Good morning from a somewhat hazy Interior. Farrah is working on my guilt strings these past few days as she gets excited anytime I go to the closet and looks so sad each time it's for toiletries or coats.

I go to the kitchen for a coffee refill and she is in the hall watching my steps. The good news is that she's getting lighter and her jumps don't commence with a thud anymore. I think her puzzle box and smaller amounts of kibble are working.

Right now she is in the midst of working off some predator instincts as she is dashing about, jumping from floor to table and back again while emitting her cough slash snarl. She has never acted or sounded in familiar cat ways, never meowed, so her predator instincts are different too.

Microsoft keeps messing up my computer whenever it updates. It tries to reinsert all the programs I've eliminated. And after each update, when I again, turn off my touchpad, it periodically sends me notifications that my touchpad is disabled. I just need to click in the area provided, and all will be Microsoft cozy again...

Larry, the last two to two and a half weeks have been in the eighties and dry. That may change today as a low from Canada is expected to clash this evening with a Siberian high and another Siberian high developing Thursday amid heavy rain. Right now we're at eighty-three at nine thirty AM.

Joan, I'm sure another day of hospitalization can't help but work in Dan's favor, restwise.

MarsGal, I wish I had a house but I know I couldn't do what you do anymore.

Gloria, please rest and feel better!

I did have a good time for my birthday, beginning with the monthly party here for birthdays when I and six others got small cakes and a round of happy birthday and a good potluck meal. Last Sunday, Alan, and Dora threw a birthday party at their house with lots of good company and good food. And on the third, another couple of friends are taking me out for a late lunch and cocktails.

Speaking of the midmonth party here, I understand that we will no longer have building funds for meals and potlucks, so we were warned by the hospitality committee to expect lots of bake and craft sales in the future. They not only organize the meals, provide the daily coffee goodies, greet new members with baskets of goodies and check household needs, they also visit the sick and the depressed. The lunches will remain as they are funded by the state's agricultural department, and you sign up to purchase meal-tickets, (7.00 per day); a week ahead of time.

It used to be a volunteer effort cooking for any who might show up, with a handy donations jar. But that stopped when "someone" complained last year, and it had to be reorganized with new cooks and training, rules and regs and a significant jump in price. It is evidently against the rules in a commercial building to voluntarily cook and host regular community meals without licensing.

The folks who cooked in the past felt that they were slammed. Also, the people that were coming to the lunch meals are not the ones who can afford the $207.00 monthly fees. So now everyone is getting fliers letting us know there is a lunch program available. Without a subsidy, I expect that will soon stop as well.

The seeds in cat grass are nominally wheat grass which is used in health foods. I generally buy mine at the grocery store, soak the seeds overnight and then plant. After it has grown over an inch, I put it down, and she tears it up. I again dampen it and put it up for regrowth and repeat.

Regarding fires, We are usually the ones hosting refugees from the fires around. However, we haven't had enough of the hot, dry weather these past three years to cause the massive fires. I am so sorry to hear about Washington, California and the western fires.  With all the changes and weather, the erosions, floods and stronger, more frequent storms, are politicians still denying climate change?

I've now written another chapter and verse so I'll leave everyone to it and hope all the illnesses and issues go away or lessen and everyone has a good day and rest of the week!

Marilyn and Patricia, I haven't planted the seeds yet and I won't dare leave them on the deck because Kendrick will eat any sprouts that come up.  I am not sure where I'll grow the grass but probably on a marble table in front of the slider.  He can get up there but I'll try to shield the pot (hanging basket) so he won't see it.

Kendrick has been barking today and I think he's been trying to cough up a hairball.  We were on the deck for a while and when I came in, he wasn't interested.  I'll have to go see how he's doing.  At least I can forget him there; there's only so far he can go with a railing around the deck and with the deck 8 to 10 feet off the ground.

Mary Ann

wjoan,  I'm also glad Dan will have one more night of supervised care.  Good thoughts winging his/your way for his recovery.
Wishing Candy could get her problems resolved. 

