[Jean]

Good Afternoon! It's only 83 degrees but quite humid. We were supposed to get some rain earlier today but the sun was shining with no clouds in sight. All of a sudden it got dark and a downpour for a few minutes, then the sun again. Strange weather gremlins at work. We need the rain as our yard has some cracks in it. I still couldn't post at church today; the unorganized former secretary "forgot" my last password that she assigned to me. She doesn't work on Mondays so I left her a note I would be in first thing tomorrow morning! I wanted to remind her I do have a phone and she could have called me! Not many sales in the gift shop last week so that didn't take long to count. The air conditioner quit again but Bob got it going. The repairman called back and we are on hold as long as it is still limping along. They are overwhelmed with service calls from people without. My laptop won't print for some reason. I just didn't have the desire to sit on the phone with the tech while he tried to figure that out. Maybe I will tomorrow. When it rains it pours but my problems are nothing compared to what others have in Florida.

"Gma," I hope you are feeling better! The intense heat could be a factor along with the long ride home, and allergies. I'm glad you had a ride from your car to your game seat. Did you know that in advance? It's good the Cubs won! How many innings do they play? Ian's tournament games are five, otherwise they play seven.

I need to think about something for supper. Bob grilled hamburgers for lunch, and we ate late so nothing sounds good right now. Hope you all have had a good day and enjoy your evening.

[Jean]

Good Morning! Sun is shining and it is "cooler" today. The air conditioner is still humming away. I went to church, hoping to post this morning, but no luck once again. The air conditioner wasn't working and that is run through the main computer so I couldn't get into the program I need to use. Maybe tomorrow. Have been on the phone with the computer tech and got the printer to print. Now to think about something for lunch. Bob just got home from ushering at a funeral and is taking a cat nap with Sonny on his lap.

Hope you all enjoy a terrific Tuesday!

[gma22]

Well I thought it was allergies but it's turned out to be viral. I feel rotten but hopefully I caught it early and can get it over with fairly soon. The coughing is the worst. I have moved past the sore throat and am coughing a lot but it seems to already be breaking up.

We are meeting a friend from high school for dinner tomorrow evening. He is down at one of the casinos gambling. I think he's alone too. He and his wife live in Little Rock. I just hope the smokiness of the casino doesn't make my cold worse.

Jack has his appointment for his hand on Friday and Saturday we are taking Thomas out to lunch for his birthday. Sunday is commissary day so I have to get over this stuff. At least I have no fever.

Jean: Yes, we knew ahead of time about their handicap service. It was sure nice to have. It was so hot the only thing we ate was a hot dog each. The heat and humidity here is pretty bad now. We are inthe 90'severy day. I worry about Jack being out in it but his boss is pretty good about keeping jobs inside as much as hecan.

Everyone have a goodday!

[Jean]

Good Morning! The sun is shining and it is heating up. We drove up to the lake, yesterday, to bring home a little fishing boat that Bob has sold. We got caught in the tail end of a 70 mph wind/rain storm that blew through. We stopped in a gas station/bait shop parking lot because we couldn't see anything. It didn't last long but there was quite a bit of damage to boats and hoists plus lots of trees down. There was no power at the cabin and the waves were rolling in over the dock. Our big boat is ok but the second fishing boat is full of debris from the waves, not to mention lots of sand. Bob hooked on to the boat and pulled it up on the lawn; it just sits on the beach w/o a hoist. The neighbor's wood dock has planks stacked up from the waves hitting it. On the other side their jet ski came off the hoist; it was tied to a post but was banging into the dock from the waves. Bob and another neighbor managed to get it turned around and pulled up on the beach then tied it to a tree. The wind was so scary! The storm brought in cooler air but still very humid. I was hoping to go to the church this morning but no luck there. I did go renew a library book and stopped by the grocery store. After lunch I am meeting with my boss at the hospital to go over payroll figures. I was almost $100 short on the direct deposit from the accountant. I want to be sure my figures are right before I face her. She hates the sale days; part of it is sloppy writing of numbers by the employees.

