how about drinking?

janky

Jazzy - Ha ha - this is where we need a 'Like' button - that is awesome!

JCSLibrarian

Congrats, Jazzy! That is wonderful.

Jazzygirl

Thanks ladies! Had a few scars along the way, but I keep pluggin along....

MinusTwo

Reporting on the Butterfinger. I have a full bottle of Butterscoth Schnapps and I've been wondering what to do with it. It's not like you can give schnapps to Good Will.

I had to modify the drink since I didn't have Bailey's. I whisked heavy cream into the other three ingredients - Kahlua, Butterscotch Schnapps and Vodka. Oh my, oh my. Delicious drink to sip before bed time. YUM. Thanks for the recipe Goldie. I can just imagine how much better it would be (will be) when it's cold outside.

I'm thinking it's perfect for Jazzy at the spa. Just remember that spa heat increases the effect of the alcohol. My BFF and I found that out one time with White Russians.

NativeMainer

Good morning, Loungettes!Happy Monday Monkey Day! Not much doing yesterday other making an Orange Cranberry bundt cake to take to the potluck at work today. Sadie was front and center the entire time. She didn't get much in the way of droppings during the baking, but she did pull the pan off the stove last night and now my favorite, well, my only, bundt pan is now in many pieces. That's making me a little sad, it was a Pampered Chef item that I bought years and years ago and loved using.Time to look for a replacement, I guess. I did actually get a little mad at Sadie when I found that mess! But it didn't last long, it's just a cake pan, after all.

Jazzy--Wow, that turquoise museum looks like a great visit! The pic of the building itself is fantastic! And someplace to visit regularly with connections to family memories is wonderful. I don't wrap gifts for Sadie for Christmas.. Mom used to put one under her tree for Sadie to open when we celebrated Christmas. It would get a little confusing for Sadie, after being told for hours that she couldn't touch the gifts under the tree to be given one and expected to open it. But she'd figure it out! Dogs are smart when it comes to things like that, for sure! This time of year can be pretty hard in lots of ways, business and personal. Sounds like you have some very good options available to investigate. That's a very good thing!

Janky--Sadie doesn't open gifts, but she does open mail. Any packages I get I have to put where she can't reach them or she assumes it is hers and will tear it open!Poor thing has been disappointed so many times thinking she was opening a Bark Box of toys and treats and finding clothes or household items for me. The clothes she pretty much leaves alone, the household items may become chew toys if they interest her, or hidden if she wants to play games with my mind. Always an adventure!

Minus Two--Great tweak of the Butterfinger recipe! I can't wait to try it. Butterscotch Schnapps on the grocery list for the next trip. I do remember heat enhancing effects of the spa from when I had a hot tub. One drink in the hot tub became my rule for myself. Such an indulgence, though, I would enjoy that one drink immensely!

Turquoise Daiguiri

1 1/2 oz light rum

1/2 oz triple sec

1/2 oz Curacao

3/4 oz lime juice

1 oz pineapple juice

Jazzygirl

All the treats I made this weekend

goldie0827

Janky, sounds like you had a good time in Mexico, DH won't set foot there. Like the "flexitarians". I am 5 years stage IV and there is a gal on the boards, goes by Denny, she is 18 years Denovo. Sorry to hear that DH is dreadfully sick! Is there anything else???

Teka, cute cartoon.

JCS, I think it was me that asked how long for treatment. I just didn't think IV chemo went on forever. I know we have to be on treatment all the time with stage IV, and it SUCKS! Hoping for NED for you, going into the new year.

NM, I guess I didn't think that the back surgery would be too bad as it's out patient, shows ya what I know! And yes, he has had PT, did the chiropractor and even acupuncture. Thanks for the explanation of the 5-HTP. Let us know if you try the Butterfinger, it does sound yummy. We had Olive Garden the other day. The orange/cranberry bundt cake sounds yummy, but sorry about the pan.

