Mary, it's amazing how similar our weather is. I would expect you to be much colder.  Hurrah on the visits. Family is what it is all about.  I'm looking forward to my trip to Mel's 2/28 and her son's wedding in IN in May.  The whole family will be there for that, of course, so I get to see the little guys too.  Harrison (4) and Leyton (7) will both be ring-bearers.  Joc is a bridesmaid & Jonathan & Scottie are groomsmen.  They are having a bachelor party in Chicago, so Lori told the guys they could use her condo to save money and she will stay elsewhere. I thought that was really nice. They are good guys and won't trash the place. She'd kill them if they did!  :Dd

Jane, I'm sorry Ray is so tired but not surprised. Hope you enjoy your venture out.

John keeps piling things in the bedroom for his trip and thinking of other things he needs to take. I'll be glad when he lets me pack it!  I have a few things to take to FL on the other end of the dresser, but mostly, I'll put mine together after he leaves the 21st.  I hope it is a good trip for him. Since it is a Tauck tour, it should be.

I finally went to Burlington's yesterday but didn't find anything. Their sizing was way off. An hour there poking around was more than enough.

60 degrees today and full sun!  Yea!

Nothing much planned today.  Sharon

4Happy Sat everyone..it's 70 here today..probably warm where Jane is....Sharon..no I don't take any estrogen...I'm wondering if the symptoms is mabey my thyroid out of whack...even though on lab..shows normal...but I would like a full thyroid scan to be sure...I think it's hormone related...I'm hot and skin is flushed all the time...at first I thought it was my BP med..but after talking to Dr and pharmacist...it's not the BP med....church tomorrow..and will probably watch some of super bowl...and will listen to the President Tuesday night....Hi to all Darlene

jane, I hope Ray's side effects don't get any worse.  It's no fun - that's for sure.

Sharon, glad you're getting to visit with family while John is gone.  How long is his trip?  It's such a long flight to get there, but such a wonderful country and delightful people. 

Darlene, sorry about the flushing. Since it bothers you, I hope you can find a solution for it.

We got up to 68 today, and I've had my sliding glass door open all afternoon.  It's been lovely! I'm not a football fan, so I'll be finding something other than the ballgame to watch.  Did I say that they have finally started the renovations here?  Our main dining room and lobby have been emptied and some of the flooring has been taken up.  Our eating space has been moved into temporary quarters - a bit crowded in two smaller spaces, but it hasn't been as chaotic as I had feared.
 The food hasn't changed any.  Many of us have to walk through the "construction zone" to get to the dining rooms, but we've been assured there will always be "passage" of some sort.  Should be interesting.  Who knows how long this will take - I'm assuming at least 6 week - and probably twice that.  Such fun!

I hope your team wins!

Mary, his trip is 11 or 12 days since it takes a day to get there and he is arriving a day early.

It was lovely here this afternoon too. John took down and emptied all the bird feeders and cleaned the bird bath while I washed with a bleach spray all of the feeders, dried them and then refilled them with fresh food.  He also swept and hosed off the patio and got the leaves way out in the yard.  So my birdies are happy.  Sharon

Sharon, after we went to NZ, we spent a week in Australia.  Our trip home (Cairns, AU, to LAX, to Nashville, to Chattanooga) was 44 hours elapsed time. And it was all on one day.  Just a killer day, but we decided we could get rest at home.  Of course, we were LOTS younger then, too.   

Mary, I think John's trip is around 24 hours + stopovers in Houston and Sydney, I think.  I don't envy him that long trip, but he doesn't have the pain and stiffness I do.  44 hours would put me in the hospital! I'm sure NZ is wonderful, but I'm just not up to it now. We should have done it years ago. I hope all the renovations of the cafeteria are quickly completed without too much stress on all of you.

We went to church and SS of course and then I've done 2 loads of laundry since we got home. Nothing else constructive.  I've really been hurting today (shoulders, neck, hips, etc.) and have no idea why. I haven't been doing anything energetic but I finally took a tramadol, but it doesn't seem to have helped much.

I hope everyone is having a blessed Sunday and hope Marilyn & Keith got to go to church. I know she misses it.  Sharon

I wonder where Sue is.  She usually posts in midmorning, and she hasn't posted since Friday.

