Marilyn, when I drove to Indps, I took the state and county roads.  I went through a lot of towns and bypassed larger ones.  It was about 260 miles from my house to Jim's and took about 5 1/2  hours.  I stopped at a Mc D's just north of the Michigan/Indiana state line for a pit stop and break.  I could have taken I-96 to I-69 to I-70 close to Jim's and it took about the same about of time and was a bit over 300 miles.  My way was much more relaxing and I could enjoy the scenery.  On the Interstate, I was pushing all of the time. 

Mary Ann

Hi Everyone.  We are headed for our 7th 80+ day in a row today.  We are enjoying the nice weather although the humidity is fairly high.  We are to stay in the 80's for three more days and then will be in the 70's next week.  Our schedule is fairly light today.  The housekeeper will be here around 10 am and shortly thereafter we will leave for a medical appointment for Pat.  I plan on staying in the car and reading my ebook while she has her appointment.  We then plan on stopping at our new IHOP for our main meal of the day.  Scott and Jennifer have both eaten there and said they had really good meals. 

I have noticed that Blue Cross/Blue Shield seems to be prompt in paying the doctors and hospitals.  It seems I get one or more statements from them every week showing they have paid.  Sometimes some of the offices are slow to bill me for my deductible payment to them. 

Joan, it sounds like Dan wants to be able to look after his mother and sister if he is needed.  I hope he soon finds a job he will like.  The job market seems to be strong from what I have read. 

Mary Ann, it is nice to see that you like your therapist.  I sure hope you get some relief from the PT.  On a couple of our trips to Florida over the years I have taken the scenic route that sort of paralleled the Interstate.  It took longer but there was little traffic and it was pleasant to drive through the little town. 

Marilyne, I really don't know how prompt the care for my cousins was for the Graves Disease but it was diagnosed when they were pretty young as I recall and they are both now in their 70's.  I have never had to take PT although I guess the four years of attending the Cardiac Rehab was a bit of PT as we did exercises led by a physical therapist, worked on some of the machines and walked around the gym where the classes were held three times a week, if I recall correctly.  I hope you like the soup.  We find it makes a good meal.   

Larry, the first time I went into the therapy room, I was surprised by the amount and kinds of equipment they have.  It is similar to what you see in TV ads with bikes, tables, all sorts of things hanging from the ceiling.  Yesterday I noticed some large balls, different sizes.  Then there was a long strap with a hole at the end.  A young woman put her foot into the hole and would pull on the strap.  I asked if she had had knee surgery and she had.  Some of my therapy consists of pulling on a stretchy strip or using a bar to raise my arms up above my head, then down.  My bar at home is an old cane that belonged to one of my grandparents, later it belonged to my dad.  I can feel the pain in the shoulder and back of my neck.  As the day wears on, the pain will lessen.

Speaking of my dad - he was born 123 years ago today.  And Norm and Dot were married 25 years ago today.  How time flies!

It is raining here today, but north of us they have snow.  I'll take the rain.  We're a little above freezing.

Mary Ann

It is just Noon time, been raining all morning, temp. is more normal 34 to day, lots different then the 70 we had the other day.

MaryAnn, I have gone  to PT quite a few times, for shoulder, and back. I have spinal stenosis also. I have done a lot on machines, been packed in cold for 10 min. then in hot. that always felt good.  for the shoulder, I used bands there and at home. Also do the walk up the walls 10 times. Last time was for my back, and physical therapist said if after 6 sessions, I did not feel better, then there was not much he could do.

Larry, IHop, is going to open in May, on the corner near our place. It has been a steak house, then a chicken shack, now IHop

Hello from the Interior! I may not be on long as we had the heavy snow last week with humidity and plus thirties and some plus forties. Now we have high winds, forty plus MPH and freezing rain developed last night and is going on now. We are back to being asked to stay home and off the roads unless it is essential. Last time at the first of the month I lost my modem and internet on the twelfth for a week. We lost power for about 17 to forty minutes three times last night.

From what I understand, many of the lower western states and parts of Canada have the same weather.

