Can we have a forum for "older" people with bc?
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Today and tomorrow are packing up days. Then on Sunday we will winterize the camper and head south. I am greatly looking forward to moving back into our house for the next 8 months.
Today it warmed up to 70 degrees. The weather has been more comfortable at home the last couple of days, too.
I hope all our Florida sisters are safe and wish them the best in dealing with whatever Ian has brought into their lives. As a Louisiana resident I understand the hurricane experience even though I have not experienced the worst. One year when I was still living with my parents, a hurricane blew away the roof on our house. Amazingly, it didn't rain and ruin all the furnishings.
The year I took a Greyhound bus to Athens, GA, to begin graduate school at the U of GA, the bus went through the Gulf coast and I saw the incredible destruction Camille brought to the pretty little towns. All that remained of many of the graceful homes was the brick steps.
I think the monetary cost of climate change may get the attention of the corporate world that has funded denial.
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GRRRR---BCO Web Redesign Monster ate my (very long) post! Here goes again (maybe a bit shorter):
Decades ago, I tried DGL but it failed spectacularly. Going to have to very gradually wean off Dexilant (each stage at least 2 weeks) lest I get severe GERD rebound. Couldn't get an endocrinologist appt. till Jan. 11! My primary prefers alendronate--but oral bisphosphonates are out of the question for me, due to said GERD. He will order a chem panel and Vit. D levels for me--my next scheduled draw isn't till Nov. 21, when I see my melanoma MO. Also gave up on taking a trip during the pre-Thanksgiving rehearsal break. Not gonna try to reschedule that MO appt. because wait times for specialists--even your own--are insane now. I was going to try and switch primary care docs, as mine--who'd assured me he wasn't "going anywhere"--dropped his Lincolnwood (one town over) office and is now full-time in Mt. Prospect, 30 mi. NW. But it is what it is--we consult via portal messages and Doximity phone telehealth calls. (Might get one of those Tytocare systems that would allow him to actually "see" my ears & throat and "hear" my heartbeat & lungs--assuming he's set up to use it). Anyway, he, my cardiology/weight-control NP and my main MO all said it's safe for me to resume taking Citracal/D3 twice a day pending bloodwork. As to that vibrating platform at the bone-health clinics, I seem to recall both Dr. Favus (the city's top bone endo, referred by my then-shrink) and my late then-primsry dismissing it as a gimmick, run by paraprofessionals. So despite my L bunion and R Morton's neuroma, my aching feet will have to carry me at least 3x/week a mile or two at a time. Waiting to hear back from the neurologist as to whether my upcoming PT sessions will have to take my precarious lower vertebrae into account.
Meanwhile, I'm on the fence about auditioning tomorrow for solos in the Bar Show. I'm the oldest woman in the singing cast, there are so many young musical-theater majors & community-theater actors in the show now, and all the parts are in "bottleneck octave" of my range--having trouble smoothly transitioning from chest into middle voice. I'm fine chorally in the second-soprano head voice range, but there are younger/slimmer/prettier operatic-quality soprsnos & B'way-belting altos now. (It's different for my gigs--my singing partner & I get to pick the keys, and I've written the songs on which I sing lead). I've never sung most of those songs before, and seen the shows & films they're from only once if at all. I'll bring them up in AppleMusic while I follow along with the score excerpts, but I have to face the fact I'm now a dinosaur. Can't dance even if I had the ability, lest I twist my spine or fall. At least I can act.
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Videos came in at 3:33AM from our neighbor. She sent them much earlier but it wasn’t until then that cell service clicked on. It’s not as bad as it could be, actual house damage. A lot of trees are gone - foxtail palm, hibiscus tree, giant bird of paradise has maybe 2 feet left, and banana tree folded to the ground. Roof is missing shingles, and a soffit piece laying on the ground. I’ve filed a claim with my insurance at noon today and hope for the best, replace the roof and repair the soffit. No one can get into my house without electricity. The front hurricane shutter is an electric roll down. The garage door, electric. The hurricane shutter over the back lanai could be opened from the outside, but like a true NY’er I’ve locked the slider and put in a Jimmy stick! It’s locked up tight until electricity is available. I should hear from the insurance company adjuster in 72 hours.
Then I had a call from my Cape Cod realtor. Our request for retuning next year during the same week has fallen through. The owners will be staying there that week. Next Thursday the realtor will let me know if anyone has not rebooked a week and see if we can get in for that week. If not, they’ll find us another property. Not horrific news but unsettling none the less. The old saying, the best laid plans.
