Hi everyone.  We woke up to a foggy and chilly morning with the temperature in the high 30's.  It will not get very warm all day.  This should be a pretty laid back day.  Scott will be with us later this afternoon and we plan on going to Tin Lizzy's for a late lunch/early dinner so I won't have to cook today. 

Pat did get in to see the doctor's PA yesterday morning and now has some medicine for the gout.  She said her foot was feeling better this morning so hopefully the pain in her toe will soon be a thing in the past. 

Patricia, it sounds like Farrah is giving you a nice kiss when she licks your arm or leg. 

Glad to see the weather is improving for about everyone across the country. 

JeanneP, glad to see you got a new battery so your car should start.  When I replaced my battery in my PT Cruiser the other day I could only get a one year battery but expect it to last longer. 

Mornin all.  Am off to get my hair cut.  Sure glad the snow has all melted.  Sun is shining .  Forget what the temp is, but warmer than it has been.  Hugs all around,

Larry.  I think that the battery I had in there was a 3 year but had only been good it seems for about 13 months. So can never tell.  It was really dead. First time weather so cold and needed changing
I thing part of problem could be. I just do not take it and put enough miles on at a time.  Should take it and run about 20 miles on the Interstate every once in awhile and not just keep going in and out the car around town.

Hi everyone.  It looks like it will be a nice day starting out about 42 but suppose to go up to around 66 degrees this afternoon with no chance of rain.  I only got about 3 hours of sleep last night as could never go back to sleep after Pat came to bed.  This is going to be a busy morning as will pick up my friend and we will go to coffee.  I will take him back home and then go back downtown for our Wisdom Group.  When that is over I will go to Aldi's for a few items and then go to Walmart to pick up another small online order.  Finally I have one other stop planned before coming home to get the air checked in my tires as the gauge shows a low tire.  Scott really enjoyed his meal with us at Tin Lizzy's late yesterday afternoon.  He had been called into work for a short time at the lunch period and then went home and fell asleep.  When we got home we visited for a couple of hours and then he headed back home as was tired. 

Joan, it always feels good to get a haircut.  Glad your weather is getting better and warming up enough to melt the snow. 

JeanneP, the battery situation is probably like I was told on tire warranties when I bought new tires and wanted the 70,000 tires.  They said I should expect to get only around 50,000 miles out of them.  That made no sense to me. Fortunately they are still in good shape.  Like you I don't drive my PT Cruiser more than once a week for short trips as it is a stick shift and I prefer the automatic shift in my newer car. 

Good morning,

Larry,  I am interested in hearing how the on-line Walmart works with picking your items up,.  Our local Walmart is going to be starting that service sometime after the first of the year.  I hope to be able to make use of it  I order grocery items on-line, but have to have them delivered.  But, with the pick-up service, either my son or DIL will be able to pick it up for me.  I think it will include being able to order fresh produce and  other cold items................right now, I am not happy with their fresh produce items when I buy it at the store. Will see how it works for the on-line buying.  I probably will still go in person every once in a while, but it is just difficult for me now to be able to walk around in Walmart.  Will definitely give it a try. 

Joy

Good morning from the Interior. Yesterday was the Solstice, our shortest day and nothing happened other than private parties as "Those" looking to commercialize a simple moment to see daylight return, arranged everything on the 17th. When you live in the arctic and when your winter daylight is from 10 am to 3 pm and an hour and half of that is twilight, you grow to appreciate daylight. The winter Solstice celebrates the return of daylight, and the summer Solstice celebrates twenty-four hours of summer daylight before we begin to lose minutes again. I am not a fan of commercializing everything for profit or to advertise a company.

For those of you having problems with eyedrops, I had that issue until I was shown how to make a small "cup" from your lower eyelid and place the drop there. It is simple, easy, and you don't lose the drops. I have recently had the issue of not being able to squeeze the bottle and think they should make bottles for those of us who have problems.

We have that service here at Fred Meyers and there is a curved drive off the parking lot that you use, and you load your groceries there or pay extra for them to do so. Walmart here doesn't offer any extra services and I don't shop there so can't tell you more than that.

