how about drinking?

maryland

NM, ahhh, thanks for the explanation. I'm on the side.. if you want your kids to go to public school they must be vaccinated, to me the risks far outweigh the benefits. Having all these almost nonexistent illnesses having such a resurgence is a shame. I think part of the problem is that this generation of parents did not live through the german measles and chicken pox as some of us older folks have. I know a guy just a few years older than me with his leg all shriveled up from polio. I can remember sitting in a dark room for days with the measles. But I know it is a hot button topic.

Jazzy, sounds like we'll be getting our new SSI cards at the same time. Glad you enjoyed the concert.

Gotta run, dogs to walk, hair and feet to do, I'm SO ready to be retired!

JCSLibrarian

Jazzy - I saw Harry Connick many years ago also. He was fantastic. A girlfriend saw him recently and was able to meet him back stage. I have long thought he was very handsome and a great musician!

Genny- I agree, everyone should get vaccinations for the childhood illnesses. I am not a fan of the flu vaccines. They do not seem to really help, but do make money for the pharmaceutical companies. Maybe this current virus will teach people about hand washing and how to keep viruses from contaminating others.

We are heading home today. I am ready to be in my own bed as well as start some projects. The chemo vacay has been fun. The scans the end of the month will tell if it gets to continue.

The aquarium was interesting and fun. We got to do a behind the scenes tour of the food prep area, the holding tanks for new animals and the top of the 42 ft deep ocean tank. I learned that a sea turtle will fight a shark for food! They have to separate them at feeding time.

Jazzygirl

Good morning friends- just a quick message as I have someone coming to the house to look at a table for a furniture repair as well as thinking I may have them look at a rocking chair that needs the seat recaned. I have a business luncheon today with the colleague that has some possible work for me. I submitted my quals earlier this week and will see what his thoughts are. I think a lot of businesses are trying to figure out right now how to respond to the workforce needs (even non-healthcare) right now.

NM- I thought maybe the vax thing had to do with the whole movement around the anti-vaxers. Public health vs. freedom of choice is a slippery slope. Thanks for explaining for us. Also, it makes sense that with Dick and your mom's finances separate, and and kids having to step in soon, they are probably trying to figure out what he has for resources for group care and the longer term. Separating the bills is a good start. Talking to the adult children on the other side is probably a good idea so you have a plan for how to help your mom. I think wine should be involved.....

JCS- he is quite handsome! I love the aqua pics. I hope your scan later this month keep you off chemo longer.

Goldie- I hope you made it okay and time with son is going okay. I know you are going to see Cami and Mary soon too. I can't wait for the pics.

Hope everyone's day is good and tomorrow is Friday already and don't forget day light savings this weekend too!

Yogatyme

mistyeyes

Is ChiSandy off traveling?

ChiSandy

No travel, ladies: mea culpa (as I would have said Ash Wed. had I been Catholic). I've just been elsewhere online, as well as various appointments (PCP, DDS, MO, GYN, DPM, hair, nails, car, satellite/cable/phone techs, repairmen, etc.), "special" dinners out, a pro bono landlord/tenant case, getting taxes done, dealing with other financial stuff (trying to strike a balance between panic and sensible profit-taking), Bob's partner's b.c. and his own increasingly rotten knees, stuff for choir, and glued to the TV (I'm a politics junkie).

Mary, may the new regimen slam the brakes on your mets for a good long time. And typing was the only class I ever flunked! (My mom, who was a legal sec'y, typed 65WPM on a manual). Lori, hope your son goes into rehab tomorrow as planned, and that it "takes." Kim, so frustrating dealing with aging parents (beats not having them any more) and siblings whose interests conflict with theirs. Ilona, may that sleeping L vocal fold nerve finally "wake up" so you can safely imbibe the cocktail of your choice. Jazzy, so envious you saw Connick--glad you enjoyed it. I'm not really interested in any rock concerts for awhile (the only newer act I like is Vampire Weekend, and AFAIK they're not coming to Chicago,). We are seeing Audra McDonald on the 14th, though Dominican U. (the venue) had a student (or staffer, I forget which) test positive for COVID-19.

Bob was worried that the virus causing people to avoid concerts & sporting events would imperil Gordy's job at Vivid Seats.com. Gordy replied that had he stayed in his original customer svce. job it might have; but he's a "fraud analyst" now and as he puts it, "fraudsters gonna fraud." Identity thieves and hackers aren't afraid of any viruses.

I have a trip to San Diego (Chi. Bar Assn. continuing legal ed.) coming up at the end of the month--combining it with celebrating my law school classmate in Moreno Valley's 30th anniversary (and 6-months' remission from colorectal cancer). But not sure if the CBA will be cancelling the trip. We also have a timeshare trip to NYC in May (combining that with a visit to my recently-widowed cousin-in-law), but Bob is starting to get a bit nervous about the prospect of being sealed into an airborne metal tube with >100 other people and recirculated air for 2 hrs.

