[gma22]

Good morning all. We are back home. Hot and humid already this morning. I have everything put away except doing up and putting away the laundry. Should take all day but then it will be done. Maybe I can start housecleaning tomorrow.

I have dr appt on Tuesday and we’ll discuss what meds he’ll put me on. Took me a week to finally get the lab website to set up my account then I look and no current labs. The latest is July of last year so I can’t even be prepared. If they mailed them to me, they’re at the post office as we stopped the mmail while we were gone. Jack will go pick it up tomorrow.

We had a nice visit with our friends and helped them out a bit. They wanted to go to the casino on Wednesday so we did. Everyone lost but Jack. He came home with $234 win playing roulette of all things. I talked to Jack about sending them something as a thank you and decided one of those Edible Arrangements would be good. They eat a lot of fruit. They should get it tomorrow. The trip wasn’t bad. No bad weather but it was pretty hot the whole time. At the ballgame, the usher lady kept giving me cloth ice packs to keep me cool. She was really nice.

Jean: What did Maddy want for her birthday? Sorry your dishes didn’t turn out like you expected. Last time I bought everyday dishes I bought two sets of Corelle. They are pretty indestructible. I think those polished rocks in a bowl or plate or vase always look so pretty. Hope your coming week isn’t too busy.

Have a good one!!

[Jean]

Good Afternoon! The sun is shining and it’s another hot humid day. We went to church because I had to pick up money; it was cold in the sanctuary so I was cold even though I wore long sleeves! I’ve read the paper, now need to pick up the clutter, and then think about a late lunch. Bob went to an auction to see a tractor, which he doesn’t need. Yesterday we parked under a sappy tree at Beth’s house so headed to the car wash when we got home. When the machine started it made sort of a grinding noise squirting the soap on the car. As the machine moved from the back to the front, the squirter arm caught my mirror and moved it backwards to the front of the car. When it came back again it pulled the mirror, which is now broken, back in place. After it quit we drove around to the front of the building and Bob called the emergency number. The manager came and said he would contact the owner about replacing our mirror. He opened the door to look at the machine and Bob said the squirter arm had broken clear off. According to the manager he would check the camera and find out who broke the machine; he said either someone got their tires over the bottom rail or a pickup with extended mirrors didn’t pull the mirrors in. My car still had some of the sappy goop on it so he gave us a free car wash in another location. I will be curious to see if they can just replace the mirror part or if they have to replace the outside case part too. It’s a heated mirror that can be turned in which I use when I drop mail in the outside post office mailbox. Will be pricey I bet.

“Gma,” glad you are safely back home again and that you had a nice time in spite of the hot weather. Jack was a lucky guy to win at the casino! I would like to watch the different games being played but have heard the dealers don’t like that. I don’t know anything except the “one armed bandits” so have only gambled once. I like the idea of the edible arrangement for your friends. Maddy wanted bath bombs and gift cards from Gordmans (I think it is a junky store and has cheap clothes) and Starbucks. I found a shirt that said “this princess wears cleats” and had a soccer ball on it. I also found a necklace with a sparkly birthstone bead on it and fancy little post it notes of various sizes in a packet with holes for a three ring binder. She got other soccer shirts and money from Jason’s family. She’s been asking for a guinea pig so now has two “babies,” both females, in a huge cage. All I know about them is they squeak all night but Maddy said they were quiet so far. Maybe they just haven’t found their squeak yet.

I need to get moving and accomplish something before Bob gets home again. Hope you enjoy a nice day doing something you enjoy!

[Jean]

Good Afternoon! The sun is shining and it’s warming up this afternoon but not as humid as yesterday. The shower guy is here and man does the glue ever stink! He is adding more insulation and studs (?) to what is already there. I can’t use it for 24 hours after he is done. In reading the brochure that came with it, it recommends using shower gel rather than bar soap because soap leaves a residue. Hmmm, I always thought gel made it too slippery so have a supply of Dove soap in the cupboard. We were $25 off at church this morning so checked and double checked; there wasn’t that much but we finally found it. Two receipt cards had stuck together. Then when I did my part, I had made the copies and realized I hadn’t given one gal credit for a coffee check. The computer whiz happened to be in charge of the office this week so asked her how to fix it since I had logged out of that page but not posted yet. Simple and I could have figured it out but she hit a button and lost the whole works. So I had to start all over. I made the gift shop deposit, dropped a check off at the hospital, and headed home.

