Can we have a forum for "older" people with bc?
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Sunny this morning with clouds expected this afternoon. Possible snow showers overnight. Not at our house. We're 3ft above sea level and within a mile or two of the sound. Banana belt.
I-5 is open!!! This is the main north south highway in Washington with no really good detours. We're going to Hood River for Christmas, so it was a major concern. I expect it will be a long drive, even with the highway open. It may snow there Christmas Day.
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A little warmer than yesterday, but we're expecting a "wintry mix" later tonight. Yesterday I had my mani-pedi, and it was just too dang cold to go home in flip-flops, especially because I had to grocery-shop afterwards. So I wore shoes & socks, and the pedicurist put plastic bags on my feet once she was satisfied my toenails were dry, and then the shoes & socks. Got home after shopping, took off my shoes & socks & baggies--and my left big toe was smeared & creased. So I went back this morning to do a repair (this time I sat for over an hour and wore Uggs home--the polish is fine). I decided to bling out: vermilion with glitter on top for the toes, and two coats of translucent darker red over glitter for my fingernails. (First non-French mani I've had in years). I love staring at them--the polish looks 3-D, almost holographic. Alas, my toe pain is definitely not an ingrown toenail, but referred from the adjacent hammertoe caused by the Bunion From Hell, so it looks like I'll have to see a podiatrist. Hope new orthotics (that will realign the two toes) will work, without surgery.
Bob's almost home, so we will go shopping. Gotta go down to Lincoln Sq. (2 mi. s.) to pick up a Christmas pudding--our 2-pounder only made it through 2 Christmases and was dried out this year despite being doused with booze and stored double-wrapped in the fridge. Harder to find than you think--a vanishing tradition. When I was a kid in NYC, you could find Crosse & Blackwell plum pudding & hard sauce in supermarkets, even in majority-Jewish neighborhoods (despite its having suet)! Then we're going up to Old Orchard (mostly Barnes & Noble) to Christmas-shop like crazy, and probably go to McCormick & Schmick's for seafood (I'm steakhoused-out after this week--4 beef meals? Yikes).
Tomorrow night we'll go down to River North (we'll take the CTA) to eat at Eataly (Mario Batali notwithstanding)--either the trattoria or standing up at the various food bars (oyster, charcuterie, veggie, pasta & pizza). Then we'll head across the street to the multiplex to see The Darkest Hour. It's a great theater--you order & pay for snacks & wines at the concession, & a waitress brings them to your reserved seat. Last year, we went to a wine-and-cheese tasting at Eataly first, and were feeling veggie-deprived. The theater had roasted Brussels sprouts as a snack!
Meanwhile, got an unpleasant surprise. When the gutter-cleaning guy came yesterday, he discovered and showed me photos: the drainpipe had cracked and there were gaps in some soffits & around the chimney; and the joints around the stack pipes & the flashing were not weatherproofed when we had the roof redone in '06 (by a company rated A+ on Angie's List). Silly me--after watching all these home-repair and improvement shows on PBS, I thought weatherproof flashings and joints were part of every roofing job. . So the gutter guy (who also does roofing) is puttering around on his ladder fixing stuff before the snow flies. Otherwise, we'll have to wait till spring and possibly get leaks during the winter. Thank goodness he e-mail invoices and takes PayPal.
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Sandy, Can sympathize, I have the good old bunion and hammer toe too. Thought about surgery, had a friend did it and the bunion grew back! Sure makes any dress shoes hard to get that will fit both feet!
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Thank goodness Alegria, Ziera and Finn Comfort make some pretty, even bling-y, shoes (though the latter are insanely expensive, they last forever). Hush Puppies makes a plain pump (not-quite flat, low rubber wedge about 1") in black & caramel. They all have broad, deep toe boxes. (Drew's are a little frumpy for my taste). Clarks Unconstructed, Aerosole, and Arcopedico, which are all partly fabric, are stretchy and accommodate bunions & hammertoes without squooshing. (There's another dress shoe, by Aravon which is a subsidiary of New Balance, which I like too--it & the Ziera don't look orthopedic from the outside). I used to love Mephistos for walking & casual wear, but they don't make a wide width for women, and they squoosh my bunionette now. Might give them to a shelter.
