September chitchat

[Earth Mother 2 Angels]

((((((Hugs to All)))))) ~

Virginia ~

How often did you water your old shrubs? The newer ones probably won't need more water than that. Shrubs are hardy. Here are tips on watering shrubs:

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You do get a lot of rain, so that will take the place of watering for you.

Sunshine ~

I'm sorry that one of your acquaintances is on a ventilator and another one is going to deal with long haul COVID.

In my last post on the COVID 19 thread, I discussed people, who don't want to get the vaccine, because they don't know what's in it. Yet they take Ivermectin, which is a horse dewormer. If they get COVID, they will be taking medications to stave off symptoms, or be in the hospital on a variety of medications to save their lives. Even Tylenol and Ibuprofen have side effects, some quite serious like bleeding ulcers, liver and kidney dysfunction.

The argument that the COVID vaccine is a matter of personal freedom disregards the fact that COVID is a PUBLIC HEALTH CRISIS. Tragically, people, who refuse to get a vaccine or wear a mask are contributing to the surge in COVID cases and death, including infecting people, who are vaccinated.

If you are not going to get vaccinated, then, please, at least wear a mask, when you are around other people.

This past week, 250,000 U.S. children contracted COVID, and 30,000 of them were hospitalized. Children under 12 are at great risk, because they can't receive a vaccine. Just imagine what long haul COVID means to them!

I have admitted all along that I was cautious about the vaccine, which is why I waited to be vaccinated. I followed the science and researched COVID news everyday. When Delta started taking people down, I knew it was time to get my shots. I am very glad that I did. At least I feel somewhat protected. Of course, I always wear a mask, when I am around people, including John, who is vaccinated.

My iPhone is activated and working! YAY! John gave me a tutorial on how to use it, and it is fairly simple. I am using Siri to send texts, which is great! My iPhone is plugged into my iMac for charging. I think this is going to be just fine for me! YAY!

I'm so grateful to John for so many things, and today, he was just wonderful. He is a good teacher, patient, and more than willing to repeat his instructions. When we finished, he took a slew of trash bags out to the bins, then he took the bins out to the street. I so welcomed that, as my back is in a world of hurt these days. I have been a whirling dervish cleaning the past few days, hence the many bags of trash.

Prayers and positive, healing energy to all ~ Be safe, stay well, and find joy everyday!

Love & Light,

❤️❤️❤️❤️

Rose

*Virtual Hugs Are Germ-Free!


THANKS!

[Virginia]

Sunshine, good post on COVID and vaccinations. Thankfully, our President spoke out today. I didn't hear him, but I think it was quite forceful.

Agate, none of the things you mentioned about watering my plants would work here. We don't just make new policies. We have By-laws that we go by (well most of us do). However, I feel that putting out some soaker hoses will take care of my problem. My brother was by here today. He thinks I will need one 100 foot one and one 50 foot one. I have two outside faucets and I will just leave them hooked up to the faucets, so that all that has to be done is to turn them on and off when the plants need watering. Laura lives too far away for me to hire her to come over and turn them on and off. She actually lives closer to my brothers than she does to me. I wish she did live over here.

Rose, I didn't water my old plants and haven't in a number of years. I did when I first moved in 28 1/2 years ago, but they were so well established that it wasn't necessary anymore. Sometime we have draughts, but they still no longer needed watering.

My A/C is on the blink again. I had someone out last week and he is coming back in the morning. Then I have to go to the Doctor tomorrow afternoon. My brother brought me an oscillating fan to sit on my table in my bedroom. I have an overhead one in the living room. I was offered the use of my Nephew's house and I would have felt like I was living in a spa. However, if possible I had rather stay at home where I can take care of all the business that is going on here. He is out of town right now, so I could even have slept in the master bedroom and looked out on the swimming pool from the bedroom door that goes out to it. Oh well! He put that house on the market and sold it, so it is now under contract. I think he is due to close on the 27th. I hope all goes well. If it does he got a very nice price for it.

I washed my hair yesterday, but didn't like the way it looked, so I did it again this afternoon. Since I have the A/C man coming at 9 o'clock in the morning and I don't know how long he will be here and then I have to go to the Doctor, I just figured it would be better for me to do it today.

