how about drinking?

Hi friends-feeling better and going out to meet some friends tonight. No drinks for me though, still have the anti-B's to finish by the weekend. Good news is they are really kicking the crud out now! Whew.

I won't be here tomorrow so I will wish you a happy Valentine's Day and leave you with this thought.

You gals that are sick, I'm glad you are feeling better. It's been a long haul for y'all!

Cami, I'm so sorry that Les has been through so much, and poor Joey. I hope he didn't do permanent damage to his back. And how the heck do you stay up til wee hours in the morning.

Wacko, good to see you again. Wish we could see more of you. How's that sweet baby of yours? And how is your tummy?

Mary, I think today is the day. Praying all goes well for you. I assume it's an out patient thing? What isn't these days!

Been pushing DH around the house in my office chair since Saturday. Thought he was having a RA flare up in his hip. But figured out yesterday, it's most like sciatica! MO appointment tomorrow. We have not had any precipitation and of course it's supposed to snow tonight. We might not get much, but I have to drive across the rim here to get to Phoenix. Now they get the snow! Higher elevation. So I may have to leave a bit earlier in case it's a slow go.

Good Morning, Loungettes!Happy Hump Day! It was really nice to get out of the house yesterday. It is amazing how much difference a shower can make, too. For some reason when the sun goes down I seem to go nuts with the worrying and driving myself crazy with the "I shoulds". Maybe it's my own personal version of dementia with sundowning. Halfway done with the eyedrops, so the end is in sight. Did sleep in the bed and not the recliner last night, so that's a psychological boost. I cannot believe I've turned into such a baby over this! Poor Sadie is so patient with me, up to apoint. I forgot to feed her yesterday ayem, so she pushed over the container I keep the dog food in and fed herself! But she did get to go out with me when I ran errands, and I'll probably take her out again today. I don't need to run any errands, but I can drive around and feel like I'm not trapped at home.

Well, the Walk in Care office just called. My cultures are negative for strep, flu and RSV. Conclusion: "You've got that cold that's going around." I think that makes me an official hypochondriac!

Dara--Glad you are doing well, and even gladder Cheryl's surgery went so well!

Jazzy--I second the Mill and Metabolism wish!

Chi--Mucinex is magic stuff come cough and cold season! Gotta love the in and out trips when everyone else is waiting in line. Love the comparison the TSA lines.

Goldie--Poor DH! And of course it's going to snow right when you don't want it to! Gotta love Mr Murphy and his laws.

NM's DOTD:

Murphy's Law Cocktail

Ingredients

• 45ml Hendrick's Gin
• 15ml Cawseys Sugar Syrup
• 90ml Capi Grapefruit
• 30ml fresh orange juice
• 2 dashes Angostura Orange Bitters

Method

1. Build all ingredients into glass with cubed ice.
2. Garnish with a cucumber slice

Morning DahhhhLinks,

Had a petty nice appt with my BS yest. She does not have a time yet on my surgery, but will notify me when it's scheduled. Will see new MO and the PS on the 27th. Will let you all know how that goes. My DD met us at BS's ofc. glad she came as she had some good questions.

Lowee - I'd say 'carry on' as you say you're feeling pretty good. Praying for no snow over the rim to Phx, but I kno u'll b careful. Hope the MO can help to get those markers down. (((BIG HUGZ)))

OMG, all those who have been battling this cold, sorry!! Hope u all can kick it to the curb soon.

BIG HUGZ to all who are miserable with it.

Puters not functioning well and I'm getting frustrated. Have my guru coming over about noon, he'll fix it.

Lubslubslubs

Hi Linda- welcome to the thread. I did not drink during surgery due to the painkillers I took, and that not being a good mix. I did do radiation treatment and do remember having an occasional glass of wine then, but really did not feel like drinking much during treatment time.

I agree with the doctor, scaling back on alcohol could help with sleep (I know when I drink 1-2 glasses of wine now, I often get the alcohol insomnia). I did not get recommendations about drinking during treatment, but did get some suggestions from my MO that said limited is best. I usually have 2-3 per week, if that, but sometimes not at all for long periods either. Just sort of changed for me with time and find I don't need it these days. Right now I am finishing 10 days of antibiotics for a sinus infection so no alcohol until this weekend....

Also, if you are a caffeine drinker, try to avoid that in the afternoon on to help with sleep issues. I love iced tea in the warmer months, but drinking that into the day sometimes does me no good with sleep time!

