Weekly Chat Thread March 3 - 9

[Emerald_Door]

Northern lights (aurora borealis)

[kritter]

Either I was so focused on the weeds yesterday or it is nature's miracle but one of my crepe myrtles sprouted leaves overnight. I was weeding around that tree yesterday and surely I would have noticed leaves. So surprised to see them when I looked out my front window this morning. I can't remember the last time that I saw leaves on those trees or flowers on my Salvia this early.

[denise15601]

So nice today! Was 70! I worked outside for about an hour, cleaning up stuff and weeding. But it burns my butt that an hour's worth of work totally wipes me out anymore. I guess that it's because my red cells are at the lowest level possible. Geesh.

[chapeaunoir]

Denise - Pace yourself! I think you're doing remarkably well - you do a respectable amount of work outside. 

It's in the mid-30s and raining here with a chilly wind. I just couldn't peel myself out of bed to catch the 6:45 am bus downtown for the race, so I'm definitely going to do my Chocolate run virtually. Maybe if they had been serving beer and wings I would have prodded myself out of bed. I figured at the last minute to see if I could go, but the weather didn't look any better. 

The DH just brought in another pile of stuff for me to list - he writes the descriptions and I do the rest. I appreciate it as I'm about out of inventory again. 

[denise15601]

Thanks Chap! That means a lot to me, especially coming from you, who has the stamina of a teen.

I love to work outside and it is so frustrating that it has gotten harder and harder.

Last year I was able to rake up 2 heaping wheelbarrows full of pine twigs a day for 10 days. Hopefully, I can do more than one per day now.

[denise15601]

@val ..thank you, thank you, thank you! I just completed everything for my insurance applications. I did a lot of research to find companies that had the driver's discounts for low mileage, and they are so deceptive. Some of them only gave a discount for a month.

Finally, my daughter told me about her agent, who is a broker. Jami checked all of the possible companies and I ended up with Progressive and signed up with their snap-shot program, which will monitor my driving. So my policy might go lower.

And my home insurance is now through Donegal.

Previously, with American National, I had been paying $226.00 a month for auto and home. They did reimburse me $700 in November if I had no claims all year.

Now the total with my new companies will be $1,341 a year.... a major decrease of $671 per year.

When I had called Progressive a few years ago about a home policy, I was told that they wouldn't insure me since I had my oil tank in the ground. But that has changed, TG.

[denise15601]

It was 74 degrees today! Used my grabber to pick up a wheelbarrow full of pine cones, and then raked up another barrow full of pine twigs. I dumped the pine cones behind my shed since I have a lady who wants to come this week for free cones. I had at least 25 people in the winter getting the cones. And a lot of people came for the branches, so they do me a favor since it is easier to mow under the branches since they aren't too low.

So that made me totally exhausted, but I did survive.

[sunsetpainter]

WE switched our auto to Progressive because they were the cheapest for the same coverage. They gave a big discount if we "bundled" our homeowners with it. So sure! We went ahead and switched from out old insurance because they really saved a lot. Well, 2 weeks after we switched, Progressive homeowners called to say that we had 3 weeks to replace our roof (because it was too old...20 years old on a 30 year rated shingled roof!) or they would cancel the policy. This happened the WEEK before Christmas. So, in the dead of winter, with TWO holidays in that period, they wanted us to REPLACE the roof! I said some bad words to her, cancelled the policy on the spot (our old policy still had a few weeks left to run), and got house insurance through Indiana Farmers.

[Emerald_Door]

Denise, I want to echo what Chap said. You seem to have remarkable energy and strength. There are a lot of people who couldn't do an hour's worth of yard work for various health-related reasons, but you are out there doing it.

Do you think people would be willing to pick up the pine cones from the yard themselves, so you don't have to do it? Their kids might even enjoy that activity.

[labbypaws]

A woman near here uses church groups and the like that come in and trim shrubs, cut the lawn, do yard cleanup etc. Maybe post in a local group that you need some help and see if any group offers?

[denise15601]

@sunset...my insurance agent agrees with the Progressive problem. And that is why she suggested Donegal for me. That sure was a dirty move on their part.

@emerald...thanks. Energy I don't have. The people who come in the winter do pick up the pine cones from my yard. I don't mind using my grabber to do it, though, since it makes it easier for them to just take what they need. And really, it is less for me to rake. I have mentioned in the past about a guy who cuts down a lot of the branches and uses them to create a life-sized nativity scene for Christmas. He always sends me a picture of the scene, which makes me feel so great.

@labby... I might have to eventually do that, but all I have seen online are the people who want to be paid.

Once I get the winter mess cleared up, then I will just mow over the additional twigs that will continue to fall. I know that I will eventually have to hire someone to do all of this clean-up. But it really is the only exercise that I get since I am not allowed to do normal exercises because of my propensity to break my ribs or get compression fractures.

