Can we have a forum for "older" people with bc?

Jackie - do you have a corneal abrasion? Those are painful and annoying. Make sure to rest the eye.

Mid 30’s and rain here. At least it is warm enough that we are getting rain rather than sleet or snow. A dreary day all around. I went to the gym earlier than usual today in case the roads turned icy. Tomorrow should be in the forties so I’m hoping to go for a hike in a park.

I returned to volunteering at the food pantry yesterday. It was wonderful to be back and I received a warm welcome. They are such a good group of people. My plan is to resume volunteering every Friday.

Thinking of Betrayal and Petite. Wishing everyone a good Sunday.

I got a note from Karen this morning, so decided to post. I am settled into my new apartment.

I have an appointment with the plastic surgeon's PA in January. I have maintained my weight at 163 for several years (thanks to Tippy), and I'm tired of carrying a big balloon of water on my chest. Hoping for a smaller implant. No longer seeing the oncologist, it has been six years, and lefty never gave me and my babies any problems. Righty was problematic since the beginning.

Knee is doing well, although the temporary housing situation meant 18 steps going up and down stairs multiple times a day, and moving meant a lot of walking and carrying heavy weights. It has been more painful since then.

I am busy with my writing project right now, and this should last for a while.

Tippy is intensely bonded with me now, and we are encountering frustration at my inability to read his mind. Nonverbal stuff only goes so far. We have had two communication problems recently that could have been serious. So I bought us a Christmas gift of a button system (Fluent Pet) that is a big improvement over what we had before. I have been watching their videos, and I think he has been listening to them, too.

I am writing again, and eager to finish it up.

Not going to catch up. Too many pages.

Good morning after an all-day rain yesterday and through the night. It is gray and 47 right now so I expect more rain — if not through the day, then tonight. This is much more like the holiday seasons we have had in the past. Temps will be higher for awhile so no idea what the big day will be like.

Chris, it is so good to hear from you at last. Many of your friends here were concerned when we didn't hear from you for some time. We haven't heard from Sandy either. So glad it seems like things are going fairly well for you. Glad you are moved. Your new place sounds very nice. I had no idea you had so many stairs in the other apt. I'm sure you said at some time but I forget things a whole lot easier then remembering these days. Sounds like Tippy is okay with the move as well. Glad you have him.

If you haven't been keeping up, we have a new companion here. Lil' Red. He is a miniature Schnauzer. We just got him neutered. Pretty lively he is for us older folk, but he will settle in time. He will be an only dog because we are not into multiples of anything much anymore. When we rescued, we always had too many cats and dogs, but physically and financially it is no longer a good thing for us.

Harley it sounds like we are having pretty similar weather. It is going to stay warm I think thru the week so who knows how much rain we might get. This is much more like previous holiday periods — no snow, but plenty of rain. It is one of the reasons we have held off going through the X-mas story and all the lights in the big park down the street from us. We were hoping for a nice gentle falling snow evening — but who knows, we might end up going in the rain.

Chris, hope you can join in more often now. Hopefully, Sandy too will be able to get back.

note: my eye is better this a.m. The annoying feeling and constant watering are gone but my sight is a bit blurry. Hoping that clears us as well.

I solved the Christmas question: "Should I get the Christmas tree down from the attic this year and decorate it?" Yesterday while my brother from Oklahoma was here visiting, he and dh got the tree down from the attic, loaded it into the back of dh's new pickup, and we took it to my sister's house. Now it will no longer be in the attic. It will be in her attic. She can deal with the Christmas question.

We had a siblings get together on Saturday and four of the six siblings were there. Two had excuses and didn't come. We had wonderful food prepared by my middle brother, who hosted the party at his son's beautiful new home. I hope I'm not repeating myself because I'm fully capable of doing that. There was definitely no WW self denial and I'm steering clear of scales for a while.

It's good to know that Chris is settled in a new apartment and seems to be content. At some point Sandy will probably assure us that she is and has been doing well.

Happy Monday to all.

Chris - good to have you check in. You have been missed! Are you revising your book or doing something new? Either way - good for you. Ken always thought I had a book in me but I never have. And Karen is doing okay? I miss her too.

We gave our tree to the thrift store several years ago but DD has been sending us a small tree made with fresh branches from Maine. This year's is particularly lovely and I smile every time I look at it. My mother used to tell us to only buy stuff they could use up or eat up and I understand that now.

Have a good week ladies.

I have always been delighted at the prospect of a new day, a fresh try, one more start, with perhaps a bit of magic waiting somewhere behind the morning.

J.B. Priestley

Karen is doing fine. I was really worried for a while.

Yes, petite. Beautiful pool, and almost an essential in your climate. Glad your concern was eased.

Yes, taco. Yet another revision, which amounts to a large addition. I had already made many cuts before this came up, so still plenty of room. Most books that have taken almost 20 years to write are huge. This, no. Amounts to a journal of personal discovery, so I have been free to cut without regret. My earliest efforts have disappeared.

