Norms Bait and Tackle

Marilyne · April 07, 2022, 01:33:48 PM

Beverly - Good to see you here this morning! A big WELCOME BACK! So good that your children and grandchildren, have been there for you, since Chape's passing. Hard to believe that it's been five months. So sorry that you have been in the ER and hospital a number of times of times, but I remember about your lungs, and the vest that you have to wear to help with breathing. Swallowing problems can be so frightening! I have that problem also, because of my one non-functioning vocal cord.
Be sure to post some pictures of all the babies, as soon as you feel up to it.

I will return later to say hello to MarsGal and Tomereader, and write more, but need to get some things done around here this morning. We had company over the last couple of days, and now everything needs to be reorganized back to where it belongs.

MaryPage · April 07, 2022, 06:20:04 PM

"Flew down twice with the twins", oh, my gosh, Beverly! I would not manage getting across the street with twins, let alone taking an aircraft somewhere! Now, you just Have to call that LOVE!

Good to have you back here. We're all dying to hear news of those twins.

RAMMEL · April 07, 2022, 07:48:59 PM

Crazy weather here. It's about 45ª, cloudy, rainy, and there was just a thunder clap, Dismal day today. I think I finally have my Tax stuff finalized. Had to redo it because a missed 1099 showed up. It's in envelopes and ready for a trip to the P.O. The good part is a hefty refund.. - Done for another year

Marilyne · April 08, 2022, 12:20:19 PM

Tome - Your doctor sounds like a truly caring person, who knows you well after 20 years. Tough finding one in California, who even remembers you between visits. All sounds well, except for your Vertigo, which is usually fairly easy to address. I admire you for keeping up with your twice yearly appointments.
Other than that, hope all else is running smoothly in your life, and that both daughters are doing okay? My two are struggling a bit to make ends meet, but cost of living here has increased dramatically in the past few years. Many, many people moving to Texas! My cousin Recently moved to Tyler, Texas, and really likes it there.

MarsGal - I'll have to take a look at Duluth today. It's my favorite cam, followed by Marine City. Love those camera long shots. I used to follow Paul around on the different cams, but have not seen a sign of "him/her" yet this year. Especially like the Duluth canal, with all the bells and whistles.

Rick - Glad your taxes are all ready, and set to be mailed. Always a relief when that yearly ordeal is finally over. I enjoy reading about your rainy, cloudy weather. Still the same old dry, sunny days here. We have had only about an inch of rain here, since the first of the year. Now we're all dreading the Wildfire Season, which will be arriving even earlier this year.

MaryPage · April 08, 2022, 01:26:49 PM

Three brothers, ages 92, 94, and 96, live together in one house.

One night, the 96 year-old draws a bath, begins to put a foot into the water, pauses, and calls out to his brothers: "Am I getting into or out of the tub?"

The 94 year-old yells back: "I don't know! I'll come up and see." He starts up the stairs, pauses, and yells: "Was I going up or down the stairs?"

The 92 year-old was sitting in the kitchen with a mug of coffee, and listening to his brothers. "Man, I hope I never get that forgetful," he says to himself. He knocks on wood, then calls up to his brothers: "I'll come up and help you both, just as soon as I answer the door."

Well, that describes me. myself, fairly accurately these days!

Rick, I know how you feel. I've been doing my own tax returns for 74 years now. This year, I called around to friends and relations to see what they did, with the sense it was time to accept help. $5oo is the common charge these days! Wow and ouch!

So I managed to push these old bones into getting the Federal completed, copied, and in the mail by the middle of March. Then labored, with much anxiety, over the State return. Wow, a lot of heavy stones rolled off my body when I was satisfied with that return, and even more when I had it copied out to perfection. Into our old beaten up blue mailbox it went on Tuesday, to great cheers (from me) and ringing of bells. Chip, of course, offered to take it up himself, which he does for my daily pile of outgoing, with devoted care. "Nope," said I: "I want the delicious Joy of doing this for myself!"

So my devoted son and principal caregiver drove me all the way up to the gate where our community guards hang out and the Postal Service box lurks, and I PUT IT IN MYSELF!

Man, that felt Gooood!

RAMMEL · April 08, 2022, 02:24:23 PM

So there you go IRS -Do your thing. We're free for another year.

Beverly · April 08, 2022, 03:04:23 PM

MaryPage - My daughter came with her. They managed to keep the babies from crying during the entire trip (so as not to annoy other passengers!). I will be posting some pictures soon.

