Beverly, I have no idea what kind of bread I had at Panera's yesterday.  I told Tom I wanted a turkey sandwich on whole wheat.  The bread had a hard crust and it was good, as was the entire sandwich.  Come to think of it, a section of hard roll was included with the soup and I brought that home.  Now I'll have to fix some soup to have the partial roll.

Mary Ann

My oldest crown was applied during the late 1970's, and is still fine.  I have two others - one from the '80's and the other in the '90's.  Since I've had no trouble with any of them, I hope to still have all three for my remaining years...

Rain has stopped here, at last!  No damage on my property as of today.  Large trees are inclined to fall over at any time after the storm, as well as during.  Reason being that the root systems are too shallow, because of so many years of drought.   I have a 60 foot Redwood tree in the backyard, that's looked very stressed in recent years, so I'm concerned about it.  It would be a disaster if it uprooted and fell toward the house! A few other trees that are not as big, that I'm not as worried about.   

MaryAnn, I only know that I paid an exorbitant amount for five crowns and three bridges because I have a small, child-sized mouth that is very high on the inside according to my dentist.

He said there was nothing to "seat" dentures on and he would have to go with the crowns and bridges. My family dentist agreed, so I went for it. I used the majority of my savings on something that all fell out, 12 years later, one after the other in a two week period.

Going back, I was told, yes there was a time period, and I should have come in each time and had them, "re-cemented." at $2,500 per bridge with an extra $200. for cleaning with each one! My second opinion agreed. The crowns are still there.

I have to say that I am not superstitious, but it is amusing to read about and absolutely scary what gullible folks do in order to avoid all of those taboos, especially those involving the defenseless!

My favorite cat is black because to me; they seem more intelligent and also at times more devious than other feline breeds. My next favorite is the orange or fawn colored cat as they seem very easy going. Of course, my opinions don't always hold water as animals don't care for stereotyping!

In regards to superstition, most of my ills can be traced back directly to something I have done or not done, and the rest is just happenstance. I remember being 13 and everyone was into their horoscopes and me as an introvert, never seemed to mesh with my Leo horoscope on being a party animal. The end came when my horoscope breathlessly advised me that I would meet a tall, dark, and handsome that very day! I spent the entire day raking leaves and arguing with my father.

I have read of people that spend thousands on so-called psychics or the latest in style guru, and I just don't see it. I am the same way about gambling, fun or not as they say. If I give you one of my few dollars, I expect you to give me something of equal or better value right back and not in some later, far in the future date.

I grew up sitting around the dinner table discussing and arguing politics, books, philosophy, and anything else that came up. Doing this with four other people ready and waiting for you to slip up taught me to think and speak logically, have good backup sources and to have researched my subject.

The fact that this was a regular occurrence and that not only were you expected to have an opinion and that you would participate, but also you would admit to being wrong if it were proven. This was easier because both of my parents would admit to being wrong and concede. It wasn't until I left home that I realized how unusual and liberating that was!

Marilyne, perhaps someone could take a look at your Redwood and advise you?

Marilyne, I read this morning that there are three redwoods in Michigan.  They are not as tall as the California trees, nor as old.  I think someone brought some seedlings to Manistee and planted them - and they held on.  I had heard that usually when trees are in a drought that they go further down seeking water.  Our trouble here at the condo is our trees are watered every other night and don't have a chance to go down.  I will say our weather conditions are more normal so the trees don't go down in wet weather, but a good wind will do a good job on the trees. 

I don't know when I had my first crown, but I do know it was after the late '70s because that was when I changed to my present dental practice (my long-time dentist retired in 1976).  I have 14 crowns, including this new one.  One crown was replaced because of a root canal so I have had two on that one tooth.  All of my roots are my own and I have no bridges.  I think when I had a tooth extracted about a year the dentist expected me to get a partial, but the gap doesn't show so I don't have anything to replace the tooth.  I have a mouth that is the opposite of Joe E Brown or Martha Raye.  It's large enough to get a fork into it so I can eat - and I do a good job of that!

