Mary Ann - Yes, when I go back to Safeway tomorrow, I'll check to see if your keys are in the Lost & Found!   Could be they have moved clear across the country?  Seriously,  I think your keys will eventually show up, in the most unlikely place.  I lost a set of keys a couple of years ago, and looked everywhere - throughout the house, car, and any stores, post office and bank, where I had been.   About six months later, I was sitting in the recliner where I always watch TV or read, and I stuck my hand down between the seat cushion on the side, to retrieve a pencil. There were my keys, wedged in that tight spot!  Apparently I had put them in my pants pocket, and they had slipped out, and were waiting there, just out of sight, for me to find them.

JeanneP - It's hard to get moving on these dreary and cold Winter days.  I have big plans every morning when I get up, about all the things I'm going to get done, but after I clean up the breakfast dishes and put a load of wash in the machine, I sit down to read the paper or turn on the computer.  That's the end of all my best laid plans! 

wjoan - Every time I see you post about your freezing weather, I think about how lucky we were during our Winter living in the Tri-Cities.  Cold, but no snow and no ice storms!
When we lived in Army housing at Camp Hanford, the duplex was just a wood frame cabin type place, kind of like a barracks. I doubt it would have held up during an ice storm!   

Marilyne, trust me this is highly unusual for us here.  We don't get snow but one day a year and never ice storms.  I have lived in the Tri Cities now for almost 13 years and this has been  the worst it has ever been.  A friend of mine went to get into his truck the other morning and the doors were frozen shut so he just went back to bed.  LOL

The rain has never let up and so I just showered and dressed to stay home all day. I need to go to grocery store as I have had the list here for 4 days. Good thing I keep my freezer, Pantry stocked where I could last for weeks . Usually do run out of milk though. Going to stock more can milk.
Its dark now and so just going to put a movie on for awhile. I usually just leave the TV program "Create" turned on.  Travel, cooking all that kind of stuff all day. Its a Public TV station.  I am going to call them to see why it has not been playing on the Cable this week.

Still frigid here in the Interior, but expected to warm up about the 24th or 25th. I remember my Dad saying, "Always add three days delay to any weather report." My parents noted signs and read the weather quite accurately, and I have friends that note the signs around them all year and can accurately predict the weather as well. As I never listened and learned and live in the city, I have only a small ability, and that is minuscule on reading any weather.

As I said, I am and always have been absent minded about losing things. So, I have had to be very proactive in retraining myself. All of the ideas I've read here are excellent, and I'll keep many in mind. My major one is to have a place for keys, sunglasses, and medications. And to always pay attention to put them back in that location immediately!

I remember that I always double-checked doors locking after seeing I had my keys in hand when I was still working. When I was working at the bowl company, I would clip my keys to a small ring attached to my pants loop and then placed that ring in my pocket, and that never failed me.

Once, long ago, after being home for some time, my neighbor knocked on my door to tell me my keys were still stuck in my door, outside in the open hallway!

So, I have had to learn to pay attention!

Hi everyone on a cloudy but warm morning.  I expect to watch a lot of TV today as this is a historic day, as all inaugurations are.  The only thing I may due today is make a trip to our County Seat, about 20 miles away, to finally be able to file my Homeowner's Exemption Form.  I plan on taking the rest of the day restfully.  This is the longest down exhausted period I have probably ever had after I recovered from my first heart surgery 30 years ago. 

Scott did take our Granddaughter to the ER after he left here Wednesday night afraid she might have appendicitis but they felt it was something else and so sent her home with some medicine. 

Joan, interesting that you have never seen an ice storm.  Believe me that is a good thing as ice does a lot of damage, as you know. 

JeanneP, I doubt that you will regret getting help to clean your house.  Too bad about you having to take the driver's road test again every year.

Sandy, that is a very good idea to put your keys around your neck when you leave your apartment and then store on your door knob. 

Marilyne, your finding your keys in your recliner reminds me of an experience Pat had when she couldn't find her diamond ring I had given to her on our 25th wedding anniversary.  We searched and search and one day when the housekeepers were there one of them reached down into a little tight pocket on the back of the chair and found the little ring.  How it got there is an unknown. 

Patricia, clipping your keys to something attached to your belt loop is also a good idea. 

I have locked myself out of my apartment,  only once....   and I swore that never again would I let that happen.... 
so I am very cautious,  and my keys are always around my neck.