[stillstANNding]

Hi Virginia,


Good luck with the air conditioning. That’s so important.

I noticed awhile back that you are working your way up to the thirty bags of groceries.

Re: your alert system - Life Alert asked me when, I was ordering, how many floors we had that Mom used. She lives in a ranch home with a walk out finished basement. They recommended a unit for each floor and that’s what we did. I’d hate to think you’d need help and not be able to talk with them. They’d send help anyway if you’d pushed the button.

ANN

[Virginia]

Soooo, yesterday I went to see my new Doctor. Unfortunately, I was very, very unimpressed. The nurse took my b/p and it was 176/92. I asked her if I could just sit for awhile. So she put the machine on automatic and let it sit there and every few minutes take my b/p. It finally came down to 152/82. I saw on line last night that my thyroid has come down some and is just within the normal range. The Doctor did put me on some b/p medicine. I was already on the fluid pill that they give everyone with high b/p. My other Doctor had put me on it the last time I saw her.

Dr. Iqbal was nothing like her picture or the write up about her. She said very little and asked even less questions. She just didn't make any attempt to get to know me or my problems. I want my old Doctor back.

Back to my A/C. Yes Ann, they are very important. I could not exist in N.C. in the summer without one. So, the head honcho came out yesterday morning to talk to me about a new unit. He e-mailed me a proposal last night for two different brand name Heat Pumps. I called him on the phone and told him to go with the one he could get in the quickest. He had to order some parts Monday morning. Well, this morning I thought of my neighbor who knows everyone in Raleigh and I knew she had gotten someone to put a unit in for another neighbor. She called him and he came out at noon. The nicest young man. He went to school with her two daughters and they lived in the same neighborhood. He could only give me a ball park figure, but it was so much less than the other man and I really like him, so I am going with him. I e-mailed the first man and told him to please not order anything and I told him what had happened.

This man that my neighbor knows went to his office which is close by and got a portable air conditioner and brought it back. It is a real nice little unit. He said he brought it just for people like me who could not be in heat. It sits on the floor and a hose runs out the window for water to empty out. My youngest brother told me he use to have one in an office he worked in and that in that office it would get so cold it would run him out. I would think they would be an expensive little item. You have to put water in them about every two days, but he left the handbook so I could look that up or he will come back and do it.

My neighbor called while he was here and I had told her I would give her a really nice crystal trifle bowl if she wanted it. She told me to tell Lee to bring it to her. He knew from my end of the conversation what was taking place and he looked at me and just grinned. I think she treats him like he is one of her children, but he is so nice he doesn't seem to mind. I asked him how long he has known her and he said Oh! 40 years. I told him I didn't think he was 40 years old. Her oldest daughter is celebrating her 42nd birthday today.

I am loosing track of the days with all the goings on around this place. I haven't had the tv on because I haven't had time. I know the date, so I am sure there is a lot on that is very sad. I am going to turn it on.

I hope all of you are well.

[Earth Mother 2 Angels]

Screen Shot 2021-09-11 at 4.09.34 PM.png

((((((Hugs to All)))))) ~

Virginia ~

So, your shrubs were fine with your rainfall and didn't require you to water them? Your HOA doesn't have an automated sprinkler system to water them, I gather. As long as your old shrubs were healthy and attractive, you probably would have been better served to keep them rather have them replaced. I hope that you can find any easy way to keep them watered.

That's unfortunate that you aren't happy with Dr. Iqbal. I always go to a doctor's appointment with a list of questions, so if the doctor doesn't ask me, then I ask the doctor.

Did you mention your fatigue, mobility concerns (being on the floor), your family's recent trauma and stress? Did you ask her about the BP medication and whether it might interact with your thyroid med and MS med? Are you still taking a diuretic with the BP med? Did she order blood work?

It can take time to develop a relationship with a new physician. I hope that you will eventually feel more comfortable with her.

I'm so pleased that you had a nice, honest young man to help you with your a/c problems. It is heartwarming to know that there are caring people in the World.

Prayers and healing, positive energy to all ~

Love & Light,

❤️❤️❤️❤️

Rose

*Virtual Hugs Are Germ-Free!


