Junee, it is unfortunate that some people pick on the elderly and those who live alone.  I am lucky that Tom is with me and takes care of some things even when not necessary.  I am glad you have a grandson to check on things for you.

Mary Ann

I'm lucky to have a daughter who works for the Area Agency on Aging and what she doesn't know from personal experience, she knows someone who does.  She's forever forwarding pamphlets to me that she thinks I should read and if I email a question to her, she will forward it to someone in her office.  Sometimes she answers and sometime the person who received the forward answers.

And now, I'm off to Dreamland!  I wish you all a peaceful sleep and a happy awakening.  Good night Everyfriend!  May God bless us, every one!

Well, in Kansas we pay about what Joan does for the tag but every year we have to pay tax of the value of the vehicle at the same time... which goes down with age, but a new little car can cost about $800 + ... & the RV costs  (even if it's a lemon~).  That is not the sales tax. 

Would you believe my lemon has a flat tire in my driveway AGAIN?  Same tire (inside dual on passenger side).  This makes a 3rd time, maybe 4th?.... the original tire had a slash in the sidewall that snugs against the other tire so not a human doing... maybe?  The tire company took off the outer tire & said the inside would hold air to use as a spare but only slow & short trip to get new tire, so they put on the new spare (these are Michelin tires, not cheap).  The mechanics working on it noticed the slash, was not flat but they insisted I take it to a tire place that could lift an RV).  The new spare made one trip from Wichita to St.Louis & back, found that inside tire flat days later, with whole valve stem missing, plus the bracket they put on provided by Thor.  Another slash in the sidewall & this time I had to buy a new tire.  They took the bad one to their store to mount a new one & insisted with the new long stem air gauge I could check the air. Wrong!  The service guy put on a short stem so next day I had to drive it back to the shop for long one to be installed before using again. Next trip (to the mountains & back) and the discovery today, flat.  They are to come in the morning to see if this tire is also slashed ... or why it is flat.  I called Ford & the service man says he "doesn't know of ANY problem with dual tires on Fords" (guess he doesn't get on the internet?)  The tire place is stalling & naturally, "not their fault"....

I don't know if I posted that on the drive to the mountains a couple weeks ago, I went back to get bottles of water for my son & myself, and the 'frig door came off in my hand.  We had heard a noise earlier so I looked all over & saw nothing the cats might have knocked over... the door hinges just broke, they are plastic...  We called the RV place where I bought my other son the pull type A-frame a couple years before... has all the goodies from microwave to heated queen bed, etc.... & the lady in charge of parts checked, seems the hinges on my Thor frig can't be replaced, must replace the whole door! 

Naturally, it's out of warranty~  sons managed to fix in the Walmart parking lot area where probably 20 or more RVs were parked for overnight, bought all the parts from Walmart & it is doing the job just fine.  During that night in the parking lot the radon detector or whatever it is... (not smoke detector... it runs on a 9 volt battery)... started beeping because the accessory battery was dead!  I listened to it all night, the boys were sleeping in their camper.  How can that be when I had it fully charged before we left, had it plugged in to have freezer & 'frig cold for the trip... and the drive should have kept it fully charged.  The battery has been bad from the first, would be down in 2 days even with not using it at all... in storage mode.  So, back into Walmart for a new accessory battery... son installed.  That new battery is holding up like a champ!  Does this make your head ache?  Sure does mine! 

Every time I've used it I have had to take in for repairs or had the mechanics come to my driveway.... those hydraulic jacks that wouldn't come up in my driveway, water pump had to be replaced, water running out around the faucet for outside shower... & on & on.  Have parts waiting to replace for the awning, this makes the 3rd repair on it... 2 recalls & another panic when the mechanics discovered the front end dangling about an inch away from the frame & had to remove the microwave to bolt the awning through the frame as should have been done at the factory!!!  At least the awning company is standing behind their product, 2nd time to replace the strip of "party lights" when it's open ... never been used.... and end caps because the rear one is missing.  No clue when that fell off.

Between cats & this RV, this old lady is about to cave in.  Not another model with a wood door to the bedroom where the cats can stay when I want to get in & out... same issue of take the cats or can't go, or have them put to sleep.  I can't do that to healthy animals so will plug along ... and come here to gripe.