I have several things I could do but hate to start anything while the bath guy is here. Hope you enjoy a marvelous Monday!

[gma22]

Good afternoon. We have had dinner, cleaned up and Jack is checking all the sports channels about what happened with the Cubs last night. They were down 3-0, the bottom of the 9th, 2 outs, and our rookie, David Bote had two strikes. The kid hit a grand slam and won the game. All over the sports pages and such today because it’s only been done that way once before in 1936.

Everything is washed, put away and back in order. It seemed easier than usual, but not going to complain. I do have a couple things to put away, but nothing major.

Jack went to pick up our hold mail and there was nothing! The mailman has already delivered today’s mail, which was two pieces and a box. So, where the heck is a week’s worth of mail? I had ordered a tomato slicer which was supposed to be delivered yesterday, but went to the wrong post office in another suburb town. Probably won’t get here until tomorrow. I thought for once the post office didn’t screw up as they didn’t deliver mail on hold,but guess not.

Jean: I can’t use gel or even conditioner in the tub because it makes it slippery. Hopefully the smell won’t last long, ugh. Did Bob come home with a new toy or did he restrain himself? Hopefully you won’t have problems getting your mirror fixed. Ours are heated too and have a blind spot light system so I imagine that would cost a bundle too. I watched Jack for awhile playing roulette, but he was alone so maybe that’s why the guy didn’t give me the stink eye. I only play slots, but that is a no win. I thought it would be nice to me since I am from Memphis and I played an Elvis slot, but it took my money while he sang, “NO return to sender!” Hope Maddy liked all her gifts.

Have a good start to the week.

[Jean]

Good Afternoon! It is cloudy and humid in my neighborhood today. I have been catching up trying to cross off some of my neglected “to dos.” In between is laundry and writing a few church birthday cards. Some days I feel like I just spin my wheels even though I know I do get some things done. The new shower is “in” but it had to set 24 hours before using it. Trucking downstairs to the other one this morning made me appreciate the one upstairs even more!

“Gma,” have the Cubs won all of their games this summer? I know there are some local fans who go to games in Chicago quite often. Did your missing mail show up in your mailbox? I can’t imagine no mail for a week! We get so much junk mail and this morning I got two phone calls on my cell phone. One was from New York and the other from New Jersey; I don’t know anyone in either place! My last phone had an ignore option but this one does not. Wish I could make a recorded message telling telemarketers where to go but the people I know would get it too. The glue smell was gone when the guy finished working. I can’t believe breathing that would be good for him, and he didn’t wear any sort of mask. Bob didn’t stay to bid on the tractor. A grandson wanted it so all the other interested guys backed off. It had to be on the sale because an uncle insisted, which was too bad. We had to take the car in to the dealer so the detail man took pictures of the odometer, pin number, whatever label is on the inside of the door, and the rear end. He told Bob he needed all the pictures because of the blind spot and heating parts of the mirror. The whole thing has to be replaced, not just the mirror part. I’m just glad I didn’t do it! I laughed at “no return to sender!” I liked Elvis!

I have towels in the dryer that should be ready to fold and put away. Hope you are enjoying a terrific Tuesday!

[gma22]

Good morning. It is overcast here this morning and humid. I have been trying to find a package they said they delivered yesterday but it is no where to be found. Going to wait and see if it is delivered today.

Fixing pot roast in slowcooker for dinner tonight. I have to put it on in just a bit as it is still frozen. I just throw a bag of baby carrots and a couple cans of new potatoes in with some beef broth and let it cook away, then at the end thicken it up for gravy. Pretty easy, though cleaning the crockpot is an ordeal because the thing is heavy when you take it out.

