Just need to talk to my friends (220)

HB, I hope your mom's appointments went well and provided answers and treatments that will help her to feel better. I'm sorry for her and also for you and said a prayer for you both.

Eagle, sorry about your hot tub. I hope that you can find a new one or get this one fixed. I know you enjoy using it.

Lorita, hoping that your test results come back soon and are good. I'm guessing that if you haven't had any symptoms, and if there are no cases reported in your state, you are probably ok. It's good to check though, better safe than sorry.

Nanny, it sounds like you are as busy as a bee! If "life" ever gets in the way of the things you need and want to do, or causes exhaustion, I hope you'll consider pulling back a bit. There surely are others who can help with the elderly relatives, etc…..but they don't need to, because you do it. And they will let you because it's easier for them. Trust me. I've been there.

Ron, how has the move in gone? Are you in a one bedroom or studio? Is there plenty of room for your things?

Carl, enjoy your 3rd and 4th. It sounds like it will be enjoyable yet relaxing.

Mint, we miss hearing from you. Hope you are well and that life is good.

Iris, do you have any more trips coming up? I always like virtual traveling with you!

GG, I took a look at your blog again today. I read it all when you first posted but looks like you have added a lot. Good job telling Peggy's story and how it affected you and her friends. She sounds like a very special person who was much loved and very competent in her work. It's unfortunate that she couldn't have lived longer. Early onset Alzheimer's is so particularly cruel. My mom had dementia and my MIL also had it, following a stroke. But they both lived in their own homes until their mid-late 80's so they did have good lives until the last couple of years.

Judith, congratulations on your little great grandson! Give him some snuggles from the front porch.

To everyone else on the porch, hello and write when you can! I love hearing from all of you.

Beth

Good morning. It's sunny and headed to 97F today. I had swapped out my hair appointment and will be headed into the city around 1:30. I'm bringing water, bringing a hat and will stay in the shade where possible. Fingers crossed the heat doesn't impact rail service. Oops, there's a derailment, again, but so far, no impact on my trainline except passing the station where Monday's derailment is still be cleaned up.

Beth— Mom's appointment was unrelated to heart/lung/PC but they did check her BP which was unusually low. It tends to run low at times but this time I made sure she'd eaten and was well hydrated. Since early April it's been as low as 74/46 and as high as 128/82; there's a trend where it's higher with appointments with male doctors even when a female tech or nurse takes it. She tends to run lower when I check it.

I reached out to cardiologist's office and discussed with his RN. She wants me to get BPs going through the weekend and reach out on Monday unless the pulmo says he believes this sudden decline to be related to CHF/pulmonary hypertension rather than COPD in which case I call the office tomorrow afternoon. Pulmo starts vacation Friday and cardiologist isn't back until Monday. I'm supposed to see my own PCP Monday.

Lorita— Fingers crossed for a quickly delivered negative result. I hope the holiday doesn't impact the processing of the test.

I hope all have a pleasant day.

HB

Iris, I think you have accomplished quite a lot in terms of your travels! Mount Rushmore will be great! We were there many years ago, when our kids were young. We have also seen the Badlands, Wall Drug (Wall, SD), the Corn Palace (Mitchell, SD) and the Terry Redlin museum (Watertown, SD).

Lorita - that seems like such a long time to get results. Do you know how far along in the incubation period you have to be before results show up?

I'm like you - thankful that I can get out of bed and move around. I know I'm active, probably more so than many, but I have to do a lot more pre-exercise stretches that I didn't used to have to do in my younger days. I definitely have the fear of god in me that if I don't keep moving, I won't be able to move.

Beth - I avoid Driscoll's like the plague for the reasons that you state. I don't like strawberries, and I'm allergic to some of the other berries, but I do like raspberries. We get those locally.

Thank you for your kind words about the blog, it's been a long, hard project. But it's my way of making sense of everything, and also to give back, especially to this community. I always got such good advice here, and I'm grateful to everyone here who has helped me over the years. Peggy really was a good soul.

HB - I hope all goes well today - no mishaps with trains, and that the heat is bearable.

Iris - I'm in the "you've had a lot of accomplishments this year" camp. You've been on so many interesting trips - both locally and internationally. And now, Mt Rushmore!

I went to the gym today - windshield wipers (those leg raises while you're holding 70 lbs over your head), squats, dead lifts, and boxing/kickboxing. The new move for today: a spinning crescent kick. I have not yet mastered this. More stretching required.

Now I'm off to finish adulting quota for the day. 🙂

Good morning

Ron

Good morning. The heat is on. We're headed for 101F; triple digits aren't common around these parts.

Beth— Your approach to washing fruit is similar to mine. I typically lather up melons before cutting. DH gave me the side-eye about it until he really thought about the reality of what might be lurking on the peels. Mushrooms are the thing that gives me pause. I don't like to rinse them before using but don't have the patience to lightly dust them instead— not that that would make the safer to eat.