Patricia - Will you please keep your weather up there in Alaska, and quit sending it down here to us! ha ha!   Yes, we are having the same/similar weather here in N. California. The weather people on TV, are showing on a map, how this cold front is coming down from Alaska, in a sort of "funnel effect", right through, BC, WA, OR, and then straight through CA.  We have the N. winds, with lots of hail here, and snow in the higher elevations.  I''m staying inside all day, and hoping that our power doesn't go out.  I don't know how we would stay warm?  This house is not insulated, and has the original single pane windows.  Well, I'll worry about that, when and if it happens!

Marilyne, we' re just giving people......

My friend in the Idaho panhandle is matching us degree by degree and storm by storm.

I will say that forecasters are saying this winter will go down as one of the most unusual.

It is in the 70s here but cloudy.  We’ve been having some beautiful weather so I shouldn’t complain about a few overcast days.  Larry put up two bluebird houses and I’m hoping the bluebirds find them.  We saw a bluebird the other day but that was before we had the houses.

Mary Ann, I believe you were right about the bird (I posted in the other forum) being a Goldfinch.  We are seeing more of them and they are getting their new coat and we can tell they are Goldfinches.  I think our little backyard is ending up as a bird sanctuary,  but we do love watching them.

Jean, I am so happy you are back in the "bird" business again.  It was so enjoyable to see the bird feeder Larry had in Ocala and the variety of birds that visited it. 

Gloria, my therapist has not had my fingers climb the walls yet, but that could be in the future.  I have not done any exercises yet today but I will.  I enjoy the one with the cane but, boy, does my shoulder hurt today.  That is not entirely from the exercises, but the therapist was pressing on my shoulder with his thumb  - and I hurt!

I just looked at radar and it looks clear for several days.  It has rained much of the morning, but I think that has quit.  No sun, however, with temp in the low 40s.  Later in next week, we should be up in the 50s and I'll take it.  We have had an unusual winter with big temperature swings. 

Areas around here are under flood watch and I can't see why people insist on building in such areas.  I know people love living on the river and many of them have houses on stilts but the houses themselves are shacks.  As long as we don't have rain every day of the month, I think our pond is safe.  In September 1986 we did have rain every day and if the pond had risen another foot, it would have been at the edge of my patio.  We've had people say after a hard rain that it is a 100-year rain and I remind them about 1986 which is/was not 100 years ago

Patricia, I hope you did not lose power. 

Mary Ann

Snowing here.   Just a light fall tho.

Hi Everyone.  Our day is starting out overcast and a bit foggy in places although I don't see fog here in our neighborhood.  I have a light schedule for today.  I do want to attend my 10:30 meeting as have missed the last four weeks, which is the longest period of not attending a meeting in the years I have been involved with Al-Anon.  I will probably watch some golf this afternoon and a little bit of the Olympics this evening.  Otherwise it will just be a restful day. 

Yesterday Pat's appointment didn't take very long and so we came home for awhile rather than going to eat.  A little after one we went back downtown and returned a couple of items from our on line grocery order that I had picked up on Wednesday.  The bag of apples had cut out places or cuts on three of the apples and were not acceptable and there was one other item Pat decided she didn't want.  I went into the Walmart and got in line with 6 people ahead of me only to find when I got to the counter that this was a separate money transactions section and the service desk was in the next area over.  I felt rather dumb as when I got there I didn't have to wait at all.  They were not able to find our order in their computer even though I had the Order, with the number they assigned, right on my phone.  So he gave me the refund on a gift card, which was fine as we shop at Walmart a lot.  We then went over to the brand new IHOP and had a very nice lunch.  I had their +55 breakfast special of one scrambled egg, one sausage, one bacon strip and one small piece of ham, plus hash browns and a pancake.  It was all I could eat and the price was very reasonable at $5.99.