The Thurs. after Ash Wed. was Cellars' NOLA-themed "Lundi Gras" wine dinner. Yeah, it was more of a cheat meal than other winemaker & celebration dinners of late. We started with Domaine Collin Brut cremant de Limoux. With the appetizer, a white Graves; with the fish course, a Macon blanc Chardonnay; with the gumbo (I avoided the rice but there's no way around the roux, and I did eat a bit of the cornbread) Domaine Dupeuble Beaujolais-Villages (not as tasty as their Nouveau); with blackened steak, a Kermit Lynch blend of Rhône-Ranger varietals from the Languedoc. Dessert was bourbon bread pudding--it was a small slice, and I did eat it--accompanied by a "Boulevardier" cocktail of a L.I. artisanal bourbon, Campari, simple syrup and Luxardo cherries. Only drank a third of it (and only an ounce of each wine), but as boozy non-sweet cocktails go, pretty darn tasty.

Sat. night we gave the Palm another chance. As an aperitif, I ordered a flute of Piper Heidseck brut. What arrived instead was suspiciously sweet with larger bubbles--sure enough, it was a Prosecco (supposed to be half the price of Champagne). I made the waiter taste it to confirm. He took it back, and poured me a glass from the bottle of Piper--which this time was the real thing. I suspected that the bartender probably thought that their now-mostly-tourist clientele thought all bubblies were alike, so everybody who orders a sparkler gets Prosecco. The waiter said he put "Piper Heidseck" into the POS system at the beginning of our order, so the fault was definitely the bartender's...unless it's now the new mgmt's policy to cut corners. They remodeled to double the size of the bar and put more TVs in (all turned to sports, of course). At least the steak was good. With it we had a bottle of Sokol Blosser 2016 Willamette Valley (OR) Pinot Noir. That was the first OR winery we ever visited, back in 1989, so our choice was for sentimental reasons.

Saw my MO today, who wasn't at all concerned that I hadn't lost any weight since last week's weight clinic visit--she was delighted with my overall progress. We had a heart to heart about letrozole--and she confirmed that the mutation takes years after the end of AI treatment to manifest. She compared it to taking penicillin for decades for every little infection, and then coming down with a penicillin-resistant bug. She'd like me to stay on my AI through the end of December, since the most benefit happens during the first 5 years--but would prefer I do 7 years as the "sweet spot." She says that at present my recurrence risk is about 5%; but that in a Stage IA survivor it can rise to as much as 20-30% 15-20 years after treatment ends. So I'd be 70 if I stopped letrozole at 5 yrs and 72 if I did so at 7 yrs--she prefers to delay the perhaps-inevitable as long as possible unless it negatively impacts my life. She is concerned that the risk of osteoporosis-related fractures rises dramatically after 5 yrs. on an AI, so she hinted that my Dexascan results (I take it next week) might warrant going back on Prolia. My main beef with letrozole isn't weight gain or lousy metabolism (now that I've lost 53 lbs.)--it's that it worsened my blood lipid profile (higher LDL despite the weight loss; the resulting statin raised my glucose too, though the a1c is at a healthy level for now due to weight loss). And with my family cardiovascular history being a train wreck on both sides...

Speaking of that MO visit, things have changed at Kellogg Cancer Center due to the virus. The mask dispenser in the lobby is empty (duh--patients & visitors had been taking them to hoard), and I worry how chemo patients will be able to protect themselves. At check-in, no more signing in: no touching the stylus, just getting an iris-scan instead. And the free coffee machine in the alcove by the parking pay-station has been replaced by one that won't take a tall travel mug--had to waste a paper cup after pouring the coffee into my travel "Ember." (Their coffee is still weak, so I pull a shot of espresso into the Ember at home whenever I'm headed to any appts. at a NorthShore facility).

janky

Happy thirsty Thursday, my computer has been wonky, but seems okay today! DH and I had a lovely lunch, where I reconnected with a cousin I have not seen since 2000 - 20 years ago!! Her mom, my dad's sister, passed 6 days before my mom in January which is when we first chatted. We live in totally different provinces a few thousand miles apart, but she and her hubby spend 3 months up the road in St. Petersburg, FL, about 50 minutes away from my son's so able to visit in sunny Florida! Ughh computer acting up...

genny - glad your 'shots' were not a 'pain in the butt' I am in Florida till March 9, then huby and I are driving to St. Simon's Georgia to visit with dad for another 9 days, then home to Alberta March 17.

NM - Our aging parents can drive us to distraction can't they?! My mom accused a few people of stealibg her jewelry, but it usually turned up in a drawer. Though I now miss all of her 'forgetfulness', and her wonderful smile - she could light up a room. Glad Sadie enjoyed the tickles.

I have to head off now, though I was hoping to reply to all - thank you for your support, this is the best place to be if you have to have cancer...I wish us good health, good humour and all good things. Cheers! Janice

ChiSandy

Well, I spoke too soon. Just got off the phone with the activities director at the CBA: the San Diego trip's been cancelled. Too many law firms in town have imposed travel bans, and the city of San Diego has declared a state of emergency and cancelled all conventions. Oh, well. Hope SW refunds my airfare, and that I can get refunded all 820,000 HiltonHonors points (plus $379 for the extra night) I spent for my room at the Embassy Suites. My friends in Moreno Valley will be disappointed too.

NativeMainer

Good Morning, Loungettes!Happy TGIF day! I've got to admit I am looking forward to a sleep in tomorrow ayem. Also got to admit I am not looking forward to the time change. Oh well, I'll adjust, I always do, right? And Silly Sadie just rolls with the flow.