Jazzy, yay for the "perfect" day! Long term care is rediculous. So because of the trach, your SIL is limited to where she can go? Can they take out a bunch of thier money so the home doesn't get all of it? My mom had nothing, no money, no home, no car, nothing. Looks like the cost for care is over $200 per day. Who the hell has that kind of money? As Cami would say...."recockulous". Your treats look very inviting!

Minus Two, thanks for letting us know how the Butterfinger was. And so nice of you to test it for us. Too funny about Good Will not taking booze! I would never even think of getting butterscotch schnapps!

Cami, where are you????

MinusTwo

I've have the butterscotch Schnapps from 15 years ago when my BFF and I used to drink...

Buttery Nipples -

• 1 ounce butterscotch schnapps
• 1/2 ounce Irish cream liqueur

• The shaken version also makes an excellent dessert drink when you double the recipe and serve it on the rocks. It's fabulous with cheesecake and other lightly indulgent sweets.

And here's another schnapps variation. Wonder if this would taste like Dreamsicles?

• The buttery nipple #3 uses a different flavor of schnapps. To make it, pour 1 ounce of peach schnapps into a shot glass and float 1/2 ounce Irish cream liqueur on top. Again, you can shake it if you like.

But oh my - not at 6am.

Jazzygirl

Good morning friends- back to Monday. Where did the weekend go? I had a productive day yesterday with errands, house things and did get to my concert. There was a sweet young gospel choir with kids aged 3-18 that was so lovely, and played a song with the professional musicians. It was a nice break from home and the daily holiday to dos. I made that batch of biscotti you see above, other items were made on Saturday and some going to work today. I will make friends at work on this Monday!

Goldie- there are some things that can be done financially, but Medicaid looks back two years and removing money is not an option. I suggested my sister consider putting things into a trust, but that requires having other people involved/in charge and my sister is a control freak. We went through similar planning with both parents, and paid for mom out of her funds (and thankfully did not run out) and dad was on Medicaid. Anyone who pays out of pocket for long term care pays a lot more.

NM- well I can see the conflicts that go with a dog told to stay away from the tree and then a gift from it. I am pretty sure every day is Xmas for Sadie though.

Janky and JCS- you keep going strong sisters with your Stage IV treatment. I heard from another BCO sister I keep in touch with on e-mail and her treatment has beaten back the beast here at the end of the year. More new things being discovered all the time.

Morning chores done, showered and dressed and off to the client site. Have a great day everyone!

camillegal

JCSLibrarian

Goldie - Since I am triple negative, there will be no hormone therapy. Also my PD-L1 gene was not even 1% screwed up so no immunotherapy either. That’s why for now the MO says systemic chemo is the way to go. The side effects have been minimal except for hair loss and now some mild neuropathy in my feet.

Today I am catching up on house chores then on to some Christmas baking. I don’t do that much anymore, but enjoy the results! Whoops! There’s the buzzer on the dryer. The fun never ends!!!!

camillegal

Mornin ladies,

First my exciting weekend---sleeeep, worked made mistakes said sorry so often I decided to sleeeep more. I couldn't get a whole lot of awake time. Even with my mistletoe, didn't do me any good.

Kim sorry about ur pan bu.t I was LOLing at Sadie she always cracks me up. Sounds like u had a good time tho.

Jazzy good to hear u had a good day and yummy on the goodies u made Glad t hear that ur sister went to an atty, sometimes not being family makes things clearer for people, but this is a super difficult time and for that I'm sorry.

Lori's back YAY...sorry about the restaurant stuff, buffet are always the way to go with a few people unless they r ur oldest friends. I've always had good food at Outback, but there are days in any rest. that can be bad. And being a former waitress what used to bother me was when they seemed to blame me an believe it or not I was very nice to everyone, not a good waitress just a nice one. I was pretty much a disaster actually. My waitressing could actually fill a book but I would never come out on top even spilling soup on a priest and I said I'm sorry, but u have to forgive me. I know my sarcasm did come thru.

Oh boy do I agree on the drink, it sounds good even at 6am. The Shnapes flavors really sound good. I've never seen them around here even in a big liquor store.

