how about drinking?

Good Morning, Loungettes!Happy Twofer Tuesday! Life got interesting on the way home from school yesterday. The jeep decided to break down. The engine started revving up and down, and then popped out of gear and I could not get it back into gear again. Fortunately, I could coast through the intersection and get pulled off the road.So I get on the phone, arrange for a tow, make a rental car reservation, and arrange for Mom to meet me at the dealer. Tow truck will be by in an hour, according to the AAA dispatcher. Took him an hour and a half to arrive. No big deal, I can cope with that. Meet Mom at the garage, go to the car rental office, it's closed even though I reserved a pick up time. Can't get through to anyone by phone. Go back on line, make another reservation with another agency, Mom drives me to the airport. I go into take care of the paperwork, they don't accept debit cards. I don't have a credit card. Have to call Mom to come in use her card and I write her a check. Finally get everything settled, and get home around 8 pm. Didn't get to sleep until after 11, which is way late for me. So I'm getting up a bit tired this morning. But I can get to work, the rest I can deal with as I find out what is going on. Sadie's comment was "What took you so long getting home tonight? I need belly rubs!"

Karen--I've got a break next week, and I'm looking forward to it! And I'm looking forward to summer break, too. 8 weeks away for me. I hope you do get to travel to Israel this summer. I did not realize the immunization situation in Canada was so difficult. I can imagine how frustrated your DD must be.

Illi--good luck with the scans, may they go smoothly and give good results.

Goldie--Sadie hasn't touched the bed yet that I can tell. Good idea to find someone to give it to or donate it.Hmm, serendipity, there's a news item just now that the Bangor Humane Society is looking for donations and dog beds are on the list! ALS does not cause great pain. What pain there is comes from the decreasing ability to move about --the kind of pain you feel when you sit in one position too long. It's easily managed with deliberately changing position regularly andTylenol or Advil type over-the-counter-pain medication. Rarely are strong pain killers needed. You probably remember me mentioning Auntie Linda's Bed, Breakfast and Boarding Kennel? Auntie Linda had ALS and did not have any pain right up until the end. Sounds like you've got a good circle of friends ready and willing to help out, that is a very good thing! When you have a moment check out the ALS Association at https://www.als.org/local-support/support-groupsThey have a lot of information and also connect people with equipment that is very helpful.

Chi--Bob sure had a rough morning! I hope they can pin down what is happening with BFF's husband.

Jazzy--isn't it amazing how people with no experience or education about a topic can become instant experts? I've cut a few of those loose, too, over the years.

Sandy, you were talking about a small infarct? Stoke... a small infarct near the 8th cranial nerve happened to me one night, (a stroke) and I woke up having lost my hearing! I took Tamoxifen for over 1 12 years, and somehow, in a certain group of women with a certain gene, this can happen! I didn't know how this happened! I thought I had allergies, so for a few months, I tried everything I could to hear again! I researched it, and remembered my Husband saying, "it has to have something to do with what you are taking".... Researching more, I found you COULD have strokes, or any other number of SE's from ANY drug you take. And other women on this blog had the same thing happen.,

I didn't ever say much about it on here because I know Tamoxifen really helps a lot of people! My hearing never came back, but I have been wearing hearing aids for YEARS! At least it makes hearing somewhat normal.

My childhood friend also had a stroke one day, while watering her lawn! She was left in a wheel-chair, almost unable to speak! Aphasia, and I don't know anything else about it! But when I would visit her, she could make sounds, and get excited, but she couldn't form words! GEEZ, I was so worried about her.

Her Son moved in with her, but now she is in a care-center, and I've lost contact with her... I was told she wouldn't know me now... Kind of breaks your heart, growing up, and always talking with each other, and then ...... something happens!

Life is truly a gift.... I thank God for every day, and pray for a million more tomorrow's .... together....

Kim - DD#2 is just getting her first American CC - and I need to work with her how to use it wisely and to pay it in full monthly. She wanted it to build credit. She has been using mine which pay the full balance monthly. I hold the rule that I don't buy anything I can't afford - except car safety and medical - thankfully we've been able to live with this philosophy since forever. You are debt free so your way is working for you. Usually we only rented cars visiting our parents - or my DH for work (which work paid for).

Our positivity rate was up to 7% yesterday but our dear governor is acting like its no big deal loosening restrictions while at the same time saying it will get worse before it gets better!! Me, I'm keeping all safety precautions.

Up again at 3. to pee, then back to sleep till 4 and lay in bed for as long as I could till 4:40. This habit is getting old!

Supposed to snow tonight. Spring time in the Rockies!

Have a great Wednesday.

Good morning! Another lovely day here. Might get some rain latter tomorrow. Yesterday I asked DH to help me with the chairs in the courtyard. He did the actual chair pads and I did the frames. All is clean now, but my back is really hurting. Just too much bending over. It is like I asked DH to hire a lawn service. We got a quote and have been arguing about it ever since. I thought it was affordable, but he thinks it is silly. I keep telling him that I have resigned from heavy yard work. He admits it is hard for him, but wants to keep doing it.

