Marilyne, that sounds like the MCI Cafeteria Jim and I used to go to  in Indianapolis.  They even had two size plates, smaller for lighter eaters.  You might get one piece of fish on the smaller plate where you'd get two for the regular dinner.  They had delicious roast beef, usually had broccoli (which I do like), but also chicken and other types of meat.  Jim and I could have full meals for $15 total.  We don't have anything like that, at least not in my end of town.  The menu at Robinette's had individual prices but my chicken salad included the broccoli cheese roll, apple (Robinette's is an apple orchard) and pickle.  The hot cider was extra â€" and delicious.

Your building makeup, Patricia, sounds very interesting and if you see enough of the residents, it could be “never a dull moment”. I hope your spraying is over soon both for you and Farrah.

Patricia, you will be interested to know that I gave Kendrick some Fancy Feast Chicken and Gravy for overnight.  I noticed this morning that he had eaten some of it and there is still some in his dish.  I hate to leave food out as long as I've left that out and tonight he'll go back to dry food.  I have one more can of Chicken and Beef that I will give him in the future.  I doubt Kendrick ate half of what I put in the dish last night, so he didn't get a lot.  Onward and Upward!!!

Mary Ann

MaryAnn, I wonder if most senior buildings are like mine? When you have a group with disabilities that don't get out much, it seems like a company breakroom only all day long.

I know all the vets say canned food is fresher and better, no insect parts or larvae and no sitting around for months, but Farrah is like Kendrick, only eating a perhaps a third of a three-ounce can. And then only caked liver, no gravy,  beef or mixed in veggies.I also throw out what she doesn't eat and it is expensive. So I usually stick with about  three-fourths cup dry food.

Has anyone seen Gloria de lately? I miss seeing her posts.

Edit:

Farrah just came up and got behind me on the back of the couch. I turned to her and in a questioning tone, asked."What? She said, "yip, win win".  "Win" means treat and "Win win" means food, so we are actually communicating if you ignore that yip sound. I had purchased a bag of dry food for the indoor cat and we are both being stubborn. She barely eats it and I won't buy another bag until next week's payday. And even then, I'll mix them together.

Good morning all.

I had my first experience at Macaroni Grill on Monday. I was very pleased with the fresh taste of the food and I got a free dessert for my birthday as well. I selected the Fettuccine in Gorgonzola Sauce with Spinach and Prosciutto from the $10.29 limited lunch 3-course menu which included an appetizer and salad. I expected the entree to be a smaller portion of the dinner, but I looked like a full size portion to me. I had to take half of it home. BTW, the Rosemary Bread is excellent.

Angel, my two cats eat most anything, fortunately. They don't care for turkey, though, unless it is fresh roasted. They get a quarter of a three ounce can twice a day. What isn't put out right away goes in the fridge for next time. My previous cat didn't care for his food cold much of the time, so I would microwave it for just a couple of seconds to take the chill off. Oh, and my vet once told me that canned food is better at keeping a cat's weight under control. I didn't ask why, but I suspect because it has a much higher moisture content.

Instead of using cat dishes, I use microwavable babu food dishes. They are set inside a regular cat dish so they don't get pushed around. My best friend uses the disposable plastic bowls for his five cats so he doesn't have to be washing dishes constantly. He sets his plastic bowls inside spare corning cereal bowls, also so they bowls don't get pushed around.

I wish Farrah was that easy to please! Vets and cat sites all recommend the wet or canned food. But Farrah will not eat it from the fridge or the microwave even if it is just warmed enough to keep the chill off. And of course, it has to be refrigerated and not left out!

Even with the dry, I put it in her  ring to fish out and eat in small amounts as she will not eat food if left out for her. If she doesn't like something, I will still use what I have until its gone.

You've got one finicky cat there, Angel.