Sharon...I'd love to see NZ, but I couldn't take the long flights either.  So, I read books about NZ.

Mary...hope remodeling makes cafeteria nicer for all the residents.

Sue...hope all is ok with you.

Jeanne...looks like lots of melting...ice jams in the rivers in Iowa, etc.  I hope there isn't a lot of flooding.

We spent 6+ hours in the ER yesterday.  Ray had fallen on Friday  into a lounge chair on the sundeck...really hurting Sunday, and he has 2 fractured ribs and some pneumonia in his right lung now.  We're having a lot of fog in the mornings, so we're going up to Harlingen this afternoon and will stay overnight so I don't have to drive in fog tomorrow morning to get Ray back to the Cancer Center for blood tests.

Then I hope we have nothing for the rest of the week.   

jane

Good morning, Buddies.  I've been trying to get in here all weekend.  For some odd reason, I've been locked out.  For the last few days when I've tried to log in here, it dumps my post.  So I hope you get this today.  If anyone has a reason or method for getting here every day, please let me know.

My trash men have been here already this morning.  They picked up my recyclable stuff and my kitchen waste, so I'm glad to get the bins back up where they belong.  Tim came by to help me with some of my tax stuff and we had a nice visit.

Not much else to report.  I still have sniffles--too many oak leaves on the ground. I feel OK, but hate having to blow my nose so much.  Have a nice day, Every Buddy.

Oh no, Jane.  I am so sorry about Ray's fall, the fractured ribs and Pneumonia.  It seems like trouble seems to come in three's.  I hope he feels better today and has a speedy recovery.  Does this mean a delay in the treatment?  Thoughts and prayers for both of you.

Mary, I don't know what the "deal" was, but I couldn't post here at all for the last few days.  I don't know if it was my fault or just not being picked up by the (whatever causes our posts to post!). 

Sharon, I hope you're feeling better today.  I've always wanted to go to New Zealand, too.  Pictures from there are so beautiful.  I hope John brings back lots of pictures to share with you.

Mary, I didn't watch the super bowl, either.  Sometimes the half-time show and commercials are pretty good, but after college football is over, I am not eager to see over paid athletes throw a ball around!
Sue

Oh, Jane, I'm so sorry to hear about Ray's latest episode. He has enough going on.  Both of you are in my prayers.

Mary, I'm surprised Sue hasn't posted too. I hope she is okay.

Nothing going on here today.  I have a neurology appt Wed. I wonder if he will increase my meds. I'm still having a lot of trouble with my tremor. Dinner time is especially difficult. 

My cleaning girl comes Thurs, but nothing else scheduled this week.

Beautiful, sunny day with temps to be in upper 60's. Wish it would stay that way.  But I shouldn't complain when so many other places have had such horrible weather. Our lowest temp was 19 at night and low 30's daytime. I'm sure Jeanne and those in MN, WI, NY would exchange for them. 

Sue, just saw your post. So glad your absence was due to technical issues. I haven't received my tax questionnaire yet and won't start on taxes till then. I'm stockpiling all the tax statements I've received.

I didn't watch the Super Bowl. Didn't know who won till this AM.
Sharon

jane, so sorry about Ray's fall and injuries.  Sometimes things do just seem to come in bunches.  It is comforting there is such good medical care available in The Valley.  Gentle hugs to you both.

Sue, sorry you're having troubles getting in here.  I keep the S&F page showing "replies to new posts" as one of my "favorites" (don't know what that is on your computer/browser).  I click on that, and it brings me right in.

Construction seems to be moving right along on our dining room and lobby.  Incidentally, we don't have a cafeteria - we have restaurant service - and usually it works very well.  So far, the temporary situation has gone much more smoothly than I had expected.

I've been collecting the tax stuff, too.  I'll wait another couple of weeks, then send it all to my CPA. 

Sharon, Jeanne, Darlene, Joy, Marilyn - anybody else I've missed - have a good week.

