how about drinking?

Good Morning, Loungettes!Happy Twofer Tuesday! Back to work for me, which will be a bit of break. Sadie and I did very, very little yesterday but veg out and enjoy the warm weather, even if it was raining off and on all day. Sadie says Hi to everyone!

Librarian--I can handle being the bully while Mom moves. She'll get over it once she gets moved in and can starting going through stuff. She'll keep it all, of course, but that's her choice. Glad you are enjoying the beach!

Goldie--I'm happy to hear that you feel great. I suspect a lot of stuff will end up in her bedroom or in a storage unit. She sleeps in a recliner due to shoulder problems and pain when she lies on her side or tries to move in a bed, so I suspect her bed will become the storage space. Or maybe she will surprise me and actually get rid of stuff over time. Heaven knows she doesn't want to spend money on a storage unit.Time will tell. So nice you got to visit with your kids even if you couldn't get out and do something fun.Great pic!

Morning, Teka!

Chi--I can't imagine how different it must have been to watch the service with the chat scrolling! But this may be the way of the post-COVID future for the world. I wonder if large gatherings will ever be allowed again.

Beaver--Sadie says "thanks" for the belly rubs.I say "thanks" to everyone for listening to me whine and moan all weekend.

Jazzy--CONGRATs on the new job! Isn't it amazing how insurance has come to run our lives in one of the most important areas of our lives? Mom should have been packing and organizing for months now, she's been talking about it for that long and longer. Her big thing is her craft stuff, she has tons and tons, sewing, woodworking, glasswork, knitting, some of which she hasn't touched in years. That may change, she is setting up the second bedroom as a craft room, is having a custom work bench built in soon. I am taking care of myself, I set 4 peeyem as the "I'm done" time at Moms, did not go yesterday, so I had one day off between that and going back to work.

Cammy Cat--LOVE the Mango Momma Slapper!

Well, starting on Thurs. up to 50 people (masked and socially distanced) will be allowed for indoor gatherings in Chicago--as long as that doesn't exceed 40% of capacity. Highly unusual for regular Fri. night services to have that many, though for Yom Kippur eve and memorial services we usually have over 500 (high was 1000). High this time was 325 people watching.

Lori, terrific that you're feeling great (and lookin' good too).

Cami, Yom Kippur is the Day of Atonement, on which all vows (Kol Nidrei) made during the year are cancelled (it was started during the Inquisition, when Iberian Jews were forced to convert to Catholicism or be executed--so that on Yom Kippur, God understands that the conversion vows were made under duress and so He allows forcibly-converted Jews to not follow Jesus but instead remain Jewish in their hearts. Over the years, that's been extended, except for marriage vows and written contractd). On that day, Jews deprive ourselves of pleasures (including food & drink, bathing, grooming for vanity, and even wearing leather shoes), and refrain from work and non-spiritual concerns--except of course for emergencies or when health would be endangered. It is the last of the 10 "Days of Penitence," which begin with Rosh Hashonah (New Year), on which God inscribes names in the Book of Life/Lives Well-Lived; on Yom Kippur, by the end of the day, the Book is sealed. Sort of like 24-25 hours of Extreme Lent.

Glad to hear, Cami, that whatever you have isn't more cancer.

Beav., in your pocket for tomorrow's visit; hope they can put in an implant and temporary tooth or make you a fake gap-filler on-site. Meanwhile, eat the most delicious soft foods (including bisque soups & ice cream) you can find.

Last night, with my break-the-fast meal (mostly fish), I had some of that Aussie Alpha Box & Dice sparkler.

A "flipper" is polycarbonate plastic, very much like a clear retainer (like from Invisalign or SmileDirect), only it fits exactly over your existing teeth without trying to move them. The "tooth" shape over your missing tooth is tinted the same color as your existing teeth. Another kind of "flipper" is tinted movie-star white and sometimes worn by models or child beauty-pageant contestants. Unlike a retainer, you will likely be allowed to eat with it in, as it will likely be temporary until you've healed enough and your bone is able to be prepped for an implant (and temporary tooth screwed into it); or a "Maryland" bridge (which is a fixed bridge containing one or two false teeth, anchored permanently on the tongue side of the adjacent teeth). I have the latter on the bottom, replacing a front tooth that split down the middle a decade after it was root-canaled and not salvageable enough to be crowned. My bridge is going on 17 years old now!

Beaver - there is a temporary "tooth" that can be 'installed' after they pull your broken tooth. Likely with a 'bridge' type of anchor as ChiSandy mentioned. I chose to just wait after the extraction for the steel post to be installed and the bone to heal around it. But then mine broke at the gum when I was still in treatment and I wasn't going any where except for infusions &/or surgery so I didn't have to smile at anyone. And it wasn't my very front tooth - but one to the side.

