[gma22]

Good morning gals. I noticed at 6 AM it is 80 degrees and supposed to be 104 here today. I had to chuckle as I have the weather temps for South Bend, Las Vegas, and Memphis on my homepage in a little row and for Memphis it says 104 with a thermometer that is blazing out the end, but Vegas is supposed to be 106 and it doesn't have a thermometer. Guess they consider that regular weather there. They are going to have a regular cold front as next week their temps are only supposed to reach 100! All I can say is thank you rental car!

Never did get to the commissary yesterday so I have to go today. We decided to get a bite of breakfast first, ended up having to wait half an hour then when it was all over we were in there almost 90 minutes so we just did the Walmart run and I am going to the commissary today.

I also have to go by the atm and get cash so Jack can get the car tags next week. They won't let you use your bank check card and they charge you an extra 5% for your credit card. I don't trust them to mail the stuff so I don't do it by check and they won't let you pay by check if you go to the dmv to get them so I always have to get cash. We need to get a move on as they are due by the end of the month.

Jean: I do laundry everyday even when I worked. I would just put a load in before I left work and put it in the dryer when I came home. I quit separating laundry years ago. The only time I do that is if I have something I know could stain something else or if I would have to do some of Jack's work clothes. I don't bleach whites as I have allergic reactions to bleach sometimes so there isn't really any reason to separate. If I do one load a day I keep it up fine. With us going to the pool everyday that makes 5 towels instead of 3 (3 bathing, 1 for my pool workout and 2 for Jack and I going to the pool) and I use a washcloth everyday when I bathe, but other than that, I probably wouldn't have enough to do a full load everyday. Hope Ryan's fever came and went and they can get his surgery rescheduled.

Jack has his yearly cardio appt a week from Tuesday and we will see how the dr seems to think he is getting on. We have some small concerns to ask him about. The niacin is still causing Jack occasional problems with the deep burning flushing and hotness and his scar will tingle from time to time so I want to ask what causes that, but other than that he is doing fine. We made the appt so Jack could take off most of the day the day before vacation and use sick time to do it! The cardiology group he belongs to had two offices, but in June moved into a big new building combining them all and since we have never been to it, and will have to find it, we will probably go fairly early. I will just take my knitting I guess.

I better go and do morning chores. Hope everyone has a good Sunday.
Faye

[Jean]

Good Morning, Flowers! I've been awake since 5 and "up" since 5:30. Bob wanted to be on the road by 6 and he was. Once I'm up, I can't go back to bed; maybe a catnap this afternoon. I watched Joel Osteen on TV, have a load of laundry going, and have read the Sunday papers. I'm thinking I will make a WM run this morning before the back-to-school crowd hits this afternoon. It is 75 and humid, humid, humid this morning! One of the "garage cats" was peeking in my back door this morning. She visits regularly; she won't have anything to do with me at her house, but will let me scratch her ears at my house. Go figure!

"Gma" -- Thanks for starting the new thread! We can still trust the mail to get our car tags so I just send a check. Some "higher up" decided to eliminate the rotating driver's license people who came here 3 days a week, and have the county treasurer issue the licenses from her office in the courthouse. Talk about a mess! They are open from 8:30 until 4 -- like I'm in school at 7:30 until 3:45 most days. There is always a line of people waiting and when it is 4:00, they shut the window no matter how many people are still waiting. I happen to play bells with the county treasurer so I've gotten some of the inside info. No one was trained to help her, and she is supposed to do the ride alongs for new licenses. Some of the people around here are less than desirable and I sure wouldn't want to be in a car alone with them. Efficiency went out the window on that one; talk about a SNAFU. I hope you make it to the commissary and back before it gets too hot today. Can you talk Jack into going with you? Hope all is well at the cardio appt.

Susan -- Hope you are enjoying your weekend!

I hope you all have a relaxing day! Enjoy and smile!

Jean -- in Iowa!

