|
|
Post by Mini Mia on Jan 10, 2011 17:25:02 GMT -6
Of course, now that I've said that, I'm gonna get a very bad sinus headache. At least I have the meds on hand.
|
|
|
|
Post by Phalon on Jan 11, 2011 23:11:57 GMT -6
I'm glad you found something that works for you, Joxie. I used to take Zyrtec (the prescription equivalent of what you're taking back when a person needed a prescription to take Zyrtec; I think it's over-the-counter now). It worked kinda/sorta for me. That's the way it's been with most of what I've tried - prescription or over-the-counter. They'll work okay, or will work great for an allergy season, but then loses its effectiveness. I wonder if a body gets used to a medication so it becomes less effective over time?
What I take now works great for me, and has for the past three years. It's a prescription mega-dose of 24 hour Allegra. The difference during hayfever season with and without the drug is amazing. I can breathe again! No itchy eyes, no running nose, or stuffed up head! It does not work, however, if I don't take it. (eye-roll) Once I feel the sinus pressure headache coming on, it's almost too late. Even if I skip just one day during allergy season, I can feel that pressure starting to build, then BOOM! My head explodes (or feels like it's about to). And since allergy season has long since been over, I haven't been taking it. Every time the barometric pressure changes lately, my sinuses go haywire. So why not take it continually? Whether it's unfounded or not, I'm afraid my allergies will become immune to the drug, and when I really need it to work, (when I'm working amongst the allergens) it won't. I'm not even sure it'll have any effect at all on these types of headaches, because the drug is a histamine blocker (I think).
Hope not!
|
|
|
|
Post by Mini Mia on Jan 11, 2011 23:30:39 GMT -6
My sinuses always bothered me year round, but was worse during spring and autumn with the hot days and cold nights ... so I take a pill every day nonstop. Well, except for the times I forget. When my nose goes to running nonstop, it's usually because I've missed a pill. I don't miss the pain and pressure at all. And I hope I don't become immune to the pills.
|
|
|
|
Post by Phalon on Jan 15, 2011 7:25:48 GMT -6
Kind of bumming this morning. It's snowed all week - sometimes light wafting flakes that didn't amount to a whole lot of accumulation; other times it came so down hard, it was hard to see very far in front of you. But it always came straight down - no wind, no sideways snow.
Now, we've got wind. Pfft! Tonight I was planning on taking BP to the nature center for their annual "Gourmet Glide". Appetizers and munchies are served in the big lodge before heading out to the torch-lit trails, then after you've had your fill of skiing, it's back to the lodge for hot chocolate or coffee, soups, salad, bread, dessert and whatever else people bring. The nature center provides the soup and hot beverages; everyone else brings a dish to pass.
Unless the wind stops, (and it's got all day to decide), there is no way I'm going. It'd be miserable....hhmmm...unless BP and I just hung out in the lodge and ate goodies.
It might not be such a bad idea to go in this kind of weather, after-all.
|
|
|
|
Post by stepper on Jan 15, 2011 19:05:22 GMT -6
Now, that's a plan!
|
|
|
|
Post by Phalon on Jan 16, 2011 8:17:17 GMT -6
I asked Hubs if he wanted to do just that. The lodge is such a beautiful place, with high vaulted pine ceilings and comfy, deep leather chairs in front of a huge stone fireplace. He said he'd feel out of place though, since he doesn't ski (says he has an aversion to breaking his ankles).
He wouldn't have been out of place; plenty of people seemed to be just hanging out while the rest of their party skied. Maybe next year, because oh-my-gosh, the food!!! It was evident from the table settings when BP and I set our stuff down, that to some people it wasn't just an evening of skiing and eating, but a full-blown EVENT. This is the fifth year the nature center has done this, so I'm sure repeat attenders have honed their dining technique; along with plastic bowls and plates like ours, there was china and crystal, and bottles of wine in wicker baskets Martha Stewart-style.
The lodge provided five kinds of soup: tomato tortellini, chicken and bean, squash, minestrone, and the one I tried - to-die-for creamed potato and sausage. Huge banquet tables were spread with the food everyone else brought. Scalloped potatoes, breads, veggies and dip, pasta salads, rice dishes, and everything else you could imagine. And the desserts! Good thing we skied before we ate!
