Norms Bait and Tackle

Vanilla-Jackie · September 10, 2021, 12:48:55 PM

A few months back i got a large quarter length piece of strawberry stuck in my throat, just a tiny piece of air- hole, it seemed to go on for a long time, fighting through a tiny airway gap, i could feel my eyes getting larger and i really did think this it it, i am going to die...The piece of strawberry eventually started to slowly go down my throat but as it was doing so, it was still blocking, and i could feel my chest tightening, i honestly believe i was near to death that day...

MaryPage · September 10, 2021, 02:39:47 PM

I have the swallowing issues as well, Marilyne, and they are scary. Part & parcel of being so old. The human body deteriorates, and that causes just about everything to not work as well as it once did. I call it "The Cost of Living.

I am lucky in that one of my 13 granddaughters is a Speech Pathologist. She has helped me a lot, with throat exercises and so forth. These are not a cure, but they do help; especially with getting my pills down.

Vanilla-Jackie · September 10, 2021, 03:07:22 PM

Marilyne - Mary Page...part of MS is swallowing issues but thankfully i dont suffer with that so i cant and dont put the blame on my MS for that strawberry incident...but i never would want that to happen to me ever again...and there was no one around at the time, i was completely by myself..

CallieOK · September 10, 2021, 03:51:05 PM

I've also developed problems swallowing pills. Some of my meds say "don't cut pills in half" but I do that with OTC vitamins and calcium tablets. Don't understand why "they" make such big ones for Senior Citizens!

Also discovered that a pill goes down more easily if I swallow a some water before I take it and, although I doubt sugar would help, I do use a mouthful (of water) to help "the medicine go down' (La la la ).

MaryPage,, your Skylight sounds wonderful - particularly with your large family.

MarsGal, These "updated" programs on tv, computer, etc. are a nuisance!!!! Manuals are now on-line and I'm not about to print out all those pages just to have one I can read in person.
I once had a problem that required a "robo call" and learned to stay on the line as long as necessary because, if you hang up and call again, you're put at the end of the list - again! So I usually line up something to read while I wait.

Lots of things "coming at me" during the past week or so. Nothing bad - just makes my brain tired!

Hope Everyfriend Everywhere is having an Enjoyable Day.

Vanilla-Jackie · September 10, 2021, 05:16:23 PM

Miss ( Callie ) Poppins, try a tiny bit of honey, this makes a pill - tablet slide down the throat..

Denver · September 12, 2021, 12:27:42 AM

Coming in feeling sad that a few days have passed without me posting😩😪. Seems one day turns into the next and I really have nothing to talk about🤪😘

I am very happy to say my shoulder is doing very well. I can not move it at all and have to be in the sling all the time except when I shower or my PT is working with it. There is very little movement allowed.....nothing away from the side of my body. Just a bit of movement forward and back a tiny bit and my arm layed out by my side to stretch the elbow. My surgery was two weeks yesterday. Four more weeks in the sling and then some movement is allowed. My pain is totally bearable.....nothing like the horrible pain I have had since my first surgery in early April. I am so thankful for this.

CALLIE, I can relate to your comment, "Lots of things "coming at me" during the past week or so. Nothing bad - just makes my brain tired!"

MARYPAGE, your Grandparents Day gift sounds delightful. I know you will really enjoy seeing your families pictures on it.

A couple of days ago I realized we have not heard from FloridaJean in much too long of time. Does anyone know if she is OK? I sure hope so.

A very solum day here.....that horrible day 20 years ago will never be forgotten. If I could ask for one thing to happen in our country, it would be for all Americans to come together and be the patriots that we were after that horrific attack on America🇺🇸🙏

Pleasant dreams to all.

Jenny

Vanilla-Jackie · September 12, 2021, 07:37:15 AM

Not long back from morning church, we have another extra service, same church in 4 hours time, i shall be collected and taken to that...Our morning service was as you all can imagine, was about 20 years ago, your 9/11..She gave a brilliant service, so sad when she mentioned an American fire fighter, a hero, who was the only survivor of his crew, and his heroism on that day shining a light-torch at a faraway distance leading people to the safety of the outside world from inside the building..He saw the tiny light gap to freedom..

