Good morning, no change so far in the weather with periods of light rain here and there. Humidity is at 92% which is unusual for our area and a real issue at least for me. Farrah is hanging out in dark corners and I am staying home and cool. The clouds are moving in so I probably wouldn't have gone to the parade anyway.

Larry, between the Solstice in June, Golden Days in July and with the State Fair in August, the summers here are always busy so it is actually longer than two weeks.

It looks like this hot weather is all over the country.
Could not believe that the Cubs and the Cardinals are playing Baseball today. It is 100 deg. in Chicago. Lots of people sitting in the Stands. Crazy. Bet they are keeping the Medical people busy. Tomorrow will be the same
The Champaign county Fair starts tonight. Last year it was a week of rain. Will be the heat this year.  The animal are surly in the A/C rooms
I don't like the fairs now. They have changed from the older days.


Some of the Swimming pools are letting people in for $2. Usually $5 to get in

Saying on the TV that Illinois and other parts of the Midwest are having the hottest summer in the History of taking  the test.
Was feeling so tired a few days but after seeing the Dr. Yesterday I feel O.K now.
I am just going to stop thinking about keeping BP close to what I have always thought it should be 120/80. One Doctor says I should quit taking it all the time. I use to do that on Col. but gave up. He says things are different for Seniors .Mine told me that the other day. Can be in the 140/98 and still not big problem.  So will take their word.

Went at 9am to pick up my laundry. Stopped next door to $store and came home. Was already high 80s. Still need the grocery store but maybe about 8pm today or again 9am in the morning.

Sue. that sounds quite a book. Someone tries to rape you and you get in trouble for hitting them.  I remember going to get a gun license a few years ago because of peeping Tom and also getting in a situation coming home late at night on the Interstate. I knew the man behind the desk who told me to go home and think about it a couple of days because if I would shoot and hurt someone I would most probably be the one being charged. Have to be careful. I changed my mind and just remembered to be more careful.

Not hungry but will fix a little. Not putting on the News. The president has been replaced by  Simpson at the moment. Tired of hearing his name. Why they had over 2 hours of TV yesterday just listening to the Parole board going on and on.. At least it will not be costing 50 Thousand a year keeping him behind bars after October.

Jeanne, it's been hot here, too, but not up to 100 degrees.  I think we may have gotten up to 90+ today.  I did have the air on or I would have been in the lower level.  The problem down there is that about now, the coolness goes away and it is just humid.  Tom likes things on the cool side, or cooler than I like it. 

I watched some golf today.  Weather conditions were bad, rain and wind, but when they showed pictures of the course, it seemed there were no flat surfaces, not even the greens.  They are gluttons for punishment, however, they get paid well.

Mary Ann

Larry - Yes, we finally got both Winnie and Cocoa to tolerate each other.  No love lost between the two of them, however! I would love to see that cartoon you mentioned of the dog and the cat. I'm sure that Cocoa is aware that this is Winnie's house, not his, so he is definitely showing a little respect!    
The smoke from the Yosemite fire, reached us today. The air is stifling, what with the heat and the smoke. Both AJ and I are having problems with our eyes stinging and burning. I think I've used up a bottle of Refresh eye drops today!

It is 8 PM here and all the cams are up and running and the one at the falls is showing a large number of bears plus a cub is playing by chasing after the gulls.

My cat, Lucy, enjoys watching the bears catching her salmon dinner. LOL! Yesterday morning (or was it the day before) she watch five of them.

I went to see the movie, Valerian and the City of a Thousand Planets yesterday (opening day, first showing). The story itself is average, but oh what a kaleidoscope of colors and CGI effects. Herbie Hancock was part of the cast. I didn't know he had added acting to his music career but this one is his 11th. Others in the movie include Rihanna, Clive Owen, Ethan Hawke, Rudger Hauer (brief, at the beginning) and John Goodman (voice over for CGI character).For Luc Besson (Lucy, The Fifth Element) Valerian was something of a labor of love and a longtime wish fulfilled. He has already worked up a script for a second and is working on a third screenplay. Valerian was a French SciFi comic strip that was published between 1967 and 2010.

