Thanks from me, too, for the nice welcome.  I always enjoy the conversation in here and like keeping up with all the friends from the old SeniorNet and from our great "home" here on S&F.

Hi, Phyllis!

Does it bother any of you other cancer survivors at all to see the news about the Ziki virus day after day on the TV, always accompanied by scans of miles and miles of thousands upon thousands of human beings in mere scraps of bathing suits stretched out on towels, baking in the rays of the sun as far as the eye can see?  I was astonished to see that so many people still do this, as they started warning us against it when I was a young woman.  I get a sort of creepy crawly sensation all over my skin when this comes on, and I avert my eyes to avoid it.  Mainly, they are showing Miami Beach.  I find myself unable to fathom the mind set of those hordes of human animals out there deliberately cooking themselves in those oh so dangerous rays of our star (ball of fire!) and deliberately turning on their cancer genes!  And I want to hollar at them: "Run!  Run for your lives!  Get out of that sun!  Seek shelter!"  And yes, I know, they are probably enriching the cosmetic companies big time as they spread oils and creams all over their bodies and tell themselves they will be safe.  Hey, we brush oil all over the dead parts of other kinds of meat before putting them on the grill, too!  I don't get it.  So again, my question is this:  Does it bother any of you other cancer survivors, or is it just me?

Good Morning Everyone,  from
the sunny and warm, but pleasant,  rocky coast of
Maine.   

I too get the "creeps" when I see people
"sun bathing",  especially when I remember
doing it my self back in the 50's and 60's... 

Soon,  though,  I found that me and the sun did
not get along, even though I did tan up nicely.

The more time I would spend in the sun, the more
allergic type rashes I would end up with.
Especially at  the beach,  (between the sun, the
sand,  the salty water,  the sun screens
and the bugs!!)   Yuck!

During the 70's, I got my fill of it and after
spending seven years in Florida,  I avoided
the sun light,  when ever possible!

Now I wear long sleeve cotton shirts all
Summer long, no matter what the temperature!   

Oh how times have changed!

Today is the last day of the Olympics. 
I have enjoyed it,  even though I never
planned on watching it,  but got naturally, got
hooked on it, any how!   

Have a great day,  Everyone !
Sandy

Morning, EveryOne...and Hi to Sandy/dapphne!

It's a lovely cool morning here, and we've had our walk. 

I guess I'm even more horrified by those who go to "tanning beds" and, to me, are like being on a grill or rotisserie!  My dermatologist says get the "spray tan" if you must be tanned. There are one or two old women at our condo in TX who bake themselves outdoors in Jan and Feb. on a deck.  They both look like old leather...guess they are!

The trees here are beginning to change!  Autumn is on the way.  The kids here start school this week, so I imagine the temps will soar again to the 90s.

Have a blessed Sunday.

jane

Hi Jane ! 
It certainly is hard to believe that  September 1st
is  only 10 days away!!      The good news is that
Fall is a beautiful time of the year,  even though the
days are getting shorter!

Sandy

Hi Sandy/dapphne - Love your tag line!

About an inch of rain this morning - most welcome.  Supposed to be nice the first part of the week, seasonable temps and not so humid.

We got some great news yesterday.  Our Jesse has gotten a new job here in Tennessee (near his home base), and will be starting in midSeptember.  Margaret and Jesse will both be much happier with that. I don't know what his lady-friend in North Carolina will be doing - coming with him, or calling it off.  Nobody's told me about that yet.

School started around here about 10 days ago.

GREAT news, Mary, for you and Margaret!

Molly, thanks for asking about my SS teaching. Today was the first day and it went well. Everyone was very complimentary. I will be doing it again next Sunday as our regular teacher will be out of town then. I really don't want to teach on a regular basis, but it's kind of fun to do occasionally. The group are all very low-key, friendly individuals who aren't critical.

MP, I totally agree about the sunbathers. I have a blonde, very fair daughter that is awful about using enough sun screen, etc when she plays tennis or goes to the beach.  I had friends when I was about 30 that I thought were 50 because they tanned so much. Later I found out they were younger than I!!  I have never been a sun worshiper. Even as a teen, I felt like I was turning on a spit if I laid out at the pool, etc.  Once sunblocks became available, I have been an avid user. I don't spend a lot of time outside now but used to when I played lots of golf.  I frequently get compliments on my skin. Of course, part of it is genetics. My mother had beautiful skin too. Hardly any wrinkles till her mid 80's!