Hi everyone...Jane sorry to hear of Rays fall...prayers for quick recovery...when do yall head back home? Sue...I sometimes have tech problems...no fun...Sharon...hope your sniffed go away...there's flu going around here..I'm been extra cautious...Hi Mary...hope y'all have a good safe..well..week...I only watched super bowl..short while..didn't even like the commercials....Darlene

Jane.
Also sorry to hear about husbands resent fall. Boy this is the one year that you both will remember this years trip to Texas.  Had you been home you would also remember this winter weather it has been in Iowa.  I know I will remember Illinois 
Now yesterday it did get up to 50 deg. not that much sun I should have gone out walking but didn't. Next few day in the  high 30s but then back comes freezing rain.
I am still trying to get both the new computer and IPad running right.  Managed to get a Comcast person in Florida today. Can't work with Indian and places.  The $60 service charge is still showing up with a $10 increase for not paying it in January.  Man came out and said they could not do what I was asking. Had to get a Computer service Private so was here 10 min. did nothing. They then sent another man who looked and said the same. Another 10 min. Looks like he did tell them and got that 60 dollars taken off. This was a Feb/march bill.  How I hate all this messing up. One day maybe will be someone other than Comcast to deal with.

What people I have spoken or seen on TV seem to think the Football game yesterday was not worth watching.  I don't know football so never follow. At least in Illinois now not going to be drunks on the road.  It is now only 5% test for DUI. Think it was 8% before. So about 2 beers about all can drink.  However on Midnight Sat. Just went to sleep and lot of big bangs woke me up. Find was a shooting over at the Service Station across the street. Second time this year for that place.  Find I don't go any where to do anything anymore at dark time.  Still no car running so pretty safe at home.

Every one stay busy. Spring suppose to come early according the the Ground Hog....

Hi Buddies.  Jane, I hope Ray's appt goes well today.

Darlene, I finally got over the cold/allergy or whatever it was that I had.

Jeanne, 50 degrees is a heat wave for you.  Hope it doesn't all freeze up again.  Scary about the shooting. There seem to be a lot of hold-ups & shootings in Charlotte too. Everyone seems to think their problems can be solved with a gun.

I'm going over to Walgreens for their 20% senior discount that they have the 1st Tues of the month. Have a # of things to get. Vitamins, cosmetics, etc.  If you all have a Walgreen's near you, it's worth going. Ours is less than a mile from the front entrance.

I have an appt with my eye surgeon next Tues and found out he is going to dilate my eyes, so John is going to have to cancel his bridge game to take me.  I sure hope the Dr. can find a solution to my near vision. After paying so much for the multifocal lenses, I sure expected better. Reading is really difficult for me unless large print.

Supposed to reach 70 or so here today. Yea!  Hi to everyone. Sharon

We certainly have been quiet in here lately.  We've been having incredibly unseasonable temperatures here lately.  It was 75! yesterday, and would be more than that today if the sun comes out (although it doesn't look like that's going to happen).  And we're due to set a record tomorrow with temps near 80 tomorrow.  Then turning cold again.  Oh, well...

I got out this morning.  In its infinite wisdom (note sarcasm here), ExpressScrips has decided to stop providing the antiviral Rx I've been taking for probably 15 years.  I took their letter to my eye doctor this morning and he has taken charge of dealing with them.  Plus I went to Michael's to finally get my painting with the broken glass to get it reglazed - with acrylic this time.  I also got lots of yarn to crochet afghans for our soon-to-be-married couples.  I've dawdled around and need to get with it.  I may not get one finished for the March wedding, but I did finally decide on a purchased wedding gift for them, so it's okay.

Stay warm and dry, Buddies - and check in!

Hi, Buddies,

Sue...hard to know what the "glitch" was, but glad you're posting now.

Jeanne...Comcast sure seems to be a pain. 

Mary...glad the restaurant setting is going well, with the remodel.

Sharon...I didn't realize WalGreen's had a discount for "seniors."

Darlene...cool weather coming your way, too?  We're not heading home until end of March, at earliest.  I'm afraid of the weather there in March...when we often get a lot of snow...so we're going to stay in a "residence inn" type place for March.  It's in Harlingen and so near the Cancer Center, etc.  The Island is too chaotic during March for us...with Spring Break and all of that.  It can take hours to get across the causeway, I'm told and condo rents so way up.  Sooo...found a one bedroon "suite" for March.  It's a bedroom, bathroom, and then a living room-kitchenette (two burner stove top, pots, pans, dishes, full size refrig and freezer, dishwasher, etc.) and the building has a gym and free laundry for guests.  We're used to more space, but I think we can handle this.