Genny--I think Mom will discover that being in a retirement place is a good thing for just those reasons. There will be other people around for her to interact with, things for her to do, and she doesn't have to stay stuck in the apartment if she doesn't want to. I also think she is going to miss having something to do, but hoping she'll find some volunteer work or something like that. BUT, that's what I want for her, and I need to remember to keep my mouth shut about all that and stay focused on what she wants and what she thinks. You probably already caught the explanation, but it's not the vaccine that's non-medical, it's the exemption that's non-medical that's going away. Well, actually, the exemption isn't going away, the consequences are changing. One of the groups behind the change is parents of children with cancer. Many were being told that they should not let their child attend school during treatment due to the growing number of unvaccinated children and the increasing rate of outbreaks of preventable diseases in the schools every year. Most childhood cancer treatment regimens last a year or even 2, and being able to attend school and interact with friends is really important to the kid's development and coping. Yikes, that MMJ card is expensive!

Jazzy--if you have a passport do you need a Real ID?Maine just started having a Real ID option this year, and I've been using my passport for anything that asked for a Real ID without any problem. Will getting a Real ID cost more like it will here?

Genny--yup, the whole vaccination thing is a hot button, for sure. I've taken care of babies with whooping cough and it is a terrible thing to watch. The coughing spells are so intense, and so frightening, and nothing you can do helps, in fact, touching the child and trying to comfort the child often makes the coughing spell worse.Sitting with a mom watching her baby coughing until it turns blue and stops breathing is gut-wrenching. I wonder if anyone is finding old iron lungs and refurbishing them so they will be ready for a bit polio outbreak. I wonder how today's kids will handle not being allowed to go to public pools and summer recreation programs. Parents today never experienced neighborhood quarantines due to polio outbreaks.

Librarian--I'm skeptical that the flu vaccine actually accomplishes it's stated goal of decreasing the hospitalization and death rate of elders from flu and flu-like illnesses.The rates don't seem to drop in synch with the flu vaccination rate nationally, but I don't see where it does enough harm to make it worth the fight of not getting one. The aquarium looks like a fun visit! I love going to aquariums. I didn't know turtles would fight sharks for food. Pretty tough critters!

Jazzy--The legislation wasn't aimed at anti-vaccers so much as it was aimed at protecting those who do vaccinate or medically cannot vaccinate from consequences of choosing not to vaccinate, and making it easier for schools and business to stay open and do what they do. There is a public health element in that children too young to be vaccinated are more protected from vaccine-preventable diseases by keeping voluntarily unvaccinated children (and adults) out of public places during disease outbreaks. The Public Health vs Freedom of Choice is a slippery slope. If a parent's choice to not vaccinate a child only affected that parent and child it would be one thing, but that choice forces consequences on others that they have no control over, and that's not fair, either. It's a complicated situation.

Yogatyme--Welcome, and love the pic!

Chi--sounds like you've been busy! Good point that "fraudsters gonna fraud"! Interesting changes at the clinic around the coffee machine. Makes me wonder how important all that signing in stuff really is anyway.

Janky--taking care of parents is hard work, I'm discovering!

Good Morning, Loungettes!Happy TGIF day! I've got to admit I am looking forward to a sleep in tomorrow ayem. Also got to admit I am not looking forward to the time change. Oh well, I'll adjust, I always do, right? And Silly Sadie just rolls with the flow.

Genny--I think Mom will discover that being in a retirement place is a good thing for just those reasons. There will be other people around for her to interact with, things for her to do, and she doesn't have to stay stuck in the apartment if she doesn't want to. I also think she is going to miss having something to do, but hoping she'll find some volunteer work or something like that. BUT, that's what I want for her, and I need to remember to keep my mouth shut about all that and stay focused on what she wants and what she thinks. You probably already caught the explanation, but it's not the vaccine that's non-medical, it's the exemption that's non-medical that's going away. Well, actually, the exemption isn't going away, the consequences are changing. One of the groups behind the change is parents of children with cancer. Many were being told that they should not let their child attend school during treatment due to the growing number of unvaccinated children and the increasing rate of outbreaks of preventable diseases in the schools every year. Most childhood cancer treatment regimens last a year or even 2, and being able to attend school and interact with friends is really important to the kid's development and coping. Yikes, that MMJ card is expensive!

Jazzy--if you have a passport do you need a Real ID?Maine just started having a Real ID option this year, and I've been using my passport for anything that asked for a Real ID without any problem. Will getting a Real ID cost more like it will here?

Genny--yup, the whole vaccination thing is a hot button, for sure. I've taken care of babies with whooping cough and it is a terrible thing to watch. The coughing spells are so intense, and so frightening, and nothing you can do helps, in fact, touching the child and trying to comfort the child often makes the coughing spell worse.Sitting with a mom watching her baby coughing until it turns blue and stops breathing is gut-wrenching. I wonder if anyone is finding old iron lungs and refurbishing them so they will be ready for a bit polio outbreak. I wonder how today's kids will handle not being allowed to go to public pools and summer recreation programs. Parents today never experienced neighborhood quarantines due to polio outbreaks.

Librarian--I'm skeptical that the flu vaccine actually accomplishes it's stated goal of decreasing the hospitalization and death rate of elders from flu and flu-like illnesses.The rates don't seem to drop in synch with the flu vaccination rate nationally, but I don't see where it does enough harm to make it worth the fight of not getting one. The aquarium looks like a fun visit! I love going to aquariums. I didn't know turtles would fight sharks for food. Pretty tough critters!