Mary Ann

Patricia & Mary Ann - a surface root (big!) from the Redwood tree uprooted our lawn, a couple of summers ago.  We called the town arborist to come out and take a look, and then hoped that he would agree that the tree needed to be removed. You practically have to have an Act of Congress, to get a tree taken down in this town!  He said NO - a tree has to be dead or dying, or invading a sewer or water line, before you can take it out.  So we hired a tree service to thin and trim the tree.  It looks beautiful, but I know it's a danger to us, and to the people next door.  Oh, and if you remove a tree without written permission, you are fined between $1,000 and $5,000, depending on the size of the tree.

Patricia, we never had such intellectual discussions at our dinner table when I was growing up.  Just the usual small talk and chit-chat. Same with my husband's family. When we had our own family, we followed along the same pattern.  Strictly light dinner table conversation.

Mary Ann - that's interesting that Redwood trees have survived in Michigan.  There are different species of Redwood, but they all look pretty much the same. Their natural habitat is inland, along the Northern California coast.  The Giant Sequoia's, grow only in certain sections of the High Sierra Mountains.

Marilyne, it wasn't all intellectual as in when Dad taught us tells to watch for when someone was lying or cheating at cards. Our folks didn't like television and reading was preferred. You could read anything in our house and not be afraid to admit to your pleasure. I read some seriously profane books and all I got was a headshake. But to see that or violence on television or movie was not allowed.

My parents were both from farming families of over ten kids, and I suppose this is what they brought to their family, and yes there were times when we all agreed to disagree. I remember one point after the Kent State massacre when both my parents sided with the National Guard and feeling they were provoked into firing.

The fact that all three of us daughters were violently opposed and brought up facts and information that was supported caused them both to admit they were wrong. This to many of our friends was huge as no one else had ever heard their parents admit to any wrongdoing, especially during the sixties! I think this allowed us then and now to admit when we are wrong and not to buckle under pressure when we are right and can back it up.

The majority of our local trees have shallow roots as much of the Interior soil has permafrost which is frozen soil about 20 to 40 feet down. In cases where this soil might thaw, freeze, and then thaw again has caused most trees to have shallow or surface roots.

I had to have a front tooth implanted when I was 15. (moving a bottle cap with my teeth). Never tried that again. Now It lasted until I was about 64. Was removed but that caused a little gap between my top 3 front teeth. Made me aware of it so got 3 replaced . seems dental has cost me a fortune ever since then.
A family member had a full set of Implants last year at the cost of $17.400 and died a month later. I would never recommend  that.

Marilyne, when this complex was built, and only 12 units at first, a tree company was hired to make the place look nice for sales.  I am in an inside unit of four in this building and the space between the garages had two English oak trees.  That was fine at first, but grew to be too much.  As I said, they water every other night so some roots did appear on the lawn.  The tree in front of my unit was taken out two or three years ago.  The root is still there, however, nothing will grow from it.  The other tree doesn't look too good so I wonder how long it will be there.

Patricia, I don't remember what we talked about at the dinner table.  I know we talked, but I have no memory of the topics.  Nowadays, Tom is seldom here at meal time but when he is, we are likely to talk about anything, certainly not politics or religion.  Tom is one who has an answer for everything and usually opposite from my point of view.  We get along fine if we do not discuss those two subjects. 

Jeanne, my most disastrous crown necessity was when I was in Indy visiting my cousins and her family.  Her then 3-year old granddaughter threw a basketball toward me and I did not get my hand in front of my face in time and the ball hit my mouth.  About a month later, I felt I had a hair between my two front upper teeth and I went to pull the hair away and the entire front of my tooth came off.  The ball hitting my face had cracked my tooth and nothing happened until a month later.  My dentist got me in immediately and I have a crown on that tooth - and it was a perfectly good tooth until then.

Mary Ann

I slipped up and finished the conversation from here into photos. So, I'm putting a copy here. I'm odd that way. 

Two things they did that we moaned and groaned about because no other parents did, was one, no allowance because you were part of the family and everyone worked. And two, when I and my sisters graduated from high school, we were asked for the house key back or rent.

My folks were not so much concerned with politics or religion as much as they were about us learning to read, have a good vocabulary, write, properly listen and understand. A civilized, intelligent debate was expected and while sarcasm was enjoyed and expected, ridicule or expressed anger or yelling got you immediately sent to your room.