My best friend has five and they are hard to please. They won't eat pate, but they will eat with the gravy. Two of them don't much care for canned at all and another two shovel up whatever the others leave. Whenever George buys them something new, if they don't like it, my cats get the rest. Funny thing though, they took to some Nine Lives that his cats wouldn't eat, just seemed to love it. He went and bought another case (I guess he forgot his cats didn't like it). My cats will not eat it now. What is up with that?

Hi everyone on a crisp Saturday morning.  It was in the high 40's this morning and was a bit nippy outside when I watered the flowers and then made a trip to the mailbox.  I high today is suppose to be 68 degrees.  I look forward to a very quiet day today.  My neighbor just left after spending an hour or more visiting with me so the morning is about gone.  Looking forward to watching some college football today but haven't even checked the schedule yet.

Mary Ann, Tom's experience with the person selling him the glasses just emphasizes the importance of having the right people representing your company.  I just made an appointment for a couple of weeks from now to get my annual eye exam and am again going to use the doctor at COSTCO.  I don't anticipate needing new lenses.

Marilyne, my wife feels as you do in not enjoying standing in line to order so we seldom go to any of those places except occasionally to Chick-fil-A where you don't have to stand in line long and if she doesn't feel like doing that I can order for her.  Now you can order in advance over the Internet and actually pay for it in advance and you let them know when you arrive and the food will generally be ready for you.  Your Garden City Hofbrau sounds like a place I would really like. 

Patricia, glad you got your books out on your balcony.  If you haven't seen any bedbugs it seems very unlikely they have made it to your apartment or attacked your books although I understand your concern. I bet some of your residents have some interesting tales to tell. 

MarsGal, we had a Macaroni Grill where we used to live and I enjoyed going there but now it has been several years since my last visit.  My wife isn't particularly fond of Italian food and my last visits were with a weekly lunch group that would rotate to many different places. 

Kendrick ate most of his Fancy Feast Chicken and Gravy, but in early evening, I put the last of it down the disposal, washed his dish, then put in the dry food.  He almost inhaled a third of that in his haste to have it again.  I'll try the last can in a week or two; I'm not going to push my luck.

Getting back to Robinette's, the apple orchard restaurant, besides the restaurant, they also sell their apples in large quantities, but they also have a building where they sell things such as collectibles, candles, gift things.  It is a very popular place, especially during holiday seasons.  I may ask Tom to go there some day to get me a chicken salad lunch and bring it back here.  I guess you'd say it is a "destination" and I know local groups make a day of it.

We have cooled off considerably today, the temp being 50 degrees.  Sweater weather and I love it.

Mary Ann

Mornin all.  The sun is shining brightly and we are supposed to get up to 61 today.
No news but just checking in.  Hugs all around

[attach=1]Our first snow fell Thursday about 3pm and all day Friday, the snow is already melting. The usual pattern is snow for a day or two, melt and then five or six days later, have a second snowfall that sticks. We had a whole two inches or an inch a day of wet snow. We are not expecting any new snow until next month according to the weather folks and in fact, will have warmer temperatures for the next couple of weeks.

Farrah has been very upset and very verbal towards me. I purchased a brand of dry cat food that she doesn't care for. I'm waiting until Wednesday to buy new, and I will mix the old with the new until it is gone. She will come up behind me on the couch or sit on the floor by the sofa and watch me unblinking. When I acknowledge her or say "What?", she will mournfully say "Win-Win.?" I am not giving treats either as I want her to eat the dry food. She eats about three-fourths of a cup daily given out in batches as she doesn't like food left out.

"Win" singular means a treat and "Win-Win" means a meal.It is like dealing with kids again!  She has indeed come a long way; she comes out with women or couples visiting and will sniff at their shoes or legs but doesn't come out if its men only. I am the only one she doesn't shy from, and even I know better than to grab at her or try to pick her up as it will take a day or two until all is again forgiven.

