Good morning ladies,


Susie - I am sorry to hear you are still having issues with your shoulder. I think it's one of those body parts that has lingering recovery times. Very frustrating and since we tend to use our arms alot, we really notice being hindered by it. I have had friends who have had shoulder surgery and they all say recovery it tough. I hope someone can help you get better at last. That is a bummer about DH's job. I think given the current situation that the unemployment people are very overwhelmed. And nothing is consistent either so I'm sure the usual rules they apply to claims are all cock-eyed. So many of the people I know got laid off from their jobs with the Covid situation and then when they got called back, it was reduced hours making it very difficult to provide a living for their families. And then it makes me mad when lawmakers voted billions to bail out companies and are whining and complaining about extending benefits that people are lazy and it's discouraging them to go back to work. Don't they have eyes? So many people - at least around here CAN'T go back to work. The resorts and restaurants have to deal with less people so they have to let people go. People want to work and can't. Food banks are innundated with people who need help. But that's always the excuse - that we have a lazy, welfare society. Instead let's focus on ignoring a pandemic, beating our citizens, sending kids back to school when parents and teachers are very concerned - and there's no money for extra safety precautions. This country is in pretty lousy shape right now, I pray we can recover from it before it's too late. I hope they can get DH's claim straightened out but you may have to draw on some savings just in case you can't make other financial adjustments. It hurts because you have to take out more than you need to cover the taxes on the savings too.


I have noticed the price of things going up. Hair dresser is charging more - at least now we get a hair wash, style and cut but I got used to my hair getting longer so I don't feel I need to go quite as often. Food prices are going up. I got a loaf of sourdough bread at the Farmers Market on Monday. $6 for a loaf of bread. It's good bread but yikes. That's like $9 for a small loaf of my BILs favorite cranberry walnut bread at the local bakery. I would occasionally send a care package to my sister to cheer her up and include bread for BIL but at these prices it's getting to be too much. Everything goes up but your paycheck as they say.


I got my implants finally yesterday. 2 and a half hours in the dentist chair with him making ever so tiny adjustments filing the teeth to make them fit without any pressure points. Poor DH sat in the car waiting for all that time. The appointment ran about an hour longer than anticipated. I do like that the dentist is very thorough. The good news is that the teeth are pretty and look very good. They are also nice and white. My former teeth were a mix of crowns and natural teeth. Years of smoking and Coca cola, coffee and tea had them different shades. Because of the mix and timing of the crowns, I would never have teeth all the same color and they would never all consistently whiten to the same shade. So I smiled a lot but with my mouth closed. Now I can give a big smile. And it was WONDERFUL to be able to actually eat with my teeth in an chew properly. No loose partial roaming in my mouth trying to choke me. No food getting under the partial. No stomachaches because I could not chew my food properly. We stopped at my favorite Chinese buffet after the dentist. I sure did miss their food. They have done amazing things to open up after Covid. It is now cafeteria style. There is one hot table with about a dozen or so hot dishes along with white rice, noodles or fried rice sides. They don't have desserts any more but they were nothing to speak of anyway so don't miss them. There are only about 6 dishes that are cold salad type things but I like the hot food anyway. You point to the dish you want and the server puts some on the paper plate for you and gives you the food at the end of the cafeteria line. Single use sauce packets and plastic cutlery. Part of me cringes at all the plastic garbage waste we are producing in today's Covid world. The tables in the restaurant were carefully marked off - every other one for social distancing. AND this was the first place I have been at where the people handling your food actually WORE MASKS as well as the wait staff. We felt completely safe and I sure did appreciate the taste of my snow shrimp and peanut chicken.


I was not hungry for supper last night so made a sort of chicken ala king / pot pie type of hot dish that DH had over toasted bread and I just had some watermelon for supper myself. It's weird because all my teeth are artificial now so I don't "feel" the food. I can feel cold on my gums from the watermelon and I'm not sure I will be able to bite a popsicle without it conducting cold. After a year's time I am glad to be moving on from this. There is a tiny air gap on the left side of my teeth where air passes through. It's a very weird thing - not sure if eventually things will settle or if they will have to tweak things. Dentist said there may be some fine adjusting yet to come so be patient.


I went to physical therapy Monday and very happy to hear they are starting aquatic therapy the begging of August at the pool where we went swimming. It's individual appointments so not a water class. And afterward you can reserve a lap lane for swimming. DH will come with me - our membership is part of our supplemental Medicare. He will use the walking track and I will do a 45 minute therapy and then 20 minutes swimming. I am happy with the progress I am seeing in physical therapy. I thought I would need a new knee but I see that I need to strengthen the leg and these therapists are just the people I need to help me get there. It's been a crummy year, I am hopeful that MAYBE the 4th quarter may be looking good. As long as I don't get the covid and seasonal flu... I am sticking close to home. DH has the itch to go take pictures - I told him to go on an overnight trip if he wants to, this year I am not keen on travelling. Too many ifs. But I won't stop him and I hope next year will be better.


I'm doing bingo tonight outside on the patio at the winery for the shelter. It's outside so I feel comfortable. It's going to be a beautiful evening like the last time so should be nice.


Life is finally looking up. But I keep peeking and ready to dodge that other shoe that might just fall out of the sky at any given moment... Take care ladies. :wave:

Here we goWell Good Morning~Day~Night… Started this morning off with a pre-op covid test. Not having any symptoms but have to get it before any surgery. Test was very uncomfortable but tolerable. Having wrist surgery on Aug 6. This is from the break I had about 1.5 years ago. The tendon and nerve stay inflamed and cause pain and weakness at all times. I should have full mobility with wrist after and no pain. The cortisone shots no longer work on wrist, therefore surgery. At least they are now allowing one person to go with you into hospital now. My SIL Cindy is going with me.

The boys start school on Monday the 3rd. Sam is doing virtual at home rather than sending them. She just couldn’t take a chance on them getting covid and bringing it home to us decrepits (C and me). I am glad she chose that option as I was ready to dictate it. My house, my rules. Lol.

LAURA…tubing was a bust. There was no current, cloudy day, windy, chilly and water was low. We ended up either paddling or walking the entire 3 miles. Never going back to that particular tubing place again. White water rafting in Noblesville IN. The boys kept saying, can we just get out. Um no. What a day. Never so glad to get out of the river in my life. The boys do great with the masks and I think they understand for the most part why it is necessary. Bummer on the flat tire. Especially when you are in a hurry or about to go to work.

HAPPY…glad you got your implant teeth. How are they working out for you? Also glad to hear your knees are a bit better. Now just slow down and take it easy so you don’t re-injure or over extend them. Butterflies and wind chimes are two of my favorite things. DHs pictures he posts are absolutely beautiful. Love love love them.

SUSIE…sorry to hear about DHs new job. God has something better planned for him. Hope your shoulder is doing much better by now. Constant pain is so miserable.

SHADDIE…aww the grand pup. Hope you are enjoying chasing him around. Guess it is good exercise. Our garden is doing ok. We have no ripe tomatoes but the plants are loaded. We have had two cucumbers. Two pumpkins on the vine. And a couple of jalapenos.

CEEJ…hope you are doing well. How is your sis? Better copy and paste this…it always pastes crazy.

Morning all,
Anger doesn't even come into it today. Here we were hanging on by a thread to no new cases of Corona virus for over a month and two tarts from here decided to go to Melbourne for a shoplifting spree. Knowing that they couldn't get back to Brisbane without quarantine from there, they took a flight to Sydney and then on to Brisbane and falsified their itinerary documents. Melbourne is in the grip of a second wave and it is becoming disastrous down there. Sydney is also a hotspot of virus due to so many people refusing to social distance, refusing to mask, and doing the things they were asked not to do.
So these dregs of humanity (3 thereof) came back to Brisbane, went back to work and didn't feel to well - well two of them didn't anyway - but what did they do? Well it wasn't until 8 days later that they sought medical advice. One was not positive (she worked in a child care centre) and the other two were positive. One of them worked as a cleaner at a local school not 10 minutes from my place and the other worked in an aged care centre. So now all of the people they may have come into contact with are being rounded up and checked. So here we are again, having to watch where we go, monitor our temperatures, go for tests, and generally stay home once more. Personally I think a line up against a wall and a dose of lead poisoning would cure them once and for all. I don't advocate guns or the death penalty - but obviously there are some exceptions to that rule, There has been on positive test to come out of this so far, I'm betting there will be more to come.

So, seeing that I had arranged to have a birthday party at my place tomorrow, I had to ring all the people who are not from this area and are not affected and tell them not to come. Not because I suspect I have the virus here, but because they don't need the hassle of coming to a hotspot particularly since all but 3 of the attendees are no longer in the first (second or third for that matter) flush of youth.
Any way enough of my frustration and anger.

Not much else happening around here. Garden still growing and giving, painting still being done, car needs washing, and I am about to wash the wooden floors after the recent rains and the presence of dog racing around with dirty feet. I've already power washed down the patio out the back and cleaned up the table top. So I guess I really need to get back to my to do list again. Marriage may not have worked for me, but it would be nice to have someone helping out sometimes. Not that I am not capable of doing most things myself and dare I say it - as well if not better than most men.

Weather is just beautiful. Cool nights, warm days. Helps with a lot of whinges, whines and groans about old age and stiffness - well that is until you speak to my neighbour and find out all about her aches and pains.

Annie - sorry your holiday didn't work out as planned. Always the frustration when you have to change plans. Hope the surgery goes well on 6th August. Will be thinking of you.

