Chit Chat for August 2023

[Flagryl]

Margie, forgot to mention and ask...is what you have a large floater? Ditto Grassy, will be thinking of you next Wed Silk. Looks like Idalia is on the edge of the cone but could change so I suspect you are busy getting the hatches down Huronna.

Thinking of pulling the plug on Direct TV if we can pull off streaming with a booster modem, a tad nervous about that out here but Direct TV is pricing itself out of our market.

[Huronna]

We are watching Idalia's path. Joe will be taking down the flag in a little while, which is attached to a pole attached to our mail box.
We have lots and lots of liquids, water based. Lots of protein base and cereal, and medicines for months.
We will being in the patio furniture later, it's only a table and 4 chairs
and then we wait.
Had an appt with my primary yesterday to go over the change we did in my meds three weeks ago. All the swelling in my feet and hands have gone down.
My back is still killing me, so she gave me a cortisone and steroid injection, if that doesn't do any good, I'll go back to the Othro clinic next week. A couple of years ago when my back was really bad that did an MRI and it wasn't my hips it was my spine. I did 6 weeks of PT and things get must better. Even continuing the PT exercises at home, I still sometimes feel like I'm going to double over. We shall see.

Now to see if Nickel has put anything new up, I still have 4 to work on from yesterday.

[Grassy]

Stay safe Huronna and all our Florida friends!

I hope they can fix your back too.

In rash news, they are thinking vasculitis or some really severe dermatitis. Sid says I don't really need to work, but I feel lazy if I don't work. But I am unsure. The dermatologist wrote me off work this week since he doesn't know what this is. He took skin samples so I have stitches she he didn't want me working with food. He faxed in some lab orders so I am waiting for the lab to call with an appointment.

[Huronna]

Hurricane Idalia hit us last night around 2:30 am. Lots of rain and roaring winds. This morning it is still raining but we are lucky, thankfully no damage just debris.
We hope it continues to dissipate and not cause damage elsewhere.

[Grassy]

I am so happy that you are safe! Tampa was on the news this morning, so I wondered about you. How far inland are you? I have a friend doing TDY in Jacksonville, and she said she was fine too, so my heart is happy. How is Whispy?

[Huronna]

Whispy is not is Florida yet, she doesn't come down until October or November.
How far above sea level is Brandon Florida? 46"

If you'd like to relax while sunbathing on the beach or swimming in the ocean, you can easily make a trip about 30 minutes to an hour away to Apollo Beach Nature Preserve or East Tampa Beach. Spanning over 35 miles, Brandon's location is only 19 minutes from downtown Tampa's vibrant and thriving location.

41 min (36.7 mi) from St. Pete

There are 31.44 miles from Brandon to Clearwater in west direction

[Grassy]

I thought Whispy had moved to FL for good, so that is a relief.

I am glad you are inland too.

You know how I worry about my friends. I think I am everybody's mother.

Thanks for the information. I have only ever been to Orlando, FL. I am a bit geographically challenged about the rest of the state.

[Flagryl]

Good to know you are high and mostly dry Huronna and doing okay. I hope that rash is manageable Grassy, what a pain! It's a tad warmer here w/o rain which is coming the end of this week. I washed and hosed down our patio chairs and applied car wax to the metal trim. John put them in the garage except for 2 of the rockers which I like to have in my sunroom. It was my middle grandson's birthday yesterday, he and his friend are planning to visit us over fall break.

[Huronna]

OK icky, the rain is pouring in again. You can't even see the house across the street, like a typical Fl summer storm. Hope it doesn't last too long.

[Grassy]

Flagryl, I hope I don't have an allergy to anything in the commercial kitchen; otherwise I may have to quit my new job. Sid says I don't have to work, but I love to have a bit of mad money. I may apply at Target so I don't have to take the punishment of the kitchen. This is so itchy!
What does car wax do for the trim on your furniture? You're not already putting it away for the season are you?

Huronna, how much rain have you gotten?

