Just need to talk to my friends (218)

Lorita · May 14

Glad you all had a good time. Weather could not have been nicer. Going to lay down and watch tv. Just saw a good show with David Attenborough about sea dragons that lived 200 Million years ago.

Iris L. · May 14

Lorita, what type of tile are you laying?

Carl, I never knew about Jerry Presley. I'm glad he gave a good show. He looks to be a lot younger than Elvis. Did you ever see Elvis live?

Eagle, I'm glad your crown went well. I have to schedule mine but I don't feel up to it yet.

Iris

ronald71111 · May 14

Good morning

Ron

harshedbuzz · May 14

Good morning.

HB

Carl46 · May 14

I never saw Elvis perform live, and I regret that, because my wife would have loved it. It's hard to tell how old Jerry is under the makeup, but I'd guess 60-70 from the way he moves around. Jerry's been doing that show since 1984, so he's no kid, but he's a lot younger than Elvis. Elvis has been gone longer than he was alive and would be 91 years old and performing in Branson had he lived.

Our trip was arranged in part by another of Elvis' cousins, who is a regular at the senior center. She's a young thing of 75 and very proud of her relationship to Elvis.

Lorita · May 14

Iris, the tile is Marblized green vinyl, self adhesive tiles. We put it down 26 Years ago and have had to replace some. Our counter tops are green marble vinyl with white cabinets and walls. I think I painted the kitchen three times before I got what I wanted. Who knew there were so many different shades of white.

Icemaker is still making noises. I may call Gary to see if he can disconnect the water hose. I think he may have had hip replacement so may need to call a plumber.

E

Mint · May 14

Good afternoon

that was a cute chuckle Ron

I did just like 3 days worth if posts. Not sure where my days all go to .

HB my moms memory is definitely becoming less. Physically about the same. Will be Medicaid eligible late fall but we will see. I go with my sister tomorrow to look at a place where that could happen but I want her to be able to age in place and it to be her last move. Im guessing that wont happen there but we will see.

jfkoc · May 14

Hair cut…Trader Joe's then bank. I could spend hours in TJs looking at things and wondering. They have stuff I have never heard of. Maybe I need. to go out to eat more often and not for a burger.

Memory late last night. I cut up a potato and planted the pieces. They grew really good potatoes.

Ron… are you feeling OK???

GothicGremlin · May 14

Judith - I knew someone here would have Slap Ya Mama. What do you put it on? Is it an "everything" kind of accent, or something more particular?

Iris - I'd never heard the phrase either, but I'm from California, so I wouldn't have.

I'm with you, farm life is way too hard for me. I'm just not that tough.

HB - I'm not sure about the flowers. It's a tree, if that helps. But I don't really know the difference between an azalea and rhododendron - they look pretty similar to me.

I didn't know Victoria's Secret still sold sweaters. (Peggy used to get a lot of sweaters from them). Ouch about the large VS monogram.

eaglemom - I'm glad your dental procedures went well. I'm sure you're glad that's over!

Lorita - The David Attenborough show on sea dragons sounds good. 200 million years ago would be the Triassic period, so he talked about ichthyosaurs and maybe plesiosaurs? I'm curious. I think those were probably the biggest things in the water at that time.

My day is somewhat discombobulated. I was up at 5:30am this morning because my s.o. had a 6am phone call. (ugh) So I got up and went to the gym at 7am, I was home by 8:30.

I got a lot of work done between 9am and now, but I'm kind of fading away at this point. It's time for a nap! I'm so not a morning person. 😄

NannyG55 · May 14

Well sadly, we lost a Nanny. She had twins so we’re bottle feeding twice a day and they sneak a sip from other Mamas while they’re being fed. And the twins are also grazing a bit. I’ll try to get a picture this afternoon.
GG, I’ll try to get a picture of your Goat grandson, lol, he’s gorgeous! His sister Gal is jealous he gets to nurse 🙄

More later, I’m in the truck heading home from Scottsboro and food delivery

Iris L. · May 14

Good afternoon.

GG, my dream is to become a morning person. I'm naturally a night owl, but by the time I get up and get going, the working day is just about over.

Tomorrow I will attend a Senior Expo in Pasadena. I will be traveling with a senior group called On the Move, which takes seniors on the Metro to different places. We will have to meet at 6:30 am in order to get to Pasadena by 8:30 am. What an adventure! But they are going to give us breakfast and tell us about senior life in Los Angeles.

