Larry,  I have always thought I was a good speller.  My husband was terrible and always would be asking me how to spell "something". 

But, I have always had a problem with knowing what a "preposition" is.  And, an adverb ?  I think that is a description of a verb???  I should go and bone up on my grammar and punctuation marks.   When I see these little quizzes come up, I usually will see how I do on them. I usually do well, even if some of the answers are guesses. 

Somewhere, a while back, and I don't know if it was here in S & F or some other place, but ........ I read that if you right click on a word you are not sure of the spelling , the correct spelling comes up......   not sure if that works all the time or not.  But  it is helpful.

It is supposed to get up in the low 40's today with nasty weather returning tonight and early tomorrow morning,   I am so ready for spring. 

Our local Walmart still isn't participating in the online/pickup ordering yet,  They can't give me any kind of a time frame for when they will be doing that.  I am wondering if you order fresh produce and how it is???  I don't particularly like Walmart's produce, but I was thinking that since they want you to keep ordering,  that maybe what you get when you order online is better than  what they sell in the stores?   Do you set up a specific time to go pick up your order and how does that seem to work out???   

I, too, am another one who tends to go on and on and on with details.  LOL Once I get started, it seems I just keep remembering things to write about.

Still hoping that Joan will be back on the Soda Shoppe board real soon.  Have not seen any updates for a few days now.  ( I know this is Norm's page, but I know a lot of the ones that come here, go to Joan's page, also) 

Have a good day


Joy

Larry, I'm pretty good at where to place the apostrophe but I do have to think when using its or it's.  What gets me, not here, but in writing in the news on the Internet is the use of "he and I" when it should be "him and me".  I know if those writers were to mention only one of the people he/she would write "him" or "me".   

It is a drizzly morning here so far.  Radar shows a light green and I think the drizzle will be gone by afternoon. 

Tom is out, possibly driving for Uber or on an errand.  He said he'd be back by 1 pm and it is now nearly noon. 

It's funny, I look forward to other's newsy posts, but think my own are too long.  So, whoever reads this, keep up the long posts.  What I do appreciate is the BOLD type because it is so much easier for me to read.  I know it is too much trouble for some and that is OK, but I miss somethings because they are not sharp enough.  After all, I have old eyes.

It's kind of windy at Grand Haven, lots of whitecaps.

Mary Ann

Joy, I am one who reads and posts on Joan's folder too.  In fact, I find I post on too many folders, however, not as often on others as these two.  And it amazes me when the menu comes up on my screen, there may be a dozen folders listed and I may only read two or three of them.  Many of the folders shown, I don't ever read. 

With everyone else, I am awaiting Joan's recovery.  I remember the last time she was in the hospital for quite a long time.

Joy, I won't get into grammar, but a preposition is like "if, of, from" and starts a phrase "from the hill", "of the last" etc.  I do think you're right about an adverb modifying a verb.  I used to be good at grammar, but have forgotten everything I ever learned!  (I overuse the "!" too!).

Tom just brought in the mail and on top was a card from a funeral home "Pizza and Planning".  How about that!

Mary Ann

My S&F messages are always way too long and too detailed.  I proofread them before I post, and try to cut out unnecessary "rambling", but they still look too long, and contain things that no one cares about.  I guess we have to say what we want to say, in our own individual style?  That's what I like about message boards.

That's what I dislike about Facebook . . . the short, one sentence comments!  If you write more than one or two sentences people won't read what you have to say.  Of course Twitter and texting is even worse.  The idea is to compress everything into one short sentence or even just a few words!  I'm afraid I could never do that, so just as well that I don't text. 

They say that Facebook and Twitter have made message boards, like S&F, obsolete, and texting has made phone calls a thing of the past.  Remember the old days, when we spent our leisure time talking on the phone to friends, relatives and even neighbors?  There was a real connection then . . . but those days are gone forever.   

Mary Ann - I see we were posting at the same time.  I have to comment on some of the things you said, but will give someone else a chance, since I just left one of my rambling posts. LOL  I love that "Pizza and Planning"!

I think I will see if Dan is interested in building an ARK.  With all the rain we have been having since the snow stopped, we just may need an ARK soon.

Marilyne, Tom's daughter, Annie, texts everything and at one time did not bother to read her e-mails or answer her phone.  She had something in the phone program that could call you by name and tell you she'd call back later - but she never did.  I got after her because I do not text and when I e-mailed or called, I had a reason.  She is now very good about responding to my calls and e-mails.

