Quarantine and chill and kindness chatty clubhouse: Jump in and join the conversation! All is welcome!

[lynxstch]

Good morning, Happy Fourth of July everyone.

Hubby's fever went to 102 again last nite, is down to 99 again this morning. I know he's not drinking enough fluids, but I can't get him to drink more. I am getting more and more worried, waiting for him to take his meds this morning and wait for them to kick in and see how he feels. He slept on and off in his chair again , I slept on and off on the couch again. The cats are all messed up, can't figure out why people are up and down all night and lights on all night. They use the dark to play and chase each other around.

Not planning on making our cowboy steaks for dinner tonite, he won't be hungry, will just make something simple. All he wanted for dinner last night was a small dish of ice cream, so that's what he had.

Neighbor on one side shot off a few fireworks, around 10, which woke me up since I had fallen asleep early after not sleeping Friday night. At least they didn't have a whole display going.

Have a nice morning all

 

[Bianca and Bernard]

@lynxstch Sometimes husbands can be difficult, when they are sick. It took DH laying on the floor, almost crying in pain, because he had double pneumonia/bronchitis at the same time. I hope yours gets better soon.

Re: air fryer. Both DDs have one and they love them. I do not own an air fryer, but my convection/toaster oven has air fry capabilities. I use it to cook the Birdseye roasted vegetable combinations, french fries, frozen toasted raviolis, etc. I also use it to 'crisp' up leftover fried chicken.

I totally missed our stop at Sa'tuli's Canteen on AK day! It was a good meal; DH and I both had the bowls, with the potato hash, beef, and charred green onion sauce. He said it was his favorite meal of the trip, and I'd have to agree it was the best quick service. The girls drank margaritas, and I had the pear blossom non alcoholic drink (too hot for alcohol); it was good but sweet, and the margaritas were too sweet for me. No one liked the blueberry dessert; the texture of the yellow part was not pleasant.

 

[sparkle78]

Happy 4th of July !! My local town has a 5K race that runs through my neighborhood and a golf course , so i got up at 7;00am and went and cheered on a few friends . Grabbing a quick bite and headed to church in a little while. then home for yard work, yardwork, yardwork

 

[lynxstch]

@Bianca and Bernard thank you...they are stubborn..but this time the cellulitis is worse than he's ever had it. We are hoping his PCP is open tomorrow and we can get her to do a video appt and prescribe a strong antibiotic. I don't know if they consider tomorrow their holiday instead of today or not, but I will be calling at 8 am to find out. He's been drinking gatorade, his temp is down to normal, and he fell asleep so I am letting him sleep. But he's not moving far from that chair today!

 

[flyingdumbo127]

Lynn and a ton of prayers for your DH and always you, as well! Prayers he is feeling much better as I type this!

Wishing all of you a safe and Blessed 4th of July! I've shared before on here that being Patriotic has indeed come to mean more to me, become more personal, as I've gotten older and it has. So Blessed indeed for freedom in this country to those who have served and are serving and their families, too! Always I give utmost thanksgiving to God. Thanks to each of you for your own service of daily spreading kindness and cheer

 

[Pea-n-Me]

I know you know you can take him to the ER, Lynn, so I won’t say it. If the infection spreads to his blood, he could be in big trouble. (Not to mention the pain and lethargy, etc.) If he’s debilitated, it could be a risk for him. I do hope you can get in touch with the doctor’s office. They have people on call for weekends and holidays, you could always call, but likely they will say take him to the ER. Prayers. It’s hard to keep having issues over and over again and knowing what you’re in for.

We got that air fryer for free from Amazon last Christmas when they delivered it to us in error. It’s still in the box and I doubt we’ll use it. We don’t use a lot of things other than basics to cook. We don’t have a lot of storage space, either. Was thinking of selling it. Anyone want to try to talk me out of it? I don’t even really know how it works. We use our grill a LOT - and we bought the one that has an actual flat cooking surface, not direct flame, so it really helps with clean up (and no worries about char).

Poor Toto was shaking and pacing last night with some very loud fireworks on our street. I think the police probably came because they stopped very abruptly. (They are illegal here, except when run professionally.) I am wishing now I got him a Thundershirt or something before, as I imagine we’ll be hearing them again tonight. They never bothered him until we took him to a parade and guns were going off right in front of us. He wouldn’t make a very good hunting dog, lol.

