Older Folks and Vaping Back Porch - Part Three

[seapeach]

my bike

Pretty. Looks like new.

 

[MattB101]

Another major job prior to the move completed today. We had a10 X 12 metal shed in the backyard that had seen better days. Found a young man who was hungry for work and he and two of his friends tore it down and hauled all the old junk in it away. Floor and all gone. Another major load off my mind cause I had no way of doing it.

 

[lulu836]

Not a fungus. I'm thinking grub worms too

In Louisiana it is called "dollar spot". Sprinkle Tide powder detergent on the spot and about 3 inches outside the spot, sprinkle lightly with water and it will go away..

 

[yiddleboge6]

Hi!!!!....so sorry to be absent......got lost in DIY for way too many hours.....having some major computer issues.....trying to get things fixed...

 

[Semiretired]

Hi!!!!....so sorry to be absent......got lost in DIY for way too many hours.....having some major computer issues.....trying to get things fixed...

Hope you get that computer worked out, but the DIY part sounds fun...

 

[Sterno]

hey semi got chat going

 

[MattB101]

Whats up with the hangout, Scott and I are all alone.

 

[seapeach]

Whats up with the hangout, Scott and I are all alone.

I'm doing the writer thing. Been in my PJs all day. Need a shower.

On a more pleasant note. I made some DIY apple pie today after getting my nicotine bottled. The recipe called for graham cracker. Not bad at all, but I should have listened to my gut and skipped the extra graham cracker as it had cheesecake in it also. Slightly too much graham cracker. It has apple pie, granny smith apple (double apple!) brown sugar and cinnamon. I guess the creator really likes graham cracker flavor.

 

[clnire]

Another major job prior to the move completed today. We had a10 X 12 metal shed in the backyard that had seen better days. Found a young man who was hungry for work and he and two of his friends tore it down and hauled all the old junk in it away. Floor and all gone. Another major load off my mind cause I had no way of doing it.

I know you were concerned about this shed situation, glad it is resolved!

Quick update on my insect bites. Got home today and googled Lyme disease. I have come to the conclusion these are tick bites. I know there were reports of ticks at the National Specialty, and I think one got me. Explains 2 bites - one small where it tasted and did not like the spot, then the big bruiser that swelled so bad, hard as a rock, and redness that covered the side of my torso. Although I did not see the tick, perhaps I knocked it off somehow or it just got it's fill of me and fell off by itself. Also explains why it took a few days to react. A spider or such would have caused an immediate reaction, this took about 3 days to really take off.

I can report I am on doxycycline, the recommended antibiotic for Lyme. And that I caught it pretty quickly. So I expect a complete recovery. The big bite is still slightly swollen and hard and very discolored, but no more itch and with time I am sure I will be fine. Saw my nurse friend today and she concurred on all these reported aspects of my condition.

Good news, I think I have decided which puppy will be mine. Both boys have such good aspects it is a hard decision. But I am pretty sure I know who he will be and will be introducing him when he comes home next week. Sometimes I think Tasha is lonely, so I think she will be pleased with the little whipper snapper! OMG, a puppy! Very excited, but scarey at the same time! I love training my dogs, and a new clean slate will be so much fun! Lots of work, but lots of fun!

 

[seapeach]

Oh

I know you were concerned about this shed situation, glad it is resolved!

Quick update on my insect bites. Got home today and googled Lyme disease. I have come to the conclusion these are tick bites. I know there were reports of ticks at the National Specialty, and I think one got me. Explains 2 bites - one small where it tasted and did not like the spot, then the big bruiser that swelled so bad, hard as a rock, and redness that covered the side of my torso. Although I did not see the tick, perhaps I knocked it off somehow or it just got it's fill of me and fell off by itself. Also explains why it took a few days to react. A spider or such would have caused an immediate reaction, this took about 3 days to really take off.

I can report I am on doxycycline, the recommended antibiotic for Lyme. And that I caught it pretty quickly. So I expect a complete recovery. The big bite is still slightly swollen and hard and very discolored, but no more itch and with time I am sure I will be fine. Saw my nurse friend today and she concurred on all these reported aspects of my condition.

Good news, I think I have decided which puppy will be mine. Both boys have such good aspects it is a hard decision. But I am pretty sure I know who he will be and will be introducing him when he comes home next week. Sometimes I think Tasha is lonely, so I think she will be pleased with the little whipper snapper! OMG, a puppy! Very excited, but scarey at the same time! I love training my dogs, and a new clean slate will be so much fun! Lots of work, but lots of fun!

Oh wow! Anew baby. Can't wait for pics.

Glad to know your bite is not getting worse. Venom reaction on a spider or tick bite is bad, but infection can be worse. I hope it's not lyme. That can have lingering effects.