Dr appt went fine. He says my kidney function numbers were a little low so he changed my bp meds. We’ll see if it helps. He lowered my metformin, which completely stopped the colon problems, but need something to lower my A1C just a bit. I am just a smidge over where I should be. So, they decided to put me on Victosa, but there’s a rigamarole with Tricare to get it so I am waiting. I found out if you self pay, one month is $751!!!! Now, if they would take the commercials off they’d save millions and could whack the cost for sure. Pharmacuticals make billions, which is ridiculous. At this point, I just have to wait until the doctor fills out the paperwork, etc, etc showing my need for the drug. Then I think it costs $53 a month at a retail drugstore or $53 for 90 days through express scripts.

Jean: We got all the accumulated mail yesterday. I got my medicare card and even a dividend check from my life insurance policy. Mostly it was junk, credit card offers, catalogues, medicare crap, etc. Good grief, no! The Cubs are in first place in the National League, but if the pitching keeps being crappy that’s not going to last. I get fed up with it and turn it off if I am home alone or read a book or something if Jack is watching. The dope yesterday put 4 runs on the first inning and we lost 7-0. Doesn’t help the umpires can’t call games correctly for anybody. One of the nicest guys on the team, who never argues, got thrown out yesterday because he told the umpire, “You’re the reason players want electronic pitch calling.” They are really arrogant anymore and no one is making them stay in line. That’s too bad the grandson had to buy his grandpa’s tractor instead of just giving it to him. Money and inheritance stuff turns people ugly that’s for sure.

I guess I better get out there and get the roast on. Have a good Wednesday!!!

[Jean]

Good Afternoon! We got up to a few raindrops, the sun has played hide ‘n seek, and now has disappeared again. It’s nice and cool with very low humidity. Love it! I ordered new wall mounted bedside lamps and the shades were both dented when they came. The company replaced them and so this morning I vacuumed and dusted the old lamps (why I don’t know) and Bob is going to put the new lamps up this afternoon. I have a load of laundry in the dryer that should be done soon. Last night I ordered different dinnerware online. I sent the order copy to myself but when I clicked on the website it took me to a company page that said my cart was empty. We invited the two couples we traveled with for a steak supper next week; I was looking forward to new dishes! Still no order email from the company this morning so I called customer service. A nice young man speaking English said my order wasn’t in his system but he could check somewhere else if I wanted to wait. I waited for a short time and he found it! Yay! He didn’t know why the company email didn’t go through last night but was sending it himself. I thanked him profusely and said I just didn’t want six sets coming instead of three! I was going to order them again thinking I goofed and the order didn’t process. The hospital called saying I was one day short for insurance to cover a bone density test and did I want to reschedule, so that is on tap for tomorrow. I thought maybe Medicare wouldn’t cover it at all now.

“Gma,” I hope your package arrived today! Mail delivery is a challenge for sure! I don’t like changing prescriptions! I hope yours will work for you, and Tricare will pay. Prescription costs are ridiculous! The insurance company wouldn’t accept my online signature so had to fill out The who, what, why paper by hand. Bob’s signature went through fine. I didn’t know there was such a thing as electronic pitch calling. Ian is so tall but sometimes the pitch would be by his ankles and the umpire would call it a ball. Home town refs are the worst imo. Some are really good but they are far and few between. Ian has a football game in Rapid City which is on the western edge of SD, a six hour drive from Sioux Falls in a car so will be longer in a bus. Bob asked if I wanted to go. I laughed and he said he was serious! Maybe we will make the trip but right now I would rather put the money towards new furniture. Do you put the vegetables in the crockpot at the same time as the roast? I’ve read several recipes saying to put the veggies on the bottom and the roast on top. It would think the veggies would be mushy. I use crock pot liners so no clean up except to throw the bag away.

I need to vacuum and unload the dishwasher next. Enjoy the rest of your day!

