Jackie - Larry is OK; I had an e-mail from him today regarding a plan he has for posting.  He does have good days and bad days but he is OK today.

Mary Ann

Mary Ann, didn't find a webcam on that link.  Did a little searching and only found weather cams for Bay City.
Surely have been a lot of big sailing vessels on the river between Port Huron and Algonac this afternoon as well as tankers. My wish was granted.   

Sorry you couldn't find your earrings.  I still wear clips ( and always will - nobody's punching a hole in my ears <shudder>) and have had a terrible time finding simple small gold hoops.

Thanks for the note about Larry.  I was sure I had seen a post from him somewhere that he might not post every day.

I don't think there is a live cam for Bay City. I guess we will have to wait for someone to post video clips.

I spent most of the day watching the ships on the St. Clair River with a few breaks. I gave up after Bluenose II got to the lake. The first ship out onto the lake this morning, Picton Castle, anchored just outside the mouth of the river and out of the shipping lane. Last I saw, at 6:30 or so, it was still there. Unlike the other ships, it came straight through from Cleveland without stopping so I guess they needed a break. I could have sworn that the Marine Traffic site listed the Nina, but this morning it said the Santa Maria. It turns out that the Nina sunk at dock down in Galveston back in May. Apparently this isn't the first time. What a small, cumbersome looking ship. It is really hard to imagine that Columbus, et. al. traveled across the ocean it something like that.

Mary Ann, I discovered that the Great Republic docked just around the bend across the river from Algonac. It followed Bluenose II the whole way back upriver, then passed it at the first bend. One of the moderators said it is one of the few ships that can run both ways without having to turn around.

We just had a thunderstorm go through, dumped some rain, but not for long. I think we may get rain, maybe, the next three days but it is staying way up close to and over 90 for the next 10 days.

Callie, Larry had also said he might post later in the day.

If you saw a map, you saw where Bay City is not on the shore of the St Clair River, nor on the shore of Saginaw Bay, so the only cams would have been about the town and its attractions.

MarsGal, I saw a lot of ships today, including the Niagara and Sullivan sail boats.  I wonder if the Bay City race will be on the river or if they'll go into Saginaw Bay.  Maybe someone in Chat will give some details.

As to the earrings, if I decide I want some bad enough, I'll try Amazon.  I had ordered some from them previously but the balls were too small.  I really was surprised because I thought gold balls would be "standard" but evidently not.  The gold balls are the only ones I feel I can leave in my ears for any length of time because I've had some with "gems" come apart.  These were what I called my "training" earrings because they were the ones I got in 1972 when I had my ears pierced - almost 47 years ago.  I would not have my ears pierced now, but I have been happy with what I have. 

Tom's friend, Robin, has been cleaning for us.  Tom bought a bake-it-yourself pizza which we are going to have for supper, then Tom and Robin will go to a bible study. 

Mary Ann

CALLIE - I don't have pierced ears either!  I thought I was the only one left, so good to know there is at least one other hold-out ! 

I finally saw my first tall ship today . . . a three master, on the Marine City cam. It was called the Denis Sullivan. I think that cam is probably my favorite now, thanks to the operator who follows the ships and then gives us some wonderful closeups!  I could see people working on board, as well as others just walking around on deck. 

Mary Ann - Thanks for letting us know that Larry is okay.  I remember now, that he said he probably would not post a message every day.

You all seem to be having such fun watching all the sites you watch . I just don't seem to be able to find how to bring them up.i never see any ships moving anywhere. Going to spend more time trying to find some of the Cams.
It is going to be up to 105 deg. here for the next few days and so I doubt I will be going out of the house.  Just hoping that nothing goes wrong with A/C as it has not closed off for the past month it seems
Lot of stuff taking over the TV next 2 days showing the first trip into space. Hard to believe how many years ago that was. Now seeing some of the people now looking so old after showing them as they were so many years ago. Lots have passed.

A couple of years ago my then 24 year old NYC granddaughter went to the Rachel Raye show.  The audience was asked if there was anyone who had never had their ears pierced.  She was the only one who held up her hand.  She went back the next week and had her ears pierced on a taped segment for a future show.  I still have the recording in my DVR list...and she still wears the titanium posts she was given on the show.

I have to laugh when I think back, but I pictured me with hanging earrings in my pierced ears.  Being short, hanging or dangling earrings are not for me as I have no neck to speak of, they have to be button type.  I think the one earring I lost got mixed up in the seat belt because I am short.  I have not been wearing any earrings occasionally but I like to have them for church.