Finally, I’m on a roll you know, I received a notice to serve on the Grand Jury for 12 weeks every Wednesday starting on 10/12. I had to call to say I leave and won’t be here but will be back in May. She put me down for the June session which runs 8 weeks. I yi yi Lucy, I hope prepaid vacation plans can be worked around.
If they still made CALGON, I’d ask it to take me away! After having dealt with my insurance company for the flooded basement in NY, I’m not looking forward to dealing with another insurance company for the FL house.
We still need to take down the screen house and get all that put away. I need to find energy to stain those 3 wooden privacy fence panels I purchased near a year ago! And there is still some more clothes purging before it goes back in the newly painted bedrooms. This too shall pass!
Everyone have a great weekend, be safe and enjoy!
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Pretty much stopped using hard-copy calendars (except the one hanging on the kitchen wall, for reminders as to when to give Happy his pill, and appointments we all need to know about--vet, etc.--as well as our HK's midweek days off or vacations). I keep track of all my appointments in my Calendar app, which "populates" itself across all my Apple devices. It even keeps track of the locations and tells me when I should leave the house. I stopped using Day-Timers when I retired from law practice a decade ago, as I no longer had occasion to keep track of billable hours or maintain a record of what I had or hadn't done. Finally threw them away--they'd been getting dusty & moldy in the garage, which we needed to weed out in order to make room for our two SUVs.
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Cindy, In hurricane Irma, we had roof damage on one of the rentals and the ceiling caved in. We contacted a roofer and had it replaced and the ceiling fixed without waiting for the insurance company, It was slightly over the deductible, but didn't have to wait. If it is not too bad, you consider it.
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I also keep my calendars. I still keep a paper calendar, then enter it into it into my electronic one. I also use my electronic calendar for a things to do list. Paper calendar is much better for entering appointments away from laptop, because it is too fumbly to enter them on my phone.
My bones are solid, but I see more steroid shots in the future. I have been taking D3 supplements for several years because a low level maybe ten years ago. Low levels are also associated with depression, but I am out in the sun a lot during the summer. I might get sleeves next summer. The skin of my tanned arms is much more fragile. Amazon.com: 12 Pairs Sun Protection Sleeves UV Protection Cooling Sleeves Arm Sleeves Men Women Sports Sun Sleeves with Thumb Hole for Driving, Golfing, Fishing, Cycling, Hiking, Doing Sports (6 Colors) by HRLOR : Clothing, Shoes & Jewelry I use Silk soy vanilla,
There was a disaster yesterday. I had a very busy day planned yesterday. I went to the grocery store to get some beans. When I got home, Tippy greeted me at on the sidewalk up to my apartment. I screamed "How did you get loose?" And a dog-phobic neighbor said "You let your dog run loose again. I called it in (to administration of the apartments)." I picked him up and WHEW. He had rolled into some shit. Because he would much rather get a shower while laying on my lap, I started stripping off my clothes. He got up on my bed several times, and I yelled "Off". So then he decided to play a game of "catch me" as I ran around (naked) the apartment (ground floor) trying to catch him. I finally caught him, but he was so hyped up that he bit me (I slapped his butt and "no bite"). He finally calmed down and I sudsed him up and rinsed twice. I then called the office, and she calmed me down. I had already done laundry, but then I had to strip the bed and take the cover off the sofa. I washed everything I could, but ran out of money. A neighbor came over and we analyzed how he had got loose (I decided to leave him at the last minute and we did not do our stay ritual). (She got some Lysol and I took Tippy for a walk.) He slipped out and probably chased me, then returned home realizing that crossing the highway was too dangerous. So now today I will be spoiling him, telling him I forgive him. In all of the adrenaline of the above, I aggravated arthritis in my left hand, even heated up the wax bath. It is still swollen, but I can type with it. Sigh. Today HAS to be better. And someday I will look back at it and laugh.
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Petite we have a roofer coming to give estimates on 7+ neighbors roofs. I’m not sure where we are on his “to do” list. He’s done many roofs in the neighborhood and inspected ours after Irma. Also the insurance company has put us on the list for tarping my roof. Not being there I don’t know how badly it really needs tarping but that company can access and do it if necessary. Insurance policy states hurricane damage deductible is 2% of dwelling, for us that’s about $4,200. Plus I have a regular $1,000 deductible, unsure if I pay that too before insurance kicks in. These are BIG hip roofs that run about $15-20,000 a side. So that’s $30-40k for both sides of the villa. If he can get us done asap I’d pay out of pocket and deal with insurance after. Insurance company has said to forward the estimate as soon as I get it.