"Gma," some people are trying to make our casinos smoke free. Sounds good to me! Of course the bill didn't pass this year so I'm betting it will be back next year. The author I said I was too lazy to look up is Lisa Scottoline, Running from the Law. I know the clerk who was working this morning, and she said LS is a popular author. I don't think I've read any of her other books. I hope you feel better soon! Good luck to Jack! I know you will enjoy your lunch with Thomas.

Bob will be home for lunch soon. It is BLTs today with deli coleslaw. Hope you all enjoy a wonderful Wednesday!

[gma22]

Good morning all. I finally got some sleep last night after taking both capsule and liquid cold stuff. It is now breaking up thank goodness.

We had a hard rain storm last evening and now it's more humid than ever. I sure hope Jack doesn't have to work out in it. I dread even leaving the house.

QVC sent me the wrong size in a skort I ordered so I sent it back but haven't gotten the exchange yet. They screw up and I have to pay for shipping both ways. Hopefully I'll get it before summer is over!! 😬

Jean: Wow that sounds like a heck of a storm. Jack's hip was bothering him a lot so I drove almost all the way home from Atlanta on Sunday. It was gorgeous weather but heavy traffic. We got about 5 miles or so from Memphis and I drove into a hard, fast downpour where you could barely see. I had started to pass someone , but backed off and pulled into the right lane and slowed down because you couldn't see the car in front of you. It was like that for about 3 miles or so then abruptly stopped and the highway was completely dry and it was totally sunny again. Really weird. I know the author but I don't think I've read her books. I just finished the latest John Grisham book he writes for kids. His books are about a kid whose parents are both lawyers and he considers himself a kid lawyer. Cute reads.

Well I better get moving and get my chores done. Have a great Thursday eeryone.

[gma22]

Good morning everyone. It is very humid already this morning and going to be hot, hot, hot!

We had a great time with my high school friend last night. The food was superb but really expensive. He is a gambler so he didn't pay for anything at all as it was all comped. Jack had a veal chop with mashed potatoes and scallops as an appetizer and I had a steak and baked potato and this incredible wedge salad with the best bleu cheese dressing I have ever had. It was a lot of fun catching up and finding out gossip and such. He was in the best clique in high school and he told us the only reason he was is because he played sports, which I didn't know. Poor man is crippled now with bad knees and bad back. He broke his back and has had two surgeries on it and it was so bad it has limited what he can do with his hands now. He had to give up his beloved golf and go on disability. It always makes you thankful for everything when you see someone else like that. He is such a nice guy.

Today is Jack's appointment with the surgeon. I hope they can schedule him soon as he is in pain all the time now. I can't do anything to relieve it and it frustrates me. Tomorrow is lunch with Thomas and I am looking forward to that.

Everyone have a nice weekend and try to stay cool.

[Jean]

Good Evening! Another hot, sunny, windy day in my corner of the world. Yesterday morning was my once a month coffee date with my math teacher friend. In the afternoon I got the spare bedroom ready for a relative who was in the area for a funeral, wanted to stop here and catch up, then head off to see my "mom" this morning. Don't know know why I've kept so much "stuff" in that room. I'm trying to sort clothes so hauled all of those down to the basement. Now to start that project over. We sat up and talked until 1 am. Today I met Amanda's mom and we headed up the interstate to Zowie's half hour play. Jason and Amanda both had work to do, so we headed back home right afterwards. Long ride for a short play! I am tired tonight! Bob played in a golf tournament today; it was 95 here and the car showed 100 on the interstate coming home. Tomorrow I have to do the gift shop paperwork, make the deposit, and get a pedicure. Bob wants to go to the lake tomorrow in order to clean the gunk out of the little boat. Sunday is church and counting at church. Then I need to put clothes together for MN.

"Gma," you were a good woman to drive home! Bob isn't a good rider and I don't especially like to drive if I don't have to. Glad you enjoyed seeing your classmate. How did Jack come out with his doctor appointment? Have fun with Thomas tomorrow!