I really am reading, sympathizing & saying prayers for those in need.... and smiling at the good reports.... but my head is aching with all these extra hic-cups.  Besides, the heat index today was 108 & blistering sun.  We had so much rain I had to drain water that was lapping out of the pool... and ran to iron a shirt for the family party... drained out too much so had to add some back last night. 

The fireworks here, across the river & in the street of our block... was absolutely the most amazing I've ever seen.  Across the river I couldn't see what went off on the ground (because of my trees on the river) but the stuff in the air was more & bigger & louder than any I've ever seen before.... even at the state fairs.  Because we had enough rain it wasn't as dangerous, and no wind, so except for terrifying animals, no harm done.  Cats kept going to the door & would listen... until about 1:30 am... before no bangs.

That's my world this week... Junee... I know how you feel ... just a little peace, huh? 

Junee.  Funny how all that happens with Jan Being gone. Was it people calling on the phone?
Just ignore as No utilities can be shut of by a company unless you have had a notice from them after it being past due for 30 days.  Somehow it seems that it was known that you would be alone in the 2 weeks.  Let Grandson Handle things or David. 
This Scamming is getting terrible now.  Will just get worse.  We like our computers, Internet and all the Tech Stuff but it has sure ruined the world. Things were better off with out it.
Heck. Now my State office can't even take care of getting a simple little Yearly license plate renewal taking care of.  Use to be 3 days. Been over a month now and mine is messed up.
I just demanded a E-M from them to say that I had paid by CC in June. They sent it so I will forget until they get one to me. Keep the E-M in the Car incase the Police stop me.

Jeanne P, you can always come back home to UK, although I cant guarantee things will be any better....You could always try Bournemouth.... 

Good Wednesday morning, Everyfriend.  There's cinnamon coffee cake to accompany your coffee or tea. I wish everyone a good day!!





The Hamster

After buying her kids a pet hamster, after they PROMISED they would take care of it, Mom, as usual, ended up with the responsibility.

One evening, exasperated, she asked them, "How many times do you think that hamster would have died if I hadn't looked after it?"

After a moment, her youngest son replied quizzically, "Once?"




The Pickle Jar
(Author Unknown)

The pickle jar as far back as I can remember sat on the floor beside the dresser in my parents' bedroom. When he got ready for bed, Dad would empty his pockets and toss his coins into the jar. as they were dropped into the jar. They landed with a merry jingle when the jar was almost empty. Then the tones gradually muted to a dull thud as the jar was filled. I used to squat on the floor in front of the jar and admire the copper and silver circles that glinted like a pirate's treasure when the sun poured through the bedroom window.

When the jar was filled, Dad would sit at the kitchen table and roll the coins before taking them to the bank. Taking the coins to the bank was always a big production. Stacked neatly in a small cardboard box, the coins were placed between Dad and me on the seat of his old truck. Each and every time, as we drove to the bank, Dad would look at me hopefully. "Those coins are going to keep you out of the textile mill, son. You're going to do better than me. This old mill town's not going to hold you back." Also, each and every time, as he slid the box of rolled coins across the counter at the bank toward the cashier, he would grin proudly. "These are for my son's college fund. He'll never work at the mill all his life like me." We would always celebrate each deposit by stopping for an ice cream cone. I always got chocolate. Dad always got vanilla. When the clerk at the ice cream parlor handed Dad his change, he would show me the few coins nestled in his palm. "When we get home, we'll start filling the jar again." He always let me drop the first coins into the empty jar. As they rattled around with a brief, happy jingle, we grinned at each other. "You'll get to college on pennies, nickels, dimes and quarters," he said. "But you'll get there. I'll see to that." The years passed, and I finished college and took a job in another town.

Once, while visiting my parents, I used the phone in their bedroom, and noticed that the pickle jar was gone. It had served its purpose and had been removed. A lump rose in my throat as I stared at the spot beside the dresser where the jar had always stood. My dad was a man of few words, and never lectured me on the values of determination, perseverance, and faith. The pickle jar had taught me all these virtues far more eloquently than the most flowery of words could have done.

