Callie, it interested me that there were more people in the picture than live in some small towns. 

I saved the list of states where there are cams.  I have a bookmark column that when I save something, a link at the bottom disappears.  So I will find something I can do without and the bottom one will reappear! 

Mary Ann

Angelface - Patricia...sending wishes on your Special Day...Do let us know what your " surprise " was? 

Callie, I took a quick look at the New York Cams and will check them out further later. I've only "seen" New York in movies and the Macy's parade, and I think I would definitely have claustrophobia there  . Cathie, a friend and I are going over to Dallas today to visit the 6th floor Museum and that will definitely be more and enough people and city for me!  I definitely am a country girl! 

Mary

Hi Everyone.  Tuesday starts out overcast once again with a high percentage likelihood of rain this afternoon. It is suppose to stay in the mid-80's today.  I have something I need to do at 10 am for an hour this morning and then, if Pat feels up to it we will probably go to Cheddars again for our main meal of the day.  Nothing of note happened yesterday and the day of rest was appreciated. 

I want to share a little of a posting that Judy, Pat Scott Halbach's sister posted yesterday.  "Had an accidental call from Pat last night.  She was going outside to pick some blackberries and encountered a skunk.  She backed up quickly and fell.  In doing so she avoided being sprayed.....and broke her wrist!  She has been through so much that this almost feels like the last straw.  Again Please pray for Pat."

Mary Ann, Kendrick had to catch up on his sleep after being out all night. 

Marilyne, on the CBS News last night they did a lot about the fires and showed an interview with the husband and grandfather of the lady and two children who were caught and killed in the fire.  He was on the phone with them until the fire got them.  It was really sad.  He had left just a few minutes before and was coming right back but the fire just overwhelmed their house.  Like you I hope Gloria/Linedancer is OK but wonder if she has had to be hospitalized again. 

MarsGal, Barb and others that post in the Library discussion, which is on the Seniorlearn.org discussion that was started by Ginny after SeniorNet closed their discussions, are certainly intelligent and well read and I enjoy reading their comments.  I know there are some very interesting books available but I usually just read fiction and on the Internet (which is often also fiction in terms of a lot of the so-called news we get reported anymore).  It sounds like your yard work is quite a challenge.  Do you have a large yard?  Fighting tree roots is not a fun job. 

Good morning Joan.  Are you getting any of the smoke from the Eastern Washington fires?

JeanneP, I haven't watched the Times Square webcam either but will have to create a bookmark from the link that Callie shared with us yesterday. 

Callie, thanks for sharing that link.  I don't like being accosted by someone on the street asking for money.  I suppose if you had small children with you it would be tempting to have such a picture taken. 

Jackie, what a cute card you posted for Patricia's birthday and so appropriate with her love of cats.

Mary, my wife and I took a one day bus tour into downtown New York City.  It was interesting and worthwhile but sure had no desire to go back.  I am just a small town country boy at heart.  I wouldn't care to get into the large crowds either.  I hope you enjoy the Museum in Dallas today.  I haven't heard of that Museum.  I did a quick search and see it relates to the tragic day when JFK was killed in Dallas.  It should be interesting. 

Happy Birthday Patricia! - Hoping you have a nice day, and treat yourself to something sweet and cold!  My dearest friend's birthday was on July 31, and I'm now remembering the many summer parties over the years when we were growing up together.

Larry - So sorry to hear that Pat Scott Halbach, has fallen and broken her wrist.  She has had other health issues to contend with this past year, and I hope that this one will be resolved and healed quickly. 

Yesterday, I responded to someone in one of the folders here, that our house is close enough to downtown, that I wasn't worried about fires.  I shouldn't have been so confident.  This morning we received a notice from the Santa Clara County Fire Department, giving us explicit directions for evacuations, should any fires start in the mountainous areas that surround this town.  They could sweep down into town very quickly and destroy thousands of homes - as the fire in Santa Rosa did last September.

I just heard that Pat fell and broke
her wrist.      I am so sorry.   

Please let us know how you are doing Pat? 
Did they just put a cast on it of did they have
to operate on it?     

No matter what it is going to be a few weeks
before things are back to normal,  if ever. 

