WOMEN AGES 50+ FOR DECEMBER 2021

Thank you for the well wishes towards my pup Drew. I am still thinking of changing Vets. Right now all the Vets are swamped. Because of a bad snow storm I missed the Vet appointment. I was not able to reschedule for a week and a half. This is how bad it is here to get treatment. When you call emergency they are booked too.

I do not believe Drew has an ulcer. I did not do the five drugs Vet wanted me to do to prove to him it is not an ulcer. She is doing better. She is eating again. Her coat and eyes look good.

I believe it was stress and maybe something she ate that caused this. I did also have her nails clipped and her flea and tick/ heartworm treatment right when this was going on. I was particullarly stressed at this time too. Doing that medical regime of five other drugs would only cause more stress on her. I did get some cederwood and pepperment oil mixed with almond oil to do her flea and tick next time rather than a oral med. Heartworm there is no natural treatment so I will continue with that. Prevention is the best for heartworm.

Just like for us diet, exercise, rest, and a calm atmosphere are sometimes the best treament.

Just like with a doctor when I asked what is the best diet for Drew with her condition. He did not give me a straight answer. HMMM!

My good neighbor at son's house just had to put her beloved dog down. She is a single woman with no children. Suggestions on what to say and how often to check in with her. I did get a card that said how lucky Max was to have her in her life and I added my favorite memory of Max (the time he gave me a Max hug). I also included a poinsetttia (she has poinsettia decorations) and some poinsettia paper plates.

OregonMother wrote: »

sh0tzz99 wrote: »

I’m wondering how the entry/exit process went with respect to COVID. We are considering going in February.

Tina in CA

Lots of paper work. We each carried a folder of all of our documents -- I think there were six different things. Timing the Covid test was the trickiest for us, and we weren't sure we had done it correctly -- 72 hours? 3 days? Because of the time our flight was leaving, getting it actually within a 72 hour window would have been nearly impossible, because they required a PCR test. I think we were technically at 75 hours, but the Fiji Airways clerk just saw 3 days, and said we were fine. You must have arranged CareFiji approved housing for at least 3 days in country and CareFiji approved transportation directly to the resort. (And have proof of such before you can board -- some people had trouble with this at LAX). Once your approved transport has taken you to the resort, we had to quarantine at the resort for three days. Which was fine with us because we really just needed rest. On the third day, we had a rapid test (a hotel room was reserved for medical testing). Once we tested negative, we were able to leave the resort. That next day we took the village/river/waterfall tour. Which was probably the riskiest thing we did, but it didn't seem that risky because everyone is fully vaccinated and tested and we wore masks in the van/bus. All foreign tourists have to go through everything we did, and every business that was following the CareFiji guidelines had a sign on their window/door that said "100% vaccinated."

Anyway, I'm getting everything out of order because there was so much stuff. We each had to download the CareFiji app on our phone and have blue tooth enabled for contract tracing, and show such to Fiji Airways before boarding. We scanned in and out of some places, although not everyone required it, apparently.

To get back into the US, we found out, literally as we were flying over, that we had to have a form completed for the US government and get a rapid test 24 hours (1 day) before boarding our flight. Again, they did that right at the hotel. The Fiji security people at the airport checked that form, kept it, and we never had to show it again. To get back into the US at LAX, all I did was show my passport and walk through. My husband, because he has global entry, didn't even have to show his passport. That didn't fill us with great confidence.

On the planes everyone is masked, but I was most uncomfortable on the domestic flights between LAX and PDX. But we really did have uneventful flights, all legs. No rude or disruptive people, and everyone wore their masks properly, which the attendants thanked all of us for. The flight home to PDX from LAX was booked solid. It was weird to be that close to so many people, knowing that not everyone had to be vaxxed.

We were one of the earliest flights from LAX (not the first, so we didn't get the marching band and dancers at the airport in Fiji), so the flight attendants all wore PPE, the whole flight. I had a little panic walking onto the plane, because I don't see people dressed like that except when I had chemo treatment, but I got over it. Apparently they must have figured out that that wasn't a good look because there was no PPE (just masks) on our flight back to the US.

