how about drinking?

Good Morning, Loungettes!Happy TGIF day! Last night was a pleasant night shift. It's going to be beautiful here today, sunny, 85 degrees. I got some mowing done in the dog yard yesterday, going to work on it some more later today and over the weekend. I am so glad I bought a cordless electric lawn mower this last time, finally I have a mower I can start at the beginning of the season! And I like that it's quieter, so I can listen to audiobooks while mowing, makes it less boring. Sadie isn't sure what to think of the thing, it looks like a mower to be chased and barked at, but doesn't make the noise of one. She got some exercise along with me, and we found several of her toys that are still good to play with, but will be living outside until they get a chance to get washed and get the moldy smell out of them!

Cammy Cat--yeah, I caved in and agreed to 2 more weeks of night shift work, but that means that I will be changing to part time but will still have my health insurance until the end of June, so that buys me time to really research what I'm going to do about that.

Ooh, that Pink Victrola sounds VERY YUMMY!!!!

Jazzy--Hooray for getting the house demoused! The new washer will be a luxury that you will enjoy, I'm sure. I am going to lose benefits, the nursing home doesn't give benes to part timers, and the HR person is gathering info about health insurance sources other than the Marketplace. I'm actually leaning toward going without, it irks me to be paying a premium and still paying 100% of the costs cuz I don't make the deductible, and even then there is still co-insurance. If I go uninsured I can negotiate fees and my Health Savings Account is pretty healthy again now. I may just put money into that instead. COVID is a very cruel disease, and is changing the way nursing home care is done in ways that are not going to be well liked by the public. I finally found the Nursing Home reopening guidelines, it's 3 phases, minimum of 14 days each, and whenever a resident has a positive test everything is reset back to where we are now and it starts over again. Knowing the virus will eventually get into every Nursing Home in the country I can see nursing homes closing down for lack of staff, supplies and funds as people won't agree to go to them for rehab care, or go there and not be allowed to visit with family members for a month or more at a time. There's been a conspiracy theory floating around for a few years that the government wants to shut down all nursing homes, and it's beginning to feel less like a conspiracy theory and more like an actual process. I hope I'm wrong.

Goldie--It seems like a good time for a change in the whole work thing, moving more toward retirement. I've got to get some input from a financial adviser, though, to get myself edumacated and really figure out where I am in that regard. The anti-maskers are self-centered egotists I've decided. Only care about their own comfort and don't give a crap about anybody else. So much of what is wrong in society seems to come down to people not giving a d@## about anybody but themselves.

Good idea, Beaver!

Chi--glad to hear your PCP is doing better! That is very good news.Hope the electrical Plan B works out well!

Mema--so good you had a visit with the grandbabies. They are babies for so short a time. And good for you with exercise bike, too!

Hello There,

Im so happy to see so many familiar faces..I've missed you all. Had the pleasure of speaking to Ms. Lori last night and our dear Dara. It was nice to catch up.

So what's every one's "new normal" looking like?

Like Cami mentioned its like Ground Hog Day! Has anyone heard from Stella? Im sure she is up to some kind of shenanigans.

Well, this summer is going to look a lot different than anticipated. Should be on a plane right now to NY to bury my DD but of course that is now postponed until next year. He will have to stay in the closet in his cozy box for a while longer. Were supposed to get married (yes Donese) in June...now next year and cruise on July 4th...cancelled and refunded. Oye Vey!

Im looking forward to hearing whats up from everyone.

TTFN

Yes, it was my Dear Dad...perhaps I should have said DF?? He passed from Lymphoma in January. It took him quick..within a few months. Today is his birthday.

Sooooo nice to see you all . I've missed you!

Donese will be here on June 14th and I plan to return with her to TX in August for a couple of months. It will be nice to have someone to talk to and dwink with haha. We will reside together some day. Just not for a few years when we get the most from retirement.

I hope everyone enjoys their Saturday...even though every day is the same.

Well, you wont believe it but I found Stella....she was asleep in my closet wearing the same clothes that she had on in Vegas...that was one long hangover! She now resides in my car where she cant get into any trouble.But then again it is Stella after all.

