QOL spa day at home. Some days we just can’t get out to go places ( appointments at Kaiser , not feeling well , bad weather ).

[Kaliber]

having a QOL day at home with your counterpart is sometimes a great way to just kick back , let go and relax ( helpful substance’s optional but highly recommended.). If you have the equipment , then get the ole lady and get to it.

A 2-3 hour soak in a medical grade Jacuzzi ….. very powerful jets to massage you .. a breakfast snack with fresh brew kona coffee from beans …in your banana tree forest …… and then getting out to sit in a deck chair , a pool towel and or pool bathrobe optional ( clothing optional yayahahahaya ) in the sun, until you drip dry ….. all refreshed , massaged and relaxed …. Your mind taken to dreamy places instead of thinking about “ things “ … oh yea brothers …good stuff.

Don’t have a jacuzzi ? …. Then rent a nice 1 night or 2 night suite in one of those local hotels near the freeway …one with a heated indoor pool, jacuzzi and room / pool service … sometimes a “ staycation “ is a very desirable QOL time too. This is something nearly all of us can do ( the hotel ) and the beleaguered wife - family members deserve the break as well. Its a win-win thang.

Just say’in

❤️❤️😂

[SPEEDYX]

Sounds like the perfect day to me!!!..Enjoy and relax brother!!!

[Kaliber in reply to SPEEDYX]

❤️❤️❤️

[rogerandme]

I spent 6days in Puerto Vallarta in October every sore stiff bone or muscle all relaxed…forgot how good it feels to not have a care in the world….

[Kaliber in reply to rogerandme]

yea absolutely …. Taking a break from “ everything “ is the essence of a QOL experience brother … ryte on …

😁😁😁

[dockam]

Ohhh, that sounds wonderful - the Jacuzzi and Kona Coffee, have a nice chillaxin time my Brother

Randy

[Kaliber in reply to dockam]

well not as “ fly “ ( slang meaning ) as your exploits but it’ll do when circumstances prevent a full blown Randy escape yayahahahaya. QOL the goal . Thank you brother …

❤️😂😂

[dockam in reply to Kaliber]

LOL, pretty Fly for a Rabbi - Weird Al parody of The Offspring song: youtu.be/c1zktTCVrDs(Not working as expected?)

Fight on, QoL on

Randy

[Kaliber in reply to dockam]

boy !!!! It’s been a while since I’ve heard weird Al do that song. Spot on fly tho …. Lol

❤️❤️❤️

[dockam in reply to Kaliber]

"Weird" A Roku channel farcical biopic is on now😂I'd take my kiddos to see him at CA Fairs

Very clever and talented

Fight on, Laugh on

Randy

[Kaliber in reply to dockam]

and now ( fanfare + applause please ) …. The final coup de grace of the spa morning… just before the obligatory “ nap “ . A light Japanese seafood snack , on the patio.

an after the spa meal of hamachi sashimi. ( lip smacking, super fresh yellow tail tuna sashimi with extra tasty belly cut pieces ) , …. plus “ OMG I can’t put this down “ chuka ika salad ( marinated in ginger super thin sliced squid w/ sesame oil and marinated vegetables, ….. and finally , …fresh spicy tuna rolls w/ thin pickled ginger and true wasabi accoutrements.

Oh man …. That chuka ika has to be one of the most delicious culinary experience’s man can have. You wouldn’t eat it every day ( well … maybe yayahahahaya) but the flavor is literally brain numbing …. Like it’s got “ I want more “ habit forming drugs in it or something. Wow …

After jacuzzi and deck sun soaking , lunch before the nap

[CAMPSOUPS in reply to Kaliber]

Alright now ya did it. I think your trying to channel old campsoups into responding. I am drooling, tearing up and praying that will fall in front of me.

[Kaliber in reply to CAMPSOUPS]

I’m sorry big guy …. Yayahahahaya yayahahahaya … I’d send it right thru the screen ( ala: pastor rod flash , don’t crush that dwarf, hand me the pliers . Firesign Theater ) if could buddy . I’ll think about you when I polish the rest of that off , for supper. Yayahahahaya 😂😂😂

[CAMPSOUPS in reply to Kaliber]

I still prefer how my "affected" brain remembered it for years: Porky Tire Eater rather than Porgy Tire Biter. lol.

