how about drinking?

Good morning- I had the busiest day in a long time yesterday. I had my cleaning company return yesterday to resume their once a month all over cleaning and so glad to have them back. I kept up while they were gone for a few months (they were here last in late Feb, and cancelled March and April). A step towards returning some routine in an otherwise routine-less world the past few months.

I had three Zoom meetings yesterday including two for this volunteer group I am working with around the pandemic and PPE. I also had a family zoom meeting with my cousins and got my sister to join yesterday. My sister called me after and told me that she had fun and my hope is she will join again. Next Monday is Memorial Day (how did that get here so quick?) and will resume in June.

Cami- I am glad your birthday was okay and the food sounded delish! I bet that card from Joey was special, a well written birthday card can be such a treasure.

Chi- congrats on having your housekeeper back! I bet you were just as happy as I was to have your person return yesterday.

NM- I saw some photos from some other people in Maine on FB. Did you get more snow? I know you are working nights so chances are we will see you later on when you are rested.

The pest control people come back today to address the mouse situation here. They should be here in another hour or so.

I had a good conversation with the neighbor across the street about the neighbor next to me who needs lots of help. He was asking me what was going on next door and asked what he meant? Turns out the neighbor had gone to the hospital via an ambulance with her recent fall (I must have been out when that happened as I knew nothing of that part). He wondered if she was home and doing okay? I said yes it was a slow recovering, and that I had been helping her with some watering. But then I asked if he knew anyone who was looking to do some yard work as she needs some bigger help with that? Turns out he wants to help her with some yard clean up and connected them up. I hope it works out in a positive way.

Hello mese bwest fwends! Well the clock is ticking away much too fast, I hope to be out of surgery by this time tomorrow. It is a lengthy procedure, I think the surgeon said it would take 8-10 hours, does that sound possible? I dunno, I have not been a great listener lately, my pea brain wanders all over the place when I really need to be paying close attention.

Lori, I am going to be in the hospital for 7-10 days if all goes well. That is a long time, I think the longest. I think I was in the hospital for one week with the DIEP flap and then the two hospitalizations after the wound got infected where both a week as well. UGH, I don't wanna go. Thanks for the warm welcome and for giving me that warm and fuzzy feeling after returning to BCO...goes for all of you ladies, I greatly appreciate the support! How's things going for you? Still having those God awful s/e's? My bff here in NJ is going through similar s/e's with her cancer meds such as problems with her hands and feet. See you tomorree in the OR. Be sure to get into Dr. Bonowitz' pocket, he is the cute one of the three doctors who will be in the OR working on me!

Cammy, thanks for motivating me (and others too who mentioned getting help with de mortgage), I did call my lender after hiding from them for the past 8 months...yes, I am that far behind and it sucks. Anyway, they are going to mail me a packet of documents to complete and will first try to get me qualified for a load modification. Since my lender is my former employer, I have been told that my lender turns down most requests for loan modifications after requesting tons of documents. I have also spoken with a realtor to get an idea of my properties value. I was in such a rut that I was willing to just abandon my house. lose all of my equity and leave everything behind and let the bank just take my house. I really hope that does not happen but I am still pretty scared of what is to come. My sisters think that I should try to get SSID but I really feel that I can and should get back to work. I dunno, I will jest get past this surgery and get healed and rebuilt before figuring out what to do for income. Chit, I can't even sell my body anymore, lol ... no one would want this mangled body anyway. How was your birthday, were you able to at least have a little party/celebration with Leslie and family? Please tell Joey I said hello, he's the best kid I know!

Genny!! So good to see you but so sorry about the rat bastard coming back. I did not realize that you had another Granddaughter, is she Nora's sister? She sure is pretty and resembles Nora too. BTW, I loved the haircut you gave her, she looks so cute and grown up too with the bob style hair. I have missed you and hope I keep my word and keep coming back here to keep up with all mese bwesties!