Regarding New York City?   My daughter Kelly
has taken her family and driven into NYC.    She
loves it and says that it is the  easiest city
to drive...      Much Much easier then Boston,
which is a horror zone for all drivers of any age  !!! 

Have a good day, everyone!
Sandy
   

Larry, do not know yet.  Just woke up.  Dan is having back surgery this morning.   Most of our fires are up near  the SE part.  Will get back to you on this. 

Oh Pat, what bad luck!
I hope it is not your "good hand" which would be more debilitating.
My best wishes for the bones resealing themselves fast and without much pain.
Don was just inquiring  earlier if there were any news from you and we thought that no news meant good news.
We miss you in S@F!

Glad to see several who like the NYC webcams. 
Granddaughter works several blocks from Times Square but avoids going through that area unless she absolutely has to.  She goes all over the place via subway as easily as we might drive to the corner store.  I'm amazed!

Even more amazing is that - going by street numbers - she lives about as far from Times Square as I do from downtown OKC.  However, the building density is about 100 times more where she is and it takes her twice as long to get to work via subway as it does me to drive to downtown OKC.

She teases me about getting on Google street maps and "following" her around.  I did find her apartment building and "cruised" the streets around it.  Even found her apartment window from her description of its location in the building.

Sandy,  many years ago, oldest son was part of a group sent to his company's headquarters in NJ to do an internal audit.  He drove when they went sightseeing and said he was sure he could drive anywhere in the world after doing so in NYC.


So sorry to learn about Pat's wrist and sending Good Thoughts for her recovery.

Marilyne, getting instructions for evacuating "if necessary" must be scary.  Fingers crossed that it won't be necessary.

Larry,  my reading habits are more like yours than those on Seniorlearn who like to "dig deep" or do research on a topic.  Closest I come to that is looking at a map to find locations in a story line.

I'm sorry to hear about Pat's broken wrist.  I had one a few years ago and it is no picnic.  For Pat it is fuel added to the fire since she's had other health problems.  Get well soon, Pat.

And Happy Birthday to Patricia.  May you have many more.

Patricia, I wonder if you bought the same Cat Grass as I did.  They suggested going to their web site for instructions for planting the grass.  It took me a while before I got around to it, even then Tom had to print the instructions, which took seven pages.  This company that puts up the grass handles all sorts of grains and you don't just plant the seeds, although you can (and I'm going to).  First of all it is necessary to soak the seeds three times for 8-10 hours.  What you find out when you get to the end of the instructions is that people cut the grass and puree it into a juice and drink it.  So their grains are not just for animals.  I am astonished at the method and time it takes to grow the grass and I'm going to plant the grains in the dirt and see what happens.  I got the seeds from Amazon. 

We have an overcast kind of sunny day so far.  It is warm and muggy.  I'll fix a lunch for me in a few minutes and go out on the deck to eat.  The loveseat is still in the shade and will be until about 3 pm. 

Mary Ann

Callie,  thanks for the link to TImes Square.   There was a time when I would have loved to be right in the middle of all that hub-bub. Not any more, tho!  My friend and I used to make several day trips each year. Love going there.  I get nervous just watching the video.  Just  so many people .  Not that I would be afraid to go,  I just can't get around that good anymore and really have to watch the places I go to.  Cracked and broken sidewalks, uneven ground and large crowds are several things that come to mind and just the fact that I am getting "old" and prefer calmer places now,  LOL

Joy

help.i can't stay in soda shoppe.computer acting like a spoiled brat .plase relay my message  to buddies in soda shoppe
pleaseplease,please!  i am o.k.,just going more crazy.

I am so very sad for our Pat. One thing heals,another comes on stage. please God patness Your help.  i still have the dizzies...back on salt tablets.

Good afternoon,i is a lovely summer day.  So sorry to read about Pat falling again.  Prays for a speedy recovery.

