David David David

Repeat after me: Never trust anyone under 60. The only way you could be a "pig" in the Chinese New Year is if your birthday was January in 1947. It's a simple matter of "accounting" as the Chinese zodiac is a rotating 12 year basis. So the only other year is 1959 which would make you younger than your lovely wife.

BTW, I had shingles in my mid 50s also.

Tammy

Thank you for posting this thread. Although I had shingles before the Cancer, I sort of thought that now I would never get it again. Guess I have to add the vaccine to my to do list after partial glossectomy and neck dissections in March.

Thanks for the link Christine. Too bad I didn't know that when I was in the dermatologist's offic earlier this week. Guess he needs to get his info updated. I come down with a case of shingles every spring so I think I need the shot.

Why are doctors so reluctant to give it? When my husband asked his GP about the shot, he kinda poopooed it without giving a reason and said to check with insurance to see if covered. We don't care if it is covered but needless to say he wound up not getting the shot. I hope he isn't sorry.

Take care,
Eileen

Christine

Yes, thank you for that link. Guess I won't be getting the shot for a while now if I need more TX based on Mayo
[quote]This shingles vaccine isn't recommended if you:
* Are receiving medical treatments such as steroids, radiation and chemotherapy
* Have a history of bone marrow or lymphatic cancer

[/quote]

I believe the Pox puts the virus in there, so it can lurk until a good time for it to come out, which means depressed immune system, slow recovery due to aging, etc.

You still have 59 1/2 to look forward to for IRA purposes, 62 for the Senior Discount to National Parks (including 50% discount on federal campgrounds in federal parks and forests), 65 for Medicare and 70 1/2 for more IRA stuf.

That Senior Discount to National Parks includes FREE entrance for you and everyone in the car + the 50% discount you mention. Our parks need money so badly, they ought to put an income restriction on this before handing out the Golden Passports. It is a nice benefit. Be certain to take your passport or birth certificate next time you go to one of them if you are 62 or older. I think it costs a whole $10.

Take care,
Eileen

Charm,

Not so Pig breath, as he said affectionately. According to the web site when I entered Jan 28, 1948 it came up PIG PIG PIG PIG, nothing but PIG.

By my count that makes you 61. You can get the shot. This IS 2009 in case you haven't noticed. You are no longer 58, sorry to be the one to tell you.

Happy Birthday,
The SNAKE

[quote]That Senior Discount to National Parks includes FREE entrance for you and everyone in the car + the 50% discount you mention. Our parks need money so badly, they ought to put an income restriction on this before handing out the Golden Passports. It is a nice benefit. Be certain to take your passport or birth certificate next time you go to one of them if you are 62 or older. I think it costs a whole $10.[/quote]

Trust me, it would cost the Gummint far more than they would make if they set an income limit to it! It's intended to be age-related -- This way they can issue the card at any NP, NF, etc., on the spot -- The reality is that they don't lose much money (if folks don't age-qualify for the card, they usually buy the years pass that does the same thing for entry, although not for camp sites, etc.)

There is also a federal card for folks with disabilities that has no age limits to it -- I have service-connected disabilities, so I got one of those a long time ago and it sure was handy when I was living in my little RV and slowly traveling around the US and CA -- I prefer the rustic campgrounds with minimum facilities (just water and toilet, thank you) so it suited me just fine -- I didn't have to pay much to camp and the Gummint was still making the other 50% on the camp fee.

I notice that Pete's age changed in his signature during this thread - when was your cake day??

Patty