I bought a DNA kit for Annie because she is curious about her background.  Her mother was adopted and knew what she had to know about her birth parents, but other than that, she was not interested.  She did tell Annie it was OK to have the DNA test.  Yesterday Annie e-mailed that Ancestry is in the processing stage.  It has taken longer than when I had mine tested, but Ancestry put out a message that they had so many applicants it was taking longer.  At least Annie's is being processed and it should not be too long before she hears.  I will be one of the first to see her information. 

Marilyne, you can butt in any time!

Mary Ann

Joan, do you have the animals???

Mary Ann

Mary Ann, not yet but it will take some time to build so no hurry.  Do you know what kind of lights Noah used on his Ark?

Ah, yes.  Writing and use of the comma.  When I was taking English some of my papers came back looking like they had been bled on, so much red.  One I submitted on an initial semester class, in world Lit, had a notation: "definitely not college level work".
But I finally got up speed.  But could never get passed the "comma splice" accusation.

I tend to write like I talk.  I wish I could remember all that I was taught about writing, poetry and the Greek tragedies.  I hated English in school and loved it in College, go figure.  But I obviously didn't retain much.....

All of you who think you write too much, no you don't, I enjoy seeing what is going on in your life and around the different parts of the country.

Laughed last night, went over to my Granddaughters last night, it was her daughters first birthday and her husband was teasing the other kids (two sisters of the one year old) that he had a gold coin in his pocket and was going to use if for bait and try and catch a Leprechaun, of course the kids loved that idea and it lead to a wide ranging conversation about my Granddaughter (the Mom) saying if he caught one they weren't keeping it and she wasn't even sure they were house broken.  And we call chimed in with our comments. (wonder if any were listening).

Joan, I believe they were rush lights! 

Nope, they were Flood lights

Joan, 

Flood lights!

Marilyne,   Since I wrote a longer message here earlier,  I hadn't planned on writing anything else today.

However, I do have to make a comment about  messages on FaceBook.

I have a brother-in-law right now who is very ill.  On Wednesday,  one of his grand daughters wrote a message very early in the morning that "Prayers are needed for my family".   Nothing else.  And, then a little later, another niece wrote something similar.  No mention of who it was for and what the problem was.  That really bothered me.  Since it was very early in the morning,  I didn't want to call anybody to see if anybody else knew something.  I  have seen messages like this before, and I think it is so upsetting.  If the person isn't going to tell what the problem is, don't write anything at all.

It wasn't until several hours later that I did learn that it was about my brother-in-law.   

Since you mentioned about messages on FB,  I just thought I would add my little  two cents worth. 

MaryAnn,  that is so funny about the card you received from the Funeral home.   Wonders never cease.  LOL 

I often wonder what several generations back would think about all this new technology that our generation is having to accept these days.  Some of it is good, but some of it isn't so good.  I learned a long time ago,  that I don't have to agree with something to accept it.   That was a saying that I learned many years ago when my son was going through a rough time, and I was going to AlaNon meetings.   And, believe me,  that saying gets me through a lot of situations in this day and age.  It can apply to most any situation that  shows up in today's society.  Sometimes hard to do, but it does help a lot. 

Joy 

Joan, the answer (flood lights) came up before I was ready to post and I would have been wrong.  My answer would have been "fireflies".

Joy, I'm glad you finally heard who the prayers were needed for (grammar?) and it would have helped had the nieces named their father. 

My mother died in 1941; I was 17 and Norm was 12.  That was 75 years ago (late in the year).  I often look at some of the modern appliances and technology and wonder what she would make of them.  I guess my dad, too, because he has been gone 46 years.  (Remember, I'm older than dirt).  Much has been invented, even replaced, since his death.  Now we can wonder what will take place when we are no longer here. 

I think much of the technology is responsible for unemployment because robots and such do so many jobs that people used to do.  One robot can replace several people.  I really think I have lived in the best time when new things were invented, but did not replace people at the time.  "Them days is gone forever".  Or so the saying went.

I'd better get myself something to eat and I wonder what's in the refrigerator for me to eat!

Mary Ann

"I learned a long time ago,  that I don't have to agree with something to accept it."
Joy - Thank you! That's something I'll try hard to apply to situations going on in my life. It's hard for me to "accept the things I cannot change", when it comes to my adult children.

I know what you mean by the puzzling Facebook messages. Just one sentence, and we're supposed to know what or who they're talking about?  Also, I wish when someone posts a picture on FB, that they would identify those in the picture.  So many pictures posted every day, and I have no idea who any of these people are?   

