how about drinking?

I know little honey.... I think of you a lot. Taking care of my Husband is so beautiful sometimes... or heart-breaking.

And I thank God that I can. I think of you when I become frustrated, thinking that I'm not doing this right! I have to be always here for him... And yes.... I do all the stuff he used to do.... But that's okay...

I was afraid to have the Plumber out yesterday... He sort of panics thinking about it, but he came, checked things out, and DH gave him a Coke & some cookies! Hah!

Then to get him out, we made a quick run to Walmart... I LOVE to see him talk to the employee's etc! And it's fun to see what junk-food we can buy!

I wake up at night, and my heart just hurts.... thinking about all this.....

Okay.... Thank you God.... I WILL have more patience...! We are in this together.

Happy to see you post Goldie, I wondered about you but felt confident that you were dealing with everything ok. I really hope you don’t get sick, you’ve got more than enough to deal with.

I’m still working on packing up in Houston and completing interior construction at the cabin but everything is painfully slow. DH isn’t a planner but has it all in his head, which changes week to week. I began packing in the summer of 2019, 2019! It’s a good thing we’re close to done because patience is hanging on by a thread.

Jazzy- pretty flowers

Misty- wishing you speedy recovery

Chevy- I so enjoy your posts.

Lori - sending you hugs

My DH started yesterday with a sore throat and then headache and then overall feeling lousy. He’s eating in the kitchen, me in dining room, he’s in DD#2 room, using the hall bathroom and hanging out in his office/man cave. He will test at home tomorrow. If the antigen is negative, he will get PCR Monday morning. If he tests positive, I’ll get PCR Monday morning. So far I’m feeling okay. The place he went this week was to the store on Monday. I was in school building Monday and Tuesday. Wednesday was snow day and Thursday I worked from home. How the heck did he get Covid (most likely) and me not (so far) unless I’m asymptomatic. I sure hope our son doesn’t get sick

Everyone stay safe and he

Sandy, All of us are triple vaxx. Not sure if doctor would Rx Paxlovid for DH as they probably won’t let him stop any of his heart meds including statins. He’ll have to wait till Monday to call PCP, who he has only seen twice as his PCP of 25 years or so retired, unless he goes to urgent care tomorrow. Enjoy the Chinese food. Sounds yummy.

Good Morning, Loungettes!Happy Sunny Sunday Funday! Spent a good part of yesterday catching up on the tracking and computer work I couldn't do Friday after the internet went out. We've got a good solid 3 feet of snow on the ground after Friday snow finished up. Mostly light and fluffy stuff, lots of sparklies when the sun hits it right. Got some more branches down in the back yard from the wind. At least I didn't lose the electricity.

Chi--wow, that sounds like a really great drink recipe. I can imagine how the changes in the ingredients over time have changed the taste and experience.

Jazzy--very pretty!

Morning, Teka!

Goldie--Hugs and prayers.

Chevy--Prayers and hugs.

Jazzy--12 days to vacay!Many of the Wednesday, Women and Wine ladies are school teachers, many have February break plans, all are trying to minimize exposure outside of school, so no meeting this month. We'll pick up again in March. Glad to hear the dental work is nearly done.

Illi--talk about different approaches to packing up! I can imagine your patience is wearing thin after all this time.

Misty--It must feel like it's taking forever for the ankle to heal up. Love the idea of knee scooter racing, though!

Karen--it's amazing how covid is getting around these days. Prayers for negative tests.

Chi--interesting side effects of Paxlovid. Glad it's working for you.

Chevy--I'm beginning to wonder if we will ever really feel safe again.

Yield: 1

Adult Capri Sun Recipe

Ingredients

• 1 cup of your favorite juice (orange, lemonade, blue raspberry, fruit punch, raspberry lemonade, ice tea or bloody mary mix)
• 2 ounces of alcohol (vodka, rum, or bourbon)
• Adult Capri Sun Pouches
• Straws

Instructions

1. Combine 1 cup of your favorite juice and 2 ounces of your favorite alcohol in a glass measuring cup with a pourable spout. Add the mix to your Adult Capri Sun Pouch.
2. Add ice if you like and serve with a straw.
3. For a slushy drink, leave some air in the pouch, and lay flat in the freezer overnight.

