Can we have a forum for "older" people with bc?
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Sandra, I guess snow is a wonderful novelty for those well south of the Mason-Dixon line. For us Chicagoans, our kids may say “Whee---snow day!” but we grownups think “Oh, great--salting, shoveling, skidding....” We’re a couple miles closer to the lake than is Ravenswood, so around here we’re dealing with a sloppy mess: snow that became sleet and froze, now rain turning everything to slush-on-ice. Time to dig out the Yak-Traxx. When you say “Ravenswood/Andersonville,” I’m thinking SW. Andersonville, maybe Bowmanville--near the Metra tracks? Have you been to the Lawrence Ave. Mariano’s supermarket? Wine bar, oyster bar, espresso/gelato bar, confectioner, in-house BBQ, etc. Amazing place. We have a Whole Foods around the corner, yet I still drive to Mariano’s.
Bonnets, when I was a kid in Brooklyn we used to spend the summers in my aunt’s house up near Washingtonville--not too far from Middletown. Middletown was where we all stayed decades later when my cousin’s son & daughter (who lived in Monroe) were, respectively, Bar and Bat Mitzvah. And until this year, every Nov. I attended the Northeast Regional Folk Alliance (NERFA) conference at the Hudson Valley Resort (formerly the Granit), the last Catskill (ok, technically, Shawngunk) resort standing. (I hear a Japanese consortium just bought it and plans to make some sorely needed renovations). In 2013 my singing partner & I did a live in-studio radio performance & interview on Jon Stein’s show on WTBQ In Warwick. In 1998 DS & I went to the 29th anniv. of Woodstock on the site of the former Yasgur farm in White Lake, and we stayed at Kutsher’s. It was a Friday night, so when we went to dinner I made DS wear a jacket and tie (and just in case, a yarmulke). We walked in, and he surveyed all the tables full of senior citizens clad in their very best (some wore evening dresses) and whispered “Mom, they put a roof over South Florida!” And when I was in college (Brooklyn College), we had our midwinter “Snow Carnival” ski trips at the Pines and Grossingers. Memories, memories....
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Okay, folks, tonight we leave the snow and ice behind and continue our trip to sunny Sicily. Next stop, Trapani and points south.
Cathedral dome, Trapani (from our ship):
Downtown Trapani, from the ship:
Exterior, Cathedrale di Santa Maria, Monreale (started in the 10th century, finished between the 13th & 14th):
Former church, now the Diocesan Museum, Monreale. (Note the street sign on the left--every Italian city we visited has a street named after king Victor Emanuel, who consolidated a crazy-quilt of city-states into a unified Italy):
Apse, Cathedrale di Santa Maria, Monreale. Note the hodgepodge of architectural styles, the result of successive regimes and then the reconstruction of the interior after both natural disasters and WWII.
Detail over altar (sorry for the focus problems due to extreme tele mode). The windows are not stained glass (the mountaintop Sicilian summer sun through glass could actually cause wood to ignite, or at least worshipers to faint) but rather very thin yet translucent alabaster!
Detail of mosaics, which depicted Bible stories. This was the only Biblical education for the masses, who were illiterate--the only Bibles available were hand-scribed and available only to clergy:
East-meets-west architecture in microcosm: marble Corinthian column topped with Byzantine capital beneath Moorish tile:
Side chapel:
Lest we think ecumenicism was a 20th-century invention:
Detail, altarpiece (made of silver mined in Mexico during Conquistador era, when Sicily was ruled by Aragon):
Okay, let’s go back outside! Looking up the mountainside from Piazza Santa Maria, Monreale (note the Renaissance-era cellular phone towers upper right):
Cloister and fountain, center of Monreale:
On to Palermo. As grand as this is, it’s not the cathedral, just one of the many churches & a cloister in the Old Town:
More Palermo after dinner!
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ChiSandy,
During Woodstock , we lived in the flight path of the helicopters taking the drug overdoses to the state Hospital where they landed to go to the local hospital. I worked at state and later had some Woodstock goers as patients! During Woodstock we had hippie cars break down and get left at the light in our little town of Bloomingburg. Have one great resort left, Mohonk Mountain House in New Paltz. A one of a kind great place to go.
Yup all the famous old Catskill resorts are no more, Concord, Kutchers, Grossingers all abandoned. Was at a conference at Grossingers and saw Paul Anka and Frankie Avalon at Concord.
