I just got off the phone a
while back,  and walked over to my Windows,  when I looked down and there were four
Fire Engines and many police cars/ambulances  near by.     I was shocked because I hadn't heard any alarms.

Well it seems like there was a fire up
on the seventh floor (I am on the 2nd)..
in the kitchen of an apartment that happens to be right above me six floors up...   

Then I looked out in the hall and saw
and heard water coming down.  Some came into my hall way,  but most was coming down the large stair way.     

After speaking to a gentle man, I learned
about the problem on the 7th floor.  And
since water does flow down hill ....the 2nd floor was getting a little.   

The engines etc left and the water stopped flowing and none of it came into my apartment,  so all is well.

My biggest fear is having water damage to
my electronics....   (Phew)

Sandy

Sandy, happy all you got was a little water damage.  You have had an exciting day, first a parade and now a fire.

Sandy--Glad you didn't sustain substantial damage.  A fire in the building must be scary.

halkel--And did you have an exciting day?

More action going on here....    a few minutes ago,  over the speakers came and emergency warning to vacate the building, as there was and emergency...   

I started to head out when I ran into the manager and she said,  not and emergency go back in your apartment.     This kept on blasting away for about 10 minutes,  when it finally stopped.       
Apparently, 
"All's well that ends well" .... 

Yikes...   we go months with out any
issues,  but today we had three.     Hopefully that is it  until tomorrow.   

What a day!!
Sandy

Sandy--Three in one day is more than enough "false alarms", I'd say.

Enjoy your day Everyfriend!  I'm enjoying mine.

Sandy, you certainly did have an exciting day ! I'm thankful you had no water damage to your Apt. It must have been quite heavy fire though, to have needed that amount of water to put it out..brrrrrr....makes me shudder just thinking about it.

I went down for lunch today, so have some extra left overs in case tomorrow requires me to stay at home. I hope to resume my normal schedule with Church on Sunday.

I lost another high school classmate this week....one of the first loves of my teen life.  He was one of the all time good guys. 

I'm off to bed.  May God bless us, every one!

Jane, it is sad to lose a really close old friend. I don't know if I have any left or not. I left my home town in Mn.way back in the early forties, and have never returned. Those I did write to are all gone.

I just went down for a bandage change on my leg. So I won't be disturbed with anything tonight.

I think you are all tucked away in bed, so I will bid you all a very Good night and a happy tomorrow. Hugs, Love and Prayers. June

Janie, sorry about the lost of your friend.

Joanie, I did have a little excitement today.  I talked to an old friend who I worked with, he is even older than me.  He had open heart surgery last year and has recovered nicely.......although......he is having dizzy spells and fell getting into his pickup in a parking lot at a shopping center.  But no major injuries, scrapes on his arms.  We talked for over an hour.

Bed time, nite, nite all.  Sweet dreams and God bless everyone.

Good Saturday morning, Everyfriend.   There's egg, cheese and sausage croissants to accompany your coffee or tea. I wish everyone a good day!!




No Service Charge

The state trooper pulled Mr. Schwarz over and after inspecting his license and registration, informed the motorist that he was going to have to spend the night in jail.

"What's the charge?" Mr. Schwarz demanded.

"None," replied the officer. "It's all part of the service."



Consider Jesus!
(By Kerry Doyal)

Talk about courageous! At Easter a few years ago, a well-known Italian journalist who was a Muslim was baptized by the Pope at the Vatican. He publicly abandoned Islam and embraced Jesus in an international way. His extended family may not have been thrilled with this dramatic crossover. It is not hard to imagine the threats and attacks he might face. Bowing to Jesus means bowing out of other faith commitments. He is a rightfully jealous Lover.

For some disciples - like many in India, Egypt and China - a "yes" to Jesus means serious persecution, economic hardship, ostracism and maybe even death. Christians are still suffering and dying for being faithful to Jesus. First century Jews who bravely and obediently submitted to Jesus as their Messiah knew such trials. Confessing Jesus as Lord meant one might get to go to heaven a lot sooner than they had planned.

They had a powerful temptation to turn back to Judaism and away from Jesus to end their pain. Who wants to have to choose between life, one's livelihood and loved ones and the Lord? Thus the book of Hebrews was written; to encourage and bolster embattled believers.

