JeanneP, that causeway is a pier and people cannot walk to the end of it on sand because the sand doesn't go out there.  I looked occasionally but my view is blocked by trees; I did notice quite a few people when I looked.

Joy, I watched the Capitol 4th from 8 pm to 9:30 pm.  Then I turned on the Boston Pops at 9:30 pm and was shocked to see commercials; shocked because there hadn't been any on PBS.  I watched a little of the Pops, and enjoyed the sing along, but I am not familiar with the names they said were coming up, so I have the program on mute and here I am.

We have a lot of fire crackers going off now and as it is dark, I might be able to see some of them.  The baseball stadium is north of me and I think they are having fireworks.  If not, there are plenty of people around who are.

Mary Ann

Thanks Mary Ann and Joy for mentioning the fireworks. I had forgotten about them.

I watched some of the Capitol fireworks and then the Macy's fireworks from New York. The ones in New York were the best (in my opinion). Beautiful patriotic music to go with it and the fireworks were spectacular.

Hope you all had a wonderful Independence Day!

Good night all.

Yesterday morning, my next door neighbor invited me over for coffee, and we had a delightful chat.  She has just retired from Howard University and taken a consulting job. 
The 4th was mostly a gloomy looking day here.  It is raining very quietly as morning breaks across the mighty Chesapeake on the 5th.
I have felt the same as Joy for eons of decades now, but last night was a huge disappointment as far as my beloved Boston Pops is concerned!  The music was ghastly, up until the very end.  Once they got into the patriotic stuff and started the fireworks, they were still spectacular, BUT!  But I disliked the colors chosen:  mostly pink and yellow.  Bah humbug!  I'm afraid I'm going to have to give up on the Boston Pops!  Too sad!
I turned to On Demand and watched, for the 2nd time,  an episode of the French/British series: THE TUNNEL, which has been appearing on PBS channels on Sunday nights recently.  I like to watch each episode of this series twice, just to make sure I am following all of the action carefully.  This is the first time ever that filmmakers from both of those two nations have made a series together.  It is superb.
And, because the series is a copy of the Swedish/Danish one called THE BRIDGE of several years ago, I bought the set of DVDs of that series.  I am watching each episode of that each week, as well.  I find it very interesting, all the likenesses and all the differences.
I must say, the interpretations are fascinating.  And WOW!  The sun just came out and everything is glistening shiny bright!

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/The_Tunnel_(TV_series)

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/The_Bridge_(Danish/Swedish_TV_series)

At 10 to 8 this morning I got a call that they were ready to deliver my refrigerator.  The old one had been running cooler then warmer but I put some of the foods back in the lower compartment.  I had to hurry to get them out and into a cooler (not refrigerated).  I wasn't dressed yet but was presentable.  Tom came up to help because I can't reach the top of the refrigerator.  The men had to change the door to open from the right (left hand door) but it is running now, cooling, and when it is cooler, I'll put what I have in the refrigerator.  There isn't much because we pitched a lot.

I think it will be a warm one today so I'll dress accordingly. 

Mary Ann

Hi everyone.  I have just been outside to do the watering and it is already 82 degrees and headed up to 95 or higher today. 

Right now don't have anything planned for today that will require me going out again until the mail comes late this afternoon.  I have a number of things on my "to do" list that I will tackle today, at least some of them. 

We did not remember to tune in the special 4th of July events on TV last night.  We tried to watch a Netflix but it started buffering so we gave up and watched a couple of the "Keeping Up Appearances" and don't remember laughing so much is quite awhile.  I have seen them all before but they just seemed to be extra funny last night.

I am enjoying some good cold old-fashioned seeded watermelon for breakfast .  Breakfast is my favorite time for it. 

Hal, it is so sad that there are so many people who seem to care less about our country and the world.  I read yesterday that a survey showed that there are fewer people who are proud of our country than ever before recorded.  I believe we are still the finish country in the world.