Jazzy--The legislation wasn't aimed at anti-vaccers so much as it was aimed at protecting those who do vaccinate or medically cannot vaccinate from consequences of choosing not to vaccinate, and making it easier for schools and business to stay open and do what they do. There is a public health element in that children too young to be vaccinated are more protected from vaccine-preventable diseases by keeping voluntarily unvaccinated children (and adults) out of public places during disease outbreaks. The Public Health vs Freedom of Choice is a slippery slope. If a parent's choice to not vaccinate a child only affected that parent and child it would be one thing, but that choice forces consequences on others that they have no control over, and that's not fair, either. It's a complicated situation.

Yogatyme--Welcome, and love the pic!

Chi--sounds like you've been busy! Good point that "fraudsters gonna fraud"! Interesting changes at the clinic around the coffee machine. Makes me wonder how important all that signing in stuff really is anyway.

Janky--taking care of parents is hard work, I'm discovering!

maryland

Good morning girls, waking up alone, DH had to go somewhere, funny, I can't remember but it's a food plant, hmmm city/state has left me they all run together after awhile.Anyway, he took Hazel with him, he called the hotel and asked if they were pet friendly and she said, Is it a support dog? and he said no and the lady said, "well if you tell me it is, I'm not allowed to ask you for proof.'" So Hazel got her first sales call with dad. I'm off today and have no appointments so yay to that. I think I'll go do a yoga class and maybe a swim. I keep gaining weight, not eating that much, only healthy food and haven't had an alcoholic beverage since Sunday, and for those of you that know me, that's a big deal. Yet I get on the scale and the numbers go up, it's quite frustrating. I changed my diet around, went off the Keto, added organic fruit like apples and bananas, added healthy cereal and oatmeal, it's an anti-cancer diet I've been researching, but everyday I seem to add another pound. Not quite sure what I want to do with that, I'm working on cutting back on the cheese, meat, lunchmeat, bacon, eggs, all the things you eat on keto, and double up on veggies and grains but so far scale is going the wrong way. I absolutely HATE the idea of counting calories but that may be where I'm heading. Ugh!

NM, hope you get to have a relaxing weekend with NO nurse work stuff! The vaccine stuff is a hot topic for sure. My husband's neice lives in Asheville, if you all remember the youngest one 3 yrs old has lymphoma, 2+ years on chemo, meanwhile the 2 older siblings and half the kids in the town or at least all their circle of friends have not been vaccinated! Very scary, she home schools them and they are in sports with other kids/parents with the same beliefs, not sure what would happen if the little one with her compromised immune system. When my son was a baby I had a friend with a daughter that was maybe 8 mos old, she'd had the first of the DPT vaccine but had not yet finished the series when she got pertussis, or whooping cough. It was horrible!! Took months to get that baby well and so scary to watch the coughing fits, I cannot imagine being able to prevent that and not doing it but like I said these parents have not seen what it does. They think it's a big pharmaceutical/government conspiracy and this particular couple think that allowing children to pick up these "bugs" will build their immune system, "naturally." As for the flu shot, I said no for years but lately have decided it won't hurt, better to have it than not so I have gotten it last few years. Your mom may find that she likes a retirement living community but you are right, it's got to be her decision. I find at my place that the ones that are unhappy are the ones that say "my kids put me here!"

Jazzy, I'm looking so forward to daylight savings time, I love the longer days, wish they would change it over then leave it alone! Hope you are happy with your furniture repairs.

Janky, We had a family reunion for cousins last summer, most I had not seen in at least 40 years, it was nice to see them. I am the youngest of the first cousins, most are in their 70's so not sure if it will ever happen again. Vacation sounds like it's going well, enjoy!

Ah, DH just called, he's in Kentucky, mystery solved.

Sandy, hope you get your refunds, sorry your trip got cancelled, crazy times right now. I had planned 10 years on AI's, just had my dexascan and still osteopenia normal for my age so I was happy about that. Hopefully you can breeze right thru the 7th year and BC will remain in your rear view mirror forever.

Lori, hope things are going well and you get your son into rehab today without incident. I totally understand if we can't get together this time, your family comes first, we can always meet up next time.

JCS, glad to hear you are enjoying your chemo break, I'll be praying for good scans. great pics of the aquarium!

Cami, misty, yoga and whoever else I'm missing, hope you all have a wonderful day!

maryland

Don't know if any of you are familiar with the Disney movies Zombie movies but Nora is obsessed with them, my son says she goes into the bathroom and comes out like this almost everyday.

Jazzygirl

Good morning friends- happy International Women's Day! Here is to all the women out there doing amazing things in all the ways women do.

It's another beautiful day here and continues to feel like spring. I got working on my tax stuff last night and going to be focused on that today and through the weekend so I can get my things done and to my accountant. Plan to also do some work in the garage (the final frontier) as well as with the paperwork purge I put off to the end of my long to do list.

