Small Talk: The Prayer Closet

[Nysha]

3 minutes ago, SunnyBeBe said:

Did anyone catch that TLC special last night called Taken At Birth?

No, but it sounds really interesting. How did they find out he was taking the babies?

[Barb23]

@Mindthinkr, how scary. Glad everyone is safe.

@SunnyBeBe Thanks so much for the recommendation.  Think I'm going to get one for my mom who is in asstd living.  She loved the  electric log insert she had in her living room fireplace at home& was sad she couldn't take it with her.  I don't think it will be  problem in her room since its battery powered & not a real fire but I'll check with the facility.  She'll be really surprised. Can't beat the price either.

@Jynnan tonnix I love your wood stove & your decorated mantels are beautiful.  (Jana has nothing on you.)

[SunnyBeBe]

9 hours ago, Nysha said:

No, but it sounds really interesting. How did they find out he was taking the babies?

I missed the very beginning, but I think he got in trouble with the medical board.  I hope they'll find some answers tonight when they open the crypt and exhume his body for DNA.

[galaxychaser]

A kid named Slash Electric... Imagine your whole life with that doozy of a name. And the first kid is named Sebastian. 

 

https://www.dailymail.co.uk/tvshowbiz/article-7561811/Amber-Rose-welcomes-baby-boy-world-boyfriend-Alexander-E-Edwards.html

[Nysha]

That is a horrible name for a baby! I wonder if they call Sebastian 'Bash'. Just think, Bash & Slash.

[galaxychaser]

Probably yes lol

[Jynnan tonnix]

1 hour ago, Nysha said:

That is a horrible name for a baby! I wonder if they call Sebastian 'Bash'. Just think, Bash & Slash.

If they have more, then can name them gnash, trash and rash...

[Suzn]

2 minutes ago, Jynnan tonnix said:

If they have more, then can name them gnash, trash and rash...

Don't forget Flash!

[Jynnan tonnix]

6 minutes ago, Suzn said:

Don't forget Flash!

Haha! I didn't actually forget it, I just thought it sounded at least peripherally like an actual name, what with Flash Gordon and all. They could also do Smash, Lash, Mash, Hash....

Funny how so many of the "-ash" words are rather violent in nature. 

Edited October 11, 2019 by Jynnan tonnix

[galaxychaser]

Cash Rich yep his real name. 
 

https://people.com/parents/john-rich-welcomes-son-cash/

[doodlebug]

6 minutes ago, galaxychaser said:

Cash Rich yep his real name. 
 

https://people.com/parents/john-rich-welcomes-son-cash/

Better than Cash Poor, I suppose.

[Ohiopirate02]

At least cash is spelled correctly.   Kim Zolciak from RHOA has a son Kash.

[Suzn]

41 minutes ago, Jynnan tonnix said:

Haha! I didn't actually forget it, I just thought it sounded at least peripherally like an actual name, what with Flash Gordon and all. They could also do Smash, Lash, Mash, Hash....

Funny how so many of the "-ash" words are rather violent in nature. 

Yeah, I thought of Flash Gordon.  You're right that they are all a bit violent.  It makes me wonder why that would be - words interest me.

[galaxychaser]

I once worked with a woman who was one of 9 kids. All had names rhyming with Mary. 

[galaxychaser]

3 hours ago, Ohiopirate02 said:

At least cash is spelled correctly.   Kim Zolciak from RHOA has a son Kash.

Oh I also don’t like that: Khloe , Konner anyone? 

Also misspelling the name into Aydyn, Jaedyn, Ashleigh, Trystyn etc.

[Ohiopirate02]

1 hour ago, galaxychaser said:

Oh I also don’t like that: Khloe , Konner anyone? 

Also misspelling the name into Aydyn, Jaedyn, Ashleigh, Trystyn etc.

I can't do any form of Aiden with a Y.  The town next to mine is Ayden, home of the Ayden Collard Festival complete with a yearly collard eatin contest.   

[Jynnan tonnix]

To me, not knowing the difference says she hasn’t done a lot of reading in her lifetime.

I think that's also very true of a lot of people, especially in the age of digital books. I know a number of people with some level of dyslexia who never read anything beyond what was required - and often not even that - because physically reading something was so challenging. But at some point they discovered digital books and developed a hunger for literature. It still always kind of throws me when they refer to it as "reading", but they have gained worlds of knowledge. Just that spelling isn't one of the skills that develops from that.

