Good Morning Everyone,  from the cold, but
clear and sunny, rocky coast of Maine!

Hard to believe that there are only 22 more days
until Christmas.     (Yikes) 

I hope that everyone has an enjoyable  day.. 
Peace to all

Sandy

Good morning Sandy and Larry.   Mary Ann is probably enjoying lunch at the Cholesterol Pit, about now?  Patricia is one hour behind me, so it's only 7:00 in Fairbanks, and maybe she is just getting up?  I've already had too much coffee, but  seems like I need a lot to get me started every day.  I'll be. back later, after some breakfast and a shower.

Marilyn, at the time you posted. Dot and I were probably on our way to the Cholesterol Pit because the post is timed at 11:07; our service lasts until around 11 am and as today was Communion Sunday, I have an idea we may have been in church yet, however, we could have just left.  We had a guest minister today and will have him through Advent, which is nice to have the same person. 

We split the tuna melt today and neither of us was sure what kind of pie we had.  It was a cream pie with chunks of something in it, only we couldn't figure out what the chunks were.  The pie was good. 

Tom was home when I got here but I haven't seen him yet.  I slept good, but at 2:35 I'm ready for a nap and maybe Kendrick is too.  I'll finish S&F first.

Larry, I hope your Internet improves soon.

Mary Ann

Good morning from a warmer, for now, Interior. There is not much going on here. We are one hour behind the West Coast, three hours behind the Midwest and four hours behind the East Coast. We are eleven hours behind Israel and twenty-two hours behind New Zealand and Australia. Two hours, from Siberia, Fairbanks, not the rest of the state because there is one place where Alaska and Siberia are only three miles apart.


I have been up since eight because I slept poorly and then overslept. I have been under the weather recently so hope to feel better soon. I have one long class break that I mentioned earlier and now found my other class is breaking from December ninth through January ninth. My by-yearly apartment inspection is coming up early next week and I am depressed with the country in general right now which I won't get into. So, not much to say.

Hi Everyone.  We are to have a mixed day of sun and partly cloudy with it getting up into the high 60's.  This is the morning I have been looking forward to as by noon I should have clear vision again, although my eye will be dilated for a couple of days.  My son is going to go with me this morning.  My appointment is for 9:25 so won't have to wait all morning.  I will spend the rest of the day after I get home taking it easy.

We so enjoyed watching the 50th anniversary Carol Burnett show last evening.  It was two hours long so I watched the second hour from the comfort of my bed.  That show and Frazier and Cheers are probably the top three shows that I have enjoyed.  Of course, I realize I probably have forgotten about some other great shows I have watched over the years.

Sandy, the days go by so quickly that Christmas will be here before we know it.  Have you had any snow up your way?  It sounds like you are having some nice weather. 

Marilyn, I brewed my first cup of coffee that I have had in several years but still do not care for it so that may be the last one. 

Mary Ann, how did you know which pie to order or did you just see it and say we will have that one?  Nothing like a mystery pie.  Mary Ann, it was a problem of my desktop and not Comcast.  After fretting with it for awhile I rebooted the computer and all was fine. 

Patricia, as I write this morning it would be only 3 am up your way.  I do hope you get to feeling much better soon.  It sounds like you will have to find some good books to read with your classes in recess. 

Larry, Mr Burger is a cafeteria style restaurant.  Dot and I have a system - I find our booth, get the eating utensils and water while she goes through the line.  Sometimes it is quite busy and other times not so busy.  We decide beforehand what we're going to have - tuna melt or burgers.  She gets the "dessert" after she has placed our order and she gets what looks good.  She pays for the food and gets our coffee and brings it to our booth (we alternate paying every other week).  She has a receipt with a number on it and someone calls the numbers.  When our number is called, Dot goes to the counter to get it.  The menu is on a plaque on the wall where you get in line, but we have the same things by choice and the order takers know her, also the fact we want the tuna melt cut in half and they give us two plates.  With the burgers, they don't give us a tray, but the burgers are wrapped and sometimes identified as to which is which!

Now, you didn't expect so much information. 

It is 47 degrees here at 9:20 am and the wind is blowing briskly.  I haven't looked at Grand Haven yet, but I will.

