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

I just got back from taking Tippy for a bike/walk. 77 deg. I did not want to put on my ankle-brace, it seems like I can't walk very far now at all without it.

Yes, Chris, I find being unable to use my hands without pain to be a burden. But Jesus bore his own. Yesterday I groomed Tippy and cooked. Napped in the afternoon. But last night my Fitbit recorded minimal sleep. So I haven't done much more than this with my hands. I have been reading and taking Tippy out. Early this afternoon I took him to the fairgrounds, but he was scaring the chickens, so I guess he won't be over there again for a week or so.

Betrayal, thanks. I do think I am going to get just bang trims for a while and see how it behaves when long again.

A new charging cable for my TENS arrived!!

Christine, you're probably amazed as I am at how much work some of our regulars accomplish. I used to do a lot more but have slowed down largely because of lack of motivation. I felt a spurt of interest in gardening yesterday as I gazed appreciatively at the hollyhocks and delphiniums in neighbor Mary's garden. I did some googling and learned that we can grow those beautiful northern flowers in Louisiana. I may give them a try this fall.

It's raining gently this morning. DH won't be playing his Monday golf. I normally go to the gym alone on Monday but we'll go together and have breakfast afterwards at our favorite diner in town, West Forty. The decoration theme is tractors and there's actually an antique tractor on display.

Jackie, does the wood in those pallets withstand weather?

Happy Monday to everyone.

Woke up this morning to rain. I thought ( I woke to use the bathroom) to myself since we didn't get our rain yesterday it would probably be coming. I may have heard something to have that thought. Not sure but I looked towards the curtains to see if I saw any lightning ( no) so decided I was doing some semi-awake dreaming. Still, not surprised to see the rain. It is not pouring down but fairly steady. The kind that has time for some of it to soak in nicely.

Lil' Red tried his dog pen yesterday a few times. He is NOT impressed. Of course, he ran around like a mad man smelling every inch on the first outing. Wasn't long and he was ready to come in. He kept going out, but was quickly ready to come back in. We will find some toys in the store that can be wet etc. Give him something to do. Also one of the inter-active toys that you hide treats in. Little by little we will work to acclimate him.

Have to go to Walmart which I skipped yesterday. Just being lazy. Should make a bank deposit as well and pay a couple of bills — aren't due yet, but might as well get them done.

The wood pallets will do all right in the weather. It's pretty sturdy since it has to hold some pretty heavy stuff. Likely would do a mite better painted, but for our use it will stay as long as we need it too I'm sure. SIL put railings on the bottom and top — so that will help since our ground can at times get and hold a lot of moisture so slowing that with 2by 4 railing is good.

I'm happily awaiting the visit to Cape Cod with Cindy. Otherwise, I'm just working on my list today I think. I'm iffy on the rainy days — mainly from the grayness since my moods are a lot iffier then.

I hope you all have a great start to your week though.

The rental where we're (still) living is midway between two Wal-Marts. The closer one, in east Lincolnwood (just over the river from Chicago's West Ridge neighborhood), is a super-center, with a bazillion parking spaces reserved for online purchase pick-ups—far more than even the handicap spaces. When I still had a permit, there often were no handicap spaces available, so I had to walk further than a block! IMHO, they shouldn't hog the half of the lot nearest the store for pick-ups, because the store employees delivering the goods are young, pushing carts—while the older customers have to walk very far from their cars and back to them (albeit with shopping carts after leaving the store). There are far fewer assisted than self-checkout lanes. And the store's proximity to the city (last I checked, there are no Wal-Marts in Chicago proper) makes it crowded with people from city neighborhoods far & wide. The other one, on the border of Skokie & Niles, is smaller, but I've never had trouble finding a decent parking space. It's much less crowded, albeit with a less extensive selection of stuff. And its greeters don't demand to see your receipt on the way out.

Weather has been pleasant the past couple of days (after Saturday morning rains). Not so beginning tomorrow; by Wednesday we should be back up to triple-digit heat indexes. When the restoration guys returned with a fridge-door repairman who mounted it correctly, he discovered that the hard plastic reservoid for the icemaker/water dispenser had broken apart in transit (it was full of water when the door was removed for pack-out, and froze in the storage warehouse over the winter). So we couldn't hook up the icemaker or water dispenser. Gas is still not connected either (I tried the stove but all that happens is the igniters clicking, and nothing at all at the grill). No point in hooking up the dryer until the vent has been installed). They're coming back Wednesday morning with the replacement reservoir.