It is now 6:47 and I have the cleaner showing up at nine to do a deep clean so I will be busy again today.

Regarding he prescription eye drop containers:
There is one out there, that is a much easier for arthritic hands and fingers to squeeze!  I use Timolol every day, which is for glaucoma.  For years I struggled with those little hard, squat bottles, until a friend told me I could get Timolol in an easier to use container. 

The problem is that the mail order pharmacy doesn't provide a choice, and neither did Walgreen's or Safeway.  However, CVS has it!!  It's well worth it to me to drive across town to CVS to get my drops.

The container holds the same amount of medication as the regular one, but is rectangular shape, with two flat sides.  There is even a slight indentation for you to press your thumb.  For me, it's a vast improvement. 

My husband uses Restasis, and instead of a small bottle,  it comes in a package of individual "one shot" doses, that are small, and easy to manage.   

Big Walmarts across the Street a couple miles. I use for things but not from their Veg dept. they have the worse.  Hard if you have to get something even picking out yourself. We have Schnucks and Meijers same area and both have good Veg. Fruit Dept. and also big Butchers and Fish areas. Along with Bakeries. I shop there.

I have always like Grocery shopping. Fact have to head out now.

Its taken them awhile to take care of the Change in my Glasses this time.  Last time did in 4 days. Now been 8 and not back.  They are readers and so no hurry.

I am amazed at how fast things are being delivered ordered on line. My daughter has the Express from Amazon and sent a couple of things that got here over night. I bought from QVC or whatever it is and again was here in 2 days.

Marilyne, I take those eye drops in the small bottles and have a heck of a time, however, I get them through Express Scripts, which is part of my company insurance package.  I pay $15 for a three-month supply and Dot pays over $100 and I’m not sure how long it lasts â€" one month?

I’d hate to have anyone see me now.  I had skin cancer surgery today on my cheek just below my left eye.  The surgery with all of the waits and checks took 4 ½ hours.  First the doctor does the surgery, then sends you out to the waiting room while he tends to other patients.  Eventually, you are called back so the doctor can check and/or do more work on it.  You go out to the waiting room again and after a while you are called back to have stitches put in.  Mine was quite a large hole to stitch and that took a while.  I now have a bandage from under the eye, over to my nose, across my face to the side of my cheek and nearly down to my chin. 

It was interesting looking at people as they came from surgery and/or checking because everyone had a patch in a different area.  All were on the face, but in different places.  One woman had a patch that covered her nose.

One nice thing, as I was to be checked out, the receptionist called Tom to tell him I was about ready and he told her if I was not out there, he’d come to the office to get me.  As I went toward the elevator, there was Tom just getting off.  They sure take good care of their patients.

I had Tom stop at Wendy’s for a hamburger and Sprite.  Tom always gets a cheeseburger instead of a hamburger and when I got ready to eat it, it was too thick to get in my mouth.  My face and mouth are still numb and I discovered what I thought was a slice of onion was really my upper lip.  I decided at that time to get a knife and fork so I could cut it in bite-size pieces.  I was able to finish it and I’m now chomping on fries.  I usually don’t order fries but I did today.

It is now 3:15 and I’m going to see if I can take a nap.

Mary Ann

Mary Ann - I laughed at your description of eating your cheeseburger!   I sympathize with the skin cancer surgery, and have had many of them removed from my face too. My husband is very fair, and a lifetime of outdoor activity in the California sunshine, has resulted in lots of skin cancers on his face and neck.  He had one taken off of his ear last week, and looks to me like it's getting infected?

JeanneP - Yes, the orders from Amazon, come almost overnight!  I'm amazed that they're delivered so quickly. Other companies are slow, and usually take more than a week.  That would be women's clothing sites like The Tog Shop and Appleseeds. 

About two weeks ago I decided to order My Pillow!  I know you have all seen the commercials on TV.  "But wait . . . order now and we will send you a second My Pillow for free"! My daughter and I get a kick out of the commercial, so I decided to place the order, and keep one pillow, and give the other one to her for Christmas.  Well, it hasn't arrived yet, and it's the 22nd, so I tracked it, and see that my order is now in Melrose Pk, Illinois.  I wonder if it will arrive in time?