Tom is on his way to Saginaw, across the state, for a friend.  The friend will pay Tom for the errand.

There are whitecaps at Grand Haven, but not as many as I expected.

Mary Ann

Mary Ann - we have a lot of restaurants here that are set up like Mr. Burger.  Reasonable prices, and you can choose whatever you want.  My favorite is called, Garden City Hofbrau.  Same menu plaque on the wall, so you decide what you want while you're moving down the line.  They have a roasted turkey and ham, so you can order a sandwich and watch them carve, or a few other selections in hot trays like lasagne, etc.  When you get to the desserts, it's the same as Mr. Burger . . . you just point to the pie or cake that you want, because it looks good.  Sometimes the cream pies all look the same, so you just take a chance! ha ha. I'm wondering if your pie might have been either banana cream, or pineapple cream?   

Good morning from the Interior! Temperatures are up, and we have freezing rain over melting snow which is not a good thing when you are surrounded by different sets of foothills and the only way out in three separate directions is over the lower flanks of three different mountain ranges.

We have three sets of foothills and three mountain ranges behind those ridges. The summits around town will be especially hazardous. And of course, people pay exorbitant amounts to live in those foothills. The school buses have already announced they won't be able to make those routes. The changeable weather patterns evidently are affecting people as well. In the last week, we've had four separate murders committed, and three different police chases.

I have some errands to do downtown but want to wait until after my apartment inspection on Wednesday. Hopefully, conditions are better then.

Farrah has the crazies this morning and has dragged a bath towel off the rack to scrunch it up and roll around in it. She also is keeping an eye on me, and an ear cocked to the outside door. You have to, at times, wonder just where that prey instinct is leading them?

We used to have two chain cafeterias here that were especially popular on Sundays like Your Mr. Burger, MaryAnn and your Garden City Hofrau, Marilyne. One ran afoul of city inspectors, and the other franchise went broke. However, we have multiple cafes and ethnic restaurants as well as one McDonald's and one Kentucky Fried Chicken. Although I've heard that KFC is losing ground. Franchises don't seem to do that well here.

Marilyn, our pie yesterday definitely was not banana cream or coconut cream.  I do know what those taste like.  This was more of a custard with chunks of something in it and I'd say the chunks tasted like brown sugar.  They were not chocolate, either.  I really don't care what the pies flavor was because it was good.

Mr Burger has seven locations in various areas of town and it very popular.  Since our church time was changed to 10 am from 8:30 am, Mr Burger is very busy at the time we go after 11 am.  Going earlier is more convenient and I'm hoping we will have an interim minister soon because it is in the job description that there will be two services and one of them will be at 8:30 am.  Frankly, going at 10 am goofs up my morning because I wake up early and end up lying in bed longer whereas otherwise, we'd be on our way to church at 8:15 and when we'd get home from brunch, we'd have the rest of the day - which would start earlier.  It is the feeling of nothing much to do before we leave for church that gets me.  I know others do it willingly but I can't seem to adjust to that.  And it makes it so we get to Mr Burger about 11:15-11:30 and they're busy, so busy we're lucky to find a parking place, let alone a booth!

Things have warmed up here today and we now are at 54 degrees.  At 9 am, it was more like 40 degrees.  I don't like your weather, Patricia.  We have a dreary day and I've seen some evidence of rain, but no downpour.

Mary Ann

MaryAnn, we don't like it either but it's forecast for all week altho different weather station have variable temps. From what I understand, the Midwest and East coast are expected to get frigid very soon and for most of December. However, it is all a guessing game.

Patricia  - None of our franchises or our locally owned restaurants ever seem to go out of business here. I'm sure it's because of the thousands of people who move into Silicon Valley, every DAY!!  This area is a gold mine of opportunity for young people who want to make lots of money, ASAP!  Problem is, that the housing costs are astronomical.  Rentals start at over $2,000 a month for a one bedroom apartment, and the price rises accordingly!  My daughter is lucky that she lives in a rent controlled building, so they can only raise the rent 5% a year.  It's only older apartment buildings that qualify to be rent controlled. 