As u all know I really don't know much about cancer but I did stop my mes for it about 2-3 yrs. ago. The SE were getting worse, but little did I know they would keep getting worse and I'm in a predicament now. And Lori I don't blame ur DH about a back surgery I won't have one, well now they won't let me have it even if I wanted to. But no matter what they do it doesn't always work and it feels worse according to some people I've talked to. Oh I get tested every 6 months for cancer and my heart <from rads> but every 3 months for my back and PT does nothing Actually stopping my cancer meds I really don't know if that has anything to do with it, but I don't think so. My sister also stage IV> now takes nothing really and it's been 10 for both of us. Kim even after explaining to Lori what she's taking I still have no idea. and Lori what I do know about this stage ur actually are doing OK and I pray everyday that it stays that way. Like my cousin yea she died from cancer, but she had this for over 20 yrs before it took over an she stopped things quite a few yrs. back. Maybe this is why I don't understand it They gave my aunt 6 months so no chemo or anything 10 yrs. later she died from a heart attack.and she was almost 90 so it all confuses me completely, but see why. I really meant this more for a pep talk so I hope I came thru that way, cuz so many of my family have had it and they lived longer than the few that didn't have it. Now member this isn't medical talk this is the ramblings of a semi-old ok old,colorful <Joey calls me that> woman who is tired a lot. So take it for what it's worth

OK I started this week with this goofy commentary so let's see how the week goes.

LUBS U ALL

ChiSandy

Hi, Cami--welcome back into the "pewl!"

Kim, sorry to hear about your fave bundt pan (ceramic, huh?). If you don't mind going a bit more conventional, NordicWare makes a nonstick one with a colorful enameled exterior. America's Test Kitchen top-rates it. I can't tell you from personal experience how well it works, as since I'm low-carb I don't bake any longer. (If I bake it, I eat it).

Haven't felt like alcohol lately. Maybe because it's getting cold out and the most warming drinks (Irish coffee, hot buttered rum, Tom & Jerry, and various ports) are loaded with sugar. Closest I've come this past week is a capful of cognac in my Constant Comment with a dollop of honey, for laryngitis. Might try some again later if my voice teacher approves (but he doesn't drink). Can't stay home tomorrow night--the folk DJ sent out an e-mail to the listserv about how pumped she is to have us in the Holiday Hoot lineup this year. I'm gonna have to take stuff down a couple of keys, and my centerpiece, "It Sucks Being Sick at Christmas" will have more than a touch of authenticity. Bummed that I can't do my latest multi-holiday (Christmas, Hanukkah, Solstice, New Year's Eve) song because it has a range of over an octave.

Went to Skokie Hosp. this morning for my bimonthly weigh-in. Down 8 lbs. and 3-1/2" off my waist since Oct. (7" down total). I finally have a small enough tummy to squish into Spanx and have it make a difference. NP & I agreed that 150 is a reasonable goal weight--I haven't weighed that little since I was 39. I'm a bit apprehensive about going on the clinic's maintenance plan, which is basically Mediterranean. Not sure whether I want to give up red meat, dairy & poultry in order to get back whole grains every day. (I'm currently allowed very occasional small servings of steel-cut oatmeal, whole wheat pasta, brown rice, quinoa & ancient grains, plus my ultra-low-carb bread, Birch Benders keto pancake mix and Mikey's keto English muffins). But it is nice to be able to wear leggings and a tight long-sleeve top without embarrassment (or others judging me).

Bought a down vest as a layering piece under my thinner wool coats. Ready for winter!

NativeMainer

Good Morning, Loungettes! Happy Twofer Tuesday! The pot luck lunch at work was a great success. Enough food to feed a small army, as the saying goes, and then some. Corn chowder, beef stew, baked ziti, meatballs, tortellini soup, pizza, dessert pizza, fudge, asian cole slaw, pistachio salad, cookies, cheese, veggies and dip,you name it, it was there! Even taking just a little dab of everything I ate way too much, but it was soooo good. I even smuggled a couple of cookies home to Sadie. She LIKES molasses cookies! Then the excitement of coming up on a detour on the way home--a beaver dam broke under all the pressure of the recent rains and melt of, flooding a major road! As usual, one Detour sign at the beginning of the detour, no other signs, if you didn't know the areayou could very easily get lost. Apparently they've got one lane open now. I think it's the interstate for me on the way in to work this ayem.