Marilyne - I have some good specialists but it's hard to find a good primary care doctor here. I've had a couple I liked and the next thing I knew, they left town!

Michael did my taxes for me before he left for Vermont. This was the last time I'll be filing jointly. Next year, filing singly, I will be paying more taxes.

Donna is picking me up in a few minutes for a trip to the grocery store. She does most of my shopping but when I'm having an "okay day" I like to go along.

MarsGal · April 08, 2022, 04:57:58 PM

Marilyne, PRT made a run down to St.Clair the other day. I was lucky enough to see her go out of Duluth, but missed her at Port Huron. She is on her way back to Superior with an ETA of 4/10 at 1:00 which I assume is AM.

Oh, almost forgot. Have you seen the new web cams? There is one at Connors Point and the newest is at Fairlawn. The Wisconcin Point cam is down at the moment. So, a total of 15 cams now, if you include Two Harbors. https://www.youtube.com/c/DuluthHarborCam1

Right now the sun is out here and it is 4:59pm and 57^o. We are supposed to be getting off and on rain since 4pm. If we got any earlier, it must have been barely sprinkling.

FlaJean · April 08, 2022, 08:37:34 PM

Beverly, it is so good to see your posts.

I haven't been checking the posts regularly. My mind has been on other things. My son-in-law will finally be going to Jacksonville for his MRI Monday and then biopsies on Tuesday.

We've been having some rain but also some really nice sunny weather.

Love reading all the posts.

MaryPage · April 08, 2022, 08:55:27 PM

Beverly, I think I have read that the "marriage penalty" has been done away with, but I have no horse in that race, so have not paid close attention.

One of the times my last husband asked me to marry him, and I was very fond of him at that point in time, but being very frugal all of my life, I told him I thought not, as this "marriage penalty" would probably cost us around four thousand a year, and marriage was not worth that cost to me. I should tell you that he already had me doing his finances, as well as my own; but I had not run the figures at that point. That just popped up from a deep place in my head.

Well, he asked me to go ahead and check it out, because if there was any chance I would say yes, he wanted to take that chance. And I ran the numbers. And the figure was four thousand! Boy, was I swaggering!

So my answer was no. Then, a little over two months later he asked me again. When I said Yes, he could not obtain the license fast enough. Nice memories for an old crone!

As far as my memory goes (which is actually all over the place: mostly inaccurately), we paid the penalty right up until his death, which came just a couple of years later.

So I do not actually know whether you will pay more taxes as a single, or not! I really do think they fixed that, but don't count on MY memory! You may well be correct.

Beverly · April 08, 2022, 09:53:27 PM

Jean - Thank you. I will be hoping and praying for your son-in-law. We have a similar problem. My son has carcinoid cancer, which is a slow growing cancer, and for years has had an inoperable tumor which has been controlled by a very strong drug injected every few weeks. His latest MRI and PET scan showed several new tumors in various locations. Scary news but he's being optimistic.

We had a beautiful but windy day today. I did a lot more shopping at the grocery store than I had planned. Whenever I get out of the house I manage to spend a lot of money!

MaryPage - I don't know much about it, but I'll find out, I'm sure!

RAMMEL · April 09, 2022, 11:04:31 AM

A good starating place for railroad cameras.
https://virtualrailfan.com/locations/

CallieOK · April 09, 2022, 02:50:37 PM

Good Afternoon,

Beverly, how great to see you back amongst us. That "first time" you have to deal with things hubby had usually taken care of is hard. So glad your family has come to visit. Those babies are Precious!!!!

Tome, I've had vertigo - caused by "crystals" in my inner ear. DIL is dealing with it now - and has meds for whatever her type is.

MarsGal and Marilyne, I've enjoyed watching the "action" at the Keokuk Iowa lock - particularly the eagles and pelicans. I noticed the new cameras at the Duluth Harbor. Those will be interesting as the summer goes on.
I'm currently watching a live eagle cam in eastern Oklahoma. Three eggs hatched but comments say Mama usually has two - and the third one is struggling to compete with its older/bigger siblings. I'm so afraid it isn't going to make it.

Rammel, I am really enjoying the bird feeders/etc. link you once posted. Have watched a Horned Owl owlet go from just hatched (I guess the technical term is "fledged") to now flying from nest to a big branch. Interesting to see how Mama sits on the branch encouraging it to fly up and brings food to the nest to encourage it to fly back down.