Sandy, glad you were spared with the brunt of the flooding. And congrats on your housekeepers return, I could use one of those for mesedernself. Glad Bob has been safe from "the plague" and hope you and your family continue to stay safe, goes for all of you goils!

Jazzy, hope you are able to be rid of the mice once and for all, it is mice right? I am now doubting what I read and retained, it is the JD, nothing to do with mese being tooooped! hehe!! Good for you with volunteering, you are constantly on the go lady and I do not think you'd ever have it any other way. Thank you too for your kindness with my return here, it means a lot. I miss the ole' days when wese wuz jest widdle kids. Time has gone so fast, can't believe it has been 7 yrs since my diep flap.

NM, some things never EVER change. You are still working your butt off. I thought you were going to be partially retired? I have a feeling that you would not be happy if you were not helping people with your awesome skills as a nurse. I assume you are still in hospice care? I've always said that it takes a special person to do what you do. A girl I went to high school with recently (in the past five years or so) graduated nursing school with an RN and has moved to hospice care. She would be the last person in the world that I would have expected to do the job. She is so pationate with her work just like you. And poor baby Sadie being all bixed up with you working nights. Give her a kiss from me and tell her that my Lucy girl says wooooof!

Karen, hello, how nice to see you too. How are things in your world? I miss you too, I really HAVE missed getting on here and spilling mese guts (and mese dwinkys too) hehe! Cheers to you and yours, hope things are well for you.

Mema Sue, very nice to see you too. That DH of yers is de best, insisting on being your personal driver, he is one of the good guys and takes such good care of you. How is everyone, your children and Jenngirl (I hope I remembering her name correctly), I hope everyone is well and happy. I have missed you too lady! I often think of you when I go to places that we visited when you came to take care of me after one of my surgeries, we had such a blast, love so love to have a repeat, a goil can dweam righto??!?

Beavern and BCS (sorry if I have the names wrong, relying on memory which can be frightening), nice to meet you ladies,. Beavern, your mother really summed it up with her quote about getting old lol. And BCS (?), I see you live in Columbia SC, that is one of my very favorite historic cities in the US. I love it there, it is a beautiful and very interesting city. I often visited there during summers during childhood where my parents had a place in Myrtle Beach, another favorite of mine. My parents ended up retiring in North Myrtle Beach and stayed there until they could no longer care for themselves. I really miss SC!

Drinks for anyone I may have missed. I really really really need to get moving, I have been moving slower that I need to today, much too much to do and little time left to get it done. Today was like a whirlwind, two dr appointments and visits from my family members before I leave for awhile. I told my family that if anyone asks where I am, to tell them I am at the Betty Ford clinic getting help for mese dwinking and weed addiction. Which btw Sandy,, I do have a medical marijuana card and have been fortunate enough to find a way to find funds to buy the stuff, it is so fun smoking de willie legally!!!

Too all of you that will virtually be with mese tomorrow, thanks so much, keep down the noise and don't molest my hot doctor!! hehe.

Oh, one more ting,,,, I might have already said, can't remember sincen I have written a freaking book, I got the covid results back about an hour ago and I am good. So hated the test, I was told they would swab my mouth yet they swabbed BOTH sides of mese nose, it hurt so so bad and is soooooo invasive. I nearly ran over the nurse who did it with mese car!

CheerS ladies, be happy and stay SAFE. xoxo

ps- I will update you all when I can.

pss -sawry mese wrote a book here, some tings remain the same and that is my longwindedness! tata!

Hi ladies, just quick update for now. I’m doing ok but didn’t realize how long I was away. I’m still only making very slow progress with swallowing but making the best of it. I tried a sip of sweet red wine and a pina colada, sadly both tasted very boozy and I couldn’t really enjoy them. I got results of yesterday’s body CT scan and there’s progression but I consider it pretty minor thankfully. My original hip bone met looks a little bigger after 3.5 years of stability. MO says we can watch it or do a trial where I’d be randomized to 3 rads sessions or no treatment unless/until it gets bigger. I’m going for the trial since we’ll basically be treating it now or later anyway. Nothing new, which I’m super grateful for.