When we lived in Chicago, never had a snow day. If the walks weren't passable , we walked to school in the street! Very few of the neighborhood names, except Hyde Park were used then. Just North , West , South side or South shore. No Metra, just the I.C. and the L! Yup a lot of memories. Jean
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ChiSandy, those photos are magnificent especially after all the sleet and rain we had today. It was miserable getting around, but G-d took care of me and I made it safely.
Puffin: NO, NO INSTRUCTIONS BEFORE RADS - I put it on 5 hours before radiation.
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.Sandra, glad you've been having fun in Chicago and getting around. When I was young, I wanted to get married at the Intercontinental, but reality came up and we just had a smaller wedding at the synagogue social hall.
Great news! Brother-in-law is OUT and I have the keys back. Danced around the house in my jammies. I'm so happy and more relaxed. He did leave some things her with our permission, and we'll deal with that later. But, we have our house back and my car is back in the garage. I'm so excited!
I'm started back today with the radiation. Am not sure how many visits yet or what lotion to use. I have to bring in the cream I used for the skin irritation. I'm hoping it's just aloe or calendula and am not looking forward to spending more $ on what I need to use. $15 down the drain for the Aquaphor. But, no one knew I'd have that kind of reaction.
The techs are so wonderful and the RO and his nurse are pretty good.
Time to get ready for bed. Have a good night and drive safely.
Linda B.
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Love the travel pictures. Stunning views!
When my daughter is asked where she lives, she usually says Andersonville (which is close) because people don't usually know where Ravenswood is. She lives ....... a short walk up the alley and around a couple of corners to Mariano's. I'm especially fond of their fresh squeezed orange juice. We were there Christmas Eve, buying essentials like bread, cat food and Diet Pepsi. (ha-ha)
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Happy Healthy New Year to all!!!
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Wishing everyone a healthy, happy New Year!
I've been reading all your posts and decided that now it's time to jump in. And I meet the age requirements lol.
Chicago is my home but currently live in Louisville because of my grandchildren. One of the things that I miss the most, besides the hot dogs, italian beefs and pizza, is Mariano's. I used to drive miles to go there because there was just one store. I remember how excited I was when they built one across the street from me. I always stop there when I go home.
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Linda, so glad for you, getting your BIL out! We are still battling SS to remove his junk or we will do an eviction. He arrived Christmas day, not happy and only giving excuses. The notice we sent said 10 days to comply, we are allowing for holidays and weekends, so it is the 3rd of Jan. So far NOTHING, but the excuses! I think we will have to go to court for eviction . Grrrrr! Don't ya love it! Happy you finally won. Jean
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Jclc - welcome. Glad you joined in. If I weren't in Chicago, I would miss the pizza and beef sandwiches.
Bonnets/Jean, good luck with your SS, maybe you'll get a New Year's present without eviction court.
Jean/Bonnets, it's so cool that you were experienced part of Woodstock. I recently watched part of the movie, which was one of the first movies when I worked at the local theater as a candy girl. We all fought to have our breaks during the Who and Roger Daltry. I still love the Who and Santana. Saw Santana at Ravinia a few years ago.
Happy and HEALTHY New Year,
Linda
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Jclc, I'll try to venture out today and find an Italian Beef in your honor! Glad you posted. This is my last day in Chicago. I leave around noon tomorrow. Don't know what we will do today. Yesterday we stayed in and I enjoyed the snow. Maybe we'll walk to the L and head downtown to the Art Institute or to the Dreihaus Museum. They were on the list for this visit, but we got distracted by other things.
I was not looking forward to this trip. The only reason why I came was to keep the peace and to make sure Mike had a good holiday with less stress. He doesn't react well to any kind of discord around him and since daughter #2, Stephanie, was upset with Allison (and vice versa) he was not looking forward to having them come home at the same time. They were both there in June and you could practically see the tension in the air. This was the first holiday season that Stephanie could fly home because her new job doesn't require her presence. Since this could very well be his last Christmas, it became even more important for Michael to have a good one. If we had both come to Chicago, that would have left son Ryan alone at a time he is traditionally quite vulnerable to suicidal thoughts. This was best for all involved.
