Food, weather, and other completely mundane, trivial, meaningless topics

[widower2]

ah OK it's not really a pizza....I pictured a regular pizza with Nutella on it 

[WithoutHer]

I've had terrible times with my ability to taste and haven't enjoyed a real meal in a long time however All this pizza and toppings talk! All I can say for myself, I do prefer thin crust but will eat deep pan also. HOWEVER it's a golden rule for me and I'll shout it. IF THERE'S NO PEPPERONI IT'S NOT PIZZA!!! 🙈🙉🙊

[widower2]

ha! I like pepperoni, but in my old age they don't like me, so I avoid   Between that and general health considerations....I see these TV ads for pizza with pepperoni and all that glistening grease and go "ugh".........yeah, I'm old. sigh 

[WithoutHer]

15 minutes ago, widower2 said:

ha! I like pepperoni, but in my old age they don't like me, so I avoid   Between that and general health considerations....I see these TV ads for pizza with pepperoni and all that glistening grease and go "ugh".........yeah, I'm old. sigh 

Well I'm 70 and have my far share of health issues including diabetes but fortunately my gut has never been part of them so luckily I can ingest almost anything. I just wish things would taste the way I remember them. I force every calorie I get. Kay would be applaud at where I get most of my calories. But I've always had a high metabolism and need every calorie I can get to keep from dwindling away. 

[widower2]

9 minutes ago, WithoutHer said:

Well I'm 70 and have my far share of health issues including diabetes but fortunately my gut has never been part of them so luckily I can ingest almost anything.

Sure rub it in! 

[WithoutHer]

13 minutes ago, widower2 said:

Sure rub it in! 

Well I didn't really mean to. Whether some foods bother you or not be thankful you can correctly taste them. In all seriousness though eating has become an unenjoyable chore for me. I used to love so many foods especially pigging out on heavily spiced crabs, shrimp along with corn on the cob. Now once most hit my pallet it's just "No can't do it". The taste and texture are all just wrong. 

[KayC]

8 hours ago, Roxeanne said:

Yes Sparky...but it's like a cake for children and greedy...try it!😂

 

Okay, that's not a pizza like any I have tried!  Turning a pizza into a dessert is news here!  

7 hours ago, widower2 said:

ah OK it's not really a pizza....I pictured a regular pizza with Nutella on it 

Me too!

[shawnt]

Oh no...... How am I gonna find one of those!!!!!

[Boggled]

4 hours ago, WithoutHer said:

In all seriousness though eating has become an unenjoyable chore for me. I used to love so many foods especially pigging out on heavily spiced crabs, shrimp along with corn on the cob. Now once most hit my pallet it's just "No can't do it". The taste and texture are all just wrong. 

WithoutHer, next time some doc sends one of those mail-in "poop" checkers, DO IT.   (my opinion) Czech out your LIVER.   Liver cancer!  silent killer!  Dunno you've got it till there's nothing they can do!  

As per my generation, health advice stuff, have you tried probiotics?  My MIL says she started taking "Align probiotics" and her stomach has gone flat!  

and oh yeah, pepperoni is really delicious and seems to be one of the things that make the flavor of pizza into pizza!  Unfortunately I bought pepperoni, but it's lost in the depths of the freezer somewhere ...

 

[Roxeanne]

19 minutes ago, Boggled said:

pepperoni is really delicious

I thought that is a pizza with peperoni (peppers)

Instead is pizza with a kind of spicy salami which doesn't exist in Italy😂😂😂

[Sparky1]

12 hours ago, Roxeanne said:

Yes Sparky...but it's like a cake for children and greedy...try it!😂

 

When I was a kid, I used to eat Nutella out of the jar with a spoon. Now I don't even like to look at it 😂 For sure kids will love most sweet things. Have you seen how expensive Nutella has become lately? Well yes, most food prices have become crazy too. I'm more of a savoury person, I like salty foods better than sweets.

