I say yes, you say no, OR People are Strange

Wow, I'm trying to catch up here and it seems I've missed a lot of good news!  Congrats to all with good stuff going on - weddings, grandbabies, vacations, good scans, healthy nails, etc.!  Sorry for the not-so-good stuff like dentist visits and long surgeries and alien sightings, etc.!

As for the review site stuff... meh.  Last time I was there, I got the distinct impression it was a very small group of haters posting one-star nonsense.  It's probably some bored juvenile delinquent weenie getting his jollies at his computer in the basement after school, enjoying it as the most social interaction he can get. 

Well, I'm thankful that at my last physical a couple of weeks ago, my blood panel was perfect, except that my iron level was in the very high normal area.  Too many prunes and nuts?  But, having had a sister and a cousin with leukemia, my blood counts are pretty important to me!

Speaking of neuropathy -- I thought I was all done with that about a year after chemo.  I find, however, that in my hands it comes and goes.  Lately I've been dropping things, the same symptom as before.  Gotta get a grip, as they say!!!

Oh Sunflowers, NO!!! Take it back!  No snow yet - I still have unripe tomatoes in the garden!! 

Lindasa, I know what you mean about neuropathy.  I hope you can get a grip.  

Oh yeah, I'm thankful I still have a functioning brain.  Err, well... at least for the most part!  

Rosemary said:  a carpet full of cat hair and chicken soup to make for dinner

I spit tea all over my monitor as I read that you are going to put those two ingredients together for dinner.

I am happy this morning because I have NO PAIN!  I for sure thought I would wake up and have to pop a pain med but didn't.

Today is ironing day - I have at least 14 shirts to iron for DH so I am going to take my ironing board upstairs along with the iron and watch TV shows that have been taped for weeks.  I have the entire season of Royal Pains on my dvr right now.

My ironing board and iron are upstairs along with all of the shirts.  yet....I am downstairs on this thread.  I really need to go for now and get something done.  No doubt I will need to take a break every hour and come by to visit

Jancie .. I am so glad you're not in pain, except for maybe the pain of ironing.

Susie .. Happy to read you're having a great trip!  The train ride sounded fun and relaxing.

I finally got all my fields mowed.  It had been awhile, so it was a big project today.  Now if only I had some paying work, I'd be a happy camper.

hugs to all,

Bren

I have missed you all so much!   We're back out of the dark forest (via Nebraska, which actually does have a few trees) and in a real town with a real internet connection.  This will hold up for about a week, provided dh doesn't get on me again about spending too much time on my 'puter.

Having just blazed through more than 10 pages of posts and not having taken notes, I can't do justice to everything y'all have been discussing.  I will say *ouch!* on Jancie's behalf -- honestly, I do not know how people convince themselves to study dentistry, given what they know their patients think about what they do.  Even lawyers occasionally find themselves dealing with a grateful client.

I am grateful to my current dentist, although I'd like to shoot about half the hygienists (assistants?) he's had since I started going there.  My original dentist declared that the pain I had in one of my molars was due to a cracked root, and the tooth would need to be pulled. He seemed in a bit of a hurry about that, so I sought a 2nd opinion.  Dr. 2nd Opinion (my current dentist) examined the tooth every which way and couldn't find a crack in it -- but there was a crack in the filling, which he took out and replaced with some of that fancy white stuff.  He said if there really was a crack in the tooth, the pain would eventually return; but at worst, this approach would provide short-term relief (months, maybe years).  That was, oh, (counting otter toes) about 10 years ago, I guess.  The filling is still there, and the tooth is fine.

AnnNYC, your personal account of your 9/11 experience was heart-wrenching.  I cannot imagine actually being there.  It was bad enough to be watching the whole thing on a TV screen from a thousand miles away.

Congrats and sympathy and hope and good thoughts to all of you.  I am hoping I won't be away for such long stretches of time after this, 'cause it sure makes it difficult to catch up.

otter

Lassie - we landed in Cardiff but will not see any more of it.

Otter - I tried to see otter in Scotland, but only got to see one squirrel and some seals.

Fabulous dinner put on by mine hosts - don't want to leave

Sue 

It's 5:00 somewhere.  I'll take a hard cider, please. 

Almost - right now we're opening the abalones for OTTER

But the bar is ready - dewars coming up!

Great news! Second interview scheduled for next week. Well, not scheduled but I gave times when I could do it! Woo Hoo! Another Dewars is in order!

Thanks, Susie! Keep having a blast!

Sunflowers, I thought of you a lot as we were driving through eastern Wyoming into Nebraska.  The fields of sunflowers were breath-taking. 

My camera wasn't handy and/or we weren't able to pull off the road with the trailer, so I've downloaded a pic from the National Sunflower Association's Media Center (which they allow).  Here's a scene that's typical of what we were seeing out the truck windows:  http://www.sunflowernsa.com/uploads/gallerys/605/SUN173.jpg

I am dripping abalone juice all over my keyboard. 

Congrats, Barbara -- I hope that contact about your schedule was a good omen.

The grill is open, yes?  But, due to circumstances for which one of my family members is entirely responsible, we'll be ordering a pizza on-line in about half an hour.  In the meantime, I think I'll have a margarita, despite the fact that the low tonight is forecast to be around 27 degrees.  For my Canadian and European friends, I need to point out that that's 27 degrees Fahrenheit.  In case you haven't guessed, we're not at home (yet).

otter

Thanks E! Otter those are so beautiful!

Yey Barbara!! The end of hell is just around the corner for you. Definitely worth a celebration.

Lovely, otter.