On a health note, I have finally determined that I have postprandial hypotension. It causes my BP to tank after a normal-sized meal. After my breakfast a few weeks ago, my BP tanked to 64/41. So I have to drink more water before each meal, and eat 6 tiny meals a day. Otherwise, my BP also can go very high, and that is most likely caused by my chemo.

CT scan today to see what other problems my body has.

[labbypaws]

Thinking of you today Denise.

Yes, do reach out to some organizations.

Rain, rain go away.

Oh and Facebook is down. Confirmed by Down Detector.

[denise15601]

Mar 5, 2024 15:51:53 GMT labbypaws said:

Thinking of you today Denise.

Yes, do reach out to some organizations.

Rain, rain go away.

Oh and Facebook is down. Confirmed by Down Detector.

Thanks so much!  I just posted on here asking about Facebook!!  We can't even go on Facebook to ask!

[jesmelric]

Hey guys, hope everyone is doing well. Super warm here, ugh. The expected high today is 86, which would break a record from 1998. Hopefully cooler this weekend. I hope so. I need to do a photo session, and Janey prefers to stay outside when I am photographing. I don't know why, she's just weird lol.

DH got a little work done on the tile for the tub surround yesterday. Hopefully the new one will go in within 2 to 3 weeks. I sure do miss my soaks, it will be worth it in the end though.

I went to see my sister on Sunday. It's been just over 4 weeks since the accident and the neck brace. She's feeling a lot better and can do a lot more for herself. I did some cleaning for her but she didn't need me to do nearly as much. I did bring her some homemade chicken soup, spaghetti, and cupcakes I made specially for her. She has a CT scan today for the vascular dr (they said in the hospital she had a vascular injury. This is her first appointment for it because the dr they referred her to wasn't on her insurance and it took forever to get one, get the referral and then the appointment). She has a follow with the orthopedic dr on the 19th and she's hoping she'll be able to get the neck brace off then.

Yesterday was mom's birthday, the first since she passed. And in a weird coincidence, we got the box of dad's stuff from our stepmom (finally!) yesterday. Mostly sentimental stuff, so it was an emotional day. I did find an old picture of me that I wondered what had happened to. My one claim to fame, I met Meadowlark Lemon when I was 12, I gave him a certificate of appreciation on behalf of the MS Society. I knew the picture existed, but I never knew what happened to it. I told DH, I told you it existed!

We have State Farm for Auto and Home, bundled. We have a really good rate on auto. So I can find cheaper Home insurance, but the auto is a lot more, so it's pretty much a wash.

Denise thinking of you, hope your scan goes well today.

[Emerald_Door]

Mar 5, 2024 18:18:45 GMT jesmelric said:

I did find an old picture of me that I wondered what had happened to. My one claim to fame, I met Meadowlark Lemon when I was 12, I gave him a certificate of appreciation on behalf of the MS Society. I knew the picture existed, but I never knew what happened to it. I told DH, I told you it existed!

I hope your sister's recovery is going well.

I'm glad you got the photo back. What did Meadowlark Lemon do for the MS Society?  Were you working with the MS Society in some way?

[jesmelric]

Mar 6, 2024 15:34:43 GMT Emerald_Door said:

Mar 5, 2024 18:18:45 GMT jesmelric said:

I did find an old picture of me that I wondered what had happened to. My one claim to fame, I met Meadowlark Lemon when I was 12, I gave him a certificate of appreciation on behalf of the MS Society. I knew the picture existed, but I never knew what happened to it. I told DH, I told you it existed!

I hope your sister's recovery is going well.

I'm glad you got the photo back. What did Meadowlark Lemon do for the MS Society?  Were you working with the MS Society in some way?

My dad had a friend named Zoe who was diagnosed with MS at a pretty young age, she must have been in her late 20s? I did a lot of stuffing envelopes for them (I guess that's how they solicited back then) so she told me as a reward I could present the certificate to him. I don't know if he donated directly or maybe just lent his image to raise funds/awareness. It was at the Summit here (now Lakewood Church) behind/underneath something and I remember it was brief, I stood on a crate, he was very friendly to me. I was super nervous lol

[Emerald_Door]

That's a great photo! You're so cute!

It was good of you to volunteer for MS. It's more common in women than in men, and it's typically diagnosed between age 20 and 40, although it can occur in younger and older people. It can be a very cruel disease.

[val2525]

Hmnn. National Dress and Frozen Food Day? I have a few summer dresses but I don't wear them all that often. As for frozen foods, I always have cauliflower & okra on hand - they're great in the air fryer. I usually have some frozen salmon and cod around, and I love the RealGood Foods low carb/gluten free chicken strips.

[kritter]

I have a few summer dresses but I don't wear them all that often.

Summer dresses are my favorite clothing option.  In fact I have a denim summer dress on right now to run my midweek errands. 

[val2525]

Partly cloudy and mid 80s here today. I have green chile chicken the slow cooker, so I can make chicken enchiladas tonight. Recipe for the chicken is on the Recipe Board. SUPER easy.