Larry,  I've read all of the Steve Berry "Cotton Malone" series - including the most recent, "The Bishop's Pawn", in which he 'imagines" a story behind the Martin Luther King shooting.   I've also read several of his books that aren't part of a series and enjoyed them.
Stuart Woods writes in a somewhat similar vein.  I've read all of the "Stone Barrington" books and the "Ed Eagle" series.  Keep thinking I'll start one of his other series but usually decide I'd rather read something without so many brutal narrow escapes.

Joy,  congratulations to your grandson.  IMO,  we need more young people going into necessary service type work instead of so-called "Professions with a capital P".  I heartily support vo-tech and other specialty training schools.

Duluth webcam pictures indicated such a heavy fog or ?? that the harbor wasn't even visible behind the bridge and there were big waves in the canal.  The Two Harbors cam was clear but looked as if clouds were moving in. Interesting to think how the two places relate to each other.

Yesterday was so cool and nice that  my neighbor and I visited on my patio until nearly 8:30 p.m.
I should have been out trimming and deadheading my three flower beds.  Didn't - and now, although the temperature isn't too bad, the humidity has gone back up and would be hard on my squeaks and creaks.  <that's my excuse and I'm sticking with it!  ).

Callie, thanks.  I wish they would fix Candy up, not sure what they are waiting for.

Larry, I read several Steve Berry books, but I am way behind. I like the Cotton Malone series, but not the two stand-alones that I read, The Amber Room (which was good, I just didn't care for the Nazi treasure hunter theme) and The Romanov Conspiracy. I had so much fun with The Templar Legacy. I did an internet search and found out about the real abbey and the historical characters. I even downloaded and printed out several pictures and placed them in my book. The abbey is a big tourist attraction and they have a website of their own. http://www.rennes-le-chateau.com/

Marilyne, not a craft house. There is one other house like mine and one left that is of the same design but a duplex. It is kind of a T shape with a roofed wrap-around porch in the front. Believe it or not it has three, doors off the porch: the main front door, the kitchen door, and a door that has been closed off on the opposite side from the kitchen. The back porch looks like it was originally an open deck with stairs down to the back yard. At least I think there was a stairs because there is a walkway that goes nowhere from the basement door to about where a stairs might have descended.

Mary Ann, thats a big problem Taffy has is hair ball.  the doctor gave me medicine to put on her nose tolick.  I use to use butter on the other cats. I have to brush her also, and give her wet food, she only eats the gravy off, but does not eat the wet food

Hi Everyone.  It is another overcast morning with more rain expected this afternoon.  Yesterday we had rain for a short period yesterday afternoon and I think that was all unless it rained during the night. Today I am going to coffee with my friend and then stop at Aldi's for just a few things we need.  Scott will be out about 1:30 this afternoon and then we are  going to Cheddars for our main meal.  They have a special of 1/2 rack of ribs or and 8 oz piece of Alaskan salmon for $9.99.  Scott did come out yesterday evening and we had delicious potato soup that Pat had made in the Instant Pot.  She has an easy recipe that doesn't require much work.  I did spend a couple of hours at Costco yesterday morning.  Scott didn't get out to go to Costco with me as we had planned. 

My time is limited this morning so will try to make further comments brief.  I have read all of the postings since I posted yesterday and appreciate each and everyone.

Joy, were you speaking of great grandchildren yesterday when you mentioned the 5 little girls and a 1 year old little boy?

Marilyne, you could have been among the crowd at Costco yesterday but I missed seeing you.  They always seem to be busy. 

deAngel, your first experience in NYC sounds a lot like my first time in Chicago.  It was a bit overwhelming.  However, we didn't get to see a Broadway show and other than going to Marshall Fields department store I don't remember much about what we did.

Joan, glad that Dan was able to spend an additional night in the hospital. 

