Thanks, Larry, I usually wouldn't use that much hyperbole, but the kittens were climbing fences, running about crashing into walls and each other while chasing one or often more about.

Today is usually a huge event here as it is the Summer Solstice; Which means five days where the sun never sets. There are many postcards and professional photos showing time release shots of the Sun moving across the skies and over the foothills.

There would usually be street fairs, store sidewalk sales, boat races, golf and baseball games starting at midnight without artificial lights, as well as many private celebrations. Normally anyway. Think of Black Friday mixed with the Fourth of July.

However, with the past week remaining in the eighties, along with twenty to forty hour wind gusts. And severe smoke seeping in from fires in central Alaska, we are in a level four fire alert. That usually means we will soon be hosting evacuees and pets, as well as herd animals for indefinite periods.

This month alone has swayed from the thirties with morning frost, after a week of high seventies, (Thanks Canada!); to sixties, then another Canadian cold spell, to smoky from central fires with seventies to mid to high eighties and now threats of fires, all within twenty-one days.

Tis life. 

Joan -  I'm sorry that you're having serious kidney problems.  Is this something that's treatable with dialysis?

Patricia - The Summer Solstice celebrations sound like lots of fun. Five days of daylight is something that I know I would enjoy, so long as it's not hot!  Temps in the low to mid 80's would be comfortable for me.  I'm wondering if there are lots of tourists who come for the Solstice? 
I'm glad the Bear Cam is back!  I took a look, and saw a huge bear sitting on the shore eating a salmon.  I didn't see the falls, but will check later to see if that location is available now.

Larry - I'm glad that you had a chance to talk to your great-grandchildren.  I hope that things will work out in the near future, so that Scott and his daughter will be able to have a good relationship with the kids. 
We also used to stay up and watch Johnny Carson - at least for the monologue, and sometimes longer, depending on his guests.  Then we watched Jay Leno, off and on, and liked him also.  Now Jimmy Fallon, is in that time slot, and we have never seen his show!  We were never fans of David Letterman.

Mary Ann - Today I'm hoping to see some boats go under the bridge. I was busy with company over the Father's Day weekend, so I didn't check any of the cams, and lost track of the comings and goings.  Yesterday I did check, but nothing was happening.  Now that I know the life story of Paul Tregurtha, I'm looking forward to seeing his namesake boat!

Mary Ann and other Boat Watchers:  I actually remembered to look at the right time last night to see two boats come in and one boat leave!   Also saw the bridge go up and down.  Awesome!

Patricia,  I was in Alaska in June 2004 when there were terrible fires all over the state.  My picture of the "midnight sun" in Fairbanks is very hazy because of the smoke.   We left Fairbanks the morning of a day when evacuations were necessary.  I have the newspaper article in my album of that trip.
Fires had also caused cancellation of flight tours to Mt McKinley from Anchorage.
However the fires had driven the animals lower in Denali and we were able to see 4 of the Big 5 during our tour of the park.

Off to see if my browser will allow the bear cam. 

https://www.marinetraffic.com/en/ais/home/centerx:-85.0/centery:47.0/zoom:10

This URL isn't quite as long as the earthquake one.  This site starts at the east end of Lake Superior, but your cursor can move it in any direction.  The little green boats are mostly boats that travel between Duluth/Superior and the eastern US.  Put your cursor on a boat and info will come up that tells you the destination - Duluth, Superior, Soo, Detroit, Dearborn, Montreal, Quebec and other places. 

Joan, I'm sorry to hear of your kidney problems.  I hope things don't materialize for a long, long time. 

I just watched two boats - one went to Two Harbors and the other Duluth. 

Tom's lady friend (Robin) has befriended a homeless girl who has a lot of baggage.  Robin and Tom feel sorry for her and Robin has taken her under her wing.  I am not as open as Robin or Tom, but I don't want to shut my door, either.  As a result the girl is coming here to clean for me.  I will have her work only in the living/dining area, kitchen and bath.  If Tom wants her to do something downstairs, he will tell her what to do.  She's 17 and we took her to Holland on Sunday to James for Father's Day.  She seems very nice and Tom thinks she is intelligent, but she still is immature in other ways.  I think she gets along with her mother, but not the mother's boyfriend, who lives with the mother.  Which is why the girl is homeless.  She has hopes for a college education, starting at our GR Community College.  She is black. 