MarsGal · September 12, 2021, 08:07:43 AM

It was a lovely day here yesterday. Today it is going back up into the high 80s.

Yesterday I dug out the spot next to the original concrete patio block at the porch steps on the drivway side and added another 16"x16" section to correspond to the extended step width. It too a while because there was a concrete block under the one end supporting the steps where I needed to chisel off a quarter inch in order to fit the block in.

Next up is getting the porch deck painted. The painter was out yesterday for me to select the color I want. He used a Sherwin-Williams color chart, so I guess that is where the paint is coming from. Anyway, I finally settled on their Blue Spruce. It is in the medium green/blue range and suits the siding color better than what I thought would look good. I hope this means I will be getting the deck done this coming week.

After that is done, I am going to start replanting my iris, and planting hosta from the backyard to the driveway side of the house. I will probably take the opportunity to dig up and separate and replant some of my daffodils which could use a bit more space. If I feel really energetic, I may buy some crocus that disappeared years ago, and replenish the tulips and hyacinth that volunteered. The hyacinth volunteers seem to do very well here. Other volunteers include grape hyacinth, lily of the valley and, several bulb plants that have little white star shaped flowers. I forget what they are named, but they come up every year in my backyard lawn as do several hyacinth. Well, that sounds ambitious. It all depends on the weather and my arthritis. I did manage to get four bags of amended top soil to add to the side where the hosta will be planted, but I still need to get more topsoil to fill in potholes in the yard, and mulch for all around the porch. I am sure some of this will have to wait until spring.

I didn't watch any of the 9/11 memorials, but I did catch several of the homecoming clips for three of the thirteen service members killed a few weeks ago. I also caught a few more warships and support ships going in and out of San Diego the last few days. I have to say the new ships are ugly, but they aren't built to look pretty; they are build to help keep us safe.

Marilyne · September 12, 2021, 12:25:08 PM

A new week starting once again, and I'm hoping that the upcoming week will be a good one for everyone. Daughter Shelley and g-daughter Claire, left for home this morning, after spending two busy days with us. They would have waited until tomorrow to leave, but Shell is on call for Jury Duty all week, so they had to be home by tonight.

We had the television on throughout the day yesterday, to watch the various ceremonies and tributes, in commemoration of the 9/11 disaster. Hard to believe it has been 20 years. Sad and painful to see all over again, but we need to be reminded - especially the younger generations who either don't remember, or were too young to understand.

Jenny - Good to hear from you, that your recuperation is progressing - slowly but surely! I didn't realize you had to spend such a long time wearing the sling, but I can understand the reasons why.

Jackie - Sounds like you had a nice church service this morning, commemorating our 9/11 disaster. I saw the same story yesterday, about the firefighter, who led so many people to safety. It was a day of memories of brave and selfless people, who helped one another through a terrible tragedy.

MarsGal - I applaud your determination and hard work, on home improvements! Your porch will be strong and sturdy and the blue spruce color sounds just right . Also the Iris and other bulbs will reward you, when they bloom next Spring.

Callie - I saw in another folder, that Miss Emily, celebrated her 27th birthday! Grandchildren, approaching 30 years old, is something I never expected to see, but now I have three in their 30's and one in her 40's! It's when the great-grand's start arriving, that you realize how old you are

Hope you all have a nice Autumn Sunday!

CallieOK · September 12, 2021, 04:49:12 PM

Marilyne, Yes, Miss Emily was 27 on Saturday. She used to say she was born on 9/11 but not THAT 9/11.
Even harder to believe that all three Grands are well into their 20's, out of college and pursuing their careers - plus, two of them now live out-of-state. I also can't believe it will be 5 years next month since Miss Ellen moved to NYC!!

I deleted my message in the other folder. It wasn't acknowledged; guess it wasn't "appropriate" that I posted about my "adventure" on 9/11/2001 instead of something mournful. Oh, well.

Vanilla-Jackie · September 13, 2021, 05:27:42 AM

Duplicated...
...By this time 13th September 52 years ago i had not long pushed my daughter out..yes push is the word after a very short labor..for an 18 year old this was all new to me, even though i had attended all my anti-natal classes..I still can remember it all as if it was yesterday..Told to get some sleep as i was to be induced the following day ( i was 8 days overdue ) then being woken up by a nurse to take a sleeping tablet, of course i never got back to sleep..