We also have a ton of ethnic restaurants, because of our huge population of Chinese and E. Indian tech workers.  Thai food is popular here, but it's way too spicy for me.  Same with most Indian food . . .  I'm not a big fan of curry.  However, I do like Vietnamese food, and will always enjoy a bowl of Pho noodles.   Mexican food has always been my favorite, and we've adopted their holiday tradition of tamales on Christmas Eve.

Mary Ann - The Garden City is an old family owned business, and there are two locations in San Jose. Unfortunately they have both recently been purchased by big developers, and will be torn down next year to make room for high rise apartment buildings.  

Marilyne, studios, and efficiencies started around $1800.00 here plus first and last month and a utility deposit of at least $275.00 in 2014. So it is expensive for people to live here that aren't military or have a good job. I made good money at my last position for a non-professional, ("middle management" the buffer between corporate and the rank and file...); and I had to watch my budget with an eagle eye!

I'm sure it is, (rent); higher now and am so glad I live in a rent-controlled senior building!

We are still having rain.

Special Weather Statement
Weather Updated: Dec 04 5:43PM
Issued by the National Weather Service
For Middle Tanana Valley, Alaska
SPECIAL WEATHER STATEMENT UNTIL 7:45PM AKST MON ...FREEZING RAIN NEAR THE ALASKA RANGE TONIGHT... AREAS OF FREEZING RAIN AND SNOW ARE OCCURING IN THE ALASKA RANGE NOW, AND EXPECTED TO MOVE AS FAR NORTH AS NENANA THIS EVENING. THIS COULD CAUSE UP TO ONE TENTH OF AN INCH OF ICE TO ACCUMULATE, MAKING SURFACES VERY SLIPPERY FROM NENANA SOUTH ON THE PARKS HIGHWAY, AND SOUTH OF DELTA JUNCTION ON THE RICHARDSON HIGHWAY. THE FREEZING RAIN SHOULD END ABOUT MIDNIGHT TONIGHT. FROM FAIRBANKS SOUTHEAST TO SALCHA, THERE IS A CHANCE OF LIGHT FREEZING RAIN AND SNOW FROM 9PM TONIGHT THROUGH 3AM TUESDAY. IF SNOW AND FREEZING RAIN DO OCCUR, THEY WILL BE VERY LIGHT WITH JUST A TRACE OF FREEZING RAIN AND LESS THAN ONE INCH OF SNOW. IN THE MIDDLE TANANA VALLEY NORTH AND WEST OF FAIRBANKS, SNOW IS LIKELY WITH A CHANCE OF FREEZING RAIN TONIGHT. SNOW ACCUMULATION OF TWO INCHES IS EXPECTED, AND IF FREEZING RAIN DOES OCCUR, ACCUMULATION WILL BE ONE HUNDREDTH OF AN INCH OR LESS. HIGHWAY SUMMITS NORTH OF FAIRBANKS CAN EXPECTED EAST WINDS GUSTING UP TO 40 MPH ALONG WITH BLOWING AND DRIFTING SNOW CAUSING LOW VISIBILITY.

Just checking in.  All is fine here and no news to share with you all.

  Hi Everyone.  We have an overcast morning but will get into the mid-70's this afternoon.  My main activity today will be to go for the second day checkup on the cataract surgery at 1:20 this afternoon.  I was to remove the eye guard when I awoke this morning.  On my way home I plan on stopping at Costco to return this second Chromebook.  It had worked fine for 3 or 4 days but last evening it froze about 7 times and I decided I didn't need that hassle in my life.  So I guess it will be back to a regular laptop rather than a Chromebook.  Yesterday everything went well and there has been no pain or problem.   

Mary Ann, nice that Dot is able to do the cafeteria line and then pick up the food.  It seem here if you don't get your food right as you order it they will bring it to your table although some places you have to go back to the counter when your number is called. Glad that Tom's friend is paying him for the trip he is making for him. I have been attending an eleven or eleven thirty Church service for so many years that going at another time would seem strange. 

Marilyne, does the Garden City Hofbrau feature German food?  You would have to make a very good salary to be able to afford to live and work in your area.  Even a 5% a year increase can be problematic if salaries or fixed incomes don't change. I guess Mexican food is also our favorite after good old American style food. 