Hope this helps!

Hi friends- greetings from very rainy New Mexico today. And that is a good thing! We had a storm move in late yesterday that is bringing some nice soaking rain to a lot of the state, and snow up higher, which we desperately need. I think it should continue through today and loving the rain! We SO need this moisture and hope there is more to come?

Took a break yesterday to go see the DaVinci exhibit here that just opened at the natural history and science museum. Really interesting discussion about his painting, and the Mona Lisa, with a restoration from a photography study that showed what she looked like originally. Very cool indeed. But beyond that, they had a very cool engineering and science exhibit that detailed all the work he did with architecture, innovation, the science drawings of the human body (that part I knew) and so much more. Now I get the origin of the term "Renaissance man" and really enjoyed it all. Some trips through some places after in Old Town and some tacos to go and it made for a nice break!

http://www.nmnaturalhistory.org/exhibits/temporary...

Goldie- are you getting any of this moisture that is coming from AZ?

NM- I hope you are feeling better. Like you, I know to stay away from the drinking while on the anti-B's. Couple more days of that for me, but really feeling so much better from everything. I hope you and Sadie get out today but be careful on that ice!

Chi- how are you feeling friend? Did you have a nice evening?

Mema- sounds like a good apt, keep us posted as things develop. We are going to be there in your pocket friend

Cami- big hugs to you, Leslie, and Joey. I know things are so hard for your family right now

Genny- I think your knee surgery is tomorrow? We will be in your pocket too.

Linda- did we answer what you needed to about drinking during treatment?

Dara- I hope the new work is rocking and rolling and you are enjoying your little man.

Got to get back to the salt mines. What is our next holiday coming up. Presidents Day? Have a favorite president?

LDB, I am carrying on! So glad you had your Jen girl with you, I can only imagine how comforting it was for you, whether she had good questions or not.

NM, I had to chuckle at students using the pay phone for bomb threats to get out of school. I think the biggest problem when I went was sneaking to smoke, or skipping school. OMG, telling them school on Saturday...BRILLIANT! I guess opening windows can't be a bad idea, especially since you have been sick. I wonder how that would work for us, since we are not sick and not really aroung people but once a week.

Linda, hi and welcome. You have some great advice/info from Native Mainer (NM) and Jazzy.

Jazzy as always, you do so many fun things, excercise and work. Like I have said before, you are always on the go! As for moisture here, see my comment at the end of my post.

Sandy, seems as tho things are moving along with your issues. And like Jazzy, always on the move.

We did not get any snow, but it rained. Which is actually worse. Leaving here at just barely dawn, so still rather dark. I get to this hill we call snot hill, and I can't get up it. Slipping and sliding all over the place. Tried about 8 times. Called DH, and I even tho I thought I was in 4 wheel drive. Well I wasn't. So I turn around, get it into 4 WD and finally make it over the hill. Get to the black top and now I can't get it OUT of 4 WD. Finally did and went on my way. MO, said we can wait til the next labs, but to get them about 2 weeks before my appt. So if they are up again, we have time to see if I need approval for scans. I'll have to do an over nighter for that. Scans one day, and see him the next. He doesn't see patients right after nuclear scan. Can't blame him for that.

Covering DOTD for NM.

Slip n Slide

Hi friends- nice day and a half of rain, now it's gone on through. Created some asthma issues for yesterday me after no moisture for months, and then 80% humidity yesterday. That is about the only time my asthma bothers me, when we go from humidity in the single digits to very high. The soaking rains were good and hoping we get more as we go along now. We are way behind......

Goldie- sorry you had problems with the driveway. I hate ice & freezing rain.

I was having vivid dreams about balloons over my house last night and went out this morning to fill up the bird feeder and saw three coming right at me. One started dropping and could see it was going to come right over the house. So I ran for the camera and got some great pics of one that came pretty close! How about that for a premonitional dream? Now if I can only dream about the winning Powerball numbers. Some pics below of today's views from the north (top), over the patio (middle) and to the south (bottom)

Got some food to get today as I have not been to the store in too long with my dragging sinus infection. Got my list made and heading out for some good eats!

Hope everyone has a good slide in to the weekend (but not literally on any ice.....)