We had a surprise this morning as Farrah woke me up at 3, growling at the balcony. In the dark, I couldn't see anything but Farrah certainly could! When it lightened up around seven, I was shocked to see an orange cat curled up on my bath towels left out there. Now I am on the fourth floor so it wasn't something I would suspect. I called a friend who told me a lady on the fifth floor had lost a cat, and she sent her down to me. When she went out on the balcony, "Sammy" jumped into her arms and was taken home with many thanks and explanations. For everyone's sake, Sammy has lost all balcony privileges. Above is a thumbnail you may click on to see why Sammy is an acrobatic feline!

Patricia, you gonna like this.

Stray cat patrol: Feral felines deployed in NYC war on rats

https://www.yahoo.com/news/stray-cat-patrol-feral-felines-deployed-nyc-war-123233442.html

Chilly and raining today and I'm spending most of the time bundled on the couch.  After another visit to the ER, I'm home with a diagnosis of a UTI and a prescription for a very strong antibiotic for the next 10 days.  At least this time they didn't admit me to the hospital. 

But...  in the process of switching oxygen tanks four times, somehow one of my hearing aids turned up missing.  Not a happy discovery.  Monday morning I'll contact my homeowners insurance, hoping that will be covered. 

Thanks Hal

Jeanne Lee, what a time you've had!

(I copied this from Soda Shoppe because I'm about to try to nap.)

Tom and I drove to Holland MI today to have lunch with Tom's son and DIL.  I don't know if I've mentioned it, but those kids are expecting twins in late March, earlu April.  They needed help with a fertility clinic.  She said she is getting along fine and they were able to feel the heartbeats this week.  They still do not know the sexes of the babies.  Both James and Alicia have red hair so we should have a couple of red heads running around.  Geoff and Charissa in California also are expecting about the same time.  And we will have a one-year-old near Lansing in January.

Since it is Homecoming at Hope College in Holland, we thought it would be difficult to find a place to eat so we drove to Saugatuck instead.  Saugatuck is a artist's area and we found that was busy too.  We did find a sports bar with vacant tables, so stayed there.  I had a fish sandwich with coleslaw and fries.  It was good, but not nearly as tasty as my chicken salad earlier in the week.  Nor as inexpensive.

Mary Ann

Mary Ann - Won't it be fun to have red haired twins in the family! Hope you had a good nap.

Jeanne - I hope your insurance covers the hearing aid! Maybe it will still turn up? Glad you didn't have to stay at the hospital.

I didn't feel well most of the week but things improved by yesterday. Today we played golf with the neighborhood couples group. We play once a month and each month with a different couple. When we left it was in the 50s! Cold for us since it's been in the high 80s nearly every day. Each month we play at a different course. Today's was about 15 miles away, a 50 minute ride in the golf cart one way! The wind was brisk and chilly in an open golf cart but we had a good time. (We only play 9 holes.) On the way home we stopped at Panera's for lunch. Then both of us bought a pastry to bring home for coffee later (after a nap!!) I got my favorite.....an orange scone.

The cat pictured in that link looks just like a  cat we used to have named Boots. Boots decided she was our dachshund Gretchen's guardian. We lived in a rural area with few neighbors. Whenever Gretchen was outside and a dog would wander into our yard, Boots would jump on their back and ride them right out of the yard with the dog ki-yi-ing. It was quite a sight. She never bothered them if Gretchen was inside.

Hal -  My apologies to your boxer,   but one of the neighbors had two big boxers and one made the mistake of coming into our yard. Boots jumped on his back and he unfortunately decided to escape into the screened front porch of our house, with Boots still riding him, claws digging in.  The problem was, the door swung in and he couldn't get out. I heard a terrible ruckus and ran to let him out. This dog had a heart problem and I was afraid he'd have an attack! 

Larry - I don't think I've ever been to a Macaroni Grill but I love Italian food. We have a Carrabba's, which I like very much.

Angelface - I think Sammy just used up one of his "nine lives".

MarsGal - Wish we had a Macaroni Grill near here.

Have a good evening WJoan, Sandy and all.