From <https://diningwithalice.com/drinks/adult-capri-sun-recipe/>

Karen, no offense but that sounds fishier than a Red Lobster: COVID testing, even PCR, should be free of charge. Insurance will cover up to 50%, but the Feds (Medicare/Medicaid) should cover the rest. There should be NO co-pay. Your DH should be PCR-tested STAT so that if positive, he can begin therapeutics ASAP. Statins do have a rather long half-life (that's why my PCP and the ID doc both said not to resume my Crestor till tomorrow) so discontinuing his statin for a week or so should neither cause his bad cholesterol to spike nor his HDL to tank. But antivirals are not the only arrow in the high-risk COVID patient quiver: your DH sounds like a good candidate for sotrovimab, the anti-Omicron monoclonal antibody Bob got. I was given Paxlovid because my antibody titer was too high for me to be considered immunocompromised. He should, of course, also get a nasal swab for A&B strains of flu as well as a rapid throat culture for strep if telltale signs are visible. (My NP explained that she saw only a slightly red throat but no purulence, so that's why I wasn't given a strep culture).

BTW, when I tested negative with both BinaxNOW and two days later with FlowFlex, I had no symptoms. By the time I took the two OnGo tests, I had developed a scratchy and then sore throat and low-grade fever (per the ear thermometer--the Immediate Care NP said my oral temp was normal--albeit a degree higher than usual for me). ConsumerLabs.com top-rates the QuickVue and FlowFlex, with BinaxNOW not far behind. It found that both the OnGo and iHealth kits had an unacceptably high (>15%) rate of false negatives. I found the OnGo to be a PITA and rather confusing: instructions on the box say to use the QR code to download the app (iOS & Android) and follow its step-by-step directions, including an onscreen timer; but the package insert gives exactly the same step-by-step directions as the app (except you have to use your own timer). Supposedly, with the app a positive result (per a photo of the test cassette with its own dedicated QR code) gets reported to your local public health dept. (the app requires you to input a name, address, & DOB before starting the test); but in my case that was moot because both my OnGo results (even at the height of my symptoms) were negative, The re-test I took in order to confirm I could end isolation was FlowFlex.

(BTW, I don't dare try to travel internationally, because it is possible to PCR-test positive for up to 90 days after recovering--and no countries I know accept a negative rapid-test for even boarding a departing flight from your home airport to those countries).

I resumed strict keto this morning because I gained "the quaran20" during the time my back started going out again and my feet got worse. Gordy's wedding is only 2 months away; I have a couple of oversize (even at size 10) long linen Eileen Fisher dusters in the wedding color scheme, but the coordinating size 10 print midi-dress that I wore underneath the forest green one at our 50th anniv. party in June barely buttons over my burgeoning gut. So DOTD might be some extra-brut/"zero-dosage" bubbly (or a Virgin Mary), to celebrate Bob's & my return to civilization, but nothing carb-ier. So much for another egg cream nor even the Aperol spritz I'd been craving (both the Aperol & the requisite prosecco have too much sugar).

Thanks Jazzy.

Sandy - there are lots of places that do free Covid PCR testing and he is going at 7 tomorrow morning. We've been using Covid Check Colorado since they started Covid checking. Most of the urgent care places here charge. We've used them before (and paid) for international travel as we needed passport number on the results. Urgent care centers are over priced. He waited till today to test as his symptoms only started Friday and wanted to wait to make sure he had enough of a "load" for the rapid test. His cholesterol is under control (it has to be below 60), but it's him having CAD and 23 months post CABG. He's on statins and Plavix. He will call his PCP office in the morning. His doctor is on maternity leave so he will see someone else. We both only have Part A medicare since he's still working and we have insurance (which is a great policy) through his employer. Once he retires we will add Part B etc. Trust me - my DH and I both google and check out everything - we both have too many underlining conditions to take chance on anything. Since I have no symptoms yet, I'm not going to do a rapid test, but will probably schedule a PCR. Work does not require me to quarantine since I'm triple Vaxx and masks are mandatory at work. I appreciate you care and concern. His retired pcp lives down the street from us and we are friends so if my DH was really worried he would call him and/or go to the ER.

For international travel if you are recovered from Covid, you need the positive PCR test result as well as doctor statement saying you are recovered and then don't need PCR to board flight, but at least to Israel, need to test upon landing and wait for PCR results. Not sure about Canada - no plans to go see the kids before summer but he might have a work trip the latter part of March - but the ways things are there is on hold. If he can't go, he can't go.