Have a GREAT DAY,  EVERYONE!

Sandy

Sandy, I had an experience with keys many years ago and I have always been sure to have the right keys when I left home - since then.  It had to be in the '70s after my dad had died and before I moved.  This one Sunday morning, I grabbed my keys, changed purses and went to the garage prior to going to church.  The keys I had grabbed were some extra work keys and didn't fit anything at home so I not only could not drive to church, I could not get back in the house.  I went to a neighbor who was up and called Norm who said he would rescue me later, which he did.  So I visited with my neighbor until Norm got there and I always made sure after that that I had the right keys.  My latest episode was not when leaving home, nor did it involve my driving anywhere.

I've been watching the inauguration and I couldn't help but think about the comparison in pageantry between the US and UK.  We sure had it today.  I think Trump gave a good enough speech, but I kept thinking "easier said than done".  Even a Republican Congress isn't always going to agree with him and he may find it difficult to accomplish what he wants.  I wish him luck because he'll need it.  If I have been on a soapbox, I'm off now.

Mary Ann

Hi everyone on a cloudy with according to what the radar shows rain on the way for today and definitely for tomorrow.  I did get to the County Courthouse yesterday morning and filed the documents needed for the Homestead Exemptions so that item is off my list of things needing to be done at this time.  The rest of the day I watched the Inaugural activities. I enjoyed watching his young son, who didn't seem to be very impressed with everything, and the littlest grandson who, at the signing of documents, was obviously very tired and wanted to go home.  The little girl also wanted to play with the pens, which I thought was cute.  I have nothing planned for today so will be able to just rest. 

Mary Ann, I agree that Trump has a hard road ahead even with a friendly Congress since they are like herding cats, they want to go their own way and that is the way the Constitution was set up.  Of course, if little attention is paid to the laws then the system breaks down. 

Good Morning Everyone.... 

Nice day today ... the weather is warm and dry and there is on HUGE GIGANTOIC  PARADE  going by out side my
Windows to the World here in the Arts District of Portland Maine.   

This is the biggest parade that I have ever seen in Portland,  and I have seen some really big parades! 

All is well in this world...
Our parade has been going on for one hour and there is no end in sight! 

Sandy

Hi everyone.  We have had a very rainy yesterday and all night but it has now stopped and only a 15% chance we will get more before later this afternoon.  Yesterday was pretty much a lost day as I really accomplished nothing.  I seem to be feeling better today and am ready too head to Sunday School and then will come home to pick up Pat for lunch and out to lunch.  Later this afternoon I plan on watching the two Pro football games that start around 4 pm. 

Sandy, nice that the weather cooperated with a January parade.  Glad things are well with you.  It sure was quiet here in the B&T Shoppe yesterday.

I have good news - for me, anyhow.  I FOUND MY KEYS!

I kept thinking about the circumstances about the lost keys and I felt they had to be around here.  Last night, I decided to look in the purse again, the one I was changing to when I first missed them.  There are only two zipper compartments plus an outside compartment and there was nothing there.  However, I felt the bottom outside and there was something there and it was thicker than the pencil in one of the compartments. I went to where I felt that thickness and found the keys.  I had put them between the plastic lining and outside of the purse.  Cheap purses have plastic linings.  All I can say is WHEW!

Dot and I did our usual today - church then the Cholesterol Pit where we shared a piece of lemon meringue pie and a tuna melt sandwich.  It was quite foggy today and Dot missed the turn into the restaurant so we had to backtrack.  Traffic was light so we made it without any trouble.

Mary Ann

Mary Ann - Good news, that you found your keys!   That gives me hope, that I'll find my still missing dark glasses.  I'll make one more trek to the Safeway Lost & Found, today, and then will think seriously about ordering a new pair.  I was hoping to spend that money toward a new desk top computer, or maybe even a smart phone, but my eyes are more important. 

Good afternoon, on a lazy day for me, have to keepmy feet as they want to swell up.

MaryAnn, I am glad to read you found your lost keys. Mine were missing for a week a couple of years ago. When I mention it to my neighbor, he was so embarrassed, it seems when he was setting at my table he saw keys, thought they were his, and took them home. A few days later he could not remember why he had and extra set of keys, that looked like his. Until I mention my lost keys.
Now I have to tell you, I found my lost hearing aid, that been missing since last fall. (Had to spend $3000. for a new one in Nov.) I was straightened out my dresser draw, and there it was.  I remember folding cloths on the table the day I lost it. Guess it just got folded away.

