It's still daylight at Grand Haven and there are great waves and whitecaps.  Some people are at the shore.  Water temp is 32 and air temp is 34, about what it is here.

Mary Ann

Good Morning Everyone from the snow covered,  calming blizzard, her in the center of the arts district of the Portland Maine.   

It certainly  is beautiful out there,  as long as I remain inside, peaking out of my windows to the world, over looking the snow covered "Arts District"...       

I understand that the worst is now over but the time to clean up will be many hours to come here in Winter Wonderland! 

Nothing to do for me but to sit back and enjoy it. 

Yesterday I broke up four wooden dining room chairs which I did not need and threw them down the trash shoot...   breaking up furniture is a good way to take out any frustrations that I might have    (but really don't have) .   I only have a need to
do more cleaning out  to get rid of stuff that is just taking up space and not needed here.       

I have more to do today,  so I will be kept very very busy breaking down some of my "stuff " so that it is easier for me to to handle.

We got over 16 inches of snow. 

All is well.    Just enjoying the fading Blizzard.
Sandy

Hi everyone.  It is going to be another beautiful day here going up to about 68 degrees this afternoon and zero chance of rain. 

We had a delightful time last night at the Valentine's Banquet at the Church for we Seniors.  The tables were nicely decorated and we had name cards at our designated table.  As you checked in a young person directed us to our assigned table.  We were served with a delicious lasagna, salad and bread meal topped off with a nice slice of cheesecake.  Then the young people presented a nice program of Praise Music, interpretative and tap dance numbers, corny jokes and the highlight was a video called Car Karaoke that one youth made with several members of the senior group.  It was clips of these individuals in a car with the young man who was one of the MC's of the program.  The group included his grandfather who was a riot and really didn't seem to be able to carry a tune. 

The only down side to the evening was as we arrived one of the ladies had fallen outside the church entrance and hit her head on the pavement.  The ambulance was called and took her to the hospital.  I spoke briefly with the minister as we left last night and he said she had been admitted to the ICU for observation because of hitting her head. 

My schedule is light today as just plan on attending my Monday noon meeting and if I have the energy will stop at the Men's Warehouse to look for a sports coat that would look nice and be appropriate to wear to church.

Thank you all so much for the Happy Birthday Wishes.  I thought it was nice of the youth to put on that party for me last night (that's my story and I'm sticking to it.  )

JeanneP, this is really a nice place to live.  We are fairly close to the mountains, the ocean and far enough South to enjoy nice winters.  I lived in Springfield, Illinois for a little over a year many years ago and I know about the cold winters and hot summers there. 

Sandy, glad you can enjoy the snow without having to get out in it.  I had to chuckle at your breaking up your furniture.   

Sandy, I wonder about your breaking up the chairs - were they in good enough condition that someone else could have used them?  I shake my head sometimes when watching some of those fixit shows on TV where they rip out kitchen cabinets, cupboard and shelves - and other things - that I feel could go to Goodwill or Salvation Army.

Larry, the accident of the woman at your dinner last night reminded me of our 50-year class reunion.  One of the women had come up from Battle Creek, slipped on the steps inside, fell and broke a leg in a couple of places.  Ever after, she limped. 

We have the start of a nice day - the sun is shining, what else!  I don't think we'll get over 40 degrees but it will seem warmer with the sun out.

I just got notice from Tom that I will be going with him to the hospital Wednesday to see Alicia so I may be able to see and hold the babies.  Only two people can go into the Neo Natal nursery and one of them must be a parent.  I'm thrilled.

Grand Haven is beautiful right now.  The sky and water are both blue and the water is relatively calm.  Yesterday was very windy and there were whitecaps to prove it. 

Mary Ann

Mary Ann - I just tried to take a look at Grand Haven, and for some reason, the web cam picture stayed completely black?  No explanation? I've never had a problem seeing it, so will check back later and hope it shows. 