We took Ziggy to the river walk yesterday. Beautiful area with people and dogs walking by one of our rivers. It is an area that has many places where you can hike. This is one we had not been to before. It was really fun and Ziggy was well behaved. We will be going back!

Today I get my hair trimmed and DH goes to the dentist at the same time. We will manage. Below is a pic of the dog. He is a mutt that was found in a culvert outside of Charleston. Pretty, but kinda anxious. The other guy is my DH! Take care.

My BFF is a polio survivor and former smoker, and was poisoned by his former landlady: who bought their building & wanted to convert it to condos, and my BFFs' lease was still in effect--so the landlady had workmen knock holes in their kitchen wall, saying it was to fix gas lines; but then had more workmen come in and refinish the floors of the vacant unit immediately below, with exterior-grade high-VOC varnish whose fumes permeated my BFFs' apt. and much of their possessions (including linens & furniture, which could not be sufficiently decontaminated and needed to be discarded. Everyone in their household got sick, but all but he recovered. I referred them to the top personal injury law firm in town--who hired toxicologists to prove the poisoning. Unfortunately, it was impossible to trace the workmen--they were likely undocumented--and the landlady's atty. claimed they were independent contractors, so the case had to be dropped for inability to prove liability. They bought a condo one neighborhood over, so as never again to fall victim to a landlord. (And they're now on their condo board). He has recurrent cluster headaches (preexisting), COPD (was on supplemental O2 for a time) and early pulmonary HTN. He also was on medication for bipolar disorder and was originally dx'ed with tardive dyskinesia from the meds, before a new neurologist re-dx'ed him with Parkinson's.

Bob says if there's an occlusion in an artery serving Broca's area, but no infarct damage, a CT or standard MRI would not show it and therefore come back normal. He suggests an MRV/MRA, with the possibility of stenting or TPA being able to at least partially reverse the aphasia. They're seeing the neuro tomorrow (first appt. they could get).

So my friend came over last night to decompress--DsOTD (besides cappuccinos) were a Manhattan for her (and later Bob when he got home) and a Moscow Mule for me, which was good but not worth the carbs & calories. I realized that I am not a cocktail person--too sweet, too boozy. Wine, sparkling water, and coffee are my quaffs of choice.

Native - what a mess - at least you have spring break coming up - hope you get to use the time for you.

Chevy - thanks for the reminder about RFID. Neither my purse or wallet are RFID protected - but I. have a couple little RFID holders that I need to start using. I pretty much only go to the grocery store once/week and in person work 2 days/week and Costco monthly - but better safe than sorry.

Still trying to figure out what to do about the accommodations - keep doing what I'm doing without talking to my supervisor or be up front with her. The school I'm starting to cover was okay with 1 day remote and1 day in person based on my accommodation prior to the announcement by the district powers to be on Monday. After this week, we only have 6 weeks left in the school year.

Snow has started - so far it's wet, big flakes but we are supposed to get 3+ inches - we need the moisture.

Have a great evening.

Good Morning, Loungettes!Happy TGIF Day! Chilly and clammy this ayem, with a storm headed in. Supposed to be rain this ayem and not turn to snow until this afternoon. I may take advantage of the option to work from home this peeyem, and leave school when the kiddos do. I will keep an eye on things and see how things work out. The nursing team decided to not change what we are doing as far as screening for COVID and decisions to send kids home, at least for now. When/if we get more information from the powers that be since what we are doing is working. The thought is that this is a response to the increase in variants circulating in Maine with their increased transmissibility among younger folks and children. We're in a no-win situation between parents and governmental pressure to reopen schools to full time in person learning and CDC guidelines that will essentially shut down schools nearly 100% of the time. This is getting very tiring. I am glad of the break that starts at the end of school today!

Sadie says to just let all that stuff take care of itself over the next week or so and just spend time rubbing her belly. I like that idea, but I do have to do some stuff around the house as well! We'll have to negotiate on that.

Karen--I am taking time for myself this coming week, including a belated annual physical appointment.

Chevy--great video, and frightening, too. Time to look into getting a new wallet with RFID blocking.

Karen--very pretty, but really, in APRIL?

Snow in April Pina Colada

Ingredients:

1/2 (frozen, cut into chunks) Pineapple 6 oz

2 oz Unsweetened Coconut Milk

8 oz White Rum

2 tbsp Fresh Lime Juice

2 oz (optional) Dark Rum

Wedge of pineapple, maraschino cherries or lime wedge for garnish

Directions:

Just like a regular pina colada but with a little more rum. Freezing the pineapple ahead of time makes this even better. Puree everything up to the lime juice with 3 cups of ice. If you can wait, put the blender full of pina colada into the freezer for a few hours to make it even creamier. When you'er ready, pour into tall glasses, garnish with pineapple, cherry or lime wedges (or all three) and a gentle splash (over the back of a spoon works well) of dark rum to float on top.

From <https://www.mainespirits.com/recipes/snow-april-pina-colada>

Morning Karen! Yes, I'm up too! Our neighbors are driving to Santa Fe this morning, for a little vacation, coming home Monday. Not great weather to be out on these roads, right? And we are going to go feed their little cat "Mouse" Hah! 3 times a day, and she only eats the little packs of wet food. She is so sweet. She is a little house-cat, and we had heard how she doesn't like many people.... !