Marilyne, I think Amazon must have storerooms around the country so they can deliver so promptly.  Of course, Appleseed's and Tog Shop don't have Prime delivery and I think they usually say "7 to 10 day delivery".  I have so many tops ordered from both of those companies that I could go into business.  One of them had a sweater I wanted, so started to place an order and it won't be available until January.  I decided I didn't want it that bad.

Using a knife and fork with my hamburger got the food into my mouth without biting my upper lip, so I'd say it worked.  I am feeling fine since the surgery.  I'm more tired than anything and I did take a nap.  The numbness hasn't worn off yet so I am relatively comfortable, except it is hard to blow my nose and my upper lip is quite swollen. 

We were supposed to go to a baby shower for one of my great nephews and his wife but I told them when I got the invitation I would not be able to go.  There is no way I would go out in public looking like I do.  So Tom isn't going and Dot is going to be picked up by Terry and his wife (parents of the parents-to-be).  I feel bad to miss it because this couple lives in California and we see them so seldom.

I don't recall seeing an ad for "My Pillow"; I'll have to pay better attention.

Mary Ann

MaryAnn, feel better soon!

For all those ones who enjoy crosswords A cruciverbalists is someone that constructs or enjoys solving crosswords puzzles. Arthur Wynne was a Liverpool journalist that invented the first crossword puzzle. It was published in The New York World on December 21, 1913. His puzzle was first called a “Word-Cross Puzzle” and was designed as a diamond shape. Although Wynne’s invention was initially greeted with skepticism, by the 1920s it had established itself as a popular pastime, entertaining and frustrating generations of cruciverbalists.

Just read a Winter advisory.  It says that we are to have a snow storm from 4 a.m thru 10 p.m. tomorrow.  Guess we are not thru yet with the snow.

The Farm Store here by me. They sell "My Pillow". I was surprised. I didn't look at them. The man has been on TV for awhile with them. Says get 2 but never mentions the cost of Shipping and Handling. Just says it is charged.

Some of the adds that do the buy one and we will double the order is a Gyp.  They say S And H. On them but charge again just S and H on the second..

Good evening!

My house is so clean it probably squeaks and Farrah is fast asleep, half on and half off my toes at the other end of the couch. My biyearly apartment inspection is the 27th and I won't start redoing and redecorating until after that. So far life is good again but don't speak too loudly or fate will again step in!

Everyone enjoy your evening!

Mary Ann, hope all goes well.

Jean, thank you.  So far all is well, I don't even have any pain.  This afternoon I can take off the initial bandaging which is cumbersome - goes from under my left eye to under my chin.  My upper lip is improving since I tried to eat it yesterday (swollen).  I will have to put some bandage on, but not as thick as what I have now.

The poor cat.  Last night I picked up his food dish, took it with me to the kitchen, turned off the stove light and left the dish there.  I went to the living room to give him his treat, then headed for bed.  This morning I could hear him scratching the carpet and wondered why.  He continued for a while and I finally got up to find out why.  Imagine my surprise to find an empty slot where his food dish goes.  I had to hunt for the dish, found it, added food and I had a happy cat. 

Mary Ann

It is another beautiful sunny morning here in South Carolina.  Yesterday was great as it got into the mid-60's with no wind so was quite comfortable outside. Today we will only get into the mid-50's but no complaints. 

I was very tired last night after only getting three hours of sleep on Wednesday night and then having a very busy day yesterday that I didn't wake up this morning until after 8 am.  Sleeping in is something I very seldom do.  I plan on a much quieter day and staying at home. 

I am trying to use the Windows Movie Maker on the videos of the Christmas Concert I took a few days ago as a lady from Church, who missed the concert, called and asked if I could share them with her.  I have never used the application before so there is a learning curve involved. 