We took a little field trip to Abt Electronics in Glenview Sunday—the place is like Disneyland for upscale home stuff—not just appliances but also furniture (where we bought our split-king powered bed), outdoor, luggage, home exercise machines (lusting after the $4K seated elliptical, dream on). There's an atrium with a fountain surrounded by small boutiques, including gourmet small appliances, an Apple store, candy, coffee bar (one superauto espresso machine that doesn't foam milk, so no lattes or cappuccinos), massage chairs, a "man cave" selling pool tables, dart boards, video game consoles, etc. On weekends there are more free food samples than at your average Costco: they were demoing sandwich-makers so there was grilled cheese, free just-baked cookies in the coffee bar, and a free lemonade stand. We managed to pick up some air & water filters for the fridge; get the screen protectors replaced on our phones (BangBang cracked mine when she knocked it off the coffee table as she experimented with gravity and cause & effect—I meant to post a shaming video of her on FB but I couldn't figure out how to get her to sit still behind the "I break stuff" placard). We then looked at TVs and decided right then & there to get a couple of 55" OLED "smart" ones to replace the 46" in the den (which we're moving up front) and the 55" plasma from the primary BR. (The screen was showing some burn-in, it was heavy, had few HDMI ports and no built-in apps, was a power-hog and actually radiated heat. It was also 15 years old. I've seen Reddit posts from people using them as space heaters. It's a 3D set—but there's precious little 3D content available any more, and none on cable or streaming). We scheduled delivery for after the furniture, remaining appliances and boxes arrive, so that the stands will be there. (The ones we bought have pedestal bases, not those flimsy little feet at the ends of the set, so we won't have to buy new stands—and the restoration guys said they'll set up the tilting table mount for the 46" set so we csn use our existing corner stand).

Today Macy's delivered the twin mattress for the daybed and tiwn XL set for the guest bedroom. To my chagrin, the restoration guys brought the footboard for the guest bed, rendering it too short for the twin XL set. I called my retired HK down in AL to confirm that the mattress that had been on there was indeed an XL, atop a preexisting twin box spring (neither of which could be salvaged), and that we'd removed the footboard when my 6'4" FIL moved in with us for the last two years of his life. So I needn't exchange it, after they're done fixing the fridge Wednesday they'll remove the footboard so the XL set will fit.

Discovered that the construction crew mis-configured my bedroom closet, putting the shelves up too high for me to reach them. They'll move them down to my specs, so I needn't hire Elfs or California Closets. They also mounted my kitchen pot rack so high above the window that I'd need a stepladder to hang or retrieve pots & pans. Meanwhile, my HK will fly up on the 6th to help me direct where to place the furniture & appliances, as well as store the well over 100 boxes. Tomorrow I'm going over to put Post-Its on the walls to indicate placement of artwork & large items, and put out the second batch of smelly new sheets for Rinse to pick up & wash (they did a great job with the first batch). She will help me triage the boxes (keep/toss/donate). Also, we got patio chairs delivered—but unassembled and all in one box…delivered up front despite my instructing FedEx to deliver them to the back porch,

I feel like I'm playing a real-life full-scale game of Tetris or one of those classis "15" number puzzles. (Precursor to Rubik's Cube).

Good morning. The ground is still wet outside, even though after our morning rains yesterday the sun was out in the afternoon. Muted sun this morning. Likely no rain today but we do have a heat advisory as we go up to 91 — more or less. It's the heat index that will be the thing.

Sandy, another laugh or cry day, but how great it must feel that your long time HK will come back for a spell to help with getting things re-established in the home she took care of for so long. Something of old times for sure. A time of comfort maybe for both of you — we don't get to "go back" very often so hopefully a treat and a really productive one.

Harley, about that kayak, just wow !! So glad you were able to go overboard close to help and a ladder to get out of the water. Guess any un-rented boats were hastily checked to make sure they had their drain plugs. I'm glad you aren't soured on what seems like otherwise an enjoyable way to be on the water.

Betrayal, despite some un-expected set-backs, your overall progression seems pretty fair now. That though is the way we tend to spend life — having challenges of one sort of other. It is something of a drag though with health issues since I think I'm mainly highly impatient with those. Perhaps you are too. It can feel like almost nothing is happening right up to nearly the end. I hope it is pretty smooth sailing now and more of a time issue rather than pain and non-productive sleep. Very glad you are going to have 'young' help soon as well.

No big plans here. Just what pops up mainly. The rest of the month is open for me — no appts. save for my hair date on the 30th. I have a number of things in August and some set in October, but hopefully they will be mainly the 6 month/and yearly check-ups and if fortunate will not produce any need to carry forward any issues.