It's up in the high 70s today and nice out.  "Winter" is supposed to return tomorrow through weekend...i.e., temps in the 50s and rain.  Still much  better than home and the kind of weather Jeanne is dealing with.

Ray's appt yesterday went well...Onc says blood tests were good.  Hopefully a quiet 2 weeks until his second chemo on the 19th.  He's doing better with the broken ribs, now that he knows what it is.  He was panicked that he'd injured his kidneys, I think, or did damage to his lungs.  Neither one, so he's able to deal with the ribs.

We're meeting friends for breakfast tomorrow, so that'll be nice.  I won a "maid's service" door prize this  morning at Coffee Time.  That'll be great for right before my sister and BIL arrive. 


jane

Hi everyone....yes Jane it's beautiful here today...77..but chane is coming..My daughter and I have a trip landed this weekend to visit family...plan on going anyway..if rain doesn't turn to ice...glad you have a place for March...I'm sure the island is crowded during SB...not man posting...hope all is well...lot of flu going around...Hi to Sue..Sharon..Marlyin and all others Darlene

Meant change and planned trip....need to do spell check

Darlene - spell check can really get us in trouble sometimes. 

jane, glad that Ray has done well with the chemo.  And wonderful about your staying in the Valley for the treatment AND getting off the island.  I've been there in March, and I understand.  I talked to my from-Iowa friend today and they are still in Weslaco, but they'll be leaving towards the first of March.  Of course, our weather is nothing like what you get in Iowa.

Mary, sounds like you accomplished a lot with your shopping trip. I wish I could crochet or knit, but it's not in me. I think you need to learn it when you're young.  Good planning for the weddings.  Our grandson & fiance called us last night, partially to thank us for her birthday card and partly to talk about the wedding etc. Everything seems to be going well. They are getting married Memorial Day weekend.  I've already sent the set of china they had picked out and will put a check in with the card to give them there.  She is going back to school in the fall. She is a nurse and wants to be a nurse practitioner. It will be a 2 yr course and a lot of it on the computer, but of course will require clinicals as well.

Jane, that sounds like a very good plan to move to Harlingen in March. I'm glad Ray is doing well so far and has 2 weeks to recover.  I was supposed to have chemo every 3 weeks, but my blood counts didn't allow it and I had to go every 4 weeks.  But, it all depends on the meds and the type of cancer what is protocol. Jane, yes, Walgreen's gives a 20% senior discount the first Tuesday of the month.  I never used to go there til I found that out. Now, I try to get all my drug store items that Tuesday.

It's strange that as far apart as we all are that our weather is very similar right now, excepting poor Jeanne.  It's about 72 today but cloudy and supposed to rain and start cooling down tomorrow or Sat.

I just got back from the new neurologist. He has a very broad background and did a good physical test, etc and agreed with the essential tremor diagnosis. We discussed several meds but ended up increasing the one I have. It has gotten so I really have trouble eating because the fork shakes so much. I have even been using a spoon part of the time.  It's really embarrassing with people other than John. Maybe the increased dose will help. My writing is terrible too and I make a lot of mistakes on the computer and have to constantly correct them.  No fun getting old, but I guess it's better than the alternative.

My cleaning lady comes tomorrow and so does the roofer/handyman who needs to fix a place on the sun room and also paint the leak spots in the closet.  I will go to the grocery tomorrow afternoon. Such an exciting life!  Sharon

Sharon...what do you take for your tremors?..My gdaughter is also going for her NP...she has a little over a year left...very busy...she's working also...but as you said lot it it done on computer...I'm proud of her...Darlene

HI there buddies. Good news for Keith. He will have a Ct scan to see if there are anymore abscesses in his abdomen, no more in fusions until we see what the scan shows.  He got a good report from bother Dr's.

I also got a good report  when I saw the Dr. yesterday. I had a wonderful birthday dinner at a local Japanese place  yesterday. We had Beef Teriyaki with steamed veggies, then dessert was Chocolate cheesecake. Yummy.

Jane sorry to hear about Ray. Sending prayers.

Nice here now.  A bit of fog, but in the low 70s, and like the rest of you, to change this afternoon into tomorrow.

