Good Morning, Flowers! It's cloudy and we have a few rain sprinkles here 'n there. I don't think it is supposed to be too hot but very humid today. I need to make a grocery list, also a WM list, and pick up my old glasses, with new lenses, on my way home. Otherwise not much is happening in my neighborhood today.

"Gma" -- I did see the tv broadcast about the Jewish boy being murdered. That is just sick, but I hope the guy doesn't get off by pleading insanity or in competent to stand trial. That is too bad about your sweater! I hope you can find a pattern you like as well. I also have a bread machine but my bread never turns out as good as what my sister makes in hers. I'm not even sure what brand I have but the loaves even look different.

Gail -- How nice to see you this morning! Is your FIL the type of person that would "shut up" if you (not Wayne) would give him a piece of your mind about his poor attitude? You have gone above and beyond to make him comfortable while he's been with you. I will send that he gets to go home and stay there! I hope you find your dad holding his own this weekend.

I'm off to get dressed and get started on my lists. Have a terrific Thursday and enjoy!

Jean -- from Iowa!

Good morning, ladies! It has cooled off finally and 76 degrees right now and into the 80s this afternoon. There was another storm last night. We have had nearly 8 inches of rain already this month as of 5 pm yesterday and the normal is less than 2 ... at least the grass is green for a change.

Today is a work day but I'm having my coffee break right now so this will be short. My left leg is getting tired of compensating for the right and that knee is now protesting. I'll be going to PT in 3 weeks so decided to stop by yesterday and talk to them. I've been there before. Their office (Mary Immaculate Hospital PT) is attached to the Y so it is very convenient. They have their own space and machines, etc. but use the Y pool. I wanted to be sure we'd do some water therapy so I know that I'm okay with that again. Jackie worked with me before and I hope I get her again.

Faye, quilt teachers will pass patterns out free when they first come out to see if people are interested and then charge for them later. It's a common practice. I used to test patterns for Marge Eddie and she still gives me free ones that eventually get charged for. It's their living. I've never had a bread machine because I enjoy the kneading process. I haven't made any in a long while though. Fortune has you trained that's for sure! I heard about the murder, too. What a tragedy! It just shores up the fact you can't leave your children unattended even in their own neighborhood. I'll bet they try the insanity plea. I can't wait to see the new sweater. It's about time you make something for yourself!

Jean, I find I always have to try bras on, even the same model number from the same manufacturer. I have a hard time because I wear a 34D. I used to get a 36C and then I had a real professional bra fitting and found 34D was the ticket.

Gail, I know you will be glad to have your FIL go home. It's hard on him because he can't do what he wants, his friends can't visit, and he was in pain and its hard on you trying to have to take care of him. A lose-lose situation. I would be cranky if I had to stay for an extended time with someone in town, let alone another state. I like living alone and doing what I want when I want. At any rate, it will be better in a few days and you'll get to spend some time with your father.

Hi, Maggie!

Listen Gail, sometimes we just need to vent. It can be hard to be in your situation. When I think about getting stuck with my mother or my mil living with us it makes me shudder. They have both passed but either one would have been a handful, more my mil than my mother as she adored Jack and his mother didn't like me! What's not to like, I am loud, mouthy and opinionated, but truthfully, when she was alive I never ever insulted her and kept my opinions to myself trying to get along with her. You have had a hard road trying to take care of him and worrying about your dad and not being able to go see him. It can make you cranky and frankly even resentful and that is natural. You haven't done anything any of the rest of us have done. We are friends and friends should be around to listen. Hugs to you and glad you FIL is going to get to go home. Just don't worry so much about him. You might be surprised how much better he gets in his own home.

Good Morning, Flowers! It's going to be a week of HOT 90+ days according to the weatherman. My air conditioner is humming away. I need to make a WM run so think I will do that this morning before the heat warning begins this afternoon. Bob's hometown is having an all school reunion tomorrow with a street dance in the evening after the catered meal. I'm hoping they will that inside! I picked up my glasses yesterday and "someone" ordered the wrong prescription -- the one I wear with my contacts and I wanted the one I wear without. Make sense? Evidently it didn't to someone there!

