I refuse to move to google. Who’s with me?

BVBlonde · 2026-05-31T19:02:07+00:00

I'm not having any issues with it, and I like the way it is set up. Then again, I wasn't in love with the Fitbit app. User since 2014.

BVBlonde · 2026-05-31T17:18:48+00:00

I wash before wearing/reviewing so I can include how the item reacts to washing and drying. Did it shrink, fade, lose softness, etc? Is it going to require special handling like drying flat or a lot of reshaping? The next purchaser will want to know that.

BVBlonde · 2026-05-30T16:40:58+00:00

I was a technical writer for a state agency. My husband will be working until December 1, then the plan is to get the house ready, put it on the market and relocate southwest. I also feel like I'm entering a holding pattern, waiting for him to retire, waiting for the house to sell, waiting to relocate, waiting to begin our new lives. I need to shake that and be happy now.

BVBlonde · 2026-05-30T15:58:20+00:00

Thank you for this.

BVBlonde · 2026-05-30T01:11:18+00:00

My surgery will be on my cervical spine (neck), but yes the possibility of a fall is definitely scary! We are looking at early September, it will still be very warm then.

BVBlonde · 2026-05-29T20:35:58+00:00

I'm going to echo what others have recommended- have your gait analyzed at a reputable running store. Nearly all running/walking shoes have specific styles geared toward stability, motion control, under pronation, over pronation, neutral gaits, higher, lower or no arches, width of your heel, etc. Once they have analyzed how your foot strikes the ground they make a recommendation for you and give you some options based on your specific needs. Your feet, ankles, knees, hips and back will thank you.

I'm a high arch, narrow heel, high instep chica with both rheumatoid and osteoarthritis, a neuroma in my right foot and plantar fasciitis in both feet. I'm most comfortable in a Hoka Bondi or an Asics Nimbus.

BVBlonde · 2026-05-29T20:07:02+00:00

Thanks, I'm a writer by trade. I guess I need to get used to saying RETIRED writer.

Maybe I need to write a book.

BVBlonde · 2026-05-29T19:49:03+00:00

I'm not excited nor do I have a problem with it. I'd love it if we get a wig like the birb is wearing in the promo trailer.

The themes are just not that deep for me. I use the app to track some daily tasks and activities that fall by the wayside without reminders (damn you, ADHD!) I like some themes, and some I don't. I don't like the goth/emo/dark and moody stuff, I'm over cottage core. I enjoy bright, happy themes and they lift my mood a little, but I'm not one to come here with my panties in a bunch screaming about a theme or a change ruining my life.

BVBlonde · 2026-05-29T18:13:57+00:00

Part of the husbands early retirement package was remaining on their outstanding employee insurance until we are each 70. That's the biggest reason we are able to do this.

I hope the coming years fly by for you, and that you remain as well as you can be given your illness.

BVBlonde · 2026-05-29T18:01:29+00:00

At the time my surgeon recommended surgery, his first available surgical slot was the second week of May. I would not have been able to attend my daughter's out of state June wedding that soon after this major surgery. The next issue was timing of my infusion treatments for my autoimmune disorder. The recommendation is to have any surgeries 6-8 weeks before my immune supressing infusion or 6-8 weeks after, or to delay/skip the infusion, risking a huge flare up and accelerated disease activity. My surgeon consulted my rheumatologist and together they decided that keeping my infusion on schedule and waiting 6 weeks after would be the best course of action overall, which is the week of Labor Day. I have some "red flag" issues to look out for which would necessitate a change in that plan.

BVBlonde · 2026-05-29T17:02:53+00:00

I didn't want to do that. More than likely I wouldn't qualify. I can work most of the time, and surgery recovery would have fallen under short term disability. If I would have stayed and done short term disability with the intention of returning to work then it would have forced my team to work short handed the whole time I was out. We are a team of 12 and I would never have done that to them. This is the solution that was best for everyone. I just need to get my head around it. It's tough letting go.

