againstthegrain
Senior Member
- Location
- Sun Valley, ID
Training, rest, and recovery today. It's 30°F, clear, and still yet I hear no bugling from my patio in the pre-dawn hours?!?
How is your day Today? Chat about your plans and achievements 2025....
- Thread starter hollydolly
- Start date
hollydolly
SF VIP
- Location
- London England
Just got back from London...good grief, it's absolutely packed everywhere, and I have no idea why. The stores were packed, the checkouts were packed, the roads were packed.. goodness knows why ! ...horrible really, it was like the Christmas holidays had started ..!
It was a glorious day when I left but nippy.. so I put a long sleeve smock top on with a vest top (tank top to some )... underneath...
After I;d been in the city for about an hour the skies blackened... absolutely dark as could be like a big storm was coming.... everyone who came into the stores had winter coats on, clearly expecting rain. and of course it warmed up a lot, so much so the checkout staff were taking off their jackets...... Anyway...I managed to get back before any rain but I found myself deep in the depths of the School rush hour traffic...
Just gonna ring the doctor now and chase up my Basal cell carcinoma removal appt.. and also book a shingles appt at the same time
It was a glorious day when I left but nippy.. so I put a long sleeve smock top on with a vest top (tank top to some )... underneath...
After I;d been in the city for about an hour the skies blackened... absolutely dark as could be like a big storm was coming.... everyone who came into the stores had winter coats on, clearly expecting rain. and of course it warmed up a lot, so much so the checkout staff were taking off their jackets...... Anyway...I managed to get back before any rain but I found myself deep in the depths of the School rush hour traffic...
Just gonna ring the doctor now and chase up my Basal cell carcinoma removal appt.. and also book a shingles appt at the same time
hollydolly
SF VIP
- Location
- London England
What a faff.. getting through to the surgery.
I thought as it was already late in the afternoon, there would be no phone queue.. there was.. not as bad as the mornings but still 9 people before me in the queue...
Then when I spoke to the receptionist there was a mix up in my appointments, and she had to speak to someone else about it, who wasn't there today, and so she'll have to send them an email asking them to ring me.. and so on...
then I asked about how long I would wait for the surgery for the Carcinoma's..., and she said...oooh there's people waiting months... for appts like ENT etc.. and I said yes but this is a carcinoma it's not an earache... ..my dermatology appt was on the 3rd of September, it's now 3 weeks since and I've heard nothing at all...so she said the best thing to do is to call the dermatology dept at the hospital..
of course there no-one there now, its 4.35pm... so I'll see if I can get through tomorrow
I thought as it was already late in the afternoon, there would be no phone queue.. there was.. not as bad as the mornings but still 9 people before me in the queue...
Then when I spoke to the receptionist there was a mix up in my appointments, and she had to speak to someone else about it, who wasn't there today, and so she'll have to send them an email asking them to ring me.. and so on...
then I asked about how long I would wait for the surgery for the Carcinoma's..., and she said...oooh there's people waiting months... for appts like ENT etc.. and I said yes but this is a carcinoma it's not an earache... ..my dermatology appt was on the 3rd of September, it's now 3 weeks since and I've heard nothing at all...so she said the best thing to do is to call the dermatology dept at the hospital..
of course there no-one there now, its 4.35pm... so I'll see if I can get through tomorrow
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moviequeen1
SF VIP
- Location
- Buffalo,NY
Morning all, my early stroll at 6:50 temp was 63 ,lightly raining as I walked across the street to buy some milk before breakfast At 10am the sun was out 2 residents, Dale&Barb joined me on the 'Striders Walking Club,' I wanted to show them where I lived at Tudor Plaza for 36 yrs, our lovely garden in the back, I loved sitting there during summer months in comfortable chairs either reading or talking with other residents. They were impressed enjoyed looking at other houses along the way
Sadly here at Gates we don;t have anything like that garden, we have plants/ flowers that were planted in small areas between low benches.. We got back 35 min late, they profusely thanked me for the walk
The rest of my day read NYT, my book, tonight having dinner in dining room at 5: 30 with Connie, Bob & another resident Don, look forward to it
Sadly here at Gates we don;t have anything like that garden, we have plants/ flowers that were planted in small areas between low benches.. We got back 35 min late, they profusely thanked me for the walk
The rest of my day read NYT, my book, tonight having dinner in dining room at 5: 30 with Connie, Bob & another resident Don, look forward to it
KSav
Senior Member
- Location
- North Dakota
Unbelievable! I just checked with my insurance company, and apparently an annual physical is not considered preventative care. My well-woman exam, which was back in June, is "it" for the year.
In what world is a physical/wellness exam not considered preventative care?
The well-woman exam is fine, but it focuses on specific areas.I need to get back to BlueCross/BlueShield. I couldn't afford even their cheapest plan on healthcare.gov last year, but perhaps if I go to the local office in person we can figure something out.
