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

Happy Hanukkah to all who celebrate.

carole, it was actually warmer here in PA than it was in LA yesterday. We reached a high of 30 yesterday and today it is currently 24 degrees. I am staying in the house today.

We attended our DGD's dance recital yesterday where she appeared in 3 different dances and costumes. I love how she sings along with the songs as she is dancing. DDIL said that she had practiced a lot at home for the show. The show itself had participants that were probably as young as 3-4 year olds up to teenagers. The little ones were so cute and there were a few who were probably around kindergarten age who appeared lost during their routines. I could see the instructors in the wings mimicking the moves they were supposed to make and some were playing catch up or getting elbowed by fellow dancers to do the steps. It was certainly entertaining and we had a good time.

DD and DSIL came to escort us up and down our slippery driveway and to drive us to the show. It was about an hour away and in a town we had never been to so it was unfamiliar driving. The show was to start at 11:30, but it was still actively snowing so it got pushed back to 1:30. It finished around 3:30. We opted not to go back to DS's house so we could get home earlier.

We decided to grab dinner out and stopped at the Black Powder Inn for a quick meal. They were not busy so service was relatively fast and the the waitress was super. We all had good meals with leftovers boxed for another meal. DH and I ordered the Pork Schnitzel which was delicious. It came with mashed potatoes and red cabbage. Both of the vegetables were delicious. I have over half of my meal left as does DH. We were home before 5:30 and the driveway wasn't as slippery as we thought it would be. DD and DSIL spent time cleaning off DH's car and the driveway.

I got an invitation to a wedding in NC from one of my former students. It is in September and I would love to go, but will have to discuss it with DH. She was a student who required additional tutoring because of her learning disability. She was always prepared for class, but had difficulty separating the wheat from the chaff in her note taking from the readings. She also taped and typed notes from class, I would help her integrate her notes with class discussion and clarify any questions she had. She did well on exams and considering her undergraduate degree was in neurobiology, she transitioned well. We also did post-exam review as a 1:1 even though she would also attend the class test review. We would discuss why she chose the answers she did and what she could do to narrow down the multiple-choice answers to find the correct one. She has stayed in touch since graduation and finished her BSN at Drexel University as well. I have a few who opted to stay in touch and that is heartwarming.

The Bipap is getting better, but I still have times when the pressure dislodges the face mask due to high pressure. I will discuss this with the NP to see what she suggests. The humidity chamber seems to empty early, too. I have adjusted the humidity level but may need to lower the temp as well. It's a learning curve. The dry mouth I get is painful.

DH got the rest of the tree ornaments down from the attic so I can finish the tree today. The angel is top heavy since she has a ceramic head and won't stay on the top of the tree. I don't have anything to add to the top of the tree so it may remain empty. I'm pleased with the results so far.

It is the winter wonderland outside with about 4 inches of snow. The deer are looking for forage and I may have to move and then smash the pumpkins for them to eat. They haven't seemed to locate them since they are too close to the house. I like snow when I look out the windows, but the child-like fascination with it no longer rises to the surface.

harley07, love the photos and your trip highlights. Enjoy the warm weather while you can.

Sandy, your show rehearsals sound like it is coming together even with all the cast changes. Sorry Bob is having mobility issues. I hope you can talk some sense into him before he has a fall.

DH had balance issues and I encouraged him to attend PT to help him. He did and he fails to perform the exercises he was taught to keep him upright. I remind him and he insists he does them, but it is clear he doesn't. His balance is of concern. He insists on assisting me with navigation, and I outright reject it because he falls, and I don't want to be dragged down. I could not support his weight if he does fall, and with my osteopenic hips, that's a hard "no" to increasing my fall risk.

Taco, that's so nice that you donate toys for Christmas to the food bank. This will be a very hard Christmas for so many this year. I've learned that gift cards to grandchildren are much better than trying to buy something they'll like. It does seem so impersonal, but it's what they want. DGS asked for a season pass for snowboarding and DGD wanted a 3 month pass for the Y. So they are done. I still have some small gifts we bought while on our cruise to give them.

petite1, glad you are feeling better, and happy you are not at your cabin with cold like that.

Chris, hope your African friends are safe. Hope you feel better.

Yesterday, I thought of Puffin when I saw an unusual bird in the Japanese maple. It was smaller than a sparrow, but larger than a hummingbird. I googled it and found out it was a Golden-Crowned Kinglet. It also was a male. It's head had 2 yellow stripes with an orange one in the middle. It's body coloring resembled a sparrow's. It was so pretty.

Hope everyone has a great day and waving hi" to everyone.

If a country is to be corruption free and become a nation of beautiful minds, I strongly feel there are three key societal members who can make a difference. They are the father, the mother and the teacher.

