Can we have a forum for "older" people with bc?

IllinoisLady

MCBaker, I hope you are able to get some good answers -- so you can be really ready for Spring too.

petite1

Good afternoon, Ladies. All family members survived the storm. It is cool and sunny. I am heading to St. Petersburg in the morning. My brother and I need to finish up and get a key to the estate sale lady. They organize it, take pictures and advertise and clean up. I will be glad when this is done.

MCBaker

Jackie, if you knew how slim my finances are, and how frugal I am normally anyway, your eyes would pop at the sum. But I am going to stay the course. I will donate seven items to the secondhand merchants in town. Dog, bedspread, new blanket, foam mattress for loveseat sleeper, extravagances for dog, etc etc. I guess I just deserve it all, anyway.

IllinoisLady

MCBaker, as per my usual I thin I didn't explain myself too well.. I meant to say that I hoped you got good answers for your medical issues so that Spring would be even more delightful. I tend to be fairly frugal as well. Not as much as you, but retirement crimps the budget pretty good. I plan purchases now ( unless a sudden break-down ) for when enough bills are paid up. I am okay with that though.

MCBaker

I agree. It would be great to be able to walk all around town and do my gardening without worrying about the consequences. Plus getting enough sunshine to reverse the winter blahs. D3 can only go so far. I need to have enough in the bank as an emergency reserve for my baby.

IllinoisLady

We collect data, things, people, ideas, "profound experiences," never penetrating any of them. . . But there are other times. There are times when we stop. We sit still. We lose ourselves in a pile of leaves or its memory. We listen and breezes from a whole other world begin to whisper. -James Carroll

IllinoisLady

Rain this morning which we knew was coming. I think it will end some time today and hopefully not go over into tomorrow when we go again to Marion V.A. Maybe we will stop at Culver's on the way home and have a burger. They seemed to have become ( as places like that do ) the new place to go. Likely been around for some time but we here ( sort of in the sticks so to speak ) often have to wait a bit for good things to show up. Been there a few time now and always good hot food ( even the French Fries stay nice and hot ) and all tried have been quite good.

Dh goes to get eye exam while I will see the Podiatrist. I'm happy about that. My feet/toenails have been bad since chemo days. My fingernails never came out, but I have to shape carefully to cover up how they grow out now which is minorly a bit crooked. Not only are toenails very crooked, but thick as well due to fungal infection that took hold at the time. It wasn't apparent until about 3 months after the last chemo tx. I think I was so concerned with my fingernails I didn't notice my toenails 'suffering'.

I hope you all have a nice day. It will get to 40 here but a wee bit hard to enjoy in the rain.

MCBaker

Yes, Culvers' is good! And it started in Wisconsin. Fast food specializing in hamburgers is very competitive, so it has to be good in order to gain a toehold in the market.

I have two layers of toenail on my right big toe. I probably ought to go to a nailshop that specializes in difficult situations; have to ask a neighbor where she goes.

We are having heavy snow right now. I let Tippy lead, the sidewalks are difficult to follow.

carolehalston

I have seen Culver's restaurants but can't recall ever eating at one. I am a McDonald's fan. Normally I don't give in to temptation to pick up a sausage/egg/biscuit for breakfast or a Big Mac deLuxe (comes with lettuce, tomato, pickle, mayo) for lunch but when we're doing a road trip, we're on the lookout for the arches. We have a McD about 10 minutes away. Lately we've made good use of it. DH went out this morning for breakfast sandwiches, biscuit for me and muffin for him. Yesterday he picked up the burgers for our lunch. We agree that McD's fries are the best. There was a time when Wendy's was our favorite among the big burger franchises. We also are Subway fans and our local Subway is even closer than the McD's. Occasionally we buy a Subway for dinner.

Today I'm feeling close to the old normal. It's sunny and windy outside and quite warm.

DH is in the kitchen putting on a pot roast for dinner. I hear "cussing" every now and then since any little mishap is a major blunder in his world.

Wishing everyone a good Sunday.

IllinoisLady

Carole, I am laughing. There is sometimes a 'bit' of language around my house too. The only thing is, it is usually me. When I am ready to cook I often have an audience. One dog and a couple of cats. They are sure I'm going to drop something on the floor and they are underfoot with every one of my movements waiting to pounce. After a bit it gets really annoying. So, time to tell them where to go -- as far away from the kitchen as I am able to get them.