The skiing was beautiful...just like the woman said on the phone it'd be. I'd called prior to leaving the house, because it was still quite windy by us. The nature center is fifteen miles south, though, and with the way the shoreline affects the weather, it could be a blizzard in one area, and calm less than a mile away. It was very calm out in the nature center's woods. The trails were groomed, the torches lit, bonfire blazing with hot cider served around it, and BP thoroughly enjoyed every moment. I did too.
She said to me on the drive home, "Mom, ice-skating and snow-shoeing are fun, but skiing takes me away."
"What do you mean, BP?"
"It takes me to different places in my mind."
Yes!!! She gets it!
|
|
|
|
Post by stepper on Jan 16, 2011 15:33:06 GMT -6
Sounds like a great evening - but I have to admit all the food is much more of an attraction than the cold snow. Although I like camping and the thought of a bonfire and hot cider might get me out for a while. I wonder if Hubs is aware of your mother-daughter plan and elected to stay home with that in mind - what a nice gesture!
Precisely why I ride the motorcycle - a year round activity here. And it involves none of the cold wet repeatedly falling on your @ss and getting snow in unmentionable places stuff.
|
|
|
|
Post by Phalon on Jan 16, 2011 21:20:33 GMT -6
It would have been, and nothing against Hubs, but I'm sure it was more of an "it involved none of the cold wet repeatedly falling on his @ss and getting snow in unmentionable places stuff"...even if that falling on his @ss was just on the way from the car to the lodge. Oh, that, and football playoffs were on.
|
|
|
|
Post by Phalon on Jan 18, 2011 6:45:30 GMT -6
Thank goodness for texting. I never thought I'd say that; LX has only had her new phone for a few months, and in that short period of time, has become a texting queen. This morning though, it saved a lot of headaches when the messages started rolling in a little after 6am.
School's been canceled. We did not receive the phone call; it seems the ice storm took down the instant alert system. The only way LX's friends knew there was no school was that they received calls from their bus drivers...LX doesn't take the bus. With the temperature above freezing now, I assumed the roads were okay, and never would have thought to check the old-fashioned way by watching the school closings run across the bottom of the television screen.
I can only imagine the look on her face as she walked in the door...after walking home from school once she found it was closed. <shudder> It's not a pleasant thought.
Hope Siren's well. Last heard, she was getting over that bout of food poisoning a couple of weeks ago.
|
|
|
|
Post by Siren on Jan 18, 2011 20:37:59 GMT -6
Hi, y'all! Feels good to log in again. I've had major computer problems that have just now been fixed. Maybe I gave my 'puter my New Years Eve bug.  Boy, that stuff was wretched! Have not been so sick since I had my appendix out a few years ago. But all is now pretty much well, though I can't even bear the thought of some formerly favorite foods. *shudder* I've been thinking about you, Gams, while hearing about the wintry weather up your way. Sounds like you and your bunch found some fun. Good for you! May your trails be perfectly groomed, your plates full, and your *sses snow-free! And may the girls have just enough snow days away from school that you ALL keep your senses. ;D They're predicting wintry weather for us on Thursday. If it was just snow, I would enjoy it. But they say it will probably be *cue ominous music* winter mix. Eeeewwwwwww! |
|
|
|
Post by Phalon on Jan 19, 2011 5:57:50 GMT -6
Siren! A big "glad you and your computer are feeling better" hug!
One day is enough! Add that to them having Monday off school for Martin Luther King, Jr. Day, and it's more than enough!! Do you know how much five teenage girls can eat? I had no idea. Sheesh, and I thought The Boyfriend ate a lot (Sunday was their 3-month anniversary, btw. Eye-roll). I went grocery shopping Monday afternoon, and I swear, there's barely anything left!
There's going to be a cover charge at the door if this keeps up.
Hope you get your "just snow". Hubs was just saying the other night, he rather deal with 10 inches of snow than just a fraction of an inch of ice. Snow might be a pain-in-the-@ss to drive in, but it's impossible to drive on ice.