Nice to “see” everyone here and shoutout to minus!

illimae - Shouting back!!! SOOOOO glad to hear from you. It's disappointing that neither the wine nor the pina colada hit the spot. Oh well, it was only 97 today, so maybe when it gets warmer & you're lying in your pool..... Here's hoping. How frustrating that the swallowing progress is still slow. Are you managing to get enough nourishment down to keep your weight stable? Interesting about the trial. You'll have to keep us posted.

Next time you feel like drinking, try a shot glass of Amarula. I like the original, but got a variation by mistake from an on line order. It's Amarula Vanilla spice. Very smooth going down, and a really thin liquid.

Gorgeous, Jazzy!

I had the leftover fried chicken, so the Domaine Collin Cremant de Limoux really hit the spot. It's our last bottle--all we have left is the good stuff (the real thing and its CA offshoots).

Good Morning, Loungettes! Happy Hump Day! Two more overnights then back to daytime work and the normal routine!Lots of changes going on at work, I'm meeting with the Director of Nursing this ayem to get caught up on everything that's happened and is going to be happening and get an action plan put together. And didn't Sadie and I love laying out on the deck soaking in the sun yesterday! So nice and warm, bright sunshine, it felt wonderful! Totally screwed up the sleep cycle, though, although that worked to make for agreat night's sleep last night cuddled up with Sadie. Now to get over the being lazy when I'm not sleeping and not working!

I spent part of yesterday going through Fb and blocking ads (every second or third post was "sponsored" which is code for "advertisement", and often for the same item half a dozen times in a row), and unfollowing people I don't know and don't remember ever clicking on "follow" and putting several people I do know who are posting mostly political, negative, or just plain false info on 30 day pause.It took quite a bit of time, but my newsfeed is so much more enjoyable now! I highly recommend everyone do this once in a while, it's eye opening!

Morning, Karen!

Goldie--Yeah, I am pretty spoiled, either that or awfully stuck in my routines of shopping on the way home from work.My whole sleep/wake cycle is totally uncycled at this point. Generally, after working overnight I come home and putter around a little bit, then nap a bit when I finally sit down. Then I'd putter around a bit in the afternoon, and try to get a couple hours of sleep in the late peeyem, early evening before heading in to work. That's part of the reason I struggle with 12 hours shifts, the best sleep I get is the few hours in the evening that I lose when I start at 7 peeyem.I'm planning to turn on the 5:30 ayem alarm for Sunday and Monday to help get me reset for getting up at the normal time. It's a big help that the sun is starting to come up that early here, now, so I won't be getting up in the dark!

Chi--So glad your Housekeeper is back! Sounds like you were really wise in choosing a home. I wouldn't have thought about asking the police about neighborhood safety. Are the hotels allowed to be open where you are? Here hotels cannot be open to visitors, but can be open for people need to quarantine, traveling essential workers, and victims of house fires and crimes (mainly domestic violence). I'm glad that DH's hotel kitchen has reopened, that will make things a lot easier for him.Too bad they are missing all the events, though, especially after all that renovation work.

Cammy Cat--those kittehs are so cute! About my hours, one of the things I'm thinking will be on the agenda with the Director this ayem is me working nights for a while more. One of our night nurses is a traveling nurse, and her contract is up soon. I'm already practicing saying "no, thank you."I've already been asked to change Thursday's shift from 8 to 12 hours and said no. So park yourself inmy back pocket and poke me in the behind when (if) that comes up, OK? Your B-day food fest sounds like a huge amount of fun!

