Sue...your Gamecocks are doing fabulous in the NCAA Tournament!  Knocking off #2 seed Duke was great...some thought they should have been a #1 seed....hmmm...I. Guess. Not!     I believe they play FL tomorrow in the Elite Eight.    And, yes, I'm sure Geno will prevail.  But one of these days, some women's team will beat U Conn.

Sue, glad you're feeling some better.  Emetrol has been around for a while as an anti-nausea med - glad it's working for you.

jane, it's always a relief when decisions can be made.  I think that's always the hardest part.

I think I'm almost back to "normal".  I got out and drove across down to the bridge/birthday party I'd been invited to this afternoon.  I had allowed too much time, of course, and had to drive around for a while until it was close to arrival time.  (Being early is a lifetime issue that I have to deal with.)  Anyhow, it was good to get out and to see some folks I hadn't seen for a while.  It was "social bridge", but there were five tables and the play was brisk and pretty good.  Nothing great, but I did wind up coming in first !!!!  So that made for a special afternoon.  Tomorrow I "get" to do two weeks worth of laundry. 

Sue.  I am going to keep that "Emetrol" in Mind.  I don't have a tummy problem but since they gave me that Med that made me feel so awful. I just fix food take a look at it. Take a few bites and that is it.  Not like me at all. Love to eat.  Been 3 weeks now since I stopped the drugs but people say it stay in your systems that long.
Just went and picked up 6 cans of Ensure and will use them for one lunch meal and eat light at night.  I am O.K with breakfast it seems. Cutting out of drinking so much milk also. Try to get back to normal.

After such a fantastic day yesterday it is raining today but still about 60 deg out.

We at Illinois U now this week got a new Basketball coach for the men and also a new one for the Women.. Lets hope things improve.  He is being paid 3 million for this year and has a 5 year contract for 16 million.  They have fired 2 over the past 3 years .  Got a new Football coach also. Done a cleaning out this year.

Another rainy day here today and just now to mid 40s...but the farmers are loving it, I'm sure!  Subsoil moisture is important and with little snow this year, the rain is important, I'm told.

Another inside day for us.  We did get some rearranging done upstairs and loaded up 3 large bags of clothes and a lamp to take to Goodwill when we go to Dbq for a Ray's doc appt on Tuesday.

We seem to be in a chicken mood this weekend.  Ray made a baked chicken last night that was ok.  For me, chicken has very little flavor.  I did make a Chicken Salad, but it has walnuts, apple, grapes, celery in it so there's some color and flavor.   

Going to watch Meet the Press and then an afternoon of basketball. 

jane

We got about half-an-inch of rain from the overnight rain line that came through, but nothing today.  When they were here last weekend, Jesse put up a bluebird house for me.  This morning, I noticed that a bluebird couple have already moved in, and are busily furnishing it.  I had gotten some mealy worms (thanks, Sharon, for letting me know about that), and have put some of them out for them.   

Hi Buddies.  Nancy picked me up for Sunday School.  Only 3 of us were there besides the teacher.  I think AU as well as the public schools are on spring break, so lots of folks are out of town.  Afterwards I went to BK with the girls and Ethel brought me home.  I am very tired of not being able to drive and there is no hope on that issue.  I'm still wearing the heavy brace on my right leg and my doctors and Tim think it would not be safe for me to drive.  My friend Tammy wants me to sell my Toyota which has a clutch and get an automatic, but I'd still have to use my right foot and that's a no go for now and perhaps another year.

I've been watching the Carolina/Florida game.  The second half just started and Florida is ahead by 5 points.  I'm hoping Carolina shapes up and pulls out the win.    Our tallest player who is from Lithuania (or some other country nearby) and he is good, but a bit clumsy, so hasn't been much of a difference in the game. The ref's just called a foul, not a shooting one, on him.

I hope you're all having a good day.  If you're watching basketball, I hope you're cheering for Carolina!
Sue

Good afternoon Buddies. Today being Sunday I didn't even turn on m,y computer until after lunch. Now I am playing catch-up. Not much is new here, It is raining and the wind is blowing so n o walks for freckles unless I were to take her to the mall but we would get soaked  going from the car to the entrance.

Keith's Camaro is in the shop to be evaluated at to what repairs need doling, Starter, Battery Solenoid or what ever is the problem. Mine is still overheating and not one has  looked at it yet. My pastor is supposed to come and take out the thermostat and replace that.I drove the camaro the other day to the library and when I came out it would not start. So he finally gave in and let me drive the car. I couldn't believe it when he handed me the keys.

SUE!!!  Yes, Gamecocks to Final Four!!!!

Marilyn...I hope you can get at least one of the cars running and in good shape, and preferably both, since I imagine yours is easier to transport you and Freckles. 