Jazzy--oh yum! What is the middle one? The top looks like cookies or maybe muffins, the bottom one I think is biscotti, but I can't tell what the middle one is!

Goldie--I got the ingredients for the Butterfinger yesterday, may mix one up after work tomorrow. Just because a procedure is done as an outpatient doesn't mean it's small or simple or reliable. Mastectomies would be done as an outpatient if insurance companies had their way and the legislation wasn't passed requiring insurance companies to cover at least one night in the hospital after.

Minus--ooh, another drink to try with the Butterscotch Schnapps! But, not at 6 ayem, and definitely not before work!

Jazzy--I bet you did make friends at work with those goodies! I don't know if every day is Christmas for Sadie, but I do try to make a good life for her. She seems to be pretty happy with me. Whenever I take her somewhere she always wants to come home with me, so I guess I'm doing something right!

Cammy Cat--now that sums up cattitude very nicely! I'm going to have to get that bundt pan replaced. I use it pretty regularly and have for years. Sadie will pull things off the stovetop, I can't seem to break her of that habit, so I have to train myself to not leave things there. I worked as a waitress once, for about 2 hours, then got put in the kitchen cooking where I really belonged. Loved the cooking--I worked the short order grill in a country club in Bar Harbor. Responses to cancer treatment can be so variable, and it's so hard to predict how any individual person's reaction will go. Many people do very well and live a long time when it's not expected. It just goes to show how little medicine really knows about cancer.And I love your ramblings, keep 'em coming!

Librarian--glad you get to do some baking. Hope the results are wonderful!

Chi--the bundt pan was stonewear, one of my first Pampered Chef items. And the really ironic thing is that I was just in 3 online Pampered Chef parties! I'm sure another will come along shortly after the holidays and I'll replace it that way. Mostly sad about losing the so perfect seasoning, I have had any trouble getting cakes out of that pan for years, but I remember the struggle with the first few. Now, of course, I know the trick of making something like meatloaf in the pan first. Still, it was an old friend, been with me through several moves and then buying the house, and I will miss it. I'm skeptical of non-stick finishes, not sure how trustworthy they are and they don't seem to last very long for the price paid. And I don't want to have to go out and get a whole second set of utensils to cook with just for a certain pot or pan. I'm very happy with my bamboo and restaurant grade stainless steel utensils. Congrats on the weight loss! That's a lot of work. Good for you!

Keeping the Butterscotch Schnapps theme going:

Butterscotch Truffle Martini

Recipe

• 2 ounces vodka
• 1 ounce butterscotch schnapps
• 1 splash dark creme de cacao

Fill a cocktail shaker halfway with ice. Pour in the vodka, butterscotch schnapps and creme de cacao and shake well. Strain into a chilled cocktail glass.

From <https://mixthatdrink.com/butterscotch-truffle-martini/>

Jazzygirl

Hi ladies- quick pop in as I have a busy day ahead. Meeting with the project leaders this morning and after this, I should be able to really get serious about transitioning out of there. I could actually feel myself detaching from this gig late yesterday before I left. They are letting contractors go right and left right now.

Chi- I am so impressed by your weight loss. I lost a bunch of weight a couple years ago, but with my eye stuff this year and some other things, it has had me swimming less and can see how much that exercise helps me (I will go back to the pool after my final clearance on eye number 2 next week). How much weight in total did you loose?

NM- the food items include blueberry pancake muffins, sour creme apple coffee cake (my mom's recipe) and double choc decadence and caramel walnut biscotti on the bottom. I took some muffins and coffee cake to work yesterday to the group I work with and they were appreciated. Some others are getting the biscotti today!