I'll let you know later how things turn out!  I like the girl and will give her the benefit of a doubt.

Work is being done on the pier at Grand Haven but I see they've taken away the big machinery.  There are people on the beach but being mid-week most people are working so they and/or their families are not at the beach.  I wish they'd fix the temperature thing at Grand Haven - the air temp is more than 52 degrees, although the 60 degrees for the lake might be OK.  I wish they'd fix the time/temperature thing on my posts, too.  In fact, I think all of them are off.

Mary Ann

Good Morning Everyone,
from the cloudy/sunny/coolish rocky
coast of Maine.  (compared to other parts
of the USA...)

Tomorrow I go to my eye doctor to up on
how my cataracts are doing.  At some point,
I will have to deal with have my cataracts fixed.

Sorry Joan that you are having issues
with your kidneys....  I wish you all
the best care when dealing with this. 

Have a good day,  Everyone,
Sandy

Sandy, as others have said, cataract surgery is a piece of cake and you'll be very happy to have had it done.  But you are the best judge of when it should be done - when you can no longer read and there are a lot of halos around the street lights and car lights, you will say "enough".  Of course, your doctor can guide you in your decision. 

Good luck in which ever you choose - now or later.

Mary Ann

Marilyne, yes but I won't  accept that treatment.  I am 85 years old and what will be will be. 

Joan - I understand and I agree.  I think I would make the same decision.

Mary Ann - befriending and helping the homeless teenager, is very nice of Robin and Tom.  I'm glad you're also helping, by having her do some housework at your condo.
I read just about every day in the newspaper, about children of all ages, who are mistreated by their mother's live-in boy friends.  Why the mother allows it,  I cannot understand, but it's a common problem.  I sincerely hope that this girl will rise above her  unfortunate circumstances, and work toward having a decent life in the future.

Marilyn, from what Tom has told me, the girl really wants to advance.  She did a good job today and Tom had her do things that Annie and Mary (Tom's friend who has cleaned for us) did not do.  That said, she didn't do some things they did, after all time is limited and one can't do everything.  She seemed happy with the money I gave her.  I let Tom do the masterminding of her work, but I am the one who paid for it and I'm glad to have it that way.  At 94, my stamina is not what it used to be and I do hardly anything.  I did go for the mail and Kendrick behaved himself by coming back in when I returned!

I do have to tell something funny (to me anyway).  She was in the bathroom and I could kind of hear what she was doing.  I asked if she had found the bowl brush and she said she had a small brush.  I asked to see the brush and it turned out to be a nail brush.  I told her where to find the bowl brush.  Now I'm wondering if she was able to undo the cap of the bowl cleaner; it isn't easy!

Mary Ann

The next time I went in the bathroom, I found the bowl cleaner and I am sure the girl never knew what to do with it.  I have an idea there are many things we do that she has no idea what to do with them.  I am not a good housekeeper but I guess I'll have to get into the act.

I want to tell you about my supper tonight.  I am not good with blending left overs.  I eat them individually, but I don't combine them.  Well, tonight I did and I was very pleased with the results.  Of course you have to have the right combination - and I think I did.

Earlier this week I made a hamburger dish but it made enough that I couldn't eat it all at once.  For liquid in the hamburger dish I used diced tomatoes.  This can of tomatoes also had basil, oregano and onion in it which made the dish more tasty.  One noon Tom fixed some mac and cheese.  Tonight, I took what was left of the meat and mac and cheese, added the rest of the diced tomatoes, added some frozen peas, heated it and ate the whole thing!  I liked it.

Mary Ann

Your dinner tonight sounded very tasty, Mary Ann!

I have been meaning to get here for some time but just run out of energy before I get the time to post. I'm basically doing everything these days since Windell's problem with his back earlier this year so by the time I get here, I'm really too tired to post.  Since I get copies of my e-mail on my cell phone, I don't even get around to turning on the computer every day.  Windell is at least pain free with his back right now.  He went to his ophthamologist this afternoon for an eye exam and his glaucoma is stable but his macular degeneration is getting a little worse.  He has the dry kind that they can't really treat and it's really affecting his ability to read, even the banners at the bottom of the TV screen. 