We have warmed up a bit but still around freezing temps.   AND snow and ice.

Joan, glad you are getting a warm up.  Here on the East coast, it is 51, I have the back door and front doors open. This is not normal for Jan, in NY

Lindancer, I will gladly exchange with you for our normal weather.  LOL

Gloria, I am so glad you found your hearing aid; they are so much more important than keys, especially since I was able to find a house key, which was the most important key in that batch.  I feel I was not careless at all and being careless is not like me.  I got new hearing aids last fall and they are smaller than my previous aids.  We were in Holland at a Reveal Party for James and Alicia late in the year and when I got up to go, Annie noticed something white on the couch; it was one of my aids.  I just feel they come out easier than the others.  Another time Tom and I were at I-Hop and he helped me with my coat.  The collar hit my aid and off it went.  I was fortunate that they were discovered in time.  I'd have to spend $3000 too to replace one of them. 

Joan, we are at 44 degrees now.  Yesterday we got to 53 degrees and it was 50 when I went to bed at 11 pm.  This morning it was 34 degrees and that did away with my thought of wearing my Spring coat to church; instead I wore my Winter jacket.  I won't get tired of wearing that until sometime in March.

It's foggy in Grand Haven, you cannot see the pier, only the near shore.

Tom has left to visit James and Alicia in the hospital.  I don't know if I have mentioned that Alicia has been in and out of the hospital with BP problems.  Hers has been all over the place - too high, too low and normal.  The doctors let her go home but the BP went up again.  She is about 27 weeks along and too early for the babies to be born without having some sort of problems. 

Mary Ann

When my hearing aid was lost it was recovered at the medical clinic four or five days later, so I was saved that time.  But now I have a broken one - the wire that transfers the sound from behind the ear to the inner ear.  I'm hoping it can be repaired but the audiologist was out when I called his office and weather of ice and storm have kept him away.   His receptionist/aid reminded me they're nine years old and she didn't think the parts would still be available.  I'm waiting to get a call back when he's available. 

And now I'm afraid the other one will give out and then I'll really be in a pickle.  I didn't realize it has been that long since I got them but I do know my hearing has deteriorated.

Hi everyone.  We had another very rainy afternoon and evening yesterday and were under a tornado watch for a couple of hours.  Fortunately there were no tornadoes in our area and no high winds.  It was not raining all morning so didn't interfere with going to church and then out to eat lunch.  I felt much less tired yesterday than I had all of last week so am hopeful that situation is behind me for awhile at least.  The schedule is very light today.  I plan on attending my Monday noon meeting and will stop at COSTCO on the way to fill my car with gas.  I had thought about picking up a couple of items and then remembered we should be going back there probably around Wednesday so Pat can get her new glasses and I can get the items then.  I did enjoy the football games yesterday, especially the win by the Atlanta Falcons that put them into the Super Bowl in a couple of weeks.  They really ran all over Green Bay yesterday.  They will play the New England Patriots who won their game over the Pittsburgh Steelers in the late game yesterday.

Mary Ann, good news on finding your keys.  It sounds like Alicia is going to have a long pregnancy. 

Marilyne, hope your trip to Safeway was successful and you have your dark glasses back. 

Jeanne, I will keep my fingers crossed that the part you need for your hearing aid is still available.

deAngel, you weren't going to find those keys as long as the neighbor had them.    It sounds like you now have a spare hearing aid in case one goes missing again. 

Joan, you are having some winter.  Glad you can stay in where it is warm and that it isn't quite as cold outside. We aren't so cold but it is damp and that seems to make things feel chillier. 

Larry, Alicia is due either late March or early April.  They originally said early April, but I am sure with carrying twin girls that the March date is more true.  Because James is taking some courses at Hope College, they are able to rent some student housing.  One problem is that the bedrooms are upstairs, as is the main bathroom.  I think they should rent a hospital bed to put in their dining area so she would not have to climb the steps to go to bed.  Whether that triggers the BP problems, I don't know.  James and Alicia are Tom's son and DIL. 

