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

Very pretty out this morning though the a/c has already been on. It's going to be a god day I do think. Been looking at apple recipes --- this being the time of year it is. There will be lots of cider and other ( candy apples ) good things and I am fond of apples. I put diced apples in a lot of my salads -- whether green or tuna, and chicken salads. Pecans or walnuts usually find their way into my green salads. We are washing the house down though it should have been done in Spring. This is the way it seems to go lately but that is all right.

Yesterday was a really nice day here despite a touch of rain. I thought we'd have more but it didn't come.

Hope you are all going to have a really nice day -- a magnificent Monday.

Mornin all,

I was reading an article the other day that says anyone who has been effected by a major hurricane, whether they stay home or evacuate will have a physical stress reaction I am having a hard time focusing, even on simple things, and sometimes get extremely tired for no apparent reason. I switched houses yesterday, I am now with my son in SC and just feel so out of place.

Ducky, can I just say how envious of you I am for having your grandchildren close by. I had that with my first five grandchildren and enjoyed every minute of it. Now, my almost 15 yr old grandson lives in my house with his mother, everyone else has moved away. I miss them all so much, I can't begin to tell you how much.

On the first Sat I was in Ga, I took grandson #2 with me to visit his brother at college. We ate at one of the dining halls, then Michael gave us a tour of the fitness center. That was enough to make Andrew decide he wants to go there (not that he is into fitness at all). The next day we picked Michael up when Irma was getting ready for the storm. It was really windy, and our power was out for 23 hrs, but it wasn't very scary, the weather was really cool- upper 60's, and my kindle screen is lit, so I was fine.

The insurance company has been wonderful so far. The adjuster called last week and told me he couldn't get out to me till this Thurs, so he told me as long as I take pictures of the damage, I can go ahead and replace it. I'm not ready to do that until I have something on paper. I have several decisions to make. When I was talking to the adjuster, I told him that the family room floor was damaged, but that is the floor from the doorway, past the family room and in those three bedrooms. He said, as long as the rooms touch, they will replace it. Then I have the dining room, which was done years before the family room, and the front living room and office was thatwere done at a different time, as welI. I thought at the same time as the family room but my daughter says no. Either way, I have to have them done as well to Or it will be painfully obvious that they are different. They do touch the other laminate, but I don't know if the insurance will cover those. The floor there now is really cheap laminate. It was okay at the time, but laminate has improved so much in the last ten years. I am really interested in replacing it with wood tile. It is so much easier to care for. We got two written estimates from Home Advisor, then Tracy thought of her ex-mother-in-law's brother, whom we have known much longer than we have Tracy's' ex's siblings (in fact, the first member of that family that we knew was my grandson's great great grandmother. We attended the same church, and had been to her home on many occasions. Then her granddaughter started coming to the churchwith her husband and kids. Tracy babysat for them all the time and was very close to them. It is the father who Tracy contacted. He is an excellent worker, and in fact, made a bedroom set years ago for one of our children.

Ron immediately said he would do the job for the price of the lowest estimate and he will include all three of the other rooms whether the insurance covers that or not. If not, I will have to pay for materials only. And he told Tracy, that for us, he will push back any other jobs on his calendar and do us first. And he will, and prefers,to do tile, where the others would only do laminate. So, my floor will be done by the one and only Ronald McDonald.

We had planned (my brother and I) to return to Fl the same way we left it- he would drive and the next day I would fly. I started looking at flights and couldn't find anything for less than $350- one way. There was one for $103, but not from the Charlotte airport- my son would have to drive an hour each way to get me there. So, my brother is meeting me here tomorrow, and we will drive home together.

And that's just for starters....more to come,

Anne

Anne, I'm so thankful to hear ( despite the PTSB ) from the storm, that you came up with such a great solution to the Fla. home/house issues. How wonderful for Tracy to recall the perfect person for the job. He sounds like a dream come true for all of you -- and darn, once in awhile something needs to go right for us, doesn't it??? There are so to speak silver linings to some things and I'm so thrilled that you will end up with matching floors and work done in good time -- not 6 mos. or a yr. from now when your name FINALLY comes up on the list.

There is yet another storm out there but seems like it won't get to the U.S. with more than maybe a bit of wind ( minor for coming from a hurricane ) and maybe a bit of rain. I pray that is all anyway.