Mary - you had a DAY! I think after the stress of that I’d have had to take a nap, or pour a drink. Thankful that you & Tippy are ok. I have some of those sleeves, I’ve never worn them. A gf gave them to me as a gift for when I’m in Florida. I could mail them to you once I’m in FL, they’re just sitting in a drawer.
Paper calendar story. Years ago in Cape Cod my phone alerted me to a hair appointment the next day. I would never have booked an appointment knowing I’d be on vacation. So I started to look at the calendar. It had moved things off by a week or several days. When I called on how to fix it, there wasn’t a fix. Only thing they could do is reboot the phone to original or I had to go through and manually change things. That’s when I knew I’d never get rid of my paper calendar. I grab a new one from the Cape every summer while on vacation. (I may have already told this story, my mind is adrift
It’s all of 49 out, overcast and I think we may get some rain from none other than Ian. I caved in and turned my heat on. Used my app to do it and listened very carefully to hear it go on. It’s the first time since the flooding in the basement that it’s being used (besides the repairman saying it works). Enjoy your day ladies!
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Mary, you could not have made up a better story like the one you lived yesterday. Yes, there will be a time when you can look back and laugh at Tippy's escapades. I think the important fact is that he returned home to safety rather than follow you. They do manage to find some disgusting things to roll in (dead worm on driveway was Regan's) and think they smell divine. Of course, if you used smelling butts as a means of introduction/identification, you might find rolling in disgusting things fun as well. Now imagine if there was a scene in a TV show where a mature, naked woman is chasing a dog around an apartment in a game of "catch me" (dog winning) and see if it doesn't at least bring a smile to your face. I admit, it did bring a smile to mine. Today will be better because you are having Tippy bonding time. Hope your hand is less painful today.
cindyny: Glad to hear damage to home is something that can be fixed. Think petite1's suggestion about checking out private roof replacement versus using insurance is a good one. I would get an estimate just to see if it is worth pursuing with any deductible you have.
We are getting tail end of Ian today with rain predicted for today and tomorrow. It has been dry so the rain is welcome. Hate the gray skies though since they seem to lower one's mood. I do have some inside jobs that have been waiting for a rainy day. Will start cleaning and decompressing guest room since I purchased some new sheers and bedding for it. I want to paint the window and woodwork in that room but not today. Need sunny weather to do that so I will work on cleaning in prep for that job.
Hope all have a peaceful weekend.
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There is a vitality, a life force, an energy that is translated through you;
and because there is only one of you in all of time, this expression is unique.
Martha Graham0 -
betrayal, if I ever have a really bad day, I am writing about it so you can respond! I was feeling so bad after all the hurricane devastation and then reading about Mary's horrible day, but you found a way to sympathize and add a bit of humor to it! I especially liked when you wrote "of course, if you are used to smelling butts....." Too funny! You put a smile on my face, hopefully one on Mary's too! BTW, we must live in the same general area, I am in a suburb of Philadelphia.
Mary, I do hope things have calmed down and you aren't feeling any pain from the fiasco!
As for calendars, I will forever prefer paper, but I say, do what works for you! I am not a fan of phone calendars, however, the programs so many places are using now makes it super easy to click a text or email reminder into the phone calendar, often with more information than I would add.
I am also not a fan of GPS, give me a map and I am a happy camper. I actually use both, but I missed an appointment with a specialist due to GPS mis directions. One of my doctors moved about 45 minutes away. I looked at the map and thought it looked easy enough to find. I plugged the address into my phone, followed it and got hopelessly lost. I even stopped twice to call the office, the first to tell them about being lost but thinking I would still make it in time, the second when I realized that wasn't happening. Chalked it up to fate and decided better to find a new doctor close to home.
I grew up doing math, all the way through high school, and college, without a calculator. Drives me crazy that so many middle school students can't multiply or do simple math without a calculator.
I hope everyone is having a better day today, especially those cleaning up after the hurricane!
