Marilyn...glad you have help with the pitching and donating. 

Mary...that self-check kit sounds good. 

Candy...snow for you!  I remember when we got snow one year at SPI.  They were making little teeny snowmen in Brownsville.  I'm sure a lot of those little ones had never seen snow in person.

We have snow here...still about 6 inches on the ground, but the streets and walks are clear.  it's just mid 20s so not going anywhere. 

I've been watching Auburn and Northwestern and thinking of our Sue.  I hope she remembers Auburn and can watch the game in her facility. 

It's been very quiet here...no gunfire, thank heavens.  I remember that was popular in S. Texas someone inevitably was injured. 

I've talked to my sister and facetimed with the Wisconsin-MN family.  The baby kept trying to look behind the ipad to see me.  Too cute. 

Lots of good football for me today, so going to get a hot chai latte and enjoy the games. 

I feel sorry for the huge covid outbreaks in California.  I hope Alpiner is ok.

jane

HAPPY NEW YEAR, 2021! MAY IT BRING HEALTH, WEALTH, HAPPINESS, AND BLESSINGS!

Hi Gals, Sounds like lousy weather to start the new year everywhere!  We just have drizzle off and on and 60, which is miserable for me.  Darlene, enjoy your once a decade snow, but stay home and off the roads. People not used to driving on snow can really mess things up--not you, but southerners in general. We don't get it very often here either and I stay home when we do.

The center has been generous this week--in addition to the masks, we got the typical southern good luck meal for lunch today: ham, black-eyed peas, collard greens + soup, fruit & dessert.  Not my idea of NY's good luck meal. I always had corned beef and cabbage.  Last night, they delivered us small bottles of champagne, a plastic flute, & and a horn for each of us to welcome in the new year.

About 10, I fixed smoked salmon, camembert on French bread, some wine and we watched a goofy Hallmark show about not kissing a man in an ugly Christmas sweater. Somewhat silly, but a fun note to end the year. Then we watched the ball drop while we toasted with our champagne.

They say that we will get our vaccines sometime this month. No date specified yet.

Marilyn, I do wish you could get some HS boys to come in and help you sort out stuff and carry it out to the dumpster or car. Glad you have your cleaning woman at least.

Jane, the baby sounds cute.  Joc put a video on FB of Harrison ice skating today. He is big into hockey and really skates well and fast for less than 6.

Mary, hope the move back to the dining room is set.

I'll leave all the football to the rest of you, but I agree about Sue.
Have a nice day and stay safe.  Sharon

Sharon...good news on your maybe vaccine in the near future.

Nothing exciting here today.  Did some chores and sent out for a short walk.
 The wind is chilly at 26 degrees, and nobody else out walking.  Just lots of cars headed to town. 

I'm going to wait until Monday to do some grocery shopping.  I don't have enough to call in an order, so I'll go on Monday morning. 

This week will probably see the start of a rise in covid cases from the Christmas get togethers, etc. 

New quiz today for all those looking for something to do in this topsy-turvy time.

https://www.seniorsandfriends.org/index.php?msg=190312

First Sunday of the New Year...and we're frosty...hoar frost and hazy cold day. 

Lazy (hahaha...as opposed to what other kind of day these last 10+ months! ) day here.  I did get together a large bag of donations for Good WILL. I'll make the 30 mile round trip tomorrow, weather permitting...good to get out and drive the car a bit.

I've been catching up on my finances today and now will await the "stuff" so I can get it to my tax lady and get that out of the way.

Stay safe and healthy,

jane

Good afternoon...its warming up here and clear..may walk later...Jane I like your new picture...it is new ...right? Very pretty...I need to change mine..course don't know how...I'm due for a haircut wed....can't wait...Hi to everyone reading....hope all are safe from the virus

Darlene...not new...taken on SPI two years ago.  I've got hair appt on the 11th.  I have a dental check up this Thursday.  Ugh. Hate those.