Patricia, I am not surprised about other countries buying up the American stocks as I try hard to stay aware of what is going on.  Your history facts are always so educational.  I am sure I knew most of this at one time but memory fades over the more than 50 years since I studied any of this. 

Mary Ann, I would have liked the dinner at Dot fixed for you all yesterday.  It sounds like you had a nice time. Glad you got your new refrigerator and guess you will now be making a big grocery store buy to replace what had to be discarded.  When we move over here we took the things out and brought them in the cooler but left the refrigerator running until they loaded it on the truck.  When it got here the next morning it was still cold and so we just reversed the process and were back in business and didn't have to discard anything. 

JeanneP, your salad in in jar sounds like something that would appeal to Pat.  For some reason she really dislikes making salads.  We have had salad suppers the last two evening with a lot of ingredients and chicken on them.  They were good.

Good morning, after a rainy night  the sun is shinning, and the humidity is already at 99. My handyman is here putting down a new floor in my halls, had to have more done then planed as he found back mole.

Larry, Last month Cablevision, has been to sold to a hugh companyin Holland, which has also bought other cable companies in this country. I think have of NYC belongs to some countries outside the US.

Beverly, I am from NY, and I should I have watched Macy's.  I was disappointed in both Wash. and Boston.

MaryPage, for years we would never miss the Boston Pops, when we would be up on Cape Cod, my son stopped everything to watch the Pops.

Joy, I was also was not happy with the music on either program. I wanted more patrotic music.  I guess my 92 years are showing.

MaryAnn, when I went to covereddish dinner, I have always ate more then my share of jellow salads.  glad to see you have your new refrig.

Larry, the control on the old refrigerator went bad.  I should have wondered earlier when a tube roll blew up and it was within the “use” date.  I had two others do the same thing, both within the “use” date.  I had a thermometer in the freezer section and it would register zero, which it should have.  At times the refrigerator section would be up to 60 degrees and it should be 40 degrees there.  So the food that was in that compartment had been exposed to too high temperature to keep.  We did keep some things such as cheese and lettuce and I don’t know what else.  I put half of my Subway sandwich in there and I’m going to eat that shortly.  The last few days the temperature fluctuated.  I kind of had buyers remorse, wondering if I would have been better off with a new control.  This new refrigerator is not as “deluxe” as the other one and that wasn’t as deluxe as others.  But the deed is done.  The men who delivered the refrigerator changed the door opening.

Tom just called and we’re going OTL â€" we don’t have enough edibles in the house.

Mary Ann

I used to love buffets! There is a place here that does a wonderful one each Sunday and they have had to go to reservations only! And then there are all those church suppers and when I belonged  to a card group that would put on twice yearly potlucks for members and their families, all are fondly remembered!

Mary Ann.  I did that on my freezer 3 weeks ago. Gave everything away that was in in and was going to sell it. So then turned it off. Saw that my Fridge had this leaky problem 3 days later so turned the freezer on again moving a lot out of my fridge freezer back into it.
Fridge still getting that little leak and so will go ask about it this week.  Now did they take your old fridge away.?

Larry. Have pat try that salad in a jar. Most probably us a Qt size one for you both.
I swear It take me as long to fix a good salad with lots in it as it does to cook a meal. All the washing lettuce and everything else. chopping small everything.  I need to go buy the small jars today.

