Just need to talk to my friends (213)
Comments
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I find that memories now make me sad. Especially if I am not sharing them, laughing with someone. I now dismiss dates that used to matter to me. I do remember Dick's birthday but I have no need to remember the day he died. I have a birthday chart but not a death list. I choose to remember those no longer here but I wil not dwell on the day they passed. Better something to think about something that makes me smile.
I think that old age is simply a chapter unto itself and the pages are best filled with new things. After all the brain can only hold one thought at a time.
Lest I sound like Pollyanna, I do have moments of deep despair…especially when I am missing my husband or another loved one but……
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I don't think we will ever get over that and probably shouldn't. Surely not easy sometimes though.
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I got less than a quarter inch of snow, just enough to turn the grass and roofs white. It's clear tonight, which is nice for seeing the moon two days short of full, but it will get cold tonight without clouds to hold in the heat. Brrr
I hear you all about the memories. I try to think of the Willie Nelson song that went "Here I sit with a drink and a memory, but I'm not cold, and I'm not wet, and I'm not hungry. Classify these as good times." Easier said than done.
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So true, Carl.. Hard to believe it's almost a full Moon again.
Iris, hope you have a good night:s sleep tonight. Good night.
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Hi all, just a quick update. It’s been 3 weeks since I fell. Urgent care did MRI and fractured another vertebrae, this one is above the fusion I had many years ago. I need to see a neurosurgeon. They called me with the earliest appointment being February 10. So here I am with a broken back and I’m not waiting until February. Plan B is getting a plan from my primary care. I’m thinking that physical therapy and pain management would work. FaceTime with my primary doctor tomorrow. Wish me luck.
Sandy
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Glad you posted Sandy. That's awful to have to wait that long for an appt. Not acceptable. I hope you and your PCP can work out something. Are you still In a lot of pain without the brace?..Be very careful when you're up! I know you are. Good luck tomorrow. Please let us know.
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Your grandchild is very talented. Captured his attitude in that painting…
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Beth - I was incredibly lucky to see Prince, and he was amazing. It was going to sell out and we all knew it, so I got in line at the record store (remember when we used to do that?) at 2am. I was within the first 15 or so people in that store when they opened. I got my tickets, and I was a happy girl.
That's a great list of bands you saw!!! We used to the "Day on the Green" back in the day. It was a day of bands at the Oakland Coliseum (the outside baseball field), and if you got there early enough you could sit on the grass. A group of us went to see The Doobie Brothers and The Eagles - and Elton John showed up as a special guest! So, I sort of saw him. He did a few songs and then disappeared. I think this is the show I went to. That crowd would be somewhat overwhelming for me today. 😄
Judith - I'm pretty sure that painting would be Prince. Your grandchild did well!!!
I remember birthdays, but I also remember dates of death too. It's not that I want to, but if the person was particularly close, I can feel it when the day gets close. Or, I might be distracted or something, and I'll look at the calendar, and then I'll realize it's the anniversary of when Peggy passed away, or my mom, or my aunt. It's like I can't forget.
JeriLynn - Hi! You're waaay ahead of me on cards and Christmas shopping. Fingers crossed that I get the vast majority of it done this upcoming weekend. We're planning on getting our Christmas tree too.
Carl - I'm flexible, but not like I was in my younger days.
Sandy - I'm thinking good thoughts for you. I hope you get an appointment quickly!! I hope you aren't in too much pain.
As for me, yeah, that was a hard workout yesterday - I felt it today. 🙂 Today I just did cardio, a couple of miles on the treadmill and that was enough.
I've been gathering more photos for my blog posts. Good thing I'd sorted them already, so going through them isn't as hard as it was the first time.
As I'm sitting here typing, I think I'm hearing a coyote outside. It doesn't sound like a dog …
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What a nice Thanksgiving Day you had, JeriLynn!
Judith, that painting of Prince really captured him.
