Text 37791, 174 rader
Skriven 2010-05-15 23:38:10 av Janis Kracht (1:261/38)
  Kommentar till text 37732 av Ruth Haffly (1:396/45.28)
Ärende: stuff 056                                                [2]
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Hi Ruth,

>> > The humidity is the killer there.  It's unseasonably warm here (low
>> 90s) > but supposed to only go to the mid 80s tomorrow and low 70s on
>> Sunday. > Little to no humidity but it still is too hot when it gets
>> to 90+.

I remember how bad the 90's (high or low) hit me when we lived in Louisville,
KY.. I love the heat, but Ron always tells me I do so much better in the cold
weather.. and he's right, drat (laugh)

>> I can imagine that.  We have had monsterous winds all day today, and
>> warmish weather (about 65-69F).. but tonight it's going to drop..
>> crud.  These swings in temperature outside really do my legs in.

> They do my lungs in as well.

It's funny, I know the cold bothers your asthma as well.. can't win I guess :(
Lauren used to do well in cold crisp air, and worse in humid hot air.  She and
her family can use some prayers right now.  I'll netmail you.

> I understand Steve's siblings in western NY
> has snow flurries yesterday.  My parents didn't say anything about it
> but they were more concerned about their computer trouble when we talked
> to them.

Hope they were able to get things going ok.  When I tried to get Mom to use a
computer (even just for email), she essentially crossed her arms across her
chest, and said NO (laugh).  Guess that was that :)

>> (g)... so my doctor wrote to the insurance company and from what I
>> understand from his nurse, he really gave it to them in his "appeal".
>> I'd bet the insurance company (Aetna) just figures if they make things
>> difficult, people will just give up.. this drug will cost them about
>> $1000.00+ a month.

> So let's hope the doctor's note will make the insurance bean counters
> think again.  Medical insurance administered by those with no medical
> background needs to change (biting my tongue so I won't say anything
> more).

Yes I can undersand biting your tongue, we could go on forever about that one
:( :( Well, the good thing is, the company Ron works for does have an insurance
advocate who will contact Aetna and keep at them until things are straightened
around.  I'm waiting to hear back from her.. I should hear something on Monday
I hope.

>> Yes, they really really are.  In more ways than one (g).. I bought
>> them three really long (about 3 ft.) chicken-flavored chews at agway,
>> and they're gone already :) :)


> We used to get dried pig's ears for Sam.  He'd have them gone is nothing
> flat too.  Deborah got him beef marrow bones from time to time as well;
> they made good chew toys.

You mean I shouldn't be throwing my old shoes to them ?? (just kidding (grin))
they actually found a place where I'd stashed a few pairs of old shoes and boy
did they rip them up.  So much for not much in the way of Lab. Retriever
genes.. they decimated those shoes (g).  They were under a dresser, way in the
back.. not so hidden I guess (laugh)

>> enjoy things if she can.  She made it through breast cancer
>> thankfully, and is still getting radiation therapy so hopefully that

> Good to hear she's doing well on that count.  Will she need Tamoxifin?

She hasn't mentioned needing any other drugs at this point.  They didn't do a
radical either.  Her's was mainly in the nipple (sound terrible :() but they
are sure they got all of it.  I do wish she'd come back for a visit here so I
could make sure she eats decent food.

> Radiation will take a lot out of her and she may get some sun burn like
> reaction; the techs and doctor need to help her keep aware of that.

Oh she knew about that, being a nurse for so many years.  And yes, she was
burned.  We joked about how she wouldn't have to go for any 'chemical peels'
instead of a face lift this year (bg).

> It's not funbut it's not as bad as chemo.  I presume she got tatooed as
> well? I never thought I would get a tatoo--until they said I needed 3
> (!) for f=reference points.

Yes, and Matt had to get them as well.  He had testicular cancer.  He had
several tatoo points so I can imagine my mom did as well.

I'm glad I haven't had to have any kind of treatment for anything like cancer..
I know at some point I will have to give in and get an MRI..and I don't want to
think about a tatoo and that :(


>> will take care of any surprises.. poor Mom.. I felt so bad for her.
>> It was a spot that my dr. here in Binghamton picked up when mom visted
>> the time before last. she ignored it until she couldn't.. (that's
>> sad).  I can understand her fears though.

> Sometimes it's better to go ahead & take care of things right away

Agree there :(

> instead of waiting; it saves the worry and anxiety. I wasn't happy with
> the idea of more surgery, followed by radiation but went ahead & took
> care of it before I had too much time to stew on it.

I an understand that one.  Kind of.. I mean, I've never had to worry about
quite that kind of thing (cancer), but I've lived through watching my Dad have
it (lung cancer), and my Mom.  You rationalize so many things away though (I
do, at least). Dad was around X-Ray Machines from when they were first
invented, there was Asbestos in their basement, and they lived for years
without a Radon check in the house where I grew up... and the health dept.
wouldn't let a woman rent an upstairs apt. because of the Lead levels in the
old house's paint.  Hmm.. I should be dead (g)

>> huge grater that I use now .. don't think I had it at the picnic, but
>> I might have.. it's the size of a toaster, maybe, but lower, and it
>> will grind cheese or make bread crumbs.. It's electric so all I have
>> to do is push a button.. but it cost $200.00 so I think they were
>> expecting to sell this thing to restaurants :)

> WOW!  That will do a number in a hurry on a chunk of cheese! I don't

Yes, it does :) :) :)

> think you had it at the picnic but then too, I was somewhat busy working
> on the sauce, meat balls and braciole.  I've got a microplane grater and
> one of those little wheel things (got that one when we first got to
> Germany in 1986, something to use while waiting for our household goods
> to arrive).

I have a couple of mouli graters (metal things that have you put the cheese in
a section, close the top and grind).  The best one I have though is a plastic
(very ruggedly made) one though that is very easy to grind for most people I
would think. I still have some problems with it though so that's the one I sent
her.  She should do ok with it.

>> > I like my steak done medium; I don't want it talking back to me when
>> I > cut into it.

>> Aw, they don't say much, trust me (G)

> I'd still rather have it a bit more well done--but not charcoal either.

Understand.  I'm glad that the two of us like rare beef, but Ron has also
mentioned that sometimes he thinks he hears the beef I eat talk (laugh). He
likes it about how you do I think :)

>> Yes, we do the same.. it's nice though to pick up a pork roast like we
>> did at the farmer's market.. that was soooooo good the other night..
>> then tonight with the leftovers, I made polynesian pork (I'd bought a
>> pineapple this week). Heh.. if I can get the top of the pineapple to
>> root, I want to start growing
>> pineapples inside.


> You might get the pineapple to grow inside but it most likely won't
> survive the winter outside.  Steve's mom hasn't had much success, even
> in Florida.

No, not outside, definitely.  An indoor plant.  If I'm lucky in about two years
it will start making fruit.  THAT'S if I can get it to root first (g).

>> Yes, I can rarely finish what they serve at restaurants.

> Also saves room for dessert--as I did yesterday at Carraba's.  They put
> 2 cannoli on a plate per serving so we split one dessert. (G)

Now that's something I love, but the ones in Jersery are SO good, you almost
hate to try one at restaurants elsewhere (g).

Take care,
Janis

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