how about drinking?

goldie0827

Sue, I know how skeered you must be. I know I would be. But I get scared every 6 weeks when I have to do labs. Misunderstanding on mom's part. I tried to look up lung problems to see if one sounded similar to master bater. Came up with aspergillosis, not sure if that is it or not. She won't know anything until doc comes in. Also told her she had heart valve blockage.

karentwriter

Well besides this computer freezing up on me and losing everything I just wrote, I will also have a hard time keeping up you awesome ladies.

illimae - hugs your way. That looks painful and scary, but I'm so happy you are out and about and the bone mets are looking good, from what I read. (unless I misunderstood)

NM - Thank you for the new recipe. Looks awesome. I love coming up with new fun cocktails and appetizers if I can for special holidays and events. Last year was my first year ever cooking an entire Thanksgiving meal...for just me and my fiance. lol! Lots of leftovers.

Good luck with your very busy Saturday. I'm trying to remain as lazy as possible.

Goldie - Walking Dead is so awesome! Addicted since season 1 and now I run a pool. We morbidly bet on the characters that will not make it through the epidosde. I'm also 39 with an almost 5 year old. Getting married in May - with hopefully a wonderful wig as chemo starts in a couple of weeks.

I work full time in 401(k) retirement plans and I'm a newish writer - please don't base my talent level on anything written here. I have a 14 year old brother - my mom had him with my step dad when she was 48...good grief. I won't be doing that. And I will have to share pictures of the parties I have hosted in the past with fun drinks...give me a moment or two and I will share some of the blasts from the past. I want to make these skeleton pizza things, but the pans that are skull shaped...$70! No way in you know where will I spend that on baking pans.

Good luck with your daughter! I hope everything is just fine.

Okay have to do a little writing and then I will be back to share some party pics.

Chevyboy

You guys, I can't keep track of anybody!  But your Daughter's bug bite?  Man, I remember when my one Daughter was little, and SHE had this ingrown-hair... ( I think)  and you know where...  so I sterilized a needle, and lanced it,  and it hurt her so bad, but got a lot of stuff out...  she was mortified, .....  But we did it....  

So maybe it is something like that?  I mean like maybe a milk-duct something or other???   I know how afraid you must be...  And a hot phone?  Only Cammi would know about THAT one....  

My same Daughter... the youngest one, kept having that problem...  It wasn't her conversations either, so she said!  But yes, she did have to take it in, and exchange it..... Lucky those phones didn't catch on fire!!

I can only imagine what Cammi's phone does....  she used to talk about her "job" and her phone ....  "stuff"....  Cammi probably has her phone programed to do all sorts of things....  hmmmmmmmm.....  ED

karentwriter

Okay as promised...whether or not wanted (ha ha ) some of the party fixings for Walking Dead get togethers.

karentwriter

karentwriter

illimae

Very cool Karen, I host a Sunday night watch party too. It's usually two couples plus DH and me and we watch Game of Thones, American Horror Story, Preacher and The Walking Dead depending on the time of year.

I may have DH cook up some fajitas next Sunday while I whip up a batch of frozen Margarita's

Chevyboy

Oh WTH???  I tried posting a cute cartoon that was on Cammi's FB page, and that I copied, but it sure wouldn't post on here.

It was ...  "I think adults should be able to go trick or treating to the liquor store, and get those little bottles of liquor as treats!".... (or something like that)   

Chevyboy

Chevyboy

You guys!  I tried making it smaller, but all I did was make it the size of my front-room!!!  Sorry!

goldie0827

Karen that is so not fare, to get cancer at such a young age. Congrats on the wedding in May. OMG, I couldn't imagine having a child at such an older age. If I had a child at 48, I would have an 11 year old! No tanka ewe. Iffin you stick around, we will be with you during your chemo. We are a pretty fun group, but when things get tuff, we are there for one another. $70.00 for a pan? What on earth does a $70.00 pan look like?ED, you are keeping up just fine! And we know how hard Cami works with that "phone". No worries about the big pictures. Easier for us to see! Ima liking that kind of trick or treating.For Karen, DOTD (Drink of the Day)WHITE WALKERFill a tall glass with ice.
Pour white chocolate liqueur halfway up the glass.
Fill the rest of the glass up with vanilla cream soda.
Slowly and gently pour a spoonful of blue curaçao over the top (drink should look layered: light blue on top with white below).