Sorry, just had to rant! Maybe I should have put this in the "Rant/Tell 'Em Off" section, but it didn't seem to deserve its own thread.
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StarSong
Awkward is my Superpower
- Location
- Los Angeles Suburbs
KSav
Senior Member
- Location
- North Dakota
No, I'm not old enough yet. I'm 57. And I make too much to qualify for Medicaid.
Fortunately, my ob/gyn ordered some bloodwork at the June appointment, so at least I'm sort of on top of my glucose and cholesterol levels.
packleader
Member
- Location
- Southern California
I hit the jackpot -- Lucky ducky me -- I am so excited !!!
This morning I saw on www.24petconnect.com that the Riverside public shelter made 3 male Boxer puppies available. They were strays, had been impounded a week ago, and are now ready for adoption. I raced over, 10 miles away, and immediately adopted the oldest Boxer, 1 year and 60 pounds. He is being held for neutering, and I can pick him up either tomorrow or on Thursday. Everything is for free because of the shelter's overcrowding. The shelter wants people to adopt as many dogs as possible.
For a short time, I will have again a pack of four Boxers, and that's the last time in my life. I expect the new guy, and hopefully also Heidi, to be with me to celebrate my 100th birthday.
The Boxer pups outside and inside the kennel. I prefer adopting pups who are socialized, as mine are. My pack easily accepts another pup.
I will re-name Stout as Rex. Within an hour, pups understand and listen to their new names. In a year, he will be 20 pounds heavier.
Left: Several long buildings with kennels. Right: The shelter's carports carry solar pannels, and to the right are free EV charging stations.
@hollydolly Previously, I had melanoma skin cancer, but this time it's only "Well-differentiated squamous cell carcinoma" skin cancer for which I'll have a minor surgery next month. I wish you good luck with yours. This Thursday, I'll get my tenth Covid shot; and in two weeks, I'll have a tri-annual dental cleaning. I am very conscientious in keeping myself healthy. @KSav Annually free physical examinations are for me mandatory. With Kaiser Permanente it's automatic. Isn't there a California or Federal law that mandates it?
The Autumn Equinox sunrise is one hour later than the Summer Solstice sunrise. This means I can sleep now longer before going hiking.
This morning I saw on www.24petconnect.com that the Riverside public shelter made 3 male Boxer puppies available. They were strays, had been impounded a week ago, and are now ready for adoption. I raced over, 10 miles away, and immediately adopted the oldest Boxer, 1 year and 60 pounds. He is being held for neutering, and I can pick him up either tomorrow or on Thursday. Everything is for free because of the shelter's overcrowding. The shelter wants people to adopt as many dogs as possible.
For a short time, I will have again a pack of four Boxers, and that's the last time in my life. I expect the new guy, and hopefully also Heidi, to be with me to celebrate my 100th birthday.
The Boxer pups outside and inside the kennel. I prefer adopting pups who are socialized, as mine are. My pack easily accepts another pup.
I will re-name Stout as Rex. Within an hour, pups understand and listen to their new names. In a year, he will be 20 pounds heavier.
Left: Several long buildings with kennels. Right: The shelter's carports carry solar pannels, and to the right are free EV charging stations.
@hollydolly Previously, I had melanoma skin cancer, but this time it's only "Well-differentiated squamous cell carcinoma" skin cancer for which I'll have a minor surgery next month. I wish you good luck with yours. This Thursday, I'll get my tenth Covid shot; and in two weeks, I'll have a tri-annual dental cleaning. I am very conscientious in keeping myself healthy. @KSav Annually free physical examinations are for me mandatory. With Kaiser Permanente it's automatic. Isn't there a California or Federal law that mandates it?
The Autumn Equinox sunrise is one hour later than the Summer Solstice sunrise. This means I can sleep now longer before going hiking.
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David777
Well-known Member
- Location
- Silicon Valley
Began my bedbug eradication war this morning. Note I haven't gotten any new bites over the last week but did catch 2 more bloodsuckers in glue traps, both upstairs and down. A good day to do laundry, so cleaned some of the bedding in that process.
Drove my white Trailblazer into a sunny location. Then filled it with a bunch of items that were not easily washed like pillows, couch bolsters, sleeping bags, synthetic blankets, foam forms. Today is supposed to be the hottest day so far this year outside with 94F forecast. Now at 2pm is 111F inside my closed up vehicle. If I can get the temperature inside above 115F, it supposedly can kill bedbugs and their eggs. I could just run the laundry drier on the blankets but much of the rest is too bulky.