Jazzy--no, no more snow the last few days, actually seeing temps move over the 60 degree mark! Frost and freezes, yes, but no snow. The age-old better-to-plant-the-garden-in-May-or-never-plant-before-Memorial-Day debate is raging.I usually do some planting in May, but not this spring. Lilacs are supposed to be in full bloom for Memorial Day, but the buds aren't even showing yet. The birch trees are just now budding out enough to show color, that's almost a month late. How's the mouse hunt going? Making progress? So kind of the neighbor wanting to help the other neighbor. Too many places are missing that sort of connection these days.

Librarian--Happy Birthday to DH! Sitting in a hot tub with an adult beverage sounds like good times to me, although watching the races doesn't appeal much to me. Listening to an audio book or listening to the birds and wind would be my preference.

Dara--by now I expect you are in surgery. Praying it goes well and you recover without complications this time around. I know it's not fun being in the hospital. I was partially retired, then stumbled into a fantastic full time job as a Staff Educator at local Nursing Home. It's been great work and I love it, except for right now while I'm working night shift for a month to help cover open positions and cut down on overtime. BUT, I am being very careful to keep my hours at 40 per week, and taking care of myself. And to keep Cammy from being mad at me! Sadie says Woof to Lucy! Poop in again as soon as you feel up to it!

Chi--my goodness, an entire stations losing power when the basement flooded! That's just too funny.Of all the businesses that would think to have back up plans, you'd think the medial would. Evacuating by boat must have been interesting to see. Not so interesting to participate in, but to watch.

Illi--I so wish the swallowing were progressing fasting toward normal. Glad the body CT results aren't bad. I'm glad there is a trial available to you, and I hope it helps.

Morning, Minus!

Beautiful, Jazzy!

Hi, Teka!

Gray Mouse

1 oz Irish Cream Liqueur

1/2 oz Black Sambuca

Shake with ice, strain into a chilled glass.

BabyGirl, sorry you couldn't enjoy your libations and about the progression. I guess that's expected tho in our conditions. I think it's good to wait on rads. Don't they do those to help with pain as well? And once it's radiated, it can't be again. So hopeully, you are not experiencing pain.

MinusTwo, never heard of Amarula, I'll have to goole it.

Jazzy, I have a rose that is similar and I love the ocotillo's, one of my favorite desert plants/flower.

NM, you have to go to a meeting after working all night? I have done what you said on FB. I don't block ads anymmore, cuz other ones just show up. I think when you befriend someone, you automatically "follow" them. I could be wrong tho. Glad to hear you are using your words, especially the "no" one! Amazing to hear how late things are there with blooming of things.

DH is getting ready to go pick up a neighbor and then meet the truck that has our product.

Happy Wacky Wednesday!

We are busy at work – our county web site has to be ADA compliant and we have to do our information to something called 'Common Look"- none of us know how to do it.We have 2 that has gotten the license and is learning how to do it.Planning and Zoning have a lot of pages to do because we have our ordinance and comprehensive plan online.We don't have the money in our budget to get it done.So with those 2 doing that, the rest of us pick up the work they are not doing.I am so glad that this is my last year here, I am really tired of gov't politics and have been doing this too long.

My sister is getting a complete hysterectomy June 1^st.They said the mass in her abdomen is very large, but the surgeon does not think it is cancer, but may have some cancer components so I think they are taking it out in one piece.

I sold my husband's boat. It was too large for my daughter and I to try and take it out, my older son has his own boat and my younger son has no interest in it.I am glad that I got it sold.It was just sitting there for 1 ½ years.Gosh, it doesn't seem like it was that long ago since he passed away.Time does keep on moving.My one grandson thought the boat was his because he always went fishing with my husband.I think he was a little mad at me for selling it, but all will be good, his dad is my older son that has a boat.

Things are opening up here some and my daughter is back working.I hope everyone remembers that they need to keep the safety procedures in place and not get to complacent.

Happy belated birthday to you Cami!I am sorry I missed the party.It sounds like you had a nice birthday dinner with people you love.

