January 2024 Chit Chat-Check-in

[Grassy]

I am off today, so I am just peeking in. I have five loads of wash to do. We're supposed to get our first snowstorm of the season tonight into tomorrow. I am also off tomorrow, but I want to have all my chores done first, so I can play tomorrow and maybe make a tag or at least open PSP. I hope I haven't forgotten how to make glitter. Ha ha.

[1247chance]

THANKS ... I'll do my best..to take care of myself.sleeping longer then 4 to 5 hours would be REALLY nice.. doctors threw a monkey wrench into everything yesterday moved his surgery up to next monday..so more pre op the next 2 days... you''d think with all he's had done within a short period of time they'd skip the pre op at this point..off to have caffine a treat for me (makes me a twee bit hyper)

[Huronna]

When you least expect it, they throw something else at you. Stay strong and keep taking care of yourself.

Grassy, speaking of wash, thanks for reminding me, I have a bunch to do today also

[Grassy]

It's always something, huh, Clyde?

Huronna, I decided to do all of Dove Cat's bedding today. She has more blankets and towels than Sid and I do ha ha.

[Huronna]

I know what they is like Grassy, the ferrets were overrun with blankets and hammocks and snug sacs, Everytime a new pattern was used and sold, guess who bought it. Out bedroom was noting but a ferret habitat.

[Grassy]

LOL, Huronna, Dove Cat has sort of taken over the house, but I love her so much it's OK. She finally decided to lie down on a towel I put out for her while her normal bedding is in the dryer. I don't think she is thrilled about it, but it will just have to do until the first load is done.
Dove's toys are everywhere too.
My heart just melts over her, though.

[Flagryl]

Clyde, what does this AI stimulator do? How is he?

[margie52501]

Good evening from Iowa . Snow started on Monday afternoon and finally stopped for a while but Tuesday we had more of the white stuff. They said we had between 10 to 12 inches of snow by the time it was done. Was surprise we had mail today but no UPS or Fex at all. No snow plows as of yet. We're snowed in for now. Also suppose to get bone chilling temperatures this coming weekend. Talking about down to -14. I'm waiting for spring.

[1247chance]

thanks for asking he's a tough old bird thats been through the mill 22 years of pain and he still has a great sense of humor..Which keeps us both going..

Hubby has spinal stenosis, Sciatica, Degenerative Discs, and Osteoarthritis effecting both his lower back and neck. to help control some of the pain he has a implanted pain pump with fentyal and baclofen which has over the course of 6 years reached a point where it wasn't doing much..The Spinal cord stimulators has 2 thin wires that are placed in the spinal column,attached to a generator that they implant in his rear end,the device then sends electrical impulses to the brain, blocking the pain .. stimulators have thousands of settings the trick is finding the right combination .. The AI will teach itself over a period of time just like the AI generators of images, it will then increase or decrease the impulses needed as it learns..Had to wait for this one as the older models interfered with his pacemaker and pain pump.

on a lighter note...
I was trying to keep things light and upbeat, so showed him a few image screw ups from my messing with AI.. figure after this he may have a few extra toes or fingers.. Thank God he has a great sense of humor

And for those that have been doing laundry,, I'm slowing working into year 3 of trying to catch up.....SOMEDAY MAYBE!

[Huronna]

Clyde, my husband also had spinal stenosis, Sciatica, Degenerative Discs, and Osteoarthritis . He actually was 6'4" when I met him. but as he aged he started bending more to the side to decrease the pain. That also was detrimental as his spine was fusing in that position. He was on so many pain meds, I couldn't keep track of them all. He was also on Oxy (this was before 2017) but it too was starting to have no effect. He had been to so many Dr and their always said the same thing, Back surgery is too dangerous, as long as you can stand the pain, don't so it. well it got to that point and he said, I don't care what happens, just do something. SO they did. In 2017 he was scheduled for two back surgeries. Upper and lower. They basically broke his back and then reset it. Each surgery was 13 hours. Thankfully it was at the hospital I was working at, so to keep my sanity I would work some and then sit in the waiting room. He spent two weeks in ICU and then 2 weeks in inpatient re-hab. Then they sent him home He had PT and OT at home , was on blood thinners that I had to inject into his abdomen. He was recovering quite well and then he fell. But he didn't bruise, it turned out the bleeding was all internal and after 4 days, he couldn't move and I had to call 911 and off we were to the hospital again. Because he was a fall risk, they decided to get him off the coumadin. But to do that, they us FFP, fresh frozen plasma, which is made from different humas, on the 4th unit he had a reaction and his temp went up to 105 and he heart went crazy. And then he wound up in Cardiac care Unit. Things went down hill from there. He was unable to do anything for himself. After another two weeks they said they he would be transferred to an acute nursing home. Thank the Lord I found one that was utterly fantastic. He spent 7 weeks there. He went in as basically a vegetable and came out smiling and in a wheel chair, finally able to feed himself and do many things. It's been a long haul since then and there are lots of downs in between and still tons of meds. But he's here, smiling and can do many things and we still are able to take vacations, though not difficult ones, and I always pick things he is able to do. And by the way, after that surgery...he's back to 6'4" again. But he's still a fall risk, and that still is rather difficult. So though We have not been through a 1/100 of what you have, I really do understand. And the more I can say take care of yourself, I mean it. I'm, glad you have AI to play with and other things.And that you are still coming to visit us and give up dates, but do give us updates on yourself also. Because on thing people forget is they always ask the caretaker how the patient is, but forget to ask the caretaker how they are. So how are you doing?