Mary Ann, it sounds like the PT place is fully equipped.  Where Pat went for her pain shots you had to go into their  PT room to register and wait and they had a lot of machines.  Pat has a strap and some other things that she used with the PT for her knee and hip replacements.  Nice to read your pain lessens as the day goes on. 

deAngel, you were told what Pat was told about the impact of the PT after she completed the 6 weeks of therapy.  Since the pain shots in her back didn't work and the surgeon doesn't feel surgery would help she is left with only the option of using the pain pills and muscle relaxant pills and using and ice pack.  She usually starts here day with her back to the ice pack.  Are they building a brand new building for the IHOP or just redoing the previously used facility.  Our IHOP was just completed and just opened on Monday.  Everything was so bright and new looking that it was nice.  They are open 24 hours a day and I think it may be the only restaurant that stays open all the time here in North Augusta.

Patricia, your weather sounds terrible.  I sure hope you don't lose your Internet with the current storm.  We are to get some rain on Sunday and Monday and it is needed but it will stay in the 70's and 80's. 

Marilyne, does your house have a furnace or air conditioning.  The 100+ year old house that my son owns also isn't insulted very well and had no heat until we put in a heat pump system in two places in his home. 

Jean, I hope you attract from bluebirds.  We have never had much luck with bird houses although we see a lot of birds.  I decided I had had enough of wrens building nest in the corners of my front porch and have put up wind chimes in each of the corners to prevent that from happening.  I enjoyed seeing them but they really left a mess on the front porch and almost attached you when you got on the porch and they had eggs or little ones in the nest.  Pat does have a hummingbird feeder that she uses during that season and it is hung on our back porch in a spot she can watch from her easy chair. 

Joan, that is the right kind of snow to have and hope it remained light.

Good morning.  A very foggy, gray, misty morning.  And, it is chilly.  Supposed to be warmer tomorrow, and then cold again the middle of the week.  These temperatures are just so crazy.  No wonder that so many people are sick.

Larry, I went to Ala-non for several years a long time ago.  I got a lot out of it, but my husband didn't.   I still refer to my "One Day at a Time" little book.   It just is so helpful for so many situations.  And, one thing that I remember and still use this saying  almost daily..... "You don't have to agree with something to accept it".  This gets me through so many, many situations.   I am grateful that my youngest son has been in recovery for almost 30 years.  Unfortunately, his ex-wife is still struggling.  I still keep in touch with her and it is a very sad situation.  She is missing out on being able to be a part of her little grandchildren's lives.  I pray all the time  that she can find strength.  She is a very sweet gal and we were very close when they were together. 

I have nothing planned for today.  Saturdays are very quiet days here where I live.  Seems like everyone disappears over the week ends. LOL.  I will do some reading on my Kindle and probably watch some of the Olympics this evening. 

We have an IHOP near-by, but I find they are rather expensive.  I guess I don't pay that much attention to the specials.  My son and I went a while back after I had had blood work done, and the bill for the two of us, with the tip, was almost $40.  I don't remember what we had, but it didn't seem like it should have been that much.   My son went a couple weeks ago, and was very disgusted, as they started clearing the table before he was finished and then pushed another table  for more customers right up against where he was sitting.  And, didn't even seem to notice that he was still eating.,  He told me that he didn't think he would go back.  I guess it could have just been an off day.  We have another old country place that has real good homemade breakfasts that we also go to. 

I hope everyone will have a good Saturday and if you are in any of the areas where the weather is bad,  place stay safe. 

Joy

Good Morning Joy and Larry - I'm an early bird today, as it's only 7:45 here, and I'm only on my first cup of coffee. 

Larry - I guess I made it sound like my house is an ancient, ramshackle old farm house! LOL  Actually it was built in 1960, which is not that old.  We're right in town, within walking distance of our bank, Safeway, Walgreen's, Starbuck's, and just about every other franchise you can think of! We have a good furnace and AC.  We should have had this place insulated, and had double pane windows installed long ago, but we never dreamed we would live here as long as we have.  We lived in the house across the street on the corner for 6 years, and then bought this one when it became available in 1971, so we have lived on the same street for 55 years?   Another reason the house is so cold in Winter and hot in Summer, is that their are about 25 windows (two of which are sliding glass doors), and none are double pane.