NativeMainer

Good Morning, Loungettes! I had a fun time at the Bangor Uncorked wine tasting event. This is the 3rd or 4th year it's been held. They had wines from all over the world to taste, and many local ones, too. One of the local wine shops was taking orders, they are going to make out big time. There were also a bunch of different vendors there selling everything from Adult Party Items to clothes, jewelry, Sleep Number beds, exercise equipment, lawn andyard items, candy, you name it. They had people there making little nibbly foods that were very, very good, and a big cheese spread in the VIP Lounge. Yes, I bought a VIP ticket so I could get in an hour earlier. Good thing, too, cuz once the general admission started it got VERY crowded, very fast. I met a couple of friends there, we chatted and roamed and tasted for acouple of hours. There was even a pretty nice little band, although I thought it was too loud. There was a group doing breathalyzer testing, just for fun I stopped by on my way out, I blew a 0.02.All the little tastings only added up to about one glass, apparently. Not that I minded, the whole idea was to taste some new/different wines, which I got to do.

Got the dumpster filled again yesterday before the wine tasting. I'm clearing out the pile of junk in front of that second bay door so that I can be using the motor and the remote to get in and out come winter weather time. Got a lot of stuff cleaned away, but what is left is old wood, an old couch, fencing wire and stuff like that. Going to take some work to move since it's been there for years and the grass has grown up through some of it! Well, needs to be done, now is as good a time as any and a little work won't hurt me any!

Sadie says Hi to everyone!

Goldie--Yikes, I can imagine how worried you are about your DD. Anyone would be. Praying it is just a bug bite and infection and clears up quickly. I thought that donut pile was being done in an airport, and "why?" is a very good question. Of all places to do something like that! Yeah, Sadie's gotten skunked at least one other time, maybe a couple. It's something that happens when you have dogs and live in the country. Fortunately there's a recipe of vinegar, baking soda, water and dish soap that is very effective on the smell and quick and easy to mix up.Your Mom has master bater???? I am shaking my head trying to figure out what was said that was misheard that way! Yeah, Hospice is always trying to get as much as possible out of me, it's building up my saying "No" muscles, though. You really did have a long day, didn't you? But a very productive one from the sounds. Glad the new doc is a good one. Pretty young women!

Mema--Hospice is still asking for a lot from everyone, and lots of staff seem to be thriving on it.I guess it's just me that couldn't keep up anymore. And that's ok. I hadn't thought of an upside down cake, that's a great idea! Having a follow up appointment on Halloween would probably freak me out, too. Not an auspicious day for such things. I just updated my yahoo mail to the new version and am grumbling to myself about that.Why all these changes all the time?Things were working just fine the way they were and I was used to it and liked the way it looked!Of course, I said the very same things the last time the mail updated, too, so, I guess I'll adapt, eventually.

Goldie--it will be very interesting to find out what the doc is actually saying. Hoping the heart valve blockage isn't serious.

Karen--balking computers are not fun! Leftovers are a big part of the fun of big Thanksgiving meals. I'm a big fan of the Day After Thanksgiving sandwich--bread, turkey, stuffing, cranberry sauce, mashed potato instead of a top slice of bread, smothered in gravy--ah, yum!And getting out the big stock pot and boiling all the little scrids of meat off the turkey carcass and canningthe stock and making turkey rice soup with the scrids. Someday the skull shaped baking pans will come out in silicone, those are a lot cheaper. I wouldn't spent that much on a baking pan I'd likely only use once a year, either!

Chevy--OUCH! Just thinking bout that hurts! But I remember my mom doing that with splinters and stuff, and, as you said, it had to be done, so we got through it. Phone fires seem to be more common these days, probably because the phones are so prevalent. Not something anyone needs, though!

