Christmas Eve for the MVM's

[zip2play]

Hi gang,

We had a nice visit yesterday (Vicki got her pound of white pasta.) I didn't have the duck in me so we had some Stouffer's Stuffed Pepper...they are QUITE good and really low cal.
I'll try to tackle the duck today for the two of us. I really feel pretty awful and slept for 10 hours.

Blankee is STILL not working right. Trouble with the newer blankees is that they have built in thermostats to give "zone" comfort. Well after many cycles these thermostats give out (maybe on purpose) and corrode and the contacts only let a tiny bit of heat through. TOTALLY safe but TOTALLY USELESS. I think they want you to throw them out...many sites say the uselful life is 3-4 years...they've GOT to be kidding. I'll root in the linen closet and see if I can dig out an old one that still works.
I saw one advertised online that trumpeted NO SAFETY THERMOSTATS as a selling point...a GOOD idea. I don't want to live in a world that makes small toaster slots for everybody because some old Altzheimered biddy in Dumbville, MO stuck his tongue in the slot and was electrocuted!

Linda,
I hope Levaquin is the right agent for the buggies:

To reduce the development of drug-resistant bacteria and maintain the effectiveness of LEVAQUIN® (levofloxacin) and other antibacterial drugs,
LEVAQUIN should be used only to treat or prevent infections that are proven or strongly suspected to be caused by susceptible
bacteria. When culture and susceptibility information are available, they should be considered in selecting or modifying antibacterial therapy. In the absence of such data, local epidemiology and susceptibility patterns may contribute to the empiric selection of therapy.

EVERY antibiotic says that a culture should be done but I have yet to meet a quack who actually DID one..."Eeny, Meeny Miney, Mo..Let's try THIS !" (the last one that paid for a vactation)

Loretta,
Continuing the medical consultation, there are about 20% of the population that are "salt-sensitive" hypertensives. For THEM, the drug class that works best is the Diuretics. Ask your doctor to add hyddrochlorothiazide or chlorthalidone to your mix (or better yet, try the diuretic alone) and see if your numbers don't get dramatically lower. If so you can assume you aren't a "renin-hypertensive", which is the class of people that most drugs aim at. I think I am in the diuretics-work-best group too.

Things are looking grim for my going to Bill's party tomorrow...I'll need quite a turnaround. Pity, the weather is supposed to be nice, but I feel like if I push myself I'll wind up with pamona again.
(gym membership all frozen for 14 days...a nice feature)

Bladder infections...you gals are simply going to find SOMEPLACE ELSE to store your spare housekeys!
How about a daily urine acidifier...like cranberry, or large doses of Vitamin-C. I had to give my kitty-queens daily Methygel (methionine)...I don't know if they have a people version but I'll bet you don't lick it off your fingers like they did!

Ginny,
Bub seems to be getting on well...he'll be frolicking by New Years Day.

We turned colder, 32°, after yesterday's AMAZING 60°, but it's a nice clear day.

A Happy Day today to you all.

edit...Oh YAH, We can have CHEESE today...congratulations to Julie and Barbara...and ME...we did 7 days!

__________________
I'd rather have a bottle in front of me than a frontal lobotomy.

............Dorothy Parker

[zip2play]

Psst,
Shawnee, Julie and Jacki...It looks like Gregoire is your new governor.
(Too bad most of the Ohio ballots are on Diebold electronic machines that can't be recounted, by design.)

[Jewels]

YEAH!!!!!!!!! cheese today!! This experiment backfired. I just substituted other high fat foods. Course it was Christmas week, might of had something to do with it. I did find out I can do without but don't think I'll do that again. Was it Ginny who said she'd NEVER give up her cheese? I just need to find a happy medium. It did help to find out how many times I turned to the fridge for some cheese. Thanks Roger for the challenge BUT I'm so glad it's Friday.

I sure hope after you're up for awhile you'll feel better so you won't have to miss Christmas with your friends.