When I married, I told my wife Susan about the significant part the lowly pickle jar had played in my life as a boy. In my mind, it defined, more than anything else, how much my dad had loved me. No matter how rough things got at home, Dad continued to doggedly drop his coins into the jar. Even the summer when Dad got laid off from the mill, and Mama had to serve dried beans several times a week, not a single dime was taken from the jar. To the contrary, as Dad looked across the table at me, pouring catsup over my beans to make them more palatable, he became more determined than ever to make a way out for me. "When you finish college, Son," he told me, his eyes glistening, "You'll never have to eat beans again...unless you want to."

The first Christmas after our daughter Jessica was born, we spent the holiday with my parents. After dinner, Mom and Dad sat next to each other on the sofa, taking turns cuddling their first grandchild. Jessica began to whimper softly, and Susan took her from Dad's arms. "She probably needs to be changed," she said, carrying the baby into my parents' bedroom to diaper her. When Susan came back into the living room, there was a strange mist in her eyes. She handed Jessica back to Dad before taking my hand and leading me into the room.

"Look," she said softly, her eyes directing me to a spot on the floor beside the dresser. To my amazement, there, as if it had never been removed, stood the old pickle jar, the bottom already covered with coins. I walked over to the pickle jar, dug down into my pocket, and pulled out a fistful of coins. With a gamut of emotions choking me, I dropped the coins into the jar. I looked up and saw that Dad, carrying Jessica, had slipped quietly into the room. Our eyes locked, and I knew he was feeling the same emotions I felt. Neither one of us could speak.

Sometimes we are so busy adding up our troubles that we forget to count our blessings. Sorrow looks back. Worry looks around. Faith looks UP!




Knowledge puffs you up - Love lifts you up!

--Author Unknown

Good morning Joan, all who are soon to follow....dont think much is on our today agenda...Just had a shower and washed my hair, I have phoned our vet to check they have Benji prescription food in stock, they do, and will put it aside until we pop in later today....of course if we thought, we could have picked it up, or ordered it Monday, but we had other things on our mind, re our Benji.....I can order it online and have already placed an order, I don't need a prescription to do so, but its a company I haven't ordered from before, so not sure how long it will take to arrive, so better be safe than sorry...after all it is only a dozen tins at a time we pick up, so will have a few weeks to hand....I am still mixing half and half as I read up on ingredients and cant find any meat, now dogs MUST have meat, mustn't they? 
.............................
R will be booking carpet man to come and lay office carpet, hopefully he will come some time next week, so another on my to do list to tick off, still got a few more left, like my Blue Badge, my eye test, Petplan Insurance cheque, that too is now overdue, our bath panel is due to be fitted this Friday, so another tick....
...........................
Today we will just take Toby with us in the car to our vets, we will give him a run on the grassland to the back, he hasn't seen that yet, only our Benji, so he will get a treat....Benji will be left a short while by himself at home...Hope our weather stays nice as it was yesterday.....

Our Benji is almost back to our normal Benji, even taking food from his bowl now, not so much from a small saucer, and not from my hand....He even surprised me yesterday with picking up soft toy and wanting to play.........I keep forgetting myself by throwing a short distance for him to catch, I have to keep it at body level, I cant have him trying to jump up for it, his balance is not up to doing that.....but this is all progress, well that is till the cancer starts doing its worst....but that is NOT now...
............................
Hope your day goes to your plan......
...........................
Joan I will save my piece of cinnamon coffee cake till I get back....

Good morning/afternoon Vanilla-Jackie.  You sure are making progress in getting things on your list taken care of.  Enjoy that coffee cake when you return from the vets.

I am going to get out and do errands as early as I can.  Local weatherguesser just said we will reach 98° today with high humidity--making it feel like 105°.

Joan best get out while its cooler....Oh my, I would never be able to tolerate temps in their 90s, I don't even like it when they reach their 80s....

We are off out now too, its now 11.30am, guess we wont be long.....

Good morning everyone

Going to be another hot day today.Will get my w**k done early , just some laundry needing ironed and put away.
Hubby had a good night and today we should get a visit from the nurse. They were to phone yesterday but that didn't happen .
Jackie, I am glad Benji is feeling better..

Joan thank you for breakfast.

I had better get a move on and get things done.

Enjoy your day everyone.

Vanilla-Jackie--When it's this hot I mostly stay in the house.  My car has great a/c so I won't be outside except to go from car into store.

Good morning, Amy.  Glad to hear your husband had a good night.  How often does the nurse come?

