December chitchat

[agate]

Many thanks to Howie's nephew!

The power was out here for 9 hours and just came on. It was getting cold here even though my apartment had partial power. The main heating system wasn't working, and the weather outside is in the 20s and dropping. The utility company told me this place needs a backup generator. I've been saying that too for years but it hasn't happened.

When the power goes out here, nobody can cook, heat won't work, lights of course won't work, and worst of all for those on the 2nd, 3rd and 4th floors, the elevator won't work. Some people on those floors can't do the stairs on their own. There are people here who are well over 90. There are people on oxygen.

I point this out to the electric company every time I have to call about a power outage. I figure it won't hurt them to become more aware that we're here. Not a nursing home (which would have a backup generator) but a building full of retirees.

Virginia, your experience with your neighbor sounds like something that happened to me. A neighbor very kindly gave me a box of sugar-free candy but I found I can't eat it. It's made with one of the sugar substitutes that causes intestinal problems. There's a long list of sugar-substitutes these days, but quite a few of them aren't recommended.

[Snuggles2]

Hi everyone,

Howie, I am glad your nephew came to your rescue and you have a new battery for your car. A few weeks ago we went to drive to my son's to babysit my grandkids and our car wouldn't start. My hubby connected up the battery charger and charged it while we were gone (thank goodness we have 2 cars). When we got home and he started it up he found out that he had left some of the inside car lights on and that is why the battery died. Well it happened again last week to our other car and guess what, the inside car lights were left on (not by me) and drained the battery! Again the battery charger was able to charge the battery and we didn't need a new battery. I don't know how I would take care of a car if hubby was not here.

Virginia, how nice of your neighbor to think of you and bring you cookies even if you can't eat them. It is the thought that counts! My son has been home from Boston and we baked several types of cookies this week. I am eating way too many of them and it isn't even Christmas yet! I'm sure it will show on the scale when I get on it but I won't do that until after the holidays.

Agate, it does sound like your building needs a generator. With winter here it can get cold fast inside with no heat and it gets dark so early in the evening. A few years ago we bought a gas generator to give us some power in a power outage. I was concerned that if we had a power outage we would lose all of the frozen food we stocked up in our freezer. Fortunately we have never had to use it yet but I like the reassurance that it is there if needed.

I had my diagnostic mammogram today. I was relieved to find out that they didn't see anything in my right breast with an additional set of mammograms and an ultrasound. I will have to go in for a biopsy in my left breast. They think that it is just a calcification and nothing to worry about but they can't be sure without the biopsy. They tried to talk me into having it tomorrow afternoon since they had lots of openings. I didn't want it done that close to Christmas since I wasn't sure what the restrictions would be. The doctor made it sound like recovery was a non-issue but when they called later in the day to schedule the biopsy they indicated that I would have to ice the area for a day, wear a tight supportive bra for a day or two, limit my lifting to 10 lbs and not get the incision site wet for so many hours. After hearing that I am glad I did not take the appointment for tomorrow with Christmas so soon! The office is also in the middle of a busy commercial area with several malls and I know the traffic will be crazy there tomorrow. On top of that we are supposed to get some snow tonight. My appointment is in early January.

I hope everyone is ready for the holidays. They will be here before we know it!

[Howie]

It's Christmas Eve, Eve. Two more days. Sam is so excited!!!

[agate]

Sam gets remembered by Santa, does she?

Hope the bad weather isn't hitting anyone hard. I'm not sure why people with MS aren't exempt from Weather but we're not.

Two power outages here in the last 24 hours--9 hours and 3 hours. I can't safely use my yogurt, milk, eggs, or cheese and so am hoping that Instacart might be able to bring replacements tomorrow afternoon. As of now, nothing is moving in this building's parking lot because it's covered with snow and ice. Not heavy but enough to cripple vehicles. It's up to 25' now but may not start melting today. Tomorrow it might get up to 45' and so I'm hoping. It was cold last night, too cold to sleep very well, and so I'll be trying to catch up on sleep now.