Patricia, I haven't had the same Microsoft update problems you mentioned.  Each computer seems to act differently.  This seems to be the year for extended birthday celebrations.  It sounds like you have had a nice one this year. 

Callie and MarsGal, I have read many of the Stuart Woods novel over the years but sort of burned out on them.  He is from Georgia and also works in the name of his hometown, if I recall is was Delano or something like that, into each book.  I haven't read any of the "Ed Eagle" series.  I am looking forward to reading more of the Steve Berry books.  I liked the discussion at the end of what was based on fact and what was fiction and the current audio book says there is an interview with the author at the end of the book. 

Overcast and cool here this morning, so I'm hoping the temperatures will be lower all day, throughout California  It would help so much, in getting the many fires under control.

Larry - Too bad we missed each other at Costco yesterday.   It was crowded, per usual, and the lines were long.  I'm having a hard time keeping up with all the warnings about food products at grocery stores and restaurants!  Last night on the news, they  had a whole new list of foods to beware of.  Mainly seems to be salad items like Romaine lettuce and baby spinach.

Callie - a couple of weeks ago you mentioned watching the QM-2 leave the New York Harbor?  I'd Love to have that webcam, if you still have it?  That must be a very busy port, with something interesting going on all the time

Joan - I'm glad they kept Dan at the hospital for another night.  He'll likely feel much better about going home today.  Keep us posted.

FlaJean - I notice that you haven't posted in S&F in a while?  I hope all is well with you and Larry?

Was just checking today's messages,  and Larry,  I had to go back to see what I had wrote.   YES,  they are great-grandchildren .  I have 3 sons,  but only the youngest one had any children.  And,  all but the youngest one is not his biological children.  But, they were all young when he was married, so I have considered them my grandchildren.  And, they only know me as their grandmother.  They oldest one is 31, 28 ans 26.  Unfortunately their parents divorced a long time ago.  Their mother is not in the picture much anymore. 

Today is a kind of cloudy, hazy day and it looks like rain may be coming in.

Not much happening with me today.  I am still trying to de-clutter more stuff and it is slow going.  I see that it is lunch time, so need to get something to eat.

Have a good day.

JOY

While we know or should know that Christopher Columbus was not the first, and is only one of many who "discovered" America. I found it fascinating that a native American genetic marker showed up in both Iceland and some parts of Scandinavia. It shows that at least three centuries ago, a Viking and a Native American became intimate at some point and conceived.

I also learned that women went on these expeditions and fought as fiercely as the men, Vikings were progressive in thought, and while many Europeans of that period thought bathing was unhealthy, Vikings were scrupulous about cleanliness, in fact, some of the most common grave or actually tomb artifacts were shavers, soaps and a sort of "Qtip."

Marilyne,  here's the link to a streaming view (most of the time- sometimes it's focused on one point) of New York Harbor.  Click on the center of the screen and then on the white triangle. There's a bit of a wait for the cam to come up.

The cruise ships I see are at Pier 88, which is right beside the building that looks like a shiny upsidedown check mark.
The QM2 was already on the river when I saw her so I don't know if she was docked there or not.

Have never seen a cruise ship coming in but they almost always leave between 4:00 and 4:00 p.m. CDT.

http://www.portnywebcam.com/

(realized I needed to leave PDQ for an appointment and didn't really finish what I started....)

Another NYC Harbor cam is https://www.earthcam.com/usa/newyork/statueofliberty/?cam=liberty_hd
It's a wider view and won't show the big ships as well.

Patricia,  I went to the Viking museum when I was in York England.  It had been created when crews digging a sewer line discovered Viking artifacts.  It was underground and you rode through the various scenes like you do at Disneyland.  I was amazed when we rounded a corner and every single "person" on the ship looked like he could have been related to my husband!
I'd always suspected there was Viking blood somewhere in his ancestry but, alas, we never had a chance to explore that possibility.

Thought of a few errands to do on my home from the appointment.  The heat has returned and I'm glad to be "in for the duration"!