My local public radio station has had history programming on their early afternoon shows the last week or so. It's been interesting as I'm driving around.

Ubering the 1/2 mile from the salon to the train station, I passed 3 big watch parties. For the most part they felt enthusiastic and only somewhat chaotic. Philly only has one more game left which is kind of a shame— World Cup has brought a joy to the city I have felt since pre-COVID. I helped one man on the train find his way around— he was wearing one of those synthetic USA jerseys and the knit USA scarf in 98F heat. Crazy.

Iris— I am impressed by and envious of your travel. Italy and a safari in a single year is awesome. Funny, Mt. Rushmore was always on MIL's bucket list. She always traveled with gaggle of other teachers over the summer but never made it. I hope you enjoy it.

Lorita— I imagine you test could take a week or so depending on the kind of test (PCR or ELISA) and the lab. A commercial lab like Quest would probably be quicker than a Dept of Health one. I had a bunch of lab work done ahead of my knee surgery at a hospital affiliated with the biggest hospital network in Philadelphia— most of it was pretty basic stuff but some of the more obscure ones from my hematologist got sent to Texas and took over a week to show up and 2 weeks to be scanned into my chart. Silly me, I would have assumed the hospital's lab would do them.

Gothic G— I agree. The Driscoll's aren't worth the risk. They tend to look better than they taste. I'd rather a smaller berry with a more intense flavor from the local farm despite the expense ($8/pint this year) and the very short season.

Are windshield wipers similar to the dead bugs I do? I use a much lower weight and sometimes a bolster to help target the lower abs. I hope your adulting went well.

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Fortunately, the trains were mostly sorted out by the time I needed to be in the city. I stopped by mom's to check her BP and drop off some grapes (DS decided they had too much sugar for his voodoo diet) for mom. I took a later train which would give me 25 minutes to get to the salon. Alas, once I was on the train they made an announcement, that they were awaiting a decision on whether they'd be allowed to proceed past the derailment or take everyone off at the terminus of the subway to continue into the city. FWIW, that would add at least 15 minutes to the trip. Just as we pulled into the station there the salon called to say they were also running late and come at 5pm. We got the all-clear and I walked into the salon with 3 minutes to spare. Niece also got stuck in traffic, so we got out late and only had an hour to catch each other up which is unfortunate. I got home just before 11 and am dragging this morning. LOL, I'm typically asleep around 10.

The office of mom's pulmonologist called, they had questions about the thoracentesis— where and when did it happen. I had to explain it being cancelled and told his admin where to find the notes regarding the procedure. I hope we get some clarity today. I suspect I'm seeing more heart disease than lung disease at this point; if that's the case we'll circle back to cardiology. I'm to call their office after if that's the case. Otherwise, I call on Monday with BPs I've collected over the last month.

HB

Good morning.

On July 2, 1776, the Continental Congress passed a resolution saying that "these United States are, and of right ought to be, free and independent States."

This was the Lee Resolution. Twelve states signed on this date. On July 4, 1776, Thomas Jefferson's formal Declaration of Independence was signed.

Iris

HB, what is UL? How fortunate to get the once monthly appointment with the specialist for your mom!

Lorita, many voicemail systems now ask for your name. Asking for "why you are calling" is new to me, but I can see this expanding. It's like having a receptionist screen your calls. If you call back, you might say right away that you are very familiar with GPs so she'll know you're not a random person, and hopefully she will answer.

Ron, now that you are settled, you can devote more attention to your self-care. I hope the cellulitis resolves quickly! Your apartment sounds very nice.

Iris

Good morning my busy porch friends.

It seems everyone has a lot going on. I will share that the 4th of July at Mt. Rushmore is fabulous. I can't imagine how special it will be today. They put on quite a breathtaking display with a history lesson (for lack of a better description) that you will never forget. I to ask a park Ranger why this isn't an advertised event - we just were there on vacation traveling through the Bad Lands - and he said they don't want the publicity. Word of mouth has this a huge event and that's all they can handle. I will say it was crowded, but everywhere is crowded on the 4th.

The hot tub saga is done. Out with the old and a new one will be delivered in two weeks. The company that was working on it just knew I'd go purchase a new tub from him. Boy was he wrong! I'm amazed at the technology changes in 12 years. I'm very excited to get the new one and feel the difference - my poor knees are excited also! When I mentioned getting in / out of the tub and my issues the manager said he had a solution. I can't describe it well, other than its a handle that swings while your getting in/out. The bonus was, he said if it didn't work he'd take it back.

I'm going to lead our class this morning, need to hop in the shower. Back later. Everyone be safe out there.

Good morning.

Hot here so went to the grocers early and the roast is already in the crockpot. My, they are expensive!