It has been really hot here this week with heat indexes over 100 for the last 2 - 3 days.

Joan, so sorry that you are having kidney problems!  I had a good friend who passed away several years ago at about 89 with Parkinsons' and she told me about three years before she died that these Golden Years sure have a lot of brass in them! I'm starting to find that out also these days!

Our son and his wife who live here had us for Father's Day dinner last Sunday and it was also Windell's 89th birthday so we had a cake for him.  Our oldest granddaughter was born June 19th and her brother June 14th so they celebrated with us as well.  He is doing fairly well but isn't able to have his vegetable garden this year.  We miss his fresh veggies but we can buy them at some of the truck stands on the corners where farmers bring them in.  He mostly watches sports on TV these days.

Good to see Marilyne, Callie, Angelface, Dapphne, and Gloria posting also!  Hope all of you have a good Friday and are able to stay cool!

Johann

Johann, it's good to see your post.  I have the same reading problem as Windell - due to some glaucoma and macular degeneration.  Just starting says my optometrist.  I think she has gone as far as possible with my eyes. 

With so many celebrations, you and Windell had a good Father's Day.  Tom's was a good one because he was with his son and family including his twin granddaughters and his daughter.  It is rare that we can get together.

My put-together meal was tasty.  Tom's tastes are different than mine and he buys more spicy foods (he's 30 years younger) which is why I had only diced tomatoes with oregano, basil and onion.  It made a good combination. 

Tom is just finishing up his Bible study and he should be home soon.  They have it at a nearby restaurant where we eat occasionally.

Mary Ann

Hi Everyone.  It is another bright and sunny morning that started out at 75 degrees and headed into the high 90's. 

When I got up this morning I worked on Pat's printer and it seems to be printing OK now.  It kept telling me I didn't have a real HP print cartridge in for the yellow color but I did.  I had another one so put it in and after turning the printer off and back on it finally decided to print out the test page I had created. I am still interested in getting the color laser printer but will put that on hold for the time being.  I have nothing particular on my schedule for today other than to fix Pat's breakfast when she gets up. 

We did not go out to eat yesterday so perhaps may do so today.  We still had a couple of the stuffed peppers from Costco in the freezer so we had that with a salad of cottage cheese and pineapple and topped it off with an ice cream bar.  It was very tasty and very easy to prepare. 

I have enjoyed looking at the cam sites this morning and those little kittens were very active and so cute.  I sent that link to Pat and the kids.  The bears were not at the falls this morning and the eagles were not active and it was a bit difficult telling them from the tree trunk and branches.  I will check on them later.

Joan, sorry to read you have the problem with the kidneys but it sounds like you have reconciled to the reality of the situation.  There are some things we can't change so acceptance it the best path to take. 

Marilyne, there is no problem with our son and his grandchildren.  He did speak to the father Wednesday night and cleared that it would be fine for him to call other times than just on Wednesday night. It is their mother that they refuse to talk to and that is understandable.  Like you I have trouble understanding why a mother would decide to keep a boyfriend and see her daughter abused and forced to be homeless. 

Callie, too bad you didn't get to take the flight tour to Mt. McKinley.  It is a majestic site.  On one of the business trips I took from Anchorage to Fairbanks it was clear and we had a marvelous view of the mountain from the plane.  The other times it was covered in clouds so we couldn't see it.  Did you get to see a moose?

Mary Ann, it sounds like Tom and Robin and you will be a very good influence on the young homeless girl.  Glad you were happy with her first cleaning job she did for you and Tom.  With some guidance she likely will become very capable of cleaning to your specs.  Perhaps she is hesitate to ask for guidance if she doesn't know how to do something.  It nice that she could share in the Father's Day activities with you all in Holland.  Is she still in high school?  Your left over dish sounds good.  It sounds like something Pat would fix for us. 

