Just need to talk to my friends (214)

did nothing except moved around…all better

Lorita - Yes, I do put plants in the atrium in the summer. It gets very warm in there. If I thought I could manage them throughout the year, I'd bring in orchids. But we only get about 2 1/2 months (if we're lucky) of bright, warm sun, so I always give up on the idea.

Thanks for the info on copper pennies. I probably would like them!

I'm sorry about Sarah. You had mentioned her once before (quite awhile ago), but I was new enough that I didn't know who she was. I'm assuming she was only about 52 when she passed away - which is way too young.

Iris - our house is kind of quirky. The atrium is right in the middle of the house with all of the other rooms oriented around it. The best part of it is that it has skylights, so it helps bring in light, especially in winter when we have very little sun.

Ron - a 9 hour drive is a trek. I know this must be a hard trip for you.

eaglemom - I love that you guys do "soups and games". That sounds like a lot of fun - and it starts the year out right!

Carl - Yay to your friend who's 100 years old!! I'm glad he's so independent at 100. What branch of the military was he in?

There was one day last week where I felt my age - and then some. I think we all get those days. Most of the time I feel like I'm maybe 35, but not that one day. And I've been known to be a bit creaky when I first wake up.

Neither of us have done a whole heck of a lot today, we slept in, played a board game. I did some laundry, and that's about it.

Now we're waiting for our pizza to arrive. 🙂

John was in the army. He was assigned to a mortar unit, and his job was to carry cartridges for the mortar up hill and down dale in the jungle while not getting shot. After the war, he owned an automotive repair shop for many years. His wife died before I met him but I see him with his children and grandchildren sometimes.

Pizza sounds good. I have one in the freezer, this might be a good night to cook it.

Good morning. Only partly cloudy today and we should rise above freezing. Tomorrow should give us an additional 54 seconds of daylight. I'll take it.

Jerilynn— When you were talking copper pennies, I was thinking of a savory cheddar flavored cookie. My bad.

My 2 carrot go-tos are adding apricot preserves/marmalade and butter as a glaze or braising in ginger ale with a 1/4 tsp chili powder, reducing the liquid and adding a chunk of butter.

Eaglemom— Gosh, I haven't made homemade cinnamon rolls in ages. They're so good and the way the house smells is magical.

Soup and games sound fun. Are these board games of more along the lines of charades? We have a friend who moved a few years back who used to host game nights with things like Apples to Apples, Trivial Pursuit and Pictionary. DH wasn't a fan. He's more of a poker and conversation person.

Sandwich— Lasagna sounds terrific. Do you make a traditional meat version, veggie or something else entirely. DH loves lasagna but it's a lot of work for someone who eats like a bird and isn't a fan of leftovers (despite him saying how it's better warmed up a second time, lol) One of the fancy Italian restaurants in town has a small shop where they sell ready-made dinners and sometimes I just pick up a couple servings instead. And bread. They have a braided Italian that is addictive.

Lorita— How thoughtful of you to bring warm muffins. I'm sure they were much appreciated.

Yeast dough is pretty simple. I make mine in a food processor, but your bread machine may have a setting to make the dough for you.

Carl— It sounds like you had a pleasant day. Does your diner have good food? I do enjoy a good diner. There's one in our county seat that is exceptional. They are only breakfast and lunch but both are amazing. DH would eat there daily. It's not far from where I'll be doing me PT and I swear it's why DH pushed to use the surgeon's PT instead of someone closer.

Iris— Carl is right about the ACS. I recall the questions asked seeming very random— I recall having questions about my well— type and depth.

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It looks like the lab at the hospital may have flaked on me. I ended up having 11 different vials taken for tests for 4 different doctors. I figured this would be OK as all the doctors and the hospital are in the same hospital network. A few of the tests had to be sent to an independent lab and they're back and in my chart. But the others and the EKG are not which means my PCP doesn't have access either. I have a pre-op appointment tomorrow at 11am. The hospital isn't on Epic yet and won't let me create a patient portal there for some reason so I can't just print them out or open them on my iPad. I'll call tomorrow as they don't have the desk staffed over the weekend. Not only that, but the tests that have come back were sent to someone other than the person who ordered them. They sent my thyroid results to hematology. Why?

I'm pretty sure that my PCP can't sign off tomorrow, but I guess I can leave the form and pick it up on Friday when I bring my mom in for an X-ray and derm check.

I need to sort out something for dinner and return a couple things to Talbots. Mom and a friend each gave me sweaters that don't fit. I should be able to easily swap the friend one, not sure about the cashmere one mom got me. I am obsessed with the pearl gray and what's left in my size are very bright colors in which I would not be caught dead. I should return some things I got at Lands End for another friend before deciding on something different but do I feel like driving to NJ today?

HB

Good morning.

I’m back home!

Tired but home!!

Ron

GG, that was an interesting article about the Eichler homes. Here in Iowa we have several Frank Lloyd Wright homes. I've been in one (it's a tourist site - no one lives there at this time). Your home sounds beautiful!

Time for bed. See you all tomorrow.

Beth

GG…very interesting article

I was back to work today. Big surprise for the dogs, who had gotten used to having me around for two weeks.

Good morning

Ron

G'morning.

Tomorrow starts that first day of False Spring in these parts. We're looking forward to a week of upper 40s/low 50s after an unseasonably cold December. I'm down for that even if it means rain.

Gothic G— I did drive to NJ after all. And I got my refund instead of exchanging. This Lands End is merchandized weirdly. They normally devote a good portion of their floor to either bathing suits or parkas which doesn't leave much for the sort of things folks wear daily. They have tables of boring staples but rarely anything new or interesting. It's like they're marketing to older folks who are set in their ways or people on spectrum who don't like change. Of late, I go home empty handed unless I need outerwear.

Interesting piece on Eichler. There are a handful of privately own Frank Lloyd Wright homes in the general Philadelphia area that were designed for middle class families. People who live in them do admit that certain design concepts can make them a bit of a challenge to live in like the cell-like bedrooms and all that glass.

eaglemom— I'm glad Soup & Games went well but I agree that getting back to normality of routine isn't all bad. Laundry is calling to me as well.

Ron— I'm glad your home safely. I hope the time spent with family, however sad the occasion, was pleasant.

Lorita— I hope the exercises help.

Iris— From the outside perspective, I'd say you're not living all that quiet a life given the travel and day trips you enjoy.

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I had my pre-op appointment with my PCP and took mom to see her psychiatrist yesterday. I have a quiet day today. I'm catching up on laundry and hope to take down the Christmas decorations. Mom's got an X-ray and derm on Friday but other than that, I'm not committed.

Mom wants to return an outfit niece bought for her. The pants have a side invisible zipper which for a woman with scoliosis, carpal tunnel and essential tremor would be impossible. She also thinks the sweater looks "matronly, like something from Alfred Dunner". LOL, she's 89 next month. My MIL loved Alfred Dunner; I used to send a capsule out for her birthday, Mother's Day and Christmas. She was considered well-dressed in her small town. I guess mom's fancy.

HB