So I met her again yesterday, and got the key to their house, and I asked "where is she"... So she was in her bed, by the fireplace, and I walked slowly over to her, saying her name, and she looked at me, and reached out her paw...! So I bent down and pet her head, and she got up & stayed there, waiting for more scratches on her back, Hah! Then she got up and walked over to George, and HE bent down to pet her! So much for her not really liking strangers... right? I think she knows who loves cats and is her friend! So this will be fun!

Chris is the guy who took us down to Denver Health to get our shots, then again for the 2nd shot! Our neighbors around here are the BEST!

Still snowing, right? We sure needed this though! And getting even colder soon. Oh well.... SOMEday it will be Spring, and I can play in my gardens!

(NOTE: this is yesterday's post, interrupted by various phone calls and cat hi-jinks before I could hit "submit").

Kim, ONE symptom? At the height of spring allergy--tree pollen & mold--season? Good grief! Half the kids would have to be sent home and COVID-tested.

Chevy, I've been using enameled-aluminum RFID-proof hardsided credit card cases for years now. I don't carry anything "clonable" or scannable in my wallet. And Bob uses an RFID-proof card compartment in his wallet. I used to carry my car's key fob in a "Faraday pouch," but it's too big for the pouch (and my car won't start or open if the guts of the fob is hidden and can't be "read" by the dashboard computer).

DOTD with dinner out at a BYOB French restaurant from which we'd been getting takeout was (for us) Mumm Napa 2013 Grower Series champagne and (for Bob) 2018 Petite Sirah from Matchbook Winery in the north end of CA's Central Valley. (We brought a good stopper to keep the bubbles from dissipating as we brought home half the bottle, and simply re-corked the red).

Hugs Illimae

ill- praying for good outcomes on those lesions ❤️

Good Morning, Loungettes!Happy Saturday! Waking up toa coating of snow on the ground. Poor Man's Fertilizer. Should make for great spring gardens if the ground ever warms up enough to plant. I am so looking forward to this week off from school. Not going to be lazy, though. I'll be doing a CPR class Monday ayem, then Mom and I are going to try to find something to do the rest of the day. Annual physical on Wednesday. Class stuff in between--I need to write a paper today, but I expect it will go pretty easily, it's a pretty straightforward assignment. Was hoping to finish cleaning off the deck this week, but that may have to wait a bit longer.

Got a package delivered the other day, opened it up, could not figure out what it was or what it was for and it had NO instructions or anything with it. It finally dawned on me this morning, it's a stand for the iPad, I saw it on line, thought it would be helpful for when I want to use the bluetooth keyboard while on the iPad, to be able to see the iPad better and keep it from sliding around. Sure sign you've ordered toomany thing online by impulse when you don't recognize one when it arrives!

Sadie says Hi to everyone!

Karen--at least I didn't get 6 inches!Just a coating, really.

Chevy--Mouse sounds like a real sweetie! I bet you'll have fun with her this weekend.

Goldie--Long day for you with all that driving. Wish I was close enough to be able to help you with packing orders. Where are you going for the 3 days next week?

Chi--Half the kids and most of the staff would have to go home and get tested on the one-symptom standard. The Dept of Ed send out a notice yesterday that there would be no change in how we are screening for COVID or in the protocol for sending kids home to quarantine/get tested. We will be using the single symptom protocol when someone tests positive and we are contact tracing and setting quarantine dates. It's going to sharply reduce the number of people going into quarantine since that means checking for any single symptom going back 10 days from a positive test. By the time many people get tested, their quarantine time will be done. I forseee a major surge in cases in the middle of May after all the April break travels get home. And LOTS of families are traveling.

Illi--{{{{{HUGS}}}}}

Hi, Jazzy, Celia

Chocolate Ouch!

4 ingredients

• ¼Baileys Irish Cream
• ¼Pernod
• ¼Grenadine

¼Bols Blue Curacao

Method

First add the grenadine to the shot glass, then pour on the Pernod, then the Blue curaçao. Slowly and gently pour the Baileys on top so it floats, then serve.

This drink should look like a mini Guinness!

From <https://makemeacocktail.com/cocktail/1155/chocolate-ouch-/>

Illimae - So sorry on the results. Positive thoughts for things to turn out well.

Not much planned for the weekend. I need to work in the courtyard, but worry Ziggy will just dig it all up again. Still not sure about the lawn maintenance company. DH called them to ask some questions, left a message and never got a call back. Might check with another company before I give up completely. The bushes will need trimming soon! Will be going to a ‘party’ at my DS’s house this afternoon. It is a bon voyage for a friend that is moving to England. I do hope things work out for her. It will be a bunch of younger folks I worked with attending and will be nice to catch up.

Gotta go walk. Hope everyone has a great weekend!

I'm so sorry illimae! I'll be thinking of you & wishing you the best... I have a lot of friends & family that need prayers, and now, for you too!