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Carole, I'm holding you responsible for me craving crab dip all day. I have zero chance of going anywhere that might serve it. I'm too disciplined to make it and eat it all.
I hear you on the bunion and shoe fitting. My problem is wide toes, with a bunion, and narrow heels. So many companies don't make shoes for people with wide feet, just people with fat feet. If they fit my toes, they're too loose in the heel. Right now 90% of my shoes are New Balance sneakers. I'm retired, so weddings and funerals are the only places I need dress shoes.
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Wren, You sound like me! New Balance are my favorites. Rarely wear dress shoes either, summer I can wear sandals if I'm dressed up! Yup, good old bunions and hammer toes, only have em on 1 foot. If the shoes fit them, they don't fit the other foot, or vice versa!. AAAAh the golden years!
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Jackie, the national political scene is a real downer for me. Yesterday I was listening to NPR on my ride to the nursing home and the discussion (about prohibited language in our American history) made me reflect that every period in the history of our country has involved compromise with principles. For example, the word "slavery" was a no-no when the constitution was being written. Our founders had to turn a blind eye to a horrible injustice. Then there was the McCarthy era. There was no idyllic time except in the minds of people looking back and deciding, "Those were the days."
On a different subject, I wish you could have seen our hostess last night. She looked nice in a pretty outfit sitting on a stool at her kitchen counter with her foot with the broken ankle propped on a chair. Her guests, including me, all marveled that she had not cancelled the golfers party. She calmly gave us all instructions. "The bread basket is up on that shelf," etc. After dinner we all cleaned up the kitchen.
Today I must do some house cleaning in preparation for the arrival of our houseguests (younger brother and his wife) arriving tonight about 8 pm. Also in preparation for the Christmas dinner. One task is creating more room by putting away "stuff."
Maybe 2018 will be a year when I hire some housecleaning help.
Happy Friday.
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We must practice love. . . . As you grow in love for others, you will find your own power increasing. You will learn how to disagree without being disagreeable. You will become more approachable. You will better understand why all people want to be truly loved and not just tolerated. You will emphasize more and more the good side of even the worst people. You will develop an inner warmth, an abiding sense of humor. -James Keller
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Oh to be able to have help, but I think I'll have to hope for it as a possibility in the future. You know, putting things away is fantastic. I do a lot of it, but I just don't understand what little mischief maker brings it back out -- always behind my back. I've tried my best to give away ( and I feel like tons have gone ) as much as I can but somehow --- before I know it, way too much ( even though it may be different ) ends up back here. Maybe this will be the yr. when I figure out how to get it out without its finding a way back.
Getting ready to decide what to fix to take over to my BIL's on Christmas Eve. Of course, I'm not to bring anything --- but oh, if you want to bring some Grape Salad. Well I'll admit, it is one of the easiest things to make -- but I'll be bringing much more. My own ham salad recipe and even the crackers to eat it on as the men --- they don't even pick out crackers that suit me. Passable but for me -- I like everything to compliment enough that the flavors are distinctive while going together well. So picky I guess but I've been like that since I was very young ( before kindergarten/grade school.
X-mas day we will go to my cousin's and spend some time ( eat some light snacks for lunch ) and then dinner with Dr. B and family. Just spending some time with those we appreciate for me is a huge gift.
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My mom wore a 7-1/2 AA with a AAAA heel. Shoe salesmen would see her coming and dive behind the counter. Meanwhile, I'm a 7 or 7-1/2 W or even WW...with a AA heel. That size does not exist "in the wild." I have to pad the inner surfaces of my dress shoes' heels with a double layer of anti-slip heel pads. I'm finding my comfiest shoes are Hoka runners, Mahabis boiled wool house slippers (with added arch pads), and UGGS (with sheepskin orthotics). I don't get toe pain at all in any of them.
