`Tuesday February 15

[Acadianmom]

Hope everyone had a good Valentines Day. My only celebration was to wear a red shirt. I thought TJ Maxx might have some Valentines candy but all they have is easter candy. Easter is a long way off. I went to Petsmart to get Sugar's food but they didn't have the one I wanted in the medium size bag. They had a $5 coupon off a small bag so got that instead. I can order the other one on line. Picked up some pill pockets for my son's dog. He is on pills for his skin problem. The vet said he had some kind of infection. My son said he got into a fight with the neighbors cat so probably got bit.

I have a Meetup Meal tonight. The new Aldi's grocery store opened up in the same shopping center as the restaurant. I'm going to go early so I can check out Aldi's.

I had to back off on my 2 mile walks because it was aggravating my foot too much. I made one mile this morning.

Martha

[Irmi]

Good afternoon Martha & all!

Martha, I hope your Meetup Meal is fun and appetizing! We just got an email from the resort here that a young Girl Scout will be selling Girl Scout cookies in front of the clubhouse for an hour this afternoon, so we'll have to walk over and support her. We just had a plumbing leak fixed by a mobile RV repair service and it cost under $ 200 and we are thrilled. I'm doing a load of laundry as I type to make sure it doesn't leak or they said they'll be back.

It was 35 degrees when I got up this morning and our high is supposed to be 72. The low tonight is supposed to be 54, so that's a lot better than the crazy temperatures we've been waking up to lately.

Fried chicken with a couple sides will be our dinner this evening.

[Redetotry]

We are having a sunny day with temps in the 50's! Of course it won't last long but I'll enjoy it while it lasts. We have an Aldi's here but I get frustrated because you find something you really like and then never see it again! DH does most of the grocery shopping though and he won't go there because it used to look like a warehouse. They have remodeled but he still shops the other stores.
I order a small crate for Pippa so I can take her to the vet without both of us having to go. She would wander all over if she were loose. I need it by Friday so I ordered one that said I would have it on Thursday. But when I got the confirmation it said Thursday or Friday.
Pippa hasn't been outside yet so while it is warm I think I will let her explore if she will. It might freak her out. I wish one of the other dogs would at least play with her a little she wants to play so bad. Emma was barking at her through the door yesterday and Pippa barked back an went into the let's play pose. She gets her last vaccines Friday so I can take her places in another week. I wonder if there are puppy meet up groups
Irmi, I'm waiting on my Girl Scout cookies, I always get the thin mint and freeze them. Yum!!

This is my Valentine from DH. I think he really captured Pippa's expression! She loves sitting in his lap, but is usually giving him kisses.

[Bethers]

It's sad that we do things to help us and they aggravate other things, etc etc.

I made a quick Walmart pickup run this morning. It's to be windy this afternoon and even worse tomorrow afternoon. I'm going to the dentist in Mexico tomorrow afternoon so I'll be in the middle of it. Luckily not driving the RV. I should do laundry this afternoon.

I got interrupted writing this then decided to get my passport out and couldn't find it. Went nuts for awhile then went back to where it belongs and discovered it slid back between a storage piece inside the cabinet and the inside wall. Whew! Came back here and no memory of what else I planned to say lol

Irmi and BJ you both posted during my lapse here. I don't go to Aldi's because I never know what they'll have and I always have to continue to another store to get too much on my list. BJ I'm always so impressed with your husbands cards for you.

[chalet05]

BJ, always love seeing the cards your hubby makes!

Son-in-law made fettuccine with shrimp and crab for my daughter's Valentine dinner. He's bringing me leftovers later. He's loving his air fryer and thinks I should get one - starting to consider it more seriously.

Martha, I just got off the treadmill which even watching TV or reading while I'm walking is boring. My back screams after 10 minutes so I'm trying to strengthen it. Beth, I can't tell you how many times I think I've lost something only to find it at least near where it should be! Catherine, I'm always a bit alarmed when someone knocks on my door - have to stand on my tiptoes to see out the peephole. Sue and Karen, sorry for contractor delays.

