Taste Like Chicken-Tuesday Tuesday-1/10

Chele, thanks for the start. This week feels like a real work week and is already too long! I hate the humidity in FL in the summers too. I have some pictures of me, DS, and BIL at the sequoia from when we visited CA in the 90s. Very sad to hear about the tree. We lost a huge 3500 year old cypress tree in FL when a woman set it on fire while smoking meth beneath it. The tree was called The Senator and I'm sad to say that I never got to see it. I didn't know Dayton doesn't bus students. Is that unusual or the norm for OH? Just saw that U2 is going on tour this summer. The closest to us is Tampa's stadium in June. We are debating whether to go to another city where it would be cooler. We saw them outdoors in Tampa in October in 2009 and the heat and humidity were unbelievable. The show was great though, so worth going. I prefer arenas and the A/C though.

Karen, did you stay up for that fantastic finish? So happy to see Clemson and the ACC get the win. The ACC went 8-3 in its bowl games, so maybe we won't have to hear about the dominance of the SEC for awhile.

Liz, how is your work week going?

Waving hi to Becky and Linda. Hope everyone has a great day!

Thanks for the start, Chele. I hadn't heard about the bus driver strike in your area. I would think that many people who rely on rapid transit there may not be able to afford another means of transportation. I didn't realize your schools don't bus so that will be very difficult for the schools as well. I hope the strike is settled quickly. Yes, I was happy about Clemson. We watched the first quarter and when we turned off the TV the score was 7-0 in favor of 'Bama. I'm glad that changed. Someone on the a.m. sports radio show called in with some statistics about teams getting 25 wins and then not being able to get the 26th. I believe that was one Alabama was trying to disprove but did not. The ref with the big guns made our a.m. news show but I guess I'll see him when we finish watching the game this afternoon during "the basset rodeo". How are you going to fix your kohlrabi? I usually roast it with a few other veggies. I'm surprised with Aruba being coastal that they have lower humidity.

Kathy, do you get off this Friday and will you take MLK Day on Monday or float it til later or have a 4-day weekend? It's kind of funny about SEC dominance because even in the SEC it was pretty much Alabama and everyone else. In fact, I think it was Mississippi State who made it to a bowl game with a 5-7 record. I thought the bowl selection committee could have done better. Maybe that means there are too many bowl games. I hope you weren't close to where the police officer shooting yesterday. I heard they still haven't caught the guy. Stay safe!

Linda, I think insurance approval being needed is such a joke. Who knows what is better from you from a medical standpoint--your doctor or some insurance adjuster. I haven't tried the Ketamine-gabapentin-lidocaine but from those three ingredients, it should be a pretty potent pain reliever. Hopefully it will help you be pain free most of the time and get the mobility you need so you and Micki can walk.

Are your temperatures rising yet, Liz? I hope your snow is melting. I heard something on the news about the number of states where the flu is running rampant. How is your hospital census doing?

Becky, do you notice high sodium weight after you eat at Whataburger like you do at DQ? I'm glad you had a good IBS week. You haven't had that for a while.

Did something change on our message board through Tapatalk? I can't get the forums to come up, only the home screen and my settings seem to have changed as well. Good thing I can acess it through my computer as well. Hopefully after I post it will come up in the "participate" tab.

We have been above freezing most of the morning. YAY! I did venture out to the pool and am very glad I didn't attempt it yesterday as our only road to the highway wasn't exactly stellar this morning so would have been really bad yesterday. It's currently in the 40s and heading upward, with lows in the 40s tonight, so most of the snow will be melted by the time we head out tomorrow for Phoebe's rescheduled appointment. We also are expecting some rain so that will help. Phoebe has had a good day. She did jump up into the recliner a little while ago instead of waiting for me to put the "granny stairs" in place for her. I have her off all meds except benadryl but will also give her a trazadone (happy pill) before we leave tomorrow, According to the oncologist, 80% of dogs have little or no side effects from chemo so we can hope she is not in the 20%.

I hope everyone is enjoying warmer weather today.

Linda, I hope your compound helps. It sounds strong enough. Last winter my left shoulder ached every day all day but it seems to be okay this winter. I can only imagine what your knee feels like with it be close to bone on bone.

Karen, I hope Miss Phoebe has no reaction to chemo. She and you have been through enough. I hope the drive in the morning is uneventful. I usually eat my kohlrabi raw.

Kathy, the little kids have buses but not the high school students. Attendance was down 7.75% yesterday and no plans for make up days.

I made a cabbage spinach soup when I got back from the store. Even though the temp is 46° it is raining and the soup warmed me up. Iggy texted me that he is on his way to Bali. The VPs are making his life miserable, demanding so and so's.

Just got the voltaren/gabapentn/lydocaine, prilocrain cream this afternoon, but it is for if pain gets bad. I just used some arnica gel today once. Walked Micki 3/4 mile and no worse.  I don't know why it is suddenly unhappy for day. Just glad when it is not and I keep moving.

Medicare approved the lubrication shot series and PT in less than 24 hours! I start shots Mondays for 5 weeks and PT Tuesday for four weeks three times a we week...cuts into schedule! Hope to be in good shape for trip March 13


fought off nasty migraine/ sinus headache most of morning and it lurks. Going to be a British dinner of beans on toast with an Egg.