[Absolom]

Audio books? My daughter loves them.  They drive me rather batty, but I'm fine with digital text books.

[Ohiopirate02]

33 minutes ago, Jynnan tonnix said:

I think that's also very true of a lot of people, especially in the age of digital books. I know a number of people with some level of dyslexia who never read anything beyond what was required - and often not even that - because physically reading something was so challenging. But at some point they discovered digital books and developed a hunger for literature. It still always kind of throws me when they refer to it as "reading", but they have gained worlds of knowledge. Just that spelling isn't one of the skills that develops from that.

26 minutes ago, Absolom said:

Audio books? My daughter loves them.  They drive me rather batty, but I'm fine with digital text books.

I work in literacy, and ebooks and audiobooks are reading.   Its truly just a personal preference.   The text is the same.  I get touchy about this because it is my job.  Audiobooks were developed initially for the blind and have grown from there.   The production values have increased exponentially since sighted people started to listen to them.  Unabridged audiobooks are literally a narrator speaking every word in the text.  Ebooks are great for people with different disabilities to read books.  People with dyslexia can use special fonts and backgrounds to help them read and understand the text.  Also people with mobility issues who cannot hold a physical book can use an ereader or tablet to read again.  Ebooks also allow the reader to increase text size for people with eyesight issues.  Large print books are more expensive than ebooks. 

I personally read physical books, ebooks, and audiobooks.   Depending on the book, I prefer each format.  They all have their pluses and minuses.  

[CalicoKitty]

Someone recently  sent me a copy of a diet that was published in Vogue in the late 1970's.  

BREAKFAST:  1 boiled egg (poached is ok), 1 glass of dry white wine, and coffee

LUNCH: 2 boiled eggs, 2 glasses of dry white wine, and coffee

Dinner: broiled steak, the rest of the bottle of wine, and coffee

Only one whole bottle of wine per day.

My question is, can I do this diet if I don't drink coffee?  And is there a warning about driving? I wonder why we haven't heard about this diet recently.  This is one of the quirkiest fad diets I have ever come across.

[Catfin]

Does anyone have experience with the shingles vaccine? I had an outbreak two years ago which were caught early and addressed with steroids. I’d prefer not experiencing that again! 

There was a shortage of the Shingrex vax last year so I was unable to get it. It is now readily available but I have a ton of 4th quarter travel. Curious of reactions anyone may have had with the first dose, as I’ll strategize timing. 

[latetotheparty]

2 minutes ago, Catfin said:

Does anyone have experience with the shingles vaccine? I had an outbreak two years ago which were caught early and addressed with steroids. I’d prefer not experiencing that again! 

There was a shortage of the Shingrex vax last year so I was unable to get it. It is now readily available but I have a ton of 4th quarter travel. Curious of reactions anyone may have had with the first dose, as I’ll strategize timing. 

Shingles vaccine was a breeze for me. Much easier than a flu shot. I am the only person in my immediate family to not have had shingles and I want to keep it that way. 

8 hours ago, Jynnan tonnix said:

Haha! I didn't actually forget it, I just thought it sounded at least peripherally like an actual name, what with Flash Gordon and all. They could also do Smash, Lash, Mash, Hash....

Funny how so many of the "-ash" words are rather violent in nature. 

How about Succotash? 😁😁😁

[wilsie]

5 minutes ago, Catfin said:

Does anyone have experience with the shingles vaccine? I had an outbreak two years ago which were caught early and addressed with steroids. I’d prefer not experiencing that again! 

There was a shortage of the Shingrex vax last year so I was unable to get it. It is now readily available but I have a ton of 4th quarter travel. Curious of reactions anyone may have had with the first dose, as I’ll strategize timing. 

Like @latetotheparty I had no problem with the shingles vaccine or the pneumonia vaccine.  My doctor told me that even if I would get shingles it would be less severe.  I found this about it from health in aging: "Zostavax vaccine reduces the risk of getting shingles by about one-half, and lowers the risk of post-herpetic neuralgia by two-thirds. If you have had the vaccine and still develop shingles, your illness will be milder than if you never received the vaccine."  