Joan, glad all is well out your way.  Is Candy still staying with you?  Did she find that being gone a night or two qualifies her to come back for another 2 week period?

Patricia, your weather conditions yesterday sound treacherous with the freezing rain.  It sounds like the bad weather is bringing out the meanness in people with the murders and police chases.  It is hard to understand why Franchises don't do well with the military presence.   

Larry, good luck on your cataract check up.  I am sure  you know by now how successful the surgery was. 

Dot can walk better than I can, hence she does the ordering and picking up at Mr Burger.  They have been known to bring the food to our table but it was because of a mixup in our order and we waited an hour before Dot went to the counter to tell them we were still waiting.  A very embarrassed employee brought the order to us that day.  The next week we hardly had to wait because they remembered their goof of the previous week.  The people who frequent the restaurant do so week after week and if the counter people don't change, they recognize the regulars. 

I think it is a culture shock when people moved from the west coast inland because of the cost of living.  I watched an episode of House Hunters where someone was moving from San Diego to the middle of the country and had an enormous amount to buy a house.  Their amount bought a lot more house than they had in San Diego and I don't remember if they bought what they could afford or a house more their style.  I have a great-nephew who just moved to North Hollywood from South Pasadena.  I have no idea what is salary is or what his rent is, but I know it's a lot more than what he'd pay here.  He works in the film business so his talents aren't needed here.  He loves being in CA where he doesn't have to shovel snow or be subjected to really cold weather.  He's willing to risk the earthquakes in the area.

I wondered too about Hofbrau - is it a German restaurant.  We don't have fancy restaurants in our area and my preference is for a quiet place.  That is why we go to Russ' so often.  Russ' headquarters are in Holland MI and they have several restaurants in West Michigan.  I will say that mostly older people go there, but it is quiet.  If they play background music, it doesn't blare at you; you can carry on a conversation across a table.  I am not fond of Mexican food but I usually can find something that is not too spicy on the menu.  One thing also about Russ' is that if I order a sandwich, I get a sandwich with some fries or chips or cole slaw and you can see the sandwich.  At fancier places, the sandwich comes with so many parts that I have to put together myself and then it is so thick I can't get my mouth around it.  You can tell I'm not used to eating at fancy places!

Last night when I retired, our temperature was 60 degrees.  Now at 10:15 it is 39 degrees and not expected to go up much further.  From what the Weather Channel says, temps all over the country are expected to be at least 20 degrees lower than what they have been.

Lots of whitecaps on Lake Michigan.

I forgot to mention that Dot and I will be going to church today to attend a Christmas Tea put on by the Women's Fellowship of our church.  All of the women in the church are automatically members of the Women's Fellowship.  We have a short service in the chapel first, then go to the drawing room for our refreshments and conversation. 

Mary Ann

Good morning - cold and windy here.  I see on my computer news page, that there is a huge wildfire going on in Southern California, near the city of Ventura.  Sounds exactly like what we had here in October, in the cities of Napa and Santa Rosa.  I hope t hey get it under control quickly, and it doesn't spread like this one did.  It depends on those evil Santa Ana winds.  As long as they continue to blow, the sparks will ignite everything they land on.

Larry and Mary Ann - The Garden City "Hofbrau", sounds like it should be serving German food, but as far as I know, it never has?  The original restaurant opened in downtown San Jose in the 1950's, was decorated in a sort of German theme, but it was owned by the Dallas family, who are Greek.  Maybe you've heard of Irene Dallas, who was a well known opera singer a few decades ago?  All the Dallas brothers sing also, and used to stand up and sing at the old restaurant. The Garden City, was what San Jose was called in the old days, when it was mostly orchards, canneries, and beautiful lush vegetation. Now all bulldozed down, paved over, and turned into Silicon Valley.      

Mary Ann - Your mention of of the show House Hunters, reminds me, that one of the HGTV shows  featured a couple in Holland, MI, last week.  It was really interesting, because the couple was looking for a house on the lake shore, so there were lots of views of the lake.  The homes were quite pricey, but very lovely.  They showed the beaches along the lake, as well as a few shots of the city of Holland.  As usual, the couple looked at three homes, and chose one at the end of the show.  I can't remember now, what they ended up paying?  I think the show was Lakefront Bargain Hunt, or might have been House Hunters?