A. P. J. Abdul Kalam

I have no concerns about where she went. Thank you. She was a beacon for the family, being the only one left of her generation. I mourn the passing of time. My cousin, one of her daughters, died a few months ago of complications of lupus

We had to leave our house by 9 yesterday to get to my former home town for the funeral service of DB's FIL. Al had lived a good life and was one of those perpetually happy people who loved life. His decline was rapid and options few, so he entered hospice and DSIL was surprised by how quickly he died. His wife was devastated because this is the second husband she has buried. Hard to believe that we sat with him and his wife at his DGD's wedding just over a year ago.

The minister who spoke was also one that officiated at my niece's wedding and has a tendency to motor mouth, blurring his lovely messages. He did the same yesterday and again I felt like his message missed the mark due to his rushing through it. The military ceremony was the moment when most become tearful.

The luncheon after was at the restaurant where we had hosted my parents 60th wedding anniversary party. It has changed hands and has a new name, but the food was fantastic and plentiful. I came home with enough leftovers for another meal for me. The bruschetta was so good. It is a BYOB and my niece purchased a wine called Santa's Little Helper which is from a local winery. It was so good and I seemed to be the only one who drank it, so she gifted me the bottle. I was able to buy some for Christmas at the local liquor store and gifted a bottle to DSIL because as the designated driver he abstained from drinking. He did taste mine, but that was it. Al would have approved of his sendoff.

When we got home, I finally caught up with our next door neighbor who had worked with Al many years go. My DSIL had wanted me to inform him about her Dad's death. He was surprised to hear it.

Today is supposed to hit the 40's and I am hoping so since we still have an ice encrusted driveway which I am reluctant to navigate. Of course, I also have back x-rays and MRI's scheduled for today late in the afternoon. I am hoping we can drive up the driveway later since tomorrow is supposed to be in the 50's.

Chris, condolences on the death of your aunt. She certainly had longevity at 99.

I took my family on a tour of my hometown while we were trying to kill time between the funeral and the luncheon. I had to walk to school and my DD was amazed at how far we had to walk then. The walk to the grade school was probably the shortest, the one to the junior high longest and the one to the high school the middle length. No buses to school then and we walked in all sorts of weather. We passed the venue where we had had our wedding reception on the way to the grade school.

Saw my middle brother at the funeral home. He had bypass surgery 5 years ago and really did not look well. He is debating about having another cardiac implant surgery, but undecided as to its benefit. He is 6 years younger than I, was a physical fitness nut, and even though still lean, looked gray and drawn. This is the first I have seen him since my mother's funeral in 2019. He only reaches out to his siblings when it's bad news, though he does keep in more frequent contact with my youngest brother. My youngest brother was also there, but neither attended the luncheon. Nice to see both even if briefly. I will see youngest brother after Christmas when he will paint for me.

Finally received PFT results and they were actually better than expected. I did very well on the 6 minute walk which translated to a speed of 2.3 mph pace. Pleased with that.

I hope everyone has a great day and waving "hi" to everyone.

Chris - thanks for the history lesson. Another reminder that we need separation of church and state.

Niners holiday party tomorrow. Absolutely perfect weather for golf.

Taco, your winter weather is a reward for enduring the summer heat. I played 18 holes a week ago today, and my back has been complaining ever since. I need to get back to some floor exercises for the lower back.

Our digital picture frame stopped working a couple of years ago, and I have missed it. It worked with a flash drive in a USB port. Recently I started looking for another one, and they're very sophisticated with WIFI connection and phone apps. I did a search yesterday, specifying a USB port, and found one with a 17-inch screen. I ordered it after reading that it would suit older people who wanted a simple option as well as the more sophisticated features. I like loading trip photos on a flash drive and having a slide show in progress. Otherwise, we don't really enjoy the pictures. I have one flash drive with family photos, some very old. The picture frame will be a gift for the two of us. LIke Taco and her dh, we don't exchange gifts anymore.

Everyone must be busy with holiday activities. Our forum is very quiet. Hope the busyness is bringing pleasure.

Betrayal, will you be cooking Christmas dinner for your family? I admire the way you keep medical appointments and continue with domestic duties.

Our seesaw winter weather continues. Yesterday was in the 70's. I think New Orleans (south shore) came close to 80 degrees. I walked a long route (46 minutes) in the neighborhood, and it was hot in the sunshine. This morning it's in the 40's, but sunny outside. The heat is cycling on. DH is heading to the golf course, dressed in layers. His tee time is 9:30 am, but he always hits balls on the driving range before playing.

I plan to go to the gym and attend an exercise class. Being around people carries some risk of picking up germs for flu and the "crud," but I'll take the risk. As usual, I have a grocery list for stopping at a supermarket on my way home from exercise. When I was growing up in the country, my parents "went to town" once a week to buy groceries and anything else needed from stores. DH and I buy needed items almost daily.

I've been following the news about the search for the Brown shooting murderer and am so glad he has been found. The students can return to school without the fear of him still being at large. Another tragic, no-win story of violence.

Hi to everyone too busy to post.

My friends, love is better than anger. Hope is better than fear. Optimism is better than despair. So let us be loving, hopeful and optimistic. And we'll change the world.