|
|
|
|
Post by Siren on Jan 20, 2011 14:22:04 GMT -6
"There's going to be a cover charge at the door if this keeps up." - Lol! Good idea! Three months is no small feat, Gams. That's longer than most marriages last these days.  Yes, I do marvel at how much teenage girls can eat. My niece, Rachel, is 15 and lanky. About 5'10", with just enough muscle, and hardly any fat. Oh, how I'd love to have her metabolism! She eats and eats, and gains no unhealthy weight. My dad and I will sometimes kick each other under the dinner table, grinning at Rachel reaching for seconds and thirds. We never let her know that we're watching. She is a bit timid anyway, and the last thing I would want to do is make her self-conscious about eating. But I do silently marvel at how she does it. Well, we did get a bit of winter mix - just enough ice to glaze everything just a little. Then, it snowed a bit - not enough to totally cover the grass. So all in all, we got lucky. I hate ice storms! But the snow makes me cheerful. I love it! It inspires me to conjure up cozy comfort food. On the menu tonight - ham and scalloped potatoes. Oooooooo! |
|
|
|
Post by Mini Mia on Jan 20, 2011 18:16:29 GMT -6
It's been snowing here all day. I had to shovel the front and back porch. I didn't do that last time and the back porch took forever to melt. The back of the house faces north, and stays mostly in shadow, so it has to get really warm for ice/snow to melt back there.
|
|
|
|
Post by stepper on Jan 20, 2011 20:34:10 GMT -6
No snow here - but our high today happened shortly after dawn. It's been getting slowly colder all day. About noon the wind started blowing and it felt like it was getting seriously cold out. I hear we're in for another freeze over the weekend. Yuck!
|
|
|
|
Post by Phalon on Jan 21, 2011 8:08:52 GMT -6
I know! How the heck do they do that?!
That's the front of our house, Joxie - it faces north, and is shaded by two large maple that, even in winter, cast enough of a shadow so the snow rarely melts. We keep our front walk and sidewalk clear....apparently not many people do, because the mail-lady left a very nice note yesterday, thanking us for keeping the walk and steps clear of snow and ice. Here in town, mail delivery is a walking route, and everyone's mailboxes are up on the house. All that 'not wind, sleet, rain, or snow will stop the mail from getting through' stuff gets pretty dicey sometimes on a foot route. It's been so icy lately, the mail carrier (a guy this time; I don't even know the mail carriers anymore, they switch so much), showed me his latest gear the other day - shoes with one inch steel spikes on them!
I'd like to recant my "one snow day" is enough statement. The school administration obviously feels differently. They screwed up the other day, canceling school for icy roads instead of calling for a two hour delay; actually with the above freezing temperature, the roads were pretty much fine by the time school started. Today though....it is just obnoxious out there, horrible, horrible, horrible. Not much accumulated snow overnight....only because it's blowing perfectly horizontal to the ground; blowing so hard and fast it'll probably end up in a poppy field in Oz. It's in the teens, but well below zero with the wind-chill. It's supposed to continue this way throughout the day and into tomorrow.
Stay inside weather for sure....meaning I wish I didn't have to walk two blocks and stand outside with BP, waiting for the school bus. Yep, definitely shoulda canceled school today!
|
|
|
|
Post by stepper on Jan 22, 2011 22:29:44 GMT -6
I'd HATE living in a tent in that kind of weather - no matter what the accomodations. Why'd I say that? Remember our conversation earlier this year about the box? What would you pack and where would you live? This is why NOT to chose the northern tier for winder months.
|
|
|
|
Post by Phalon on Jan 22, 2011 22:45:16 GMT -6
Yes, but by this time we'd not be living in tents; we'd have cabins with fireplaces and hot chocolate. Sorry, no marshmallows.
The weather did screw with my plans this evening. The nature center was having their second night ski of the year (they only have two; last week's Gourmet Glide, and this one without food). Longer ski, and my Wild Woman friend and I had planned on going and were looking forward to it. I called her up this afternoon to see if she still wanted to go.
"Are you crazy?!" Depends on who you talk to. "Do you know how cold it is?!" She'd spent the day shoveling, and providing her farm animals with extra bedding; I spent the day inside, all warm and toasty. But yes, I knew how cold it was....because I looked at the thermometer (eye-roll).
Apparently, I am not that crazy, and she is not that wild. We rescheduled our no-so-wild-and-crazy ski for daytime hours in a couple of weeks.
|
|
|
|
Post by stepper on Jan 22, 2011 22:51:14 GMT -6
You made a good choice. You would have been miserable. SIL gave me a Weather Channel thermometer for Christmas. It does the temp inside, but also has a wireless outside unit. All you do is keep it out of direct sunlight and rain/snow. It's a nice little set up with both temps displayed on a small unit which also has a barometer and give an indication of coming weather. It's pretty cool! You might want to get one too. It even keeps track of highs and lows.
|
|
|
|
Post by Phalon on Jan 22, 2011 23:00:10 GMT -6
I know...still just a bit bummed though.
