Can we have a forum for "older" people with bc?
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Our forecast for Christmas Day is 80 degrees and 30 per cent chance of rain. The rain chance is 100 per cent for this afternoon. I'm trying to focus on the positive for this 2nd major holiday, which is such a challenge for so many people. I'll be thinking about our friend Larry in Lakeland, Fl, who lost his wife Mary earlier this year after her brave battle with ovarian cancer. I can tell from his posts on Facebook that he is dealing with aloneness.
This morning I'll venture out to a couple of supermarkets. We're out of milk, plus I'll have a list for Christmas cooking.
We haven't heard from Blondie, Chevy or Cammi for a long time. Nor from our tiny clown. I hope they along with everyone else are doing well.
Sandra, my one visit to San Antonio was during an ice storm. We were glad to arrive safely by car to our hotel where we attended a retirement conference.
Wishing everyone a good Monday.
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A mind at peace, a mind centered and not focused on harming others,
is stronger than any physical force in the universe.
- Wayne Dyer0 -
Jackie, We alternated driving and walking on the bird count day. We'd walk till we got cold, then go warm up in the car as we drove to the next place. As for the tanager, it was a first year male, for some reason his brain wasn't wired right to go migrate, so in the end probably better that he didn't pass his genes on.
We drove around last night and looked at the Christmas lights, haven't done that for years, but with the cheap gas and temps in the 20's we decided it was a good year to go out. In the past the newspaper has posted a map with the addresses of the best light displays and they didn't do that this year so we had to just explore on our own.
Washing clothes this morning, will pack this afternoon. Tomorrow we leave for our holiday traveling to see Lew's sisters and the kids and grandkids and my dad.
Wishing everyone the best of holidays.
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Morning and I apologize. I dropped in a post intended for elsewhere. It is windy and warm here today. They say a little sun and sometimes clouds so I think we will be ok. Maybe some of the wind will dry us out a bit from the overnight rain. I think more clouds than anything though.
As far as your friend Carole, I think the "firsts" after losing someone are often REALLY difficult. Anyway, they were for me. You will always feel something in all the rest but the first one, in particular, is learning how to exist in ways you have not had too. No one can really prepare for losing someone they deeply care for and so you can't imagine some of the desolate feelings that could show up when you have to learn to exist without the comfort of those who have meant so much for so long.
I've often admired some in my family who have lost young adult children etc. They seem to do so well and I know it helps if you do have others that still 'depend' on you and need you. I still just have to believe that we are on a spiritual journey and we have or will be shown the power to learn to live with what seems un-livable. I hope your friend finds the needed strength.
Can't believe we are so close to the 'holiday'. I guess I just haven't focused that much and now I'll be trying to wrap up some loose ends quickly. Hope you all have a fantastic Monday.
Blessings,
Jackie
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Carole, Blondie has a thread named after her where people can post support and I heard she posted fairly recently. Haven't seen Cammi anywhere but heard she's still on the boards. Chevy posts on insomniacs.
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I see Thelma (our clown) on Facebook so she's still alive and kicking. Haven't heard from Blondie in a month or so. She sends me private messages from time to time.
I arrived in Chicago last night. Today Allison and I took the train downtown to the Chicago Cultural Center at noon today where we met our assigned Chicago Greeter. It's a fabulous program and is free. You sign up on their website several weeks before your trip, telling them what you are interested in seeing. Soon a volunteer Greeter contacts you to discuss more about what you want to see or do. This trip I was interested in downtown Chicago's old buildings. Although I don't care about modern architecture and couldn't care less who the architects were, I love to see the oldest buildings. So many have been lovingly cared for. Many have fabulous mosaic ceilings and floors, grand staircases, and beautiful facades. We spent the day exploring. I even found out about the underground walkway, the Pedway, that runs about 40 blocks beneath the downtown buildings. I was surprised to see shops down there and even an LA Fitness Center with windows onto its pool. Allison and I finished the day just as it was getting dark. (4:30) We had gone to the German Christmas Market in Daley Plaza. It brought back so many good memories of living 6 years in Germany back in the early 80's. Tomorrow we will go back since I didn't get my gluhwein (spiced hot wine) due to the long lines. We had bratwurst & good German rolls called brotchen. Not as good as Germany but still pretty nice. I think I walked 5 miles today. Allison suggested we take a Lyft car home since my legs and feet were screaming at me. We don't have Lyft in San Antonio. It's a neat service, all done online. It took about 2 minutes from when we entered the info into the iPhone until a driver was there to pick us up. Downtown to Allison's apartment in the Ravenswood/Andersonville part of town, 25 minutes north, was only $19. Well worth it for this worn out old lady. I couldn't face the 1/2 miles walk from the train station to the apartment, in the dark especially. Now I have my jammies on and feet up. Feels good.