Karen--WOW!Pretty inventive! And kinda scary, too!

Ille--frozen margaritas sound yummy, especially with fajitas.

Chevy--LOL!!

Dances with Hornets' DOTD:

Halloween Candy Corn Jell-O® Shots

Ingredients

• 1 1/2 cups boiling water, divided
• 1 (3 ounce) package lemon-flavored gelatin mix (such as Jell-O®)
• 2 cups vodka, divided
• ice cubes
• 1 (3 ounce) package orange-flavored gelatin mix (such as Jell-O®)
• 2 tablespoons warm water
• 1 (.25 ounce) envelope unflavored gelatin
• 1 (14 ounce) can sweetened condensed milk
• 1/2 cup light rum

Directions

1. Pour 3/4 cup boiling water into a small bowl. Add lemon gelatin mix; stir until dissolved. Pour 1 cup vodka into a glass measuring cup; add enough ice to make 1 1/4 cup. Stir into lemon gelatin until slightly thickened; remove any unmelted ice. Fill tall shot glasses 1/3 of the way with lemon gelatin mixture.
2. Refrigerate until lemon gelatin layer is set, at least 90 minutes.
3. Pour remaining 3/4 cup boiling water into the small bowl. Add orange gelatin mix; stir until dissolved. Pour remaining 1 cup vodka into a glass measuring cup; add enough ice to make 1 1/4 cup. Stir into orange gelatin until slightly thickened; remove any unmelted ice. Pour over lemon gelatin layer.
4. Refrigerate until orange gelatin layer is set, at least 90 minutes.
5. Pour 2 tablespoons warm water into a bowl. Add unflavored gelatin; stir until dissolved. Stir in condensed milk and rum. Pour over orange gelatin layer.
6. Refrigerate until top layer is set, at least 30 minutes.

Teka

goldie...maybe the lighting, but daughter looks younger than 34.

Chevy...now would be the time to visit liquor stores and put them on notice.

By the pics......a lot of partying!

NM...Sadie......Teka waving Hi! ;o))

The following pic was taken from Facebook.

My niece was enjoying some kind of drink.

I would've taken a (teaspoon) sip if at the dinner.

karentwriter

illimae,

It's so much fun to have watch parties, isn't it? I love it. This week I won't be going all out, just the new drinks to try. And I need to clean. I've been kind of lazy since the lumpectomy. Poor fiance has been doing the work. I will need to suck it up with the chemo and radiation coming.

Goldie,

Yeah, poor Jake suffered quite a bit through his life. I miss him lots! The sentiments of child birth at 48, seemed to be consistent with everyone who hears that. lol! Anyhoo, the pans I spoke of look like this...

I think I will have to try that drink you shared too...I'll have loads of new Walking Dead drinks just from here.

NM,

My fiance even suggested waiting until after Halloween for pricing. Probably a pretty good idea. I'm so jealous of the wine tasting! That has to be a good time! I remember I went on one before my daughter was born on Lake Minnetonka. So we could drink our wines and see all the giant homes on the lake. It was a good time for sure!

I'll be back later. I need to clean for the get together...Is it (I'm always here with a question...lol) normaly to have pain in your arm (the side of the lump) after the lumpectomy. My arms feels bruised by the elbow and down the forearm. I'm wondering if some nerve was damaged or something. Man..I'm a total spaz worrying about every pain.

EDIT - I found plenty of articles talking about this. I feel much better now. Whew.

goldie0827

Karen, $36.00

https://www.williams-sonoma.com/products/nordic-ware-mini-skull-cakelet-pan/

karentwriter

Goldie,

Thanks! I'm going to look at that story after Halloween and see if they lower the price further. Then I'll make these fun pizza skulls!

Dara_Diverse

Hi girls!

So much going on in here, I missed several days of posts and wow, this place is hopping.