We've got a basic version - it just displays the indoor/outdoor temperatures, although it has a tiny little wire that runs to the outside.
|
|
|
|
Post by stepper on Jan 22, 2011 23:12:54 GMT -6
I'm sure it (the thermometer) comes in handy. This one is a nice, set it anywhere convenient, display. I've already decided that among other things, my relatives are getting one this coming Christmas. I'll be shopping before the month is out. I was given a few Wal-Mart gift cards and since I know what to use them on - I figure I might as well get started.
|
|
|
|
Post by Phalon on Jan 22, 2011 23:15:58 GMT -6
Sheesh, that is certainly an early start!
Where does one get those nice, set it anywhere, thermometer/barometer display thingies? It actually sounds like a pretty good Man Cave gift for Hubs on Valentine's Day.
|
|
|
|
Post by Phalon on Jan 22, 2011 23:17:23 GMT -6
Oh, wait. Never-mind my question. Wal-mart? Eerrrr! Maybe I'll have to pass.
|
|
|
|
Post by stepper on Jan 22, 2011 23:38:54 GMT -6
I'm not so sure - it'd take a bit of concentrated effort to erect even a small cabin with a fireplace. If enough people went it "might" be possible, but realistically you'd need a couple seasons to get a decent one built. And you have to hunt food when you aren't building the cabin. It'd be a really difficult life - starting from scratch - even taking modern conveniences with you.
|
|
|
|
Post by stepper on Jan 22, 2011 23:42:22 GMT -6
Go to one of the primal man cave stores. Lowe’s or Home Depot – I understand they both have them. Look for the Weather Channel logo. They have three or four models – the one I got was $25 but they have one that’s $30 and has an extra feature. I forget what it was, but might get that one for the family instead of the one I got.
|
|
|
|
Post by Phalon on Jan 22, 2011 23:55:42 GMT -6
You are way too serious, my friend. Here, sit by the fireplace, and have some hot chocolate. I'll even spring for a handful of those itty-bitty marshmallows.....just keep them over there, where I can't see them.
Neither of them are here in town, but I think I know just the place. Similar, but regional...Hubs loves that store. Thanks for the idea!
|
|
|
|
Post by stepper on Jan 23, 2011 0:13:11 GMT -6
I know - I apologize - sort of like the ICANHAZCHEESEBURGER picture of the unhappy cat - the accompanying logo was "Error 404 - Humor not found". I'd really go for the the fireplace though.
And you're quite welcome for the idea. Hope the store you're thinking of has one. If not, there's plenty of time to track one down.
|
|
|
|
Post by Phalon on Jan 24, 2011 6:41:26 GMT -6
I'm rethinking my idea to get Hubs one of those nice, set it anywhere, thermometer/barometer display thingies.
When I got up yesterday, our simple indoor/outdoor thermometer read an outside temperature of 0.9 degrees. Not 9 degrees...zero point nine degrees, and I'm thinking who the hell wants to know something like that?!
It was a beautiful day though, from the inside looking out. Lots of sun and snow made it all sparkly. It warmed up a bit, but still too cold to want to be out amidst the sparkles.
|
|
|
|
Post by stepper on Jan 25, 2011 19:16:36 GMT -6
That you get, or don't get, something for hubs is entirely up to you. But let me point out that 0.9 degrees is news you want before you go out. Before you get dressed. Before you decide to get out of bed even. On the other hand, since you get up so early anyway, I suppose he could just ask you. Or do you give up the coffee on the porch when it's a bit chill out side? I'm sure your blackbirds miss you when you don't visit.
|
|
|
|
Post by Siren on Jan 25, 2011 23:34:59 GMT -6
My dad has one of those barometer/thermometer things by his easy chair. Loves it.
Step, I'd rather not know the exact temperature it is, when I have to be out in the cold, frosty morning anyway. It's more demoralizing when you KNOW it's under 20 degrees.
|
|
|
|
Post by katina2nd on Jan 26, 2011 0:38:20 GMT -6
Middle of summer here, years of drought in many places around the country but right now it's water, water everywhere.
Queensland is just starting the recovery after their devastating floods and now almost a third of Victoria is under water as regional Victoria records its wettest month since records began.
Beautiful weather here which makes it harder to imagine what they're going through in many parts of the state.
|
|
Boy, that stuff was wretched! Have not been so sick since I had my appendix out a few years ago. But all is now pretty much well, though I can't even bear the thought of some formerly favorite foods. *shudder*