[1247chance]

I'm about as tough as he is, I take each day 1 by 1 .. and make sure I laugh daily usually at poor hubbys expense, his quirky humor is just as bad as mine and I think it helps him too, FYI, I do something totally outrageous at least twice a week..Levels out my brain cells ,feels great and a GREAT STRESS reliever..funny thing is I never plan on it, but I have enough ammo with a few of my neighbors to keep me going for years...and I have my partners in crime right here on the street..lol...

[Flagryl]

Laughter is key, keep it up Clyde. I was fortunate though didn't seem like it. I had shoulder sugery in 2015 and then the degenerative disc disease in neck and back got the best of me. I opted for surgery and had a 3-level cervical fusion in May 2019 followed by a 4-level lumbar fusion in Dec 2019. I have cages but there was too much damage to do much else so I'm now down from 5'6.5 " to 5.25". I take NSAIDS and do not have pain, but I have to do 45 min of stretching/pilates EVERY SINGLE DAY AND leg stretches before I get out of bed. I'm not complaining. My dear bestie who lives in Ohio has similar experiences w/hubby who also has stimulators and implanted pain pump, he's not good now and is in a rehab facility most likely going to assisted living facility. My dear friend was in ER and the hospital from gastro issues caused by stress. So take care of yourself.

I remember when Joe and Huronna went through his issues leading up to and in the aftermath of the surgery. So glad he is where he is now, but she's been through it too.

Margie, Iowa really got blasted. Hang in there. Remember last Jan when we were stranded for 11 days after our snowblower broke down? We were stocked up so neighbors only had to get us groceries once and John hiked down our hill to get them.

Clyde, keep that sense of humor...it will serve you both well. We make up silly things to laugh about, works.

[Huronna]

WOW...I love it! What great animation you do! Thank you so much,
And I'm glad you have the support group and friends that you do, it really helps

Flagryl, I knew you said you got short from all your suregeries, but I didn't realize you lost 4 inches.
Eeek I would tower over you now. I've only lost one, from old age...well maybe two.

But we are all here and we keep on trucking, and that's a good thing

[panthera66]

Hi all..

Catching and reading all your news.. sending healing vibes to all those not well, waving to everyone else and hope you all stay safe and well..

My car needed a starter motor at the nice cost of £100, then Monday taking my sister to day service i got rear ended by another vehicle while i was stationary at a junction, their insurance has written my car off with a catgory N in place (this means its a drivable, repairable car but will cost to much for the insurers) and a settlement fee, my son in law says he can get another bumper which wont cost much so will have some left over from the insurance so he is going to sort some other things that need doing.. Great start to the new year, but both myself and my sister are fine, no damage done to us..

Have a fab day and weekend everyone.

[Flagryl]

What a bummer Tilly, am so sorry. I hope the new bumper sets it right. I miss typed Huronna. I’m 5 ft 5 1/2 inches. I’ve lost an inch.

Clyde, what hospital/city is doing the AI stimulator? Or is is a simulator? It regulates the stimulator, right?

[Huronna]

SOr sorry about your car Tilly, I'm glad you were not hurt though

[Huronna]

Ready for a giggle?  
This is one of Joe's Christmas presents, it didn't arrive until yesterday. It's a door mat, byt the way

[Grassy]

Hello all!

Tilly, I am sorry about your car, but I am glad nobody was hurt.

Clyde, how are you?

