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

betrayal - I’m envious that you are visiting Inishmore. We visited there in 2022 and loved it. We took the ferry from Rossaveel to Kilronan. Then we rented e-bikes and rode out to Dun Aonghasa and climbed up to admire the views. We would have spent longer there but a thunderstorm was rolling in so standing atop a barren cliff several hundred feet above the Atlantic Ocean didn’t seem to be a safe idea.

Sounds like a fabulous trip. Enjoy!

We’re leaving next Sunday or Monday. It’s early for us, but I’m surprising GN to be there for her prom. She’s got a beautiful gown and I can’t wait to see her. I told SO we’ll be leaving early next year too for her senior prom.

Weather by next Sunday shows intermittent rain. Fingers crossed it goes around us, but we’ll deal with it as usual. As long as it’s not a downpour we’ll hit the road.

I brought in our hose reel to put in the garage, and another hose I bought and don’t really like. I think I’ll end up hooking one of them to wash the indoor/outdoor area rug we use in the garage sitting area. I wash it before we leave, as well as washing out the bins used for trash & recycling. I sprayed the area we dug out the snake plants with more plant killer. I’m sure come November they’ll still be in there growing. Such is life.

My shopping excursion was productive. I bought a new short robe to leave down here at Kohl’s. Then at Beall's, I purchased 5 shirts/blouses to take home. Three sleeveless, two short sleeve, so I should be set for a while.

This week is busy with appointments. And with leaving there is a lot of extra things to get to. The short list is post office mail forward, cable on seasonal hold, cancel the newspaper, and “garage” the Malibu to suspend insurance costs. I can go online now and do the mail forward while I’m thinking of it!

Enjoy your Sunday!

Cindy, your to do list was a good reminder of things I need to do before departing from home. We are heading north on May 18th. I want to simplify the packing as much as possible. I usually take pantry items but have decided not to do that this year. We will pack a large cooler with refrigerator items since dh insists on emptying the house refrigerator and turning it off. We leave the outside refrigerator on but do empty the freezer in case of power outage.

Betrayal, I wish you much enjoyment of your travel. I hope you will be able to post along the way.

I will miss Monday exercise class since I have my annual eye appointment today at 11 am. DH and I usually go together but he isn't due for a checkup because of his cataract surgeries and appointments with the same doctor. I'm hoping I won't have too much of a problem driving after the appointment with my eyes still dilated.

For two nights in a row I have had over an hour of deep sleep after a string of nights with no or minimal deep sleep. One byproduct of aging is not rebounding quickly from getting extremely tired.

I hope all those not posting are doing well. Wishing everyone a good Monday.

My Impala oil change was this morning. Uneventful, which is good. I was able to sit outside in the shade and read for about 40 minutes before needing to move inside to the AC. I had a $10 coupon and $29 on MyChevy account and was able to leave under $50.

Carole, we did the online change of address. Easier than going into the post office. Also set up the cable TV seasonal hold online too. SO had to call the newspaper today, and even after talking with someone he’s not sure if it will stop on the date he requested - language barrier.

Tonight I went out again after 7:30 PM to trim scrubs and plants. I trimmed down the oh so leggy azalea, with the hope it bushes out by next season. Then a plant with many different names - dracaena or Hawaiian something or other. It had grown from cuttings stuck in the ground; roots quickly, and grows quickly. The first time landscapers cut it down I was upset - what are they doing?! But it grew back somewhat, by time I was back 6 months later.

This plant: Photo is from November. It was sticking out into the walkway, going up high and taking over. I cut it back to at least this size. Tough plant.

Tomorrow morning is bloodwork for me at 10:30. It’s not too far from here so it should be quick I’ll have a book with me so not an actual waste of time.

Betrayal, have a lovely trip! And do send photos if you can, I think we all enjoy them.

Petite, I hope you’re feeling better.

All the other ladies I hope you’re just busy enjoying life and we’ll hear from you when we hear from you.

