Marilyn, things are a bit complicated with Annie.  Her SO sold his business and both he and Annie went with the package.  So they both work for the new company.  We are sure her SO will not last there because of his personality.  He is not used to working for someone else.  She actually works for the new company and not for her SO, but he still wants her to do work for him and she ends up working many more than 40 hours. 

I'm teed off about Christmas now.  James' inlaws will be in Holland for Christmas and his MIL has asked that they be allowed to have two days alone with the family  - Christmas Eve and Christmas Day.  That means we don't have Christmas with James and Alicia.  Tom and I went to Holland two Saturdays  in a row, spending several hours taking care of the twins while Mom and Dad worked on cleaning up a room for Alicia's parents to stay in.  We love being with the girls, but the payback is not good.  Tom is going down again late to babysit and I don't know what James and Alicia will be doing - party?  When Norm was married to his first wife, we got together with that family and there were a lot of us.  I told Norm after the divorce that I lost my family.  While he was single, Norm started the Christmas Eve gathering at his apartment and that allowed the kids to do what they wanted on Christmas Day.  When Norm and Dot married, he/they continued the Christmas Eve gathering at their condo, but we never got together with Dot's family.  Now we are rejected by James' inlaws.  I know their reasoning - they will drive here from Wisconsin and they have little time with the twins.  But they could pick a different time of year to be alone, not a major holiday. 

Jean, it turned out Annie put the box under the seat and since it was a black box, Tom did not see it until this morning.  We were at 16 degrees, so it was refrigerated overnight and is now in the refrigerator.

Time for a nap - and an attitude change.

Mary Ann

Patricia, I want one of those!

MARY ANN - I understand your feelings, regarding Tom's inlaws, et al.   Seems that there's lots of family angst now-a-days, over who is going where, over the holidays!   I read a funny article last year, about that subject, and wish I had saved it.  The gist of it, was that there are LOTS more grandparents, great grandparents, aunts, uncles, now, because people are living so much longer than in past generations. They all want to spend quality time with the babies and children at Christmas time.  Since most families no longer live in close proximity, some have to travel long distances for any family event.  So the controversy begins!    Somehow, it all works out in the end, but is exhausting for all concerned.

Marilyn, that's an excellent explanation of times today.  Since Tom has lived with me, we've always tried to wait to find out others plans, then try to mesh ours with them.  Tom gets upset because no one seems to be making plans until the last minute and I know neither of us expected to be without Christmas plans with the family.  I've been alone on Christmas Day many times, but it was my choice and we had been together with family Christmas Eve.  I'll get over it.

Mary Ann

https://youtu.be/HtcLK6RfmNc

For those who follow  the ships on the St Clair River, the link is about the innards of a freighter and I think Paul is featured. 

Mary Ann

Good morning from the Interior, where it is minus twenty-eight with a high of minus twenty-five. It is that time of year, and we've had it mild for us so far. Weather is from the East.

I know I said I'm unsociable, and that has bothered some friends. Yesterday they showed up at noon to insist I accompany them to a cocktail party. That's where those gifts of the month come in for last-minute ideas. I'm going to just have to be judicious dietwise as I don't want too much of a set back.

 I took a couple of cheeses and four ounces of coffee beans And some flavored hot cocoas for those abstaining. I've "been informed" that they will be back today to transport me at one-thirty for a two PM potluck, ( I'm bringing coleslaw), party. My behavior needs to change, as I've been told quite firmly! 

I've always liked those types of toys, such as the driveway shoveler, but never had that type of cash at a coinciding time. And the only times I've been responsible for driveways, caretaking the family home when folks were visiting in the lower forty-eight or when managing hotels or apartment complexes, arranging for a company to do so.

I did have a mini remote control Vette that I gave to my daughter one year, and a large talking monkey toy another time that we all enjoyed. That is except for the cats we had at those times! 

Patricia, I'm glad someone is taking you by the hand and taking you to a party.  This is a special time of the year when we should get out among friends and/or family.  The rest of the year you can hibernate.

Kendrick has been so funny the last few days; I don't mean that he has something wrong with him, but he'll sit in front of me and just look at me.  I wish I understood "cat" so I'd know what he wants.  In here, he'll get up on the hassock and stare.  I take that as a sign he wants some catnip and when I have time, I'll give him some.  This often occurs at my mealtime.

I saw a book I wanted to read and Tom fixed my tablet so the print was large enough for me to read.  I read several pages last night but I was unable to get the table closed properly so I probably burned out the battery.  The page was not "on" when I left it but I won't read again until later today, maybe in the evening.  I kept wanting to put my finger between the next two pages so to turn the page. 

We are at 34 degrees at 12:45 pm and one of these days we'll get up into the 40s. 

