The Hermit Club

Jazzygirl

Good morning hermits! I hope everyone slept well. 

Cami- oh the joy of the general public. Sounds like it was like pulling teeth yesterday to get people to help you understand what they are looking for. I hope today goes better. 

Sally- the cleaner I used is the Sam's Club brand called Members Mark. It is called MM Commercial Bathroom and Tile Cleaner. It did require some scrubbing of the grout areas, but did a much better job than other products I have used. I used to use Magic Erasers which worked for a time, but the grout really got pretty groady the past couple years. I still have one area to finish today and will show you a before and after picture of the tile later today. 

Do you have a Sam's Club membership? Here is the link to the product in case you go looking for it: 

http://www.samsclub.com/sams/mm-bath-tile-clnr-1-g...

I did some research of products on line too and if you cannot get this, I read that oxygenated bleach is the best for cleaning grout. I checked ACE hardware and they only had OxyClean which I think is okay, but not as strong to get the grit out. Supposedly most hardware stores are supposedly the place to find the oxygenated bleach, and think the MM product has it in it. I just did not feel like running around to all the stores (Home Depot, Lowes, etc.) to find the pure stuff. This Sam's Club product works!

My flooring guy told me last week once you start changing up things like your paint and the flooring, you start noticing all the other areas that need some attention too! The tile in the house still looks good and will remain for the duration (except for some cracked tiles that will get replaced by the flooring guy at the end of the month). The dirty grout just started staring at me last week saying "clean me!" 

Hope everyone has a good day. I have a pic to share with you shortly of something in my backyard this morning.

Jazzygirl

In my backyard this morning. I heard it before I saw it. You can hear the burner as it comes near the house.

Balloon fiesta is coming up in another six weeks. As the date approaches, more folks up in their balloons. It is a great time of the year.

SallyS70

Cami, how lucky your bosses are to have someone who can talk "electrical." I am glad I asked.  

Jazzy, thanks for the grout info and my grout will be thanking you too.  I will look for an oxygenated bleach product as I don't have a Sam's Club membership.  Although Walmart may have the MM Commercial Cleaner.  I have noticed several Sam's Club products there recently ... I think.

We have a balloon festival here too.  Balloons in the sky give the morning a lift!

Have a good day everyone! 

Jazzygirl

Sally- oh yes, I was going to suggest that you look at Walmart as Sam's Club is part of that mother ship. They may have the same product, but in a smaller quantity. I need to keep up with keeping those floors in better shape than I have the past few years. But many things went to the wayside with all that happened. I did the things I needed to during my time of treatment and recovery. Cleaning grout was not one of them!

How cool you have balloons where you live. I have never been up in one (no desire) but love to look at them flying over head.

SallyS70

Jazzy, I am with you ... love to look at balloons but have no desire to take a ride in one.

magdalene51

Good afternoon, Hermies! Jazzy, the balloon pic is gorgeous! I had a friend whose family used to go to ABQ for the festival every year, her DH was a good photographer and they had some wonderful ballon pics. 

I took an amytriptaline last night so did get some sleep, not enough, and the steroids have given me the shakes pretty bad. Cousin brought me potato soup from Sprouts, and a lemon bar which is yummy but rich. Had a bit of nausea last night, took my zofran and I'm good today. Somehow got to pull myself together to go get my Neulasta shot in two hours. Headachy.

Last night I ate a big plate of spaghetti and 2 pieces of garlic toast. And it was soooo good! Glad to have been able to eat well before N hit.

Hope my Hermies have a great day!

Jazzygirl

Mags- it seems like your SEs used to hit a few days after the infusion, much sooner from the sound of it. I am glad you got some rest and hope you can get more. Sounds like you have to get out for a trip to the doc for a shot. I hope you get through that and home comfortably.

I called the dermatologists office today AGAIN about my skin biopsy results. I talked to a real person this time vs. getting an answering machine and they said one of the nurses would be calling me back. It has been two weeks since I had that done, so I am thinking they must have some info by now?

magdalene51

Wow, Jazzy! When I had a skin biopsy it was 24-hour turnaround! 

I got a reminder call yesterday about an appointment with my endocrinologist tomorrow which I had totally forgotten about. I called and rescheduled for mid-November. The receptionist was so sympathetic and caring, said to just call for refills when I need, and let them know if there's any way they can help. I love that doc, and he has the best staff. He takes as much time as needed, and always looks right at you, no computer. How rare.

Off to get shot. Still really shaky, glad for a cane today for sure!

Jazzygirl

Mags- they called and said they still did not have the results in (sigh).

