It's May! Let's Celebrate Mothers and Memorial Day.2017-05-01T10:22:25-04:00

Home Forums General Quacker Chatter It's May! Let's Celebrate Mothers and Memorial Day.

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    • Gail Norusis
      Participant
      Post count: 3596

      Hi Everyone! Hope you all had a good weekend.

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    • Gail Norusis
      Participant
      Post count: 3596

      Good Morning,
      We had a very wet and cold weekend. Brrrrrr! It seemed like winter was back.
      Adele, How is Tillie’s tummy today? I hope that she is feeling better.
      How was your dinner with your friends?
      My friend Nan ended up staying home on Sunday. She is having sinus surgery and an endoscopy this week and she was afraid if we went out and about in the rain and cold that she might get sick and would have to delay her test and surgery. I don’t blame her. So Tim and Greg did rehearse and I had lots of time to read my book.
      Maybe when Steff gets a little older she will learn to laugh at herself. I think with some people that comes with age. Now I am always ready to laugh at myself as I am always doing something goofy-and if I didn’t laugh I would have to cry. lol
      Today is Jenny’s 35th birthday. Where does the time go?
      Colleen, You can plant your garden really early where you are. We cannot plant for another week and a half. We use Greg’s birthday on May 9th as a time when we shouldn’t have anymore frosts. He has plants already started and they are outside in this greenhouse box that he built.
      How wonderful that Kylie has a full scholarship to the junior college. I think it’s a good idea to start out there as many kids are still struggling to figure out what they want to do and four year colleges are so expensive. I hate that so many kids are graduating owing decades of debt. That just doesn’t seem right.
      Adam’s oldest daughter Gabby will graduate next year. She wants to go to college but the younger one Enya is not interested. She is interested in going to some sort of baking school. So we’ll see what they decide to do.
      Piper will still be in preschool for another year. They have a little graduation ceremony but not with a cap and gown or anything. My kids never went to preschool. How about the rest of you? Since I was a stay at home Mom I figured I could do a lot of stuff with them that preschool couldn’t. They were never behind because of missing preschool and they were both good students. It does amaze me though that now the kindergartners are learning to read-of course they also go full days too. When we were kids kindergarten was for taking naps and milk and cookies-at least that’s what I’ve been told since I was a kindergarten drop out. lol
      It’s supposed to be cold and rainy for a couple more days and then start to get sunny and warm a bit later in the week. We have had a lot of rain lately.
      We had a place that was a nursery down at the end of the road from us. There were acres and acres of trees planted there. The land had been for sale and a couple of weeks ago the place was sold and someone came in right away and just started bulldozing all these trees down and putting them into piles and burning them. What a waste of all those trees. I think there was 120 acres. Then we were wondering what they were planning on putting on the land since they were completely clearing it and were hoping that it wouldn’t be something unwelcome. However our neighbor told Greg this weekend that he thinks that someone is putting in an organic vegetable farm-so that’s a good thing. At least they won’t be building on it. I still feel bad that they wasted all those trees though. But I suppose they want to get crops in right away this year so they couldn’t spend time trying to sell off all the trees.
      Gail

    • Anonymous
      Inactive
      Post count: 643

      Gail that sure was a waste for those trees. The place I used to work for would have bought them. Are there no lumber mills around where you live? At least they would have been used and not just burned and they would have made some money on them. I bet they would have paid a lot for those trees.

      I saw it was Jenny’s birthday and wished her a Happy Birthday on Facebook.

      We are to have thunderstorms, dangerous wind, hail and possibly tornado’s today. We had heavy rain last night. It was dark and rainy most of last week and sounds like this week is more of the same. Our 80 degree days never happened. It looked like Barbara’s area was getting storms too. Florida is very dry and having fires.

    • adele shanbar
      Participant
      Post count: 5025

      Sue
      I hope you are pk. I did not see your bad weather on the news this am. I have not seen the weather since thns, due to PT, then shower, and dinner. I did a crock pot dinner, because I knew how tired I would be.

      I hope Barbara is ok too.

      We have people on every side of this country to worry about- DD on the West coast, Gail and Colleen in the middle, BArbara down the East coast, and me and you up here. We cover just about every side of the US.

      Hope everyone is safe and sound! We have possible bad weather tonight, but the tornado warning is not up. I hope it stays that way.

      Adele

    • adele shanbar
      Participant
      Post count: 5025

      Hey Gail!
      Sorry you did not get a chance to have time with your friend Nan. Greg is lucky you love to read. I would have been doing my needlepoint all weekend.
      Speaking of that, I need to get back to it, as I have to finish that picture, so I can get it framed. I finished the little one, but have 3 more of them to do, to put 2 on each side of the one in our bedroom. I need to get my butt in needlepoint gear.
      Tillie’s belly is much better. She ate dinner with us today (first one since last Thursday) All of them like d the BBQ pork chops- made with carrots and potato. So, that one is a keeper. I really hate to put the crock pot away for the summer.
      Our dinner was good yesterday. We decided to join them on Friday for their weekly night out at a fish place. That should be fun.
      i also have a Thursday lunch with Nancy, and JJ’s play is on for Sunday. I went form nothing to a lot in just one week. Thank God I do not have to worry about snow.
      Speaking of Nancy, she needs prayers. Her son’s doctor called, saying the lymph node they removed with the surgery had a spot of cancer in it. They are insisting he get the entire thyroid out,(they only took out a piece, at his insistence) and he is flat out refusing to do so. nancy is sick over this. he will not listen to anyone on taking the whole thyroid out.
      I got the notice about Jenny’s birthday, and wished her well. Her pictures are adorable. I was able to click on some of them, as I am still having major issues with Facebook. Still cannot scroll down a lot. I hope she had a good day.
      I would love for Steph to develop a sense of humor about herself. Without it, getting older can be really tough. You have to be able to laugh at yourself, every single day. It keeps you sane.
      I think it is great that Kylie has a full scholarship. I hope she does what Marissa is doing- finish there and get her Associates, and then go on to finish her Bachelor’s. Although Marissa is feeling she has had enough. I am encouraging her to go on, as it is so important. Iknow Colleen will do the same with Kylie.
      that is awful about those trees. Who does that? You would think they would have put out a sign to come get any tree before they killed them. Trees take so long to grow, and the ones that you buy up here that are 6 feet tall, and very pricey. I hope you end up with good neighbors. Who knows, you may even make a new friend!
      how are the renovations coming along? Has everything been delivered? I thought you were waiting for one more thing. How about the floor? I hope you are making the progress you want to make, and getting everything all ready for summer.
      Adele

    • Colleen
      Participant
      Post count: 3077

      Hi Gail,
      Your week-end sounds like ours. It is flooding all over the state and it is going to be a mess. We are supposed to get more storms and heavy rain Wed. and Turs. that will just make things worse. The rivers were supposed to crest this week but they said that they may have to put that off if we get more rain. There are a lot of schools closed around here and they will be closed for three days. It will be interesting if we get that rain they are predicting what will happen with the schools. This always happens around graduation time. Then the kids will get out late.
      I hope that Nan’s surgery goes okay will put her on the prayer list. It is a shame that you two did not get to go out shopping and to lunch. Maybe next time they practice you two will get to spend time together.
      We may be sorry that we planted so early this year. The weather is getting so cool and that is never good for the garden. Ron is going to get more seeds and plant some things in the house again and try planting again later. We will have to see what happens to the things we have planted now. Some years gardens can be a real pain.
      Tell Jenny that I said Happy Birthday! That makes you feel really old when your kids get to that age. My oldest turns 41 this year. It is just so hard to believe. Where did the time go. It seems like it was just yesterday and we watched her graduate from High School.
      That will be nice for Gabby to go to college. Does she have any idea what she wants to do? I hope that she has some idea so she knows what classes to take. It will be so interesting to see what Kylie and Gabby do when they get done with college. See if they do what they wanted to when they started.
      They suggested that we send Melissa to preschool because she was so shy. The other two girls were so much older then she was that she did not know how to interact with kids her age. So it was the best thing we could do for her. She really liked it so that was good. She was the only one that we sent to preschool.
      I agree with everyone else that is terrible that they just cut those trees down and burned them. They could have give people some notice and they could have come and got them. They could have given them to the neighbors. People pay good money for trees.
      Well that is about all from here. Have a good night.
      Colleen