Table is off to be repaired from something that happened with the cleaning company in January. Their way of doing this did not make me happy, they make me pay for it and then "credit my account" for my services. I asked for a discount on my next cleaning given the work involved with this for me to find the company to do the work, and got a no to that as they are "taking care of the repair". You incur the damage, you find the person to do the repair, you pay for it, we credit your account, no discounts for inconvenience. Not happy about the way they do things with this, and expected better customer service for a company I have used for eight years now. Recommendations to others stops now. There have been some minor breakages in the past and not in awhile, but but this was a bigger deal. The cost to fix the table will be $300 plus tax. I should have the table back by later this month. When a place I am paying for a service creates work for me, they go on notice for possible replacement.......

Genny- I am glad you have some space for yourself. Swimming and yoga are my fav exercises. Husband took dog too and that gives you a break as well. Enjoy your space to have a self care day. And Anorable is a hoot with her zombie make up. I love that girl!

Chi- I wanted to share my blood work improved drastically after being off the AIs for about 18 months. I went off them Feb of 2018 and my lipid profile was the best it was last Oct in years. I know my MO said the AIs drive up cholesterol, but it pushed everything up from cholesterol, to triglycerides, and spiked my blood sugars. The only thing that has remained the same is my A1C, which remains at 6.1 with metformin and trulicity. I was on the AIs for 5 years, and my MO said no real benefit to me to do longer with my particular pathology. Things change on this all the time though.

Sorry your trip got cancelled. It seems events are being cancelled all over the place right now and a big healthcare IT conference (HIMSS) that happens next week in Orlando got cancelled yesterday. I was not going to it, but involved with their local board and working with them on a debrief they were going to do at a local healthcare event here in a few weeks. I have some tentative plans to visit family and friends in FL later this spring, and to do Ireland this fall but that is all on hold for now.

NM- my understanding is that yes, you still need to have one of these real IDs. Most people have been getting them as part of drivers license updates. They kept delaying the compliance date, so I delayed thinking about it along with them. But my licenses expires end of April, a month after my birthday, and with the due date of October as the final compliance date, it's time. I think if you were to take a passport through the airports, it probably could work. I just don't want to have to take that every time I do domestic travel.

https://www.dhs.gov/real-id-frequently-asked-questions

And thanks for explaining about the vaccine stuff too.

Goldie- hope things are okay okay with your visit. Cami and Genny are going to be ready to drink some wine with you when you are ready, I think......

JCS, Mistyeyes, Janky, Celia C, Yoga, hoping your friday is good. Is it time for happy hour yet?

My sister called early today filled with things she wanted to talk about including end of life planning things, financial and POA stuff, etc. She had been to talk to her atty and doing more work around things. I said to her "this is a big conversation to have at 6:30 it the morning?" She said she had been up for hours, maybe I should be glad she didn't call me earlier? Anyways, some of this was needed as we have POA relationships between us with little family around anymore.

Have a good weekend friends!

ChiSandy

Austin just cancelled SXSW--which will harm thousands of hospitality workers. Chicago has cancelled most conventions. Hourly workers are getting hit the hardest all over, especially those with no paid sick leave. (Federally mandating paid sick leave can slam the brakes on--or at least slow--community proliferation of COVID-19 as well as flu). In places like the Seattle area, where schools are being closed, the economic hardships are stark: parents have to stay home and take care of their kids, and poor children who rely on free school breakfasts & lunches will be seriously impacted unless these meals can somehow be delivered to their homes.

We are delaying booking travel to NYC, and--this is painful--tickets to "West Side Story," "Girl From the North Country," and "Plaza Suite." (If & when we do go through with the trip, those tix will be much pricier than they are now).

Here's the scoop on Real ID: if you have a passport, the TSA will accept it as a "Real ID." Ditto for the wallet-sized "Passport Card" (good for travel to & from Canada, Mexico, and the Caribbean but not other int'l destinations). You can buy one along with your passport (renewal or initial), or as a standalone to avoid having to carry a passport domestically and risk losing it. But did you know that if you have a Global Entry card (which comes with automatic TSA Pre-Check), the TSA considers that a "Real ID?" However, if you want to get a Real-ID-compliant driver's license or state ID at your local DMV, your Global Entry card is not acceptable as a required supporting document! (Neither are a college ID, FOID permit, nor a state medical-marijuana ID card). And if you have just TSA Pre-Check, that is NOT "Real ID-compliant." Confusing, no?

Jazzy, I can see why your MO stopped your AI after 5 years--your cancer was a combo of small, low-grade DCIS and even smaller IDC. Mine was Grade 2 (though mitotic rate 1) IDC, 1.3 cm. I'm getting my DexaScan next week--if my osteopenia has worsened, I'll probably go back on Prolia and maybe stop my AI after 6 yrs (per my March 2022 DexaScan).

Jazzygirl

ChiSandy- sorry about your travel plans. A good friend of mine in Austin (we did SXSW years ago together) said the City was pushing to get it cancelled, and today, something came down that made it happen. They have around 150,000 people pass through this event from all over the world over a three week period. It takes over the city, and you are so right, it hits those service and hourly workers so hard. My sister made a comment to me that no one wants to be the one responsible for a community exploding with cases when this hits the tipping point. The whole thing is starting to feel very surreal......

Okay, something to lighten the mood. I came across this Earth Wind and Fire video which is probably the best I have seen of them live. Love their moves, jam session and if you have ever been to one of their concerts (they still tour minus some Maurice White), you are up and dancing the whole time. Enjoy!

camillegal

I'm back, but can't remember chit. I always liked earth, Wind and Fire good choice.