Once there it was amazing, and the people were so thankful. For almost everyone we saw, it was their first week back to work in over 18 months. I can't express how grateful to see us they were. People waiting for buses or just walking down the road would wave and greet us, knowing we were tourists, well because we're white, but also because we were in a taxi or a tour van.

Lots of trouble getting the paperwork together, but well worth going.

Flea
Willamette Valley, OR

We have been to Fiji 3 times. It's one of my favorite vacation spots for various reasons, but the Fijians are the nicest people I've ever encountered. We never stay on Nadi (the main island), so we will need to determine quarantine requirements before flying to one of the other islands. This sounds like a lot of effort, and with Omicron making its way around, I'm not sure we are willing to do it.

Thank you so much for taking the time to write this!

Tina in CA

sh0tzz99 wrote: »

We have been to Fiji 3 times. It's one of my favorite vacation spots for various reasons, but the Fijians are the nicest people I've ever encountered. We never stay on Nadi (the main island), so we will need to determine quarantine requirements before flying to one of the other islands. This sounds like a lot of effort, and with Omicron making its way around, I'm not sure we are willing to do it.

Thank you so much for taking the time to write this!

Tina in CA

Yes. We were originally (we booked this back in February 2020) going to stay at Treasure Island, but it hadn't opened yet when we were there last week, I assume because of the difficulty in certifying Covid safe travel to the island. We had booked the Double Tree resort near Nadi as a back up, and it ended up that we needed that. Getting there was simple, and quarantining there wasn't an issue, but if we return, we would like to get off the main island. It just wasn't possible this trip, but perhaps in February things will be better? (or worse?)

Flea
Willamette Valley, OR

Kim--What a good feeling to give to someone who can't for themselves. DH belongs to a club and they had a couple families that needed help with Christmas gifts. So he picked one with 3 kids 3-girl, 6-boy, and 9-boy. It was fun buying for them. They each got a toy and an outfit. When the grandkids were younger we would take them to the giving tree and have them pick one and take them shopping. Miss that.

Flea--What a Blessing you are to those people. It makes no sense to me why some people beat cancer and some do not. But you have nothing to feel guilty about, easier said than done I know. But you are here for a reason and helping others is a Blessing.

I have a 2-3 hour meeting this afternoon and I just hope I can stay awake. I woke up at 230 this morning and been up ever since. This not sleeping at night is getting worse. DH has his home sleep study to night.

Blessings, Vicki GRAND ISLAND, NE

Yesterday my neighbor that lives next door and I finally met. Last week the President of our housing assoc. came by and noticed a tree in between us was leaning into the street a little and asked if we were ok with it being cut down. It wouldn't charge us anything, (which I stated that we were renters) so if our management co was ok with it, have at it. Well the city workers were right there cutting another tree, so that afternoon cut ours. So between us is a pile of wood, that is our responsibility to remove. Thought that was chinzy! Well we chatted and I met her 30 some year old son officially. He was the guy that poked his head in our garage one day, telling my son to stop with the scooter revving! My son says he's annoying! I found him to be very courteous. Well yesterday the mom came over because her son has a hankering to trim the trees more towards the backyard, but still in between us. I told her fine. She's a walker and I said we need to go walking together. That should be fun, and hopefully the beginning of a nice friendship. She walks about 5 miles though, so I have my work cut out for me, keeping up with her.
Rebecca
Just trying to make friends on
Whidbey island
WA

