OT June Chit Chat

[Cherie]

We're at the Condo in NH...Board of Directors Meeting this weekend and I am treasurer on 2 boards. We came up a day early to have some vacation time. Today, I climbed Pemigewassett Mountain with David (under 3000 feet but not easy when one considers my last long hike was 1988 to say nothing about a CLIMB!!!!). Took us about 5 hours for what the guide books describe as an easy hour and a half up and 45 minutes down. Thank God for hiking poles. Every stream, I doused my face, head and shoulders with water and that helped.

[agate]

Climbing mountains--that's so impressive, Cherie!

Wonder how Joan (nuthatch) is doing now?

Gary, hope you're having a fine trip and reunion.

Good news about Howie--he's back home from the rehab place. I don't know if he'll be checking in here though. The last I heard, he was finding it too difficult to get in here with the WebTV arrangement he has.

[Cherie]

I hope he makes the effort and comes back. I miss him.

My body is sore today from the hike yesterday. Really having to stretch out legs (quads,hamstrings and calves). I also have bites(despite using Bens with 100% DEET to ward off the critters)/ Looks like I have a huge swollen gland below my left ear (bite) and a half ping pong ball sized bite between left ankle and heel as well as several M&M sized bites on upper arms, back and legs. Any of you old enough to remember the old Musical show "Sing along with Mitch"? I have sting along with itch.

Dave kayaked the Pemigewassett River while I was in Board of Director Meetings this morning. The river was high and fast but he made it safely and I got there just as he was approaching the take out spot. We are both wiped and look forward to sleeping in our own bed tomorrow.

Looks like MS is still rearing its head since relapse starting in March. Since it calmed in May, there have been daily episodes of vertigo, cognitive, slippage, spasticity, and visual deterioration. I've talked to my doc and we talked about me going back on Rebif...UTIs the last 2 years on it and once cleared back on and UTIs were back. JCV + so tysabri not best option. Cardiac irregularity so Gilenya. Doc has ordered Tecfidera . Will see how long it tales to get approval. I'll keep you posted.

[Gary]

Greetings from the Northwoods of Wisconsin,

Yes we are having a wonderful time and the reunion was great I visited with people that I have not seen since I was a kid (4 or 5 years ago....at least). We came here for our honeymoon 30 years ago this August and have not been back since. The grape vine was busy announcing the fact that we were coming and cousins that have not EVER attended the reunion came out of the wood work. I have already eaten so many cheese curds that I probably gained 10 lbs. Today we stopped at a popular roadside hamburger stand that my dad could not wait to eat at when he came home from the service in 1947. The hamburgers are grilled in a wood fired grilled and have all the fixings plus as per normal around here they are served with large pats of butter on them, yes I said butter and a side of fried potatoes covered in cheese and grilled onions and a large side of German potato salad. With coffee with a slice of butter in it.

I had forgotten how these people can eat! We are going to dinner with some relatives tonight and tomorrow night as well. We fly out Tues morning. I may have to pay quite a bit of extra fees to cover the added weight on the luggage as well as the extra weight Trish and I put on.

It is 88 deg and 85% humidity right now. In 20 some years of living in SW Idaho I never EVER seen the humidity rise above 30% unless it was raining. And that rarely happens in summer.

Gotta go and see if my defibrillator is charged and see if there is a coupon in the paper for some $$ off on heart bypass surgery.

Howie we do need you back. And your little kitties too........

[renee]

OMG, Gary! It sounds like my Dad's side of the family.
The anti anti-MS diet.

Ever seen pizza made with cream cheese?
The only thing missing was Schlag.

Defribillate onward.

[Cherie]

Cheese Curd! Can't get away from it when I go back home to Upstate NY. It squeaks when you eat it!!!

[SalpalSally]

OK, what is cheese curd? I thought it was cottage cheese?

EDIT.. Never mind, I googled it. It looks like you can only
get the good ones in Wisconsin.

[nuthatch]

Gary,
Are you sure you're not a long lost brother of mine? My mom lathers butter on absolutely everything and I grew up watching my dad eating pickled pigs feet (I can still hear the knuckle crunching) and he used to dip potato chips in the butter dish. Gives me chest pain to think of it!
Sounds like you're have a good time. Enjoy.

I'm still dealing with this itchy rash/sores, and am sick and tired of taking pills. Home health is making visits now trying to get this toe thing cleared up. I was given a new pill for the itch that made me really dopey for 2 days, but at least I wasn't itchy. Unfortunately it's slowly gearing back up. The battle continues.

[nuthatch]

Renee,
Never had cream cheese on pizza, but it's great in a burrito!

[renee]

In my world cream cheese is for bagels and cheesecake.
Oh- I don't do broccoli on pizza, either.
Call me an ethnic pizza traditionalist.

The heat and humidity have been debilitating.
Sleep all day and into the night and find myself awake with the vampires.
Tomorrow will be better. So thankful that my garden is getting rained upon.

Signif Ex, bless his heart, wants to get my AC in.
Mister dude wants the directions- unlike last year- horror, choke, laugh and snort-
but I've been too out of it to find them and he's not much of a paper hawk.

I got a horrible announcement from SSA telling me NY medicaid was no longer paying Medicare B premiums.
The premiums would be deducted from my SSD which will be a 12% deduction.
OHHHHHHHHNOOOOOO!

I have cruised the NYstate and US.gov sites to get more info but it's an elusive issue.
I can't begin to make that up in a rent adjustment or an application for food stamp assistance.

My work is as needed and if I can basis.
So far I have lived low and well because I am frugal.

Time to call in my wonderful medical social worker.

THE SUN IS ALMOST RISING!

-VAMPIRESS, OVER AND OUT

[agate]

I hope that you won't end up having to pay the Medicare premium, renee. I found this in case you aren't aware of it:

Only registered and activated users can see links., Click Here To Register...

[Gary]

We are back from our trip Had a wonderful time more to come.

One of our dogs (mini schnauzers) had been going down hill and today we had to have her put down. She was 13 and I think she had cancer it is one of the hardest things to ever have to do. We still have her sister we had both of them from a litter that was born at the same time I was Dx with MS. They grew up sitting next to me on the couch. And they both saved my life twice the first time when I went into septic shock and the second time when the house caught on fire. We brought her back home and will bury her in the pet cemetery here on the farm. Her sister is as upset as I am.

Sorry I am more tore up than anything other than when my dad passed away.

[SalpalSally]

I am so very sorry for your loss, Gary. ((((((Prayers and hugs)))))))

[Jeanie Z]

:) Hi Gary and family, I am sorry for your loss. Over the years I have lost several beloved dogs. The unconditional love they give is so wonderful. I hope your dog's sister does not get ill over it. Jeanie :)

[nuthatch]

Gary,
I'm so sorry for your loss. A broken heart seems it could never heal, but with time, it does get better. Hugs to you and your wife at this difficult time.

Joan