Good morning from a dark Interior. It is fourteen degrees out, twenty-five for a high today. And the sun will rise at ten thirty-two AM and set at two fifty-three PM; a loss of four minutes and twenty-five seconds from yesterday. On the Winter Solstice, December twenty-first, we will return to gaining rather than losing daylight.

Larry, yes, the military love their fast food and many franchises are on the various bases. They just don't work in the city itself. The fast-food industry and chain restaurants with similarly prepackaged food, have a hard time competing with the many ethnic restaurants that offer freshly cooked food that tastes good and cafes and restaurants that draw provisions from the surrounding farms.

Many young military members bemoan our lack of huge malls, activities, our sizeable distances and the restaurants available from where they are from. They see the forests and the mountains as primitive and the considerable Native presence as either something to look down on or use for entertainment.

It's funny then that so many military choose to retire here and so many Europeans come for the University or the adventure. Denali, less than one hundred miles from here is the second highest mountain behind Everest, and the surrounding area is often called the "Little World," for all of the multinational climbers and exhibitions.

Prices are high here, and rentals are as well, but construction, military contracting and the Scientific community pay exceptionally well, and there are good unions. However, the oil industry is phasing out, and that will bring changes that will change things again. I can relate to Marilyne's situation. We do not have a centralized highway system, and we look somewhat askance at coming in and pouring concrete over the vast arboreal forest that covers much of the state.

Each time a road system is proposed, the Native corporations and other political blocks vote against it. Too many inexperienced people with little planning, move up here with their families with stars in their eyes from dreams of living off the land. Usually, they end up having to be rescued, or in some cases jailed as they believed there were no limits.

Marilyne, I am so sorry for the new wave of fires in California. I don't know what your state will do, the relief work ahead and rebuilding... We went through that in 2004, 2005, and again in 2014. However, our population is so much less than yours.

Mornin Larry.  We never asked.  She is still here.  She got her bank statements yesterday so she will take them down to the Mgr. today.  The Mgr was gone by the time the mail came.  Will see what she says today..

I'm back from our Christmas Tea.  It was well attended; I couldn't count the number of tables but there were six women at each table - maybe ten tables as I couldn't see all of them.  Our entertainment was a family group of violinists who played Christmas music.  Only the girls came and there five or six of them.  They did well.  There are ten children in the family and they are not from our church.  One of our members baked several Red Velvet (Waldorf Astoria) cakes and those along with tea or coffee were our refreshment.  The pieces of cake were huge!  We had a good time talking with others.  I felt bad that out of all of those women, I knew only a handful - maybe a dozen - as I am not in any group.  Having counted the Sunday collection for so many years, I'll bet I would have recognized most of their names. 

I think it is time for a nap, but first I'll see if there are other folders to read.

Mary Ann

Mary Ann, I am like you and prefer a quieter place and doesn't have to be a fancy place.

My oldest son and his wife do not have any children and live an entirely different life than I do, or my 2 other sons.  So, when they take me out periodically, we always go to a fancy place,  I just am not all that comfortable.  They are big wine drinkers and it is not unusual for the bill to be  $200 or $300, or sometimes more.  I enjoy good food, but just as happy at a fast-food place.  We have several nice places near where I live,  . Good food at a reasonable price.  A lot of the time, these fancy places are over-rated. 

I just made reservations for a Christmas Eve brunch at a local place.  It is one of the nicest brunches I have ever been to.  They have everything for breakfast, lunch, made to order omelets, carving station and numerous  desserts.    Plus the drinks are included.  Mimosa's and Bloody Mary's , soda and hot drinks also.  Most places charge for your drinks.  One price takes care of everything.  It is usually 21.95, which is a good price for a nice buffet.  However, the one for Christmas eve is $30. The lady I talked to said it will be some extra things added.  It will only be my 2 sons and DIL going. That will be part of their Christmas gift.  They are all so good to me as far as getting me places, where I might not get to go.  Hard to get these two sons together at the same time, so it will be nice.