[gma22]

Good morning gals! Just a smidged over two weeks and we will be in the city of fun! We are at a point where everyday seems to be two weeks long. I guess when you plan for it as long as we do, when it gets close you just can't stand the wait.

I did my commissary run yesterday. It was hot, hot, hot, by the time I came out and got into the car, but while the gal was unloading my groceries into the trunk I got the car started so the ac would kick in. Jack and I have a deal for the most part, I shop and he carries in. He said he would go yesterday, but I really didn't need his help and at least I didn't have to stand in line to check out. The commissary has baggers that work for tips, so I don't have to unload my groceries and it is worth the $2-$3 not to have to do it. I did feel sorry for the little Philipino lady who had to sling 3 big containers of cat litter into the trunk though. I bought enough to make 2 litter boxes for the cat since anyone I get to come to check on them, I don't ask them to do anything but make sure he is ok. I set out enough food and water and make two litter boxes for him. To keep the mess to a minimum, I take an old cotton blanket that has no fuzz to it and place it under the litter boxes so that the surrounding carpet gets no litter all over. It makes for an easier cleanup when I get home.

Jean: Hope Bob has a good time and you don't get too lonely by yourself. How long did you say he is gone? Maybe you will get some nice fresh fish to eat when he gets back? I am not much of a fish eater so if Jack liked to fish, which he doesn't at all, I would definitely have to have him give it to his fishing partners to take home or to eat while we were camping. Sounds like whomever decided on all that with your car stuff is a total idiot. I feel for the poor woman who has to get into car with some of the people getting licenses. I watched I think it was 60 minutes last night and they were talking about the black community has adapted this "no snitchin'" thing where a black person doesn't ever talk to the police EVER. I guess the scummy rappers are promoting this idea and now kids have the notion that talking to police about crimes they have seen is wrong and is a slur to their race. One of the big anti violence black men that is trying hard to work on this is making little or no headway and they had one of the million $$$$$ rappers who said straight out that if he saw a serial killer next door murder someone he would not tell the police he would move instead! On top of that, they interviewed kids who think this notion is the right idea. No wonder those three beautiful black college students were murdered in Newark. That is just awful.

Well, Jack is downstairs and will want the computer so he can eat his cereal and play FreeCell.

Have a good Monday all!
Faye

[Jean]

Good Morning, Flowers! Well, this will be my last morning post for a while. I've got the recycle bags out for the garbage guys to pick up, cut off some dead flowers, filled the birdbaths with fresh water, let the garage cats out for the day, called BCBS about paying for the shingles shot, and here I am! TA-DA!

"Gma" -- We have carry out kids at one grocery store, but I've never seen anyone tip them. The other grocery store has a drive-up where you can go and they will load the car for you. I usually take my own basket and then park it in a basket holder thing in the parking lot. Bob's trip is a day driving up, two days of fishing, and a day's drive home again. The other two guys are in their late 70s and Jason, so it is definitely a mix! They are only allowed to bring two fish per person back with them and the resort cleans and packs the fish so the authorities can tell what kind they are. They eat fish at noon along the shore; the guide does all the cooking which I would like. When he used to go further north with his coworkers, they fixed all their own meals because they were out in the middle of nowhere. Here there are some old time "mom and pop" restaurants so they eat out at night which I would like! I think people are minding their own business more and more these days. I know here it is hard to get the kids to "rat" on any of their peers who might be involved in anything illegal. Hope you stay cool today!

I need to get busy! Have a marvelous Monday and don't forget to !

Jean -- in Iowa!

[QuilterInVA]

Good morning, ladies! Had a great weekend with temps in the 80s - a nice respite. But back in the 90s today.

What I need is someone to carry the groceries in from the car. I don't mind putting them in the car, it's the unloading and putting away I hate.

Faye, I know the days seem longer and longer the closer it gets to vacation. Maybe you could take a couple of meal replacement bars on the plane. More filling than crackers.