Jack Layton

I went at noon to get Holter monitor applied. It's four pads on my chest and a small palm sized battery pack connected to 4 leads. Then headed to Acme to pickup some additional items that I couldn't locate at Giant yesterday. I still have to go on Monday to buy ground beef and eggnog for Christmas day. I don't like buying it with a short expiration date. Did also buy some poinsettia's: red, pink and cream with the pink centered leaves.

I did hit Hallmark for cards for my DSIL's birthday, Christmas card for DH and a graduation card for my dear niece's husband. He just graduated from the police academy on Wednesday. It's been a very eventful month for them, since they lost a DF (DSIL) and DGF (niece), he graduated the day after the funeral (overshadowed a bit) and then her Christmas Eve birthday.

This is also the month my DF died 16 years ago. The fathers died within a day of each other and their funerals were also within a day of each other. It was also the month when I was being indoctrinated into the BC debacle. It has taken me 10 years to finally consider putting a tree up again. It's up, but I am not enthralled, it's more for others than me. I used to love Christmas, but not anymore. Long story short, what the radiologist said still rings in my head and it was not empathetic.

I also managed to find a parking spot close to the Sherwin Williams paint store so I could grab the paint for the dining room walls. There are 2 restaurants and other stores in this shopping center and parking is at a premium. The owner was telling me that he is losing business due to the fact there is no parking at times. He should have several dedicated SW parking only, but I am sure people would ignore it anyhow. They even drive next door to the empty Rite-Aid parking lot and walk back. I wanted to get the paint while it was still on sale since it was 30% off. DB said I only needed a gallon, so fingers crossed it is enough. I had DH pickup Glidden ceiling paint yesterday at Home Depot.

carole, I will be doing the lasagna marathon for Christmas day. Since they are so labor intensive, I make a massive one for dinner, one for DS, another for DD, and then at least one for my freezer. Whatever is leftover on Christmas, gets cut into meal size pieces, and then sealed with my seal a meal into individual pouches and put into the freezer. I make the meat sauce either in the oven or microwave in the largest Corning ware container I have and since DSIL doesn't like lasagna, I will cook him some ravioli or spaghetti that he can have with meat sauce. I may have to do the same for DGS.

The deer managed to open one pumpkin and were busy chowing down on it yesterday. I will take a hammer to the second one and hold the others in reserve until we get cold weather again. We are expected to hit 60 today, but at 3:30 it is only 48 degrees with a forecast for thunderstorms accompanied by high winds later.

Deer only have teeth in their lower jaw for biting and grinding plants. They have a hard palate on their upper jaw. So they pinch off plant parts with their lower front teeth and their back teeth are used for grinding. I learn something new everyday. So getting that pumpkin open was a challenge for them. However, they really enjoyed it. I just went out and made a hole in the pumpkin using my meat tenderizer hammer. I was barely back in the kitchen when a doe showed up. Then a second one came. I hope it gets some.

cindyny sorry to hear of the challenges presented by updating to Windows11. My computer and laptop are both too old to update to Windows11. We always backup to an exterior hard drive before we make any major changes and it sounds like this is a good thing. I hope you can recover what you think you have lost. Would it be on the Cloud? I am not a computer expert, so I leave any updates to DH or DS for that reason and have at times given DS remote access to make changes for me.

X-ray reports are back for cervical, thoracic and lumbar spines. The bottom line is that I need a new spine since this one seems hell-bent on collapsing. I have bony and positional changes in all three, but each of the comments sections and impression sections are blank even though the impressions sections say "see comments". I think the PA who ordered them is out of the office until 1/6 and I hate having to wait until then to get answers. Oh, well, my back hurts like the devil whenever I perform repetitive motions, so I am suffering today for ironing yesterday.

The Bipap is a hard adjustment because each night presents with a new challenge. I reread the booklet and did a google search to see if I could get some help. I loosened the mask, and was able to sleep on my back last night for a brief time. When the seal breaks, it emits these fart-like noises, which could wake anyone. I did sleep the best last night, but still don't feel rested. That was the aim of this, restful sleep with less hypopnea episodes and no nocturnal hypoxia. Not sure if I am there yet.

Hope everyone had a great day and waving "hi" to all who are busy. Just noticed my one orchid had one flower open today. It's lovely and Bumblebee is singing away like crazy today. He's happy and so am I.

harley07, lovely photos from your trip. Wish I were back there for the warmer weather though when we were there it was ungodly hot. Safe trip home.

Never make your home in a place. Make a home for yourself inside your own head. You'll find what you need to furnish it - memory, friends you can trust, love of learning, and other such things. That way it will go with you wherever you journey.

Tad Williams

Women, the way I see it, are very evolved people. They're more mature, they're more aware of their feelings, in touch with their feelings. They're connected to things that matter more in life. They know what's important. Men basically run around like idiots until we meet somebody who can show us that those things are important.

Rob Reiner