Glad that you had a nice day out with Dot.  Something different and you got to be with some friends.

I need to get myself ready as I am going to play cards tonight.  I only play 1 game, as I can't sit too long at a time.

Have a nice rest of the afternoon.

Joy

Joy, my idea of eating out is to be with friends and/or family.  I do not eat out alone, although I would not be above driving through a Mc D's or fast food place to get something to eat.  I used to do that on the way to and from Indps when I drove down there.  I might notice the food at a place I would be with others, but it is the "others" who would be the reason for my eating out.  So if the food wasn't good, the company was.

I have not gone to this Tea because I'm not in any group and really don't know many of the women in church.  I know who some of them are, but not really know them.  When they would go to Florida, Norm and Dot would still be there when the Tea was presented.  Now that she is home, Dot takes part in several things so she and I are able to attend the Tea.  It evidently is the first Tuesday in December and two years ago when Norm died, the Tea and his funeral were held December 1.  We could not have the reception at our church because of the Tea so Jan, Terry's wife, arranged to have the reception at her church, Northlawn Methodist, where she is the Associate Minister.  One of my sayings "Any port in a storm" (or take advantage of what is available).

I do wander off, don't I?

Mary Ann

Lake Michigan is kind of wild today.

Hi Everyone. Our day starts with an overcast sky and our high today is suppose to be 62. The only thing on the calendar for today is our Wednesday night dinner at Church and then Scott and Jennifer will be coming out.  We should get to speak to our great grandchildren this evening.

Yesterday turned out to be a very busy and stressful day.  The morning was busy paying bills, calling a couple of places about the billings and doing other office work.  At 12:50 I left to go for the second day visit to the eye doctor only to find I-20 traffic basically at a standstill and then moving a couple of car lengths and stopping again.  I got very stressed as knew I was going to be late for my appointment.  I called and told them and they said they allow a 15 to 30 minute leeway.  The Georgia Department of Transportation is installing some new signage on the Interstate and they had taken the traffic down to one lane from a four lane road.  This caused the big backup as the cars had to merge to get by the blocked area.  My eye appointment went very well and was told the eye is doing great.  The vision has cleared a lot this morning and hopefully will continue to clear in the next few days.  As I came back from the eye doctors office I stopped and Costco and returned the Chromebook.  I then found a relatively inexpensive HP laptop.  It doesn't have the greatest display but it will work very nicely for what I use it for.  I spend a couple of hours getting it basically set up with only a few more things to do on it. 

Mary Ann, it is nice to be recognized at a restaurant or a bank.  One of the young ladies at the Walmart Pharmacy also calls me by name as I walk up to the counter.  We had a special Prayer request from our Sunday School president to pray for a daughter of one of our member who lives close to the new fire area in Ventura,  California.  They feared they were going to have to evacuate.  Glad your great nephew likes living in California.  I have on occasion requested that the volume of music in a restaurant be turned down and usually that request has been honored.  It is time for some colder weather.  We also expect a day or two where the high will be in the low 40's.  I see you enjoyed your Christmas Tea even if you didn't know a lot of the ladies. I agree with you that the main joy of eating out is to be with family and friends. 

Marilyne, last night on the news they showed some firemen carrying armloads of things from a house that was already on fire.  They even brought out a decorated Christmas tree.  They said these firemen had been on duty for 13 or 14 hours, if I recall correctly.  Thanks for the info on the "Hofbrau".  I like to watch those House Hunting shows.  I find that a lot of the doctor's offices waiting rooms use that channel as guess it is entertaining and non-controversial.

Patricia, I well remember those short days of daylight.  Where we lived in Anchorage there were street lights so it helped in the long darkness.  I wondered if the bases wouldn't have the franchises for fast food.  You are fortunate to have so many good ethnic places to eat.  When we moved to Alaska the Government paid a 25% salary cost of living increase.  We had to watch our pennies as I wasn't making very much at that time but we loved the experience. 

Joan, hope Candy had good results with the manager of your apartments. 