I learned in a hurry not to eat corn on the cob anymore - but really - it broke when I was eating a butter lettuce salad for heaven't sake!!!! At Ruths Chris for Thanksgiving dinner no less. Interesting to note I've gone back to corn on the cob a couple of times a years even if it isn't the smartest decision.

Come to think of it Beaver - I always cut my apples before eating but I hadn't thought about it. Thanks for the reminder of ice cold whole apples from the vending machine at my high school - MANY years ago.

Last morning at the beach. Sorry the pic is sideways. Will check in later to see how all are doing.

Take care!

I was last in the Napa Valley (the Meritage resort in American Canyon) in 2014--toured several wineries, including one that was destroyed (Signorello) in the 2017 fires. Some bigger ones have burned down or lost one or more buildings. Many vineyards were burned up, the rest (mostly Cab. Sauv. this time of the year) ruined by smoke permeating the grapes. It has been confirmed that there will be no 2020 vintage declared for most of Northern CA (and some of the Central coast north of Monterey, including the Santa Cruz/Santa Clara areas, most notably famed quirky "Rhone Ranger" winery Bonny Doon). The 3-Michelin-starred restaurant at famed Meadowwood Resort is no more--its building (separate from the hotel) has been destroyed. The "Glass" fire that has devastated Napa & Sonoma appears to have started spontaneously due to high winds, high temperatures, and extreme dryness (since it began in the wee hours, maybe even a spark from an outdoor motion detector light turning on). And most of the vegetation burning had been untouched by previous fires (unlike many of the CA fires further north, east & south).

Chilly night dining out yesterday--bundled up (sweater under denim jacket while at table, topped by a down vest while walking) under the tent. Indoors was pretty much deserted--had we known it would be, we might have gone in so we could hear the weekly guitarist more clearly. Bob is still spooked by the table full of raucously laughing non-masked close-together nursing students across the room at brunch 3 weeks ago, when we were forced indoors by bees--these patrons were happily guzzling "bottomless" mimosas. As a former Bears season ticketholder, he's fine with dining outdoors as long as it's above 0F and not snowing too hard.

Last night's DsOTD: a half glass each of cava and La Vielle Ferme red blend.

Met with the dentist today, he says things are healing well. Go back in two weeks to start the replacement process. He recommends a bridge, similar to what Sandy described. Cost is much less than a crown replacement and an implant. While cost is not the primary decider, having teeth again in about six weeks instead of six and a half months is a strong influencer!! Will get temporaries in two weeks and go from there. See my PCP next week for a follow-up on my arm which is still sore and bruised. At least I can cover the evidence with clothing and a mask.

Hey ladies- glad you liked my funny. Best thing I have seen on FB in awhile. Everything is political infighting.

I got my dexa scan and check in with my MO moved up from Dec to October. I used to see him Jan and July and then would always have my other diagnostics around that. But then in the past few years, his scheduled had me seeing him Mar & Sept, then this year it was April and Dec. He wants to make a decision about whether we do any more Prolia shots and asked if we can do it now vs. wait to the end of the year. In fact, we can and I go tomorrow for the dexa and then he will decide based on the results (telephone call follow up from what I hear). They have me scheduled for a shot on the 13th if I need it. I have a visit with the gyn next week, then PCP, call with the MO, Prolia shot at the cancer center and once again, a reschedule visit with the breast surgeon from my summer image (which was July, oiy). My BS visits are always told them I am starting a new job and really need to get this done in October. I do understand she gets called out on emergency surgeries, but at some point, it becomes not doable. And then there are the visits for the job to do too. My list is a mile long and really glad I have time to get all this done. I don't want to be going in and saying "hey doctor apt here, one there, etc." They will be like "what is wrong with that gurl....."

NM- I wish you luck today with the flu shot clinic. They are encouraging everyone to get those done and I was told if I don't have one before I visit occ health, they are giving me one there. My sister got the over 65 one and said it really hurt for a day. Too bad Sadie can't go and say hi to everyone.

Having watched what my mother went through living alone for 11 years and then when she finally landed in assisted living, I believe that elders really need community. My mother lived alone from the time my father went into a nursing home in 1999 and until her medical crises in 2004 and in the beginning, but towards the last few years, she was very socially isolated. She was afraid to go out in the winter with the snow and ice, but some neighbors of ours from growing up would go pick her up for a weekly lunch outing. I know those types of things are not happening right now, and those I know in assisted living have had to isolate anyways in the pandemic. I guess because your mom has lived alone before, she knows what she is getting in to? Is your mom tech saavy? Does she have a computer and know how to Zoom?