MarsGal: That sounds like a good idea - placing a disposable bowl inside of a corning wear cereal bowl!  I've always fed Winnie in ceramic soup or small fruit bowls, leftover from vintage dinnerware sets that I've collected or inherited over the years. They look pretty and colorful, but I do get so tired of washing them! 

Beverly - I didn't feel well today either.  Just an overall bad day, and I'm glad it's almost over. I just remembered that I had my flu shot yesterday!  You don't suppose . . . ??  They say that you don't get a reaction, but now I'm going to wonder about it?

Larry - My husband AJ, gets all of his glasses at Costco, and he also got his hearing aids there!  In fact, now that I'm thinking about it, he buys lots of major purchases there, like tires for the cars, and our most recent TV set. Probably many other things that I'm forgetting. 

Mary Ann - sounds like you had a nice time today on your trip to Holland.  The fish sandwich sounds good.  I can't think of any place around here where I could get a fish sandwich, without driving over to the beach at Santa Cruz.  Lots of fresh fish there and some great seafood restaurants.

Marilyne, since Saugatuck is near Lake Michigan, I kiddingly asked our server if the fish were fresh out of the lake (I had a perch sandwich) and he told me they were not.  It was a good sandwich with lettuce, tomato and tartar sauce.  We don't get to Saugatuck often, in fact, it's been many, many years since I was there with my retiree friends when we went to an outdoor art show.  It's about 60 miles south of Grand Rapids.

Mary Ann

Hi everyone on a very cool morning for us as it is still in the high 40's and we will only get into the low 70's late this afternoon.  As planned we stayed home all day yesterday and had a very enjoyable day.  I will go to church this morning and then bring home something for our main meal of the day.  I know that Pat is getting better as she was up before I was this morning and fixed her own breakfast for the first time in more than two months.  It seems her most painful time is trying to sit up to get up in the mornings.  She is now getting around the house without the aid of a walker or cane, which is another good indication.  I did enjoy a couple of football games yesterday and will likely watch some pro games this afternoon if I can keep my eyelids open while also listening to Don's Classical Music on my headphones.  From my office window I am enjoying seeing the Mums plant that is in full bloom as well as the five azalea bushes that are now blooming with red/orange blossoms.

Mary Ann, Robinette's sounds very much like the Stephenson's Apple Orchard we used to go to whenever we visited back in Missouri.  You generally needed reservations as they were so busy, at least during normal meal times. 

Joan, always glad to see you checking in and learning how your weather compares to ours. 

Patricia, seeing the picture of your balconies leaves me wondering how did that cat get onto your balcony as it looks like it is straight down from the 4th floor.  You are going to have to get back on the good side of Farrah.  It must have been a man who was cruel to her. 

Hal, I saw that report on what NYC is doing.  Cats would certainly be preferable to rats. 

Mary Ann, I bet Tom is happy to learn that he will be the grandfather of twins. 

Beverly, glad you were feeling better yesterday.  Was the golf course within your Villages community.  I was surprised that you could travel for 50 minutes in your golf cart to the course.  I haven't been to Panera's for a long time but go by the shopping center where one is located about once a week.  I need to stop in an buy myself one of their delicious pastries. 

Marilyne, sure hope today finds you feeling much better.  I have made a few major purchases at COSTCO but haven't needed too much from them yet.  We now live close to COSTCO and am pretty sure we will maintain our membership as long as we are able to go there as like their house brand products and especially their meat items. 

Good Morning Everyone from
the sunny and chilly,  rocky coast of Maine.

Good bye Summer, 
     Hello change of seasons... 


Well,  this next week I am going to be loosing
my star "border",  as Erin has got her self
a nice apartment in a great area (less then a 1/2
mile from me) ...  (very walkable)  and will
be moving on  by the beginning of next week. 

I am glad that she has found a place,   but
naturally,  I will miss her.    It has been
good having Erin as a temporary roomy. 