THANKS!

[Virginia]

Rose, my old shrubs were very healthy, but very large. I had so many the yard man was having a hard time keeping them pruned and the HOA wants to get the community a little more uniform if they can. We do not have a sprinkler system built in and if we did it would take mountains of money to maintain it. We have an awful lot of common ground in this community. We have an area that my bedroom window looks across on that is round and kind of circles the community. It is large and in the center it has a gazebo. Then we have lots of common ground where our two tennis courts and swimming pool are located. I am very glad we do not have sprinklers because then the upkeep and the water would have to be built into our dues.

As for Dr. Iqbal, I did ask questions. I told her about the weakness and that I was very tired, but I realized that was a question for my Neurologist and not Dr. Iqbal. So, when I told her these things I also told her that my Neurologist had just kind of given up seeing me and that I was aware that it was because he has nothing he can offer me as far as my MS goes which is where my problems are obviously rooted, though I didn't tell her that. I questioned the b/p medication. She says it will not interfere with anything. I asked if she still wanted me on the diuretic and she said yes. I asked some other questions which she answered in as few syllables as possible. It is what it is. I am going back in about 4 weeks to see the Nurse and get my b/p checked. She did do that.

I received a return e-mail from the first air conditioner man telling me he had received mine canceling any orders. He said it was no problem and if I needed him later to let him know.

I have slept very little since Thursday when I realized I no longer had a working heat pump. I hope I can sleep in tomorrow morning, but I have a feeling my neighbor is going to call me about the dish I gave to her. She was tied up with family this afternoon.

[agate]

Virginia, I've heard of doctors who offer a "get to know you" visit where a possible patient just chats with the doctor and then decides. I don't believe your Dr. Iqbal did that, and this visit was your first? Maybe she was treating it like a "get to know you" visit.

You obviously didn't think much of her approach, but maybe she'll give you more time and attention on your next visit. She might be tired of patients who are seen once and then never come back. I say give her another chance. Sometimes doctors have their bad days when they have to cut corners with some patients.

[Earth Mother 2 Angels]

((((((Hugs to All)))))) ~

My community has many amenities, including greenbelts with shrubs, trees, flowers, etc. All common areas have automatic sprinklers. Maintenance is a large part of our HOA budget, and even with the drought, our monthly fees haven't increased for 10 years. Do you have grass yards as well as shrubs?

Perhaps your HOA will send homeowners a notice explaining how to maintain the new shrubs once they are planted. If not, then maybe you could ask the crew, when they start planting, what you need to do for the shrubs. Or, you probably have a property manager, who you could call for information on shrub care.

Some of the least social and chatty doctors, who treated Jon and Michael, were excellent physicians. One of the ICU intensivists/pulmonologists was often unkind to me through the years, until Jon's last hospitalization in 2012.

Several nurses had commented to him about his attitude toward me. One nurse ran out of Jon's room to stop the doctor and scold him, "You can't talk to her like that!" Finally, two nurses and the hospital nutritionist took him aside and told him to treat me with more respect. He did. By the time of Jon's discharge, this doctor and I had a very good relationship.

It can take time to develop a rapport, so maybe Dr. Iqbal will loosen up.

Did you sleep better last night? I hope your a/c is working well for you.

It's 95 here, so I have my Dyson fans on full blast. Dyson fans are one of the best investments we ever made. I rarely run my a/c, and I probably should occasionally to keep it functioning. It's expensive, but mostly it causes me sinus problems, as well as aggravates my RA.

The absence of shade from my magnificent eucalyptus is really noticeable in the temperature of the house. The sun beats down on the back of the house then moves to the side. I think I'm in for a hot month, so my fans are going to get a workout.

For All ~

Stay well. Be safe. Wear a mask. Don't take any wooden nickels. Laugh at least once a day.

Love & Light,

❤️❤️❤️❤️

Rose

*Virtual Hugs Are Germ-Free!


THANKS!