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If we knew the true power of belief and positive thinking, we would never have a negative thought.
Susan Santucci -
Wow !! Some morning here. We went to bed last night with rain falling and apparently in the super wee hours, it turned to snow. So, turning on the porch/deck light this a.m. was startling. OTOH, it has stopped and so not much out there, but certainly reminds us how fast the changes can come.
Today is grocery shopping day for me. Still working on my take-along's for bill's house Sunday night. They want Grape Salad ( something I'd have skipped otherwise ) which I will take, along with my home-made ham salad. Soooo if salads are the item, I'll likely make some broccoli salad since it is one of my favorites. Thinking as well of trying a dessert I've never made before -- Raspberry Dessert Bars. It has ( among other things ) raspberry jam, half & half, and cream cheese -- so all things that I think would make a great dessert. My other rule of thumb is keeping recipes as easy as possible and this one sounds just right.
Hope you are all going to have a fantastic dday.
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We ran the a/c last night and will probably switch to heat late this afternoon and light the fireplace tonight. A front is coming through and pushing out the warm, humid air. Yay! I'm happy to change out of shorts into jeans.
Normally I go the nursing home on Saturday afternoon to do "bingo duty" with my mother. That entails pushing her in her wheel chair to the main dining room, parking her at her usual table, bringing her a stack of cards for her to pore over and select two that have numbers she hopes will be called. I sit beside her and keep an eye on her cards and often play a couple of cards for one of the residents who come for bingo but can't play their own cards. Two women are blind and some of the other residents don't have the mental clarity.
There is also coffee and hot chocolate to be served and I help with that.
Today my younger brother and his wife, in town for Christmas and staying at our house, will be spending much of the day with my mother and doing bingo duty. She will be happy to see them. My SIL has made lovely gifts for my mother to give to her friends and nursing home staff members who take care of her.
Happy Saturday to all.
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I'm visiting my Dad in Burnsville, Minnesota for Christmas (near Minneapolis). I don't do well driving in the city traffic and really don't like driving on winter roads. Prayers were answered this week and the snow storm that moved through from Fargo split and went north and south of Minneapolis, leaving the roads dry and ice free. So I had good driving to West St Paul to have lunch with one granddaughter and her mom, and then drove to White Bear Lake to met Lew's son's family at Caribou coffee and had a nice visit with them. One of the grandsons was home from Maryland. Had a blinding setting sun glaring in my eyes all the way back to Dad's. I'll head home to Fargo the day after Christmas, roads should be good but it could be -20 for the drive.
Merry Christmas everyone!
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Merry Christmas to you too Puffin. Here's hoping nice traveling, safe roads in ALL your travels and a wonderful time spend with your loved ones.
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Christmas! The very word brings joy to our hearts. No matter how we may dread the rush, the long Christmas lists for gifts and cards to be bought and given--when Christmas Day comes there is still the same warm feeling we had as children, the same warmth that enfolds our hearts and our homes.
Joan Winmill Brown -
Merry X-mas Eve............
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i am concerned I don't see any recent posts. Any hints on what I an doing wrong?
Also, have any of you received chemo with knee replacements? IF so, does that complicate the things
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We up on the city's north lakefront were supposed to be spared a White Christmas--the snow was forecast to fall mostly south of I-80 (and just a dusting for us), with a winter weather advisory issued last night for only IN and the counties to the south of Chicago's southern suburbs. Surprise--we woke to 3" on the ground, and by the time it stopped (while we were out to dinner up in Evanston, to which we traveled by Uber), we had 5". The Bears won, dinner was fantastic, and the gift-opening was fun. We fed the cats first so they wouldn't try to play with stray ribbons. Feel like hibernating, so about to sleep soon (and long--we're not expected at our friends' till 5:30). A guy came and shoveled out the garage door, so Bob can get an early start to work in order to be home by 4.
