Just need to talk to my friends (203)

My wife's stomach problem has been cured now it will take her sometime to recover and get back to normal. It will be hard to be able to her visit me as I'm not able to travel to see her do to my illness.

ladyzetta — I'm glad you're really liking your yoga class. Yoga is something I know I'd get a lot out of, I just haven't ever taken a class. Maybe now is the time. The poses that you describe are kind of intimidating to me - I'm flexible, but not that flexible, if you know what I mean.

Carl - I'm glad antibiotics seem to be helping. I hope the trend continues in the right direction. Also …. for when it gets warmer …. You can make Boost into popsicles, and they taste great. I know the container says not to freeze them, but ignore that. 🙂

jfkoc — snow????? Talk about not okay! I haven't been to Burning Man since Peggy was diagnosed. There's no cell service there, actually very little service of any kind except you can buy ice. But it seemed way too irresponsible to be out of contact for a week to ten days. I think this year might be a little soon to go, it might be too emotional still. Maybe next year …

Iris - Kenya! I'm so excited for you! Traveling with a group is the way to go.

Lorita - I hope you're starting to feel better.

David - I'm glad your wife is on the mend.

As for me? Today's a lazy day. I slept in and then put on a big pot of spaghetti sauce to cook. It's still cooking, with maybe an hour left to go. I let it simmer for most of the day. Since it's cold and rainy here, a warm bowl of spaghetti will hit the spot.

David, I'm glad your wife is better. That has to be a big load off your mind.

Iris, Lorita, and GG, thank you for the suggestions. I'll give them a try. I know DW has diverticulosis, and she doesn't eat strawberries or some other things because of the seeds.

My mother used to rehydrate prunes in warm water, but she didn't actually cook them. They were delicious. DW won't eat prunes but hasn't tasted one in 50 years so I can probably call them something else and she might like them. They truly are sweet as candy. I have to count them out so I don't eat more than six, or they work too well.

That spaghetti sounds terrific on a rainy night. I love spaghetti sauce on shell pasta, because the shells hold more sauce.

Massage is one of the most relaxing things in the world. I haven't had one in years, I'll have to do that.

I met a baby elephant once, after taking a wrong turn at the circus when I was about ten years old. It may have been a baby, but it looked really big to me!

DWs bowel problem is working itself out, a few ounces at a time every hour or so, and she is complaining less of abdominal pain. The lump on the upper thigh isn't shrinking, though, and we are getting a CT Monday afternoon to see if it is a cyst, a swollen lymph node, or ?

Sleep tight, friends.

Good morning

Good afternoon. It's chilly and drizzly today and 41F at noon which doesn't make me happy.

Iris— a trip to Kenya sounds exciting. My niece worked in Zimbabwe and traveled to Kenya fairly often. She loved it there. A friend did a safari back in February (Tanzania) because she wanted to see elephants. She saw them a number of times on the trip. I hope you love your trip as much as she did.

David— I am glad your wife is improving and without the need for surgery.

Carl— Some of the Sunsweet brand of prunes are now labeled as "Dried Plums"; perhaps that'll get past your DW.

Gothic G— Mmmm, spaghetti. I was planning to make a pasta primavera tonight, but DH wasn't in the mood citing our Saturday night dinner at an Italian restaurant. FTR, he had some sort of scallops with roasted potatoes and veggies, so it's not like he just had pasta. I have a pot pie from the local gourmet market to heat up instead. I was really craving pasta as my dinner Saturday was disappointing. Paparadelle with Alfredo. This is a legit Italian place and I've never had a bad meal there until now. The sauce was flavorless and soupy (and they snuck chicken in it) and served in what looked like one of those raised dog bowls with the lower side.

I'm headed upstairs to do some Pilates. My knee does not like this weather. Mom was telling me about how I need to have it replaced and I tried to explain that wasn't on the table until I know she's fairly stable because I won't be driving for a month or two after if it goes like last time.

HB

Good afternoon. After several good nights, I had a bad night. I was awake until 5 am, then slept until 10 am. I tried all my tricks to fall asleep but nothing worked.

David, I'm glad DW is better.

Carl, I hope the CT will give answers. But I believe a thorough physical examination can give answers also.

Judith, if the wifi is sufficient, I will try to post while I am on the trip.

Iris

I'm sorry to learn about the results, Carl.

Iris

A friend of mine sent me this video of Medal of Honor Vietnam Veteran recipients being honored in Gainesville TX. Her father was honored posthumously. This is an annual event.

Iris

Good morning friends,

I'm here and reading; there's a lot going on with you.

David, I'm so glad your wife is improving. And Carl, so sorry about this development with your dear wife. You're each in my prayers.

