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

We spent the 4th at a neighbor’s house—they graciously opened their home and included several others from around the neighborhood. It was a great turnout with good company all around. We brought grilled corn on the cob to share, which was a hit. If you find just the right high spot in our neighborhood, we can catch fireworks from several nearby communities. A lovely bonus to the evening.

Yesterday, my brother and sister-in-law came by for lunch. Always nice to spend a little time together. I did some tidying up earlier today, and now I’m winding down watching the Nats drop another one to Boston. Some traditions hold strong, I guess.

Enjoy your day.

harley07, Hah, I was tempted to ask you if the name you used was somehow related to a Harley. Now I think you have answered that question. I think my brother still has a Harley he bought in the late 60's. It was a classic then.

I wasn't able to do 5,000 the next day but came close at 4780. Just too tired to try to do those last steps. I pulled weeds for over an hour and then ironed on Saturday so I was tired out.

Today I took off for a "me" day because it was far too hot and humid to attack more weeds, plus the ground has dried, so they will be harder to pull. DH did use the weed whacker to cut a wide swath in the weed that were growing behind the bed I was working on. I didn't want to have to keep weeding that area as well as the bed, it was slowing me down. We are to get rain this week so I will resume weeding between storms and appointments for PT, and Ortho surgeon. I am working on the largest width of that flower bed so once I finish it, it narrows down to a long section that is only about 2.5 feet wide. It will be easier to weed because ferns have filled in some areas.

I want to mulch once the weeding is done, because this section needs it. Will get DH to carry bags to top of the bed, then we cut them open and pour to allow gravity to assist us. Use a rake or my hands to spread it as needed. Works great.

Worked on genealogy today trying to solve what a letter my maternal ggf wrote during the Civil War. He was requesting leave to go home because "his parents had died and left orphans" plus his daughter was very ill, all requiring his care. He had previously had a leave for the death of a sister (his SIL) and another sick child which we were able to identify. We were never able to identify his parentage but thought this could also apply to his in-laws since he only had one brother we could identify and it turned out not to be related to him. His FIL had died prior to the war, so we are looking at his wife's family members. She had many siblings, but so far that has turned out to not be fruitful either. I'll keep trying to figure it out. Sometimes you just end up chasing shiny baubles hoping they lead to a prize.

Illinoislady, hope your trip to find puzzles was fruitful.

Sandy, sounds like you are moving forward but the "to-do" list never seems to get shorter.

cardplayer, I have heard of some of the card games you named but not played them. We used to play penny poker at the swim club my parents belonged to and I was about the only female allowed to play and I did win more than they expected but the pots were never huge, lol.

Waving hi to taco, petite1, cindyny, carole, and anyone I may have forgotten to mention here. Hope your day was great.

Harley, has your doc ordered a borrellia titer (for the bacterium that causes Lyme disease)? Should it be positive, then a course of antibiotics might be warranted. I never had luck with the regular (salicylate) Salonpas patches, as they caused blisters. The lidocaine version is great (though the drugstore brand is cheaper). Arnica gel has been my go-to for muscle aches, first-degree burns, bug bites, etc. The only bad bite I ever had was when I felt a sharp sting on my back while sitting out on my deck one evening; went inside and found a welt with a red streak running up from it. No evidence of a stinger. Immediately downed a couple of Benadryl and applied hydrocortisone ointment. Within the hour all the "evidence" was gone.

The kids went through the redwoods on the 4th and hit SF today; they sent me a creepy video of their ride in a driverless Waymo taxi. Eerie hearing the disjointed computer voice and seeing the steering wheel turn by itself.

We went to try out twin mattresses for the guest room & daybed (the attic bedroom is not an immediate priority, and we may opt for a full or queen in there since the frame stretches). Since Bob sleeps in the guest room when he has a very early morning (I'm still a night owl as you can tell from my post times), and that room is long and narrow, a twin XL is as wide as it gets. Went to Hassless Mattress, which was a bizarre experience with nobody on-site except customers. And even they are fairly pricy for all but the lowest-tier off-brands. We then went to Macy's, where we got much better deals on established brands (they threw in free box springs). We arranged for 7/14 delivery (we're shooting for redelivery of our stuff that day or possibly as early as this Friday if the contractor's cleanup crew can do it all on the 10th). Our big split-king is arriving the 15th. When it's time to get a mattress for the attic, we may just do Ikea.