Hello all from my new computer! It is slightly larger than my last one; still a Chromebook, though. I actually got it all up and running myself. Got the apps downloaded that were on my other, everything else seems to have transferred over on it's own. Bonus...my old laptop still works, so I will use that for the kids who don't nap, while I can get things done on this new one at that time! Woo-hoo! I had a devil of a time finding my wifi password, though. lol Been so long since I have had to sign in that I forgot where I had put it.
Machka- love the new frames! I went from a bronze, to a purple, to a blue frame.
Michele- Sorry about the girls not being able to spend Christmas with you. Christmas has been quiet for me since DD (and her family) are in Texas.
Flea- Wow! Makes my heart feel good just knowing how you are passing along some "help" to others who need it! I am sure it makes you feel good, too!
Meg- So good to hear from you! Your Amtrak travels sound wonderful. My parents did a National Parks Amtrak tour after my dad retired and during one of my mom's cancer remissions. It was a month long tour and they had such a wonderful time and raved for years about the service, food, and rail employees. Great pics, too!

More of you that I wanted to respond to, but kids are going to be waking up shortly.

On a side note: My trip to Texas has been moved up and I will be flying out on the 24th. SO...I won't be home for my younger son's birthday (on Christmas eve) or Christmas day. Tim is getting himself upset thinking about it. (I have never been someplace else for the holidays) I will have to see if I can think of a way to make Christmas special for him, without me here. I am very excited to be with the grandsons on Christmas morning, though. I think I will try to viber with Tim on Christmas morning, so he can watch the boys open presents.

ttfn xoxoxo KJ (kelly)

Stats for the day-

Walk w/yogi- 1hr 31min 3sec, 82elev, 84ahr, 102mr, 3.46ap, 5.20mi= 497c
Strava app= 628c
Zwift home spin bike- 36.22min, 214elev, 132ahr, 156mhr, 69arpm 95aw, 15amph est., 10.1mi= 314c
Zwift app= 200c

Total cal 811

Barbie – I will be pleased to receive your nudges. I like knitting and enjoy making blankets. Do you have an approximate finished size for the ones you're working on now??

Rebecca- I loved Whidbey Island the time we visited there. We thought about moving there but realized getting there was difficult enough that our own adult kids would not be able to visit us. We decided to stay here. We like our neighbors and have a nice view.

Meg from Omaha - It is great to see you posting. :bigsmile:


I have an appointment for a regular visit with my doctor this afternoon. It will be a simple check-up visit. I hurt my knee some time back and he is helping me to heal the damages. He sent me to physical therapy and I was helped but I haven’t been there since our return from Virginia. I don't know whether he will send me back for PT there now that we have returned home.

Katla in NW Oregon

Flea- You have a generous heart to send money to a former student in need. You are a remarkable woman. I am happy that you were able to take your family trip to Fiji.

Rebecca – You have some good Christmas memories. It sounds like your step father was a good person. A hula hoop would make a spectacular wreath.

Meg - Happy day two. You have been missed and it is good to see you again.

(((Rori ))) – Grieving takes its own time and crying is sometimes the only thing to do. Stay well.

Karen – It is good to know that CBD oil has helped your Yorkies. We used it on our old dog, Schooner, when he was having pain. We both miss that dog and will be looking for another in the New Year.


We had a grinchy sad Christmas several years ago and brought a very old aluminum tree down from the garage attic that my parents bought years ago in the eaalrly1960’s. We still have it but haven’t set it up again.

This year I am planning to use our living Alberta Spruce tree. It is a comfortable size for the place I have in mind in front of the window and it survived being inside before in past years.


Have a good morning, afternoon, evening, or night.

Katla in NW Oregon

LisaInArkansas wrote: »

Machka - As Robert Burns once said, "The best laid schemes o’ Mice an’ Men gang aft agley." It sounds like that was a good description of your day. Hoping for a better tomorrow for you. Oh, and the glasses are lovely!

Kim - it sounds like you, Kyle and the GF had a wonderful evening. It fascinates me how so many members of the subsequent generations don't learn to cook. I was cooking at 5 years old--my mother kept box tops from Imperial Sugar, and redeemed them for My First Cookbook. I was so tiny at the time, I would burn my knees on the open oven door while pulling my cookie sheets out of the oven. Not sure if anyone else remembers these, but the pic is in the spoiler:

Love y'all,
Lisa in AR

Thank you, Lisa ... and thank you all about my new glasses. I'm getting used to them because they are a different configuration from my previous ones, but one really nice feature is that I can see my computer screens!

