<p>How exciting , c_q!, especially meeting some cast members. When is the event? I am looking forward to seeing a new season of my favorite show.</p>
<p>RM - I hope your H recovers soon, sounds terribly painful.</p>
<p>Sorry to hear about various “twinges in the hinges,” etc. Love the image of festively attired children asleep on the music set … Very cool about the Downton Abbey event, c_q.</p>
<p>H and I are off to the beach for 1 night – he has work to do putting the sailboat to bed for the winter and I need to start with the decorations – all except the tree. We’re doing Christmas there because that’s where all the decorations are, and I refuse to haul them back to Cambridge. Originally we weren’t planning to go down until the 19th, but that’s too late for doing all the decorating. The scrooge part of me is tempted to not do a tree since it will go up so late, I get no help with it, S won’t be with us for Christmas, and the puppy will probably try to take it down! Anyway, quick trip now with a puppy who hates riding in the car …</p>
<p>Not into holiday music yet – my favorite Boston area radio station has gone to Christmas music 24/7 and it’s just too much. Good thing my car has satellite radio.</p>
<p>H has his appt for the MRI tonight then appt with ortho again on Monday. H just wants to get it over with which I understand. I just keep saying – this too shall pass. My biggest fear is that he will have the surgery and be out of commission for much of the winter and I’ll need to either learn to use the snow-blower or shovel. I am glad that this is nothing serious. I mean it could be so much worse. 
I see me prepping for our holiday dinner party - alone. Also believe that it will be difficult for him to help with the tree this weekend but he insists that we can do it and don’t need my S to come help. I do all the wrapping and gift buying so that isn’t an issue just with everything else it might be…</p>
<p>FallGirl, the event is this next Tuesday evening, December 9.</p>
<p>RM, for the past several years I was the main snow shoveler at our house, probably because I was always the first up. We didn’t have a snow-blower, though. Sorry H’s surgery means more of a burden on you for the heavy lifting.</p>
<p>Not so much doing the extra work as my H when he isn’t “himself” is a pain to live with. I’m sure many of us have similar spouses. :)</p>
<p>RM…we were in the exact same decision making mode when H was scheduling his back surgery. D2 and her H stepped up with the raking of leaves here at home and the lake. D1 has been doing the shoveling and snow blowing. I have tried the snowblower but keep sliding down our steep driveway. I need new boots but haven’t been able to find a pair to fit. I have a very high arch and I can’t get my foot in anything that doesn’t have a side zipper. I even have trouble with Uggs unless they are several sizes too big. H starts his physical therapy today. Will be interesting! </p>
<p>I have been using bluetooth speakers at the lake and out on the deck here at home. Love them! It kills me that we invested in great outdoor speakers here at home a few years back and now rarely use them. </p>
<p>Meeting with plumber was interesting. It seems to boil down to they just can’t figure out what is going on. Water direct from the well appeared crystal clear when drawn for yet another test. Will be sent in to the State for further testing.</p>
<p>cq…how fun! You always do such fun things!</p>
<p>H has another Gala we must attend tomorrow night so I need to shop for something to wear with my standard black velvet pants. Next week we have work related Christmas parties every night. I like some but they do get tiring every night! H and I separate once we get there so he can network. Seems like more work than relaxation and celebration!</p>
<p>I found out yesterday from my new employer that since those of us who work remotely can’t attend the employer’s holiday party, we will receive $ to compensate so we can celebrate in our own way. Sounds good to me!</p>
<p>I will have to figure out what to wear to the Downton Abbey event. Will be taking the subway so need to make sure it’s comfortable! I don’t have my outfit from last year - borrowed a hat from my D, borrowed gloves from a friend, and gave my dress from Goodwill to another friend in the moving purge since I didn’t think I’d ever wear it again!</p>
<p>RM – can you hire out the snow shoveling/blowing? Might be worth it. You might even find that it is long-term worth it. </p>
<p>c_q – Sounds like a shopping trip is in your future! The Downton Abbey event sounds like a blast. Glad you won it.</p>
<p>NM – the water contamination seems very puzzling – if the direct water is pure, then the problem must be in either the equipment or your house, right? Either way – ick.</p>
<p>Arabrab - I would LOVE to hire out the shoveling/blowing. However even though we have a 2 car garage neither car makes it in what with all the bikes, exercise equipment. I don’t know of anyone who will do it without the driveway clear. I’m sure that I’ll manage. My concern is that H isn’t good about LETTING me manage. He will be trying to do it himself and will probably make his recovery longer. </p>