We have a double dog park here in Sun City. One for large dogs and one for the smaller ones. However, I heard a few years ago that there was one dog that was kind of nippy, and another one got kennel cough.  I took Bunny when she was fairly young, but she wasn't interested that much in the other dogs. She preferred getting acquainted with the people, so I decided it wasn't worth the trouble. She can run free in our yard.  Marilyn, it's good that your group is so careful with the health of the dogs and the cleanliness of the park.

Some of the schools around here started back last week and Charlotte schools start week after next.  Hard to believe.

As to Joy, she said after the other floods that her ret. ctr and her daughter's homes were all safe from flooding, so I hope that is true with these floods as well.

I still wish we would hear from Sue.

Hi to all.  Sharon

Having trouble with my mouse       Not sure if I need a new one or not. It has been hot and humid here in NE Ohio. Typical August weather.
I sure hope Sue can get back to posting.  I've gotten back to being a colorist. They now have adult coloring books and I love them. I used to color all the time when I was younger. It is very relaxing.
Welcome to our newcomers.

Good morning.   I am another lurker here. 

I am the other "Joy" and I was a good friend of our Sylvia's.   We never met up in person, but we were friends from almost the very beginning of the old SeniorNet.  I met her through the Fibromyalgia board.  I had gone looking for some help for a friend and she was so welcoming and insisted that I keep coming back to that forum.  Through her,  I made my way around a few of the  boards.  I really miss her.  She was a special lady and had a very sad last few years of her life. 

MaryPage mentioned a few pages back something about the "Western Maryland Joy" and I am assuming that she meant me. I don't know any other Joy that is in Senior and Friends. Except Joy from N.O.   Although I am not from Western Maryland, but I live in a little town just about 35 miles west of Baltimore and only about an hour from MaryPage.

I can also add that I am one of you "Bosom Buddies" having been dealing with Metastatic Breast Cancer for several years now.  All in all, I had a tumor in my spine; had surgery for that in December 2006........  had a mastectomy in July 2007...... and have been in and out of remission since then.  Right now I have been taking a chemo pill for 18 months and "hanging in there."  I practice Sylvia's theory of "putting one foot in front of the other".  I do have difficulty walking due to the spinal surgery.  I have a great orthopedic surgeon and a great oncologist, so I can't do much better than that.  Not sure what my next step will be when this med runs it's course.  I feel great and have no pain whatsoever ..... just can't get around too good. But, I moved to an Independent Senior Housing complex about 9 years ago and still can do most things for myself.  Just get tired of going to doctors, but if that is what it takes, I can deal with it.  Just don't like having to ask for help getting to my appointments and to the grocery store. I have 3 sons and 2 wonderful daughters-in-law, who see that I get where I have to go.   So life is good and I know there are lot more people worse off.

Just wanted to add my 2 cents worth here.  You are all a great group. I admire all of you for how you all have dealt with your illness.    Hopefully,  one of these days, it will just be a thing of the past.

The other "JOY".

Yes, I DID mean you, Joy!  I think of you as Western Maryland in comparison to Chesapeake Country and the Eastern Shore, which I can see out my sliding glass windows as I sit in front of this computer.  I am aware of your location, though, and don't have you over near West Virginia in Garrett County where winter comes first!  I wonder how many people know Maryland has a "panhandle", as well?  Perhaps I should think of you as Northern Maryland, but then again, while we do speak of a Southern Maryland hereabouts, I have never heard anyone mention a Northern one.  I'm curious, have you?  Ok, deal: from now on I will think of and refer to you as being about an hour away from me.
Wish you were right here having a mug of coffee with me.  Have a lovely day!
My lovely granddaughter Helaine is 50 today!  Big milestone.  I, of course, remember the day she was born.  Helaine is the mother of my great grands Courtney, Kyle and Jack.  Courtney and Kyle are in college and Jack in High School.  They live in what I think of as upstate: Montgomery County, Joy!  About an hour and 15 minutes from me.