Jean, we get a $5 discount if we get out license plate renewals on line or by mail. We can renew our driver's license online as well, every other time, if we don't have any points on our license.

[gma22]

Good morning everybody! It is supposed to be 106 here today! It is also the week all the idiots pour into town for Elvis memorial week. We are expecting these horrible temps for several more days and these idiots stand in line for hours so they can walk past the man's grave. He died 30 years ago on Thursday (my sil's birthday actually) and they are having a lot of special stuff because of it. I have never seen anything like this with any other person/celebrity, ever. They expect over 100,000 people to pour into town this week. Poor Jack had to work in the "blower" building yesterday and it was about 130 degrees in the building. He came home and said, "Let's go swimming!" We went over and cooled off even in the bath water pool and came back in and fixed dinner.

I got this super offer and changed hotels this morning at the last minute. We saved another $300 so we are almost going for free! lol I noticed yesterday the plane to Atlanta is fairly empty still, but from Atlanta to Vegas it is about 85% full. Even though it is hard to get up at 3:30 AM and get ready, I like having most of my travel day free in Vegas. We end up getting into Vegas at 10 AM their time so we have a lot of the day to enjoy. Our first trip out we took NW airline and flew direct. The flight was delayed 2 hours because of rain in Vegas of all things and we didn't get to the hotel until 1 AM That first year, we also didn't rent a car, but took a shuttle bus that dropped you off in a place where you had to drag your luggage to a spot where you could get a bellman so we were exhausted when we got checked in. Since we hadn't eaten because all the Memphis airport restaurants inside of security were closed, we were starved. I remember going into their 24 hour cafe and getting a club sandwich and was too tired to eat it! They don't allow takeout so I just wrapped it in some napkins and put it in my purse and took it to the room. It ended up getting thrown out of course. On our very first full day in Vegas it rained ALL day. Since we didn't have a car, we stayed at the hotel and wasted a whole day doing nothing. We did make up for it when Jay and Alicia got into town. It was the year of their wedding.

Susan: Thanks for the tip. I try to take crackers because I usually get a queasy stomach. Not so much from flying as I love to fly, but more because I am excited, it is so early in the morning and I haven't eaten. Maybe I can find some meal replacement bars that will fit the bill. I hate grocery shopping and consider it a necessary evil pretty much. I emailed the commissary director yesterday and reamed him about all the stuff going on there, like shelves being empty and on Sunday there were 4 freezer/refrigerator cases completely empty and turned off. They have been that way for a month. What's with that???

Jean: Hope your first day back went ok. I told Jack I knew the city kids started the same day as Thomas (he goes to county schools) because the guy who picks up the kids next door was over there pounding the heck out of the door at 7 AM yesterday morning. He gets really mad if they aren't out by the garage waiting for him and the teenager (who has THREE children) is none too reliable to be ready on time. All the commissaries pretty much have baggers that work for tips only for as long as I can remember. They have never had employees who bag so they had to do something to get groceries bagged up. At some places they have cans to put tips in, but since that pretty much screws the baggers because people don't feel obligated to tip that way, most of the commissaries have gone to a bagger getting tips directly from the customer. I usually tip $2, which isn't that much, but every little bit helps and a lot of them get handed a quarter or 50 cents, which is pretty insulting I think. These people bag your groceries, haul them out and put them in your car and you can't fork over a couple bucks???

Well, I have part of my day started but have a lot of things on my plate with vacation getting closer and closer.

Have a good Tuesday!
Faye

[QuilterInVA]

Elvis lives...in Vegas, I hear so keep looking for him, Faye! All those people in Memphis are on a wild goose chase - he isn't there. A nice bit for the economy in the area, however.

Today is our appointment with the surgeon that did Stan's graft. The incision under his arm is still draining a few drops each day, nothing like it was, but it still is a worry to me.