Good afternoon, Loungettes!Happy TGIF afternoon. I had an eventful night, woke up before 4 ayem coughing and gagging and sneezing and generally trying to turn myself inside out for an hour or so. This is the first really big reflux "attack" I've had in a long time and I was really afraid it was going to set off the asthma, thought I was starting to wheeze at one point. So there I was sitting in the bathroom trying not to cough and starting to cry and Sadie saunters in (there really is no other way to describe the leisurely, deliberate way she walked up to me) put her paw on my leg and her snout on my shoulder and then sneezed in my ear. Yup, sneezed. I was so surprised I gasped and then started coughing and then threw up everything left in my stomach and it was all over. By the time I got my runny eyes and nose cleaned up Sadie was curled up in bed sound asleep again. Now, I know that all sounds pretty terrible (and maybe TMI, too) but it's actually really funny. When I get a reflux attack the quickest way to stop it is to get my stomach empty, and when I try not to cough it tends to make things worse (I end up feeling like I'm choking) but how the heck does Sadie know to do????So I've kind of vegged in the recliner, snoozing, and just getting around to actually getting up and moving. I am going to the Succulent Plant and Sip this evening. The eyes aren't draining anymore, will still have to wear the glasses but I guess I'll live.So nice to be getting OUT!

Jazzy--Sounds like you are getting a good dose of wetness to help replenish the water supply! I am going to have at least a taste or two of wines tonight, despite being on the Anty B eye drops. DaVinci did some amazing stuff back in his day. Sadie and I did not get out for a walk yesterday, the driveway was an inch of standing water on top of ice and slush. Fortunately the FedEx guy drove the truck in and that help roughen up the stuff that the Jeep will do ok, but me being pulled by Sadie was too risky, and the side of my road generally is a lot like my driveway, so I passed. The weather will get warm enough for that soon enough. I must be feeling better cuz I'm getting a crazy case of cabin fever!

Chi--it is funny how the walk home from something is always faster than the walk to the something! I've seen trailers for Shape of Water, haven't been able to figure out what it's about. Let us know how it is? Your Voice Teacher sounds like one very busy person!

Goldie--The whole "airing out the house" thing around here comes from "back in the day" when wood heat was the main source of heat everywhere. Opening up the house let a lot of soot and smoke out of the house, and dust if the dusting could be done just before or while the house was open. It's the very old-fashioned version of air exchanges. I like that it clears out cooking and other odors. That hill you have to get over is a realPIA! And it sounds well named, too. Thanks for covering the DOTD! Sounds yummy!

Misty--the DOTD's are often chosen for the name more than anything else, it's part of the fun! Nice to meet you. It is amazing how much and in how many ways a bc diagnosis changes one's life. So nice you are so close to your kids and grand kids!

Jazzy--wow, that was some predictive dream! I guess they did get pretty close, almost could have touched them! I'm still doing the nettie pot every few hours, working on keeping the sinus as clear as possible, trying to keep any bacterial stuff away. So far, so good.

NM- sounds like you are still pushing through the junk. Same here. My asthma is bothering me a bit today but not as much as yesterday with the increase in humidity. I hope you have fun at the Succulent and Sip. I agree a taste of wine hurts nothing. I come off the anti-B's after tomorrow so Sunday, I am getting in to my left over french white staring at me in the fridge.

Misty, you were here once before, weren't you? We are a fun group but also very supportive and a small group at that. Enjoy your yard work and get those flowers in. Lucky you to have your children close. I am in AZ, my son is in NC and my daughter is in the Virgin Islands. So I only get to see them once or twice a year (if I'm lucky).

Jazzy, it wasn't just a driveway, it was 6 miles of dirt road. It's so cool all the hot air baloons that fly over you. Have you ever been in one?

NM, you have gone through so much, my goodness! So are you saying that Sadie helped you to throw up, making you feel better? Glad that you decided against taking Sadie out for a walk with all the ice. I think my DH would kill me if I opened all the windows!

DOTD for Sandy and anyone one else still dealing with throat issues.

Healing Adrenal Cocktail Mix | Singing Canary Concentrate

Add your choice of alcohol, vodka, gin, rum, whiskey, etc.

Ingredients

• 1/4 cup turmeric powder
• 2 Tbsp vitamin C powder
• 1/4 cup protein powder (I use a vegan one)
• 2 Tbsp ground cinnamon
• 1 Tbsp ground ginger
• 1 Tbsp ground nutmeg
• 3/4 tsp ground clove
• 1 1/2 tsp salt
• 1 Tbsp pure stevia extract (or other sweetener to taste)

Maybe karentwriter still feels down in the dumps.

