Mary Ann...
... I still have my old pair of marooned framed reading glasses, no good for close reading but good for the computer where my other two are too strong from the distance I am from the screen, but they now must be a good 6 years old...Oh and one of its arms is bent where I accidentally trod on it...

Mary Ann - My landline also goes out when we have a power outage.  It used to stay on, but now that we have Comcast, the landline is part of the "bundle", which consists of television, internet and landline.  In the old days, when most of us had AT&T for our phones, it was separate from the main power source, so the phone was always available.

Oh forgot to mention, so before I hit the sack ( go to bed 11pm ) Richard finally got his phone call offering him his cataract consultation for mid next week, been a good ten months arriving...He should then get some idea as to how long it will be when they can do them...another lengthy wait, as this is the busiest department in our NHS hospitals...

Mary Ann. thanks for bringing me back to the Soo. I was getting the same message as Joy not used enough

Glad to see Tom is happy working at the schools. I have a
a Fibber Mcgee drawer in the kitchen, it is dangerous to even open it. I keep threatening to clean it.

Home after some errands and my haircut....oh my, how much better I feel, but I always dread having to go to the salon. 

WJOAN, getting your phone line at a reasonable rate is fantastic as there are not many bargains out here for us these days.  I hope you feel better also after your haircut! 


MARYANN, it  sounded like you have a land line, but now I know it is actually a VOIP.....meaning it is going to be unusable during a internet outage.   Land lines do not go out of service due to no electricity because they are powered from the central office.

MARILYNE, thank you for the nice welcome and the kind words about Michele.  The oldest child, age 13 does know what his mom is dealing with and it has been hard on him.  He is a well rounded young man tho, so he is dealing well with the knowledge.  The other two are 9 and 10 and just know Mom is ill, but not to the exstent that it is.  It is going to be a long six months but we all will hang in there and deal the best we can.  Smiling at your comment of rearranging F M closet, and then how things get shoved in and closing the door quickly 🤩🤩

Haha, JACKIE......having to look up Fibber Magee's Closet, and thinking it might be something nice....now you know! Would you be so kind to send me a link to this forum?  I can not get it set up, and have to go from the SODA SHOPPE to here and the back to SS.  I think I am truly "loosing it" as simple things seem to be impossible.  You were kind to put one in for the picture forum, so I got it.  Thank you.  Happy to read Richard is one step closer to finding out about his cataract surgery.  Now wait and wait some more h n it 2ill happen.  Sweet dreams. 

Have a good evening....

Jenny

My home was built in 2000. There were several phone plugs. I kept one of those phones when I got  one with units on a base and can plug it in when the electricity goes out. Really came in handy when a storm damaged some cell towers and cell phones wouldn't work, either.

Handyman attached bars to the walls of my shower and the nook where the toilet is. He also put one in for the tub but it never was much help.

Finally coming up for air after a "go-go" week. Forecast is for a messy-weather" weekend so I'm glad I can stay home.

   to all.

Duluth webcam watchers, click on Home to see videos of ships currently arriving or leaving the harbor and the Two Harbors depot/boat launch.  The videos are speeded (sped??)  up and camera angles change so you get the  whole trip.
The one of the Joyce Vandr"something "  arriving at Two Harbors that needed help from a tug to break the ice made me laugh.
That little tug was really zipping around the freighter

Denver, I agree.  Was a great offer but do not imagine many people are asking for phones <land lines> to be installed these days.  LOL

 Nite all.

Hi Everyone.  Once again we are to have a very nice day getting up into the low 80's.  Our nights are still chilly but no frost in the forecast and hopefully that is over for this Spring.  Scott was here for about an hour yesterday and did bring out a Firehouse Sub, which served as my main meal for the day.  I really got nothing accomplished yesterday as just wasn't up to it.  It looks like today may be a replica of yesterday.  I did enjoy watching one of the basketball games last evening.

Sandy, I agree it is better to be proactive on things like grab bars and making changes as needed in routines.  My experience in the shower yesterday caused me to make a decision that from now on I will do sponge baths.  I had a lot of experience with them as I was growing up as I was 16 or so when I dad built a bathroom in our house at the same time he built the extra bedrooms for my sister and I.  My rollator will got into the bathroom so can have a place to sit at the sink for a majority of my bath.  I have to figure out a way to wash my hair over the sink but since I no longer have a lot of hair that shouldn't be too hard to accomplish. 