Hi everyone. It is going to be another very hot day here just as yesterday was but this afternoon we are to be under a heat advisory due to a high dew point and the extreme heat.  I plan on getting out this morning and attending a meeting and then staying in the rest of the day. There was nothing exciting about yesterday.  The doctor's appointment went well.  The PA told me I should take a B Complex vitamin and increase my salt intake. I went from there to Walmart for my groceries.  I had called on the way to say I would be there in five minutes.  As I drove up the door opened and the clerk rolled out my groceries as she had been waiting for me at the door.  That was a first.  I stopped at Arby's and picked up a couple of sandwiches for our lunch.

Mary Ann, I watched just a bit of the British Open on the NBC Sports app on my iPhone yesterday. That does look like a very challenging course.  I see that Jordan Spieth was ahead by two strokes at the end of the day yesterday.  I try never to use the touch pad and have always used a mouse with my laptop computers, as does Pat.  However, Scott doesn't use a mouse and it quite skilled using the touch pad. 

Patricia, that was indeed high humidity you experienced yesterday.  It sounds like you made a wise decision to stay in.

JeanneP, I have read that in the past the baseball players have resorted to all types of things to keep cool such as cabbage leave in their caps.  However, I expect by now there are cooling pads they can have in their caps and shoes.  I went to a game years ago in July and it was miserable in the sun and said never again in the daytime.  I have the opposite blood pressure problem.  Yesterday when they took mine at the doctor's office it was 107/54.  I checked it a few minutes later with the app on my iPhone and the bottom number had gone up to 71.  Yesterday I heard a commercial on the radio from the NRA for an insurance policy to protect people who have guns against being sued. 

Marilyn, I just sent you an email with the little cartoon of the big dog and little cat.  All that smoke sounds very unpleasant. 

Mary Ann and Larry, well you couldn't ask for a better day for golf than today at the Open.  Going to be nip and tuck all the way ir appears.

Well I hope I didn't speak to soon, that sky sure looks threatening on the 12th hole, really stormy looking.

Good morning from another hot, muggy day in the Interior. Farrah has lost all interest since no treats have been forthcoming. So she has retired to the bedroom. I have done all the morning necessities and am now here at the computer with my first cup of coffee. It is expected to again be in the eighties today but our humidity at present is only 44%. For a normally dry, desert climate, humidity is something new to get used to. I had to drink coffee all yesterday as the barometric pressure was doing a number with my arthritis and portions of that were giving me a 24-hour headache. The caffeine tends to open up the capillaries and thus relieving both pressure and headache.

Farrah has just torn thru here growling ferociously so her prey instinct is also reacting to the weather and or humidity. She makes the usual mad dashes here and there that we are all familiar with but she does it with a steady, loud growl.

We have 65 close fires in the Interior, ranging from "moderate, 10 to 250 acres,"(This is the largest group); "to very large: >2500 acres." There are presently 511 fires in the state as a whole. We are not getting the smoke from those fires as luckily the wind is blowing elsewhere.

Larry, I haven't really experienced humidity since I left Georgia and Tennessee but the past few days have given me more empathy with those of you in wet climates.

Marilyne, I really enjoy those five bear cams and it's nice to see you do as well!

MarsGal, I had to Google the comic strip as I thought I had heard of it. But this was something new, so thank you for that. It reminded me in some ways of Japanese Anime. I'm glad Lucy likes the cams. Farrah is alerted by sounds but the monitor means nothing to her, unfortunately.

Hal, golf does nothing for me. I am the only family member thus inclined. Everyone else is out playing, practicing or playing something called a scramble or were in my family. But I hope they have good weather for it and the viewers.