Ron, good for you in getting all your tests done! They take a lot out of you. Now you can rest up and stay warm.
Everyone else, stay warm and as dry as you can!
Iris
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Good morning
Ron
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Good morning. It's cold and dark on my end of the porch. But it's dry which is an improvement over yesterday. Snow to wintery mix was forecasted but we just got sleet and then rain. Yuck.
Lorita— You could look into selling your patterns or donating to a thrift shop. With the shift in sewing from a housekeeping skill to a craft/art form and the shrinking of the Big 4 pattern companies, vintage patterns are suddenly very desirable. I lost all of my old ones when my house was flooded and have replaced some on Etsy and Ebay.
I remember "whipping up" a dress or skirt back in the day. In the 1960s and 1070s designs were fairly simple and there were even patterns marketed as "90-Minute" makes.
Ron— I'm so glad you were able to advocate for yourself and get all your tests done in one trip. That can be hard to make happen sometimes. At mom's cardiologist's satellite office, they have one person who comes in to do the echocardiograms on Tuesday and someone different who does the carotid artery ultrasounds on Wednesday. Makes. me. crazy. I could avoid this by heading downtown, but that eats up a lot of time.
Gothic G— That's a big workout. Do you always work with a trainer?
Carl— I am with you on can't fix stupid. Here it's the bozos speeding on slick roads in their SUVs not realizing the 4-wheel drive won't help then stop any faster. Yesterday on the way to mom's I was stopped before making a right turn on red and some idiot behind me swerved around my left and cut in front of me. In front to a cop, no less.
Judith— That is the very essence of Prince. Does artistic talent run in the family?
Jerilynn— I'm glad you came up for air after all that holiday cooking and celebrating. What's Christmas like? A repeat of all that plus gifts?
I had to google Jesus Eggs. A new one for me.
Sandy— I hope you are able to pick up a cancellation sooner than that. It's crazy how long you need to see some doctors of late. I have a friend who is clearly having some sort of GI bleeding issue and who needs a scope and colonoscopy but can't have an outpatient appointment for both for 8 months. This could be related to having her colon removed a little over a year ago and she's still not being fast tracked. She's getting iron infusions and B12 shots it's gotten so bad.
Beth— I'm not sure how I feel about the new dentist. He seems to find things that need attention on every visit. And a lot of the work is done by techs not him. DH came home needing a little over $3K in replaced fillings and a new crown. For that kind of money, I could get a new porch railing.
That's an eclectic list of shows. I've seen Chicago (back when they were CTA at the local high school), Rod Stewart, Alman Bros, Elton, and Billy Joel. My high school used to host their prom at a night club; I saw The Temptations one year and Tony Orlando and Dawn the next. The man I dated just before DH was a professional musician who often picked up gigs in Atlantic City and would get me comped tickets. I saw a quirky bunch there— Barry Manilow, Peter Allen and Debbie Reynolds. She was an incredible performer whose show was amazing— so funny which I didn't expect.
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If it's Wednesday, this must be pulmonology. Mom's kept me busy this week. Monday was the PCP and yesterday she "needed" a haircut and pedicure. I have questions about mom's recent issues— is this progression and her new normal or more of a one-off exacerbation. Her O2 in the PCP office was 95 on 2l. but yesterday after being out all day, it was 87 on the same 2l. with me coaching her through breathing exercises.
I get my hair cut tomorrow. I can't wait. I do hope the trains aren't too screwed up. I hope my niece can make it this time. She bailed on me that last two times and we need to sort out Christmas. It's always something with SEPTA of late. I haven't heard back on the plumber's schedule. The sink is "biscuit" which can be hard to find and take some time to arrive.
I hope all have a pleasnt day.
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Sandy, I have studied osteoporosis extensively. Vertebral compression fractures are seem to be somewhat common with osteoporosis. Many have benefited from kyphoplasty, where I believe they use a type of bone cement or glue to stabilize the fracture. It has to be done fairly soon after the fracture occurs. Best wishes. Don't give up advocating for yourself!