[McManda]

14 minutes ago, wilsie said:

I found this about it from health in aging: "Zostavax vaccine reduces the risk of getting shingles by about one-half, and lowers the risk of post-herpetic neuralgia by two-thirds. If you have had the vaccine and still develop shingles, your illness will be milder than if you never received the vaccine."  

Just a note, Zostavax was the old shingles vaccine. It has been replaced by Shingrix. 

At my pharmacy we've anecdotely had higher reports of injection site reactions like tenderness, redness, and swelling as compared to other vaccines but most people seem to tolerate it pretty well.

[Catfin]

Thanks ladies. I’ve added the vax to tomorrow’s task list. 

[Catfin]

Also, someone posted a baked oatmeal recipe about a year ago that the search feature isn’t turning up. Does anyone have a tried and true recipe they like?

[DangerousMinds]

3 hours ago, Jynnan tonnix said:

I think that's also very true of a lot of people, especially in the age of digital books. I know a number of people with some level of dyslexia who never read anything beyond what was required - and often not even that - because physically reading something was so challenging. But at some point they discovered digital books and developed a hunger for literature. It still always kind of throws me when they refer to it as "reading", but they have gained worlds of knowledge. Just that spelling isn't one of the skills that develops from that.

Just seeing the words over and over helped me to learn. How is reading from a device any different? It’s actually more beneficial in that you can actually look up definitions for words right on the spot, instead of having to go get a dictionary.

[Jynnan tonnix]

8 hours ago, DangerousMinds said:

Just seeing the words over and over helped me to learn. How is reading from a device any different? It’s actually more beneficial in that you can actually look up definitions for words right on the spot, instead of having to go get a dictionary.

I meant to say audio books...sorry. Talk about missing typos when you proofread, I just missed an entire word and definition! Ugh!

Yeah, that's why some of the other responses I got didn't initially make sense to me. Duh! Of course reading digital books is reading, as is reading Braille. But my son in law, for example, who has mild dyslexia, now listens to a LOT of audio books, and always refers to it as reading them. Yes, he's getting exactly the same words and information, and has really furthered his education, so I'm not belittling his efforts in any way, just that "listening to" and "reading", at least to my understanding, are quite different processes.

[Ohiopirate02]

15 minutes ago, Jynnan tonnix said:

I meant to say audio books...sorry. Talk about missing typos when you proofread, I just missed an entire word and definition! Ugh!

Yeah, that's why some of the other responses I got didn't initially make sense to me. Duh! Of course reading digital books is reading, as is reading Braille. But my son in law, for example, who has mild dyslexia, now listens to a LOT of audio books, and always refers to it as reading them. Yes, he's getting exactly the same words and information, and has really furthered his education, so I'm not belittling his efforts in any way, just that "listening to" and "reading", at least to my understanding, are quite different processes.

It is true that reading and listening use different parts of the brain.  They are technically two different processes,  but they work in tandem.  Also, everyone's brains work differently and some people need to listen to a text to fully understand and retain it.  Publishers have been making read-alongs for decades because there are enough kids out there that both need to look at words on a page and hear them at the same time. 

I used to never listen to audiobooks until 2 years ago.  I was resistant because I know I can read a book faster than any narrator could speak it.  But, my library patrons love them and I needed to learn how our electronic audiobooks worked in the app.  Also, I can only lie convincingly to a certain point, so I needed to try a few.  I do enjoy the ones I have listened to, and I have been able to recall the text when necessary.   There are still some books that I would never attempt to listen to and just read with my eyes instead. 

[BetyBee]

Audio books seem like a valid way to learn or to absorb a story.  After all, that is the original way humans learned prior to the written word.  I used to listen to books on tape and it was nice to be able to keep busy while reading.  I've been meaning to try Audible again, but I'm afraid that hearing stories will put me to sleep.  After all, I use podcasts to fall asleep and often can't remember a word of what I've heard.  Come to think of it, reading a book often induces me to nap!

[Minivanessa]

3 hours ago, Ohiopirate02 said:

I  used to never listen to audiobooks until 2 years ago.  I was resistant because I know I can read a book faster than any narrator could speak it.  But, my library patrons love them and I needed to learn how our electronic audiobooks worked in the app.  Also, I can only lie convincingly to a certain point, so I needed to try a few.  I do enjoy the ones I have listened to, and I have been able to recall the text when necessary.   There are still some books that I would never attempt to listen to and just read with my eyes instead. 