Sunny day so the melting continues!

[MandysMom]

I'm here, read each day, just not much to say and since Friday have been holding back to see what happened. I woke very exhausted tired. Got short of breath at Curves under my usual kn95 mask which has never happened before. By evening I was dry coughing. Felt same over Saturday/Sunday plus felt very warm or shivery cold off and on, though two different thermometers read normal. Airways began to feel inflamed though not really sore throat by Sunday requiring my ventolin and Flovent to keep away mostly the coughing. At least I know what to do and have the tools to monitor . My pulse ox stays 94-96 as long as I keep up inhalers. Everyone of you should have a pulse oximeter on hand. There are many on Amazon from $19-30 and some higher. Just read reviews. I've read/ watched Dr after Dr say everyone should have that in first aid kit and make sure it doesn't sit with batteries in for extended time as I'm learning how even the top rated batteries now leak! Son had a Costco pack of Durracell on a table near entrance to his room he draws from for remotes and such. I happened to glance at it as I walked by last week and more than half are leaking! They are warranted for 10 years, good until 2026, yet leaked just sitting! He called and they are sending a coupon for new same size package plus a mailer as they want to look them over!
Back to my story. Monday I called my Dr- they (and apparently almost all Drs who have private practice here) will not even do a phone visit for possible Zombie Appocalypse Lockdown Virus (thank you to Wendy on Loving it on Keto for that moniker) cases! They said go online and find a test center and go to ER if short of breath. Now this has been my Dr for over 20 years and I expected better help than this! So, I researched. Walgreens and RiteAid are designated drive up test places here but the Med7 urgent care, owned by Carbon Health is an actual CoVid Clinic. Plus neither drug store on phone or app could get me an appointment- phone person said go to our site while website but it kept linking back to government lists of places when you hit "make an appointment "! Med7 was wonderful. I called to be sure they were taking people and they were so nice, walked me through their app to where I chose time and said we look forward to helping. I chose sick visit rather than just test . They also offer test only and test before travel where you need a certificate. They take most insurance - my Medicare plus Blue Cross, there is no copay. If you are cash pay, it's $165 which covers screening by nurses aid or nurse, testing with swab that gets sent off (3-5 day wait as this is the more accurate test), and a visit with Dr or PA, with a run down of health and appropriate exam elements- in this case heart and lungs, guidance as to how to take care of myself, and prescriptions sent off to my nearby pharmacy. My symptoms are compatible with what they are seeing with current variants- no or little fever plus exhaustion and upper airway inflammation with dry cough.until research I though I could not have the virus because I have no fever. I was wrong. And symptoms will progress as days go by until recovery. For instance, later last night sneezing began and runny nose. And my chicken I air fried night before suddenly smelled spoiled even though I knew it couldn't be and 3 hours later I got same chicken out and suddenly it smelled as it should. This recent evolution of virus is not characterized by loss of smell and taste, but more often either blunting of taste and smell or weird smells that aren't there- the husband on Loving it on Keto kept thinking their dog had an accident in the house until wife asked what he was doing and said she smelled and found nothing., a few days later he smelled cigar smoke when there was none, but she got only blunted taste and smell. I'd be surprised, at this point , if my test is negative as day 3 (first day symptoms counts as day zero, next day is day one) is optimum time to test and find positive if you are. Incubation time is as little as 2 days and as much as 10, so often it's really hard to trace where you got it unless say you work in office where someone gets sick, tests positive and you get sick in few days. I wear a mask always in public places, for past few months a kn95, so, frankly I was caught off guard by getting sick . This still could be viral laryngitis, but, even so, how was I exposed? I'm not exactly a social butterfly and haven't even been to church, attending zoom chinch since we started that.
Anyhow, I'll let you know my results in few days. I'll take my prednisone she rx'ed and cough pill (tessalon, a capsule so no sugar,), and hydrate, monitor breathing (peak flow down since Friday ) and pulse oximeter - danger point on that is, if you fall below 90 % O2 on 2 checks, get to ER for their oxygen support and treatment!!! Mostly it's wait and try to keep protein up, avoiding sugar because this virus thrives on sugar! I slept pretty good overnight. I am taking the following supplements which are recommended by many Drs both who have treated and had the virus over past 2 years. Supplements are:Quercitin , NAC, zinc, vitamin C, vitamin D, and melatonin at bedtime. The Quercitin serves 2 purposes, it helps the body utilize zinc and is a powerful antioxidant. NAC, an amino acid, helps cough and is antioxidant . Zinc is anti viral, but take no more than 50 mg from all sources, so read all bottles and add them up for zinc. One Dr summed it up best: we do not yet have double blind studies for these on CoVid but we do have lots of annectdotal studies showings 1. None do harm if taken as u directed and 2. They are showing increasing evidence how powerful they are in this battle . You can ask your Dr and do check you don't have any drug interactions, but most Drs are not knowledgable or experienced with supplements so automatically y say ,no stick to my RX. . I've been on all supplements since friday at first sign of possible issue. First hint was I woke tired and ( didn't get as much sleep as usual so didn't think anything of it and went to Curves as usual in my kn95 mask), then 3/4,way through workout, I'm suddenly short of breath in mask. Still unsure until later cough began. still in denial until I monday at 9 when I called my Dr and described my symptoms and she said you are describing the latest CoVid symptoms, we can't see you! I'm like ,but I have no fever , to which she said, yep, latest variant low to no fever unless you progress to lung involvement and pneumonia! She said go find a test place.
Everyone have a good day and remember, incubation is 2-10 days so testing the day you got off plane and days in row with no symptoms is waste of resources. Stay well. Getbfreshbair and sun when you can.

