how about drinking?

janky

Thank you - I am pretty pumped! I will have a celebratory beverage tomorrow once all this radioactive sh#$% is out of my system I'm eating chocolate and gummy bears instead...

Jazzygirl

Good choice Janky. That is also a good way to celebrate!

illimae

NativeMainer

Good Morning, Loungettes! Happy Thirsty Thursday! Raining this ayem, so plans are for indoor chores and projects today. Tomorrow evening is dinner and a wellness spa visit with an old girlfriend from high school and a new girlfriend I will be meeting for the first time. Should be a lot of fun. Sadie will like having me home for the next few days.

I got an e-mail from a Clinical Manager in the other Hospice office (she was CM #3 in the main office) wanting me to work for them 1 to 2 days a week. CM #4, after saying there might not be any work for me this week, asked me to work a 4th day. (I said no.) Life sure gets interesting at times.

Jazzy-- a true blonde moment!

Janky--HOORAY for the good scan results!Happy Dance Time!

NM's DODT:

Land of Happy

Ingredients in The Land of Happy Cocktail

1 1⁄2 oz Fords gin

1 1⁄2 oz Honeydew-basil-white balsamic shrub*

Prosecco, to float

Lemon wedge, to rim glass

Basil salt (chopped fresh basil combined with coarse salt), to rim glass

Glass:

Coupe

How to make The Land of Happy Cocktail

Rub the lemon wedge on half of the outside of a coupe glass, coat with the basil salt mixture and set aside.

Add the gin and syrup to a cocktail shaker with ice and shake until chilled.

Double-strain into the prepared coupe glass.

Float the chilled prosecco on top.

*Honeydew-basil-white-balsamic shrub: Cut off the rind and remove the seeds from 1 whole honeydew, then cut the melon into chunks. Combine it in the blender with 1 cup fresh basil, and blend until smooth. Pour the mixture into a saucepan, add 4 cups white sugar and 4 cups cold water, and simmer until the sugar has dissolved, being careful not to overheat. Remove it from the heat and let it cool, then strain through a chinois cloth. Add 1 ½ cups white balsamic vinegar, and keep the shrub in the refrigerator for up to two weeks.

janky

Good Morning all!!

NativeMainer - Your posts are just like a 'tonic' (Gin and a twist of lime )! I look forward to your news sharing and escapades with Sadie! Cheers...

To all my other MBC sisters, and brothers, I appreciate being able to learn, laugh, and even cry through this forum, you are rockstars!! Off to get Income Tax done, then exercise class, then book club tonight (gonna need to find some energy Happy Thursday everyone!!

MemaSue56

Morning DahhhhLinKs,

Back again, yes I am. Not doing too bad today for having chemo Tues. Did wake upwith the nausea tho, so took one of my pills. Compazine ( generic) works OK.

Lowee - so glad you are feeling better and that DH's concerns are being checked out. Still praying for your mom. Wish I cud wave a wand and make everthin and everone better.

Janky - happy that you are finding our thread good for your soul. We do like to kid each other sometimes but always love the funnies some post.

Like these widdle sayins - Med term definitions with a twist, haha.

Pelvis Second cousin to Elvis

Benign What you b after you b eight

Coma A punctuation mark

Gotta go lie down, feeling pretty dizzy today....kno that I Lubslubslubs all ya'll

ChiSandy

Was going to attend Cellars' "Dine Out For Life" event (AIDS benefit) but I just can't bring myself to sit there for three hours of half-hourly wine raffles after I'm done eating--don't really feel like drinking and I'd be going alone since Bob is working overnight and Gordy is with his girlfriend. The staff all know me, but still... I have a case of wine to pick up after the tasting there two weeks ago, which requires I drive to haul it home; but even if I can find parking (not a given on an event night) I shouldn't be driving after probably having a couple drinks. I'm pretty wiped out after a voice lesson and shopping/errands anyway.

ChiSandy

Dang! Not only doesn't Whole Foods carry Aperol, neither does Independent Spirits--the upscale artisanal alco-store down the block. Ten different single-barrel bourbons, a wall of craft beers, wines most people have never heard of...but no Aperol. Will have to try Binny's (alcohol superstore). I am really jonesing for those spritzes, and Campari is just too bitter.