It's cloudy here and one report says rain is 6 miles away and the other says only cloudy and hot today. Hmmm, sounds like our weather is progressing as always — the weather will as always be un-sure till it happens. Then you will know for sure.

Betrayal, enjoy the me day. It is a good time to get things done. I do understand feeling a need to get after the weeds. Just waiting for mower repair ( zero-turn needed new belts) was nerve wracking and for someone who wants weeds pulled securely from the ground having to know they are all there (weeds grow so exceedingly well) and having to wait due to healing, would as well make me want to spend a lot of time outdoors getting rid of them. You are a very diligent person on whatever you do.

Sandy, your search for mattresses sounded as weird as it seemed to you. Most stores have people hovering over you. I guess that store really lived up to its name. Still, I value the help of someone who 'hopefully' is well versed in questions you might have — of course with the hope they discreetly move away (out of sight) while you discuss and try out the mattress.

Your kids were great pioneers — riding in a taxi with ahem' no driver. I'm not sure how I feel about things like that. In fact, at my age ………. but nice that you got to see it. It really doesn't sound all that safe to me, but apparently not so much an issue where they were. Here's hoping with all my mite that things go well for your move and that the clean-up crew do a fantastic job of things. May it all be smooth and mostly gentle.

Harley (hugs) and hoping you get the needed relief from the bite.

I was able to get an emergency appt. for Lil' Red. His hair is too long and he is getting knots — well before his next appt. which is over a month away. He is miserable which makes us miserable so I'll sure be glad.

Wow, Cindy — it's hot where you are too. Hot and muggy and fairly early in the year although it did come later in June here. More expected though in July. Sorry you didn't get that good soaking rain — drizzles only seem to add to the humidity for sure.

I was able to find several puzzles yesterday. The last one I picked up was iffy but I took it anyway. It was a Mandalorian Yoda. My son who passed away a few yrs. ago at age 50 loved all the Yoda ( Star Wars) movies when they came out. Anyway, the puzzle is 3-D which means all metallic pieces. They are quite thin and since they are metallic the colors all look pretty much the same. I've done one other 'metallic' puzzle and I didn't enjoy it much —- but this one was Yoda. I chose to start it first because I know it will be difficult and likely will be done from the inside out, more than from getting the whole thing framed first. Found enough puzzles to keep us going for two months or more. In the meantime, I'll hurry up and get a bunch of puzzles turned back in.

Hope you are all going to have a good day. Waving his at anyone not mentioned and all not posting for while.

My coleslaw was a hit. They ate it all. For the 4th I cooked a veggie burger on the grill. Then it rained. There were some fireworks after the rain. There were also fireworks on the following day.

I had labs this morning. I hope they are normal.

I need to run out for cat food, so I don't have much to say.

Chiming in so I address what has been added in posts. First do want to say how sorry I am too Betrayal, that you ended up having Lyme while trying to enjoy Spain. I am stoic, but I'm not sure if I could have done very well at all under those circumstances. Did you ever get to go back there? Apparently there are a lot of infected ticks in your area. Knock on wood — for all the ticks I've had on me since coming home to Illinois, I've not had to deal with any tick disease.

Where I use to feed feral cats was a tick haven. Just going into the tree thicket to feed and coming right back out I would customarily toss 20 or 30 ticks off me before I got in my car. Far as I know though, all the ticks that ever got on me came from my yard — and still do. I presume all the water and heat we have had has thinned the population quite a bit as well as running the mowers and weed whacking.

Petite, it is always a great feeling to take a 'dish' to share and it comes home empty. Good for you. Fingers crossed as well for you that your labs show great results.

Harley, yes — to me the 3-D puzzles are a whole lot harder. The pieces all all of thin mental and because all the metal is shiny — depending on your light sources, it could be hard to tell which piece goes where. For instance this puzzle ( Yoda ) we are doing has major black pieces — except for Yoda himself. This is why we are starting with the only predominate colors there are which are mainly in the Yoda figure which is pretty much in the middle of the puzzle with the rest being pretty much black. Frankly, it's going to be a real challenge and something of a bummer. Great patience will be the order of the day for working on it.