[Shirlv]

Afternoon All, chilly but sunny. Had to drive to Centreville Dollar General for distilled water for humidifier. Five other stores were sold out. Decided I would make a mini green house out of my big flower pot so need a plastic dome. Nothing suitable on line but saw huge white Dollar General bag full of trash. Ask if I could buy empty bag but was told no. Thought about stealing their bag of trash but do not run very fast anymore. I want to cover a small laundry basket for a dome. Another shopper suggested a shower curtain liner so will try that. In the Fifties tomorrow so good day to garden and sow salad green seeds in pot. Tried making a pickup order at Walmart but 3/4 of items unavailable so canceled. Placed an order at Food Lion which was almost as bad but it’s closer. It’s getting scary out there. Be safe.

[OregonLuvr]

I am not having a very good day!!!!! Got up went in the kitchen and heard noise I thought coming from the dishwasher, nope. Opened the cabinet underneath the sink and I had old faithful, OMG water was squirting up so I grabbed some towels then decided I would try tightening as it was coming from a joint, nope just made it worse. So I wrapped some electrical tape around it but that only minimized the leak. I texted my poor contractor at 6am LOL Since my shut off valve is under the house that sure wasnt happening. So he came over on his way to an excavation job and turned that valve off. Told me he told his Dad and he would send a plumber (Dad owns plumbing business). So then I need a quick cup of coffee so I use my k-cup, fill the water and push the button............forgot to put the cup under it.....sheesh.

Plumber came about 10:30. Said the water wasn't shut off, so now I have no idea what that valve is under the house. I called the manager and the plumber also stopped and talked to her and she came up a bit later. So we are outside he is looking for a shut off in the ground. My neighbor gets PT at home and this fellow pulled up, comes over and asks if we are looking for the water shut off. He said it was under that rock over there. I asked him how he knew that (I am sure we would have never looked under the rock) he said his mother lived here, I bought the house from her. She lived here for 30 years. Sure enough moved the rock, swept away the mulch and the plumber found it. Thank goodness Doris had PT today!!!! And he was just a fill in for the regular fellow who was on vacation, so those stars aligned. So now I am washing umpteen towels. Cost me $142 well spent dollars tho.

