Can we have a forum for "older" people with bc?
Comments
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Carole, I do not have any regrets about having this TKR and plan on having the other one done in the future, possibly next spring. It's like any surgery, there are good days and bad ones and I look at it as a small price to pay to be rid of dodgy knees that really hampered my lifestyle. Compared to what I experienced with my last surgery, this is a cakewalk. I see the surgeon tomorrow and hope I can start outpatient PT next week. Hope they will provide another Norco prescription for when I do the PT though. As young as you and your DH seem to be, he will see a definite benefit from this surgery.
I am only 2 1/2 weeks post-op so I think what I am experiencing is absolutely normal for this stage of recovery and to be expected. What is expected is that you can hit the benchmarks by 90 days post-op for flexion and extension so I am working towards achieving them because I do not want a permanent limp. I have limped for the past 2 years and that is not only painful but tiring which required frequent stops when walking. Walking is my preferred form of exercise (plus gardening) and I haven't been able to hit over 10,000 steps for the past 2 years. So I am looking forward to being able to walk on vacation, up the incline of my driveway and the hills in my backyard for gardening plus using local trails for dog walking.
As Chris said, it is a big bump in the road of life.
Illinoislady, hope the plumber was able to fix your problem.
It is going to be very hot, humid and with heat advisories in effect for the young and elderly again today and for most of this week. They are predicting triple digit temps and the ocean water is 70 degrees. Not something I would want to go in but obviously much cooler than the sand. Dog advisories are in effect as well.
Found a new series to watch on Britbox and so glad I have access to this for entertainment. Each is short enough that I can walk at the end to keep up my exercise. I am doing the others recommended by the PT and she brought a sheet of new ones to try. They are standing exercises so I am waiting for clearance to perform them.
Hope everyone has a good day.
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Throughout our lives, the moment we bring our awareness fully into
the Now, we enter the domain of the true self, and our immediate
conscious reality is once again that of sensation and perception. As
I sit in the park, the sunlight brightens the leaves and casts shadows
on the ground. I have a feeling of contentment. And as long as “I”
don’t create stories about what I am seeing or about the fact that I
am feeling content, which leads me away from my immediate experience,
what I experience remains simply perception and sensation. The same is
true for any feeling, any emotion. In the Now, it is just what it is. In the
Now, I “go back” to my original awareness “by the way that [I] have
come.” When we directly perceive and experience whatever is present
in our larger fields of awareness, it is possible to have a relationship with
it without becoming lost in it or defined by it.
Richard Moss
The Mandala of Being0 -
Good morning. Going to be warm here today, but hopefully tolerable, like yesterday. We seemed to have had a successful afternoon with the plumber. Now it is just wait and see if our "wet" places dry. Then we can be for sure. I was amazed — only $220.00 to repair our main line. Actually the repair means a bit more for me to do but that's okay. I hurried and did my cat boxes after the plumber left. They were due about the time this past Friday when plumber said don't use 'water' in certain parts of the house. Going four days past made all of us edgy and the cats were I think none too happy either. Back to happy again.
Chris is really right about the bumps. We have all kinds but it is also a big bump if your knees keep you from all the "living" you could do. In-convenience is just that but not being able to walk w/o pain or having to struggle to walk with a limp and pain likely means if you can do something to improve your quality of life it is probably a good solution.
Betrayal, after your earlier recovery hearing that your already convinced (with the current recovery) to have your other knee done is good news. So many things we do can be one step forward, two back, for a bit till we reach a certain plateau. You seem well on your way, and I am hopeful that you will get where you want and hope to be with your knee.
Wishing everyone that I care about here (which is really everyone) a good day and one in which you can stay out of the heat if possible while accomplishing what you need to.
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Good morning. A/c is on already this morning. Not so good, but my plumbing is okay so I'm all right. Just saying it is always something, but that's life. Nothing special today, but maybe a stop by Walmart which is mainly for the forgotten items from day before yesterday. Hoping all have a really good day. I may make it back a little later.
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It's noisy here in the resort. A tree removal company is taking down an enormous tree whose trunk shows signs of decay. The smaller limbs are being fed into a machine that reduces the to shreds. Also, we were without electricity for a couple of hours because of electrical work in the neighborhood.