Regarding cooking ... my grandmother loved cooking, my mother did not. So she didn't want to inflict the process of learning to cook on me.

I tend to assemble food rather than cook it and I will take the easiest possible route.
For example, 90 second packaged rice in the microwave rather than actually cooking rice.
And for the beekeeper group Christmas party on Sunday, we picked up cookies from the grocery store bakery. When I could pick up a dozen shortbread cookies for $3.50, I wasn't about to go through the whole process of making them!

M in Oz

Terri – you SHOULD be happy with that weight loss I’m so very happy for you.

Katla – I think you have me confused with someone else. I’m not going to Kentucky. We recently went to see Jess is Iowa. All the outside decorations are done, Vince is working on the last of the Christmas trees. He enjoys decorating. We really had to scale back this year (like we didn’t put up the arches and there are fewer ornaments on the trees) since we went to Iowa. Since Jess graduates in May, I’m thinking that we’ll be able to do more next year

Wrapped the presents we have for Denise, Pete and PJ. Just going to put them with the slide I have for him and we’ll give them to them when we go up next. Still waiting for a gift card to a restaurant near them then I’ll send them their card. Most of the restaurants by her wouldn’t mail me a gift card! One wanted to keep it at their bar and it can be used when they go there. Ah...no. There’s no way they’re going to remember that they have a gift card. Also, online Ruby Tuesday didn’t have any gift cards, but Publix here did. Go figure!

Messaged my neurologist to ask if there was a specific reason he wanted the sleep study where you are there (I forget what it’s called) and not the home study. Really, his answer didn’t answer the question. So I messaged him again saying that my husband did the home sleep study, was diagnosed with severe sleep apnea and got his CPAP a few days later. If I were to do the home study, I could get my CPAP even before the next available appointment for the sleep study you need to go there for. Actually, that isn’t the total truth. The truth is that it would be much easier for me to do it at home.

Worked then went to Dollar General. They didn’t have any holiday dishtowels (surprise, surprise) but they DID have distilled water for Vince so I got three. Then went to the post office to mail a towel to Steve and one to Ming. Then stopped on my way home at CVS and told them that I totally forgot my coupon when I bought the Regenerest yesterday. The gal said that she couldn’t just give me the $5 since it had already been purchased (huh? ok). So I asked her if I could return it and then repurchase it using my coupon. I took one off the shelf but when she scanned my receipt and the item, the register had a note that the item was not found. HUH??? She had it right in front of her. So I called CVS headquarters. Some of the questions the gal asked me were off the wall. Like she asked me for the expiration date. What does the expiration date have to do with a refund?

Allie – I was thinking of you earlier. Wasn’t there something about Homer having doggie dementia? How did that turn out? Lexi has dementia. I feel so sorry for her.

KJ – great that you got a new computer and even better that you can still use your old one. Multiple computers are a real god send

We were at ceramics tonight and the gal who runs it was saying to us that every Christmas Eve or Christmas Day they go out for Chinese food. Vince was talking about going out on Christmas Day so that’s an idea. I’m wondering if we should ask Ken and Lynette over for Christmas Eve mainly to keep my mind off the fact that Denise gave us such a poor excuse not to come down here. Have a great trip! How exciting!

Rori – we’ve been having weird weather, too. Today the high was in the 50’s. By Saturday it’s supposed to be in the 70’s. My sinuses are not liking this at all. Sounds like you are doing a lot but still (((HUGS))). I wish you could be here for Christmas Eve.

Well, the neurologist said that I could have the home sleep study but if there is sleep apnea he wants me to get a CPAP titration rather than an auto CPAP. Not sure what a CPAP titration is, tho

Michele NC

Hey, Machka. I forgot to tell you that I also love your new glasses. They look amazing.

I'm sure there are other things I've forgotten.

Flea
Willamette Valley, OR