DH and I went out to dinner last night to a little Italian place where I grew up, then we went into the North End to our favorite bakery for something sweet. We had Caesar salad and both got Chicken Parm. So good. (Half of mine came home so I’ll get to enjoy it later, but he sucked his all down! ) When he went into the bakery they were just filling the cannolis so he got those, and it was probably the best cannoli I’ve ever had! We ate them in the car on the ride home, lol. Got to see DS for a few mins when we dropped off some food to him where he works nearby, then when he came home last night. He got me a nice lighthouse, a bracelet with sand in it, and an egret wall hanging on his southern trip. Oh and a whiskey cake that we put in the freezer! It was so nice to see him.

Happy 4th everyone!

 

[Pea-n-Me]

I almost forgot to take food pics, I was so excited to dig in! But I remembered just in time.

Chicken parmagiana with angel hair pasta.



Fresh cannoli from Bova’s Bakery (our favorite - highly debatable which bakery is “best”)





I also thought you guys might enjoy seeing some pictures of the North End of Boston. It’s got quite a history in case anyone feels like reading about it and it’s a must-do when visiting Boston.

https://www.bu.edu/articles/2020/getting-to-know-your-neighborhood-the-north-end/

Some caveats. It was pouring rain. And since Covid they’ve added a lot of outdoor seating (empty, given rain) that is blocked off with barriers so the usual look has changed a bit, but it’s still cute, albeit a little tighter to drive through than usual.



Battle of the bakeries

(Couldn’t decide which I liked better here as a hobby photographer)

Bova’s





Mike’s (always a line)





Or Modern

 

[Pea-n-Me]

And a few from around other areas of the North End. Not the best quality, but I had fun















Another “can’t decide which”

 

[Pea-n-Me]

 

[Breezy_Carol]

Good afternoon.

Went to church this morning. Pre-pandemic, we always sat in the balcony and had a whole group of friends up there. Went back to the balcony today for the first time. Between that and a summer choir in the choir loft, it was approaching normal. Communion was served differently but the liturgy was the same. The prelude was variations on America and the postlude was Stars and Stripes Forever, both on the organ. Our interim organist is wonderful and the music was great. He played Stars and Stripes Forever without music and it was well received.

I still have to devil the eggs I boiled to take to DD's house where we are going for dinner. Not sure if we'll watch fireworks from her yard or go to the canal to see some other ones.

@Pea-n-Me, glad you had a nice evening in Boston.

@lynxstch, I hope DH doesn't get worse while you wait for the doctor.

Everyone have a safe and happy 4th! (Tried to share a picture but was unsuccessful.)

 

[tazdev3225]

Happy 4th of July

I had a great time at my son's yesterday although the rain put a damper on the fireworks. He planned on doing them but at 9 PM I was to tired to wait anymore. I did manage to at least get a picture of all the great grandkids and my great grandson. They are in my phone so I will try and post one later. I always have one grandson that gives me a hard time but I got it.

@Pea-n-Me I went to Boston once, years ago when my kids were younger. They still talk about it as the "Mom went Psycho" trip. I tried to cram as much of the city as I could into a few hours and we got lost in the North End although we did see quite a bit. We went on one of the buses that take you around to show the highlights. We saw Plymouth, Boston, Salem and Maine in 4 days and that included driving to each city. Maine we didn't even stay overnight. I have relaxed since then. I went again a few years ago with friends and all they wanted to see was the Cheers bar. Spent a fortune in parking to see Faneuil Hall for a half hour and they wanted to leave. NOT a fun trip. I keep saying we will get there again but I hate that drive through NY.

When I get a chance I will try and post a picture of all the grands together. Have a great day

 

[lynxstch]

Its 73 out,,cloudy, had a few sprinkles. He was asleep, so I mowed the lawn (before we get into the mid 90's again) and came in and checked on him every 15 min. Took me only an hour to mow. He is awake now, and I am trying to get him to eat something other than the chocolate milkshake I made him awhile ago. He's also had several glasses of Gatorade.

Not planning a thing for supper, I am not hungry and I know he's not either

Hope you all have a nice afternoon

 

[tazdev3225]

I managed to edit the picture down. I am very blessed to have them all live within 5 minutes away.



