My cousin passed away last night. I don’t know any details yet as the family was too distraught to provide any, but I do know that he was at home. I’m sad that he’s no longer with us, but relieved that his struggle is over and his closest family and friends can begin to heal and rest after the long ordeal of caring for him through this illness.

Helene610 wrote: »

Seems like my internet is back. Talked to my brother yesterday. Seems like he has a mild case of Covid. He has cold like symptoms and tested positive. We haven’t picked a date yet to start our drive but I told him we would wait until he tests negative to visit him. Comcast tech is still coming tomorrow to check equipment. I’m sure the modem needs replacing and perhaps some of the cable boxes as well.

YEAH for a working internet! Our internet has been fine but the TV cable has been iffy. I think the more complex they make it, the more problems it has.

Thank you all for your condolences. I am happy that I made the trip last month for one last visit with him. I know he’s in a better place now and his family can begin to heal. It’s just very sad that such a good, kind, wonderful man is gone. He was a career educator and his family has been touched by many of his former students and fellow educators who have reached out to him. He truly touched many lives and left a wonderful legacy. He will be missed, by his family and a very large circle of friends.

PamS53 wrote: »

Thank you all for your condolences. I am happy that I made the trip last month for one last visit with him. I know he’s in a better place now and his family can begin to heal. It’s just very sad that such a good, kind, wonderful man is gone. He was a career educator and his family has been touched by many of his former students and fellow educators who have reached out to him. He truly touched many lives and left a wonderful legacy. He will be missed, by his family and a very large circle of friends.

That's wonderful! A great teacher can touch a lot of lives.

Today's my Boniva day and for the first time in months I don't feel so hot. I can't help wondering if it's because the pharmacy had to fill it from a different supplier. The endocrinologist didn't think it would matter.

Helene610 wrote: »

It might matter. They use fillers and stabilizers in medication. Maybe the new supplier has something in their version that didn’t agree with you.

Here's hoping it's just this one month like the first month.

It's a beautiful sunny day here today.

Tomorrow is apparently "eat anything you want" day. I can't have those days any more. LOL!

We’re starting the trip north on Monday. We’ll stop to spend a few days with BIL. We haven’t been there since my sister died in December. We had him spend a week with us last month. He emails me every day so I know he’s alive and we’ll. From there, we’ll spend some time with my brother in SC. He caught Covid although vaxxed and 1 booster. He was waiting to get the second booster when he got a cold and cough. Positive test followed. He’s now negative so we’ll stop for a visit.

Safe travels, Helene!

We are enjoying our week at the beach. We have another 2 days of sun and sand, then check out Saturday morning to return for another night with DH and SIL’s aunt, then home on Sunday. DH will then immediately unpack and leave that night to join his old college friend for a brief trip to Colorado. I’m looking forward to a few days on my own.

Not camping this time. He’s going with his friend to help with a few repairs to a vacation cabin they own that they are preparing to start renting out. They will leave Monday and plan to be back by Friday, so a very quick trip.

Navigating Covid sucks. You get vaxxed, boosted and are careful about distances and who you see. And still there are breakthrough cases. It seems like it will be a chronic disease we all live with like colds and flu. At least the vaccines can keep us from the life threatening versions.

We’re packing up today and hope to leave tomorrow. We’re stopping at BIL,s tomorrow. He’s only a 3 hour ride so we can finish any tasks we don’t finish today and be at his house before dinner. I saw a news report on increasing level of variants. The Northeast is one of the mid to high risk. Not looking forward to that.

KonaKat wrote: »

Safe travels north, Helene!

I thought I would give you an update. The tests revealed that the left atrium of my heart has enlarged more but it is still within the guidelines for an ablation. As a result. they ordered the ablation. I have no idea when that will occur but was told it would be within four months as they are booked. I wanted to do the Watchman also, so I could get off blood thinners and make surgery easier but the time wait on that is now about six months. I cannot have knee surgery as cardiology will not permit it as they don't want me off blood thinners while heart is in active aFib. The Holter test showed that it was non-stop in the 24 hour period it measured/ On a positive note, I'm not gaining.

Thanks for the update! I'll continue to send out positive vibes that you can finally get your surgeries done! If people would just cooperate with what they are supposed to do, doctors could get back to helping everyone who needs it!

Jean, it’s good to hear from you. I’m sorry to hear that you will have to wait for the procedures you need. I’m sure that’s very frustrating and worrisome for you. At least there is a positive in that you aren’t gaining. I wish I could say the same.

Here in Texas, I’m seeing fewer and fewer masks. At my PT place, my therapist wears her mask at all times, but the rest of the staff have theirs dangling off one ear as often as not. Most of my doctor’s offices are still requiring them from both patients and staff. I’d say about 25% of the people in stores are wearing masks, both shoppers and store personnel. While we were in Florida last week I didn’t see many people wearing masks at all.

DH took 2 Covid tests today and both were negative. He was concerned because he was leaving tonight for a quick trip to Colorado with a friend and didn’t want to go if he was possibly positive but asymptomatic. Of course, he could still be incubating the virus but not yet positive, but there’s no way to know. Neither of us are showing any symptoms and we both have had our second booster shots, so I really don’t think we are very much at risk. At least, I hope so!

Everything's changing. My best friend and I are having dinner tonight. Luckily we decided to switch it up and go to Applebee's since I just heard our favorite restaurant has closed. Favorite not just for us for also for the group of CROM volunteers. I guess a top priority this year will be finding a new favorite!

Applebee's web site has a feature I hadn't seen before. They actually have a calorie calculator. E.g. you can put in house salad, tell it to take off croutons, and what dressing to add and it will give you a calorie count for the revised salad.

We're supposed to be hot enough today to set a record! Wow, it's still May.

Super spreader event here in Baltimore today - the Preakness.

It's a hard time for the family. Wednesday would have been my sister's 70th birthday. I never got to tease her about that. Monday is the anniversary of her sudden death Not an easy week for anyone but her widower is really struggling.