Hi everyone.  It is going to be another very hot day here in South Carolina, predicted to get to around 98 degrees.  I will make a quick trip to Walmart after the pharmacy opens at 9 am to pick up a prescription for Pat.  We may get out this evening to go to dinner.  I think tonight we will try a Chinese place that is new to us but Scott said he thought it was good.  This is the day we look forward to all week as we will get to spend several hours with Scott later today and share our evening meal with him. 

Yesterday Pat fixed a very delicious Banana and Strawberry bread and I just had a slice of it for my breakfast. The chair lift tech arrived when he said he would and spent about 90 minutes on the chair.  He replaced the internal working parts of the chair and hopefully that will solve the problem of the batteries not charging due to faulty contacts.  The replacement included a different type of contact that has springs to assure contact with the metal rail that is needed to recharge the battery. This is a good company and they have been very responsive to our needs including making two 90 minute trips from their headquarters to our home without additional charge. 

Sandy, I am also out of the computer repair business as have my son who likes to do things like this.  I do use a paid version of Advanced System Care and it has kept our computers safe for several years.  I have used the free version of Advanced System Care but never the paid version.  A agree on the shelf life and have had many computers over the years, both desktops and laptops.  Computers have been my main hobby and activity for over the last 20 years and I still enjoy them. 

Patricia, it sounds like Farrah now feels totally at home and you will probably see her drop her guard a little more over time.

JeanneP, that much wind would be very scary.  Sure glad that tree didn't fall on your house.  I join you in looking forward to fall.  It sounds like your loss at Walmart was more costly than Pat's.  I expect finding things left in carts isn't unusual.  Two or three years ago I left an expensive umbrella in a grocery card but when I went back I was able to find it in the cart in the rack in the parking lot.  I put one of my return address stickers on each of the four umbrellas we have in the cars although know they would be easy to peal off.  If the item is turned in at least it would be easy for the service desk to be sure it was mine.  It is too bad people can't be honest and turn things in to stores. 

Another day of perfect beauty here on the bay.  I will be off to get a haircut at noon, followed by a swift charge through our local grocery to pick up a few items, and then home for a wee afternoon nap.

Wishing you each a lovely day!

Outside, men are working at resurfacing our roads.  They did half of them last week, in and out of the rain, and they're here now to finish.  I understand we are to have a storm later today, so that may delay things.  The last time they did in front of my garage so we will be able to drive near home.  We're going out to lunch today and will pick up Dot; she may have to walk to the car - not far.

I spent a half hour sitting on the deck in very comfortable weather.  The cat was out with me and sometimes wandered around the deck, other times rested on the floor, in the sun or out.  When I was ready to come in, he was ready too.

Mary Ann

Good news, Dan ended the Spring semester with a 4.0 and I am one proud Mom.   Tis not easy for combat vets to get such good scores.

As for our weather, it is warming up into the 80's again.  Has been a strange Spring with temps all over the place.  Hope we can mellow oujt now.

Hugs all around,

Joan, good for Dan.  You have every right to be proud.

We are at 80 degrees now with expectations of much higher, but we also are expecting a storm to come this way from Chicago.  We'll see if that transpires because so often storms head across Lake Michigan, then dissipate.
 
Mary Ann

Good on Dan, Joan.  I know it swells your heart, and I'm glad of that.

Good morning from the not really changed Interior! I receive my house inspection sometime today and there was a group of young girls in the hall yesterday, washing down all the walls and door lintels in preparation for the painting starting tomorrow.

Farrah was kept busy all day watching the shadows under the door and listening to all the chatter.The conversations I overheard all day made it clear that they thought they were alone in the building!

Joan, you must be really proud of Dan and his determination!

Larry, I spent 49 years in the retail or hospitality industry and you would not believe the things I would find in hotel rooms or dressing rooms. One German tourist left her purse in the dressing room while she shopped. She was returning home that evening so had cash, credit cards, her plane ticket and jewelry in her purse.

Of course, it was stolen and found later in the bathroom stripped. However, they left her plane ticket so in my mind she was very lucky! The most common items other than cash, left in and about stores, are electronic car starters, cell phones, and credit cards. If I had kept even a portion of what was turned in  to me daily, I would be a rich lady!

Thanks MP and yes Angel I am.  It has been difficult at times for him but he is making it work.  He's a good 'kid'

Joan, he certainly sounds that way and you are probably a large part of his being the way he is!

Angel, awww shucks. 