Good news though. The job I found on Dice with my partnering firm is still open! I guess they filled it and at the last minute, the person they had lined up had to back out so they said nothing more happened after that. But while I was talking to them, the office manager who I know well called them and they have not filled the position and sound interested to talk to me. 

They are willing to let me work remote from ABQ part of the time which is a must have, as Santa Fe is a good hour drive each way. I am going to explore the train and shuttle options too as there is now a train that goes up there and I can work on the train and make money vs. wasting it on driving. The contract would take me through the end of next year too (2015). They are also willing to wait until Sept which is when I will be available to start (must get these floors done!) This is feeling positive and Jazzy is ready to get back to work in Sept once she is done with her flooring project end of the month.

This may be a better balance for me. The other job I was going to do that never manifested was going to be a complete work from home option. After being at home the past couple months, I realize I do like some sort of interaction with people in my work. So doing a pt on site/PT at home may be the way to go.

Wish me luck!

OncoWarrior

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magdalene51

Onco, I'm guessing part-time.

Survived my Neulasta shot, bp was a little high, but with the steroids and shakiness and unsteadiness, not surprising. I don't recall being quite this bad the last two times. But home now and trying to rest.

Jazzygirl

Mags- PT means part time in this context! So work there part of the time and home part of the time. FT means full time.

SallyS70

Mags, hope the shakes settle down quickly.  (((hugs)))

Jazzy, commuting for an hour sounds trying.  Don't you wish you could helicopter to and from Santa Fe like Barry Manilow does to and from Vegas ... or so I think I read.

Jazzygirl

Sally- yes, it can make for a long day. But unfortunately, there is not a lot of work in town for someone like me right now (glut of project managers here so I learned yesterday) so this is the next best option. Or I will have to take out of state work which I have done in the past but cannot sustain getting on a plane every week for months on end. I have done things like this before and know I just cannot do it anymore. So I am looking for the next best arrangement.

I finished cleaning the grout today and here is a before and after picture Sally.

camillegal

Sally u'r so funny like Barry Manilow--hahaha--I saw something advertised on TV the other day for grout, I can not remember but I'm going to watch for it--The ommercial uusually comes out late at night.

Jazzy this sounds so promising for you and it will bring 1and1/2 yrs of work, which is a good feeling,I always hope everything falls in place for u.

Mags I hope that shaking stops, it is a weird feeling that's when I would take Xanax--I started to abandon my theory of not taking help meds after I was in chemo for a while--I took anything that would help me, hope they wear off soon. I remember going back for that shot all the time for some reason I thought that was an inconvenience, like I was doing anything else. LOL I'm so glad u'r cousin takes such good are of you.

Onco--how are u doing???

I don't believe I had another day of screwy people, this has to stop.

Teka

I'm exhausted from traveling around Nova Scotia.

Tomorrow, heading back to Red's Eats in Maine.

Jazzy, good luck with biopsy results and job.   Grout clean-up looks good ;o)

Mags, sorry for the side effects, please rest rest rest )

*Hermits* Take Care!!

camillegal

Thanks for the pic Teka it looks beautiful but u sound knocked out. But I'm sure u'r having a good time.

Teka

Recliner is calling to me!

blondiex46

Jazzy that is awesome, things have a way of working out....I

Mags, I still shake, they told me i had a mini stroke.  it isually the left hand side of my body..I also got the neulasta shot after chemo the same day....hated it, it really sucked for me, like a truck him me for like 5 days.....don't miss it at all.....I am so hoping you have a good rest of the week...keep eating and drinking...it will be over soon....

went out to dinner for my birthday at outback, with a friend was awesome, then bought a banana split which I ate the whole thing in  1 sitting, love it...didn't take the predasone today, eating too much AND sick of being up all night, went to sleep at 230 this morning....WTH...

HUGS TO ALL!!

maidentiredofwaiting

Hi fellow Hermits!  Feeling cruddy so watching hot in Cleveland to get my mind off it.  Getting a very short cut tomorrow as hair is starting to go.  I was doing pretty good until this afternoon.  Bummed out about the hair and cried today over Robin Williams.  My SIL committed suicide 13 years ago and it was such  a shock.  She was only 30.  I've been on Prozac and that really helped thru some tough times.  People are so judgemental about mental illness though, even my own family has said some pretty insensitive stuff.  Like suck it up.  Would you say that about the bc? So why is depression any different? Oh well....peoples people.  Thanks for letting me vent.

Jazzygirl

Hi Maidentired- welcome to our thread. We are a nice group of ladies in various places with all this (some in active treatment, others down the line a bit, etc.). We call ourselves a judgement free zone. We hope you like it here.