I hope you all (including all the friends here posting or not) have a really good day.

Any recommendations on a Fitbit or similar gadget? DH's smart watch provides a lot of Fitbit information, but I don't want to spend the money for a watch like his.

Harley, glad your kayak experience ended safely. I have access to the resort kayaks but can't seem to work up the nerve. I went so far as to buy a waterproof phone case last summer and never used it. Several years ago I kayaked up Hay Creek, which flows into Island Lake. The reeds encroach on the creek but you can go a certain distance. It's inexcusable that the people handling the kayak rental didn't check the plug.

We're having a rainy Tuesday so no solo golf today.

Sandy, how cool that your housekeeper is coming to help you with moving in. That should be enjoyable for both of you to spend time together.

Thanks for the Fitbit recommendations. I will do some online shopping.

Sandy, it's hard to conceive that so many things could be wrong with your newly renovated house.

Harley, I have been visualizing you as a slender woman, probably because you're physically active. I was surprised at your mention of being overweight.

We had rain during the night and heavy rain with wind early this morning. Currently there's a lull. I'm glad because dh was up at 6:30 and after his two cups of coffee was ready to go to the gym. I didn't get up until 7 and wasn't ready to venture out with him. So he went by himself. I'm ok with going later in the morning but he either goes early or not at all. He has missed Monday golf and now Wednesday golf with the rain.

Betrayal, you must be nearing the completion of all your early summer yard work. You certainly are devoted. I'll bet your neighbors admire your yard.

Happy Wednesday to all.

Good morning on this nice sunny day here which will likely stay that way with a bit of nice humidity to go with it.

Sandy, I'm so sorry to hear what goes at your new/old house. I'm sure it shouldn't but it so amazes me about some of the things that sound as though they should be simple and easy to do for contractor/home insurance restorers. Hooking up appliances, making sure outlets are functioning properly — especially to the degree that many are replaced in addition to being shut down for a year. Hard to think a landscaper (not even anything inside the house proper ) can't do his job because a hose is missing a part and can't be used. Aren't contractors to make sure work is properly done or did I miss something important in class here.

It seems things are now being left up to the homeowner (who incidentally hopes to move back in sometime soon hopefully) to ferret out ISSUES with what should have been done and done right and was not. Between you and some of the others, I know the rest of us pray that we never have to use the home insurance we pay for. I know these companies could do a much, much BETTER job of it and still make money hand over fist — in my just knowing how few disturbances we have had in our little hamlet here. We have had homeowners insurance since we bought our first house here in 1996/7 and have never turned in a claim — a couple of times we could have, but the hassle wasn't worth it. I just find the lack of workmanship ( didn't we once have pride about a job well done) appalling and upsetting. Your equanimity about it is because you have to, but that doesn't change the fact that it's a crying shame you do.

Speaking of Barnes and Noble. I spent many a happy hour there in our little Ventura, Calif. mall. Next to the local library ( is there any place that smells better than a slightly dusty old book store or library) pouring through all the subjects that interested me there and the funny thing is — the books I ended up enjoying the most usually seemed to almost demand of me that I buy them — as if they knew I would not be disappointed. If I were your GS Betrayal, my day, really my whole month maybe would definitely be made. A great trade the both of you made.

I have often felt upset over the amt. of pick-up spaces in our Supercenter Walmart. Often when Dh and I go to Walmart we end up parking in the reserved zone with the handicap space in front of us. All the other spaces already filled. Those spaces seemed to have popped up during the Covid upsets and in my mind's eye — covid wasn't going to last forever — yet they seemed to have allotted those spaces as if it would. Many Srs., myself included want to go into the store and look over the merchandise - whatever it is, and choose items based on perhaps, different colors, textures, workmanship and other details that might not be easy by phone. Also meat and other purchases. I have to constantly read labels for what is in food ( salt and sugar, fats, etc. ) so hard to have anyone shop for me. I'm convinced it quite possible that the world of the future won't be for me.

I hope you all have a really good day.