To make you feel better, Callie and Marilyn, Dot also does not have pierced ears.  I have a friend who does not have pierced ear and she knows if she did, she would have a problem with her skin - I don't remember what would happen but I knew a long time ago.

Mary Ann

I am so sorry that I don't manage to get here more often, but I stay so busy trying to stay on top of everything - bills, appointments, medications, etc. for Windell that lots of evenings I am just to tired to turn on the computer.  I have had some back and hip pain on the left side in the last two weeks and I think I am developing some arthritis on that side.  We saw our internist (she treats both of us) last week and I said that assisted living looks better and better.  She encouraged me to consider around the clock help if we need it.  She is concerned that with the deterioration in Windell's eyesight he would be more inclined to fall in a strange, unfamiliar place. So I guess I need to make some phone calls soon to explore the possibility.  I will be 85 this coming weekend and I just don't have the energy I used to have to keep up with things. Windell is almost blind now and even has trouble reading headlines at the bottom of the TV screen so I have to read his mail to him so he can decide what to do with it. I am also writing the checks now but he still wants to try to sign them.  His signature is often slanted up or down but so far we haven't gotten any back.  Fortunately I still have excellent eyesight so I can drive and my reflexes are still good.

Have been wondering about Larry and so glad to see that you are still functioning, Larry!  That was smart for Pat to be aware of your dehydration.  My older sister who died in 2013 tried to control her incontinence by not drinking fluids, even in the nursing home, and she  would get some dementia symptoms from dehydration sometimes so it was a good lesson for me.  Windell seems to stay hydrated pretty well but the distortion in vision caused by his macular degeneration is really getting severe now.  He has another eye appointment in early August and I have a feeling he is legally blind now.  He has difficulty distinguishing colors anymore.  Beige and gray and white all look white to him these days and he commented recently that he can't believe how many people here are painting their houses white!  He argues with me if I try to explain that it's just the way he sees them, so I just don't comment anymore. I have increased the home cleaners to every week instead of every other week and they also make up our bed for us if I have the sheets washed when they arrive.  I also have a sitter one afternoon a week so I can run some errands and do shopping without having to take Windell with me.

Jenny, I know your dad's situation must concern you but it sounds like he is getting very good care. Life gets so complicated sometimes trying to meet everyone's needs.

Jackie, it sounds like things are improving for you a little.  I have said some prayers for  you along the way.  You have really been through a stressful, tiring time.

Mary Ann, always good to catch up with your posts, too!  I miss having a cat to jump up on my lap and want to be petted but I just can't risk the respiratory problems from their dander amymore.

I really need to go to bed and get some sleep.  Time to rise comes almost before I am ready for it!

Love you all!

Johann

Johann...
...bless you, yes I need all the prayers I can get....I now feel totally lost and on my own,  and very frightened of my now future without Richard by my side...

Oh yes, if we suffer incontinence ( as I do with my PP-MS ) we must drink water...I understand your sisters way of thinking but she was wrong, we need to keep up our water intake, rather than cut it down...I am so sorry to hear that you lost her six years ago...

MaryAnn...
....happy to hear you had contact with Larry....i know he will make a posting as and when he is able...just that we are used to seeing one every day, but things change...

Jackie..

I am testing out a new browser by CCleaner. It came with the latest update. I haven't checked out the browser settings themselves yet, but it looks like they automatically imported all my bookmarks from Firefox. In fact, the browser looks suspiciously like Firefox. Everything is set at default right now, except for size (I am using 3 at the moment). I am wondering if you notice any difference in the post from my others. It looks about the same to me. My preview and posts look grey to me if I leave the color at default.

Picton Castle still at Port Huron. Inland Seas, which I thought was going to participate, is still at Belle Isle. I wonder if they are all going to rondezvous on the Bey and go in as a procession. It looks like other sail boat traffic is heading toward Port Huron. The cargo ship, RADCLIFFE R LATIMER, is just leaving Detroit River and heading for Burns Harbor. This s a vessel I have not yet seen.

No ear piercing for me, thank you. I think my sisters did though, but I they stopped wearing earrings so time ago.

Most of the birds I've seen around here lately are sparrows and a few robins, but I haven't really been looking. Shan is the household birdwatcher of late. Actually, he tracks anything that flies. This year he found two fireflies in the house and I found one - very unusual to see them inside. No signs of any of the cats from behind the bar for over a month, although I had a report that two were hanging out behind my neighbor's house and exciting their dogs.

I've been feeling a little hip achy, too, in this humid weather (and since I mowed the lawn last) as well as my ear plugging up frequently, especially overnight. I really must try a different allergy medicine.
 