Tomorrow we're heading back downtown. We'll check into one of the fancy hotels for a day, go back to the Christmas market, go to the Art Museum, and wander around the nearby park. Tomorrow night we are meeting my friend Beth at one of the posh restored theaters downtown to see the Broadway musical "Beautiful", about Carol King and 60-70's music.
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Sandra, those are some stunning pictures. I'm so glad you are having what sounds like a fantastic time already in good ole' Chicago. Tomorrow sounds like it is going to be full of life and good times as well. Glad you are sharing with us home bodies. A little culture is good for the soul -- even if you have to get it second-hand. I'm thrilled you are sharing -- it gets me out.
Jackie
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Sandra, So many new/old things . Haven't been home for 5 years! Never heard about the Pedway! You definitely saw the better side of Chi town. Do have some Chicago Pizza while you are there. The best! Jean
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After all those years as a woman hearing 'not thin enough, not pretty enough, not smart enough, not this enough, not that enough,' almost overnight I woke up one morning and thought, 'I'm enough'.
- Anna Quindlen0 -
Mornin all,
Just a quick hello to let you all know I an still around. I got to my son's last Fri nite and other than whenLucia is sleeping, she and I are joined at the hip. This is the first time I've been with her that she is talking on her own, not just repeating what someone says. She is so polite. I am trying to potty train her while I am here and when I put her on the potty, she 'll say "no, thank you Grandma, no peepee now. We are having so much fun. On my way to go shopping with Rob and Lu. Will check in again later.
Anne
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Know you are having fun with your precious granddaughter, Anne. It sounds so nice. Bonnets and Jackie, yes, this time in Chicago I'm seeing things I haven't seen before. Each time I come I focus on something new. Last time it was ethnic neighborhoods. This time it's downtown and old buildings. Love this city. No pizza yet. No Italian Beef. Must fix that today. We've spent the morning doing nothing...drinking tea and eating cinnamon rolls. Both my northern grandkitties slept with me last night. Maybe it was the electric blanket, but I prefer to think it's my charm.
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hi everyone. We're heading up to watch a movie. Just had my eyes checked... they've gone downhill a bit since the last check, so I'll be getting some new glasses... hope fully not too expensive. Bleah. Everything always costs more than I want to spend.
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hi ladies,
I have not been on lately. This month has been a whirlwind of changes. We sold the house, had about a weeks notice for the closing and packing everything out. Our place in florida is not ready yet so we are staying at our ds house. So far so good. This time of year is usually my favorite but this year it just does not seem like Christmas. We will be celebrating Christmas on the 27th due to the kids work schedules which is okay as long as we are all together.
Sandra, I have heard about the pedway but was never sure if there was one. Where do you enter it at?
Have to close for now. Hope everyone is having a great week.
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Sandra, you are having WAY too much fun! Seriously, I'm delighted that you're having such an interesting stay in Chicago. And you look extremely comfy in that bed with your grand cats.
Wren, thanks for the information on Blondie. I will look for her thread. Glad to hear that Chevy and Cammi are active on other threads.
Anne, you sound very happy spending a lot of time with your little grand daughter. How nice that she's polite. It speaks well of her parents.
I spent hours in the kitchen today preparing some meals for the freezer. I also made some fresh tortillas for Fajitas tonight. The home-made tortillas are so much better than the bought ones. No comparison really.
The weather was dreary all day. Fog, warm temperature, humidity, some rain. More of the same for the rest of the week but maybe the rain will let up for Christmas.