The larger chore was my old fold-away couch. It didn't have any sheets/blankets but did have several decades of dust built up. So I unfolded the bed out and stood it on its end upright. Then did a thorough job of vacuuming. Had bought a $12 aerosol 14oz can of ecologic that can kill bedbugs and their eggs. But a quick test showed the insecticide ingredients of Lemongrass Oil And Cornmint Oil that are not harmful to humans but leave a strong scent. OK, so won't use that spray inside my residence.
So with great effort and use of a hand cart, moved the fold-away couch out of my living room that it barely fit through, then out the outside door, and into my open to air carport. There, sprayed the fold-away thoroughly. After 3 hours, the smell is still strong enough that expect to leave it out there till tomorrow evening. But tomorrow will get a neighbor to help me move it back inside. For my upstairs Full-sized mattress, instead of spraying, am going to Amazon purchase an $11 plastic bag people use on their tykes beds to prevent pee getting into mattresses. If any bedbugs are inside, they will die of starvation. Also have 4 sticky mouse traps that I'll place a couple out for any creepy crawlers as its glue is ridiculously sticky.
post edit: The mattress encasement cost a bit more after carefully looking at features. So bought a $24 product and added a recent bestseller $17 book by neuroscientist Anil Seth, Being You: A New Science of Consciousness to get free shipping that will arrive Sunday 9/28.
Drove my white Trailblazer into a sunny location. Then filled it with a bunch of items that were not easily washed like pillows, couch bolsters, sleeping bags, synthetic blankets, foam forms. Today is supposed to be the hottest day so far this year outside with 94F forecast. Now at 2pm is 111F inside my closed up vehicle. If I can get the temperature inside above 115F, it supposedly can kill bedbugs and their eggs. I could just run the laundry drier on the blankets but much of the rest is too bulky.
The larger chore was my old fold-away couch. It didn't have any sheets/blankets but did have several decades of dust built up. So I unfolded the bed out and stood it on its end upright. Then did a thorough job of vacuuming. Had bought a $12 aerosol 14oz can of ecologic that can kill bedbugs and their eggs. But a quick test showed the insecticide ingredients of Lemongrass Oil And Cornmint Oil that are not harmful to humans but leave a strong scent. OK, so won't use that spray inside my residence.
So with great effort and use of a hand cart, moved the fold-away couch out of my living room that it barely fit through, then out the outside door, and into my open to air carport. There, sprayed the fold-away thoroughly. After 3 hours, the smell is still strong enough that expect to leave it out there till tomorrow evening. But tomorrow will get a neighbor to help me move it back inside. For my upstairs Full-sized mattress, instead of spraying, am going to Amazon purchase an $11 plastic bag people use on their tykes beds to prevent pee getting into mattresses. If any bedbugs are inside, they will die of starvation. Also have 4 sticky mouse traps that I'll place a couple out for any creepy crawlers as its glue is ridiculously sticky.
post edit: The mattress encasement cost a bit more after carefully looking at features. So bought a $24 product and added a recent bestseller $17 book by neuroscientist Anil Seth, Being You: A New Science of Consciousness to get free shipping that will arrive Sunday 9/28.
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Babs2u
Senior Member
Thanks, David. That sounds great except for the inflamation. I have plrnty of that.
David777
Well-known Member
- Location
- Silicon Valley
Here is a common example of how skin medical authorities and the pharmaceutical industry, conveniently avoids mentioning the best way to reduce most itchy skin. Contact with poison oak / poison ivy, are two of the most common way people become itchy. Putting 55C / 130F hot water on the blisters or a hot air hair blow drier for 10 seconds is a certain way to reduce itching for at least 2 to 3 hours versus anything else. The rest of their input does have some value, especially washing contact areas as soon as possible with soapy water.
Poison ivy, oak, and sumac: How to treat the rash
Hot Water for Itches
Dermatologists have known for decades about hot water for itches. Now we know why this simple remedy works so well.
Joe Graedon June 27, 2022
We have been writing for many years about a simple remedy that works extremely well. At first, we knew merely that heat could relieve itching. We had no idea why hot water stops itch instantly. Over the last fifteen or twenty years, however, science has provided an explanation on how hot water for itches works...
A. Dermatologists have known for decades that uncomfortably hot water can alleviate itching for hours. We found a reference to this remedy in the textbook, Dermatology: Diagnosis and Treatment (1961). (You’ll learn a bit more about that below.) Ultimately, the doctor needs to diagnose unexplained itching so that the underlying problem can be addressed. In the meantime, hot water can offer temporary relief. Below, we’ll explain how. First, though, we offer a few more testimonials from readers...
A. We first discovered this home remedy for itchy bug bites and mild poison ivy in a dermatology textbook from 1961 (Dermatology: Diagnosis and Treatment, by Sulzberger, M. B., et al.). The hot water (hot enough to be uncomfortable but not hot enough to burn) needs to be applied for just a few seconds to short circuit the nerves that cause itching. The effects can last for a few hours. We have been using this simple technique ever since we wrote it up in the first edition of The People’s Pharmacy®, back in 1976.