Johann, sure good to see your posting but can understand not having the energy by the time the evening rolls around.  Good to read that Windell is pain free from his back.  Sorry to read that macular degeneration is getting worse and it is impacting his ability to read or even watch TV.  You all have been having the same hot weather we have on the other side of South Carolina and tomorrow is to be 99 and who know what the heat index will be.  Happy belated birthday greeting for Windell. 

Sandy, hope your eye appointment goes well today.  I know that getting my cataracts removed restored my love of reading and it is so nice to see clearly.  They told me the cataracts will never form again and that was good news.   

Patricia, those kittens are very entertaining and will probably check on them everyday at least for awhile.  They sure are active little being but can't imagine having that many cats in one place.  I had sort of forgotten about the Summer Solstice but it does cause a recall of my memories of experiencing that 24 hour days of sunlight when we lived in Anchorage.  We didn't experience very warm temps the two years we lived there and know your climate is different that Anchorage has during the seasons.  Too bad the normal festivities are being impacted by the fires and the weather conditions. 

Larry, the girl's situation gets more complicated and she is contributing to that.  Last night Tom came home before I started for bed and he told me they had waited for the girl's father to come pick her up because she was going to live with him.  He never showed.  So, unless he shows up today - or whenever - she will be with Robin.  Robin is a do-gooder who doesn't have time to "do good", as she is still working at 62 as a phlebotomist and she gets Tom in on her projects.  Tom works at a job that pays good when it pays, but often the drivers are turned down for one reason or other and he doesn't get paid.  That is when he drives for Uber but with Robin's projects, he doesn't have time for Uber (he's not too fond of that, but sometimes it is a necessity).  Tom burns his candle at both ends and at nearly 61 with his health, he should slow down a bit.  I feel I am helping his financially enough by having him live here and buying most of the food (his living here helps me a lot).  But I can't live his life for him and and does have to have other activity than trying to recruit semi drivers.

After my success with the leftovers yesterday, I will be willing to try again - for me, that is.  Tom may like casserole dishes, but is steering clear of them as he tries to lose weight.   His forte in cooking is grilling chicken with various sauces, most of which are good.

Mary Ann

Good Morning,

Plan A was to put Miracle-Gro on the pot garden but the western skies are overcast and the morning weather report sounds as if rain/lightning/wind/?? are not far away.  (Any excuse..... )

Hello, Johann.  So nice to see you here.  Good memories of visiting at a Bash or two "back in the day".

Larry,  oh yes, we saw several moose - some of them strolling along the streets.  On the bus ride through Denali we stopped to watch a mama Grizzly and three cubs cross a mountainside off in the distance.  While we were doing that, the tour guide said,  "Hush!  Be very quiet and look out at the road."  There was a big grizzly strolling by the bus.  I was sitting toward the back and got a good picture of a bear behind (pun intended  ).
We also saw caribou, moose and sheep on that ride.  The only one of the Big 5 we didn't see was a wolf.

Mary Ann,  I think your creative dinner sounds good.   I do the same thing when I have a small amount of various left-overs.  I call it a  Little Dabba Dinner (a little dab of this, a little dab of that....)

Sandy, another way to tell if it's time to get the cataracts done is that everything has a yellow cast over it.  I didn't realize the difference until I'd had the first one and could tell that things looked clear with that eye and yellow with the other one. 

Off to find something useful to do...or not.

Wishing Everyfriend Everywhere an Enjoyable Day.

Good morning.  Especially glad to see Johan back--it's been quite a while.  I'm sorry to hear about Windell's macular degeneration, and the continued back problems sound difficult.  Keep us posted--I wish things were going better for you both.

Not much else to report here from Auburn.  Today is my "lunch out" with my son Tim and a trip to Kroger and the library afterwards.  He is my only son in Alabama, lives in the next town to me.  My oldest son lives in Illinois and the youngest in New Orleans.    Those 2 call me every weekend to keep up.  We had only the 3 sons, no daughters.  Three grandsons, too, and no granddaughters.  I was the oldest of 3 sisters and it took a while to get used to sons!