[gma22]

Good morning. Boy been busy on the phone this morning. First the pharmacy nurse from my dr practice called about the med thing. She is such a sweety and is going to try and get them to give me the brand my doctor wants me on, so she’ll handle it. Then Kroger called because a pie Jack wanted from frozen foods came home with the box dented and the insides had been thawed and refrozen because the pie filling was all outside the box and the pie crust had one side with filling the other side empty so someone stored it on its end not flat. We didn’t notice because we had done the clicklist not walked around in the store. Then Jack called about the whole med thing so had to explain what the nurse said.

I did a small load of laundry and my morning chores. Tonight is sloppy joe night and tots for Jack. I just have sandwich usually. I am not a big potato eater. I’d like to make the chicken and rice tomorrow, but since Jack is home, can’t get away with mixing up the mushroom soup in the blender so will have to have it next week. We need to do a bit of off week grocery shopping this weekend and I want Jack to go get boxes at Uhaul so I can start the whole house clean out and up. Every room needs attention and organized.

Jean: I take a large glass of water, add a heaping tablespoon of jarred beef base, stir it until dissolved then put the roast in, two cans of new potatos on top, a package of baby carrots, cover and cook. I quit using reg potatoes because they did turn to mush. The new potatos hold up fine. The carrots do fine too since I put them in whole. Sounds like a dilemma, football trip or new furniture. lol We are not traveling until well into next year now. Have to get the cruise paid off. Bless her my girlfriend is having a rough time at work but can’t quit as she needs the money to live on. We still have 20 months until we take her on the cruise so I try to send her cruise videos and a countdown every week to give her something to look forward to. She says she can’t try and change jobs at her age as she’d not be able to find one where she’d make what she does with the hours she works, etc. I just wish I lived up there to help her out more like taking her to lunch and stuff. Not to mention those two living with her who pay nothing. Irritates me no end they don’t help out.

You all have a nice weekend. Going to be hot, muggy and rainy here it looks like.

[Jean]

Good Morning! I just typed a message and it disappeared into never never land! It looks like the sun isn’t going to come out just yet but no rain in the forecast until tomorrow. Bob just left for a tractor ride so I am home alone until later this afternoon. I need to pick up meds at Walgreens as soon as I get dressed and ready for public view. Bob picked up my kitchen cupboard and got it rehung over the refrigerator yesterday afternoon. It’s only taken almost three months to get it shortened. I just hope all the stuff will still fit inside; most of it is “old” wedding gifts, bowls, trays, and platters I rarely use. What seems to be a common occurrence around here is “no one” wants to work very hard or else those willing don‘t pass the drug test. Our car dealerships always have help wanted ads in the paper as does the cupboard business, hospital, retirement home, school district, and even the packing plants. Sad state of affairs and frustrating to all! Even our shower installer said they were way behind in their orders. Interesting fact is the main plant is in PA and the semi drivers won’t come this far west to the new market area so all supplies come in to Sioux Falls by smaller private companies.

“Gma,” I hope you can get the med your doctor prefers that you have. The pie doesn’t sound very appetizing. I can sometimes get a half pie from the bakery, just enough for both of us once and another piece for Bob later. One of the ladies coming next Sat. night is a wonderful pie maker and offered to bring one. She didn’t have to offer twice! We went out for nachos last night and the mushrooms were HUGE! I picked mine out and put them in a pile on the salsa/sour cream plate. They have an oriental chicken salad, with mushrooms, but I always remember to tell them to leave the mushrooms off on that one. Mushrooms are mixed with all the chips, meat, cheese, etc., in the nachos. It is too bad your friend couldn’t find another job she would like better than the one she has now. I would hate to have to pay living expenses all by myself even though Bob assures me I could. Too bad she doesn’t kick the freeloaders out of her house! Are they her kids?

I have sheets to wash and a bed to make so better get moving. Hope you enjoy a super Saturday!