Will poop in later ladies xoxoxoxox

DAYEM Cyndie, you had me locked up in there for looooooooong time. And who are all these new goils, I don't know you. But more peeps to have a dwinkie wif! WHEW! Are those Tenders still around? I needs me a dwink and pwonto!

How did you get out of the car Stella...you behave now.

Hello JCS.

Good Morning, Loungettes!Happy Sunday Funday!I got home from work yesterday ayem, decided to take a nap and then get up and do some yard work. Tossed and turned for a few hours, then decided I would chill out for half an hour, then get up.Next thing I knew it was dark out and Sadie was climbing into bed with me!"Hey Siri, what time is it?""It's 8:36 pm"WHAT??? Oh, well, time to get up and get some fluids into me (and out of me) and a bit to eat. Stumbled around the kitchen toasting a bagel and pouring a glass of milk, took it back to the bedroom to eat it since Sadie was still in bed, tried to read for a bit, woke up when Sadie was eating the bagel out of my hand, finished the milk myself, then rolled over and cuddled up with Sadie and woke up about half an hour ago at 6:30.Some of the muscles are a little stiff from not being used for so long, but overall I actually feel good and have some energy and plan to tackle the yard work again today, after it warms up a tad, it's only 46 degrees right now, there was frost in some places overnight, and the weather guessers are calling for possible frost again tonight.

Dara--I hope you get lots done before the surgery reschedule, and that the testing goes better, as in either yes or no, no indeterminate stuff. Right now lots of people have been beating me into the HTL while I'm working night shift and my sleeping schedule is totally wacked out. I am looking forward to the cut in hours, if not the cut in pay, but I'll still be better off than I was working for hospice, I'll have guaranteed 24 hours, and can pick up more just about anytime I want. The Nursing Home I am in does not have any COVID-19 cases, and hasn't had one yet. We keep working to keep it that way, but the reality is that when visitors are allowed in again the virus will get in. Visitors will lie about symptoms, take masks off to hug and kiss residents, and otherwise not follow the rules.And as soon as one resident (or staff member) gets it, we have to go back to total lock down again, and visitors will be prohibited for at least 56 days. I can foresee this happening over and over again in Nursing Homes all over the country. It's going to be crazy for some time to come. But all that is still better than what you are going through. I am praying that this surgery finally fixes everything for good.

Cammy Cat--You may be glad to know that as I sat across from the Director and contemplated helping her out by working 2 more weeks of night shift I was thinking "Cammy Cat is going to say I TOLD YOU TO SAY NO AND I TOLD YOU SO!!!But there are 43 people that we are taking care of who need what I can do while the Director hires more staff and makes the changes and rearrangements needed to cover the new unit we are required to renovate the building for and staff. But I am strictly adhering to a no 12 hour shift rule. And I'll have most of the summer at part time hours, YAY!I say the pic on Fb, you and Joey looked GREAT!!!!!

CynCyn!!!!!!!!So good to see you again!So sorry to hear about all the things you've had to postpone or cancel due to Coronavirus. For me, I'm now working in a nursing home and have had my work life turned upside down with the virus, but will be going part time in a few weeks. My brother and his wife moved to North Carolina. Sadie is starting to show her age in her white face and moving a bit slower on stairs, but still a very happy pooch who continues to run the household and supervise the neighborhood.

Chi--OMG, SHARING N95s??????That is NOT a CDC or CMS recommendation, that is a recipe for infecting as many staff as possible!!!I feel badly for your voice teacher's wife. One of the industry predictions is that when the COVID thing subsides there will be a surge of rehab admissions of people who had ortho surgery during this time but didn't get rehab due to fear of going to a facility or not being able to get at home services and who are not doing well, and that this will coincide with a surge in COVID cases as facilities open up for visitation or communities relaxing restrictions too soon. I can foresee a total separation of rehab and long term care services coming.

Cammy Cat--that little kitteh is SO CUTE!Love the avatar pic!!