Cami- good to see you here. I think the whole cancer thing is a crap shoot with treatment. They do the best they can, but think they find out more about it through time. When I first was seeing my MO with my very early dx, he would say that with my early slow-grower, he did not expect me to have more problems with it. But then as I came to the five year mark, he said "I want you to be clear that five years does not mean it can't come back and you have the kind that we have learned often comes back again 10-20 years later." Well, I was never in denial about the fact cancer may always return, in the same way I knew I could always get cancer. We do the best with the info at the time and hope for the best, right?

Have a good day!

ChiSandy

50 lbs. down, 15 to go. That'll give me a little "cushion" for the 3 or 4 lbs. I will likely regain by switching from near-keto to Mediterranean.

My doctor got back to me late afternoon and said it was OK to take a 20mg prednisone to quiet down my lungs and get the laryngeal swelling down, as well as an extra MucinexDM. So I did (guzzling water all the way). The preliminary unamplified "living room" set (to entertain other performers, staff, volunteers and donors to the station) went well--I was in almost full voice. But in between that and the on-air spot, I had a cup of half-caff...that, and the fact that the studio itself was extremely dry, caused me to get a throat tickle and coughing during "It Sucks Being Sick at Christmas." It was the most authentic performance of that song I'd ever given. Fortunately, it sorta fit in as extreme sound effects. I was able to tame my throat for the rest of the spot and the group finale.

(If you missed the streaming webcast, it'll be archived at www.wdcb.org till New Year's Eve).

Not gonna take a prednisone tomorrow, as I needn't perform again till Feb. and I don't want to regain any weight. It did its job tonight, and that's all I needed it to do.

No alcohol--the station was on a college campus. Didn't feel like drinking when I got home eitther.

NativeMainer

Good morning, Loungettes!Happy Hump Day! We got 2.2 inches of snow overnight, but it's light fluffy stuff, equivalent to 0.12 inches of rain. Only took a few seconds to clean off the deck, should be no problem getting to work. It's made everything look very pretty again. I would like it to be white for Christmas day for everyone celebrating on the day. Sadie misjudged her piddle squat this ayem, it was funny to see her back end pop upso quick as she let out a bit of ayip! She gave me a totally disgusted look when I laughed out loud! Last night I tried the Butterfinger, had to make the same tweak as Minus Two, using cream instead of Baileys.It really did taste like a Butterfinger!

Jazzy--that biscotti looks really good, I bet people loved getting any of those goodies! I agree about the cancer treatment thing being a crap shoot. As well as getting cancer in the first place. Medicine just does not know enough about cancer yet to really say much of anything, despite the fact that they do, frequently.

Chi--WOW! 50 lbs! That is impressive! Good for you!So glad you got the tickle and cough just when it would serve a purpose, and that it cleared up quickly.

Caffeini Martini

Recipe

• 1 ounce Kahlua
• 1/2 ounce chocolate liqueur
• 1/2 ounce butterscotch schnapps
• 2 ounces (chilled) espresso
• 1/2 ounce milk

Fill a cocktail shaker with ice. Pour in all ingredients and shake until chilled. Pour and serve.

From <https://mixthatdrink.com/caffeini-martini/>

I'm amazed at how many Butterscotch Schnapps drink recipe mix that with Kahlua!

goldie0827

Heading today with DH for yet another dr. appt. This one is with his RA doctor. He won't hardly go anywhwere without me! Plus side, I get ribs at Texas Roadhouse! I started one of my new meds today, so far no SE's, I guess the biggest one being the big "D". Still waiting on approval for the Faslodex. Whoever submitted it did not put my diagnosis in, therefore I was denied coverage for it. Would like to find out which idiot did that, so it does not happen to someone else.

Jazzy, it's so sad how the government takes everything one has when they become critically ill...when they need it the most! I have heard from some here, that cancer returned after 10-20 years, I think one was 17 years. And after I hit my 5 yr mark, I told my onc that I still wanted to see him every 6 months and have labs done. That is how we discovered the bone mets was with my labs, as I have never had any pain. So without the labs, no telling how long I would have went w/o treatment.

JCS, your chemo is IV, correct? Glad to hear the SE's are minimal. I think I would want a break too! And I totally understand how treatment is different for hormone receptors and the Her2.