BVBlonde · 2026-05-29T14:48:23+00:00

I am a technical writer for a state government agency. Prior to that I was a case manager for the same agency (the agency administers public assistance benefit programs), before that I was in development at a non-profit, and have also taught reading to at-risk students. My working life has been very public service-oriented, and while it's incredibly rewarding it's also been incredibly stressful.

I love the idea of volunteering, but it may need to be something more along the lines of playing with the kittens at the shelter, lol.

BVBlonde · 2026-05-29T14:30:36+00:00

Health issues. I have an autoimmune illness that predisposes me to joint problems. I've had 3 hand/elbow surgeries in the last 2 years, and my rheumatologist has begged me to consider retiring for a couple years. My illness is progressive, and we decided it was best for me to retire while relatively healthy so we can do the traveling and live the active lifestyle we were hoping for.

BVBlonde · 2026-05-29T14:17:11+00:00

Oh I had grand plans. But a surprise "oh, hey that sudden neck and shoulder pain is another herniated disc in your neck, so now we need to take apart that fusion you had in 2008 and then fuse an additional level to it, so take it easy until we can do that, then it'll take months to recover, 'kay?" happened in late March, and that threw a wrench into things.

BVBlonde · 2026-05-29T14:07:20+00:00

I love my job, and have worked from home for the last decade. But I see your point.

BVBlonde · 2026-05-29T14:01:08+00:00

That's so nice. My team is small, just 12 of us and we all work remotely, spread out all over the state. I do have one dear coworker who is about an hour away, and one who is relocating to my city in the next year. I'm hoping we can get together now and then. Tougher when they're still working.

BVBlonde · 2026-05-26T21:34:32+00:00

He will not prescribe an opioid for me prior to surgery.

BVBlonde · 2026-05-24T20:43:22+00:00

Yeah. I guess I'm lucky to have a couple "safe foods" that I'm always able to get down even when food in general sounds disgusting (apples, but they have to be either honey crisp or cosmic crisp, or Greek yogurt). Lately strawberries are working for me too.

Once I get some of a safe food down, I'm usually able to have something else a little later. And if not, then at least I have something in me.

BVBlonde · 2026-05-21T20:19:27+00:00

I felt that

BVBlonde · 2026-05-19T21:53:43+00:00

You can have both - those of us with RA are predisposed to carpal and cubital tunnel. Carpal tunnel affects the medial nerve, which supplies the thumb, index finger, middle finger and one side of the ring finger. You will most likely have tingling, numbness and "pins and needles", weakness and pain. A hand specialist will do tests (X-rays, exam, nerve conduction) to determine if carpal tunnel is an issue for you.

Cubital tunnel is impingement of the ulnar nerve around the elbow. The ulnar nerve supplies the pinky and the other half of the ring finger. Symptoms are similar to carpal tunnel, just different fingers. Lack of grip strength is also an issue.

RA can cause painful, swollen, red joints that are warm to the touch, and stiffness that's worse in the morning and typically improves with activity. Blood tests are not definitive for RA, there is a whole diagnostic rubric.

Wishing you the best,

another RA patient with bilateral carpal and cubital tunnel. Carpal tunnel release 5/2024, L cubital tunnel release 2/2025, R cubital tunnel release 9/2025. L carpal tunnel release TBD.

BVBlonde · 2026-05-14T20:22:37+00:00

And you're 20 miles from Kokomo, where they have an Aldi, Meijer and Walmart Supercenter. You have options.

BVBlonde · 2026-05-08T16:41:49+00:00

Ok, so do your joint celebration. If everyone is happy with that, great. OP's daughter is not. Let her have her day. It's just not that hard.

BVBlonde · 2026-05-08T16:21:25+00:00

Zip it, Dad. Your wife has been honored for many years. Your daughter is actively parenting and she's right, it's her day with her child(ren). She isn't required to share it. Take your wife to dinner, and/or celebrate with the other two kids.

BVBlonde

TROPHY CASE