Joy, we also prefer a quieter place and good food.  You pay a lot for fancy and it doesn't fell you up anymore than eating in a less expensive place.  We save going to fancy places for very special occasions like birthdays. I had a bill for over $100 the other day when five of us went to the Outback Steak house and that was the highest I have ever paid and there was nothing but some ice tea or soft drinks included.  It is nice that your son and DIL are able to enjoy fine dining.  The Christmas Eve buffet sounds great.  I remember going to a Marriott Hotel that had a similar buffet and it was a treat. 

I had a link here that showed the conditions on Lake Michigan where the wind has been blowing and blowing.  The link was not what I intended, so I deleted it.

The link should be for the winds on Lake Michigan, all up and down the lake, not just at Grand Haven.  The catwalk shown is at South Haven and is much like what the catwalk at Grand Haven looked like - and hopefully will look like again!  It is still windy today and should continue until this evening.  Flags in our area are really stretched out from the high winds.  However, the sun is shining! 

I checked with a great-nephew as to his location and the CA fires and he said the fires are far from him.  He just moved from South Pasadena to North Hollywood.  He is Terry's son and Norm's grandson.

It's nearly 11 am and time I get dressed!!!

Mary Ann[/color]

Good Morning Everyone, from
the much cooler and over cast rocky coast of Maine...

Yesterday I had breakfast with Kelly and Kirk..
You can see this picture by clicking  below:

https://www.seniorsandfriends.org/gallery/89-061217100612.jpeg

That is me in the middle  (as if you couldn't have guessed it!) 


I  will be going into the hospital in the middle of June
for a colonoscopy !      
They will take me in the day before for
the dreaded "prep"  ....  (Yikes)...   

Because I am on coumadin and have afib they want to keep
and eye on me,  as a low vision person who fell and broke
arm a few months ago...   I personally am very pleased
that they are bringing me in early...   Phew....

I sound like I am complaining,  but only a little!
I mean who likes  having colonoscopies ?   


I also really like it when I go into the pharmacy and they speak to
me using my name.     They also do that at Mercy hospital
when I get my blood drawn.      Speaking my name  makes
me feel very much at home...

Grand Haven looks very cold and blustery!

I wish everyone a nice week. 

Sandy 

I heard from my niece in Southern CA . . . her daughter & husband, (my grand-niece) were evacuated from their home in Ventura, because of the fires.  They don't know yet if their house has burned or not.  The area where they live is right near downtown Ventura, so is not out in the country or mountainous terrain.  That's the horror of wildfires . . . it's the sparks that are blown in the strong winds, that sets a house on fire, and then of course it spreads throughout entire neighborhoods.  One thousand homes burned to the ground in the Coffey Park neighborhood in Santa Rosa, in a matter of minutes.  It doesn't sound that bad in Ventura yet, but the Santa Ana winds are expected to blow until tomorrow, so will likely continue.

Sandy, I loved that picture!  You were bundled up just as I always was when we lived at Brunswick and Orr's Island.  I enjoy looking at the snow, but hated shoveling it and being confined inside for 2 or 3 days when it never stopped snowing.  The second time around, our boys were older and could help shovel, so that was a blessing.  The new picture of Fee with the knit hat is adorable.  She's a real cutie!

Marilyne, I hope that your niece and family will find their home untouched by the fire and no damage when they are able to return.  I've seen how many homes have been totally destroyed--what an awful tragedy and no way to avoid it.  Please keep us posted about your niece's family.

Sue

Thanks again Sue...

I am bundled up with a down vest.   Funny thing, 
I wear sandals year round,  unless there is snow, ice on
the ground.    But I love my down vest.
(to keep the body warm!)

Sandy   

Good morning from a warm rainy Interior! It seems we cannot escape the rain even during winter these days! Farrah and I are finally up, dressed and clean after a sleep in. Nothing new here except I found out that I had miscalculated and my apartment inspection is actually on the afternoon of December 20th and not this week! I'm going to need a tickler file other than just filing papers and never really looking at them again.

Yesterday I went to lunch with friends, and the hostess had made a chocolate tart with chocolate ganache. I haven't had it before, and while tasty, it was hard like a cookie. Is it supposed to be that way? She served a salmon dish with lime and a delicious coleslaw. I enjoyed the day with friends but being an introvert, and I always seem to need a day of rest afterward.