I played 9 holes of golf this morning with the women's league. The grass on the course was wet and my feet got wet and my cotton socks soaked. We played a fun format that allowed everyone to make points, even the less skilled players like me.
Knock on wood, our temperatures are still comfortable. It was 60's this morning and is 70 degrees now and partly cloudy. I think next week may bring some 80's.
Happy Thursday to all.
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So it’s been hot, hot & hotter. We’ve officially hit a heat wave of 3 days over 90. We’ve tied a record and broke a record, today it’s yet to be seen.
I’ve got a head cold and near zero energy or ambition. I think I picked it up on the flight home.
The wake/service/cemetery for my aunt and the reception afterwards went smoothly. Good getting together with family, lots of news and promises to get together. It was hotter than blazes, 93 I think, and a very long day. We left before 9, home before 4. I promptly fell asleep in the recliner of the couch. Long day & head cold & emotions wiped me out.
We had tickets for reserved seats at a local outside park playhouse. I was still in my funeral dress, asleep on the couch recliner- my niece text me the play was cancelled due to extreme heat. I’ve never been so happy to have something like that cancelled. It would have been too much sitting in 88 degree heat after such a long day.
We do have the AC in the bedroom and that let me sleep nearly 8 hours last night! My norm is 6, so happily surprised to get more.
Jackie, I’m glad your plumber showed up, and the price was very reasonable. And best, it sounds like it worked!
Betrayal, you’re binging shows like a pro! Glad you’re progressing with your knee, and staying ahead of the pain. Those nights with disrupted sleep are challenging.
Carol, with that tree top falling down, all were lucky no one was hurt. We still have one branch wedged up in our tree. I need to call for an estimate, after the heat wave & storms pass. Last storm brought down one that was stuck up there.
Petite, I left FL on Saturday the 15th. Our retention pond/fake lake was full to the brim. All my plants got a good soaking!Hoping you’re all doing well, Sandy, Chris, MM, Taco, Harley, and any others I’ve missed.
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Busy week, but had lunch with friends yesterday and today which was so much fun! Came home from an appointment with my glaucoma doctor to find out our optometrist had to retire suddenly due to kidney cancer. Such a wonderful man and the best eye doctor ever! He always helped me pick out the frames for my glasses. Walking into his office in a small town felt like time traveling back to the 1950's. Norman Rockwell pictures graced the walls. I always felt calm in the waiting room, my mind instantly transferred back to a simpler time. He cut his hours to mornings only a few years ago, but loved his job and didn't want to fully retire yet, even though he is 75. I really hope that he beats cancer and can have some really great years enjoying full retirement!
Dh and I are getting together with my sisters and their Dh's on Saturday. We try to get together every few months.
Jackie, woohoo about the plumbing!
Cindy, I hope you feel better soon! One of the downfalls of flying, especially these days.
Carole, nice that you got in 9 holes of golf, even with wet feet!
Puffin, Harley, Betrayal healing vibes to all of you!
It is hot here, thankful for A/C. I don't think we will be below 90 until next Thursday. I hope we get some rain before July 4th. The threat of fires from fireworks will not stop the stupid, or drunk. They don't obey the laws as it is, but everything is so dry that wildfires could happen here.
Wishing everyone a good Friday and weekend!
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Had my first post-op appointment with Ortho surgeon today after x-ray of the knee. Seems I was the only one in the waiting room who went to x-ray prior to showing up for scheduled appointment. Several were called to desk, told to report to x-ray and told that if the results were not available within 30 minutes of their scheduled appointment, it would be cancelled. Have to say I was the only one left after about 6 people were sent back to x-ray. Had transport take me to x-ray from lobby, but then needed them again to get to surgeon's office, when I asked the tech if she could arrange transport, she volunteered if she could find a wheelchair, she would take me. We had had a nice conversation prior to the x-ray and I think that was why she volunteered.