Throw away that electric blankee and get a new one. I agree on those thermostats though. I want to turn mine on and warm the bed and then turn it off when I get in it. NOT DO! Damn things won't warm up till YOU are in the bed. I doubt they make any of the old kind any more.

About the bladder infections....they usually do a culture but it takes awhile to get those results, maybe a week or more. So they just put you on a antibiotic and if you're not well in 5 days or after you're done taking it, then call them. Usually works for me. Sounds like Linda's is a little more resistant. Get better Linda!

Some of our friends felt sorry for us today and invited us to dinner. We were going to spend it alone and go to church about 8:00. Still going to church but will have a nice visit with them too.
Tomorrow we are going north to a little town of Sequim, about 1 1/2 hours from here and spend the day with one of our best friends. Dinner out and a fancy, dancy restaurant and maybe a flick.

DD found out some bad news yesterday. It's called primary pulmonary hypertension and they are going to do a echo cardiogram in a few days. She always gets these horrible diagnosis and then it never pans out. Hmmmm I pray she doesn't have this. Read a little last night about it and it doesn't sound good but then her diagnosis of Primary Biliary Cirrhosis (sp?) didn't sound good either. ( her follow up biopsy on the liver was inconclusive ) But, they gave her 10 years before a liver transplant that time.
She also can't keep her potassium up to parr so she will have to take that the rest of her life. So she is sure down emotionally. What a worry right before Christmas.

Off to read up on this. Lurk here some too. Catch ya all later...

[BarbCO]

HAPPY CHRISTMAS EVE TO ALL AND TO ALL.....A GOOD NIGHT!!

Cheese today!! I think that's why Green Bay lost their last game - they lost one of their cheeseheads. Actually, I feel much better, feel thinner, and will probably try to keep up lowering that cheese intake.

I hate to brag..... but doing well this week -- more protein, no sugar, no cheese and feel good. I need to make almond cheesecake for tonight and tomorrow but other than that - no more extra cooking!

I also believe that physical exercise and activities takes ones' mind off food and therefore....... it's a win-win situation. We went hiking, went to the Hot springs yesterday, walked all around that park and today just some weight lifting while waiting for Santa to come. Next week we still need to go snow-shoeing while DD is here. She leaves the 30th because of work.

Loretta, are you sounds like Paducah got 14 inches !!

I agree with Julie, Zip -- throw that blanket away and get a new one!! You could start sewing a huge quilt with double batting layers and use up all of your old blankets!!

Ginny - glad Bub is getting better and will soon be his old self!!

Waving to all the rest and will check in later.......

Barb

[SuSUN]

Good Christmas Eve Y'all!

I am having a leisurely morning opening my presents, yes, it's my Birthday today! The numbers add up to 11, the next time they equal 11 I'll be 65, just reverse 'em!

DD, her DH and Ella are coming for a visit around 1 p.m. Later, we are going over there for dinner and to celebrate my birthday before midnight. Then, tomorrow we do it all again!

WISHING YOU ALL A MERRY CHRISTMAS and A SAFE ONE!

and LOTS OF HEALTH AND PROSPERITY FOR THE NEW YEAR!

SuSUN

[Jewels]

HAPPY BIRTHDAY TO OUR LOVELY SUSUN!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
Enjoy your day!!

[LoveMontana]

Merry Christmas eve gang.

Running around late this afternoon to give the grand brats their "envelopes" and just visit for a bit, then we are off to Gerard's brother's house for dinner around 7PM.
Can't wait to try his Chocolate/peanut butter cheese cake.

Roger, Yeah I know most don't do the culture. I'll have to remind my doc to do it next time. With so much going on, I just forgot.
Humm, maybe I'll buy a "juicer" and make some cranberry juice, even though I eat cranberries frequently.

Your area must have some pretty good "nearly" new shops. Have you checked any for a good ol fashioned electric blanket? You just might be able to find one in really good condition. "Let your fingers do the walking"and give them a call.
Or buy a really good Polar Fleece blanket. They are absolutely wonderful! I don't have the heat on in my upstairs bedroom and just use my comforter with a fleece on top and stay toasty warm .