MaryPage,   I always kind of think of me being in Central Maryland.  I am in Hampstead, which is Carroll County.  But, I am not far from the Baltimore County line.  And you are right. I never have heard the term "Northern Maryland" either.  There is the Eastern Shore and then the Western Shore which is on our (your) side of the Bay.  Harford County is up in the north/east part of the state, but never heard that referred to as Northern Maryland, Northeast, maybe.  In fact, there is a town up that way called Northeast.   I guess that Southern Maryland would be considered down near Point Lookout.   We do have a beautiful state and the best of both worlds within several hours apart.  We have the mountains on the western side and the beaches on the eastern side.   Montgomery County wouldn't be considered upstate.  That is near  DC and Rockville, over near the Virginia line, almost directly west of you. 

Thanks for the offer of having coffee with you.  That would be nice.  I am still waiting until l can get to Sam's on the Waterfront for my lobster roll.  My family are all so busy all the time.  I told my son about the place you mentioned a while back called  Coopers Hawk and the do plan on going sometime.  It sounds like the kind of place that they like.  They are big wine fanatics.  Have their own wine cellar.

I am enjoying the Annapolis web cam and also the one for the Beach Volleyball down by the Baltimore Harbor.

Didn't mean to do a "travel log" on here.  Good morning to all the "buddies".

Joy (from Maryland) 

Joy, Sam's has a good lobster roll, but the best ones in town are to be had at MASON'S on Main Street.  They do a whole slew of lobster rolls: the Maine one with mayo and all, and the Connecticut one with hot melted butter, and more.  My very favorite way to have lobster is with hot melted butter, with just a squirt of lemon.  Woo hoo!  Way to go.  So try MASON'S.  They are like the fast food cafeteria for lobster rolls.  That is their THING!

https://www.yelp.com/biz/masons-famous-lobster-rolls-annapolis

Scroll down and down and down, reading it all.  By the time you finally get to the bottom, you will feel as though you have actually been to Mason's!

This is the first I could see the REPLY button.  I hope I have
not lost it again. My computer has been down.  Louisiana has a SERIOUS flooding, thousands with flooded homes, etc.
I need help in keeping my REPLY button working.
JOY

Thank you Jeanne Lee.
Jane (janeiowa):
Please let me hear from you.
JOY

Every time I cannot see my REPLY button, it has turned out to mean I just have to go up to the top and log in again on the lefthand side with my user name and password, and LO!  That reply button pops back up and I am back in business.  I think the system is just geared to ask us to do this every once in a while.  Probably a security measure.
Joy, we have been aghast night after night after night as we see the evening news on the big networks and the horrible photographs of the flooding in Baton Rouge and south of there.  We have been so worried about You!

Joy....just be sure you're logged in here to be able to see the REPLY button.  It looks as if you did fine and could post above.

Joy sent me an email and gave me permission to post it to all of you until she can get back herself.

Jane, I am SO glad that I found your email address.  I have been without computer due to the 2016 flood in Louisiana, but would like to hear from you again.
There are THOUSANDS here that have had their homes flooded and are in shelters having lost EVERYTHING.  It is SO sad.  I, have not been in any flooding
Since I live in a 3 story Senior Living Home, but 3 of my children have lost their homes to the flooding.
Let me hear what’s going on in “your world”.
Joy

Jane. Glad you heard from Joy. There use to be others on Seniornet that lived in that area of Louisiana.  My daughter lived there for 3 years. I loved visiting the State but sure glad they moved. But then they are Houston area and they have had some flooding lately.
I think that we, up here in Illinois are the safest area lately. Just plain old Flat country. Get a little windy and cold at times but other than losing one Village 8 miles from me 3 years ago it has done O.K. Village is about brand new now. No lives lost, just homes, Schools etc. Was a tornado and took most of it.

Joy, I am so glad to hear from you but so sorry to hear that 3 of your children have lost their homes. How terrible!  Keep us posted on how they do.

Nothing going on here. I can't seem to keep awake today. I took a half of a Melatonin last night and slept well, but now just can't wake up. Have any of you had that problem?