It is going to be another warm one today; we are already at 74 degrees and I'm waiting for the a/c to go on because it's warmer than that inside.

Today is Kendrick's sixth birthday.  Johann, Kendrick is not a lap cat but he likes to be wherever I am.  He walks back in front of me and likes to have his back scratched and his tail pulled.  He gets on my bed toward morning and stays by my shin for about a half hour, then he leaves.  It is cooler downstairs so I suspect that is where he is now.

I have a luncheon with my retiree friends today.  I had forgotten about it until Tom mentioned it last night.  I've forgotten about them before.  The date never made it to my computer calendar which can remind me of dates.

MarsGal, your post looks the same except the print on your previous post looked to be black where this may be charcoal?  Whatever, it is very readable.  I haven't been to the boats yet and it looks as if this will be a busy boat weekend.  I saw the Niagara and Denis Sullivan go by last evening.  The Niagara was more impressive (to me).

Johann, it was so good to see your long message.  I sympathize with Windell on the loss of his eyesight because I am having problems too.  My optometrist has done all she can do for me as far as prescriptions are concerned; I know I have glaucoma.  I can see objects quite well but tiny details are lost.  I have trouble reading normal computer print.  The song piece in church I get is separate from the bulletin and I have trouble going from the words to the music.  I'm fortunate that I know the first verses of many hymns and I "frog" it for the rest.  It isn't easy getting old and instead of calling these the Golden Years (as many do), I call them the Rust Years.  I drove until I was 92 but not much because Tom had taken over my car by then (by his necessity) and then I sold the car so I am a passenger now at 95.  Norm died at 85, almost four years ago, but he was not in good health by that time.

I can read all of the posts in the folder because the print is large enough, but when I go to Soda Shoppe, some of the posts are so small that I pass over them.  So, whatever everyone is doing, keep it up.

Mary Ann[/size]

Mary Ann - HAPPY BIRTHDAY TO KENDRICK!  -  I hope he enjoys his day, and gets a special treat of some kind?  Maybe just some time outside on the deck with you?  Have fun at your retirement luncheon!

Johann - I see that you and I are the same age . . . I will be 85 in August.  Others here in S&F, that were born in 1934, are Joy and Radioman. There are probably more, but those are the only ones I know of.  Good to see you posting, and hope that you can visit us more often.

Jackie - I often think about you, all alone out there there in the country.  Have you thought anything more about eventually moving into town?  I know that a person can be just as lonesome in a crowded city, as they are in the quiet countryside, but still, it would give you more things to see and to do.

In the late 90s my oldest daughter was visiting from Calif. and while she was there the two girls talked me into getting my ears pierced.  neither one of the girls wear earrings anymore, but I have a gold pair in shape of a heart that my son bought for me that I wear most of the time.  I have other earrings for special occasions but there are fewer and fewer of those special occasions anymore.

I went to bed late but got up early which is unusual for me, but I had a few things I wanted to get done.  Every quarter we have the house sprayed.  My tolerance for bugs is very low.  Today the bug man is due.  They just spray around the baseboard and around the outside of the house and it keeps those palmetto bugs, etc.  away (life in the south).

When I look at HGTV and the shows of Island living, I wonder how many of those people will really enjoy it.  Maybe those islands are different than the one we lived on?  When we first moved to Guam in the middle 60s, we didn't have AC.  There was always a breeze blowing and didn't get that hot, BUT there were the many geckos and at night so many gnats.  They would get in our food if we had the lights on.  I told my husband that is too much.  Our windows were louvers so we covered all the windows in plastic and installed a window AC.  It made the biggest difference.  When we went to the outdoor movie, we had to keep our feet up on the cross bar at the bottom of the bench in front of us because of the shrews that ran through.  As you can see, I have a "slight" phobia about bugs and mice and ......in other words Island living isn't as good as it sounds (at least for me).

More than I planned to write but when I got started I kept right on going.  Oh well, have a good day everyone.

Mary Ann, I just came back in and looked at my previous post. It looks olive green to me. My eyes playing tricks.

Okay news flash: LiveStream's sea plane base is up on YouTube now. It is at Lake Hood, Anchorage, AK. Notice that there is a link to a flight tracker (FlightAware) which is similar to the marine traffic site.
 
Lots of fog on Lake Huron today.

Happy Birthday Kendrick.

Good Afternoon Everyone from the
hot qnd humid,  rocky coast of
Maine.   

Here is a cringe moment for you
all.    Twice I pierced my own ears.
to get the second piercing in each
ear.   

I did it,  but had to sit down before
I fell down....   (PHEW!) 