Today is Taxol infusion day. We will try to meet up with BIL and SIL for lunch beforehand—always a good time. I do well when I have eaten well before all the meds. I get a good soup. I also think a lot of it is that I am in a good and happy mood before all those meds! I hired a housekeeper yesterday. Was a little more than I wanted to pay but this is a bigger house and the dark hardwood flooring is a chore, so I agreed. I just can't keep up with it all anymore and I don't want the dirt and grime to get ahead of me. I like a clean house.

Cindy, I wish I had you energy. I hope your transition back home goes smoothly.

Carol, I hope you slept better last night.

Blessings on a good day for everyone here.

Cindy - I LOVE it. "We'll hear from you when we hear from you.

PCP doc tomorrow for annual. Ophthalmologist since my eyes are swollen & red.

When you look in the mirror, what do you see? Do you see the real you, or what you have been conditioned to believe is you? The two are so, so different. One is an infinite consciousness capable of being and creating whatever it chooses, the other is an illusion imprisoned by its own perceived and programmed limitations.

David Icke

Taco, so happy to hear that Debbie made it through her surgery and the outcome is good. Hoping that Ken is holding up well and that you are now able to relax some. I hope her recovery is seamless.

On Monday we took a run to Costco to load up on staples for DD and DSIL while they critter sit for us. They had some really nice geraniums in hanging planters. I picked up 4 pots for the patio and have one flanking the patio doors with a Spanish lavender in the other, I have one hanging on a shepherd's hook and the last 2 are currently on the patio table. I was going to put them in the wrought iron butterfly planted, but the pots are too large for the openings. I may just take the hangers off and leave them as table decorations (patio has 2 tables).

DS joined us because I told him this would be for helping us with the new fencing and he will return to help us with the one by the stream when we return. We had lunch there since I love their pizza and always get a slice. We stopped by his house to see the newest French bulldog they got who remains unnamed. He's really cute, a lighter fawn than the other one (the oldest one is brindle), but has huge feet so size-wise he may get to be as large as the oldest one. He's definitely cute. We voted for Finn as his name, but they still have 2 others in the running.

Trying to get the house clean before we leave so I have been vacuuming, mopping floors, and dusting. The upstairs is done, and today I will finish up the first floor. I had already done the powder room and the laundry room on Monday evening. Last night I did the kitchen floor.

Plan on doing some packing today since clothes are all sorted. I'll edit as they go into the suitcase because my goal is no more than 40 lb. and if it is less, then I will be pleased. While packing, I managed to organize 2 drawers in my dresser and then the drawers in the night stands. I had the bins, but was tired of sorting through things to find what I wanted. Now everything has a place and is clearly visible for grab and go. Threw out multiple bottles of nail polish that had separated and have no plans to replace them. I no longer do pedicures and never liked manicures. I admire those who like manicures, but my fingers always felt heavy with polish on them. Now my fingers are so arthritic, I'd rather not call attention to them.

On Monday I made potato salad and cole slaw so we could have a picnic of sorts before we leave. Dinner last night was cheeseburgers and the salads. Tonight we will have the crab cakes I bought at Costco (they make them and they are good) with more potato salad and coleslaw. DD and DSIL like them, too, and there will be some leftover.

I will take photos while in Ireland, but don't expect I will be able to post them. I will post on my return. We will have repeat visits on a couple of sites, so it will be interesting to see how the weather holds. One of the repeat visits is the banquet at Blarney castle. We will do it twice since it is always fun. Another is Kylemore Abbey which is so picturesque.

Unable to get a nonstop flight to Shannon, we fly into Dublin and then need to get to Limerick to pick up our first tour. We will take a bus which will be a first for us. It ends in Limerick so then we need to get to Dublin to pick up the second tour and for that we will take the train. That one ends in Dublin where we will fly out of. On other trips to Ireland, we rented a car and did a self-drive tour usually racking up several thousand miles during our 3 week visits.

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

Intolight, glad that Taxol infusion wasn't too taxing. Ouch for the IV sticks though. Happy they were able to get port uncluttered and viable for infusion. Lunch sounds like it was pleasant and think having that prior to infusions is a great idea.