Goldie--Yup, the insurance thing is the thing to figure on right now. Only 4 years to Medicare. I've got a reasonably healthy health savings account. With taking care of myself my medical visits have been few and far between, and what I'm paying is far less than the monthly premium I'm paying now (which is tiny compared to the market place premiums). Could something catastrophic happen?Sure. But if it did I would likely not be able to go back to work again anyway, and then would be eligible for Medicaid, which is retroactive. And frankly, Medicaid is a great set up with max of $30 per month cop-pays and providers not being able to insist on payment of co-pays. And I discovered that people paying cash for medical care can negotiate the fee directly with the provider and ultimately pay much less, but the provider keeps a larger proportion by bypassing the financial intermediary costs associated with Medicare and Medicaid. And my HR person has some info on some other programs that she's going to pass on to me to look at, too.

CybCyb--Glad you clarified that, I was thinking I was going crazy cuz I didn't think you had a daughter that died, never thought of it being Dear Dad. Can't wait to see what kind of trouble Stella gets your car into! I wish you and Donese could be together now, but finances being what they are, one must take them into account.

Stella!!!! Come over here to the Casino Bar and join me and some of the gals and Pants and Jock and have a dwinkiepoo!

Librarian--Glad the birthday celebrations went well! Sounds like some real finds for gifts. I have a feeling lots of places are going to be museum and shop closed, trails open this summer.

Aha!I had forgotten about the banana hammocks!Meet you there!

Hi ladies- just a quick hi and hoping your holiday weekend is going okay. It's been week full of many things to deal with. None of it is interesting, and all of it stacks one on top of the other. Nothing that is end of the world, just a lot of hassle. It goes like this 1) the yard mouse mitigation plan is in and see evidence in the yard it is starting to work; no evidence of anything in the house except on that front 2) I went to move my convertible out of the garage on Thursday and found I had a dead battery. Long story short, it needed to be replaced and got it in Friday, I was hoping to get it back yesterday after the washer came (dealer open on Sat). But that all ended up delayed, so I go tomorrow (the dealer is open on Memorial Day so they must need money) nd 3) after 2.5 weeks, my new washer FINALLY came yesterday. It was supposed to be here in the morning but they did not show and had a really hard time getting info on what was going on. After finally getting a hold of someone in customer service at 2 p.m., she confirmed they were "reloading the truck" and would be here before 5 p.m. Eye rolll. They were here a bit before 4 p.m. and got the old one out and the new one in. Glad to have it in and love it. I have weeks of accrued laundry needs here and a laundry fest is well under way.

Hi to some of the people returning here who I don't know. Welcome back!

Hope everyone has a good funday sunday. I wanted you to know I am planning to take a break in June from BCO, as I like to do periodically with all social media. I may lurk but may not be posting. So I will be here with you through next weekend.

Kim, I had three completely different post-ortho-surgery in-patient rehab experiences. When a car bumper shattered my tibial plateau in Dec. '96, Rush-Pres. wanted to kick me out after four days--but since I was going to be non-weightbearing for the next 10 weeks, needed daily PT, and I have 8 stairs from the sidewalk up to my front door, there was no way I could rehab at home. So I was admitted to the hospital's Johnston Bowman rehab wing--which had post-op, pediatric and independent senior living floors. (It was Christmas season, so I had my guitar brought in so I could entertain the kids and seniors as part of my OT). I was in there for 10 days, and then on my own at home in a wheelchair and a non-wheeled walker for the next 8 weeks. Had to hire a medi-car service to take me to followup appts. with my surgeon. I was in a hinged cast-brace, so until it was taken off and I could "touchdown" weight-bear, my only PT at home was to do ROM exercises (I had a piece of Masonite board so I could do heel-slides on my daybed).