Their hope? Their help? Their need and ours? To "consider Jesus" - look afresh at the One who also suffered. He stayed faithful, He knows. Look to Jesus. Learn of Him, lean on Him. He is a faithful, merciful and powerful helper to those hurting for His sake.

Hear Hebrews 2:

"Since therefore the children share in flesh and blood, he himself likewise partook of the same things, that through death he might destroy the one who has the power of death, that is, the devil, and deliver all those who through fear of death were subject to lifelong slavery.

"Therefore he had to be made like his brothers in every respect, so that he might become a merciful and faithful high priest in the service of God, to make propitiation for the sins of the people. For because he himself has suffered when tempted, he is able to help those who are being tempted.

"Therefore, holy brothers, you who share in a heavenly calling, consider Jesus, the apostle and high priest of our confession, who was faithful to him who appointed him..." (Hebrews 2:14, 15, 17-18; 3; 1, 2 ~ ESV).

Let's pick out a few encouraging reminders from that packed passage for when we are tempted to turn back, to compromise our commitment to Christ.

First of all: your walk with God may provoke the Devil, but fear not, he has been de-clawed, neutered. Jesus shared skin - became human - so He could share in our sufferings and thus skin the serpent, end his claims and control over us (vs. 14). We are now able to resist the tempter as we stand firm in the faith. We draw near to God so He can draw near to us and the devil will flee (1 Peter 5, James 4; Eph. 6). Our sympathetic Savior - who is in us - is greater than the one that is in the world (1 John 4:4; 1 Cor. 10:13).

Consider this: since Jesus, our Apostle and High Priest was faithful to God unto death, He can set free those enslaved by fear of death. If the worst someone can do to you because your faith in Jesus is send you to heaven - where is the threat in that?

The process of dying doesn't thrill me. But, in Jesus, death itself is nothing to fear. Where is your sting, death (1 Corin. 15)? Jesus has the keys of Death (Revelation 1:18). It is in His control. Make me a slave with a fear of death? Not any more, I consider Jesus.

Saint Patrick wrote some 1500 years ago: "Daily I expect murder, fraud or captivity, but I fear none of these things because of the promises of heaven. I have cast myself into the hands of God almighty who rules everywhere." I think this missionary to Ireland was considering Jesus!

Matthew Henry, an English pastor of the late 1600's commented: "Here the wonderful love of God appeared, that, when Christ knew what he must suffer in our nature, and how he must die in it, yet he readily took it upon him. And this atonement made way for his people's deliverance from Satan's bondage, and for the pardon of their sins through faith...Let those who dread death, and strive to get the better of their terrors, no longer attempt to out-brave or to stifle them, no longer grow careless or wicked through despair. Let them not expect help from the world, or human devices; but let them seek pardon, peace, grace, and a lively hope of heaven, by faith in Him who died and rose again, that thus they may rise above the fear of death."

To help us be faithful in our faith-race (ala Heb. 12:1, 2), two key opponents have been dealt with: the Devil and Death. Both lost their power to dispirit or defeat us. Jesus, our brother and priest, hammered the Devil and dealt death a deathblow. To stay faithful like Jesus was - and is - look again at Him. He displayed and defined fidelity to the Father. He now emboldens and empowers faltering and fearful followers. Consider Him, all ye scared and suffering saints!

When trials, tiredness or timidity tempt you to give up, consider Jesus. He was faithful in His sufferings to bring us into His family: steady to the Father, staying the course. We must stay true. And we can as we consider Him! Consider Jesus!




"Right is right, even if everyone is against it, and wrong is wrong even if everyone is for it."

- William Penn

Janie--I extend my sympathy on the loss of your friend.

Good morning everyone..

I didn't want to get up this early but couldn't go back to sleep...going to be a long day now..

Hubby wants to get his hair cut so off to the city we go.I see Michaels has a 50% off coupon and I will use it for my blades for the rotary cutter.

Jane, not nice losing a friend ,sorry for your lose.

Joan, thank you for breakfast..

Enjoy your day everyone.

