After having such a good day yesterday. 81 deg. low humidity. was perfect. Over night it decided to change again. Back in the 90s today and say for the whole of the week to be the same. High Humidity making it over 100. Hard to believe the summer this year in Illinois.
Jane. You say that you can buy Iowa corn already? Fields look good here but I bet ours will come in late. the stalks are tall but the corn looks small yet. Illinois Tomato late also.
I also say people playing golf in the 90s last week. Crazy. No wonder they have heart attacks on the Golf Courses. Even some out Jogging.  Wears me out just walking. Never had problem breathing until this summer. Still got the bruises from the tumble from the to much sun.

Jeanne, you take care of yourself and stay inside during this heat wave. I thought it was going to be cooler today, but it got up to 94!  Acckkk!

I just brought that book over that I was talking about. It is The Loop by Nicholas Evans.  "Gripping, big drama in Big Sky country", it says.  "An extraordinary new novel of love, family and man's struggle with the wild.  Sounds good, but I'll have to see.

I have a meatloaf and baked potato in the oven and will steam some broccoli to go with it.

Have you all been having trouble finding items at the grocery. I have been using Wisk laundry detergent because it is cheaper than Tide and just as good. Now, I can't find it anywhere. Harris Teeter, Food Lion, Lowes all have quite carrying it.  I think I complained before about them taking Joy dish detergent off the shelves. Grumble, grumble!!
Sharon

Walmarts seem to be doing the same thing. So many things no long being sold in the store. I don't shop there that often but did get things I used for years there.
We have 4 Aldi Stores in town but the one across the street is now adding a large addition to it. It is a handy store for me when out of some things. They are getting where they also sell lots of things besides food. I knew them from years ago as they came in the UK . Just 2 German Brothers. Really growing. They also pay their people a higher wage than even the Union stores.(Not many of those left now). Kroger was one and now longer in Illinois. Never were Union down South.

Sharon, re the products you can't find - have you tried looking at Amazon for them?  Just a thought.

Had a great Sunday. Went out for coffee with one of my best friends today. We had a nice time just talking and eating.

Ray has been doing the grocery shopping.  He hasn't commented on loss of our favorites. Will ask him about it.

Re: brands disappearing...Our local chain -- Fareway-- has gone to a lot of their own store brands, as well.  They did not have these a couple of years ago.  The only competition here on food staples is WalMart.  Fareway has a meat counter with fresh cut meat and you can buy what you want. There are always at least 4 people behind that counter.  Their competition there is a local locker, but their meat is all frozen.  Products at Fareway that don't sell well here soon disappear forever.  I notice that so many have stopped handling tea...it's all the Keurig cups things or nothing.  I don't have or want one of those, so I have to buy at WalMart. The local joke is if the farmers don't buy it, Fareway doesn't sell it.  The ice cream selection goes on forever!!

Cool morning here and once I limber up a bit, I'm going to try a walk.  I also need to get to Fareway for a couple items for my chicken salad. 

We have a doc appt this afternoon for Ray with his kidney specialist that was canceled a couple months ago by the doc.

jane

I did a Google search for Wisk this morning.  One link said it was for sale at Walmart; another one said that the brand had been bought by another company, and which subsequently discontinued the product.  Check out Google, Sharon, and see what you can find out.

Thanks, Mary. I had thought about Amazon but decided the mailing fee would be more than the savings I get from using Wisk. Interesting about them selling the brand. I will check it out.

I've had a busy morning. I did my devotions and got dressed, stripped the beds, including the down blanket and put the sheets and duvet in to wash, then did my knee exercises and while I was doing those, suddenly realized I was supposed to have had a blood draw last Friday prior to my surgery this Friday!!!!  Panic!  I dashed over to the med center about 10 miles from here and they had no order in the computer, but the lab tech was so sweet and called the Dr's office and they faxed her an order & I got it drawn and the results will be there tomorrow!  Apparently, someone goofed and didn't fax the orders for Friday; otherwise they would have been in the computer!  I was so relieved to get it done though. I was afraid I had really screwed up.

Goodness, Jane, I can't believe that store doesn't carry teabags or loose tea!  I think Keurig is taking over the world. I don't have one either though.  Funny about the store not carrying anything the farmers don't use. Guess it makes sense in this competitive world though.

Ginny, glad you had a good day and a good visit with your friend.  Lucky you having Ray do the shopping for you!