Everything here is relatively close. Culver's is actually 20 miles away but on the way home from Marion. If you happen to have a Hardee's around they have a really good Roast Beef sandwich. If you aren't a big eater, at our Hardee's you can get two smaller sandwiches for $5.00. I think they are as good as Arby's. We use the horseradish sauce but they also have a barbecue sauce if your not a horseradish fan. A few yrs. back Hardee's had fried chicken which was really good, but they quit doing it. I think they needed something new and different since I think all the chains go through 'slow' periods where people tend to drift away. When we go ( sounds like we go to fast food constantly but usually only when we are out or working hard and really tired ) to Arby's we get the Market Basket Roast Beef there. They are on a really good hefty bread ( no bun for Market Basket ) and lettuce and great sauce put on as the sandwich is made. The downside by the way of the Hardee's sm. roast beef sandwiches is that I think they are skimpy with the meat -- they put much more on the bigger sandwich, so you will pay more to get it, I presume. We do like McDonalds breakfast sandwiches as well and their breakfast burritos. Read somewhere that ingredient and calorie wise they are not bad. The burritos I mean.

Guess that concludes my trip into fast food -- and all because I starting laughing over language in a kitchen.

Also meant to say that I'm glad to learn where Culver's originated.

CindyNY

IllinoisLady- I love love love Culver's! Here in Fort Myers it's not far from the house. Upstate NY they don't exist, so we totally enjoy them as a snowbird. Culver's receipts have a questionnaire on them. Answer it, they give you a code, and it gets you a free dish of frozen custard! Can't beat that. I like it so much, we've been given gift cards for Christmas!

Hope everyone has a good day.

MinusTwo

Just jumping in to remind you all what a gem you have in IllinoisLady. Thanks for all you do - the advice, the quotes, the things to brighten everyone's days & to keep everyone going.

IllinoisLady

Thank You, MinusTwo. Each person tries in their own way to do what they can. I want to do that too. I can do very little most of the time, but if all the people who can do very little do it, just think of that. How big the response, the inspiration, the love for life, the desire to help, and the justice given over to beauty and love as all strive to move the positive aspects of life and living forward for everyone.

IllinoisLady

The splendor of the rose and the whiteness of the lily do not rob the little violet of its scent nor the daisy of its simple charm. If every tiny flower wanted to be a rose, spring would lose its loveliness. -Therese of Lisieux

IllinoisLady

Long day but basically a dry one after pouring rains last night -- which I slept through. All day trip to Marion. We left about 9:30a.m. and got home about 3:45.

Looking forward to tomorrow when we can have a normal day of a sorts. I always feel like I've fallen behind when we have to do these all day trips. We take the old highway which is sorta nice. Our interstate is a huge truck route in the area we need to use to get to Marion so I'm almost always reluctant to take it. We do get some slow downs on the "old" road but it is more scenic and very little traffic.

Hope you all had a good day.

carolehalston

Hair appointment with my "old" stylist at 11 am. She will be shocked at the absence of any style in my hair.

Also have to get some chores done like pack away the nebulizer and accessories. My cleaning angel comes tomorrow.

Jackie, I add my thanks for your hospitality and kindness to those who join us on this thread needing support. You help to make Oldies a welcoming place.

IllinoisLady

I believe that all people's lives will be filled with constant, unexpected encouragements. . . if they make up their minds to do their level best each day of their lives—that is, try to make each day reach as nearly as possible the high water mark of pure, unselfish, useful living. - Booker T. Washington

IllinoisLady

Late start this morning, but it was sooo nice. I even got up around 6a.m. -- much later than my 4 to 4:30 a.m. I felt un-respectfully lazy and enjoyed every second of it. Dh was up pretty quickly at that time too. He usually stays in bed a lot longer than me We awoke to a very thin layer of snow which is now all gone. The sun has been out, but there are some clouds hanging around so it is not always real bright. Since I love the sun I'll be content with even 'dull' sun.

Had a high blood pressure reading yesterday at the Podiatrist's office 170/102. It has been 'off' for a while. V.A. Mt. Vernon ( our home town satellite ofc. where our PCP is stationed ) and I have to take my blood pressure twice a day and then report if it is too high. Too high is 140 or 150/90 or above. Took three times of checking for it to get to a good spot. Maybe I need to ask if I should take the pill at night. I also take a half a water pill. Maybe I need that in the day time still. The up-side -- is it nice having short toenails again. I can wear all my shoes w/o feeling the 'ends' of my shoes. Now to start working on things I didn't do yesterday.

Hope you all have some sun.