CeliaC

ChiSandy - Did a search for Aperol in IL and Andersonville Wine & Spirits (not too far away?) came up as having it for $24.99 per bottle. Amazon also sells it.

• 5201 N Clark Street, Chicago, IL 60640 Tel 773.769.0858
  

NativeMainer

Good Morning, Loungettes! Looks like I posted my note intended for this thread to another thread yesterday. Reposting:

Good morning, Loungettes!Happy TGIF day! I got a lot done on a project yesterday, and quite a bit done around the house during the work breaks. I just finished an e-mail to both Hospice offices that I am happy to work 1 or 2 days for Augusta, and up to 3 days a week between the two, and tossing the work of coordination to the Clinical Managers of the respective offices. I wonder how the Bangor office will react to having competition for my time? Should be interesting. Never got a call from the recruiter for the Health Services Director position, so that's probably off the table. Clinical Manager #4 made a comment yesterday that cleared up a lot for me. She mentioned that she felt really uncomfortablewhen she was working per diem because she didn't consistently get a 3rd day of work each week, and some weeks didn't get any work. During that time I was getting 2 to 3 days of work pretty consistently. CM#1 was assigning per diem work by seniority, which put me on the top of list. I think CM#4 felt I was getting some favoritism. Maybe I was, I don't know, but if she thought so that explains her attitude. And I am going to truly enjoy the first time she calls and asks me to work and I can say "no" cuz I'm already booked in the other office, or don't need any more days that week! And I will still have 4 days a week that I can take Sadie swimming, go kayaking, work on decluttering and other house projects, and do other stuff.

The local news has been centering on the manhunt for a man who shot and killed a Sherriff's Deputy in Norridgewock, Maine.That's only 41 miles from my home, and a place I used to go when I was a visiting nurse for another company. The guy is still thought to be in the area. I've even heard it mentioned on CBS This Morning. Scary.

Janky--glad the posts are entertaining! Sadie keeps me entertained and I love writing about her. One of my goals for this summer is to make her Fb page more active. Have fun running errands and at the book club.

Mema--I love those fun definitions, too.

Bacteria--back door to the cafeteria

Urine--opposite of you're out

Enema--not a friend

Coma--a punctuation mark

Chi--while the dinner sounds nice, three hours of half hourly wine raffles does sound a bit much. Don't blame you for not staying for that part.

In Honor of the new Royal Baby:

Countess Bunty Rothschild's DOTD

The Countess Cocktail

Ingredients

• 2 oz vodka
• 1/2 oz grenadine
• Black cherry soda, to top
• Rosemary sprig, for garnish

Instructions

In a cocktail shaker, pour in the vodka and grenadine and top with ice. Shake well. Strain into a cocktail glass with crushed ice and top with black cherry soda. Garnish with a sprig of rosemary.

NativeMainer

Now to get caught up properly:

Good Morning, Loungettes!Happy Saturday! I had a lovely evening yesterday. Met a friend and made a new friend over dinner at a fun local Irish Pub, then we were going to go to a Ladies Pampering evening at a Chiropractic Clinic, but the line was, literally, out the door and into the parking lot. Rather than stand around in the rain and talk, we went to a bookstore/café and had a cup of coffee and yakked for another hour or so. We've made some tentative plans to get together again through the summer, including a trip to a wildlife preserve where the other 2 can rent a canoe and I can take my kayak and maybe take one of the guided paddle trips. All three of us are overweight and have joint or back issues and don't move terribly fast anymore, and understand the need for a break now and again, so there shouldn't be any struggling to keep up. The new friend, Jessie, has a couple of big dogs, we may try a doggy play date with them and Sadie to see what happens.

Yesterday I saw the first Robin of the year in the yard! AND, I saw a Cardinal hanging around the cedar bush in the front yard. I know Robins nest in that bush, I'm wondering if there might be a pair of Cardinals nesting in there, too. The one I saw was not going to the suet feeder, but ducked into bush a couple times that I saw.I've been thinking a lot about my Aunt Linda, and I kind of hope that sighting was a visitation from her.

Chi--I hope you find the Aperol, I think I want to try some too. Haven't looked in the bigger stores here yet.