Sandy we were all looking for you the last couple of days, I member u saying u had a long list of dates filled up just didn't member when. And I think everyone is spooked out with this Virus, way to many unanswered questions. And it stands to reason the other childhood diseases weren't around for a while cuz everyone as kids got the shots for years. Then people were stopping and everything was coming back. I member having measles on my 5th BD and I stayed in my bedroom with blinds and door closed. Everyone one sang happy HB to me but no one came in, they took it very seriously. I think a lot of people just don 't know how awful thse diseases are. Of course this new one is really scary, hopefully they'll get it soon.

Oh I wanted to talk to everyone, but now my eyes are closing. BUT I did fast all day today, one out of 40 is better than last year anyway.

OK I'll catch u all in the morning cuz I really do like to talk to everyone.

LUBS U ALL.

camillegal

camillegal

Mornin; ladies,l

Jeez I came in last nite so so tired it was a disaster.

HaHa I remember now seeing someone new, Welcome and ya all come back now ya hear. <I'm watching Andy griffin show can u tell>

Lori I hope everything went the way it was supposed to go. My understanding is that u don't get to see ur son while he's in rehab, but I don't know if that's always true. Especially cuz u went so far to see him Well the most important thing is that he's there with prayers coming that's all I can do. They're for u too.

Mary r u serious about not being able to lose weight. It has to be the meds there can't be another reason. Until ur body really gets used to them maybe then u can work it out. IDK these meds are aknock out to our bodies in so many ways, it's hard to figure. But if u feel decent that has to help. OMG Anorable still has such blonde hair an she really likes zombies, u can tell. What a character. She has to be so much fun, love those ages.

Kim all of a sudden ur mom is talking about apartments. Seems funny I don't know how much the assisted living is there, but I do know if ur on a good level they never really bother u and u have a great apartment and a dining room that has great food an lots of activities My SIL has been moved since my brother died, she has some dementia and mean, well she was always mean so that's nothing new. I mean really mean. But she has a nice apartment and as she puts it she's in charge of the money now so her kids better be nice to her and she does mean that..

JC I think I remember ur trip is coming to an end soon, it looks like it was beautiful just being there.

Illie u'll be planning trips soon I'm sure, u guys always find fun places. U' better be better now Can u swallow yet, ur going to be a stick if u don't start soon, or u r already.

OK I work today and have to get organized which lasts about 5 mins. then everything is all over the place again.

I hope everyone has a good Saturday.

LUBS U ALL

NativeMainer

Good Morning, Loungettes!Happy Saturday! Not sure what to call the weather today, sunny and pretty, temps in the 30's, but windy enough for the wind chill to be below the donut in places not far from here. Gonna be chilling hanging clothes out on the line today, but with the wind they'll dry fast!Signs of mud season are showing, Sadie came in with very wet and muddy paws this ayem. Spring is coming!

Genny--I hear you about counting calories. I gave up on that years and years ago, after I managed to gain weight on a 500 calorie a day diet that was 'guaranteed" to make me lose weight by my then Primary Care Provider. This weekend is going to be relaxing, as much as I can make it be. The vaccine thing is a very hot topic. I wonder how many anti-vaxxers are planning to take their children to China or Italy to catch COVID-19 for the 'natural' immunity? . Do find it odd that those same people DEMAND antibiotics for themselves and their children when they get strep throat or develop chicken pox encephalitis or a cut gets infected.I'm not familiar with the Disney Zombie movies, but she does look kind of scary!

Jazzy--Yikes, what on earth did the cleaning company do to the table that's taking $300 to fix? I think I would be looking for a replacement, too, after that go-round. Thanks for the Real ID link, I'll read through it. Real ID has only been available in Maine for the last year or so, you can get a 'normal' driver's license or a Real ID driver's license when you renew, the Real ID costs a lot more. I'm glad your sister called to talk about POA issues and other end-of-life topics, but not so glad about the early hour. At least she is starting to think about that stuff and maybe is getting ready to move on it.

Chi--Yup, the whole Real ID thing is confusing. Since I don't travel all that much I think I'll stick with my passport until the next time my driver's license comes up for renewal. By then I suspect the 'normal' driver's license option won't be available anymore and the Real ID license will be the only option. I probably would have paid for more the Real ID option last time I renewed my driver's license, but that option didn't come out until the year after. I'm always just missing things that way! Sorry your travel plans are so messed up. Seems like everyone is going to be hurt by this virus one way or another.

Cammy Cat--I can't imagine having measles on your 5th birthday. I did have chicken pox when I was a sophomore in high school, and it was horrible going back to school with all those spots still red.And I do remember how sore my throat was with the sores. Eating and drinking was pretty hard for a while.

Jazzygirl

NM- the cleaning people knocked over a small trifold antique table I had taken out of the closet and had in my home office leaning against something. I had removed it to clean out the floors in that closet, and apparently when one of the girls was vacuuming, they caught the vacuumm cord on the edge of one of the legs and it went down. It broke at a joint, but we looked at the whole thing together and it needs a few things done to it. I found a few other cleaning companies and going to do a bit of checking on price and if they have any teams that work on Saturdays.