Ortho surgeon was impressed by my walking with walker, degree of flexion in knee and that I was able to extend it (still not totally straight but getting there). X-rays looked great and I was amazed by the hardware in my knee. Told me to continue taking Norco and to actually take more often than I have been because Tylenol takes nearly an hour to take the edge off especially in the middle of the night. She gave me a new prescription for Norco in addition to one for PT and the antibiotic I have to take prior to any dental work. I see her again in a month and she told me I can continue to use the walker to prevent falls but to try transition to cane in about 2 weeks. I did get my first shower today and it felt great but I still feel unsteady when standing so I will most likely alternate between showers and "bird baths". I really felt good about having the surgery when I left the office though the pain in my leg by the time I got home was climbing the scale. I did take a Norco prior to going and one when I finally got home.
I asked about when she would recommend having the other knee done and believe it or not she is already booking into November. That's too soon for me and we have a trip booked for February 2025. She next suggested April which is when I was aiming. I'd like to finally enjoy one summer that was not hampered by knee pain or other medical issues. So I am first on the list in April, 2025 and already signed my permit.
I had made PT appointments prior to surgery so I will be discharged by home PT tomorrow and start outpatient on Monday.
DD and DSIL had to euthanize their dog (fur baby) today and he made the decision for them after a few weeks of slow decline. They had him for 14 years and hopefully when he crosses the Rainbow Bridge he will reunite with my old dog, Lita. They were pups together and I can still see them running around in my backyard. He was bigger but she was faster and could outrun him like a flash. RIP, Copper.
Very hot, humid day. DD's birthday is tomorrow so had DH stop on the way home from the hospital to get her a cake from our favorite bakery. We are taking her and DSIL out to dinner on Saturday and I hope I can sit comfortably through dinner.
Hope everyone had a great day.
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After several days of tropical heat, today it’s been foggy and chilly. Possible storm tonight too. More of the same tomorrow; then hot early Saturday (when I walk the 6 blocks to my facialist—the first & last time I’ll be able to do that) before the severe thunderstorm/possible tornado risk kicks in by evening. Hot & clear Sunday & Monday (moving days). In Lincolnwood, we’ll be just far enough inland to lose the moderating “lake effect.”
Betrayal, whenever I was in ortho post-op rehab (tibial plateau fx repair 1996, TKRs 2012 & 2013), I was urged to take my Norco 15-20 minutes before each PT session to get the most out of them. Again, much easier to maintain a steady-state mild-to-moderate pain level than to reduce a severe one to moderate. It’s all about blood levels. Anyway, because I was >200 lbs. and over 60, my ortho wouldn’t do bilateral TKRs so I had them a year apart (and had to schedule the second one while still in rehab for the first). I was not allowed to be discharged to home until I could walk 1/4 mi with just a cane (a standard, not quad or “Hurry” model). When I was discharged from the second one, I was using my Leki “Wanderfreund” light-hiking staff (from REI). A scant decade ago it was standard of care to be in the hospital for 3 days and inpatient rehab if there were too many stairs at home to be able to go to PT twice a day (10-14 days). COVID (and private equity mergers & insurance companies) put the kibosh on that.
(Not just that—when was the last time you saw a Sunday brunch buffet at a hotel? Almost never after 2020).
I am exhausted from basically doing everything here—dishes, cat feeding & litter, shopping, arrangements with various services, laundry (our service doesn’t serve hotels and today only one elevator is working). The schlepping and waiting for elevators and car retrieval is getting pretty old. Got my mani and a trim/blowdry today (hair already frizzy from humidity because no time to do a Braz. Blowout). Then guess who gets to do ALL the packing & organizing here, and the reverse at the new place? Is it any wonder I hate using timeshare points, because it’s all housework, cooking & grocery shopping without the conveniences of home (suites and such supply the cheapest most minimal equipment & supplies)? Bob loves it because he gets to read, drink & watch sports TV. (And he makes as much of a mess as he does at home—dirty clothes on the floor, crumbs and orange peels on the furniture because he won’t use a plate unless I bring it to him).
End of rant. I know it could be so much worse (and is for so many people).
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Saw two more new Dr's this week, eye Dr. And Gyn. Both went well, cataracts progressing no surprise there. I am so over the new patient appointment drill from moving. Some offices use the portal, some don't. And just the meet and greet aspect....this introvert is so glad to be done with all this until September, Lord willing.