I forgot to mention that we went out for brunch after church yesterday. There's a new restaurant, part of a chain, called The Famous Toastery. They had an extensive menu and everything was really good, but $28 seemed a little steep for omelets and sides. We both had water to drink. Have any of you heard of it?

Ginny, enjoy your coloring. Sounds like fun but I can't do it with my tremor.  I presume you have changed your mouse's batteries? Cleaned the batterie connections? If you did that and it still doesn't work, you probably need a new one.

BTW, if any of you receive an email with Zorion or something similar as part of the address, do not open it. A friend got in a big mess doing that.  Sharon

Hi Maryland Joy - always good to hear from a newbie (even if for a bad reason).

LAJoy, it's good to hear from you and know that you're okay.  That's awful about your kids and their houses - and all the other folks in LA.  So scary to see that water rising, and knowing that there's nothing you can do about it.

Swimming, coffee, haircut, and bridge today.  Pretty much yucky cards again at bridge.  The chairs there (metal folding chairs) are most uncomfortable, even though I take a pillow to sit on.  My back gets to hurting so bad during the afternoon, and there's no good way to sit.  I'll have to see if I can think of something else to do. It's better since I got home in my own chair and took something for pain.  but still....

Nothing much else going on around here.  Hugs to you all!

Mary...I couldn't take metal folding chairs either.  Is the location at your condo bldg?  Maybe they could find some padded and comfortable chairs for the Bridge players...even padded bridge table chairs sound more comfortable.

Another nice morning here, but the pollen counts are off the top of the charts, and it's not pleasant.  My allergy meds have helped immensely, but I've always had "hay fever" in late summer and fall, and the ragweed is in full blossom. 

Massage scheduled for 11:00 and then baking some cookies for a Masonic thing on Saturday that they want cookies for.  It's a "tractor ride" probably unheard of anywhere else.  Yep, lots of retired farmers collect old tractors (like people collect classic cars,) and they love to bring them to "rides" ...like motorcycle riders do...from one small town to another in their own parade of sorts. 

Jane

Just a sec to let you see our headline today----
NEARLY 3,000 remain in shelters. (that means they lost
EVERYTHING.
Joy

Joy, that's SO sad.  My heart goes out to those poor folks, and especially to your family.  It is good that there wasn't more loss of life, though.

jane, Monday bridge is at a city community center, so better chairs would not be an option.  I might try a bigger pillow, though.  8^)

Another lovely day here, but getting back to the hot and humid the rest of the week.  It's still hot summer-time in the South.  They don't call them the "Dog days of August" for no reason. 

Joy - My granddaughter goes to LSU.  She just arrived back in BR from summer break, and she is totally shocked to see the devastation.  She is working with her sorority to clear/clean out houses, reunite people and pets, cooking food at the shelters, and anything that is needed. It will be a long time before things are anywhere near normal. 

Oh, Joy!  Yes, your part of the country is still constantly in our news.  I watched the President leave the White House in a helicopter this morning and head for Andrews and Air Force One to fly down.  Your governor has stated that he asked him not to come earlier because of all the state has to do to clear the highways in preparation for a presidential motorcade.  I know around here, whenever he or some other bigwig comes to visit, either our Governor and/or our town as the State Capitol, or the United States Naval Academy, we locals suffer holdups in traffic and frequently find ourselves unable to get from point A to point B by our normal routes.  All of this would be greatly exacerbated in time of a great disaster, such as a flood.
Joy, I anguish with you over your children's loss of their homes!  Good grief!  One would be more than enough, but THREE is so hard to put my mind around.  Bottom line, I am just thunderstruck.  Please know that we all send caring thoughts and prayers.  We are also contributing to the Red Cross relief efforts.
A sparklingly gorgeous day here on the bay.  Temps in the seventies, with gentle bay breezes blowing.  Vivid sunshine pouring down from a cloudless blue sky.  Many of the crepe myrtles still blooming, and everything brilliantly green from all the nighttime rains we have had.  Schools are open, and even the Mids have returned to their classes from summertime schedules around the globe.  Makes me feel downright energetic!
Darling Mary, I am so sorry your back is hurting you.  I sure do relate to being in your very own chair.  Wishing your pain to Vamoose!

http://annapolislive.com/annapolis-waterfront-webcam

Joy.....what a horrible time for your children and the many others.