I will be framing this

 

[flyingdumbo127]

Continued your DH is feeling better, Lynn. Also much to you, Taz Dev and all your family is going through.

Thank you for all the photos, Pea! Wonderful way to be able to travel from home I appreciate it, always you, and just so happy to read of another enjoyable outing. Aww, poor Toto Champ did not like fireworks either and neither do I, at all! They are illegal here too but pre Covid anyway were still being sold. I don't mind the colors, just the booming noise, awful! I am praying it stays quiet tonight.

Hooray and praise God for continuing closer to normal church experience, Carol! That is truly wonderful to hear, my friend. I will watch church later

Blessing indeed, Taz Dev to have your family so close! Beautiful picture

Lynn, a chocolate shake sounds good to me ITA your DH needs to have something more than that. I pray he will!

Wishing all of you a great afternoon!

 

[sweetpeama]

DH put a ham in the crockpot this morning. Plan is to have 13 year old make a macaroni and cheese in the microwave from her microwave cookin.g project book. That way we can check that one off after we get the questions answered. We have watermelon for dessert and I am not sure what else will get done towards dinner which for us will be around 2:30 that way we can have plenty of time to eat before DH has to leave for work at 3:30.
13 year old has been pitching a fit for the past 45 minutes because her tablet is downstairs (16 year old is still getting some programing done on it to get it set up with timers on different apps depending on when she (13 year old) is allowed to access them) and we have unplugged the tv so she has no access to youtube through the blue ray player or to any movies. This is only until she helps clean up the mess in the front room that she made. Of course I am telling her to do things like take certain clothing items of hers to the laundry and not a bit of help from DH.
He might need to be reminded that happy wife equals a happy life and that his wife is not happy with having to basically be a single parent as far as the discipline is concerned.
I asked him to help me look for some dishes and got nothing but a refusal. All I have asked is that he get the floor cleared in front of the sink so I can
both sides of the sink from when he and the girls left it a mess when I was on crutches after I tore out my knee trying to chase now 13 year old on wet concrete at the fair 4 years ago.
Though the deal was I would take over doing dishes in this house because I would have a dishwasher. Dishwasher broke about 6 years ago and he won't attempt to fix it or even let me get a used one and we are definently not allowed to spend money on purchasing a new one and having it installed so technically he needs to take back over the dishes. I am willing to do them but at being barely over 5 ft I can not reach from the far side of one half of the sink to the other sink.
I honestly think once I can get all but one credit card paid off I am going to start saving money aside to get the stove and the dishwasher replaced. The stove is to the point where we have 1-2 burners at anytime that will not light at all and we are having to light the other 2-3 by hand instead of just being able to turn them on and it is not regulating the tempature correctly in the oven part so we have to use a seperate tempature gage. Though we do have the toaster oven I got last Christmas from my parents still sitting in the box. I put it on my list without his permission so he won't help me get it set up though I do have a couple ideas for a spot to put it once things are done. I hate that physically I can not do more than 15-20 minutes of work and then have to rest for an hour or two and if I do a couple of hours total of work around the house I am out of commision for the entire next day barely able to walk to the bathroom when I need it. I am to the point where once we get the house picke up enough that it is not so cluttered I am seriously going to find someone to come in at least once a month to help with the major cleaning so that I just have to handle the day to day stuff because the past few years have taught me that my family has a rule that they don't have to help. Oh I get a bit from time to time if I turn into the wicked rhymes with witch of the galaxy and scream loud enough. Asking them nicely with will you please do this gets me nothing but a when I have time, later, or just ignored.
It doesn't help that DH has my parents especially my dad saying that I am just lazy and that I don't have Fibro, Chronic Fatique, and Guillian Barre Syndrome. My dad doesn't believe in those and my mom is well the doctors from the system I go to did not give those diagnoises to you and since they have seen you from the time you were in your preteen years (until I got pissed about them doing nothing but adding more medications to counter the side effects from all the other ones I was on even after I had pharmacists questioning all of them and calling the doctors only to get yes it is necessary and switched to the other system in town). Hello I haven't been with them at all since I was expecting now 13 year old and was back with that system only for a short while while expecting now 16 year old and the first bit of her life. Before that my health care was combined at student health services which were doctors from the other system coming in a few days a week and a nurse who was full time during all hours plus using the county health dept clinic as that was on a sliding scale according to your income. But let's go with what was going on in the late 90s when I was still in good shape just don't ask me to do certain sports as I have a total lack of coordination but I could spend an evening bowling with friends (none of us were that good but it was an activity to do), and could easily do a hike as long as it was not considered a harder trail, plus in spite of being at either work or school unless I was driving between them from 6 am to 10 pm and then coming home to study for a couple of hours and getting about 4.5 hours of sleep able to keep a house halfway decent.