I'm happy to report that it turned out even better than we could have expected for many reasons. I knew Allison and I would have a great time - we always do - and I love Chicago, so it was win-win there. Michael has benefited from some time to himself without me hovering. Since his diagnosis, he has been under a microscope. If he does as little as wince or rub a shoulder, he hears, "Are you all right?" He has been very sweet on the phone, assuming his old role of protector with admonishments to be careful and checking to see if I got from A to B safely since, "I'm not there to protect you." Stephanie and Allison began talking to each other during our phone calls home and that soon morphed into peals of laughter and jokes so there's no more tension there, thank goodness. The best part was Ryan. As you know, recently he agreed to take Paxil after 13 years of refusing medication. That was a miracle in itself. These past weeks he has begun to see there is a happier place in this world. I asked him to explain and he said, "I'm not scared anymore." That went straight to my heart. Bless him! While birthdays (Dec. 23) usually remind him of what a failure he is in life (his view) this time he seemed lighter and able to enjoy a bit of the low-key celebration that his Dad planned. During the days from the 23rd through the 26th, rather than drop in once or twice and then go back to his lonely apartment, he seemed comfortable at our house, spending hours enjoying his family and watching basketball with his father. He usually won't even sit down, preferring to eat a quick meal standing up in the kitchen, but this time he sat at the table with Michael and Stephanie, then later stretched out on the sofa. This must sound ridiculous to all of you, but these are not subtle changes. Best of all, when he left he told his father that he had the best birthday and Christmas that he could remember. Michael told me over the phone that hearing that was the best present he could ever receive.
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Mornin all,
Wow, Linda - did you hit close to home mentioning those towns in upstate NY! My sister has lived in Washingtonville for almost 40 years. The same year we moved to Fl (1973), they, and my parents, moved to Washingtonville. And my best friend from childhood lives in Walden. My niece and nephew both live in Monroe. My brother and only cousin on my mom's side live in Goshen. Even more, for several years, when my parents could finally afford it, we spent 2 weeks at Balsam Shade in the Catskills. We all grew up in the Bronx.
So glad your BIL finally moved out. It is so hard to move someone who doesn't want to be moved. My youngest son is still mad at my daughter for "kicking" him out of his own home- he was 29, living rent-free and doing nothing to help around the house. It is the family home where he grew up, but she was paying all the bills (with a little help from me) and doing all the chores including the yard work.
Right now we have a young girl living with us- she aged out of the foster system and my older son met her thru the camp he runs during the summers when she was about 11. She was living in one of several group homes that attend the camp each year. She is going to college to be a physician's assistant, and was living with an uncle in south Miami. The courses she needed to take this year were only offered in North Ft Laud. She pays minimal rent-$200/mo, but now that she is "comfortable", she has reverted to typical teen behavior. Her room is a disaster, which is her problem, but she is leaving empty dishes, soda cans, take- out food containers, etc, all over the house and when we go to do laundry, her stuff is either in the washer, which means we have to finish it for her, or in the dryer. Her latest thing is bringing her boyfriend over at night and staying up till 2 or 3am watching movies. My daughter had to tell her the other night that boyfriend has to leave no later than 10pm, because she gets up at 5 every morning to go to work and we don't know this guy at all- don't even know his name, and her 13 yr old son sleeps at the opposite side of the house. She cannot go to sleep with a strange guy between her and her child. SHe's a nice kid, but this is her first time living in a normal home, where she doesn't have to request permission to go somewhere 3 days in advance and isn't having her room inspected daily and she is making up for lost time.
WElcome JCLC- so glad you haVe decided to join in. We would love to get to know you. We try to avoid politics and religion, although occasionally an opinion about politics or a bit of spirituality might sneak through. Other than that, we touch on just about everything else. Families, good or bad, travel, cooking, weather, golf, favorite books, pets etc are all part of our conversations. Above all, we are always here to support each other through this cancer journey we don't want to be on.
On that note I have to go for a CAT scan today. They saw a little mark on my lung in the very first scan they did. It has remained there, not altering at all during the chemo or radiation, so the Dr thinks it is a tiny bitof scar tissue, from a long ago case of bronchitis or upper respiratory infection, but says she wants to check it occasionally, just to be sure. So, off I go. I will get the results Thurs. this journey never ends.
Anne
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My last full day in Chicago was great. We bundled up good & took the L downtown, had an Italian Beef at Al's, went to Millennium Park, enjoyed the skaters and The Bean, then went to the Art Institute. After warming up in the members lounge, we spent the rest of the day wandering. Oh my goodness, it's huge. I could have spent this whole 10 day adventure there. Instead I had to be satisfied with visits to paintings I'm familiar with but had never seen in person and some dreamy walks through gallery after gallery of beauty. Allison took me downstairs to her favorite part, the miniature gallery. The attention to detail on those miniature rooms was astonishing! It was like an exquisite doll house for grown ups. An Uber trip home and delivery of a Chicago-style deep dish pizza finished off the day. I hope to fly home tomorrow...not positive since my same flight today and yesterday were cancelled.