This is the first day in (literally) a week when I haven't had to be ready for someone to come or had errands I really needed to do.
Hasn't been anything awful - just more than I'm used to. Had out of town company last Sunday afternoon, son came for "dinner-date" on Wednesday and, after putting it off twice because of weather, a friend came for lunch on Thursday. Had great conversations with all of these people. Had workers here Monday and Friday. Did necessary errands on Tuesday and Friday afternoons.

Neighbor just rang doorbell. TTYL

(Later) Whew! Think it was easier when I had to be ready for someone to come! Was glad to see neighbor but - just as she came in, the grocery "shopper" texted that he was ready to start filling my order. Took him only a few minutes and he texted he was "on the way". Neighbor decided to leave. So I was saying "goodbye" at the front door and "racing" to get the garage door open so shopper could bring sacks into the kitchen. They do not tarry!!!!!!

And that's been what's going on at my house recently.

Hope Every Bait and Tackler is having an enjoyable day.

Marilyne · April 09, 2022, 04:54:04 PM

Good afternoon to everyone looking in. Lots of interesting messages here yesterday!

Beverly, What a pleasant sight to see . . . the pictures of your two adorable great grandbabies, in the Photos & More folder! Looking forward to seeing more, whenever you have any to post. Sorry that your son has carcinoid cancer. I hope that the recently discovered new ones, can be treated the same way as the original. It sounds like he has a positive attitude.

Callie, I have the OK Eagle cam on my desktop, and have enjoyed watching it. I haven't taken a look yet today, but will do so when I finish posting this message. I've been meaning to tell you that
I'm pretty sure I saw Miss Ellen, in the Carnegie Hall episode of "The Marvelous Mrs. Maisel"? I plan to go back and take a better look, by freezing the picture.

Rick, I've been looking for some train/railroad cams, so will take a better look at the site you posted. I see that the cams are located in different areas of the US, so 'll start with the Western locations.

Mary Page, I loved your story about the "marriage penalty", and how you at first said No . . . but that lasted only two months. I'm sure you were very happy that you changed your mind. Also - meant to tell you that I got a kick out of your story about the three forgetful brothers, aged 92, 94 and 96. We can all relate to that dilemma!

MaryPage · April 09, 2022, 08:59:29 PM

Oh, Marilyne, that was not the FIRST time I'd said no. Actually, it was the 2nd.

He asked me first at the end of October, and I shuddered, because I truly did not want to be married again. I loved my life Just the way it was. I'd done years and years of care giving, and did not want to sign up for another stint

Then, it was between Christmas and New Years at the end of December when we had the conversation about the taxes. Then, when he asked me for the third time in early March, well, we were married on March 10th.

It wasn't him. I was very fond of him, and had known him for over fifty years. We were next door neighbors back when we lived in cookie cutter houses built on the G.I.Bill back in the Fifties. The decade, not our ages. His wife was one of my dearest friends for all of her life.

By the way, he earned his loan Big Time. My then husband was just an ordinary Sailor in the War, but this Bob (they were both Bobs) was a pilot in the Army Air Corps. He flew B24 bombers in 24 missions over Japan. He was out there when he noticed the sky turning all pink one day. When they got back to base, they heard the 1st atom bomb had been dropped.

Those bombers flew a crew of ten. Including Bob. Every year at Christmas Time, he & Sue, and then later, he & I, would get a card from every single one of them who was still alive. (None died in or of the War.) They would contain simple messages that made me tear up. Messages like: "Thank you, Bob, for bringing us home from the War." Well, I'll tell you: they had some very near misses, and, of course, a lot of planes did not get back to base.

When she was no longer answering my letters, because she was so ill, he read one of them and replied to it to tell me how sick she was. They were living in Florida at that point in time, but I lived there as a child for a couple of years (my dad was career Army and was posted there on River & Harbor Duty) and I never cottoned to the tropics. I am a Northern lake or river kind of gal. Anyway, Bob & I emailed back & forth from then on. That was 1998, and my husband had died in 1997. His wife died in 2001, and we got married in 2004. I told him he'd better be ready to give me ten good years, but he up and died in 2006. Well, it was good while it lasted, and now I have double the family. I love them all dearly, and they love one another, which is great. But then, as I said: they played together as children. Long, long memories.

CallieOK · April 09, 2022, 09:52:25 PM

MaryPage, what a wonderful love story. Lucky you!!!

Marilyne, I messaged Ellen and she said she's in the scene but not sure if she can be picked out of the crowd. She's planning to rewatch the episode and will send me a shot or video if she finds herself. (I don't have the channel it's on so can't watch it).