Sue

Hello everyone - I was planning to rush around this morning and drive to the lab at 7:00 for my blood draw, but I didn't make it.  Got up and dressed, but just couldn't face that morning commute traffic.   The route to the lab is one of the heaviest traffic jams, because you have to pass by Netflix and Roku, plus a large hospital and a tennis/health club.  Always stop and go,  between 7:00 and 8:00, with hundred's (thousands?) of cars pouring into Netflix.  Fortunately, the lab is open on Saturday, so I'll go tomorrow morning instead. 

Callie - good to see you here.  I always like hearing about your "pot garden"!  (Many of those around here I would guess . . . now that it's legal in California.) 

Mary Ann - Robin sounds like a kind and decent woman.  I know Tom has been friends with her for many years.  The young girl sounds like she has a lot of troubles in her life.  So sad, that her real father was going to come and get her, but he never showed up.

When Jim and I were in Alaska in 2006 we were on a bus and we stopped with many other vehicles because a moose and baby were crossing the road.  Would you believe there was a woman who got out of her car to photograph the pair?  Fortunately, nothing happened.  Jim took a helicopter ride to where Denali could be photographed if the weather was clear, which it wasn't, but he did see some Dall sheep.  I did not want to ride in the helicopter, so did not see the sheep.  Nor Denali, but neither did Jim - weather conditions. 

Marilyn, fortunately our Hospital Urgent Care is three miles from here and we try to go during a time when there is little traffic on a busy road.  It is in a building that houses the northend doctors affiliated with the hospital so you can have much done by several departments, all in the same building.  Specialty doctors are not there, but mine are close.

Tom has known Robin since they were teenagers and their parents had boats at a marina at Grand Haven.  They kind of lost track of each other over the years, both married and had children, both divorced and I think ran into each other some place several years ago.   

Mary Ann

Good morning from a smoky slash rainy day. In the past 21 days we went from the seventies to thirties and frost, (Thanks Canada); back to seventies and then thirties again with frost, (Too much love Canada!); on to the eighties and smoke from fires in Central Alaska. Last night late, we had wind and thundershowers and a level four fire alert due to lightning, no news on any closer fires.

I was making myself a sandwich and felt something today. Farrah had picked up her dish, brought it over to me and was knocking my leg with it. So, she got a little tuna and we both had a good meal!

Good morning Johann. It is nice to hear from you, and I am sorry to hear about Windell. I agree that these are more brass than golden years!

MaryAnn, that dish does sound good. I'm more on the spicy side myself, but love making as Callie has said, "Little Dabba Dinners." I do feel for the young girl. Her family has done her no favors! The fact that she is trying shows she, herself, wants more.

Larry, this foster dad, with the kittens, is aligned with Perfect Pals out of Washington State and this is his 60th litter. He has run a 24/7 cam for years to highlight kitten adoption and feline education. He works four days from home as a computer programmer and two in the office, so he has time and space to foster. He has both a kitten room and an area for senior and or disabled cats.

Unfortunately for viewers, but good for the cats; you fall in love with the fosters only to see each litter gain eight weeks and two pounds before they are neutered and adopted. This particular litter has a neutering date for the 23rd and adoption proceedings on the 30th. It is a rescue, surrendered, and feral program that also integrates with a kitten/cat program at a local prison. The senior cats and or disabled cats do not get adopted; this is their last and probably best home.

I fell in love with that kitten site! So much so that I did not touch PaintShop today

Bubble, three litters ago, they had a kitten who was born after four other kittens had died. He was taking the mother and remaining kitten to the vet to initiate tube feeding. Unfortunately, that kitten died that night.

To the surprise and incredibility of all, on the way back, the foster dad noticed two kittens in the carrier with mom when he stopped at some railroad tracks! On arriving home, he discovered a healthy newborn kitten had joined them on the way home from the vet.

That kitten went on to climb two foot fencing at 8 days when holding her head up was an issue, she also climbed to the window at four weeks and now from what I understand, is opening curio cabinets on her own and one day was discovered sleeping on top of the cage, under the cover, of a 38-year-old Amazon Parrot. Her adopted mom who adopted both Lizzie and her mom, Shelby says the kitten, now the 8-month-old cat has so far foiled every attempt to keep her confined or out of cabinets, bird cages or rooms!

Good afternoon, in the 70's all day, just wish I could keep this weather.