Countess Bunty Rothschild's DOTD

illimae

Hi all, Squire Mungo Bennett the Third here, lol. Things have been quite for me, just work, too busy try to prep for medical retirement this fall but I go on a short vacation to Florida soon, which I can’t wait for. I love the water! I had two strong margaritas last night, having a little trouble getting motivated this morning. Hope everyone has a great weekend 😎

goldie0827

Jaybird, my mom doesn't need the whole tree removed, just everything that fell. I hope Avery is able to handle things well and not give you any grief. Same with your mom. And you looked fabulous in your after surgery pic.

Sandy, the place we get our tires (discount tire), replaces the tires for free if you get a flat. I have some things in my garden, plan on doing more today and tomorrow. Tomatoes and peppers that we start ourselves. Now I need to get more seeds growing, depending on what I have in the freezer.

Karen, I have to laugh at your comment "my son who was turning 7 took his little sister to lunch and a movie".

NM, mom did get moved, and you are right about everything, Pt, OT, medicare, Medicaid, hospice, long term. It's been hell trying to get her in, but I think we are good now. Her room mate is not the greatest tho. But that's ok. 3K on the tree was to remove the whole tree. The wood isn't good for heating, it's a box elder. I asked my brother to ask his DD's boyfriend, but seems as though no one is willing to help. She will eventually get a citation from the city. Hooray for you for saying NO to CM 4. And having to say no to more work cuz the other office wants you. Take that, CM4! Interesting… Honeydew-basil-white-balsamic shrub. A visit from Aunt Linda, how special. Same thing happened with a friend I was talking to, and we were talking about her sister, and it was just a sparrow, but it came and hung out on my brothers deck. For quite some time too. My brother said that has NEVER happened. So, we said it was her sister.

Janky, that's the best news we all want to hear. Other than, "we see no cancer at all, you are completely cancer free". How nice would that be? As for the support here, it's exactly why I don't leave. I don't talk about my situation on FB, just not the place for it. And yes, we laugh and cry and support one another. I have some good friends from here that have left. I am friends with them on FB, but still it's just not the same as here. Don't talk to them much, not like here.

LDB, I'd wave that wand wit ya! Cute med terms. And it's always good to see you, iffin for just a few. You have a lot on your plate. Wish I could toss it in the garbage for ya.

Ill, are you not close to any water where you are at in TX?

Sorry to have been MIA for a few days, just been busy. Went to the movies yesterday, saw Rampage with the Rock. It was good. A little bit "out there", but still good. Be back in a few to tell funny story about DH.

goldie0827

Ok, so it seems like my husband likes to "compete" with me, re aches and pains. Anyways, yesterday he got up and says "I feel the best today than I have felt the last 4 months. So, he went out in the morning, before we had to leave for town and did a few orders, maybe 5? Then we went to chiro, then to the movies, then to lunch and then groceries, which was very short, cuz we didn't need much. Anyways, he wants the cart to lean on while walking. Well, he's really limping and I said "what happened to feeling so good, you look like your hurting. Are you ok?" He says "No, I've been walking all day." I wanted to laugh, but didn't. And asked where he was walking, that we hadn't been anywhere walking until the shopping. Unless you want to count walking to and from the truck. So he says to me, "you asked me a question and I answered you and as usual you don't like my answer.

Sometimes I see him really limping the house and then I watch him when he goes outside and the limp is not nearly as bad as when in the house and I can see him!

MEN!!!!

janky

Yayy it is Saturday, though I am retired so every day can be Saturday! Lord Clarence Fauntleroy here

NM - I am thinking it is your Aunt Linda out there, enjoy her presence as well as that of your outdoor friends.

goldie0827 - It is great news indeed, and here's to sticking around until this beast gets beat for all of us! Yes indeed - MEN!

illimae - when and where in Florida? I am heading to Brunswick, GA May 11, then Tampa, FL May 18 -20, then Sarasota, FL May 20 - May 23, then home..

I am so o o looking forward to warmth, sunshine and family!! Wishing you all a happy, healthy weekend,,,Cheers!