Cami, the friends are not "close" friends. There are 2 couples, the main couple (not the one that complained), my husband IS good friends with, we met the other couple (one that complained) through the first couple, as the wives are sisters. However, they currently don't speak, lots of family drama. There was also an incident with the second couple when my DH planned that awesome surprise camping trip with my kids and my brothers. And thank you for the pep talk, you colorful friend! I love you, but you know that.

NM, I do know of women who have had masectomy's on an out patient surgery, or as I call it, a drive by! Happy to hear the holiday goodies at work were yummy and plentiful. And even Sadie got to induldge! DH saw our primary yesterday, he too thinks that he should wait on getting the surgery and see how things play out.

Sandy, I swear, you and Jazzy are always on the go! Congrats on the weight loss, 50 lbs....go you!

camillegal

Jazzygirl

Something heartwarming for you. A chemo patient playing guitar and singing with one of his nurses:

https://www.koat.com/article/a-chemo-patient-and-his-nurse-go-viral-singing-a-hospital-room-rendition-of-o-holy-night/30266681?fbclid=IwAR0s6EJjuljRgMVPbqqmB4j5fwFr3B8IALlLxmYJLYIMtCvS1V1nlNnBQ9Q

camillegal

Mornin ladies,

Kim u and Sadie take care of each other the best possible way and I love her stories, she's so much fun. And the DOTD's plus a couple of others sound soooo good. Maybe it's the time of year that makes everything seem like I want these drinks.

Lori I think it's a good idea that ur DH waits a little and really gives this a lot of thought. Operating on certain parts of the body can be very tricky even for a good Dr. and the goofy part is a Dr. can be great for so many and not so good that day. Well most of us know that. I always asked did u have a fight with ur wife yesterday or have a couple of drinks, or happy with lovemaking, I'm sure they told me what I wanted to hear but u never know Well they ask us all kinds of questions why can't we ask ours, right??? I actually asked most of my Drs. "colorful" questions.

Jazzy this is a busy time for u especially with ur thinking about jobs and it's only a few weeks left. But I do know whatever u do is right for you. Your puzzling things thru till all the pieces fit and u always do that. When I do a puzzle I use a scissors so all the pieces fit.

YAY Sandy u lost like a whole 2nd grader. Good for u. Not an easy thing to do but u can't give up wine that's to much to ask for anyone. So I still want to hear a good wine u drank and with what. Are ur Kitties doing OK. And take care of ur throat, altho u do know what ur doing so no advice except don't talk much rest for singing. Maybe ur DH will like that who knows.

I had a nice lunch yesterday with my GF's except my one <who has the restaurant> was so busy she was constantly getting up so I missed not talking to her as much. But have to say her food was so good, I forgot how much I liked it. Good thing she doesn't deliver this far from her place.

I hope everyone has a good day today.

LUBS U ALL

JCSLibrarian

Just got off the phone with my MO’s office. It appears Medicare will not cover the PET scan scheduled for 12/31/19. Medicare says you may have four PET scans over a three year period unless a new cancer is found. Then, I guess, it starts over. So the scheduler is now working to get me a CT/with contrast and a bone scan early in January. This will cost Medicare more and make my life a tad more difficult, but oh well! Guess this means I will have another cycle of chemo in January because I won’t have a chance to meet with the MO until after the tests. Maybe I will practice some deep breathing to control my stress. This will be after I finish mentally cursing Medicare and the fact that I have cancer!!! Supposedly when I go for the infusion on Friday they will have all the appointments worked out. I should use pencil on the calendar in 2020.

Good news is I got all my baking done. All are packaged and ready to be distributed. Only two more gifts to wrap then that task is complete. Just another day in paradise!

MinusTwo

NM - I find the butterscotch drinks pretty sweet for my tastes. But I have an entire bottle of schnapps to use up, so... I'm going to try the Caffeini Martini both with and w/o the coffee. (I guess w/o would be a chocolate something??). I'll substitute Tia Maria for the Kahlua. Both are coffee based liquors but I like Tia Maria better. I don't think it's quite at 'thick'.

