Norms Bait and Tackle

[Tomereader1]

Patricia, just a word of caution...if the toilet was leaking at the base, it is probably the wax bowl gasket, which constitutes taking the toilet up, and replacing the gasket, and reseating the toilet; then regrouting!   Watch for any new leakage, and make sure the plumber gets it right.  He probably didn't want to fool with it in this cold weather.

[FlaJean]

Tome is right.  We had that problem when we lived in Ocala.  Had the plumber twice before he realized what the problem was and replaced the gasket.

[patricia19]

Thanks, I'll keep an eye out as with minimal staffing presently, they're not always immediately available!

[MarsGal]

Ya'all beat me to it. Yes, the gasket. I wonder if the people/person below you will start seeing water stains or leaking in their ceiling.

I'm not looking forward to tomorrow. We, according to the weather report, are expecting 2-4inches of snow with rain mixing in. It is currently 35^oF and promises to be sunny part of the day.

There isn't much to report so far today. Just taking it easy and trying to get back to what passes for normal around here.

Have a good day everyone.

[Marilyne]

Good Saturday Morning!  Another weekend has arrived, and so far it's a clear bright one.  My outside thermometer says 41, and the weatherman said it will go up to about 65 today.  I'm not planning to go anywhere or do anything interesting, so  will just enjoy the sunshine.  I hope to get some groceries ordered from Safeway, and maybe clean and mop the bathrooms,  and that will be the extent of my work detail.

I didn't get in here yesterday -  spent most of the day on the phone with both daughters and my dil.  Unpleasant things going on in all their lives, so the conversations were worrisome. I hope the rest of you, and your families are all hanging in there, and will have a pleasant weekend . . . in spite of any extenuating circumstances.

A morning hello to MarsGal, Patricia, Jean, shirleyn, Beverly, Tome and Jenny!     Here's hoping we hear from all of you today!

[jane]

Our female Governor, in her infinite wisdom, has removed all social distancing, gathering limits, and use of masks everywhere beginning Sunday morning.  So, the bars and restaurants and private parties for Super Bowl Can be any number, no masks, etc. 


And we're third from the bottom in vaccine distribution gett8ng shots in arms.

I thought maybe the cold would keep people home ...-2 this morning...but I doubt it. 

Jane

[patricia19]

My younger sister retired on 2/01/2021, so this means on my mother's side, my generation is all retired. What an odd feeling that is.

[Amy]

Marilyne, no matter how old our children get we will always worry about them. Al you can do is be there to listen and lend a shoulder for them.

Jane, did your Governor get wisdom and stupidity mixed up? Please stay safe and yes wear the mask and social distance from others. We may go into another week of stay home  but haven't heard for sure.

Patricia, when I was at the neighbours clipping their dogs nails Callie came over and wanted her tummy rubbed. She is a beautiful calico and so friendly.

[Marilyne]

Amy - Thank you for the kind words.  I really appreciate your thoughtfulness.
I looked at your "chicken link" on Soda Shoppe, and was impressed with all those gorgeous chickens and colorful eggs!  I've never seen blue eggs, in my lifetime - only in pictures.  I've seen very pale green, and all shades of tan and brown, but never blue.  I hope that some day I'll have the pleasure.

[Denver]

It is late but a short post is better than no post!

MARILYN, I am sorry to read that you have family concerns.  I do hope they are not too serious and you can help the family work through this.  Take care of yourself....worrying is not good, but we are mother's, so what else can we do🙏  I loved the color of the eggs Amy posted also.  I have always wanted to find some of the colored ones to buy. 

JANE, our numbers here in Colorado are so much better that our governor has moved most of the state into the yellow level.  I just do not understand why.  The new strains are becoming more prominent and if anything we should stay at the more guarded level.  I saw people on the news tonight in Miami partying away with nary a mask in sight.  This can not be good! 

Pleasant dreams to all. 

Jenny

[shirleyn]

Good Morning to all!  Well, we finally got our vaccines last Thursday.  So far, so good.  I had a slight reaction – kinda sore at the injection site, and itchy – Danny had no reactions.  They keep saying the 2nd shot will be worse.  Oh well, something to look forward to, huh?

Patricia, Danny and I enjoyed the shots of the warships in Pearl Harbor.  Thanks!

Marsgal, thanks again for that site of my hometown.  I peek in every morning and enjoy.  Especially seeing the snow, which I moved away from 46 years ago.

Callie, what is the address for that Safari Cam?  Sounds interesting.

Here I am Marilyne.  You always remember me, what a kind person you are!!

Well, today is the BIG football game.  We will both be tied up to the TV all evening.  Do not know what I will spend my day doing, I have my morning chores out of the way, so guess computer games will be the thing.  Sigh!  What a life!  You all have a great day ~

shirleyn 
(~_~)

[patricia19]

I had to call maintenance again today as the toilet leaked last night and again this morning. So we shall see what we shall see. 11:30 he just left after replacing the wax ring, so I'm sure we're good to go now.

