Week of 10-27-14 chatter

Callie, so glad to hear you were able to do a good block of work from home.  That is a big sign of progress.  Fingers crossed you are able to extend the sit-up time longer soon so you can resume your normal schedule.

I agree - Tina, you deserve a medal for clipping kitty claws!  The hissing and screeching would make it too scary for me!  Ruby is okay with her back nails being cut, but front paws are a major hassle.  It takes me holding a big chunk of chicken while DH does maybe 2 or 3 nails, and that's it.  She's perpetually in need of a front nail trim because we never successfully get all of them done at once!

I'm feeling so sad about the death of Tom Magliozzi. If you don't know his name, you'd know his laugh, for sure -- he was one of the two Click and Clack brothers on the NPR show, "Car Talk."  I don't know a thing about cars, nor do I care to learn about fixing one, but I've listened to them on Saturday mornings for 20+ years.  They never failed to make me laugh, sometimes to the point of tears.  Tommy's laugh alone was enough to send me into hysterics.  He was so smart, yet so darn-to-earth, and just full of joy, never taking things too seriously.  I seriously feel we've lost a national treasure.  Boy, three sources of laughter for me lost in recent months:  Robin Williams, Joan Rivers, and now Tom.    All geniuses in their own way.

Oh, I also meant to say that I agree 110% about wishing they could "close" old threads so they can't be responded to, or at least give the poster a message saying they're about to reply to a thread that's more than X number of months/years old, and do they wish to continue?  It seems so counter-productive to allow posts to ancient threads.  No one from the original posts is ever going to read replies.  It makes more sense to start a new thread in "current time" if you have a related issue.

Agreed on the old threads, but I did respond to one newbie who was calling an old thread a fantasy.

I'm glad that Callie is doing better at long last.  This has been a really rough year for her.

Got some sad news a bit ago.  One of the guys who works with DH lost his wife to lung  cancer last night.  She was diagnosed in the Spring, either before or just after they lost their daughter to breast cancer.  That poor man has had a hideous year.

Back in the 50's today and was really very nice until the sun went into hiding.  The critters don't care what the weather is, they want to be fed when they show up!  Momma squirrel has been bringing her two youngsters with her, but she continues to be so darned polite I just want to pick her up and hug her.

My ortho took me off muscle relaxers last week.  Called yesterday because I'd gone 4 nights without a solid sleep, so back on them again.  As long as I take the darned things I'm not supposed to drive, but, if I don't I can't sleep and I'm really not safe to drive then either.  What a mess.

Agreed with everyone else.....cat nail trimming is NOT for the faint of heart.....or those of us who wish to keep our limbs in tact!  TWO???  Wow.  Scarey!

My son used to work at the local shelter and his specialty was cats. He usually helps, but he's been so busy I couldn't wait. In all fairness, both my cats are front-declawed. Missy's was done years ago before I knew how awful the surgery was. Oscar came declawed. So I only had to do four paws instead of eight. I'm just glad no teeth made contact with hands.

I voted today and will be so glad to go home and not have 5 million flyers on my door or the local guy running for state rep knocking on my door to chat me up the minute I walk in from work. I don't usually answer the door unless I know the person or am expecting someone.

I will say, cancer really sucks.

ETA: Tracy, I saw that about the Click & Clack guy passing away. My ex-DH used to listen to talk shows on the radio endlessly which often drove me nuts, but I always got a chuckle out of that show. The Boston accent made them even funnier to me, a mid-Westerner. And they actually had very useful information. RIP Tom.

We're getting lots of good rain. Unfortunately I had to drive in a storm yesterday, at night!  Yikes. That was a white knuckle ride. We went to a support group meeting. It was so good to meet others who have gone through what DH is dealing with.  Everyone was very nice. Two of his oncologists were there and it was nice to talk with them in a non clinical setting.

Not much to report. He starts chemo on Monday.  He's feeling good and wants to get started with the treatment.  The people at the meeting told him not to anticipate how he'll feel or react to the chemo. One day at a time seems to be a common theme and I think it's good advice.