Faye, you can keep that hot stuff - we have a pleasant day in the 80s. It's going to get hot again, but these few cooler days keep me going. Our pool closes Labor Day, does yours?

[Jean]

Good Evening, Flowers! My computer wouldn't "load" when I turned it on tonight, but third time was the charm. I was getting a little worried because it is at least 5 years old and never had anything done to it. We spent the day in air conditioning at school and the weather changed midafternoon. We got a few sprinkles of rain and then tonight another shower with quite a bit of wind. My afternoon was spent listening to the special ed. teachers quibble about which student would be assigned to which teacher and what classes they should be in. It seems there was a computer glitch and all the special ed. students were put in regular homerooms and regular classes without any special ed. co-teaching in the class. I finally went back to the classroom and pitched multiple copies of worksheets that I've run over the years. The teacher won't be teaching any class alone this year and needed the space in the file cabinet for other stuff.

I am missing one of the garage cats -- she wasn't there last night nor this morning. I sure hope she is there tomorrow -- there's no sign of her being splattered on the street so I'm hoping she is just hanging out somewhere besides home.

"Gma" -- On one of the TV game shows the question was "who is or was the most popular entertainer" and the answer was Elvis. I liked him but don't think I would stand in line in such hot weather! Congrats on getting a good deal on a different hotel room. Every penny counts!

Susan -- Hope Stan's doctor appt. went ok. I thought Elvis was really in Branson! He got into a Corvette and we followed him until we lost him in traffic!

I'm heading off to bed! Have a wonderful Wednesday tomorrow!

Jean -- from Iowa!

[gma22]

Good morning gals! Sounds like your weather is certainly cooler than ours. I took the trash to the corner this morning and found it to be hot and sticky and the temps says it is 86 out. I did get a nice surprise though. I was walking back to our gate and there on the ground were two wadded up $20 bills. I just picked them up and brought them into the house. Who knows who they belong to. The traffic next door continues so for all I know I have someone's drug money. I told Jack to use them today to buy milk and get him some breakfast so we can make sure they weren't counterfeit. If they happen to be, I will just call the police and have them come and get them. Of course here, I would be lucky if the police ever showed up.

Jean: I would bet the old Elvis would play Branson a lot, but then if he didn't lose his voice, I can see him being as popular still as Wayne Newton, Tom Jones, or Tony Bennett. Wayne has his own showroom in Vegas and I could see one of the casinos building a showroom for Elvis. He certainly has a following, that's for sure. The people that come into town here stand for hours just to file past his grave. The tomb of the unknown soldier doesn't get visited as much as Elvis. You know, the family doesn't own most of Elvis anymore. I do believe they own the house and grounds, but I think they sold off everything else for around $80 million if I remember correctly. There is this cheap junk hotel across from Graceland called "Heartbreak Hotel" (I kid you not!) and I think I read they are tearing it down along with the little strip mall souvenir shops in front of it and building something else related to Elvis enterprise. We plan on going to see "Big Elvis" at Bill's Gambling Saloon while we are there. This guy is probably 600 lbs, but is spot dead on singing Elvis stuff. From what I hear, he sits on this throne thing for part of the show, but then gets up and wanders in the crowd singing to them and shaking hands and such. Everyone raves about him and his show is free so you can't beat that. We also plan on going to the Irish pub in the hotel we are staying at to hear the Wild Celts play. I really like Irish music and it should be fun. We went to hear a father and son band there when we were there in 2005 and they were great. It is also free, well except for buying a drink, which you don't have to buy another one and you can get non alcoholic ones. The band in 2005 had this Elvis impersonator, I may have told you about. He was pretty good singing and hilarious. He had gone into the bathroom and gotten a length of TP and used it as his scarf. He wiped his pretend sweat and then flung it to an older bleach blond with lots of makeup and she and her friend fought over it and tore it in half! I saw the two of those pathetic creatures fighting over him signing the toilet paper! We also want to go see the dueling pianos at Harrahs. It is free and I hear they are outstanding. So, you don't have to spend money to have things to look at or listen to, you just have to plan a bit.