All for now. Sharon

Sharon...they have the generic "Lipton" tea and Celestial seasonings in some flavors...but I like Twinings because each tea bag is in a sealed foil packet and in English Breakfast flavor.  Picky, picky, I know.

Glad you could get your blood draw.  I think they can do those tests pretty quick, in spite of the week they always want to give you.

jane

Sharon , Sue and Jane, Carlene Rae Dater is our local author, ( Furry friend former  member) her books always have a dog  in them and are good stories. The one I have onb my tablet is Roman Circus, About a woman who  takesher cat and  goes to  join the circus as an PR person, Interesting reading, Lots of twist and turns. If you order things from Amazon,You can designate Furry Friends of Coos Bay and we get points  an d cash for the group.

https://smile.amazon.com/s/ref=nb_sb_noss?url=search-alias%3Daps&field-keywords=Carlene+Rae+dater+

Getting ready for our trip to vancouver Washington tomorrow. Keith eye appt in Portland is Wednesday.

Thanks, Marilyn!  It's always good to hear of a new-to-me author.  Safe travel with K tomorrow!


jane

Good report on Ray's numbers yesterday at Kidney Doc.  See him again in Nov before we head to TX.

Heat is building, so load of clothes in washer and I'm off to walk.

jane

jane, glad Ray got a good report.

Marilyn, I hope all goes well with your trip and the doctor visits.

Sue, I hope you're still taking it easy with the current heat and humidity.  This is also true for Sharon, Darlene, Jeanne, Ginny Ann, AND me. 

I have to brag - my partner and I got partial Master Points at Duplicate both days last week.  And then last night, we won 0.96 point AND came in first (12 pairs).  We were thrilled!  (Sorry, non-bridge players, I know this doesn't mean anything to you.)

I've been to Silver Sneakers, but that does it for me today.  My back has really been giving me trouble the last couple of weeks.  I see my family doc on Friday for a regular 6-month visit.  I'm going to ask her to refer me to a spine doctor.  Will be thinking about you, Sharon, on Friday - and hoping for the best for you.

WoooHooo...BRIDGE Expert right here!!!  Good for you and partner!!

That's great, Mary. Coming in first is wonderful! Getting almost a full pt is great.  I'm sorry to hear that you're having back problems too. I hope the dr can help you. Thanks too for the good thoughts for me on Friday.  Fingers crossed.

We got a new bird feeder Sunday and John got it and our others all filled with fresh food today. The birds have been keeping them busy!  So fun to watch.

I just finished my exercises and am eating and icing the knee at the same time.

Jane, I'm glad they at least carry some tea!  I like the Bigelow which is also pkgd in foil. I get the Chai Constant Comment.  Great that Ray had good #'s again. I know it is always a worry.

Safe drive, Marilyn. Hope K gets a good report. I'll keep That book in mind.
Sue, stay out of the heat and sun! Sherry

I had to go out today also in this scorching heat.Went to Dr.  Wanted to know why I was feeling dizzy in the mornings. I take a light BP with hydrochlorothiazide in it. . She has been trying to get me to change for awhile. (Another Dr. Prescription). BP was really low for the first time. wants me to just take the Hydroclor. for a week. Doesn't think I should be taking the BP. I aways want it to be 124/67/78  but she says at my age would rather have it about 130/75  and quit aiming for it lower.So going to test for a week and see.

Went for my 6 month check up today and have not lost one lb. in weight. Makes me mad. Maybe must be drinking more liquid.
Fish day today. Maybe not do the french fries with it.  Cookies are my weakness. keep saying not going to buy them but I have to have something sweet after a meal.
Its 99 deg. here today. So hot at 9:30am when I went out.

Notice past due DVDs at the library so have to go out again. Maybe about 7pm after the sun goes down a little.  Library just down the road. Half the town is without home line phones since Saturday. ATT cut some phone line undergtound.  Library, Court house, few banks and ATMs not working. and lots of private  home affected. Say it will be Friday before fixed.

Everybody's  had such oppressive heat.  At least, here in the South, everything is air conditioned (unless the power goes out), so life is bearable.  We go from a/c house to a/c car to a/c wherever.  I really feel for the folks who have to work outside in this kind of weather.  As I write this (at 6:30 pm) it's 93, with nearly that much humidity to match. 