[CallieOK]

Shirleyn, click on https://www.djuma.com/djuma-waterhole/

Scroll down to see screen for drive with naturalists and click on the arrow. It will tell you how long before the "show" begins, which is about sunrise in Africa (10:00 p.m. CDT <my time>) There is video "ad" about every half hour.
The drives switch between locations in 4 different parks.  If there aren't any animals around, they will show/discuss birds, insects and plants.

Patricia, how annoying your "throne" problems must be.  Hope they get fixed PDQ!

I'm not a fan of pro sports but hope to remember to check in on the Super Bowl game now and then.  Guess I'll root for the KC Chiefs, since they're closer to being a "local" team. However, I do know about Tom Brady's record and will be interested in seeing how he does.

[shirleyn]

Thanks Callie.  By the way, the Bucs won.  YAY!!!!

[CallieOK]

I saw that. Congratulations!  !

[Marilyne]

Shirleyn and Callie  -  We had the game on here, and were also rooting for the Bucs!  I had the, "Puppy Bowl",  playing on the bedroom TV, so spent lots of time watching that.  Love seeing those cute puppies and all their antics with the small footballs.  I'm too impatient to sit for long and watch an entire football game.  Drives me crazy that they move so slowly.

Jenny  -  I'm sure you and Bob were watching too?  I agree - It's so discouraging, to see the videos of the partiers!  No mass gatherings allowed here in California - even outside.  We're still zipped up tight here, with almost everything closed. Last week some of the counties started allowing restaurants to open - outside seating only.  However, ours was not one of them. 

Speaking of such things . . . tomorrow I'll finally be getting my Covid shot!  My appointment isn't until 3:45, which is the last appointment of the day.  I hope they don't run out of vaccine before I get there!   

Patricia - Good that maintenance got right back to you, and fixed the bathroom problem!  Nothing more urgent, than getting a toilet back in working order, ASAP!

[MarsGal]

Hi all!

It is almost noon here and the sun is shining (temporarily). Tomorrow I take Shan and Lucy for their annual wellness visits. Unfortunately, it will be miserable weather with a mix of rain and snow off and on through most of the day. Of course!

I checked up on my favorite Coast Guard cutter, Hollyhock, this morning to see if there is any news when she will be back in action. The BoatNerd website is reporting that she will be leaving Port Huron permanently and heading for Baltimore for a major overhaul and refitting. No word on what will replace her.

Nice to see that some of us are finally getting scheduled or just had their COVID shots. In my area, not including the Harrisburg side of the river, there are only five places to get the vaccine, Holy Spirit Hospital, Walmart in Camp Hill, and three physician groups. I am apparently in the first phase group because I am over 65. I did check that they do not use eggs in making the vaccine since I am allergic. No they don't. Apparently the "scientists" are reporting that egg-based vaccines don't work. Good to know. Even so, I am not in a hurry.

[patricia19]

Good morning, no news weatherwise or otherwise here. Everyone is simply moving along.

Marilyne, it wasn't exactly fast as it took an hour after the call for maintenance to arrive. But once here, they took things down, replaced things, and were in and out in twenty minutes. So that's done, and my organizing wasn't. But then time is something that's in plentiful supply here.

[FlaJean]

Not much going on in this part of the country.  We've been having a lot of rainy nights lately, but days have been mostly sunny and high 50s or low 60s.

I was happy about the Tampa Bucs win yesterday.  Actually I read a book thru most of the game but looked up every once in a while to check the score.  Amazing that Brady is in such good shape and still playing football at almost 44 years of age.  It was interesting to read how he and his wife and kids all live a very healthy lifestyle.

Thinking about Joy and wondering if she got the medicine she needed and hope she feeling better.

I'm already looking forward to spring and the hope that this pandemic will someday be over!

Have a good evening all!

[so_P_bubble]

Who is?


https://www.seniorsandfriends.org/index.php?topic=789.msg192912#msg192912

[Marilyne]

My first dose of Covid vaccine is now behind me.  It was much faster and easier than I was anticipating.  Our health care provider is Stanford, and they had it organized so that from time of arrival to leaving, was less than a half hour.  The appointments were scheduled fifteen minutes apart, and you were escorted into a room, with only you, and the nurse.  She checked your ID on the computer, and then gave you the shot and a card with your ID, to present in the waiting room. 

The wait room was large,  with chairs spaced more than 6 feet apart, where you stay for 15 minutes, to make sure you are not having a bad reaction.  During that time, a health care worker comes around pushing a computer, and schedules your appointment for the second shot, and writes the date and time on your ID card.  Then you walk out and that is it.

Probably,  TMI  (Too much information),  but I think some of you might be interested, who haven't had their vaccination yet.  This was so well done, that it makes me wonder about the people who are standing in long lines, or sitting in their cars,  at large venues like the fairgrounds, or sports stadiums?  I don't think I would trust a situation like that, now that I've seen how well organized and precise this Stanford rollout was handled. Best to wait, and get it from your health provider, or maybe a pharmacy would be okay.

[patricia19]

Marilyne, good to know as I've been scouring all reports for how it will go. I still don't have an appointment, but I'm on the list along with care homes and anyone 65 and over, and it will be done at a close, six blocks from here, health center. All the Alaskan vaccinations will be at medical offices or health centers, I'm told.