The Harley is really pretty. I rode on them as a young girl. Went to school with the King boys and they all had Harley's. You'll know how countrified it was around here then when I tell you the King boys used to work on their Harleys in the living room of their house. I know, I know. But that was then…….many moons ago. The Dad in the family used to chastise the boys lightly asking them not to rev the cycles up so much because he then couldn't hear the t.v. How they got those motorcycles in the living room who knows. That said, my cousin married the one King boy ( Roger ) who was in my high school classes and graduated with me. He went on to be a foreman for a big construction company so he wasn't really a backward country hick really. It just sort seemed so with the habits that were a part of life at their house back then.

Today was not near as bad as I feared so I'm glad for that. I feel for all of you that are having the humidity along with the heat. Just one is bad enough but together, just yikes.

I read in passing and getting here that over 100 people have lost their lives in those Texas floods. That is horrendous and I think might have been prevented. I did read though I believe that it only took about 45 minutes of rain for that water to fill and then over flow that banks of that river. It sounds like most had little chance. The fact that many were able to get out I'm thankful for, but so many lost is painful to contemplate and that fact that many were youngsters. Drowning just seems like a horrible way to leave this earth. Hard to imagine how frightening it must have been.

Do stay safe in the heat everyone.

Laughter is the language of the soul.

Pablo Neruda

Good morning. Bill paying day pretty much and whatever else gets in front of me. I'm going to make a meatloaf early so the heat of the oven will dissipate early. Have a couple of returns back to Walmart and for the most part that will be my day. It will be a good one though.

Likely to be fairly warm as some heat catches up and the sun which will be bright in the sky. It actually says rain today (around noon) but as always here — I'll believe it when I see it.

I'm always impressed too when any female is a motorcycle DRIVER. Then again, why not. The last motorcycle ( dh use to keep one all the the time) dh sold, he sold to a woman. My hats off, but then at one time I'm sure I could keep one upright if I took it on. The thing was much like the workings of my computer I don't understand, I never quite got the sequence of the clutch and gears on a motorcycle. Other than the King boys who always rode Harleys, I've never ridden with anyone else. I never once rode with dh. I was always taller and generally due to that weighed more then he — so I always thought at his size ( he was always a smallish guy almost underwt.) it could be disastrous if he lost control either before the ride or during it. I did enjoy the MGB's he had and riding with the top down. In those days I could get it and out okay. The last time he bought a small sports car ( I advised against it ) if I was able to get in, which I usually could In order to get out I nearly had to allow myself to fall out on the ground and get up from there. Not too delightful to say the least. This is one of the reasons my car is an SUV.

Once SUV's became generally quite popular it seemed to me anyway, the cars being produced were all ones you had to sit down into. No longer able to slide in as we did the older models. So, I have stayed with SUV's and if necessary (depends on if I have to ever get another car and an SUV is not available ) I would likely take a van. If it is hard for me to get into and out of a car of now-days, it is not going to get better.

Another bit of a challenge to some of us older folk.

Hope you all have a really fine day.

Chris, not quite sure what is going on with your PCP? Is she not helping you? Hope you can get your hands under control. I need carpal tunnel surgery on right hand again but will wait until the fall and weeding season is over.

Weather is just plain awful. Temps in the 90's but feels like in the 100's. Humidity high and it makes you sleepy. To keep DH from working outside (because he doesn't listen and goes out in the heat of the day) I proposed making a Costco run for staples. We got what we needed and then some because he always finds something not on my list. I do hate when they stop stocking something that I relied on them for such as Marie Callendar Chicken pot pies and then no longer stock Skippy Super Chunky PB that my DGD and I love. I'll try Walmart for them but I don't need them this minute.

DD and DSIL are at DS's house taking care of his 2 dogs and parakeet while they are at the shore this week. Had a problem with the dog's collar's because the batteries died and they can run through the fencing system. Axel the smallest French bulldog gave DD a run for her money when he got out. A neighbor was nice enough to help her.