[Jean]

Good Afternoon! It’s another cloudy day in my neighborhood and pretty quiet for a nice change. Yesterday a neighbor reroofed his lawn and garden building so there was hammering most of the day, a couple others mowed their lawns, and there seemed to be quite a few boats coming and going from the marina. Bob finished the trim on my cupboard and I have sorted through the dishes to get rid of. I had several holiday plastic containers from my school days and they are going to the SOS store along with some other odds ‘n ends. I was debating about washing the dishes and/or polishing the silver but decided not to. When I use anything for card club I always wash it anyway. Have a load of clothes in the washer and some to put away when I finish here. We have had a couple hummingbirds coming to the oriole feeder as well as the woodpecker. I think the woodpecker is confused but he appears to be drinking. I made some hummingbird juice and they have been flying in and out since.

I need to keep moving or I will fall asleep sitting here. Enjoy the rest of your day!

[Jean]

Good Morning! It started raining yesterday afternoon and has been raining ever since. We are up pretty close to 2”. I bought a pot of yellow, red, and orange lillies at the grocery store Friday and Bob planted them before it started raining. They are looking pretty sad! The flowers on the deck are all drooped over too. There wasn’t much to count at church this morning so I was done long before the secretary showed up. I bypassed the hospital on my way home hoping the rain might let up after lunch and I can run a couple errands.

My dryer is buzzing so have towels to fold and put away. Hope the sun is shining on you and you enjoy a marvelous Monday!

[gma22]

Good afternoon. Well, I too lost a post to never neverland it seems, sorry. Trying to remember what I posted. lol

Saturday we just hung out at the house. We watched the ballgame, but that’s about it. On Sunday we did Fresh Market produce shopping then to WM. What a mess! They removed a good 75% of stuff off the grocery shelves, moved the shelves themselves so only one cart could get down the aisle and the shelves were mostly empty. What the heck they’re doing now, I don’t know, but it was a nightmare finding what we needed. On top of that, Jack’s knees were killing him but he never said anything to me. He was really crabby though. He was mad at me because we went to two stores, but he never said a word to me so we had a shouting match on the way home. I told him he has to tell me out loud if he hurts because he keeps it all inside and if I ask he says he’s fine. This morning he texted my his knees hurt, (we’ve had heavy rain today, which I think is the reason.) I ask if he had meds he could take and he said yes so I told him to take them today so he’sd not hurt as much. He texted me back, “If they start hurting really bad, I will.” Good grief!

Today, I got chores done and washed all my fruits and veg so we can vacuum seal stuff after dinner tonight. We’re having hamburger steak in gravy. He gets mashed potatoes but I’m having salad.

Jean: I have never heard of mushrooms in nachos. I love mushrooms, but not in nachos. lol This is jumping all over and keeps disallowing me to type so I’ll come back tomorrow and post the rest

[gma22]

Good morning! Going to be nice today. We aren’t expecting super high temps until Saturday. The rain has moved through, thank goodness as I spent a miserable night. I felt like someone had taken a hammer to me. I ended up coming downstairs around 3 AM and took some Aleve.

Dusting to do today and some laundry. I think it’s all my hands can handle today. They are so swollen I can’t get my rings off. I am just doing pork chops and stuffing for dinner with a veg. Fairly easy to do.

I guess I am going to have to call my dr’s pharmacy nurse to find out what’s going on with the medication. I see him again a week from today about the new bp meds, which are causing flushing and swelling in my feet and ankles so don’t know where we’ll go with that. It’s ridiculous to constantly be fighting with your insurance about stuff. Bad enough a lot of people can’t afford them let alone them refusing to allow them.

I bought a couple storage baskets for the bathroom and more hangers that should come today. We forgot to have Jack go get boxes so it’ll have to wait for another week. It is our regular shopping this weekend and I imagine it will be mostly meat.

Our food saver went flooey so we bought a new one and it works better and faster. We did all the veg and stuff I bought last night and didn’t take long at all. I now won’t have stuff going bad in a couple days and can buy bigger packages of meat and separate into portions. It has the attachment to seal jars and such too. We’ll have to give that a try.

Have a good day everyone. Off to empty the dishwasher and put clothes in the dryer.