Hope you do a turn around and can enjoy that wonderful dinner tomorrow.


Oh Julie, I'm so sorry about your DD. Hopefully the initial DX is wrong. That poor girl has more than enough to worry about.

Try to relax and enjoy your visit tonight and dinner tomorrow with your friends.

Yeah, we do need to have those cultures done each time we have any type of infection. I've had them for sore throats and sinus infection but ditzy doc forgot to order one for this UTI and I was in too much of a "fog" to remind him.

Barb, Wow glad you are feeling thinner, but enjoy cheese in moderation and you should be fine. I love the stuff but do try to watch my intake.

Snow shoeing sounds like fun. Enjoy!

Susan,

HAPPY BIRTHDAY Do enjoy both celebrations.

Loretta, good Lord! You are in a mess down there. Please be careful walking on your icy driveway. My mom fell in hers two years ago and broke her wrist.

Shawnee, how is your day going?

Ginny, Glad Bub is doing better. Hopefully he can navigate those steps by himself soon.

Jackie, what's up with you today? Are you enjoying your winter break?


I'm off to pick up my script and visit my brother next door for a bit.
Later gang.

[zip2play]

Hi again,

Oh Julie,
Pulmonary hypertension is a deadly serious condition. Maybe your DD is like my DS though. A doctor will say, "careful of that smoking, you could develop emphysema" and she tells everyone she has emphysema for the "pity." I think she's amassed, emphysema, asthma, chronic bronchitis...she's stopped short of lung cancer because then everyone would know she was lying when she ticks on years after year....
My mother always fell for it and it was much "Poor Jackie" routine; I found the routine quite tiresome!"D

HAPPY BIRTHDAY SUSUN

I'm going half way between Julie and Barb on the cheese. I WILL eat it, but less. A week has shown me a good way to cut some saturated fats from my diet.

I've got an old SEARS twin electric blankee on the bed (a full )now...a shame, I made the place a shifthouse by dragging all the blankees out...they were all vacuum packed. Guess what, you can do it cheaply with an Electrolux and Hefty bags...instead of the pricey TV ad stuff.
I'll give it a night's trial to see if the thermostats hold their own!

[Loretta V]

HAPPY BIRTHDAY SUSUN!!!!!!!!!!!!!! HAVE A GREAT DAY CELEBRATING!!!!!!!!!!
and a great day tomorrow celebrating. Be careful traveling.

Zip I did mention the diuretic to doc the last time I saw him for more pills. He did not seem receptive to that.
How old is that blankie you are using? Mabye it's time is up. I use to use one on the bed but underneath the sheets. I just wanted to warm up the bed before I got in. When the heat comes on now during the night I end up being too warm.
Seems that we are having a weather reversal this year. You can have this cold and white stuff back.

Barb, yes we set a record with that 14 inches of snow. Evansville, close by got a record of 19 inches. Some of the business are having roofs collapse with the weight of the snow. I wish we had some young people in our area but mostly retired folks here and not even any neighbors that are permanent since this is a resort zone. Most of our back roads are hilly and dangerous for sure. Glad to hear that you are doing so well with your eating routine. Have your feet recovered from that hike?

Julie I doubt it if we even make it to church. I am not going to take any chances. The roads are very icy and with single digit temps tonight I don't see any improvement. My driveway is ice where I have shoveled the snow. So sorry to hear about that Primary Pulmonary Hypertension for DD. Hoping that they have misdiagnosed that one. Dh also has pulmonary hypertension.
Your daughter sure needs our . She is on my list.
Sounds like you have a nice plan for Christmas Day.

Linda sorry for your continuing health issues. Just take that rx and drink your water. What else can you do except for that cranberry juice? Enjoy dinner at your brothers. Maybe we need to buy a 4 wheel drive for KY. How is Gerard doing?