I've had the oven going today.  I baked a lb of bacon and then roll the slices in paper towel and store in refrig.  Just heat in micro when I want some.  Followed that with choc chip cookies for the freezer, too.    Gotta keep the sweet tooth happy!   

Jane

Jane that's exactly how I do my bacon...easy peasy

Hi Gals. I think today has been a pretty lazy day all around.It was sunny and 60 here, so John took Bunny for a walkie. She was ecstatic because she hadn't been for a week or 2. I didn't go. I've just felt lousy today. Just going to fix a frozen pizza for dinner. I had a late night again last night, so slept in late.

I did get all the laundry done yesterday and folded today, so that's out of the way. Nothing scheduled this week.  However, they did tell us that we get our vaccinations Jan 14! Yea!  I'm just worried about the kids getting theirs before the end of May. Also worried about Monica because I don't think they will give her the vaccine when she's pregnant or even nursing. Melanie volunteered to give vaccinations with the health dept in FL, but because she is licensed in IN, not FL, they won't use her. Isn't that dumb when they need them so bad. She's going to check with one of the hospitals and see if they can get a waiver and use her.

Jane, did you know that you can use your Amazon boxes, assuming you have them, and fill them with donations and take it to the PO and they will mail it free. Check the Amazon site for definite instructions if you're interested. I like your picture. I ought to change mine too. I haven't baked since we moved here, but of course they do bring us desserts. I usually order the reduced sugar ones to keep the calories down.

Darlene & Jane, we hardly eat any bacon, so I buy precooked in a box and then heat a few strips in the microwave if I need it for a recipe.

Well, guess, I better go fix the pizza.  Stay safe.  Sharon

I hope Mary is okay. We have 4 people with Covid in our facility, but not near us and fully isolated.  People are so careless at the holidays IMHO.

I need to take Bunny in to be groomed again, but I hate to go to the shopping center.

I'm here and fine - just doing the usual.  We can have limited visitors now - I got to visit with Jean and Margaret, in person, Friday for a while. That was a treat.

Sharon, glad you've got a date for your vaccination. No word here yet. Maybe we'll get more information tomorrow.  I hope Melanie can get that waiver - as you say, the need for staffing is critical now.

Darlene, after your brief snow, are y'all back up in the 70s now?      After being 70 on New Yea's Day, we're back in our normal 40s.

jane, good plan on the bacon for yourself. I used to buy big packs of bacon, but it in half, then freeze the half-slices in sixes. That would cook up quickly and be enough for the two of us. Whatever works!

I got in on a group Skype with Alden (Atlanta great) yesterday. He's almost 9 months old, and can almost pull up now. Cute little guy!

Marilyn, hope your prelude to moving is continued to move along.

Hugs to all the Buddies!

Da

I didn't know about all the paperwork that has to go into getting the loan for the new place. I thought I could just fill lout the application and that was that. Now they want all kinds of verification even a copy of the POA. Keith's drivers liscense is expired so he needs a valid ID. Damn, We will  need to get another one in CA.

My cleaning girl will be here today and we are going to make a list of things to get done, get rid of or donate sell or whatever to get it out of this house. The attic is full of boxes that I have no idea what is in  them and some are just empty. What a mess the upstairs is where Keith has all his trains. Those are going to be hard to get rid of.

Marilyn...I would probably be overwhelmed by the paperwork you're facing.

Darlene...you're so right...easy peasy.

 Mary...glad you're able to have visitors finally.

Sharon...I LOVE bacon.  So, doing my own precooked works well.  I used to buy the precooked too.  I can't understand FL not recognizing Melanie's pharmacy license. I'm sure IN is probably as strict or stricter than FL on that stuff. 

I'd planned a trip over to a town 15 miles away to their GoodWill Center to drop off a bag of donations and then stop in the WalMart there for a chai latte sugar free our local one no longer carries.  BUT, I awoke to a hoar frost on everything and heard two ambulances scream by the house, so figured there are icy patches on the road, too.  Therefore, I"m sitting here in my recliner reading.  I'll go tomorrow or Wednesday or some other day.  There's a "wintery mix" on tap for this afternoon.  NOPE, not driving in that.

