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

Well, we are in the midst of a winter wonderland with snow yesterday and a return today. It is 3 degrees, gray and the snow continues to fall in different patterns: heavy sometimes and right now it is like small dancing dots. My DSIL sent a short video of snow in Chipley, FL. Last year when they had a storm only one neighbor had kept the snow shovel she had brought from Indiana. It was a popular item.

DB has said his current job is running over so he says it looks like it will be Tuesday when he can come. I am hoping the driveway is clear enough for him to get his truck up. DH has been annoyed at having to keep clearing the driveway, but considering this is the first year he's had to do it multiple times, and I continue to be the chief house cleaner, no sympathies since my job is year round and he has the spring-summer lawn service.

Plan for today is to tackle hall coat closet and the hall tree storage base. The former has some wrapping paper stored there as well as coats, gloves, hats, etc. The latter holds gift bags for a variety of reasons and I'd like to get rid of them and repurpose the space for other storage. I don't often need gift bags anymore and will offer them to DD and DDIL if they need any. If not, then they will get donated.

Two of my parakeets have overgrown bills which I took them to the vet for once before, however, I don't think they did a good job the last time. One bird is about 10 years old and her daughter is 5 years old. I was hoping to get them there during warmer weather, but no such luck now. They are still able to eat. I just hate to take them out in this weather. Plus it is really expensive to get it done. The cost is not the issue, it is the weather and getting good results this time. They are so entertaining.

I gave Bumblebee a basil leaf today and he is in his glory. I also give him celery leaves when I can find celery stalks with it still attached. So many trim the tops now. He's a happy boy.

Kicking myself because I wrote a bunch of items I needed to purchase on the top of a newspaper since it was the closest paper available at the time. I then proceeded to toss it before I recopied it or placed the order. I thought of a few of them, but am sure I am missing at least one, darn. Lesson learned, look for paper in the future.

I was told it would take a couple of days for the steroids to take effect, so take it easy for 48 hours post interlaminal epidural. So far, I am comfortable and it feels really good. Full effects are expected around 2 weeks and hopefully they last for the 3-6 months or a year as expected.

Of course, I haven't done any heavy work like vacuuming, or mopping, and limited housework to dusting. There's really nothing left if this fails, so fingers crossed, it does work. The back pain is really debilitating and now that I have new knees, I only have it to deal with. It, plus the knees, would limit my ability to do much. However, by itself, it limits standing, walking and sitting as well as impacting sleep positions. So what's left? Even my plan for today, doesn't include any heavy lifting or repetitive motions (which was another trigger).

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

Just waving hi. Hard to believe it's mid-January already. Life here seems pretty routine and I stay busy but my house would never pass Betrayal's organizing skills. Playing golf 2-3 times a week, playing bridge and having our weekly dinner with friends. Searching for a new bridge partner has become a chore. I see my retinal person tomorrow and primary next week. Bella is still here. Her Mom's now at Mayo and her Dad in a nursing home.After watching the cardinals all season, it's really a joy to watch some good teams.

I know, Carole, I should have figured out how to put all that in some better organizational form.

Have a good week, everyone.

Wallycat, windchill is -30 right now!

Taco, LOL at your vision of me as reading posts with a red pen in my hand! Your life seems very pleasant to me. I started learning bridge a decade ago and stopped because I was needed as a caregiver for my mother. I have time now but haven't taken the steps to get involved with the local bridge organization.

Good football games this weekend. DH is from Chicago area. The Bears game was a disappointment and the loss unnecessary. I got up in disgust and didn't watch the last minutes of the game.

Betrayal, I hope you continue to get relief from the back pain. I enjoy your talk about your birds.

We're cold this morning but the sun is out. My laptop isn't telling me the temperature but the tv tells me it was in the 20's when we got up. I don't share Wally's envy of those living with snow and ice. I'm happy with sunny, crisp cold.

DH went to the gym earlier. Normally he takes my Prius, but today he took his Ford truck with heated seats. I'll go later. Haven't decided whether to attend Penny's class or do my own workout. She's a new instructor and I'm not a big fan of her class.

Why is when you seek to organize, you have to create clutter and chaos, first, LOL? The closet is pretty much done. The floor for the moment is clear and I have only one or 2 items that may need to be put back in there.

The shelves are organized, storage bins have been sorted through and labeled with contents. I found leather and suede gloves that can be donated since they no longer fit, and are in very good shape. Some others have seen better days and were tossed. Coats were organized into lengths and types (heavy versus light), raincoats grouped (lined versus unlined) and while most have been kept for the moment, they can be culled in the future if unworn.

I was actually able to recycle an IKEA metal box, they no longer carry sadly, to store my collection of baseball caps (though none represent any baseball teams, LOL, just ports of call). They were relocated from my bedroom closet. I have the smaller metal box to designate for another purpose unrelated to this closet. I repaired an ancient cardboard hat box (the lid had broken) to hold some fur hats I own and will put a note about contents in it. I will relocate a mink collar to this closet since it matches one of the hats. I am pleased with the finished look and now knowing not only what I have, but also where it is when I need it.