Jazzygirl

Hi ladies- well the holiday season crud hit me middle of the night with feeling sick to my stomach and the rest that followed. I have been sitting in meetings for weeks now where everyone is coming down with something and coming out of something and just felt it was coming my way next. Anyways, things are better but decided to be home today and doing work from home and also resting. I have a wicked headache and drinking a lot of water to get hydrated.

I just saw my final check for the house payment got cashed and hit my checking account. The final payoff process is now well underway. Now we wait for the rest. Whoot whoot, what a great feeling to have this milestone reached after 15 years and 9 months, and after this very crazy last few months.....

Chi- that is an amazing weight loss. I think you were around 40 last time I asked and you must be feeling great. Good job sister.

Cami- transitions between contracts can be a bit messy, but my last one resulted in an offer within two days for this current gig that I am finishing now. I will say both of the contracts I have finished this year have been messier than in the past, and think that is because of both the leadership and around funding issues end of each. But I did my big meeting yesterday with leadership and getting through what I need to. Seven more working days and I am gone. I agreed to be available on a consulting basis for knowledge transfer.

Goldie- I remember you said they found your progression during a regular check up and after your five year mark. I see my breast surgeon once a year for any signs of local reoccurrence and see my MO once a year for a yearly check in and also another visit for the Prolia shot. Cancer is a quiet lurker as we know and I encourage everyone here to keep up with their follow ups after treatment is over. I am glad you are doing okay on the new meds, but sorry about the D....

Okay, back to work with naps in between.....

ChiSandy

Jazzy, feel better soon. I am now in size 12 jeggings (started at 20), M tees, and my featherweight packable long down puffer coat I had to wear this morning is swimming on me. Once this bug is past, it's back to L.A. Fitness for a fitness re-eval and new personal training plan (seeing as how I have 249 unused sessions). Gonna focus on balance, strength & flexibility.

JCS, seeing as how you're triple-neg, you owe yourself a pitcher of piña coladas to offset the aggravation Medicare is putting you through and the uncertainty.

Cami, the kittties are doing fine though still picky eaters when it comes to their prescription wet foods (they want their Friskies "cat crack").

Not sure what (or if) I'm gonna drink tonight. Got a French sparkler (blanquette de Limoux) chilling. But thus far I've had ginger-peach green tea (at the nail salon), black coffee, a decaf almond-milk latte, and chicken soup. I guess whatever goes with leftover Filipino marinated calamari & Szechuan stir-fry.

janky

Finally - here I am 'pooping in' again - not sure where my time goes. I was at my MO's today and he is very pleased as I am still stable. Since Ibrance with letrozole is relatively newly approved in Alberta (2 years) he is not aware that many of you stage 4 US sisters are doing well on this combo, so he is thrilled that I am now 2 full years stable!!! (as I am too!)

chi - that is an amazing weight loss, so very happy for you!

jazzy - I hope you feel better soon - for sure you will be doing the 'mortgage free' happy dance!

goldie - glad you get to get Texas Roadhouse as a 'reward' for accompanying DH to his appointments. I do hope you get your approvals in place, it is sooooo very frustrating to not be sure of what is covered. What is the big 'D'?

JCS - you too are going through the approval process - so very frustrating and worrisome, I wish you all the best.

I am now going to 'chill' till tomorrow, so greetings to minus2, NM, teka, and our long lost 'cami' cat (glad you are back) and any others that I am not addressing... Cheers!

Jazzygirl

ChiSandy- you have dropped many sizes! I dropped from a 14 to a 12 when I did my weight loss a few years ago. Now I am pushing back into my 14s. After the new year, I am going to start with the 2 week South Beach Diet cleanse which always helps me to jump start things. Thank you for being such an inspiration to us all. I bet you look adorable in those leggings (I am a fan of them too).

Feeling better from the crud. Whatever it was moved through quickly, although I had a wicked headache yesterday and slept a lot. Back to the work madness today......