The same method was employed in teaching math. I could be innocently eating my vegetables when my Dad might suddenly ask me what was 7X7 or 63 - 9? If you didn't know, you could be expected to have a little one on one with him and your math book after the dishes were dried and put away. You couldn't claim homework as that was expected to be finished in the three hours between your getting home from school and the parents arriving home from work. Again this attitude probably sprang from those large, poor, farming families and then the Depression and WWII.

From MaryAnn;
"Patricia, supposedly I got an allowance of 15c a week and I think it was to advance to 50c a week, however, the times I got it were few and far between.  I was brought up during the Depression and things were rough for my parents.  Dad had a job teaching, but at that time was paid only during the school year so my folk would scrimp to save money for the summer.  Dad did work some summers but at that time, he also was taking correspondence courses to get his degree, which he got in 1937.  A neighbor drove my mother, Norm and me to see Dad graduate from Western State Teachers College at Kalamazoo MI (now Western Michigan University).  Dad was 42 in 1937.  Mother died in 1941 from injuries from an auto accident.  I started working in 1942 for $75 a month.  I was to pay my dad X$ (don't recall how much) from my earnings.  I remember I was very upset because he had me pay rent but Norm didn't have to pay because he was saving to get married in 1953.  He was in the army from 1951 to 1953.  I did the grocery shopping and eventually I took over payment of the groceries and paid no rent - it about evened out.  We kept that arrangement until Dad died in 1970.

Dad helped both Norm and me with our school work, but he did not do it for us.  He talked us through it.  I was a better student than Norm, but we both graduated from high school.  I started work a year after Mother died and worked for nearly 44 years.  Norm was in the auto sales business from 1961 until he retired at the end of 1991.  He loved selling.

I liked what I did too - a variety of office responsibilities.  I took a college course in high school but only went one semester.  I worked for the same company all of my years.

More than anyone wanted to know.

Time for bed.

Mary Ann"


MaryAnn, I slipped up and thought I was continuing the B&T discussion. I will not say my Dad talked me through my homework, he used a question and answer method and how you answered his questions determined the tone of the exchange.

Tis minus one at 9:20 p.m.

Joan, I look at your post and I read T minus 1... Don't mind me, I just spent several hours with homework and I'm a bit giddy.

My first post today, at 9:48 AM, we were at minus 14 and expected to drop to minus 40 by tomorrow. At 9:08PM, we are at zero and still snowing. It remains to be seen if we will still drop tomorrow.

I guess we're having a heat wave here at 6:40 am because it is 19 degrees on my indoor/outdoor thermometer.  At 6 am it was 14 on another thermometer.  Brr at any rate, regardless of the thermometer.  And to think two days ago, we were at 45 degrees.

Mary Ann

Hi everyone.  We are in for another beautiful 70 degree day today.  My big activitiy for today is to be at the church at 11 am to help pack meals and then take them to a couple of the locations where our church is working on homes that need aid for people not able to do it themselves or afford to have someone do it for them.  This is the annual Project Warm that was started when our minister came to this church 6+ years ago and is an annual event.  They are working on 8 homes today and tomorrow fixing roofs, floor and in general things that need to be repaired in these homes.  This project is done in cooperation with the United Way that provides the funds and the church provides the labor.  While I am not able to do manual labor anymore I can certainly deliver meals to a couple of the homes.  I did the same thing last year. If Pat feels up to it we will go back to COSTCO this afternoon for her to pick out new frames for her glasses.  The housekeeper will be here this morning.

Patricia, your dental experience would certainly be discouraging.  I have quite a few crowns and have never experienced one of them coming lose that I recall.  I have had to have one or two of them popped off due to cavities under them.  You were fortunate to have parents who encouraged discussion and would admit when they were wrong as that gave you permission to admit when you were wrong.  My folks also had the same idea about allowances as yours.  I left home two weeks after graduating from college.  I had stayed at home while attending college and continued to help with the farm work.  About 6 weeks after leaving home Pat and I were married. 

I hope all of you in those really cold places can stay inside and stay warm today. 

Mary Ann, the cat thought you had put a new play thing on the floor for her with the note you left for Tom.  Roast beef that is tender sure does make good sandwiches.  I love the bread at Panera's as like a good crusty bread and the extra roll they serve is great. 