We still have tons of things to do here. Took Dh to Marion yesterday -- I'm always thrilled we have the V.A. but hate that we often have to make the 150 mile round trip for something like an X-ray. Three minutes to have a finger x-rayed, if that and we wait for the results and the determination of what to do. For a yr. or so there has it seems been something under Dh's fingernail/cuticle area and it has started to hurt a lot and make it difficult for him for things done with this hands --- like the computer at work. So, time to deal with it --- meaning all the outdoor work we needed to do was put off for another day. I'm to the stage I think I am just going to plan on doing it myself and if Dh is off work and able -- he can help.

Sunny today here. Hope it won't be too hot, but it did rain through the night so sure could be humid which won't be great either.

Poppy, I can think of a couple of things about the exercising thing. Part of exercise is to keep your core in as maximum state as possible -- so that is never a bad thing. Also, things done all the time can sort of put you in a spot where your body expects it so it does not react by allowing wt. to come off. As well, you might need just a little more exercise ( oh horrors ) rather than less. My instructor has been saying that exchanging rates of doing things tends to help as well --- like five minutes of heavy duty and then 10 easier -- or five minutes walking as fast as you can -- then slowing for the next ten. Little dietary changes also. I have found that I lose weight by giving up as much as I can. Like using crackers for tuna, chicken, ham salads rather than using bread. I was actually shocked how easy it was for me to 'lose' when I actually followed the advice of ditching the bread. I still eat it --- but usually not more than one piece per day. Also, sometimes there are things done that you don't always count for calories -- so I know I am off that way a lot of times as I use creamer in my last couple of cups a coffee per day. I know too --- that I don't drink enough water. You can 'feel' fuller when you drink enough water and also nourish tissues and dilute the negative things. There are so many parts to it all. I often feel frustrated but I do know how OFF I let myself get at times. Hang in there --- your are keeping your core strong with that exercise and that is really important.

Both my trainer and my PCP warned me that exercise alone will not result in weight loss--for that you must also alter your diet. (The converse, though, is true--you can lose weight with diet alone even if you're a couch potato, though you will be in lousy shape despite being thinner). Weight and resistance training does build muscle, though, and muscle weighs more than fat. But it also takes up less space. You might not see the needle on the scale move (or be discouraged if you see it creep up), but you may notice your clothes are looser.

Sunny today, but not hot. Will get the car washed and buy a round challah for tomorrow night (Rosh Hashonah starts at sunset & services at 8pm). Have an early workout tomorrow (my trainer also needs to get ready for temple). Meanwhile, hoping Bob can fit into his most recent suit--he's gotten a little bigger in the gut and might need a new suit pronto, since Sat. night we have a formal hospital dinner-dance at the Adler Planetarium--the season's first Black-Tie-Gala-From-Hell. His navy blazer, white dress shirt and gray Dockers probably fit--but in a ballroom where half the guys will be in tuxes he'll stick out like a sore thumb. A black suit is a good compromise. I'll be enough of an embarrassment wearing black flat sandals with palazzos, a sequined tank and sheer swing-jacket (my "uniform," and I don't care who notices I've worn it a zillion times before). Sat. he's working during the day (what else is new)? I swear, if I could take his measurements to Men's Wearhouse and simply buy him a suit off the rack w/o alterations, he'd insist I do that.

At the close of life the question will be not
how much have you got, but how much have
you given; not how much have you won,
but how much have you done; not how much
have you saved, but how much have you
sacrificed; how much have you loved and
served, not how much were you honored.

Nathan C. Schaeffer

Finished all of the blinds & windows. Need to wash the curtains next.

I was at a friend's yesterday and looked at her windows. She has no curtains or drapes and I love the look. She just has blinds and double solar screens to keep out the heat. We already have the screens. I would just have to buy different blinds. She has blinds that let in the light when cranked open and darken a room significantly when closed. I think I'm going to look into this. She also has a built in desk in her kitchen that I like. Like me, she used to have a standard desk, but had a custom one built when she updated her house a few years ago. New projects...Yep.

Taking H out for dinner to celebrate his 62nd birthday. Tomorrow is actually his b'day, but S has to work tomorrow night & is going to a ball game Friday (Astros or Skeeters...not sure which) & H won't go into town on Saturdays. Doesn't like the "crowds" - people who work during the week & shop on weekends.

~Wren~

Have fun.