In 2012, knowing that post-op I would be expected to bear weight the same day as my R knee replacement, I figured I could rehab at home (even though they'd warned me at "joint replacement boot camp" I would be in pain). When they announced I would be discharged after only 2 nights at Northwestern Memorial, but expected to do twice daily PT and daily OT even though I was still in agony, the surgeon, social worker & I had to do some fancy negotiating to find a rehab center that both had a bed and for which my insurance would pay. It was awful: though in a nice part of Lincoln Park near DePaul U., it was a combo of post-op (general and ortho), long-term SNF, hospice, and memory-care...all on the same floors. One old guy kept coming into my room and excoriating me for being such a bad daughter because I never called him. (Found out he was not just demented but terminally-ill for kidney cancer). The food was disgusting, much of it stuff I wasn't allowed to eat because I was on a blood thinner. Starch, starch, and more starch--all of it tasteless. Artificial sweeteners too--my glucose was high due to post-op stress. The only coffee was watery decaf. I was told regular was "for staff only," so I actually had to pay into the nurses' coffee pool. There was one nurse (RN or LPN) on duty per shift for the entire facility. The rehab gym was a joke. I was not allowed to eat in the dining room because only patients who could carry a tray were eligible, and I was using crutches and then a cane. I was in there 10 days, and couldn't wait to be discharged. (The LPN who was supposed to remove my staples--a prerequisite for discharge--was about to go home for the day, and was royally p**sed that he had to deign to take out the staples--and he left one in, I suspect not entirely inadvertently). The only bright spot was that I got to give a concert July 4 with a folkie colleague who had a gig there. That, and the rooftop atrium gave me a 360-degree view of all the city's fireworks displays. When I got home, the outpatient rehab clinic provided van transport.

By the time of my L knee replacement a year later, I'd learned my lesson. I checked with my insurance and asked my surgeon for recommendations, and he suggested two Skokie centers that did ONLY orthopedic rehab, one of them solely for joint-replacement patients. (Both part of the same chain). I toured both and made reservations at both of them--first choice was the joint-replacement one. But the evening after my surgery at Skokie Hosp., they called and apologized that my first choice was unavailable because both patients in the room had to hold over. My second choice was great: it was on a bus line so Gordy could visit me and it had valet parking and Frank Lloyd Wright-style decor. It had a huge PT and smaller OT gym--the therapist was relentless, but I warmed to her eventually. I was actually assigned a table in the dining room--which had waitress service and a delicious menu. (I wasn't offered wine, though, because of the blood thinners), I was even allowed to book two guest meals during my stay, so my BFFs dined with me the first night and Bob & Gordy a few nights later. (I had breakfast in bed, because my morning PT was super-early). There was an ice cream parlor and espresso bar, a full-service beauty salon, mani-pedi days, and movies three times a week (with popcorn). I wasn't in long enough for field trips, though my therapist & I did take walks around the block towards the end. Even allowed one furlough dinner out (we went to McCormick & Schmick's for seafood). And I gave two concerts while I was there. I was in for two weeks. And because it was my L knee this time, as soon as I was off opioids I was allowed to drive myself to the rehab clinic.

Mornin ladies,

S T E L L A. OMG is back, let's face it she's a little sneaky and always up to something and we never know.

Cyn thanks for clearing that up, of course I'm sad about ur dad but I was confused. Cyn I so enjoy ur pics on FB, they all remind me of such happy times but I feel sad cuz u and Donese aren;;t together enough, I know it will happen but not soon enough.

Jazzy I always respect ur time away for ur own reasons. BUT I also always miss you, it feels like somethings missing, yep you.

Oh Dara this is too much <all of it> for you. I'm so glad ur not alone now. Cheryl is a prize sent to you. OK now listen don't fall for Kim's reasoning for why she's working nights and keeps on saying yes to them.Altho this is a judge free zone u have to know she keeps caving. So just stay on my side no matter what she says.

JC u pick the prettiest places to hike, somethin g u enjoy and share with ur DH.And of course I luv the pics. I'm sure ju are but make sure u two take care of urselves.

Hey Teka.

Wow Lori u did a lot in a short time, u have to be tired from that After all these yrs. Wacko gets me everytime.

See Kim I'm staying out of ur business <almost> well not exactly, OK I'm not, but just get used to it.