Another overcast and maybe wet day here today.  The carpet cleaner is back at 10:00 for some touch up on missed areas, and I have some errands to run around town. 

Jane

Hi Gals,  We went to church & SS yesterday. I did laundry in the afternoon + worked a little on John's computer for him.  Today, I have another load of laundry in and need to go out and take care of my birds before it rains (if it rains!).  We get all these storm warnings and then end up with light showers that don't amount to anything.  I'm waiting for my pain pill to kick in before I go out and take care of the birds.

BB fever is high in the Charlotte area with both NC & SC in the final four.  It would be nice for SC to get a win, but I'm not really rooting for anyone now.  I'm happy for Sue though.

Jane, I'm glad you got your kitchen counter, etc chosen so that you can relax and let the pros do it now.  When it's done, you'll have to take a picture and link it to us.

Marilyn, I hate car problems. One is so lost without a dependable one. Hope you get them fixed quickly.

Mary, I'm glad you're back to normal and got to go to the party Sat..  Wonderful on the bluebirds.  Our house has been blocked in by vegetation so that they are no longer interested. Our neighbors have occupied houses though.  The bluebirds also like those little suet balls. They come in a pkg labeled Bluebird Suet Balls.  I put them in the feeder with the mealy worms.

Jeanne, Emetrol has been on the market since my kids were little, at least.. It is a good med for nausea.

Did I mention that our SS member who was suffering from colon/liver cancer passed away? Her funeral will be next Monday.  So sad. She was only 76.

I need to get moving.  Sharon

The Lady Ducks are playing UConn Yay they made it to the final 4.

I've just been putzing around this morning.  Tim came by to see if the nausea has subsided--I did take a dose this morning and so far, so good.  He brought me another bottle which he bought at Wal-Mart this morning before he came by.  He didn't stay long as Kris called and asked him to come to wherever she is working today as her truck wouldn't start.  He did replace a shoestring in the sneaker I must wear on the side with the brace.  The brace has sawed through the shoestring. 

I'm going to start a large pot of vegetable soup for later today and it should last for several days in the fridge.  I usually give some to my neighbor 2 doors away.  She doesn't cook much anymore and she enjoys soup as much as I do.

Marilyn, I sure hope your Lady Ducks beat UConn.  I am NOT at all FOND of Coach Auriemma.  He's a good coach, but cocky and he wins the recruiting wars.  All the really good female players want to play for him.  So I'll be cheering for the Lady Ducks if they have to play him!

Have a nice day, Buddies.  I'm off to start my soup.
Sue

Hi Gals,  I had to go see the vampires this morning prior to my annual physical next week. They stuck me twice.  I hate that.  The techs at the pain clinic took 3 sticks to get the IV in before my back procedure.  Grrrr.

Nothing much scheduled today. Just finish odds and ends around here.

Good luck to your Lady Ducks, Marilyn.  However I hope the men don't beat NC.

Sue, your soup sounds good. I so wish JOhn liked it.

Hi to all.  Sharon

After last night's storms, it's turned out to be a beautiful afternoon here.  Two storm lines went through here, and we got an inch of much-needed rain.  Best of all, I drove to duplicate before the first line, and home between #1 and #2.  Plus my partner and I celebrated her 90th birthday by tying for second place, with 55%.  That always makes for a good evening.

This morning, I went to the Sculpture Fields to meet with the son of our dear friends to see a new tree that the family had planted in John's memory.  I hadn't seen the son for at least 10 years,  so that was a real treat.  And the new tree is a redbud (one of my favorites) and already has some blooms on it.  I left them wandering around looking at the wonderful sculpture, and I headed back home - with a stop at Walmart on the way. 

Good luck to all the teams next weekend.  It's interesting that the Four are North and South Carolina from the east coast vs Gonzaga (Washington) and Oregon from the west coast.  I'm kind of ignoring the Women's games this year.  I don't care to hear all the hype about UConn.

Full day here...Ray had to be in Dbq early for blood work...and then learned it was supposed to be fasting, but when he went up to cancel his appt since he couldn't get the bloodwork done, she checked with doc and he said go down and have a nonfasting one.  He'll do a fasting in 2 months.  Glad he saw the doc...numbers were pretty good.

We also had a number of other stops, so we're both tired tonight.

Bridge tomorrow...and nothing more the rest of the week.

jane

My cleaning ladies were a bit late today and I was to be picked up for lunch/bridge at Azalea Place (a retirement home) at 10:45.  We eat at 11:00 and my neighbor Brownie and Sandra who drove us, picked me up just as the ladies were leaving.  I still had to fold the sheets they'd taken off the bed when they changed the current ones this morning. 