Hal - good to see you posting here!  I liked hearing about your daughter, your granddaughter and your "greats".  I have four great grandchildren, but rarely ever seen them.  They live far away from us. 

Mary Ann - My younger family members are like Annie . . . they never check their email, and rarely answer if they do check.  Also they don't talk on the phone, and never respond to any messages you might leave on voice mail or answering machines.  Communication is now all about texting and Facebook "likes". 

Good afternoon, the temp. keeps going down. Please do not change the way you write, or how long your post is. They all make my day. I love reading each and everyone. You all are my cyber family. I know  I will not change my style of writing, as this is who I am at 93, I also enjoy the folks in my 90's club.

MaryAnn, I sent for my DNA in Jan. Just got a message, it will take longer then promised. I am also now in Ancestry, but if I want to trace back to Europe, they want extra dollars.

WJoan Ark 

Joy, My mother still set up the wash tub in the kitchen on Sunday night and soaked the cloths, and used a scrub board in the '40's. When we got married in 1945 we had and ice box , we were on a waiting list for a refrigerator. Of course this was after THE war.

 

It's in my genes to go into detail about things and it would drive Norm nuts.  If I left something out, he'd have to ask questions but he couldn't see the difference.  His memories and mine about the same things usually were different.  I let him have his way and I had mine.

I'm glad I sent for my DNA a long time ago as I didn't have to wait.  Gloria, I finally subscribed to the European Ancestry because whenever I looked for something in Dad's family, I couldn't go there.  I don't use it much because Mother's ancestry is mostly English and I have that back to the mid 1600s; her Irish ancestry I have hit a brick wall.  I have hit a brick wall with my Grandfather Tock's ancestry but I do have info on my Grandmother Tock's Danish ancestry.  I should do more to try to put things together - but I don't.

I'm watching the PGA tour.

Mary Ann

It is sunny, but that is about the only change in the Interior. Farrah is napping after chasing imaginary beasties, and I am snug on the couch with my laptop and coffee.

At eleven, I went down to the first floor common room with my wheeled cart. So many folks have food box drop-offs on the first and third Saturdays. And it is nice that they bring the boxes here. I have been volunteering with the Hospitality Committee to take as many boxes, bags, or tins of supplies in my cart for those unable to lift or carry. You can fit two or three people's supplies at a time when many are simply unable to do it on their own.

It is pitiful what they are donating; no one wants to give to seniors or anyone anymore.The first Saturday of the month is a Federal program that delivers excess food from farmers to the needy and the second Saturday is local food donations. I am trying to arrange a Food Co-OP delivery here, but it doesn't look promising as the farmers need money too.

On the long or "book" post, love to read them, do it myself and used to BOLD. However, as I said before, it no longer shows up on here for me as it does in other browsers. I am not going to download another browser just to see a bold in S&F, sorry but no real extra space on this laptop.

An adverb is a descriptive helper such as an adjective is to a noun. My worst commonly used word is "also." I cringe every time I see myself post it. I was always horrible at diagraming sentences, but I loved making up sentences to use a given word showing it's meaning.

And, I am always taking a class or classes of some sort. I'm just too curious. I am presently taking a grammar course, four graphics, (PSP); courses, one budgeting groceries & meal planning course and one on decluttering your home and moving to a more minimalistic lifestyle.

A quick edit to tell you that I heard from Dora and while she swore never to have the cat in bed with them, she now finds it endearing how Duchess snuggles up between Alan's neck and shoulder. I can just see Duchess pumping a little-fisted paw and thinking, "Yes, she's so going down!"

2nd. Edit:

MaryAnn, the descriptive way you and others post is what lets us get to know you. Look at MaryPage's post, we loved them! It is also why those longer posters have such a healthy following, Look at Larry's or Gloria de's post, their personality and yours comes through clearly and that's a good thing.

My dad used to frustrate me as a child telling me just the facts only, who, what, when and where? I couldn't do it, there were always extenuating circumstances!

Enjoy your weekend everyone!

Shortly after reading your posts on punctuation and sentence structure, I ran across this article on Publisher's Weekly online. I thought you all would like to see it. Wow! What a long web address. If you don't want to read the whole article, just scroll down a bit to find some interesting graphs featuring some of our favorite authors.

http://www.publishersweekly.com/pw/by-topic/industry-news/tip-sheet/article/73072-danielle-steel-loves-the-weather-and-elmore-leonard-hates-exclamation-points-literature-by-the-numbers.html?utm_source=Publishers+Weekly&utm_campaign=7392bcd9db-EMAIL_CAMPAIGN_2017_03_17&utm_medium=email&utm_term=0_0bb2959cbb-7392bcd9db-304806741

Thank you MarsGal, for this and for the earlier last historical post I just saw.