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Sandra - so glad to hear that Christmas in San Antonio was successful. Great news about your daughters talking & laughing. Even better news about your son.
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Sandra, glad you got your beef fix and got in the Art Institute too. Of course, the best news is about your family getting along and that your son had the best birthday and Xmas ever. Touches me too in a good way.
Anne, it's better to get the scan and find out that it's nothing. Keep us posted.
I'm in the middle of a panic attack. I went to bed about an hour ago and can't sleep. I had my 2nd rad treatment today and I just don't like it (as if anyone does). I feel hot on my right side and did about 1 hr. meditation about blue gentle raindrops cooling my body. It helped for awhile, until I tried to lie down. Physically I'm not as red as I was ... thank G-d. There's just something about rad that seems wrong to me.
I'm just using the anti-inflammatory cream my surgeon prescribed for me. Nervous about using anything. I see the RO tomorrow. Asked the nurse today about Calendula and Aloe and she said he said I can use Calendula Aloe, which to me means I'm not sure they come together. Do they? And I'm not sure he knows either.
Of course, I'm nervous about when to use what lotion. I don't want to put off rads; just want to get it done without too much trouble.
Could you guys repeat what you used after treatment and at night? NOT Aquaphor. I hate that I have to waste a 14 oz container.
Gotta try to relax again and get some sleep.
Linda
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Linda, I used Fruit of the Earth 100% aloe gel (no dye, scent or alcohol), which I got at the outpatient pharmacy at Kellogg Cancer Center. When my seroma felt hot, I used a cooling towel I got at Dick’s Sporting Goods (Bed, Bath & Beyond has them too).
Jean, small world: my shrink grew up in Monticello and volunteered at Woodstock--he was in medical school then.
Off to bed now, to take my night meds and one more Duo-Neb hit.
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Life is short.Each year passes more quickly than the previous one.It's easy to deny yourself many of life's simple pleasures because you want to be practical.Forget about practical and decide instead to become a joy collector.Always be on the lookout for gifts without ribbons.God is strewing them across your path right now.His gifts come tagged with a note:"Life can be wonderful.Do your best not to miss it!"Enjoy what it is before it isn't anymore. . . . Dare to slip on a pair of bunny slippers once in a while!Surprise yourself!Enjoy the little things because one day you'll look back and realize they were the big things! -Barbara Johnson
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Back home again. I left the quote but have to get other chores settled so I'll be back later to read and post. Sure missed all of you.
Blessings
Jackie
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Hi ladies. Great pictures!! I'm home sewing today, and decided to take a break and do a little meet and greet here instead.
We're in recovery mode from grandkids, as we've had them much more lately than our normal every other Saturday. Our daughter wanted us to take them this Saturday as well, but we decided that we needed some downtime. Hubby went fishing/crabbing today in the c-c-c-c-cold. I stayed home to sew and do a little cleaning. Yesterday the rain finally stopped (up until yesterday, it rained every single day this month - mostly a LOT of rain), anyway, with the break I got a little yard work done, and plan to do more tomorrow. I didn't want to get chilled two days in a row, though, so today was an in house day. They've been talking for months about the tremendous El Nino weather pattern this year, which normally brings exceptionally dry weather to Washington. I think maybe it has finally arrived, as there is no rain in the forecast. I can use a little dry. The wet has really gotten to me this fall. I think hubby was about ready to move south until he saw the weather map with all the storms. I'm not complaining too much about the rain, though, as it all came down as snow in the mountains, so we'll have water this summer (hopefully).
OK. back to my sewing, now. Hope everyone is having a great Wednesday.
If I don't get back here tomorrow, Happy New Years!!!0 -
We finally got our rain in solid form--looks pretty, but a PITA to drive through (especially the alleys, which the city doesn’t plow and in which the ruts melt and then freeze over). Went out today for the first time since Saturday--my chest cold/sinusitis seems to have turned bacterial, and I reluctantly called my PCP to get an antibiotic Rx (I hate taking them--I wonder each time whether i”ll develop yet another allergy or help breed superbugs). My PCP’s on-call doc also said to take my emergency Medrol Dosepak (hope it doesn’t make me want to eat everything I see). After picking the doxycycline up at CVS, I went to the indie pharmacy that ordered my letrozole (they tried to get Teva but ended up with Roxane--cheaper and fewer inactive ingredients; will take it till my Femara arrives from the UK and Canada). While they were filling my ‘scrip, I went upfront to the Kosher-style “NY” deli. A pint of matzo ball soup later, my ‘scrip was ready and my chest a little clearer. My MO’s nurse says the Medrol should put a little spring in my step by tomorrow night. Good thing, as the restaurant at which we’ll be hosting New Year’s Eve dinner is 1/4 mi. away--too short a distance for a cab, bus or Uber, too far to walk in the cold feeling the way I do now. And I don’t expect there to be an abundance of street parking. (DH may drop me off, drive home, and then walk back--I will catch a lift back afterwards with my guests who’ll be joining us at home to ring in the year at midnight).