Susan: Only one year did the pool stay open past Labor Day and it was not as hot as it has been this year, but the pool is used so little I can't see them spending the extra money. Now that the woman supposedly patrols (though we talked to her day before yesterday and she had a security guard uniform on, which means she works so I don't know how she watches the pool,) but anyhow, we haven't had a bunch of problems with people who don't live there coming and crashing the pool. We have been going every afternoon for 3 weeks now and have only had people in the pool three times, once a group of obnoxious black kids, once a white man and his teen son and yesterday a young black man all by himself. It is wonderful to go over there and swim and not have someone splashing water on you or being obnoxious.

Better get the dishes put away out of the dishwasher and get back to knitting. I am coming along on the baby's sweater, but it is knit in one piece and looks really odd at this point.

Have a great hump day!
Faye

[QuilterInVA]

Hi, ladies! Stan's doctor's appoint went about as I expected -- "looks good, I'm please with the healing, we'll keep watching, come back in 3 weeks." Then he wanted to go to IHOP for supper. It was buy one get one free dinner day. I had some cod that turned out to be very good - who knew they could do fish!

Jean, it sounds like you'll soon be having another fun school year. Not much has changed, has it?

Faye, you certainly have a great vacation lined up. Any room for me to stow away?

[Jean]

Good Evening, Flowers! I am heading off to bed shortly! It was terribly humid today although the temperature was in the low 80s. The school building was warm walking in this morning and it didn't get any better. I spent the day being a "gofer" trying to get schedules straightened out for a couple of teachers. We have a new special ed. teacher who supposedly has 20 years of teaching experience although not in special ed., I guess. Anyhow, she keeps saying "I don't understand" and others try to tell her the scheduling was messed up from the first day we met. She spent the afternoon in the guidance office after going from teacher to teacher all morning long; each teacher told her exactly the same thing and she still didn't get it. She is co-teaching science and biology so maybe she is book smart and common sense dumb! When I got home I took a shower to cool off and put on all clean clothes. Bob got home this evening with his limit of 4 fish -- everyone caught their limit each day and a good time was had by all. His fishing clothes were pretty ripe so I did another load of laundry tonight. The garage cats didn't want to go in their garage tonight so they are spending the night outside.

"Gma" -- We have seen the dueling pianos, but I would enjoy seeing them again. I'd probably go to any performance that was free! If I didn't like it I wouldn't feel guilty to get up and leave during the performance. It would be interesting to know where the two $20s came from. You could have split them with Jack. I found a quarter and a penny in the parking lot today!

Susan -- I'm glad to hear that Stan's appt. went ok. I did find out part of my schedule today and I will be going back into an algebra class this year, and possibly a pre-algebra class. I did that a year ago and enjoyed doing it even though I am not a math person. At least I was able to help students in study halls because I had the notes from class. There is no more modified speech class so I won't have to do that, which is good. The teacher requested a bilingual aide come in or else students needing a translator shouldn't be able to take the class until they could do it alone. I think the scheduling is pretty much set now. With 780 students, there is not a lot of leeway.

My computer wants to restart because of updating so guess I will let it and head for bed. Have a terrific Thursday tomorrow!

Have a terrific Thursday tomorrow!

Jean -- from Iowa!