Sharon...Ray's essential tremor is bad, too, when he eats and it embarrasses him no end.  Sometimes if he changes the way he grips the fork it's better, but he needs a straw, often, for his water, and prefers his soup in a mug he can lift with both hands. 

We're meeting friends for breakfast this morning, and then need a couple things at the dollar store here on the Island. 

Lots of bad colds and flu here, too, so we're avoiding some gatherings.  We did go to Wed. Coffee and I won a door prize...maid service for a day.  I plan to use it before my sister and BIL come and that'll be perfect. 

Stay warm and safe and healthy, everyBuddie!

Ps..just saw Marilyn's post...hurrah for your good news!


Jane

Great news, Marilyn - and Happy Birthday from here, too.

jane, super to have the maid service just before company comes.

I've been out for my haircut and Walmart pickup.  Nothing else today until our one table of bridge here after supper.  Pretty lousy bridge, but nice folks to visit with.

I take Primadone for my tremors and he increased the dose.  He told me about a website essentialtremors.org that has lots of info on it. Jane, tell Ray to have a glass of wine before dinner when he is out, if it isn't against dr's orders. I've found that that helps me a lot.  There is also a special fork with a rotating handle that you can pick up at home health drug stores, however, I don't think I would use it in public. I haven't gotten one yet. I often use a mug for soup too.

Marilyn, I didn't get a heads-up on FB about your birthday. I'm sorry I missed it, but I'm sending you lots of good belated wishes now.  It sounds like you had a good day. Praying for a good scan for K.

Jane, you're wise to stay out of big gatherings now.  Also, when I was going through chemo, they told me not to eat salad out that might be contaminated. At home, you can wash it well.

Mary, sounds like you had a constructive day. Sorry about the bad bridge, but that's the game.

My cleaning girl was here today and I got all the crystal and stuff from my curio cabinet, 1/2 of my china cabinet, and the bricabrac washed. John dried it and helped me ferry it back to their places. My cleaning girl washed the glass shelves and doors for me.  It all looks so sparkly.

Then we got some bad news: what we thought was a small leak at the outside edge of the sunroom turned out to be rotted wood in several places. Partially caused by the builder not using marine grade plywood at the bottom of the windows and partly because our irrigator put the soaker hose between the bushes and the house where it kept it good and wet in the summer + too much mulch!  We don't have a price yet, but I bet it will be a big one.  If it's not one thing, it's another.

Now I have to go shopping. HT has $20 off if you spend $100, so that's where I'm going.  Hope you all have a better day than we have.  Sharon

Keith has a non essential tremor of his right hand, he shakes  badly when he eats but he does ok for himself.

Marilyn, mine started very mildly in my 50's, but has progressively increased. Without meds, they would have to put me in a cage!

Windy Friday morning here in S. T ....and much cooler.

Nothing exciting going on here...we're doing some cooking and just being slugs.

I do want to organize all the paperwork I have from all that's gone on with Ray since Dec. 27.  It's a mountain of stuff.  I bought some more file folders to organize and hold it all.

Midwest is getting hit again with cold and snow.  Glad to be here with the palm trees!

Jane

Jane, I'm glad you're there too!  Ray & you certainly don't need to have to deal with snow, ice, & cold weather right now.

Not a lot going on here. I've had a slow morning.  Handyman hasn't shown up yet. I swear he needs a scheduler imprinted in his brain. He seldom comes at the appointed time, but does eventually & is good, so shouldn't complain.  I washed all the bathroom rugs yesterday and need to put them down. I don't overdry them in the dryer to prevent the backing disintegrating, so they've been drying in the sunroom.  I've done one load of laundry and have 1 more to do.  It nevver ends.  Sharon

jane, my other friends in the Valley were scheduled to go on a boat trip out of Brownsville this morning, but it got cancelled because of the weather.  You know it will get better, though.
 Good luck with the paperwork, too.b

Sharon, always tough waiting on service people.  Hope you get the roof stuff finally all done.

Duplicate this afternoon.  Missed a couple of big hands, but didn't do too bad.  No points, but finished at 42% with 7 1/2 tables.  Our high today was only around 50 - big change from our 80 yesterday.

Hope everybody has a good "football-less" weekend.