Getting someone to do your housework should be helpful to you. I think you will be happy with the results and you can use that energy for more enjoyable pursuits.

When we first moved here, the floors in the eat in area and family room were wide planked dark oak that needed to be waxed. When you have small children, cats and a Dalmatian, you can imagine what a nightmare upkeep was on them. They showed every hair, footstep, water spills, etc but they are still a designer choice because admittedly they are lovely. When I had a chance they were swapped out to lighter birch floors which do not show as much hair,etc. Upkeep is so much easier.

I hope the Taxol works, too.

Intolight, I’m sorry you had so many needle sticks, but glad it’s behind you now. And I think it’s a great idea that you hired a housekeeper.

Taco, so glad your daughter’s surgery went well. Wishing for a speedy recovery.

Minustwo, I hope your eyes feel better and your PCP appointment went well.

Harvey, hello back to you!

Carole, great news on your eye checkup. And hoping you had a great lunch.

Betrayal, I’ve cut off the hanging piece on pots and used them without it. I also don’t do manicures. It’s because I end up picking at the polish. I’ll do it for a wedding or such, and that’s about it. But a good pedicure I love.

Today was the oral surgeon appointment which I thought was for the abutment. Turns out it was only for a CT scan to see how I’m healing. Long story short she wants to wait 3 more months before putting on the abutment.

That would bring me out to the end of July. I’m not here at the end of July. I’d need to fly down, and put the car back on the road too. Ten days after the abutment I could get a crown put on it. OR I can wait until I’m back down here in November.

I booked the appointment for July 29. But the more I thought of it, I’m just going to wait until November.

Tomorrow morning I need to cancel the 5/18 NY dental appointment to start the crown; cancel the FL oral surgeon 7/28 appointment and reschedule it to November 16 or so. Then call my FL dentist to say that I need an appointment for the crown. I just want this over with. It’s a long journey from beginning to end.

We had neighbors stop over tonight for drinks and snacks. In my pitty party re my oral surgeon, I had 2 drinks rather than my usual one. We had fun. Now I could fall asleep sitting up.

Rest is not idleness, and to lie sometimes on the grass under trees on a summer's day, listening to the murmur of the water, or watching the clouds float across the sky, is by no means a waste of time.

John Lubbock

cindyny, that's a long time to have to deal with dental issues. Here's hoping you can wait that long and you have no other issues with it!

petite1, I am sorry you have so much scar pain. The fires sound scary. We have a few going in Colorado but we got a good snow last night so hopefully it helped. I haven't checked the news yet this morning.

My port opened up once the blood anti-clot med kicked in after about an hour so I should be good now. They were able to access it once the pre-meds were done in my arm, so they used the port for the chemo. Apparently a sheath of skin tries to grow around the end and occasionally they have to use the med to dissolve it. Today usually starts my bad SEs but I am feeling okay so far. Perhaps I am adjusting to the Taxol. Let's hope it keeps working! I have a scan on the 18th that should let me know.

I think of you all and pray for your needs as I read, but don't always respond. Thank you all for caring.

Betrayal, I hope everything goes smoothly on your trip. I find it interesting that you have been to Ireland so many times and are returning.

The fires in Florida have been reported on the news. I don't think of Florida as a fire prone state but much of the nation is in drought status.

We're having some rain today, mostly very light but a minute ago the rain was pouring down. The Jazz Fest is going on in New Orleans, so the attendees will be pulling out their ponchos. Umbrellas aren't allowed.

I have nothing planned for today except a trip to Costco if the rain stops.

Petite, glad your travel possibilities are improved and that you were able to do yoga. My right knee was sore yesterday and isn't back to normal this morning, so I will skip the exercise class at the gym and do a weight routine on my own at the gym. Maybe try walking on the treadmill or bicycling on the upright bike. The class has too much leg movement.

It's overcast with more rain in the forecast. Not good for Jazz Fest attendees in New Orleans.

Thinking about Betrayal and her trip and hoping all goes well.

I'm making a To Do list and checking off some things that can be done in advance of our departure on May 18.