Callie..
..i see you..it makes us wonder how many US babies were born on that fateful day and year...

CallieOK · September 13, 2021, 12:11:32 PM

Good Morning,

Sorry I sounded "snarky" about other post not being acknowledged. I'm very aware - and definitely agree - that it isn't necessary for us to reply to each post nor do I expect a reply to each of mine.

HOA is replacing every roof and all solar lights because of hail damage so complex has been full of workerbees for a couple of weeks.

My building and the one next door are scheduled for tomorrow. We have to move our cars to guest parking and have garage doors open for attic access by 6:00 a.m. because workers begin at 6:15!

Company is very efficient and two buildings are completely done in one 12 hour workday. They're also so good with cleanup that you can't tell that anyone has even been here when they leave.

I'd planned on going to a son's house. However, a worker has to come inside to check solar light installation and, while I'm okay with allowing garage access, I'm not comfortable with someone I don't know coming inside unless I'm here. So I plan to take out my hearing aids, put cotton balls in my ears and tough it out.

Onward and Upward

Marilyne · September 13, 2021, 12:33:18 PM

Callie - You did not sound at all "snarky"! I know exactly how you feel. Many times I post one of my long winded/overblown messages here, and no one responds, comments one way or the other, or even "likes" it. Sometimes a day or two will go by and that miserable post of mine is still hanging out there, and that's when I realize it needs to be deleted, so that's what I do. I lick my wounds for a few days, and then return and all is well.

By the way, I read the post you deleted, and thought it was very interesting. We all heard about the planes that got grounded or shuffled around to far away airports, but I never heard from anyone who was an actual passenger! Although I rarely post in SS, I wish I had at at least put a "like" on it.

Amy · September 13, 2021, 12:34:19 PM

Callie, do you have a headset that you can listen to nice music instead of the noise?

MaryPage · September 13, 2021, 01:07:29 PM

Good Afternoon! Gorgeous day here on the bay.

Callie, that is funny: there you are, out there in Oklahoma, and here am I, in Maryland on the East Coast, and we are BOTH having maintenance on the building we live in. Mine is not roofing or solar. Mine is power washing (today) and painting (tomorrow?) and staining (?) and sealing (?) and then one hopes they go away again. For a good long time.

It is not that I am not appreciative of the good work. And what is more, something within me cringed in surprise & insecurity over the difference in color of the floorboards of my back deck just now when they power washed there. Insecurity over my sense of my own good housekeeping with high standards of cleanliness. Oh well; I thought I was Perfect, until I realized I was not!

I have a dear, dear Second Cousin who turned 85 on September 11th. He lives about an hour away from me. His wife died last year, and he is rattling around in a big old comfy house by himself. His two children live elsewhere, and he was on his own for that big 85. His only living sibling (her name is Page and we call him Chips; names tend to be the same in families!) could not come down from New York State at this time. So I sent him an Exploding Cupcake box, with my picture on it drinking a margarita in his honor. Those cakes are a hoot. If you have not seen or heard of them, Google Send A Cake. Such simple minded, low brow fun! One of my granddaughters sent me one for my last birthday, and Chip and I howled with laughter.

Norm would have appreciated one of those.

Have a great day!

MaryPage · September 13, 2021, 01:15:08 PM

By the way, I have always been totally fascinated over the side stories about nine eleven. Remember the Canadians taking so many people in from the planes that were grounded? I think there have been whole books written about that. And the "Where were you when you heard about it?" stories.

Me, I was watching TV. Diane Sawyer was on, but I do not remember the name of the show. I saw that 2nd plane plow into that building. I watched in total horror for hours, and finally turned it off. They don't have to tell me not to forget. I am in a position, with thousands of others, of wishing I could!

Sandy · September 13, 2021, 01:40:31 PM

I totally agree, I will never
forget that horrible day when
all of our lives seem to change,
forever.

I was living here, where I am now
but the first time that I chose to lve
here, and not in this great
apartment that I have now.