The restoration guys couldn't come to fix the fridge today because the part arrived too late. They'll come tomorrow. The contractor/public adjuster (the one who thought I should have moved in by now and whom I set straight) sent the plumber today; he hooked up the dishwasher (and we made sure it works). The city's plumbing inspector came and said all was okay except the boiler needed a check valve to avoid a cross-connection, so the plumber took care of that. And he hooked up the gas to the stove, grill & dryer. While I waited for the garage door guy to call me back I called Astound to upgrade our broadband & cable (account was active though not in use) and set up a whole-house mesh network like we used to have. That tech is coming tomorrow, as is the garage door guy—who determined that I do indeed need a new opener. My landscaper and his helper had to manually open the garage door and hold it open so I could leave. He then messaged me that he'd "fixed" it by cleaning off the electric-eye sensors, but I'm skeptical. Those sensors are a safety device to prevent the door from closing on anything below its leading edge—objects, animals or people. When they detect an obstacle they reverse the door, not stop it cold. That also would not explain why the door fails to respond to the openers (despite fresh batteries) or wall button. The garage guy is coming tomorrow—a new opener runs $750 installed. He explained today that the older ones lose signal in the presence of LED bulbs, and that the circuit boards can also degrade.

And though the gas grill lights now, it's going to cost $300 to service, plus parts (including rusted-out grates). We've had this one since 2004 (replaced an identical one bought in 1987), and it was last serviced in 2017. I priced new natural gas grills of that quality, and the cost of service even with parts is a mere fraction. We used to grill a lot, even in the dead of winter. And I'm champing at the bit to do it again, as I hate using charcoal like we have to do here at the rental.

Hopefully, we can start moving some stuff from here (clothes, cookware, foods, etc.) in advance of the major pack-in; once the blinds have been installed, all the furniture & appliances are in place, essential things like linens, dishes and more cooking stuff are placed, and the myriad boxes have been wrangled into submission, we can move ourselves and the cats back home and use the rest of the month to get this rental back into the shape we found it.

Sandy, we replaced our garage opener in FL this past season. Much less costly because a neighbor installed it. But the new one has an app to put on the phone - we can open it or close it from the app and also get notifications if it’s opened or closed. In addition, it’s much quieter- but detached you probably wouldn’t care. I think old one was chain driven, new one is belt. Keep giving them hell, they inconvenience you without hesitation.

Last night I booked with CVS for my covid shot. We leave in 2 weeks so I’m just under the wire, or on the wire. I get there early and as they were sending me to the area I was called back. They didn’t have any shots available, they expired and had to be thrown out. So they told me which CVS nearby had it. Out to my car I went online to book an appointment. Luckily for me one was available. So that’s done.

My beautiful Velcro shoe is but a bad memory. I had 3 X-rays; all looks good. The incision looked great per the dr. I brought in my new hiking Clark’s and my regular cloud steppers - he loved the hiking ones for more support and cushion. So that’s my new footwear for who knows how long. I might be in Ireland with socks & sandals if it’s cold. HAHA! A vision of loveliness.

Then I was headed to our pool! First time since it opened that I could get in. It was heavenly. Water temp was warm, pool wasn’t too full of pine needles in need of cleaning, it just felt great.

But from not using my toes for 5+ weeks I had to keep reminding myself to get off my heel and flex those toes. It’s an above ground pool so we always walk the circle to create a whirlpool to let it help us gather any crap in the middle, to scoop out with a net. Being in the water 45 mins to an hr allowed the steri strip to easily come off, as well as the dead skin - foot cleaned up nicely.

Betrayal, I’m glad you enjoyed the movie.

Jackie, I’m glad you got some sun. Tomorrow might be 93 here!

Meeting gf’s for lunch tomorrow. Hoping to get in the pool again too. And I need to start washing bedding to take to the cape. I found my “Cape Cod list” of things to pack, and had the same problem printing it that I had trying to print my taxes. I forget to switch printers on the computer. All my own doing, but in my defense they’re both Cannon printers - just in different states about 1,200 miles away. LOL

Have a great Thursday!

Just spent 90 minutes outside pulling weeds on lower section of driveway hill where DGS did upper part yesterday. His area needed some fine tuning but overall he did a great job. I was able to use gravity to dump the 3 bags of mulch he had hauled to the top for me and was thinking I might be able to use the last 3 bags on the lower section that needs mulching. Funny thing about mental versus physical energy, the mental energy doesn't translate into physical energy so I had to quit, but feel I did accomplish my original goal.

Nice to cool down now since it is about 78 degrees and humid with an occasional whiff of a breeze. I was working in partial sun but mostly shade so that helps but my shirt is drenched as is my hair. I did a load of wash before I went outside and will do the towels after I take a much needed shower. Wish cindyny's pool was closer for a quick dip.

cindyny, glad you are velcro shoe free and able to get back into your pool. Must feel nice to be able to move your toes again as well.

Sandy, I am amazed at the age of some of the items you are having to replace/repair now and feel you got good use from them for all those years. I am sure some exceeded the normal life expectancy. Now you shouldn't have to worry about them for awhile.