Joy, I picked up our fourth order yesterday at Walmart from the online shopping and it works like a charm.  It took a few minutes waiting after I arrived yesterday and the young lady that brought out my groceries and loaded them into the car apologized saying she had been called to the front of the store to help with checkout as they were so busy in the store.  I didn't mind the few minutes wait as would much rather be sitting in the car than walking around picking up groceries.  This works great for Pat as she can still do the shopping sitting in her easy chair.  For the service to be free one must buy at least $40 worth of items.  Yesterday I got two cases of the breakfast drink which equaled half of the $40 or more so it isn't difficult to reach that point.  One thing they do here is put only one or two items in each bag so the bags aren't heavy and it is easy to see what you have.  The first couple of times I checked off the list as the items were put in the car but decided that was a waste of time.  You indicate whether you will accept substitutes on an item or not as you order. 

Patricia, our Kroger store also has the online shopping with a lower limit for free service.  I see you were satisfied with the work the cleaner did for you.  I have never heard that information you shared on the history of the cross word puzzles.  I didn't know I was a cruciverbalist but don't work anything too difficult. 

Joan, sounds like it will be a snowy winter out your way.



Marilyne, that is good news to know about the items available at CVS that are easier to dispense. I've seen that "My Pillow" commercial so many times and wish they would make a new one.  I will be interested in how you like it.  I recently bought new pillows at COSTCO that both Pat and I really like.

JeanneP, we buy almost all of our fruits and vegetables from Aldi's and it is a small store but they usually have good looking produce and at lower prices that the bigger grocery stores. 

Mary Ann, it sounds like you had the MOHS surgery where they take off only smaller layers and check them until they get a clear layer.  I know what you are talking about as also had it done on a skin cancer on my upper lip.  Your sounds like quite a bandage.  You deserve to treat yourself with the fries after your day at the doctor. 

Good morning everyone from a dark but much warmer Interior! The cleaner I hired to do a deep clean is a man in his mid-sixties and he came in and got straight to work. I can see why so many and the office here have recommended him. I have my biyearly inspection on the twenty-seventh and then plan to do a massive rehaul of my possessions. It has been a long and frustrating fall and winter so I hope 2017 will be peaceful and less drama.

Farrah is getting to be quite the diva. She gets up in the morning and goes straight to her empty bowl, verbally telling you to get a move on. Then she goes to her treat closet and verbally reminds you that you aren't finished. She doesn't hide from company, she isn't a lap cat but she will accept pets and scratches on her terms from company. When you are in the kitchen or busy in another room, she will go to the closest chair or table and watch you.

With me, she is affectionate in her way. She lays on my feet or behind me on the couch and sometimes plays with my hair all the while purring. Last night she kept bring me her felt mouse. I would thank her and put it on the floor. She would return it to my lap each time I returned it to the floor. Finally, she was satisfied when I pocketed it. No one will accuse her of not providing for her family! 

We have had a warm winter and busy holiday season. I've ended up sending my regrets to a few parties, potlucks, and teas and that is my own Christmas present. I attended a couple and that was okay, but I'm more of a one on one than a thirty or more on one type of person. This building is kept well supplied with mini chocolates, hot cocoa packets, tea, tooth paste and brushes in mini packets from local schools and area clubs while we have had strolling hallway carolers from Sweet Adelines and a couple of high schools so it has been a busy season and I will appreciate January's calm.

Joan, you are definitely going to have a white Christmas!

Larry, I receive two trivia questions daily and have remained at 76% all year, unfortunately! Often I can guess if I don't know the answers but there are some that come straight from left field. I have been in a mood to reread some good books I have on my kindle and re-enjoyed the suspenseful plots of some of my favorite authors. My type of book is usually historical, suspenseful or an autobiography.

I have read a yearly summary from my online editor on my posts and have had good news and bad. Evidently, besides improper comma use and wordy sentences, I am guilty of "Inappropriate Colloquialisms!" Oh My! 

I hope everyone is well and happy and that those with issues find them quickly resolved! Stay warm and enjoy this holiday season in your own way!