Lunch was OK, but the Assisted living where we play has gone up from $5 to $8:50 with no changed in the meals which are so so.  Certainly not enough to write home about!  I didn't have very good cards after lunch but enjoyed the company, but missed my nap!

I'm off to the kitchen to reheat some of the soup for my supper which I'll eat here in the den as it's time for the 5:00 news.

Have a nice evening, Buddies.
Sue

Here I am again, Buddies.  I slept late this morning after a late night reading a favorite book.  I've managed to eat breakfast, clean up the kitchen, get a load of wash done and into the dryer, and walk around the long block.  Unless Tim stops by, I'll probably read all day except for reheating soup and making a sandwich for my lunch.

I have traded hostessing the Thursday bridge group with Dorothy.  She and hubby have recently purchased a vacation home in Florida near her daughter and are going down there this week and next.  So I will have to start calling the members at least by Saturday. 

I'm looking forward to the men's final 4 next Monday and am keeping my fingers crossed for our South Carolina Gamecocks.  Our female Gamecocks are still in the mix, too. 

Not much else going on today.  My tummy is still not feeling great, so think I'll take a dose of Emetrol before my lunch of leftover soup.

Have a nice day, Buddies.
Sue

Well they same to be getting a little further on figuring out my tiredness. Dizzy feeling of the past month.  Took a blood test and found (What they think) is being caused by the what I call Water Pill part in a low BP med they put me on.
Told me to quit taking the Benicar that has it in there.  Sent a new Prescription which i started today. Will give it a try for a few weeks.  Don't want any ankle swelling or fingers Say my Sodium and Chloride are way down to low. The water pill was taking it all out body to fast and I don't use anything with salt in.

Jane.  Just watching weather. You are sending you nasty weather in Iowa back over to us later today.  We don't need it.  Going to give us a colder weekend.

Breathing and sleeping better last night.  Even though I don't feel like doing it after all the messed up drugs the Dr. put me on.  Making me sleep and get dizzy.
But my birth day to close to put it off.  Anymore taking those road test are as bad as going to the Dentist.  Have to take them in town North that I am not use to driving in.  But anyway it turned out good.  Now have to take them every year  Just do the eyes and go out on the roads doing a driving test.
Can relax again.  Never use to let things like this bother me.  Can't think how I could manage with out a car.

Jeanne, glad you passed your driver's license. I know I'll miss my car when I have to give it up (as I surely will someday).  I was surprised that when I renewed my licensed last year (we do it on birthdays ending in " 0") for my 80th birthday, it was renewed for 10 years!  I'm pretty sure I won't be driving long enough to renew it again.     It's nuts that this is the way it's done here, but I'm not going to complain.

Sue, good that you're still getting out and walking.  I walked more than usual at the Sculpture Fields park yesterday morning, and I paid for it with leg cramps waking me up in the middle of the night last night.  I forgot to stretch before I went to bed. 

My big event today was taking my car in for service this morning.  Turns out I hadn't had it in for over a year, so there was lots of routine stuff to be done - and they always find some other stuff to do.  The bill was substantial, but I had spent $0.00 on maintenance on the car during that year, so I won't complain.  This 2006 Altima has been a really great car for me. 

Happy Hump Day, Buddies !

Well Keith is no longer allowed to drive until he gets around to having a cyst removed. The MRI showed a cyst someplace behind his eyes. We will be getting the full report when the Eye dr. mails it to us. He told Keith yesterday he wants him to go to a specialist in Portland to have it checked out. geez that is a lot of driving back and forth for me. Portland is about 4.5 hrs driving each way I sure can't do that in one day. The only insurance he has is Medicare he wants to wait until next year so we can  apply for a Medicare advantage  inurance the next time for enrollment. He is so stubborn when it comes to spnding any $$. Right now his Camaro is in the shop, and mine needs some work as well. Mine is overheating and i think it is the thermostat that needs replacing. I have to have at least one of the cars so I can do the Visiting with freckles.

Marilyn, so sorry about Keith's vision problems.  From what you've said, I'm sure it's better that he's not driving, but it does make it hard on you.  Good luck with all those problems.

Marilyn....tough time for you. 

Sharon...hope your pain is better.

Sue...final four on Sat should be to great games and then the final on Monday!

Mary...sorry about the leg cramps.

Cards today were a mixed bag, but I came in 3rd so got my quarter back! 

It's cold and windy and rainy.  I think we're going out to one of the golf courses tonight for their chicken wings special.

Jane

In Illinois it is for a driving licence 10 years until about 60. Then it is 4 years to 70. 2 years from 70 to 82 and then every year.  Now if you have a accident when young you have to take a full testing over again. They also make it for less time after 55 if you have 2 accidents.