Flagryl, I knew you were petite, but I had no idea. I feel like a giant in here at 5'9". But I am also heavyset, so I don't look as tall with all my padding. I am down to 232 Lbs. now. It's going well. I am now only hungry half the time as opposed to being starving all the time.

We have a big blizzard coming. And then it is supposed to get cold with wind chills as low as -40 Fahrenheit. I am unsure if Margie will get this storm, but we have not had any snow to speak of this whole winter and we are about to get spanked. I may not even make it into work because US 218, the road we travel, may be impassable. Good thing Sid got his snow blower fixed yesterday.

Work is going OK. My last day is the 22nd.

[1247chance]

I keep hanging in there..haven't run away yet... I'm in Ohio west of Cleveland, [so we go to the main campus of the Cleveland Clinic] live in a small city called Lakewood , Im a little less then a block away from Lake Erie, and 3 blocks away from Rocky River metro park. So I have both the lake and river within walking distance...Needless to say the dog gets walked alot...Also love the fact that everything is within walking distance here and I do a lot of walking.. you name it we got it...

The clinic will implant it and then the company Nervo will monitor and program it with the doctor and a few techs that we've met...as needed, till the right setting is found. we do know that he had 2 almost pain free days, so they're striving for a pain level of around 2. This companies stimulator doesn't interfer with his pacemaker or pain pump..a big Plus!

also Huronna if you want to tube, theres some here..
we.tl/t-j9PhoUh09s

[Huronna]

2 pain free days, how wonderful that must have been,
will grab that and see what I can do.

What a varied group of images, was it raining when you did them.
Seems your mood changed and so the type of image changed, Very interesting

Off to see what I and photoroom can do

[1247chance]

Funny how the prompts picked up my mood of course I wasn't Merry Sunshine either.. the dog woke me up, thought she wanted to go out, so dowwnstairs we went( mumbling all the way) I open the back door and got blasted with a gust of wind and ice cold rain! did a wee bit of swearing... turned around and poof the dog was gone! I'm still mad at her so today,, WE shall go for a LONG WALK in the ICY MIX its changed to. oh the dog went back to bed, SHE had her head on MY pillow and hubby had covered her up ( he even turned the heating blanket up for her) she was snoring away.. By then I was wide awake so played with a few prompts .. guess AI knew where my head was, NO flowers or butterflies.LOL.

I couldn't see the images got an oops and I really don't need anymore on foki so if there ok on angels and you have the storage leave them there..one of these days when a have time I will move the stuff off foki and open one on artdeviant like you suggested..

off today to my 1 sons for dinner,the grandkids want to hang with hubby, then tomorrow my other son will be here (Football Game) Monday at 10 am he has his surgery the kids are taking us...So with any luck we should be home before dark..

[Huronna]

Yes I put them all on Angels, and of course since they are your images, you can also put them on your site if you wish.
I guess Ai did pick up on your mood, since not only were they a bit sad, but lots of rain also

[Flagryl]

Margie, I read all about the huge snow storms in Iowa and how Ottumwa, near you, got the huge dump. How are you? Are you dug out?

Thanks again for your lovely images Clyde, best to your husband and family.

Congrats on the weight loss Grassy, keep it up and stay warm up there.

I'm still PO'd about the Chiefs/Dolphins and Rams/Lions wild card games being exclusively on Peacock. I WILL NOT collude and pay to watch them. I hate how the NFL has gotten into the streaming business. It will be interesting how the law suit ATT/DirectTv turns out for next year. Right now we have DirectTV, YouTube Sunday Ticket [now over], Amazon Prime for Thurs Nite Football [now over], and Paramount Plus so we can watch the rescheduled Bills/Steelers game on this coming Monday. The SuperBowl will live stream on Paramount Plus Feb 11. Thanks to Fox we can watch the Packers vs Cowboys, it's not blacked out on DirectTV.

[Huronna]

Joe gets' ticked about the steelers not being broadcast here. And we refuse to pay extra for those sports channels either.
Countdown begins, 9 days to flight time

[Grassy]

I have Peacock, but I bought it years ago so I could watch more Law & Order. I want to watch the Lions game, which will be on NBC, so out of solidarity, I am boycotting Peacock and not watching any exclusive game content because it's not fair to people who have already bought other streamers. NFL has no business arbitrarily deciding who gets to watch what. Congress stopped Blackout areas several years ago, which was why the NFL Channel got into trouble.

We did not get near the snow they promised, but they are more than delivering on the cold.