I subscribed to their tip newsletter.

This has nothing to do with the price of eggs (previous topics), but I finished my taxes today.  I will get a refund from Uncle Sam, but I must pay the State of Michigan.  The reason for the difference is that I have federal tax taken out of most of my income and I do not have Michigan tax taken out.  I like to think I remedied that today by changing my pension information, which is the largest of my income.  So I will e-file my federal tax and snail mail the state.

MarsGal, I read some of the link you provided and it was interesting, but too long for my reading.  I do feel that we get a gist of a person's personality by what and how they write.  If I know the person personally, I can "hear" them talking the words as I read.  I try to watch what I write because I have a tendency to be sarcastic.  That's OK face to face, but when you can't hear or see me say something, it comes out wrong.

Mary Ann

MaryAnn, I know I had become a bit too sarcastic when an applicant arrived, wearing extremely long, fake, unpainted, fingernails for her interview and the rest of the hiring committee immediately turned to me. After that, I tried to be less sarcastic and while I never used it on the employees, I was known to occasionally comment on things in the breakroom.

Such as the time a male was actually taking his new handgun around to the tables in the lunchroom, showing it off to folks including some underage. I called his name, he turned and asked if I wanted to see his new gun. I said yes, he brought it over, I took it and he asked what I thought. I told him what I thought was that he was fired and that I had just confiscated his gun. I took it to the cash office, locked it up with him following all the way to the cash office door, complaining that it wasn't "right!' Some people have no brains at all.

I had mentioned previously about Golden Eagles in the Interior and Bald Eagles in the S.E. in and around Anchorage. This Bald Eagle had decided to take a vacation.

http://www.seniorsandfriends.org/index.php?topic=11.msg79066#msg79066

To show you how strange grammar is, I wrote a sentence including the words very white skin.

I received this message.

"The adjective white is non-gradable and may not require a qualifier. Consider removing the qualifier very."

Change very white to very pale!

Hi everyone.  The sun is coming up on a clear day after an overcast day yesterday.  We will only get into the mid-60's today.  Pat had a rough night trying to find a comfortable way to sleep and has decided to not go to Sunday School and Church with me this morning.  After church I will stop at Walmart and pick up the grocery order that was suppose to be ready yesterday but wasn't when I got there at our assigned time.  My guess is that the employee responsible for getting the orders together probably had not shown up for work Friday night.  I will get something to bring home for our main meal.  I enjoyed the basketball games I watched in the afternoon and early evening and look forward to some more good games today. 

I read all the posting late last evening so will limit my comments today.

Joy, you do select a specific time to pick up your order from Walmart.  There is a chart with all of the times available in one hour increments.  Acceptance of things we cannot change does help us greatly to find serenity in our lives. 

Mary Ann, I often sort of cringe when I hear sports or news commentators use poor grammar.  There is something about planning for a funeral and eating at the same time that just doesn't go together in my mind.

Marilyne, I also am glad we still have the discussion groups.  I just can't bring myself to use abbreviations while texting so write some fairly long ones.  However, I am not a big user of texting although it does come in handy.  The thing that has really helped me with my adult children was when I gave up trying to change them and put my attention on expressing my love for them.  I don't like people telling me what to do and I have come to wonder why I thought my adult children would appreciate my doing that to them. 

deAngel, I also remember the wash tub and in summer it would be set out in the sun filled with water on Saturday so we could take our Saturday night baths to be ready for Church.  We didn't have an inside bathroom as I was growing up.  We lived in the country so privacy wasn't a problem.  I do remember the ice box but probably by the time I was six or seven we had a refrigerator.

Joan, snow and now lots of rain.  You all are getting hit hard this winter. 

Hal, I enjoyed your Leprechaun story.

Patricia, nice of you to help deliver the good boxes to folks who are not able handle them on their own.

MarsGal, I have opened the link you provided in another tab and will read it later.   

Larry, your story about your order not being ready on time brought to mind a post on our neighborhood newsletter about our local supermarket, HEB, seems someone ordered a bill of groceries and wanted them delivered to his house, he got a notice that they had been delivered, but he hadn't received them.  He was wondering if anyone got a delivery of groceries that belong to him.  At any rate they made it up to him and did, finally, deliver his vittles.   

Larry, considering this is desert, yes.  LOL