My Husband, My Life, My Love, My Family, My Cancer
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I am sorry that your neighbours are assholes at that time of night Sondra. I have neighbours who argue frequently and loudly above me so can empathize though they don't make noise all night long which I appreciate. Hope the next person moving in below me will be similar.
Today, I am not worried about covid 19, my toilet is clogged, plunged for a long time, used a drain snake, no luck. It is a slow flow so put some hot water and dish soap down. I really am not that upset about it as this will be my project to get it unclogged. Gives me something to do today. If worst comes to worst, I'll email property manager. I must say I see plunging as a very good workout for my arms. Am I twisted, or just trying to turn everything positive. LOL
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Project over, finally got drain snake to clear the problem. Everything works now. I can have lunch and go outside to have a nice walk since it is nice and sunny. Did get frustrated but kept at it. Almost called DB but then though about the social distancing and changed mind.
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Here's a very good video that explains the coronavirus and what we can do to promote a slow pandemic.
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Dear Betrayal,
You are right. That video is outstanding. I am going to watch it again. I learned a lot. Thank you for posting it!
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thank you Betryal. Very informative. I watched it twice as well Some scary stuff...
Shetland~ Youre right. He is a gen y He still doesn’t want to stay home. I want to bonk him On the head . Watch television and listen. Learn about what’s going on. His work is Ford He is assistant manager and hasn’t been told to stay home at all. I’m scared to contract this from someone else A person coming into my Home. I don’t understand why people Can’t comprehend stay home.
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Go Mara!!!! Plumber as welll. You’re a handy lady my friend!!
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Gotta tell you Mel, I exhausted myself by spending too much time plunging. Should have gone straight for the drain auger. Now that I know how to use one, I plan to go with that first. I had to take a nap and still tired. Have not even got outside at this point. Thanks though. It was nice not to have to get DB or property managers to come.
I have also decided to cut the walmart equate chocolate bars out of my refrigerator. I am not able to resist eating the whole thing so I think I will just stop buying them. A chocolate pudding after lunch and dinner are less calories than one of the big bars of chocolate. I would rather eat the pudding and extra nutrition than get fatter on one, two or three of those bars. Once this batch is gone, not going to buy any more.
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Betrayal, that is a really good video. Hopefully we stay home enough to slow it down. I do have to shop so that is the only place I go. I think I will stay off public transit though because of higher risk of infection even with fewer people. I don't go out except to walk myself. I feel like that will help my immunity and protect others. Always wash hands even after taking out the garbage since I have to hold railings etc and pretty good at not touching face or eyes now. My cancer clinic is also cancelling non critical appointments too which help those cancer patients who are more at risk. Apparently Herceptin has not knocked down my white blood cells so I have almost as much immunity as other people. Makes me feel less scared because MOST people are obeying it and just grabbing essentials. Cashiers at my grocery store will have plexiglass. I don't think deliveries solve the problem because we don't know how the delivery person handles things or sneezes etc. I think there is as much risk of virus having a delivery person shopping and handling things. It all goes back to the hand washing.
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Hi Everyone! Just popping in to say a quick hello. This week was so stressful and I had SO much anxiety that I just had to finally back away from looking at the news or the computer. I live in NYS and our governor is finally shutting things down tomorrow thank goodness. NYC, NJ and CT I am just heartbroken for the number of cases there.
I've been self-isolated for a little over a week now. Doing my piano lessons online. I am horrified by the serious crisis occurring in New York City and the number of people (family included) who are still having get-togethers here in my area. I am about six hours from NYC but we already have about 50 cases and 1 death here in my small city. The lockdown tomorrow means that I am not allowed to leave my house. Period. They are allowing us to go for walks outside as long s we cross to the other side of the road when seeing anyone coming the other way. Everything is really very silent and eerie. My neighbors just returned by air from a trip to Florida and they are on two week quarantine. After that they too have to stay in their home due to their age and underlying health conditions. My kids and grandkids are in isolation - we see each other over FaceTime. Doc appts this week were all phone visits. I have a big red STOP sign notice on my doors to prevent anyone from knocking on the door or just walking in which is common in my neighborhood. The National Guard is here to help with hospital needs and to enforce all business closures that are not life-sustaining and we expect to see them going through neighborhoods to enforce shelter in place. So NYS is now the epicenter and it's a little strange but I do not mind staying in. DH gets the groceries for the week and we are all set with supplies. Stay ok everyone!
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Moomala- Stay safe.