On the same theme, my hairstylist called yesterday and could not see me today as they had a death in the family. She is totally overwhelmed and we tried to do something today but she needed to go home. I told her no problem and went to my old salon nearby where I first was seeing her and had a few stylists there through time. I was lucky as one of the gals had a no show and did a great trim and shaping for me. My stylist is also a friend and going to drop by this week with some food for the family, but decided to get taken care of today as I have some important meetings come up and can't wait for a reschedule in two weeks. Always good to have a Plan B!

NativeMainer

Good Morning, Loungettes!Happy Sunday Funday! Going to be an interesting day with the time change. Most of my timepieces take care of the time change automatically, but there are a couple I need to manually adjust.While it will be nice to have daylight later in the evening, I will be back to getting up in the total dark. Blah. I still wish it would just stop. Pick a time frame and stick with it, we'll all learn to adapt and adjust eventually.I was talking about all this with Silly Sadie last night, and she thinks the whole thing is just silly. Her idea? Eat when hungry. Sleep when tired. Pee/Poop when need to. Play in between. Dog is more important than clock.She has a point!

Oh my goodness, I just saw a news item on replacing hand shakes with "elbow bumps", being described as the "germ free"way to greet people. I'm sitting here thinking, yeah, very germ free if someone just coughed or sneezed into that elbow!I think the "toe tap" makes more sense!

Jazzy--oh, dear, the table is an antique! I was thinking of a regular, everyday end table. Having a Plan B is always a good thing! Sorry for your hairstylist.

Biohazard shooter

• 1/3 shotsPineapple Juice
• 1/3 shotsChartreus
• 1/3 shotsBlackberry Liqueur

Method

Layer 1/3 shot of blackberry liqueur, 1/3 shot of pineapple juice and 1/3 shot of chartreuse into a shot glass. Use a barspoon to create separate layers of separate liquids in the glass.

From <https://makemeacocktail.com/cocktail/7838/biohazard-shooter/>

camillegal

camillegal

Mornin' ladies;

Holy chit this time thing is worse the the fall one. I'm so mixxed up today.

U know I don't even know what a real ID is, well of course I don't go anywhere, but my ID an DL is way passed do tho. Expired years ago, never paid attention now that I don't work there anymore. It's actually kind of nice today. A little sun but not ice cold.

Illi where are u.???

Jazzy ur hair would look good no matter who did it. U have nice hair. Mine is half done, I got it colored now wait for the cut and I WILL show it to all of u. This way u can LOL and I won't know. See how easy that is.

My phones have been busy this morning all stupid stuff that we don't even do. And what we do no one wants to pay the Sunday price, I don't blame them, but Sundays we're closed, the guys want to spend it with their family an church <some of them>We do have someone on call but simply for emergencies.

OK I'll check back later when I get unflooped.

LUBS U ALL

illimae

I’m here, reading mostly. I’m doing ok. My voice is still horse and swallowing is difficult but I’m starting to eat more things like squash, cooked carrots and cheese sandwiches in super tiny bites. It’s not much progress but I was getting tired of soups. Hopefully real improvement is coming soon.

ChiSandy

Not surprised you gained weight on a 500-calorie diet--your body went into starvation mode and your metabolism likely ground to a halt. You were probably too exhausted to exercise, too. And I'd almost bet those 500 calories were no-fat and mostly carbs (probably a fair amt. of fruit or grain). These folks who say "it's all about calorie deficit" drive me up a wall--not all the "calories in" are burned up as "calories out" in the same way, at the same rate. And simple carbs can cause insulin spikes that in turn promote fat storage (which we women are programmed to do to maintain fertility to promote "survival of the species" at the cost of "survival of the organism." Never mind whether the boat has sailed on fertility: our genes are still living in the Stone Age when women rarely survived past or even to menopause).

This COVID-19 is beginning to impact us. Bob tells me that Union Health (where he works twice a week) has banned in-person routine followup visits. He still has to come in to work and see patients with acute issues, but teleconference for the routine followups. Might be only a matter of time before he has to videoconference from home. At least he's not taking a pay cut. Went to Target, Jewel (grocery), Binny's (booze) and Whole Foods yesterday. Target's & Jewel's sani-wipes dispensers at the entrances were picked clean; Binny's had a canister of wipes and a bottle of Purell, which was patrolled by a security guard. Only Whole Foods had Purell cart-wipes as usual--their customers are too ethical to hoard stuff.

I did something dumb yesterday: bought some aloe vera gel and a jug of off-brand Everclear (shelves had no rubbing alcohol) to make homemade hand sanitizer; then I read that the Everclear, at 96% alcohol, is volatile as hell and you need to add some peroxide to kill off any spores in the aloe, as well as a little glycerin (also unavailable) to aid viscosity. And the WHO's recipe is for multiple gallons of the stuff. Then I read that soap & water is much more effective--sanitizer is only for when you can't get to a clean sink with soap or don't have the time. I did buy a big pump bottle of Neutrogena Hydro-Boost lotion to decant into smaller pump bottles to put next to my bathroom's liquid-soap dispensers: handwashing is incredibly drying!

Well, it's 62F outside and I'm not about to waste this lovely day, despite having lost an hour of sleep. See you later.