[Kaliber in reply to CAMPSOUPS]

they sure were kewl .. strictly for the “ stoned market “ ( they didn’t even make sense if you listened to them if you were straight ) . I can laugh for hours …. Listening to them again and again. I still have a set of unopened CDs of all their works. They’d be hard to explain, best would be to get super stoned on top drawer bud or flour and settle back with munchies and drinks .. and let them rip. They could really mess with your head … and make you laugh hysterically. 😂😂😂

[CAMPSOUPS in reply to Kaliber]

That is all true as hell lol. There is no sense in being straight and trying to comprehend in a straight frame of mind. They will guide you thru a hilarious, and WTF was that mind bend.

[dockam in reply to Kaliber]

Oh, that looks so delicious. Took a staff member out to a bday lunch at the local Mexican restaurant.

yelp.com/biz/tacos-samich-t...

I had a trio of Tacos: fish, carnitas and lengua con arroz y frijoles. Yummy

[Kaliber in reply to dockam]

Yummmmm yum …we are almost synchronizing buddy yayahahahaya. Couple nights ago we had fajitas, beans and rice … fish ceviche and chips and salsa. Yayahahahaya. Mannnnn ….pretty soon, I’ll be reaching into the cold counter at R-N market …. and both of us will be reaching in to get to the same item. Yayahahahaya weird ….but fun ..

❤️❤️❤️

[dockam in reply to Kaliber]

We have a mental connection now, mind meld or a Hive mind 😆😍

[Kaliber in reply to dockam]

OMG ….. might be good tho … yayahahahaya

[Scout4answers]

Party ON dude. Planning our next trip to the beach.

[Kaliber]

yea it does my brother …. I’ve used those large galvanized troughs for a spa hundreds of times. I like ‘ em because you can fill them with bubble bath .. you empty them after every use ( or nearly ) so the water is fresh and chemical free. Fill them in the morning and leave ‘em in the Texas sun …. By noon you add the suds and some cold spigot water to cool them down . Perfect for two …but four can be fun too.

Just say’in 😂😂😂

[Kaliber]

I want to give an emotional, we’ll deserved, nod to the guy that started all the QOL food porn here in recent times .. it’s Great_John , a super kool , terrific , foodie that sure knew how to post food that made your mouth water. We remember John’s ( unsuccessful ) valiant fight , what a nice guy he and his husband were and his great fun little dog. We miss the big guy … and his family. I feel like we are continuing the super QOL food and travel exploits that he and his family posted …. This to help us think of other things ( than the cancer so much ) as well …. This especially that great_john was himself so strongly trying to fight for his own life. In “ all that “ he still took time to keep us in his thoughts and activities. I think of him every time we make QOL posts, especially foodie porn. Once again, he was just a super nice guy, he set the example that the rest of us can try to follow in our same journey.

❤️❤️❤️

[CAMPSOUPS in reply to Kaliber]

I've been thinking the same thing. Thanks for putting the best words out here for him.

I wish we could continue to "share" with him and he with us.

[Kaliber in reply to CAMPSOUPS]

❤️❤️❤️

[dockam in reply to Kaliber]

Great John was such a great gent and he was the King of Food Porn. He got this party started and I will continue in Honor of Him

Rest in Peace Great John

[siouxbee19 in reply to Kaliber]

What a lovely tribute to greatjohn ...he is greatly missed, that's for sure! I pray his husband and precious dog are doing ok...🕊️🙏❤️🕯️

[Kaliber in reply to siouxbee19]

❤️❤️❤️

[tango65]

Well said. I miss great_john . Thanks for posting.

[babychi]

we added a massage but sadly, no sushi. Onya!💕

[Kaliber in reply to babychi]

lol …kewl …

❤️❤️❤️

[Muffin2019]

Sounds wonderful, my time alone for "my time" is a black cat who is 15 who has cancer which will hopefully be treated soon at Cornell who has the loudest purr I have and those who call me has and watching a feel good movie with a mug of tea since I cannot have alcohol while on chemo and really not a drinker anyway. Maybe find some non alcoholic wine or beer or just a glass of concord juice on ice.

[Kaliber in reply to Muffin2019]

that sounds very nice as well.