It's really the summer doldrums around here.  Nothing is happening to comment on.  I have a 6-month appointment with my family doc on Friday, and I wish my BP could be as low as Jeanne's doc wants hers to be.  Some higher than that just seems to be normal for me - even with meds.

Keep cool Buddies!

Hi Buddies.  It's up to 90+* here at 6:30 p.m.  This morning after breakfast I went outside to pull up grass that is encroaching on my butterfly bush.  By the time I'd pulled one trug full, I was wet from the skin out, so I gave up.  I'll try again tomorrow morning.  I think another trug will get rid of it for a while.

Tim came over about 11:45, took me to Penney's, but although the store was full of stuff on sale, it had all been brought in from other stores which are closing and I didn't find any bath towels, so we went to the Salvation Army to check out their books (I bought 6 paper backs for 50 cents) and then to Ollie's where I bought a lovely gray bath towel, hand towel, and a matching wash cloth.  The bathroom off my bedroom has gray tile and I think they will look nice in there.  My oldest green ones were getting ready to retire!

After that we went to Zazu in Opelika for lunch, Tim's treat this time.  I had fish tacos--and was a bit disappointed.  They were OK, but not outstanding.  The tortillas were not toasted, just limp and didn't add anything to the tacos.

When we came home I changed into my "soft clothes" and went to my room with a new Susan Elizabeth Phillips novel.  So far, very enjoyable reading.

Not much else to report.  I hope that all are able to stay cool.  Take care in this heat!

Sue

The heat is stiffling here, too.  We're just going from AC to AC to AC as Mary said. 

Mary...my BP would have me dizzy, too, as low as Jeanne's is.  I think that, like everything else, is individual to the person.  At one point, the docs had Ray...who has a BP of 128/62 at his Kidney doc's office....both sitting and standing (Kidney doc is ONLY one who wants both readings) on too many BP meds and he was walking like a drunken sailor!  Mine was 132/70 at my last visit and that's low for me. The least little thing or  going to the doc, usually sends mine up to the 150-160s over 80+. The nurse asked me last time if I took my BP everyday. I looked at her and said No, I don't.

Sue...take it easy in that heat!  SEP...are you reading the new one?  First Star I See Tonight  --I enjoyed it a lot.

Bridge yesterday was bad cards for me.  Not much to do when have 4 HCP to deal with.


We're off to Iowa City area today for lunch with TX friends.

Stay cool and SAFE!

Good morning, Buddies.  Yes, Jane, I received my copy of First Star I See Tonight by Susan Elizabeth Phillips in yesterday morning's mail. (I'd ordered it online from Amazon on Tuesday!).  So at my after lunch lie down, I started it and finished it before bedtime last night.  I thought it was pretty good--I enjoy all hers, but my #1 favorite is Nobody's Baby But Mine!.  I especially like the Chicago Stars connections.

I slept until almost 8:00 this morning, had a quick breakfast, and hurried outside for some yard work.  I pruned my largest lantana and pulled me crab grass near my butterfly bush.  I'm not finished with that yet, but it's just too hot to stay out there any longer.  I'm wringing wet and need to shower and shampoo.  I have bridge at 12:30 at Olyne's.  Bonney will pick me up about 12:20.

Stay cool, Buddies, if at all possible. 

Sue

We're home from lunch with ourTX friends in Iowa City....97 degrees there...and now storms tonight.  Tornado hit McGregor, Iowa...north of us on the Mississippi and did a lot of damage to the downtown area, according to the news.

jane

Heat not going down here. Fact going up. 97 right now and they say with Humidity making it up to 112deg. I had to go out at 11am until 12. needed to add the grocery store to trip but I did not feel that good. Never has weather bothered me before. Going to see if my BP can get up into the 130/65 when I alway felt better at that. She has me taking off the hydrochlorothiazide. For a week and see if can get higher than it was yesterday as she is blaming the tiredness on to it and the weather.

Wish I could go to a 42 inch TV but mine fits into a space that will only hold up to 29 Ithink mine is.
Can't believe that the TV took over 2 hours today to go through all that Simpson court meeting. I guess he will be getting out. Paroled . Thats good. Think how much they have spent keeping him in for 9 year. His age is really showing.

Hi Gals. The new internet, phone, cable service is all in and working well.  The workman didn't leave until about 1:00. I started to fix lunch for us and the hospital called with their interminable questionnaire. Finally finished that, got lunch ready, talked t67o Lori, then had to go to the grocery.  95 on the car thermostat.  100 at noon on my outside thermometer in the shade!!!  Then went over to Ms Frances since I won't be able to go tomorrow after my surgery.  Have to be at the hospital at noon, but can't eat after midnight!!