The Robin Williams story is just so sad and hits so many of us close to home. I am sorry you lost a SIL to suicide. I do hope there is a shift in our society to not treat depression and other forms of mental illness a stigma. It is far more common than anyone really talks about. 

Teka- I love, Love, LOVE that photo in NS and of you looking out over the ocean. I hope your trip back to Maine goes well. And how many lobster rolls have you had? Lots I hope, you are on vacation you know.

Blondie and Cami- thanks for the kudos!

Blondie- I hope you can sleep better tonight. Are you taking anything to help or too many meds to think about another one?

More tomorrow. Good night hermits.

Teka

Maidentired, Welcome!

Today, only lobster roll on the trip will be at Red's Eats.

*Hermits* Good Morning!

camillegal

Welcome Maiden hope u enjoy this thread nice group here and so sorry to hear about u'r SIL--it is tragic. Tell us a little about u'rself .

Oh Teka remember u'r eating lobster rolls for all of us. so get going girl.

Mags how are u doing today, I hope u got some sleep. Or at least a good rest.

Of course I woke up now Jeez--I'll be floopy again all day. I wish I could do all my work for the day now--cuz this is when I feel some energy and right now I don't even hurt, well just a little, now today is Thursday so it's Friday eve.

SallyS70

Welcome Maidentired.  Your screen name is very different.  If you are inclined, share the story behind it, but, of course, it's okay if you don't want to share.  You mention feeling cruddy; I hope you feel better soon.   

Teka, it sounds like you might me on your way home ... have a pleasant drive and enjoy your lobster roll.  Thanks for the beautiful picture.  Did you have to hike into the area or was it near the road?

Bippy625

hi ladies, can i join the hermits?  I am introverted by nature as well, and was just dx on 7/29. Only 1 round of chemo done and within the last 20 days, my entire world has flipped upside down. I have worked since age 15, now 46 and clearly, i cannot continue. Filing for disability, no job now! My onco said, "you can work full time, dont become a sick person".  talk to me after taking just one round of that wonderful crap you are infusing me with lady!  My job requires no mistakes, intense and protracted mental focus, and a never ending ear for drama from clients (i was a litigation paralegal specializing in divorce law). Very stressful, deadline oriented, ugh. Actually, i have hated it for years and knew it was not good for me except monetarily. 

The mental fog, the fatigue, the SEs, the horror of it all, i cant explain to non cancer people. And i dont want to talk about it alot sometimes, because only here do i feel understood. And i too already cant take small talk, whining over trivial/self created dramas, or anything negative in the least. All i want to do, is take care of myself for a change. I am so glad to know i am not alone!  I have many things of healing nature to do in the next year. I will see you all around the club!

Jazzygirl

Welcome Bippy. I am glad you found us and this is a great thread to hang out to have connection as you hermit. We all came here for similar reasons. It is hard for others to understand what we go through as we get diagnosed, with treatment, and after with our follow ups. We talk about lots of things here, but always try to support one another. We hope you will like it here.

Sounds like you are opting out of work as you go through treatment. I worked through part of my treatment, others do not. Some of us continue on working after. Some cannot or do not want to. So you will find all those variables here as well.

Taking care of yourself is what you must do now. Glad you are retreating from the demands of the world and making yourself your number one priority.

Bippy625

tx jazzy, i am glad you i found you!  I am going to actually only work part time, if i can that is. I too support whatever makes each one of us hermits happy.  think maybe that the week before chemo may be my best time for work, maybe less SE. Certainly not during the week of, already it is not doable for me. So.....i will instead fill my time with the free healing programs offered me here,counseling and yoga, tai chi, crochet, whatever i want!  Resting will be nice, all i want to do now is relax.  Already i feel better mentally knowing i no longer have to stress over work. I am way behind on movies and reading, and i like to clean my house, but never had time before.....there does seem to be a tad of a silver lining for me at least!  

Any other recs from hermits for a newbie semi retiree?  My kitties are going to be so happy i am home more!  Hugs to all

Jazzygirl

Bippy- I am big in to yoga, I have been for a good 16 years. It is excellent for helping you to heal. Be sure to tell your yoga teacher what is going on so if there is anything you need to ease off of around healing surgical areas, etc., that you can avoid stressing those areas. There are some nice restorative poses that will help you to get your energy back and with a few props, things you can do at home too.

Having a kitty by your side will help too. We have lots of cat and dog lovers here.

Jazzygirl

Bippy625

awesome. I need to get into shape and hahaha am finally motivated!  I will be sure to let the teacher know and i do not want to injure myself. I know yoga will work wonders for me. Exercise is brand new for me, and i already started walking every night with my wonderful hubster.  I will keep the hermits updated!