Callie - Thanks for posting the Port of New York webcam!  I've looked at it a lot today, and I'm especially enjoying looking at the NYC skyline!  So far I've been unable to find the Empire State Bldg., but I'll likely recognize it eventually.  I smiled when the scan got to the building that looked like "an upside down check mark".  A perfect description! So far no big ships in sight, but I'm sure I'll eventually see one.

Joan - I hope that Dan is home, and that he's comfortable and doing well?

Mary Ann - I've missed all the boats at Duluth the last couple of days, and haven't seen any at the Soo Locks in a long time either. I saw that one of the "borgs" from Holland, was arriving a couple of days ago.  I like to see those boats because they're so colorful and fresh looking!

Marilyne, he just got home.  He was planning on doing my grocery shopping tomorrow but I told him we made other provisions so take the day to rest, etc.

Hi Everyone...

Question...

Has any one who has had a BMP test (Basic Metabolic Panel)
and tested higher  after fasting with a glucose lever of 115 mg/dl 
had good results in lowering this after loosing a
substantial  amount of weight ?  (Say 30 plus pounds?) ...

I ask because I did test a wee bit hi ( but not  pre diabetic)
and hope to nip this thing in the bud by loosing
weight.....

Just wondered if anyone else had had this problem.

Marilyne, LarryJ and I are just great.  It has been raining for several days off and on and we found a couple of really interesting programs on Acorn and have been binge watching.  That is unusual for both of us but it hasn’t been boring.😊.

A belated Happy Birthday, Angel. 🎉

Sandy,  I had a similar problem 16 years ago and had two consultations with a diabetic dietician.  The first thing I told her was that I didn't care if I lost weight; I just wanted to get my blood sugar under control.
She very wisely said "O.K." and then taught me how to "manage carbohydrates" (both sugars and starches).
It worked - for both weight loss and blood sugar issue and both have been within normal ranges ever since.

Take a look at this link to The American Diabetes Association.  Dietician gave me a copy of the book that's suggested in the article and I highly recommend it.

http://www.diabetes.org/food-and-fitness/food/what-can-i-eat/understanding-carbohydrates/

Good luck!

https://www.earthcam.com/usa/newyork/timessquare/?cam=tstwo_hd

Callie, thankyou... 

I know that as we age,  being aware and 
taking control of our glucose levels is very
important. 

And it is not easy to start to think "glucose level
monitoring"   as a way of life. 
I am not yet in the danger zone so
hope to nip it in the bed by watching
just what I eat choosing yet again to
loose a large amount of weight. 
Never easy,  but I am encouraged to do so
at this time.

Sandy

Hi Everyone on this Friday morning.  We had rain on and off most of the day and evening yesterday.  It will stay in the mid-80's today and we have more chances of rain late afternoon and evening.  I plan on staying home today as about wore myself out yesterday.  I will keep myself busy here at my desk and with some kitchen duties, including shredding some cheddar cheese.   Yesterday I did go to coffee, stopped at Aldi's for a half dozen items, dropped my friend back at his retirement home and then stopped at the credit union.  I had some US Savings bonds that have matured and needed to cash them.  I had to wait awhile for my turn with customer service.  After that I stopped at Walmart to get some bread.  When I got home I laid down for an hour.  Then Pat and I went to Cheddars for our main meal of the day.  We thought Scott was going to go but he decided to stay home.  I ordered the special half rack of baby back ribs.  Then they served them they were cold, dry and I couldn't even make a dent with the knife on the top layer of something.  I told the waiter they were unacceptable and he replaced them with some that were hot, moist and tender and they were very enjoyable.  I ordered a pair of bifocal reading glasses as am tired of constantly having to put on and take off the the reading glasses.

Marilyne, it is hard to keep up with all the warnings about food items, car recalls, etc.  From what they had on the news last night it didn't look like Southern California was having any cool weather. 