Jenny, preparing the meal for Wednesday evening with Scott and the girls was too much for Pat and she decided she won't be doing that very often.  She was exhausted all day yesterday and couldn't seem to stay awake. 

Jackie, if you are interested look up a site on the Internet that has the old radio shows like Fibber McGee.

I was just rattling off to Richard that all our medical issues are just here to try us, to prepare us and get us ready for our final destination..Baring in mind we both have serious medical issues as he has not long come back from his GP's ( nurse ) test results...He was in the kitchen preparing his sandwich and said to me during discussing his, referring I was on the morbid side " hm, glad you are so cheerful.." said in a jovial way, so I replied with a sprightly reply " we have a choice, we can either laugh, or we can cry, which one is it, which one is it going to be? " his reply " hm, i'm not too sure. " ...

Larry Hanna...
...this is one programme I have never heard of, Fibber McGee, I will see if its posted on youtube...
Larry have you and Pat considered microwaved weight watchers meals or something similar? you or Pat can always steam a few fresh or frozen packet vegetables to go with it..

We are having a nice spring day.  Enjoying this time before the hot days of summer are here.

There is not much going on in this part of the US.  Just checking in.

We are having 60-degree weather, something unheard of for several months.  With the sun shining, it's a beautiful day.  I even think I'll go after the mail as Tom just left for lunch with a friend. 

Robin, Tom's friend, is coming later to do some cleaning for us.  I think she prefers projects but dusting and vacuuming need to be done too.  This is the third week in a row she will be here, but her schedule will be every other week. 

Mary Ann

Mornin all.   Just waiting for son to come by so he can order me some more books from the Libray.  With the loss of one eye I am unable to do that anymore.

Otherwise just another day but with rain here they say.  Have a good one all.

Joan, are these books on tape?  Or some similar method?  I haven't been much of a reader in past years but I could never read a book now.  It's hard enough to read the print on the computer.  The size is OK but I have trouble focusing on what I am trying to read. 

Mary Ann

Good afternoon,cloudy day,not to cold. I am tired, but a good tired. Went to Homemakers.  Started something new. round table discussion about memories. Started with where we grew up and what it was like in the 30 and 40's  We are a senior group, so very interesting some were country women the other city.  Most seem to be from Brooklyn and the Bronx.

Jackie, I grew up listening to Fibber McGee and Molly  Wasn't Fibbers next door neighbor called Gilasleve? or am I mixed with someone else, then George Burns and Grace was another radio favorite, they even came to TV.

'Taint so, Mc Gee', I think Molly would say to him.  What was Fibber's read name?  I don't remember.  Jack Benny was also a favorite.  Mc Gee's neighbor was Gildersleeve.  I liked Fred Allen too, but he died young. 

I just went after the mail.  It is 60 out and lovely.  I hold my breath because I know we'll have more snow.  But looking around, all of the snow has disappeared, except one or two large piles.  We had a pile about 3-4 feet high next to my neighbor's tree and that has disappeared; of course it was on the south side of our building.  Snow on the north side has gone too.  We have the front door open to the storm door. 

Mary Ann

Marilyn, Paul is leaving the Duluth Harbor - departure time is 2:53.

Mary Ann

Hello everyone!  I'm late today, because 'I was gone all morning, just killing time at Bed, Bath & Beyond, and at the grocery store.  I wanted to get out of the house while the carpet cleaners were here, shampooing our family room, hallway and bedroom carpets.  It took two and a half hours, but it was worth the time and money, because everyone looks so nice and clean now.

I thought I would post a link to the obituary for Sandy's friend, Lydia, in  case anyone is interested.  Sandy is there now.  The graveside burial service is today, and the others will be tomorrow. 

https://napavalleyregister.com/lifestyles/announcements/obituaries/lydia-helena-white/article_d6b8a3f8-6058-594a-945b-0b7a1a30a35a.html   

Lindancer..( Gloria D )...
...I am familiar with both George Burns and Gracie Allen but dont recollect their show getting aired in UK...Now the Lucille Ball and Desi Arnaz is-was a show that we did get to watch, if I remember correctly it was called the " I love Lucy " show, boy that really takes me back some years, It must have been 1950's - 1960's..