Happy - glad to hear the teeth are back and smiling. That Chinese place sounds well organised. Like Chinese food I do.
Yes, prices are going up all over the place. Especially groceries here. It has come down somewhat from the original infestation of Covid-19 (price gouging at its very best) but still things are not where they used to be and they were high enough previously.

Susie - hope the PT on the shoulder is helping. It's horrible trying to get things done while in pain or trying to do things one handed. Sorry to hear that the DH's job is no longer. It's hard to get into the job seeking mood when you feel that nothing is going right. Hope you have sorted all the unemployment claims etc. that's always a hassle, sometimes those people in unemployment offices are so snooty and rude. I hope you don't have to pull anything out of your superannuation account. It's hard enough to try to save for retirement without having to use it before retirement. Over here we are getting financial advisors saying that if you pull $10G out of your super, you will have $100g less when you retire. I think that was based on the 40-50 age group.

Right, well that's it. I am off to take my frustrations out on the floor and then on the lawn - not that we can call it a lawn anymore, it is grass with weeds.

Howdie All.

Guess my Covid test was negative cause they said they would only call you if it was positive. Surgery on the 6th. Really not much going on here. Bout the same for everyone. Stay home. Mask up. Keep your distance. Wish everyone would comply. We are going to a Polo match this Friday evening. It will be a bit different. You stay in your car and watch. No getting out. Nothing. No stopping of the divits. You take your own beverage and dinner. I am taking iced tea and making a lettuce wrap sandwich. This should be interesting. SHADDIE…we have all the non-complyers too. Here is my thing. All the parents griping cause the kids are going back to school in person. But yet they take their kids to the grocery, Walmart, Wendy’s, McDonalds etc. But they cannot go to school? Sheesh. Glad Samantha is doing virtual school with the boys. Short post as I really am not doing a lot. The usual. Home, work, dinner, clean, laundry. The usual. Sam goes to the grocery for me. If it is not too hot I spend a bit of time out on the back patio in the evening watching all the nutty people.

Hope everyone is staying safe.



Love yas.

I thought I would go to Battlefield to take nephew to doctor but when I called him this morning he said he was going to reschedule.
Every one is doing okay except for the little boys, great nephews. They both have had sore throat's and so have I. One tested positive for strep. I've been having hip pain which the doctor thinks I pulled a muscle. It sure has been painful, but better.

Annie
Sending you good vibes for the wrist surgery on the 6th.

Good morning ladies,

First of all good thoughts and prayers to you Annie for a successful surgery, speedy recovery and healing with minimal pain. I hope it also takes care of the pain and problems you were having.

I know what you mean about nothing much going on. Cases have shot up here - went from 13 last month to 51 yesterday. Might not seem like much if you live in the city but since our population is small - that's a big deal. Not sure if it's young people partying and causing the issue. But we have had 2 situations with businesses I deal with - both times their employees were exposed to positive Covids so they have to quarantine and shut down the businesses. Not good. We have taken some outdoor trips for DH's camera shots but avoiding the public as much as possible with even minimal grocery shopping. The trump signs are popping up all over too which probably explains the rise in cases as these are the people who are anti mask, anti vaccine and very loud mouthed and obnoxious in general. It's as bad here as when I lived in Tennessee. Bunch of yokels. I should have moved further south downstate... God help us come November. I hope we can return to sanity and we don't all die off but I'm not hopeful anymore.

Things are starting to peter out. Can see subtle little changes in the seasons. It gets twilight earlier, the nights are a shade cooler - we have actually gotten into 40 degree temps at night a few times. The flowers have peaked and are starting to fade a bit. Haven't seen trees turning yet but expect to and even some of our hummingbirds have already started their trip south. There's a noticeable drop in the population. Tuesday we took a very LONG (9 hour drive) to find a grist mill DH wanted to take pictures of. We hadn't intended to be that long but got waylayed by a detour that was very poorly marked. We were with 2 trusted friends and all agreed it was a nice trip but a bit too long. We found a nice park and walked outside and enjoyed the nice day and getting out a bit.

But the sweet corn from the farm is finally coming to market. We have one farmer here that EVERYONE waits for his corn. Lines were 45 minutes long when he finally came to town last week. We will be enjoying that for a while!

Yesterday I went to aqua physical therapy and really liked it. Worked for 45 minutes and then did laps in the pool for 25 minutes. It felt good to get some exercise. I pinched my back - sciatica - last Thursday so was hobbling around and grumpy for the last several days. I am a tiny bit sore today but things are improving. I will go to therapy once a week. It's only offered on Wednesday so that makes it kind of inconvenient to go to the fitness center. When I am in the pool, DH walks the walking track above the gym area. He did 3 miles or 59 laps. Said his calves are sore but he enjoyed it too. When I was in the pool I was looking at the exercise room opposite of me. The gym is very very stringent about mask wearing and safety and sanitizing. You must make an appointment so they can distance. But there were 4 people in the room on treadmills and steppers and they were all going like demons, panting and all of them had pulled their masks up to expose their mouths. Now what good does that do? One lady came into the thrift shop and said she has problems with masks - masks are required in this state even though people are flaunting it. She was offered a disposable mask and refused and pulled a net - literally an open net out and put it on her face. My favorite volunteer - a stern but loveable German woman in her 80s gave her the stink eye and said "now WHAT do you think THAT is supposed to do?" People like this do not have a legitimate medical issue, they are just being ignoramuses. I'm so tired of people.

Because of the growing Covid numbers I told them I won't do bingo any more this year - not even outdoors stuff. I am content to stay at home. DH wants to plan a few trips to catch some fall colors, not sure I want to go with him. They are overnight trips around the area several hours away. We'll see.

Shoot, phone rang and I need to take this call. Will post and come back and catch up later. Bye guys :wave:

Morning all,
Nothing to report here. It seems that we have dodged a corona virus bullet from those hookers lying their way back to the sunshine state. Thank goodness for that. And for our Premier closing our border with NSW due to the number of idiots who don't think that they can't be caught falsifying papers. Really people, don't you understand that big brother is now well and truly watching and you are well and truly traceable.

I'm getting on with the garden and Happy is right, the seasons are a changing. The dawn breaks earlier and the sun goes down a bit later, but it is still cool overnight and fair middling warmth in the day. Very cool winds at the moment too. I don't think I will get three crops out of the garden this year. The tomatoes aren't ripening as fast and the broccoli went from leaves to flowers with little in between. I'm still getting beans and beetroot and cauliflower although they will soon be finished. I put in another lot of beans yesterday. If they take as long to flower and fruit as the last lot did it will be October before I can pick. I let one of the Cos lettuces go to seed and now have them popping up everywhere - even in the lawn.

Apart from that and visiting a few friends and videoing with the granddaughter not much else is going on. So I will sign off and go paint some window frames and then go shopping for a couple of pots for the bathroom plants and then plant a couple of 'bargains' I got from the local Bunnings Hardware Store last weekend. No dog this week as his dad is doing night shift - most unhappily but doing it anyway. Dog is doing a bit better on the new diet food he is on although not gaining much weight back but he is happy and active and always hungry.

See you - better go get a cuppa and then tackle the plants and go shopping.

Surgery went well. Not much pain after the first day. Friday the 14th I get this wrap off and stitches out. Cannot come soon enough. Was a bit tired and lazy over the weekend. Just felt out of sorts. Of course C fed off of me and was feeling badly too. OMGosh man up. Do you have to do everything I do? That part is so annoying. Was up with bathroom fits all night so I got very little sleep. Now a bit exhausted here at work. 4 pm cannot come soon enough.

Bout it for me. SOSDD.

Love youse.

hello's to all.

Hi all,

Not much going on in my end of town. The Covid numbers are rising substantially here. I do wish they'd give more information than just numbers - is it young people, group gatherings, certain areas? Our county is quite large so could be 40 miles from here or right in town. Very frustrating. In any event I am staying close to home. I go into town when I need to, mostly picking things up from the farmer's markets to enjoy the fresh stuff while we can. DH has gone to Duluth to get the car worked on - new tow hitch - and I decided not to go with him. We do go out to eat - there's a few places we feel safe at - eating outside or very serious safety measures in place. It will be bad enough when they start to shut down things again - and they probably will - so trying to enjoy the last weeks of summer and outdoor freedom. I realize we are surrounded by staunch idiots here in this town. People who are beer loving, gun toting, sheeple who think this whole Covid thing is a way for the government to chip and control us and they fight any good common sense. That's part of the reason the numbers are rising. The bars here are packed solid. I hate to even drive past these plague ridden disease shacks. And most of the bar owners are staunch trumpies because the republican party is for business and looks the other way to regulations as long as they get their taxes. That's also why we have so many continuous drunk driving violations - they look the other way. The world is a frustrating place now a days. I went to therapy yesterday and gave blood and went to the farmers market. Anyone driving a car was a menace - they either park crooked on top of you, cut you off or are driving with face in lap and phone. We had an accident last week at the road you turn into to my house. 3 fatalities including a younger child. Woman driving crossed the center line and hit head on to another person coming around the corner. They were from downstate and 3 of the fatalities were in her car - she killed her boyfriend, son and sister. The woman she hit only had broken ribs. People here speed excessively and don't pay attention. I am so glad the seasonals will be going back home soon.