All I remember is hiding away
and staying glued to the tv,
for days... but the fear that it
caused me lasted for months.

I still glue myself to all the shows
dedicated to that day at this time
of the year, every year.

January 6th is yet another time
that I will never forget.. when our
Congress was attacked and people
tried very hard to kill our
congress men and women and the
vice president.

Except since jan 6th we have
not all come together, as we did
during 911... It seems that our
differences have expanded and I
still fear for the safety of our
Country...

Now the best I can do is pay
attention and watch carefully
the expected downfall of our
Republic. ("If we can keep it")

Fall is here and I love this time
of the year.. The weather is great..
"All's right in my world"

Sandy Hi to ALL!

Vanilla-Jackie · September 13, 2021, 01:48:29 PM

Yes its all part and parcel getting a post ignored - responded to...we accept it is not the forum it used to be..
....Marilyne...yes it is a lovely friendly and welcoming church i now belong to, thank you, yes she gave a good service.
...And who would think the baby i once gave birth to is now 52...today..

MarsGal · September 13, 2021, 01:56:18 PM

It took me a little while to figure out what SS stands for. Soda Shop! I never venture over there. You can mostly find me here, The Library Bookshelf and, occasionally, Classical Corner (though I have been rather remiss in posting there for some time now). I do occasionally check the Photos group, but rarely post.

No, I don't remember the Canadians taking in a bunch of people, but that doesn't surprise me.

Today I have been just puttering around in the house doing minor cleaning and redding up, and of course, reading. I finally finished a long book so I could send it back to the library asap since someone was in cue behind me. Also got appointments for Oscar and Lucy set for the second half of October. Now that everyone has discovered my vet's new office in Harrisburg, he as gotten quite busy. I am not used to having to wait so long for an appointment for the critters. Got spoiled getting right in in a day or two.

It will be in the 80s again and humid at least for the next three days, according to the local weekly weather report, until next Friday. I sure did enjoy the 70 some degrees we had the other day.

Amy · September 13, 2021, 02:07:08 PM

MarsGal, our vet has stopped taking in new patients. Now with Covid we make an appointment. drive up and a girl/boy will come and pick up the pooch. Then bring it back with the information that the vet had said. I miss my time with my vet, she is so special but can understand the caution. I may not like it but we need her safe!

MaryPage · September 13, 2021, 02:58:18 PM

https://www.forbes.com/sites/stuartanderson/2019/09/11/the-day-canadians-opened-their-homes-to-americans/?sh=51039ee27156

CallieOK · September 13, 2021, 02:59:41 PM

Well, since several have now shared their "Where were you on 9/11..." stories, I s'pose I should add mine

A friend and I were sitting in a plane at the OKC airport preparing for take off on a flight to Salt Lake City and then on to San Francisco where we were joining a group for a tour of the California coast. The flight attendant had finished her instructions and the engines were warming up.
Suddenly, the engines stopped and the flight attendant announced that the flight had been delayed and we could go back into the terminal if we wished - which we did.
The second plane had hit by the time we got into the terminal and, of course, everything immediately shut down. The general announcement was that all passengers who had left any plane should go back and get anything they had left there and then pick up their luggage in luggage claim. There was no general announcement about what to do then.

After we had our luggage, we decided to call the tour company and see what we should do. We were impressed when the first question we were asked was, "Do you need a hotel?" Apparently, some tour participants had already arrived in San Francisco and others were stranded on a layover. Since we were in our home airport, we were told to go home and wait for further information. Of course, the tour was cancelled and we received full refunds for air fare and the tour. (It was rescheduled the next Spring but I didn't go - and can't remember why.)

So I didn't hear any news stories for several hours and didn't experience the shock/horror of seeing the actual event and the immediate panic.

Amy, yes, I have earphones as well as "t.v. ears" - plus I'm pretty good at blocking out noise around me if I'm reading a good book. We all have full attics and tall ceilings so I suspect it won't be as awful as I'm anticipating. One neighbor across the street said the main problem she had was her dog barking all day long. Not an issue at my house.

MaryPage, I remember your mentioning the Exploding Cupcake. Sounds like a fun gift. Several family birthdays coming up.....Hmmm

Off to find something useful to do - like fold laundry.