[Sparky1]

7 minutes ago, Roxeanne said:

I thought that is a pizza with peperoni (peppers)

Instead is pizza with a kind of spicy salami which doesn't exist in Italy😂😂😂

Yes in Italy there is no such thing as pepperoni, they use 'salame' . Una pizza con salame e formaggio..... basically what a pizza with ham and cheese would be. 😂

[Boggled]

15 minutes ago, Roxeanne said:

Instead is pizza with a kind of spicy salami which doesn't exist in Italy😂😂😂

NO PEPPERONI in Italy?   whut?  egads.  But can you buy it online?  

[KayC]

No Nutella for me, WAY HIGH IN CARBS!  No can do.

[Roxeanne]

49 minutes ago, Boggled said:

But can you buy it online?  

Thank you Boggled ! But with my problems of reflux is better no!

Anyway our pizza with our spicy salame is called "la diavola"(she-devil)...only spicy salame tomatoes and mozzarella....it may resemble pepperoni ?

[widower2]

11 hours ago, WithoutHer said:

Well I didn't really mean to. Whether some foods bother you or not be thankful you can correctly taste them. In all seriousness though eating has become an unenjoyable chore for me. I used to love so many foods especially pigging out on heavily spiced crabs, shrimp along with corn on the cob. Now once most hit my pallet it's just "No can't do it". The taste and texture are all just wrong. 

Just kidding. Sorry to hear about the taste thing. Making meals has become a tiresome chore for me too. More and more I gravitate to what's easy vs how good it is. I see these cooking shows and they have all these steps and go "this is such an easy recipe..." 

[WithoutHer]

7 hours ago, Boggled said:

WithoutHer, next time some doc sends one of those mail-in "poop" checkers, DO IT.   (my opinion) Czech out your LIVER.   Liver cancer!  silent killer!  Dunno you've got it till there's nothing they can do!  

As per my generation, health advice stuff, have you tried probiotics?  My MIL says she started taking "Align probiotics" and her stomach has gone flat!  

and oh yeah, pepperoni is really delicious and seems to be one of the things that make the flavor of pizza into pizza!  Unfortunately I bought pepperoni, but it's lost in the depths of the freezer somewhere ...

 

My taste problems started years ago with radiation and chemo for non Hodgkin's lymphoma. I recovered from that but then began chronic sinusitis which has been on and off ever since. Then a minor bout of COVID returned the taste issues to the extreme again. I'm convinced I one of the lucky ones who developed long term with that as the prominent symptom. Over the years doctors have thrown every med possible to help my sinuses but my system just passes them through with no effect. Another point that started all these sinus troubles is when a teenager I became addicted to nasal sprays. It was work getting off them and breaking the constant rebound cycle. 

Also those chemo treatments initiated my diabetes. It was not natural onset. That doesn't happen overnight. My a1c went from normal to off the charts literally. I was a panicked mess at the time. That was back in 2002. But I am a 2 time cancer survivor. Clean for 21 years. 

[KayC]

Made this yesterday, good!  

Keto Breakfast Casserole

Ingredients

·        1 (12 oz.) package breakfast sausage

·        12 large eggs

·        2 cups shredded cheddar cheese

·        3/4 cup heavy whipping cream

·        1 tablespoon Rotel

·        Salt and pepper to taste

·        2 tbsp. green onions, sliced, optional garnish

Instructions

1.   Preheat oven to 350 degrees F (175 degrees C).

2.   Heat a large skillet over medium-high heat. Add sausage, breaking meat apart with a wooden spoon, and cook until meat is thoroughly cooked and no longer pink, about 5-7 minutes. Spread the cooked sausage over the bottom of a 9x13-inch casserole dish.

3.   Add eggs to a large bowl and whisk. Whisk in the cream,  1 Tbsp Rotel, and shredded cheddar cheese. Pour the egg mixture over the sausage and spread evenly.

4.   Bake until firm and cooked through, 40 minutes.

8 servings: 3.5 carbs

*Or 30 min. in air fryer two 8x8 pans. Add extra cheese on top before done.

#recipe

https://dearcrissy.com/keto-breakfast-casserole/

Accidentally used a whole can of Rotel, cooked a few min. longer with more cheese, turned out well.