Your talk of 60s and 70s reminds me of our time in S. Texas.  Here it's 26!   

I suppose the tax stuff will start arriving now.  Since I had my local CPA pull everything we'd had separate into one account, it's much simpler.  Simple is good for me.

jane

Marilyn, google Lionel train collectors or something similar and you might get a good price for them. Another idea is ebay.

Jane, you're smart to stay home. We're in the 50's and have had some rain, so not great, but not dangerous.

Mary, glad you can have visitors. We can too, but nobody seems to want to risk it. Of course, no family here. Great on the Skype.

Nothing going on here. I did get some more books yesterday. If you remember, I cancelled my mammogram appt the 1st of Dec because of the post TG surge of Covid, so I called today to reschedule--nothing available till May, although she said I could call as often as I want and see if anything had opened up before then. You can't win for losing!

Hi Darlene, Alpiner.  Have a good day everyone. Stay safe. Sharon

Sharon...I had the same thing happen with my Oct mammo...canceled for Covid and now it's the end of this month.  That was the earliest they had in Oct!

Good idea for Marilyn and the trains. 

I got over to the GoodWill today and so another bag of donations over there.  I also got what I wanted at that WalMart, then came back here for the rest of my things and a stop at FarmFleet for Cardinal bird seed. 

Beautiful day here...sunny, and the hoar frost (rime ice) is slowly falling from the trees.  I need to get my boots on and walk outside a bit.

Stay safe and healthy,

jane

For the trains, you might post pictures on Etsy.  Or, Facebook has what they call "Marketplace".  My daughter buys stuff from there all the time. 

Tome...another good idea to consider!

Lazy (why not...   ) day here.  Got a call to move up my dentist appt tomorrow by an hour, so that's ok.
 
This morning I had a facetime "chat" with the baby.  Niece is over babysitting while her son and dil are working...Alex at her lab on the U of MN campus...and Joe in the basement on calls, etc. 

What a miracle facetime and zoom are in this nutty world.

I hear people are getting their stimulus check direct deposited into their bank accounts if the IRS has that info.
 They don't for me, since I didn't take my IRS refund, but had it applied to this year's taxes...so I have to wait for the paper check.   

The reporters said a couple Congress people who had the vaccine have tested positive for covid.  I guess they didn't do as directed and stay masked and 6' away.  I also saw the rally in DC where the "leader" said to hug the stranger next to them...make this a super spreader.  WHAT idiocy.  Have they seen how sick people can be with covid?? 
They must have mush for brains.

Stay safe, Babes!

jane

For those inclined, there are ten questions left on my trivia quiz and everyone is now entitled, except Rutumi who posted two, to three new guesses. Let's see who likes to keep guessing! And who doesn't?

Its been awhile since I've been here .  I have been concerned about our daughter . She was told by her doctor to go to the ER about an infection in her right middle finger . She spent 5 days in the hospital with bone & marrow infection .  She had a gangilion cyst & picked it with an unsterilzed needle.  She also has psoratic arthritis & takes meds for it which lower her immune system .  She is home now with a PICC port & self administers an antibiotic . This will be for a month .

So sorry, alpiner. I hope your daughter heals quickly.

I'm so appalled about what has gone on in "The People's House" today, that I'll be quiet for a while.

Daughter is seeing a specialist this morning , they still don't know what is causing the infection in her bones & marrow .

Mary & Jane, I agree that the people in DC have mush for brains. I could only watch it for a while. I'm glad it's calmed down today. We stopped our Bible Study to watch it on TV. I left after a short while of it. Just appalled at how unpatriotic people can be in this wonderful country of ours.

I started undecorating last evening and finished it today. I did it all except taking the tree down which John did and of course he carried the boxes, etc. to the storage in our carport. It looks a little drab now.

We had some bad news yesterday--14 residents and 8 associates have Covid and they are transforming an area in the nursing bldg for all of them. We decided not to go to the main bldg except for mail and books for a while.