Twice I have left expensive things in Hotels.  First was in Florida. I use to have expensive wigs for if I hadn't been to my hairdresser and something important came up. It was human hair and looked just the same as my hair style was. Time to leave the Hotel in Florida. One of the nice ones. Was driving back to Illinois and about first night stop noticed I had left it. Called them but had not been turned in. Left my Tel. number. never heard but about 8 days later it came Special Del. to me. Thought great. but in Checking I noticed that it had been reset because the part was on the other side. Someone I guess had worn it.
So I threw it out. Not owned another once since.
Next in Montreal on my way by ship to UK I left my best suit in the closet at the hotel. The Queen Elizabeth.  I called them from the ship and was told is was found and they mailed it to my family home in England. It was there when I arrived.

So all in all I have not lost much. My car broken into and a London Fog Raincoat went. One VW Beetle I owned the fan and another part of the engine got stolen off it. and at the Airport security at Indianapolis some on took $1000 worth of MS software out of my carry on luggage.   Insurance covered this.  Things.  are worse out there now as to some people it has become a profession to be a thief .In my town it is getting awful.

As a rule, I have not left anything in hotels/motels, but I did one year when in Canada.  I left a dress and I think it was mixed up with the bedding.  I wrote them (didn't make many long distance calls in those days) and in time I got my dress back.  I'm not sure if I reimbursed them or not; I was young!

Today seven of us had lunch at The Score, a sports bar near us; it was out usual family group.  The Score has brought in lake sand and some palm trees and put them by a man-made lake.  The sky was overcast at that time so it was very comfortable sitting outside.  Next week we will eat in the evening in downtown Grand Rapids to benefit something.  As long as I don't have to drive, I don't care where it is.

I'm not sure we're going to get the storm predicted because my computer radar shows a storm starting near Chicago the going in a SE direction.  We may get some rain.

Mary Ann

The next ten days are supposed to be in the eighties and warm and sunny! I'm definitely hoping they're right!

These ideas are varied and unique, not just some old tired ideas! All types of foods, drinks and seasonings using an ice cube tray!

http://www.ba-bamail.com/content.aspx?emailid=17560

Yes Mary Ann. Grand Rapids is showing for some stormy weather coming also.  Ours last 2 storms were heavy but will have really helped the farmers. You know our area. Corn and Soy beans as far as the eye can see.  It was nice today until about 2pm after the rain but now really humid. I am not going to turn the A/C on though. Just let the air into the house.  I sure sleep when all the windows open.
The Sport sounds different.  Be nice eating outdoors there but our so called Sport bars are just so noisy.  All those TVs going at same time . Now a lot of bars have the gambling machines now and they are to noisy also. One reason I don't like the Gambling boats. Arn't there a couple of those over the Indianapolis side?

Angel.  What a great idea for lots of use of Ice cube trays. Will use a few. I never even keep them in my freezer as I don't like cold drinks. I keep a 5 lb bag in my big freezer incase I would need some cubes at any time.
Will make a list of some of those.

Jeanne, at 9 pm, Grand Rapids still does not have rain.  Radar looks as if we will be on the fringe of a storm.

The Score has a unique setup although I do not frequent sports bars so I don't know how others are set up.  At noon or so is a good time to go there as it wasn't too busy inside.  They have imported lake sand and some palm trees and put them beside a lake that was formed by some construction.  The sun was not shining when we were there and the temperature was very moderate so we were comfortable.  There were no TVs or slots where we sat.  I'm not sure there were slots inside, but all we did was walk through; I just didn't notice any.  When/if Tom and I decide to eat out for lunch, I'd just as soon go there again.  The food is good.

Now they're predicting a storm late night, evidently not now.  I am watching the Weather Channel because there's nothing else I want to watch.  I also have put the a/c in the Off position.

Mary Ann

Hi everyone.  We are starting our day already at 78 degrees and headed to 96 this afternoon.  I plan on going to coffee and then a quick stop at the Walmart Pharmacy to get the rest of the prescription on the medicine I picked up yesterday morning.  We don't have the Wisdom group at church today as the minister had to attend a meeting out-of-town.  I emptied the dishwasher this morning and watered my plants on the patio and a couple of other things and then had to sit down for awhile as was exhausted.  I have now watered the flowers on the front porch so my outside chores are done for today. 

We stayed home for our evening meal yesterday as Pat felt it was too hot to try to get out and eat.  It worked out well as Scott didn't get here until after 6:30 so we had a late dinner. 

Mary Ann, it seems that road work has been going on around your area for sometime.  I bet you will be glad to see the last of that equipment.  I take it they are paving the roads in your neighborhood and not on the main roads. It is too hot here to sit on my front porch and think I have only done that once this year although there were a few days I could have done so. 

Joan, Dan's fine grades are a good reason for you to feel proud of his accomplishments.  What is his major field of study? It is hard to make yourself study after a full days work.  I took some graduate level courses years ago by attending on weekends.  The reading and study required was huge and as it was taking the time away from my family I decided not to pursue the Master's degree.  It would not have helped me at that point in my career but just had always wanted to pursue it. 