Sandy the last place u stayed sounded really good. Mine was OK but way to long 7-8 weeks but my favorite part was when the aides and nurses would take their break in my room and we gossiped LOL.

A lot of my family called to catch up this week, on what I don't know samo samo but we did talk anyway.

Yesterday was horrible with work. Every one is turning on the AC's and they are not working. So my phone was blowing up. We did take a couple of jobs but not all. They guys have been working all hours now and are all tired and again I had the pleasure of not understanding anyone, oh what a mess. I really felt sorry for these people but there was nothing I could do. Bob told me no jobs, but I did talk him into a few with less money. Now today is the Holiday so we'll see what happens cuz I have the phones again.

Lori I haven't worn a mask yet, but I've never left my home. My kids do. They've been tested a couple of times cuz they need things done at the hospital so that's good

OK STELLA let's get this party Holiday started, everyone has off <the usual> so think of something with some good drinks at least.

Hello to anyone I missed, Celia,Misty, Beaver, I know theres more but my brain isn't too good. Well everyone keep safe, it'll get better.

LUBS U ALL

Lori, I also played my dulcimer (was rehearsing on it anyway for an upcoming festival). There was a famous Chicago folksinger (well, famous if you're a folk fan) named Bob Gibson. One of my fellow patients had been his fiancee.

Kim, until last week my dreams were the usual: rehashes of the day's events, travel (usually involving frantically trying to pack and almost missing my flight); suddenly finding out I had a final exam the next day for a class for which I'd forgotten I'd registered; being in public and suddenly realizing I was either topless or naked. But last week, I had a dream that I was out in public, going into a store, and suddenly realizing I'd forgotten my face mask. I then pulled my t-shirt up over my nose & mouth.

DOTD: cappuccino out on the deck, as it was sunny and in the 70s again. Will grill tonight, probably crack a bottle of chianti or rioja. Meanwhile, our mint is doing well enough to harvest some of it for mojitos ("faux-jito" for me).

Good Morning, Loungettes!Happy Twofer Tuesday! Getting up to a warm and muggy ayem. Seems summer has finally decided to move in. Going in to work my "normal" day shift and do some of my education job today and tomorrow, then back to nights Friday and Saturday. Then 4 more night shifts, then I start part time day shift. Big changes coming up! I've got to admit I'm looking forward to going part time again. Sadie has been in seventh heaven with things to supervise the neighborhood and people walking by on the road.

Cammy Cat--ok, you and Dara don't need to gang up on me! Yes, I caved in and agreed to 2 more weeks of night shift, BUT only 8 hour shifts, not the 12 hours asked for, and only 4 per week, not the 5 asked for, so there!I can imagine there were lots of calls about AC not working with the weather changing.

Goldie--the seedlings I have coming are some tomatoes and herbs. I've forgotten exactly what I've ordered, but it's a smaller order than I usually put in. I read somewhere about planting cucumbers with sunflowers and letting the cucumbers use the sunflower stalks as supports that I want to try. Quilts do weight a ton when wet! Drying it in the sun is great, the sunshine is a wonderful natural germ killer!

Chi--Your dream about forgetting a mask made me giggle! At least you had a T shirt you could pull up! I got to enjoy my deck the last couple of days, too and it was wonderful!

CynCyn--sounds like the post-eating gremlin picked onyou!

Good Morning, Stella!

Sunflower Cocktail

• 2 (1.5 fluid ounce) jiggers gin (such as Aviation® or Hendrick's®)
• 2 (1.5 fluid ounce) jiggers orange-flavored liqueur (such as Cointreau®)
• 2 (1.5 fluid ounce) jiggers elderflower liqueur (such as St. Germain®)
• 2 (1.5 fluid ounce) jiggers lemon juice
• crushed ice

Combine gin, orange-flavored liqueur, elderflower liqueur, and lemon juice with some crushed ice in a cocktail shaker. Cover and shake until the outside of shaker has frosted. Strain into 2 glasses.

From <https://www.allrecipes.com/recipe/247191/sunflower-cocktail/>