So cold and dreary here today. Not even gotten out of  my PJ.  I use the kind that now you see people shopping in the stores wearing them. Not gotten that far.

Baked 2 meat loaves and put on in the freezer.  Also was wanting fruit cake so bad. I only buy them at Christmas time. I bought one and daughter sent another but they were gone in a month.
So today I had the makings for a pound cake. put in raisins and Walnuts. It just came out. looks O.K. Just a small one.  I need to cut out the cakes and cookies.
All my life thought I had to keep a biscuit tin and a cake tin with goods in them
Goes back to UK thinking that anyone can stop bye and one has to serve tea and a sweet.  I have to quit as I eat most now.
Every time I go back I put on at least five pounds because you stop by friends and family and all feed you.  I have always kept that up here. most people have either moved or gotten older and never go ou

today in the paper is a article about a man who just took his library book back.had it since 1982. He liked it so much that he kept reading it. 25 times.  He got it restored and had the author sign it.  He gave the library. a $200 donation also.  Book is called "Bid  Time Return" by a Richard matheson.  a 1975 novel.
I just have to try and find this book.    Does  sound like a good story.

Cold, wet, windy and dreary here, too.  We need to make a trip to the bank to try and locate a paper,  but, otherwise, we're in for the day and will be in "soft" clothes, too.

Jane

Jeanne, so glad they figured out what was wrong with you. I hope you're feeling better now. Better eat some chips or pretzels to build the sodium back up in your system.  Ms Frances got her license renewed 5 yrs ago and is planning on renewing it next month when she turns 99!! She doesn't drive very much, but she sure isn't going to give up on it entirely.  She will have to take a driving test to renew.

Marilyn, scary about K's eye. I do hope he will get it taken care of asap.  Cars are a problem too.

Mary, sorry about the leg cramps. I have them often. I'm taking magnesium which seems to help them. However, it also has a laxative effect which I don't need!  I have IBS.

Very gray and overcast here with rain predicted this afternoon.  I need to leave soon to go get the groceries before it starts in.  We've had a couple days near 80, but down in the 60's today.  I woke up with a lot of pain due to the weather.

Jane, don't spend your quarter all in one place!!  

Sue, good for you getting out and walking again. Wish I could in the nice weather we've had.

Ginny Ann, check in!!! We're worried about you.

Hi to all.  Sharon

I, too, hope we hear from GinnyAnn soon.

We got to the bank to look for the appraisal for my engagement ring, but no luck.  My insurance agent said they threw it out when they moved.  So, I'll get a new one done while the jewejer is retipping the prongs.    We did find a couple more years of EE bonds. I had the Bond Wizard with bonds that mature in 2017, and thought that was all we had.  NOPE!  Good news!  We also cleaned out papers for stuff we no longer need.  I came home and went through files here and cleaned out some more, so time wasn't wasted.

Jane

I haven't done much today except one load of laundry washed, dried, and put away.  While the laundry was in the washer, I took my around the block walk.  It's a lovely day here, warm and sunny, but not hot.  Rain and storms might arrive tonight or tomorrow morning (when I'll be picked up by a Village Friend to go to Kroger at 11:00).  We need the rain, but not a storm!

Jeanne, you must certainly like to cook as almost every post mentions something yummy you have fixed or plan to fix.  I'm afraid my attempts at meals are not so great anymore.  Occasionally I get in the soup making mood and will take the time for that, but otherwise I use short cuts and don't cook much.  I do tend to make scrambled eggs and other egg dishes at suppertime.  Easy to cook and clean up.

Jane, I cleaned out my safe deposit box about a year ago and it might need to be looked at again.  I usually get a message from my bank in Union Springs when a bond matures.  Tim keeps up with the files I keep here at home.  I used to do it, but now it's full of doctor bills .  I had a question from my accountant about my stay at Morningside (the assisted living where I went after my fall).  Tim had included that in the papers I needed to send her.  I sent her an e-mail, but it was after 9:00 p.m. so she might not see it until after work today.  We don't know if the stay was deductible.  I don't have to worry about my good jewelry anymore as the person who robbed me took all of it and none has been recovered.  Tim thinks he probably melted all of it and sold the diamonds.  I've had a warrant out for his arrest since the robbery!

Sharon, I'm sorry you are so plagued by pain.  I wish there was something that could help you.  Do you use a cane to assist you in walking?  I'm still wearing the brace on my right leg, still can't drive, but manage to walk about 3 blocks daily with my cane.  I don't have pain in my back or my leg--which is a miracle as far as I'm concerned.

I've finished and cleaned up after lunch and am going to find something to read when I lie down for my afternoon rest.

GinnyAnn, we all would like to hear from you--even if it's just a quick HELLO!

Sue