Hope everyone is doing ok.  Stay safe and don't do anything I wouldn't do. That should give everyone plenty of leeway. :)

Another click and clack fan here - very sad but he must have been ill for quite some time as he passed from Alzheimer's. I believe i heard that the last show was recorded in 2012 and that they had no intention of stopping the broadcasts

Hmm I am glad the election is over. That's all I will say about that

Jackie I am super glad that you were able to make the meeting and got there safe and sound. It sounds like it will be a huge help.

This freaking virtual training has me loopy.

The time change sucks

It was five yrs ago today that Bugsy had his knee repair. Most days now it never crosses my mind. Of course that is likely because I worry about his shoulder and elbow LOL

DH is starting a new job tomorrow. I am thrilled that it should offer him more challenges as he has been bored for a couple of years at least and he is a mess when bored.

It also means that for the first time in his life B will be left most days for about 10 hrs.  A friend will come feed him and visit but it will be a transition.

He is going to be WILD when we get home, that is my largest concern. He is fairly content to sleep most of the day now but he has these bursts of energy and loves his little jobs like getting the mail.

I am sure that on Friday nights when we are tired he is going to be AMPED.

My schedule should return to days in the office at home each week in a few weeks so that won't be too bad.

OK I am fading - I keep waking at about 3:30 and not being able to go back to sleep

I'm so glad to hear that Charles is remaining positive through this....and you as well.

Yes, thank heavens the elections are FINALLY over.  Because of our location, when I watch ABC I have to watch the Albany station instead of the Boston one, other than the news.  NY politicians were mud flinging like crazy and just soooo negative that I flat out wouldn't have voted for any of them.  I hate that kind of stuff.

Agreed also that the time change bites big time.

I've been playing Betty Crocker this week, and let me tell you, my huge deep freeze is beginning to beg for mercy.  Love doing heavy duty cooking this time of year.  The kitchen doesn't get too hot with anything more than an open window, and I don't have to run around in shorts and barefoot to avoid passing out from the heat.  More than anything, I love having all this stuff in the freezer and knowing that when we eat it, gee, I already did the heavy duty cleaning that goes with heavy duty cooking, weeks or more ago!  Have I mentioned that as much as I love to cook I absolutely HATE the clean up?

Temps in the 50's again today, but pretty overcast and breezy.  Regardless, I still had the full contingent of chipmunk, squirrels and birds!  Rain tomorrow so maybe they'll slow down in their "feed me" demands for the day.

Will go to the visitation tomorrow evening for DH's coworkers wife.  Her death notice said that their daughter died in February, now his wife.  Poor man.

I put the mower away in the garage, pulled out the snow thrower, added gas, and started the infernal device.  Snow and cold coming in with an Alberta Clipper, a blast of winter.  And I have to work tomorrow.  Two calls, probably outside.  Joy.

Took Sky out to the local WMA for exercise.  The unfortunate by product is he is getting fit.  He hit a trail and just plain ran over the horizon.  I jogged out a couple of hundred yards and started calling.  I could just barely make out his barking.  He came back  looking just a little worried.  Then he did it again.  He was hot on a scent and when the bird ran for the swamp, Sky followed.  I may actually be getting fit.  He did walk nicely off leash at heel when we went back to the truck, so there is hope.  He also did well at class tonight.  "Leave it" was a real success and "up" is coming.  Starting to work on "stand-stay".

Raining, may get cold tonight.  A good combination.

We reelected our Governor.  His opponent tried to play the age card and failed.  Our Gov is 68-mature and quietly competent.  New comer tried to say Gov is too old to do the job.  Didn't go over well.  Our budget is balanced, employment is up (never fell too far), taxes got bumped enough to rebuild roads and keep the schools solvent, gas prices are down and farms are harvesting a huge crop.  Hard to attack a record like that.  Nice to not see the attack ads any more.  Believe them all and vote for "none of the above".

If 68 is too old to serve as an elected official, then there are a huge number of people currently holding positions all over the country who must be too old to serve, by that definitioin!  