Joye - two franchise restaurants the we don't have anywhere near us, are IHOP and Arby's.  We used to have them, and I liked both, but they've been gone for a long time now.  My favorite of the chain restaurants is the Outback Steak House, and we only live about five miles from one, so we go there about once a month.   I hope your  ex daughter-in law, will eventually seek help, and stick with it. I will say a prayer for her, and wish her well, even though I don't know her.  We have had, and still have, extended family on both sides, who have serious addiction problems, so I know about the pain and worry and the helpless/hopeless feeling of such a situation.     

Larry, yes and gone this morning.    Sun is shining but it is still very codl

Good morning from a thankfully cooler Interior! We had a similar situation to the week before. However, the skies began to clear yesterday evening and the winds to die down. I believe the electrical utilities were more prepared this time since we had only three blacks outs this week instead of three daily. It is the quick temperature warming that brings the humidity for the heavy snowfalls and then freezing rain as the warming continues.

I was thinking about the severely disabled in the twenty apartments because when there is an outage, the auxiliary generator clicks on and the large hallway light comes on. Since this always awakens me, I can close my door for some relief. For those twenty studio apartments, there is no escaping that bright light.

I am hoping that with the end of this month, we will have better weather as we head towards Spring.

Marilyne,   I think that the Outback restaurant is one of my favorites, also.   I don't get to go very often.   I am not a big meat eater, but I sure do like their
Prime rib.  And, I don't know if all the restaurants fix a smaller version of the Bloomin' Onion, but the one we go to , you can get an order of just the onion petals, without getting the whole onion.  That is usually enough for 2 people.  When we get the bigger whole onion, it kind of fills you up before your dinner comes.

Thank you for the comments and thoughts for my DIL.   I do keep praying for her.  It has been going on for so long.  She is a very talented artist, and I so wish that you could be able to pursue her art talent.  Does beautiful portraits.

It has been a chilly dreary day all day.  So waiting for spring to arrive......  soon !

Joy

We are still getting the same dreary rainy weather. So many people have water in their homes and lot of street flooded so cars can't get in our out.
I tried taking a nap but darn phone rang 3 times. I didn't answer but 2 were ones that make  me bash the phone back down. But could not get back asleep. Like to go to get a hair cut but raining. Think just relax and read for the day

Hi Everyone.  We are to have another nice day with a 50% chance of rain this afternoon.  I am going to Sunday School and then plan on coming home to get Pat so we can go back to Church.  We will either go out to eat or pick up something to bring home to eat.  Then will have a quiet and restful remainder of the day.  I do plan on watching the golf tournament later this afternoon.

Joy, I read the "One Day at a Time" and the other two daily readers usually as the first thing I do in the morning when I start to read.  The program is not for everyone although it is a great way to live one's life.  It gave me a lot of serenity that I had not known before.  I no longer spend time thinking about the past or worrying about tomorrow since I have learned that both are a waste precious time.  Our daughter found recovery for the last 8 years of her life although the disease had wrecked her health and ultimately cost her her life.   When you next go to IHOP look for their 55+ menu items.  You get about half of a regular serving and that is till a lot of food and it makes the price of the meal reasonable.  I don't blame your son for being disgusted at his treatment at IHOP.   I had no idea there was a smaller version of the Outback Bloomin' Onion.  When my wife's sister was here we went to Outback Steakhouse with her and Scott and Jennifer.  We had a good meal but old dad ended up with a rather large bill. 

Marilyne, thanks for the info on your home.  I assure you I didn't visualize it as not being nice as thought maybe most houses out your way didn't have installed heating and AC although know that around San Francisco it does get chilly.  I can't imagine living in the same place for so many years.  Twenty years was the longest I ever lived in the same house and that was suppose to be our retirement home until we decided to move here to be near our only remaining child.  I am sure glad we didn't wait any longer than we did.  We have an Arby's that is pretty near the new IHOP as are several other restaurants.  We have had about 4 new restaurants open in our little town this last year and there are several more on the way.  I think there are very few families anymore where someone in the family is dealing with the issue of alcohol or drug addiction and the disease has a negative impact on the family and friends who love the person.