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Home again. Just like the book I used to read to my kids, The Best Nest, "in all the world, my nest is best."
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Ring out the old, ring in the new,
Ring, happy bells, across the snow:
The year is going, let him go;
Ring out the false, ring in the true.- Alfred Lord Tennyson -
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ChiSandy - hope you feel better soon. I can't imagine a cold/flu/allergy at this time. Glad you found matza ball soup, THE cure. Wish I knew how to make it.
Sandra - happy you're home from your great trip.
Jackie - I can't wait to ring the end of radiation bell.
Happy New Year everyone - with HEALTH and laughter.
Linda
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From one Sandra to another, glad to know that my awesome home town was a great temporary “nest” for you this past week.
Linda, Happy New Year to you, too. Turning the corner on this rotten cold. Last time I had a cold during the holiday season, I ended up writing “It Sucks Being Sick at Christmas,” which I had to wait two weeks to see if I could sing it! (I had totally lost my voice, and had a few very feverish days back then--not that serious this time around, and ran a low fever for only a few hrs.). Silver lining is that it’s gotten a lot of folk radio airplay. (Too bad Dr. Demento is off the air--he’d have loved it). For matzo ball soup, Manischewitz makes both matzo ball mix and matzo ball soup mix. I’d throw out the envelope of the soup mix and use your favorite chicken broth to simmer the matzo balls. And whether you make your matzo balls from mix or scratch (matzo meal, eggs--separate them and beat the whites--salt, a little oil or schmaltz), the secret is to sub out the water for seltzer: it and the gently folded-in whites will make them fluffy. But I think Manischewitz or Streit’s even has matzo ball soup in jars.
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Thanks for the nice welcome.
I had a cold last week and ended up making matzh ball soup with farfel. Nice and hot. Jewish penicillin. Love it with kasha too.
Wishing you all a very healthy and happy 2016!
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HAPPY NEW YEAR! Let's make it a great 2016!
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I caught ChiSandy's cold/sinus crud. As someone said, a heck of a way to start 2016. DH and I will be staying home tonight. I'm looking forward to a rye old-fashioned cocktail at 5 pm, the magic hour. Then some warmed up beef veggie noodle soup that I cooked yesterday. There's also leftover stuffed cabbage and salad makings. I'll see what dh prefers.
I had already decided against going out for dinner tonight before I caught the crud. I didn't want to spend the $$$ for an expensive NYE dinner and I darned sure don't need the calories. I'm definitely punishing the scales when I step on them.
I forced myself to go to the gym this morning and did some cardio. Didn't have the energy for the muscle toning portion of my workout. Later I did my mother's grocery shopping and also bought the makings for a good beef soup for her. I got the soup started while she was at the beauty shop having a perm.
2015 was a good year for us. Hope 2016 is as healthy and enjoyable.
Happy New Year to everyone.
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Blessings,
Jackie
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Nice pictures of your trips ladies.
Carole, Chisandy, you are both feeling better.
we had 2 of our gd here with us all day yesterday and suppose to stay over night but the 6 yr old start running a fever while we were out to dinner so our dil came and picked her up. They ended in the emergency room late last night with fevers of 104 and not able to get it down. So far no idea what she has. They took test but no results yet today. We are still at our youngest sons house. So far so good.
We took our other gd home this afternoon and them went for dinner before everyone went out to celebrate. We do not go out on this night. Too many crazy drivers. We were home by 6pm. DS is working and I am not sure where his girlfriend and her daughter are tonight.
Hope everyone has a happy, healthy New Year.
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Hi Ladies, Just got home. Went out for a quiet dinner with 3 other couples from church. No one wanted to stay out, so quiet night here to see in the new year. Hope everyone is warm and dry, and feeling better to see 2016 in. Hugs , Jean
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Happy New Year to everyone. Lew has a cold, I go around the house with my disinfectant wipes, and then tell him "now don't touch anything!"
I printed out MN and ND bird checklists, ready to start my new birding lists for the year.
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