I am having trouble with my knee again. It started on Saturday as I was doing my exercises. Knee is tight. Physical therapist said the knee cap is still and not sliding like it should. So I am limping around and back to the walker again. I was out of breath yesterday but that was from the blood donation. I swear they took a gallon - that bag was awfully big and fat compared to the other donors! It was freezing cold in the blood bus too and they could not give you a blanket because of Covid and santiation. Ok, well then don't crank the a/c to sub zero levels. When I sat down the vent above me was blowing my hair all around. The nice nurse gave me a water bottle she heated in the microwave and that helped distract me from shivering.


Not much else is going on. It's getting hard to talk to my Mom. She really can't hear and uses the speaker phone. Her cordless phone and crappy phone wiring cause horrific loud screeching in my ear from feedback. She can't hear with just the handset - even though it's turned up as loud as it will go. But I don't want my ear blown out either. I tried using my speaker phone too but I also get feedback. Yesterday I could only talk to her for 25 minutes before it got to be too much. I felt badly because all she can do now is pretty much talk on the phone. Can't see to read or hear the tv well. I'd even pay for hearing aids for her but she won't have any part of them, just like her walker that sits in the corner and gathers dust. Sigh.


Annie - I'm glad you made it through surgery ok. I'm sure it's your dominant hand. Are you in a sling. Has to be hard moving around. Hope it fixes the problem. Yes, I understand all too well about the guys feeding off of you. DH used to be unsympathetic until I yelled at him and started to ignore him when he whined about his sorrows. He is better now about asking - not sure he cares but at least he asks how I'm doing :rofl: Is Sam going to be homeschooling again? This is a mess with the kids and school - I think the teachers should be able to make the decisions. I know it's hard on the kids and the parents. What did we do to deserve such lunacy???


Shad - I think you still have more sense in your country than we do here. But money does make people make foolish decisions. That is glaringly apparent. You do have quite a few nice vegs in your garden. We had 2 patio tomato plants. Got a few tomatoes but they both got knocked about quite a bit in a few strong rainstorms we had. They were determinates - grow to a certain size, produce once and then get ugly and shrivelled so we plucked what we could and sent them to their rest. Sounds like you continuously grow things throughout the season. How is the water situation? Do you plant any flowers besides roses? Our flower gardens were quite lovely this year. Best ever. Now things are fading and getting spindly. :(


Hi Ceejay - are you enjoying life in the country? Is the COvid situation better where you are now in the rural parts? Sounds like you are at least getting outside and enjoying fresh air.


Hello to Laura :wave:


How's the shoulder coming along Susie?


3FC certainly has lost a big following. I was looking at some of the threads and they are dead. Not many people on here anymore. I guess it's outlived it's usefulness or people follow some phone app instead as they do now a days.


Time to tackle Mt. Washmore. I have some corn to freeze also. The first few pickings are the sweetest so want to freeze these before they get more starchy and tough. Stay healthy chicks.

Afternoon all. I started a post sometime last week and never finished and posted it. Nothing much going on with me and not much going on around my area is good. Chicago had some looting overnight Sunday into Monday - revenge against the police injuring somebody. What is this city coming to? Sad. We had strong storms come through a couple days ago. Some people will be out of power until Saturday, for Pete's sake! And one city neighborhood had a tornado!

I'm still rather busy as work. At least the days go quickly... I took last Friday off work. I had my allergy/asthma appointment which was nothing at all - couldn't do the breathing test due to regulations and my doctor didn't even do an exam (e.g., look at my nose, ears, listen to my lungs). That was odd. Whatever, I felt fine and he refilled my rx's. I also picked out eyeglass frames and ordered glasses on Friday. I took home the contact lens samples, but have yet to try them out. Maybe tonight for an hour or two. I had my mammogram on Monday after work and the results came back normal. Still have to schedule a physical exam and a colon screen before I'm caught up. Oh the fun!

Annie - Glad the surgery went well. I think it was too long before my stitches came out and so skin started growing around them. When they were removed, it left a mess. I scar easily, so I have 3 dark areas of scars that will probably never fade, or will take forever to. Hope you get a good night's rest tonight.

Happy - Horrible accident with all those fatalities! Yes, you'll be relieved when the tourists leave. Hope you get to enjoy the rest of your summer and that it doesn't end too quickly. Sorry it's so hard to talk on the phone with your mother. :( We're in a similar boat - my mom's hearing is very bad and it's particularly difficult when I'm at her place trying to have a conversation when I'm wearing the mask. I heard a hearing aid radio advert with Walter Jacobson (remember him on Channel 2?) the other day and he said people with hearing problems don't realize how much they relied on reading lips - I think that's true with my mother. Over the phone is okay in terms of hearing, but whatever memory or worse old age disease that's now affecting her is making conversation difficult t- she moves randomly from topic to topic and it's hard to have a real conversation anymore. :(

Shad - Three crops of veggies in a year - how about that! All I have to show for my efforts is two basil plants which I cut back last week and hopefully I can sucessfully root the cuttings to have more plants. The tomato seeds I took from some store bought tomatoes sprouted and grew a bit at first, but really nothing since then, so that experiment was a big flop. Next year I think I'll go with plants from the garden center next year or seeds from a catalog. Since the basil is doing okay, I might try other herbs now. I'll be able to use my little greenhouse and grow light in the basement. A while back my mom passed along a catalog/online garden store credit to me and I really should see if it's still able to be redeemed - maybe I can buy some bulbs for this fall.

Hi Ceejay, Hi Susie. :wave: :wave:

Okay, I must get this posted and put my nose back to the grindstone. TTFN.

Hello Everyone!


It is Saturday morning and I'm posting before getting my day started. I usually do all my cleaning on Saturday but with DH home a lot of it gets done (him doing it, me instructing) durning the week now. It's very nice, I still clean the bathroom and do the dusting. It is good to have DH home doing the chores. He usually goes ot the grocery but we are doing that today as I need to stock up on some things I want and I need to get out of the house and my backyard. That is about all where I have been for quite a while.


We finally got unemployment straighted out and going again. They paid the pack pay as well. I am happy that is all in place and taken care of.


I am still working from home. We are waiting to see what September brings. We know we are home until Labor Day and we are waiting to hear what will happen after that. I like working from home and I would be ok if we continued to stay home.


Update on my shoulder: I had the MRI and I do not have a torn roator cuff but rather an impingment, which if left as it is will greatly increase the chance of a furture torn rotator cuff.


The impingment is due to the severe arthritis I have in that shoulder as well as bone spurs. There is not room between the scapula and the tendon running under it and it is rubbing and getting inflamed. I need to have arthorscopic surgery where they shave the bone and take off the spurs so that there is space between the scapula and the tendon. I also most likely need to have the bicep tendon that connects in the same area reattached in a slightly different area.


It was a lot for me to take in. I think you all know that I have major issues with general anthesisia (they have a hard time waking me up....it has been pretty scary in the past and they can't figure out why). With shoulder surgery they always put a block in so that it helps the pain during the first 24 to 36 hours after the surgery to keep the pain donw and there are cases where they have done the surgery with just the bock and no general anthesisa; I did my hysterectomy this way and did wonderful with it. However my ortho doctor says he won't do it that way. When I asked him why, he said a matter of his preverence. I can't tell you how angry it made me that he took that tone with me.


So, I told him I would think about it and get back to him. I have a friend who is a surgical nurse and works with Ortho's all the time in surgery. She talked to a couple of them as she knows they have done the procedure with just the block and I go see one on them in a couple of weeks to talk it with him. When I have the surgery I will be off work for 6 weeks.


That is enough about me.


Annie: I didn't realize you were having surgery on your wrist. I am glad it seems to have gone well but I am surprised you are back to work so quickly. Will you take physical therapy to help strengthen the wrist?


Laura: Did you get something different with your new eyeglass frames? What type of contacts are you trying out?


Happy: Our cities seem to have issues with the bars as well. They are supposed to close at 10 but it hasn't helped the crowds.


Shad: I smiled when I read that you are stilll gardening, painting and taking care of the dog. In all this worlds crazyness it is nice to have some things still staying the same.


Ceejay: Hello!


I need to get off the computer and get started on my day. It was good to visit with all of you.

Happy Friday! I just finished up and I'm ready to begin my weekend. I was really busy the past week, but I think I'm finally seeing the light at the end of the tunnel with all of these projects. :carrot:

Susie - How nice to had your DH taking on a lot of the household chores! :) I'm glad the unemployment benefits got straightened out and back pay was paid. I hope that carries him a good way to his planned retirement date in December. == I'm so sorry you need to have surgery for your shoulder. I hope you can find a doctor to do it without anesthesia - how scary that it works *too* well for you! It sounds like you need to get a new doctor anyway given his response to you about all this. == For my eyeglasses, I went with a darker frame color - but not black. For the contacts, I'm trying out monovision - one lens for distance vision and one lens for near vision. I'm ashamed to say I've had the samples for a week now and haven't tried them out yet - they gave me a 10-day supply but I just haven't been thinking of it. Maybe after I post this I'll put them in and wear them for an hour or two and go for a walk, watch a bit of tv, and do some reading.

Hellos to the rest of you! Hope you all have a nice weekend.

==

Nothing much to report in my world. As I said, busy week at work. Glad it's over!

I had a hair appointment yesterday after work. This is the 2nd cut I've had since this COVID stuff, and I once again forgot about the fact that since they aren't allowing the use of blow-dryers in the salon (is it the same for the rest of you??), all the little hair snips remain in my hair, and once the cape is removed, they just fall out of my hair and down my shirt (and bra). Nice and itchy!! Next time I get a cut, I'm going to try and shake out my hair before they remove the cape and see if that helps. Otherwise, like yesterday, I'll go home, blow dry my hair, and change clothes.