Joan, it always seems not as cold when the sun is shining.

Patricia, glad you didn't have an extended power outage and that your weather is improving a bit.  Do you have a window in your apartment that faces the hallway?  We toured a new retirement facility several years ago and each apartment had a window in the kitchen area that looked out into the hallway.  Were you talking about the closing of your door to close out the noise of the generator rather than the light? 

JeanneP, I have been seeing on the evening news for several days news about the flooding across the Midwest.  Glad your place isn't subject to the flooding and that you don't have to get out. 

Larry, I lived in the house where I grew up for 50 years and I've lived here for 36 years.  Tom has lived in more places in 60 years than I've lived in 93.  I tend to keep things like cars for at least 10  years too.

Mary Ann

Good morning from an Interior where it is eight above temperature wise. The colder temperature allows a cleanup and recovery period. However, warming will continue at a hopefully slower rate.

Larry, I'm sorry. I didn't see my post as confusing until I saw yours today. At each of the two ends of each floor's hallways, are two,(four per level); studio efficiencies. These are for bedridden or otherwise more disabled tenants. The rest are all one bedrooms.

Because some tenants depend on machines, the building has its own emergency generator. When there is an outage, this generator kicks on and the inside hallways between the kitchen, bath, and bedroom are lit up by a long bright light.

It stays lit until five or so minutes after the electricity returns and the emergency generator turns back off. It wakes me up each time no matter where my bed is placed. While I can shut my bedroom door for some relief, the tenants in those studios have no way to escape that very bright light.

I was married to a man who returned from Vietnam as a PTSD alcoholic and my Dad had a period of two years after my mom's Alzheimers forced her into a nursing home where he drank heavily. While my father's grief and drinking abated, my first husband never recovered, and after my daughter's birth, we divorced.

While I understand it is a physical addiction, I still become very nervous around someone who drinks heavily as I equate heavy drinking as an excuse for violence. And yes I know that is irrational.

I saw on the computer weather channel, news about heavy rains and flooding in the Midwest and along the East Coast. It seems as if the lower forty-eight states will have no letup from the weather violence. I am sorry to see and hear about all of this and apprehensive about what will be next.

We have none of those restaurants you've mentioned. Some were here at one time and never caught on, but most were never here.  I know they, at least some of them are on one or more military bases but not in town. We do have two in town McDonalds but one by a high school and junior high, may be on the way out as nearby homes have complained of noise and teenage or military fights.

I know the company built a wall around the McDonald's location but it is still in arguments with neighbors, and the military has at times barred its soldiers from going there. The other one is on the edge of town in an industrial area. We have one each of Dominos Pizza, a Dennys, a KFC and a Wendys. I know there are several homegrown cafes, ethnic places and some more expensive dining options in town.

I had two husbands in the military, and since then I've moved many times on my own, so I have lived in eight states and several apartments.  While I enjoy looking at houses that are for sale on the internet, I suspect this will be my last home.

Here we go again on a new cycle!

"Special Weather Statement
Weather Updated: Feb 25 2:51AM
Issued by the National Weather Service
For Middle Tanana Valley, Alaska
SPECIAL WEATHER STATEMENT UNTIL 12PM AKST SUN ...MORE SNOW TO START THE WEEK... 2 TO 6 INCHES OF FRESH SNOW MONDAY AND TUESDAY. A WEATHER SYSTEM WILL MOVE EAST ACROSS THE SOUTHERN INTERIOR MONDAY AND TUESDAY SPREADING SNOW TO THE AREA STARTING EARLY MONDAY MORNING. THE SNOW IS EXPECTED CONTINUE THROUGH WEDNESDAY. THE HEAVIEST SNOW WILL FALL OVER THE WHITE AND RAY MOUNTAINS, UPPER CHENA AND SALCHA RIVER BASINS, AND THE MIDDLE TANANA VALLEY, INCLUDING FAIRBANKS."