Marilyne, I heard on the news last night that all of this rain you have been having has brought Northern California out of the drought.  Hope your redwood tree will no longer be stressed.  I always had concern when the houses we lived in had trees that could fall on the house.  That is not a worry in this home as there are no trees that could fall on the house. 

Beverly, we saw a big change in Jennifer this week over the first week as she seems to be relaxing and enjoying helping her dad.  Scott also was praising her cooking and they both told us of the meals she had prepared including fixing salmon for the first time. 

JeanneP, that was a tough lesson at 15 to have to had an implanted front tooth.  I expect that most of us have spent a small fortune over the years on dental work.  I don't anticipate ever having an implant unless one of my front teeth goes so bad that a crown wouldn't work.  I did lose the front of one of my upper front teeth a couple of years ago but there was enough of the tooth left to have a crown put on it. 

Good Morning Everyone from the cool but pleasantly sunny rocky coast of Maine.   

Larry,  I am happy to see that your Grand Daughter is beginning to relax and enjoy her new home down there in South Carolina. 

Having family close by and helping us out,  means so much
when times get tough and we decide to persue a new lifestyle. 

As I mentioned over in the Soda Shop,  next week I will
start the process of replacing the dentures that I
inadvertently left behind at some restaurant many
months ago.     

I get very anxious going to the Dentists,  so I will be
happy when this process gets well on its way to being over with. 

I think that cooler colder weather is on the way here
to Maine,  as it has been quite pleasant for the last few days. 
"January thaw" is always welcome,  even if it can fool
you into believing that Winter is almost over.... 

That may be the case down in the Southern States, 
but here in New England we have many more cold, Winter months to go before the warmer Summer Times arrives... 

I hope that everyone has a great day,  and weekend.
Sandy

Where I lived before I moved here, it was a house and there were 60 trees on the lot.  30 in front and side and 30 in back.  Mostly oak trees, both red and white.  Across the road was the township cemetery, also with loads of trees.  I really was afraid we'd have a tornado and it would come across the cemetery to my place.  Fortunately, we didn't have a tornado, nor have we had one since in that area; in 1956 we did have a bad tornado that went close to that area.  I feel safer where I am in a hollow.

I let the cat out on the deck a few minutes ago.  There is a dry strip about a foot wide along the building and he walked out on that, then stepped on the snow on the deck.  Big surprise!  He stood still, then took another step and stood still, took another step and turned around to get to the dry deck.  I couldn't help but laugh.  He was ready to come back in about that time.

Mary Ann

Good morning from the Interior. Yesterday they warned of forty and even fifty below by today. That past week had been running between minus 6 to minus 14, so we were rather expecting colder weather. After all, January and February are usually our coldest months of the winter.

We ended up with zero at nine PM and never did have the cold expected. Now we are having, even more, snow, between four to seven inches, with a half mile visibility, making this one of the snowiest since the mid-eighties and probably the end of our drought. The expectation of cold weather has now been pushed back to Sunday. Such exciting lives we lead. 

Farrah has been sleeping through her days and up at night. Last night she was so convincing with her dashes hither and yon while making deep throated growls that I actually wondered if she had become delirious? Her imagination seems to be quite good or else we have ghosts. 

I am still involved in cleaning, discarding, and arranging items in new ways. I did manage to find homes for some cute high heels and heeled wedges that I know no one here would or could wear. Now what to do with my five backpacks, three camera bags, and thirteen umbrellas all either red or black? Or my twelve black or brown purses? One is small, with Italian leather and not something for the giveaway table.

The good news is that I'm finally on the downside of what was started in December 2013. My story is that I'm not slow or lazy, I'm just meticulous. And I'm sticking to it! 

MaryAnn, you couldn't get Farrah out on the balcony or in the hallway on her own. After spending that time out in the woods, she has now settled for indoor plumbing and less intrusive neighbors!

I have to clarify a point about my dental woes. It wasn't my crowns that were at issue, it was the bridges that lost their glue and all came out, at the same two week period!

Patricia, I can't imagine 13 umbrellas.  I know I have, or had, more than one, perhaps three or four.  I had two in my car and I have no idea where they are now, maybe in Tom's car.  Or in the garage.  There is one hanging in the front closet and that may be it.  I also have not used any of my umbrellas in years.