Mary Ann

Good morning, Mary Ann and all you bait and tacklers.  My young friend Eddie was here this morning to take me to the library and to Kroger for my grocery shopping.  We had a good visit as well as checking on when I need to take my second Shingles shot.  They told me to come back at the end of January.

Now I'm inside for the day and will read one of my new books and probably watch a little TV.  Not much else going on here today.  I hope Every Bait and Tackler looking in will have a nice Saturday!

Sue

Good Afternoon !  I am late getting on the computer today.  And, I know I have not checked in for a few days. 

I haven't been sleeping well, and I just have been taking naps throughout the days.  Last night, I was having a difficult time, so I put the TV on the Music channel and was listening to the channel playing  Soundscapes.  I put it down low and it was so calming and peaceful.  I wound up sleeping for about 4 hours. That was good for me. I will have to try that again tonight.

Mary Ann, I am sorry that your Christmas plans were changed.  I understand that the in-laws don't get to see the children that often, but there was no reason to ask for such a "selfish" request.  It isn't like you and Tom would  be there for a very long time. And, that is not the purpose of family get togethers.  I hope it will work out differently for you and Tom. I can certainly understand how you feel. 

I did go back and read some past messages, but didn't take any notes.  I just hope that everyone will be able to enjoy a nice Christmas day, no matter what is in store for you. 

Oh, Patricia.  I did want to mention  that I am happy your friends coaxed you into going out to the party.  If you are like me,,  once  I get myself dressed and get out among people,  I do feel better.  Just that initial idea of having to get dressed, etc. can be exhausting,  For me, anyway.  But, it is nice to be able to get out among friends and try to forget yourself for a while. 

Just wanted to stop and say Hi. I will check back again in a day or so.

Have a great rest of the day.

Joy

We have definite plans now - Saturday afternoon Tom and I will go to Holland for our family Christmas.  As far as I know, no in-laws, however they would be welcome.  But I am sure the air would be a bit cool under the circumstances!  Ha!  The girls will get my old dish cupboard that Jan had repainted and we will give Alicia an oversized Instant Pot which she has requested.  Selfish of me, but I am glad we're going first in case Alicia's folks would give the same thing. 

Tom and I went to a Mexican restaurant this noon.  I am not fond of Mexican food but I can always find something, even American food.  But I think if I am in a Mexican place I should eat Mexican food.  I had three chicken enchiladas and they were good.  I really only ate one and brought two home, probably for my supper.  I sat low at the booth and I could have shoveled the food in.  I'll be more comfortable eating the two at home.

Tom is going somewhere with Robin tonight and he's going to take the makings for a green bean casserole.  He is napping now and I should be.  Tom said the store was busy.

Joy, I have nights like you have had.  It seems every other night I do not sleep good and I think it was around 2 am when I got to sleep last night/this morning.  I got up about 5 am, went back to bed at 6:30, then woke up to get up at 8 am.

Mary Ann

I wrote a long message here this morning, but just as well I didn't send it.  Now that I read it again, I can see that it contains too much information, which is best left unsaid. Sometimes I get carried away sitting here at the computer! ha ha    

Mary Ann - Good to hear that your plans for Christmas have been set, and that you and Tom can enjoy watching the girls open your presents, without a whole lot of other people and gifts to distract them.  I remember that children the age of Eleanor and Johanna, get fascinated by the first things they open, and want to stop and play with whatever it is, before moving on.  Then a few years later, they realize they have a whole lot of presents there, and they start ripping them open as fast as possible.  It can become totally overwhelming.

Patricia - I'm glad you have a group of friends who are insistent on you getting out and enjoying some holiday fun.  Good for you, for intending to stick with your new eating plan.   Usually, people on diets have a hard time over the holidays, and are prone to giving it up until the New Year has arrived.  There are usually lots of choices at these Christmas gatherings, so probably plenty of things that would be okay for you to eat.

Joy - That sounds like a good idea, putting the TV on one of the music channels to help you sleep.  I'll have to c heck, and see if we have, Soundscapes, on our choices.  Anything soothing, I like!  I hope you're looking forward to some family gatherings over the next few days?

SCFSue - Good to see you posting messages!  I didn't get my shingles shots, and will probably live to regret it! I had a mild case of shingles many years ago, and thought that would protect me, but now I know that that isn't
true anymore.

We have been on the go all day and I am tired!  It warmed up this afternoon and felt really nice.  Supposed to be warm all week!

Somehow in moving here we must have gotten rid of some of my Christmas decorations so we went to Michael's Craft Shop this afternoon and were fortunate as it was the last sale day with 70% off.  I got several nice decorations and it makes the living room more Christmasy.