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HB, weighing the odds…dental work vs porch railing…hmmmm 🤣
We do have 2 more estimates coming today for the porch railings. Regarding dentists: Years ago, I wanted my teeth to look better. I'd done the braces but had a funky canine tooth. Orthodontist referred me to a dentist who did x-rays and basically told me I needed new fillings, crowns, etc. in almost every tooth (slight exaggeration). Well, I had been seeing a general dentist for years who on just about every visit told me all looked good, everything was fine. Anyway, I was able to access a more middle of the road dentist who did need to do some work but not like the first one. I was happy with him but then he retired so had to find someone else.
I'm sorry your mom is not doing well. It's a worry for sure.
Yesterday I read probably the best novel I've ever read: "The Road" by Cormac McCarthy. I read all 241 pages in one day. This was my 2nd time reading it. There are very few books I read more than once….I need to find some more books by this author!
Monday I watched a Netflix documentary on the Tylenol murders. Very thought provoking. It was alluded that perhaps tainting the capsules was an inside job. This author and this book were referenced. I bought the book, sounds good.
"No More Tears: The dark secrets of Johnson and Johnson" by Gardiner Harris. "One day in 2004, Gardiner Harris, a pharmaceutical reporter for The New York Times, was early for a flight and sat down at an airport bar. He struck up a conversation with the woman on the barstool next to him, who happened to be a drug sales rep for Johnson & Johnson. Her horrific story about unethical sales practices and the devastating impact they’d had on her family fundamentally changed the nature of how Harris would cover the company—and the entire pharmaceutical industry—for the Times. His subsequent investigations and ongoing research since that very first conversation led to this book—a blistering exposé of a trusted American institution and the largest healthcare conglomerate in the world.
Harris takes us light-years away from the company’s image as the child-friendly “baby company” as he uncovers reams of evidence showing decades of deceitful and dangerous corporate practices that have threatened the lives of millions. He covers multiple disasters: lies and cover-ups regarding the link of Johnson’s Baby Powder to cancer, the surprising dangers of Tylenol, a criminal campaign to sell antipsychotics that have cost countless lives, a popular drug used to support cancer patients that actually increases the risk that cancer tumors will grow, and deceptive marketing that accelerated opioid addictions through their product Duragesic (fentanyl) that rival even those of the Sacklers and Purdue Pharma.
Filled with shocking and infuriating but utterly necessary revelations, No More Tears is a landmark work of investigative journalism that lays bare the deeply rooted corruption behind the image of babies bathing with a smile."Well, time to work on my driveway (again). The ice is calling to me…there was a little melting overnight.
BBL
Beth
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Good morning.
We are a busy bunch. When you can bundle your appointments it makes so much sense. Ron I'm glad you were able to make that happen.
I've now added to my 'I want to read' list. I don't read during the day, just in bed. I don't seem to have the time. I need to make the time! I'm a slow reader, I've always been this way. I guess I really engrain myself in the book.
I will say DH's neck is getting stronger. He does carry it to the left, but if I clear my throat he straightens out. He's still doing PT twice a week, and I foresee that continuing for quite sometime. He obviously doesn't remember to do his home exercises, but if I remind him he thanks me and does them. Such an easy going guy.
We've got a Christmas party today with our Zoom people - all in person. Rumor has it Santa is coming!!
On that note, I'd best hit the shower.
Let's everyone be safe today.
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I don’t remember if I ever mentioned this, but I have always been a fan of Louis L’Amour books. My dad got me hooked on his westerns and after he passed away I was left me a huge collection of his books. Right now I’m reading Bowdrie’s Law. I don’t read as much as I use to, but still pick one up every once in awhile.
sandy, I’m sorry your going through so much pain and pray you will find relief.Since I don’t need to have other test done, after I let the chickens out it’s lazy Ronnie time. I just remembered that I’ve never used Ronnie on the thread before. Growing up Ronnie was all I was called and Ron didn’t come into play until I joined the Army and it stuck. My first and middle name is Ronald Lee and I always knew I was in trouble when mom would holler out RONALD LEE instead of Ronnie. LOL
Ron
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Good morning.