June, we love you We 90's have to stick together . that
       d-m circulation is also giving me a hard time , My leg is still not healing you take care YA HERE

MaryTx  I look at time square and the harbor different times of the day

Larry, I have been very tired lately, had to get another shot this week, as my blood count went back down again  Maybe it is because of the hematoma and now infected little toe, I managed to stub it.  such fun getting old    I miss going into the city every coupleof months.  One of the last time i went in with a large group of Red Hats we were standing front of a Chinese Restaurant , when a group of Oriental folks came by and ask if they could have a picture with us, so we made a larger group on the streets of NY

I have never been to NYC and never will now.  I have been to Chicago several times as my aunt and family lived near there.  My retiree friends and I used to go on a theater trip once a year to Mc Cormick Place and we saw several Broadway plays and the original stars were playing their roles.  We would also shop at Marshall Field and eat at a classy restaurant, the cost was included with our trip fare.  Like those of you who went to NYC, "them days is gone forever". 

Gloria, I am sorry your blood count has gone down.  I would wonder, too, if the hematoma had a part in it. 

June, I hate to hear that you are still feeling dizzy.  Getting to the 90s isn't all it's cracked up to be.  People congratulate us for having lived so long, but they don't realize what we are going through to get here.  On the other hand, I'm feeling fairly good and I'm still able to get to the mailbox!

The cat and I just spent some time on the deck.  It is nice out, however, it is overcast and I hope we see some rain.  If we don't, I'll have to sprinkle where our sprinkling system does not. 

I had asked about someone to pull my quack grass and I found out the man I asked about has left the area for better paying jobs.  So I guess I'll let the grass grow.  I can't put weed killer on it because the cat eats it.

Mary Ann

No one called us after Dan's surgery so we went hunting for him.  Finally got a room number he is awake.  His voice is raspy as they had to move it aside to replace the bone in his upper back.  They went in thru the front.  He sounds good otherwise and will be going home tomorrow it seems.

Joan, I'm glad to hear that Dan came through the surgery OK.  They certainly send people home early these days.  Best wishes to him.

Mary Ann

Thanks Mary Ann.  He has already posted on FB.  LOL

Joan - Good that Dan will be going home tomorrow! That means his surgery was successful, if they're letting him go so soon. I do hope he has someone to look in on him for the first couple of days?  I've been meaning to ask you how Candy is doing, after not feeling well for such a long time?

Marilyne, well she has the same  problems she started with in Feb.  None have gone away and salve is not working.  We think it is an inside infection but altho she has asked for them, they have chosen NOT to give any anti biotics.  That sucks.  All the other things they have given her to put on sores has not worked, but she still has severe pain in her abdomen

OOOPS, forgot.  No Dan does not have anyone to help unless he asks his ex gal friend.  Candy would go over and take good care of him, but doubt he wants his sister there.

Joan, I join all the others saying I am glad to read Dan is doing OK.  I also believe people are sent home to soon, I was always lucky  as they sent a nurse in 2 o3 times a week for 3 weeks

Someone asked me about fires up here and I have to admit I do not have an answer for you.  I DO know of one near Sonora, CA tho cuz my grandson and his family had to evacuate.  No further word on that one.

I've tried to read the CA map but my eyes and the light won't let me read it.  I was trying to find how near Marilyne is the Redding/Carr fire.  I found Redding on the map but not Marilyn's location.  I'll keep trying as she said they received instructions about evacuating if it is necessary.  Too close for comfort.

I went to Soda Shoppe and was able to post.  I didn't have anything to say so said it and posted - it took.

Mary Ann

Thanks to Jackie, Marilyne, and MaryAnn for today's birthday remembrances!

Marilyne, I have no words for the fires n California. I am just so sorry!

Joan, I hope Dan heals quickly!

Gloria, please, take care of yourself!

Quite a lot of reading to do in here this morning.

First, Happy Birthday, Patricia.

from Larry

QuoteI usually just read fiction and on the Internet (which is often also fiction in terms of a lot of the so-called news we get reported anymore).

Smirk!

It looks like we've had a rash of misfortunes in the group and their families. I wish all of you a speedy recovery.

Larry,, my yard in the front is flat and not large. The backyard is sloped with several white pines and lots of weedy growth at the bottom. Altogether I guess the yard is around 1/8 acre, maybe a little larger, but certainly not 1/4. The whole yard is lumpy and bumpy, and badly needs a regrading, at least. White pines are a very messy tree. I try to rack some or all of the backyard twice a year to keep the pine needles from accumulating too much. Last year I had a landscaper come in and trim back a line of Privot but the darn things are growing back fast. I can't afford to have help with the yard when there are so many other things that need tended to in this old house.