Amy, same problem here.  I've already found a couple things on Amazon I can't live without so just had to peek in here to see who is up.  Sons are coming over when the frost is off the grass, to transplant some small trees for me.  They are taller than I am so will be some deep digging.  I'm hoping to send some home with them.  The trees volunteer & I move them to a flower bed & then have to find a place for them.  I planted some on the river bank years ago & now have a real woods down there.

Joan, love the thought of the day, copied to "add on" when e-mailing my kids.  Thanks!

Jane, so sorry about the loss of your friend.  I have lost most of mine that I could "call & pick up where we left off a year ago".  It is such a sad moment every time you want to tell those friends something special, and nobody to tell.  Hugs to you.

And now to get away from the bright light of the monitor.  I do have lightly tinted glasses on right now, very old ones that I know are not really good for my eyes.... they are for distance not up close & the bifocal doesn't work for the computer at all.  What they do is make my distance vision worse.... so I think after wearing them quite a bit this summer (they are the old "photo-gray" of 30 some years ago).  It is a real problem being just a little near & far sighted, but so far I still read without glasses & in an emergency, could drive without but eyes would sure be sore & runny if I did, especially with bright sun.  I try not to drive after dark because of bright lights.  Others have it much worse so I shouldn't complain.... just limit my time on the computer.  I listen more than watch TV & have to limit my reading.  Once I start a book it's like I am spell bound to finish it. Silly to give in to the urge when I know what happens! 

Good morning to all. 

Good morning Shirley..

I just polished off a dish of creamy rice pudding....healthy breakfast.

Good morning and a great day to you all.
the mike on this junk is not working proper and I don't know how to fix it.guse I will have to bite the bullet and take it to teck. AMY sounds good but I do not know how to make It and Nancy is not up' Bis I never got around to the bead Mach. yesterday maby to day.

Lloyd

Good morning, Amy.  Safe travel and enjoy getting out.

Shirley--Good morning.  You're lucky to have your sons nearby to assist you with things that are difficult for you to do.  Glad you liked the "Thought for Today".  Do take care of those precious eyes.

Good morning, Lloyd.  Sorry the mike on your computer isn't working.  I'll check the "hidey hole" later in case you get around to making bread.

Good Morning Everyfriend!  My plan for today was to start the Christmas candy but my daughter texted that the local girls high school basketball team (my only son is their coach) is doing a pancake breakfast fundraiser at Appleby's this morning.  Did I want to go?  I do and we are!

Enjoy your day Everyfriend!

Good morning, Janie.  Enjoy the fundraiser pancake breakfast with your daughter.

Good morning, Joan and all the Saturday morning friends.

Joan, this morning you have provided one of my favorite breakfast sandwiches.  Love croissants .

Amy, I also had a "healthy" breakfast,  I made up some cinnamon rolls. LOL

Jane, sorry about the loss of your friend.  It seems we all are losing friends so quickly these days. I guess that is another sign of "old age".

It is a pretty sunny morning here in Central Maryland, but only about 30 º.   I was up early to turn the thermostat up and then went back to sleep for a little bit longer.

Nothing special on my agenda for today.  It took me a few minutes to realize it was Saturday.  All the days of the week seem the same to me these days. 

I hope everyone will have a great day

Joy

A sunny morning here in NC, too.  Windy and chilly and our first hard freeze is expected tonight.

I would love a croissant, Joan, but guess I will settle for my usual oatmeal with banana, craisins, sliced almonds and walnuts.  Healthy and very filling and warms the tummy on a cold day.

Hope it will be a good one for everyone.

Good morning, Joy.  I'd have my geemogotchees on if it was 30°.  At my house it's only 58° and for us that's chilly.  I was tempted to turn the furnace on, but forecast is for it to get to the 70s so I decided not to.

Phyllis--Good morning.  You eat much healthier than I do.  I trust you have all your cold weather duds out by now.

Good Morning  everyone's  shinning brightly here this morning.

Callie, are we on for the games today?  Both of them.

Good morning everyone, hated to get out of bed this morning, I was nice and warm and knew it would be cold when I got up. So glad I have a nice warm fleece robe. The sun is shining and the sky is blue so it might warm up some.

JOAN got a call yesterday from the pain doctor's office. Have an appointment for 12/23. Another reason I am now glad I changed doctor. Makes me feel good to find someone who will listen and do something. Glad I changed my medical, maybe the one I had limited the doctor on what he could do. Who knows.