She has already started moving things this
morning.   (most of here "stuff" has been
in a storage container)   ....   

So things are changing here and I will
have to start to get ready for them.
I am ready and this should keep me
busy for a while.     

Have a good day Everyone !!
Sandy

Good morning from a chilly Interior! Our snow is almost gone, more like a frost. Well, I am on the home stretch as they will spray tomorrow. I have no idea how they will spray three separate times so will have to ask but feel it's going to be different days.

My neighbor across the hall believes they are in her apartment, but I have none in mine. At least not that I'm aware of. The fifth floor was sprayed last week. I just want it to be over; I'm not feeling up to par with this issue With everything on the balcony and the cleaning and redecorating to come, it is as if I had moved again! My aching back is not happy.

The wing you saw was one of two coming off a central hub on each floor. I have no idea how the cat made it, but I've now heard that there have been others. The office has issued her a lease warning. One may sneeze in one area here, and it's swiftly noted elsewhere which is why I admonished her to keep him off the balcony, besides for his well-being, Larry, I am on the fourth floor, it came down from the fifth or top floor.

When I hear about all the nice chain restaurants and groceries you have, I wish we had them at times. It seems they just don't last here, the franchises open to wide acclaim and then they disappear. I would like to try a perch sandwich or Pantera bread, or even a Trader Joe's groceries. Our Trader Joe's was open for two years, and even the fast foods, except for McDonald's don't do well here.

I have two stainless steel bowls for Farrah and a ceramic one. I put her water and wet food in the steel bowls and her dry food in her large blue ring so she has to finagle it out. Her verbal and agility skills are very good, although her verbalizing is not like any cat I've heard before. She is such an enigma, and I wish I knew her previous story!

I'm on a different computer and I've been kicked off umpty seven times so I'll have to wait to respond to anything when I can use Notepad, which I have not found here.  This is a combo W-7 and W-10.

Mary Ann

Mary Ann, click on the Start button and in the search box type Notepad and it should show you the link to click to bring it up.

I am still in the process of backing up the files on Pat's laptop and it has been a slow process.  I am putting them on an older computer I have sitting here in my office that isn't used for anything else.  I copied them onto a memory stick from her laptop and she has a lot of quilting videos and large files that are very slow.  While doing so I am watching the Atlanta Falcon game on the TV in my office.  I am ready for my easy chair. 

We had a good Sunday School and church service this morning and then I stopped at Firehouse subs for one of their Hook and Ladder salads for Pat and a sub for me.  After lunch I turned on the football game and muted the sound and listened to Don's program.  I do have admit missing some of it as took a nice nap also.  That is my multitasking for today. 

Sandy, another change in your life with Erin moving out and you having your place all to yourself.  I hope her move goes well. 

Patricia, the cat falling from the 5th floor is even more startling.  I hope they spray for you among the first on your floor and they can answer when they will repeat the process.  We are fortunate to have many good eating places available to us although some are several miles away.  I have never been into a Trader Joe's but have heard a lot about them.

Thanks Larry but I don't think he fell. Cats are climbers and there must be toe holds,(Claw holds?); I understand he has done this before at other places, but she needs to keep him indoors away from the balcony.If you look to the far right, She is on the 5th floor just before it rounds and I am just underneath.

Larry, on the other computer, I was in a W-10 mode and could not find anything like Notepad.  I am trying W-10 on that computer because I think I'm going to get a new computer with W-10 only on it.  I'm wondering now if viruses attack the computer or program.  In other words when a virus hits, does it take over more than one computer or does it attack the Home Page.  So if I get a new computer, do I inherit the virus too?

Here's what you missed earlier!  They do not take reservations at Robinette's.  If it is very busy and a person does not want to wait in line, they usually go to the barn and shop, then come back later.  We were there during the lunch period but did not have to wait long.  Tom is in seventh heaven with the thought of being a grandfather to twins.  Terry's son and wife in California are expecting a single baby about the same time - Spring, maybe late March or early April.