[widower2]

Sounds similar to something my beloved made (minus the onions though that's an interesting idea). Man it was good. I'd have several portions with coffee and easily skipped lunch. 

[KayC]

I didn't put the onions, optional and I like Kodie to share things with me. I've been eating OMAD at noon, still full at dinner anyway!  Getting lower BS numbers.

[SSC]

Looks great Kay!  I think I’ll make this tomorrow!

[widower2]

3 hours ago, KayC said:

I didn't put the onions, optional and I like Kodie to share things with me. I've been eating OMAD at noon, still full at dinner anyway!  Getting lower BS numbers.

"OMAD?"

 

[SSC]

One meal a day?

I can’t skip meals.  I end up with a wicked migraine if I do.

[widower2]

2 hours ago, SSC said:

One meal a day?

ah. I've done that on occasion, but couldn't do it regularly.

[widower2]

Anyone else a late-night snacker? I typically have a drink or two (or three) at night, so they go hand in hand. I tend to avoid the chips/pretzels kind of thing. If nothing else my fallback is low-salt crackers like wheat thins or triscuits. Nuts are a fav too, and sugar-free chocolate if I'm drinking red wine. PBJs are also an option. 

[KayC]

Exhausted, neighbor's dog woke me up at 12:30 and has the most repetitious loud bark, seven in a rapid row, followed by seven in a row again, and again, and again, and this goes on for HOURS!  Makes you wish you could shoot him or the owners that let it go on.  Turns me into a crazed woman.  I want to go out and yell at them but it does no good.  Gave up at 3:30 and got up.

That on top of getting to bed an hour late so I could go let Jazzy out, oh and do Iris dishes...that took an hour.

Not feeling going to church this morning, so tired...

Wishing I could have one of your late night snacks or drinks, @widower2!

[widower2]

ugh! Do what I do, when it barks, set off your car alarm.   When it stops, you stop. Rinse and repeat. It look far longer than it should have but my neighbor finally made the connection.

PS shoot the owner, not the dog. Isn't the dog's fault. I'll swear in court you were with me!

[KayC]

This dog jumped their cyclone gate and attacked Arlie, still upset with him for that.  My Arlie was a gentle giant and never bit back.  Thank God a workman rescued him and he had a thick mane.  

[foreverhis]

5 hours ago, widower2 said:

PS shoot the owner, not the dog. Isn't the dog's fault. I'll swear in court you were with me!

I'll help bury the body.😉

[Gail 8588]

I like the car alarm idea. But you have to have a  new enough car to have a panic button on your car fob. 

[widower2]

True...I think most do now days but not sure when it became mainstream.

[widower2]

I would not call this trivial or meaningless, but didn't know where else to put it...as I near retirement (I think!), starting to research it more...shifting my investments to more conservative things, Medicare stuff etc. ugh. I can't believe I'm nearing that age...

[WithoutHer]

2 hours ago, widower2 said:

I would not call this trivial or meaningless, but didn't know where else to put it...as I near retirement (I think!), starting to research it more...shifting my investments to more conservative things, Medicare stuff etc. ugh. I can't believe I'm nearing that age...

@widower2 To be honest I was happy the day I hit 66 and was able to retire on nothing more than SS and a very small pension from a previous employer and at the start of the pandemic no less. Yup Vickie and I  were absolutely fine secluded together. I had worked electronics and mechanical Quality all my life and was hating what government beauracrscy was doing to US industry. Just to get it off my chest ISO 9000 was political boondoggle. 

However for what it's worth and maybe a little stress reducer. I switched to Medicare and got off my employers insurance a year before I retired. I also went with Humana's Advantage plan, which is for me currently about $79/mo and worth every penny to me. I can't speak to any other plans but have been extremely satisfied with their coverage and service. When I had my stroke and miraculous recovery 6 weeks after Vickie passed that policy saved me 48 grand between the two weeks I spent in the hospitals for treatment and therapy. My total out of pocket was around 2k. Something to take note of for comparison.