Chi- my fav winery for cab is Whitehall Lane and they sound okay for right now. I may need to order a box of their cab to help them. They are located in St. Helena where the bad fires are this week.

Well it's Pinktober ladies. Be ready for everything breast cancer on the news.

Good Morning, Loungettes! Happy TGIF day!

Long Rant Warning.Feel free to skip.

After yesterday at work my mind is just running around and around. The plan was to work on getting flu shots given to residents. While I was waiting for the Director of Nursing (DON)and Assistant Director of Nursing (ADON) to start that I was asked to be a sitter for a bit. In health care a sitter is a staff member who stays with one patient/resident at all times, done for various reasons like suicide watches and, as in this case, behavioral issues. One resident, due to multiple diagnoses, has a tendency to go into other residents' rooms, move belongings around, try to move residents around, and become angry and attempts to hit people who get in the way. Sure, I can do that for a bit, until the DON and ADON are ready to start flu shots.The other nurse says she'll be sure the DON and ADON know where I'm at.A few minutes later the other nurse tells me the DON knows where I'm at and will come get me when she is ready to start the flu shots.An hour goes by. The DON comes onto the unit, is giving flu shots by herself. The ADON has been helping in between dealing with other things. The DON asks how it's going, I tell her. Resident sleeps for a few minutes in a chair, gets up, tries to go into other residents' rooms, I stand in the door way and use my body as a block, resident gets in my face and yells at me (words only partially make sense, but the tone is clearly "get the F…. Out of my way, B…", tries to shut doors on me, pushes me and swings at me when I won't allow the resident to play with electrical cords and computer equipment or fire alarms or take food off other residents' lunch plates, or take clothes off other residents.I don't take the behavior personally, it's the diseases talking, not the resident. I know how to keep from getting hurt or letting anyone else get hurt. It's just on aspect of nursing work. But, it's a very boring way to spend the work time, and a bit frustrating when I have other things I really need to be doing.But from 10 ayem until 3:15 peeyem,that was my day. It was supposed to be "for a few minutes while I finish (a task)".I did get someone else to cover long enough to get a bathroom break, she was going to be in the area anyway, but never could get someone to agree to cover long enough for me to get a lunch break. I know it's not a fun job, I know it's boring, I know it can be frightening at times, and I know staff don't like to do it, and they demand they get breaks when they are doing it, and I don't mind helping out and covering for breaks and even taking a hour or two, but everyone was "too busy" to cover for me for 15 minutes? I wasn't even asking for an entire lunch break! With nothing else productive to do during all this time I did a lot of thinking. About how the COVID changes are pretty much going to be permanent. How the mask wearing and my age related hearing loss is making it harder and harder to hear what's being said, how it's been over a month with new management and I still don't know where my role fits in and what is really expected of my position now, of how often I am working extra to help with staffing problems but can't afford health insurance, how it seems like everything I try to do to be helpful and involved in the work flow and processes I'm getting something wrong, and now nobody care enough about me to cover for 15 minutes? When I've saved you from 5 HOURS of doing it? At the expense of my own job's work? Have I really just gotten too old to do this kind of work anymore? At the end of every day I am so tired and so achy and sore. How much of what I am feeling is just accumulated COVID stress from 8 months of putting a positive, upbeat face on constantly changing information and practices, and chasing down staff to make sure everyone hears all the info and being supportive of their fears and frustrations? And dealing with2 total management changes at the same time? Or am I just overreacting because I had a boring, not so fun, not so pleasant day at work? Or should I really be thinking about retiring entirely? Is retiring even an option? Am I ever going to live without some part of my world being in crisis all the time?

Thanks for listening.

Cammy Cat--Everybody ate work is stressed lately, and I keep telling myself not to take reactions too seriously, they are often more intense than intended. And I am thinking of taking Sadie and going back to bed this morning. Get up later and start the day over, and make it a brighter one!

Jazzy--Mom is moderately tech savvy, I could teach her how to Zoom or Skypebut she is doing well with texts and the cell phone for now. She has a laptop and does a lot of genealogy work on that at times. I'm hoping she knows what she is getting into, and that the answer to isolation won't be me again. Right after Dad died, I was going down every weekend. She lived further away then, so she didn't expect me to drop by after work or anything like that, but every Sat and Sun I was expected to be there, with a telephone call every evening and an e-mail every morning when I wasn't there. Unfortunately, she isn't tech savvy enough to not click on things that pop up or to read what she's clicking on, so my brother or I have to go in and clean out all the stuff that gets added onto her laptop periodically. At least she doesn't do much online shopping!