I scheduled a pedicure tomorrow and a haircut Saturday. Need.
Sandy empathy from here regarding the daunting amount of work and general schlepping you have going on. Ugh. Glad you'll at least be in the house awhile.
Cindy I definitely get that "glad to cancel" feeling, particularly with that Day you had.
Hello and hugs to those who need one now. And greetings to those I haven't said hi to in a while.
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The word humility comes from humus, the Latin word for "earth." A person
who is humble, in other words, knows the stuff--earth--of which they're
made: a talent here, a weakness there, a degree of complacency here, a
blunder there. Humble persons know what they are and what they aren't,
what they have and what they don't have, and they never confuse the two.
Joan Chittister
Seeing with Our Souls0 -
Another toasty day here — in the 90's. Didn't have to go out for anything so that was okay. I do hope in a few days we drop a bit. Also, all this heat, even with high water table will dry us out. I haven't seen a cicada for a few days now and haven't heard them anymore either. Nice not to feel you have to check yourself coming inside to make sure your insect free.
Spoke too soon as we do have a very slow leak, yet which Dh has been watching since the plumber left and we have a call in. It may be a while as he does HVAC as well and once the heat starts and people turn on their a/c for the first time they may be finding out they need assistance so I'm pretty sure he is loaded up right now. It is okay to wait as it is a very slow leak and we have a really small trench to drain anything leaking from drains and so it does not pool to make a place for mosquitoes to reproduce.
Glad you got your appts. over too Reader. Seems like a few of us are always eager to get most of the medical appts. done and so appreciate a long reprieve in between if possible. Hope you enjoy your haircut and pedicure. You earned it getting those med. appts done.
Hope you are all doing well. Glad you can be upbeat about the knee Betrayal. Sounds like it is going to be good for you. I know artificial will not be just like God put there, but it is the ability to walk, and do most things w/o restriction and pain that is needful. If you are not 100% anymore but only 97 I'd say you made it.
Wishing you all sunshine, heath, energy, and everything positive. Hugs.
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Today was brutally hot and the poor flowers on my patio and elsewhere are wilting. DH has been watering every other day to keep them from dying off and the poor ferns are all brown and curling. They will spring back if we can get some rain soon. However, the weekend is not promising since it it to be a continuation of this heat wave. I stick my head out to see how it is but am really glad I don't have to go out for any reason.
Today was a fairly good day though my leg continues to be stiff. I did the new exercises with the PT today as she was to discharge me from home care PT with transition to outpatient PT on Monday. They are standing exercises and she only wants me to do a set of 10/day for each. May spread them out because they do cause some discomfort. She did explain to me what the PT prescription means and give me some insight into what to expect. I should discuss using heat before exercising with them and then icing, which they always offer, at the end. Sandy, thanks for the advice about timing of pain meds.
Last night's sleep was interrupted by Regan having some sort of gagging episode. She is crated at night, so woke DH to let her out and once out the episode passed in about 20 minutes and she slept on her bed for the rest of the night but was up at 6:30. Left me a little sleepy all day.
Today was DD's birthday and we will go out for dinner tomorrow night to celebrate. She is grieving the loss of her dog but they have decided that they need to fill that hole and are looking at some rescues. They walked their dog every day, rain or shine, even up to the end and have the need to keep doing so. They both WFH so it gave them a reason to take a break in their work day plus a reason to explore local parks, etc.
Hope everyone had a wonderful day. I am blowing through Britbox mysteries that have several series and multiple episodes. Nice way to recover since otherwise I find it boring to not be as active as I would like.
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No snowflake ever falls in the wrong place.
Zen
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Under heat advisory today and temp is in the 90's but due to heat index is approaching 100 degrees. DH is a ham radio enthusiast and is at a field day today and tomorrow. He's about 45 minutes away so he will come home tonight and return tomorrow. Some of the men will stay for the duration. Little sun shower going on but don't really expect rain.