I do like many agree that for what the hospitals did including the therapy seemed to be priced  exbortinatly out of this world. 

Well that was unnecessarily lengthy but you know what? It got my mind off some of my troubling emotions. 

[widower2]

Not lengthy at all! (And I'm glad it served as a distraction) Yeah the Medicare thing.....do I take Part B or go "Part C" (Medicare Advantage)....grapple, grapple. ugh. I'm glad I don't have to worry about this right now, but I am trying to get a handle on it so when that time comes, I'll have a clue. 

[Rey Dominguez Jr]

For Veronica and I, Tricare for Life and Medicare have been awesome.  Tricare and Medicare took care of EVERYTHING related to Veronica’s care over the last few years.  One or two things I had to pay out of pocket for but those were minimal compared to the other stuff.  Her insulin, insulin pump and supplies, and glucose monitoring stuff were all covered.  But now those Medicare and Tricare statements have stopped coming.  

[WithoutHer]

5 hours ago, widower2 said:

Not lengthy at all! (And I'm glad it served as a distraction) Yeah the Medicare thing.....do I take Part B or go "Part C" (Medicare Advantage)....grapple, grapple. ugh. I'm glad I don't have to worry about this right now, but I am trying to get a handle on it so when that time comes, I'll have a clue. 

You have to Sign up for partB when you get medicare. It's not something to pass up but It costs you but once you collect SS they take it from your monthly payment. I just pretend that's money that doesn't exist. Medicare advantage plans take care of part C and D. You present just your advantage card when getting any medical service. They are actually managing all your Medicare activities. Almost all my meds are zero co-pay. Although my Novolog and Levimer are a bit pricey but 80% less than retail. And I could cut those by electing to use regular insulins. I'm just spool with their long term room temperature shelf lives and ease of use. 

[KayC]

I have United healthcare Advantage, costs the same as the Medicare deduction from soc sec.  I'm in my 70s and in good health.

[Gail 8588]

I am also on United Health Care Advantage plan.  It has been fine, no problems, but I have not had any medical issues since I have been on it, so who knows.  

I will say some of my prescription medicines get a bigger discount if I have the pharmacy run them through Good RX, which is a free app for discounts on prescriptions.  It is worth checking the Good RX price on any prescriptions you have any co-pay on.   This is true whether you are on medicare or not. Anyone can use it. 

[widower2]

12 hours ago, Rey Dominguez Jr said:

For Veronica and I, Tricare for Life and Medicare have been awesome.  Tricare and Medicare took care of EVERYTHING related to Veronica’s care over the last few years.  One or two things I had to pay out of pocket for but those were minimal compared to the other stuff.  Her insulin, insulin pump and supplies, and glucose monitoring stuff were all covered.  But now those Medicare and Tricare statements have stopped coming.  

Thanks - that's Tricare for Life I take it? I'll have similar.....from what I gather, it's basically the equivalent of Medigap, so I'd have to get Part B. 

[KayC]

Mine all have 0 copay so haven't needed that.  when I had Moda that was not the case.  Have had no issues with UHC, I love it.

[LMR]

For those of you coming up to Medicare age you will find that you will be sent mountains of literature by health insurance companies. Quite literally hundreds of pages to read if you want to be thorough. We got ourselves an agent, recommended to me by my then employer's health insurance agent. He explained all the different options open to us. We told him that we were happy to pay smallish co pays but wanted to avoid "nasty" surprises. His recommendation was spot on. When my husband had surgery for a kidney removal we paid nothing. The actual bills came to over $200,000. He didn't charge us, presumably he gets commission but he was definitely worth it.

[foreverhis]

1 hour ago, Gail 8588 said:

I am also on United Health Care Advantage plan.  It has been fine, no problems, but I have not had any medical issues since I have been on it, so who knows.  

I will say some of my prescription medicines get a bigger discount if I have the pharmacy run them through Good RX, which is a free app for discounts on prescriptions.  It is worth checking the Good RX price on any prescriptions you have any co-pay on.   This is true whether you are on medicare or not. Anyone can use it. 