Jazzygirl

Hi friends- happy weekend! It was a busy week with interviewing for new work opps. I had a couple FT things come my way, but one won't move forward and the other said they would contact me within 48 hours for the next level if interested (that would have been yesterday). I am very realistic that a 58 year old is not a first choice in the FT employment world, but always worth a conversation. I have a new contracting opp that I do feel is likely to come to fruition this week. They need help yesterday, it is local and should hear more this week. It will keep me busy through the duration of 2018. Fingers crossed!

I am also busy with more spring home maintenance, gardening, etc. I re-landscaped part of my front rock garden to put in more heat hardy plants. The front yard is looking really nice, some great blooms in the back yard too. And a pesky squirrel that is eating far to many of flowers and moving things to the front yard, where he/she seems not to go. Stupid squirrel.

I have been having problems with my asthma and finally broke down yesterday and went to my PCP's office. She is out on medical leave, but saw a wonderful CNP who listened to my chest and said I have a wheezy chest so she offered a few things. An allergy shot for all the misery with spring allergies right now (it is dry and windy here as most from the west are aware) and my allergies are wicked and it can trigger the asthma. She also gave me a nebulizer treatment which helped me to feel better immediately, and also got some Advair (steroids) which I have used quite a bit when I get flares. On the mend! Although living in the desert has really improved my asthma, the crazy winds and smoke from wildfires (in the past) make it all worse again. That being said, I shall live!

Goldie- ugh sister, I hate that competing with the health issues. The men I know who are more empathetic tend to be men who have had major health issues themselves. But have seen women do it too (my sister is particularly bad about that with me sometimes). I don't know anyone middle aged who is not dealing with some problem, some worse than others. I am sure you must have to bite your tongue a lot with DH. Well, I hope he feels better soon for everyone's sake.

Ill and Janky both have trips to Florida on the horizon, nice!

NM- greetings from Lady Octavius Frinton, lol! I was surprised they named the royal baby of Louis, because that is so very french! But as you know from history, lots of history between dynasties in France and England through time. Do you see the video of the other two kids going in to meet their new brother? That little Charlotte has the essence of her grandmother, Princess Diana with her little wave.

I love hearing about the adventures of you and Miss Sadie too. I think there is a book in this, maybe even a movie some day?

Mema- good to hear from you and hoping you are feeling better after the nauseousness on chemo earlier this week. Wishing you better days sister.

Celia C, how are you doing? And the Karens? Cami and Dara too?

ChiSandy- do you have more gigs coming up? I need to get out to some more jam sessions, I am seeing a few more around as the weather warms up and a few more venues who bring in jazz bands and have more opportunities for this. I did a steller one in February and was very well received!

Time to get back to laundry, window washing and the rest. Hard to believe we are already to the end of April, where does the time go?

ChiSandy

Celia, thanks. I’m at my car dealership getting my Outback’s “well-baby checkup;” after that I’ll head to the nearest Binny’s in Skokie (where the dealership is). I am on a mission for spritzers!

Jazzy, Advair works wonders. Unfortunately, it can weaken the vocal folds, so not the best choice for a singer. I do okay on a Ventolin hit every couple of weeks (on average) as needed, and nightly montelukast & Zyrtec. Gordy uses Symbicort, but not as often as he used to before spending most nights at his gf’s place (she has no pets). When Gordy was 4 we invested in a home nebulizer—saves us $$$ on ER or Urgent Care visits; sometimes I even pack a battery-operated one if I’m going to visit somewhere smoggy or pollen-y.

Last night I made ribeye steak, so we killed off the last couple glasses of Signorello 2010 Cab. Sauv. I’d been Coravining. If Bob gets home too late to go out to dinner, I have a couple of wild sockeye filets defrosting—in which case I will start a bottle of a good Pinot Noir

Jazzygirl

Chi- yes, I do fine with occasional puff of Ventolin myself. About once a year, I find I need more help. Usually it comes with the humidity rise with monsoon season in mid Summer, but have found the past couple years, lots of triggers at different times of the year. Whenever I get any resp thing now (cold, etc.), it gets worse too.

I am really feeling so much better. Whew!

