Conversation – 16

Trying to stay cool.

@taci

We never spent a summer in Florida, though our transplant friends said the weather was so similar. Yes, it many ways it is. High temps, high humidity are quite similar to our life in two homes in New England. However, there is one difference. Sometimes the humidity hits 100% and when that happens there is no air because there is no wind. Those days you know to stay inside and do whatever makes you happy. Our electrical bill last June was in triple digits and it wasn’t $200. Thank goodness our A/C people came around to clean the unit and check the thermostat. He yelled at us on the temp which we had set at 65 degrees. So now we keep the Central Air at 78 during the day and 75 at night. During the day we run the overhead fans if needed. And guess what it’s comfortable. The house is cool when we return from shopping. No humidity indoors. And, yes, I enjoy Florida and really do not relish returning North next weekend. Would I stay year round, yes, but not today or tomorrow. I do enjoy Cape Cod and will probably love it more when we remodel and do with less. When t he time is right, just may remain in Florida and forget about traveling back and forth.

98 degrees in OZ right now. 😎Shizzle!

This is Napa Valley

@shoelady60,

Just rest I want you to know my heart is with you. 🌹💕I think all of us on this Thread
will miss Jake. May he RIP. 🌹

Oodie, Saw your post from yesterday. Wow, after so many years with a place in Fl you never spent a summer. Now the question is will you ever do it again? It’s much more tropical and humid in FL than my location in CA. I noticed that in AZ some people kept the air conditioning at the temps you mentioned. We only need to run our air conditioning a few days a year.

Happy Birthday to you Father, maybe he’ll send a sign.

Sheba, Oodie has lots of great advice for your BIL. I hope he improves and feels better.

Just look at all the jewelry you posted and great pictures as well.

Do you have rolling blackouts in OZ? The heat here isn’t as bad as it is everywhere else but we may have some outages in a few hours. That will most likely coincide with Game Night, if that doesn’t, my son usually gets home and needs some dinner, which I will gladly get for him. I will still try and sign in.

Glad you like the jeans and jacket.
Have a great time in the Arcade tonight.

Shoelady, Sorry on the loss of your dear beloved Jake. You are a great dog Mom and I know you will miss him.

@sheba2011

I saw the note from luvsweets and your post. I also left a note. I forgot to mention that I saw her avatar on line either yesterday or the day prior. Before answering your note I just happened to check on Shoelady. Don’t ask me why, maybe a premonition. I posted a note. So sad about Jake, especially when it was so unexpected. Or maybe, in little ways, there were signs. I hope and pray that she has no regrets. She did everything for Jake to make him more comfortable in many ways.

I also can feel the sadness you are facing with your BIL. Losting 40lbs in one week is not unusual with Cancer. And I surmise he was always at a good weight. If he started the Chemo, then this is to be expected. They may have to reduce the radiation a bit so he can regain his strength. Don’t forget that what he is facing is probably more potent than what you had. I gave some advice in my last post. Here is some more. The chemo sometimes causes blisters in the mouth and sometimes also down the esophagus. Chewing meats, chicken, etc. is difficult. I would puree as much as possible with broth. Summer is here and gazpacho comes to mind. As a base you can use tomatoes. But I happen to like squash (butternut or acorn). You can always pick up the base at Trader Joe’s and puree your own veggies into it. Definitely, Manuka honey may help the soreness in the mouth and the esophagus. Because he needs protein, add Boost or other drinks but watch the sugar. He also will need electrolytes because they are almost non existent because of the chemo. I would ask a good nutritionist about this one. He should drink plenty of liquids while going under chemo. He should not become dehydrated. Also, the dragon fruit would be good. It’s like gelatin going down and he can swish it in his mouth until he can swallow. Then, of course, it’s always good to have soup on hand. Bananas, Baked or Mashed potatoes, fish (definitely a filet), etc.. I would definitely have ice cream on hand and alot of ice that can be flavored with cherry, vanilla, chocolate syrup, pineapple juice etc… These are just a few suggestions. And let’s hope he can go into remission. The fact that he is having chemo is a sign that they are trying to stop any progression and then proceed on the areas that they can either surgically remove or get rid of through medication. Most of all, keep the hopes up. He needs to feel he is winning this war even though there will be days that he will feel otherwise. Hope this helps in someway.

I will be in Trivia tonight. I also received a note from the funeral home that tonight I must light the Yahrzeit candle in dad’s memory. So much has happened this week. I’ve been frowning every day. Not good. But like I said so many times, we have to go through it.

@shoelady60

Shoelady, I’m so sorry. So sorry. I’m crying as I type. Please, don’t have any regrets. Don’t say shouddah or couddah. You did everything possible and everything right. People who have pets or had pets know exactly what you are going through. The s—t did hit the fan this week for many of us on this thread. I will check back later to see how you are doing.

Oodie

@shoelady60,

NO! Oh, god no…I am crying as I type and thank god I was not gone yet.

I am so sorry I don’t know what to do. My heart is breaking I know how much you loved
Jake. I watch Poppy like a hawk. I am so glad I mentioned him every single day.

I have to lay down now this is affecting me because I have lost my fur babies too.

Please be well. RIP Jake. 💕😘I will miss you.

@sheba2011

Oh Sheba, I can’t even talk. My boy is gone – very suddenly last evening.💗🙏💗

Fathers

In a time when mothers and female energy are being honored, it is important not to forget the importance of fathers.

The idea of fatherhood is both personal and universal. We all have ideal concepts surrounding fatherhood, and we also have our real fathers — fathers who were there or not there for us, fathers who provided financial support for our families or failed to do so, fathers who loved or neglected us, fathers who were our role models or gave us someone to rebel against. Our father may have been there for us sometimes and not there for us at other times. The process of reconciling the ideal father that resides in our minds with the father that we actually have is a fertile one that can teach us a great deal about ourselves.

Our relationship with our father will often affect our relationships with the other men who will come into our lives. You may have learned to behave and think in certain ways because those were the ways that your father acted and thought. Certain talents that you possess may have been passed down to you by your father. There also may be personal issues that you inherited by virtue of who your father is. Understanding how your relationship with your father has influenced you can help you better understand yourself and the life that you have created.

In a time when mothers, the sacred feminine, and female energy are being honored, it is important not to forget the importance of fathers. Father energy and mother energy are the two complementary energies necessary to bring a healthy human being to fruition in the world. Many of the ideas surrounding fathers are changing in the wake of more modern parenting styles and the more egalitarian roles that are evolving between the sexes. More men are embodying the mother energy these days, and a woman can provide father energy for her children. Either way, we can all benefit from thinking about our fathers and how they have influenced who we’ve become and the ways that we walk through this world. Let us remember to honor our fathers. AMEN! I miss my father. 😘💕🌹

@kittengirl,

Good morning in California sending you blessings and please stay well and stay cool. 😎😘