[Virginia]

As far as Dr. Iqbal is concerned, I don't have any choice but to give her another chance. I don't have anyone else to go to. However, there was an overall change in the atmosphere of that office. There are several girls that work out front, I thought I recognized only one. I saw no nurses in the back or in the lab that I recognized. Another thing was the appearance of everyone seemed to have gone in a downhill direction. Now, I am not basing my health care on appearances (before y'all say that), but I would just prefer a little more professional appearance, like someone cares. That is just me.

I am not using the little A/C unit that Lee brought me to use very much. I used it a lot yesterday afternoon, but then turned it off. I will have to turn it on later this afternoon, because the heat is again in the 90s. When I said I had to put water in it, I meant to say I had to empty a pan that collects water. It is located right on the bottom of the machine. It is sitting on my dinning room carpet. Now, we all know from previous attempts that I can no longer get up off the floor, so I can't empty the pan that the water collects in. This is from the humidity.

He called me earlier and told me the price for an A/C unit that he could get all the parts for. It is the brand that I have now. The first man had given me a quote on that brand also. The guy I have now was $1, 446.00 cheaper.

Well, this morning, I wanted to change the direction of the air flow on my table oscillating fan and I kind of broke it. I had to pretty much take it apart and put it back together again. I tinkered and managed to do it. I thought of Agate who tinkers with everything. She gets her tool box out, Rose just calls John and says how quick can you get here?, Ann just says Peter I want that fixed differently and then goes back to whatever she wants to do. I did this all on my own. I hope you ladies know I am just teasing. I know all of you are smarter than me, however I honestly did think of Agate and my thought was she would be working with her tool box out and rummaging for screwdrivers and whatever she could think of to use.

Oh, Lee thinks he will get my A/C tomorrow and put it in Wednesday.

[agate]

Well, um, getting the toolbox out is a bit of a project as I need to haul it along the floor from out of the closet where it sits but at least it opens up very easily. The tools I use most often are hanging on a pegboard in the kitchen or in a kitchen drawer. Mallet, several hammers, flashlight, several types of screwdrivers, a couple of types of plyers, etc.

It's much easier to find out how to fix things now that the Internet is here and we can do a search.

[Earth Mother 2 Angels]

((((((Hugs to All)))))) ~

Virginia ~

Unfortunately, you don't have a choice about your doctor. If you don't feel comfortable with Dr. Iqbal after some period of time, and the atmosphere of the offices continues to decline, then you should contact someone in the management of the offices. A Patient Advocate or an Ombudsman, someone who can help you find another physician, or address the office atmosphere.

Did they all wear masks and gloves? Were they polite toward you? You might want to start keeping a log of the quality of care you're receiving there for future reference.

How wonderful that you're getting a good price on your a/c! Sometimes things just work out right, and that is always a glorious thing. And congratulations on fixing your fan! I highly recommend the Dyson fans, which are much cleaner than regular fans and last many years. I could do a commercial for how great they are!

You are absolutely correct that I am blessed to have John. In addition to him, I have his wife and daughter, sister and her husband and their two daughters.

I can't even begin to imagine where I would be now without John's help with Jonathan, Jim and now me. Recently, when John visited, we were in Michael's room, and John picked up a photo of me and Jonathan from 2004. John teared up, "I sure miss that sweet smile and those great hugs, Jonathan."

I wish that everyone could have John in their lives! As he once said, when we were tending to Jonathan, "If everyone in the world helped just one person, just imagine how wonderful the world would be."

agate ~

Your industrious nature is a thing of beauty! I may attempt to fix something, but after awhile, frustration usually wins. I applaud you!

Love & Light,

❤️❤️❤️❤️

Rose

*Virtual Hugs Are Germ-Free!


THANKS!

[Virginia]

My younger brother did call me and asked if I wanted him to take me to my Nephew's house tomorrow because it is due to be hotter here than it has been the last few days. I told him I would manage here with my little fan and my overhead fan and the portable a/c that the new a/c man brought over.

I also told him I didn't want to go to his house if my new great nephew is not there. His wife started her new job today. She is going to my Niece's which is less than two blocks and is going to be Nannie to her Grandson. She will have her hands full because she still shops and does so much for her Dad since her Mother died in July. In addition, she has her own house. She had promised them a year. My Niece can work some at home and give her some time. I told my brother that I knew it was a two edge sword for my Niece because she has to go back to work and leave him, but on the other hand she loves working and loves her job. He said yes it would be hard to leave that cute little thing. When she takes him to their house their two dogs go over to her and lick his toes.

