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

Morning in central Illinois today is cloudy. We are due for more rain, but not sure when. That is REALLY making me appreciate Cindy's pictures and thank you so much. The water looks so nice as well. I'm a pushover for that as well.

My cousin did hypnosis to quit smoking and she seemed to have done fine with it after many yrs. of her habit. I'm told that a lot of people try several times before they get it done. I sure did. I recall one time when a friend and I bought a sm. pack of four filters. Each one used two weeks at a time removed more nicotine. I got all the way through the filters, and they worked really well. About three wks. later I discovered that I didn't have any cigarettes and promptly went out and bought some.

So much for having been a quitter for three weeks. It was a long time before I tried again, and I even tried the four filters again. Didn't work for me that time. What finally worked was just wanting to bad enough to figure out the best way and by that time I knew the "craving" would get me and that was what I most needed to defeat.

Interesting about the dreams. I don't remember dreams much so I don't recall if I had any. I think I dream more now because I think some of mine are caused by medication I take. My last remembered' dream was of giving Dh left-over food for supper that had been accidentally left out overnight. I didn't eat any but gave it to him and acted just like it had been stored properly the night before. He seems to still be alive, so it was just a dream.

Carole, the weight loss didn't take long after all. Good for you.

Chris, that was interesting to hear that we had highly recognized addictions so long ago — in BC era. Also I guess that it was gold as well.

I hope you will all have a wonderful day. I'm going to go look at Cindy's sun again.

Cold (45 degrees) and sunny outside. Warm and cozy inside. Forecast for tonight is 20's so little succulents come inside and we run a trickle of water in the sink. Then warming trend and possibly rain on Christmas day. You'd think we were farmers the way we keep up with the weather reports. LOL.

Happy Saturday.

Laughing about 'farmers' but it is true. Had a harsh night so I'll hopefully feel more up to chiming in tomorrow.

Chris - interesting info. Gold, bitcoin, tulips - no end to the things that can cause an addiction.

Busier holiday season than usual for us. The nine hold golfers had their party last week and all the golfers had a lovely dinner last night. Tonight we were at Larry & Debbie's and will be back there Christmas Day. We'll do New Year's Eve. Having a few folks in for appetizers and desserts Christmas Eve. We usually just go out to our favorite restaurant but I wanted to do this this year. I'm a few pounds lighter than I have been so maybe I can make through the next two weeks without worrying about my weight.

Cold here in the mornings when Mutz and Ken go out but days have been in the high 70's. Great golfing.

Happy Holidays Everyone.

Taco

Sunny this morning. I'm feeling much better and rested. Not for sure what was going on night before last, but woke at 2 a.m. and shortly thereafter threw up. Later when I had a pill and some water I threw up again. Maybe a short duration flu bug.

Cindy I loved your pictures. Quote taken with Boomer in his Santa suit.

Taco, all your parties sound so much fun. Glad you can go and enjoy and not have to consider calories. Holidays can be such a downfall for that so nice to forego it.

Nothing special for today — just trying to get back in the 'swing' of things.

Hope you all have a great day.

Some patches of frost this morning. It's sunny and has warmed up to 42 degrees. I plan to go to senior exercise class (Silver Sneakers) at the gym. My weight loss has stalled, which is quite normal. I need to "unstall" it, possibly by varying my meals. I have some ideas since I am a veteran of WW.

Tomorrow I will do some cooking for the Christmas meal at my sister's house. We will have a small group but cook enough for the crowd we used to have. My sister doesn't mind the leftovers since she'll have family visitors dropping in after Christmas. We have traditional foods that I cook and that she cooks. DH is always expected to make his oatmeal chocolate chip cookies. At my request he is making just one batch this year and making them tomorrow, Christmas Eve, so that I don't have to deal with a lot of temptation. He will keep a few for himself and the rest will go with us on Christmas day.

Hope everyone is doing well during this holiday period.

Hmm, how times flies. I did not have a good day yesterday. Stomachache starting in the afternoon and lasting most of the night. Guess we will go to Marion today and have it checked out. Not exactly what I wanted for the holidays, but even though the pain has subsided, I'm iffy about just leaving this since whatever the problem may be, it has gone on since Friday. I think it is the holiday and needing help then that has me spooked a little.

Otherwise nothing much going on. Daughter sounds pretty much recovered from her chest infection so that is good.

Carole, the cookies sound good — well, all of it sounds good. I hope you have a very enjoyable time with family.

Jackie - hoping you were able to see someone in Marion today so the stomach issue can be resolved. (((Hugs)))

Cindy - love the adorable picture of the dog in the Santa suit.