I thought all of our building inspections were done for the year but yesterday I received another notice. Next Tuesday they will be in, a local maintenance man and a member of the contracting fire and safety company, and "will between 8 AM and 5 PM, both walk thru each apartment checking and be setting off our alarms and we need to have all detectors and sprinkler heads easily accessible and free of any obstruction."

I won't be present probably as I am on a panel for a two PM bullying presentation. We do have some folks here that are intimidated by others and we do have some gruff, angry residents, some of which are struggling with pain. I am not really familiar with this subject in our buildings' context do it will be interesting.

I will be posting awhile later, some shots from the bear cams and will provide a link.

Everyone, enjoy your day!

If you remember AKI from the old SeniorNet and earlier S&F, he's back and has sent a couple of photos - and will, I"m sure, be sending more.  If you'd like to renew some memories, or if you'd like to make a new friend, check HERE.

Bubble sent these to me and I had to share...


                            Top 8 "Idiots" of the year!
1. *AT&T fired President John Walter after nine months, saying he lacked intellectual leadership.  He received a $26 million severance package. Perhaps it's not Walter who's lacking intelligence.

2. *WITH A LITTLE HELP FROM OUR FRIENDS:  Police in Oakland, CA spent two hours attempting to subdue a gunman who had barricaded himself inside his home.  After firing ten tear gas canisters, officers discovered that the man was standing beside them in the police line, shouting, 'Please come out and give yourself up.'


3. *WHAT WAS PLAN B?  An Illinois man, pretending to have a gun, kidnapped a motorist and forced him to drive to two different automated teller machines, wherein the kidnapper proceeded to withdraw money from his own bank accounts.


4. *THE GETAWAY!  A man walked into a Topeka, Kansas Kwik Stop and asked for all the money in the cash drawer.  Apparently, the take was too small, so he tied up the store clerk and worked the counter himself for three hours until police showed up and grabbed him.


5. *DID I SAY THAT?  Police in Los Angeles had good luck with a robbery suspect who just couldn't control himself during a lineup.  When detectives asked each man in the lineup to repeat the words:  'Give me all your money or I'll shoot', the man shouted, 'that's not what I said!'


6. *ARE WE COMMUNICATING?  A man spoke frantically into the phone: 'My wife is pregnant and her contractions are only two minutes apart'.  'Is this her first child?' the doctor asked.  'No!' the man shouted, 'This is her husband!'


7. *NOT THE SHARPEST TOOL IN THE SHED!  In Modesto, CA, Steven Richard King was arrested for trying to hold up a Bank of America branch without a weapon.  King used a thumb and a finger to simulate a gun.  Unfortunately, he failed to keep his hand in his pocket.  (hellooooooo...!!!)


8. *THE GRAND FINALE!  Last summer, down on Lake Isabella, located in the high desert, an hour east of Bakersfield, CA, some folks, new to boating, were having a problem.  No matter how hard they tried, they couldn't get their brand new 22-foot boat, going.  It was very sluggish in almost every maneuver, no matter how much power they applied.  After about an hour of trying to make it go, they putted into a nearby marina, thinking someone there may be able to tell them what was wrong.  A thorough topside check revealed everything in perfect working condition.  The engine ran fine, the out-drive went up and down, and the propeller was the correct size and pitch.  So, one of the marina guys jumped in the water to check underneath. He came up choking on water, he was laughing so hard.  Under the boat, still strapped securely in place, was the trailer!

*Now remember, these are all true stories and these people vote and most have children!*

Thanks Jeanne, I see him on Facebook now and again.  Glad he is coming back here.    Very nice man.

For those of you who enjoy cat videos showing an old grandpa cat, Mason, and six orphaned kittens playing, running, attacking and plotting in reams of brown paper, this is for you!

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=iGfkEay6T50

Jeanne.  Was nice looking at the Photo's you posted of AKI and his family. Makes us realize how many years have gone bye since we all first got together.  They are looking Well.
Hope you are doing much better now.  Most of us are fighting Hot weather. How about yours?  lasting to long for me. Never seen Illinois so long in the 90s and very little rain.