 

[FranC]

Evening,folks

 

[3mg Meniere]

Quick update on my insect bites. Got home today and googled Lyme disease. I have come to the conclusion these are tick bites. I know there were reports of ticks at the National Specialty, and I think one got me......I can report I am on doxycycline, the recommended antibiotic for Lyme. And that I caught it pretty quickly......I love training my dogs, and a new clean slate will be so much fun! Lots of work, but lots of fun!

I Googled Lyme as soon as you started posting on the bites. But you didn't report inflammation moving outward from the center area, with the center area looking ok, so I discarded the thought. Glad for you and your new puppy. Will keep you busy between road-trips. Will you take him with you on the road?

 

[Iffy]

Quick update on my insect bites. Got home today and googled Lyme disease.

Sure hope it's not Lyme (nasty possible outcomes)! So glad to hear you're improving!

Good news... OMG, a puppy! Very excited, but scarey at the same time! I love training my dogs, and a new clean slate will be so much fun! Lots of work, but lots of fun!

I'm tickled pink fer ya and green with envy!!!

Any chance of meetin' up in Tampa?

 

[clnire]

I Googled Lyme as soon as you started posting on the bites. But you didn't report inflammation moving outward from the center area, with the center area looking ok, so I discarded the thought. Glad for you and your new puppy. Will keep you busy between road-trips. Will you take him with you on the road?

I saw some pictures of redness without a ring. When it happened I was going to take a picture but decided not to. Now I wish I had. Hopefully catching it early I won't have lingering effects.

Yes! Our dogs go everywhere with us. His first weekend with us will be at a dog show in Tampa! But he will have a few days at home first. Both Spock and Tasha's first nights with us were in motels.

 

[Janet H]

I'm only 3781 words into this new novel, but it feels like a million. Neurotransmitters are firing that I didn't even know I had. Already took my meds. Bedtime meds will take the edge off and let me sleep. retiring early. (for me)

Update on the facial stinging and redness. My 65/35 pg:vg @ 16 nic is working well to satisfy cravings. I always smoked lights...maybe that's all I need. Copious amounts of coconut oil have my skin free from irritation and silky smooth. I'm thinking tomorrow a twice daily application might be enough. No antihistamines required. No other signs of nic tox or allergy.

Had a nice discussion with a local vape shop owner on FB. He was spamming my feed. I almost unliked his page, but decided to take a different approach and had an intelligent conversation about marketing techniques and current medical profession concerns and political agendas instead. Shared some articles. It was pleasant. Made a friend.

Nighty-Night. Going to bed before I fall asleep right here.

Glad to hear you got the face problem cleared up. I was wondering if it was just a reaction to not taking so many chemicals into your body from smoking. Just cutting out most of the cigarettes could do it. Glad that it didn't hang around too long.

How smart of you to have a productive discussion with the vape shop owner. Unfortunately some of them don't have a very good attitude and think they know all the answers. It's a shame because they could be so valuable to lead the way for so many and have a positive impact on the vaping industry and laws.

 

[MikeE3]

I just put a big post up on the front porch. Thought I'd post it here too as some folks don't hang on the front porch. It's a long read, sorry for being windy.

Ok here I go. Someone recommended a mutual friend contact me about struggling to stop smoking even though they've been vaping for some time already. After I replied to their "Conversation" I thought I'd share it here too, in case it helps anyone else 'on' or 'coming' to the porch. So, it's a little long, but here's,

My story getting over the last few smokes a day.

oh my, oh my ... my friends my have oversold me. Ok - I was smoking heavily at the end of my 45 years of smoking - like almost 3 packs a day. I was also still under a lot of anxiety and stress not only from my daughters situation (lost her husband after just being married 3 weeks) and losing my job (that I had for 40 years w/ the same company). That's my brief background leading up to starting with vaping.

Janet quit smokes from day 1. Me, I thought this could work, but I'm going to have to work at it. I did have a mental set that I wanted to quit. Had mentioned it many times over the years to Janet - but she just never was ready to give it a try. So, I'm thinking - it worked for her. It can work for me.

I set my mind to not stress over quiting entirely or set a date / time limit on giving up the smokes. I was telling myself you smoked for 40 years - you ain't gonna quit cold turkey. Just start working w/ this e-cig thing to form a new habit. For the 1st couple months, I was probably smoking 1/2 pack a cigs a day. For me that was great - considering I was basically a chain smoker. And between smokes I was chain vaping (still do whenever I'm sitting down not doing anything - I'm an anxiety machine - my nerves are always on edge over something & and if there's nothing I make something up to be anxious about)

Then I read some study that said a minority of smokers are more addicted to the minor alkaloids in tobacco smoke then the nicotine itself. This was the time frame I 1st heard of WTA. It made sense to me, that I'm likely in that minority. No matter how much I vaped (18 mg nic) I just couldn't get near that satisfying feeling from having a smoke.

