OT November Chit Chat

[Howie]

Gary, YOU made pies?

[Pegakafarmgirl]

you are so right, Gary,, my farm boys learned by trial and error,. by the time they turned 8, and lets not talk about the time my oldest boy Josh let the clutch out and rolled the tractor into a brand new pick up,, he was 5 at that time

Turkey day, came and went,,no turkey,, chicken/noodles,, and pumpkin bars,, weather windy/icy,. colder, and heads up Gary, winter storm hitting us again Sunday night into Monday..

later then

[Gary]

Gary, YOU made pies?

Yup, it has always been my contribution to a big dinner. And its all from scratch. I was really into cake decorating. But I had to stop as there are only 2 of us and I was making at least 2 or 3 every week. We almost needed to use Crisco on the door ways just to squeeze through! I also tend to the smoker even when we did all of our own hams and bacon. It took days to smoke all the meat to last all winter.

I usually make several types of cheese and sausage to give out at Christmas. I usually make pecan, cherry, apple, rhubarb, pumpkin, lemon mergiune and a couple of cream pies. And yes it is real heavy cream whipped cream. Needless to say we don't eat like this very often! I already have the sausage meat cut up and frozen. The summer sausage will start next week as it takes awhile to cure first.

Pickled ham hocks and LOTS of candies too

[Howie]

You need to add that to your sig line....Master Chef. I wouldn't know how to make any of that. I did make the coleslaw I'm eating now, but that doesn't come close to making a pie from scratch. My hat's off to you!!!

[Frog42]

I didn't think you wore a hat, Howie!

[Howie]

Okay, my thong is WHOOOOOOOOOAH!!!.....maybe I'll just buy a hat!

[Jeanie Z]

:) My father drank a lot. When I was 15 he gave me the car keys and told me to drive around the block. I got in our 1941 Buick his parents had given us and drove around the block without hitting anything until I got back to our yard and I hit the pine tree by the road.

I think he thought if I could drive he would not get a DUI when he needed more booze. I did learn to drive shortly after that.

I am so tired I do not think I am even thinking straight. I got out the Christmas cards the other day but have not written any. I also have not done the Medicare supplement plan call. I feel like I could go hibernate for a month.

Hopefully in the morning I will be energized. Jeanie :)

[Virginia]

Jeanie, hope you rest well tonight.

Howie, put your thong back on....even the cats are in shock!

Gary, my goodness for someone who is sick, it sure sounds like you do a lot.

[agate]

Jeanie, you got out the what? The Christmas cards? I've barely even thought about them.

Good luck getting rid of the cough. I have chronic cough problems too and I've never smoked. I keep a cough medicine on hand at all times because if I go into nonstop coughing spells, I'd be awake all night without that cough medicine.

It sounds like you got some that came out of storage, or at the end of the storage season you get something that are referred to as process spuds. There is absolutely nothing wrong with them other than they can look funny.

Gary, a lot of potatoes look funny to me. No matter how funny they look, I'll use them but I do cut the sprouting places out.

You're the person to go to for pie, definitely. When I finish knocking on Cherie's door with a plate in my hand for leftovers, I'm turning up at Gary's for a slice of pie. Mince pie wasn't mentioned but that's OK. I'll be happy with pumpkin. Or whatever Gary wants to get rid of.

Virginia, I think Gary is soldiering on through it all. People like that amaze me because I'm not one of them. No matter how badly they're feeling, they'll come through with the pickled ham hocks or whatever. I'd just sit there and eat whatever pie is passing.

[Howie]

Well, I think about sending cards to each and every one of you every Christmas. And as we all know, "It's the thought that counts".

[stillstANNding]

I am sick and I hate it. I caught husband's bronchitis and have been fighting it for 8 weeks w OTC cough syrup as I am allergic to codeine. :-(

When I started getting worse, Internist added albuterol. Got worse again and saw him late on Weds. I was so exhausted, I couldn't walk 2 blocks to the bus. I took Uber. Very quick. Considerably cheaper than taxis.

Doctor put me on 40mg of prednisone a day for 5 days and gave me an aerosol treatment. He sent me for a CXR on Friday. Good news, no pneumonia but he added Levoquin 500 for 7 days any way.