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MC, I too felt the urge to laugh at your story a couple of times ( having some of those similar things a time or two ) but felt for you the rest of the time. Were it just " pooch " but having to do all the extra cleanning due to 'blessing' the furnishings before bath time is just the pits. Glad it all worked out okay in the end, but you do need a relaxation/bonding day for sure.
I hope everyone having to deal with Ins. finds answers that fit your situations well. I do recall having to pay our deductible on my car since the guy that hit me had no Ins. at all. I think my Ins. company never got paid, so trying to get my $500.00 back was out of the question although they said they would try their best. I was okay with it since the bill in total was/would have been steep for us out of pocket. In addition, the Ins. did pay car rental for me while my car was in the shop. I think if you can get it, Ins. in Fla. ( costal areas especially ) are going to be really out of sight. I hope Carole is right and companys and corporations will start heeding the effects that can be expected from climate change/global warming. It is something of a misfortune that many times the prettiest and most desirable places that building takes place,are not always the safe ones. Likely needs looking at too.
Going to dog sit for my cousin a few short hours tonight. Always fun to spend some time with animal friends I like. Muff is getting older now and doesn't have the intense craving for attention he once did. Makes him a good fit for me now too.Otherwise a quiet enough day.
We broke down and put Netflix on our program list. We had plenty of everything in our Hulu line-up but daughter Kate wanted the Cobra Kai program. I knew nothing about it, but it apparently is all the people from the old years back" Karate Kid " moveis. She got addicted while they were in Florida. I may end up happy with this as there are documentaries, travel programs and even some movies that I will enjoy. I'm a big fan of documentaries.
Hope you all have a great Saturday.
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I once got rear-ended, which totaled my car. I bought another but making payments on two cars was getting burdensome. She worked for an auto dealership and was on her lunch hour. I am sure they had a huge but choice insurance policy. I finally called the office of the state insurance commissioner and got quick results.
Yes, we have spent some relaxing time outside today. We went to the grocery store and he refused to go an inch further at seven yards from the highway. I am glad I still have a dog. I pulled my nasturtiums and picked the seeds out. I saved the fattest 25 of them for next year. The rest will be pickled with the nubbins of okra.
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mavericksmom: I live in the western suburbs of Philadelphia. Been in this house for 37 years now and love it because we are close enough to the city to venture in for entertainment or dinner but far enough away that we have access to wildlife and somewhat rural living. We do not have sidewalks nor curbs to worry about and neighbors are not that close to us, so some privacy as well. I prefer a map over GPS as well and have made sure access to doctors is local rather than traveling to inner city.
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Here's another person who prefers maps. I always research before I go somewhere new. Not interested in "alexa" in the car. Oh my - paper maps and calendars. Not to mention that I prefer REAL books. I do have a kindle, but only use it when I'm on a vacation where I can't take a pile of books with me. And what about the old fashioned morning paper? I still have that delivered and thrown in my driveway every morning.
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I use a planner only at work as I use it for kids i need to see and things that I need to accomplish that day. But for a calendar at work we use google calendar and that is what I use on my phone. I have a big one on the fridge, but not much gets written it anymore. Quite helpful when all the kids were home to keep of who was doing what.
Mary - glad that you are okay. What a hassle with your pup.
Cindy - hope you get everything sorted out with the roof in FL.
Sandy - let us know if you decide to audition.
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minustwo: Love the feel of a REAL book in my hands and while gifted a kindle, seldom use it. Purchase books from Thriftbooks because prices are about the same as I would pay for online access. Then I recycle them when done reading but do keep an occasional one that I plan to reread.
Have a refillable planner book that I use to record all appointments and rather than save them I use some blank pages that I break down into months and then record important appointments. Yes, it is duplication but easier to flip through a few pages annually than 12 months of pages. I need to get the 2023 version because I already have some appointments scheduled. Staples did not have them in stock in August so I need to make a trip there.
Rainy and overcast today with very gray sky. Only in the 50's and damp so it feels even colder. Had grandfather clock repaired (just needed oiling and a minor adjustment) yesterday and after 3 years of silence, the chimes and hour bongs are most welcome again. It was a gift from my parents 42 years ago and is still ticking. My parents gifted each of us (3) with a clock of our choice as a Christmas gift and my youngest brother was to inherit their grandmother clock. Woman who did repair gave me a review of clock parts and function which was a bonus. Seemed she was really a clock lover and wanted to share her expertise. Treated the clock like it was a baby rather than just a part of the decor. Have a good Sunday.
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illinoislady, I love that picture and saying!!!!!!!