No big plans this weekend. The eye doctor phoned yesterday to tell me my glasses are ready for pickup, so hopefully I can run over there tomorrow to get them. I think they're open Saturday mornings.

It's going to be pretty warm this weekend, but hopefully not so humid, so maybe I'll get out on a bike path for a bike ride. Otherwise, there's plenty to do around the house, as usual.

Okay, I'm going to post this and put in those sample contact lenses before I forget again.

Stay safe and have a great weekend!

Laura - no they don't have a problem with hairdryers over here. They self distance you and wear the appropriate gear and the scissors, razors etc get sterilised after every use (as they should anyway) but otherwise all is normal.

Good morning all,

Life is quiet up here. Covid infections are raging. They try to blame the tourists but from what contact tracing they can do it appears to be a community spread. Like it's here and people are passing it around to each other. They say it's from family gatherings and picnics that people who are asymptomatic are infecting others who spread it. The numbers are jumping substantially and several restaurants have had to shut down and deep clean due to infections or contact. Unfortunately up here many people lean towards the trump version of the news meaning they think this is overblown, masks are there to control you, don't get a vaccine because they will chip you and because our hospitalizations are low and no deaths (so far), it's nothing worse than a cold. Long term effects be darned so they are going about their business living life. Disgusting. They try to blame the tourists but when I do venture into town I see people all around wearing masks. I think it's the bar flies that are the worst. Many dining establishments are trying very hard to follow guidelines and there are a few in which we feel safe to eat. It's the crowded bars that are bad. So I stay home an awful lot. DH has ventured out a few times for camera jaunts but I stay home. He does a lot of hiking which takes me out of the game so I am home to care for the animals both inside and out and believe me, they are a demanding lot.

The leg is coming along slowly. Had a few setbacks. Working on it.

Mom, sister, DH, everyone doing fine at the moment.

Laura - they started blow drying and styling hair the last time I got my hair done - July??? I got used to it being longer so set my appointments for 8 weeks instead of 6. Was nice to walk out of there feeling like I actually got my hair done. I thought it was kind of stinky that they charged the same amount for services when I didn't get a blowout and style. Now they are raising prices because they said supply costs are rising. Have you tried the new contacts yet? What do you think?

Susie - oh my - that is really scary about your sensitivity to anesthesia and possible surgeries. I hope they can come up with something to allow treatment without danger to you. I'd be nervous also. :hug: Keep us updated. Glad all the financials are straightened out with DH.

Annie - how is your recovery coming along? Are you doing physical therapy?

Shad - how are things down under? Gearing up for the return of spring? I see the bugs are trying to eat your produce. We had 2 patio tomato plants. They kept getting blown over in thunderstorms and getting more spindly as they were determinate plants so we pulled the remaining green tomatoes off the vine and set them on the drink rail of our deck railing. Only to find much to our surprise that the many butterflies we have were putting their proboscus into the tomatoes to suck out the juices! I guess water is water when you're an insect! It was the strangest thing to see. We have set out slices of orange, banana and sugar water in the past and they ignored it, but tomatoes they seem to like. This has been a strange year for sure. Now they are talking about the possibility of not one but 2 hurricanes / cyclones hitting the Gulf Coast area at the same time next week. Never in history had that happen again but this is the year of Armageddon.

I did watch the Democratic Convention last week. It was refreshing to see reasonable people talk again. I miss that and hope for our future. Will not be watching the clown fest next week.

Anyway I have been waiting for the rain to move on so we can go to the farmers market and get some tomatoes and such so time to get dressed and ready to go. Summer is waning - trying to enjoy what time is left. Yesterday I made a bigger lunch so was not that hungry come supper. Made DH some fried eggs along with fried leftover sausage with bell peppers and jalapenos. I had a "stir fry" of sorts with fresh mushrooms from the mushroom man at the market, young tender red onions, tomatoes and fresh sweet corn. It was an experiment and came out really tasty. I had one egg for protein also. It was light and hit the spot. They cancelled our CSA farm box for the rest of the season as one of the partners contracted Covid. They are doing well in recovery but I will have to get my vegs from the farmers markets the next 4 weeks - no problem there.

Hello to Ceejay :wave: Stay safe and healthy people.

:wave: All things going well. Still safe and not venturing out to much and when I do venture out wear a mask.

HEy all.

HAPPY...no PT on wrist. Amazingly all is good with no swelling or big scars. I give that to keto way of eating. haha. Glad to hear you are slowly on the mend. I look at it as we have the rest of our lives to achieve most anything, even if it is healing. I am full of bs today. OUr numbers on covid go up and down, more up than down. I just don't think we know the entire equation on the numbers.

SHADDIE...love hearing about your garden treasures. My tomatos have started to come in ripe to the tune of about 20 at the moment. Only 2 jalapenos, 1 pumpkin and a mass of cucumbers.

LAURA...I too, need new glasses. Mine are about 3 years old and have a few slight scratches on the lenses. Plus I just want new ones.

SUSIE...nice to have housework done. That is how I feel when Sam does my housework during the day while babysitting. Yay! Glad you got DHs unemployment straightened out. Hope all goes well with the new ortho doc appt and they can do the surgery with a block.

CEEG...hey there!

Work still stinks. Still considered essential. Still doing more things than my job description, plus some of it probably not supposed to do but get is assigned anyway.

Like I told HAPPY, my wrist is great. No pain. All motion recovered. I am so happy about that. I go for my final post surgery appt this Friday.

Royce has started fall baseball. I know how do you do that and stay compliant with covid? All spectators bring lawnchairs, social distance and wear masks. It is kind of a funny site. No dugout for the boys, They have to go sit with their parent when they are up for bat. Outfield is no problem as everyone is more than far enough apart and the boys are so young that there is rarely a runner or actions that would put them in harms way. hahahaha. 6 year olds are fun to watch. Boredom. Swinging around in circles. scuffing dirt. or watching the spectators and not the game.

Jacob is too smart for his own good. Does not really like sports. He is more of a book worm so to speak. All about the xbox games tho.

C is C. Still hanging in there. SO am I, I guess, with him.

Samantha is still doing what she does.

Bout it for me. Love youse.

Evening all. Today I spent a good amount of time preparing for a presentation in which I have only a small part – just a few slides to discuss. I found an error that required a last-minute change to one slide, and then the boss asked a question about another of my slides. The admin was apparently in a snit about it and two different times said that if we had any further changes she needed them ASAP/in the next few minutes. She’s working from home - not catching a train or meeting her ride home - and she’s acting like that? Last minute stuff like this isn’t a frequent occurrence, so I think it was uncalled for. And we should all be grateful for our jobs, not acting like that. I’m glad the workday is over because I had enough of it today. Tomorrow’s meeting will be a breeze compared to the past couple hours.

Enough of that rant.

Shad – I don’t know what the protocol is specifically for salons here in my state, but it’s interesting that you and Happy can both get your hair blow-dried and I can’t. I wonder if that’s just a step my salon opted for just to be more stringent in this battle against C-19.

Happy – Yes, COVID rates are rising in areas outside the city and immediate counties surrounding the city and there are going to be rollbacks to tighter measures. In IL masks will have to be worn in restaurants during all interactions with wait staff. Sounds like a challenge - so when you have to flag down the server to request a beverage refill you have to get that mask back on your face? BF and I have been mostly avoiding eating inside restaurants and haven’t even eaten on restaurant patios all that often, so I suppose that will continue now. I don’t spend much time watching the news or even on social media these days, but I can only imagine the complainers about masks continuing to whine. Can’t wait for the vaccine protests. == I’m glad the leg is coming along. Keep working on it! == I generally don’t get my hair blown out/styled because I’m usually either going home in the evening and to sleep within an hour or two, or it’s a Saturday and I’m not doing anything special (unless laundry and housework count, LOL) to warrant spending the extra $. == The vision in the sample monovision lenses was better than I thought. Reading isn’t perfect, but much better than with my current traditional contact lenses. I only tried them the one day for a few hours in the evening, so I know I need to continue the trial. But not tonight or tomorrow. Maybe Friday.

Hi Ceejay. :wave: I liked the FB photos. Nice you got out for a bit. Yesterday I got out only to pick up dinner. Bleh.

Annie – I’m glad your wrist is healing well and feels alright. Yay for that! :carrot: == I agree with you about the COVID stats – I’m not sure how reliable they are. Or maybe it’s the test results behind the stats….== Sorry work stinks. Just keep the paycheck and benefits in mind and hopefully that makes it more bearable. == Still funny to hear you describe Royce’s baseball games. At least there’s some entertainment value to make up for the lack of game action, LOL.

Hi Susie. Hope all’s well.

Nothing much to report for me. I’ll be happy when tomorrow’s workday is over. Friday will be okay as two in the department will be out in the afternoon and the big deadlines and the big meeting are out of the way and things will be calm for a little bit. I thought I might also take Friday off work, or a half day but I think I’ll just push through. Next week I’m taking Friday off, so that’ll be fine.

I picked up my new glasses on Saturday. They’re okay, but a bit loose so maybe the earpieces need to be adjusted. I’ll call to set up a time to get in there.

The rattan loveseat in our 3-season room is sagging after using it for about 15 years. The cushions are still in great shape and I briefly thought of stretching out and re-stapling the webbing that supports the cushions, but the colors really don’t work with the room. We only had it because it was a hand-me-down from bf’s aunt and we only kept it because it was comfortable. Now that it’s not… out it goes! I hauled the frame down to the basement and dragged up a comfortable chair & ottoman, which actually goes better in that room.