I am still trying to get to the grocery store early so guess I will try again tomorrow.

[JudyJB]

Good grief!! Who would hide a water shutoff under a rock??? I can understand why you forgot the cup under the coffee! Well, at least now you know, and by the way, when I was president of condo association, I rescued a couple of people with big, huge leaks because it was hidden in basement behind furnace return in a small compartment with a cover. You had to know where it was to find it!! I knew because my basement was not finished.

While we are at it, if you live in a house, you also need to know where your gas shutoffs are. We called in a gas technician to help us find and label all of ours after one resident smelled gas and had trouble finding the shutoff.

And, Velda, really sorry to hear you might have COVID. And be really careful with those Tessalon perles/capsules. You need to make sure you take them with lots of water and even a bit of food. I used to take them and one night just before bedtime, I did not take any food or enough water wit one. It stuck in my throat and temporarily paralyzed it. Even after getting up and eating and drinking, the half hour it spent in my throat made it hard for me to swallow for most of the night, so I got almost no sleep. Very scary.

[BarbaraRose]

Velda, sounds like you have Covid. Take good care of yourself. Hope your son doesn't get it. Linda had covid back in October/November and it affected her sodium levels which landed her in the ICU. She lost her sense of taste and smell for awhile, but she told me yesterday that now many foods smell and taste really horrible and are nauseating to her! She is trying to find things she can eat that smell and taste more normal or at least tolerable to her. Seems to be something a lot of post-covid people are now dealing with.

Our state mandate for wearing masks in public places was lifted today. Makes me a little nervous even tho I plan to keep wearing my mask. It does make it easier to do haircuts on those without masks. I think about half of my customers today still wore their masks thru the haircut.

We are dealing with nasty Santa Ana winds today with up to 80 mph gusts! The dust and sand this morning was blowing all over. Couldn't even see the mountains!

Had a haircut to do after work tonight. Now am relaxing and will get to bed early. Feeling sleepy already.

[snowball]

wow Karen what a day and how blessed you were that the right person happened by that knew where the shut off was...
before I forget Shirl... you probably said what you wanted to cover but now I've forgotten so if this might help if not oh well. when you were saying you wanted to make a dome why not look at large clear plastic bowls... probably would find them in a restaurant supply store... might find it on Amazon you are much more used to shopping on line than I am... just a thought...
heard mom talking on the phone this morning at breakfast she mentioned that she had an appointment with the dr at 3:00 so we went to the dr... he was so amazed at how well she is getting around visited a bit and took blood for the tests he wanted... hopefully they will come back good... guess the phlegm is just something we will have to live with... I had hopes that he would say do this or lets try this... or but nope take out stock in Kleenix might be in order
so just didn't accomplish much... the RX is ready so will get that tomorrow...
tomorrow have things I need to do but mom also needs to go to the hospital to talk about her bill ... I hate to say this but that snow that is predicted ??? I hope it delays and comes after I get things done... hopefully tomorrow will get my Swedish Weave to the cleaners... dd is coming tomorrow night so have to figure out what to fix... sorta thinking about F.... can't think of how to spell it at all but those things in tortilla and lots of onions and peppers... need to use that meat in the freezer but have to get peppers otherwise have everything..
today would be my dad's birthday 100 years old... so we have been doing a remember on chat today it's been interesting most reflect his teaching by example...
with the heat being fixed I am back to being cold most of the time
there was something I was going to comment on but now can't remember what it was... there was something the other day that every once in awhile floats through my mind then I get on her and it's long gone
since I'm cold I think hot chocolate is in order sad thing is it really doesn't warm me up... but it's a good excuse
you all have a good night
sheila