Made a big pot of chicken veggie soup with barley for dinner tonight. Not sure if I put enough veggies in, but I can always add more after dinner - just carrots, celery, onions and potatoes.

Everyone stay safe and healthy.

ED, you ARE doing it right! It just becomes frustrating at times. But as long as you recognize it, you can get through it. The one thing I had to keep reminding both of us, was the fact that this isn't going to get better or easier. I pray you can take care of him for a long time! So glad your DD is near by. I don't go out either, except for doctors and a Wal Mart run about once a week.

Jazzy, glad you will be able to put that dental work behind you soon. A year is a long time. Not much moisture in my neck of the woods, but in surrounding areas. Maybe I should pick me up some flowers! Listened to the music while posting my replies.

BabyGirl yes, I'm dealing with things. Trying to stay my positive self! Will the cabin be your permanent home?

Misty yes, the paperwork. I couldn't do anything until I get the death cert. Which on my way home from Phoenix they called me after I got on my dirt road to tell me they were ready. Had they called me 45 min. prior, I could have swung by and picked them up. Now I have to make a 2 hour trip into town to get them, and I don't need anything else!

Karen, hoping you all stay Covid free. Glad DH at least tested negative.

Sandy, ditto what NM said! "Wow, you have used more brands of Covid tests than I realized are in use! Maybe you should do a YouTube comparison/tutorial video and share your experience!"

NM, OMG 3' of snow? Holy Cow! Do they let the kids out for recess in that? Or is it too cold out for them? Vacay sneaking up on you, and will be here before you know it. Do you leave the 18th? I'm sure you are keeping it under your hat for now with mom?

So my brother flew out here Jan. 26, Feb 2 he tested positive for Covid and feeling under the weather day before. So this Wednesday will be one week since he tested positive. I still feel ok, no symptoms. When should I feel like I'm out of the woods?

Missing Cami, and even Sadie NM. I keep wanting to include her in my posts, and have to remind myself I can't do that anymore. I'm sure you are still missing her.

Ill- that sounds like such a wonderful plan you have where you will be living. Growing your own food too, love it. And no mortgage, you are going to enjoy that. I paid my house off end of 2019 and every first of the month since, been enjoying NOT having that to pay that bill. A woman who used to work for me years ago said no (or reduced) debt gives you so much more freedom.

You and your DH will get where you need to be, moving is hard!

NM - countdown to Florida. I'm sure you can't wait.

Goldie - still holding you in my thoughts. Just do what you can every day & don't worry about getting everything finished in a hurry. I liked this quote: "Acceptance is knowing that grief is a raging river. And you have to get into it. Because when you do, it carries you to the next place. It eventually takes you to open land, somewhere where it will turn out OK in the end. " But I know it's a long road & the end is far away.

Chevy - you are also in my thoughts as you navigate all these challenges with your DH. Try to find some time for YOU, and stay safe.

Morning gals! You know, talking to each other like this, is like a lifeline to me... I mean, just knowing we can let it all out, (or some of it) really helps! See, I can't talk about some of the little things that go on around here, with my daughter's, because it would hurt them... And they don't need to know everything.

And Minus, I love your quote!

"Acceptance is knowing that grief is a raging river. And you have to get into it. Because when you do, it carries you to the next place. It eventually takes you to open land, somewhere where it will turn out OK in the end. But I know it's a long road & the end is far away."

So this gives me hope and strength! I can have more patience, and what is that other saying... " Lord help me to accept the things I cannot change, the courage to change the things I can, and the wisdom to know the difference." My Mom used to say this... She learned it from AA when she was trying to deal with my Dad. MAN, they stayed together through hell and high-water!

You know, we all have our challenges and heartaches... but we can work through them, if we have support from somewhere!

So thank you!

Hugs Chevy. You are so correct on not sharing things with your children. It was so difficult to watch my mother decline and I was part time care taker. She never wanted anyone to know really how poorly she was doing so she never told my brother or her brother (my uncle). She was so embarrassed about being her degenerative disease. Sometimes it’s better to not know. Come vent to us all you want/need.

My husband’s PCR came back negative late this morning. He started to feel better yesterday and today almost back to himself. So not Covid but some other virus. So thrilled to be done quarantine.