Angel, you are probably right about that.  LOL

Larry, you are right, I had the MOHS treatment.  I didn't know how or what they did, but I know I had to go back for more both times I've had skin cancer surgery.  I took off the bandage this morning and I look better without it, but I still look like a fright.  I've got to get some gauze packs to put on it; they gave me one and I found some gauze that I will use until Tom gets to the store.  My upper lip is swollen but I could brush my teeth after I took off the original bandage.  It isn't a bad procedure, but I hope I don't have to have another one.  I don't see any spot on my face that would qualify, fortunately.  I'm not going to a baby shower tonight or to church on Sunday - not with this face!

Mary Ann

Mary Ann. I had my Face Surgery done just before Christmas in 2014. I was hiding for weeks. Good I live alone. My operation was over 3 hours and what a mess I looked. Black and blue. swollen. turned out well worth it though. He did a fantastic job. Was a good excuse on not being able to go anyplace at Christmas.

Good you went and had it done.  I saw a lady in Walmarts yesterday. Had what looked like Warts all over her face. Must have been 100 of them. Never seen it before. Made me think about me not going out after mine. Felt bad for her. but I could see people staring at her.  I doubt it was anything that could be removed.

Jeanne, my surgery, in spurts, took four hours, but not four continuous hours.  The doctor did the first part, then I went to the waiting room to sit while he worked on others.  When I got there in the morning, there were seven couples there and I know one of each of those couples was there because of skin cancer.  We all had the same routine.  I asked the doctor if he did it like that every day and he said he did it four days a week and sometimes he had time for lunch.  I think they schedule a batch a 8 am and another at 1 pm.  But doing it that way, he can take care of 10-15 people each day.  He is a very skilled surgeon and has a good reputation in Grand Rapids.

I don't look like I want to be out in company tonight, in fact, I turned down an invitation to a baby shower tonight for the California couple because I had the surgery scheduled much before the invitation came.  I am not as black and blue as I expected, but I don't look very good. 

I already mentioned that I would not be going to church Sunday and I told our new minister that I would not be there.  We are such a small congregation at our service that anyone not there is missed.

I wonder what the woman has who has warts all over her face.

Mary Ann

Hi everyone on a beautiful Christmas Eve morning here in South Carolina.  It started out at 53 degrees around 7:30 this morning and headed to 68 degrees this afternoon and only getting down to 50 degrees tonight.

I made a quick trip to Walmart before 8 am this morning for a few items in the grocery department.  I wanted rolls for our ham sandwiches and found some that looked delicious only to find out when I got home they were more like dinner rolls but they are going to have to do.  I got there before 8 am and by the time I left about 15 minutes later people were beginning to pour into the store.  Today I will prepare or help Pat prepare a few things for our dinner tomorrow.  I know she plans on baking a pumpkin pie for Scott and I got things to make my favorite holiday 5 cup salad. 

I have about decided not to attend the Candlelight service at Church this evening as there will be a large crowd and parking will be a problem unless I go very early.  If I don't go I will attend the Christmas service tomorrow.   

Patricia, at least you may have your things settled in by the first of the year in your apartment.  I sure hope 2017 will be much less distressing for you.  You will need to get Farrah a tiara to recognize her diva status.   It sounds like her job of training you is about complete.  At least the mouse is felt and not real.   I have never been good at solving riddles.  "Inappropriate Colloquialisms" does sound serious.  I hope it isn't contagious. 

Mary Ann, as I understand it the MOHS treatment is to avoid a re-occurrence of the cancer in that spot. 

JeanneP, when I had my MOHS treatment on my face I didn't stay in and figured if folks didn't like the looks of me they could just look away.  I didn't want to miss out on going to coffee or Church or other activities.  It sounds like the lady in Walmart may have the condition that Janet Damon's daughter Beth has had most of her life. 

A friend just sent this to me and I think it is very appropriate for the time of the year as well as interesting:

MAGNIFICENT LYRICS AT CHRISTMAS

"And the angel said unto them, Fear not: for, behold, I bring you good tidings of great joy, which shall be to all people. For unto you is born this day in the city of David a Saviour, which is Christ the Lord." Luke 2:10-11

Every Christmas Eve service, the members of our church are blessed to hear our Worship Pastor sing “O Holy Night.” This has become such a tradition at our church that the thought of a Christmas Eve service without it is, well, hard to imagine!