Good news, that you will be meeting Eleanor and Johanna, on Wednesday!   That will be so much fun.  We've never had any twins in our family, on either my side or my husband's.  When I was working on genealogy last year, I found out that one of my dad's cousin's, had had triplets, in the early 1930's.  They were all girls, and only lived a few days.  Triplets would have been very unusual back then, and most likely the hospital where they were born, didn't have the facilities for infants, that are available today.  I don't recall where they were born, but I'll look it up again - also their names. 
 

I was thinking the same on breaking up things. Here you can put almost anything that is in good shape out on the curbside and will be gone. Specially when the students come back to university.
Amazing what people put out. The cit just do not want such as mattresses put out

Marilyne, I just looked and the site is OK.  I've had it be black, so it isn't unusual.  I don't know if they're working on the site or what.  I am about an hour after you.

Jeanne, I remember when I moved from my long-time home and put our old kitchen chair, painted red and it had a split in the seat.  It disappeared overnight.  I think people do put things out with the expectation they'd be taken.  You've heard the joke about a man putting something out with FREE written on a sign and he had no takers.  So he put a sign $50 and someone took it.  Funny breed, we humans.

Mary Ann

What ever I am breaking up and throwing away,  had very much out lived its usefulness.   
And now it is all down the trash shoot.     I took apart the most uncomfortable futon in existence,  this morning and put that all down the trash shoot too.       Living in the city,  I can not just set stuff out on the street nor can I set set out in the halls here, as they have signs forbidding people to do so...  ( and cameras,  too)   

Nothing that I have shredded up has any worth left,  so I have done everyone a favor by trashing it.     

I have a awesome thrift shop downstairs that I take anything of any worth and give it to them.   We have been sharing stuff for
years !!!   

Have a good day everyone.    I am tired and my muscles are hurting from doing to much shredding...    (giggle)

Sandy

Mary Ann - I saw in another discussion, that you mentioned the Oroville Dam situation, that's happening right now, here in California.  It's a serious potential disaster, and they have already evacuated 190,000 people from all surrounding areas. In the meantime, they are working on the hole in the dam, but we're expecting more storms on Wednesday and Thursday.  Oroville is not near where I live.  It's located North of Sacramento, which is in the upper San Joaquin Valley.  The city that will suffer the most, and probably get totally wiped out if the dam breaks, is Marysville, which is just south of Oroville.  Also there are other small towns, and  countless farms and ranches that would be in the surge of  water. Needless to say, we are following it closely on TV.

Marilyne, I did think of you when I saw a map of where Oroville Dam is and other towns and cities nearby.  On the Weather Channel tonight, Mike Bettes showed how the water flowed around the dam and the spillways and it's almost like a puzzle.  It looks like both coasts are involved in weather problems.  I can believe you are keeping close watch on the situation.

Mary Ann

Hi everyone on this Valentine's Day.  We should get to the mid 70's today with no rain.

Yesterday was a pretty uneventful day.  I did attend my meeting and then stopped at Men's Warehouse but didn't buy anything as their sales are on the weekends.  I am simply not going to pay well over $300 for a sport coat. There was an Atlanta Bread Company near where I stopped so I went in and bought a loaf of French bread.  It is the biggest loaf of bread I have ever purchased and will share half of it with Scott and Jennifer tomorrow afternoon. 

Nothing on the schedule for today unless we go out to have our big meal to celebrate Valentine's Day.  I doubt that Pat will want to do that since we will be going to a nice restaurant tomorrow afternoon to celebrate my Birthday a few days late.

Mary Ann, we just never know when an accident may befall us.  Apparently the lady didn't break any bones.  I haven't heard any update on her but should hear on Thursday.  Hopefully she is all right.  Now nice you will be able to see and hold the twins tomorrow. 

Marilyne, we also never had any twins in our family.  Back in the 30's they may not even have been aware of the multiple births until they were born.

JeanneP, our city just put on a special fee to dispose of electronics such as computers and monitors.  They apparently have to pay a fee to further dispose of them. 

Sandy, glad you have completed your "shredding" job and have done away with what you didn't want.  I knew you had a shrift shop at the street level of your building and that you would have donated if there was value. 