Karen, welcome to the lounge, it is nice to have you. A child at 48? HOLY THE COW, that is brave! Sorry you were hit with the RB aka the rat basturd. I love your posts, you seem like a great gal to partay with. Sending rounds in your honor to all.

I am trying to catch up with work, got my EWWA up at 9:30 am after not going to sleep til after 5am. Had a kick ass fire in the pit last night and drank almost til de sun scorched my ass and motivated me to git some sleep.

Sue, have not yet made that appt, I cringe at the thought. Will def do it this calendar year so that I only have to pay 20%. Also need to git back to ortho for my trigger thumb, damn thing is clicking again.

Cam Cam Cam, so sorry and sad to hear about Les. But her attitude sounds wonderful. Remind her of all the stage III/IV goils in de lounge past and present who are living full lives despite their diagnoses. Love to Leslie and to you. And of course some for young Joey. Saw on FB that he is in the HS marching band.

Lori, your DD is so beautiful and I agree she looks to be in her early 20's.

Sue, Lori, Ill, Karen and all others stressing, hurting or skeered, sending love, prayers and huggles to ye.

Almost lost my post so gonna sign off and git back to work. Hate working, the day is glorious here, abundant sunshine and going to near 80. Love this time of year, very chilly nights and great blue sky days.

Gonna try to post a pic of my fire for those not on facebook. Used a color enhancer and it was uber fn cool.

CheeRs goils, love and peace....peace and love to all mese lubly ladies!

goldie0827

I saw one where they made meat balls out of the skull and served it on sketti.

illimae

Karen, you may have some pain from the lymph node/lumpectomy for several months. The nerves get all worked up on occasion and it feels like a fire any bite or sting to me.

Happy Sunday all

karentwriter

illimae,

Thank you! That makes me feel even more okay with the pain. I had a sore bicep before dx, so I'm guessing more explanation of the pain then and now...I truly think that tumor was pressing on something in that line, including causing the stomach pains on that same side.

Goldie,

That sounds good too, but I have to beware certain foods going forward now as I'm going to do my best to try and prevent the best I can. But what will be will be.

Dara_divers,

Thank you! My mom is either brave or crazy...probably both. She is 63 with a soon to be 15 year old...yipes! I don't know that I could do it. I was thinking about having kiddos with my fiance once we got married, but now with all of this, I'm thinking it may not be the best idea for many reasons. I do love hosting parties. As hectic as it gets to do that, I love it!

Jazzygirl

Hi folks- back from my yoga retreat and more on that tomorrow. Just wanted to check in on a few folks here this afternoon who I know are either in the hospital or having procedures. Ill you were one of the ones on my list, also wanted to see if there were any updates on Leslie from Cami.

Ill- I am glad you are on the other side of the procedure. You can scream, cry, cuss and all the rest. I pray the gamma knife did it's job and the MRI scan is clean next go around. Heal well sister and have that cocktail when you are up to it

I put you all in the yoga circle with us this weekend and hope you felt the love

NativeMainer

Good Morning, Loungettes!Happy Monkey Day! Here I am getting up for work and it is totally dark. As in NO sun. This is so not right. And I noticed last night that it is getting dark WAY too early in the evening. And yet here it is the end of October and still getting temps in the 60's during the daytime. Seems like it should be colder--not that I'm wanting the colder weather, just observing. It seems like the seasons have shifted a month or so and are running out of sync with the calendar. Someone needs to talk to Mother Nature!

Hmm, I meant to post a pic with yesterday's DOTD and forgot. But I'm sure you can all picture candy corn in a shot glass!

Teka--interesting looking drink! Any idea what the name of it was?

Karen--that pan would make some scary cakes! Good idea to wait for after Halloween price drops, you can probably pick up one pretty inexpensively then. The feeling bruised and sore on the lumpectomy arm side is normal. Often surgeon leans on that arm during the surgery, or the arm can be manipulated into some pretty odd positions, especially if any lymph nodes are being taken. The worrying about every pain is par for the course, it's something we all live with but it does fade over time. Never goes away completely, but it does fade quite a bit.