[Virginia]

Agate, sounds like you are having a hard time with the weather. It is so bad to be without power. It is also bad to be cold and not be able to sleep well. I am sorry your food went bad. I do hope you can get an order in. Would it do any good to take up some kind of petition and have your neighbors sign it stating the facts and why a generator is needed.

We are having very cold temperatures. It is 22 degrees now and due to get colder. There have been very high winds with power outages. Eric has contacted me twice today to tell me to keep the house warm and call him if I have any problems. Their power was out for a while this morning. I hope it was not too long because his wife is cooking Christmas dinner for the family tomorrow evening. Eric will come and get me and bring me back home.

Howie, that was really nice of your Nephew. I am glad you got that done and over with because we are likely to have more cold weather this winter. Sam is probably playing up to you about now because as smart as she is she has figured out exactly who Santa Claus is.

Snuggles, glad one mammogram is out of the way. So sorry you have to have a biopsy of the other one. I am sure with all your decorating your family will be having a big Christmas. You will have fun and enjoy everyone.

A neighbor came over this afternoon and we exchanged small gifts. She also brought me a chocolate bomb that her daughter had made and sent to me. That is a big ball of chocolate that you put in warm milk and it turns into hot chocolate. I had it after she left and it was real good. Another neighbor called just to see if I needed anything. I really appreciated it, however she had already been to the grocery store and was back home.

Everyone enjoy your Christmas!

[agate]

Virginia, I'm still getting over the power outages. The family visit was going to be tomorrow but the streets aren't clear yet, and I'm still putting things back together here (putting myself back together too, somehow). So we're postponing the Christmas get-together (son, DIL, grandson) until some day in the coming week. Weather permitting.

I'd never heard of a chocolate bomb. It sounds interesting. But then anything involving chocolate sounds interesting. And easier than the powdered Swiss Miss hot chocolate I remember.

The grandson is getting a candy cane on top of one of his Christmas presents. He's getting a modeling clay set, a paperback book (Clifford the Big Red Dog)--and the rest will bore him because it's clothes. The book is mostly pictures but it's a book my son really liked at about his age.

[agate]

I'll post this a bit early just in case there are more power problems here.

Season's Greetings to everyone!

[Virginia]

Agate, how did the inspection go?

Howie, I saw that there was a marathon of Godfather movies on today. If you like them I hope you saw it.

[Howie]

No, I didn't see it, but I'm not a Godfather fan. Not enough violence.

[agate]

Well, Howie, don't spend it all at once--Social Security paid today! Even though the 3rd is on a weekday. Downright generous of them!

Howie, I've been watching the first season of the original "Star Trek." Not much violence in the first 3 episodes except for a fist fight between Kirk and someone whose eyes are glowing weirdly and he has entirely too much power and has to be eliminated.

Virginia, the inspections are never fun. At least they were done by 2 instead of 5, and so I didn't have to wait around as long as I'd expected. Then I had to put the place back together again. Being all dressed and ready for them by 9 wasn't easy either as I'm slow in the early mornings but there again luck was with me because originally the time had been set at 8 but they changed the starting time to 9.

The timing of this inspection seemed unfortunate to me--right during the holidays when many people including me have their places decorated and a bit worse-looking than usual because they've been busy with holiday activities. Some neighbors felt the same way--that the timing was bad for us.

[Howie]

We got paid today? Wow, SS did something nice for retires? I was set to not have to go out again until the 3rd, so I have enough to get me through until then. I hate to have to change plans!

[agate]

Sometimes some people get money early and some don't. I'd make sure that the money was there. You can call your bank and find out?

[Howie]

No, I'll just wait until the 3rd. The only way I can find out is to go to the ATM, and see what I have, then withdraw what money I need to go shopping. Too much work. Plus, it's pouring rain right now. I don't like to do my store trip when it's raining.

Sam and I can wait until the third.

[Virginia]

Check with Sam and make sure you can wait Howie. You know how upset and angry she gets if she doesn't get what she wants - when she wants it!

[Howie]

I ALWAYS have some cheese and some sliced turkey for her to eat, even if I am starving!!!