    • adele shanbar
      Participant
      Post count: 5025

      Hey girls!
      Gail- forgot to say I wish Gabby well in college. Did she choose a major, or is she undecided? MArissa is changing her major. She wants to work with special needs children. they have to figure themselves out, and find what they are good at.
      I hope your friend’s surgery goes well today. Prayer s
      It is still raining here, and we had a huge thunderstorm that woke us all up in the early am- these were the storms that were in the midwest. It is too cool here for them to be that bad.
      Hope all is well out there.
      Adele

    • adele shanbar
      Participant
      Post count: 5025

      Hi Colleen
      I hope all continues to be well in your area, and that none of you get flooded. I hope the graduation will not be ruined. they have so many end of year activities for the seniors, and it would be awful for all their fun to be ruined.
      It was nice to have Tillie up here yesterday. I get concerned when she does not feel good, as she is almost 91. When she doe shtta I think….oh, oh- is this it? I bet you do the same thing with your Mom. It stinks.
      Ill wirite mroe later- have a good day!
      Adele

    • Colleen
      Participant
      Post count: 3077

      Hi Adele,
      We are fine where we live but cannot get to Danyielles or my moms. They are shutting down hwy55. That is how we get to Danyielle’s and hwy 47 that is the way we get to my moms. So we will just have to call to check on them. We are supposed to get more rain tomorrow and Wednesday. This is really going to be a mess. There are two towns that are flooded and they cannot do anything about it. I felt so sorry for all the people that were putting up sandbags to try and stop the water from getting inside the stores. We need to pray for all of these poor people. They will be out of business for awhile.
      We are the same with my mom. It is a worry when they get sick like that. I wish that my mom would move in with one of us but she won’t. She wants to be alone and does not want to give up her house. She has really good neighbors though. One neighbor mows her grass and trims her bushes others just stop in to say hi. So we at least feel good about her being there.
      Hope that your storms are not like the ones we had here. Just be safe and do not go anywhere until the storms are over. Hope that they do not last for the same amount of time that they have here.
      Take care my friend.
      Colleen

    • adele shanbar
      Participant
      Post count: 5025

      Good Lord, Colleen!
      We will all be praying for you, and your family and neighbors. This is an awful situation. You have no way to control water. that is why I always say to Gary I would rather live up here, as you can shovel and go aorund snow, not water. A rain storm scares me more than snow. I hope the rain will end, and the sun come out, so the water starts to recede.
      I wonder how Barbara and DD are doing, as we have not heard from them in a bit. I know Sue goes for her surgery next week, either the 8th or the 9th.
      I would feel the same way if Tillie lived alone. It is scary when an elderly person is alone, as how would anyone know if they fell in the house? Does your Mom have one of those alarm necklaces? Maybe she will decide to come live with you, in the near future. That owuld be nice for both of you. Tillie and I chatted when I came home from PT about the old days, and how much fun she had with my Dad’s family. I like to listen to her when she reminisces. I usually learn some new family fact….LOL
      The rain was not too bad up here. We are getting a big rain storm on Friday. Nothing like yours, though. By the time they get here, they lose some of their punch. We are supposed to go out Friday night with our friends, and may not if Gary is in a lot of pain from the rain. We can alwyas go the next week, as they go every Friday night.
      I hope you are ok, and that the rain has stopped. You are all in my prayers.
      Adele

    • Gail Norusis
      Participant
      Post count: 3596

      Hi Sue,
      There are no lumber mills around here. Just farms. Plus these trees were more like the kind that people would buy for landscaping their yards. Funny talking about lumber mills reminded me of the distinctive smell of the paper mills when you used to travel through certain parts of the south. I had forgotten about that.
      I hope that you are all prepared for your surgery now. We will be thinking about you and praying for a speedy recovery.
      Gail

    • Gail Norusis
      Participant
      Post count: 3596

      Hi Adele,
      You have a busy fun week planned.
      I will say some prayers for your friend and her son. Very scary situation.
      Gabby doesn’t graduate until next year. Right now I think she wants to study something to do with agriculture-but we’ll see. these things can change in a moment. Right now she is running for Milk Day Queen. I think she has a really good chance of winning. She is very pretty and pretty well spoken. Also in this town a lot matters about what family you come from and both grandparents were born and raised in Harvard and her grandfather also was the former superintendent at the Dean’s plant in town which of course is associated with the dairy industry. I think Adam’s sister was a former Milk Day Queen-don’t know about his Mom-will have to ask.
      My friend is having her surgery on Friday. It’s on her sinus-hopefully it will help her from getting these constant sinus infections that she has been plagued with.
      Gail

    • Gail Norusis
      Participant
      Post count: 3596

      Hi Colleen,
      What a mess you have going on with all that rain. You are kind of stuck at home.
      Those floods are terrible. Didn’t you having some flooding last year too? It’s a good thing that you live on high ground.
      Gabby is interested in studying something to do with agriculture. But who knows-that may change by the time she actually gets to school. Kids change when they actually get to school and realize all the things that they can study.
      The weather has been so cool here. We are still getting into the 30’s at night so who knows when the garden will get planted. Yesterday we were watching a bunch of dear running around in the back yard. it’s fun to see when they look like they are playing tag with each other. We should start seeing all the turkeys walking around with their babies soon too. it’s funny to see them all walking in a row and there’s usually one that’s straggling behind. lol
      I hope you dry out soon. I saw on the news yesterday morning that we are supposed to get a cooler than normal May. Greg picked me some lilacs and brought them in yesterday. We lost so many of our bushes along the side of the property with the corn field. Good thing this bush was on the other side.
      Gail

    • adele shanbar
      Participant
      Post count: 5025

      Hi Gail!
      It is going to be a rain storm on Friday, so we may not be able to go out to dinner- more because of the pain Gary gets in his feet from the neuropathy from the diabetes when it rains. they go every week, so that is ok, as we can go next week.
      JJ’s play is Sunday, and we are in the middle of the “celebration” discussions. So far, we have settled on Friendly’s take out and eating back here. I wanted to go out to Friendly’s, but, i got nixed. They all say it is too many people, and then it gets nuts at Friendly’s. Plus, Steph wants to include Tillie, and she could never sit in the chairs in Friendly’s.
      I will add a prayer that Gabby gets crowned the Queen of the milk festival. didn’t Piper dress up for that last year? I vaguely remember something about it. I know Piper is too young for it, and wanted to be in the contest- that I remember.
      I bet Gabby will change her mind on a major while in school- most of them do. But, as her family is in that business, she may not.
      Are you having rain too? I hope at teals you are being spared in that mess in the Midwest. Colleen’s family is int he middle of it, and I hope they will all be spared any damage.
      I hope you are having a good day, and that your friend does well Friday.
      I just got a call, saying the kids may stop by here today. I love those calls!
      Adele

    • adele shanbar
      Participant
      Post count: 5025

      Hey girls!
      My lilacs are on their way out too. Mine are all white. I hope to see them by Mothers Day….
      Adele

    • Dianne Danielson
      Participant
      Post count: 1034

      Hi Ladies,
      I’m baaaaaaaaaaaaaaaack!!!! I was incommunicado for awhile. So here we are in a new month already!! Where did April go?? I hope everyone is fine & in no danger from those horrible storms I’m hearing about!!! We’ve been wet, but that’s nothing new! We are however in for a taste of summer today & tomorrow. YEAHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHH!!! We went from the 50s heading for the high 70s, maybe 80s!!! Loooooooooong over due!!!
      Believe me NO ONE is complaining. But then we drop back to the 60s the rest of the week, with showers. Not heavy rain like we had. We’ve set all kinds of records with our rain this year.. we’ve had rain for the over 150 days. Our water year begins on Oct. 1st, ends Sept. of the next yr. We have surpassed all records dating back to the 1880s!!! No more drought out here. And the snow hasn’t even started melting yet.
      My eye is back to normal. I went to my primary doctor & he prescribed a tube of a gel like ointment for ecxema & it worked. It was really bad behind my ears. I;m just glad my eye is better.
      I see you were talking about lumber mills. Oregon was known for our timber industry back in the day. I grew up in a lumber town. The lumber mills employed most of the town. Now they’re long gone, just skeletons of yrs gone by. Just a memory. Even the paper mill that was a big employer is gone.