3 hours ago, BetyBee said:

Audio books seem like a valid way to learn or to absorb a story.  After all, that is the original way humans learned prior to the written word.  I used to listen to books on tape and it was nice to be able to keep busy while reading.  I've been meaning to try Audible again, but I'm afraid that hearing stories will put me to sleep.  After all, I use podcasts to fall asleep and often can't remember a word of what I've heard.  Come to think of it, reading a book often induces me to nap!

I started listening to audiobooks almost 20 years ago, when I had a daily 55-mile round trip work commute. By the time I got in the car in the morning I'd already had the news from TV or radio, at the end of the workday I needed distraction from reality, and I'd tired of listening to music in the car all the time. I usually checked out public library audiobooks on cassette tape (remember those?) or, as they became more common, CDs.

I learned that the sweet spot for me, books that neither lulled me to sleep or demanded too much attention (I was driving, after all!), were crime fiction or mystery books. Not gory ones, and in fact I've happily listened to unabridged audiobooks of most of my "classic" favorites that I'd already read more than once (Dorothy L. Sayers, Robert Barnard, M. C. Beaton's Hamish Macbeth series), and then I found E. F. Benson's Mapp and Lucia books which are incredibly fun. These days I look for that kind of sweet spot in the content of audiobooks I buy or borrow from the public library. Not too heavy, but interesting and with a lively narrator's voice.

I no longer have that commute, but still have an audiobook habit when in the car. I probably need to stop my Audible subscription, but I've discovered some good books that way. Of course, these days I just load my Audible books on my phone, then play them in the car via Bluetooth through the car sound system. Who would have thunk it, back in 2000 when I was hoping the public library's well-used tapes and CDs would play all the way through and not leave me frustrated near the end of a good story? 

I've also discovered the Libby app. I use it to manage and play ebooks and audio e-books that I've checked out from my public library. Works flawlessly on my phone to play audiobooks in the car and in the house through a bluetooth speaker. @Ohiopirate02, is that the app you use? 

Dang, I love technology. I have my entire music library - mostly burned from CDs I own but also some digital music purchases - in iTunes and loaded via iTunes onto a ten year old iPod touch which lives in the closed armrest/console of my car, plugged into the car's audio system. Remember having to keep all those tapes or CDs corralled somewhere in the car if you wanted to bring music along?

(Apple's next system upgrade, Catalina, is here. It does away with iTunes in favor of putting all your music into "Music" and all your audiobooks into the "Books" app which is gonna be a PITA for me and my old iPod which I don't think can load the current Books app. We'll see. I'll figure it out somehow. I still much prefer Apple computers to PCs for my personal tech. Although I'm equally fond of my Android phone, so there's that. And I use Libby on the phone for borrowed audiobooks, and the Audible app on the phone for purchased audiobooks, so I'm probably okay.)

Edited October 12, 2019 by Jeeves

[Minivanessa]

1 hour ago, Jynnan tonnix said:

I meant to say audio books...sorry. Talk about missing typos when you proofread, I just missed an entire word and definition! Ugh!

If this helps: I figured out from the context, that you meant audiobooks. 😊

[BetyBee]

We just moved to the middle of nowhere, so I really need to get back to listening to books while driving!  @Jeeves, I have an old iPod Touch too, filled with podcasts for when I'm exercising or hitting the hay.  I'm going to try ebooks from the library.  I too, used to worry that the tape on my bright yellow Walkman would fail at a crucial point in the story!  It is amazing how technology has advanced!

[doodlebug]

12 hours ago, Catfin said:

Does anyone have experience with the shingles vaccine? I had an outbreak two years ago which were caught early and addressed with steroids. I’d prefer not experiencing that again! 

There was a shortage of the Shingrex vax last year so I was unable to get it. It is now readily available but I have a ton of 4th quarter travel. Curious of reactions anyone may have had with the first dose, as I’ll strategize timing. 

I had no problems whatsoever.  Nada.  But, I've never been one to react to vaccines, ever.  Having seen friends and patients deal with Shingles, I was more than happy to roll up my sleeve for that one.

[Barb23]

I have really enjoyed reading all the posts about reading. The mention of Read Along books from the past brought back memories for me.  I only had a couple of Read along books as a child. I'm sure it was because of the cost. I can still hear the chime sound that was used as a prompt to turn the page. 