Pathetic, but I can’t think of anything else. Anything positive anyway. More civil unrest, not in Chicago, but in a WI town that’s close to the IL border. Two hurricanes heading for our Gulf Coast – one of which shares my name!!

Okay, I’m going to post this and shut down the computer before more emails come my way. TTFN and stay safe everyone!!

Happy Birthday Ceejay!
 

:hb:
:celebrate:
Happy Birthday Ceejay. Hope it's a wonderful day and a great year to follow!!

Happy birthday Ceejay - hope you have a most wonderful day today. :bday2you:

Happy happy birthday CEEG...Hope it is enjoyable.

Nothing much here going on either. covid, and unrest everywhere. 2021 is not looking good either. We got our audit back from the IRS, We owe 10 grand for 2017. . Hit me with your best shot. Get in line. A lot goes into it. Bad accountant, wrong numbers, disqualified items, we should of changed accountants when I told C but NOOOOOOOOOOOoooooooooooooooooooooo. Now look. We probably do owe it but OMG. F my life. Over all this crap. end of rant.

Have a wonderful day. :( :(

Morning all.

Short post since I don’t have much to report. I hit my 25th service anniversary with my employer on Friday. The boss set up a fake meeting with all department members, and it turned out to be just to congratulate me. That was nice since we aren't together to go out to lunch. Two months earlier I received an engraved paperweight in the mail, along with a link to the site where I can pick a merchandise gift/gift card. I tried it Friday but the username/pw didn't work for me. I'll try again today and will probably have to call customer service or something.

What a gorgeous weekend we had here. I went for a walk with my mom at her community on Saturday – so beautiful. We both enjoyed it. It was a bit too breezy to go cycling, so it was nice to be outside there with her because the grounds are so beautiful. I didn’t go cycling Sunday even though it was an ideal day, just not in the mood/felt lazy. I finished washing the screens and windows in the 3-season room (a dozen windows in there!!). Bf and I ate lunch outside at a place that has a tent set up. We’d drove to our first choice that has a really great outdoor area and we were sad to see it had closed down permanently. It’s going to take a long time to get that leased again in this C19 environment.

Another nice day today, just going to be warmer. But I’m in here… At least the windows are open and I can look out into the yard. It’s a 4-day workweek for me and then a 4-day weekend. Whoohoo! No plans, but it doesn’t matter. No work is no work!! :)

Annie – Oh dear, that’s an awful tax audit result. :( I hope you’re taking your 2018 and 2019 tax filings to a new preparer to have them looked over just in case… My mom saw a tax guy last year but never got back to him with the paperwork needed, and she didn’t do anything at all this year with her taxes, so she has late penalties on two years of filings, of which there are multiples due to trusts. It’s time for my sister, who has power of attorney for my mom, to take over all of her finances. This stuff with my mother is difficult. :(

Hellos to the rest of you! Hope you’re all staying out of trouble. :D Stay safe and healthy!!

Happy Belated birthday to Ceejay!


Annie: I am so very sorry to hear about the results of the audit. I can only imagine how your heart is racing and trying how to deal with that. :(


Hello to Shad! We have tomatos coming out our ears! I love them but have to be careful with eating them so I don't get a IC flare.


Hello to Happy! I think it was you who asked about getting the blow-out at the hairdresser. My hairdresser and the others in the salon cut, dry and style unless someone asks them not for their service.


Laura: It sounds like you had a enjoyable visit with your mom and that is very special. Congratulations on your 25th service anniversary. It was very nice that you Manager got everyone together to acknowledge your milestone.


Quick update on my shoulder. I saw a new surgeon last week and he was wonderful! He took great care checking out my shoulder, the x-rays, the MRI, my PT and my concerns about anesthesia.


He said he can and will do the nerve block for the surgery that I will have to have. There is always a chance he would have to put me under general anesthesia; there is always that risks but he isn't thinking it will be necessary. He will also schedule me with a consult with the anesthesiaologist to talk it all with him before surgery.


As to when surgery is, that is to be determined. It isn't a matter of if, but when. But first he wants me out of this pain and get the inflamation down. So tomorrow, September 1st I am getting a shot in the shoulder, it will go directly into the AC joint and they will administer from the front and it will be done under a live X-ray, so he can see where he is putting it.


I have been told it isn't too bad. The lidocaine stings but after that, it is just pressure and it doesn't take very long.


If you remember, say a prayer for me and send good thoughts and peach around 2:00 p.m.

Good morning ladies,


Still living the quiet life. I do posting for some large items for the Thrift Shop on Facebook's local buy and sell sites. I am trying to temper them into not giving me everything as I don't want another full time job! It is September and just like a switch flipping, our summer went bye bye. It's in the 40's at night and highs in the 60s and 70s during the day. Good for working outside DH said. Trees are starting to turn, hummingbird population is down to just a handful of birds. This is the end of season for the veg markets. One more month and lots of lovely things from the farms. I have been doing a lot of cooking this past week. Made 2 yummy soups that taste great these cooler days. I have 30 pounds of tomatoes to cook up into salsa and sauce today. Got roped into being on another Board again. They decided to meet outside at picnic benches due to Covid. It's 55 degrees outside and the damp chilly morning and evening air is not lung friendly for me. DH said to just tell them no way and walk away. I will go there but if I get all wheezy I am leaving. It is also a steep incline down to the pond and I'm not sure my knee will be happy about that either. Is this a visible sign to just say no?? :lol:


Susie - I'm glad you found a second opinion with another doctor. DH gets pain shots and they use the xray also to find the exact right point. My last knee shot after my fall, the ortho doctor gave me an injection of lidocaine before the shot and it was WONDERFUL. I kept waiting for that awful teeth clenching pain that I typically get from my regular doc on the cortisone shot - she only sprays a topical lidocaine. That was the way to go! I hope the shot helps and tides you over until surgery.


Laura - happy service anniversary! That was nice with the surprise celebration. I hope you pick out a nice gift. Sorry your favorite restaurant closed down for good. We've had 3 that I know of shut their doors. I'm sure there will be more. The cancelled the big apple festival here and the orchards are getting creative about doing a social distancing thing while getting their apples sold. Not sure what's going to happen with the cranberry bogs too - another huge festival cancelled. Enjoy your long holiday weekend - just another day at home for us! :rofl: I am fortunate, my sister handles all of my Mom's finances as well as her meds and doctors and everything else in her life. We are on pins and needles, not sure how much longer my Mom can live alone. Her hearing and eyes are getting worse and she has a hard time getting around on those very arthritic knees. Makes us wonder, what is the point of living so long when you are pretty much chair bound in an ever limited world? Sounds like you will also have to do more for your Mom too.


Annie :hug: OMG can you just not catch a break already? I'm so sorry about the taxes. And during these hard times too? More frustrating as you say when you tried to get a different accountant. Having your own business is not all the fun it's cracked up to be. I always saw the down side of that and worried about things. I guess this year is worse than any for the small business people. I think God wants you to be poor as a church mouse. My heart goes out to you. Grrrr.


Shad - thinking of you as I cook up all these fresh vegetables. Your tomatoes looked quite nice the other day. How are the home projects coming along?


Did you have a good birthday Ceejay?


Well I'd better go find something warm to wear and get dressed for my meeting. I have a headache just thinking about it. Did I mention I don't want to sit out in the bright sunshine either - doesn't do my eyes much good. Yes, I am crabby today. :lol:

always spirit moms:carrot:

Hiya,
Still here, but have been quite ill with this sinus. Back to posting as soon as I get the place straight again - hopefully tomorrow

Howdie…

I have come to terms with the tax audit. Bleh, no vacations for me. Oh wait there are not any. Plus the ones we had got cancelled. I guess good thing so I would have $$ to pay taxes. Anyway.....our weather has been perfect with the exception of the past two days. Today forward is supposed to be nice. The 4 day weekend for me was very enjoyable. Park, Apple orchard, cards, met up with a friend at a distance to present her with her 11 year anniversary sober token. Such an inspiration. Dinner at my house with bro & SIL.

SHADDIE....Samantha is having a time with her sinuses also. Time of year here with fall on its way. Allergies are at an all time high also. Hope you are feeling better. I had a couple of red and yellow stripy tomatos out of my garden, best I ever ET. lol Have no idea what the brand was.

HAPPY...just say no. Avoid all the frustrations of the boards you get on. Hope all your parts are agreeing with you and working fine. :)

LAURA...happy 25th work anniversary. That is saying something. I was at RCA/GE/THomson for 23 years. Before they folded. It is a long haul and miss all those I worked with. Moms are a struggle, especially finances. But you know, I miss all that now. I miss my momma so much, dad and Michael too! Think of them daily at some point every day. SO I guess what I am saying, enjoy your momma, even if it is a struggle.

SUSIE...good luck with the surgery. Is it schedule yet?

CEEG...how's it going?

Better post and wrap it up. Bout time to head home. Yes still essential. For what I do not know.

Good evening all, or soon to be evening. I had a good long weekend. Met friends for lunch on Saturday, went for a nice bike ride on Monday. Our weather was nice - much like what Annie said. Last few days have been gloomy and raining and cool, but it'll be nicer for the next several.

Susie - I'm glad you like the new surgeon. Has the shot in the shoulder joint helped?

Happy - Did you get all those tomatoes turned into sauce? === We've had some cooler weather, but still not as chilly at night as you've had. I'm getting sad now that it's getting darker earlier... === Yes, that was a sign to say no to serving on boards, meetings, etc. :yes:

Shad - Hope your sinuses are better now. We had some very windy days last week & into the weekend and I'm surprised my allergies didn't kick up. Guess it was too early for the fall allergies to start giving me grief.

