Got me a perm on Monday and go back today to get hair trimmed down some.  Been letting it grow since last Nov.   Hope to end end up with an Afro.   Too long right now.

I read this today and thought it was worthy of being shared and it certainly hits the nail on the head as to what we have experienced over the years.

The Stranger:

A few years after I was born, my Dad met a stranger who was new to our small town. From the beginning, Dad was fascinated with this enchanting newcomer and soon invited him to live with our family.

The stranger was quickly accepted and was around from then on. As I grew up, I never questioned his place in my family.  In my young mind, he had a special niche. My parents were complementary instructors: Mom taught me good from evil, and Dad taught me to obey. But the stranger....was our storyteller.

He would keep us spellbound for hours on end with adventures, mysteries and comedies. If I wanted to know anything about politics, history or science, he always knew the answers about the past, understood the present and even seemed able to predict the future!

He took my family to the first major league ball game. He made me laugh, and he made me cry.

The stranger never stopped talking, but Dad didn't seem to mind.   Sometimes, Mom would get up quietly while the rest of us were shushing each other to listen to what he had to say, and she would go to the kitchen for peace and quiet. (I wonder now if she ever prayed for the stranger to leave.)

Dad ruled our household with certain moral convictions, but the stranger never felt obligated to honor them. Profanity, for example, was not allowed in our home â€"not from us, our friends or any visitors.

Our long time visitor, however, got away with four-letter words that burned my ears and made my dad squirm and my mother blush.   My Dad didn't permit the liberal use of alcohol but the stranger encouraged us to try it on a regular basis. He made cigarettes look cool, cigars manly, and pipes distinguished.

He talked freely, much too freely about sex. His comments were sometimes blatant, sometimes suggestive, and even embarrassing.   I now know that my early concepts about relationships were influenced strongly by the stranger. Time after time, he opposed the values of my parents, yet he was seldom rebuked... And NEVER asked to leave.

More than fifty years have passed since the stranger moved in with our family. He has blended right in and is not nearly as fascinating as he was at first. Still, if you could walk into my parents' den today, you would still find him sitting over in his corner, waiting for someone to listen to him talk and watch him draw his pictures.

His name?....

We just call him 'TV.'

I'm concerned about Mary Ann, and hope that she's okay - maybe having computer problems?  I'll be gone all morning, as AJ has a procedure scheduled this morning, and I'll be going with him to drive home.  It's now about 7:30 here, and we have to be at Stanford by 8:00, so I'll check back later.

I, too, hope Mary Ann is okay.

Marilyne,  "a while back", you asked where the Statue of Liberty is on the New York Harbor webcam.   When the cruise ships are first coming toward the camera (usually just a big bright spot on the water between the tall buildings on either side of the river),  they begin to turn to the left of our picture (their right) to go by the statue.  The statue will appear in front of the tall buildings on the left side of our picture.  It's hard to see because it's so small compared to the buildings in the background.  The ships go  in front of the statue and then turn back to the right to continue down the river.  That's when we get the close-ups on this webcam.

As Winnie-ther-Pooh would say,  "Tut, tut. It looks like rain."  Glad there's nowhere I need to go today.  No telling what I could accomplish if I could just find that elusive Round Tuit.   

I am sick and I went down to the last post so have not/will not read any of the previous post.  I'll get back to you when I feel better.

Mary Ann

Gentle  to you, Mary Ann.

Mary Ann, get well soon.

MaryAnn, I hope you rest and feel better soon!

Larry, we are still having days of 80 and 90 percent rain, and it is expected to remain that way until at least September third. A Canadian system has parked directly above us and decided to stay awhile!

MaryAnn, I am sorry to see you are not feeling well. Feel better soon, June, Junie and I need you to keep us going

Mary Ann - Good to hear from you . . . we have all been concerned!  We'll be looking forward to having you back with us, as soon as you're feeling better.

Just heard that John McCain’s mother is 106 years old.  She is in the East and will participate in the funeral ceremonies when he is buried at Annapolis Naval Academy Sunday.  When we first moved to Maryland in 1978, we took a walking tour of the Academy.  The chapel is beautiful where they will have a private service when he will be buried adjacent to a close friend.  Saturday George W. Bush and Barack Obama will be speaking at the National Cathedral.