      Is anybody getting those steak burgers on the Q today? I’m thinking about it. That way I’d have my burgers for the summer. They look soooooooooo good, I wish I could reach thru the TV & grab a couple!!!
      Well, I guess I’ve bored you long enough.
      Stay safe
      dd

    • adele shanbar
      Participant
      Post count: 5025

      Hi DD
      Well, for what it is worth, here is my take on the food I have purchase from the Q. The sides for the holidays were great, and I would order them again in a heartbeat. I got the hot dogs last year, and they were ok. They are supposed to be more meat, and less salt, but, honestly, I thought they were as salty as the supermarket ones. Those I will not purchase again. I have been on a quest for hot dogs that are more beef, and less salt. Seems there is no solution for that. No matter where they come from.
      Everyone raves on the Q about the pot stickers, so I got those. I couldn’t believe how salty they were. Honestly, the frozen dumplings at the supermarket are better, so those will not be re-ordered either. I still have them in my freezer. Even my granddaughter did not like them, and she puts salt on everything. I hate to throw them out, but, they are taking up space in the freezer for nothing. So, given those experiences, I will not order any food except the sides at holiday time. i am not sure if that helped or not. Maybe one of the other girls got the burgers before, and they can weigh in.
      I am so glad you came on, to e tus know how you are. Also glad you are not in any of the floods. I am worried about Colleen and Gail, as it looked real bad on the news tonight.
      I am happy your doctor gave you a cream for your allergic reactions. I swear I own stock in the prescription cortisone creams. Even after I clean my fish, my hands get a couple of itchy spots. I am allergic to a lot fo things, and can only use Dove soap to shower.
      So good to hear from you!!!!
      Have a great time with your good weather, and we all hope it comes to us, in the next few days.
      Adele

    • Barbara Smith
      Participant
      Post count: 418

      Quack Quack or mabey I should say glub, glub from wading through all this water, but oh my goodness I feel for Colleen and her family and all those poor people in the really bad flooding areas. We have been managing the storms and rain for days now, but things run off here so far so we are SO fortunate that way. We have been so busy for weeks now getting Jerrys Moms house all cleaned out and getting ready to sell. This has by far been one of the major undertakings of our lives. We were literally so tired last night that we both went to bed at 7:30 and fell asleep almost instantly. We had to be up at 5 this morning to meet the packers and movers at 7. Jerrys brother from Nashville drove down leaving his home around 4 am and met us at Moms. I have been astounded at how hard it has been to donate her items to charity. The final cost for all of this packing (which is required to donate the items here) and then moving everything has cost almost $1000. We also had to set up a huge dumpster in her front yard for items that were just not salvage items, and that cost 400. Our biggest problem has been in the fact that jerry and I don’t have a way of loading ourselves and going from place to place with donations. Can you imagine looking around your home and knowing that everything down to the paper towels have to go somewhere and then deciding how and what to do with everything? Girls, I think Jerry and I both have pushed ourselves a little too much. He can barely walk some nights and I don’t know what to say about me. Next step, selling the house. Any helpful ideas?
      My really bright moment was skypeing with the baby and Neal. Sarah began her new job on Monday; so she has a month of M-F orientation. Neal is off on Weds. and Thurs> so today was his actual first day of having the baby all by himself. He said he was doing good he thought; but the one thing he couldn’t figure out was how he was going to manage to take his shower and watch the baby at the same time. I told him that when he takes his afternoon nap and leave the bathroom door ajar so he can hear the baby and take a quick shower this first time and he will get more used to how to manage this as time passes. I know Neal misses Sarah so much, and I told him that it will get easier when she has finished her orientation. Poor Neal has missed so much of his time with the baby but I am just so happy they are finally together all of them.
      So hope everyone is doing well. I know it’s almost time for Sue’s surgery. I surely will be glad when it is done and she can begin her rehab.
      Joey and Lisa seem to be getting along well. We eat dinner with them at least once a week, and Joey calls us almost every day. We don’t ask any questions. I really don’t know where the relationship is going but pray it will be good for both of them.
      Hope Tillie is feeling better, seems I saw something on here that she was under the weather. I know you and Colleen both have special Mothers’ Day plans in place for your Moms. Please give them a wish for a wonderful day from me too.
      It’s thundering again, so I better get off of here for now. Miss you all so much and wish I could be on here more with you. Right now we are so running wild, that I am glad to at least have these few minutes. Hugs and best wishes for you all from down South, Barbara

    • Dianne Danielson
      Participant
      Post count: 1034

      Hi Adele,
      Thanks for the feedback on your purchases on the Q. I’ve bought Kansas City Steaks steak burgers in the past & wasn’t impressed. They’d shrink, curl up & were tough. I also got those famous ball park hot dogs from Yankee Stadium yrs ago & they didn’t taste any different than hot dogs I had before. salty too. I;m sorry the pot stickers didn’t work out for you. If I were closer I’d take em off your hands & try em. What flavor did you get, just out of curiosity.
      I got those holiday sides one year & they were good. They had a small ham & 2 sides for one of the holidays, & it was great. The ham was delicious!! Smithfield ham. I haven’t seen them in a while now. I wonder if they stopped dealing with the Q.
      It was a gorgeous day today!! The last time we had more than 2 consecutive days of sunny weather was back in January when we had 5 days, but the temps were in the 20s!! Not exactly swimsuit weather, lol.
      I’m gonna try & send some pics I took of Jewell last week. She curled up on my chest (shelf) & fell asleep. I couldn’t see it till I got the phone out & took some selfies. She’s not the least bit spoiled is she??!!
      I have an appt. tomorrow with my cardiologist. I’ll keep ya posted as to what transpires.
      Take care.
      dd
      PS. I couldn’t find my pics so ill have to try next time. sorry.

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    • Dianne Danielson
      Participant
      Post count: 1034

      here they are.

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    • Colleen
      Participant
      Post count: 3077

      Hi Adele,
      Well it is raining here again and it rained yesterday also. We could not get on the internet until this morning. I just hope that it stops soon or we will not get to go anywhere for Mothers Day. It is flooding where Melissa is also. They are having trouble with the drinking water there also. I am sure that they will figure that out and soon because it is on the Army base.
      My mom has one of those necklaces so if she falls or is having problems she can push that button on it and get help right away. Those are really nice to have. I hope that she will decide to stay with one of us. She could go and stay with one of us for awhile and then go and stay with the other and she would not have to stay at one house all the time. She could pick one house to have as her base and then just go and visit the others. I think that she worries about hurting one of our feelings if she moves in with one of us. We all just want her to be safe.
      That is nice that it loses some of it punch by the time the storms get to you. Wish that it would do that here. It is a mess. They just said that they opened hwy 55 but the water is up right by the road. With all the rain we are getting they will probably have to close it again. That would be scary driving on that hwy with all that water right by the road. If you had a flat or something went wrong with your car you could not pull over to the side of the road. This is just a mess.
      Well that is about all from here. We cannot do much or go anywhere because of all the rain. Have a good day.
      Colleen

    • Colleen
      Participant
      Post count: 3077

      Hi Gail,
      We did have flooding last year but it was by moms house and we could not get there because of it. It did not get as bad as it has this year. We are getting a lot more rain and it is flooding all over the place. I just feel so sorry for those people that live in the areas that are flooding.
      Agriculture would be an interesting thing to study. I wonder if she wants to get into farming like her grandparents. That would be nice we need farmers and by the time she will be farming they will have all new kinds of equipment to use. It will be interesting to see what she ends up doing.
      It is really cool here also. I hope that it warms up soon. It would be nice to see the sun for awhile and not all this rain. Did you get any of the rain in your area? When we watched the weather it looked like it was raining up your way also. I know that this rain has hit some of the towns in Illinois but not sure which ones.
      It is so nice to watch all the animals out playing. They are so pretty. The deer are always so interesting to watch. I love to watch them play and to jump over things they are so graceful. How cute that the turkeys and their babies will be out soon. It will be nice to see them all walking across the yard. That is one of the pluss for living out in the country we get to see all the wild animals.
      How nice that Greg picked you some lilacs. I bet they were so pretty and hope that they smelled really good. Ron got me some roses for our anniversary and they smell really good. We have them on our tv.
      Well that is about all from here. Have a good day and try to stay warm.
      Colleen