I am heading for a shower and bed! See you tomorrow!

[gma22]

Good morning to you all. It is so humid here you can hardly breathe when you step outside. Definitely wouldn't want Susan to be here. It is also very hot.
This morning we have our WM run then will come back and put stuff away then go to lunch later with Thomas.

I thought this cold had worked itself pretty much out, but it is hanging on and driving me nuts with the coughing. I cough so hard I leak so am wearing something for that for the time being. Don't want to pee my pants out with my grandson now do I??


Jean: They took xrays again and saw it had deteriorated more. He wanted to give Jack another cortisone shot but Jack vetoed it because it hurts so badly to do it and doesn't last him but a couple days. He was given two braces to wear, one is for the thumb only and one a hand and thumb brace. Hopefully the smaller one he can wear at work. They gave him stronger meds to take and he is supposed to see how it goes for a few weeks. You know doctors. They always want to err on the cautious side. He is just going to go back in a month from now or so and ask for surgery, which the doctor was open to yesterday. He is a very good doctor and is very reasonable to questions and the patient's requests.

Gotta get going to so we can to WM early and get back here. Have a nice Saturday.

[Jean]

Good Evening! A bit cooler, but humid day in my neighborhood. I balanced the gift shop paperwork and picked up the money this morning. Have a check and the checkbook to drop off Monday morning on our way out of town. I glanced at my toes and realized I really needed to have a new polish job so went for a pedicure too. The rest of the day has been doing laundry and last minute list making. The last two weeks have been so hectic that I haven't even thought about what I need to pack for clothes or checked the weather where we are going. It could be back to jeans and sweatshirts.

"Gma," I hope your cough is gone soon. I know how annoying that can be. Since Jack has had his hand checked before, and it isn't getting better, I am surprised that the doctor didn't go ahead with the surgery. What did you have for lunch with Thomas?

I need to get Bob's socks out of the dryer, match them in pairs, and put them away. He likes the short white socks to wear with tennis shoes. I can't talk him into sandals; he says his feet are ugly. Hope you all enjoy a nice evening!

[gma22]

Good morning gals! It is a bit cooler this morning, but still in the 80's at 5:45! Going to be hot and humid today again.

We have commissary day so will be out and about early so we can get that done. I got the WM stuff yesterday and we came home and put it away then went out later to take Thomas to lunch. We invited his dad to go with us and urged him to go, but he was cleaning their pool out and wanted to finish. He is getting ready to put the house up for sale he said.

Thomas is so hilarious sometimes. He is just so genuine and so very smart but not obnoxious like really smart kids can be. We talked to him about all kinds of things and one was college. We asked him about taking his ACT's and SAT's as a junior and he said he was going to take one this fall and one in the spring. He took the PACT this last year and scored a 31 and 32 is perfect. Jack jokingly asked him if he'd get a perfect score with both of them and he just said, "yes." He wasn't joking nor was he being conceited, he was just stating a fact as he knew it. He recently got back on a trip to California with his dad and I guess the mountain climbing wasn't all it was cracked up to be. They ended up having to buy stuff to climb through ice and when they got the to summit and started down, they were 4 hours behind schedule and had to camp halfway down overnight and they didn't have camping gear with them. Kelly has a picture of him in shorts climbing the mountain and sweatpants in Death Valley.

Jean: Hope Bob has a nice Father's Day today. I had already bought Jack his presents so he gets a card this morning. We took Thomas to Cheddars for lunch. Jack and I both had the Monte Cristo. Theirs is the best I have ever had. Thomas is Thomas. He ordered the lunch special of Chicken Tortilla soup, baked potato and half a turkey sandwich with water to drink. I sure wish all kids in this country ate like that then there wouldn't be so many fatties. Jack and I brought half of our lunch home and just heated it up for dinner. Ok brain freeze. Where are you going???

Everyone have a lovely day today.