Terry's son and DIL in California are also expecting in early March.  She is carrying only one boy and is getting along fine so far.  I have been in touch with Geoff because I did not go to the shower for his wife, Charissa, at Christmastime because I had had the skin cancer surgery.  So now I'm working with him as to both shower and baby arrival gift and I think we settled on money which transports easily.

I have to tell more about the key loss.  Because I couldn't find my keys, I looked and found a separate key in my dresser so picked that up to get in the house.  The reason for the purse change was our church's Women's Fellowship Christmas Tea.  Dot and I went to the Tea and enjoyed ourselves, came back and told Dot I had found a key to my unit.  She always waits until I open the door before she leaves and did so this time.  The key fit, but would not turn.  Dot had a key she could not identify but thought it was her daughter's key.  It was a shiny white metal key and I thought it could be the key to my place.  It was.  What I had was my key to Dot's unit.  I did round up a key later from some I had here, so I was able to get in if necessary.  Now, Dot's key, my house key and garage key are all together in my dresser.  If anything can be made complicated, I'm the one to do it.

We are at 41 degrees now with prospects of not going much higher.  It is overcast at 9:40 and I think it will stay that way.

Jeanne Lee, you have hearing aids nine years old; I am on my third pair in seven years.  I hope you are able to get yours repaired.  I wonder why Medicare doesn't cover hearing aids because I can think of a couple of things not as important as hearing that are covered.  The government doesn't think so much of older people as it does the younger people.  Maybe because many of our legislators aren't old yet!

Mary Ann

Good morning from a still frigid Interior although it is supposed to still warm up considerably on Tuesday or Wednesday. I have had nothing of note happening other than the usual. Farrah has been getting behind me on the couch more and doing her version of a cuddle by leaning over on me and purring. This gets her a good scratch and rub down which she enjoys.

I hope James and Alicia have smooth sailing from here out MaryAnn, and with Terry's son and daughter in law as well.

I am sorry to hear about all the lost items and glad to hear about all the found items. I noticed a hearing loss bout 2012 and was quoted over 2000.00  then. That was for an over the ear and I was not hearing my consonants such as B, P, and J. I also had problems when people turned their heads while speaking or had accents or seemed to mumble. Now with Medicaid it will be on my list to search out. So far, new glasses are the only one I've followed through on until summer.

So much is being put off until summer, this winter.

A small note from my reading,  I just read something interesting in an article about blue eyed people and that gene. Scientists discovered years ago that while the gene for brown eyes has many variations, such as hazel, the gene for blue eyes which shuts off the brown, is the only actual mutation of the eye color causing gene. It seems that six thousand to ten thousand years ago, about the time our ancestors began to populate the northern climes, a single ancestor developed that mutation. Thus all blue eyed people can trace their ancestry back to that single individual.

Patricia, as you've probably heard, hearing aids are not inexpensive.  When I got mine last fall, there were three prices and I chose the middle price, but I expect the other two layers had more or less features.  I'm happy with my choice, but being smaller than previous ones, they seem to be more prone to fall off.  I put my hands up every so often to make sure they're in the right place.  I'm glad I have them, however, because without them, speech is garbled and mushy.

Kendrick is being a good boy and is quite neglected.  I do scratch him occasionally which he likes.  He usually hears when I am in the bedroom and comes in to help me make or unmake the bed.  He always lies down to await his scratching and petting.

I am blue-eyed so I wish I knew who my distant ancestor was.  I do know that on both sides of my family, blue eyes predominate.  Some brown-eyed people have married into the family and my deceased nephew, Tim, had brown eyes (from his mother).  I don't know about the next generation, except for Annie who has light brown eyes. 

Mary Ann

MaryAnn, I am of Celtic background and am a once redheaded, blue eyed, pale skinned, short member of a tall, redheaded, pale skinned, different eye colored, family of traditional loving origins. This has excited an interest in genes, and ethnic makeup of people and particularly in my family's background. I also love trivia and scientific antidotes, so I find quite a few of these and this one came from the site, Business, Insider of all places.

Coming from a predominate blue eyed family makes me think you and your family are from originally northern Europe?

Cats do love their routines, and Farrah has a similar one only hers occurs when she is waking up, and I am readying for bed. Often, when I wake up in the mornings, she is sitting in the middle of the room watching to see if I am actually getting up as opposed to merely restless. When I rise and move towards the bathroom, she heads for the kitchen and is sitting by her bowl when I finish my shower.