Here are some pics from the gardens.....

illimae

We have Galveston but the water is brown and there’s a lot of river run off. My BFF since 7th grade is driving down from WI with her family and mom for her mom’s 70th birthday. I’m flying to Panama City 5/10-5/15 to join them in Destin. I love love love the water. Can’t wait!

janky

illimae - Nice! So nice to have long standing friendships!! Enjoy:)

karen1956

Lori it should have said 17! I’m 2 weeks he’ll be 28, next week my oldest daughter 32 and youngest turned 20 last month. I am so blessed to have all these years with them. I think there was a time I wondered if I would get to see my youngest grow up.

NativeMainer

Good Morning, Loungettes!Happy Sunday Funday! It was so nice to see the sun come out yesterday afternoon, and the temp shot up to 60 degrees! This morning is still warmer than it has been for a while, but very, very foggy. Hopefully that will burn off soon. Regardless, I need to move a bunch of collected trash out of the garage and into the dumpster. Not to mention that will help me get moving. What am I going to do to get myself walking again?????

Got some really good news yesterday afternoon. The guy who killed the Sheriff's Deputy was caught. There are a lot of very relieved people in that area now.

Took Sadie with me to suppah and grocery shopping after, so she got a nice ride (and a piece of ham) and then came home and got totally muddy in the yard. And then came in and jumped up on the bed, cuz the hooman forgot to close the bedroom door. Fortunately, the mess was confined to the pillow cases mostly, but the whole bed needs to get changed out today to get rid of the wet doggy smell. She slept really well last night!

Illi--I hear you about motivation. I'm having a motivation deficit myself. What can we do to motivate ourselves?

Goldie--I am so glad you Mom got moved! I know it's hard for her not to have the best room or best roommate, but opportunities to change rooms or change roommates will come along. I am always amazed at how quickly and completely many people adapt and settle into a long term care setting. Just wait till she makes friends with a couple of the caregivers and they figure her quirks out. She'll do just fine. LOL at DH and the exaggerated limp! I guess he wants sympathy fromyou but not from the neighbors?

Janky--I'm semi-retired, and if I don't cross the days off the calendar I never know what day it is! It's very different way to live.

Jazzy--so good to hear you have good prospects for work this year. Squirrels can be destructive beasts when they get going. Having the asthma flare up can be a real pain in the anatomy. Do you have a nebulizer machine at home? I bought one for about $70 a few years ago, and keep some albuterol and some duoneb on hand. When the hand held inhalers don't work well I'll get out the neb and that usually works great. It's also reassuring to know that I have that capability here at home. Do you take anything regularly to control the asthma? I've been using Advair for about a year now and even though I am not good at getting the second dose in every day it has made quite a difference for me this past year. I didn't see the little ones going to meet the new brother, I'll look for that. Someday there may be a book in Silly Sadie's adventures. I won't rule it out!

Chi--A battery operated neb? I didn't even know that was an option, although I should not be surprised. I wonder if I should get one to keep in the car?Hmmm, will have to think about that.

Jazzy--GEORGOUS flowers!

Illi--sounds like a great trip!

Karen56--so glad you got all these years with your children!

Countess Bunty Rothschild's DOTD

Asthma Attack recipe

1/2 oz Everclear® alcohol

1/2 oz Bacardi® 151 rum

1/2 oz DeKuyper® Razzmatazz liqueur

1 oz amaretto almond liqueur

Shake and serve.

Teka

NM,wet doggy smell.

A busy Spring!

Jazzygirl

Good morning friends- more blooms!

Hey Teka, good to see you here friend!

NM, will be back to talk about my asthma.....

Jazzygirl

NM- no, I don't have a home nebulizer (ChiSandy mentioned this might be good too based on her experience). In general, I just get some Advair about once a year when the flare comes. It works great and things are improving as the weekend goes on. We had high winds again late yesterday so I stayed in from that.

ChiSandy

When I got my handheld neb in 1994 (before a family trip to China) it cost nearly $400. Nowadays, they're as cheap as the home plug-in compressor models.

OK--back on topic now. Yesterday, after getting my car serviced I drove to the nearest Binny's just over the border from Skokie in Morton Grove, and picked up Aperol, prosecco, elderflower tonic (to mix with soda), simple syrup (too lazy to make my own), blood orange bitters (for Bob's Manhattans), white rum for mojitos (got a good crop of mint coming up and a couple of fresh limes in the fridge), and some bourbon on sale for Bob. He got home about 9 pm--bearing Aperol, prosecco and bourbon! (Now you know why we've been together for 47 yrs).