I don't know if the temperature makes a difference whether Farrah would go out, but our 20 degree temperature is a lot different that your zero or 40 below.  I doubt Farrah has had other than Alaskan temps anyway.  Kendrick doesn't seem to mind the cold, but he has a nice fur coat.  He doesn't stay out long, I'll tell you.  The second time I let him out on the deck, he stayed on the dry part of the deck; he learns fast!

Tom has just left to drive for Uber which is a nice source of extra money. 

Mary Ann

I tend to forget things unless I lay them out in plain sight as a reminder. I would be caught out and buy a new umbrella. When you're walking or catching a bus, you don't want to be out in a downpour.

I don't know, dry temperatures are warmer than wet and minus 20 is jacket weather. I think Farrah had all the outdoors she wanted in the time before she was rescued. When I had Sarah, she wasn't interested in being outdoors or on the balcony either.

Do  you think the difference might be because you've had female cats and Kendrick is male?  If he gets out in nice weather, he darts away and does not come back until he wants to come back.  Of course it backfired on him a couple of times when he was out all night and when he saw the light go on in Tom's room, he went to the window and let Tom know he wanted to come in.  Tom said he was one unhappy cat!  He didn't wander far from home but I do not want him out at all. 

Mary Ann

I think the difference is both Sarah and Farrah were rescued and had undoubtly spent some of the winters on their own away from people and among wild animals who saw them as munchies. Sarah lost half of her tail to frostbite and was terrified of large birds. Farrah had to be trapped.

I had one black female cat, Sarita, who escaped every time if you didn't guard the door. Her first snowfall when she got out, she paused as if to check and then zoomed away. It was a good half hour before she was recaptured, purring as if she had, (again!);  pulled one over on me!

I've had both male and female cats over the years and other than a few peculiarities that may be my imagining; they were all individuals. Here are my views but take them with a grain of salt. Males are easier going than females, Red or orange cats are generally easy going; but again, genetically they're almost always male as calicos are almost always female, genetically.

Blacks of either sex tended to be smarter and more devious. Calicos and Bombays enjoyed their way far too much, and Siamese were generally not people cats. And again this has been only my experience.

The sneakiest, smartest cat I ever had was an Abyssinian, Beau, who opened and closed cabinets, hid all the toys and ate by stretching out on his side, reaching out a paw and flipping the kernel towards his mouth and always catching it. It reminded me of guys flipping popcorn!

I have to say I'm a reluctant cat care taker (I'm not an owner) and I would not want to get a cat if I didn't have one now.  The cat should outlive me - if he is allowed to stay inside all of the time.  Unless Annie would take Kendrick, I don't want him to go elsewhere; I don't want her to give him to someone else, or sell him.  I can't tell about his intelligence.  He doesn't have a lot of toys and he's just recently taken to chasing the laser.  I do try to keep it away from his face and I told Annie to keep it away too.  He likes to be in the same room as I am in, but I can't get him on the couch so I can pet him.  I know cats are very independent and Kendrick is #1 in that department.  He is an orange cat and I'd say he is gentle, although I really can't get close enough to him to find out.  He likes to get on my bed when I'm in it (he does not get in the bed) and lie next to me.  And when he decides to leave, he just ups and goes.  Usually within 15 minutes he's back.  I think I'll keep him!

Mary Ann

I am safely ensconced in Israel in Bubble's loving company, although she is unwell at the moment.   More news to follow as her health improves.

Don, I'm glad you arrived safely, but I'm sorry to hear Bubble is not well.  Here's to a rapid recovery.

Mary Ann

http://www.mlive.com/news/grand-rapids/index.ssf/2017/01/post_627.html#incart_river_index

This should be a video of ice on Lake Michigan at Grand Haven.