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illinoislady, I Love that poster and saying!!!
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I goofed and my comment posted twice. Then when I deleted it, and I realized that it looked like I said something I regretted. No, just technology challenged, not to mention my iPad is super old and doesn't always do what I want it to!
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Glad to hear everyone is okay from the storm. Hope the cleanup and repair is quick. And glad you’re ok Mcbaker.
I use an electronic calendar. DH and I set it up so that we can see each other’s calendar. The calendar version on my laptop maintains history. I maintain a log in OneNote to document all of my doctor appointments and note important information, if needed. I can access the document from all of my devises, which is helpful.
I use to love to read physical books, but since chemo, my eyes seems to be worse, so I’ve switched to audio books. My hearing aids are Bluetooth enabled, which is helpful.
Had a nice visit with family today. Son and DIL stopped by daughter and son-in-law house to see the baby. It was good to get together. SIL mother is visiting from NY, so it was good to see her as well.
Enjoy your evening.
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Love the saying posted today. Speaks to me in so many ways. Don't feel alone that often and this may be why.
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Wow! What a week so many of you have had. So sad about all the Florida damage. I'm certain that the insurance companies are overwhelmed and construction companies will be too.
Weekend in Denver went better than we had hoped. Not staying at SIL's house really made a difference in our stress level. Mutz seemed to do really well with his new sitter and her Winston.
What a bummer, Sandy. I haven't had a dex scan since chemo - bones were so good then that none of my docs have even suggested another. I've taken Calcium with D and Chrondotin and Glucosamine for years and I think that helped but who knows.
Hope everyone has the best week possible.
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Taco - not the best Denver weather this week-end. Glad you had a good trip.
Illinoislady - love the quote and picture.
Watched Mrs. Smith goes to Paris. DD#2 and I enjoyed the movie. We went to Costco this morning (second time in less than 2 weeks, but last time this trip) and after lunch (at home) we went for a mani/pedi together. It was so nice to spend the day together. I love mom/daughter time with my girls.
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Illinoislady, I love the picture and the quote.
Mc, What a story! I am glad you and Tippy are OK.
I like a book I can hold. I use a map. I use my head, but when doing my taxes I use the calculator. I also use the phone for figuring circumference of a circle. (I sell vintage costume jewelry and need to do that for bangles). Gen Z would not understand. LOL
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He must have eaten something he shouldn't have. Came out black and hard. But I think he is back to normal. He ate some kibble last night.
I have a long list of things to do today. Or some day soon. No reason to panic when things don't turn out right. I put some wash out on the line last night, and it rained.
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Everywhere is the center of the world. Everything is sacred. -Black Elk (Oglala Sioux)
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Cool this morning -- heat is on. We have it at 72. I'd like to sneak it down to 70 actually, but I have been 'cooler', especially extremeties, since the surgery 10 months ago so I have not pushed it. I was able to convince Dh not to put it at 74. That would have been awful here. Even at 72 my daughter insists on having the fan in their room at full blast. That will change when it gets much cooler. That room was one of the add on portions of the house and does not have strong ventilation so warmer when its hot out and cooler when it is really cold.
I too think you might as well relax about most things MC. Do your best and then let it go.
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Wet, damp and dreary are the predictions for our weather until Thursday. The ground is so wet that when I walk Regan in the backyard my sneakers make squishing sounds. Makes the leaves on the ground super slippery as well. Temps remaining in 40's to 50's so raw and to the bone chill. At this rate we may have to build an ark. No flooding in our area and since we are on a hill with a great water mitigation system we will just have a very muddy yard. Plus is that it keeps the tempting, teasing chipmunks out of sight so I do not have to worry about being dragged in hot pursuit. Turned the heat on because the house was too cool and damp feeling during the day but keeping it at 70 degrees takes the chill off.
I need to get back into the swing of things by starting on decluttering the upstairs linen closet and the main bedroom bath storage closet. Now that I am getting some handle on Regan's toileting schedule, I should be able to leave her for an hour or more so I can address this work. I will crate her for short periods, but she is used to being crated from at least 7-4 daily by her former owner. Don't want to do that to her because I want her to get used to being a family member and having more freedom in the house. She now is relaxed enough she curls up on one of her beds and takes short naps.
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Betrayal. Stll so happy that you will make Regan a true member of the family. It is so nice when all can come and go and enjoy each other's freedom together.
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