Marilyne · April 10, 2022, 04:21:17 PM

The big news here today, (last night), is the massive Home Depot fire in San Jose. Only about 7 or 8 miles from where I live, so the sirens were screaming all night, and the air was thick with smoke. Anyone who has ever been inside a Home Depot, knows how huge they are, and how much merchandise is inside . . . plus lumber and other inflammables out back. The news today is saying that the fire was visible from outer space? How they know that to be true, I have no idea?

This afternoon, daughter Sandy is coming over, so AJ can help her with her Income Tax. She didn't work as much last year as usual, so it should be fairly straightforward. Then she will be staying for dinner tonight, so I best make a quick visit to Safeway, and try to figure out something tasty and easy to prepare.

Callie - I think I can find Miss Ellen, when I review that episode. She was easy to spot in the earlier seasons, because of her red hair. I'll take a look this afternoon.

Mary Page - I enjoy reading your messages about your life, and also about Bob's service, as a WWII pilot. Wishing we had a Military now, like we did back then. I hope we won't need them, but things aren't looking very good right now.

MaryPage · April 10, 2022, 09:58:04 PM

Marilyne, we had a wonderful military, yes. And a wonderful spirit throughout the country: that spirit is what is missing today, with this nation so deeply divided. We were all so close back in the forties. Every single one of us did all we could for the war effort, the morale of everyone else, and to be helpful to one another. We don't live in that sort of nation any more. Would that we did.

I had great good news of a personal, family sort, late this afternoon. I am guilty of bragging extensively on my 28 great grandchildren. So hide your eyes if you cannot stand another bit of that!

This number is going to seem phony next to the number of those great grands, but the oldest is a girl named Emily, and she is 28 years old and an architect. She has had her degree for, oh, I think six years or more now. I know nothing about that world, but my understanding is that you can just live out your years working for a "licensed" architect who has their own firm, OR you can take a series of examinations, each one tougher than the one before, and each one passed awarding some letters to be put after your name, like M.D., and if all are passed, you can not only claim this string of letters, but you can obtain your OWN license.

So many never bother; they just go on working for someone else and having them sign off on their work.

But Our Emily was determined to get to be the author of her own work. So she has patiently studied for the exams and taken them all these years. Sometimes she failed, but you are allowed to take them again: I think Emily told me up to two times, but don't trust me on that. My memory does not get a passing grade these days. Not even close!

So it was Emily who called. From Missouri. She passed the very last exam. She will never have to take another one. And no one will be able to take her qualifications away from her. Ever!

I, we all, am/are So Proud!

I have a granddaughter who is going through the very same sort of process, except her degree and profession are in Actuarial Science, and she is an actuary. She has two more exams, and she will have all those letters after HER name, albeit different ones. She is already a vice president & head of the actuarial department at a large company in Oklahoma, at age 39. Her name is Angela, and I am just as puffed up over her.

Life is good. The world is plenty screwed up, but my family keeps me going better than all the pills on the planet! Oh, the pleasure they bring me!

Beverly · April 11, 2022, 09:16:35 AM

Good morning from sunny Florida.

MaryPage - I know that proud feeling of our grandchildrens' accomplishments. Congratulations to your great-granddaughter and also your granddaughter.

Marilyne - I can imagine how awful that fire was. I've spent a lot of time in Home Depot stores (Chape's favorite store! ). They are packed with lumber and other building supplies, plus a lot of other flammable and chemical products. In a place as large as San Jose, the store was probably huge.

Not much going on today. Donna and her husband will be over later. He's going to replace a sprinkler head that the lawn maintenance people broke.

RAMMEL · April 11, 2022, 09:36:34 AM

This is a clip of the Home Depot fire. There are more at Youtube.

Marilyne · April 11, 2022, 10:17:47 AM

Rick - Thanks for posting the video of the Home Depot fire. Those are by far the best pictures I've seen. Not as much on the local news last night as I was expecting.

RAMMEL · April 11, 2022, 10:54:21 AM

Marilyne - There are others at Youtube. Did you check them out?

Marilyne · April 11, 2022, 11:49:15 AM

Rick, I usually only go to YouTube for the music videos, so I forget that there are also lots of breaking news stories to see. I'll take a look right now.

MaryPage · April 11, 2022, 12:18:46 PM

Have a funny story to tell you, with a longish preface, I am absolutely certain you were all, as was I, raised on the story of George Washington and the "I cannot tell a lie' about the cherry tree. As a cynical older woman, I tend to view most, if not all, of our traditional national stories with a good deal of skepticism.