Another 45 min. wait on the phone to talk to our Illinois Auto License Office. Have been trying to get them for over a week and so I just hung on.
Now here they are no longer sending out the forms in order for one to renew the stickers. You have to watch and take care yourself. Do it on line or send in a copy of prev. years with a CC number . No personal Cheques.  I did mine on line and it said would come to me in 7 to 10 days. That was a month ago. Still not here. So now they tell me it was mailed to me June 12th. But is going through a cheaper rate of mail. Not first class. Yes on top of the $101 there are charges of $2.37 for mailing and handling.  They will now charge you $200 if they see that you do not have a current new sticker on if 30 days gone buy from when due.
So far the news say that they have collected over one Million . 2 in fines for people since Jan. 1st for having a past due sticker. Man 2 doors down had one 3 years old on his.
You get stopped now for every little thing and get a find. Light outs. Bad muffler. Getting unbelievable. Illinois so short on money they say. Now most street meters are $1 a hour to park . $10 for each ticket gets put on .  Think I will start using the buses.  I had one on my car 2 weeks ago on the Library parking lot that has City meters that you pay until 4pm. I put my car on at 3:45 not thinking.
They got a  worker for Walmart's yesterday. He was burning the Flag and putting in on the Internet. Got a good write up in today paper. What a speech he gave about what he thinks is wrong with the US.  I do agree to something he say but sure was crazy to burn the flag on that day.  People all around the Walmart's wanting him fired and such. I need to go there today but hope it cools down. So many crazy people anymore out there.  It looks like they are not going to be able to get much on him. Seems to have a good lawyer already in court this morning. I had noticed him at Walmart's just the other day. Sort of Asst. Mgr. I think. Just 24.

Jeanne, yes, they picked up my old refrigerator.  That was a MUST!

Mary Ann

Jeanne, Pennsylvania is cutting costs by eliminating registration stickers altogether. We still have to have the registration card, but they are not sending out a mailing unless requested. They expect most people to pay for their yearly registration online. I am not sure whether they will still mail the card or if we are expeceted to print one out from online. http://www.dmv.pa.gov/VEHICLE-SERVICES/Title-Registration/Pages/Registration-Stickers.aspx#.VzXtCxUrJ0I

In Harrisburg, they installed some new computerized "multi-space" parking meters. These things have been giving parkers fits. I haven't heard anything lately, so maybe they worked the bugs out of them. http://parkharrisburg.com/on-street-meters/ $3.00 an hour. Mega-ouch! I wonder if the parking garages boosted their rates.

Yes, they are leaning heavily on people driving (and parking) cars here in our area lately, too.  Politicians of every sort and kind and ilk lurch around frantically to find "new" ways to keep the income flowing that will maintain the level of services the Public expects, and at one and the same time they need to keep all sorts of outlandish campaign promises to do away with this and that and the other "fee" (read tax) that is vastly unpopular.  It is all a magic show with smoke and mirrors, and it all has to do with them grasping hold of and wanting to keep Power and Fame.
OK, I am being political, but totally truthfully so.  And not partisan. 

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. 

deAngel, at least your cable system wasn't sold to China.  I love jello and usually have some every time it is on the buffet when we eat out. I think I just like things that are cold to eat.

Mary Ann, glad you escaped having any bad things happen from your refrigerator failing.  I sometimes wonder why we buy appliances with all the bells and whistles and then use only the basic functions. 

JeanneP, I think Pat feels like you with all the work in fixing a salad.  However, we have a lot of them and sometimes I make them (it is something I know how to do and can't mess up like I can trying to cook something.  Your State does seem to have more than its share of problems financially.  What a hassle for your license sticker. 

MarsGal, one of the joys of living in the Augusta area is there is free parking downtown and at the hospitals and doctor's offices.  This is quite different than over around Atlanta.

MaryPage, I agree with your comments on smoke and mirrors.

Happy 54th Anniversary to you and Pat.  AND,  a Happy 75th birthday to Pat.

Sounds like you have a nice day planned.   And, best wishes for many more happy days like this.

Joy

Mornin all.  Am off to get my hair cut this morning.  Will do laundry when I return and have lunch.

Have a   great day all and hugs all around,

Good afternoon, very hot and high humidity.  I was suppose to go to Lassies (ladies club in park) but I am staying home. there is a warning on the radio, not to go out if you have any breathing problems.
To morrow, I have a Red Hat luncheon, and I do want to try to go to that. I have already paid for it.

Larry HAPPY ANNIVERSARY, to the both of you.  also HAPPY BIRTHDAY PAT,  and many more.