Annie - Sounds like a nice weekend. == Sorry about the vacation being cancelled, but good to have the money to pay the piper, so to speak.

Hi Ceejay. :wave:

Nothing much else to say. Quitting time for me, so I'm gonna get this posted, shut down the computer and get out to my mom's to drop the groceries I bought her yesterday. Everyone stay safe and healthy!! TTFN.

Things are going well. Bought myself a new vehicle for my birthday. It's another Ravv4. But this one is bigger than the older one. I'm liking it a lot.
Have a great day.

Hi ladies, I started to make a post the other day and got distracted before I could finish it.


Still quiet around here. Summer has said goodbye. We got a couple of frosts overnight. My basil got "burnt" on top but I can still harvest enough of the leaves underneath to finish off my tomatoes. I made 10 quarts of sauce and I still have about 30 pounds of tomatoes to go yet. Will roast some and probably make one more batch of sauce. I don't have the energy to do freezer corn. Probably should have made it a few weeks ago when the corn was less starchy anyway. We have one hummingbird left that apparently does not understand it should have left 2 weeks ago. I fear it will die here. While we are down to a single feeder (from 6), I am making sure it gets changed every few days although the bird seems to be more interested in my leggy, petered out flowers. They won't be around much longer. Trees are starting to turn also. Lots of peeks of red. Days are noticeably shorter.


My leg is coming along ok. I think it's as good as it will get. I bought 2 pairs of better shoes so they help with the knee pain but I don't think I will ever be 100% again. We are going once a week to the pool - I do my exercises and I'm tuckered out when I'm done with them.


DH and I are discussing several projects around the house. I am in analysis paralysis and can't make up my mind what exactly I want to do. I have a basement hobby room I was going to use for crafts but decided it was too dark (only natural light is from covered window wells and even though it has can lights in the ceiling it's better for reading / watching tv / exercising that craft work. So I will rearrange the loft area to move my desk from the dark corner area over to the windows. DH did point out that if I do this, the cats will probably sit all over the table to see outside. Ugh. The hobby room has nice cabinets that I don't really want to get rid of either so I have to decide if it's cabinets or storage shelving in the room. I thought about putting my NuStep and bike in there but they are too heavy to move and there is a step separating the 2 main basement rooms so the stuff needs to stay where it is.

I have 2 upstairs bedroom closets that are filled with clothes and stuff from when we moved in 9 years ago. Most of the stuff is my dressier work clothes. I hate to just toss them out but they don't fit with my life or the style up here. I do need the closet space for a seasonal closet as I have everything crammed in the master bedroom closet and it's overflowing. DH has pointed out I will never fit in those clothes again (that hurt but it's true) so get rid of them. I wish I felt better so I could stand for long periods of time and sort this mess out. I start it and make an even bigger mess because I don't finish. Time to put my head on and just do it. Oh and I have tomatoes to finish canning too. :lol: For having a pandemic and staying home as much as I have, I certainly have not accomplished much. :(


It's been 2 years since I have seen my Mom. I am thinking of going down there next month for her 94th birthday. I would like to get a Covid test before I go - not that I think I have the virus but my cousin's wife came up from Florida 2 weeks ago. The day before she was to see my Mom her friend down there called her and said she tested positive for the virus. S was STILL going to meet with my Mom until my sister said NO WAY. Even my sister didn't meet with her because she is responsible for not only my Mom but also is caretaker to her elderly FIL who is recovering from a stroke and heart attack. So you have to be careful who you are around. I will not fly - S who was exposed did not get tested, did not quarantine and got back on a plane to go home. So... you don't know how many S's are doing that kind of thing so no plane for me. Which means DH has to drive me 8 hours to my Mom's, spend the night and turn around and drive back again. Twice. I figured I'd go for 2 weeks, spend a week at my Mom's house which will be torture - no internet! not much to do besides just sit and talk but she will appreciate the company and then I will go spend a week at my sister's house where we will wrap up the trip with a small birthday celebration for my Mom. I will probably leave the day after my Mom's birthday because DH said he wants to leave every weekend open in October so he can drive out to a nature preserve. He is trying to catch the sand crane migration and hopes to catch 1,000 birds in flight. I was going to go for a 3 week trip but decided no because of the virus, I really can't / shouldn't / won't take the time to go see friends and family like I typically would have. I really don't want to possibly expose my Mom or sister to anything from anyone else. And end of October, even in warmer Chicago it won't be conducive to meeting outside somewhere for a visit. I am still mulling it over. Another reason to get the house in order before I leave lest DH decide to dumpster some things on his own. Which he has done in the past :mad: :mad: :mad:


Ceejay - congrats on the new car. I like the Rav4 too but don't like the small engine in it. It's too sluggish for the crazy people who like to drive 70 MPH around here. Pulling out on to the road would be a hazard. I am looking at another 4Runner. I would like the smaller Rav4 but it's also too cramped for DH's comfort. I hope you enjoy it.


Laura - hahaha, I consider myself chastised :rofl: Glad you are enjoying the weather and getting out on the bike. Did you find something nice for your anniversary gift from the company? How unusual to be at one firm for so long. Just like a marriage / relationship - don't see long term things any more.


Susie - how is your shoulder doing?


Shad - hope you are feeling better. This is sinus season up here so my sympathies are with you.


Annie - you just can't seem to catch a break, can you??? :hug: Glad you are taking it in stride and maintaining your sobriety. Heaven knows they have thrown enough curve balls at you to shake your spirit. I guess if you don't have money to go on vacation, this was THE year to skip it. Still it's nice to have SOMETHING to look forward to. :( Sounds like you had some nice heirloom tomatoes from the garden. I got some at the Farmers Market. One vendor has all kinds of tomatoes. Some were really good, some got tossed as they had an odd flavor to them.


Looking forward to apple season soon. That's another factor in going to Mom's. I will have to hit up the orchards early October, get my apples and make my sauce before I leave. I need a big shot of energy and motivation - those B12 shots sure aren't doing the trick.


Ok, off to start laundry and put some roma tomatoes in the oven to roast. Have a good week kids...

Happy
My Rav4 has got a lots of power. It's bigger than my other Rav more like a Buick Enclave. Very roomy. It has all kinds of driving modes, one for dirt /mud, snow and ice , sand etc. also one for sport and eco and normal driving. and it's AWD. But each to his/her own.
Glad that your leg is healing.

Not much else going on. The weather is changing and I'm happy about the cooler temps. I did mow with the rider today and used the weed whacker. Will use the push mower tomorrow.

Good Afternoon!

I am beginning to think I will be stuck in this job til I retire. I am just too old for everyone's likings at interviews. Oh well...look at the bright side, I have a job, I have insurance which means more than most other things, and I get a paycheck. Only about 2294 days til retirement. lol

I have discovered I love Bucca di Beppo's meatballs. Can only have the one huge one as they are 19 net carbs ea. I only get 20 net carbs a day. Still doing keto. Feb was 3 years. Actually getting closer to 4 years, I think. Anyway I am at 169, and want to STILL be at 159-160. The struggles are real. I have been at this weight for about 2 months. I really need to knuckle down. I guess I am complacent, my body likes this weight, I don't know. Truthfully, I just need to try harder.

Well paid the big tax debt (10K) over a week ago. Still waiting for the check to clear. It won't be final in my mind till that dang check clears. Anyway, bygones shall be bygones. I was never meant to be wealthy or even have a stash I guess. :)

We siblings are still going to TRY to go on our sibling vacation, but it is now rescheduled for October 2021. Maybe by then we will all have our vaccine, be healthy and still be on this side of the dirt. None of us are spring chickens. 2021 brother 1 will be 71, brother 3 will be 66, brother 2 was Michael. I will be 61. Cindy my SIL will be 68. BTW Cindy is doing good. She got the all clear at from her kidney cancer doc back in July. The only kidney left is doing great. No signs of that dreaded disease.

SUSIE...did you get your shoulder surgery scheduled? Hoping it all goes well. Let me know the date and I will do extra prayers.

HAPPY...God love you friend. All the aches and pains your body is putting you through. I think I would be continually grumpy all the time. I hope you get some relief and some time without pain. Hope you get to see your momma. That is a hard thing. I miss mine so much all the time. 94 is a big number to be alive. Praying I don't make it that long. I will surely be a pain to my kids....ON PURPOSE!

CEEG...congrats on the new RAV4, I loved mine. I miss it on some days. But also loving my Highlander. What color did you say it was? or did you?

LAURA...hope you are enjoying these nice days we are having. At least I think you are having. We have a string of sunny days, like 8 coming up. Yahooo!

SHADDIE...Still pulling stuff out of the garden?

Best get at it. Enjoy your weekend!

Hi Everyone,


Sorry to be gone for so long. I would tell myself I would get here...finally I am here! I do come and check the board often, using my phone. I hate to type out replies on my phone...takes forever for me to do that. I need a bigger keyboard instead of that text keybord.


Update from my shoulder visit with the Ortho. I got the shot that he put in right into my shoulder joint. It has helped a lot with the pain. It's not perfect but a lot better than what it was.


I go back to see him on September 29. We didn't talk a surgery date, he just said it isn't a matter of "if" but "when" . I imagine we will talk about it at the September appointment.


On the weight-loss front. I have been logging my food daily and exercising (Recumbent bike or treadmill or walking with my friend Ann) for 21 days. I have lost 7 lbs.....and i have 13 more to go to get off the Covid 20 that I put on, and then I want to keep going as I had gained back another 12 before that.