Good Morning Everyfriend!  It's only 66º here right now but it's heading for the 90s by noon.  Summer in PA has arrived!  I'll be off to Wally World to greet my public at 9.  I hope today is busier than yesterday when I went in to pick up a few things.  I like shopping when it's not busy but I rather have it busy when I work.

Joanie, I copied and printed the end of your inspirational reading to remind myself to keep my faith "looking up".  And I've been singing the hymn, MY FAITH LOOKS UP TO THEE ever since I read it.  I'd almost forgotten that hymn.  Thanks for the reminder!

I hope you all have a good day!  Make it what you want!

Good morning, Janie.  For your sake, I hope you're busy today so the time will fly by.  Glad you liked the end of the Food for Thought and that it got you singing.

Junee, nothing gets me more agitated than having to always be on the alert for all of these scams.  I've been threatened with being arrested for not paying taxes.  SCAM!  I've been asked to send money so I can inherit millions of dollars.  SCAM!  I've been offered a free cruise if I'll just send my bank number.  SCAM!  On and on and on.  I am so tired of sleazy crooks pestering me so often either by phone, by email, or by just ringing my doorbell.  You were very smart to call and check on it with the utility companies before you lost anything.

Hot today.  I will probably not go outside, if I can help it.  Take care and stay cool, everyone, or in Junee's case....stay warm.

Hi everyone.  It is a clear but warm morning and almost already 80 degrees headed up to 97 this afternoon.  The main activity for today is to go to a nice restaurant, the Chop House, at the Augusta Mall to celebrate our 54th wedding anniversary and Pat's 75th birthday.  We went there last year and the food is very good and there is a very nice atmosphere.  Scott will be going with us to help celebrate and then we hope he will spend some time with us the rest of the afternoon and early evening.  My chores for today are basically done so can take it nice and easy the rest of the day.  Yesterday I got most of the "to do" list completed but still have a couple of things left to do. We did have thunder late yesterday afternoon and a very brief rain that really wouldn't be very helpful. 

Joan, we have the same restriction about trash cans not allowed to be seen from the street.  However, we could keep them behind the wooden fence around the back but that is totally inconvenient so keep ours in the garage as it is a very short distance to the street. 

deAngel, glad the black mold was discovered as that can really make a person sick and perhaps has contributed to your breathing problems.  I think recycling policy is up to local jurisdictions.

Amy, glad your husband is home from the hospital.  It sounds like the days may be long for him since he is suppose to not do anything as he recovers.   

June and Joan, I also volunteered for a number of things after I retired but those years are now behind me.

Junee, glad you were cautious and called the companies about those utilities.  Computers have made scamming easy and they know people want to pay their bills.  Here we can go online to the utility and see the status of our account.  I think the clue is to always be suspicious and check things out for yourself. 

Good morning everyone, this is going to be an AC day. Already 79° and the sky is hazy. Don't have to hear the humidity is up, the sky says it all.

HAL she is like her husband, gets away with everything she did or does. Wonder what happened that honest politicians do not have a chance anymore.

JOAN  with the Pops not playing the 1812 along with the fireworks and the not spectacular display don't think I will ever miss I again, I will look at either the DC or Macy displays next year. Mud slinging seems to be the norm for candidates now.

AMY   only knew 1 man who liked to do nothing. That was a long time ago and from what someone told me lately that is what he still likes to do. Hope you hubby likes to read or make puzzles to keep busy with. Of course there is still TV if you can find something worth watching.

JUNEE  we get so many emails and phone calls that are scams we have to be alert all the time. I keep getting calls from Microsoft that they found I have computer problems and they are calling to access my PC to fix it. I tell them I have now PC and hang up.

JANE  we all have to be alert these days. We have been warned on TV about scams but some elderly still fall for them. Before I open an email if I do not know the sender or it looks weird I will block and delete it. I get more of those in my Yahoo email than seems normal. I would drop that one but need it for the PSP groups. I checked there yesterday for the first time in a couple of weeks and had over 1000 that were in the junk folder, took several minutes but got them all deleted.

SHIRLEY  you have had enough stress with it and spent more on it that it is worth. Time for a trade in to a different one?

JOAN  cinnamon coffee cake will “hit the spot” this morning. I love the Pickle Jar. A keeper and one to share. Thank you for all today's goodies.

LARRY  on the TV it says 86° already. Doubt I will go outside at all today.