Those pizza skulls are awesome!

Dara--that fire enhancer certainly is cool! Love the colors!

Goldie--sketti and skulls, perfect for Halloween!

Karen--yourMom sure is brave, or crazy, or maybe a bit of both? Cudos to her!

Jazzy--No wonder my weekend was so pleasant, you had me covered! Welcome home.

Dances with Hornets' DOTD:

Smoking Skulls

Ingredients

1 ounce bourbon

1/2 ounce lime juice

1/4 ounce grenadine

splash of Mountain Dew

dry ice chips, for presentation (optional)

Note: Always observe dry ice safety measures: Never touch dry ice with bare skin and do not swallow.

Instructions

1. Pour bourbon, lime juice and grenadine into a shaker over ice.

2. Shake well and strain into shot glass.

3. Drop dry ice chips into shot glass and top with Mountain Dew.

Note: Dry ice chips will sink to the bottom of the shot glass. Do not swallow them, wait till dry ice has evaporated to consume the drink.

goldie0827

Karen, what you are feeling could also be what they call cording. Almost feels like someone is pulling a cord inside your arm. Gosh, not sure what to say about having more children. I understand where you are coming from. Say you don't have cancer, and have a baby in a year and 2 years down the road you hit and killed in a car crash. You don't NOT have children cuz you are afraid you might get in a car accident. And you did catch it early. Tough call.

Love the colors on the fire Wacko. I too am sort of a pyro, but we really have to be careful out here. I will let my DD know that you said she looks younger than 34. How is that sweet lil Logan

Also missing pictures of aNORAble. Mary, calling mary?????

Jazzy, how sweet of you to think of all of us at your retreat. Always feel the love from my sisters here.

NM, we are suppose to have a warm winter out here where I am. Not sure if that is for the whole country or not. Teka's drink she posted looks like a Bloody Mary? I too hate that it gets dark so early and stays dark so late.

Teka

NM,

My niece didn't say............thanks goldie! ;o)

karentwriter

Goldie,

Yeah this is also true. I know I caught it early, but I guess I fear it will come back, honestly it doesn't feel gone. I'm guessing this is something we all go through, but it feels like this will always be apart of me. But it is early. I'm sure with time that feeling will fade as well. I think we just have to see what happens with the treatments and how old I am before they think it's safe to try to make a baby. I DO NOT want to be 48 and pregnant! lol!

NM,

That shot made me shiver a little. lol! Okay I should get to work myself ladies. I'll be back later. Thanks for all of the information on the arm. It has really helped me to feel better about the pains.

Oh and here are the drinks I posted earlier that I actually made last night..mine aren't as pretty as the original (professional) photos...I'll admit. I had to go with the black food coloring as my combination of other colors wasn't doing the trick. It looked far more grey in the orange drink when I first started out than it does in the final concoction.

Chevyboy

So yes...  I have a one-legged rash.  Teka, I still shave my legs, but what a person doesn't want to do, is spray a fragrance with alcohol all over ones-self after your shower!  

Actually I whipped up a new "rash-cream"!  It is Preparation H...  Hydrocortisone, Anti-itch cream, Benadryl Cream, and one for athletes foot!   I'm here to tell you, it WORKS!!!  OMG!!!  I wear compression stockings for my one leg with lymphedema, and it helps the one-legged rash on my other!    

I've always had some sort of skin problem, SOMEwhere!  But I think this time, I should patent it, and make millions...  Better than pole-dancing!

ChiSandy

Karen, you are so brave to get preggers at 48. My sis was 42 for her first & only daughter, and freaked out when she saw the phrase "elderly primipara" on her chart. I consoled her by admitting my chart said the same...at 33! You can expect to get a few zingers & zaps from nerves reconnecting for about 12-18 mos. They're only momentary, though. And don't freak if you feel a lump at the incisions--they're usually seromas if soft & a bit sore, or scar tissue if hard & painless. Tell your surgeon, but you will likely be reassured.