Mary Ann - We also keep our cars a long time.  Probably because AJ is a good mechanic, and keeps them all in top condition.  We had a Volkswagen bug for 38 years!  Also a Toyota Camry, for 16 years.  Right now I'm driving a Toyota Highlander that we purchased in 2001, so it's now 17 years old.   

I lived in the same house for 15 years, from age 3 to age 18.  When my dad came home after serving in WWII, he got an FHA loan and they bought some land.  After a few years they built a house, and lived there the rest of their lives.  I've always regretted selling that house when my dad passed away in 1990.  I wish we had paid my brother his half, and kept the house, leased it for a few years, and moved back there when we retired or later. Problem was, the house was in Southern CA, and we were here, which is approximately 400 miles.  It would have been difficult to take care of a rental house from that distance, plus other problems . . . mainly that all of our kids and grandkids were up here. 

Marilyn, my last car was a 2003 Chevy Cavalier LS and it was 13 years old when I sold it to my great niece.  I liked sport cars and all of mine were in that category.  As long as I was the only driver, it had 32,000 miles on it in 10 years but when Tom took it over in 2014 until 2016 it gained a few more miles because it had 51,000 miles on it when I sold the car.  The last two years Tom drove the car to work and I almost had no use of it so I have not driven in about three years and I guess that is why I don't miss driving.  Tom takes me every place I need to go.  There are times I want to go to Meijer, a local chain, to buy something that Tom can't buy for me, such as a birthday card, but Tom would take me there when/if needed or desired.  Other cars I had about 10 years and I'd say I took after my dad who kept his cars many years.  Norm was the "car guy" but he sold cars so it was nothing to see him with a different car often.  After he retired, Norm did have to buy cars and kept them long times.

Mary Ann

Ha! Mary Ann! Another Cavalier driver. I owned two over about a twenty year span and was quite unhappy when they discontinued the line. I finally gave the last one up and bought a used (my first used car) Toyota Prius hybrid. What an upgrade in tech. It took me a while to get used to not having to use a key to open the door or start the car. I didn't even have powered windows in my Cavaliers. I never really cared for driving much except to get me from point A to point B. The traffic is even worse now. I think if I have to give up driving I will miss the independence of being able to go where I need to go without waiting on someone else to take me.

Hi Everyone.  Our day starts out rainy and is to continue through noon and perhaps afterwards.  We will stay in the 60's all day.  We had the most folks attending our Sunday School class yesterday that I have seen since we moved here 3 years ago.  We did not go out to lunch but I stopped at Firehouse Subs for a big sub that Pat and I shared for lunch at home.  I have fixed Pat's breakfast and put out some stuffed peppers to thaw that we will have for our dinner along with a salad and there is still banana pie so we will eat well this evening.  I struggled with weariness yesterday afternoon and went to bed around 8 pm.  I am still weary today so don't plan to do anything after I finish with the discussions and have decided not to put in a reservation for our monthly Senior luncheon at Church tomorrow.

Patricia, thanks for the explanation on the light situation when the power goes out in your building.  That all makes sense now.  I can certainly understand your feeling in being around someone who is drinking heavily.  It sounds like you are in for more snow. 

I am hopeful that I won't need to change cars again.  My Hyundai is now 9 years old and has only 75,000 miles or so.  I expect to keep it for at least 10 more years as I have a 20 year warranty on the engine and transmission.  We really have no need for the PT Cruiser but will continue to maintain it and drive it occasionally to keep the battery up so that our son will have it to fall back on when something goes wrong with his car. 

MarsGal, I loved my Cavalier and it was my only one.  Since I am short, I liked a small car.  Statistics said it was a poor choice, what with all of the big cars and trucks, but I was a cautious driver and didn't drive in heavy traffic in my later years.  Norm was in the car business, so I bought cars from him until he retired and for the Cavalier, he was with me when I chose it.  I liked sporty cars so often had a "loaded" car.  I did have a fob to unlock and lock (but I did not use the lock feature) the car and that was the first fob I had.  My previous car was a Neon, also loaded but without the automatic unlock and lock.  I also had two door c ars for the convenience of putting my purse behind the driver's seat.  Oh, most of them were red!  But the Cavalier was royal blue!  I drove to Indianapolis for years and thought nothing of it until 2008 when I decided I was too old to be driving 260 miles alone, so after that I flew down.  I was 84 at that time.  I had a GPS but didn't need it.  I could get on the Interstate about four miles from  here and get off a couple miles from my cousin's.  Only I did not drive the Interstate much, choosing state roads. 

