Can we have a forum for "older" people with bc?
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Jackie, one positive side of deaths in the family is getting together with the survivors. It's all part of the cycle.
GG, nice to have you back "talking" to us.
I'm having lunch today with a couple of my golf friends after they finish playing. It probably won't be until 1 pm or after.
Hi to everyone and hugs to Blondie, Cammi, Sandra and Mike. And hugs to anyone else needing a hug.
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Happy to be home - when we're traveling, even though I have good intentions, it's just too much effort to try to post much. Sometimes I do read, but even that is a bit much on my itty bitty phone screen, so I get a bit out of touch with what's going on in everyone's lives. I keep thinking I should buy a different phone that has a bigger screen, but I don't know if I'll actually do it as the phones are so insanely expensive. Hugs to everyone from me as well.
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GG, After a couple of years with a carrier, they usually let you upgrade for free or very low price.
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I've been with the same carrier forever (it seems like). But the plan is much more expensive per month if you use the free upgrade (2 year contract) price. I choose to pay for the phone myself, and keep the lower monthly rate, as I feel it is less expensive in the long run.
Of course, that is only true if you actually do keep the phone for a long time.....0 -
The I-Phone plan is expensive. DH and I pay $50 each. That's a lot for cell phone service. I have a house phone and am thinking of getting rid of it. The drawback is that this home number is on records at all the doctors and dentists, etc. Also, when I'm in the house, I would need to keep the cell phone where I could hear it, not buried in my purse.
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We dropped our landline a long time ago. Keeping the cell phone available can be a drag, but you could move the landline number to your cell so not need to change all the important contact info that's out there - of course if your cell is also out there for important stuff, then some things will need to change. We do have a VOIP phone at the house, but rarely use it.
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We don't use our cells much, except on vacation! Have prepaid , which comes out to less than 10.00 a month. We still have a land line,as we are in a dead zone. Cars stop at the road and make calls. One asset of the land line is when Hurricane Irene nailed us all the cell service was out , and we still had service on the land line. Don't have smart phones, just "stupid" flip phones. Find quite a few ole ladies in my Red Hat group have the same. Oh well I still use film. Remember what that is!
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Funny that this subject has come up today, I had a full on day with DH appt at local hospital then went to our local phone provider to up-date to new phone as my old flip-phone was way past its use-by date. I am currently on a $20 per month plan as it is at least 8yrs old. In my purse I had a newish Samsung belonging to my daughter who didn't want it. She is daunted by technology I think and was as scared of it as I was when we bought it 18 months ago.
Well.....after talking to the sales girl about paying $79 per month for a plan for a new phone bought through them or $59 for an owned phone, I pulled out daughters phone, even though it had a flat battery. She said I could swap it over to my ownership by taking the sim card from my phone and installing it in the newer one, which she promptly did for me and still only pay $20 per month which they don't offer anymore on the bundled accounts. While waiting for a free 'consultant,' I browsed the shop and came upon a tiny little stylus with a string and a little plug-in stick hanging off it, meaning to buy it. I was so worried that I would forget about it sitting in full view on my walker, that I put the string around my finger and when we had not actually bought anything I asked the girl how much it was. She plugged it into my phone which it was made for and told me I could have it.
I also wanted a Wi-Fi dongle to use for my tablet while in hospital next week. That would have been extra for non pre-paid on our total phone bundle bill so I decided to get a $50 pre-paid with 2GB for 30 days. Seems to me I had a win-win day all round. I fiddled with it during the afternoon and having the tablet for the last month has made me a little more user friendly of these scary things. I found that some of the info on my sim card didn't make it across to the new phone so had to add some no's to the contact list. Then thought I'd better check out whether I could still ring my number. Using the home phone, I dialled and got a voice mail message, so went through all the settings and found that it had 'Airplane mode' ticked on. Ticked it off and rang it again and normal phone mode was on. When we first bought this phone and it rang, which was rare, I could not answer any calls. I would put my finger inside the circle that popped up on the screen and nothing happened. Asked my sons (one of whom had the same brand/type of phone) how to answer calls and got no help. Then one day, not long ago, I found the tiny little start-up booklet which said that I should be putting my finger inside the ring and swipe it to the outside.....who'd a thunk? Not me, obviously, I just copied what I thought I saw every one else do.
So...comes 4:30 pm, and it rings! It's the carers for my daughter to tell me that she is in an ambulance on her way to hospital! She was having a Transient Ischemic Attack, which is like a small stroke, which she has suffered many times in the last ten years. By the time I'd get her to the hospital, which is only 6 blocks away, it would be over and they could never find anything wrong. She had many CT scans, MRI's and other tests but no cause was ever found. Then she had the massive stroke last year that put her into hospital for 8 months and then into a 24 hr care home. She had been unwell this week and was sent for a CT scan yesterday which was clear of any symptoms or causes. We waited around from 5 pm until 9 pm for another scan to be done and to be told that she could go home.