[Jean]

Good Afternoon and Happy Father's Day! It's hot and humid again today, but is supposed to be cooling down into the 80s. Went to early church and then back at 1:00 to count money. The new main computer has been installed but I couldn't figure out how to get to what I needed by starting there first. I called the office manager who just lives a couple blocks from the church. She doesn't have anything to do with the money operations but came in, and figured out that what/where I needed still has glitches. So I left the pile again this week, and told her I would be gone most of the week.

"Gma," we are leaving tomorrow for MN. Bob and my bil are going to fish and we gals are going to shop! There are all kinds of antique and gift shops as well as a huge mall and super shopping places in St. Cloud. We will be home Thursday night. Usually we rent a house, for a week, but because of my mom's health issues didn't make any definite plans. She seems to be doing ok right now, so we will be staying at a motel/hotel and eating out! I'm not sure how the guys will clean and freeze fish to bring home assuming they catch some this year. It sounds like you enjoyed the time with Thomas. Maybe you will be able to do that more often. Mountain climbing wouldn't be my idea of fun. Bob and I quit buying each other gifts a long time ago. His feeling is that if we want/need something, go ahead and buy it. He just said, "Happy Anniversary, Happy Birthday, and Merry Christmas" from your new furnace and air conditioner. Our grandkids are limited in their junk food and pop, but I think it is still their first choice if they can get away with it.

I need to decide what clothes I am taking and pack as much as I can today. I always forget something!
Hope you all enjoy the rest of a super Sunday!

[gma22]

Good morning to you all. It is already hot and humid this morning with lots more to come. I saw the other day the jet stream is clear up in Canada so everyone is having hot weather even cool weather states.

We got the shopping done and came home and unloaded and took a nap. We went out to dinner for Father's Day last night and boy was it busy. Lots of huge parties and we had to wait for awhile. This black couple with their two kids sat down next to me and the little girl was fascinated by my jewelry and clothes. She asked if she could sit on my lap and I let her. Her mom sure wasn't friendly and neither was dad, but the two kids were. I talked to the little girl the whole time we sat there and of course her twin brother wanted in on the action so I tried to include him too. I was wearing my Pandora style Harry Potter bracelet and showed them all the different charms and then she wanted to wear it and he wanted to wear my medic alert bracelet. I told them no and tried to explain why but am not sure they got it.

Jack went back to work this morning and I see he wore his thumb only brace. I hope it works for him at work even a little bit. Nothing, even the meds takes the pain completely away so I told him wait 3 weeks and make another appointment and start the surgical process. There is no reason to wait if you aren't getting relief.

Jack should be getting his new shaving heads for his razor today. We tried to buy them in town and couldn't find them anywhere so I ordered them at Amazon and they are supposed to be here today. I have some Clinique coming this week, some peach yarn to make a bonnet and baby blanket for my niece who is pregnant, and finally found a traveling jewelry bag I like for trips. I put stuff in a Ziploc bag when we went to Atlanta and it got all tangled up. Last year I took both my hang up jewelry bags, which are like the cheap style of suit bags and that didn't work too well either. This is more like a purse style and it has zippered bags and compartments for everything. I also fell in love with this handbag that is called Wisteria and is this beautiful lavender color. I know, I need another bag like a whole in the head, but ahh well.

Jean: Have a good time in MN and find lots of great stuff. I do for Jack because his kids don't. His son called him yesterday but that was it. So, I gave him a card, took him out to eat and bought him a couple things he wanted. Sorry you still can't get the counting stuff done. Wonder why they aren't getting it up and running back to normal? I told Thomas we will try and get with him more often. He has his permit now so I told him anytime he wants to go out and drive to give me a call and I will come get him and take him out to drive. He can't get his license until July. His dad's car is a stick shift so he has to drive the van they use for Boy Scouts to drive with his dad. His mom is not patient so I doubt he likes to drive with her.

Everyone have a good day and start to the week.