JeanneP, it sounds like you had good experiences in getting back items left in rooms as you traveled.  I onetime left my credit card in the folder that the bill is presented.  I realized where I had last used it and called and the waiter had turned it in.  Apparently that is quite common in restaurants.  I now take out the card and hold it while I sign the slip so I won't make that mistake again. I guess the breakdown of our moral code in society may be contributing to more stealing. 



Patricia, don't envy you having to smell the paint as they do the painting outside your apartment.  However, I bet it will make things look very nice.  Some people are very careless but would think a person's purse would not be something to be careless.  You wouldn't be proud of yourself if you had kept any of those turned in items until it was certain the owner wouldn't return for them.

Good morning yawl!  I finally have my new computer (with Windows 10) under control.  I have worked at it a month.  I had to turn a computer back in - seems the letter keys were sticking therefore not allowing me to type.  Same problem I have with the old computer, so maybe that is the problem with it.  Anyway, had a problem getting my Quicken info crossed over, but I contacted them by phone & everything went smoothly with their help.  And now I just finished adding all my 'favorite sites', one by one.  But am now all set up.  Whew, what a job.  Spent some sleepless nights over that.

Joan, good news about son Dan.  Every reason to be proud.

Larry, when we first moved here 20 years ago we made a screened-in porch attached to the house, but like you, we hardly ever use it.  Either too hot or too cold.  Maybe once or twice a year.  So it is just another room to keep clean.  Sigh.   

Sorry I cannot speak to everyone today, but just know I think about you all.  I have noticed Jenny has been missing lately.  Anyone know anything about her?

You all have a great day ~
shirleyn.

Larry, the road work is being done only in our complex.  The township does not provide services in a place such as ours; it all comes out of our reserves which are built up over the years.  They worked up by Dot yesterday and they also did the parking area by us.

Larry, my dad got his degree (BS) when he was 42 years old and I saw him graduate from college.  He took correspondence courses until he had to have one semester of being on-campus.  He graduated from Western State Teachers College in Kalamazoo MI , which is now Western Michigan University (WMU).  This was in 1937.

When I pay by credit card, the first thing I do before signing the slip is to take my card and put it in my purse.  It may not get in my billfold, but at least it is in my property!

We did not get the bad storm predicted for our area.  If there was one, it went south of us.  We did not even get a rain drop.  I think there was damage in the Chicago area and maybe northern Indiana.  Maybe lower Michigan, but not around Grand Rapids.

Mary Ann

Larry, he is going for the full courses to be a Project Mgr.  Had to take the English Comp. twice as he bombed out the first time.   He was shocked when the grade was posted and he got a 4.0  in the course. 

Mornin all.  Got up to 89 yesterday and same today. Glad I am not going out in it. 

Good afternoon, a little cooler hen yesterday, suppose to rain a little later.

Patricia, have they inspected your house yet?  We just have to keep the outside looking good, otherwise the park will mow, and send us the bill.  We own the home, but they own the land. So that is why it looks so nice,  It is listed as a 5 star park.

Larry, that is nice Scott comes to dinner.  I have never heard of Banana/strawberry bread, sound so good.
Joan, I know you are so proud of your son.  That is such and acompaniment.

MaryAnn, I watched a very interesting program this morning on HGTV Create, It was a tour of the upper Mich. Pen.  Called Travel with Dareley

Gloria D, Michigan's upper peninsula is very scenic.  Not very populated.  I've always liked to travel there and it was fun when there were only ferries to get there from the lower peninsula.  Now we have the Big Mac bridge and that's fun too.  I haven't been there in years but I have loads of memories.  I watch HGTV-Create too and find they have some interesting programs.  I think our Create is part of PBS, but I know programs are shown from different channels in other parts of the country.

I'm watching golf, in case you're interested!

Mary Ann

Good morning from a bright and sunny Interior with just a small bit of wind! We are expecting to be in the early to mid-eighties for the last part of June and dearly want to believe "Them."

I don't think there has been any real high moral breakdown. What we are seeing is the world where communication is omnipresent and generations growing up in that constant. The world is smaller, with that communication and the quick news reports reflect that.

That being said, life is more fragile and the ho-hum of mass shootings and the sheep following along and not thinking for themselves is prevalent. They did Rutger's study that showed people glance over a news report and send it along via web page or email without actually reading it.

Larry, even if I was so inclined, everything is logged into the locked cash office and forms filled out and signed by both the finding clerk and his or her manager as well as one of the cash room's personnel. I mostly felt frustration rather than greed as I was usually busy with something else when I would be approached by a finding clerk.

Then there was escorting the losing customer upstairs to administration and bringing the item out to show them and having them sign the form to receive their returned item. When it is multiple times and when you are very busy, you can get very frustrated with people.