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I wish there was a way to stop the foolish people from having get togethers. Would drastically cut the infection rate right there. We just don't know where people have been. My family probably will not visit me for fear of infection and I don't blame them. I don't want this disease because if it took me down, that's the end of me. Will just keep walking outside for my immunity and go get supplies as little as possible. I don't have a freezer so can't buy large amounts of food because there is no room. Someday I would like a freezer but can't justify it yet though it would be nice to have fewer trips to stores.
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Two points: I asked my onc if with reasonable blood counts I really was immunocompromised. She replied that yes, cancer itself compromises the immune system, and treatments make it worse. Also, I watched a video by a statistics guy who made the point that the fewer people we are near, the lower our chances of catching Covid-19. Numbers matter. If, say for the sake of example, two out of five people are contagious, then if I meet five people I have two chances of catching it, but if I meet fifty people I have twenty chances of catching it. Therefore I believe delivery is safer than shopping.
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Good points SP. Food for thought.
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Hi All,
As a UK person I am embarrassed that we have such f***ing idiots in our country. Our local supermarkets have been stripped bare....the booze isles are the latest target since all pubs clubs now closed. Sondra you are quite right to be disgusted at the neighbours ( loose term as the word neighbour infers nice) partying... what!! The arrogance is beyond belief.
To top it all my Dad (79 and has always been the most selfish individual even when he was young and fit) whom I have had shopping delivered to online for the past 3 years, as I don’t live locally and his mobility is poor. He is fully understanding on the current virus situation, and that I’m not able to visit nowbut phoned me today with a list of all the things he DIDN’T want in his next shopping order. Little does he know there is no next order as I couldn’t book a slot and the following week’s list is showing almost everything is unavailable. Tomorrow I will let him know that and then remind him that many others are suffering way more than he is with his over stocked larder / fridge!
I have actually arranged for a local company to deliver frozen ready meals to him which are pretty good by all accounts, but he’ll likely complain about that too. Just because he is elderly does not make it OK to also be one of the aforesaid idiots!
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Sondra~ cuss words for your rude neighbors.. what total losers to be doing that I mean really. I may have exploded with no effort. That’s just plain no okay. Selfish fools. No one has respect anymore for others. I’ve been there before. And I’m sorry that you had to be put through that. I give them the big ass bird! Jerks !
Hello Karen. Hello Mara....Moomala...... always nice to see you. Glad you’re holding up well especially in NY state. This is all just so much All the hoarding etc . All a girl wants is some wipes. ! Hello Candy!
Mae~ good to hear improvement for sure.Hello bevjen Betryal.... Tanya.... BooBoo! Hope all you ladies are ok
I noticed Divine semi posted here. So I’m going to welcome her half back! Lol.0 -
This is quite inventive if she doesn't die of the heat first. Also, hope she is disinfecting her phone first before washing hands or else it was all for nothing.
I have decided to wear my headscarves as neck gaiters as well when going shopping because I know that some protection is better than none and this will keep others safer when I am out. There are no proper masks to be had right now so that will do. I also don't use shopping carts, just put stuff in my own bag and unload at cash, less germy and a long round of hand washing when I get home or handle my door knob. Best I can do for myself as I do prefer to get only what I need.
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this is what we see when we go out now? Everyday the world changes a little. I cannot believe this is even happening. I know our casesare rising because people are being tested and that's good because we can get them quarantined and away from spreading. There are. Just so many people. What if everything gets re-infected again. Everyone's already worn down. I've already had enough of it all. Coverage of it. Self distancing! Enough to drive us batty. Spain on lockdown Italy on lockdown, I want to know why more states aren't locking down. We need to get aggressive more now than after all the death. Seriously now!
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Hello my friends!
How is everyone doing out there tonight? Saturday night! WHOOP WHOOP!
Sondra - ugh those neighbors. So rude and disrespectful - on many levels. Currently the most important one is STOP THE SPREAD!! They definitely are not caring and in complete denial. Such a shame.
I have friends in Madrid who have been on total lockdown for 2 weeks now. They haven't left their apartment, except for a short walk to the grocery store for food one time. They are not allowed to go outside to exercise there.
Apparently, the police or some type of force is mandating the isolation and fines for being out on the streets are starting at $600 Euros...STARTING! That is the low end fine! Crazy!
At this point, who even knows if and when these "fines" will be actually instituted and have any relevance at all?
It seems like all rules are out the window right now and the world is on the brink of insanity.