    • Colleen
      Participant
      Post count: 3077

      Hi DD,
      I have never bought the hamburgers that they had on yesterday but have bought the ones from Kansas city steaks. Those were terrible. They shrink and they get tough. I do not like them the way they cook them on the q. I do not want any pink in my meat when I eat it. Now the ones that they have on now might be really good and they are by another company.
      I am glad that you are back. Glad that your eye is better and clear. That is miserable when it you get an infection in your eye. Please do keep us informed when you go back to the cardiologist. You are in my prayers.
      We have more rain here then we care for. There is a lot of flooding around and we cannot go everywhere that we want right now. So we are more or less stuck at home. It does not flood where we are but it does all around us. We cannot get to my moms or my oldest daughters right now. I will be glad when the rain stops and the rivers have all crested and we can go and see everyone.
      That is a cute picture of you and Jewel. He looks very comfortable laying on your chest. He looks like he would be a lot of company.He does stick close to you that is for sure.
      My husbands family were loggers. I guess that has all be cut and they do not do it that much anymore. Ron worked in the woods with his dad once and it is hard work. They cut the logs for pallets and things like that there were no paper mills around where they live.
      Well that is all from here. Have a good day.
      Colleen

    • Colleen
      Participant
      Post count: 3077

      Hi Barbara,
      You have been very busy. It is hard to get all that stuff together and get it to where you want it to go. It is nice that they will come and pick it up then you do not have to drive all over the place to deliver it. It will be nice when you get it all done and can put the house up for sale. That will be one less thing for you to worry about. Just be careful and not hurt yourself or Jerry to get hurt.
      That is so nice that you got to see Neal and the baby. I bet he is so cute. Did Colin play hide and seek with you again? They are so cute at his age. It is a lot of fun when they start saying words. Aliza has started to say a few things but she is a little older then Colin. Well at least Neal can ask you questions about how to get things done when he is watching the baby.
      I am glad that you are not having any flooding where you are. That would be a mess with all that you have to do. Does Jerry’s mom know that you are selling her house are did you tell her? She will probably be glad that you are taking care of it for her. You and Jerry have been taking such good care of her and put her in a good place. They really seem to take good care of her.
      Well that is about all from here. Have a good day.
      Colleen

    • adele shanbar
      Participant
      Post count: 5025

      Hey Barbara!
      I am so glad you are done with getting everything out of the house. Step one completed. This must have been so hard on all of you. Too bad the kids did not take any of their grandmother’s belongings, so some of her memories stayed in the family. I am horrified that you had to pay to donate them. Up here, Salvation Army sends a truck, and takes things away. But, they decide if they want it. Tillie’s old couch did not get taken, as they said it was too old, even though there was no sign of wear. We pack up other household things, and clothes, and drop them off there ourselves- minor stuff that is not heavy, but useful to others.
      My only suggestion on the sale is to get all the heavy curtains off the windows, even the sheers, and let the sunlight in. Keep only the valances up. People respond well to light. If the house is painted (inside) in a light color, that helps to. Just remember, that everyone paints over when they buy, as nobody has the same color scheme. Best of luck for a quick sale.
      Tillie is good. I have been noticing that her belly has been getting upset lately. She fees there are a lot of foods she can no longer tolerate- all the good ones, like fruits and veggies. She has been eating a lot of carbs, and she has gained some weight. But, at 91 ( in 4 days) who cares! She can eat what she wants.
      I am worried about Colleen too. I think Gail is out of the mess. I hope.
      We are getting a big rain storm tomorrow. It will probably stop us from going out to eat, as Gary’s feet are very painful when it rains. We are fine with that, as I promised to make popovers tomorrow, should we stay home, and he loves those.
      I am glad Lisa and Joey are doing well, and that they spend some time with you. Maybe this time they will realize how much they love each other, and work harder to make it as a couple.
      I think it is so funny that Neal did not know how to shower with the baby. That is such a Dad thing to do. How sweet that he consulted his most trusted caretaker- YOU!! Thank God for Skype. Your ability to see the baby grow, is so valuable when they ar so far away.
      I hope you and Jerry are feeling better after a good night’s sleep. Take it easy as you do not need any injury. We are too old for all this moving stuff.
      Love you, Missy Barbara!
      Adele

    • adele shanbar
      Participant
      Post count: 5025

      Hi DD!
      So glad you are back on line with us. I love the pics of you and the kitty, even though we cannot see your pretty smile!! Also love the lilacs. They smell so nice. Ours are almost ready to be picked.
      I think it is so hard to buy the food on line, unless you know and have tasted that brand before. You get stuck with eating things you do not like at all. I got the chicken and veggie ones. I was very surprised at the salty taste. I think people add salt when there is nothing else to do, and that is never good.
      The sun is shining up here,but, I had to put the heat back on. I hate to do that at this time of year. We are like you, it gets cold up here. Tomorrow will be gross. They say we are getting up to 2 inches of rain. I hope your weekend weather will be better than ours! It is supposed to be good for Sunday, and that is JJ’s play. He is a mouse in Cinderella. How cute is that….LOL
      Love ya, DD!
      Adele

    • Dianne Danielson
      Participant
      Post count: 1034

      Hi Ladies,
      We had a taste of summer yesterday & today. But the clouds returned, along with thunderstorms. Sudden heat causes that here. I’m in no danger. We don’t have storms like you guys have. I hope those storms stop soon. We’ll have rain tomorrow, & showers off & all over the weekend & next week. We’ll be 30 degrees colder too. Be lucky to get up to the 60s. Oregon weather in the spring. Roller coaster, or weather whip lash.
      I ordered the burgers for the end of June in time for the 4th. that way I can check out the reviews & if they’re not good I can cancel before they ship. They always look so bloody on the TV. I don’t like that at all. The ones they have on display look like a heart attack waiting to happen!!!! All that cheese & bacon. I’m surprised David hasn’t had a heart attack watching him eat all that fat & calories.
      Speaking of heart attack, I went to the cardiologist today & he says I’m gonna live. He doesn’t want to see me till next Nov. unless I have issues before then. I think with the warmer (??) weather coming on & being able to get out more I’ll feel a lot better. Just seeing that strange bright orb in the sky helps.
      Sorry if I gave you guys a start there. You can’t get rid of me, you’re stuck with me.
      WOW!!! I just heard we hit 85 today. I hadn’t heard that earlier.
      Ok, that’s all for tonight.
      Take care. Stay safe!!
      dd

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    • Gail Norusis
      Participant
      Post count: 3596

      Hi DD,
      I’m glad that your heart is good and that your eye is better.
      I read that a lot of people didn’t want the Smithfield hams because they now come from China or something. I read that on the QVC boards.
      Jewel looks very comfy sleeping on your chest. Our little dog Belle used to love sleeping on my pillow right next to my head.
      Our animals are our precious babies.
      Gail

    • Gail Norusis
      Participant
      Post count: 3596

      Hi Colleen,
      I keep seeing pictures of the flooding in Missouri and Arkansas on the news. That is a lot of water!
      I guess maybe they will have to boil their water on the base or drink bottled water if they are having problems.
      I hope the rivers recede soon. I remember several years ago when we were driving down to Kansas City the water came up to the sides of the highway and on the way home the highway was totally closed and we had to take a different way. I think it was I 88 that was closed.
      So you just had an anniversary! How many years and when was it? Congrats! Hope you enjoyed a dinner out.
      Gail

    • Gail Norusis
      Participant
      Post count: 3596

      Hi Barbara,
      Well I’m glad to hear that most of the hard work emptying the house is done. I too am amazed at all the hoops that you have to jump through to donate things. It’s a shame because you know someone somewhere could use many of those things.
      Sometimes it’s hard to donate clothes which are still perfectly good if they are too old. Once again you know someone would be happy to have them just to have clothes on their back.
      I hope that the house will sell easily and quickly and for a good price.
      Yes, Neal just learned a valuable lesson. There will be no long showers when he’s alone with the baby. I can remember taking the baby in the bathroom in their baby chairs and just jumping in and taking like a minute shower just to get freshened. And of course there will be no more naps for the parents-not until they get to be our age. lol
      I hope you and Jerry caught up on some sleep and are feeling better.
      Gail

    • Gail Norusis
      Participant
      Post count: 3596

      Adele,
      Tell JJ to “break a leg” on Sunday. I wish I could see him being a mouse.
      Last year I was telling you guys about the Milk Day Princess contest-where the dresses are made of crepe paper. I even posted some pictures. Piper is the right age for that but there’s no one to make her dress. Her cousin Maya was in it a few years back and also won the Miss McHenry county junior pageant last summer. Maybe next year Jenny could find someone to make a dress for Piper if she is interested.
      Now Greg says the place where they cut down all the trees has a sign saying coming soon Field of Dreams-so we were picturing a baseball field. lol He has been doing research on the internet and thinks it’s a company that grows grass for seed. So that won’t be too bad. There will be grass there now instead of trees.
      Are you getting rain? We are sunny now but expect rain later.
      Gail