😁😁😁

[Muffin2019 in reply to Muffin2019]

I need some less stress, my PSA readings came back on the 11 as 29 then 5 days later before the 5th infusion with javenta it jumped to 35. I messaged the oncologist with a rather dishearting message and he sent down the PA with a message and words of encouragement. I was and am discouraged with the results when others on here had been getting better results with this wonderful new drug. I am hoping for what they call a PSA flare whatever that is. Almost given up on diet changes, what you consume just does not help, I have gained back over 8 pounds which is good, from 180 to 188 or so. Maybe he has to add something to what I am taking or I just impatient about the miracle drug, abritone and xtandi stopped working, still on elegard and monthly shots of xgeva. I am wondering if the eligard is nit working well enough and switch to something else for the next shot 3 months from now or go monthly instead of 3 months on the eligard. You need some stress relief more than me, read your bio and it had been a rough road for you and you are still kicking. My heart goes out to you and any care giver you may have, God bless you and be with you with healing.

[Kaliber in reply to Muffin2019]

well , it sounds like we have both had a rough road ….. I’m not a brain on the different meds, just what has happened to me. You should ask Tall_Allen for his thoughts … he knows more than any of us. He should have some good info for you. You could PM him or make a post and ask for him in your post.

This chit can be disappointing a lot , seems like …. If it’s not one thing , it’s another. Even the meds and their side effects can cause mental downer changes while prolonging us too. Still, the upside is that “ both “ of us are still here , still fighting …. And actually still have opportunity to make ourselves drag our butts up off our couches and get out and do some QOL stuff with loved ones if possible. Once you get out there doing some fun activities … it really does take your mind off things and we feel better for quite a while. I have Xanax that helps me a lot when I’m really bummed out, and some guys here on the group have raved about the newest generation of psyc drugs that make them feel perfectly Ok , mentally. I’ve thought about asking my pcp to try some of those several times , but getting out and doing things has kept me fairly stable emotionally/ psyc …..so far yayahahahaya

Hang in there brother, think about what I’ve mentioned here …. Get out and take your mind off “ things “ for a while , doing stuff you enjoy or even trying new things. Speaking for myself, it’s easy to get lost in the darknside , who wouldn’t… still I’ve been able to shake it off …so far, I suspect it’ll work for you too.

❤️❤️❤️

[Muffin2019 in reply to Kaliber]

Thank you for those words of encouragement, saving this post to read when I am down.

[Kaliber in reply to Muffin2019]

❤️❤️💪

[16starsky]

Could do with a Jacuzzi myself today, its been chucking it down with rain ALL day here in UK , and I;m freezing!!!

[Kaliber in reply to 16starsky]

lol ….. fairly inexpensive 2 person inflatable jacuzzi’s are available…. put it out in the middle of your orangery … then , go soak your tired cold bones, throw back a few pints … get out all warm and fuzzy and comfy , lay down on your couch and soothe into that refreshing nap .. hum , suddenly my jacuzzi is looking pretty inviting yayahahahaya yayahahahaya.

😁😁😁

Btw: something else , spa wise , that is easy and fairly affordabe are those one person steam saunas. I used them for years, especially on cold rainy nights and loved them. They are small , one person on a chair size , just a heavy plastic cloth on a easily taken apart frame. Fill up the steam generator ( kinda looks like a crock pot ) , wait 20 minutes and presto … a steam spa experience. Very luxurious for a small price.

[16starsky]

🤣 Unfortunately our Orangery is not THAT big !!

The one man sauna sounds interesting tho !!!!!

Hope your keeping as well as you can. I have jacuzzi envy now....

[Kaliber in reply to 16starsky]

a folding steam sauna would fit easily …. They are $80-$100 ( usd ) on Amazon … search for “ folding steam sauna “ . Make sure it’s the steam version and not infrared. And always use distilled water in it to preserve the heating element. Plastic gallon jugs of distilled water cost a dollar and last for a while.

I used to keep one on the back deck ( but the garage or any room inside the house will work ), I like the back deck because when it was cold and rainy in the winter , I loved to start it up ( ready in 20 minutes ) and go out and sit in it for an hour or two, enjoying the rain all arm and cozy. Wonderful soothing , cleansing , warming , aches and pains, …. steam sauna experience, right in your house. Quick and easy. Leave it set up if you have the room, but it disassembles easily and stores in a corner of a closet if need be. Probably one of the best spa investments a person can make. Always get the folding sauna that your head sticks out the top of … the others have steam leak issues . An inexpensive home QOL luxury …

❤️❤️❤️

[Lrv44221]

I totally agree. somedays we can't go out either, the spas is terrific🌹🍏

[Kaliber in reply to Lrv44221]

cleanse your pores and your mind. Yayahahahaya

❤️❤️❤️

[Lrv44221 in reply to Kaliber]

Yes you are absolutely👍👍 right👍👍

[Kaliber in reply to Lrv44221]

❤️❤️❤️

[Lrv44221 in reply to Kaliber]

👍

[Carlosbach]

Not only a man of science, of erudition, of spirituality, and a top notch epicurean - but a spa aficionado as well. I'm impressed. Sounds like a life well lived.