Changing subjects:

11 hours ago, Catfin said:

Also, someone posted a baked oatmeal recipe about a year ago that the search feature isn’t turning up. Does anyone have a tried and true recipe they like?

I think I found the Baked Oatmeal recipes for you.  I'm sure our (better) recipes came about from Jill posting her recipe.  Sure enough, I checked the Dillard Family blog & there is a recipe for Jill's baked oatmeal dated 7/19/18.  So you may want to search the (Primetimer) Dullards thread around that date to see what poster's recipes were posted in response to Jill's. 

Edited October 12, 2019 by Barb23

[galaxychaser]

deleted

Edited October 12, 2019 by galaxychaser

[Jynnan tonnix]

11 hours ago, Jeeves said:

If this helps: I figured out from the context, that you meant audiobooks. 😊

Haha! Well, yes, I suppose it might, but it probably says more about your powers of intuition than my ability to be coherent! LOL

[crazycatlady58]

So does it mean your old if you are watching House Hunters, seeing all these beautiful homes and all you can think is "Good golly Miss Molly that would be hard to keep clean." ?

[Minivanessa]

30 minutes ago, crazycatlady58 said:

So does it mean your old if you are watching House Hunters, seeing all these beautiful homes and all you can think is "Good golly Miss Molly that would be hard to keep clean." ?

If not old, practical. A few years ago a young cousin and his wife bought a lovely spacious house out on acreage in the country. Absolutely perfect for their family. I love the place! And, as I took the introductory tour? I swear, I counted up the total number of toilets and thought how glad I was not to be responsible for cleaning them. 🤣

[Higgins]

13 hours ago, LilJen said:

 Maybe, in honor of Shaun and the 70s and his fantastic feathered hair, we can find some of that old shampoo made with beer (don’t recall the name) and send it to Jill. I do know that the Vermont Country Store sells a remake of Gee Your Hair Smells Terrific, another 1970s shampoo classic.

These are all still sold.

https://www.vermontcountrystore.com/body-on-tap-shampoo/product/75094

https://www.vermontcountrystore.com/lemon-up-shampoo-or-conditioner/product/72106

https://www.vermontcountrystore.com/gee-your-hair-smells-terrific-shampoo-or-conditioner/product/76881?variantName=choice&variantValue=Conditioner

[Mindthinkr]

10 hours ago, crazycatlady58 said:

So does it mean your old if you are watching House Hunters, seeing all these beautiful homes and all you can think is "Good golly Miss Molly that would be hard to keep clean." ?

You read my mind. That’s exactly what I think. I sometimes see that Lottery show where they buy the house of their dreams and think that next they’d better hire someone to come clean it. 

[doodlebug]

1 minute ago, Mindthinkr said:

You read my mind. That’s exactly what I think. I sometimes see that Lottery show where they buy the house of their dreams and think that next they’d better hire someone to come clean it. 

Me too.  Even when I was looking for houses more than 25 years ago and still in my 30's, I was always looking for the least amount of space.  I ended up with a 3 bedroom home only because it is tough to find one smaller and I needed a house with a yard for the dog(s).  As it is, I keep the doors shut to 2 of the bedrooms to keep the dogs out of there so I don't have to clean them very often.   I also wonder about people who need a separate dedicated guest room.  Are they planning to join Airbnb?  Who has that many guests that they need a special room only for them?

Back in the day, I used to do all my own housework, mainly out of guilt because my own mom worked full time for a lot of years and never had any help and I felt bad that, living alone, I couldn't keep up.  Then I thought on it a bit and realized my mother would've jumped at the chance to have someone else clean her house and never looked back.  I immediately found someone to clean and it is the highlight of my day to come home once every other week to a house that is sparkling.

[Barb23]

13 minutes ago, doodlebug said:

 I also wonder about people who need a separate dedicated guest room.  Are they planning to join Airbnb?  Who has that many guests that they need a special room only for them?

I like to watch a lot of old shows like Leave it to Beaver & the Donna Reed show, many of whom had the dedicated guest room.  I always thought it was weird that on Leave it to Beaver, they had an unused guest room yet Wally & the Beav shared a room.  