I keep flip flopping back and forth between feeling calm and anxious. Like this is seriously the weirdest thing ever and it is challenging to not want to totally rebel against and just whoop it up like it IS the end of the world! But there is no where to go and no one that I want to be with except my family and friends.
I think that the saddest and hardest part for me is having the physical distance from my loved ones. I am very affectionate and love hugs and I tend to put my hand on someone's arm when we are laughing together. Or I reach out to put my arm around someone's shoulder a lot, or give people a good little shoulder squeeze for reassurance quite often. It is amazing how now I have to become to aware of these gestures and I am not allowed to do them. It is such a natural behavior. I want to love and comfort. What we are dealing with makes it so hard.
I want to go for a hike in the woods and get away from Philly for a day. But the idea is freaking my mom out and making her anxious. She believes I really need to stay inside as much as possible. I feel like the woods has got to be the safest place. But at the same time, I don't want to cause my mother any further anxiety. She's already very tense and I of course worry about my parents so much!I
I love each and every one of you and you are all in my heart!!
Love,
Philly
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I cannot see why you cannot go for a walk in the woods by yourself. It would be good for your immunity, vit D is also good. You can really walk anywhere as long as you observe distance from others and of course wash hands always when get home. Don't touch your face. It would also help your mood and anxiety. It is hard to not be able to hug if you are used to the contact. If you don't live with your mom, why don't you just go for a quick hike alone and say anything if it stresses her out. It stresses you out to be cooped up all the time. We need the fresh air. Unless where you live says you cannot leave home at all for any reason, you can walk anywhere outside you wish by yourself. That is perfectly safe.
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Today I planted six plants from gallon pots, plants that have been waiting forever. I dug four of the planting holes myself. I did a little weeding in the same area. I am so tired but happy.
Philly, I hear you. This distancing stuff is sad. I'm not not sure how long I can stand it here at home. It's a conundrum when I consider that life is short...
Mel, it is crazy. Last night as I was trying to fall asleep I kept getting this image of a tsunami hitting a hospital full of masked doctors and nurses.
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I just bought a lightweight neck gaiter/multi-use buff not a month ago on a whim as the shop was having a sale and it was like £2. I now cannot remember where I put the thing, which looks like a rolled up pair of socks
I think that will be my chore for today!Neighbors have gone back into cave mode so I am hoping they will be quiet now for a few weeks. However, if they don't have jobs or school to go to, who knows!
Karen - are NHS Scotland 'sending a letter' / making phone calls too tomorrow if you are on the most vulnerable list and therefore have to isolate at home for 12 weeks? I think its more a formality for people to claim benefits if needed, but I am wondering what classification we come under -
https://www.telegraph.co.uk/global-health/science-...
Philly - I would take that walk - just being in nature would do wonders for your mental state. Its gonna be a haul both mentally and physically, so may as well top up on the mental aspect when you can, like topping up on groceries!
Mara - I've also been using my own tote for shopping when I've gone in, and then bleached the handles (its vinyl) when I get home. Same with cane if I have been out - handle gets the bleach drip for a bit. Hell, I was dabbing travel cards and keys and sunglasses with bleachwater the other day too!
Candy - what is it like down by you in Illinois?
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Sondra,
I read that article that you linked from The Telegraph talking about the National Health Service, and I found it very scary, especially the following:
"The guidelines also say that Covid-19 patients receiving treatment for cancer or who need dialysis must also be carefully assessed ahead of receiving critical care.
'Where decisions need to be made about prioritising patients for treatment, these need to take into account the level of immunosuppression associated with individual treatments and cancer types,' it says."
Like you, I wonder where that leaves all of us? A lot of breast cancer patients, present and past, have immunocompromised systems.
I also heard a report last night on the news here that said between 40-80% of the population of the US could be infected with COVID-19 (these are US stats, not sure what the anticipated number is in the UK). My husband and I have been seriously staying away from people -- he has diabetes and I have cancer -- and I turned to him and said: even with what we are doing, how the heck are we going to avoid this virus?
Very scary.
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love you Philly!!!
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Morning all.
Sondra- We have around 800 cases in Illinois, but most in the Chicago area (northern Illinois) and I am in Southern Illinois. We have a few sporadic cases in my area--that we know of, with not as much testing as there should be. We have had 6 deaths in Illinois. Our Governor ordered a stay-at-home order until April 8. This means only going out for necessary things--groceries, doctor, pharmacy, etc. Our schools are closed. Dine-in restaurants and bars closed. We still have drive thru for food.