Moderate itching (the sort of thing you get from a mosquito bite or mild case of poison ivy without blisters) often responds to a hot water application. The water needs to be hot enough to be slightly uncomfortable but not so hot that it burns (120-130 degrees Fahrenheit). If you let the hot water tap run for a few minutes this should be about right. A few seconds’ exposure is all you need to produce several hours of relief.
Q. I had poison ivy all over my leg and nothing I tried for it seemed to help much. It may sound crazy, but I noticed that when I got in a hot shower, the hot water felt good on the rash, kind of like I was scratching it. I found that after putting hot water on it, the poison ivy didn’t itch for a while. So I turned up the heat as hot as I could stand it and held it there as long as I could stand. When I got out, it didn’t itch anymore.
A. Hot water (hot enough to be uncomfortable but not so hot as to burn) can ease itching for hours. It works for poison ivy and insect bites, but not hives.
Poison ivy, oak, and sumac: How to treat the rash
Hot Water for Itches
Dermatologists have known for decades about hot water for itches. Now we know why this simple remedy works so well.
Joe Graedon June 27, 2022
We have been writing for many years about a simple remedy that works extremely well. At first, we knew merely that heat could relieve itching. We had no idea why hot water stops itch instantly. Over the last fifteen or twenty years, however, science has provided an explanation on how hot water for itches works...
A. Dermatologists have known for decades that uncomfortably hot water can alleviate itching for hours. We found a reference to this remedy in the textbook, Dermatology: Diagnosis and Treatment (1961). (You’ll learn a bit more about that below.) Ultimately, the doctor needs to diagnose unexplained itching so that the underlying problem can be addressed. In the meantime, hot water can offer temporary relief. Below, we’ll explain how. First, though, we offer a few more testimonials from readers...
A. We first discovered this home remedy for itchy bug bites and mild poison ivy in a dermatology textbook from 1961 (Dermatology: Diagnosis and Treatment, by Sulzberger, M. B., et al.). The hot water (hot enough to be uncomfortable but not hot enough to burn) needs to be applied for just a few seconds to short circuit the nerves that cause itching. The effects can last for a few hours. We have been using this simple technique ever since we wrote it up in the first edition of The People’s Pharmacy®, back in 1976.
Moderate itching (the sort of thing you get from a mosquito bite or mild case of poison ivy without blisters) often responds to a hot water application. The water needs to be hot enough to be slightly uncomfortable but not so hot that it burns (120-130 degrees Fahrenheit). If you let the hot water tap run for a few minutes this should be about right. A few seconds’ exposure is all you need to produce several hours of relief.
Q. I had poison ivy all over my leg and nothing I tried for it seemed to help much. It may sound crazy, but I noticed that when I got in a hot shower, the hot water felt good on the rash, kind of like I was scratching it. I found that after putting hot water on it, the poison ivy didn’t itch for a while. So I turned up the heat as hot as I could stand it and held it there as long as I could stand. When I got out, it didn’t itch anymore.
A. Hot water (hot enough to be uncomfortable but not so hot as to burn) can ease itching for hours. It works for poison ivy and insect bites, but not hives.
KSav
Senior Member
- Location
- North Dakota
That makes perfect sense, @packleader. What doesn't make sense is an insurance company denying annual physical examinations. It seems more prudent to permit them and thus catch a medical condition early, before more expensive treatment is required.
As I mentioned, I'm going to do everything I can to get back on BC/BS in a few months.
Trila
Well-known Member
- Location
- North Central Arkansas
I've had a strange day. Big storms moved in, and there was so much lighting hitting the ground that Dio turned off the power to the house. He didn't want the lighting to fry any of our electronics or appliances.
After a while, the storm let up and he turned all of the power back on. Then the next storm came in....same thing all over. And one more time, after that!!
Most of the storms actually missed us, and yet we still ended up with 2 inches of rain by 5:00 PM. Even now, there are big storms to the south of us, but (hopefully) we are in the clear, for the rest of the night. Tomorrow, we'll have to go out and see if any of our trees were hit by lightning.
More rain expected tomorrow, too, but I think that is the end of it for this round. And to think that until this week, we haven't had any measurable rain since mid July!!!!
After a while, the storm let up and he turned all of the power back on. Then the next storm came in....same thing all over. And one more time, after that!!
Most of the storms actually missed us, and yet we still ended up with 2 inches of rain by 5:00 PM. Even now, there are big storms to the south of us, but (hopefully) we are in the clear, for the rest of the night. Tomorrow, we'll have to go out and see if any of our trees were hit by lightning.
More rain expected tomorrow, too, but I think that is the end of it for this round. And to think that until this week, we haven't had any measurable rain since mid July!!!!