[Flagryl]

Grassy, I think allergies can be so complex. I have a bunch but not to the extent you describe. I am fair skinned and a recessive gene I do believe. I have split nails [inherited] and my cuticles are sooo sensitive I have to cook and do work around the house w/non-latex gloves. Good thing I have a house cleaner, bless her. No, John doesn't want the chairs out because a few years ago a squirrel chewed, took some of the fabric mesh on one of the chairs for nesting. Cost a pretty penny to have it re upholstered w/same fabric. I offered to spray them w/repellent safe for fabrics [lots of folks with motor homes and such use it], but no he doesn't trust now. The car wax protects the finish, it's smooth and glossy. It's not a Walmart set if you know what I mean. Brown Jordan Wave. Some days I just wish all we had was wrought iron. I love my 2 old chairs I bought in 80s!

[Grassy]

But it's nice to have the nicer, more comfortable things too Flagryl. Thanks for the explanation.
Allergies are complex - you are totally right there. I never had rash issues until now. And the cruel irony is I am allergic to Benadryl. My nails have all peeled down so they are sore and not helping me scratch at all either.

Thanks for your help with the camera and SD Card too. I forgot that I can just copy/paste.

[Huronna]

Rashes ick, I have one also. I had surgery back in 1996, one of those 13+inch "bikini" scars. Ovary on one site, fallopian tube on the other and while they were at it, just chop out the old appendix. Back then if you were opened up abdominally they took out your appendix just as a precaution so it didn't go bad later in life, who needs it anyway was their thought. ANyway with the back problems, I have not been standing up as straight as I should and the scar is located right where fat flops LOL. You would think after over 50 years a scar would not bother a person, but it is itchy and I try not to scratch it, so they gave me some powder that you use on candida infections, or athletes foot LOL, It seems to be working. Now is i could just get rid of the fat roll.

After spending a week in a crappy hotel with no separate shower we have made a big decision. Our master bathroom has a separated shower but the second bathroom has a shower in the bath tub. Even though we have put in grab bars, most of our friends that stay overnight are around our age and it is not easy to get into the shower. So we had 3 companies coming, Wed., Thurs., and Fri for consultations and pricing to take out the tube/shower and put in a walk-in shower. They all do it in one day. Probably like a bunch of ants running around the house when they do it. It will also have a built in seat as I'm thinking ahead for Joe and probably me in a few years also. I tried to get an estimate, but they only give you a price when they come for the consultation. I'll let you know.


Estimator came, he was from Jacuzzi, the appointment was for an hour and he was her for 2 1/2 hours. we were able to get everything we wanted and actually finalized everything. Work won't start for 4-6 weeks, which is good because it goes with our schedule. Then I made Joe call and cancel the other two appointments for Thurs and Friday.

This is the bathroom now


There really is nothing wrong with it, Even after 23 years it's like brand new, it's just gotten too dangerous for not only us (we don't actually use it, but you never know in the future) but for our friends who often stop in and stay over. We have overnight guests at least every two months and heaven help us all if they had an accident.

This is what the new will look like, a but dark as it was from the contract print outs





We actually have a walk in shower in our master bathroom, but it's much smaller and no seat, though when Joe was really debilitated I was able to get a shower chair in their and squish him in HA HA.

[Flagryl]

I've thought about converting the tub/shower in our guest room to walkin. We have a Jacuzzi spa tub in our master with large walk-in shower. It's Travertine and I wouldn't do that again, beautiful but too much maintenance. No grab bars except next to spa tub so that's an issue, need seat and grab bar for master walkin. Let me know how it works out.

Bummer being allergic to Benedryl Grassy. I have a carton of Activa yogurt each morning and my nails love it. Let us know how the biopsy comes out and the kitchen job.

Silk how are you? Margie, are those floaters or related to something else?

Peaches are here from Palasades, CO so John is picking up a box this evening.

[Grassy]

Huronna, I bet you will really like that walk in shower. The people I know who have one say they love it, and Jacuzzi is a great company.

Flagryl, will keep you updated. Peaches, yum!

I think everyone has that last stubborn roll of fat that refuses to go away or hide. I have lost over 40 lbs and I still have one. Grrrr.

[silk]

Huronna, I also have or had a large bikini scar ( complete hysterectomy and surrounding tissue...saved my life )plus a big appendix scar that does itch sometimes, still after many years...no rash I am happy to say. Believe it or not the appendix scar is about 3 inches. I will gladly take some of your fat roll'.
I love your new sleek shower room.
Thank you Flagryl, I am hanging in there.
Margie, waiting on news of your eye.