My CNA will be here soon, busy day for her today after having Monday off.

Good Morning Everyone!

Another hot Texas July day is ahead and of course with no rain.  Just heard the trash truck go by, just went out to close hood on wifes car and brought can in to gate.

Larry we keep our cans in the back yard.  No room in garage with two cars and lots of junk.

I hope everyone has a good day.

Good morning, Phyllis.  I, too, am sick of scams.  The perpetrators move on so fast that authorities can't catch them.

Larry--Good morning.  Happy Birthday to Pat and Happy Anniversary to you both.  Enjoy your meal at the Chop House.  We absolutely cannot store trash bins outside.

Good morning, Gloria.  I'm sure your CNA will be busy after having the day off on Monday.

halkel--Good morning.  Still no rain here either.

I am up but my brain is still asleep. I'm glad I am not due to be anywhere today, I would never make it. It is delivery day of my groceries....yay ! I give them a four hour window, so I know I will be "in" from 11 to 3 for delivery. We are having a siege of cool cloudy mornings and I love it. Our high is to be 77......99 in Hemet. I made the right move !

I learned that the employer of highest number of people in Stanton, CA. is Rowntree Gardens, and we have more employees than residents. No wonder I feel so well cared for. And some of our employees have been here for years and years.

Time to make my bed and get myself decent. See you later.

June--I'd like some cool mornings.  You sure did make the right move--lovely weather and terrific staffing.  Is delivery of your grocery order free?

I wish we'd hear from Jeanne Lee.

I had one of the Calls from so called Microsoft the other day. Get a lot of them. I said the same. I don't have a Computer. (They know I do because the are watching it). Anyway I just said no Computer , I use a IPad. Crazy man said . Yes It is your IPad I am calling about.  Just can't get away from them. Mostly coming from Asia.

Jackie.  Now over the years I have been sorry not to have bought my aunts cottage when she passed and come back to UK for 1/2 the year.  I do come over often. Use to be 3 months at a time. But like the US was when I came here, UK is not the same now. Things just about alike. I remember growing up that I never saw a coloured person until the age of 16. Now up North it must be 50% asian.  Village still the same but the city where I worked in is  so different.  I get upset on the changes every time I come back there.  Could never drive again.

Doubt that  even Places in the South Of UK that I loved when my mother came down for part the year. I would come and stay. Mostly in Kent. Loved it. Bournmouth also.  I know that people make more money now in the UK. More than in the US now. Pensions higher in UK but goodness how things cost over there. Could never afford to buy a cottage there anymore.
I do like your area.

One more day finished at WM!  It was a pretty good one...lots of smiling people and only one crying baby and it was a tiny one.  It's so hard to know what the tiny ones needs are but I guess his/her mother found it because it stopped.

Happy Anniversary Larry and Pat and Happy Birthday Pat.  Enjoy your special day!

The temp is in the 90s right now.  I left the a/c on set to come on at 80 and it was running when I got home.  The temp inside was exactly 80 and not uncomfortable.

My plan for this afternoon is to get the bills paid...well I WILL get the one that is due tomorrow paid.  I really do not like this part of life.  If my son or daughter would say, "I'll do that for you, Mom."  I'd say a resounding "Hallelujah!!!".  Now before anyone says, "why don't you ask him/her?"  I won't do that!  It's a part of my independence and I'm not about to start giving that up piece by piece.  I'll just sit here and complain and you all can tell me to shut up any time you fell put upon.  Now if someone volunteered to clean for me, I'd give up that part of my independence in a flash!

Shirley, I don't remember if I said I was sure glad to see your post last nigh.  I missed you.  But I couldn't help thinking that I wish I knew how to fix you RV.  I sure could use the money you've been shelling out for it.  Oh well.  I you didn't have that to worry about, you'd have to find something else.  Keep coming by.  Love hearing from you.

Good Afternoon from the hot and sunny,
rocky coast of Maine.   

Today was my day out with my Kelly,  Madison,  and Fe  .... 

We went to Good will then stopped to get a bite
to eat at an outdoor cafe... 

Thery brought us some friend pickles. 
I started to eat one (they were spicy)
and started coughing...  The coughing went
on and on  for a few minutes and and I could feel
my throat starting to close!!!!
   

Holly moley!   
Of course,  all hell broke out
until finally my throat started to
relax and the Emergency people
showed up....   and they checked
me out and let me go.