Judith, what type of potato did you grow? I like Yukon Gold potatoes better than Idaho potatoes.

Iris

jfkoc · May 14

Well, it was not a Yukon Gold….not a red so probably an Idaho. Yukon Gold make the very best mashed potatoes.

Slap Ya Mama…Slap Ya Mama is a popular, family-owned Cajun seasoning brand from Ville Platte, Louisiana, known for its balanced, less-salty blend of salt, red pepper, black pepper, and garlic

It is widely used to enhance seafood, meats, fries, and popcorn, with options ranging from Original to Hot and Low Sodium.

harshedbuzz · May 14

Gothic— FWIW, VS are mom's initials although she would always include her maiden name in a monogram as it's on most of her legal documents.

Here's the sweater on ebay. Picture it on an 88-year-old woman with scoliosis and an oxygen backpack.

Victorias Secret Luxe Boatneck Pink Stripe Sweater Size MEDIUM | eBay

Lorita · May 15

Sorry about losing the nanny, jeriLynn. I know.how hard that is. Glad the babies are doing okay. For cattle there is a powder caller Orphan No More to help a cow take another cow's baby. You sprinkle the powder on the calf so she doesn't smell the other cow. .If you can milk the cow and get the calf to take the milk and it passes through, that works, too. No idea if that works for goats.

Watching Doc Martin so will say good night.

Iris L. · May 15

JeriLynn, I'm sorry too about the nanny goat. Was she septic? Or had too much blood loss?

Iris

Goodlife2025 · May 15

HB thank you for the suggestion on where to take the excess basil I am anticipating. My DW's cousin runs a food pantry. I don't know why I didn't think of it but thanks that is exactly what we will do with our odd little garden this year. She planted (or helped me plant) 5 tomato plants yesterday so that makes 7 plants total. I will have a salsa garden big enough for everyone on the porch this year. 😀

ronald71111 · May 15

Good morning

Ron

Iris L. · May 15

I'm up early this morning. I'm on my way to the Pasadena Convention Center by Metro for the Senior Expo. I'll report back later.

Iris

Lorita · May 15

Morning, looks like we have a little rain in store today.

Have a good time today, Iris. Hope your weather is good

GoodIife, salsa sounds really good. We used to have a big garden and made our own salsa. Homemade is better than store bought for sure.

BethL · May 15

A hot day here - 82 now and may get up to 90 which is a record for us for this day in May. Then, this evening, storms come in. We expect storms/rain for 4 days in a row. I mowed this a.m. This afternoon someone is coming to get our irrigation (lawn) going - it's very dry even though we had a lot of rain earlier. It will be good to have it available although we may not need it if we get 4 evenings with rain. Who knows?

ronald71111 · May 15

I’ve had slap ya mama, but I personally think Tony Chachere’s is a better creole seasoning.

I’ve had two bad nights; Wednesday night something kept bothering my right eye and nothing helped, finally cleared up Thursday morning and I never knew what was in it. Last night my cousin and his wife was in Springfield and I took everyone to Ziggies for supper. I’ve eaten there several times, mainly breakfast and always enjoyed it. I ordered the seafood platter and couldn’t sleep any last night because of the recent surgery and achalasia. Fish was good but to greasy, pieces of fried batter getting stuck in my throat and French fries not wanting to go down. Must have had a lot stuck in my esophagus because I kept having a hard cough all night. Finally late morning everything settled down and I even was able to get a two hour nap this afternoon.

I’m almost afraid to eat today, I did have my coffee this morning with a donut stick.

Ron

Carl46 · May 15

Ron, that sounds just awful! I have eaten at Ziggie's for 15 years and don't think I have ever tried the seafood platter. I love fried fish but it does not love me back.

GothicGremlin · May 15

Well, this is a bummer. I'm not getting notifications on this site for some reason. I was wondering why this thread was so quiet , but it turns out it wasn't! 😐️

JeriLynn - I'm sorry you lost one of your nannies. That's really sad, especially since she had twins.

Iris - I have to be honest with you, my dream is to never be a morning person! I'd be just fine if I never saw dawn again. If I could wake up at the crack of noon everyday would be heaven.

I hope you're having a great time at the Expo in Pasadena.