MaryAnn, I have to put my two cents in, even know I should mind  my own business, this will be one time. It is nice to have compassion,BUT the way things are to day, you have to use caution  especially a man. OK now on with good things food! I went yo RH luncheon yesterday and had eggplant parmesan, big portion, so of course I brought some home for supper tonight, also the man next door made linguine with clam sauce and brought that over,   Your dinner also sound good, I think you can mix chop meat with anything and it will come out good.

Thanks Patricia, kittens are always cute.

Larry, lately my printer keeps saying I am use counterfeit ink, I buy the right ink through Amazon, and pay full price.

Joan, 4 years ago when I went in the hospital with a heart attack, I also had renal failure. I was sent to a nursing home for comfort care I am still here

Lindancer, mine started about 18 months ago.  Second one started in Jan. this year.  Not sure how long it will take but I have done all I have to do and my kids know so what will be will be. 

Thank you, Gloria, I feel the same way.  Today, there is no mention of the girl so I have no idea if her father came after her today or what.  Robin has contracted full-blown bronchitis and Tom has been with her most of the day.  Robin works at a hospital but whether she went to a doctor or not, I don't know.  I remember the only time I had bronchitis when I coughed and coughed, almost coughed my toenails up, suddenly I felt better but within a half hour, I was wiped out.  I called Terry's wife, who is an RN, and she told me to call my doctor for an antibiotic (I think - this was years ago) and within a short time I was better.  So I hope Robin saw a doctor to get some proper medicine.

I know I have never had either of the things you had for supper tonight but I would try both to see how I liked them.

Mary Ann

Hi Everyone.  This Saturday is starting out overcast and at 70 degrees.  It will be in the 90's again this afternoon.  Last evening late we did get a little rain shower.  The high this afternoon will be 94 degrees and I expect to be inside where it is cool when that happens.  Pat and I went to the Dollar Tree and then to Dairy Queen for our main meal of the day.  She used the transport chair as a rollator while at Dollar Tree and could sit down and look at the card.  There was only one problem and that was she didn't realize there were brakes on the chair so when she was sitting it in it kept moving backwards.  I just checked as my memory was it does have breaks.  So next time perhaps that won't be a problem for her.  I plan on attending a meeting this morning and will also stop at the Post Office for a roll of stamps that Pat needs for her Sunday School class card ministry.  Later this afternoon I will tune in to the PGA Golf Tournament and that will be it for today. 

Mary Ann, so sad for the young lady whose father didn't bother to pick her up to take her to live with him.  At least she isn't having to live on the street.  Is she still in school?  It sounds like Tom and Robin both have very good hearts and care about people. 

Callie,  That excuse for not putting on the Miracle-Gro sounds like a good one.  I don't remember ever seeing a bear while we lived in Alaska.  I expect had we moved to the mobile home we had purchased sort of out in the woods we might have seen more wild animals.  However, I got the offer of the job in Illinois before we made the move and we sold the mobile home before we ever moved into it.  I had the same experience with my eyes after getting the first cataract removed.

Sue, glad to see you live fairly close to one of your sons and know it is enjoyable to share a meal with our children. 

Marilyne, it sounds like a wise decision to avoid the heavy traffic if you can do the testing today that you need to get done.  Even after three years plus living here I am still in awe every time I drive at the lack of traffic here compared to the Atlanta area where we lived.  I am sure you pot gardens there in California are not the same as Callie's. 

Patricia, I hope the rains helped your fire situation and didn't add to it with the lightning.  It sounds like you were having tuna for your sandwich and Farrah saw no reason not to share in the meal.  Thanks for the information on the Perfect Pals man who houses the cats.  I guess today is the day for the neutering for the current litter and they soon will be gone.  I look forward to see the new litter when he gets them. I bet the parrot didn't appreciate the cat sleeping on top of her cage. 