    • Gail Norusis
      Participant
      Post count: 3596

      DD,
      I heard on the news that there were tornado warnings in the Pacific northwest.
      Gail

    • adele shanbar
      Participant
      Post count: 5025

      DD
      I hope you and everyone there is ok.
      Adele

    • adele shanbar
      Participant
      Post count: 5025

      Hi DD
      That is a good idea about the bruger. You will have plenty of time to cancel.
      I am glad you did not get any bad storms. It is pouring here, and we are to get from 1 to 3 inches of rain- depending on where you are.
      that is fabulous news about your heart. Not having to return to the doctor until November for a check is great news- prayers answered.
      We cancelled our dinner out tonight, as it is awful out there, and Gary suffers in this kind of weather. We can meet them next week, as they go every Friday.
      i did get out yesterday with my old friends. I was home in time t watch Chronicle- that is one of those news magazine shows. I love that show- it is on every night. They do shows like…things made in Mass., on the back streets of New England, etc. Do you have a show like that out there?
      hope your weather is better than mine.
      Adele

    • adele shanbar
      Participant
      Post count: 5025

      Hi Gail!
      I will tell him. He is very excited. Dress rehearsal is tomorrow. I will take pics, and post some, of course.
      Amanda stopped by, and had a good idea of something to give him after the play. She wants to take him to Barnes and Nobles to get some books he wants. I am goign to piggyback on that idea.
      I hope you can find someone to make a dress for Piper. That has to be a very specialized seamstress to make a gown out of paper.
      We are getting soaked up here- up to 3 inches, they are saying. yuck.
      that is a weird thing to grow. But, I guess they have to get those bales of grass they sell at the nurseries from somewhere. Still too bad they wasted all those beautiful trees.
      Hope your night is good, and that you are not getting soaked.
      Adele

    • Dianne Danielson
      Participant
      Post count: 1034

      Hi girls,
      I’m safe. We had some thunderstorms due to the sudden heat yesterday. The worst we’re in the mts, & Eastern Oregon.
      They moved thru quickly & I didn’t see much lightning. I think the tornado warnings were down by Crater Lake, 300 miles south of here. It’s closer to the Oregon/Ca., border.
      It’s about 30 degrees cooler today. Overcast but nice.
      Just thought I’d let you know I’m ok🙃
      Dd

    • adele shanbar
      Participant
      Post count: 5025

      HiDD!
      I am glad you are ok, and let us know. We always worry about each other, when we hear weather warnings.
      Have a good night…..Blue Bloods tonight!!
      Adele

    • Colleen
      Participant
      Post count: 3077

      Hi Adele,
      I hope that JJ has a great time being a mouse. That will be so cute with all the little kids in the production. Hope that you will get to go and watch him. Have fun with him and all the family tomorrow.
      Hope that none of the storms hit in your area. There are so many storms around or just rain. I am hoping that it goes away soon and we can all enjoy the sunshine. Believe it or not we actually had some sun here today. It was so pretty and cheered everyone up having the sun out. It is supposed to be like this all week-end and next week also. Thank God for that.
      Cannot wait to hear all about JJ and his performance in the play.
      Colleen

    • Colleen
      Participant
      Post count: 3077

      Hi DD,
      I am so glad to hear that you are safe. Tornados scare me. We have been in a couple of them but never did damage to our house or our car. Just pulled up some trees. The one I was in I worked at a hospital and it hit the house across the street from us. That was scary.
      That was really good news that you are going to be okay. It is even better news that he does not want to see you until next Nov. We are glad that you told us about the problem. We are all here for you and will pray for you. We all have our health issues and it is nice to have friends that we can talk to.
      That is a good idea with the burgers. It is nice when you can order them ahead of time and find out what people think of them. Gives you plenty to cancel. I have done that a few times. One thing that I have bought is the light house burbon cakes. They are good but the ones that they send are so small. I would rather have just one big one to have with whoever is here to eat with us.
      Thank you for all the beautiful pictures that you sent. They are so pretty. They always cheer me up.
      Have a good night and stay safe.
      Colleen

    • Colleen
      Participant
      Post count: 3077

      Hi Gail,
      This is a mess all over the state. We have seen a couple of places in Illinois that has flooded also. I think that they are pretty close to the state line. They had one poor woman on the news this morning that her house is between the Mississippi river and the Missouri. She said this is the first time that they have had to worry about both rivers flooding at one time. I hope that they do not get washed out.Now that the sun is shinning the rivers should start to go down and every thing will start to dry out.
      I talked to Melissa the other day and she said that they had the water going again. She did not say if they could drink it or not though.They can take showers and flush the toilet now though. That must have been a mess. She said that they had friends that lived in another town that they could go to take showers if it lasted very long. Guess they had to fix it quickly with all the people on the base and the school.
      That is scary to try and go home and the roads are closed. At least you had a route that you could take to get home. Glad that you got home without any problems. When is Brent coming home? He should be coming pretty soon won’t he. I forget dates a lot sorry.
      Our anniversary was May 2nd and we have been married 47 years. Just three more til our 50th. How much longer do you have to go? We did not go out to eat we were both feeling bad so we just stayed home. Will go somewhere this week-end. I think that the weather was just a little depressing.
      Well that is about all from here. Have a good week-end.
      Colleen

    • Barbara Smith
      Participant
      Post count: 418

      I think it is so cute that JJ is going to be a little mouse in the play. I know you all are so excited to watch him. Is he nervous at all? Most little ones just go on out there like it is nothing. Some of course are a little shy. But I bet he will do so well. Enjoy! So happy you got a great report from the doctor DD. I know you were so relieved. We celebrate all things here and especially good news from the medical part of things. Isn’t Monday surgery day for you, Sue? Prayers are coming your way. I know in my heart that you are going to be taken really good care of and I am proud that you are doing this to help yourself get better. Please keep us posted as soon as you can.
      So 47 years for you and Ron now, Colleen. Isn’t it just amazing how quickly the years seem to have flown? I don’t blame you for rescheduling your night out until the weather got better. My heart has just broken for all these people who have lost so much with all these storms. This has been such a strange year from coast to coast. We had such high winds after even all the winds during the storms and rain. It turned clearer but the winds just kept blowing and blowing. And then it turned so cold here. We actually had to put the heat back on.
      Yes, it was so sad to be clearing out Maw Maw’s home, but I think the good Lord actually intervened one day. A lady came up to the house from around the corner, and asked if she could possibly have some of anything that we were about to donate; because her daughters home had just burned to the ground, and they have absolutely nothing. We began to let her have so many things, and she wwias just crying and thanking us. She asked if she could try to get her husbands friend to bring his truck for the washer and dryer, and we said of course; so she took that too. I really think that helped Jerry and his brother so much to know that they were helping someone who needed help so badly. Our sons did keep quite a bit, Gail. We had already made many trips over and taken many momentos and personal things that would only mean something to our family. Maw Maw was aware that we were doing all the cleaning out of her home, Colleen. She was sad; but she said we had no choice and she trusted us to do what was right. She is happy in her home now, and the staff is so good to her. This whole process has been so hard on us. The sadness that hangs over us about all of this is like a dark cloud. But I know there is nothing else we could do.
      Take care, everyone, and enjoy your weekend. Gail, that was a great idea to put the baby in his stroller while Neal showers. He could just sit there and watch Neal and they could play peep eye. Hugs to all my great buddies! Barbara

    • Anonymous
      Inactive
      Post count: 643

      Since there seems to be some confusion about my date of surgery it is Wednesday May 10th. I will let you know how it went when I can.

      I hope all of our weather gets better soon. Monday we had a storm and I lost power, then when it came back the TV did not. Finally we got TV back and it was all tornado warnings so I did not get to watch DWTS. It seems 2 small tornados touched down in the county where I am going for surgery. Minimal damage to trees. Today was yucky It was raining and windy and cold. I went to get things at the grocery store that I still needed. I have enough food now for a long time. But it was miserable to load in the car & bring in the house. The next few mornings they say we may have frost. Maybe one of these days the sun and spring will show up. I heard on the news today that there was some flooding. It can’t get me on the hill.