I saw some coverage about quite a few candidates in different cities/states who did some major mud-slinging.  One was a guy from NY (the one with all the indictments won re-election anyway) -- his opponent sounded equally negative. Doug, there have been a number of times in my voting life when I wish "None of the above" was an option on the ballot!

Karen, I cannot believe it's been 5 years since Bugsy's leg surgery.  Geesh, time just flies by.  Yikes.  

I hope your DH finds his new job more challenging and enjoyable than his previous one.  As for the new schedule that Bugsy will have to experience, I totally understand the amping up after a long day alone.  I swear, Ruby waits for the exact second we put down our forks at the dinner table, and then she starts going bonkers looking for play activity, a walk, zoomies in the yard if weather permits.  We call the period of time after dinner her "witching hour."

Anyway, it's great you have someone who can look in on him during the day.  That will help.  If Ruby weren't so reactive, we'd be willing to pay for daycare a day or two a week to help with her long stretches of boredom.  Doug, you're so good at exercising active dogs -- too bad you couldn't provide daycare for all of our nutty pups!  There's your retirement income!

Glenda, your DH's coworker has had more loss than one person should bear in such a short time, that's for sure.

I thot I was being a complete and total baby until DH teared up too on entering the "visitation" room.  Thank goodness that the casket was closed.  We walked into that building and both of us were instantly back in VA.

Still mid 50's here today, but sure didn't feel that way with the all day rain.  Didn't slow the critters down one bit.

Tracy I just heard about Tom Magliozzi and I am feeling so sad about it as well. Didn't listen to them regularly but did listen to them often. They just totally cracked me up as well.
Sending good thoughts out to Jackie and her husband and do hope things go okay with the chemo.
I have been a raking fool around here. We have trees and more trees and fences that catch all of the leaves. I'm on pain meds all of the time anyway, fibromyalgia, and think that helps the recoop from the raking. I honestly don't quite know where I got all the energy to do so much raking.
Had an agility friend just lose one of her dogs. He was her heart dog...14 so it was expected but doesn't make it any easier. He was a sweet dog. It has not even been 24 hours and she found a lump on the rectum area of one of her other dogs. She took her right to the vet and the vet is afraid it might be hemangio cancer. Surgery is scheduled for Monday.
Like everyone, I am so thankful the elections are over....so much bad mouthing each other. I'm in NY so have had some of the major bad mouthing on our TV.
Still haven't got this forum format figured out. Hey Glenda how do you set it up to get notifications from a particular part of the forum? That sounds like a good idea.

Had typed my message on notepad and then copied and pasted it. Only problem was I missed the first part of the message and so posting it here. 

Glenda that is so sad about your Hubby's coworker losing his daughter and then his wife. Feel so bad for you too, with the visiting hours being so tough on you and your hubby.
Callie sounds like you are at least slowly on the mend. Sending many more get better vibes your way. I totally understand about the age of your parents making you feel older, even though the age difference has always been exactly the same. I do that type of thing all the time. Crazy isn't it? You are not alone in the craziness anyway. :)

Under the posting box is a box to click to get email notifications.  Other than that, I don't know how to do it.  Can't figure out how to change my preferences at all.

@nymaureen

I totally understand about the age of your parents making you feel older, even though the age difference has always been exactly the same. I do that type of thing all the time. Crazy isn't it? You are not alone in the craziness anyway. :)

Well, when I was 20 and he was 50 I mean .. THAT's old.  but it was HIM who was old .. sheesh NOT ME!!  

And now I'm 60 and he's 90 -- and dang ... I"m the old lady to have a parent who's 90!!  Now tell me -- is that "new math" or what? rortl

Glenda I just figured out how to change settings. I had to since I wasn't set up to receive notifications. Not sure if it will work now but we'll see. I think I first did what you said but it wasn't quite exactly what you said so not sure. Anyway, for settings, if you hover over MY Channel a big blue box opens with 3 lists. The middle list at the bottom is Settings. God I wish they'd get rid of so much extra stuff they have on here now.