Bob just left for the cabin. He got a call last night that the lake level is coming up and the creek behind us is out of its banks. He is mainly concerned about the boat being high enough so when it is windy the waves don't hit the whole back end. The relative next door has water, from the crick, surrounding what used to be their garage and they remodeled into an extra bedroom and bath. When we were flooded out in '93, it was from the lake coming up, not the creek. Our boat trailer behind the cabin is standing in water.

Susan -- You've had a lot of rain for your part of the country! Are you still using crutches or just wearing the brace on your knee? You mentioned the other knee being sore. Can you have therapy on the "good" knee while you wait for the hurt knee to heal more?

Maggie -- What kind of cookies did you bake yesterday? I did get new frames and lenses a few weeks ago; I picked out plastic and a dull red color for the frames. What I picked up yesterday was new lenses for my old wire frame glasses, that I only wear w/o contacts and rarely. I know you will enjoy having a faster internet connection. Are all 3 eagles still together?

Gail -- It's hard to share living space, with anyone, after being alone! You have been a wonderful caregiver for your FIL; you will be doing the happy dance soon! You are so lucky your brother lives next door to your dad. It's hard to be two places at once!

"Gma" -- You are a brave one to clean in the heat! I need to do some major corner cleaning upstairs but will wait until I can have windows open I didn't see any picture of your sweater, or were we just reading your description of what it will look like? I finally put my scale away and just weigh in at WW. It seemed like when I thought I had lost, I gained, and vice versa, plus it was never even close to the WW scale. I hope you like your new one . . . or did you get two, his 'n hers?

I need to add a few things to my WM list and get going. Have a fantastic Friday and enjoy!

Jean -- from Iowa!

Good afternoon, ladies! A balmy 79 degrees today. I love it!

I went to the Y this morning and sat on the bleachers while my friends did water aerobics. It was good to see and talk to them again. You know I can't wait to be back in the thick of it. Then I had to go to Walmart and pick up a birthday cake to take to lock-in tonight. The shop owner's birthday was July 6 but she was in London until yesterday so we couldn't do it sooner. Tomorrow they are having Christmas in July and a cookie exchange. I don't bake so Glory is making cookies for both of us and I'm getting the cake but it will be front both of us. Can you believe it - she's finally getting the computer hooked up on Tuesday. I have it all ready to go, it just needs internet and Cox will be coming for that. I won't have to do her email anymore! Not that I minded in the least.

Gail, you have been a good DIL and Will has been a good son and you have offered to get your FIL moved to your area. He wants to go home and if something happens you will have to comfort yourself knowing he was doing what he wanted the most. I'll be glad you'll have you days free and can take care of yourself - you deserve it! I can be pretty stubborn, too, so I don't think it's only men. I know you'll get the weight under control shortly. Maybe sometime when things get settled and you come to VA Beach we can get together. Its not far at all for me.

Faye, I knew you would be knitting away on your sweater. It's beautiful, expecially the color. Don't worry about the slippers, I'm sure they will be fine. If they are tight, we can wet them and put them on our feet to dry! LOL. I'm sure Jack can use the rest! And I hope his surgery goes fine again. I'll put him on the prayer list when we get closer to the time.

Jean, we aren't eating more with points+ because foods cost more points. I'm eating exactly the same. Carbs are really pointy because the body converts them to fat fastest so carb lovers are having to make some changes. You can do this! Do you weigh and measure your portions? I still do that unless I am eating out. My left knee will be fine once I get my right back in motion. I'm still on crutches but I get around real good. I finally get to use the electric carts at the store! Wow, some flooding still! Optometrists can drive you crazy. I've been given the wrong prescription before. I think you had a good idea using your old frames. I have some Gloria Vanderbilt that I love and I'm going to do that when I go next month.

Maggie, did you get the Hungry Girl email about Splenda Brown Sugar? It's half regular brown sugar and half white Splenda so you can mix your own for half the cost. I like it in cooked cereal. I don't like the texture you get in baked goods with artifical sweeteners but then I don't bake so it gets to be a moot point.

Have a lovely evening. It's only 4:30 but I have to get my supper because I'm meeting Glory at 5:15 to go to lock in.