    • Colleen
      Participant
      Post count: 3077

      Hi Barbara,
      How nice that you were able to help this woman out with all the things that was in the house. They will be so happy not to have to buy all those things. That was so nice of you and Jerry to let them have all that they wanted. What a blessing that was and now you do not have to worry about what you will do with all these things. The Lord sent them right when you needed them.
      That is a help that she gave you her blessing to sell the house and get rid of her things. It would have been hard to do if she still lived there. She knows that you and Jerry and his brother are doing these things to help her. How nice that she is happy where she lives. You really did find a nice place. They are not as easy to find as people think that they are. You should not let it bother you. You are doing the only thing that you can do. You are making her feel relieved that she does not have to worry about all those things. No one will be breaking into her house or taking things out. It is hard though but it had to be done.
      How long have you and Jerry been married. It is probably longer then Ron and I. It will not be by much. We all seem to be around the same age. We got married as soon as Ron got out of the service. I was 19. So we did not wait long.
      Hope that the strong winds do not do any damage. The wind can be bad news also.
      Well that is about all from here . Have a good night.
      Colleen

    • Colleen
      Participant
      Post count: 3077

      Hi Sue,
      I hope that the tornadoes have left your area. Please be safe and find a safe place to go if it is coming your way. We are finally having some sunshine around here. It is starting to warm up which is really kind of nice.
      We will be praying for you on the day of your surgery. Things will be fine and you will feel so much better with the new knee.
      Colleen

    • adele shanbar
      Participant
      Post count: 5025

      Hi Colleen
      The sun is finally shining up here too. We will be leaving for the play shortly. I am so excited for him. I love to see kids do the things they enjoy, and this is the first one for JJ. He was not really into basketball and soccer, even though he said he liked it- not his favorite, because he is so much smaller than everyone else. I hope this will be a good day for him.

      Adele

      PS…I hope to have a pic up either tonight or tomorrow, after I come home from PT. They are all coming here after, so I am not sure i will get back on here.

    • adele shanbar
      Participant
      Post count: 5025

      Hey Sue
      A quick prayer and wish for the best of luck tomorrow. A soon as you are bale, please let us know how it went. We are all plugging for you!! You go, girl! Quack on!!
      Hey- the Geek Squad helped me with Facebook, and they gave me a way to get in so I can now read things on there-yahoo!

      Barbara
      what a wonderful story about your Maw Maw’s things. I bet she felt good that her belongings were helping a family in their darkest hour. What a gift you all gave to that family. Your prayers were answered, as her lovely things have a good home, and will be appreciated.
      Thank you for the good wishes for JJ. He seems to be fine, and I find that pretty amusing!

      Colleen
      you have been married a lifetime. God bless you both!!

      Love,
      Adele

    • Gail Norusis
      Participant
      Post count: 3596

      Hi Everyone,
      Hope everyone had a good weekend.
      Adele, I’ll bet the play was so much fun. Good idea to piggyback on the Barnes and Noble trip for JJ. Another idea is a video game that they want-I know Lachlan likes stuff like that.
      You are right-those bags of grass seed have to come from somewhere. I guess that I never really thought much about where that stuff came from before.
      Gabby and Enya both went to prom last Friday night. Gabby went with her date (boyfriend) – Enya is a sophomore so technically she can’t go but she has a girlfriend who is a junior who just broke up with her boyfriend and she still wanted to go so she asked Enya to go with her instead. They looked so beautiful in their dresses. Piper was very disappointed when she went with Jenny to take pictures. She saw those wrist corsages on the girls and so wanted one for herself. I wish I had done what Enya’s friend did back when I was in high school. My boyfriend and I had broken up but we kept our prom date-we went from being the junior prom king and queen the previous year to having a miserable time senior year. How I wish we could have gone in groups like they do now back then. But things were different and you either had a date or stayed home. What a shame.
      Colleen, Brent is supposed to come in 2 and1/2 weeks but now he may have to change because of a possible promotion at work so right now I’m not sure if he will come or not. I’m waiting to hear back from him.
      You are married a little longer than us. We will celebrate 44 years on June 23rd. Also I was a bit older than you when I got married-I was 24-practically an old maid back then. lol
      Tomorrow is Greg’s birthday. We don’t really have any plans as tomorrow is golf league.
      Barbara, it has been so cold here that we still have the heat on-it still gets into the 30’s at night. Greg hasn’t planted yet but he left some of the plants outside his little greenhouse box the other night and they all died from the cold.
      How wonderful that you were able to give some of your MIL’s things to the woman who just lost her house in a fire. Sometimes God just puts us where we need to be.
      Sue, we will be thinking of you on Wednesday.
      Gail

    • adele shanbar
      Participant
      Post count: 5025

      Hi Sue
      OMG- we all thought it was today. Still, prayers and wishes will be all for you on Wednesday.
      It is very chilly up here too. Glad you got all your food shopping done before Wednesday.

      I have attached a couple fo pics from Cinderella. Hope you get a kick out of them!
      Adele

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    • adele shanbar
      Participant
      Post count: 5025

      Hey Sue!
      I forgot to say….thank God the tornado’s stayed far away from you. those are the scariest warnings. I get completely freaked out by them.
      Adele

    • adele shanbar
      Participant
      Post count: 5025

      Hi Gail!
      The play was a lot of fun to watch. I was also thrilled that it was at the Senior Center, and was real easy for me to get into. I know that sounds selfish…LOL
      Happy Birthday to Greg!! Today is Tillie’s 91st birthday. How funny they share the same day.
      I get a break from any cooking, because Bobby wants to get something special tonight for his grandmother’s birthday- fine with me!
      I think it is great when the kids do Prom their way. Amanda went with 2 friends, one boy and one girl, as a group. The kids of today are comfortable doing things the way they want, and that is fabulous.
      The sun is shining up here, but, it is too chilly to open any window. It will be raining on and off all week….again.
      Adele

    • Dianne Danielson
      Participant
      Post count: 1034

      Hi Ladies,
      I think I told you I was having problems with the computer awhile back. Turns out it was the modem. I called Comcast last week when it kept coming up I wasn’t connected to the internet. They tried fixing it over the phone, to not avail. They sent out a guy Sat. morning with a new one. It’s supposed to be more powerful than the old one. So I shouldn’t have anymore trouble. (knock on wood).
      We had a gorgeous weekend & it continues thru Thurs. At least we’re drying out for a change. I’ve been getting out as much as I can!!!

      Are you entering the contest QF is putting on? I got an email today & for the heck of it I entered it. For $1000 why not??!
      I couldn’t win if I was the only one to enter!! So I’m not holding my breath.
      Sue, I pray your surgery goes well, as well as your therapy.

      Colleen, belated congrats on your anniversary!!! I pray you are drying out now. I hope you’re all safe from all the flooding & tornadoes.
      Not much going on so I’ll close for now.
      Stay safe everyone!!
      dd

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    • Colleen
      Participant
      Post count: 3077

      Hi Gail,
      How nice that both girls went to prom. I bet they looked so pretty in their dresses. Are they back to wearing the fancy dresses to prom or they just plain ones? When my girls went prom they wore the simple dresses and black was a popular color. I could never figure out why young girls wanted to wear black.
      That would be so nice if Brent got the promotion and then sad because he will not be able to come home. Their jobs are more important now. They have to do well and be able to support themselves. Will be saying a prayer that he gets it but is still gets to come home. I am sure that Jenny would like to see him also.
      Tell Greg Happy Birthday? Are you doing anything special for him? Maybe you can do something on Wednesday or over the week-end. It doesn’t matter when you celebrate it. It seems like the older we get the less important it is to celebrate on the day of our birthday. 24 was not that old to get married. At least you finished college before you married. That is the best way to do that.
      It was cold here for a long time today it got warm and we had to turn the air on. This weather is crazy. We were supposed to have rain for the rest of the week but they changed it and now it is just supposed to rain on Thursday. I hope that they are right. We sure do not need any more rain right now. Have you been getting a lot of rain?
      Sorry to hear that all of your plants died. That is so aggravating when you do all that work planting them to get them growing before you plant them in the garden. We had to get more tomato plants and are going to have to replant the zucchini and cucumbers also. Ours is because of all the rain.
      Well that is about all from here. Have a good night.
      Colleen

    • Colleen
      Participant
      Post count: 3077

      Hi Adele,
      What cute pictures of the play. The kids look so serious. I bet that it was so cute and they all had fun doing it. That was nice that they had it at the senior center. I bet that it made it nice for a lot of the grandparents to get to go and watch it. That was a really good idea. JJ made a good looking mouse. Hope that you all had fun afterward celebrating.
      Tell Tillie that I said Happy Birthday! What did Bobby fix for dinner or buy? I am really being nosy now. Sounds like you have a nice evening planned for her. She will really enjoy herself. Are all the family coming over to celebrate? Have a good time.
      The sun is shinning here also. IT was warm enough today that we had to turn the air on. We never know from one day to the next what the weather will be like. At least they changed the weather forecast and we will not be getting all that rain that they predicted. Thank God for that.
      Well that is about all from here. Have a good night.
      Colleen

    • Colleen
      Participant
      Post count: 3077

      Hi DD,
      Glad that they got your computer fixed and the one you have now will be faster. You will probably be able to do a lot more on it. I am thinking that I need to go to a computer class and learn how to do things on here.
      I did enter but do not know if it went thru or not. It only types have of the letters and that is it. So it may not be going thru. Oh well I never win either so it does not matter. I am like you if I was the only one that entered I would not win.
      We are drying out now. We are able to get down hwy 55 and to my moms house so things are looking up. This was a bad flood this time around not that any flood is a good flood. I am not sure if Valley Park is ok now have not heard. I think that they got hit the hardest. They always have though. Every time we get a lot of rain they have a flood there. They really need to do something about that. They have to close down two hwys when they flood.
      Thank you for sending the beautiful pictures. They are so pretty and the ocean looks so peaceful. My oldest sister love light houses. I will have to show that picture to her.
      Well that is about all from here. Have a good night.
      Colleen
      p.s. Thanks for the congrats on my anniversary.