While I'm glad to be with friends and very lucky to have ones of long standing, I'm not the type to always be doing something out every day. A good example is shopping. I have some friends who look at a day of clothes shopping as an adventure even if it is one of their main activities! They look at me as if I'm the crazy one for getting rid of objects instead of adding to them! Even with those differences, I know we all have so many other experiences, friends, and interests in common. Perhaps it is our differences that make us stronger friends?

MaryAnn, I looked at the cam, and it is surging waves and white horses as Kelly would say! I'm glad your great nephew is safe.

Marilyne, I saw a few newscasts on the fires, California cannot seem to catch a break, and I am so sorry to hear your grand niece had to evacuate. It is horrible news coming from California now, but I hope all will be safe. Those hardworking emergency workers and firemen seem to be almost superhuman to do the things they need to do!

Sandy, a great family photo and it is so lovely to see a new picture of you as well as Fe via your avatar! Is Fe still good friends with the puppy? Are you having an odd winter there as we are here? It seems as if each one brings us a new surprise at this end of the continent!

Larry, we gained many refugees after the Vietnam war and of course with the main University campus located here and also one of the nine supercomputers, it is a mecca for scientific types and their families.  I think as many came here as went to the Texas gulf area. I have to say that the ones I've seen are hardworking, often operating more than one family business and you never see any of them listed in any police blotter.

You do see them as valedictorians, college graduates for the second and third generations, and integrating into the community. I have had experiences where they not only remember you but have had their sons deliver things to you or hand carry your groceries home if mom or dad feels they are "too heavy" for you to do so! Seniors are valued in Asian and East Indian communities or at least they are here! I believe people forget what immigrants bring to this country and they do as much for us as we may do for them!

I wonder, Larry, if you ever were able to visit Barrow? The town is "UtqiaÄ¡vik (Iñupiaq [utqiÉ"ʁvik]), commonly known by its former name Barrow (/ˈbɛəroÊŠ/), the largest city of the North Slope Borough in the U.S. state of Alaska and is located north of the Arctic Circle. It is the 11th northernmost public community in the world and is the northernmost city in the United States."

"Located 320 miles north of the Arctic Circle is the tiny town of Barrow, Alaska. This northernmost city in the U.S. is also home to the largest Inupiat Eskimo community in the world." The reason I bring this up is that they have six months of darkness and six months where the sun never sets! Imagine what that must have been like before electricity!

Farrah just pulled the skirt off of her toy and went running off with it! She loves that toy!

Patricia, while I never got close to Barrow when I visited Alaska, I had a co-worker with a nephew based in Barrow and she took a bush plane there to visit him.  I'll bet it was exciting for her.  It was so long ago, I don't remember what she told about it.

Tom hasn't ordered Kendrick's toy yet, so he hasn't had the pleasure of tearing it apart.  I am anxious to see what he does with it, besides play with it.

Looking at Grand Haven, I see the waves have calmed down but the lake is still choppy.  I don't know if it is worth the effort, but if you want to try - go to http://www.mlive.com/news/grand-rapids/  and scroll down until you come to a site about waves on Lake Michigan.  There are several pictures. 

I just tried the link and it works.

Mary Ann

Hey guys and gals.  I hope everyone is having fun getting ready for Christmas.  I am pretty much ready.  My daughter and a close friend of hers visited me yesterday & we went out to a tea room for lunch.  So enjoyable.  Made my day & got rid of my gloomies.

Marilyne, I have been wondering & maybe you can answer me.  What is the difference between the santa ana winds and any other type of winds?

Sandy, your grand girls were always so adorable, it is no wonder that your great grand would be the same.  I enjoy seeing her pics.

And the cats - I still enjoy reading about them and their antics.  Angel, I also enjoyed that video of the cat toy, and the pictures.

Larry, I hope you had a nice time getting to know your great grands.  That is so wonderful to be able to touch the next generation.

And Mary Ann, the picture of those twins is just so cute.  Loved them.  Also was glad to see what Annie looked like.  (I remembered that this was Norm's birthday.  )

Joan, good to hear you have your daughter with you & hoping she can settle down there with you.

Okay, enough for one day - hoping you all have a nice evening ~
shirleyn.