Talked to on call doc today. He said he could tell Bronchitis was still not under control. He mentioned ER if I need it and F/u w internist on Monday.

I am so sick of being sick and tired. I was glad to not have to go to Thanksgiving at friends. Husband took MIL as she was also invited. I enjoyed reading everything that all of you have done. What a great group. All impressive and special in your own way.

And that baby is gorgeous!

Ann (not standing)

[Virginia]

Oh Ann, I am so sorry and this has been going on a long time and you had not told us. It sounds like you have been and still are on a lot of medicine. That alone is enough to make you feel very bad. I just hope the medicine they have you on now will knock this out in a hurry. If you need to, get that wonderful husband of yours to take you to the ER.

Guess you don't even feel like chocolate.

I am impressed that you had been walking up to 2 blocks to the bus. Been a long time since I could do that. I hope you are able to do it again real soon.

Let us hear from you.

[agate]

ANN, bronchitis is so miserable!

I'm sure you've tried the steam treatment? It's been my last resort when I can't stand it any more. Though the heat nearly knocks me out, the steam does seem to help clear the chest congestion.

You do have to be careful with it because it can peel the paint off the wall.

I get in the bathroom, shut the door, and turn the shower on as hot as possible and just stay in there. It doesn't take long for a typical bathroom to fill up with glorious steam, and I stay in there as long as I can stand it, which isn't long. Then I have to wrap up warm before opening the door because outside that door it's suddenly very cold.

Another way is to fill a sink with the hottest possible water, boiling water if you let it cool down a bit so it won't burn your face, and put a large bathtowel over your head and shoulders, and make a tent, and just stay there and surround yourself with steam, again for as long as I can.

My sister who was a nurse told me about this treatment. She cured her own pneumonia many times this way, and she was very inclined to get pneumonia. Since then a couple of doctors have also recommended it.

But I believe you're in the health care field, and so I'm not telling you anything you don't already know!

Hope you feel better soon!

[Cherie]

Cherie, I think all your guest must have enjoyed everything a great deal. Now with friends from out of town for the next two days, I hope you do not get too feisty.

They left around 1:30 this afternoon and this is the first time in 5 years of their coming down a couple times a year that we have not spent hours making music. None! He slept while I took care of his Dad and the dog and did all the cooking and cleaning. Dad is so far into dementia that he cannot remember for 2 minutes where he is or what he is doing so needs continual reminders to put another bite of food into his mouth or to wipe himself and pull his pants up or to wash his hands. They were here for nearly 72 hours and my friend took 5 showers but his Dad did not get washed up or change clothing the whole time. I did get his hair washed and cut and get him shaved. I understand how a 24/7 caregiver can be stressed and beyond exhaustion and I think that was where my friend was and he just felt safe leaving dad and dog in my care while he caught up. However, he came downstairs last night at midnight and woke both of us banging around the kitchen. When I got up at three to go to the bathroom, he was in our bathroom instead of upstairs. Finally got up at 11 am today and noon yesterday and took a three hour nap yesterday afternoon as it got dark and dad woke up from his nap "sundowning". For those not familiar with that term, it is common in the older community with dementia where, when the sun goes down, confusion multiplies.

Now my husband is sick in bed with nausea and diarrhea. Both guest rooms have been stripped, cleaned, remade, garbage emptied and bathroom cleaned and laundry done. So...tomorrow is MY day off!

We had a wonderful Thursday with plenty of great food that got shared with several households.

On a sad note: one of my neighbors...early 60s...an ER doc and wound care specialist, started having some neurological symptoms (balance and speech) a week ago today He went to work Monday and had a friend in the ER check him out. They ordered an MRI of the brain and discovered a 7cmx3cm tumor in the brain. He had it removed the next day and it is aggressive malignant. Came on very fast and may take him before the end of the year. I do not have things so badly at all!!!

[stillstANNding]

Oh, Cherie! So sorry to hear about your neighbor. Blessings to him.

Virginia, I walk a quarter mile when I am well and all the other MS factors, weather and humidity are in line.

Agate, I grew up w that method for stuffy head colds.