    • Gail Norusis
      Participant
      Post count: 3596

      Hi DD,
      I’m glad you got your computer fixed and hope it works better than ever now.
      The pictures of the ocean are lovely. That reminds me that I haven’t been to the ocean for many years now. I used to love walking the beach when I used to visit my Mom in Florida. The only beaches I see now are at lakes. Some day I would like to get somewhere where they have that blue blue water that you see in photos.
      Gail

    • Gail Norusis
      Participant
      Post count: 3596

      Hi Adele,
      I so loved seeing the pictures of the kids participating in the play. Kudos also to the teachers who helped put it on.
      I hope doing something like this will create an enthusiasm for live theater in some of these kids that will last throughout their lives. I know it started for me when I was about in 5th grade and my Mom took me to see South Pacific. That started my love for musical theater. I have a huge collection of musical scores CD’s and know some pretty obscure musicals. Love seeing the Tony awards and the Thanksgiving Day parade where they have people from current musicals performing.
      Tillie’s birthday is the day before Greg’s-his is today. So what did Bobby choose to serve for the celebration? Greg and your Mom are both Tauruses. I know that Greg can be stubborn like a bull sometimes. lol
      Gail

    • Gail Norusis
      Participant
      Post count: 3596

      Hi Colleen,
      The girls wear pretty fancy dresses now. Actually when Jenny and Brent were in school they wore them too. I had to laugh when you said that about the black dresses. My mother was always so insistent about young girls not wearing black that I swear I was 40 before I even ventured to wear something black. It always is interesting to me how something like that can make such an impression on a kid. As mothers we have to be careful what we say and do as sometimes it makes quite an impression. Piper was impressed when she saw another Mom dressed for work in a nice dress and high heels-she really liked that and asked Jenny why she never dressed like that. lol
      I hope Brent gets the promotion too as it would be good for him. if he has to push his trip back a bit that’s okay or we could always go out there again also.
      We are not doing anything special for Greg’s birthday.
      We have had quite a bit of rain here too-and cold weather. We didn’t lose all the plants fortunately-just some of them. Greg decided to grow potatoes this year. We grew them years ago. But he has them in this upright thing planted in hay. he gets all these ideas from things he reads on the internet and wants to try them out all the time. We also have the cucumbers growing on these shelving unit things. When you drive by our house it looks like some weird spaceship has landed in our garden. lol Life is never boring around here with my hubby and his brain storms. lol
      Gail

    • Gail Norusis
      Participant
      Post count: 3596

      DD, I entered the contest too. I am like Collen and when I type in my info only half the letters appear. What’s up with that?

    • adele shanbar
      Participant
      Post count: 5025

      HiDD!
      i entered the contest too.
      I am glad you got a new modem, you will see it makes a huge difference.
      Also very happy you escaped any water damage.
      Hope you are having a good day- did you see DWTS last night?
      Adele

    • adele shanbar
      Participant
      Post count: 5025

      Hi Colleen
      Bobby went to our favorite fish place, and Tillie got the fried haddock, I got the broiled haddock. The rest of the crew was not here, as we are doing the official birthday and Mother’s Day on Sunday. I am making her favorite cake- strawberry shortcake with the whipped cream frosting. I put the berries on top too, dipped in the glaze to keep them shiny, and nice.
      I am glad you are having a much warmer day, as your weather gets here, sooner or later….LOL
      You are so right. JJ always has his serious face on. He looked a little nervous in the very beginning, but, then he warmed right up into his role. I di enjoy it. It was an extra special bonus to have it in a place that was so easy to get into, and sit in. I loved that!
      It is on and off gloomy here again today. No rain yet, so that is good.
      Hope you have something nice on tap for Sunday.
      Adele

    • adele shanbar
      Participant
      Post count: 5025

      Hi Gail
      Oh yes, Tillie is a Taurus, through and through. So is Bobby. It gets interesting aorund here….LOL
      I saw on facebook today was Greg’s birthday. When I had to call the Geek Squad last week, they set up a different way to get on the internet for Facebook only, so for now, I can actually see things. I hope it lasts.
      So, what did Greg want for his birthday? Are you going out to one of your favorite places?
      I hope JJ begins a lot for the arts as well. Going to the theatre is such a nice thing. Back in the day, when I was still in Boston, I went to the theatre once a month. Some were performances that were not well known, and I still enjoyed all of them. I even saw the famous performance by Elizabeth Taylor and her old boyfriend….cannot remember his name, or the name of the play….LOL. Boston is the perfect place for the arts, and I used to love it. I wish I had the stamina to stand in line again, as I would love to see more shows. The crowd going in, and coming out, would never work for me anymore.
      Heather and I went to the ballet a lot too, one season, with a friend who had season tickets. Heather took ballet from the time she was 6 all through high school. I used to love the recitals. The whole spring season was taken up with rehearsals, and the recital. One year the girls were so rambunctious, they ripped their very delicate costumes, before they went on. The dance company we were with acted very professional, and all children were back stage, until the finale. It lent itself to a lot of amusement, and safety pins. You hoped your child was in the first act, so they were out by the second act, and in the audience. Good time, good times. Lots of good memories to, and you made some good friends with the other mothers.
      Bobby went to our favorite fish place for dinner last night. We are doing the official celebration on Sunday- with her favorite cake, of course…see post to Colleen.
      Hope Greg is having a great day!!
      Adele

    • adele shanbar
      Participant
      Post count: 5025

      hello……. what did I miss about Brent and a promotion??

      Love the story about Piper wanting to know why her mom doesn’t wear heels every day….LOL I swear, she is a budding designer.

      DD- forgot to say I love the pics, and always do enjoy them.

      Tomorrow is Sue’s surgery. I hope she feels good enough to post at least by Thursday. Prayers going to her for tomorrow. I think I told her they put your leg in this contraption that continually moves the knee up and down( a tiny bit) , and has an ice machine thing wrapped around it for swelling, so it will not get stiff.

      Adele

    • Anonymous
      Inactive
      Post count: 643

      My surgery is 5:15AM tomorrow. Talk about early. I told her I may as well not go to bed at all tonight. With the prep work I need to do after showering and then be in at my brothers no later that 4AM. Yikes. You probably won’t hear from me until I am home. Thank you all for the prayers.