Marilyn, as long as I have an adblock, I cannot view Lydia's obit from the link.  If it isn't too long, if you copy it and paste to the Reply area, I will be able to read it.

Robin is here to clean and she does such a thorough job, much better than I ever did.  I also was able to get rid of my amaryllis bulbs that she will give to her daughter's friend.  I've had a lot of enjoyment from the plants, but I cannot take care of them any more, at least not how they should be taken care of.  I kept a half dozen of the other plants, plus one amaryllis and I think I can manage those.  If not, I'll know where I can get rid of them.

Golf this week is/ a match play that I do not understand or care for so I have it on the TV but I'm not watching or listening (mute). 

I received a letter from the hospital today that they want me to have blood drawn prior to seeing my cardiologist.  Last year he told me to "come back in a year" so I hope he tells me the same thing this year. 

Mary Ann

Mary Ann, you can d/l books from there or order what you want.  The Libbrary is the MAIN one in each State but you can call them ou order thru your local Libbrary.  They provide the equipment <no charge> and send a Catalogue every two months.  If you have any other questions just ask me.  NO charge for anything.

Well I will say a good Saturday morning at 7.am UK time...Hard to believe we have reached another weekend, our weeks just fly by as we get older...As I keep telling Richard.." it wont be long before its Christmas again. "...Well another day or two we will have reached April, and tonight we put our clocks forwards an hour...

Some feedback from Richards GP nurse blood test result appointment yesterday, told after his previous blood test his diabetes was NOT now under the " control " they had recently told him so he will be put back on a medication he had previously been taken off of....a bit of disappointment for him...

Just had some early morning feedback from Richard still in his bedroom that my hairdressers who once had disabled car parking bays opposite but now the road has been pedestrianised ( as most of Weymouth and Dorchester has, ) so cant park a car nor drop off anyone disabled outside the door, we had always thought a car could drop off someone outside the shops before 9,30am, well Richard re read the road signs and this only applies to vans and lorries un-loading's-loading's, NOT for us...So much for Dorset being a disabled friendly County....as long as it caters and panders for the tourists everything is alright, well they certainly dont seem to be catering for their locals...
My hairdressers appointment is for a 9.am...

Well once again my leg has just given me one of my electric charged shocks, guess it just nudging me, making me aware that I am still alive... 

Good morning Jackie and anyone else who follows.  It seems someone in your shires wasn't thinking when they banned drop-offs for disabled people.  Tom usually drops me off at the front door of wherever I'm going, then finds a parking place, not usually handicapped - although he has a handicap plate - and I wait until he gets to the building where he gets a wheelchair for me.  The wheelchair depends on where we are - doctors' offices are usually far from the entrance so we get one, but restaurants I can walk that far.  But I don't have your ailments.  I suppose you've already complained.

Our lovely weather seems to have disappeared.  Radar shows we may have snow flurries, but they may have passed before I got up.  Oh well, it's nearly April and April showers will bring May flowers - so they say!

Mary Ann

Hi Everyone. We are expecting a partly or mostly cloudy day today with a high of around 79 degrees (not bad for the end of March. I had a great nights sleep last night and it was after 9 am before I got up this morning.  I did accomplish a little something this morning as was able to unload the top tray of the dishwasher.  A good friend from Church came over yesterday afternoon to visit us and brought us a large bag of food.  She brought about a gallon of beef vegetable soup, two dozen roast beef sliders and a container of lemon square.  Guess what we had for an early dinner last night and it was all very good.  Pat had a very busy day yesterday including doing laundry and make a large batch of oatmeal raisin cookies, which about did her in.  I hope she will take today easy as she about overdid yesterday.  I have nothing on my schedule for today. I am just going to check in for today as the few things I did this morning before coming to my desk took up most of my energy supply.

Good morning Jackie, Mary Ann, and Larry.  Today is looking good so far and today is my Larry's birthday.  We don't celebrate birthdays anymore, but I did sing a Happy Birthday song to him.