Everyone is so busy. I have phlebotomy today for my cardiologist appointment next week.
Iris
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How did you sleep Iris? Groceries were delivered and put away Now have to mix bird.feed with black oil Sunflower seeds and feed the birds. Saw one eatimg suet a while ago so it is time. Cold and cloudy and the front isn't even here yet.
Do you all.understand the Gen thing? The young man who.brought the groceries wss driving a Dodge PU 4x4 1500. I told.him it was.pretty and he said he likes.ours better which is a 2500. He said ours is a .Gen 1 2001 and.his is a Gen 4. No idea what that means. I know the Gen thing also refers to people. Guess I'm way.behind
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good evening
Lorita I do not plan on doing much gardening. I have dextroscoliosis, my spine curves to the right. I found it out when I had my last bone density done. The guy who did it I knew him from the hospital. He has retired and just works there with densities. So he asked me if anybody had ever told me that I had that and I said no. So when I got home, I looked into it so my muscle issues in my hip and lower back area are from that. I have found some exercises to do and they do help but of course they don’t cure it. I’m going to as many seeds as possible because that’s much easier on me. going to try and plant flowers that don’t require a lot of work.
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It's kind of cold and dark on my end of the porch as well, and the sun will set at 4:18 today. It's not raining though so I guess that's something.
HB - I used to make dresses and skirts for myself when I was in high school, now I rarely sew. My most ambitious project was a medieval wool cloak with a ruffled hood. I still have it and even wear it when it's really cold.
I work out with a trainer three days a week, mostly because I need to be accountable to someone otherwise I often won't go. He's been good for me because I'm doing things that I'd never come up with on my own.
It sounds like many of us went to a lot of shows in our younger days. My most eclectic show was seeing The Wonder Stuff with Tony Bennett. The Wonder Stuff were kind of pop/punk (here's Mission Drive) and Tony Bennett is …. Tony Bennett. It was great watching all the 20-somethings just loving him. They were there for the Stuff, but Tony Bennett blew them away.
I hope your mom gets to a steady state … so much going on with her.
Beth - I've put The Road on my list of books to read. I've heard that it's very good. Speaking of page turners, have you read "Into Thin Air" by Jon Krakauer? It's his account of what happened in the Mount Everest disaster in 1996. Holy moly. You won't be able to put that book down.
eaglemom - I'm glad your DH's neck is improving!
Today will be a day of writing and finishing up grabbing photos for the blog. I found a couple of photos that I really wanted of my aunt's St. Joseph Day table. I think it's mostly an Italian/Catholic thing, and we did this every year for - forever. 🙂 So I'll be adding those.
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HMMM…Artistic talent in the family….perhaps more artistic talent than financial sense…lol.
I am trying to understand LLC/ Family Foundation/ holding company/ s-corp/c-corp/recovable trust/ irrevocable trust/ Rockefeller waterfall/persona property trust/ layering strategy/ETC! I do not like not understanding stuff on my facebook reels
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Tony Bennett…sigh
I will share your Prince comments with my grandson…thank you.
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I have not read "Into Thin Air" but I've read "Into the Wild" by the same author. I'm going to put yours on my wish list!
• In April 1992 a young man from a well-to-do family hitchhiked to Alaska and walked alone into the wilderness north of Mt. McKinley. Four months later, his decomposed body was found by a moose hunter. This is the unforgettable story of how Christopher Johnson McCandless came to die.