My younger sister retired and got her first shot all on the same day, talk about efficiency!

[JeanneP]

I am amazed at how well ours is being run. The computer system of booking not to good. I went and called the big Health dept. and told them my computer down. Got back to me right away and same for the 2nd shot. From now on going to fib a little. Tired of everything we want they say that you can go to their Web........ Got that nobody wants to take care on phone

[patricia19]

A cold blast from the Arctic Interior

LISTEN: Sure, Alaska, it's cold. But these chilly days are becoming scarcer
By Casey Grove, Alaska Public Media - Anchorage -February 9, 2021

Even in the face of continued climate warming — as many Alaskans have pointed out the past few days — Alaska can still get cold.

That's as temperatures have dipped to colder than 40 below in parts of the Interior and windchills down to 70, 80 and even 90 below in some places.

National Weather Service climate researcher Brian Brettschneider, back for our Ask a Climatologist segment, says such frigid temperatures have become rarer in recent times but he admits that, even if it's just a handful of days, that's still pretty cold.

LISTEN HERE:

https://www.alaskapublic.org/2021/02/09/listen-sure-alaska-its-cold-but-these-chilly-days-are-becoming-scarcer/

[Marilyne]

Good Morning - to all who are looking into this folder today.  Not much activity going on here of late, but I'm always hoping we hear from anyone and everyone.

JeanneP -It's good to see you back, after a long absence.  I hope you continue to drop in, and let us know what's going on in your life.

Patricia - sounds like you're continuing to freeze, while we continue to bask in unusually warm Winter days in the mid 60's.  We had one big rain storm, that didn't bring much to measure here in the rain gauge, but did bring much needed snow to the Sierra.  California, depends on winter snow up there, because the melt is needed for our water supply.  That's why there are so many dams and reservoirs - to capture the water and save it for the dry months ahead.

Jean - Good to hear from you too.  Please keep us informed as to what's going on there.  Did you and Larry get your Covid vaccinations yet?

Shirleyn - glad you got your first Covid shot out of the way. I also had a reaction, which was a bright red and sore area on my arm that itched like crazy for a couple of days.  My husband AJ, had no reaction whatsoever.  We both got the Moderna vaccine.

MarsGal - I hope both Shan and Lucy, passed their physical with flying colors!   I've also been checking on various "boat cams" that I have on my desktop. No ships to follow, but fascinating for me to see the frozen sections of lakes, canals and rivers.  Something I've only seen pictures of, but never actually witnessed. 

Callie - I hope we hear from you today, that everything is running smoothly in OK, and also in NYC?  I'm always interested in hearing about how Miss Ellen, is getting along?   

Jenny - Haven't heard from you in a number of days, so hope all is well with you and Bob, and your whole family?

[Joy]

Just stopping by to say "Hello".

I am feeling better.  Changed some of my medicine and it has helped.  Blood pressure was high at my appointment, but got medicine for that.  All in all, I am doing better.  Just have to work on building my strength.

Hope everyone is doing well.  Will check back another day.

Joy

[patricia19]

Good morning from the warmer, now again snowy Interior where we've switched back to the plus side of the thermometer. The changing pressure has meant a tough couple of days for my joints, but nothing else news or noteworthy.

[Denver]

A good Thursday HELLO.

Today is our oldest sons 52nd Birthday.  #3 just turned 47 on the 6th.....these guys are starting to make me feel old!  Hahaha. I am kidding myself, of course!  My body tells me daily...."YOU ARE A OLD LADY"! 

Michele had back surgery on two disks this past Monday, but so far she is still in a lot of pain.  We hope it will improve soon.  Bless her heart!

MARILYN, no excuse for my absence....just keeping busy with family and not having much to really say, but thank you for missing me.  Happy to read you got your vaccine with no really issues to follow.

JOY, happy you are feeling better,.  Hope that continues.

Have to run, time to pick up grandsons from school. 

Jenny

[CallieOK]

Good Afternoon,

Marilyne,  today is Miss Ellen's 28th birthday and she is celebrating by getting a hair cut and having dinner in the apartment with 2 roomies and a friend. She recently posted a beautiful Facebook picture of snow in Central Park so I'm assuming they're managing to get "out and about".  The store where she worked closed and I haven't heard if she agreed to a transfer or is looking for something else....or both.

We're preparing for a record-breaking blizzard moving in late Saturday night and lasting until Monday, plus another storm moving in Tuesday/Wednesday.  Wind chills are supposed to be below zero. Fortunately, my pantry is stocked and bird feeders filled so, other than keeping fingers crossed that we don't have a power outage, I'll keep on doing the same thing I've been doing.....Domestic Duties, desk work, and reading e-books. 

That's it from my little corner of the world.

[Tomereader1]

  Callie, looks like we're really "in for it" doesn't it.  We have weather stuff like this so seldom that bad things happen traffic-wise, and then there are the frozen pipes, slip and fall accidents and, as you said "power outages".  I can stay off the road, not walk on the slick sidewalks but I (and we) have no control whatsoever over power outages. 
Stay warm, my closest Northern Neighbor!
Joanne