Merry Christmas!
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We're having a snowy, windy and bitter X-mas Day in the North Country!
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Merry Christmas gals! Been thinking about you all..... just been fooling around the house, and trying to take care of Hubby, after his lower teeth were pulled, and that was 2 weeks ago, and STILL in a lot of pain... Might go see our PC tomorrow, to see if his jaw is infected or something... The Dentist said it just takes forever to heal, and the pain to go away.... Probably also because we are 80, and stuff doesn't heal right...
We had a great Christmas with Janie.... I fixed eggs benedict, and we opened gifts from our Florida girl & her Husband and Son, and then Chase, our other GS lives in Encinitas Ca..... Well he is having a great life, and a good job, and is always hanging out by the many beaches down there. We talk to him, and it makes us happy, to hear him doing so good!
Okay, I'll go back & read what y'all have been up to! Happy Holidays! xoxo
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Good to see you here my friend -- very good.
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There are thousands to tell you it cannot be done, there are thousands to prophesy failure.There are thousands to point out to you, one by one, the dangers that await to assail you.But just buckle in with a bit of a grin, just take off your coat and go to it; just start to sing as you tackle the thing that "cannot be done," and you'll do it. -Edgar Guest
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Brrr, this morning, but at least it is not snowing. Snowed for the past 2 days, but then the sun would get out for a bit so no real accumulation. That is good, but it is not so pleasant outside. We had a very nice day yesterday. Went to my cousin's at noon and had a really nice meal ( and tons of left-overs to bring home ) and then came home for an hour and went to Dr. B's for a supper and spent a couple of hours which were delightful. I had no notions of how things might be and often that just makes for a truly GOOD time. Going with the flow and not putting preconceived ideas in just lets the course ( especially when its a positive one ) move along and plant all that good will and joy in the best of places.
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Happy next day after Christmas to everyone.
Christmas Day was sunny and cool, in the 50's or low 60's outside. We had 24 people, including dh and me, in our house. The hired transport van brought my mother from the nursing home (she's 94) about 9:30 and picked her up for the return trip about 3 pm. By then everyone had left.
DH and I got busy restoring the house to normal.
This morning I'm off to the gym and will drive to the nursing home for bingo this afternoon.
Count me among those glad that holidays are over and life is back to normal.
I did get a surprise gift from dh. A cute little hd radio for the house. Now I can listen to NPR in the house as well as in the car.
Teka, I loved that quotation under your picture. Wish I had seen it Christmas morning.
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Forgot to say, Hi, Chevy! So nice to have you check in. Please do it more often.
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By yesterday morning, we'd gotten 5" of snow. Couple days respite before it kicks back in Thurs. Overnight lows below zero for the foreseeable future, highs struggling to get into the low-to-mid double digits. Dang--shoulda harvested my herbs while I had the chance. Maybe I can cut them while they're still frozen and just throw them into the freezer in Baggies.
Woke today to find it was 1F (albeit sunny, with half the snow evaporated) and our housekeeper didn't come in. No surprise--in this weather I wouldn't go outside either. Found her text on my cell, and called her: the heater in her car had croaked and she was at the dealership getting it fixed. But there was no message on our landline answering machine. Come to think of it, there were no messages since Sat.! That was when the readout on the handsets suddenly started saying "New VM." I would push the VM soft-key, only to get the readout "Call phone co. for VM access code." First time it happened, I called my provider, only to confirm we didn't have voicemail--because our phone system has a built-in answering machine. I figured this was just a glitch, so every time that "New VM" readout came up, I would make it go away (had to go to the mfr.'s site to find out how). Still kept happening, though--and I realized there were all these messages that were disappearing into the ether, supposedly irretrievable. (We usually let the machine pick up for any number we don't recognize or don't want to answer, which is most of the calls we get).
