vaccines in my right arm, after this surgery, maybe no arm! Ugh!
So happy to hear the Royal Orleans is still there! We had a top floor, three bedroom suite that was on a corner so views from two directions. (thanks to my dad who brought them a lot of convention business) I remember loving to swim in the roof top pool! Great memories of NOLA.
My Friday appointment is for Moderna at Walgreens. My husband got Pfizer before, it wouldn't let me continue for slots when I put that in to schedule him for one too, so I went back and listed his previous as Moderna in order to schedule his appointment after mine. He will call his doctor on Tues to make sure that is okay, and as long as it is ok for him to get a Moderna booster now, I will call Walgreens and tell them. If they refuse that, I don't want to take up a spot someone else could get. He is getting his flu vaccine at the same time, but he can get that at CVS where we go for prescriptions.
illinoislady, I hear you about the car! I drive a Subaru Forrester for that very reason, I can get into cars that sit low, but getting out......well, it isn't pretty to watch!
Working in a school, I am off today, but tomorrow the kiddos will be restless I am sure! DH is waiting for me to go to Home Depot. Have a great day ladies!
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Compassion is the most precious of all gifts. In times of sorrow and bewilderment,
it is what restores us and offers refuge. It is the force of empathy in your own
heart that allows you to reach out and touch the broken heart of another. It is
rooted in the heartfelt acknowledgement that others, like ourselves, yearn to be
free from suffering and harm, and be safe and happy. It is compassion that rescues
us from despair and helplessness, that provides a refuge of peace and understanding
inwardly and outwardly. Compassion does not claim to be a quick-fix for the age-old
causes of suffering, nor is it a magic wand that will sweep away sorrow. But it is
our commitment to compassion and our willingness to nurture it
in every moment that gives meaning to life.
Christina Feldman0 -
Hmm, another gray day is upon us. I'm hanging in there since too many gray days in a row gets to me pretty easy. Thank goodness I have special lights to get me through. Nothing special planned today. Just taking care of what gets in front of me mainly.
Hope you are all going to have a good Labor Day today.
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Hope everyone had a nice Labor Day. We had rain off and on today, so we were able to get a walk in today. Did some cleaning and watched some baseball and tennis. Our grocery store had crab legs on sale so we enjoyed those for dinner tonight.
Glad your family arrived home safely Illinois.
Enjoy your evening
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