<p>Having a moment of peace in the orthopedist’s waiting room with all the elderly couples. I guess the high school athletes had their appointments earlier. Medical offices are now so aware of protecting Personal Health
Information; it’s cracking me up that this old couple is LOUDLY filling out the husband’s forms. “Do I have high blood pressure ?” “No but you do have anxiety.”<br>
Cq that is so exciting about the Downton Abbey event!!!</p>
<p>Time to hide the snow shovel, RM!</p>
<p>MP – That’s funny. I was in the hospital radiology department a couple of years ago when a translator came out to help a Spanish-speaking patient complete forms. Apparently the theory was that if the entire conversation was in Spanish, privacy was protected. Despite my abysmal grades in Spanish 40 years ago, I found myself following the conversation remarkably well.</p>
<p>It’s arthritis. I feel like I’m 90 years old. But no surgery or PT.</p>
<p>I have to tell a story about life in a big time corporate headquarters. I do quite a bit of online shopping, especially Cyber Monday. Like many, we give the kids new jammies on Christmas Eve. For years I have ordered flannel pajamas from Victoria’s Secret. They are always on sale for Cyber Monday,there is free shipping,and they come in “long” (essential for younger D.) You guessed it - the website was blocked here at work. I guess they must think people go on the site to see models in tiny undies, not to order flannel pajamas.</p>
<p>Many sites are blocked for us but well we are engineers – that only lasts for a few minutes before we figure out how to get buy it. :)</p>
<p>I have arthritis - pretty bad actually. Although it hurts when I exercise it is worse when I don’t so try to make some time for yourself even if it’s to walk around the building at lunchtime! It really does help.</p>
<p>Is arthritis a new diagnosis, Missypie?</p>
<p>I’ve been experiencing some leg pains which I have self diagnosed via Google. With our change in employment we were (despite both of us having conversations with our respective employers) without health care coverage in November. Now that I have insurance I need to find a new doctor since we moved. Although according to the Internet I’m not sure there’s much treatment.</p>
<p>I suffered for months with a Bakers Cyst. PT did help. The good news is that there is no arthritis at all in my knees. Some in one ankle (caused from statins but that is a long story). Now I am having trouble with both elbows and a pinched nerve in my neck as well as carpel tunnel and numb fingers. Getting older is really interesting.</p>
<p>Ha HA because of H’s semiretirement D’s school changed the parent contribution from$61,000 to $43,700.
She will be 31 next week. Seriously? so here we are mid 60’s and we are considered responsible for a grown child’s education. Admin told D they have had 40 yr olds who still have to submit their FAFSA’s.
Atleast they gave her a little more in grant $.</p>
<p>CQ that is wonderful
December was playing when I gave birth to daughter. it helped me sleep when I was sick too. </p>
<p>D1 was diagnosed with Juvenile Rheumatoid Arthritis at the age of 5. She stopped her meds after HS but still had some issues in college. Currently doing very well. Exercise was key for her. Hot tub, paraffin hand treatments and swimming in warm water pools were comforting. I have osteoarthritis in my bad knee but just take ibuprofen. Guy who did my knee surgery said I will have knee replacement sometime in the future. Wearing heels makes the knee hurt more than anything else.</p>
<p>missy…is it osteo or rheumatoid arthritis?</p>
<p>I feel like I could crawl into the house after I work, and then the long commute home in the car. Tamoxifen makes your joints and muscles hurt, when I go on arimedex next spring it will be worse. I also have neuropathy in my hands and feet. painful and numb a the same time. movement really helps, hydration for the muscles. I also feel better when I don’t consume sugar (muscles again) I am going to start drinking tonic water for the muscle cramps. I have never felt so old until this year. I want to work to help daughter through grad school, just don’t think I can. (at this job) H is opposed, but I hate my kids having debt. I cant imagine having that kind of debt. Do you think I am ready or qualify for disability, something I should have done after the last issue. I have heard that knee replacements last 10 years or so. But some people are having partial knee replacements successfully.
do people seem to be particularly stressed this year. people at work are miserable.
Shaw, what kind of nursing does D want to do? meaning adults, kids, specialty?</p>
<p>DTE, I’m sorry you’re in such physical pain. Can you look into if you would qualify for disability?</p>
<p>I pretty much work by myself right now, so don’t know about stress levels, but before I left my last employer, it seemed stress levels often had to do with management. My job could be very stressful or not, and I was in the same position for over 12 years, but management changed over the years. When I left in October it had not been stressful for me, but in the past it was. My colleague who is taking over my position was in a different department/area and due to management was under a ton of stress. I hope she will be less stressed (eventually) in her new position because she’s a terrific worker and person.</p>