"It may be nonfiction, but Into the Wild is a mystery of the highest order." —Entertainment Weekly
McCandess had given $25,000 in savings to charity, abandoned his car and most of his possessions, burned all the cash in his wallet, and invented a new life for himself. Not long after, he was dead. Into the Wild is the mesmerizing, heartbreaking tale of an enigmatic young man who goes missing in the wild and whose story captured the world’s attention. (It's been made into a movie and is on Amazon Prime.)0 -
And then there was Timothy Treadwell, who lived (and died) with grizzlies. He wrote a book about his "adventures" but of course couldn't write the ending he came to.
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I think Gen is short for generation. Pickups are redesigned every few years and each new design is considered a new generation.
One of the men at lunch just bought a used PU for $2,500. The seller thought the transmission was going out, but the buyer saw that it just needed a seal. He bought the truck and fixed it for a $5 seal and $50 worth of transmission fluid, plus some elbow grease. It has 150,000 miles on it but it beats paying $55,000 for a new truck.
Ditto on "into Thin Air." One of the best books I ever read.
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GG, you also have been to many good concerts. I don't recall buying tix at a record store, but I do recall waiting on the phone for Ticketmaster to buy Garth Brooks tix. It worked well. I ended up on the floor within the first few rows.
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No concerts, but a few musical memories. I remember the Louisiana Hayride in Shreveport and Grand Old Opry in Nashville after meeting Lou. I mentioned this before but Lou played guitar and accordion and played in Homer Randolph band. Homer was the Father of Saxophone player Boot Randolph.
During the 50s when Louisiana Hayride was going strong, my brothers who were older than me would tell about walking home from Junior high and pass by a bunch of guys making music out of the garage, one was Elvis Presley. I willing to bet that the home was where James Burton lived, who later was in Elvis’s band. James came back to Shreveport several years ago and started a guitar program and has given away many guitars to young artists.
Ron
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Ron, very cool about Elvis Presley and about Lou playing in a band!
Carl, thanks for seconding the recommendation for "Into Thin Air." Good story about the car.
Mint, good to hear from you. It is good to know what is causing your back and hip issues so that you can work to mitigate the pain. Sorry to hear you will do less gardening but I know you have Amish in the area and you will be able to buy good produce from them, or, of course, from a farmer's market. I know you enjoyed canning in the past. Hope you can continue to do that if you still would like to.
Eagle, so glad your hubby's neck is improving. Enjoy the Christmas party!
Hello to Marie, Tiger Mom, Caro_Lynn, JeriLynn, Sandy and Barbara from down under and anyone else I've forgotten to include who reads and/or posts here. Hugs to all.
Beth
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We have a chance of freezing rain in the morning and a little snow in the afternoon. Guess winter is here for a while. Good night everyone.
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The only live concerts that I can recall that I went to were Diana Ross and Michael Jackson in the early 1980s. I did see BB King at the Hollywood Bowl in the early 2000s. I must not be a concert person.
Mint, I hope your spine exercises relieve your pain and help you to walk better.
I did a home sleep apnea test and discovered that I still have sleep apnea, even though the last sleep apnea doctor told me that I had only one episode of apnea. I can't deal with this now. I'll have to wait until after the new year.
I'm going to bed now. Good night.
Iris
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Good morning,
I received several calls yesterday, now back to waiting on Neurosurgeon for appointment. Primary care nurse called with test reports; ct scan of head ok, neck ultrasound less than fifty percent blockage left and right carotid arteries (follow up), mri severe stenosis cervical disk and consult out in for Neurosurgeon. Within a couple of hours CA care in the community nurse calls asking if I had a preference for outside if VA Neurosurgeon. Fastest I’ve ever seen VA move on outside consultation, in Shreveport I usually had a week or two wait.
Ron
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Commonly Used Abbreviations
DH = Dear Husband
DW= Dear Wife, Darling Wife
LO = Loved One
ES = Early Stage
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FTD = Frontotemporal Dementia
VD = Vascular Dementia
MC = Memory Care
AL = Assisted Living
POA = Power of Attorney
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