Since we only moved here 3 years ago, we don't know anyone close to our ages.  But it is just as well because we don't feel like any partying.  Very happy to sit at home and read a good book.  We decided to celebrate our big Christmas meal with Gigi and Jeff on Christmas Eve day as they want to go to an 8 am viewing of the new Star Wars(?) movie on Christmas Day.  That is fine with us.  Jeff ordered a turkey meal for 8 so we will all have plenty left for Christmas Day.    It's making me hungry just thinking about it.

I made some apple bread last night and haven't had time to sit down and enjoy a piece so think I will do that now.

I hope everyone has a nice rest of the day.  The time sure does fly by.

Glad Mary Ann that you got that visiting problem straightened out somewhat.  Just pretend it is Christmas Day and make the most of it.  I've done that a few times and it worked out good.

Check out the photo I put in Photos New and Old of Larry and I. 

Patricia and Mary Ann , thought you might enjoy this.

https://www.msn.com/en-ca/lifestyle/lifestyleanimals/14-common-"facts"-about-cats-that-are-actually-false/ss-BBWUKhz?ocid=spartanntp#image=2

Amy, it wouldn't load for me. 


This is for MaryAnn; Will 90 Become The New 60?
As our lifespans have increased, so too have our active years. Can that go on?

https://tinyurl.com/t8rshre

 

Good morning, Bait and Tacklers.  I'm just checking in to wish Every One a merry Christmas.  I have my gifts wrapped and under the tree. My son Tim will come over tomorrow to open gifts with me.   

I hope you all have a Blessed and Merry Christmas!
Sue

Amy, I could not get the link to open, either.

Patricia, I'll have to check my records but in current memory there are only two people who died after age 95 - a cousin who died in 2014 at 97 and a 3rd great-grandfather, who died within three months of 107.  Feeling as I do today, I would not mind reaching 97 but I don't know about further on.  It all depends!  As to the 107-year-old, he was one of the last six survivors of the Revolutionary War.  At one time it was thought he was either the oldest or last of the survivors, but others were found later so Lem Cook was still one of the last six.  A book was written about the six last survivors and I think Lem was 102 at the time, had a deep voice and seemingly was in decent health for his age. 

I feel I still am able to take care of my personal needs and probably some of the things that Tom does for me (I do accept his help).  I can walk from the front door to the car when we go anywhere.  I do like help going to the dentist, where there are about a dozen or so steps to get to his office, but I walk down carefully and cautiously by myself.  Tom is often gone from home and we both feel confident in my ability to stay alone.  I always know I can contact Tom by phone as he has his phone at hand constantly (I don't but my phone is nearby).  Tom is my transportation since I gave up driving, but Dot is still driving (at 89+) and we go to church together and eat out afterward.  A friend of Tom's cleans for us each week, doing more than just cleaning.  She is a big help because she does things I should do, but do not.

At present, I'm happy to be alive and as well as I feel.  I have many ailments that people my age have, but I am coping with them.

Mary Ann 

A good Saturday HELLO to ALL🎄🎄

I have been keeping up with all of the posts, and you all are sure busy.  It is that time of the year😘

We are headed out the door to go to our granddaughters dance recital.  Seems there is not one minute to spare....I am always rushing😘

HAPPY WINTER SOLSTICE..... we are going to have one of our warmer days here in the Mile High and I am smiling for sure🦋🦋

I wish you all a great day.

Jenny

We are having a rainy day.  Did too much yesterday and I'm Still tired.  Going to just relax today.

Joy, it was good to see you posting and I hope you are feeling better.

Sue, will you be joining family for Christmas or are you celebrating early with your son?

After years of mailing packages at Christmas, we have found it so much easier to mail a check.  It works out especially well for our daughter and family in Canada because of the exchange rates in money.

It is very quiet here.  Mary Ann, I notice a couple of people walking along beach.  I didn't see any snow or ice.  The waves were rolling in.

Marilyne, the weather map shows your area green and also shows our area green.  It has been raining very lightly here with temps in the 50s.

Jackie, it was nice to read about your daughter's visit.  I know this time of the year will be especially hard for you.  Sending prayers your way.

Ran across this webcam last night. She is sitting on one egg at least. There are neighbors, but their nest is several feet away;sometimes you can see a head or wings. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=t9XNKQY4tQc

MarsGal, it is nice to see the Albatross nesting,  even if it is happening so far away.  At least the bird is not getting frost bitten.

Tom just came home with groceries and the front door wasn't closed yet, so I opened the door to let Kendrick out - if he wished.  He did not wish!  The sun is shining and the temp is about 45 degrees, but I know the porch pavement is cold.  Yesterday I let him out on the deck where there is about a foot of deck with no snow.  He went out, taking care to stay on the bare deck.  He had no interest in the snow!  And he wears a fur coat!