ChiSandy

I love Culver's--especially when walleye is in season, since it makes amazing batter-fried fish & chips (better, IMHO, than cod). Unfortunately, the only thing I can eat there now is a naked burger, or the baked fish (meh) with decent green beans. The last thing I ate at Culver's was just before starting my diet: a Turtle sundae.

petite1

Good morning, Ladies. I have never been the Culver's. Today I have the pre-colonoscopy appointment and this afternoon Miss Felix goes to the vet. Busy day.

carolehalston

Jackie, my BP has been higher, too. I take a med.

IllinoisLady

Real education should educate us out of self
into something far finer--
into a selflessness which links us with all humanity.

Lady Nancy Astor

IllinoisLady

I will have to check with my PCP today. Numbers ( with medication ) were still too far off. Drat. I know I don't move as much as I did -- which stopped severely with my broken arm. Sigh !!! Hopefully, Dr. Neely will have a fix that will succeed.

Raining today -- another drat. I presumed it was going to be just cloudy. I see little bumps on the wooden walk-way so I think it is likely sleeting with the rain. It should warm enough quick enough to take care of that.

Wishing a good day for all of you.

keywestfan

Sandy, just a few comments on your postings on other forums. One on SLNB. Neither the cute BS or second opinion Northwestern surgeon recommended SNLB for me, entirely, I think, due to my age, BC is the one place being really old is an advantage. So, just imaging and clinical exam of SN. This is from NEJM some years back, a case study on an 85 year old woman. The doctor, part of a panel from Dana Farber writes:

“Taking into account this patient's expected survival, the small likelihood of her having four or more positive nodes, the rarity of axillary recurrence in older patients with hormone-receptor–positive tumors, and the fact that finding positive nodes is not likely to have a dramatic effect on either her care or survival, I would not recommend biopsy of the sentinel lymph node.”

Nevertheless, given that I had some focal LVI, I sort of wish I had the certainty that LN were clear.

On a much lighter note we’ve seen Audra MacDonald several times, the last being at Steppenwolf a few years ago, where during intermission she nursed her baby. She is so great. Also, I went to Dominican U, formerly Rosary College, for Library School. Was a librarian for several years, before going to Loyola for my MSW.

Valentines Night will be Jeffery Siegel at Pick- Staiger

IllinoisLady

The perfume of sandalwood, the scent of bay leaf and jasmine, travel only as far as the wind. But the fragrance of goodness travels with us through all the worlds. Like garlands woven from flowers, fashion your life as a garland of beautiful deeds. -the Buddha

IllinoisLady

So much rain yesterday, never truly pouring down but heavily consistent. Sometime during the night it snowed. Too warm and wet on the ground for much to stick. It is though about 28 degrees out though so it won't be nice. Only slightly better tomorrow, but good temps starting on the weekend. So near 50 then. Hoping we dry out but wouldn't surprise me to find more rain in the forecast afterwards. We have sure had plenty of rain the past couple of years.

Nothing planned for today much or tomorrow. Retirement can have a few rewards -- like doing things more on the basis of when you want to rather than when you have too because your on such a tight schedule. Being honest, that means I'll likely never get done because I can be so casual now. The up-side of that is how much you have to re-do on a daily basis anyway.

Hope you all have a good day.

carolehalston

Beautiful "winter" day here. Our high will be in the 50's, which is cold for south Louisiana day time. The sun is shining. I have a date for lunch with my younger sister and her daughter, whose birthday is Saturday. This niece has struggled with mental problems since she was a young teenager. Currently she is trying hard to overcome smoking and other addictions. She attends AA and other classes and meetings.

DH came home from the supermarket yesterday with flowers and a box of chocolates. He "arranged" the flowers in a vase. I am waiting to do a little re-arranging.

This morning I will go to the gym and do some cardio. I'll have to skip Silver Sneakers because it's too late, 11 am.

Happy Friday.

petite1

Good morning. A little rain this morning as a cold front moves in. Happy Valentine's Day.

CeliaC

Sunny, but 12 degrees currently (feels like 1 with wind chill). Glad to be retired & no need to brave the cold. Staying warm inside with DH. On 2/14/1990 I officially moved to London (now live in greater Cinci area), so Valentine's Day is always special/nostalgic. Received a lovely box of Godiva Pattiserie Truffles. Had a Black Forest Cake & a Tiramisu with my Chambord laced coffee mocha. Happy Valentine's Day to all!

IllinoisLady

It's not how much you accomplish in life that really counts, but how much you give to others. It's not how high you build your dreams that makes a difference, but how high your faith can climb. It's not how many goals you reach, but how many lives you touch. It's not whom you know that matters, but who your are inside. Believe in the impossible, hold tight to the incredible, and live each day to its fullest potential. You can make a difference in your world. - Rebecca Barlow Jordan