This year's project is getting three doors and two windows replaced.
I am going to have the two windows shortened so that there will be room to put in extra counters later. Also, I will be screen doorless for the time being. I only do what I can afford to pay upfront, as I hate going into debt more than absolutely necessary. This is work I had hoped to get done last year, but ended up having to replace the garage windows instead when one broke. And then there was Shan. The little bugger was expensive what with getting all his shots and getting him fixed.

Today, I woke up to yet another flood watch warning. It looks like we will be getting off and on rain again for another whole week.It is now 6:48am and it is 72⁰. From what I remember of yesterday's report, West Nile Disease has now been detected in all PA counties but one this summer. When I am out in the yard, I wear a long sleeve shirt, long pants, a brimmed hat and bug repellent. The repellent alone never does the trick for me, but gosh, it is hot in a long sleeve shirt.

Hi Everyone. We had a very rainy night getting about 1 1/4 inches of rain and more on the way today.  However, it will stay in the low to mid-80's again today.  Yesterday afternoon Pat and I went to Ruby Tuesdays to enjoy their $5 salad bar and it was good.  We made it there and back between rain storms.  This morning I plan a trip to Costco for several items and hopefully Scott will go with me.  Then this evening we expect that Scott will be out to spend a couple of hours with us, something we really enjoy.  We just hope he doesn't have to work tonight as this is suppose to be his day off. 

Marilyne, at least you will have time to gather together important papers and decide what you can take with you in your car should you have to evacuate rather than having do these things in a matter of minutes.  Better to be prepared and not need to use it than otherwise and I sure hope it is that you won't need it.  Where would you have to evacuate to? Pat Scott Halbach has been very ill for 3 years now according to a recent posting from her before this last fall. 

Sandy, glad that Kelly enjoys driving in New York City.  I suppose once you get used to it and learn the street layout it wouldn't be so bad.  I have been to Boston on a business trip years ago but wasn't driving as I recall so didn't have to figure out the streets.  Of course, I really didn't get to see much of Boston as a result as wasn't there very long.

Joan, good to read that Dan's back surgery is over and that he is doing well and may be released today.  Glad to see your area hasn't been warned about the fires and hope it stays that way.

Callie, I looked at the NYC webcam and that sure is a busy area.  I had to wonder if all of those people knew where they were going.  It is amazing what we can see on the google street maps.  Have you read any of the books by Steve Berry?  I am reading the second one and find him to be a very good writer and includes a lot of interesting historical facts that are woven into his stories.  They are in the mystery/thriller category.

Mary Ann, I remember planting some grass for our cat in a big flower pot but think I just put the seeds in the soil and watered it and that was all.  It was fast growing and the cat loved it. The first time I was in Chicago our whole high school of 36 students went as it was the last year for that high school to be in existence and we went to Marshall Fields.  I had never been in such a large store before and think it is the first time I had seen or ridden on an escalator.  It was quite a trip for a young farm boy from a rural area. 

Patricia, are you still having the rains up your way?  Did you treat yourself for your birthday? 

MarsGal, dealing with a sloped yard isn't fun.  I have had that and had yards that probably were close to a quarter acre and a lot of work.  Lawn care has come a long ways since the old days of the pushed mowers.  Do you have an magnolia trees in your yard?  Pine needles are rakeable but magnolia leaves are hard to deal with.  That is quite a bit of work to have done on your house and know it is expensive to have a craftsman come in to do it.  We are also having flood watch warning in and around our county.  I am in no danger of a flood.  Good that you protect yourself from the West Nile Virus when you are outside. 

Joy, I am like you in preferring quieter places than big cities.  I think that is why I am so enjoying living here in South Carolina in this small town. 

June, sure glad to see you are OK as we were worried about your not posting.  You should be able to post in the S&F's website now.  You might want to reboot the computer if you haven't done so since we had the problems posting.  Sorry you are still have dizzy spells. 

deAngel, it was a double blessing to me to see your posting of yesterday right after June as I and others were also concerned about you.  Sorry that your leg isn't healing and having to again have the shot for the low blood count.  No wonder you are tired.   

Good morning, Larry and  MarsGal and to all the other friends.