They found some problem with Candy's Pancreas.  The will be doing an MRI  to see if they can see more.  She is a mess as my Mom died from Pancreatic cancer.  Was the first thing she thought of.  Candy's Mom ain't doin very well either.

WJoan, all I can say is good thoughts and prays going you way for both of you also a few hugs from cyber friends

Thanks Lindancer

I wish Candy all the best,
and that only good news comes from
all her tests.... 
 
And you too,  Joan....  I know that this is very hard
for both of you.

Sandy

Thanks Sandy.

Joan - I'm so sorry to hear about the CT scan. I'll be thinking about both you and Candy, and hoping that the MRI will be okay.

Marilyne, thanks. 

Hi Everyone.  We are headed for another day with 100 degree heat index.  No rain materialized yesterday and it was hot.  I was so weary yesterday that I spent most of the day laying down in the morning and then again after I ate the lunch Pat fixed for me.  Then I laid down again for a few hours.  We did go out to eat at Ruby Tuesday's.  Scott elected not to go with us but did come out for a couple of hours and visit with us.  I actually felt like getting up this morning so think this will be a good day.  The only thing on the schedule for today is to pick up my friend and go to coffee for an hour.  If Pat feels up to going we will go for quick haircuts this afternoon.

Marilyne, I hope the procedure that AJ had yesterday went well and doesn't require a long recovery period.

Callie, I had a Round Tuit that someone gave me at one time.  I conveniently lost it as sometimes I don't want to get around to it.  On our one trip to New York City on a bus tour we did cross over to the Statue of Liberty.  It is large when you are standing at the base of it. 

Mary Ann, thanks for letting us know that you are sick and hope you have a very quick recovery. 

Patricia, you can send some of that rain down this way.  We seem to be in a bit of a dry spell but guess we have been spoiled this summer with the rain we have had. 

Jean, I heard some comment about John McCain's mother but not that she was 106.  When we lived in the DC area we made a day trip or two over to Annapolis but never visited the Naval Academy.  We did visit the Air Force Academy Chapel on a trip to Colorado and it is also quite impressive. 

Joan, certainly a concern about Candy's pancreas and certainly hope she is not following in your mother's footsteps.  Sorry to read that you are not doing well either and hope it is not new problems for you.  No wonder she hasn't been feeling good. 

Joan, I'm sorry to hear about Candy's CT scan.  I hope the additional test will shed some more light on the problem and will bring treatment which will help.  Thoughts and prayers for you and her, especially.

Sue

Joan, I sincerely hope for the best regarding Candy's problem. I can understand her concern.

Mary Ann, hope you are feeling better soon.

Joan,  I also send prayers and good wishes for Candy.  It's so hard when our adult children/grandchildren have problems and we can't "fix" them.  Hugs to you, too.

Larry,  I'm sure the Statue of Liberty is huge but the perspective of the cam shot makes it blend in with the buildings on the shore behind it so it's hard to see.  Took me a while to figure out why the cruise ships were turning off what looked like the normal course. 

I really do need to find that Round Tuit before I get OBE ! 

Callie, you realize how large the  the statue is.  when you saw that women on the base. she thinks of herself as a hero,according to the paper. but she put the lives of those police officers at risk when they were trying to save her. Plus all the people from around the world who could not visit the statue of Liberty,  Now she wants a jury trial. which will again cost us big money. This was on yesterday's news

[Sur, thanks.  They did say something about an infection but Candy was too upset to be very coherent yesterday.

MarsGal, thanks.  Am hoping they do not linger on this.

Thanks Callie.  Just hoping it is just fixable.  Am sure the MRI will tell more.

/b]

Dear MaryAnn,we miss you and hope you are starting on the road to recovery. Prays and big hugs

Dear Joan, I'm hoping that they are able to help Candy soon! I know the feeling when you know your child is hurting and no one seems to be listening or helping.

Thanks Angel, yes and not being able to help her.  Is an awful feeling.

Joan - I'm hoping that Candy's new doctor, will move things along more quickly than the other doctors did.  Have they scheduled her MRI yet?  The sooner the better for any and all tests.

Marilyne, she is going for the MRI Sunday.  Will report back when I have something to report. 

Mary Ann - I thought about you a lot today, and kept checking in here, to see if you had posted anything.  We are all concerned, and hoping to hear something from you, as soon as you feel up to posting a message.  I hope you're feeling better tonight.