JK, your smartphone sounds wonderful! I can't begin to tell you why, exactly, I'm not crazy about smartphones. Maybe it's because I see so many kids glued to them all the time. There's a coffee shop here in town that I like to go to, and often there'll be four students at a table, each on a cell phone. I just don't get it.

I think using your smart phone to tell you when to take medications is absolutely brilliant! A lot easier than those pill containers that're partitioned off. Those're fine, but not when you have to take different medications at different times.

When I go to the doctor's office, I almost always have a book with me, either in book form or on my Kindle--although, as old school as I am, I admit that I like reading a book much more than I like reading one on my Kindle. What I _do_ love about the Kindle is listening to audiobooks while I'm knitting! If I don't bring a book with me, I bring an easy knitting project that I'm working on.

My husband adores his smartphone. He does all sorts of things with it, like find the nearest frozen custard (we haven't found any yet!) or the hours of a particular museum or restaurant or something like that. His sister gave him a GPS for his car, so he plants that on the dashboard. It's hilarious when a particular map hasn't been updated. When we were in Nova Scotia, the GPS made it look as though we were driving on water most of the time! It couldn't find the roads.

Hey, I'm someone who still misses dial phones. I have one out in the garage, and if it weren't for all the options one has to hit whenever one calls someplace, I'd probably still be using it. I have a record player and a load of old vinyl records. I find the sound so much warmer than CDs. Now, while I'm working, I stream Pandora all day long and've built up quite a collection of stations, which I put on shuffle.

But I just can't seem to warm up to smartphones. I already spend so incredibly much per month for my Wifi and landline--our cell phone service out here in the boondocks is awfully spotty--that I just don't want to add on the cost of a smartphone plan.

Hazel, the terribly old-fashioned

For those who are interested in medication alarms and have IPhones, there's an app called Round(or Round Health). You put all your medications into it, times you take it, dose etc. It's on a clock type face (thus the name Round). It will give you a notice when it's time to take your medication every time around the clock, you also have a stored list of all your medications, their doses, and how many times a day to take them. I have been using this and find it really helpful when you have to write down all your medications if you go into a doctors office, or anytime you need that list it's right there. It's really a very helpful app.
Just an FYI, Jennifer

dear hazel, peach here. am in mourning for my 13 year old cat miracle. was wondering why he would only drink from a dripping faucet, i could not open his mouth but a fraction of the way. went immediately to the vet. there was a huge tumor preventing eating, grooming etc. cannot live without a tongue had already lost weight he is now at rainbow bridge waiting for me. thank the other dog and cat for helping me. i will do well after a while and i thank all of you who understand. i just need a hot tub and an orangeade. well at least the orangeade. i will smile.

dear justin maclanahan, i thank you for your tips on how to swim on this site, peach, over and out.

speaking of flavored soda water. when i was very, very young i was a "soda jerk" working for justin agnello at the blue moon cafe in rye ny. if you would try the specialty of the day which was a chocolate or vanilla ice cream soda. (bearing in mind there are many variations) i stil to this day keep the ingredients at hand. with whipped creme, nuts and a cherry on the top and of course a straw. what a blowout it is to your mind. while creating this masterpiece you forget some of the pain and when you eat same with a straw and a spoon. the pleasure is enjoyable. since also having diabetes i only consume some and my blood sugars are still good. memories can be golden. i think this helps us to keep our mind off the pain for a little while. (some relief is better than no relief)

Peach, I am so sorry to hear about Miracle. It is so difficult to lose one's animal companions. I really do hope that our dear critters go to the Rainbow Bridge. They are so deserving of it. Wish I knew what to say--except allow yourself to grieve. This is such an enormous loss.

Hugs,
Hazel

@hazelblumberg Hazel, am I somehow consistently spelling your "name" incorrectly? It never comes up when I put it in.

I have been experimenting with dark chocolates. They say it should be at least 72% but the darker the better. I have some 99% that I bought by mistake -- too dark and bitter. I can do 90%, and I think I really like 85%. Around here the Lindt bars are in a lot of stores at reduced prices, even Marshall's. There is something you are supposed to look for in the processing but I don't remember what it is, whatever it is, it is not as good as things not processed that way.
JK

@peach414144 in the past few days there has been an abundance of responses. I find if I do not respond to many I can go through them fairly quickly. It is usually quieter.
JK

No, you're not spelling my name incorrectly. I never remember to put "@" before anything, so maybe that's the problem.

Hazel

@hazelblumberg Hmm, I wonder if my doctor has a dental practice in your area too. I just feel so conflicted because he was so good initially. Does he not like me? Is he burned out? Does he have personal issues distracting him? Does he feel like he let me down since he never managed to diagnose my cirrhosis, a hospitalist with the same information did? Go figure, whichever it is it does not make for a comfortable feeling.
JK