There are time when I wish that the Internet was never invented. Getting so bad now. Service everywhere is maddening. All this Faxing instead of on the Phone. Can't get to talk to anyone. They still keep coming out with more and more that is making it harder for us Seniors.

I have spent a hour trying to find a drug store that had a heavier Surgical Face Mask than the one in the Dr. Office.
I have never noticed it before but it seems like dust is everywhere. I wake up with like I have a mouthful.  Had the carpet people out to do the rugs . I have ceiling fans in every room and got up to clean them I know I have way to many knick Knack around that need a good dusting but not in the mood for that. Just wish I could get rid of the Heavy Drapes but can't as I have such big window.  But anyway. No mask  to be had other than the small ones like the Dr. Office.  Got some good one everywhere but only  if order on Line.  I swear that now all the stores are showing Not kept on shelves on most everything.  Walmarts have NOT IN STORES. on most things.. I wonder sometimes how people who don't use computers manage. So Sad.

Mary. I have also  found myself getting up really early a few days in this hot weather and also waking at about 4am.  It is unbelievable how little there is on TV. I do the same Eat breakfast. Read paper Mess around and find that is only about 6:30am Feels like I have been up for hours. Usually try to go back to bed. Be glad when can get back to normal.  Always was bed by 11:pm and up about 8am. No problem Never did take naps.  Happened so fast and so I can't think it is from Getting Old.(Have one Dr. that I don't like who  would just tell me it was that  if I asked him). He gives that answer for everything.
Think I am going to go out to the grocery store and to Farm and Fleet about 6pm . We did have some rain this morning but just made the Humidity worse.

   

Patricia, I watched a bit of the cat video, but 28 minutes was too long for me.  I think kittens have the cutest antics of any animal. 

After I left that video, I watched a couple shorter ones.

Mary Ann

Jeanne.  Go to a paint store or paint department and get dust mask.  Painters use them when they are sanding walls.  They will do what you want.  And not expensive.

They have some new kittens in now that are refugees from the B.C. fires so there is more than one live video. Baby animals are really cute!

I spent some time down at the river, munching on all that not so good for you food and drink and watching the rubber ducky race.

Here are a couple of captures from the Katami cam after eight PM my time.

https://www.seniorsandfriends.org/index.php?topic=11.msg93495#msg93495

Larry - Thank you so much for sending me the dog and cat cartoon!  
I got a big kick out of it, as did my husband. I dragged it to my desktop, so I could save it for future reference!  Cocoa went home today, so Winnie has his turf all to himself once again . . . he seems very happy and relaxed!

Hi everyone. It is going to be another hot 94 degree afternoon with little chance of rain.  I am going to have to turn my sprinkler system back on so it will water early tomorrow morning.  I expect this to be our normal Sunday with Sunday School and Church this morning and then just have a restful rest of the day.  Since the golf tournament is it England most of the play today will be over by the time we get home.  I really enjoyed watching it yesterday as the leader, Jordan Spieth, played masterfully.  He is ahead by three strokes starting this last day. 

Yesterday my new neighbor, James, who lives across the street from us, brought over two bags of rocks and spread them in a place by my fence that was washing out and then poured the dirt from the two big planters I had on top of the rocks.  That should take care of the problem.  I traded him the planters and bases for the two bags of rocks and his labor.  He told me he had met the new neighbors that just bought the house next to us and it was an older woman with her son that would be moving in.  So our end of the street should remain a very quiet one.

Hal, at least the rain didn't seem to last too long.  I did notice that most of the golfers had put on a sweater or jacket about that same time as the rain started at the golf course. 