Mary Ann, the Duluth site is looking nice and clear.  I went on the Sue site and watched a tugboat/ice breaker moving around until it went out of sight on the right of my screen. It is still very messy looking there.

Well, have a good day everyone.

Larry Hanna...
...quoting Larry: "guess what we had for an early dinner last night.."
...nope, still guessing...  
...well-done to Pat in getting her bout of energy, baking her oatmeal cookies, but, she now needs to take it easy and fuel her body up again...

FlaJean...
...I dont think my Richard will take too kindly to me singing Happy Birthday to him...I tried it once and we could hear the neighbouring cats meowing...

Mary Ann...
...I did stay away from this hairdressers once it was made pedestrianised and used another nearer to me ( village ) hairdressers but although cheaper she tends to cut my hair far too short, so if possible I will try to keep to the my original but more pricier salon, but harder for me to get to...If only it had been left the way it was, it was just a perfect for me, set-up...

Where is Patricia, is she alright? I haven't seen a posting from her for a couple of days, is this normal?

Good morning Jackie and everyone here before me and then after. Yes, it is normal as there is often nothing new to post about. I'm looking at a lot of spring's gray and brown outside my window through this week's spring rain.

The snow is almost totally gone except for one or two brittle northside patches. However, nothing green as yet. We are in the fifties waiting for it to hit sixties and beyond.

We'll be leaving around noon, to meet some out of town friends for lunch at Olive Garden. I'm looking forward to a nice visit and some good food.  I know lots of folks don't care for OG, but I've never been disappointed.  Of the nationwide chain restaurants, I do like The Outback, better, but OG would be second. 

Jackie - I'm also wondering about Patricia?  I hope she posts a message today. 

I'll be back later this afternoon to check on what you are all doing on this Spring Saturday?  Whatever it is, I hope it's a pleasant day for everyone.

Marilyne...
...whatever we said has worked, it brought Patricia in..

The Olive Garden, I am not familiar with this place but it certainly does sound nice..I will see if I can do a google search and bring it up...

Edited: just google mapped, and would you believe there was an Olive Garden Italian restaurant in Dunstable UK, just a stones throw from where we had previously lived, and I never even knew it...well we sure live and learn...

The Olive Garden is also one of my favorites and if I'm in a mood for a meal, I often ask to go there.  It is across the river and about five miles from here.  When we're in a hurry, we go on the avenue to Cheers or Russ' or we go a little further to Blue Water Grill.  Cheers is local, Russ' is a local chain and Blue Water Grill is a wider chain.  Russ' is interesting because all of us "old" folks go there.  They have just plain food, nothing fancy so I don't have to hunt for the main part of whatever I ordered.  It also is not open on Sunday. 

Patricia, I'm glad to see your post  I was beginning to wonder if all was well with you.  I don't always have anything to say, and often say it!

We have had lovely weather the last few days, getting over 60 degrees yesterday.  We even had the front door open and the furnace did not come on.  It is only 45 degrees today and it has been damp but the furnace has not gone on anyway.  But no sun.

Mary Ann

From the New Yorker;  "If, on a certain evening about sixty-­six million years ago, you had stood somewhere in North America and looked up at the sky, you would have soon made out what appeared to be a star. If you watched for an hour or two, the star would have seemed to grow in brightness, although it barely moved. That's because it was not a star but an asteroid, and it was headed directly for Earth at about forty-five thousand miles an hour. Sixty hours later, the asteroid hit. The air in front was compressed and violently heated, and it blasted a hole through the atmosphere, generating a supersonic shock wave. The asteroid struck a shallow sea where the Yucatán peninsula is today. In that moment, the Cretaceous period ended and the Paleogene period began."

"We can trace our origins back to that event," DePalma said. "To actually be there at this site, to see it, to be connected to that day, is a special thing. This is the last day of the Cretaceous. When you go one layer up—the very next day—that's the Paleocene, that's the age of mammals, that's our age."

https://www.newyorker.com/magazine/2019/04/08/the-day-the-dinosaurs-died?utm_source=pocket&utm_medium=email&utm_campaign=pockethits