I wish I could just get stop eating for any reason but true hunger and stop this lose, gain, lose, gain cycle; this seems to be my hobby and has been since I turned 14.


It looks like Ceejay had a birthday (Happy Birthday!) and got a new car (NICE!)


Happy: it looks like fall is coming quickly your area and you are starting what I call "nesting". When I know I will be all cooped up in the house, I want things in order and not cluttered as well.


I think it would be good if you could see your mom for her birthday I know she would love it and it would be very good for you to. But I do understand how hard it is to travel with arthritis and the like. Being in a car for long hours isn't the best thing with arthritis but with all that is going on these days, I am not sure how I would feel about flying


Laura: Are you still going into the office some and working from home some?


Annie: I can only imagine how painful it was to take all that money you have been saving and pay it for the taxes....blaaaaaaaaa!!!! but it was great that you had it and can be done and over with it.


You have done fantastic with the keeping your weight off. Those last 10 lbs are always the hardest to get off. I know you can do it and you will.


That is good news to hear about Cindy. We hope to be able to go Las Vegas in June 2021 and meet my Danish friend and her husband there since we had to cancel it all this year. I hope both our trips will happen in 2021.


Shad: Sorry to hear you have been dealing with sinus issues. I hope you are feeling better by now.


It is good to spend some time here with you ladies.

Good morning ladies,


For a crazy year that mostly had us homebound, it sure is passing quickly. Leaves are in full color now but we have high winds and dry conditions so I'm not sure how long the color show will last. Pine tree needles have turned yellow - they will be falling all over again soon. We have taken a few UTV rides - once a week which we enjoy. We are replacing our mattresses and gave our old ones to a friend. I washed the covers - they came out really nice and threw in 2 sets of bedding - a new set of sheets and one microfiber that we only used once because it was too warm for us. The mattresses are in really good shape - no cooties. At first I was just concerned about getting rid of them so I offered them for free. When the person originally said no, I was going to list them to sell. I realized I probably could have gotten $200 for both - the sheets alone were worth $100. Oh well, we did a good deed and the friend gave us a gift certificate for dinner. Then we gave our wrought iron patio table and chairs to the daughter of one of our friends. We tried to sell that too and people either wanted it for next to nothing or did not follow through with inquiries. What a hassle! I told DH we gave away almost $1,000 worth of stuff yesterday. I was not much help moving the mattresses out of the house. We used a blanket as a sling but I have no grip strength in my hands and with a bad knee and leg, carrying something I could barely carry down several stairs did not work out well. It just made me more depressed about how old and broken down I am getting. We wound up staying at the 2nd friends house pretty much into the early evening which was far longer than I wanted to stay so that killed the day.


I have decided not to visit my Mom at this time. There is just too much crap going on in Chicago right now. Mom, you will just have to hang in there a few more years. :lol: Actually she was the one who said not to come at this time. I wish we could go back to normal again soon. Got my absentee vote form and we are hand carrying it to the clerk's office today. PLEASE make sure you vote and do the right thing or we are doomed for sure. And don't believe the garbage coming out of the current occupant's mouth. I can't believe the ignorant things that he says as the supposed leader of this country. Shameful. I will come after him myself if he messes with my social security. I think the goal is to make most of us poor peasants so he can be king. I wish people would wake up and realize that. Ok, enough of that.


I am in a very unsettled mood. I have to get my act together. Too many things scrambling for my attention and I really have to focus on losing weight no matter what.


Susie - I am glad you got relief from the shot in your shoulder. I don't know if there is ever a "good" time to plan your surgery. Just plan for it and see it through. Congratulations on losing the weight. I think you have a good plan, not only watch the food but regular, consistent exercise also. DH pulled out 2 bikes we bought back in TN that we never used. He wants to get rid of them. I sure do wish we / I could ride them again. Maybe like the UTV, we give it one more year. I have an AirDyne bike in the basement I keep saying I need to get riding again. Just wish they would make a comfortable bike seat LOL. I know what you mean about not liking to post on your phone. I don't like doing FB or 3FC via the phone. Some of the features are wonked up, others the full keyboard is better.


Annie - glad you got your debt paid. Ugh, hope it's the last of the unpleasant surprises. As for the job, I guess as the saying goes, be glad you have one. I'm not sure even the young and more desirable (in the eyes of the interviewers) are very happy with their jobs and working life either. The whole work world has changed a lot. Just keep focusing on getting through the day. Congrats on battling the scale too. At this point maybe just monitor things and don't put so much focus on that last 10 pounds. Maybe if you ignore it, it will give up the ghost and go away. So many things are much easier when we are young, too bad we don't know that at the time.


Our friend's (adopted) daughter is of Asian decent. She is such a tiny little thing. I looked at her and thought, I should be that tiny too. SHOULD being the key, operative word.


Hello to the rest of you ladies. Sorry, nothing very interesting to say. We are in our last dregs of autumn with nice weather. Trying to enjoy it despite the smoke from the wildfires out west and gusty winds. The deer have shed their summer coats, are dark now and everyone is gathering in the yard. Flowers are all gone from the hard frost last week, only my parsley remains. Either the lone hummingbird got smart and left or died from the cold, haven't seen any activity in a week so the feeders will all come down for this year.


It's time to get ready for P/T. Only 2 more sessions left. I think it's as good as it's going to get so probably should have cancelled these last 3 sessions.


Anyway, hope you are all doing well.

Evening all. Hope you're all doing well.

Ceejay - New vehicle - nice! Hope you're enjoying it. It'll be good to have the AWD when the you-know-what comes.

Happy - Hope that last hummingbird got out of Dodge safe and sound! == The only thing that's thriving for me as to veggies are my basil plants. Started by seed and ended up with two and I took cuttings and have 4 more plants now, plus 3 more cuttings taking root. I'll need to bring them in and put them in my mini greenhouse in the basement and keep them going - at least some of them. Haven't done much with leaves I've harvested so far, but I will dry some and freeze others. Make a pretty tasty Caprese panini with some.== The craft cabinets sound nice. I have a smallish sewing cabinet upstairs, but no room for fabric and extra sewing notions, etc. I sometimes think it would be nice to set up a nice sewing space for myself in our basement rec room with everything stored together. Right now the stuff I don't have room for upstairs is in the basement. Of course I have to turn the "wreck" room back into a rec room before these plans can be made. :D Good cool weather project. Did you get rid of the unused clothes in the closet? I use two closets for my clothes (in addition to a dresser and some underbed boxes). The closets are small, but there's still so much I don't wear. With WFH, I'm more aware than ever of all the clothes I no longer wear. Maybe my motivation to clear out the closets is to have enough room for my sewing stuff because I do agree that the natural light in our basement leaves much to be desired (we are also below ground level and have window wells ). == I'm sorry you won't be seeing your mom this year. :( I hope you can get out there in 2021. === Do you have new mattresses now? I thought you had the tempur-pedic kind of mattresses - are you going with something different now? I hope you like the new ones.

Annie - Yeh, be grateful for the job you have (but keep looking for one that might be a better fit). == Has that check to the tax man cleared yet? Another thing to be grateful for - not having Uncle Sam browbeating you! == Yay for Cindy being in the clear. I do hope those vacation plans for next year can happen!!! === Awesome you're within 10 pounds of your goal weight!! Keep plugging away. Maybe you need to really break that down into mini-goals.

Susie - I'm glad the shot helped your shoulder feel a bit better. == Good job on the 7 pounds lost! I've been logging my eating and it's been helpful to know my calorie intake...but I need to work to bring that number down now!! === You asked about my work - I haven't been to the office since mid-March, so I've been WFH for over 6 months now. The office is closed except for business critical needs, and pre-approval is required to go in the office. I don't think me wanting to get some of my shoes and some other personal belongings fits in that category, LOL. == We had an all-employee meeting last week and it will likely be spring before we might go back to the office...and management will be sending a survey to see if this WFH might be closer to the new normal. That would be interesting. == I hope your Las Vegas trip can happen in 2021!

Hi Shad!!

Not much going on with me. Dentist appoint Saturday was fine. Sunday I met a friend for breakfast. We spent about 3 hours chatting!! On the way home from the restaurant I went to a park in our neighboring suburb that I've been curious about. It was a lovely day and they have a nice walking path, so I enjoyed going there. Yesterday I took a vacation day and ran a couple errands. It was another beautiful day, so later in the afternoon I went to a nature center about 10 miles from home that has conservations areas - prairielands, wetlands, and woodlands. It was nice to spend time outside walking on the paved and unpaved paths that go through the 135 acres of the land. I'm going to try to get back there once the fall color has gotten going.

I've got one of those strange headaches right now, so I'm going to get this posted, eat a snack, and take some migraine pain reliever. Everyone take care! TTFN.

Good morning ladies,

Today marks 48 years ago that DH picked me up at a dance and the rest is history. It's so hard to believe that much time has passed. I certainly hope we don't look as old as someone who has been together for 48 years would be. ;)

The autumn colors turned quickly here and a friend went up to the apple orchards on the shores of Lake Superior Sunday. She reported back that the colors are stunning so we changed our plans yesterday from going to the gym to taking a ride. So glad we did - I guess being close to the lakeshore it's warmer and they didn't get the hard freeze we did. Reds and oranges were amazing. It was an overcast day so perfect lighting for pictures and no sun to wash the colors out. We did the orchard route - I got about 7 bags of apples - various varieties. I love homemade applesauce and multiple varieties make the tastiest sauce.