Jazz, - Glad you are getting rid of your pesky critters.You have really done a lot during this time.It is people like you volunteering that make it a better place to live.

Goldie- I was thinking that you did social distance long before it was a cool thing to do.

NM – I am glad that you got to see your mom, I bet that really made her happy too.Glad you are staying healthy.You are right there on the front lines of this stuff.I hope you get back to your Wednesday-women-wine thing soon.

JCS- it made me smile to think of your DH sitting in the hot tub with a drink watching car races.It is so exciting for you planning your trip out west.

ChiSandy- I hope you get your electric finally fixed this week.Your house certainly has kept you busy this year.You have had so many things fixed it should be almost like a new house.I am glad that your housekeeper is back.It will be nice for both of you to have someone to talk to.My mom used to do my floors and bathrooms once a week, I had to lay her off when my husband retired and not as much money came into the house.My sister kept her cleaning once a week until my mom was ready to stop.It was nice to come home from work to a clean house.

Genny- your dogs and your granddaughters are gorgeous!I loved the haircut you did!

Dara – thinking of you probably in surgery now.I hope your recovery is easy.

Illi -….speaking of recovery—you have had a time of it.Hoping you get your swallowing back to normal.You have been patient long enough with it.

Minus, Teka , Karen and every one else have a beautiful day.

Thanks Jazzy. sent you a PM

Thanks, Jazzy--am a huge JT fan.

Slight change in plans. Electrician came today, and to our chagrin found that the power line to the exterior (and ultimately, garage) goes through not the upper wall between the washer & dryer, but through a little "sleeping loft" room the previous owner put in for her youngest son to "camp" with friends. And to get through that room, he would have to go into the large room where my old rock band used to rehearse but is now used for storage (aka the "snake pit"), follow the existing conduit along the wall (past a bathroom, and behind a heavy oak bookcase full of my dad's LP records I inherited when my mom moved to FL), to that sleeping loft. But he may be too hefty to squeeze into that loft! Plan B is to branch off from the circuit breaker box, drilling through the wall of the "niche" that contains the garden hose bib and electric & water meters, then snake it out through and along the exterior wall (high enough not to flood but much of it would be below the deck) and then finally down into the ground where the existing line is. I don't know whether he'd have to have the concrete below the deck broken up with a jackhammer first--which would require a crew and a lot more time. It's supposed to rain again starting Sat. through all of next week. Our housekeeper will be off (as always) for the weekend as well as Memorial Day--so I may haul the litterboxes upstairs as a precaution lest the basement flood again.

Our cable guy is coming tomorrow to repair (or replace) the TiVO boxes so we can have them work on our network again. Having the ability to record multiple channels simultaneously is more important now than ever, as the satellite goes down during heavy rain (and when there's snow built up) and I (mostly) shelter in place and have plowed through recordings of my favorite shows that have all wrapped production till further notice. Yeah, there's always Amazon & Netflix, but...

My housekeeper took one look at me in my size XL tee and XL jeggings and said "girl, you'd better get some new smaller clothes." I told her what if I gain weight? She replied, "I know you--you won't." Bob agrees. So I ordered 3 pair of size 10 jeggings, 2 pair of size 10 Bermudas, and a 6-pack of size M Bombas tees. All my commemorative T-shirts are at least L or XL. I have a score of plastic storage boxes brimming with clothes in Chico's size 3 & 4 and other stuff in size 20 on down to 14 (and XX down to XL). Some of them still have tags, because I never got to wear them. Have yet to be able to donate them to her church--was going to, but then the stay-home order was issued. (My smallest jeans are 12, and swim on me--though I've washed them repeatedly in hot water)! My PJs (mostly scrubs) and nighties are L, but who's gonna see 'em? I make it a point to at least put on a top & jeans or leggings (even a matched set) during the day, even if I don't go out for a walk. (Still haven't put on makeup, though).