Patricia, nice to see your humidity has gone down and sure hope that helps the headache and arthritis. I hope the smoke stays away from your area.  It sounds like that will be an important inspection to be sure the safety alarms are working.  That sounds like an interesting panel you will be on about the bullying.  Those "Idiots" had better look for something legal to do as they obviously are too dumb to be crooks.

JeanneP, I agree it has been a very long hot summer.  I get very frustrated with products that are black with black controls that are very hard to see. 

Jeanne, a long time since we have seen anything from Aki.  He does have a beautiful family.  Thanks for posting the pictures.   

Marilyne, I thought that little cartoon really had things down right.  I am sure Winnie is happy to have the house all to himself now and not have to share with Cocoa.   

Tis 83 degrees already and still almost 10.  Gonna be 100 or more today.

What a finish.  Speith was great. And so was Matt kuchner.

Good morning, we are at 62 presently but headed up again into the eighties. Rain and cooling down is expected tonight and tomorrow. Let us hope so as my body has been one long series of weather related aches and pains. I woke up last night with the area between the balls of my feet and the balls of my toes really aching, (stems?). Humidity is at 51% and tonight has an alert out for high winds and large hail. Both humidity and hail are unusual for us, I do not think I have ever seen large hail locally.

Joan, your weather would be oppressive for me with my arthritis. I don't know how you do it!

Larry, I thought in number two that it was the police that was really not aware and number three, where he kidnapped and forced a motorist to drive around so he could withdraw money from his own accounts was bizarre!

Angel, tis dry here in the desert.  If our humidity was higher it would kill me for sure.   

We are expected to be or at least normally, very dry. There is actually sagebrush in the hills and many parts of the valley have been likened to a prairie. However, the climate has changed from what it was. The last time I saw 108 degrees here was in 2003 before the pine and spruce beetles and resultant fires.

Let's hope, Joan, that you receive some cooling or rainy weather soon!

Rain is rare here in the Summer.  I would like to say never in the Summer but sure enough someone will check history and make a liar out of me.

Our humidity has been about 50-60% recently, which I consider moderate, considering we often (usually?) are in the 90% range.  The sky was beautiful when I was outside a while ago, blue sky with white clouds.  It rained at the time Dot and I left for church this morning but my rain gauge showed about 1/8 inch so it did not do much good.

Our minister preached on a verse (to paraphrase):  I was young but now I'm old.  I kidded him as I left, asking why he looked at me every time he mentioned "old".  The people who attend our service are mostly, maybe all, seniors.  And I'm most likely the oldest.

Dot and I did our usual - church then Mr Burger.  We shared a long john and a tuna melt.  I watched the golf match most of the afternoon.  I kind of wanted Matt Kuchar to win just because he has never won a major tournament, but it was fun to watch Jordan Spieth; he is so good!

I had Tom get some cube steaks recently so I fixed them today.  I wish my diced tomatoes were not flavored, but anyway, it was good to have a steak for lunch.  I'll freeze two of them so Tom can have one too.  I don't think there is anything that he can't or shouldn't eat, at least the way I fixed them - onion, steaks, diced tomatoes and juice, salt and pepper.  I ate one.  That is the first real cooking I've done in ages.

Grand Haven is rather busy today.  The water temperature is 70º.

Mary Ann

Mary Ann - I love your sense of humor! The minister looked at you, every time he said the word "old".

joan - same here in N. California, as far as rain is concerned - a few sprinkles in May, and nothing expected until November.  Maybe October if we're lucky, but I doubt it.

Marilyn, we are an older congregation, worshipping at 8:30 am but I probably am the oldest of the group.  Several are in their 80s, probably most of them.  One man who used to bring his mother is probably in his 60s.  We worship in our chapel and there are between 20 and 30 of us.  Some of the "powers that be" would like to eliminate our service, but our minister gets a kick out of us; he is about 56-57 himself.  He is Hispanic, a former marine chaplain, who has a Spanish service in our church Sunday afternoon.  Those people come from the SW part of town and some want to join our church. 

Mary Ann