 

[tazdev3225]

@sweetpeama Sorry you have that problem with your family but I can relate. My mom bends over backwards to help my brothers, even had me help paint my youngest brothers house when they moved. She won't do a thing to help me with my house and will criticize everything when I am done. I have had 5 knee surgeries, need a 6th and tore my ankle up pretty badly in a fall about 10 years ago. When I limp from the pain I do it "for attention". It's taken me a long time but I am learning to tune her out and stop seeking something she is not capable of giving me. I am not the favored child because I don't live in a huge house and have a rich and successful husband who wore a suit to work. We are just complete opposites and I have almost learned to live with it.

 

[PollyannaMom]

Hi all, and happy 4th!

We are home from our trip and had a great time! I was posting quick bits earlier in the week, but dropped off a little at the end when things got busier, so I will finish catching up later.

I wanted to just quickly post some pics for now, but I cannot get the vertical ones to post the right direction, even with cropping them, so here is one horizontal one for now:



Have a great night, everyone!

 

[flyingdumbo127]

Hugs to both you Sweepeama and Taz Dev. No one should ever feel taken for granted especially within their own family. I'm sorry, friends.

Welcome Home, PollyannaMom! What a pretty picture.

Nice relaxing afternoon here

 

[easyas123]

Happy 4th everyone!

 

[sweetpeama]

I can't even have a knee surgery due to my weight. They refused to do it back when I had my first knee injury at 12 years old (a sheep hit my knee on the lower inside and moved it in the direction of the upper outside) because I was not on a sports team in junior high. Yes if I played on the girls basketball team or on the volleyball team it would have been done. This did not help with how active I was able to be when younger and then add in medications that have weight gain as a side effect and in my early college years one that took out my thryoid (you just need to exercise more and then say that I am becoming obsessive about my weight and showing signs of a severe eatting disorder when I am doing 20-30 of running, 1-2 hours in the pool, 45-90 minutes in theI weight room (no free weights for the women) and 1-2 hours in the dance room depending if it was swim team (a club sport that only had one meet with the other schools in our conference) or dance team season. If weather was bad we did not do running but then had longer session inside. This was on top of any classes that I had that were physical classes and considering that I was at the time majoring in recreational therapy I was taking 1-2 pool type classes a term. How still being 25-30 pounds overweight I had an eating disorder don't ask me. I was about 50 pounds overweight when I graduated from high school. I am hoping that the girls can finish getting the front room picked up today so that I can set up a fan to keep the room halfway comfortable (I have a small one on the window ledge plus an around the neck one) and start walking in my front room. Goal is to start out with 2-3 minutes a day and then work up to 5 by the middle of the month with hopefully 10 minutes by the end of the month. With any luck by the end of the month the kitchen area should be picked up enough that I do not have to play weave and dodge (ok maybe the cats but they can go outside or be put in another room when I am doing my exercise walking). Once I can start doing 30-45 minutes easily I will start either going to the track at the Y or going to the zoo in the morning when they first open and walking there plus doing some walking on the place when my parents are out of town and everyone else is at work or school (don't need any how much weight have you lost comments and then getting told should you be eating that when I dare to have a small treat for a special occasion). Of course when I tell them that my weight is between me and my doctor and my doctor is not concerned about my weight as long as I keep it within a steady range I am being rude and they are just showing concern. OK now because of my knee my doctor is concerned but mainly because orthopedics won't touch me at my weight. I was able to walk just fine at 25 pounds heavier than I am now. Ok not in the open in the middle of day on days when it was in the triple digits but that was called heat stroke and everyone is at danger of that in those temperatures.