Back from Iowa City last night (it was gorgeous & in the 70s till Sat. night, cleared up Sun. morning, and I hit rain about 10 mi. before crossing back into IL). Did several performances and actually scored a couple of booking promises for 2018-19. (In all the years I've been attending, this is the first time it bore fruit). Catnapped, then a belated b'day dinner w/Bob at the Palm--I had done a lotta "sipping" at the folk conf., (and will definitely indulge in Vegas), so I limited myself to a 6-ouncer of 2013 Davis Bynum (Sonoma) Pinot Noir to go with my wagyu ribeye. Best quaff at the conf. was Graham Beck sparkling Brut Rosé from S. Africa.

All is not rosy on the "other beverage" front--aka coffee. The Sheraton IA City had large filter packs of Starbucks, but for some reason only the machines for the little bitty pods. After the first cup (which was <4 oz and stronger than espresso) flooded all over the desk, I finessed dripping a teeny bit of water at a time while the "on" light was still lit, then dump the filter pack and top up with hot water to taste. Fortunately, the meeting area and brunch/dinner room had urns of the stuff.

But my trip to Vegas will pose a true caffeine challenge. We'll be in an all-suite resort (timeshare freebie in exchange for enduring an upsell sales pitch), and the concierge just admitted that despite having a full kitchenette the only coffeemakers in the suites are that same stupid one-cup teeny-pod drippers, but with at least an unlimited supply of those crummy stale little pods. (Last visit to LV at the Elara in 2015 there was at least a kettle & Melitta filter pot--and I had to sweet-talk the Starbucks in the lobby into grinding & selling me a half-lb. of beans and a few filters; the other two HGV properties where we'd stayed had Keurigs). This time there will be three of us needing coffee at the same time every morning; no room svce.; and I need coffee before I can get dressed and go downstairs for coffee. So I rounded up my Aeropress (looks like a manual breast pump) and some filters, mini-hand-grinder, and a small acrylic French press to pack in my suitcase. (Gordy knows how to work a French press & Bob doesn't mind the pod stuff, since that's what he drinks when he has to stay down at the Hilton Oak Lawn). There will be a kettle. I'm off to CVS to pick up an Rx, then to Metropolis for a half-lb. of beans, then to my workout; will be a packin' fool after dinner--tomorrow is too full a day to do much packing, since I have a mani-pedi and a downtown rehearsal at 5pm. Our flight Wed. a.m is at 10:15 at ORD, so we have to leave the house by 8 at the latest.

And it'll be in the 80s in LV, so yeah, for me it's still leg-shaving season. (T-shirt dresses are easy to pack but do show some leg. Don't mind the knee-surg. scars and spider veins showing, but leg hair's gross. Gotta do the pits, too, if I expect to swim). We leave Chi. in the 40s and get home to possible flurries--ugh. And though there are no molds in Vegas, it's still ragweed season ("moderate" levels). That chit will grow anywhere before the first frost. Here, no more pollen-&-mold counts: old Dr. Leija stopped going up to the hospital roof after Fri. and won't start up again till mid-March. Amazingly, no other place in Chi. does allergen counts!

Jazzygirl

Good evening friends- I started a pretty lengthy post this morning, lost it, then never got back here until now. So I will just do a quick update for now and share some photos from the yoga weekend retreat area we were in!

goldie0827

Teka, not shaving legs was one of the nice things about doing chemo!

Karen, I never got cancer out of my head until after I hit my 5 year mark. Was so nice not to think of cancer EVERY SINGLE F'ing DAY. Then BAMM, at 6 years the RB struck again. So, what drinks did you do for your party? And do you know what chemo you will doing?

ED, leave it to you to use Prep H for a cream. And what is a one legged rash anyways. Oh, I'll bet Cami has an answer for that one!

Sandy, what resort are you staying at in Vegas. We did one those "sales pitches" while visiting in Lake Havasu….never again! Hairy legs or pits, a big no no!!!!!

Jazzy, that picture of the yellow leafed trees looks like you are just looking out a window. Looks like you had a most beautiful and relaxing weekend.