JANE like you I am tired of political talk, we have had too much of it this year.

JACKIE  how terrible to see that woman not be fed.

AMY  Like you I did a lot of baking and miss being able to do any now.

PHYLLIS  I used to have a lot of rubber bands but they were left behind when I moved, now I only have a few and they are not the strong kind. Oh yes the making of bread the old fashioned way and all that kneading. Well worth it with the aroma and the taste.

LLOYD  if you get that bread made I get that first slice with the end of the bread. Nice and crusty, yummy.

PATRICIA  I know about not being able to do so many things I did without thinking about it. I used to move furniture around to clean in back and under. That no longer gets done, The CNA I have is not allowed to do that.

LARRY  it is great to find a doctor who does something instead of walking out of the room or saying he would look into it and do nothing. It was more than 2 years ago I asked about a pain clinic, I would still be waiting. I saw online about all the fires in the southeast and how far the smoke is going.

HAL  looks like my appointments are just starting. Only thing for me is I do not like them in the winter months. Most of my regular ones like the dentist are now in the spring and fall. Then I have to arrange for transportation for all of them. That is the biggest problem I have. As far as back surgery I have been told I am too old. Even when I was still in my 70's. Another demonstration here at the state capitol. Crazy, if the media did not play them up so much they would fade away.

GLORIA de  I do hope the pain doctor I will be seeing next month helps me. This has been going on too many years now and all I ever got was more pain pills that I do not like taking and they really do not help much.

JUNE  I have had my rollator for more than 6 years now and am so glad I got it before I had to use it all the time.

JOAN  breakfast will be great this morning, something different. Cute chuckles. Food for Thought should make everyone think. Like today's quote. Thank you for all today's goodies.

AMY  like you I did not want to get up this morning. I have not been to Michael's in a few years now, always found something I needed when I went there.

SHIRLEY  like you I copy a lot of the quotes Joan ends her posts with. I have computer glasses and except for reading I see better with then than my bifocals. At times I forget I have them on and when I go to read something wonder why I cannot read the words.

LLOYD  don't forget I want that slice of bread when you make it.

JANE  good excuse to go out for breakfast. Better than cooking.

PHYLLIS  looks like you add good things to your oatmeal, I do, too. Stays with me for hours and am not hungry till late afternoon.

Hi everyone on another beautiful morning.  We had some smoke yesterday from the wild fires in several surrounding States but it appears to have cleared away this morning.  Pat had good news from her Chiropractor yesterday.  He feels that progress has been made and it is now time to maintain it with just a once-a-month treatment and he will do the next three appointments without additional cost to us, which was really a surprise.  I think the conclusion is that she is just about as good as it is likely to be for her but we can always hope for further improvement.  She has exercises to do daily and to continue to use the ice as needed.

Today we are excited to have two dear friends visit us from where we moved from.  We are so looking forward to the visit.  We will just have a light lunch here with the chicken salad on croissants as the main item and then I got this huge pumpkin pie from COSTCO yesterday so will have that for dessert.  I will fix a vegetable plate to go with the sandwiches. I did talk with Scott yesterday and he was feeling back to normal. 

Yesterday I went to pick up my new glasses and when they gave me the card to check what I could see I found that I saw much better with the old glasses than the new.  I talked to the eye doctor and we decided to use the old prescription in the new glasses.  I am sure in the next couple of years that I will need a prescription change and will then have a second pair to send off for the new lenses plus I will have a spare pair in reserve should they ever be needed.

deAngel, I have never heard of the spinal spondylolis so had to look it up.  I am glad to see I was in good company in losing my posting.    I do hope you get your hearing aid soon. 

June, I hope you will really like your laptop.  I would gladly give up the desktop computer rather than my laptop. 

Sandy, nothing like having them bring the parade to you.  That is special!  I sounds like that fire and the water really made a mess in your apartment building.  Glad it didn't impact your apartment or things. 

JaneS, sorry about the lose of your high school classmate.  So far we have lost only one of my classmates. 

Hal, I wonder if your friend would be a candidate for a pacemaker?  I hope he discusses the dizziness with his doctor.  Glad he wasn't seriously hurt in his fall. 