We picked up a pizza at Costco for lunch and took it to them. I also gave them some of the croissants, muffins and Tastycake Peanut Butter Kandy Kakes that DSIL loves. We also got them 40 bottles of Deer Park water. I drink bottled water only when I am either outside or at a place where I can't get ice and tap water.

Last night was a restless one since my legs hurt and my back hurt, so finding a comfortable spot for more than an hour was hopeless. I guess it was the new exercises and weight increase that added to that, but I need to increase both so will use Voltaren gel and Tylenol Arthritis to see if that helps. Voltaren was used last night but may want to do hips in addition to knees. I will adjust but it takes time.

Power must have gone out while we were gone because I had to reset stove and microwave clocks.

Misty has been trying to climb into kitchen garden window above ths sink for the past few days. It is overcrowded with the plants that used to be on display in the powder room garden window plus those that had been in the kitchen one. I could not reach her and was refusing to come to me, so I used the sink sprayer to get her out. The plants could use a drink and she doesn't like to be wet. Hopefully in the future I will just need to point it at her to get her out. She goes in and lays on the plants crushing them and I don't understand why. Her powder room garden window has a large jade plant and her comfy bath towel.

It is supposed to rain heavily around 6 tonight and I will welcome it because the plants need a good drenching. I am hoping it will cool tomorrow down and that after PT I might be able to weed some more.

Hope everyone had a good day, and is safe from the elements. I'd love to jump into someone's pool but first I'd need to buy a bathing suit, lol.

My youngest brother had a Harley some years back. He's about 6ft. 5in. tall. His wife is short and extremely overweight. Occasionally she would ride with him, and when they came to a curve, she would lean the wrong way. It made for a dangerous ride.

I played golf with a nice woman today. I was very pleased when she texted and asked me to play.

One brother-in-law was discharged from the hospital today. They celebrated by enjoying poboys at one of their favorite places. We siblings (six of us) have a text chain to keep everyone updated on important happenings. The other brother-in-law came home and then had to go back to the hospital. I suspect he should not have been discharged during the 4th weekend but hospitals tend to discharge as many people as possible during holiday periods. Or that has been my observation.

Today has been enjoyable. I hope it has for everyone else, too.

I recently bought a couple of soft cloth "sling" cat carry bags (like a crossbody-worn Snugli for kitties), which were on sale 2-for-1. The video gave instructions on how to get your cat to lie on the opened inside, then zip it closed with the head sticking out (and there are paw-holes for nail trims). The principle is that cats, as do babies, like to be swaddled and are calmed when carried close to you. BangBang is eyeing hers with suspicion. I've been able to clip one front claw per session before she yowls and wriggles free. Roxy doesn't care, and she doesn't scratch Bob when she gives her paw as the "pet me" sign. BangBang manages to dig into my shirt and often pull the neckline down. They weren't kidding when they said she was "in-your-face affectionate." Didn't realize how literal that was!

Harley, too funny about your car's computer mistaking IL-120 for speed limit of 120mph. Sometimes artificial intelligence is more artificial than intelligent.

Last time I did the walk-through with the contractor & public adjuster (as opposed to the clown from SF), we noticed the living room AC would run when plugged in & turned on but then immediately start clattering and clacking. It's long out of warranty so I decided to replace it. Went to Abt, found they had the same model…$100 cheaper than when I bought mine in 2021. (It'll be delivered the same day as the big bed). Then went to Northbrook to DSW and return a pair of sandals that didn't fit right, then to Container Store for kitchen cabinet & drawer organizing stuff. Headed for home, about to turn on to I-94…and found it blocked off by police cars, with the road south empty as far as I could see. Newsradio traffic reported a fatal 3-car crash in the inbound lanes 5 miles south. Turns out it had happened before noon, but by the time I tried to go home it was past 5pm. Had to detour east (and the detour was jammed). A 25-minute trip home took twice that—but as luck would have it my GPS directed me to the onramp just south of where the closure ended, so I practically flew home at that point since the lanes north of that were still closed.