NativeMainer

Good Morning, Loungettes!Happy Thirsty Thursday!Staff Christmas party this afternoon, should be a lot of fun. Got some bones in the fridge for Sadie for this evening for her staff party. I figure she's prettymuch my staff here at home, or, maybe my boss, either way, she deserves a bit of celebration, too! 3 more inches of snow yesterday and last night, it is looking so very pretty just now.

Goldie--ribs at Texas Roadhouse sounds like a good reward for going with DH to his appointments! The whole insurance submission process is set up to create opportunities for mistakes so they can deny coverage, I swear. Sonot right. I can't imagine what it must be like for some women to have a mastectomy and get sent home the same day with the drains in place. Hard to absorb the teaching about how to manage those drains while still groggy from anesthesia, particularly when they didn't know they would have drains when they woke up! I'd been taking care of those drains for years, so it was no big deal for me, but I was surprised at how uncomfortable they were. Hope hubby' back gets better soon.

Cammy Cat--Sadie and I do try to take care of each other. She's a lot of fun to have around and she's pretty good at keeping me straight! So glad you had a good lunch with the GFs. A restaurant serving good food consistently is a great thing!

Jazzy--what a beautiful performance!

Librarian--Don't you love how the insurance company can know just how many times a test is needed for a given situation? I wonder why insurance companies don't do away with doctors entirely and make all the decisions FOR us and just tell us to take it or leave it.

Minus--I think Kahlua is thicker than most coffee liquors. The Butterscotch drinks are pretty sweet, I'm drinking very small ones. But it's fun to experiment!

Jazzy--you paid off your mortgage in 15 years and 9 months?GREAT JOB!Sorry to hear you caught the crud. Hard to avoid this time of year. Keep up the hydration work!

Chi--must be fun to be shopping for smaller clothes. You've worked hard and deserve a nice shopping spree!

Janky--congrats on 2 years stable, and my you have many, many more!

Here's a more Christmassy DOTD:

Butterscotch Eggnog recipe
Ingredients
8 eggs, separated
2/3 cup light brown sugar
3 cups whole milk
2 cups heavy cream
2 cups Scotch whisky

camillegal

goldie0827

CAMI OMG, you are too funny, or should I say "colorful", with the questions you ask the doctor. Wish I had the balls for that! And Sandy losing a 2nd grader, too funny! So happy to see that you got out with your friends, you need more of that.

JCS, again we have the government controlling our health. It so pisses me off. I hope the CT scan will show what the doc wants to see. What all did you bake?

MinusTwo, I'm with you on the drinks being too sweet, but they still sound yummy. Certainly not something you would want to get drunk on. Oh my, could you imagine getting sick on that.

Jazzy, sorry you are not feeling well. They say this is one of the worst flu seasons. Again, congrats on paying off the house. And wishing you good luck on the next gig! Stage IV appeared 6 years after original diag. and telling my MO that I wanted labs done every 6 mo as well. The TM's kept rising so we decided to do scans. There was no pain, so had I not been having labs done, who knows when we would have found it?

Janky, the big D is diarhea! Happy to hear you are stable after 2 years. I don't think I've ever been told that, but I'm at 5 years, so I shant complain! As for Texas Roadhouse, they weren't open. Ended up at a Chinese buffet that we passed. OMG, it was horrible!

NM, no wonder Sadie loves you so much, her own staff party....how sweet! I was so looking forward to the ribs, as mentioned above, they were closed. As for DH's back, it's a buldgine disc pressing on a nerve, which will never get better, only worse. He might be able to fix his foot, if it is drop foot, but it won't help the disc. AND...he is not in any pain. Leg from the knee down, he says is numb. I never know when to believe him as he exaggerates. He will tell people that when he got RA, he was almost in a wheel chair. Well, that is when we first got together and he has never been even close to being in a wheel chair! And more yummy drinks!

I also found out that he invited our hygenist for Xmas, to spend the night without discussing with me about it. I found out by a text she sent him about how happy she is to come and spend Xmas with us. I just hope this new med doesn't hit me with some bad SE's! And I did let him know that I was not happy about the fact that he didn't discuss it with me first, as I'm the one that has to do all the cleaning and cooking. Grrrrrr......MEN!