Bubble, it is hard to stop watching those cats as they are so active and cute as they play and chase each other.   

deAngel, as a man I have been very careful during my work years as well as now with my actions and words.  I would be afraid now to even joke with a woman unless the joke is aimed at me.  Recently I asked Elizabeth, who now considers us as her surrogate grandparents if was OK to refer to her sometimes as "hon" as that is the term I sometimes use with my own granddaughter and she assured me that was fine. I will always remember the first business trip I took with a female intern I had working for me.  It sounds like you are eating well with those left overs and the food your neighbor brought over.  I also bought the HP ink through Amazon.  I will definitely be getting a laser printer rather than another inkjet as have had nothing but problems with the last several inkjet printers I have purchased.  For one thing they are too complicated.  I sure am glad you are still here. 

Joan, it sounds like you have decided not to waste time worrying about your health situation.  I try to follow the same line of thinking and just enjoy each day as much as I can.     

Good rainy morning to you all. Temp is 64^o here at 8:20am EST.

My sister and I had a lovely time on our trip yesterday. The aquarium at Camden, NJ. was very much child oriented, IMO, but we got in around 10:30am and there wasn't a crowd yet, child or otherwise. They have several open pools for people to touch a few of the see critters. For some reason they had two hippos living there, which was neat, but that I really enjoyed were the reef fish and the turtle/terrapin (name, I forgot) that has a flat, leaf-shaped head and long neck. They had two of the latter and they were twice the size of he single specimen I saw at the Philly zoo. The water in some of the tanks was somewhat murky. I don't know if it was supposed to be that way, or if they are just not keeping the tanks as clean as should be.

The Philadelphia Zoo had some interesting exhibits, but many of the tanks/compounds/cages were empty or nearly so. The only big cats I saw were two gorgeous cheetah, sitting there looking regal, and a pair of mountain lions. There was only one Rhino, no hyenas, one maned wolf, and we missed seeing the baby giraffe. Emus, but no ostriches.

The bird and reptile displays were good, but if you want to see Komodo Dragon's in this area, or really big American alligators, you'll have to head up route 11/15 to Clyde Peeling's Reptileland. Philly's, snake display, rivals his displays, however. There are more varieties of venomous snakes at Philly, particularly rattlesnakes. This is the first time I ever saw a Mexican rattler; this specimen has a greenish tinge to it's scales. Clyde has it all over Philly for poison dart frogs. There were few parrots and two lovely Toucans, as well as geese. The flamenco were there; they were what stood out the most in my mind ever since I was there as a girl scout many, many years ago. They charged extra for their Wings of Asia display which we decided not to see (that is probably where they have the bird's of paradise and the cassowary).

The highlight of the day for Sue, and what she looked forward to seeing most were the new Red Panda display and the Meerkats. The Meerkats were smaller than I expected. I thought they would be taller. Maybe they were juveniles. In the same display, there was a well fed looking aardvark snoozing the day away (they are nocturnal). The otter display, next to the Red Pandas was fun.

Oops! Not watching my time. Shan just came up to remind me it is feeding time, and I have to go feed George's cats too. I'll be back later.

Larry, Tom spent yesterday with Robin and took her to the doctor.  When he came home, he was too tired to tell me much so I could not ask about the girl; surely if Robin is that much under the weather, she would not be there.  This morning, Tom got up early and drove for Uber.  He both left and returned while I was in bed and he's in bed now.  I have hopes that somehow or other she ended up at her father's.  After Tom wakes up, I may learn more.

I've showered and washed my hair so now I am drying off. 

It looks a bit dreary out this morning and our temperature is 63 degrees.

Mary Ann

Good Morning Everyone,
from the cool and overcast rocky coast
of Maine.    Nice cool day...  Not for
everyone,  but I like it this way. 

I got good news (for me) on my
cataracts..   They have not changed
a bit from last year.   

Because of my AFIB and use of blood
thinners they want me to go as long as
I can before having any thing done.   

After all,  I only can see out of one
eye... and if that gets damaged,  I
will loose the only vision that I have. 

I can hope for a long slow process
with yearly visits to keep track...
aybe as much as five more years...   
some cataracts are slow moving, 
others are faster...

I am satisfied and happy with the results. 

As others here have determined before
rushing into  surgery is not always
the best way.    Sometimes it is best
to just take it one day at a time  and let
come what may.   

Have a good day,  everyone.
Sandy 

Larry, the only way to go IMHO.