A favorite of mine at Panera's is their broccoli cheese soup (or cheese broccoli soup!).  We don't go there often but it isn't too far from here.  At 5 am it was 35 degrees here and at 9:30 am it was all the way to 40 degrees.  I'm not ready for my winter coat, but if I need it, I'll wear it.

Patricia, it was not a chain restaurant where I got the fish sandwich.  We have several chains around here, but they're all locals.  There may be some national or out-of-state chains, but not in our neighborhood.  Most of the growth here is in the south part of town and the county and we live north - by choice!

We had an interesting church service this morning.  As you know, our minister has left so various church members and groups took over.  Our speakers were two heads of food pantries that we support.  One is the food pantry in the north end and the other is in the south end, but supported by our denomination.  For over 20 years I volunteered at the north end pantry, making computer entries.  I had not seen the head of that pantry since I left in 2003 so it was good to see her too.  The head of the south end pantry knows me by name and it was good to see him again (since he last spoke at our church).

When I wrote earlier, it was light out and Grand Haven had a lot of whitecaps and there was one kite flying.  It is getting darker, still light out, but I haven't checked things now.

I am going to quit while I'm ahead.

Mary Ann

MaryAnn, we have so many types of fish here, both local and ocean, but not the same type as you have in the lower 48. We have no lobsters. perch or southern shrimp. We have king crab which can be five feet in diameter, Pacific cod, ling cod, halibut and others.   http://alaskatrekker.com/things/alaska-fishing/alaska-fish-species/    https://www.adn.com/environment/article/tuna-ocean-sunfish-indicate-portions-pacific-warming-dramatically/2014/09/15/

In the rivers are five types of salmon, grayling, sheefish, Dolly Varden, river trout  and rainbow trout. Some of these migrate back and forth from river to ocean and back again. The salmon spawn in the rivers, the hatched fish go out to the ocean and years later come back to that same spawning area, spawn  and then die.    http://www.adfg.alaska.gov/index.cfm?adfg=ffinventory.species

It is just that your entire ecosystem is so different than what we have here. Whales, killer whales are very common here and even some sharks in the oceans, but other than global warming and odd fish such as sunfish showing up here. all the species are cold water or arctic varieties. It is an entirely different country and world.

I do not know why so many fast food and chains don't make it here other than distance, supplies and or bad business decisions, freight costs, who knows. Even what is local to you and here I am speaking in generalities to the lower 48 states, are known here by name or from the young military folks. I am sure they are coming, however. We have five local army and air force bases and they want these places here too. The military is a big influence here and the median Alaskan age is thirty-five so it will come.

Good evening, the wind has finally died down after 2 days of gales. Yesterday was a cold rain all day.

Patricia, my family were Baymen, and nearly everyone on our street were fishermen. This was doing the depression, but we always had a bushel of clams and oysters in the gararge, plus a bushel of potatoes, so we never went hungery. My favorite sea food is lobster, scollaps and cod. Please excuse the spelling.
To day for the first time, I have found Taffy playing in the toilet bowl. All the years I have had her, this is the first time, and I found her twice playing with the water.  I sure hope that is not where my hearing aid went.

Larry and MaryAnn, sounds like you both have a lot of good places to eat.  WE have a few nice ones around here plus all the chains.  My husband  like to go to JR's Tuesdays is senior day, all day and it is crowed. I begin with lobster bisquit, they put a salad on the table to help yourself, then steak dinner, plus desert, all for $12.

Patricia, by local, I mean their headquarters are in Grand Rapids and the restaurants are all in the area.  One, but headquartered in Holland MI, is Russ's.  Holland was originally a very "Dutch" town but there are other nationalities there now, especially Vietnamese.  Many businesses in Holland are closed on Sunday, and all of the Russ's restaurants are closed on Sunday, regardless of location.