Amy, glad you aren't wasting those Michaels coupons.  Pat keeps her eye on the Joann Fabric coupons but hasn't been able to use one for several months now. 

Joy and Phyllis, wish I could share some of the croissants with you both.  The package I bought has 12 in it and there are only four of us for lunch.  It look like I will have to eat the rest of them myself--such hard duty.  Of course, I can share a few with our son the next time he is out along with some of this huge pumpkin pie.   

Gloria, maybe that furniture moving years ago contributed to your back issues.  My grandmother used to move her furniture a lot, several times a year.  In this house we really have only one place for most of the furniture. 

Good morning halkel.  Sounds like you'll spend the day watching football games.

Gloria--Good morning.  GREAT that you're scheduled for the pain clinic in December.  This new doctor is moving right along.  I pray for you that you'll finally get some pain relief.

Good morning, Larry.  We have wild fires here, too.  I heard on the local news this morning that they suspect some are arson.  If so, the arsonist needs to be in jail.  I hope with the decreased number of chiropractic appointments that Pat continues to be somewhat relieved of pain.  Enjoy the visit from your friends today.  Lunch sounds yummy.

Good Morning,
I would describe the climate today as "crisp".   

Hal,  of course we're on for today's games!   Go Sooners!  Go Pokes!

Amy,  My first reaction was to giggle at your comment:  Hubby wants to get his hair cut so off to the city we go.I see Michaels has a 50% off coupon and I will use it for my blades for the rotary cutter. because the first thought was to connect the two parts of the sentence - and the first "rotary cutter" I pictured was a lawn mower.
Maybe you meant your hair clippers.   

Janie,  I'm so sorry for the loss of your special friend.   Even though I hadn't seen him since the Fall of 1953, I felt very sad when I learned a few years ago that my first love had died.  We never really "broke up";  just drifted apart into our own lives.
Several of my long-time friends have been diagnosed with dementia or Alzheimer's.  It's really tough to accept that they can no longer function as the bright, talented, wonderful conversationalists they used to be.

Shirley,  can you adjust the brightness of your screen?   I lower the brightness on my Tablet when I'm reading at night.

I'll probably get a whole page of demerits for how I spent most of the day yesterday.  Maybe having a big bag of things to donate to charity will excuse sorting, rearranging and cleaning my closet.

Also made the "baking supply" list - since the first holiday need will be baking cookies for the church Thanksgiving dinner next Wednesday evening. 
I tried to retire from taking THE chocolate dessert to the family Thanksgiving dinner - but was quickly out-voted.  I know better than to suggest not bringing the cornbread dressing.

Jane,  I'd take pancakes at Appleby's over making candy, too!   I did put the Martha Washington candy ingredients on the "baking supply" list but haven't commented to the family about making it.  I know my Bridge Club would like some. 

Another thing was to contact my doctor for a referral to a dermatologist.  Don't have a specific problem but it's been several years since I had a skin check-up.   I sent the e-mail request shortly after noon - and at 2:15, the dermatologist's office called to set up the appointment.
I really like being able to contact my doctor this way and appreciate the way he (or either of the PAs I like) answer so quickly.

Off to earn some more demerits.  One result of the closet work was an overloaded laundry basket.

Wishing Everyfriend Everywhere an Enjoyable Day.

Callie--I think Amy meant the rotary cutter she uses for cutting fabric.  I'll deduct some demerits if you leave some cookies and candy in the hidey hole.

Breakfast was good and I found out that the kids get $4.50 for every ticket sold.  The restaurant only charges $2. for each meal sold and if a ticket is sold and the person doesn't show, they keep all the money.  It's a pretty good deal and I saw lots of friends there including Kiran.  I got 2 hugs and a kiss.

Then I went for a hair cut and picked up a few groceries.  Like Callie, I'm getting started on the Christmas candy.  I'm making peanut butter centers and coconut centers today. 

Back home, have laundry out on line now. He did get his hair cut but I didn't get to Michaels, noticed he was getting a bit tired and thought home is the best place to be. He did manage to sleep most all the way home and is in bed catching those few zzz' he missed.

Callie, Joan was right, rotary blades for my fabric cutter..I do have a supply but one can always use them.
Larry, we don't have a Jo Annes here....have heard about them and wish they were here!