Marilyne, that is indeed a frightening event with the Oroville Dam.  I saw some news film about it last evening on the news.  Glad you are not in danger.  One has to wonder why people would buy property below a dam in the first place. 

Good morning all - Happy Valentines Day! It looks like it's going to be a beautiful sunny day here.

There are so many weather related "disasters" going on in the US at any given time, that it's hard for us to relate to any one of them, unless we are directly effected. When I see photos on the news of a town that has been wiped out by a tornado, I'm shocked at the devastation, and can't believe that people actually choose to live in areas where tornadoes come every year!  I know they feel the same way about me, living in "earthquake country"!   It seems like every part of the US has something to beware of, but somehow, we learn to adapt and live with it. 

Out here in California, we are generally dry and drought ridden . . . but when the rains finally come, it's always too much.  Floods, and mudslides happen.  The good part, is that all this dampness may protect us from wildfires in summer and fall. Wildfires are another weather related disaster that wipe out entire communities.  Then of course, we have our famous earthquakes!  The only good thing about them, is that the destructive ones only come around every 20 to 50 years.  Our last big one was in 1989, (epicenter about 6 miles from me), so we are due for another.  They keep warning us that The Big One, is coming!

The good new, is that it looks like the potential Oroville Dam  disaster, has been averted! The rains stopped, and they were able to lower the water level in Oroville lake, so it isn't spilling like it was. We have another storm arriving on Thursday, but I don't think it will be as bad as last week.   
 

Marilyne, I've said many times that each area has its own disasters and we learn to live with them as opposed to those of other areas.  I have a great-nephew in LA who moved there to find a job (he did) and wanted to get away from Michigan's winters and snow he would have to shovel.  I do know, however, that he is interested in buying a house - in Michigan (cheaper than CA).  He would not move back, but would rent the house and maybe come back on vacations.  It is he and his wife who are expecting a boy next month.  So maybe you can take the boy out of Michigan, but you can't take Michigan out of the boy!

We've had two bad tornados that I know of, maybe three, in the years we have lived in Grand Rapids.  I remember our family driving to Cedar Springs where they had had a cyclone.  I remember lots of damage, but I don't remember exactly where or the year.  We had a tornado in 1956 that went northwest of us and in 1965 we had another, not so destructive, that went in the southern part of the city.  I like to think if we had another in our area, I would be safe in my lower level, especially in the storage room; there are no windows in that part of the house, in fact, that part is below ground level.  I really like to think that we won't have another!

All else being equal, I love storms and like to watch them.

Mary Ann

Mary Ann, looks like all three sites have storks checking them out.  Hopefully we will have some babies this year.

Thanks, Joan, I haven't checked them out recently.  I now have a Windows 10 laptop and Tom set things up for me.  He didn't delete anything, but I think the computer moved things, so now I'll look for the nests.

Mary Ann

I just don't know how some people can take lots of prescriptions at a time.  For the burning and tingling on my  Thigh.  Still working on it.  First Dr. who was a Neurologist gave me a prescription for 3 times a day at 100 Mg.. Could find nothing. Next doctor did testing and tried PE.  But at least sent me to the MRI.  Looked at it and sent me to a Spine and pain who check the MRI.  He put me on the same Med as the first but stronger 300MG. along with another twice a day.
I took for a week and called. No way could I take that. Could not walk in a straight line. So dizzy. Didn't try to drive.  Called me today and told me to do the one med back to the 100 MG see if that help.  I swear, Dr. seem to know less now than  years ago. Just seen to hand out prescriptions.

I was reading here up in the Soda Shop forum. some were taking up to 18 pills a day.  Can't see how Stomachs can take that.
Will take that as to how they make me feel for another 2 weeks.  No pain, just aggravation from the tingle and heat at time.
I just don't have patience.  I think they should have figured it out by now. 