Puffin, we've enjoyed the outdoor Christmas lights this year, too. On the subject of birds, we have an acrylic feeder stuck to one of our living room windows. A pair of cardinals and another small bird we haven't identified are regular diners. Also a pesky squirrel that we chase away. We put black oil sunflower seeds into the feeder. DH maintains some larger feeders in the back yard. He buys the sunflower seeds in 50 lb. bags.
Termite, I know you'll be glad when your life settles down and you can adjust to your new home location.
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Sandra, the pics are wonderful and I didn't know about the Cultural center concierge thing. Although I have 2 very active Chicago friends; we moved out 50 miles west about 30 years ago and don't get downtown much. Looks like you're having a wonderful time.
Jackie, that sounds like a zoo ... I can barely handle cleaning up after 4 cats.
Termite, congrats on the sale of your home and I hope you get to start on your FL journey soon.
Saw breast surgeon today - she thinks that I had a reaction to the Aquaphor that I put on before the radiation. Had my 2nd rad treatment on Friday, and now I'm clear to go back on Monday.
Did any of you guys buy cooling towels? Or just soak washcloths in water? I'm icing again. The breast and stickers over the marks itch a whole bunch. Very uncomfortable and I'm really getting tired of talking about all this radiation and breast cancer stuff already. And today, I'm very weepy.
We're going out with a bunch of Jewish people from a congregation I visit, to a Chinese restaurant on Christmas Eve. It'll be our 2nd year.
Excited: BIL started moving things out of the garage and a few things. He's moving more 12/24. DH told him today that I have complications and it's best he just move on out ... quickly. Counting the days ...
Merry Christmas to you all. Hope you have a grand time!
Linda
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It sounds like everyone is busy preparing for Christmas!
May the God of hope fill you with joy and peace in believing, so that by His power you may abound in hope. Romans 15:13
Merry Christmas to all and blessings for a happy, healthy new year!
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Merry Christmas all!!!
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Hey Sandra, great pics--stirring up memories. When I worked for the AG's office in the NE Loop back in the day, I couldn't have survived the awful winter of '78-79 w/o the Pedway, especially when I had stuff to do at Federal court in the SW corner of the Loop. Sometimes when it was below zero, I'd even spend money on a CTA token & transfer so I could walk one continuous Blue or Red Line subway platform that ran all the way from Lake St to Jackson. In recent years, they've eliminated a few stations in between, and some of their street exits & entrances as well. You will love "Beautiful." It stars the older sister of the actress who won the Tony for it on Broadway. Ravens wood and Andersonville are the next neighborhoods to the south of Edgewater, where I live.
May try to hit the Christkindlmarkt today (assuming protests don't block access to it) if I have the time and energy after yesterday's flyathon (left the ship in Barcelona 7:45 am, flew to Amsterdam for an 8-1/2 hrs flight to Detroit (where it was a half-Mike slog from the gate to wait in line half an hr for the ICE kiosks, then another half-hr to get our bags and drop them back off at the transfer point, and then TSA again. Kept setting off the millimeter-wave scanner until I asked them to wand me. Turns out the problem was the hardware in my tibia and the zipper on my blouse/jacket--no way was I going to take it off to give everyone a free lingerie show. Bad enough that in Detroit I had to do the full Monty: take out my MacBook Air (which the TSA doesn't usually count as a "computer"), Baggie of liquid bottles, jewelry &I watch, neck wallet (had to stuff the latter items in my purse while holding my passport & boarding pass in my teeth to free up my hands) as well as remove my shoes. And DH got randomly selected for the pat down & wanting as well. So hot down there that they were running giant fans on the other side of the scanners. All the women my age were standing sweaty and spread-eagled in front of them--hot flashes revisited. Then long slog to our gate (as always, the last one) for the flight home. (Last gate again!). Fortunately, the baggage wait was short and there was no line at the cab stand. Home at last, after DH and I wrestled the bags up the stairs and into the house. By then it was nearly 10pm and we were starving and thirsty--but we were still on Central European Time so it felt like 2 am! Heated up some sauerkraut, a bratwurst and a kosher hot dog and washed them down with almost a liter of seltzer.