[Virginia]

Okay everyone, if you all are not going to talk to me I guess I will just talk to myself.

My new air conditioner man got my unit installed yesterday. It took a long time for it to get down to 74 degrees which is where I had it set. He finished up about 2:30 yesterday afternoon and it was around 10 o'clock last night before it got to 74. However, since then it has been strictly on 74 degrees.

Funny, my youngest brother and I were talking last night and he said he had been unable to get in touch with his air conditioning man for months. He has used this man for years and is worried about him. He said he might have died. I mentioned to Lee, the man who put my unit in that my brother might need his services for a small place of business he owns. Then just this morning my brother called me and said he had received a call from the manager of the business that the air conditioner had gone out. So I gave him Lee's telephone number. I don't know if they were able to connect or not. I hope they did, I think my brother would like him. After 28 1/2 years it seems strange to look out back and see a different unit on the outside. This one is so quite. The other one I could tell if it was running by just opening my back door. This one I have to look inside it. In the house, I can not hear this unit at the air return. If I want to know if it is on I have to go to one of the vents and stand over it to see if air is coming out.

Laura is here this afternoon and I am trying to get things back to normal in the house. Also, if I want to cook something now I can use the stove without worrying about it getting even hotter in here.

I had a call from my pharmacy yesterday. The man was asking if I was having any side effects from the B/P pill that I started over the week-end. I told him that I was having a little shortness of breath. It is more like I can't breath from deep down and my breathing is sometime shallow. He said that might occur for several weeks until I got use to the medicine. I have never had a call from them about any of my medications before.

I hope all of you are doing well.

[agate]

Virginia, I don't know where everyone is. It may have been a mistake to put up a poll and then a follow-up poll because it called attention to how few of us are taking part in polls. There may be far more reading but not taking part in polls. At least I like to think there are.

I wish I could think of a way of attracting people here but unfortunately I don't have many connections or good ideas.

Meanwhile, here we are!

It must be nice to have a quieter air conditioner. Years ago I had a house and installed AC in it. I had a choice of putting the compressor on the roof or in the back yard. I chose the back yard, and it did make a bit of noise but it wasn't bad enough to bother anyone. I would really have hated a noisy AC right in the yard.

That does seem unusual for a pharmacy to call to ask about how you're doing on a prescription, but it's probably good that they care enough to do that. Or no?

I'm still busy with details about the hearing aids that I hope to get (at last) on the 28th. The order went in on August 26. Many calls. Much time spent waiting on hold and having to start over with my story when I get transferred to some other department at United Health Care. I'm thoroughly tired of spelling my name and giving my date of birth, address, and various numbers.

I finally got angry yesterday and told them, "I was told it would be a week before the aids came. It's been 3 weeks. If you can't supply them, I'd like to know about it so I can get that charge removed from my credit card." At that point I noticed I started getting answers.

I recall a time when insurance companies weren't involved if you had Medicare and Medicaid. Then along came the insurance companies, muscling into the picture. Things have been quite a bit more complicated ever since.

[clouds z]

medicare and medicaid its all a scam now

im sick of seeing those joe namath ads on tv

[Earth Mother 2 Angels]

((((((Hugs to All)))))) ~

Virginia ~

I'm so happy for you that you have your new air conditioner! Did you have your old a/c for 28 1/2 years?! Wow! That was a good unit to last that long! I hope you get 30 years out of your new one! I've noticed that the newer units are much quieter. Both of our neighbors replaced their units several years ago, and they were significantly quieter.

That was very nice of your pharmacy to call you about your new BP medicine. I don't like the sound of your respiratory side effect. If that doesn't improve in less than "a several weeks," you might want to call Dr. Iqbal. Are you taking your BP regularly and noticing an improvement?

agate ~

I'm sorry that you had to hassle with United Health about your hearing aids. Good for you standing up to them and getting action. I look forward to your report on the 28th about how wonderful they are working!

Love & Light,

❤️❤️❤️❤️

Rose

*Virtual Hugs Are Germ-Free!


THANKS!