Mary Ann, here you go.  http://www.pfalzstorch.de/index.php?id=13

Jeanne, I take 16 pills a day, 11 in the morning and five at night.  Some of the total of 16, I take either two at a time or two a day.  Only four of my meds are prescription meds.  I take some vitamins, some suggested, some on my own but with the doctor's knowledge.  I have prescrips from my regular doctor, my cardiologist and my optometrist.  You can see why the offices request/require patients to bring in lists of their current meds.  Taking them the way I do, the meds aren't too harsh on my stomach or system.  I also have a leg that tingles but have done nothing about it because Norm had something similar and it was Peripheral Neurapathy.  my symptoms aren't nearly as bad as Norm's and unless things get much worse, I will do nothing.  Tom has similar symptoms too only his pains are more severe. 

You have my sympathy in trying to find the cause and cure.

Joan, thank you.  I think it is 8:45 in Germany now but some storks are barely visible. 

Mary Ann

Mary Ann, you are welcome.  They have been there for a week now.

JeanneP - I also have had bad reactions to lots of different meds.  Many antibiotics I can't take, and other prescription pills as well.  My blood pressure was extremely high, but every time the doc would prescribe something, I would have a bad reaction.  Finally we settled on the diuretic, hydrochlorothiazide, (did I spell it right? LOL), in the morning - only 12.5mg.  Then at night I take a beta blocker called Bystolic, 2.5mg. So far they are working great, even though they are the lowest dose available.

The gastro doc wanted me to take pills for acid reflux, but every one he prescribed, made me sick and gave me bad headaches.  So I don't take anything for that, but I did buy a memory foam slanted pillow that I sleep on, that helps. 

I don't take any other pills, except for aspirin, the occasional Tylenol, and vitamins.  I have a script for a muscle relaxant pill that I can take, if I have a bout with sciatica.  Haven't had to take one for about six months! (knocking on wood!)   

Good afternoon from the Interior. I have been off the Internet for the past couple of days with this same old sinus and the fluctuating air or barometric pressure. Joan, I also saw storks through the darkness, thanks for posting that and reminding me.

I'm hoping everyone is relatively pain-free and enjoying the holiday! I'll have to go on to the news and check out how the world did without me.

Good morning all!

Marilyne, sorry to hear you can't handle the acid reflux medicines. I was on them for at least ten years. After I retired I lost weight and gradually, oh so gradually, reduced what I took, and after almost two years got completely off them. This is a drug that you can't just get of off of "cold-turkey" after being on a long time. I also raise my head for sleeping. My sister is still on hers, and she started taking them before me. She has not been very successful at losing weight because she dines out frequently and also loves to cook (and eat, I dare say). One advantage I have over her is that I don't have to cook for another, and I don't eat out frequently.

George sent me a beautiful bouquet of a dozen yellow roses for Valentine's Day. I wasn't expecting it, so - Surprise!

I don't have this often and it isn't a chronic condition, but occasionally I'll have something like an acid reflux and that usually is due to something I ate that is spicy.  Anyway, I take a store-brand Tums and that helps me.

Mary Ann

Hi everyone on a dark, cloudy morning here in South Carolina and the rain just now started  We stayed in all day yesterday and it was a beautiful day but today Pat has PT this morning at eleven and we plan on going to the Chop House to complete celebrating my birthday.  It is becoming a new tradition to go to this nice restaurant to celebrate birthdays and special occasions.  Since we will be eating a big meal in the middle of the afternoon we will not be going to the Wednesday night dinner at church. 

Marilyne, I was certainly glad to see on the news last night that the evacuation order had been lifted on the Oroville Dam situation and people were being allowed back in their homes.   We did have earthquakes while we lived in Alaska but it was after the big one that struck Anchorage.  About everywhere I have lived has been subject to tornados and they are terrible.  Fortunately they can now usually predict where the tornado is going to strike.  Where I live now is on a fault and is considered to be the 6th likeliest areas for a big earthquake.  When I learned that I added earthquake insurance to my insurance package. 