DH and I arrived home at 10:15 after dropping daughter at her care home. I have to say I was glad I had that lilttle stylus on my phone because trying to type a message to my sons with my fingers in a moving car on the way to the hospital, was an exercise in extreme frustration, to say the least.
Very occasionally, I get a good day and, all in all, today was one of them....hmmm, I wonder when the next one will come...can't wait.
Sheila.
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Miracles are the
natural way of the Universe -
our only job is to move our doubting minds aside
and let the miracles flow.
- Jonathan Lockwood Huie0 -
Lew worked for the telephone company so has free landline service so no reason to drop that, just dropped the long distance portion that we had to pay for. With email and texting now really don't have a need to make many long distance calls.
I have an old Tracfone and buy a $100 card for 400 minutes every year, which I can use for long distance when needed, and carry as an emergency phone when I'm out and about. I rarely turn it on though, which drives Lew nuts when he tries to get in touch with me. We actually use it the most when shopping in large box stores. We each go our separate directions shopping and make sure we have our phones turned on, and then call when we're ready to meet at the front door.
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Well Aussie -- can't believe your entry and what I chose to put in today as the day's quote. I'm a total ( pretty much anyway ) wipe-out on the phones, but glad I have one -- I think it is the flip pre-paid type as well, as you just don't know what may come up. It is like using those 5 yr. pills for txs. here. You maybe could get along with out them, but it produces a feeling of a safety net after you have done chemo and rads.
I think I seldom use or even think about that phone, but knowing it is there just gives me a better sense of having SOME small amt. of control when I'm out and about and might actually need something.
At any rate --- some days really are full of delightful, educational or inspiring gifts. We seldom think about all that goes right for us every day. Maybe a small smile from a stranger, or someone who helps us just because, or the fact that we have perhaps done just these things to and for someone else yesterday or the day before and good karma has found its way back to us.
Here's to all of you and good karma.
Blessings,
Jackie
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We are with Verizon and they transfered our home phone to our cell phone. Did not have change any numbers anywhere.
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I am also on Verizon with DD#2 - the one I live with in Fl, and her son. I have the iPhone 5 and would be lost without it. All my kids have email and text on their phones and two of them email me all day some days from their jobs, the only way I hear from my youngest son is by text and the only way I can be sure my youngest daughter gets a message is again thru email. The two youngest never actually answer the phone, but usually will call back eventually.
Plus, most importantly, I have FaceTime and get to visit with Lucia at least once a week that way. I would have the phone for that alone! Her Mom Facetimes me when Lu is eating lunch and her dad calls when he is alone with her.
We almost never answer the house line because it is usually bill collectors looking for the two youngest who no longer live here, but still put this number down as their home #, no matter how much we tell them not to. Unless we recognize the number on caller ID, we just ignore it.
It's the last day of school here and I am picking the two youngest up at noon -it's a half day. So I better start getting ready.
Anne
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Lovely pool, Sandra. Now hat monsoon season is over, we just need Bluebell back
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Carole - I too keep my land line & just cancelled the long distance. We were one of the few houses that had phone service during Hurricane Ike since so many cell towers went down. And even tho some of the cell towers stayed up, we were 3 weeks without any electric power so no way to re-charge a cell phone. The only option was to run your car to charge your phone, then you were stuck trying to find a gas station w/power so you could pump gas. Thank you Land Line!!
My son and DIL don't text, so I'm thrilled that I don't have to either. And no grandchildren - so no reason to get a smart phone. I use my perfectly wonderful old flip phone for long distance, or like Puffin, for my own convenience.
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Our house phone has the caller id and most of our calls are from Unavailable. Nuisance calls even though we're on that list for no nuisance calls. We either don't answer or pick up and click talk and then click disconnect.
Don't be afraid of technology. Operation of smart phones and I-pads and computers is actually quite simple and the learning curve is small. It soon becomes second nature to answer a cell phone by swiping the little area at the bottom toward the right. I have the I-phone 5 because the 6 is just too large. The only difficulty is typing on the tiny keypad. I use my fingertips, not a stylus because a stylus would be something else to keep up with.
One feature that is really cool is taking a picture with the cell phone and then sending it in an e-mail or text or posting it on Facebook or on breast cancer.org. Communication and sharing with family and friends becomes very easy. But we do end up paying quite a bit for cell phone, internet and tv. On the other hand, we rarely go to movies or sports events or live theatre or concerts. Attending those would amount to a lot more than the cost for technology.
Today I'm taking my mother to her hair appointment and then out to lunch.
Hello to everyone. Wishing you a good Friday.
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“Remember there's no such thing as a small act of kindness. Every act creates a ripple with no logical end.”