We are taking DD and DSIL out to dinner to celebrate her birthday at my favorite Italian restaurant. She picked it so I know we will have a great meal. Not supposed to have alcohol while on Norco but I haven't taken one yet today so I may have a glass of Prosecco. We'll see.
Woke very early today at 4:30 and have only dozed on and off since then. I am washed up and just need to change into the clothes I'll wear for dinner but need DH here to attempt steps.
DD and DSIL are looking for a new dog and I am glad that they have decided they want to fill that hole in their life. It will be a win-win for whichever dog they choose because it will be a rescue.
Hope everyone has a good day.
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Betrayal, I don't envy you the heat at all. It 92 here but every once in a while, a wind gust heightens the small breeze blowing. As our humidity is not too high it is manageable pretty much if not much to be desired.
I am so happy to hear that your DD and DSIL are looking for another dog. They sound like nearly perfect (at home a lot) dog parents. As well, even though nothing takes the sting of loss away, the anticipation of being able to have someone else to welcome home and love will help soothe that sense of emptiness that loss brings.
Happy Birthday to your daughter. It sounds like it will be a very enjoyable evening for all of you.
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My Alexa shows 78, phone app says 83 with 77% humidity. I dyed my roots today and boy oh boy, do I have BIG hair! I used normal curling dryer brush and it looked pretty normal when I was finished. That was a few hours ago, it now looks like I curled it and it’s fuzzy. I pulled it back & up in a clip. It’s a waste doing my hair on a humid day.
I was able to get out before the rain to dead head my roses and putter in the yard for a while. No plans today, just enjoying doing much of nothing. I started a book, paid bills based on all the mail that showed up, did laundry, set off the Shark robot vacuum, and caught up on minutia. Most likely grilling chops for dinner. I should go check on the pool. Extra rain, too much extra water.Have a great weekend!
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Happy Sunday to everyone. My computer says it's 64 degrees and Sunny. Nothing planned except a walk for exercise and possibly some laundry.
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DD and DSIL decided to borrow on of my DS's dogs for a visit and ended up having DGS join them as well. So he was the unexpected but most welcome addition to her birthday dinner. It was a pleasant meal and at age 13 we are so happy he wants to spend time with us. He dearly loves his aunt and uncle who really are great with him and his sister. Great meal, I did have 1 glass of Prosecco and we returned home for her birthday cake which was a chocolate lover's dream: dense, moist chocolate cake with chocolate fudge icing and sprinkles. It was delicious. It's from a local bakery who has the best pastries, scones, pies and cakes. I have yet to have any treat from them that wasn't delicious.
DH off to field day again to help them dismantle the setup. He'll be home by mid afternoon so I have some quiet time. Breakfast compliments of McDonald's today.
Today still included in heatwave though the storm that blew through yesterday increased the humidity. High predicted to be 94 with excessive heat warnings in place. Will continue to binge watch Britbox to relieve tedium of being housebound and activity restricted.
Pain is manageable and sleep has been better even if interrupted at least once a night. Inability to fall back to sleep is the biggest challenge but even that is improving.
Hope everyone has a quiet and wonderful Sunday.
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Betrayl, see? It does get better. And will continue.
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Thanks, Chris. It has and I have no regrets at all. Tomorrow is first outpatient PT day so I am sure this too will present some challenges for comfort. My goal is to get as close to normal as possible with this knee so I can resume those activities that bring me pleasure such as gardening and walking.
Have seen hummingbird several times and do regret that I was unable to put out feeder this year since it requires care I am unable to do. Yes, I can make the nectar but changing the feeder was the issue since it has to be every other day at the most. Asking DH to do this was a bit much so I hope to be able to put it out in a few weeks and entice the hummingbird back. Have suet out there now and the birds have been visiting it frequently which I wonder if they are feeding it to their babies.
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Have patience with everything unresolved in your heart and try
to love the questions themselves. . . . Don’t search for the answers, which
could not be given to you now, because you would not be able
to live them. And the point is, to live everything. Live the questions
now. Perhaps, then, someday far in the future, you will gradually,
without even noticing it, live your way into the answer.