Joy, we can certainly love children as grandchildren whether there is any biological relationship or not as they become a part of the family, especially when they are very young. We have only one biological granddaughter and the grandson died 30 years ago at 7 months old.  Our daughter had no children.  I am sure no one is keeping score on how quick you do your decluttering.  One thing a day will day off soon. 

Patricia, very interesting information on the Vikings. 

Callie, that must have been a shock in the Viking museum.  Perhaps you could determine a link if one of your children had the DNS testing done. 

Joan, wouldn't going shopping be pushing things just a bit for Dan?  I do hope he doesn't overdo. 

Sandy, never had the problem with the Basic Metabolic Panel that you described.  My dad was borderline diabetic for a number of years and my mother carefully monitored what they ate and it wasn't until he became so ill that the diabetes set in.  I am sure if you set your mind to it you will be able to eat carefully and avoid the diabetes. 

Jean, is Acorn your local cable company?  I have never heard of that company before.  It has been several months since I watched anything on Netflix or Amazon Video as seem to have lost interest and would rather listen to a good audio book. 

Larry, I told him to stay home and rest that he had the day off.     His voice is back to normal and he has very little pain so he is doing very well actually.

NOW if we could just get Candy fixed up.......

Joan, glad to hear Dan is doing well.

Larry, Acorn is a British subscription similar to Netflix but half the price.  We have Cox Cable and Cox Internet service, our only choice in this area.  We have an Apple TV (similar to Roku) and we get Netflix and Acorn through Apple.  When you have Apple TV, you can watch many different programs and movies streamed over the Internet to your TV, iPad, iPhone or computer.  When it comes to movies, my preference is a movie based on a real event with minimum sex and bad language.  There have been several such good movies lately.  One such excellent movie is “ Bridge of Spies” (about the U2 plane shot down over Russia), another is “Sully” (Sullenberger’s emergency plane landing on the Hudson River), another is “Hidden Figures” (about the black women mathematicians working at NACA/NASA at Langley Air Force Base in Hampton VA.). The last movie was particularly interesting to me as I had two children born at Langley and my brother-in-law was an engineer at NACA later becoming NASA.  And yet I never knew that during this period of segregation that such important work included some very intelligent black women working on the space program, an amazing eye opener.

Well, the rain is gone and the sun is shining brightly today.

Jean, I am surprised myself he is doing so good.   He says he is feeling fine and no more shooting pains down his arm and hands.    Amazing.  Medical progress. 

NYC harbor webcam friends ALERT!  QUICK!  Queen Mary 2 on screen NOW.  4:33 Central Time

http://www.nyharborwebcam.com/

Callie.  I don't seem to be able to get into the NY harbor Web Cam.  Can get the others O.K. I went back to UK one time and the Queen Mary 1 was the first liner I came over on. I am thinking of trying to make the trip one time. Going to try the Cunard New Queen Victoria if I do.

Wow...  that was Great Callie...
Thanks for sharing ...

Sandy

Oh no, I missed it!  Just now looking at the webcam, and I see a big ship, partially showing to the right of the screen, but it looks more like the Paul Tregurtha, than it does the QM2?

Marilyne,  The bottom half of the QM2 is black.  I'll bet you got the "tail end" going under the bridge.
I'm so sorry you missed the beginning.  She went past the Statue of Liberty and turned so you could see the statue on the other side .
I don't think she moors at the same place as the other cruise ships.  There had been nothing there all day and the QM2 seemed to be coming from another direction.

Have you found the map at the bottom of the page that shows marks where various ships are?  You can hold your mouse over the mark and see the name of the ship and its destination. Click and it will give you a brief description.  The cruise ships are a longer mark than others, which seem to be mostly ferries.

JeanneP,  how exciting!  Is the voyage as glamorous as it's made out to be?

Thank you Callie!  I'll check the map for the names right now, and see what I can find.

I think I might have a different webcam??  I have the panoramic view.  I don't see the Statue of Liberty?