It was nice this morning, so I walked, came home and showered and got to my massage..really felt good today, then home for laundry and baking 4 doz cookies for Sat.  They're in the freezer now.  Tonight we're trying a restaurant/bar on a small town south of us we'd heard about.

Storms to roll in tonight...and humid now in the wake of that. 

Stay safe, All!

Jane

Joy praying for your daughters and family.

I have invited a friend to join our group, she may be lurking for a while first, Her name is Katy, she is one of the Furry Friend members and that is who Freckles stayed with while we went to Sunriver in June. She has had a double Mastectomy and some other problems  going on in her life. If an when she does post I know you will all welcome her  as we are such a friendly group  and most of you are also survivors. Some of us aren't or haven't had to deal with cancer in our own body but in the lives of friends or family.

I went to martial arts practice yesterday (Tai Chi) and have been wal;king Freckles 5-6 miles a day  with 4-5 walks. I hope she will lose a couple of pounds and I have already lost a couple. 

Hi Gals, I'm just back from bridge & lunch. Lousy cards except for the last round. That kept me from getting the booby prize and ended in the middle.  Ms Frances subbed today and won the big pot! She enjoyed it so much.

Yesterday, John dropped a bombshell on me--when he came back from bridge, he rang the doorbell. I couldn't figure out why & he said come on out and see. I did and he had a new car in the driveway, subject to my approval! We hadn't even discussed this.  However, he decided he liked my Avalon so much, he would trade in his Camry for a new Avalon.  His was only 4 yrs old and less than 30,000 miles!  But the Avalon rides so much better and is a heavier, safer car. He got a good price because of his great trade-in.  Anyway, we went back to the car dealership and closed the deal and then he took me to dinner at Longhorn Steak house.  Yum!

Joy, like everyone else, I'm praying for all of the flood victims in LA and especially for your daughters.  Just awful.  I hope they were at least insured.

Jane, sounds like fall in IA!  Your massage sounds good.  Hope the allergies settle down. I'm taking Zyrtek for mine.

Mary, that's a shame about the chairs. I guesss carrying your own pillow is about the only answer. Supposed to heat up again here too.

Marilyn, good for you on losing some weight.  We had to cut back on Bunny's food because she had gotten up to 17 lbs while we were spoiling her when she was sick. She's supposed to be around 15.  I wish I could walk her some to help work her down, but I just can't. I hope your friend joins.

Not much else going on here.  Sharon

Marilyn, we will be looking forward to meeting Katy in these pages.

Speaking of pages, I was just browsing my latest BAS BLEU catalog, and I saw a book written just for you!  I swear!  If you have not already read it, and if you cannot find it in your library or bookstore, go on line to Bas Bleu or just Google the book and order it from somewhere else:

"A Dog Walks Into a Nursing Home: Lessons in the Good Life from an Unlikely Teacher" by Sue Halpern.

I write about it in here instead of sending you a private email because it occurs to me that some others of our little family might enjoy this book.

Marilyn, we're looking forward to meeting Katy.  I hope she comes.

MaryPage - sounds like an interesting book. 

Sharon, I hope John enjoys his new car.  Quite a surprise for you, I'm sure.  BTW, you mentioned dreams with taking melatonin a while back.  I haven't taken any for a while, but did last night.  I seemed to have dreams, too.  Nothing bad - usually when I dream, they're more like movies.

Molly, it was good to hear from you - you haven't been checking in for a while.  What do you hear from Mohamed and Chaps?  How are you feeling.

Nothing exciting around here today.  Swimming and coffee - then relaxing with my mani/pedi.  Plus I got in a good nap this afternoon.

We got a lovely new addition to our family on Monday (incidentally, my sister's birthday).  I have a new first cousin (twice removed).  This little girl (7' 1"), Ryan Kaye, would be my dear Aunt Betsy's great-granddaughter and my cousin Ken's granddaughter.  Mom, Dad, and Baby are all doing fine.

Happy Hump Day, Buddies!