At home QOL suits me well. I try to enjoy whatever I can discover in each day. Not always easy, I spent several days at a Kaiser hospital with my mom last week. Loved the koi pond with a weeping wall, the meditation chapel and the extensive salad bar. Not so much the screaming woman in the next room or the constant beeping of the electronics...

For today, here's my home made food porn

stir fry

[Carlosbach in reply to Carlosbach]

And from our favorite local sushi restaurant

sushi

[Kaliber in reply to Carlosbach]

Around here … massive Asian population and restaurants…. I haven’t seen shushi without a wrapper , resembles rice, tuna , avocado in front ( it’s hard to tell without smell and tasting it , California rolls ? yayahahahaya) , tempura … pickled ginger and Wasabi and those delicious rolls on the back half … I’m coming right over yayahahahaya yayahahahaya. Yummmmmmm ….. so much food porn, I love it.

❤️❤️❤️

[Carlosbach in reply to Kaliber]

I love food porn. I traveled for work for many years, and whenever my co-workers and I had a great meal we would send food porn to the others, along with details on where they could find the restaurant on their own trips. Great fun unless you were sitting in a hotel room eating crappy take out and they were sending pics from a great italian place they had just discovered.

Our area has limited options besides grocery store sushi, but this is my wife's favorite order at the best local spot: Calli rolls, tempura shrimp rolls and super crunchy rolls (can't recall whatall they put in those, but they are delish). Enough for both of us, or if I order the Udon bowl, we have enough for multiple meals. Yummy

[Kaliber in reply to Carlosbach]

tempura shrimp rolls and crunchy California rolls are also the hammer’s favorites as well. Don’t get in between her and that tempura yayahahahaya.

The hammer has become “ master of umami “ for bonito based miso. Took a while , but we are extremely lucky with the humongous Asian supermarkets here. Natural fresh authentic ingredients . I love udon noodles in my miso, but ramen noodles are equally wonderful. Sometimes I can eat ( some of the endless combos ) miso for many days on end. I never tire of miso or swordfish base. It’s magical.

Looks like both our families have the same Preferences in numerous Japanese foods yayahahahaya kewl …

Udon miso w/ crab dim-sum , pot stickers and Maitake mushrooms ( on the bottom )

[Carlosbach in reply to Kaliber]

I'm hungry all over again.

One of the best things about getting to travel and work in Asia (very limited unfortunately) was the food. Got addicted to Udon, and miso in general, on my travels. Also loved the chili crab and hawker centers in Singapore. Had some great times drinking Tiger's with some elderly Singapoians and bull shitting about life on the island before modernization. They turned me on to their home made Hainanese rice.

[Kaliber in reply to Carlosbach]

yea me too …yayahahahaya I’m making myself a hot cup of miso broth right now yayahahahaya yayahahahaya.

Singapore is enormous , about 6 million in the metro, not a big city by comparison to other regional cities ( Shanghai 22, million, Beijing 19 million ) but still a huge city by any standards. A large portion of the population there , like most Asian cities, eats street food and doesn’t cook in home much as in American style. You know their culinary skills are extremely well developed if for no other reason just from experience.

Sure a lot of tasty food in those parts yayahahahaya.

[Kaliber in reply to Carlosbach]

well my life has been interesting … and able to be well lived in its later era …. in many respects. , thanks for illuminating some positive aspects .. yayahahahaya for me there have always been seriously challenging ( awful yayahahahaya) aspects to balance out the potentially great ones. Probably no one’s life is ever gonna be Ozzie and Harriet or leave it to beaver. Lol …. bittersweet. Cancer the cherry on top.

Soooooooo…. Broccoli ( or is that Broccolini ) Nicely browned tofu, ….a short grained rice ( couscous ? ) and stir fried mushrooms w/ onions . Looks pretty tasty 😁😁😁

[Carlosbach in reply to Kaliber]

lots of people with lots of life experience on our site. For me I am really intrigued by the breadth of knowledge and by the accomplishments of our peers. Simply by being eligible for this forum we all also have our challenges and losses. While I'm not a Pollyanna, I try to stay upbeat and put a lot of focus on the positives and on grattitude.