Mary Ann

Good morning from a very COLD minus thirty-three Interior where the only thing I plan for today is to volunteer inside with the food boxes! Otherwise, it's home, Period!

Yesterday was fun but very crowded and enough food to feed an army. There were three tables set up, one for meats and dressing, ham, turkey and some creamed concoction; a vegetable table and a salad table
I did very well at the event and then ruined it by later eating the leftovers they sent home with me. I gained five pounds. No more, it's back to eating according to the plan as I've now got twenty-eight pounds to lose.

MaryAnn, the generation before my parents, all seemed to die just before or just after one hundred. And these were hard-working farmers. My parent's generation seemed to like 87 best as there were a lot of them.

 Except for my paternal uncle, who was born first and died last of sixteen kids; he, like your ancestor, made it to 102. My generation seems to die of stroke, sugar diabetes-related issues, and cancer is very prevalent. I've had several cousins die young in freak accidents. Industrialization and chemicals are not doing us or the earth any favors!

MarsGal, what a neat bird! She sounds almost feline in her calls.

The ages of death in my family and AJ's, don't seem to have a connection to genetics or anything else.  AJ's mother died of cancer at the young age 56, but her sister lived to be 107!  Both of them were born and raised on a farm in N.Dakota, and never smoked or drank.  Her other siblings  lived into their late 80's, as did her mother and father.  They all died of heart failure or stroke, except one, from broken hip leading to pneumonia, and another in a car accident. The entire family left ND, and moved to California, in the 1940's, 

The only reason I mentioned his mother, is that it always seems like a mystery to me, as to why she was singled out, and was the only one who got cancer, when they all had the same start in life, and similar lifestyles throughout.  That's why I believe that death is random.  There is no explanation as to why some die young, and others live on? Why are so many  young people getting cancer in recent years?  That needs to be looked into, I think.   

So that's my philosophical thought for the day. I'll be getting back to the reality of Christmas, later on. I'm WAY behind this year, and counting on Amazon to bail me out!

In telling me that we would be having Christmas with James' family on Saturday, Tom did not insert the word "next" so it wasn't today but will be next week.  The families are up north with Sue for Christmas with her this weekend. I'm still mad  at the Grinch!

My mother died of injuries from an auto accident and her oldest sister was killed outright in an auto accident.  Mother was 48 and Aunt Vera was 73.  No telling how long either of them would have lived.  The middle sister died of heart failure at 86.  Dad had a series of small strokes and died at 75.  His brother died of prostate/bladder cancer at 76.  It was their mother who died at 92.  Lem Cook, who was nearly 107, was an ancestor of my mother.  Norm was almost 86 and he died of CHF.  So a variety of ages and a variety of causes.

Tom fixed up my tablet for me so I could read from it like a Kindle.  I used to buy a book to keep but the print is not kind to my eyes now.  The print on the tablet is fine and I bought/downloaded a book by Hedrick Smith who used to appear on Washington Week.  He was a favorite of mine when he would be on that program.  The book is "The Loss of the American Dream" - or words to that effect.  I have not read enough of the book to either recommend or downplay the book, but it does explain how some things came to be in our government.  I am not a political "junkie" but I am enjoying the book and also being able to read again.

Jean, it's always interesting to look at the water and see people walking along the shore or flying kites, as they do up here.  If the water is not frozen, I've seen people in wet suits water surfing. 

Kendrick spends much of his time with me and he just got up and left!  How dare he!

I needed a nap earlier this afternoon, but sleep would not come.  So I rested.

Mary Ann

Just trying to stop it from rolling. Will not let me get to last post.

From what I learned when I had colon cancer is that cancer is primarily either genetic/inherited markers or chemically related.  Inundated with chemicals so that they are in mothers' umbilical cords,  babies ingest them in the womb.

Death is not random other than accidents, and how we take care of ourselves physically and by our diets is a significant factor in how long we live and how we live and or how well we will recover from a physical or mental setback.

We heard that after we stopped smoking or refrained from alcoholism or drugs that after a certain amount of time, our bodies would recover. Now we know that it is not guaranteed or even expected. We are the captains of our fate to misquote someone I've forgotten.

Another fact to ponder is more people are killed by second-hand smoke than smokers! That includes the longterm effects left primarily on husbands/wives or children.

"We are the captains of our fate --- ".  Invictus  "I am the master of my fate. I am the Captain of my soul".

Thank you Rick! I'm embarrassed to admit that my father would give a dollar to us children who could recite that. Also for the  Bill of Rights and the Gettysburg Address.

We learned "Invictus" in the 8th grade. Had to memorize it. It has always been a favorite of mine.  I think it says a lot.  I laugh now as much of what I had to do as a kid is now understood.

I know exactly what you mean!