I need to soak up some sunshine while reclining during the afternoon.

But now time for............

Me with a cup of coffee! ;o))

Good Morning, Loungettes! Boy did I get up on the wrong side of the bed yesterday. I woke up feeling out of sorts, and just got more and more irritated with the dang bifocal glasses that I hate wearing, and just got more and more irritated with them all through the day, and then burned stuff I was trying to cook, kept tripping over things I thought I was seeing on the floor (it was just the bifocal line in the glasses), and I got more and more grumpy until finally even Sadie went and hid for a while. Then I sat and binged watched Call the Midwife until 3 ayem. Shouldn't have had any kind of bad day yesterday, the Succulent Plant and Sipevening before was very nice--glass of chardonnay, a really crazy fancy cupcake, some fruit, and chance to chat with some new people. Got a very pretty oversized yellow mug for a pot, and a Donkey Tail that should fill it out pretty nicely over the next few weeks. So, slept until 11, starting today over with a better attitude, and trying to smile more today.

Jazzy--I swear I am going to open something to drink with dinner. I am so tired of being tired! Got to do something to turn this around. So far the asthma is staying pretty quiet. Now if I can just keep from worrying it into flaring up I'll be good.

Chi--amazing what some steam and sinus flushing can do! And amazing the variety of things available to help us!

Goldie--Ah, yup, Sadie made me throw up and then I felt better! The human body is so odd at times, and Sadie is such a mind reader sometimes! That recipe is a lot like the one I've been using, I'll have to give it a try, if I've got any turmeric.

Chi--at least it's not flu is a good thing, but it doesn't have to be flu to make life miserable!

Teka--Now THERE is a breakfast!! Only thing missing is the blueberry muffins.

Hot Dutch Tea Cocktail

Ingredients

1. 2 quarts water
2. 8 to 10 Dutch tea bags (depending on how strong you like your tea)
3. 4 ounces Smirnoff vodka [2]
4. 2 ounces chocolate liqueur
5. Whipped cream
6. Chocolate shavings

Directions

1. Pour the water into your slow cooker, and set the heat to high. Add the tea bags, and let steep for 30 minutes.
2. Remove the tea bags, and add the vodka and chocolate liqueur, turning the heat to medium. Ladle into the mugs, and top with the whipped cream and chocolate shavings.

Hi friends- just a quick hello here on a sunday afternoon. Been quiet here today but my hope is that everyone is out having a Funday Sunday. Maybe even watching some more Olympics?

I went to Santa Fe yesterday and had a great time with my friends at brunch. One woman ended up doing some shopping with me after and went to Chicos (or Forever 61 as ChiSandy calls it, LOL). We went to another cool bookstore after we discovered we both love and bought a great card for my friend who just finished rads (marking those milestones during treatment are important) and my friend told me she had bc 6 years ago. I shared 5 for me. Turns out we have the same BS, so now if we run in to each other during follow ups, we won't be surprised.

Today is back to working on tax prep for self and business and laundry too. Sounds like we have more weather coming in (saw some sprinkles awhile ago....)

Goldie- ugh sister, 6 miles. Get ready for the next round!

Karen- sending you big hugs. My mother passed six years ago next month and even though we knew it was coming, so many times I have wanted to pick up the phone and talk to her. First year after a loss is the hardest. You made it through a month sister, and hopefully each month it will be easier but there are those ups and downs....

Cami- I hope Leslie is doing a bit better again. One day at a time here.

Chi and NM- you guys better yet?

Today is my last day of Anti-Bs. This week I get to have some wine again!

Have a good week my friends. Peace and love to all

Teka, I could not eat that breakfast, oh my goodness!

NM, sorry those darned bifocals ruined your day. If your perscription for your glasses is still good, maybe you could go in and get a cheap pair for emergencies, without having to have an exam?

Hey Karen, and extra day off work is always a good thing!

Jazzy, your friend also being a survivor had to be a surprise. Windy here today. Gusts could get to 60 MPH. DH has a doctor appt. this afternoon to see if he can't get something done with this sciatica. Great cartoon, yes have seen it before, but still funny.

Had some neighbors over, worked on an Elvis puzzle that she gave my husband, lasagna for dinner and then watched Only The Brave.

Funny I told my mom in the morning we were having company, she never called again yesterday, but called my brother 11 times and me 12 times on Saturday.