My stir fry is just tofu (my own marinade, cooked in an air fryer before being added at the end of the cook), broccoli, misch seasonings and fresh ginger, stir fried portabella mushrooms, all on Lundberg brown rice (from Costco). Tonight I'm having homemade vegatable soup with whole wheat cornbread. Nothing fancy, but I love it as well as the more involved recipies.

[Kaliber in reply to Carlosbach]

a man that loves to eat … sometimes we get lost in the exotic and new foodie craze and lose touch with those god ole home comfort foods that got us here. Love it.

😁😁😁

[Carlosbach]

And from today's walk (more of an amble today, not feeling too strong)

lake in autumn

[Kaliber in reply to Carlosbach]

sorry to hear you are a little fuzzy around the edges today , still you got some exhilarating fresh air and nature experience. Those great , healthy feeling, days can be kinda elusive for guys like us sometimes.

Looks like a nice place to picnic , hang out .. commune with nature yayahahahaya maybe even fishing ?

😁😁😁

[Carlosbach in reply to Kaliber]

Variable ADT SE's have been plauging me for a couple of weeks. When I can, I've found that the best thing I can do is remain active despite the fatigue and aches. Tomorrow promises to be another day. Today was a slow walk around the 3.3 mile loop around the lake in the middle of Longview, WA (accross the Columbia from our home). Not very challenging, so perfect for a low energy day. Very glad that I'm still able to be realitively active.

Lake Sacagewea is stocked with trout. There are also bass, perch, sunfish and large carp. Great place to infect kids with the fishing bug, but historically the area has much better fishing if you have transportation or a boat. Good place to take my kids, and now their kids, to play and ride bikes.

[Kaliber in reply to Carlosbach]

I admire you guys that can still walk … you don’t fully appreciate it until you can’t any more yayahahahaya yayahahahaya. I can walk short distances , 25-50 feet , but I do have my etrike for getting around outdoors. The hammer can push me in my wheeled chair , but her lumbar is shot / toast … pushing me is best done very sparingly. That exercise also helps a whole bunch for your blood sugar control as well.

After I retired nearly 27 years ago ( the hammer reaching her working peak, bringing in the loooong green, my government income just lettuce yayahahahaya ) , I took up sport fishing. I hadn’t been much of a fisherman but it sounded like and looked like fun. I bought a nice boat , gear etc. and became pretty skilled at trout and bass. Im a live bait fisherman. Fish here are brought twice a week in a truck from fish and game , and mostly gone a couple days later. Tooooo much population density stressing the environment. I started doing a little informal guiding on Millerton Lake …. I took the hammer out many times and on one trip she caught the Millerton Lake record for small mouth spotted black bass. ( not a state or regional record , just that lake. ) , it’s still the lake record . These fish are usually in the 3/4 lb to 3 lb range ( in that lake ) , hers was around 7 1/2 pounds ( I forget exactly. ). The state record was over 9 pounds , or used to be. I sure wish I could get out there again , now. It’s great fun ( catch and release exclusively ).

😁😁😁

Small mouth spotted black bass.

[Carlosbach in reply to Kaliber]

Yeah, I consider myself to be fortunate, despite the cancer.

Never fished as much as I would have liked. I moved to Oregon in 72 and there was fantastic fishing for trout, salmon, and sturgeon - even had a blast netting smelt. As for sport fishing, I got spoiled with the size of the fish and routinely limiting out. Over the years as population grew, even the Columbia has become over fished. Bass fishing is on the upswing, and there are a lot of perch, etc.

That's awesome about the Hammer's catch. Never came near a "Bessie" the size of that bass in any of our lochs.

[Kaliber in reply to Carlosbach]

it’ll interesting that when I talk to other guys in my age group ( more or less ) we’ve all had so many life experiences , for do long, that we often overlap in numerous places yayahahahaya yayahahahaya.

I got tired of fishing myself, been there done that …back when. Yayahahahaya I’d like to do some more now tho.

It’s been fun talking with you brother …. Food fun , reminiscing ..talkingbshop , so to speak yayahahahaya

Later big guy

❤️❤️❤️

[Lrv44221 in reply to Kaliber]

Great Picture thank you😀😀 I used to fish a little and caught my first walleye in Canada. lol🐟🐠 me too always catch and release

[Kaliber in reply to Lrv44221]

thanks for contributing to this QOL lifestyle thread brother.

❤️❤️❤️

[GSDF]

So awesome brother. Enjoy every second of life!

[Kaliber in reply to GSDF]

❤️❤️❤️