Carole - I admire your dedication to the WW program. I’m really struggling with me weight since chemo ended. I just want to eat everything in sight.

We drove to central Wisconsin yesterday to celebrate Christmas with my oldest brother and his family. It was wonderful to see everyone and was a relaxing day.

Waiting on DS to advise when he will be home for Christmas. I love him dearly but he is the worst when it comes to scheduling plans.

Let’s not talk weight until a month from now! I’m going to sign up for a pre-diabetes online class about mid January. And I need to gain sone muscle.

Yesterday we went on the eco boat tour and totally enjoyed ourselves. It was quite cool for SWFL. On the boat, once I put on my fleece I didn’t take it off.

On our way back we stopped at Tin City for dinner. Then drove around 5th Ave in Naples - beautifully decorated for the holidays. Went down to the Naples beach and caught the sunset before going home.

Tonight we ran down to the Edison Ford Winter Estate fur their Christmas lights. Always a joy to be there.

I could fill multiple posts with pictures of the estate. But I won’t.

We ran all over today and I still need a loaf of bread. Busy bees!

Jackie, I’m hoping you’re feeling better.
Wishing you all a great holiday season.

"There are many things from which I might have derived good, by which I have not profited, I dare say," returned the nephew: "Christmas among the rest.  But I am sure I have always thought of Christmas time, when it has come round--apart from the veneration due to its sacred name and origin, if anything belonging to it can be apart from that--as a good time: a kind, forgiving, charitable, pleasant time: the only time I know of, in the long calendar of the year, when men and women seem by one consent to open their shut-up hearts freely, and to think of people below them as if they were really fellow- passengers to the grave, and not another race of creatures bound on other journeys.  And therefore, uncle, though it has never put a scrap of gold or silver in my pocket, I believe it has done me good, and will do me good; and I say, God bless it!"Charles Dickens, from A Christmas Carol

Merry Christmas to all.  It has been my joy to share quotes with you and this coming year will just be a whole lot more of that same joy.  May you all feel just as much.  Wishing you all the love and care and support from the ages.  May your life be blessed.

Jackie so glad you are well!! A gift for the holidays ❤️😊

Jackie, the news that you are well is like a Christmas present! You had me worried.

DH and I had a nice Christmas day at my younger sister's house. We had a delicious meal with some Christmas favorite foods. I especially enjoyed TWO of her iced brownies for dessert. For most of the day it was just my sister and her dh and the two of us. Her son Jacob and his wife came and ate but didn't stay long. They have two small children, one with autism, and they're a handful for the parents. I enjoyed seeing the kids. Both are pretty children with their auburn-haired mom's lovely hair and skin.

For the most part it was a rainy day but has cleared up.

Appreciation can make a day--even change a life.  Your willingness to put it into words is all that is necessary.

Margaret Cousins

Good morning. This is our second day of rain, but while I get 'weather depressed' from the gray I'm so thrilled that I could be home and share most of the 24th. and X-mas Day with my loving family that I'm not feeling it so much.

Cindy, I hope your partner starts to feel better soon. It seems to me I read somewhere that more URI's are in fact expected this season. Not sure how they tell that, but no reason to doubt it either.

As I was a bit worn we had a very easy dinner of hot ham sandwiches and hot buttered vegetables with Pumpkin Pie. The honey-baked ham was a gift from my friend Jo (we were going to just have a meatloaf) and the pie from another friend. So, everyone was satisfied and since I rarely allow myself ham I certainly was for sure. I can say with absolute gusto (since I've gone so long without) nothing tastes so wonderful as a nice ham.

Not a lot going for today. Mainly I'll start getting my bills ready to pay since it is end of month time and that is when they start coming in. I managed to slowly re-catch up on some work that went by the wayside while I wasn't feeling good so I'm back to even and being able to choose off my list what I'd like to work on once the regular chores are out of the way. Some things staying the same have indeed become a comfort.

Hope you all have a really wonderful day.

The FDA recently called for some "cold medicines" to be taken off the shelves because of one ingredient. My recall is limited to this vague statement. It sounds as though whatever is causing your partner's illness has made other people ill as well, and they are buying up the same OC med you're trying to buy for him. At least he's feeling better. It's always miserable to be suffering from a cold or flu but especially during holidays. Whenever I feel ill, I think to myself that I will appreciate feeling good.

After weeks of brilliant sunshine, we're having overcast dreary weather with rain showers and a chance of storms tomorrow. It's also warm, 70 degrees outside. I may stay home and "putter" in the kitchen today in addition to the usual household routine.