Glad you had a nice lunch, Jane, but sorry for the nearby town damage.

Jeanne, take care of yourself.  I've always had low BP (120/60ish), but I'm tired a lot.  However, it is normal for me. My dad had low BP also.  When I was in college and burning the candle at both ends, I had 78/57!!  They started giving me B12 shots to build me up and cancelled my PE class.  I was working 30 hrs/wk + classes +home dluties+ sorority duties+ trying to have a social life.  Just too much.

Well, it's TV time.  Sharon

Well, gee - it was "only" 94 here today.  And no storms in sight (sorry for your neighboring town, jane).

Nothing but Silver Sneakers this morning and some bridge this afternoon.  We play for only about an hour and a half so  not much.  But my partner and I did best this evening.  We change each evening, since there are only four of us.  We may be getting another player moving in sometime.  We all hope so. 

My regular partner on Friday (duplicate) is no longer going to play.  I don't know if I'm mentally ready yet to just show up without a partner.  Folks do it all the time, so I probably will sometime.  I am going to play tomorrow with my Monday partner, but I don't know after that.  Such simple problems. 

I awoke thinking of Marilyn and hope K's eye thing is going well. 

Thunder woke me up about 6:00 and the old joints kept me awake.  Rains have started now and the sky isn't quite as dark as it was. 

Easy day here today for me.  Too hot and or wet to be outside, so will do some family bookkeeping and my computer project updating.  We're going out locally tonight...local golf club that used to be the country club--Same place where I play bridge.

Jane

I got up early this morning, ate a quick breakfast, and was outside pulling up weeds about 7:30.  I wanted to get that done and my shower afterwards.  A "Village Friend" was coming to pick me up at 10:00 for my weekly Kroger shopping and I needed to wash my sweaty hair and body!  I put shorts on to go to the store--I usually wear longer pants, but it was just too hot to think about that.

I put away the groceries, fiddled around with some laundry, and fixed and ate lunch.  I'm reading a mystery by Kate Wilhelm--one I've probably bought at a long ago book sale and have never read.  It involves a young girl who is a concert pianist, but has recently been in jail because she clobbered a guy who tried to rape her.  Lots of twists, turns, and secrets--and a very lengthy cast of characters with mysteries about them.

I'm planning a quiet afternoon--will read on my bed and might nap a little.

Have a nice rest of the day, Buddies, and try to stay cool!
Sue

Sharon. Glad you will be getting that operation done tomorrow. Hope it really helps you. Is it as a outpatient of a hospital stay.  At least it will be cool for you indoors.
It is close to 100 here today. Saying on the TV that Illinois and other parts of the Midwest are having the hottest summer in the History of taking  the test.

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.

Well, I'm back from the hospital. The surgery had a few problems. He touched a nerve that sent shooting pains down my legs and on the soles of my feet.  They are still hurting, but better after a pain pill. He said it should go away by tomorrow. I hope.  Extremely painful.  He also encountered some scar tissue that prevented him putting in 2 wires, but they felt they were getting coverage with just the one.  I won't know for a few days whether it is working or not.

I had no breakfast or lunch, so I had John stop at McDonalds and get me a quarter pounder on the way home!! Don't know the last time I've had one, but it sounded so good and it was 5 PM.  Probably won't eat much later on. John is on his own tonight.

It's near 100 here too, especially with the humidity.  Take care everyone and stay in.  Sharon

So glad to hear from you, Sharon!  I hope there are great results from the procedure.

We got up to 96 today, but as I said, around here, unless you have to work outside, nobody goes out.  It's supposed to be "down" to 88 on Sunday or Monday, with hopefully some rain.  I'll be watering my plants on the deck in the morning when it's cooler.

I got to play duplicate this afternoon, but the cards were terrible.  Obviously we didn't do very well with them either - we came in next-to-last (out of 11 pairs).  We'll still bask in our being first last Monday though. 

Like jane, I hope we hear something from Marilyn soon.
Stay inside and stay cool, Buddies!

It is so funny seeing myself as a Jr Member.  I've been around for many years with Bosom Buddies.    It is hot here in NE Ohio. I've been staying in our AC. Did get my B12 shot yesterday.  Just said a prayer for all of you.