ChiSandy

WOW! T-shirt weather today--at almost 6pm it's still 65F. Drove to the store with the sunroof tilted open. Sat outside on the deck and enjoyed the best cup of decaf I've ever had: bought the proper (proprietary) filters for my Hario pour-over dripper cone, and used a new-ish (roast date 2/25) bag of Metropolis Xeno's Decaf blend. All this time I'd been using store-brand (Target) Melitta filter knockoffs and the coffee drips all over the place while brewing (so I have to guess how full the cup is getting). The ceramic cone itself has some cracks (ordered a new one), but the Hario filters made all the difference, as they are pointed at the bottom and have only a single seam along one side. The Melittas are cone-shaped until the bottom, where there is a flat seam. I've often had them break even when (especially when) I folded them, suddenly dumping grounds & water into the cup all at once. The pointed bottom is crucial to the coffee dripping through in a single stream.

Bob's staying over in Oak Lawn tonight, so decaf's my DOTD. (As to that infamous bottle of Everclear, we're saving it to make gløgg next Christmas season; besides, I found a fresh bottle of 70% rubbing alcohol in my linen closet today, plus a bottle of 97% pure aloe gel, so I can safely make hand sanitizer should I run out of Purell wipes).

We have tickets to the Audra McDonald concert at Dominican U. next Sat. night, but at our ages it might be unwise to attend. As of now, we won't be traveling to NYC in May.

CeliaC

Sandy - Must be scary for your DH & all healthcare employees now.

Several of my sister's co-workers at Greenwich Historical Society live in Westchester (82 cases as of yesterday) & as the Facilities Director, she is responsible for planning how to deal with COVID-19. She said store shelves near her are wiped out of every kind of cleaner, bleach, gloves, alcohol, aloe vera, soap, TP, Paper towels and also many other grocery items.

I was hoping to make a trip to Cleveland next weekend for OU's St Pats in the Flats, but not going now.

This COVID-19 stuff is pretty worrisome not only from a health but also from an economic perspective. Prayers for everyone weathering this storm.

ChiSandy

My recently-widowed cousin-in-law is up in northern Westchester (on the CT border), and we were supposed to visit in May. She's beside herself with worry--she's retired from law practice but her daughter still has a full litigation calendar. Gonna be truly disappointing not seeing her again, now that we've reconnected after several decades of (pointless) family friction.

Wonder if Chicago will cancel the St. Pat's Day Parade--several restaurants along the river had planned brunch parties to watch the river be dyed bright green (it's sort of a dull olive year-round); maybe the parade will go on but no watching except from windows rather than lining up six deep on the sidewalks.

CDC is now advising seniors not to attend weekly worship services. So our choir practices may be an exercise in futility, as most of the regular congregants are over 60.

MinusTwo

Sandy - San Francisco has cancelled their St. Pat's parade. It will be interesting to see what Chicago does?

NativeMainer

Good Morning, Loungettes!Happy Monday Monkey Day! Here I am, getting up in the total dark again. NOT fun. Just got past the driving right into the sun on the way to work. Now we've got to start it all over again. Sigh. Silly Sadie is giving me very dirty looks for getting her up too early this ayem!

Well, two folks here in Maine have been tested and are self-quarantining, one returned from a trip to Italy, one who was in contact with someone who has tested positive in another state. I knew it was only a matter of time before it was confirmed in Maine, now the panic and chaos will begin in earnest. Sigh.

Cammy Cat--That doggo is in TROUBLE!REAL ID is a post 9/11 security thing that sets a standard for licenses and identification cards and mandates those IDs be used to access Federal facilities, boarding airplanes, etc. I don't blame people for not wanting to pay the Sunday rates for work, and I don't blame businesses for having a closed day and charging extra for going out in an emergency on that day.

Illi--I imagine soups get pretty old after a while. Glad you can manage some more substantial foods. Praying for full recovery soon for you.

Chi--The 500 calorie a day thing was many, many moons ago when I was working night shift in a Neonatal Intensive Care Unit. I didn't exercise, but I spent 10 hours on my feet and moving, and tired was my normal state of being. I honestly don't remember if I ate anything in particular or avoided any foods in particular. Except coffee. I refused to give up coffee with half-n-half. It's funny to see all the hand sanitizer recipes popping up out there.How much sanitizer did you end up making? Oh, I see, you went to plan B. And a very good plan B, at that! The weather sounds wonderful. I'm so looking forward to that myself!

Celia--I'm thinking this COVID-19 outbreak is going to be quite the wake up call for a lot of communities.

St. Pat's day won't be the same without the parades and green shenanigans!

Shamrock Juice Cocktail Recipe

• 1/2 ounces gin
• 1/2 ounces white tequila
• 1/2 ounces light rum
• 1/2 ounces vodka
• 1 ounce Blue Curacao
• 4 ounces fresh squeezed orange juice

Fill a hurricane or parfait glass with ice. Pour in the liquors and top off with the orange juice. Garnish with an orange wheel and cherries.

From <https://mixthatdrink.com/shamrock-juice/>

maryland

good morning girls, waking up in a hotel room in with Lori! Very impromptu, we decided to meet In Toledo halfway for both of us and then we said “what the hell” and we drove to Chicago for pizza at Cami’s house, very nice visit, we stayed for a few hours grabbed a hotel had a few drinks and were both passes out before 8. Lot of driving but worth it. Maybe if we do it again we’ll actually visit Chicago a bit but this was all we could fit in this time. Kind of cray cray but we’ll both be back home early since Lori has family stuff to do and my DH is traveling so I hafta get home to the pooches.