[Jean]

Good Afternoon! The sun is finally shining after three days of clouds and lots of rain. The news of the day is the missing Iowa student was found, dead; the killer is an illegal. The media will have a hay day with that. A sad day for her family and all who knew her. Then the CO guy who murdered his wife and two daughters is on the news too. What a crazy world we live in! I’ve worked most of the day sorting and pitching unneeded paperwork. I made a new salad this morning; cream cheese, lime Jell-o, crushed pineapple, and pecans. Bob liked it even if it wasn’t red, I did too. I spent way too much time telling a woman rep from a competing cable company, “NO, not interested!” She wanted to come inside and explain all she could do for us. Bob talked to her yesterday and told her “no” too. She was persistent, I’ll give her credit. Tomorrow is my day to work in the gift shop, Thursday is nails and cleaning house, Friday is coffee and the first football game, and Saturday night people are coming for a steak supper.

“Gma,” it is a challenge to shop when merchandise has been rearranged! Our WM is famous for just switching things to opposite ends of the same aisle. Their aisle signs are never right either. The nachos have the mushrooms, meat, cheese, onions, tomatoes, and chips in layers with melted cheese over the whole pile. They serve the sour cream, salsa, and refried beans on a separate tray. I used to pick off the jalapeños off but so did a lot of people so now they are left off unless you ask for them. It seems like I go to the grocery store a lot more in the summer. We like fresh produce so I usually just buy enough for a couple three meals, then back I go in a couple days. I never thought about using a food saver. Do you freeze them?

Bob is home and thinks it is time to eat. I need to keep moving and see what is hiding in the fridge. Enjoy the rest of your day and a nice evening!

[gma22]

Good evening. I keep losing posts. I wonder what the heck I am doing? Anyway, I went and got my nails and toes done, but they were super busy and I needed a new set so I was there 2 hours, most was waiting. I talked to the lady next to me while waiting and she said she hadn’t been out of the house in a week. The reason was so sad. Her husband is a vendor for WM with Hershey. He was at one of the stores and found a Shih Tsu wandering around the women's department! She said his bones were showing he was so thin so they brought him home, got his weight up to 8 lbs and then they did shots, etc. Well he developed diarrhea so bad he had to go back and get nausea and dehydration shots. So she couldn’t leave him. Why do people do such things to animals?

Tomorrow I have to go to the base to get a new ID that shows I am on Medicare then Jack has an afternoon eye appt. I hope they can get him straightened out as his glasses just aren’t working for him. Maybe his cataracts are bad enough now to get them fixed. We are having deli sandwiches for dinner tomorrow.

Jack’s job on the board is tagging cars illegally parked around the complex. He’s not been doing it but yesterday somebody blocked our garage so he got tagged. He was gone by this morning so he didn’t have to tow him. I told him he needs to do the job, especially the jerks across from us who basically have been warned and they ignore it. They weren’t there when Jack came home but he’s going out early in the morning and tag them if they’re there then call the towing company as they have been warned before. These are the people who are living free because their landlord can’t evict them because they declared bankruptcy before he could evict them.

Jean: The jello salad sounds good. This country is in the toilet it seems. I saw news while I was waiting at nail salon where some teacher was arrested for having sex with a 14 yr old. I am not sure whether he was her student or just at the school she taught at. Evil, evil. We had that and Jack finally got fed up with them going on and on and not listening to we are happy with what we have. He closed the door on them mid spiel. He said, “I tried to be nice but they just wouldn’t listen.” It’s because their pay is commission more than likely. Same thing with phone stuff. Looks like I’m going to have to wait until Tuesday to get meds sorted out. At this point it’s all I can do as they denied the med he wanted me on so they’ll have to put me on what they allow. I don’t vacuum seal fruit because it would squish it. I just ziplock bag it into portions and freeze them. I am doing breakfast meal replacement shakes so freeze fruit so they’re more like shakes instead of like a glass of milk. I also use ff milk instead or water. I am not much of a breakfast eater and then do things like toast or toaster waffles, but those are carbs so this way I get filled up without raising my blood sugar.

​​​​​​​Well, you all have a nice evening.