Rainer Maria Rilke1 -
Good Morning. Well, very un-expected by me, but we had some rain through the night. Hate to say we may have more humidity than I like out now, but nothing much planned for the day so not a big issue. Muted sun trying to peek out. That would be a help to the humidity. 81 degrees right now but we are only just getting started.
I have gathered some of the items that need re-laundered before give-away/donation, so I'll be working on that off and on. Did my sheets a couple days early so I could do the re-washings without bothering with more personal things. Must be the Virgo in me — I don't want to stop in-between one type, do some of my own, and then go back to donations. Ugg. Obviously, I don't have the courage to live' dangerously'.😂
Betrayal, sounds like your evening was extra enjoyable and the chocolate cake sounds like it was a true treat. I'm not a huge chocolate cake fan, but the fudge icing would turn it into a big winner for me. I'm a bit more fond of yellow cake with chocolate/fudge icing. But then German chocolate is always great.
Carole, your weather there is almost always enviable.
Cindy, your humidity sounds un-pleasant to say the least. I think this year will be another one of setting 'weather' records that many of us won't like.
Hoping all have a wonderful Sunday.
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I would love a slice of that chocolate cake with chocolate icing. If dh and I are splurging and having dessert at a restaurant, we usually opt for one of those "death by chocolate" choices.
I didn't take a walk but got in a lot of walking back and forth to the laundry room. I did three loads with only one washer and one dryer.
Now we're relaxing and watching golf on tv.
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We’ve got laundry going too. We strip the bed on Sundays and today I did the blanket & quilt too. Plus towels and the clothes we had on working/sweating in the yard.
My burst of energy was to get shrubs trimmed before any rain. So I got going on that with partner being my clean up man. I was cruising along when he came out to say we were under a tornado watch thru 8 pm tonight. I picked up the pace!
The other day with one of many rain storms we had water pouring out of my back getter, and coming in one of the screen windows. So before coming in today I grabbed a ladder and looked in the gutter. Totally clogged! Last year I think I had a mourning dove nesting up there so I just ignored the gutter. I should have made a note to look in before we left or as soon as we came back. It’s all cleaned out now.
So far no tornado here, knock on wood! Rain on and off at least 3 times. I had to drain water from the pool. It was so high nothing could go in the skimmer. We’re at 78 now, sure to get more rain. TV just beeped, severe thunderstorm watch & tornado watch. Batten down the hatches!
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Thinking about you Cindy and hoping all was okay.
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First installment of the move today (after 4 annoying and frustrating hours of administrative stuff—mostly address changes and cable/satellite suspensions or conversions to streaming) Fairly painless. Next-door neighbors leave a space in the middle of the alley for turning the cars around to front-out onto Crawford (the husband drives a Tesla, his wife a Mercedes, and their newly-minted teenage driver daughter a hand-me-down Lexus). They both hate backing out of the driveway—but it was fairly painless for us today (of course, this was late Sunday afternoon—morning weekday rush hour might be quite different. At least Bob doesn’t have to go down to Beverly/Oak Lawn till next Monday, as he arranged to have tomorrow off.
For our anniversary (#53), the kids are treating us to Roger Daltrey at Ravinia on Sat. Night. Much less of a hassle than the Stones at Soldier Field. Bittersweet that now there’s a Metra station with parking in our recently-“old” neighborhood, we live too far away and will have to drive to Ravinia instead.
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Don't let life discourage you; everyone who got
where they are had to begin where they were.
Richard L. Evans0 -
We never got a tornado, just multiple downpours all day. It would pour then stop for a time, to return. Gutter took the water away fine. I actually sat out in the screen house watching Hulu. Went through 2 rains, but did move the tv into the middle of it vs risking it get wet. The last heavy rain chased me in the house. Water was coming in the weep holes of the roof.
Sandy, I’m glad your new digs are working out with that driveway.
Puffin, Harley, Betrayal - wishing you all the best with treatments.Jackie I’m glad your rains weren’t severe. My plants are loving it, so there’s that - I don’t have to water them.
It’s the first year I didn’t have to cut out old wood from my hydrangeas. I put an acidified fertilizer (full bag) out before we left in December and another one once I got home. Most blooms ever! Note - you can see I leave the milkweed to bloom.
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