Enjoy the rest of your day, Everyfriend.

MaryPage · September 13, 2021, 03:13:20 PM

Sounds as though you were lucky you weren't already in California when the plane flew into the World Trade Center, Callie.

It sounds ghoulish, but I love hearing where people were on Pearl Harbor Day, D-Day, Victory Europe Day and V-J Day, as well as the day President Kennedy was shot and the day Robert Kennedy was, and so on and so on. There is too much stuff in our brains to remember every day of our lives, but we do tend to remember the special days when we had a very special thing happen; one we tend to relive in our minds fairly constantly. Weddings, funerals and Births tend to fit, as well as graduations and so forth.

Marilyne · September 13, 2021, 03:34:56 PM

Mary Page, I remember when the planes landed in Newfoundland, and later, hearing about the kindness of the citizens of Gander. However, I hadn't heard the individual stories, which is what makes this article so interesting and important. Thank you for posting it!

I also remember Pearl Harbor Day, and what I was doing, wearing, etc. Also, D-Day, VE Day, VJ Day, and the day President Kennedy was killed.

Callie, I'm glad you posted again about your 9/11 Day! Being as I live in California, in the Pacific Time Zone, it was early here - about 6:00 AM - when everything happened. Most people were still sleeping, including us. I was awakened by the phone ringing, and it was my cousin Kay, calling to tell me to turn on the television immediately . . . "Very bad news". I did, and I hardly moved from in front of the TV all day long.

MaryPage · September 13, 2021, 03:46:21 PM

Oh, and Sandy Dapph, I agree with you about January 6th, or, by the Church calendar, Epiphany. It will fill the History books, and whole books will be written about it. It was very different from any of the other days of horror. It was a Day of Betrayal. I remember there was one man there, unidentified by the TV reporters & photographers, but shown and we were told what he said & did, as we were apprised about many others present. He is the only one I remember doing and saying this: he took off his headgear or something; I remember him taking something off of himself, and I think he had grey hair, but was not anywhere near as old as I, and he exclaimed: "What the Hell am I doing?"

And he left the scene. Left it entirely. I hope he does not get charged with the betrayal of his country. You might say he had an epiphany on Epiphany!

RAMMEL · September 13, 2021, 06:08:07 PM

Shouldn't Patricia be here complaining about the implication of politics?
Or is it from where it comes that matters?

patricia19 · September 13, 2021, 06:38:33 PM

A little birdie told me you were looking for me, Rick. Please, you know me so well I'll let you speak for me.

Vanilla-Jackie · September 14, 2021, 02:12:57 AM

Long awaited hair appointment today, taxi booked, and it is absolutely gushing down with heavy rain, they can "cut my hair with a knife " and it will still look better than it does at the moment..

MarsGal · September 14, 2021, 06:55:46 AM

Amy, my vet has switched back to letting us in the door now.

Thanks for the article MaryPage. It does bring back some vague recollection of Gander, NF, but it hadn't stuck in my mind. That is a lot of people the small community took in.

Marilyne · September 14, 2021, 01:08:03 PM

Good morning everyone. Another hot one here, but that's to be expected, as we don't start cooling down until well into October. As I mentioned before, we are on water rationing, and I can see that some of my long time plants in both the back and front yards, will not make it. Everyone is in the same boat, so all yards here in my neighborhood are looking brown and dry.

MarsGal - We are still locked down here, and masks are required everywhere. I don't have any pets, so I don't know about our vet clinics, but for regular doctors, dentists, labs, etc., you have to wait in your car, to be called into the office for your appointment.

Jackie - Lucky you, to get a hair cut today! I had to laugh when you said, "They could cut my hair with a knife, and it will still look better than it does at the moment". Mine is in the same sorry condition - longer on one side than the other, and very ragged and uneven all over . . .just like someone took a knife to it.

Speaking of appointments - I'm going to try to get one with my primary doctor ASAP. I haven't seen her in so long, that I'm sure she has forgotten who I am. The only reason I want to see her, is to get an update on my bp med. They will not renew a prescription over the phone.

Hope you all have a nice day and post a message soon!

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