Lake Michigan is a fresh-water lake.  We do have coho salmon which I think are not native to the lake, but were planted there many years ago.  I am not a fisher person so I don't know all of the fish in the lake, but I do know there are perch and the perch are always fried.  I try to steer away from fried foods, but usually if I want a fish sandwich, my fish is fried.  Usually I do not know what kind of fish are used, but I have had tilapia at times. 
One year when I was on a tour to Banff and Lake Louise, I was able to order halibut.  Later, at home, I was able to order halibut, but I haven't seen it on a menu for years.  I did have some cod recently.  Truthfully, while I like fish, I cannot the difference as far as taste and/or texture is concerned!

We have quite a few lakes around Grand Rapids and sunfish and blue gill are two popular panfish.  My dad used to catch those when fishing and they had many, many bones.  With no fisher persons in the family, I have to get my fish at restaurants.

Mary Ann

Gloria D, I have had lobster but I don't crave it.  One year Jim and I were on a New England tour and in Maine we were at a restaurant where we were served lobster, mussels and clam chowder.  I liked all of them, but I can wait until I get a chance and even then, I probably would not order lobster because I'm too cheap!!! 

We have a country club here that has a Napa Salad that I like and I order that whenever I go to their restaurant.  But I can't say I have any favorite food.  I think I order fish more when eating out because I don't know how to cook it and Tom doesn't like fish. 

We do have some national chains coming here and some are near us, but they are more expensive than our local chains and I think the food isn't any better.

I keep my toilet seat down, mostly because it is in clear view of the dining area and when we used to have company, I didn't want anyone to have to look at the toilet, possibly with the seat up.  But now it is a good idea because of the cat.  He does go into the bathroom but if the lid is down he can't get into the toilet water.

Mary Ann

Gloria and MaryAnn, eating out here is expensive if you are on a budget or SS. Most lunch or breakfast entrees are eight or nine dollars and coffee is usually a dollar with two refills or unlimited refills. Dinner may run between nine dollars per basic restaurant up to a hundred per person at the top restaurants. A Sunday brunch is often twelve or fifteen dollars for a basics menu.

When I'm out, I tend to ask the waiter or waitress what is good and does it fit my allergies. I am known at some of the ethnic  restaurants and they will tell me what is good for that day. I usually shop there as well so they pay attention to their regulars. Otherwise I will go to a coffee shop or hotel.

Farrah used to be frightened of the toilet noise. Now she watches the water swirl so I've gotten the habit of closing the lid just in case. The bathroom is down a hallway, opposite the bedroom so you cannot see it. If you looked down the hall as you came in, you would only see three closed doors.

Good morning everybody.

Yesterday when I went over the river to feed George's cats, the Susquehanna was as usual if a bit low. When I came back, a mater of 45minutes, it had risen over the rocks and turned the most red (the whole way across) I have ever seen it. There had been heavy rains and flooding up river.

Earlier in the week, on the same errand, I saw an immature Bald Eagle on the front lawn of the Pennsylvania American Legion Headquarters. It turned around and stared right at me as I went by. This was my second Bald Eagle sighting this year. My last sighting in the area was a male that had just lifted off and was flying low up over the rise above a creek. It crossed the road in front of me as I was on my way to work. That must have been 10 years ago.

Another rare sighting, because it is usually cloudy or too late/early at night for me, is the meteorite I spotted this morning when I looked out the window while waiting for the computer to come up.

It is pumpkin pancake season at my local diner, a yearly happening that I take full advantage of. The diner is, maybe, a mile from me. They are known for their wonderful omelettes.

Marsgal, when the Susquehanna really floods, and water goes over the dam, we can see it coming down the bay.  What was that really bad one we had some years back?  Isabel?  I am not sure now.  But the water came down muddy brown and angry and full of logs and tires and plastic bottles and all KINDS of stuff.  It was really ghastly, and the local papers and news put it all on the Susquehanna.  Now I relate the name to nasty!  Just kidding, but it is a sort of reflex memory and reaction.