Here are some interesting tidbits:

On Christmas Eve in 1906, Reginald Fessenden, broadcast the first radio program, where he played “O Holy Night” on the violin. Therefore, the carol is the first piece of music to be broadcast on radio.
“O Holy Night” (“Cantique de Noël”) was set to music by Adolphe Adam in 1847 to the lyrics of a French poem written by Placide Cappeau, a wine merchant and poet. Cappeau had been asked to write a Christmas poem by a parish priest.
And here is something I’ve never been able to figure out. Since “O Holy Night” was composed in French, why does the English translation rhyme?
The music is so overpowering in its beauty that we sometimes fail to notice the perfection of the lyrics. Read these lyrics, a magnificent poem, and contemplate the wonder and blessing of Jesus’ birth.

Oh holy night! The stars are brightly shining,

It is the night of our dear Savior’s birth.

Long lay the world in sin and error pining,

Till He appear’d and the soul felt its worth.

A thrill of hope the weary world rejoices,

For yonder breaks a new and glorious morn.

Fall on your knees! Oh, hear the angels’ voices!

Oh night divine, Oh night when Christ was born;

Oh night divine, Oh night, Oh night Divine.

Celine Dion singing "Oh Holy Night"  https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=MHdx77aAvkc

Larry, I hope I don’t have a skin cancer in that spot again, in fact, I hope I never have any skin cancer again.  For some reason, I thought I had read the keretoses did not become cancerous.  Well, this one wasn’t when it began, but I fussed with it and let it go too long.  I will be with the family Monday morning when we celebrate our Christmas, but I will not want to go to church tomorrow morning.  I have stitches below my left eye and my left eye is swollen.  The inside corner of that eye itches because of the nearness and activity around the eye at the time of surgery.  Below the stitches, my cheek is swollen and lightly bruised.  I don’t know why there is a bruise mark on my left chin.  Beside my nose is blood that dried and I can get that off eventually.  Of course I have a swatch of gauze over the stitches but that doesn’t look too good either.  In other words, I’M A MESS!!!

I enjoyed the "O Holy Night" but the sound on this computer is not good so after the first minute, I left.

Mary Ann

Good Christmas Eve morning everyone!

It is raining here this morning. The temp is gradually warming up this week to a high on Tuesday of 53, or so they predict.

My Christmas wish for you, Mary Ann, is that you recover quickly and don't have any recurrences. Have a wonderful day with the family.

I will be at my sister's for Christmas dinner. Unfortunately, my sense of taste deserted me back around the 7th and hasn't returned. I've got an appointment with my ENT the first week of January to see what is up. It is most likely the result of the removal of a polyp in my nose at the same time I was getting my root canal redone. Occasionally I can taste something, faintly. I'm particularly bummed that I can't taste chocolate any more.

Oh Holy Night is just about my favorite Christmas carol. It brings tears to my eyes.

Thank you, MarsGal.  I anticipate full recovery and I wonder how much, if any, scar I will have.  I really don't care as long as the doctor got it all. 

I am sorry to hear about your lack of taste and I hope it comes back.  It is hard to imagine eating anything without being able to taste it.

Merry Christmas to you and yours.

Mary Ann

MarsGal - Sorry you're having trouble with your sense of taste.  You and I would make good pair - my voice is weak and barely audible, thanks to a paralyzed vocal cord on one side. Also hearing is shot - nothing but tinnitus!  I'm trying not to complain or make a big deal out of it - but it will be hard today and tomorrow for me to just smile and nod, and not talk.

Mary Ann - Good that you're feeling better today. Sorry you can't go out to the festivities, but I hope you get lots of visitors, bringing you food and good cheer!

Mary Ann, I eat mostly diet food and I must say it is all tasteless.  Every now and then I will fix me something that has taste.  Cannot do that too often but need to taste something good now and then.

MERRY CHRISTMAS EVE EVERYONE.