Patricia, I had my DNA test from Ancestry and found I am 50% Western Europe, 35% Scandinavian, 8% Great Britain, 6% Ireland and 1% Trace.  I can trace my mother's mother's family way back from England; my mother's father's family came from Ireland (and probably Scotland), my paternal grandfather was born in Schleswig-Holstein when it was Danish, and we can only go back two more generations there, both in S-H/Denmark.  Dad's maternal grandfather was born in Denmark, his maternal grandmother was born in Germany, and his paternal great-grandfather was born in the Netherlands and married a woman from Sweden.  So I'd say you have me pretty well pegged! 

I had dishwater brown hair (white now), I was a towhead when small, and I have a ruddy complexion on the lighter side.  my parents were both normal size for the times and Norm was short but more normal sized.  I am the only very short one and the story was that I could not drink milk so I was given barley water.  I attribute that from contributing to my shortness as I am all of 4'9" tall (I doubt I was even 5' tall in my prime).  When I bought my car in 2003, I had a tilt wheel and I could see over the steering wheel but as time went on, I found it necessary to have a cushion under me.  I don't drive now. 

Norm was vehemently proud of the fact he was of Danish ancestry.  Possibly that was because when we were young Grand Rapids was 40% Dutch and 40% Polish, with 20% everything else.  We were in the "everything else" category.  Of course, now, with so many nationalities coming here, those percentages no longer apply.  You may remember Norm as GreatDane on the various forums. 

Mary Ann

MaryAnn, I've always wanted to test my ancestry because even though my maternal great uncle traced that ancestry back to sixteen hundreds Ireland and on my father's side, a cousin traced it back to three fourths Welsh and one fourth Scottish clans, there are always variables. For example, the Celtic people originally came over the Russian steppes to reach their now settlements and Ireland and it's population was a favored raiding site for the Vikings. So, a DNA test as you've done is a better way. Someday, I will get to that but now too many other needs come first.

The majority of my family from both sides were tall and redheaded or partial redheads, (My maternal grandfather had a head of black hair and red hair on his chest and in facial hair). My father had black hair that gleamed red in strong sunlight and there are similarities in both sides of the family.

I have always been proud of being Irish, or at least I was until I met an Irishman from Dublin. I proudly told him I was Irish and he very acerbly told me I was not. I was an American of Irish descent.  I had my feelings hurt but upon reflection, he must have heard that a lot.   

Hi everyone on a beautiful, sunny 44 degree morning.  We are headed up to 65 degrees this afternoon. Pat has an appointment this morning at the sleep doctor's office for her annual evaluation and that is all that is on the schedule for today. She tried to get her new printer to print a color copy without success so I will have to work with that a little later today.  Guess I will have to read the book--Drat!!  Nothing seems simple anymore.

Mary Ann, I can relate to what James and Alicia are experiencing as Pat was ordered bed rest for several weeks before Stacey was born.  It is not an easy time.  Fortunately hospitalization wasn't required.  I hope all will be well.  It sounds like your family is getting ready for a major expansion with three little ones on the way.  I remember how proud Norm was of his Danish background. 

Patricia, interesting info on blue eyed people.  I didn't not know these facts.  Neither my wife or I have blue eyes.  I do know the Hanna ancestor came to the USA in the 1850's from Ireland but think there is Scottish background as there is a Hannay clan there.  My father's mother's family were German so have some heritage there as well. 

I am a Texan with Irish ancestors.....

But many years ago I went to Boston over Christmas and as most know Boston is populated with many Irish folks.  I was staying with an Irish family (Quinn) and the Mother of their family ask me how I spelled my name and I told her (we spell it with an "e" (Kelley))  Ahhhh, she says, you are protestant Irish, I ask how she knew that and she told me that the "ey" is how.  But she let me stay there anyhow, I even got to babysit while they went to Mass Christmas Eve.

We are still having temps from 25 to 35 and no snow has melted as yet.  I keep hoping.

Eye color is the first thing I see, when I meet someone.  Also I take note of the eyes of all the news commentators on TV, plus actors and actresses on TV shows or movies, or any live shows like DWTS or HGTV.  I've always looked first at eyes, and then at the rest of the person.  It doesn't determine my opinion of the person, one way or another . . . just what I see first and always remember.