Sandy
 

Sandy, I never thought about piercing my own ears but I think I heard of women who did that.  I never even thought about a second hole.  I cringe when I see young girls with rings in their noses and/or navels. 

Jean, I think the islands on HGTV are different than Guam and I think those pictured are more civilized than many.  If I were young, I'd like to live on a road that is hard to get to and very out-of-the-way.  Now that I'm older, I want to be able to get to the store, a hospital, doctor's offices in a timely fashion.  I can tolerate some bugs, but nothing large. 

MarsGal, your post just before noon today looks more black.  My eyes play tricks on me but as long as I can read it, I'm happy.

Thanks everyone for the birthday greetings to Kendrick today and to Tom yesterday. 

I just told Tom the saying is when you're retired "I'm so busy I don't know how I ever had time to work".  Tom is so busy while working, I don't think he'd be able to retire. 

Those born in 1934 are ten years younger than I am. 

Tom and I just returned from my retiree gals' lunch.  We go to a different restaurant each month.  There were five of us today.  I chose a hand breaded cod sandwich and I was happy when the server told me it didn't come with anything!  There were two nice pieces of fish on a round bun.  There was lettuce and tomato piled on one part of the bun but I scraped them off for a salad and I could manage the sandwich.  I'd order that again.

Sandy, that is a darling picture of Fe; she certainly is growing up.

It is close to 90 degrees here and I am going to take a nap.

Mary Ann

Mary Ann...
...I smiled  when i read your...." I call them the Rust Years.." never heard them mentioned like that before but, yes, so much more appropriate than calling them " our Golden Years.."

Marilyne...
...legally until i finish with all this solicitor business " how long is a piece of string? " I am assuming I cant put this parkhome on the for sale market at this present time, so I will be stuck here for a good year or two yet...

Regarding piercing ones own
ears:
It didn't hurt that much,
but it was the crunching sound
that the needle made passing
through,  that made me queasy ...

Ha ha! 
I am not kidding though, but
I have stopped wearing earrings now
so the holes have disappeared. 
 

Fe us so much fun.  I saw her this
morning and she is a very friendly
loving child.    She has so many
Aunties and Grandmothers that love
her.     Madison also takes
Fe to the Nursing Homes, 
and she engages with  the people
there too...  Pretty amazing.

Sandy, I'll bet Fe is a very outgoing child.

Our twins are opposites - Jo is on the shy side and Ellie is more extrovert.

Mary Ann

Fe is very out going and I give her Mom credit for that because her Mom and Dad take her everywhere.   They are all very lucky.

Sandy, your little granddaughter is adorable.  Such a pretty smile.

From Larry today. 
***********************
Mary Ann,

Your kind help is so appreciated.  My life seems to be totally out of my control.  All I do is sleep in sort of a daze while being aware of what is going on.  Since I don't seem to be able right now to accomplish what I say I am going to do I have decided to take a leave of absence from the discussion boards.  What I thought I would be able to do or would make a commitment to I just can't seem to focus enough on to accomplish and just continue to sleep.  Therefore would you post on the Discussions that I will not be appearing for awhile and may not be able to return at all.  I hate this as you all are my friends of many years.  I will just have to take things one day at a time. My world is changing by the hour.  I certainly welcome emails but right now just can't handle the discussion boards.  Thanks.

Larry

Jackie - or anyone - what is the discussion group "Christian ----" where Larry posts?  It doesn't come up in the list of folders.

Mary Ann

Mary Ann, hope I'm not butting in..... it is www.christianphotographers.com

I believe Larry posted in HOME, FORUMS, DAILY CHAT, THOUGHTS FOR THE WEEK.  My husband is no longer a member and I'm not a member so you might have to ask Jackie to post the info for you.

Jean, thank you.  I kind of thought it was in photography.  Norm's B&T, Soda Shoppe and the Christianphotographers were the only ones we discussed so I will keep it at that, however, if Jackie wants to spread the word, it's OK with me and I think appreciated by Larry. 

Mary Ann

I was unable to post in Christian Photography because I could find no place to post.  I also would have to join or sign in.  So if someone will post the message for me, I'd appreciate it.  It is midnight in England, so Jackie won't see the message until morning which will be in the middle of the night for us.

It's also frustrating when you want to help but cannot!

Mary Ann

Michael Oldsman is an adminstrator of Christian Photographers.

I just sent the message to Oldiesman ......hope he posts it for Mary Ann

Thank you Amy and Patricia.  I had hoped someone would post the message before morning.  If Michael sees it, I am sure he'll post it right away.

Mary Ann