Mary Ann

Hi everyone on our third in a row beautiful days to be in the mid-70's.  I have been very busy since I got up this morning.  I bought Pat a little printer to be at her easy chair to work with her laptop as we kept having trouble with the wireless printers.  I spent and hour trying to get it installed this morning only to find it doesn't work with the wireless version we have on the Gateway.  So back in the box it went and I will have to return it later today.  I have things ready for Pat's breakfast except to grate up a couple of types of cheese but I have the cheese cut into strips so that will be an easy job with the electric grater I got several months ago.  It makes fast work of grating.  I have also cut up a package of green onions into small pieces and the same with a red pepper.  Needless to say I am ready to sit down and rest.  I had a very tired day yesterday.  I did deliver the meals to the Project Warm workers and will do so again today.  The house was very easy to find and right on the road back to our house.  Someone put the box of meals in my truck at the church and also a case or 32 bottles of water.  When I got to the house I carried up the box of lunches and a bag of cold water but asked one of the workmen to get the case of water out of the truck as knew it was too heavy for me.  Just carrying the box of lunches brought on some chest discomfort that contributed to the tiredness yesterday.  Other than deliver lunches today I plan on a fairly quiet day and late the afternoon and evening will watch the pro-football playoff games.  Later this afternoon I will put together a salad to go with the salmon we plan on having for dinner tonight.

Sandy, at least you don't have to have any teeth pulled before the plates are made for the dentures so it shouldn't be a painful experience and I doubt you will even need a shot to dumb anything.  It is always that shot that I hate the worst although they sure have improved giving it over what it used to be. 

Patricia, it sounds like you all are being covered over with snow.  I hope it is the end of the drought you have been experiencing.  I don't think I have ever known anyone with so many umbrellas.  I have four or five with two  in each of the cars.  It does sounds like you are meticulous.  I am a bit that way as well. Your cat Sarita sounds like the cat we had who always tried to escape whenever the door was opened so we had to be very careful. 

Mary Ann, cats train us more than we train them but we do grow attached.  My Sister-in-Law has two cats and one of them is a prankster.  She sent a picture a couple of days ago of him peeking out from the branches of her Christmas tree.

Don, thanks for letting us know your are safely in Israel and with Bubble.  I do hope her health improves quickly.

Mary Ann, I enjoyed that video.  I remember in my first plane trip how different the earth looked from above---like a patchwork quilt.  That video gives such a different look to the lake from above with all that ice in such patterns.

Mary Ann - I just turned on my computer (8:00 am here) and looked at the video of Grand Haven!  What a fascinating and beautiful sight for me to see first thing in the morning!  Wish I could see Lake Michigan and Grand Haven in person, but I'll have to enjoy it from the web cam, and the pictures and videos you post. 

Jean and Marilyne, I'm glad you enjoyed the video of Lake Michigan at Grand Haven.  Since we are about 35-40 miles from Grand Haven, when Norm and I were young, that often was a Sunday drive for our family.  Dad could always find a parking place and we often had a picnic lunch with us.  Norm and I would swim or play in the lake and our folks were always nearby.  When I was about 30, I was on a tour that took us to Virginia Beach VA, on the Atlantic Ocean, my first view of the Atlantic.  You know, Lake Michigan had spoiled the ocean for me because you can't see across Lake Michigan either.  I think the surf is a bit different; the ocean may have larger swells, but those in Lake Michigan are closer together - I think!  In December 2014 when a great-nephew was married in California, I got my first and only glimpse of the Pacific Ocean.  I wasn't able to see any of the rocky shores of the Pacific, but I've seen the Pictured Rocks of Lake Superior.  I have seen all five of the Great Lakes, an advantage of living near them. 

Mary Ann

Mary Ann,  thanks for the link to the video of the lake ice.   Really neat video.  It is amazing how much ice is built up on the lighthouse.  Really makes you feel cold just looking at it.   The train crossing was neat also.  Amazing that the photographer mentioned that he had been going there since he was 5 years old and had never seen a train crossing that bridge.  That sure was interesting to watch.  Such a big difference in the summer versions of the lake and the winter ones.  I think I still prefer the summery one. 

Thanks for sharing.

Joy

Mary Ann - The Winter pictures are fascinating to me, because I've never seen a frozen lake, or even ice patches on a lake.  I can't imagine how cold it must be. 

Lake Michigan, is the only one of the Great Lakes that I have actually seen.  About fifteen years ago, we drove to Chicago, in a borrowed motor home.  We saw Lake Michigan from Chicago, and then drove up the coast to Milwaukee.  At that point we crossed to Madison and then on to Minneapolis, where my husband's relatives lived. Then on back to California. The trip was too rushed, because we had to get the motor home back.  Still, it was my only chance to see that section the USA, and I loved it.   I have never seen the Atlantic ocean, or Gulf of Mexico.