Thanks Judith and Ron about Slap Ya Mama. I'm going to be experimenting with this.

HB - That sweater.

Goodlife — yummmm, salsa. I'll make some guacamole to go with your salsa.

Today was a gym day with lots of boxing. I'm still feeling good after all of that.

Lorita · May 16

Beth be careful of the storms the next few days. I think they.get down almost.to us next week. I just hope we get rain. Really dry here for May.

Ron, hope tonight is better for you and you can eat get some rest.

jfkoc · May 16

Run…tiny bites…chew really well…..

sandwichone123 · May 16

I'm with Ron, Tony's is the way to go!

Ron, when you get something stuck like that, sometimes a fizzy drink (soda or just carbonated water) can help loosen it up.

Iris L. · May 16

Ron, did the hospital give you advice about how to eat with achalasia? Here is what AI advised. It's seems like good information for me, because I have a hiatal hernia and my food sometimes goes down slowly.

From AI:

"An achalasia diet focuses on reducing swallowing difficulty and preventing discomfort by adopting a soft-textured, moist, and high-calorie diet. Key strategies include eating small, frequent meals slowly, chewing thoroughly, staying upright while eating, and using liquids to help food pass. Focus on pureed foods, soups, smoothies, and tender, well-cooked meals.

Recommended Foods (Soft & Moist)

Protein: Minced beef, chicken, or turkey in sauces or gravies, soft-cooked fish, scrambled eggs, silken tofu.

Vegetables/Fruits: Well-cooked, mashed, or pureed vegetables (carrots, peas, potatoes without skin), soft fruits like bananas, ripe melons, and avocado, canned or frozen fruit.

Dairy/Grains: Yogurt, cottage cheese, custard, creamed rice, soft oatmeal, porridge, soft-cooked pasta.

Liquids/Sauces: Smoothies, protein shakes, broths, gravies, and nutritious liquids to add moisture.

Foods to Avoid or Limit

Dry/Hard Foods: Toast, crackers, dry snacks, nuts, and seeds.

Fibrous Foods: Raw celery, artichokes, okra, kale, and dry meats.

Irritants: Spicy foods, very hot or very cold liquids (can trigger spasms), and carbonated beverages.

Acidic Foods: Citrus fruits and tomato-based products (if they cause reflux).

Lifestyle Tips for Managing Achalasia

Eat Slow and Small: Take small bites, chew food thoroughly, and take 20–30 minutes to eat.

Hydrate During Meals: Sip water or other fluids frequently to help push food down.

Gravity Assistance: Stay sitting upright during and for at least 30–60 minutes after meals.

Avoid Late Night Eating: Avoid solid food for 3-4 hours before lying down to prevent food from sitting in the esophagus.

Temperature Matters: Room temperature or warm liquids are often tolerated better than ice-cold ones.

Sample Meal Ideas

Breakfast: Smoothies, creamy porridge, yogurt, or scrambled eggs.

Lunch/Dinner: Minced chicken with gravy, mashed potatoes, soups, or tuna salad.

Snacks: Ripe banana, pudding, cottage cheese, or fruit smoothies.

Disclaimer: It is essential to work with a doctor or dietitian to customize this diet, especially if you have recently had a procedure like a POEM or dilation."

Iris

Iris L. · May 16

Here is my report on the Senior Transportation Expo in Pasadena. The event was mostly well organized except for the signing-in process, which was chaotic. We were fed a good breakfast, then listened to speeches. We cheered the Travel Buddies when they paraded into the venue. The Travel Buddies are the volunteers who lead us seniors on trips around Los Angeles on the Metro and other public transportation.

Then we broke up into smaller group workshops. I attended on workshop on how to use the new Metro app, and another workshop on the improvements being made to the various stations. Then we were given a good lunch, and then listened to a speech from the Chief of Police of the newly formed L A Metro Police Department who talked about their attempts to improve safety and the ridership experience. We also were treated to a retrospective of L A transportation during the past Olympic Games in 1932 and in 1984.

After the main event, we could visit tables hosted by various organizations, such as AARP and some museums. Overall it was a pleasant and informative day.

The theme of event seemed to be denoted the efforts that are being made to improve the ridership experience for older adults. They tried. But a lot of attention was focused on public transportation preparations for the upcoming FIFA World Cup Games. I doubt many older adults will be attending the FIFA World Cup Games at SoFi Stadium.