Today had to wait here till the housing agency's handyman came over to "goose" a recalcitrant tub drain and then cut back the jungle growing along the driveway (scratching cars and entering passengers alike). Rained liberally for an hour (this afternoon and again early tonight) so I didn't have to go out and water the hanging baskets. It was probably the last time I'd be seeing the handyman so we talked and I pointed out things that need improvement for the next tenant. He replied that the landlords (two brothers & their dad) were the stingiest ones in the system (and confirmed my suspicions that they wouldn't be amenable to selling their cash cow).

So I got a late start back at the house weeding out stuff to set aside for donation before the junk hauler comes tomorrow. Dusty as all get-out. Found some things (in my old large sizes) that still had the price tags on them, albeit with some plaster dust on them. Lots of pantyhose in large sizes too (still in the packages). Put them in one bag to take to Care for Real or the donation bins at 7-11; dozens of too-arge bras (ranging from 36 I to 40G), some of which were Prima Donna, Fantasie, Elomi, Third Love, etc. Those are going to the Third Love store in Lakeview, which collects gently used bras for women's shelters, or did last time I checked. Had to stop when I had to sneeze and my back ached.

Last night I ordered a replacement Vitamix and Cuisinart, as well as a king-size duvet cover that zips open on three sides for ease of changing. (We bought a duvet shortly after moving here because we were worried that Roxy's puke stain wouldn't come out, so we're bringing it back home with us since I'm pretty sure the restoration dry cleaners were unable to salvage our good Company Store ones). Was going to wait till all the furniture & appliances were brought back—but the Prime Day savings were too good to pass up ($75 off the Cuisinart and $200 off the Vitamix). They'll be delivered to the house on Thursday.

My project for the rest of tonight is to log in to all our various accounts and change the mailing address back to our Chicago one, as it'll be nearly impossible to retrieve mail that arrives here after the lease is up and we're out. We still get mail here for previous tenants, not just the owners. Have to be at the house before 9:30 tomorrow to let the junk guy in and direct him (and bag up the contents of the bathrooms for disposal). Will bring my sling chair in from the garage in case my back complains. Landscaper will be over in the afternoon so we can discuss sod & sprinklers. Perhaps we should wait till cooler weather for the sod, though. The rains we've had today and likely tomorrow won't make much of a dent in our drought. But there's a flash flood watch on the SW Side—there have had to be roadway water rescues in the same neighborhoods that flooded badly 2 years ago (on NASCAR race day). We're too far north both here and in Edgewater Glen for that (but am devoutly grateful for the flood-control system we installed in 2023).

I’ve been getting up very early everyday, partners rash is waking him up and he in turn wakes me up - unintentionally. He’s now on a steroid, so hoping soon it disappears.

Getting up early has come in handy for picking up my grand niece for her regents refresher. She failed one and has to take it again in August. I grab her 8:40, and pick her back up around 11. It’s nice having her around.

Today I was texting with a gf I walk with, her and dh bought a new build in Florida. We were texting some differences between NY & FL - vehicle insurance was a topic when it hit me I had not reregistered my vehicle that we leave in Florida. In FL you renew during your birthday month; NY the month you purchased the car. FL little 1x1” sticker on the rear (only) license plate; NY a 3x3 sticker in lower corner of drivers side windshield - which you see every time you drive. In NY I receive an email a month or more before renewal; in FL I had received a letter in previous years, but nothing this year. So I google it - in FL it is a courtesy if they let you know, they are not required to notify you. Say WHAT? I immediately went online and reregistered it. But GEEZE LOUISE. Fortunately no late fees.

Driverless cars - in my 80’s I hope to own one!

Mattress - a few years back we bought one during Prime, those compressed ones that come in a box. We love it! It was kind of funny slicing the plastic off as it “sprung” out. We opened it on top of the guest bed, it had to expand itself over 24 hours I think. But I can hang my leg off the edge of that bed and it stands firm- no fear of rolling off (like the mattress it was replacing). I can look up the brand and post later, Prime might still have it.

Texas, horrific flooding. And now New Mexico too.

Puzzles, I’ve done maybe one in the last year. A wooden circle, that had pieces in shapes of animals.

My Prime order showed up today - Clark sandals and Dr. School’s gel heel cushions- love them both.

Everyone enjoy the week, stay cool & hydrated.