[Jynnan tonnix]

28 minutes ago, doodlebug said:

Me too.  Even when I was looking for houses more than 25 years ago and still in my 30's, I was always looking for the least amount of space.  I ended up with a 3 bedroom home only because it is tough to find one smaller and I needed a house with a yard for the dog(s).  As it is, I keep the doors shut to 2 of the bedrooms to keep the dogs out of there so I don't have to clean them very often.   I also wonder about people who need a separate dedicated guest room.  Are they planning to join Airbnb?  Who has that many guests that they need a special room only for them?

Back in the day, I used to do all my own housework, mainly out of guilt because my own mom worked full time for a lot of years and never had any help and I felt bad that, living alone, I couldn't keep up.  Then I thought on it a bit and realized my mother would've jumped at the chance to have someone else clean her house and never looked back.  I immediately found someone to clean and it is the highlight of my day to come home once every other week to a house that is sparkling.

But if you don't have a guest room, it's hard to find space for guests when you DO have them. I Back when the kids were growing up we mostly didn't have guest rooms - sometimes the boys shared a room, sometimes everyone had their own, as we were moving around with the Navy. The house we have now, we specifically got with extra bedrooms in case any of the kids needed to move back in for a period (daughter and son-in-law stayed with us for a year while saving up for their own house, and younger son moved in after college, after they had moved out, and stayed for about a year as well while waiting to be able to get into Officer Candidate School. which turned out to be a much longer process than anticipated for various reasons. We also wanted to make sure we had a convenient in-law suite for my parents (now only my mom), which she will be moving into soon. So even if it's just the two of us here in a four (technically five, but we turned one into the library)-bedroom house, all the bedrooms are full at holidays, and if we have my brother-in-law as well, he ends up sleeping on the couch. 

Someday we'll downsize, I suppose, but for the time being I love having all the extra space, even if it's a bit more cleaning. I actually find it much easier to keep a bigger space looking good, as there is always enough room for everything and far less clutter.

[ozziemom]

And if you live in Florida, your guest room will be occupied at some point by everyone you know up north from December through April!

[BetyBee]

I have 2 dedicated guest rooms for my frequently visiting kids and grandkids.  Make them comfortable and they will come!  It works for us 😊

[Zella]

I'm very pro guest bedroom. Because otherwise in my family, people would get kicked out of their own beds and made to sleep in the living room to accommodate guests, which always struck me as a bunch of shit. 

[Mindthinkr]

10 hours ago, doodlebug said:

Who has that many guests that they need a special room only for them?

I actually do. I have company come about every other weekend. I live near the beaches and good fishing. I also keep the extra rooms at the ready in case my grandchildren come. There are three and they think that coming by themselves to Grandmas is a treat. I give them a budget of $100 and then they call the shots. It’s interesting to see what they choose. The eldest, a granddaughter with a chromosome deletion (18-P as you’d know what this is Doodlebug) likes to go out to dinner so her money disappears pretty fast. The middle boy likes to cook with me (not out of his budget) and then we do movies and museums. The youngest boy also likes to eat my food and do about the same as his brother except he saves enough for a surfing lesson each time he comes. I like that option. I sit on the beach and read a book. 

It seems like I always have company, but am fortunate to have someone come and deep clean (change sheets..clean the bathrooms (3 Full)..floors every other week as well. I’m already expecting company in Nov and Dec. about 10-15 days worth of visiting and that’s not including my family. 

Edited October 14, 2019 by Mindthinkr
Dang. I thought that I had proofread that. Sorry.

[jcbrown]

We have a dedicated guest room with its own bathroom but I am also a bibliophile so it is lined entirely with crammed-full bookcases. And it has a nice east-facing window so the cats use it as a solarium in the mornings. It also served as a place for us to live while our master suite was renovated. 

Before every phase of renovations we've had done, we've vowed to bring in someone else to clean. These vows began nearly six years ago and we still are here in a less-than-optimally-clean house, having never hired anyone.

[Christina87]

Hi guys!!! Guess what? My flu has turned into bronchitis and a sinus infection! It is miserable. I went back to work last week, and felt rough, but okay Monday to Wednesday. Thursday and Friday were terrible, so I went to the doctor yesterday. I'm really considering taking tomorrow off. I have no sick days yet, so I'll have a ton of days without pay, but I'm honestly not sure I can make it through tomorrow, annnnd I probably shouldn't have gone Friday, either!

on a positive note, my birthday was Monday!!! I went out with my parents and had a great time. I'm excited about a new year...when I am well. It feels like it will never happen!!!