LA Metro has been plagued with a bad reputation. The last time I tode the Metro, it was a horrible experience. The cars and stations were dirty and smelly, people were eating, drinking, and vaping, playing loud music, and singing loudly. Homeless people were stretched out over two or more seats, sleeping. I saw several people ride without paying. And we saw a rat running along the tracks.

But today was a different story. The stations were clean, well lit and the benches appeared to be freshly painted or scrubbed clean, they looked new. There was no eating, drinking or vaping. The seats were clean, the passengers were orderly. Several younger people got up to give seats to older ladies. And a couple of guys helped an older woman using a walker to get settled on a seat, because she could barely walk. And we saw several Metro Police officers patrolling the stations.

So there has been significant improvement. LA is so desirous of reducing car traffic and getting more people onto public transportation. There seemed to be a fair number of older adults riding today, not just us going to the Expo.

I wrote in detail in case any of you will have friends or family coming to Los Angeles in the near future. You can let them know that the Metro is better than it was. They still need to take precautions. But they may be able to avoid driving or taking a taxi or ride-share for part of their visit.

One fun fact that I learned about Pasadena. Colorado Boulevard, which is the route of the Tournament of Roses Parade every New Year's Day, is also part of the last few miles of the historic Route 66 highway which ran from Chicago to Santa Monica. I drove part of Route 66 when I drove cross-country to California in 1975.

Iris

ronald71111 · May 16

Good morning,

Thanks everyone for your concerns! I’ve had achalasia for over 12 years and do know what I’m supposed to do. Doing it is another story for a stubborn old man that enjoys eating what and how he’s use to, even when he knows he shouldn’t. Most of the time I’m ok, but every once in a while it gets me, especially when I have fried onion rings for an appetizer, fried fish and fried potatoes.I mainly had protein drinks yesterday and slept 8 hours without waking up.

I pray everyone in the path of the weather coming stays safe the next several days.

Ron

harshedbuzz · May 16

Good morning. It's sunny and warm here today. My plan is to go outside and spot treat some weeds in my front lawn. Maybe I'll weed some beds as well now that I treated myself to a garden kneeler/seat.

Carl— I do enjoy a good Elvis impersonator. I recall my parents collecting me at the airport after a semester in London and insisting on stopping for dinner at a South Philly bar/restaurant. They were late picking me up (they forgot— parents-of-the-year, those two), so it was almost 2am GMT for me and I could barely keep my eyes open. They had an Elvis impersonator that night. OMG, first the guy took out his dentures and handed them to so woman and then he began to sing. He had an amazing voice but midway through the son, he wrapped and scarf around my shoulders and crooned. I about died.

Lorita— White paint is tricky. There are so many subtle undertones that can trip you up once you get it in your space.

Mint— I hope you and your sister were happy with the tour and can transition your mom when the time comes.

Judith— That's a funny dream to have. Especially the details about what variety of spud.

Gothic G— I think azaleas and rhodos are related. It can be hard to distinguish between the two sometimes— especially when you get into the fancier hybrids.

Jerilynn— I am sorry about the loss of your nanny. How are the kids doing?

Goodlife— You can't have too much salsa.

Beth— I hope you're safe in the heat. It seems it's heading my way next week. Mid-90s. Yuck.

Ron— The swallowing issues sound difficult. It's especially awful given your love of good food and ability to make wonderful dishes. It's so unfair.

Iris— The senior trip reminds me of the kind of field trips elementary kids might go on. At least you didn't have to pack your own lunch. FIFA will be in Philadelphia as well along with the amped up July 4th celebrations. I think I have a hair appointment in the city during that time. Should be interesting.

________________________________________________________________

Quiet here this week. Mom didn't have any appointments, so I've been home most days. Niece 1 came to take her out to dinner Wednesday evening and then slept over until Friday morning. Her DH was dealing with his recently discharged dad (the one who lied to get discharged without having home health or a SNF stay). In addition to needing 24/7 care, his house has a serious black mold issue so now NIL is trying to bring in a remediation team.

Niece's dad is still in the geripsych unit. He's contracted COVID so he's stuck there for the duration. I'm hoping niece didn't catch it and infect mom.

HB

Just need to talk to my friends (218)

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