[labbypaws]

It is still raining here. Ugh.

[denise15601]

Jes! What a neat picture and how cute you are! So glad that your sister is doing better and sorry about your Mom's birthday.

Just printed out my CT scan report and it is good, TG. So all of the aches and pains that I have are not cancer and just old lady stuff. That's preferable.

Doing my best all day to eat a little bit every 3 hours to try to keep my BP somewhat steady. It still went down to 84/60 after my small breakfast, though. grrrr

It rained here all day too. So that kept me inside and an escape from raking.

[jesmelric]

Mar 6, 2024 17:04:15 GMT Emerald_Door said:

That's a great photo! You're so cute!

It was good of you to volunteer for MS. It's more common in women than in men, and it's typically diagnosed between age 20 and 40, although it can occur in younger and older people. It can be a very cruel disease.

Thanks, I think the operative word here would be "were" cute lol. Unfortunately my cute days are behind me . It was a memorable day and I am glad to finally have the photo of it. My stepsister was actually diagnosed with MS about 7 or 8 years ago, in her late 40s. She has the mildest form, which still sucks. Poor Zoe must have had a much more severe kind, I remember her being in a wheelchair within a few years. She moved to Colorado in the early 80s, I think may dad lost touch.

We are very warm here, 86 yesterday! It's supposed to rain tomorrow (hopefully) then cool down. I need to change the a/c filters, it's that time again. Lots of beautiful flowers here; wisteria, azaleas, jasmine are just some of what's blooming. I don't have allergies (knock on wood!) so I really enjoy this season.

Denise, so glad your scan results were good!

[val2525]

National Cereal Day? Who knew? My fave as a kid was Life, although the base commissary was often out of it so my mom would get one of the Chex versions or Wheat Thins (ugh). Needless to say I'm not fond of any of those as an adult As an adult, my fave is Kashi Organic Blueberry Clusters, with Nature's Path Flax Plus Organic Red Berry in second place. But I don't eat cereal all that often, TBH.

Mid 70s and cloudy here today. Guess I better go stretch out, the computer is getting to my shoulder. Then I have some biz tax returns to do today.

[labbypaws]

I can’t believe people ship things without putting them in a plastic bag. Yep, the banned plastic bags! Well anyway there are some good uses for them.

Yesterday I got a pair of shoes shipped in a box. No bag. Mailman left eh box on my front steps by my door. There is an overhang but the box was wet by the time I got home from work. No damage done just that they should have wrapped them up.

[denise15601]

There are so many posts on FB about saving the earth by eliminating the inside plastic bag. My mission is to make sure that the item arrives safely, and the buyer can feel free to recycle my new clear bag.

And then, as usual, there was another post today about a clothing item that was shipped in a flimsy cereal box with no inside bag either. I can't believe that so many people think that's okay to do.

[frakinfashion]

Frozen Food = Ice Cream

[chapeaunoir]

Last week this happened off of a beach where I used to run stairs every week (our beaches are not the sandy kind). Someone caught it on video and it was published in the Good News blog! 




I'm down with bursitis in my right hip - it's from a hike a couple of weeks ago which featured a very steep 4 mile descent on a road, so we kind of slammed down it. It keeps niggling and flared again last night. I can hobble and walk slowly, ride a bike only I can't climb on one (due to the hip) so have to scramble onto a spin bike. Guess it's the gym and easy walks to the pub for me. That kind of blows my spring schedule and I'll be bailing out of the races I had scheduled, which is a spendy proposition. I was doing really well, too, for a long time. I lay in bed half the morning this morning with the covers over my head in frustration but have to get up sometime. 

jesmelric - that's a great photo! Here in the Pac NW we have one of the highest rates of MS in the world, thought related to vitamin D deficiency due to lack of sunlight. Interestingly, so does Syracuse, NY. 

ETA: I'm 100% for eliminating plastic grocery bags in stores, but I think that's the major issue with plastic pollution - I've seen the effects and it's really bad. Using the clear plastic or whatever for shipping is a lot smaller issue. It's important not to mix the two. I would never use a plastic grocery bag to ship anything, actually, (at least not with what I sell) but it's better than nothing. I've gotten majority of things from eBay just rolled up and stuffed into a mailer - I've rarely been very impressed, though some sellers really go the extra mile. If I shipped without plastic stuff would get wet. 

[denise15601]

(((chap)))

[kritter]

Took the first step on the front yard redo this morning. The fence guy came on time and was prepared which is amazing in that alone. I was going to get more quotes but I liked this guy so we will see what is quote is tomorrow. It is hard to get these service people to answer the phone, return a call, or even show up. He said they are about 3 weeks out on their schedule which is good and bad. Good that they are busy because they must have a good following but bad because I would like to have it done sooner. Good reviews on NextDoor where I found him.

At least it is the first step in the process.