So I went online to figure out how to revive the answering device--purged all the messages, turned it off & then back on, adjusted the number of rings. But oddly, there was no way to even play our greeting, much less change it--none of those options were available onscreen nor in the user manual. Went to Panasonic's website. Live chat is down. Tech support phone desk is closed till at least tomorrow (and since the thing's out of warranty, it'd cost me nine bucks just to say "hi"). "User community" was no help either. So before popping for a new phone system (which wouldn't arrive till at least Thurs., or would require I bundle up and brave Chiberia), I decided to call the phone co. to find out how much adding voicemail would cost and how long before it'd take effect. It took me three tries: each time I reached a live human being, I was put on hold for the "home phone desk." First time, I got disconnected. Second time, I got a recording telling me to dial my own phone number, only to get a recording that "this service can be accessed only from the primary phone on this account." And then they hung up. (Say WHAT? That was the number I was calling from; did they mean I had to scrounge around for the original handset, one of two that came with the phone--I'd added two more?). Third try, the tech tried to access the appropriate help desk, only to find that the first techs were listed as "still logged in" to my account. Finally, she was able to get through, and told me the service is free (why didn't the first guy I called on Sat. ask me if I wanted to set up voicemail?); she got it authorized and I finally set it up. To retrieve messages, we'll have to jump through a few hoops: dial the VM, then punch in our access code--with the answering machine, all I had to do was press "play." Meanwhile, I had to go on Facebook to tell people that if I didn't answer my landline, they needed to hang up and either call my cell or leave a FB message. I was able finally to go back on FB and give the "all-clear."
That was how I spent most of my day. Really. I did just go to Amazon and buy a fifth handset and charger so Bob could have a bedside landline phone instead of making me hand my handset over, or wait to get paged and return the page using his cell. Ah, technology!
No housekeeper tomorrow, but I already knew that her hubby has an eye appt. (requiring pupil dilation) at the V.A. and she has to drive him. We're hanging in there. Luckily, I have nowhere to go, nothing to do until she gets back Thurs. to help me get the place ready for New Year's Eve: we host dinner at a neighborhood restaurant first and then walk back here for champagne. Given that it'll be below zero, though, I will have to teetotal at dinner so I can be a "shuttle service." (Or maybe one of my teetotaling guests might be willing to do that).
Could be worse; we could be in Erie, PA, which has 53" of snow and it's still falling.
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It's 8 degrees here this morning. Only had about 2 inches of snow Christmas eve. Might get more snow Sat, depending on the storm. Glad we don't live in Erie Pa. Tomorrow even colder, with wind, we may get to -10! Have to go out today, as DH has a doctor appt. Ill wear my warm parka. It's heavy, but does keep me warm, plus flannel lined pants!
Spent a lot of my day on line. I ordered a purse that took 3 weeks to arrive. No wonder from China and definitely a knock -off, which they won't admit. NOT leather, wrong hardware, wrong zipper and the handle is splitting ! Love the bag, wud be nice if it were real! Saw a website with pictures of items people have ordered, and what they actually got! China rip off! Oh well I have learned. Even the jeans that I have worn for years and am still wearing. I have always gotten from Woman Within, as they have a women's petite. Can find women's sizes elsewhere, but not petite length. they changed vendors a couple of years ago, the quality is poor now and the sizing has made me go from the 16WP I am still wearing to a 20 or 22 WP! ven sent 2 pair back, stitching came loose or was crooked! I take a wide leg WP, which I have not found anyplace else! Still wearing the good old ones!
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We're having a Louisiana version of winter, light rain and cold temperatures. High will be in the 40's today. A north wind. Good day to stay indoors. I will retrieve storage bins from an outside building and put away the Christmas ornaments. The tree goes into the attic.
We buy items online, including clothing. DH buys shirts from L. L. Bean. I order clothing for my mother from National and another catalog store whose name eludes me. So far everything has been as described and depicted in pictures.
Sizing can vary even in higher price stores like Belk. I always try on every item, even if I'm buying two pairs of the same brand and style of jeans or slacks or two blouses.
Whatever the view out of your windows, have a good Wednesday!
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