Scott Adams0 -
Good morning -- loved hearing you the explanation of smart phone/I-pad etc. I'm soooo challenged. I usually can't even retrieve missed calls off my flip-phone w/o DH's help. Having said that --- I do know from what I've learned to do on my computer ( I've actually helped other people a few times ) that I can learn. So I guess it comes down to more of a money issue. Also --- since good ole' Dh seldom needs too much encouragement ( and will squander funds willy-nilly ) to branch out.....I'm pretty much ok with how things are.
It's a bit overcast this a.m. due to storms in Missouri which isn't all that far away from us. About 70 miles or so to the West. I don't think we will get rain ( not today anyway ) and likely tomorrow either. Sometimes we do get missed.
Funeral for my Aunt this morning --- so I'm hoping but likely we will be mainly in the chapel located in the cemetery. My Aunt and Uncle will be laid to rest together though my Uncle passed on several yrs. ago. Will be good for me to actually say a formal good-bye to my Uncle.
Minus Two, I get calls from No Name and sometimes out of my ( somewhat perverted ) sense of poetic justice that is how I answer the phone --- by saying good morning or afternoon to No Name. Whom do you wish to speak to here. We don't have a name either and we don't know you.
For some reason -- it seems to make them a little irate and sometimes they HANG up on me. Sigh !!!! Some people are so rude.
Blessings,
Jackie
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Jackie - funny about no name.
Chevy - saw that CO had tornadoes. Hope they all missed your area & you are OK.
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Hi gals! I've enjoyed the phone conversation. I still have a landline because I'm not good at dragging my cell around when I am in the house. It is a good idea to cancel the long distance, though. I kept that when my Dad was alive because I called Tennessee abaout 4 times each week....if not more... and talked for almost an hour each time because it helped to make his night go faster. I have unlimited long distance and should really see about getting that taken off. Thanks for that suggestion!
I do really love my smartphone, though. I used to think that texting was stupid but I am now hooked! :-) It wasn't very hard to learn the "ins and outs" of the smartphone and I use it all the time for gathering info, taking pictures, talking and texting!
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I saw this on a calendar and it struck a chord:
"Now, the more I distrust my memory, the more confused it becomes. It serves me better by chance encounter; I have to solicit it nonchalantly. For if I press it, it is stunned; and once it has begun to totter, the more I probe it, the more it gets mixed up and embarrassed." --essayist Michael de Montaigne
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Puffin....Great news.
Carole.....please post a picture when you finish your placemats
Sandra... your pool and surrounding area is beautiful
Jackie... funny about the phone talk with no name
We got rid of our land line and just use our cells.
I fnially finished my crocheting project for a beanie cap and finished my last class for making flowers for cakes. Will try to post a picture later.
Hope everyone had a great weekend.
Emmy
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I think you and your essayist have hit upon something. I have noticed ( and I feel like I'm far too young ) that now and then things I think should be there in memory have just fallen out somewhere when I wasn't looking. I know that I know the answer or at least that I knew it before the question was asked --- but I get to searching around and it is no where to be found. Life's ( and the mind's ) little quirks. I think I'll just have to paste that to my cork-board and during times of great frustration over just where the 'needed' info might be --- or just where it might have fallen --- I can read something that will induce me to relax -- or so I sure hope.
Jackie
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I heard a sharp computer-savvy 90yo woman say she just hits the 'find' button and waits for it to turn up while she goes on about her business. DH and I will try to remember something unsuccessfully. Two days later one of us will have the answer and just say it out loud. The other never asks what the speaker means.
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I've learned not to search my memory. In time the answer or word just materializes in my thoughts.
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I hate it when I can't tihink of something that I should know. It bothers me until I finally come up with it. Then...poof! The answer appears out of nowhere. I've heard it said that our brain is like a file cabinet. We keep adding more to it every year and it becomes cluttered. Too bad we can't just clean it out and throw unnecessary things away like we can clean out those file cabinets!
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The voice of wisdom is inherent within us and willing to guide us when we stop to listen. Of course, there are times when we feel we've been still as stone, and the still, small voice is still too quiet to hear. When this happens, the challenge is to practice quieting your mind anyway. Stopping and asking, quieting and listening, trusting and waiting. Waiting is difficult but worth the effort because a quiet, uncluttered mind is a natural antenna for whispers of wisdom from within. -Sue Patton Thoele
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Rita, My brain is stuffed with old commercial jingles. Wish I could clean those out and make room for new stuff.
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Hi everybody!
I recently turned 59. Diagnosed stage 4 two years ago. On Herceptin and Arimidex. Never thought I'd make it two years but here I am!
My oldest daughter is expecting a baby girl soon. I feel so blessed that I'll be here to see a grandchild. Trying to sew, embroider etc small projects for her. One month I made 9 baby blankets! Haha guess she won't need that many so I'm keeping them for my other kids who aren't married or expecting yet. Do any of you have any suggestions for small projects for grand babies? Something that won't zap all my energy? I've been pretty fatigued with treatments.
Thanks!
Lynn
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How about a small animal baby toy? I have made a teddy bear before and it wasn't too difficult. Or something for when she's bigger?
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