I had a large Rubbermaid bin made for wrapping paper storage that contained occasion paper such as birthdays, weddings, etc. I cleared out the paper I no longer have use, will donate any that is usable, and keep a few I will use. I found some Christmas paper that needs to go in the bins I have for it.

I finished the base of the hall tree clean out and decided the fate of the contents. Most will be gifted to others for use or have been tossed. What remained was organized into shoe boxes, labeled and returned to the base. It is so neat and the contents are easily accessible. This is an enclosed base so no one sees what is stored in there. I have a large bag of gift wrappings/bags to be donated.

I had to cancel this Wednesday's Vietnam Vet pickup because the driveway is still too icy for anyone to try to use. I rescheduled for early February hoping we will have a clear driveway then. DB has canceled for tomorrow due to a local emergency, and I may have to cancel for Wednesday as well depending upon the state of the driveway.

Taco, glad you are enjoying nice weather. Wallycat, I could send you some snow if you are interested. I won't miss it at all. I'm not sure where you are located, but it is no longer the midwest?

carole, I don't know why I find cold and clear weather to be associated with LA. I expected it to be a tad warmer.

Chris, from your lips to God's ear about my pain and thanks for the acknowledgment. I know you suffer with your hands, too. DD gave me a hand mitt filled with beans (?) and herbs that I can throw in the microwave to heat up to use on either hand. It is great. Stay warm and be safe with your polar weather.

harley0, I am sure those books with your trip photos are lovely and I wish I had the patience to do that. DH makes CD's with our photos and adds a music track. Stay warm, too.

Sandy, glad to read how well the show went and hope that next year you get a bigger role. I am impressed by your musicality: singing and being able to play instruments. My GM played the organ, violin and piano, taught all 3, and never offered to teach me. I have her violin and am considering having someone evaluate whether it could be donated to someone who could use it.

cindyny, how did your closet project turn out?

wren4, hope your new treatment continues to show it is working.

teka, I am not a fish person, but that meal did look good.

petite1, hope your BFF is back on her feet and your stressors have diminished.

Hope everyone had a great day and waving "hi" to everyone. It is currently 28 degrees with a feels like much lower, and expected to go to 17 with a feels like of 0 degrees overnight. I've had enough of winter.

As for the game, I'm a bit more angry than disappointed. Either Caleb Williams or DJ Moore or both were at fault. Caleb got cocky over that game-tying Hail Mary pass, and should have gone to the ground game during OT to set up what would've been a sure field goal by Santos, instead of throwing an interception. And Moore should have known he'd have been the pass' target and been in a position to catch it before the Ram could. Everyone's excited for the future—-but Bob pointed out next year's schedule will be much tougher.

Oh, well, guess we'll be rooting for the Seahawks this weekend. We spent 7 happy years in Seattle and were at the first-ever Seahawks home games (exhibition at Husky Stadium and regular season at the Kingdome). Took us a year to get used to being Midwesterners, especially after growing up in NYC. (Still expect to smell saltwater when I see waves).

Sandy, you haven’t caught a break in sometime, re: the house. Definitely go to NOLA, enjoy the hotel and your birthday celebration. The bathroom renovation while you’re in Greece also sounds like a plan.

Betrayal, I did get the master closet more organized. More consolation than actual clean out. I was able to get a big bag of my workout/gym stuff, 2 foam rollers and an 8# medicine ball out of the bedroom and stored in the closet. Bedroom looks less chaotic to me.

I also went out today and knocked down the wasp/bee nest. It then fell behind the hurricane shutter, unreachable. I had to go back in the house and get a yardstick to reach the nest, flick it out and away from me. Back inside I went for Windex, paper towels, and the step ladder. Mission complete.

I debated starting on the garage door bottom weather strip. But the weather today, when I got up, started out at 45 and only hit 63. And it was getting late so I postponed (evaded?) that for another day.

A gf and I left this morning at 11 to go to Costco. Well, we didn’t get back until almost 2! First time she’d been in this store, new membership in IL. So we wandered around to see everything. The best buy I had was 2 nice Adidas polos for SO at $4.97 each. Otherwise I bought some stuff I really didn’t need. Apple fritter bites, to die for, but calorie high; a blueberry crunch item, made with white chocolate… oh so good but also not needed! Salmon Milan - dill & butter, all ready to go in the oven - I bought it so I could turn my oven on to warm up the house HA! It was delicious.

Saturday we spent the day in Immokalee at the casino listening to the concert. GF & husband had VIP tickets and we brought another couple with us. GF & DH left after the first band of four, giving us their pass. It was a beautiful day, weather stayed decent all day.

Marshall Tucker band as we left - Fire on the Mountain. All bands were good; we knew songs from them all. Molly Hatchet was super loud; I went in to gamble while they played. No winnings $$$ to report. Home before 11; left at 2, so a long day. We got the Buffalo vs Bronco results on the shuttle bus to our car. Disappointed.

Sunday was football all day. Rooted for Chicago, disappointing. Tonight was college football. Nice to see a different team win.

Another overnight of super cool weather for southwest FL. I’m putting out my walking clothes for tomorrow, but we’ll see if I get out. Stay warm ladies!