Gloria, they came in manager and head of housekeeping soon after my posting that. It was a quick in and out, but I'm always concerned for some reason. The company inspects all the buildings in both Anchorage and Fairbanks twice yearly in June and then again in December.

You can smell the paint, but it is not that bad. The new carpet laying in early July will be more of a hassle I believe. So far no one from that painting company has returned to move all the furniture back against the walls in the joint areas, and housekeeping and maintenance are not happy with that as there are seven local buildings and multiple floors to fix. I don't think they will be accepting more bids from the painting crew.

Farrah was watching the shadows beneath the doors on Tuesday and listening to all the chatter in the halls, but spent yesterday under the bed while most of the activity went on. Today, as it's quieter, she remains out. She is laying on my bed for a few moments longer as well but doesn't stay very long. She's trying new things.

I have noticed that she sleeps through the midday and is active in the morning and late afternoon. While I am up early and to bed early. She is vocal and seems to be as Sarah was in that she looks at me and will go to the closet if she wants a refill and to the front room fitness mat when she wants treats. If Farrah starts bringing me her food or water dishes as Sarah had, I will be surprised! She still tries to herd me and vocally encourage me when we do her morning and evening routines, especially preparing her wet food.

Patricia, when someone comes who Kendrick doesn't know, he disappears, probably to the lower level.  Today he didn't know what to do.  Annie came with her mother (Tom's former wife).  He stayed in the living area but away from Sue.  He was bored with the whole thing and slept much of the time until/unless Annie picked him up.  In Annie's arms he let Sue pet him, otherwise, he stayed clear. 

Mary Ann

Maryann, In the morings I watch GMA 2nd part, then HGTV. I like the travel shows, I have been to a lot of the places they show, beside taking a 3 week tour of europe, I have spent a month in both German and Turkey. also I have been to Iceland. Also I read the newspaper from cover to cover.  Around noon, I start to check out the computer.

Patricia, I was upset to day, when I read in the paper they maynot be teaching history that starts before 1741. I guess a person of my age finds that hard to understand. I know times have changed families did not move away to far, from one another I learned about the Gay Ninties  from my grandmother , her  father  owned a lively stable and they knew Lillian Russell and Dimond Jim Brady, My mother talked about WW 1, I talked to my children about life durning WW2 etc. Forgive and old 92 year old for running off at the month like this, it just feels good to write this down. I love how you think and write and seem to understand.

Taffy is setting on my back, keep wanting me to come to bed. at lest I can talk to her and she only mewos back.

Gloria D, in a way I agree with you about teaching history, but I often think - I've been out of high school for 75 years and a lot has happened in those years.  There are only so many teaching hours in each day.  Surely, if every significant event in those 75 years was put into the curriculum the teachers would only have time to hit the highlights and really not cover the event.  WW II happened after I graduated and all of the others since then.  There are people today who do not believe Pearl Harbor and WW II even happened.  I don't know what they teach these days but a lot has happened in our world and how do they teach everything.  Even so, I think students should be aware that there was a world before 1741. 

Mary Ann

Gloria, since I have three history degrees, two associates and one with four years of European medieval history and wars, I find that incomprehensible. I won't forgive you but encourage you as I agree! Some of my greatest treasures are family histories, photographs, Cd and the letters during the many wars and conflicts in day to day life.

Farrah is a talker but only to guide me to her food or when its bedtime. She doesn't like other people or loud noises or the balcony, but that may or may not change as she gets more comfortable.

Taffy sounds so much like my Sarah was!

MaryAnn, Kendrick feels more comfortable with Annie "protecting" him! 

I agree that the news and constant re telling and revising as well as so many old hatreds being revived has turned many folks off on history.

It doesn't look good for the UK
staying in the EU....    (interesting)

Good early morning, I just got up and checking in here. I cannot sleep, so might as well play Hearts also.

I  am sorry, I guess I just feel bad, when I read people will not know why we celebrate Oct 12th. Thanksgiven, Vet. Day etc. I know now they are shopping days. Oh! well the world will keep on spining. no matter How I think, Guess, I just did not want to have a pity party alone.  Taffy is now up also. It is 3:30

PBS started a splendid new, brand new and not refurbished, History series The Greeks just this week.  If you missed the first episode, do catch it in reruns before next week.

Now this goes back more than THREE THOUSAND years, and shows how the commerce was global even then!  People need to know this, and know how important it was and how much it contributed to the furtherence of civilization.  I cringe at waking this morning to be filled with dismay over the choice the British have just made.  It will make waves, terrible waves, and our own economy will be adversely affected very soon.  Well, I must not, should not, and will not put a toe further into politics here: but History is EXTREMELY important as it teaches Consequences and makes Connections.  It makes people THINK.  Blind lack of understanding makes people make choices that actually amount to shooting themselves in the foot.