Nice walking weather.

Stay safe and stay healthy

Good Morning, Loungettes!Happy Hump Day!Yesterday was an interesting day at school. Started out with a 2 hour delay due to snow and slush on the roads first thing. So I got to lounge a bit before getting up and discovering the internet was out, no big surprise. So, school opened at 10:30, classes started at 11:00, first lunch served at 11:30. The first question out of at least a dozen students on arrival? "Is there breakfast?" I know some families depend on school breakfasts, but this was eye opening for me. We weren't serving a full breakfast, but fruit, granola bars, and cereal, milk and juice were put out. The day did end on a high note, all three COVID testing pools are Negative this week!

Goldie--Oh, yes, we let the kids out for recess in the snow. They don't go out for recess when the temperature/windchill is below zero, or it's raining so hard everyone will get drenched. Even in the rain they may get outside for 5 or 10 minutes, if it's not raining hard. They reallyneed that outdoor recess time.Yup, I fly out on the 18th, going to go see Mom this weekend and put it on her calendar so she remembers. I have told her, but I'm sure she doesn't remember and I don't keep bringing it up.For someone testing positive onFeb 2 after feeling symptoms on Feb 1, I would be contact tracing for Jan 30, 31, Feb 1, 2, 3, 4, 5.With him leaving on Jan 26th, you would not be considered exposed by him.If you were exposed on the 26th, symptoms would most likely start Jan 30 through Feb 2.So you are probably clear. I am really missing Sadie. And Cammy. I keep reminding myself it will get better over time. Then I ask myself "how much time before it gets better?" but I don't get any answers. Trying to be patient with myself.

Illi--your cabin in the mountains life sounds so peaceful and wonderful!

Morning, Jazzy!

Karen--oh my goodness, the newbies are getting younger all the time!

Minus--9 days and counting! Love the grief quote.

Karen, yup, you beat me yesterday, I couldn't get online due to the snow that was coming down.

Chevy--that Serenity Prayer is a life-saver, isn't it? And we do all need support from time to time.

Jazzy--another good quote for getting through life!

Karen--HOORAY for the negative test and end of quarantine!

Chi--what a nice reward for walking to the restaurant!

Mourning Doves

Ingredients

• 1 1/2 ounces El Jimador reposado tequila
• 1/2 ounce Amaro di Angostura
• 3/4 ounce lemon juice, freshly squeezed
• 1/2 ounce grapefruit juice, freshly squeezed
• 1/2 ounce maple syrup
• 1/4 ounce simple syrup
• Garnish: lemon wheel

Steps

1. Add all the ingredients to a shaker with ice and shake.
2. Strain into a rocks glass over a large chunk of ice.
3. Garnish with a lemon wheel.

From <https://www.liquor.com/recipes/mourning-doves/>

BabyGirl, love the "Beach Bar She-Shed". I hope you will share pictures of it all when you are done.

Karen, what took so long on the pin? And hey, age is just a number! That's it, you got it! " I'm not getting older, it's just that the newbies are getting younger and younger!!" Ha ha, I was up at 4!

Minus, thanks for the quote. I know things will be ok, but like it says, it's getting there!

ED, I feel the same about the gals here, and consider them my dear friends. Which is why I can't leave. Cuz when gals leave, you lose touch and the friendship fades. I can't stop anyone from leaving, but I just can't.

NM, my brother arrived in AZ on Jan. 26. By Feb. 1st, he was really sneezing, but had been for the last few days, but not alot. I was teasing that my house must be really dusty. We think he contracted it on the plane or in the airport, as he is very cautious with his mask and sanitizing. I'm still feeling ok....fingers crossed! As for things getting better in time, and not getting answers, I get it!

I went yesterday to pick up the death certificates, so today I will be on the phone to take care of things. I also need to call and get my own meds taken care of. Before my DH passed, we were discussing getting a new vehicle. His dad, who is deceased, worked at Ford's, so we can use what they call a Z plan, which gives you a discount. I looked online, and it does say that "inlaws" are entitled to it as well. So I need to get with my MIL to find out what I need. I just don't know quite how to approach her with it. Or, if I should go through his brother Tony. Which if you remember, I'm not really happy with for hounding me on that death certificate. I want a Ford Bronco.