Today is for repairing my trashed fingernails, making appointments with the LE therapist and bone maven, yelling at OptumRx for not filling my Femara scrip, and doing last-minute shopping (half the fridge was occupied by science projects and there are still a couple of friends for whom I've not found the right gifts). Christmas Eve depends on DH's work hours: if early enough we'll go to B'way Celkars, if not we'llorder out for Chinese food (or if it's stopped raining I may even grill). Christmas Day our friends are roasting a goose. Since they live in north Rogers Park (any Chicago neighborhood with "Park" in its name means you can't), we'll Uber it there & back.
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Linda, Glad to hear BIL is actually moving. DH spoke to our son in Oct, nothing! Again 2 weeks ago, Are you going to move stuff before the snow flies, response, NO! Nothing has happened, so went to our lawyer. DS was served with eviction notice, 10 days to get stuff out or we go to court to evict. We will give him the choice of getting rid of the junk list in 10 days or having to get everything out! Waiting for his response, expect him to be beating on our door in anger, as he did 3 years ago. Scary, as I don't know how hw will respond, he has anger issues.
Chicago has changed a lot. Our Southside neighborhood is not good now. Haven't been back in 5 years, and then were advised not to go there! Hardly recognize the skyline.
Hope everyone has a lovely Christmas, quiet here, most of my family is not in the area. Dh Daughter will be over Christmas day with her family. Jean
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ChiSandy, glad you made it home safely with your sense of humor intact!
Linda, YAY on the BIL moving out. That will be one annoyance gone from your life.
Hope everyone's Christmas preparations are going well. I plan to do most of my cooking tomorrow.
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Realize that true happiness lies within you. Waste no time and effort searching for peace and contentment and joy in the world outside. Remember that there is no happiness in having or in getting, but only in giving. Reach out. Share. Smile. Hug. Happiness is a perfume you cannot pour on others without getting a few drops on yourself. Og Mandino
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ChiSandy, I love that any neighborhood who's name contains Park means there isn't any. Wish the Seattle neighborhoods had a code to tip people off.
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We are having quite the storms. Pouring rain --- wind --- maybe they say a tornado could show up but in our neck of the woods we usually don't see much of anything. Did have some straight line winds one time which left us w/o power for a week, but with the terrain here I've always felt ( save for the huge number of trees ) that we are actually safer than a lot of people totally out in the open with no buffer at all. Anyway, we had to take one of our dogs to the Vet in this stuff so it is not the best day for us though the dog should be fine.
Still, I love the idea of the holiday though a bit of a Scrooge in that I'm just as happy to get it done and move on. Been a bit too commercialized for me for many yrs. and the older I get, the more I feel that part. I'd say something about the fun in the old days but that really does date me.
Hope all goes ok with everyone and thinking of you too Jean. It is hard when you have a older child who has anger issues.
See you all later.
Blessings
Jackie
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Washington has been wet, wet, WET since about the middle of november!!! I'm sick of it.
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Hi GG. At least we're far enough down that we don't need to shovel. I'm tired of the rain, too.
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Linda: Did Dr tell you not to put the aquaphor on within 4 hours before your radiation treatment? Use it liberally after the treatment, but not before.
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Puffin, my RO gave me that very advice. So I applied the Aquaphor immediately after each session, and again at night (with either aloe or calendula). And in the morning I made sure to shower off any that remained before going to each session.
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Your greatest gift to your family and friends is yourself -
your relaxed, happy, and fully-present self.
- Jonathan Lockwood Huie0 -
Good morning, and hope you are all fine where you are. We are experiencing sunshine and I'm so thrilled. We were under tornado watch several times yesterday, but thank goodness we were fine. I'm sad to say some in Mississippi and Tennessee had devastating damage from tornadoes. How terrible to have this happen at what is normally a joyous time of yr. Many prayers go out to all there. I have to say it is beyond my ability to imagine such pain and sorrow to deal with at this time.
I'm off today though I usually work. I will be going to stay ( likely starting Sunday ) a couple of days at my little lady's house as the others will be taking a bit of time off to go to a play ( one son in the family is a playwright nominated for several Tony's ) and there is a play opening not too far away. So, I'll get a little extra time in so can spend some last minute time here at home which is always appreciated.
Blessings
Jackie
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