Something in those spicy fried pickles
set me off coughing and all that
goes along with the fear of not being
able to breath... 

I could breath and I got over it. 
And I did not have to go to the
Emergency Room....  so we brought
all the food home here and ate it. 

What a mess..
But I will be more careful in the
future  about what I ingest... and make
sure that I don't take bites that
are too big,  and also to carry a list of
meds that I take (written down)  because
I could not remember any of them.
I was so afraid that I drew a blank.

I am fine,  but I have learned a lesson
that I won't soon forget. 

All is well
Sandy

Forgot to tell you earlier, Joan, how much I liked the Pickle Jar story.  Early in our marriage Tom would clean the change out of his pockets and put them in his piggy bank, one that he had since he was a boy.  Starting out a marriage and living on Airman 1st Class pay wasn't easy and several times we had to raid the piggy bank when we needed a little extra money.  It was a habit that he kept all the 60 years of our marriage and in later years the accumulated coins would be rolled and taken to the savings account at the bank.  Many years ago I found a hand shaped piggy bank at a pottery in the sandhills of NC and bought it for him sort of as a little joke.  It still sits on his dresser and once in awhile I'll put some coins in but mostly it just stands empty.  Still it is a nice remembance of hearing him drop coins in it at the end of the day.  I imagine that a lot of us who were raised during the Depression, or shortly after it, have a "pickle jar" somewhere in the house.

Happy celebrations to Larry and his Pat. The dinner plans sound so nice and it is a blessing that your son and you live close enough together now that he can join you.

Hot, hot, hot here, too.  David trimmed about half of the hedge in front of the house and came in just drenched.  I have not even put my nose outside the door and don't intend to!

That was scary, Sandy, and I'm so glad you didn't need to go to the hospital.  It's a good idea to carry a list of meds with you all the time.  You never know......

Janie--All my bills (except 2) are auto-pay so that's not a big chore for me.  My cleaning people really aren't a luxury--they are a necessity.  I just can't breathe well enough to do any heavy cleaning, and I sure don't want to live in a pig pen.

Sandy--Your episode is scary.  Maybe you should carry an EpiPen?

Phyllis--Love your story about piggy banks and especially Tom's.  Nice memories.  It is HOT, HOT, HOT here, too.

Quote from: JoanFL on July 06, 2016, 02:50:17 PM
Sandy--Your episode is scary.  Maybe you should carry an EpiPen?

Possibly you are correct,  Joan.. 
I have had minor episodes before  with food and bugs,
but this is the first time it affected my breathing. 

I will have to look into it.
In the meantime,  I am going to stick with foods I
know are safe for me.    And try to stay away from
any bug bites.

I just must be more aware ..
Sandy

Our Toby enjoyed his short driving trip out this morning, guess we were out 1 & a half hours but he was very good off lead...Even I walked a bit further, sat down overlooking a farm machine doing its rounds in the field,  and beyond that the views were spectacular.....wish I had taken my camera...

It has been quite hot today, came home, both made ourselves a snack, our preferred salad rolls and I made up the decking furniture, brought out the cushions and we both sat out there for a little while, me soaking up the sun, well I even dozed off when left by myself, then took myself indoors, laid on the sofa, then dozed off again, have no clues as for how long, but I was so so tired, must have been for a good 2 or 3 hours, maybe the sun got to me as I am as red as could be....

Oh and the good news, mail waiting on my doorstep, our " Petplan " Insurance cheque and my Blue Badge were both sitting on the mat,...... thats two more ticks to tick off.....although of course the Petplan will be now ongoing....

Sandy, I hope you are feeling better.  And one my favorite things are fried pickles at the Texas Roadhouse.

Janie, I "try" to pay my bills as the come in so I don't have a stack of them to pay at one time.  Sometimes I have three to pay at one time, but most of the time it is just one at a time.

Back in the olden days    we let them accumulate until the first and then pay them all at one time.  But not much point anymore.

Sandy--If I were you I'd ask my doctor about getting an Epi-Pen.

Vanilla-Jackie--How nice you had an outing with Toby.  You must have been really tired to fall asleep outside and then come in and sleep more on the couch. Glad your PetPlan insurance and badge arrived.

halkel--How come you don't pay your bills via auto-pay?