Chris - Holy cow! A potential stomach bleed? I sure hope you are getting the support you need from your doctors. That’s some serious stuff. I have no doubt that you could blow me away with your very cool bike. I think your mode of transportation is awesome and environmentally friendly.

Cindy- I feel for your partner and hope the steroid helps. I’m on day 4 of prednisone and doxycycline and my bug bite rash is finally looking significantly better. The MD told me to take Benadryl 4-6x/day. I was only taking it 2-3x/day and by this morning I was feeling very nauseous so I’ve stopped Benadryl and Pepcid. Tomorrow is the last day of prednisone and I will continue the doxycycline until it is complete next Monday.

Sandy - there are so many details to moving back home but I admire your commitment and dedication to getting settled again. It will be interesting to see how the cats react. I was FaceTiming one of my brothers this afternoon and he has two very spoiled cats but they are good company for him as he rarely goes out. The one cat gets very jealous when we FaceTime on our iPads so his latest trick is to nudge DB’s IPhone off the table and watch it fall onto the floor and then look completely innocent!

With regard to my motorcycle, we did not belong to any clubs as we preferred to ride with just the two of us. We each had our own motorcycle. Group rides have a different dynamic and rules. We took part in several charity rides and mostly enjoyed them until the last one when a small group of people did not follow the rules, such as passing in no passing zones, riding in the oncoming lane and blowing through stop signs. The end result was a serious crash that caused a few folks to be airlifted to a Trauma Level 1 hospital. We pulled out of that ride and refrained from group rides in the future. All in all we enjoyed riding however, as our area has grown and become more congested it just wasn’t enjoyable any longer. So we have happily transitioned to bicycles.

Tonight I finished my photo book for our Norway trip. I made it on Shutterfly and it is 79 pages (my last photo book was 109 pages which is the maximum number of pages allowed).

Flooding in Texas and New Mexico is horrific. The power of water is difficult to imagine until you see it washing away homes and cars as if they are Lego pieces. I can’t imagine the pain of the families who lost people and are searching for those that are missing.

Waving hello to all. Stay safe.

Adventure begins with you, personally.  It is in the way you look at things.  It is the mental stance you take as you face your day.  It is finding magic in things.  It is talking with people and discovering their inner goodness. It is the thrill of feeling a part of the life around you.  The attitude of adventure will open things up for you.  The world will become alive with new zest and meaning.  You'll become more aware of the beauty everywhere.  Nothing will seem unimportant.  Everything will be revealed as having pattern and purpose.

Wilferd A. Peterson

Had Ortho surgeon appointment this morning and all is well. Wants me to continue PT and I am to see her again for a one year anniversary of left knee surgery. No one told me this for the right knee, which was 1 year in June, so she checked it and I will have both x-rayed for that appointment next April. I have a small bulge on my right knee, which is soft, but definitely obvious to see. It's a prepatellar bursitis and should resolve on its own.

It rained very hard last night and a large tree fell over our road. It was blocking it but someone cleared the major pieces though there is still debris on the road. It is very gray today and more rain is exepcted later today. It is pleasant temp wise ~70's and the humidity is low. DH will work on fencing project for the juniper area. It seems today will be the fluke weather-wise as the heat and humidity will come back.

I made new nectar for hummingbird feeder so will tackle that today as well as my birds. I should weed, but not sure if it is in the cards for today. And there is always brushing Misty to do.

Chris, glad to hear stomach bleed is under control. I try to avoid ibuprofen and if I must take it I make sure I take with with food, milk or bread. It is really tough on the stomach. Had to laugh at the Tippy butt tap to wake you.

harley07, loved reading about your motorcycle experiences. Glad you left on a high note. Trading it for a cycle you have to pedal is quite a change, though one that is probably healthier.

cindyny, hope SO's rash calms down soon so you both can get some sleep. Nothing worse than an itch at night.

Taco, hope you are not impacted by flooding. Had flooding south of us and 3 people had to be rescued from their cars which are now ruined. I don't know why people attempt to drive through moving water; they must have a death wish.

Illinoislady, glad Lil' Red is sporting a new look. Was he the runt of the litter? I am sure he feels better without those knots. Please post a photo of him.

Waving hello to anyone not mentioned. Have a great day.