Today is H's 62nd birthday. We went out to dinner last night and to the grocery store this morning. I just baked him a blueberry pie that he can have for dessert tonight. We seem to have stopped doing the birthdays 'up big'. We are both content to acknowledge with a nice dinner out & quiet time at home. He is looking forward to his first SS check, though.

Hi, all,

All I can say about the ride home yesterday is that it was long and tough on my back. We got home about 9 and had to be up at 6:30 this morning for the appraiser from the insurance company. Unfortunately, he never showed up. My claim manager is in Denver, so she doesn't start her day till 11:00 east coast time. When I'm reached her, she had no explanation for why "Jeffrey" didn't show. She told me she would probably have to send him an email as he didn't have a phone #. I asked, "Really?, I don't know any professional that doesn't have a cell phone nowadays." I said "maybe he just didn't give a number to you, but I am sure he has to check in every do often with his office staff". She agreed and said she would call me back. I told her she would probably have to leave a message, because I was going to take a much needed nap. At noon, Brett showed up at the door, asking if he could do the appraisal then. My brother explained that neither me (the owner of the house), nor my daughter (who has the best idea of the problems) were available at that time. They scheduled for him to come back Sat at 11:00. This guy works for my insurance company, where the other one was a private contractor, and this one gave my brother his full name andI phone number.

I took a 3 1/2 hr nap and I am still worn out. My brother, bless his heart, stayed awake to answer my phone while I napped. He is napping now.

Will keep you updated. Hope your week is going a little better than mine. I was complaining to my daughter TG his morning, and her reply was to tell me to think of Puerto Rico, and all the people who have lost everything, in the islands and in Texas and Fl. I do think about them, but I just finished a big remodel in March. I just want my home back 😞

Anne

Anne, I think it is sort of hard to think of anyone when you are physically ( and maybe a bit mentally as well ) wiped out from a long trip to get home only to have things start working out poorly. Most of us I know ( including you when you can even think that long and far ) are horrified at what people are having to go through -- not only from the three recent hurricanes, but that devastating earthquake in Mexico. I have no words but can only pray.

Those of us in-affected so to speak can pray and hope for the best while you I hope will get as rested as you can and in the meantime -- be able to see some progress on getting your appraisal and shortly then to be able to start on your house.

Thinking of you and all those who have been hurt by these storms and earth shattering events.

Carole and I met for lunch this week and shopped the mall at Detroit Lakes before she heads back to Louisiana. Such a treat to be able to talk in person.

I just got back from a week in Plymouth, Massachusetts where I attended the Mayflower Society Congress (I'm a descendant of John Alden and Priscilla). One of the activities was a Pilgrim Parade. We could check out our attire, and here's what I wore.

What fun to meet up with Carole. Hope her trip the rest of the way home is in-eventful. Don't know why, but my computer changes my u to an I all the time. Grrra!!!By the way --- you look great as a Pilgrim, Puffin. Looks and sounds like you had a marvelous week. Wow on being Alden and Priscilla decendant.

It's a beautiful Sunday. Will be hot again today -- it has been now for over a week I think. Coolness is coning though. Wednesday or so we will go into the 70's and stay there. Don't know how long. I am so amazed that Fall is here already. It will soon be time to gather leaves and think about the last wiener roast ( if we have one ) of the year. I do love the colors of Fall and seeing the changes of all the seasons, but it seems no matter which one I am never quite ready. Trick question??? Is this age where you don't like change, or is it really feeling like you started out wanting to accomplish so much during Spring and Summer and you didn't get to all of it?? I think I'll take the last answer.

I hope you are all going to have a good day, hopefully a slow restful one so you can start out Monday in great form.

"A smile is the light in your window that tells others that there is a caring, sharing person inside."

-- Denis Waitley

It was very enjoyable to meet up with Puffin again this summer and catch up. I didn't intend to buy anything when we went for a walk in the small indoor mall in Detroit Lakes, but I found a vase and artificial sunflowers that inspired me to pull out my credit card! They'll look nice in my house and provide some fall color.

Today is chilly and overcast. The high is supposed to linger in the 50's. I went outside briefly to move the truck to another parking spot and to do a quick chore.

I'm looking forward to heading home next Sunday. If it were up to me, I would already be heading home, but dh has his schedule. Our rv (5th wheel camper) is comfortable but it will be nice to move back into roomier quarters.

The change from green leaves to colored leaves has taken place amazingly fast.

Happy Monday to all.