Those of you who do not know Annapolis have missed a truly amazing place. We have a core of a Historical Town that, unlike Williamsburg in Virginia, is a Colonial Town that has been carefully preserved, as opposed to Williamsburg being restored. And what a History we have had! The treaty that ended the Revolutionary War was signed here. Washington resigned his commission as head of the Army of the United States here. The Continental Congress met here in our State House, the oldest one in the nation that has seen continuous use since it was begun. Ours is the ONLY State House to have served as the temporary capital of our nation, having the
continual Congress for some months. Washington, Jefferson and Franklin stayed at our Middleton Tavern, which was already old, as it opened in 1750, and is STILL in business. Annapolis boasts miles and miles of waterfront, two colleges, an opera company, a symphony, and, I swear, just about any amenity you can think of.

Parson Mason Locke Weems (Episcopal)(We have a Weems Creek) wrote biographies of our early great men. It seems to have been traced to his pen, the mythology about little George and the cherry tree.

There was a waterman living on a bluff over Weems Creek a hundred years ago. Someone shoved his family outhouse over a cliff. One of his sons had just read Weems biography of Washington, so he stood tall and confessed to having done the deed.

He got a whipping. "George Washington didn't tell a lie, and he didn't get a whoopin," the boy cried.

Our old waterman replied: "That's because George Washington's father wasn't in the cherry tree when George chopped it down!"

FlaJean · April 11, 2022, 12:33:51 PM

That is a good one!

MarsGal · April 11, 2022, 01:00:35 PM

Hah! Love it MaryPage.

I am a little excited this noontime to discover several live cams operating at Sturgeon Bay.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ZYKB7IqxMZ4
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=NV6mivcuZoQ

CSL Welland is on its way past Port Huron sporting a mural on its superstructure. It is celebrating the 2022 Juex de Canada Summer Games at Niagara. Info on the mural and the games here:
https://niagara2022games.ca/news/article/majestic-mural-unveiled-on-csl-welland-during-st-lawrence-seaway-opening-ceremony-captures-spirit-of-canada-games/

MarsGal · April 13, 2022, 08:00:26 AM

Shan made an emergency trip to the vets yesterday. I discovered that he was bleeding, and his little pee hole is swollen. Because his bladder was empty the doc couldn't get a urine sample. He got an antibiotic shot and another called Convenia which, I think, is another antibiotic. I cancelled lunch with my sister to stay home and keep an eye on him today.

So, maybe a little yardwork this morning, pay some bills, keep an eye on Shan. That is my agenda for the day.

Beverly · April 13, 2022, 10:40:49 AM

Another bright, sunny, and breezy day here. Temp is 79.

MarsGal - Sorry to hear Shan is having problems!

Donna and Mike replaced the errant sprinkler head yesterday. It was spraying like a geyser.

Then she took me to pick up my new glasses. The frames are larger than I like but it gives me a wider range of vision. I can't see much with my left eye.

Hope you all have a good day!

Marilyne · April 13, 2022, 12:17:49 PM

MarsGal - Hope Shan is feeling better by now? Antibiotics usually work fast on dogs and cats? Sorry you had to cancel lunch with your sister, but you wouldn't have enjoyed it much if you were worrying about Shan.

Beverly - You've inspired me to start looking for some new glasses/frames. I've been wearing these same ones for over ten years, and think it's time for a change. My long time ophthalmologist retired during the first Covid lockdown, and I've never really looked for a new doctor, so will have to do that soon.

Last week we had temperatures in the 90's for a couple of days, so I got busy and took my Summer clothes out to wash and refresh. Sorry to say, they are looking pretty worn and faded. The pants are all baggy/droopy and don't fit well anymore, so I decided I needed to buy some skirts, for a change and for more comfort in the hot weather. Problem is, I don't have the energy to go out and shop and try things on. Looked online, and really difficult to judge a skirt length without trying it on - but I ordered two, which should be arriving today. So that will probably be my laugh for the day!

FlaJean · April 13, 2022, 03:40:39 PM

Marsgal, hope your little pet is getting better.

It is a very warm day here. We're still watching the bird's nest up on the porch column. Every so often a little head peeks up. The nest doesn't look very solid but is holding 3 little birds, we think.

Marilyne, ordering clothes can be tricky. During the pandemic I was desperate for some new tops and slacks and ordered from a catalog called National. I was very happy with everything and it was good quality. I went by their sizing instructions and it worked out perfectly. I'm a petite (5' 4" or under). My very busy daughter sometimes orders from Amazon because they are so good about returns and ship so quickly.

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