[Jean]

Good Afternoon! Another sunny, cooler day in my corner of the world. The usual breezy wind is blowing too. Long story short, our mini trip was cancelled. My stepmom fell, dislocated her hip, and is in the hospital. She was supposed to get a brace today and go back to her facility, but the doctor decided to wait another day. Not sure if she is rehab bound, nursing home, or back to assisted living. We were packed and started out with the idea we would pick up the boat and they would come as soon as the brace was in place and stepmom out of the hospital. I understand feeling the need to stay; we were as far as the cabin so took the boat out for a ride, had a late lunch, and came home.

"Gma," I hope Jack has some relief from the pain, using the brace. Surgery isn't fun but if that's what will fix it, I hope for sooner rather than later. I'm surprised the parents would let their kids spend so much time with you. They probably enjoyed not having to deal with them. I guess I will have to do some serious shopping in Sioux Falls on one of the game days. They have a huge mall and I know which stores I like. I just don't like to shop! I need a new winter coat and they will be in the stores soon.

I have a few things left to put away; that doesn't take as long as rounding things up to pack and hope I don't forget anything. Hope you all enjoy the rest of your day and evening!

[gma22]

Good morning to you all. We are hot already this morning. I have upstairs cleaning to get done this morning so want to get up there pretty quickly and get it done because it gets hot up there.

One of the ladies I went to high school with and is on my friends list for FB had a family member post someone stole her grocery money out of her purse. She was furious about it especially because they have a limited income and the envelope had on it that it was for groceries. They left her $10! She was going to have to go to the food pantry she said and she was embarrassed to do that. I felt so sorry for her and told my high school friend I would send her the money to buy groceries if she would send me her family members address. We used to live hand to mouth a lot when Jack was in the Navy so I know what it is like and it just made me sick to think of her worrying about getting food for her kids. Don't know if she will think I am a nut case or not but we shall see. Why do people have to do such awful things?

The arthritis in my left hand has been really bad for about 3-4 days now. I can hardly bend the fingers and I am left handed. Anti inflammatories are doing a bit of good. It is frustrating when you can't use the hand properly. I don't even know what caused it to start hurting and stiffen up so much. If it doesn't improve I may need to just go to the doctors and see what's up. I am pretty sure nothing is broken and that it is just arthritis, but I have never had it do this before. The pain is pretty intense.

Jean: Oh I am so sorry about your mom. I hope she gets better soon. Broken hips are the worst for seniors, especially if they are immobile from illness. I am sorry you had to cancel your trip too. I am not much of a shopper in stores anymore. I hate to try stuff on for one thing and I don't like the crowds either. When we were in Atlanta I did do some mall shopping, but not much. I found a nice floaty top at Macy's. I am still waiting for them to get my return and exchange my skort from QVC. That is the bad part of shopping, returning anything.

You all have a good day. I am headed upstairs.

[QuilterInVA]

Good afternoon, ladies! 92 degrees and climbing. A thunderstorm is in the prediction but the sun is shining and the humidity is high.

I had an appoints at the Research Center this morning and this afternoon I'm off to the dentist for a small filling. This evening my quilting bee is having a covered dish for a friend who is moving to Idaho. I got a call from WW and they have a permanent weigher position open they want me to take. I just have to think about it. I'm not sure I want to be tied to a job anymore but they do pay good.

Faye, I have rheumatoid arthritis in my hands and wrists and osteoarthritis in the rest of my body. It's worse when I don't move enough. I hope your hands are better soon. Is the splint helping Jack? I had to wear the one for the thumb when I dislocated my thumb. It was a big pain in the patoot. I'm sure your offer to Thomas to take him driving will be used. He is such a remarkable young man. He should take the test for Mensa and join.

Jean, so sorry to hear your stepmom fell. I wish her a speedy recovery. Its a shame you didn't get to go on your trip. I hate to shop. I mostly get stuff from Kohl's or the thrift store. The malls are not safe anymore around here.

Have a great rest-of-the day.