Marilyn, I read something on FB about SS giving people a discounted rate on mortgages.  Don't know if it was for real or not, but might pay to call the SS office and find out.  I also sold a lot on FB marketplace before we moved. Made about $1000 or so.  No taxes and no fees. Cash only.

My cleaning girl came today instead of yesterday, so she got everything cleaned up from the Christmas stuff.

I need to go over to the main bldg to get mail and also mail a return, but think I'll wait till tomorrow because the day girl knows more what she is doing.

John got the groceries today too, so we're pretty well set for now.

Alpiner, I hope your daughter's infection clears up quickly.

Jane, I agree that we would be lost without technology during this pandemic. So glad you got to visit with the little one on line.

Take care everyone and stay safe!  Sharon

Was wondering if any of you Buddies here have problems with Eczema?  What works well for you?  Mine is not near as bad as I have seen, but the itching drives me crazy. I have meds from the Dermatologist, but they don't seem to work as well as Gold Bond Anti-Itch Creme, or CeraVe Anti-Itch Lotion. 

Tome, have you tried the OTC cortisone creams? I use those when I have a problem with it - sometimes alternating with a benadryl cream.  I've had times where I scratched until I drew blood. Hope you can find some relief.

Mary...I'm with YOU on outrage and anger.  I'm actually beyond anger...so fed up with those politicians who put their political futures ahead of the good of the country. 

Sharon...sorry to hear of the covid there.

Alpiner...I hope your daughter's infection gets back in control. That sounds extremely serious.

Tome...my BIL has had extreme eczema...and steroids are the only thing which gave him relief...not even the prescriptions from the dermatologists. 

I went to CR today and got my car serviced.  I was undecided about rotating tires...in Texas, they wanted $100 and my husband was NO, not at that price.  I asked today and it was $25...and so they did it.  And this was at the dealership.  I then went to what was always our favorite eating place and had one of my old favorites.  I was surprised at how busy the restaurant was...great to see...and yet widely spaced and face masks on.

Stay safe and healthy,

jane

I woke to about 2" of snow on the ground this morning - none on the roads, fortunately. Margaret, about 15 miles away, had none. Go figure!  It's been cloudy and in the 30s all day today, but no more snow.

alpiner, keep us up-to-date on your daughter.

Sharon, sorry there has been Covid in your place. I hope they can keep it isolated, but even so, it's best to stay isolated and stay safe.

The gal in the apartment next door to me will be celebrating her 101st birthday tomorrow. Lots of excitement here about that. She's still pretty spry and busy - nice lady.

Good morning Buddies...32 here this morning...waiting for it to warm up before walking...Mary so far the days are warm...although snow is predicted north of us tomorrow...I was and still am disgusted with the events at the White House.....Its hard to believe ..Marlyin when will you be moving?..Jane yes tax season is around th coner..Hi to Sharon..haven't seen Jeanne post lately...hope everyone stays safe...the vaccines are not available here yet...Have good weekend

Almost afternoon here, and I have some laundry going, and I'm doing a movie marathon on Hallmark movies of the Good Witch movies.

And that's my day...and probably weekend.   

Jane

Tomereader1 , Have you tried Clobetasol Propionate ointment on the Eczema spots? It has worked wonders for me. Area is clear in a day or two and stays clear for several months. Good luck

No, digilady.  Never heard of that medicine.  I'm sure my dermatologist would recommend it, since she has given me two other meds, and was supposed to order a third one, but I think it must have gotten lost in the shuffle, as I was in before Christmas. Thanks for reminding me of that, I'll have to call her Monday, and see what happened.

Another very gloomy day here and temps in mid 20s.  We haven't seen the ☀️ for days. 

I did change my bed and will do laundry tomorrow.  I also got bundled up and walked a mile...first time in a too long time.   

This afternoon I'm reading and watching NFL football.  I'm also reading Twitter and AP news to see who's been arrested in the riot/coup. 

Jane