On the way up we were talking and DH said he regretted that he might not live long enough to enjoy our money (given the current crazy state of the world). I asked what he felt he was missing out on. I said I thought about having a nicer house, one that was a single level for easier access with a nice bigger cook's kitchen but that would take too much money for it and going forward. I then said the only thing I can think of that I'd like to do is to take a 4 to 6 week vacation to visit Australia and New Zealand. Always wanted to do that. I guess that caught his attention as we talked about it most of the trip and today I guess he is upstairs making a list of what he'd like to visit! Watch out Shad...

Going to our friends house tonight to watch the debates for as long as we can stand them. Which might not be too long.

I keep getting interrupted so have to put this on hold until tomorrow probably. Will be back...

Good morning, let's try this again.


It's gray and windy and cool out. Autumn is winding down although it's supposed to warm up a bit next week. We are taking one more road trip this weekend to see if we can catch some color further downstate and then that will be it I imagine. Time to swap out the summer clothes and shoes and get ready for the chill. I looked at the boxes in the garage that I still have not gone though. Perhaps next week when it's nice during the day. I have a lot of decorations I no longer use - should take them to the thrift shop but they are so overloaded with stuff right now. I am trying very hard to make a plan, stay focused and get some things done. I would like to set up the upstairs for a desk and craft area. I think the heat vent is by the windows which will keep me warm and the loft area will be warmer too.


We had a nice dinner with friends yesterday before the debates. She made warm rolls and chicken noodle soup. I brought a fall salad of mixed lettuces, chopped fresh apples (I showed her how wonderful a crank style apple peeler is), slivered almonds, dried cranberries, sweet cheddar cheese shreds and a vinaigrette I made from cranberry pear balsamic vinegar and oil. L said her husband's mouth would fall off if he ever ate a salad so she said it was a special treat for her. I brought apple pie sticks for dessert. Good meal. Then we watched the fiasco of the debates. We left at 10pm and came home and watched the recap for about an hour and then headed to bed. DH got a new Puffy mattress - like the Purple brand mattress but cheaper. IF you consider $1700 for a single twin XL mattress cheaper. The Purple was about $2500 for one mattress. Yikes. So of course, I had no choice but to get one too. I don't think I like it. It's very HIGH. He's got to build a step for me because the top of the bed comes halfway between my (droopy) boobs and waistline. It's VERY hard to get into the bed. And it's sort of squishy. I kind of collapse into it and it makes me snore. The cats like it though. I have to fight them to get my space on the bed. This is not a bed for an old person. I would take the frame and mattress and put it straight on the floor but DH likes to tilt the bed when he's watching tv. That's the main reason we got another memory foam mattress - you can't tilt the bed with a standard mattress. First world problems... :lol:


The goons in town have decided they are going to have weekly trump parades where they decorate their trucks and cars and drive through town at the height of busy times. But first they gather in clumps packed tightly, yelling and cheering each other maskless and the rest of us just point to our state being number 3 and rising in new Covid cases. This election can't come fast enough. I know there will be a lot of civil unrest no matter what happens afterwards for a while but I pray we can get back to sanity or I'm going to have to sell the compound and move to even more rural Canada.


But for now I'm going to make a pot of beef vegetable soup and process all those apples I bought into sauce.


Laura - did you get your basil transferred back into the house? My Mom said that you were getting a cold spell soon but probably not to freezing yet. One of the things I thought was really cool as far as craft storage goes was a double wide closet like we had in AH with shuttered doors. There was plenty of width for lots of cubbyholes and shelves for storage and the work table was on castors to pull out to get more light. The only issue was running electrical so you could plug in a sewing machine or lights or whatever. It was really neat. I agree it's kind of hard to get good light in a deep basement with window wells. We have canned lights in the ceiling the the "hobby room" part but while it would be great for reading or watching TV, not great for close up work, particularly as we get older and seem to need more light for fine detail work. Hope you come up with something. I too am going to take a hard look at the nicer clothes that I have in the closet and don't wear. Particularly if I am giving up bingo and activities that get me out of the house. I am embracing being a hermit more and more. And I like to be a warm hermit so many of the nice blouses and pants just don't work any more. Good luck to both of us!!


Susie - how is the shoulder coming along? How did the appointment go? I hear you on the yo yo of weight loss. I sincerely believe the key is to never have developed the fat cells in the first place. It's so much effort now ...


Annie - how is the arm coming along? Are the kids back in school again or is it chaos at your house?


Ceejay - hope you are enjoying the new car. Take some drives to get away from Sis and go enjoy the outdoors.


Shad - have you gotten over the sinus thing yet? This is allergy season max for me. Vertigo is back and so is the sniffing. Hope you feel better.


Ok kids, time for me to get off the computer and go get busy. Hope you are all doing well. Check in soon. :wave:

Afternoon all.

Lovely sunny crisp day here, but of course I’m inside working. I did get out to pick up lunch for myself, but that was it. Maybe after work I’ll get out for a walk.

Happy – Happy 48 years since meeting your DH! Speaking of your DH – enjoying his photos so much! I think I’m going to seek his permission to use one as my background for remote conference calls!! == I hope you’re enjoying the fall color up there while it lasts. == I was in Galena for the weekend and there was only a touch of color starting. Otherwise, it was green and very pretty. There are a couple trees that changed color in the next block behind the house that I can see outside my home office window, so I’m enjoying those. == How are you doing at turning all those apples into applesauce? I think our farmers market is still going – on Sunday I’ll have to get over there and buy some apples and maybe a half gallon of fresh apple cider. I bought a bottle of hard cider from a winery in Galena. == How’s that bucket list going (making it, not checking it off)?? === Have you gone through anymore of the garage boxes yet? BF bought a couple pairs of shoes yesterday and I got him to go through all the shoes in his closet. He got rid of a couple pairs of old slippers and 3-4 pairs of shoes. One seldom-worn pair of heavy old-school hiking boots he’s had for decades is in good enough condition to donate. Maybe some lumberjack wannabe will want them, lol. I gave him the hanging shoe bag I used to have at work (when I had a skinny closet as part of my cubicle in our previous office space). He was able to store his infrequently worn shoes in that in the closet of our home office. I was sleep-deprived yesterday (didn't sleep well/enough over the weekend) and didn’t feel like going through and purging my shoes. However, when I started thinking about all the places in the house where I store shoes, it was sort of silly – four different closets have my shoes in them! Well, one of them, the entrance closet, is where I store my winter boots, and I won’t move those. But I should at least try to consolidate the shoes in three closets down to two. == Have you gotten accustomed to your high bed yet? Be careful with the overnight bathroom trips. It’s a scary thing when the floor isn’t where it should be!! Are you going to buy a step stool or some sort fancy steps to help you? == One of my basil plants shriveled up, but they are all in the house now, most in the 3-season room facing south, windows closed. It’s time to set up the lighting in my basement mini greenhouse!!

Hellos to the rest of you! Hope you’re all doing well.

I had last Friday off work for the girls weekend in Galena. My friend D, who lives south, had her son drop her off at my house and we drove up together late Friday morning. We met the other 4 who’d driven up in pairs at the hotel later in the afternoon, and we had dinner together and convened in the hotel pool area afterwards. A few swam and went in the hot tub while a few of us chatted, and then we all played a game of Yahtzee. On Saturday we strolled the downtown shops (brisk but not mobbed, thankfully, and the whole area was a designated mask zone), picked up carryout and ate lunch outdoors at a winery not far from town that had very pretty views. Dinner was at a supper club with an awesome view of the river and surrounding area. Once again we gathered in the hotel pool area afterwards. This time we played Uno. I had a nice time. We had two friends from outside our core group and that was a nice change. I also enjoyed the time talking to my friend D on the drive out and back.

The weather was just okay – a bit chilly because it was pretty cloudy the entire time. But only a wee bit of drizzle driving back from dinner Saturday night. As I told Happy, the fall color had barely started, but the scenery was still lovely to see. COVID dining restrictions that took effect in the area on Saturday meant we had to either eat outdoors (a chilly proposition) or take it to go and eat elsewhere. Saturday we took carryouts to the winery for lunch on their wraparound porch. For dinner, there was a bit of drama. An 8:00 pm reservation was made for a restaurant in East Dubuque, which somehow was allowed for indoor dining. That was deemed too late for a couple of people. Those people wanted to just order pizza to eat at the hotel. Unfortunately, we couldn’t eat in public areas of the hotel, so it would have to be our rooms. Ultimately, we were able to get a 6 pm reservation (which wasn’t available when the 8 pm res was being made) and all was well.

Driving home on Sunday morning, the weather was clear and sunny, of course. Oh well, it was a nice drive home. I’m glad I got away and had a nice change of scenery. I would have liked to have had more outdoor time spent in nature, but it wasn’t that kind of weekend. Besides, two of my friends we were with are not in the best physical condition and really can’t do much in the way of physical activities, so we don’t do that kind of thing (hike/walk, etc.) together . Hopefully the local weather will permit some quality outdoor time over the next few weekends for me to get out and enjoy the fall weather.

That’s about it for me, so back to work. TTFN.

Still alive and kicking. Not getting notifications although sometimes they end up in the spam box. I'm over the sinus although I'm still supposed to be taking the medication.

Am just out the door to go to meet some people, then I need to pick up some supplies from the hardware store and then take the dog out to check out some new walking paths in the Eagleby Wetlands. After that I will be back to post. I thought retirement was supposed to be slow and steady. Oh, was that before COVID???