[gma22]

Good morning flowers! I woke up to a huge mess this morning, diahrrea and vomit everywhere. Fortune must have gotten into something outside. Of course Jack can't help because he gags so I was rushing around cleaning everything up with wet paper towels. It was actually confined to our room, though he at least did that on the puppy pad we keep in there, then all over Jack's office and the dining room. Thank goodness he didn't do it on my expensive throw rugs in the living room as they are white, navy and yellow and would have been a nightmare to clean up. Poor little guy is laying at the end of the couch. Years ago when Kelly had a beagle that got sick, a vet told us we could give a dog 1/2 to 1 tsp of Pepto Bismol for vomiting or diahrrea if they exhibit no other symptoms, like convulsions etc so I pried his jaw open and Jack poured about 1/2 tsp in. Messy for sure, but I think he got most of it so maybe it will settle his little tummy and intestines. I picked up all food as I saw the cat eating some earlier and he won't starve not to eat anymore today that's for sure. I left down the water so we will see how it goes. He hasn't done anymore anywhere. I blocked the stairs with chairs so I could keep him downstairs today. The cat can get around them by jumping on the seat cushions if he wants.

Jean: Sounds like the school is a nut house this year. How is the new principal working out so far? Euwww, fish and lake smelling clothes. You know, I often wondered how CSI people and police can stand it with dead bodies that have been in the water. Fish and water smells on top of dead body has to be the worst. Boy, I would like to have the 80's here. It is so humid the doors are swelling and sticking. Now that is humid. We reached 104 yesterday I think and no end in sight. We went out to the pool yesterday and I told Jack it is hot when you walk outside barely clothed and you sweat right away!

Susan: So glad Stan is progressing well. I guess his little bit of leakage isn't anything to worry about then, so that is good. You can go in the baggage as long as you agree to cover the over the weight limit charge. Considering I pack enough to go right to the edge, it would be cheaper to get a ticket! lol Actually, I am doing well with packing this year. I am done except for putting in my flip flops, my hygiene, medical stuff and remembering Jack's meds. He packs for himself but I go over everything to make sure he doesn't forget anything.

I guess I better get going and get chores done. All I have done is run around cleaning up ick this morning and I did start a load of clothes.

Have a happy Thursday
Faye

[QuilterInVA]

Faye, you poor thing to wake up to a mess. I swear my cat always runs for the carpet when he throws up - why not the ceramic tile? Poor little Fortune! I had a cat that was allergic to fleas - and the vet told me to give him children's Benedryl when he was itching.

Jean - sounds like things are right on target at school - in chaos already! I hate the "fishy" smell so I don't envy you washing the clothes.

We're heading for 98 degrees today - ugh! Humidity feels like 98% as well.

[Jean]

Good Evening, Flowers! The humidity has gone way down so today was a nice day! I spent most of the day sorting through more excess papers and hanging up posters. Tomorrow morning we have our whole district meeting for most of the morning. In the afternoon the teachers meet for another in-service and I hopefully will finish what I've been working on all week. My schedule right now looks like I will be going from one end of the building to the other every hour. Maybe I will walk off some excess pounds this semester!

"Gma" -- I feel for ya getting up to such a mess and then having to clean it up too. I hope Fortune is feeling better tonight! I think the lady principal is going to be a pleasant change of pace. She will only be "in charge" for this school year. Her husband is a farmer and they live quite a distance from here. She was a middle school principal at one time so I think she has a handle on what goes on. The town she lives in is about the same size as here. If you have packed for vacation, you're not too anxious, are you?!

Susan -- I usually pick the cat up and put her on the tile or laminate floor. She has such thick fur and is shedding like mad. I keep thinking I should give her some vaseline but just don't remember to do it. We had a cat who would lick out of the vaseline jar on the changing table when Jason was a baby . . . never ever had a fur ball in her life.

Have a nice evening and a fantastic Friday! I'm tired tonight and going to bed early . . . famous last words!

Jean -- from Iowa!

[gma22]

Just a quick post this morning. I am dead on my feet. I sat up with Fortune all night in the recliner. I am taking him to the vet today as he has still had a couple bouts of diahrrea last night and then this morning. I did let him eat just a bit last night and he is drinking water so hopefully he isn't dehydrating too much. We will just have to see what the vet says, I guess. What a time for this to happen along with all the other stuff going on.

Hope you have a good day. I will let you know what the vet says.

Faye