Mary Ann, I hope your grandson realizes it is difficult to be an absentee landlord.  I sometimes watch the program on HGTV and am always shocked at the prices people pay for houses that still require tens of thousands of dollars in repair and renovation.  It sounds like you would be safe in your basement from a tornado.  I don't think we really have a safe place to go in the case of a tornado but would try to weather it in our laundry room, which is next to the stair case that might provide some protection. 

JeanneP, sorry to read you are having such a time with medication.  I have taken a lot of heart medicine for the last almost 30 years and it has never bothered my stomach.  However, certain medicines that Pat takes do bother her after a few days and she has to stop for a day or so.  I am on the maximum dosages of several of my heart medications.

Patricia, I hope your posting means you are feeling much better. 

MarsGal, it is hard to diet when a person eats out often.  We also eat out at least two or three times a week.  We have adjustable beds in a king size frame and I always sleep with my head elevated.  Before we had them I used a wedge to raise my head.

Good morning. It is interesting that some of you suffer from acid reflux. I used to terribly and was on a prescription med for some years. When my allergies to food chemicals advanced enough to be an issue, I avoided those foods, and my acid reflux disappeared. Sometimes, I believe, illness is a symptom of something else.

We are still in a warming trend here, and Farrah has been standoffish again. However, she now sleeps down next to my feet for awhile every night.

I am feeling somewhat better, but I am still very weary and haven't left my apartment.

I take three vitamins daily. These I take each morning after a bite or two of breakfast as I learned that if your stomach is not engaged in digesting food when you swallow them, your vitamins might as well be dumped in the trash. Because we have so little winter daylight, I take 1400 milligrams of vitamin A. So many folks suffer from seasonal affective order, (SAD);  in northern climates when a test will reveal they have little to none of that vitamin in their system. Since it is a fat and not water dissolvable vitamin, it can build up. So it is crucial to be tested before amping up the dosage. In the summer, I reduce the dosage significantly. The other two are a probiotic and a senior multivitamin.

Larry, Geoff's wanting to buy a home in Michigan is right now a figment of his imagination.  He wants to buy in Traverse City.  Since he and his wife are expecting a baby in a month, I think his dreams are on hold.

I just had a thrill - I went to the hospital with Tom and was able to hold both babies.  They are so tiny!  I didn't ask how much they weighed after a week but I think it would only be in ounces, not pounds.  I think both of them are about a foot long.  Johanna "baptized" me when she spit up.  I've had that happen before when I was holding Jamie and he spit up down my back.  Like father, like daughter.  Tom and Alicia both took pictures but the babies are so small and so bundled up that you can't tell much, so there will be no pictures.

Terry called while we were on our way to Holland so he and Jan met us at the hospital for lunch.  They have a rough road ahead of them.  To begin with, Geoff (their son) and his wife are expecting a baby in a month and both Terry and Jan will go out after the baby is born.  That is not the rough road - both of Jan's parents are in the early stages of Alzheimer's.  Jan's brother is teaching in China and her sister is teaching in Alaska.  Terry's health is not good, but he and Jan will have full responsibility for her parents.  Her dad was a teacher of history and her mother was a librarian, both educated and readers.  I know others have similar problems, but it is hard to see one person so burdened.  And Jan is the one helping me get rid of stuff!

Mary Ann

I just got notified that as of 2/14 I am now a Great Great gramma.

wjoan - 
Tell us more about your new great grandchild??

Mary Ann - I'm glad that you finally got to see the twins . . . even though you were "baptized" while holding them!   If the pictures turn out okay, I hope you post them in the Photo forum.   

Not many details as yet.  He  is my Great, Great grandson.  Hi s name is James and I shared  his pic on FB.   Will try and get more details.

Congratulations, Joan.  I hope your great-great-grandson is larger than Norm's great-granddaughters.  They are so tiny!  Of course, newborn babies are all tiny, but these weighed 4+ and 3+ pounds. 

Marilyne, the pictures are OK, but there is so little of the babies that shows, it isn't worth it and my picture isn't good.  If you are on Facebook, I think James or Alicia may have posted pictures.  I don't know how they are listed, but it would be James or Alicia Tock. 

Mary Ann