Enter WTA. We ran across a vendor right here in PA, that was great. He was one of the 1st to get into producing WTA juice. (He's no longer in business). He was great to talk with and we talked a number of times on the phone. His juice was expensive compared to just nic but we got some. It still didn't satisfy me like a cigarette but it was closer. I used WTA juice exclusively for at least a year. Even though it was costly it was less than a 3 PPD cig habit. Janet used it too - but only occasionally throughout the day.

So once I started vaping just WTA I was able get down to 4 or 5 smokes a day. Had to have 1 or 2 in the morning and after meals and before bed. This was well into the 3rd month. I was still was telling myself - don't hurry it - don't set a dead line. Be happy you're only smoking 4-5 cigs a day instead of close to 60. It was a major win in my mind, even though I was still smoking. Then I started working on not having a smoke for 30-60 minutes after waking and eating. Do this for a couple few weeks to break the habit part of grabbing a smoke. I was able to get by with 3 smokes a day - mid morning - mid after noon and mid evening.

So that pattern was going on for a few more weeks at 3 smokes per day. Still wasn't setting an end date - just getting by. OK some days was 3+, but basically I was at 3 a day. Then one day I realized it was going onto supper time and I didn't have a smoke yet - hmmm? Yikes! What's going on. T

That was the day it clicked - you can be smoke free tomorrow if you want. And I was - it was my son's birthday and that evening at his birthday dinner I said to him. "I haven't had a cigarette all day". I do believe I'm done with them. He said "Pop that's the best birthday present you could give me"

Honestly his reply was the encouragement to keep going forward smoke free. It's 3 1/2 years since then and I'm so happy to be smoke free.

If I can give any advice - make a commitment to be smoke free - stick with it - don't stress yourself to stop tomorrow. With commitment we can all do it at our own pace. It's often said - its the ones you don't smoke that count and that's the truth. Don't stress if you still smoke - be happy you smoke less.

 

[Janet H]

Went out to get the paper and noticed several patches, almost circles, of dead or dying grass in the front lawn (weed patch). Another thing I'm going to have to figure out and fix! Any ideas would definately be helpful. Something is killing it from below it appears. Maybe I will take a pic and post it so some of our gardening experts can suggest something. Of course I probably could take the pic down to the local garden center for advice but, too lazy for that and besides, I would rather take advice from friends rather than some stranger.

Grubs! Probably those darn Japanese beetle grubs! Of course it would help if you have skunks because they like to scratch them up for dinner...

 

[Rotowoman]

In Louisiana it is called "dollar spot". Sprinkle Tide powder detergent on the spot and about 3 inches outside the spot, sprinkle lightly with water and it will go away..

In my yard, it's called, give it a minute, it will grow right back.

 

[Janet H]

i just bought me some funnels to do this with

Just be careful with the funnels. You have to leave room for the air to escape as you displace it with your nic. It's tempting to just sit the funnel in the bottle, but you'll suddenly have overflow! I've done that a few times. It's helps not to rest the funnel on the bottle top, just hold it up a bit to let the air in the bottle out.

 

[Janet H]

I know you were concerned about this shed situation, glad it is resolved!

Quick update on my insect bites. Got home today and googled Lyme disease. I have come to the conclusion these are tick bites. I know there were reports of ticks at the National Specialty, and I think one got me. Explains 2 bites - one small where it tasted and did not like the spot, then the big bruiser that swelled so bad, hard as a rock, and redness that covered the side of my torso. Although I did not see the tick, perhaps I knocked it off somehow or it just got it's fill of me and fell off by itself. Also explains why it took a few days to react. A spider or such would have caused an immediate reaction, this took about 3 days to really take off.

I can report I am on doxycycline, the recommended antibiotic for Lyme. And that I caught it pretty quickly. So I expect a complete recovery. The big bite is still slightly swollen and hard and very discolored, but no more itch and with time I am sure I will be fine. Saw my nurse friend today and she concurred on all these reported aspects of my condition.

Good news, I think I have decided which puppy will be mine. Both boys have such good aspects it is a hard decision. But I am pretty sure I know who he will be and will be introducing him when he comes home next week. Sometimes I think Tasha is lonely, so I think she will be pleased with the little whipper snapper! OMG, a puppy! Very excited, but scarey at the same time! I love training my dogs, and a new clean slate will be so much fun! Lots of work, but lots of fun!

Eeew! Glad you got on the doxy quickly. Lyme can be pretty nasty if left untreated. I had it last year, but only knew about it by the 3 bulls eye circles on my hip. Initially thought I was having an altitude reaction since we were visiting in Denver, but the fever came one night and that's not altitude sickness. Kept our chiropractor appt the day after we returned home and she was the one who told me it was probably Lyme. Evidently it's rampant in our area. Saw my doc pronto and got on the doxy for a month and that took care of it. Strange thing though. 4 months later I went to make my usual Red Cross blood donation and I got a false positive for Hep C. Tested negative twice for it, but can't give blood anymore. Doc says it's possible the Lyme threw off the test. Not sure.

Oh, congrats on the new puppy! You know we have to have pictures when you get him!!!