Yesterday was the first day I've felt like doing anything other than "lay up sorry" on the couch or in the bed. I had what I thought was a little cold just before we went camping but whatever it was intensified while we were at the campground. So I've just been laying around since we got home a week ago.

I too like a shaped pasta with my spaghetti sauce. And since we have several "littles" it makes it easier for them to manage (and for me to clean up, lol).

I cooked a big meal yesterday: pot roast with potatoes/onions/carrots/peppers, squash casserole, butter beans, bruschetta, cantaloupe and pecan pie.

Lorita, when you get your battery situation resolved, it's a good idea to start and run your vehicle weekly. And lock your car. I know it's a pain, but we keep our vehicles locked and the keys to everything are on a cute hanger thingy by the back garage door. We used to leave the keys to the side by side and other recreational vehicles in the ignition. Until the golf cart got stolen. Now, when friends or neighbors want to fish, they call DH to ask if the keys are in the glove box before they come over. If we know someone is coming, DH will leave the keys for them.

Everyone, have the best day possible. BBL.

Good morning

Carl sorry to hear about DW. It is helpful to have a diagnosis, but also brings lots more questions.

My spaghetti turned out tasty too. I seen somewhere the other day. It could’ve even been on here where somebody said they like to use shelves with their spaghetti sauce maybe I’ll try that sometime. I used a new recipe and I found lots of options in the comments. In the future, when I make it, I I plan on trying some of these out. I found interesting was adding some cream to your sauce and I think I might like that.

I keep my car locked all the time too. I keep it in the garage, but I still it. I don’t want to get in my car and find surprises in there lol.

JeriLynn hope you are feeling better soon

Lorita, David, Ron thinking of you

Good morning. I love hearing the food talk. It gives me ideas. I always raise tomatoes and I have made and frozen tomato sauce as well as just cut up tomatoes to use in cooking. My pasta of choice is penne. My pasta sauce of choice is canned, usually Hunt's or store brand. I've made my own and it wasn't as tasty. I love stuffed shells (jumbo shells) and lasagna but haven't made either for awhile. Yesterday I made tuna salad sandwiches with melted cheese for lunch. Tasted pretty good. I hadn't had tuna for a long time.

Zetta, glad you are working out. At one of my previous employers (I'm retired now), they had a beautiful fitness center and they offered classes, including yoga. I took yoga for a few years. My body still remembers many of the poses, even though it has been probably 20 years ago.

Zetta, you asked if we figured out what the creature in our pond was. It was a beaver. It was only there one day and haven't seen it since. We have a lonely (almost always by himself) grebe in the pond and ducks and geese. Birds are nesting and chirping. It is a lovely time of year.

JeriLynn, so sorry you have been ill. By the sounds of the meal you made yesterday, you must be feeling some better.

Mint, sounds like you had some snow. I saw on the news that there is flooding in parts of Ohio and Kentucky. Not good. And we are dry, four or five years in a row now.

HB, glad your mother's IVAB course is completed. You are a warrior. I hope you are able to take a deep breath and enjoy some me time now. Have you thought about some of the temporary, pain relieving alternatives to TKR? I'm speaking of Synvisc and stem cell therapy. Also cortisone injections.

Lorita, hope all the girls are doing fine and the roads getting less muddy so you can get out and about and your deliveries can come. Hope your car starts this morning also. Life is complicated and busy and full of issues/things to take care of it seems. But we hang in there. Hugs to you.

Carl, I'm sorry to hear the results of your wife's scan. What a shock. Prayers for you both as you navigate the medicals.

GG, how was your pasta? Do you enjoy cooking?

Ron, Marie, Jo, David, Judith, Eagle thinking of you too.

Have a blessed day. Beth

@BethL

I did try a cortisone injection about a year ago and got no relief from it. When my right knee initially started to hurt in 2018, I went through a round of PT, 3 cortisone injections, and Synvisc without any real improvement. I've kept up with the PT at home.

I've considered the stem cell treatment, but insurance doesn't cover it as it is not FDA-approved for knee pain/arthritis. Out-of-pocket, it's $5-10K and I'm cheap. There's a new procedure being explored at MGH that involves resurfacing the bones with some sort of material rather than replacing. Were I paying out-of-pocket, I'd check that out.

We talk to a surgeon next week for what DH's cardiologist calls a meet'n'greet to discuss whether it's time to address DH's bicuspid aortic valve and possible aneurysm. Relative to that, the knee isn't a big priority. Plus, I had a miserable time with the last surgery and drug reactions to the pain meds I was prescribed so while I have had a great result, it was not pleasant.

HB