Aperol spritz:

Place a few ice cubes in an old-fashioned or stemless wine glass. Add (in the following order) 2 parts Aperol, 3 parts brut prosecco, and sparkling water to top up. Garnish with an orange slice. (I used an ounce of Aperol and a jigger--1-1/2 oz--of prosecco; and a blood orange).

Jaybird627

Lord Mungo of Wellington here.....

Had some scotch last night. Needed it. Living on the hydrocodone. Can't move without it, move too much with it.

Emotions all over the place. Would like my daughter to appreciate me more, understand all that I do for her but it seems we are where we were before my DX so maybe that is good. I don't know. She's not talking about any of it.

Trying to lounge but my lazy daughter doesn't do anything until I yell about it over and over so that hasn't changed. My mom being here hasn't helped as all she does is drive for me and I could drive just fine but I'm not supposed to while on the hydrocodone although I function quite well while taking it. Did yardwork this afternoon just fine, thank you, so I know I could drive but I'll let my mom thinks she's helping. We are doing errands this week and 2 follow-up surgeon appointments. Sending her home this weekend most likely.

So I survived my nipple sparing BM. Expanders. Get path report next week, then discuss chemo the following week. Moving forward.

Cheers,

J~

ChiSandy

Hang in there--hope it's a great Scotch. (I'm kinda partial to Islay malts).

Salmon still frozen, Bob already ate and will be late, it's just moi. So ordered out from Lao Sze Chuan (but mostly off their Mandarin & Cantonese menus, since my mouth's still slightly burning from the last two Buffalo wings in the freezer). Gonna have prosecco with my meal, but maybe an Aperol spritz-lite (more seltzer than anything else) first.

Should also mention Aperol is only 11.5% alcohol--so I'm consuming less than 3 oz. wine total if I don't go for a glass of prosecco with dinner but switch to oolong tea instead.

Jazzygirl

I have developed laryngitis as of this evening! Stayed tune for more adventures with jazzy's spring respiratory fun!

NativeMainer

Good Morning, Loungettes! Happy Monday Monkey Day! Going into the first work day of the week prepared tochant "not my circus, not my monkeys" a lot as I expect to get a lot of push back now that I will be working for 2 offices. The main office can't put me off with vague maybes and still be able to count on me cuz I'll just go to the other office, and they know that. I am having a very good time imagining how Clinical Manager #4 is just gagging on realizing she needs to treat me with common courtesy or lose me to the other office. I love getting her "thank you for keeping us in the loop" emails, sent as if the concept was unique or the process difficult. Or maybe it is for her, who knows. Whatever. Maybe she needs a Silly Sadie in her life to keep her smiling. I love seeing her playing in the mud, despite the mess it makes, she's just so happy in the water.

Teka--wet doggy smell is pretty awful, fortunately Silly Sadie dries off pretty quickly, and if I remember to keep the bedroom door shut the bed escapes odiferous contamination!

Jazzy--BEAUTIFUL! What kind of flowers are they? The red one looks like a succulent. My asthma stayed at a similar level for decades. I hope yours never progresses. Getting a nebulizer has been a big help for me since my asthma progressed.

Chi--I'll have to look into finding a hand held nebulizer to keep in the car and for traveling. LOL at Bob coming home with the same items! That spritz sound so yummy!

Jaybird--Sorry to hear you are hurting, and that your DD is being problematic, and that your Mom isn't more helpful. Try not to overdo, that makes recovery longer in the long run, usually. Praying for a path report that is as positive as possible.

Chi--that makes the Aperol pretty low alcohol, doesn't it?

Jazzy--Oh no! Keep taking good care of yourself!

Countess Bunty Rothschild's DOTD

Satan's Circus

Ingredients

• 2 ounces rye whiskey
• ¾ ounce Heering Cherry Liqueur
• ¾ ounce Chile-Infused Aperol
• ¾ ounce fresh lemon juice

Recipe Preparation

• Combine whiskey, cherry liqueur, aperol, and lemon juice in a cocktail shaker. Fill with ice, cover, and shake until outside of shaker is frosty, about 30 seconds. Strain into a coupe glass.