I am also on a UHC Advantage Plan.  It's not bad, though in our area with limited options and the "network" on top of that, it can be difficult finding a specialist.  Getting a referral out of network is almost impossible.  The premium is fairly low, as are the GP and specialist co-pays.  But some of the other co-pays are the same as the Medicare Part B 20%, so that ultrasounds, MRIs, CTs, chemo, medical devices, etc. could really add up.  I admit that I slightly resent how the insurers are allowed to charge different premiums and co-pays in different counties.

I weighed switching to Supplement G and adding a Part D Prescription plan (which would be required as it's included with my Advantage, but not Supplements), but I (1) misunderstood the initial open enrollment period at age 65 for those who have been on Medicare under SSDI, so I missed it, and (2) went back and forth on the Supplement and standalone Part D premiums plus still having prescription co-pays versus the Advantage plan and had trouble deciding which would be most cost effective.  I may look into it again during the regular open enrollment this fall.

You are spot on about Good Rx.  I have multiple prescriptions and have three of them run through Good Rx instead of my insurance.  We have an excellent local pharmacy.  One of the things they do is check pricing using various discount programs and Good RX in addition to insurance co-pays to always get patients the best price.  Over a 5 year period, one of my prescriptions went from $18/month to $40 to $120 to the current $150--for a long-standing generic!  Our pharmacy runs it through Good Rx so I pay $32/month.

Question:  Did you know that the FDA has given Florida--and only Florida--permission to import some medications at the lower international prices to help lower drug costs for Floridians?  The rest of us are still stuck with whatever the drug companies want to charge.

 

[widower2]

13 minutes ago, foreverhis said:

 I admit that I slightly resent how the insurers are allowed to charge different premiums and co-pays in different counties.

I am way (way) beyond resentment for insurance companies, but hospitals/doctors are even worse. Did you know that if you don't have insurance, hospitals/doctors will happily charge you way more....because they can? With no insurance beast to possible reckon with, they're like kids in a candy shop. 

ugh this whole thing just turns my stomach. I don't look forward to setting this all up when the time comes. 

[WithoutHer]

4 hours ago, widower2 said:

Thanks - that's Tricare for Life I take it? I'll have similar.....from what I gather, it's basically the equivalent of Medigap, so I'd have to get Part B. 

@widower2 it's my understanding you have to get part B, if you want what it covers and you definitely do, regardless of what additional advantage or supplement options you choose. Be sure to sign up for it when apply for Medicare to avoid any unnecessary hassles down the road. 

[widower2]

That's the great part; you don't have to sign up for it.  It's automatic.

[WithoutHer]

48 minutes ago, widower2 said:

That's the great part; you don't have to sign up for it.  It's automatic.

Just an FYI which was explained to me when I signed up. This article implies you don't have to accept it and the possible results.

https://www.medicareadvantage.com/enrollment/do-i-need-medicare-part-b-expert-advice

[widower2]

Oh sorry, I thought you were taking about Tricare, not Part B. 

[WithoutHer]

47 minutes ago, widower2 said:

Oh sorry, I thought you were taking about Tricare, not Part B. 

It's all good 😊

[Gail 8588]

14 hours ago, foreverhis said:

 

Question:  Did you know that the FDA has given Florida--and only Florida--permission to import some medications at the lower international prices to help lower drug costs for Floridians?  The rest of us are still stuck with whatever the drug companies want to charge.

 

It is my understanding that this "authorization" is just one more stunt by our Governor to give the appearance of doing something, without actually doing anything.  There are no medicines that have actually been purchased internationally for use in Florida.  The drug companies have no interest or incentive to sell to Florida at lower prices. 

 

[foreverhis]

3 hours ago, Gail 8588 said:

It is my understanding that this "authorization" is just one more stunt by our Governor to give the appearance of doing something, without actually doing anything.  There are no medicines that have actually been purchased internationally for use in Florida.  The drug companies have no interest or incentive to sell to Florida at lower prices. 

 

I wouldn’t be the least bit surprised! Don’t get me started on politicians and politics.😉