Cami, those stuffed shells that Leslie made looked scrumcious! How are you holding up?

LDB, thinking of you today and just knowing how concerned you are. May they find nothing at all! I love you and sending big huge prayers your way. I hope you don't have to wait long for results. FURB!

NativeMainer

Good Morning, Loungettes!Happy Twofer Tuesday! Hospice was pretty good and did give me only half a day, but I specified that I could go to Bar Harbor only if there was not a staff meeting in the morning, and there was one. So I skipped it. Moderate sized no-no since the meetings are supposed to be mandatory. Also heard about another nurse leaving full time and going per diem. And a bunch of new nurses are starting. We've really outgrown the office space we have, that's for sure. And we've started seeing patients in the northernmost part of the county, 100 miles from the office. The nurse that's primary in that area is retiring at the end of December. Life is getting entertaining in Hospice! But I did get the time I needed to finish up some paperwork and other errands for the teaching job that officially starts on Thursday. And, of, course, have run into a small glitch. I need to download 3 files, but the site only accepted one file. So I've got a couple e-mails out asking for help, should get this squared away soon. I have until 3 days after I start to finish this--proving I'm eligible to work in the US. If all else fails I'll drive to the Kaplan university in Augusta and take care of it in person Thursday afternoon. Flu clinics are starting to slow down, so things are easing off on the juggling 3 jobs front. Thank the Lord for on line calendar systems accessible by computer, phone, tablet and everything else! Next step is to start scheduling walks with Sadie so we both get some exercise. I need it badly and Sadie just loves it.

Goldie--Teka's drink could be aBloody Mary, but the rim trim looks different. Or maybe that's what makes the drink special?Teka?

Teka--leg shaving season IS nearly over! Yeah!

Karen--I remember that feeling of wondering for sure it the Rat Ba$#ard was really gone, and if it would come back. I think it was almost 3 years before I got to the point where I could plan something beyond the next medical appointment, let alone a year away. Thinking about something like making babies while you are in the midst of treatment has got to be really hard. I think waiting a bit to make that decision is wise. Once the intensive treatment is over things start feeling differently, and I think it's easier to have a longer term perspective. But having babies was never an option for me, so what do I know? Those are scary looking drinks you mixed up! Got names for them?

Chevy--wow, that is a wonderful sounding concoction! I bet you could make money off it!

Chi--So glad you got some booking promises! I'd love to try a sparkling Brut Rose, will have to look for one. Funny the hotel would have coffee packs that don't fit the coffee pots. I bet they end up cleaning up lots of overflow messes! Sounds like you need a separate packing pod for your coffee service, one that you can move from bag to bag and know you have everything youneed with you at all times! I guess I'm lucky, as much as I prefer freshly ground and French pressed coffee I can live with Starbucks Via Veranda blend instant coffee. Just so long as I don't have to use powdered coffee "creamer"! And I'm with you, need a cup of coffee to get awake enough to go find a cup of coffee in the ayem!.

Jazzy--Is that an actual window with a view or a painting?It's gorgeous, either way! The mountains are incredible. What a wonderful place for a retreat.

Dances with Hornets' DOTD:

VAMPIRE COCKTAIL

Ingredients

• 2 cups raspberries
• 1/4 cup sugar
• 4 ounces vodka
• 2 ounces amaretto
• 2 ounces orange juice
• 6 ounces club soda
• 4 plastic syringes

Instructions

1. Puree the raspberries in a blender or food processor. Press the puree through a fine mesh strainer to separate the pulp from the seeds. Discard the seeds.
2. Combine the puree with the sugar in a small saucepan over medium high heat. Stir frequently and cook until mixture darkens and thickens, about 10 minutes. Chill until ready to use.
3. Add vodka and amaretto to a shaker with ice and shake until very cold, about 20 seconds. Stir in orange juice and club soda. Pour into iced glasses.
4. Fill syringes with equal parts of the raspberry syrup and place in glasses before serving.