Chi--so sorry to hear about your favorite restaurant possibly closing. It seems like the really good food places are the ones not making it, while the fast food places are managing to stay up and running. Many places here are praying for a long, warm autumn as it's the outdoor dining that has kept them alive and going, bars and tasting rooms in particular.

Orange Crisis

2 oz of Light Rum

1 oz of Triple Sec

1 oz of cream

1 splash of grenadine syrup

2 oz of peach schnapps

1 oz of Apricot Brandy

Shake all ingredients in a shaker with ice and pour into shot glasses.

From <https://www.cocktailbuilder.com/recipe/orange-crisis>

NM, sounds like now is a good time to figure out if or when retiring is/will be a good option! At least then you'll have a base for making decisions.

NM, terribly sorry for what's going on at work. You are such a caring person, and REALLY care for you patients, which is why I think you go over and above, always picking up where you are asked, and I think people know that, therefore they take advantage of you. Give it time to calm down (in you) and then decide what you would like to do. Or just quit stepping in when you are asked and JUST SAY NO. However, I don't see you doing that, but because of the patients, no other reason.

LDB, do send me the pics and I will post.

Still having a good time, not doing anything, weather is cold and windy and been having some rain. DD went yesterday for Covid test and tested negative, and negiative for antibodies. So that makes me think I am negative too, as we have been around all the same people. Leaving on the 7th or 8th for camping, so not sure how much more you will hear from. I can post while still in MI, but when I get home I'll be too busy unpacking and then packing for camping!

Ordered for delivery from Cellars tonight, but the hostess let slip over the phone that since their regular driver went home "feeling under the weather" (uh to the oh), they're using GrubHub tonight, and GH would get most if not all the tip. Nuh-uh--I called back immediately after placing my order and said I'd pick it up instead. I tip like crazy (35-50%) in order to help keep the place & servers afloat, and no way am I gonna "feed" a corporate dotcom. I noticed that despite the temp being in the low 50s one of the two outdoor tents was full (4 tables), 2 tables in the other were occupied, and the inside seemed to be at about 25%. I would have dined there myself, but I don't like eating alone when not at home, and didn't want to sit inside for too long. (Bob is spending a second night in Oak Lawn). If he gets home in time tomorrow night (they're open till 9) or Sunday night (open till 8), we'll walk over and dine inside. May walk over for brunch (my usual quiche) Sunday morning--they do have great brunches and had to turn people away when they were allowed to operate at <25%. Next week promises to be mild enough for outdoor dining again.

Kim, I second Jazzy's advice to pivot to a transitional job that taps your accumulated nursing knowledge without physically taxing you. That can let you still draw an income without fully retiring.

Sue, bummer that the acupuncture isn't "taking" for your spine. NV is a weed-legal state (or is it just Las Vegas)--perhaps an edible or even a CBD balm (available OTC even in chain pharmacies) or transdermal gel (CBD or THC) from a dispensary will help. I know the combo of roll-on lidocaine and a CBD balm stick works when my spine spurs irritate the adjacent muscles; sometimes I'll use a CBD transdermal gel "pen" (Mary's Medicinals--which has a little more THC than the OTC stuff--from the dispensary, Mary's Nutritionals online from their site) and rub it over the vein on the inside of my wrist, where the capillaries are close to the surface and absorb the stuff into the bloodstream. Select even makes CBD transdermal patches that time-release over 12 hrs., but they're hella expensive--ten bucks each at CVS or Walgreen's. I've cut them in thirds, and used them on long int'l flights to countries where even CBD isn't legal (so I couldn't bring my drops or gelcaps with me).

Lori, enjoy the camping trip! Bob & I used to camp up & down US 101 from the Olympic Peninsula to Big Sur when he was in grad school and I was a law student. Even a motel room was a luxury for us back then. We used a 9x9 umbrella tent that had to be assembled & staked--it was before "pop-up" ones were available--and polyfill "mummy" sleeping bags over Ensolite pads. What made it comfy was bringing real pillows from home, instead of those tiny backpacking pillows. We lived in a $90/mo furnished student apt. for our 7 years in Seattle--and it felt like in the tent, we owned the roof over our heads. We cooked instant food on a little butane-canister stove. Now, of course, we have trouble getting up off the ground; heck, with his creaky knees Bob has trouble getting up from a chair or sofa that's too low.

DOTD with my Cellars takeout: Williams-Selyem (Sonoma) Vin Gris of Pinot Noir. Hope their winery is safe. And an after-dinner pourover of Metropolis' "Xeno's" decaf--hard to believe it's unleaded. (They threw in 3 tiny brownie "bites" that made just the right amount of dessert). May make a "faux-jito" before bedtime, since I picked some mint on my way back from my garage to the kitchen door.