I have a two foot high fiber optic tree and a nativity set on display. Joseph is ten inches tall, their complexions are pale, except the wise man, who looks like he came from South Sudan. Made in China, what else should you expect.

Yes, Jackie. Looks like your daughter made it to the emergency room early enough. There are some people here who have smoked for years and years and cough like idiots. Some with COPD. This place is less restrictive on personal lifestyle, for which I am glad. I share an entrance with a guy who has been in and out of prison a number of times. I use the back door, he uses the front door, and we are happy.

Tippy and I have been having communication problems. The guessing game gets old after a while. I bought us a more sophisticated button system than we tried in the past. Hopefully he is motivated enough this time, and our bond is stronger.

Just got back from the dentist.

A beautiful summery day here. 77 degrees but we're comfortable without the a/c. The back door is open and a window in the bedroom. I dusted off my golf clubs and played 9 holes of golf this morning with two other women. I could have played the back 9 but play was slow. Our club has two golf courses, but only one was open. I'm not sure why. Maybe maintenance.

According to my weather app, we'll have sunny days all the way to Christmas day with mild temperatures. The high on Christmas day is forecast to be 65 degrees. No snowmen for south Louisiana.

Hope today is a good day for everyone.

Petite, no cancer is great news! Your pool looks beautiful. Glad you’ve got that work behind you.

Chris, welcome back! Glad to hear your move went well. Sharing your entry way.. you came up with a good solution.

Jackie, I’m glad your daughter got meds she needs to get better. As an ex-smoker (quit in ‘85), it’s an addiction and hard to quit.

Carole, glad you got out for some golf. It’s good to be active.

Taco, I love the smell of fresh greenery. That’s a lovely gift.

No results of the MRI in my portal. We’re stocking up special requests of food, niece and grandniece arriving on Friday. I ran around grabbing some gifts early today. In the afternoon we did the groceries. I ordered tickets to a Cirque show that we were supposed to have seen during covid that ended up cancelled. This time we’re seeing it. I also booked a boat tour as well. I think I’m done! I’m trying for less stuff and more making memories.

If weather holds out on Thursday we’re boating with friends. Friday before guests arrive we’re headed to Music Walk down next to the river, and meeting friends for dinner. Afterwards we head to the airport - family arriving after midnight! Tomorrow, the hush before the storm.

We can choose to gather to our hearts the thorns of disappointment, failure, loneliness, and dismay in our present situation. Or we can gather the flowers of God's grace, boundless love, abiding presence, and unmatched joy. I choose to gather the flowers.     -Barbara Johnson

Illinoislady - happy to hear your daughter is on the mend. Smoking is so difficult to quit. DH has smoked on and off in the 48 yrs we’ve been together and just can’t kick the habit. He is not allowed to smoke in the house. Sorry to hear about your DH - hope he can find some relief tomorrow.

Carole - We are looking at the other kind of white stuff tomorrow late afternoon. The kind of stuff that needs to be shoveled. We’ll try to get out for a hike earlier in the day.

Cindy - I totally agree with the ‘making memories’ type of gift. It never wears out, takes up physical space or gets outdated.

Good morning. There is sun and it will get to at least 42 today. So, we are still sort of holding. Perhaps more rain on Friday, but the temps will stay in the 40's.

We never allowed smoking in our houses either. Too hard to wash walls, drapes, curtains. light fixtures — you get the drift. We have to do that anyway, but it can be on better rotation. I do feel for anyone who is addicted to anything — I think all addictions can be difficult. My sister was addicted to gambling before she died so there are all sorts of things. I'm trying to be addicted to happiness and serenity which as most of you know is sure going to be difficult in the next few years.

Chris, glad you found a way to "quit". I used Zyban many yrs. ago. It totally wiped out the deep craving which is what I needed so much. Not sure if it is still in use or not. Back then, if you forgot and took a second pill you would likely have a seizure — so I quit taking the pills after two weeks. I think it made it a longer mental addiction that way, I think — but I still managed. One day about a yr. and a half after I suddenly realized it had been about three months, and I hadn't wished to smoke once during that time. So, the mental addiction was then gone as well.

I hope you all have a grand day.

Having struggled with depression all my life, thought control is important to me. Lately, I frequently smell old fashioned marijuana in numerous places. It smells good, although I do not partake for the above reason. My problem with smoking was the comfort of the associated motor activity.

In relation to the Conquistadores, I am researching "gold hunger", which was named as an addiction in 400 AD. "The more you have, the more you want." Probably one of the most harmful addictions in human history.

Audiologist cancelled— satellite office, and a drive in from La Crosse.

Interesting story of quitting smoking, Cindy. Nice photos from the boat ride.

We're back to some days of Louisiana winter. This morning it's 44 degrees outside and sunny. When it warms up, I have committed myself to going outside and doing some weeding and pruning instead of going to the gym.

This morning I'm back to my pre-Thanksgiving weight. Yay! Yesterday I had lunch with two women friends at Rip's on the Lakefront, a favorite restaurant. I made a WW wise and delicious choice of Shrimp Remoulade Salad and brought half of it home. Pat on the back.

Happy Friday to everyone.