Larry,  I agree with you about living in such a crowded city.  There was a time when I loved to go to New York, for a day or two.  My friend and I sampled a lot of different foods and found some neat shops.  But, don't feel that way anymore.  I hate to shop.  I guess that is a kind of good thing, as I really don't need much.  I am in the process of trying to do some de-cluttering and trying to make some room for things that don't have a regular place right now.

I mentioned over in the Soda Shoppe that my grandson is opening up his own Barbershop in Manchester, Connecticut today.  I am so proud of him. He is a special young man and I am sure he will go far.  Wish I was able to be there,. but he knows he has my support.  He and his siblings had a really tough young life growing up, and they all survived and have done well in their adult lives.  Unfortunately,  I don't get to see them as often as I would like.  I miss being to see my little grandchildren.  There are 5 little girls and a 1 year old little boy.  I do get to see lots of pictures, tho.

PATRICIA,   I am sending you belated birthday wishes.  I hope you had a great day and many more special days in the years ahead.

I need to find "something" to do.  I did sleep a little better last night.  Still being bothered with some of the UTI  symptoms, but I do seem to be feeling better.

Hope everyone will have a great day.

Joy

MarsGal, I had kind of a sloping yard at my cottage, but it sloped toward the lake and I was able to mow the yard OK.  But at the house where I lived previous to coming to my condo, I had 60 oak trees in the front and back yards.  Tom had his youth group from church come help rake leaves in the fall.  We'd put them on a drop cloth and drag them across the road to an unused part of the cemetery.  I wonder what the owners do now because the cemetery is developed in that area.  I haven't lived there for 37 years.

Larry, that is what I am going to do - put the grass seeds on the soil and water it and hope the grass grows.  When I read about soaking the seeds for 8-10 hours three times, I thought it was ridiculous, but their seeds are for many purposes, one to make juice and that might make more sense, but not for cat grass!!!

I looked at the area news before I got here and saw that Detroit had a storm and they have flooded roads; we never had a drop.

Mary Ann

Good morning all: It's supposed to be cooler today, with no wind, so that should be helpful to our wonderful, dedicated firefighters.  Two of them have lost their lives fighting these endless fires.  I haven't turned on the TV, or even looked at my weather page yet, so I don't if any of the worst blazes have been contained yet or not.

Mary Ann - I was wondering about those seeds . . . the preparation seemed excessive to me too.  Like you, I would just poke them into the soil, water them, and see what else happen.  If nothing happens, you can always buy a small fresh container of the kitty grass at most grocery stores.  I've seen it at both Safeway and Whole Foods.  Just set it on your deck in the sun, on an old plate or saucer, and it will last for a couple of months. I bought them a couple of times for Winnie, and he loved it.  He liked to eat the ratty looking grass in our backyard just as much however.

Larry - I'll see you at Costco today! I plan to go with AJ, and take a look at some things that we need to buy for the house.  Mainly bathmats, and trying to find smaller size towels.  I don't care for the huge unwieldy towels that are available now.  I've been searching the internet for the smaller sized bath towels, but I don't think they are made anymore. 

Joy - I can imagine how proud you are of your grandson, opening his own barber shop. I wish him luck in his new business.  If he's in a busy area, he should do well.

Patricia - Did you do anything extra for your birthday?  When mine roll around now, I try to ignore them! Usually I get telephone calls from kids and grandkids, and that's it.

MarsGal - I have a visual picture in my mind, of what your house looks like. Last year, when you are talking about keeping Shan on the sun porch for a while, I pictured a Craftsman style house?  There are lots of them in California - mostly built in the 1920's.  I really like that style a lot . . . especially the interior details and built-in's.  They have either a large front porch with an overhang, or an inside sun porch.

Good morning (early for me) we have had a little rain, then the sun comes out very humid.

Larry and Mary Ann, I might have written this before.  The first time I rode on a train I was 16, also the first time I saw NYC. We took the train to Jamaica, transferred to a subway and went into the City. ( I was with the Girl Scout Mariners) What and adventure for a country girl.  We ate at a Horn and Hardart automat, went into the Hotel Lexington, and saw the Hawaiian Room. We ended up in Radio City, saw a movie and stage show. It made such and impression, I remember it till this day

The Dr. decided to keep him one more night.  Am glad, is better he is there than  at home alone.