MarsGal.  Your State is going to be making big money also. People are not going to remember to take care of paying and getting a new Plate sticker to time. And Like I said our state has already now made over a Million and a half from people who did not remember in the first half of this year. The police could see by the colour of the Sticker in the past. So don't know how they will do in your State. Here at least if we pay then still get a colour sticker. I suppose he Police will be spending time going around the street and Parking lots check the plates.  They waste money one way trying to save money in another. Crazy.

They need to be policing the streets more for crime. Getting lots here now done during the day. Every bank in town has been robbed and we have a lot of them. Some done twice in one month. Kids as young at 16. Rapes during the day now and drive by shooting daily. Getting like Chicago. this is where lots of them are coming down from. I live on the edge of the city and watch every thing around me now when shopping and going around the city.
So many regular people now seem to carry a gun in their car or the women in their purse.
Never thought would see it happen in this area. Was a great University City once.

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

Happy Anniversary Larry and Pat - and Happy Birthday to Pat.  May you have many more.

I had my hair cut this morning, then Tom and I went to breakfast next to the hair salon.  I brought back much of my breakfast.  At 1 pm we went to the Mitten Brewery for lunch with Terry, Jan and her parents.  Annie joined us, but Dot had something else going on so she was not present.  The Mitten Brewery is a place when I would go again, but it would not be my choice.  Next week we will go to the Score again and the Score is north of us and we can eat by water on the sand with palm trees nearby.  They also have a sailboat buried in the sand where people can eat.  It is a sports bar (so is the Mitten Brewery) but the most fun is outside.  Inside is dark, but if it rains, it is dry inside!

My shoulder has been bothering me something awful yesterday and today; my doctor suggested contacting the orthopedic surgeon who looked at my shoulder a couple of years ago.  He did not suggest surgery at my age, but I know I don't want this pain the rest of my life.  It is dilemma. 

Sandy, I'm sorry for your pickle troubles.  We have to learn what we can eat and sometimes we don't learn soon enough.

Mary Ann

Sandy.  Now I have to watch what I eat also. Some things I cant Swallow.  Such as Popcorn, Celery (Ok if cooked). A certain Lettuce . Type with sort of a spike on. Peanuts. Only happened once when out eating because it was a mixed salad and had just one piece mixed in with other kinds of Lettuce.
I had my throat looked at years ago. They watch things going down as I swallowed and whatever it is that opens up on both side does not open very far like it should. Long as I know what not to eat its fine. Don't want them cutting away in there.
t

MaryAnn. O.K I tried the Butternut Squash. Did it a different way than what I was going to.
Cut it in chunky pieces and steamed a little in the MW. Then fixed like do with Sweet Potatoes. With butter and Brown sugar. Was pretty good. Fact I like it better than Sweet Potatoes. Taste better. So think I will buy again but fix like you do it. No peeling .

Jeanne, acorn and butternut squashes are two different types.  I haven't looked it up, but isn't butternut squash the light brown one?  Heavy on the bottom where the seeds are, then tapers at the top.  There is a buttercup squash that is similar to the acorn.  I have seen videos of how to prepare butternut squash but I haven't bought one in ages so didn't bother remembering what to do.  But with acorn and buttercup squash, I do not peel them.

Mary Ann

Yes. the butternut sort of shape of a bowling bowl. The Acorn I was thinking is the round dark one. Never tried it either

Jeanne and MaryAnn,   I get bags of butternut squash already peeled and cut up into chunks at  Walmart and my local chain store,
Weis Markets.  I cooked it for about 5-10 min. in the microwave and then drizzle honey and balsamic vinegar  over it and finish roasting it in the oven.  It is so good.  Better than sweet potatoes.  During the wintertime, that was my favorite veggie to fix.  I like to roast it in a  350-400 oven until it starts to get brown.  It kind of get carmelized.

Joy

That butternut squash sounds delicious.

That does sound wonderfu! I copied it to my recipe folder, thanks, Joy!

       HAPPY ANNIVERSARY
               to
         LARRY & PAT!!


        HAPPY BIRTHDAY
              to
             PAT!!