Ginny so glad to hear that Bub continues to improve. Just wonder about this:

is eating his regular treats after potty runs (square crunchy ones)

Does that refer to the potty run or the treats? Is that lasagne still on the menu for tomorrow? I think we will have bbq ribs. Wish I had a good way to fix them inside the house here where they will turn out moist and tender. I have to check the recipes. Unles someone reading or lurking here has a good idea.

to all!! Hi to Shawnee and Jackie.
Have a Merry Christmas Eve and a better Christmas Day.

Loretta

[Jewels]

About the cheese....

Originally posted by Jewels60
I just need to find a happy medium.

Roger, I think you hit it on the head with DD. I was thinking it but didn't want to acknowledge it. She is all alone this holiday. Even her 15 yo wouldn't come over from Seattle to see her on Christmas. Nick will at least stop by. Sad isn't it. If she would one learn forgiviness, maybe she can enjoy family again.

[Loretta V]

Sure hope this works and you all get to see my White Christmas here in KY.

[shawneesioux]

Hi Y'all

Didn't get back to ya last night cause we went out...and I got goofey on two drinks...Bob plied me with likker! LOL

SuSUN, hoping your day is extra special.

Loretta..WOW on those sneaux pics, thanks..and stay safe.

Going to a dinner at GBrat's tonight, extended family. I am making foods right now for tomorrow...bit busy.

Speaking of "extended"..well, that's what y'all are to me...Family by choice, not chance.

Thanks for another year of being here for me. Each and every one of y'all bring so much unique, individual insight to our Group meetings..

Must get back to the kitchen...
Sending good thoughts to those of you who need a healing touch.
'Tis the Season for Miracles.............

Hope fully more later

BLESSINGS and CONTENTMENT to ALL.

Shawnee

[BarbCO]

HAPPY BIRTHDAY SUSUN!!!

Is it difficult having a birthday so close to Christmas? I think before is better than after. Mine is Dec. 30 and when I got married we decided to celebrate on March 15. I never rec'd any birthday presents that won't in Christmas paper -- and no party. You can tell I'm emptionally deprived because of this childhood experience.

Hope yours is WONDERFUL and a birthday to remember.!!

Loretta -- WOW!! Those pictures are neat. I've never seen so much snow in KY before. You are also wise not to get on those roads -- no one there knows how to drive on this stuff. I remember one year when there was enough snow for the kids to actually use a sled to go down a hill close to the house. It only lasted a few hours and then melted.


So Zip -- fixin' the blanket! You didn't like my idea of the quilt??
You are probably at the end of the underground railroad for slaves trying to escape to the north and you could hang it in the window for directions. My very first quilt made (years ago) was one of the quilt patterns used for messages to escape to the north.

OK -- what is Pulmonary Hypertension? My father's side of the family had a lot of bronchitis and emphysema -- almost everyone died from some variation. Since I have asthma, I'm always watching those lungs. I was hoping to take after my mother's side of the family and just have a heart attack.

Hey, Shawnee -- I need more than 2 to get poluted with that likker!! Thanks for being here for me this year -- my first year maintaining and appreciate you!!

Julie, hope your evening is going well. There are a lot of feelings coming up at this holiday time -- they rise to the surface and go underground once we hit January!! Hold on -- problems do have a way to work themselves out!

Waving to Ginny, Jackie, Linda and anyone else reading these posts.

Barb

[LoveMontana]

Back again and boy is it COLD out there. No snow but lovely Christmas lights all over the place. Maybe tomorrow after dark, I'll try to get some pictures of the more spectacular displays.

We had a very nice time at my oldest son's before we went to G's family get together. Lots of good, legal food for us to indulge in. I pigged out on shrimp c0cktail and Italian sausage.

Barb, do a Google search and you will find tons of sites describing both primary and secondary Pulmonary hypertension. It is a very frightening disease.

It must be a bummer to have a Birthday so close to the holidays.