With shrimp & smoked fish tonight, more of that Collin cremant. (Will have to bring up more wines & bubbles from the basement, as if my housekeeper & I have to clear a path through the snake pit, access to the wine racks will be blocked).

Oh, Dorothy, so sorry you have to be jerked around like this! (And though it may seem like it, you are not alone--Bob couldn't get tested for either coronavirus or antibodies because he's asymptomatic--and he's a doctor, ferpity's sake). I hope your second test turns out ok. Meanwhile, bottoms up--you're entitled.

Mornin ladies,

Holy Chit Dara this is recockulous for u. U have been gearing up and ready for a while now. I'm so sorry there is more waiting and thinking. Gee u got a voucher for all this. Oh so upsetting I hope when u went home u and Jack had a good time, u need it badly. Oh I'm so sorry, but one bright thing Lori called u Wacko, I luv it. I guess they have to double check everything now, I don't get it but it might be for the best.

Oh Illi ur going thru the ringer with this. I'm so sorry this is happening.

JC hot tub sounds so so good. U must really enjoy it, that would be so relaxing. U' better get good use out of it.

Jazzy James Taylor, his voice is so relaxing, love listening to him. Now u understand more about ur neighbor. But u still have to get rid of ur meeses ASAP, don't like those critters making themselves comfortable by you. That's nice of ur other neighbor to help out. Ur getting a lot done.

Lori there must be loads of a shipment coming in for u to be so busy. U'll be so tired at the end of all this, u' better rest really good. Oh look who I'm talking to ur another one that doesn't stop.Oh Joey;s card was all printed, they don't teach penmanship anymore, just printing. I don't get it..

Sandy it must be good to see ur HK back, not only help but someone to talk to. Yea we're getting more rain, so many places are flooded now this is really bad. And all the electric work that has to be done WOW it's a chitload for him. Some of these jobs are really difficult for these men but somehow they get it done.

Kim for some reason I feel like ur going to cave into something. U'd better not. Now u'll have Dara on ur back too. HaHaHa. But she is nicer than I am.

Misty I'm sure ur grandson will be fine about the boat. His dad has one so it'll be all right.

Hey Teka

Oh everything I hear on TV or read seems like summer will be cancelled. Not the weather but everything else summer brings. It's so sad. Les is going to get some decorations for the yardd for Joey's BD, June 10th <16> so a few family and friends can drive by at least. Better than nothing. Jodie wanted to do that for me and I told her if she did that one of her legs would be broken. I've always been a good mom. But being 16 is so different, yea I can feel it.

Hope today is decent and Dara I can't get over what ur going thru.

LUBS U ALL

Hi friends- just a quick pop in before I get on a training webinar. The work on the mouse stuff is done. Bait traps out, entry points to the house got sealed up yesterday. Now I am preparing for the washer delivery on Sat. Clean clothes once again! There will be many loads of laundry this weekend.

Dara- I am so sorry your plans were thwarted to have the surgery yesterday. I know you have to get your head in a place to be ready for this stuff. Hopefully you can get on the schedule again soon.

NM- I think you going to part time is great news and know with your house being paid off, you are in a good place with things. Be sure you won't loose your benefits with the drop though, some places pay benefits even for part time workers. I think a visit with the retirement planner is a good move too. My perfect work schedule has always been between 25-30 hours a week. Allows for better work life balance.

Chi- that is crazy Bob can get tested.

I heard of two people yesterday in group living situations that touch my community that have lost their lives to Covid. One was a good friend's uncle who has been in a nursing home since end of last year with a failing heart. Another was a relative of a cousin's daughter's family that was in rehab recovering from heart surgery and it took him too. People who either can't have services or doing something on line. Covid is a cruel disease, like so many.

To the ones PM-ing me, will be in touch soon!

goldie, love the poster! I told my DH I was tempted to wear a sign that says "I'm wearing a mask to protect YOU. Please do the same for me".