So Sondra, in your article you posted, if I am reading it right, I would fit in the "managing well -3" area and I think that I would qualify for ICU, but also with the Stage 4 who knows. I also read a news story about deciding who to save and who to let go if it came to that. I wanted to share it, but cannot see a way to link to it. And yet again, with Stage 4 cancer--terminal diagnosis even though I am stable for now-- I would have to think if there is a bed/equipment shortage we don't have a chance. That is why I am so fearful of catching this. Because it could really be a death sentence. Either get really sick and they cannot save me or get really sick and they don't give me a chance because of the shortages.
Philly- If you enjoy hiking and want to do it, I say do it. You would be alone right? If you met anyone on the trail, just keep 6 feet of distance. And don't touch your face and wash up when you get home. I heard the germs don't do well outside of a body. Yes, they can live on surfaces for so long, but I wouldn't think they are living in the air outside.
Another day inside for me. No church. Supposed to rain today and be in the 50's. So not a good day to open the windows for fresh air. Treadmill time this afternoon.
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Hello ladies!
Philly - If I were you I'd go for that hike! You might want to call ahead or check websites to see if the trails are open. Our county park closed and barricaded all trail entrances. I drove up to hike yesterday and was so disappointed. It's probably about liability, but stll. This morning we took a walk through a deserted college campus a few blocks away. Still pretty and still outside. We're on lockdown in Illinois, but taking a walk is still ok.
Checking out the State Parks next...I really want to get into the woods as the trees and spring flowers bloom.
I turn on the news for an hour in the evening and TRY to stay away from my phone. I've been watching the Radical Remission videos and find them very encouraging.
Gardening is my escape for the foreseeable future. I ordered straw bales that DH picked up on Friday. We're laying out where the plants will go while we condition (fertilize and water) the bales for the next 10 days. I have seedlings started for lettuce, kale and spinach. Planting has to wait for a few weeks, yet... I think the local garden store takes payment by phone and can set out the plants for me to pick up.
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micmel, I understand your concerns and agree, however, as someone who prefers less government, I don’t think we need a total lockdown if people are practicing good personal responsibility. Many cities in Texas have already closed everything and the cities are largely deserted but an official order would create panic and in a heavily armed State (like Texas), suspicion of gov or military action would bring chaos. So far, most Texans are doing the right thing on their own but I understand that some other states aren’t seeing as much voluntary compliance.
Anyway, just my opinion. Good morning to all 🙂
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Mae~ Hi there sweetheart! I know that less government is better of course. I just don’t want any crazy looting or odd behavior. That scares you. People are purchasing not only toilet paper, but guns and ammunition is also sold Out. I just don’t want anything ugly to begin because the Jones’s down the street are known to have surplus cases of water or toilet paper. Like the purge just scares ya at times , when you don’t know how long this will last. I think us stage four patients deal with the unknowns way to much already. It’s gotten so bad DH is cleaning the bathroom. We’re going nuts. Maybe a walk would be a good thing But it’s a bit chilly still. I can usually be ok with being home, but just being told I can’t go out Does something to the psyche. Is it “leze fair” spelling? Hands off government? I don’t want armed tanks rolling down our streets. For sure. !!
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Good morning Mae,
I keep wondering if/when we’ll see chaos start. I really hope we don’t. I think most of the world is still in denial or still in shock over this virus. It certainly took me by surprise. I’m hoping people stay calm and show compassion to others where we can. I do fear that it could get crazier if the government tries to impose additional lockdowns or requirements that take away your rights. That is my biggest fear right now.
Stay safe, my friends.
Laurie
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Yeah, I hope it doesn't get crazy either but I hear what some of the more extreme anti-government people are saying and tanks would definitely spark that fire. Even DH has said that a travel ban within the state would prompt him to pack up for the cabin, of course I complicate things with needing my H&P every 3 weeks. Just hoping it doesn't come to that 😬
On the bright side, I require very little food rations, lol
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I'm with you Mae on not wanting the government to use this as an excuse to implement martial law. In Illinois, I feel like we are frogs in the pot of water. Everyday they have taken something away or closed something else. Now we are on lock down but are still "allowed" to go outside for walks and to the grocery store. In Europe, some countries are not even allowing citizens to go outside. Friends who were supposed to go on a vacation to another location in Illinois ( to an isolated cabin in the woods) felt like they had to cancel since we are supposed to be at home! Crazy. I wonder if the ramifications of the loss of our freedoms will wind up being worse than the virus. When I got out on my walks I keep thinking of "Handmaid's Tale" because it almost feels like we are going there.
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