Shawnee, LOL so he plied you with Likker,eh? Just how goofy did you get girl

Oh yes definitely all of you are a most treasured extended family...by choice. Sure wish we could all get together for a few days. Smooches and

Loretta, yup that is snow Geez too bad you don't get plowed and salted right away. Is there any plow service you can call to come out and do that driveway and perhaps chip in with the neighbors to have your road done? They sometimes do that at a few of the private lakes around here that the county doesn't plow.
In the mean time, it's best to stay home warm and safe.

Ribs...I find that cooking either beef or pork ribs for about 6 hrs. at 250 degrees is best. They come out so moist. Just brush them every so often with BBQ sauce. YUMMY.

Julie, for your DD's and your family sake, I hope she learns. Unfortunately it must come from her and her alone. No matter what you try to do or say, it won't work. She must come to the realization herself and want to change.



Psst Roger, go to a fabric shop and purchase 2 1/2 yards ( king size) of polar fleece, hem the raw edges and throw that over your comforter.

[OrchidCactus]

Merry Christmas Eve to all!!

We had a nice (tho not legal ) dinner and gift exchange with our own 'extended family' here in TN. Of course everyone made all the favorites, and it is just too much to pass up. I did pretty well, actually better than normal and am still comfortable in my jeans LOL

Tonight we will get online with DSisIL, her DH and the furkids and have our Christmas via the webcam We've been doing that for 3 years now, sure saves on the phone bill! Then tomorrow it will just be us here, relaxing and enjoying the day. Outside of my lazagne dinner, I intend to be extremely LAZY!

Pupdate: Bub is pretty much the same today, but he did give me a kiss tonight after he came in from the potty run and got his treats. Loretta, the TREATS are square and crunchy LOL Otherwise it would be another vet visit! We have Bull camped out in the room with him now so he has some company. I think he was getting lonely, and DH laughed when I called the utility room the 'geriatric ward'. Bull is only 6 mo younger than Bub, and is just about as energetic healthy as he is right now.

Shawnee, LOL on the 2 drink loopies! I can't imagine what miniscule amount it would take for me to get inebriated, it's been many years since I've indulged. Hope you had fun tonight, and enjoy your buffet tomorrow....eat some chicken and dumplin's for ME!!!

Zip, hope you're feeling better for tomorrow! Such a pain to be sick during the holidaze when you want to be celebrating with friends/family. Would you give up on that dang blankee and just get a new one???? Best thing we EVER got to sleep on is our waterbed. NO cold sheets, no worries!

Loretta, my Gawd, girl, lookit all that sneaux! You just stay in, safe and warm, don't go risking anything on that icy stuff! I bet that was quite a jump in the sneauxfall record for ya! Our little dusting we got is gone, but our backroads are still bad since the ice hasn't all melted off and what was melted has refrozen. These rednecks down here are probably worse than y'all's (further south LOL) about driving on this junk. I don't scare easily, but they make me a nervous wreck!

Linda, glad you enjoyed your visiting! Very nice to get together and have legal stuff like that It's been cold here too, only in the 20's today, and supposed to get in the low teens tonight. I'm tired of it already. Seems like around here, either people don't decorate at all (like us) or they are trying to imitate the Griswald's...... Enjoy looking at the lights and hope you find some really classy displays!

Susan, to you!!! I won't sing, therefore you have a good shot at a happy day LOL!! DH's b-day is the 12th, and with his family, since he's the youngest of 5 and it was always difficult to get everyone together, they always did Dec. birthdays at the Christmas gathering. He always had a special dinner on his actual day, but the majority of the celebrating was done when everyone could be there.

Julie, sounds like your Christmas plans will be enjoyably quiet. Hey, I even know where Sequim is! Close friends of my DSisIL just moved there from MN this fall. Y'all just be careful with that drive! Hope your DD gets a better diagnosis when all the results are in. What Linda said, and hopefully she will come to that realization soon!

Barb, all that activity would make me too tired to eat! You have some beautiful country to enjoy.......do you ever do any winter horseback riding? Good for you keeping the food so well under control. BTW, you started back eating cheese a day early--the Vikings NEEDED to win that game grrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrr

Well, all, off to lurk for a bit! Merry Christmas to all!