Tom is now driving a 2006 Camry that he bought used.  I think he told me it has 235,000 miles on it and he has  had the oil changed and new tires - that's all.  He is saving to get another car, also a Camry, but first he wants to help Annie with braces.  Her boyfriend with whom she lives is loaded and Tom can't understand why he doesn't buy them, but he hasn't offered. 

Larry, we are now into the upper 40s and expect to get to 50 degrees today and tomorrow. 

I just upgraded my Windows 10 and I lost a lot of things - but I knew I would lose them.  I'm having to remember particular bookmarks, including S&F. 

A former neighbor moved to Clarksville TN a few years ago.  She said they live in SE Clarksville and the tornado was in NW Clarksville.

Mary Ann

Good morning from a very white, blowing snow of three to five inches Interior! The sky, ground, and the air are white and filled with snow! This is becoming our new norm after some years with little or no snow. Everyone here is washed, fed and tired from a rousing game of chase the cat on one side and some strategic leaps on the other.

I'm going to get busy with my lessons today and try to catch up, but otherwise nothing pressing. Dora called with some bad news. Overnight someone tied a young, one to the three-year-old mixed dog to a tree behind their house.

Luckily they are compassionate and the dog is now at the vet being cared for while they actively seek a new owner. Animal control would kill the dog after 48 hours, so that isn't an option.

Since I don't drive, I can not comment on cars or comment on various dining franchise not available here. So I think I'll get back to my lessons. I hope everyone is having a good day!

Hi Everyone.  It is a beautiful day that is going to be in the high 60's by late afternoon.  I woke up feeling alive this morning after two days of being exhausted.  So am looking forward to the day.  We need to get Pat a new phone as hers started acting crazy yesterday.  She uses the small phone that isn't a smart phone and the last one we got at Walmart so guess that is likely to be where we will go today.  Then we will probably have our main meal out today.  I am thinking Ruby Tuesdays sounds look.  I have nothing else pressing the rest of the day.

Mary Ann, why didn't you use the lock feature on your last car?  We have a switch on the door to lock them but use the fob to open them as it is so convenient.  I just checked and see I could use my car key if needed, which it hasn't been. 

Patricia, I guess Farrah is trying to be sure you stay in good physical shape by having you chase her.  What a strange thing to have someone tie up a dog in a another person's back yard.  I hope you lessons went well yesterday.

Larry, they live next to a green belt that their neighbors and themselves keep as a small park. It was in this area behind their house that the dog was tied. They probably thought someone would find it or just didn't care.

Farrah enjoys a good game of chase in the morning altho on my part; it is more feint than chase!

I'm glad both you and Pat are in better health.

Patricia - I'm grateful to your friends for rescuing the young dog.  So much cruelty to animals in today's world.  Because of Facebook, Next Door, and all social media, it seems that I see a sad story like that almost every day.  How can people live with themselves after they abandon a dog or a cat? 
It's so easy to leave an unwanted animal at the SPCA, pound, or whatever is available near you, but people would rather just turn them loose.  Even worse to tie them up.   

Larry - your mention of Ruby Tuesday, reminds me that it's long gone, here in my part of the country.  Maybe in Southern CA, but none here in the North, that I know of  The few times that I was there, I liked my meal, and would go again if it were still available.  I'll have to Google it, and see where the closest one is.   

Mary Ann - That would be nice for Annie, if Tom pays for her braces.  Be sure to have her look into Invisalign.  That's the latest thing for adult teeth straightening.  It's an appliance, like a mouth guard, and can be removed.