    • adele shanbar
      Participant
      Post count: 5025

      Hi Sue!
      That is a good time, as it sounds like you are first. Th early bird catches the worm, as they say.
      We will all be thinking about you tomorrow,and saying a parer. By the time I get up, you will be in either recovery, or your room. I think it is a 2 hour surgery. Then, at least an hour in recovery, or if you are quick to wake up, a little longer.
      They did a nerve block before the surgery on me, to lessen the discomfort after. I wonder if they will do the same on you. I watched them do it, as I am nosy.
      You go girl- you are joining the Bionic Quackers!!
      We love you Sue. Bets of luck!!!! Blessings and prayers sent your way!
      Love,
      Adele

    • Gail Norusis
      Participant
      Post count: 3596

      Sue,Holey Moley! That’s early! You’ll have to have surgery just to get some sleep. You will be fine and fit as a fiddle in no time. Sending healing wishes across the miles to you in Penn.
      Gail

    • Gail Norusis
      Participant
      Post count: 3596

      Hi Adele,
      I will be over Sunday for Tillie’s cake. I love anything strawberry! However, I don’t like strawberry rhubarb pie-I always say why do they ruin a good strawberry pie by adding rhubarb to it. Now my brother loves rhubarb so it’s all a matter of taste.
      Jenny is a Taurus also just like her Dad.
      I didn’t really get Greg anything for his birthday-he will just get whatever he wants for himself. We’ll probably go out for dinner with Tim and Nan on Saturday night. Not sure where we’ll go yet.
      We used to go into to Chicago for musicals but we haven’t been for a long time. Now we try to see things more locally. The talent isn’t as good but the hassle is so much less. Especially because we can can get closer in the smaller venues. So there’s a trade off. There is nothing like a live performance though.
      Heather took ballet for a long time. How are her feet now after all those years in toe shoes? Jenny took contemporary and jazz for a few years and then she was a cheerleader all through high school so she quit the dance. it’s always good to have had the experience though-no matter if it’s even for a short time. I took ballet but in retrospect I should have taken tap-it would have been more my style.
      You were very lucky to see Elizabeth Taylor and I guess you mean Richard Burton? That would be quite an experience. I still think she was one of the most lovely women around.
      Well Brent is getting a promotion at work but that means he had to cancel his trip out here for his training. That’s okay. If he can’t make it out here maybe we will go out there again or maybe he will be able to come out later in the summer. We’ll see what happens. It’s almost better if he comes later in the summer-with as cool as the weather has been if he wants to use the boat to go tubing or something the lakes would still be freezing at the end of May. They will be warmer later in the summer. He said they had a tornado warning yesterday which is really unusual for his neck of the woods.
      Don’t know what we will do on Sunday. Maybe go to brunch again.
      Gail

    • adele shanbar
      Participant
      Post count: 5025

      Hey Gail!
      Yes, it was Richard Burton. Try to google the play they were in, back in the 80’s, I think. You are better are getting the names than I am. It was something to see. Could have been the late 70’s too.
      We have a theater group in the North Shore that is grate- the theater is actually round, so you sit all aorund the performance. We used to take the whole family to A Christmas Carole up there, but they saw it so many times, we stopped. I just saw they are doing Beauty and the Beast, and asked Steph is she wanted to go with Jhonny for ehr birthday. I thought it would be a nice date night.
      Heather’s feet are good, as they did not do as much on point as with the ballet slippers- no idea why not. She never did cheer leading, but all the grands did.
      Congrats to Brent for the promotion. I hope he will make it up to see you later in the summer, as you would enjoy him being around the house for a while.
      I hope Sue is done, and good. If she posts anything on facebook, I will let everyone know.
      Hope your day is good!!
      Adele

    • Colleen
      Participant
      Post count: 3077

      Hi Gail,
      That is funny that Piper wants to see her mom wear dresses and heels to work. Kids get some funny ideas sometimes. When she gets older she will figure out why her mom does not wear heels and a dress for work. It is nice to be comfortable at work. She really picks up on everything. She is a really smart kid.
      Ron planted potatoes in hay hills one year. It worked out pretty good. The only problem that we had was the gophers and the rabbits. They found them and they ate more then their share. We will have to plant enough for the animals and for us. We might get some that way. We never have trouble with the animals eating the asparagus. I wonder what it is that keeps them from eating it.
      That is great that Brent got his promotion. It is a shame that he will not get to come home to visit but his job is more important right now. You must be really proud of him for getting the promotion. He has not worked there that long has he? It seems like his life is really coming together now.
      The place where you go for brunch sounds so nice. Sounds like you will have a great day on mothers day. We are going to Melissa’s for the day do not know if the other two are coming but that is how it is this year. I wish that they would go there and spend the day with together but it is their choice. It seems like since Danyielle has been with this new guy she is changing. It is really sad that she is acting like this.
      None of my girls went to dance class. Danyielle went to gymnastic for awhile but then she quit. She was in the chorus in school. Melissa was in band and she was a cheerleader. Mandy never did anything like that. She just never did anything. She could never find anything that was interesting to her. that was a shame.
      Well that is about all from here. Have a good night.
      Colleen

    • Colleen
      Participant
      Post count: 3077

      Hi Adele,
      I will be over with Gail for the cake.lol It does sound really good. Anything with strawberries is good. I really like this time of the year when we have all the fresh berries.
      We are going to Melissa’s for mothers day. Your day sounds really nice. That was a good dinner that Bobby brought home for Tillie. He seems to be very thoughtful. It is a shame that a girl cannot see that in him and sweep him off his feet. Unless he does not want to be swept.
      It is supposed to rain here again. It is a mess. They said that this time it will not be as bad as last time. I really hope so some of the people just moved into their homes again or cleaning them up from the last rain. It is really sad. I feel so bad for them.
      Read Gails post for what my girls did in school. We had no dancers in our family.
      It would be fun to go see Beauty and the Beast at the theater. It would be fun to see it on stage instead of the cartoon. We have never seen it on stage. We missed it when it came to the Fox. Danyielle and I usually go there together to watch plays.
      Not a whole lot going on here. I hope that Sue is doing better and not in a whole lot of pain. That is the hard part after they first do the surgery. She will do fine though she is a strong minded person.
      Well that is about all from here. Have a great night.
      Colleen

    • Gail Norusis
      Participant
      Post count: 3596

      Hi Adele,
      I wonder if the play was Who’s Afraid of Virginia Woolf? I know they were famous for making the movie and perhaps they did the play too. You were extremely lucky to see them in that.
      That would be nice if Steph and Jhonny got to have a date night for dinner and a play. Is she a May baby and a Taurus too?
      Gail

    • Gail Norusis
      Participant
      Post count: 3596

      Hi Colleen,
      You are right. None of the animals want to eat the asparagus. We are pretty lucky and most of the animals don’t bother the garden. Years ago we used to grow corn and sometimes the raccoons would get in there and open up the ears and eat some. We used to run the dogs up and down the rows of the corn and after that the raccoons pretty much left it alone.
      Maybe Danielle now has to do stuff with her boyfriend’s side of the family since they have Aliza and everyone probably wants to see her. And then it makes it harder if his parents are divorced-as then there are three families to see instead of two. It can get complicated. What’s Aliza’s fathers name again-is it Kevin? or is that someone else? It’s hard to keep everyone straight. I know Melissa’s husband is Stephen-I have that one down pat-after seven years. lol
      Brent said he has to go to Kansas City for some training for the new job. There is a chance that he will be there at the same time as we are. That would be nice-we could at least meet for dinner at night then.
      It looks like the future forecast shows that we are finally getting some nicer weather. Hooray!
      Gail

    • adele shanbar
      Participant
      Post count: 5025

      Hi GAil
      No, I did google it myself too. It was “Private Lives”. I am quite proud of myself for finding it….LOL
      Stehp is a July baby.
      Adele

    • adele shanbar
      Participant
      Post count: 5025

      Hi Colleen
      i also hope we hear from Sue soon, so we know how she is doing. She did say she may not come on until she is home.
      Your girls did gymnastics, which is a big part of cheerleading now. Cheerleading has become very competitive. I bet you enjoyed going to the recitals for chorus, cheerleading, and gymnastics. It is nice when they are involved in something.
      I would love for all of you to come here for cake!
      So, we are getting a Noreaster for Sunday- 1 to 3 inches of rain. Thank God we didn’t decide on a BBQ.
      I am going out in a minute for lunch with my buddies. Yahoo!
      Adele

    • Colleen
      Participant
      Post count: 3077

      Hi Gail,
      We use to see deer jumping the fence to get to our vegetables. Ron finally quit planting in that garden and just plants in the back. The dogs are in the back more then they go in the front so they scare the deer away. We still get some other animals that will get in the garden especially rabbits. They are the worse.
      Yes Kevin is the guy with Danyielle. She does this every time she is with a new guy. We do not know why but she does. It is like she can only handle one family at a time. So it must be hard for her with the divorce.
      That will be fun if you get to see Brent while you are in Kansas city. It is nice that he will be doing some of his training there. It will be nice just to see him and see how he is doing. It is funny that they always send people to a different state for their training.
      Well better go we are getting storms here today and I am trying to get done on here before the storm starts up again. Have a good night.
      Colleen

    • Colleen
      Participant
      Post count: 3077

      Hi Adele,
      It was fun going to see the girls doing all the different activities. It was interesting to go watch the band when they performed. Melissa played the clarinet and she always was sitting. The kids who played the trumpet or the trombone had to stand up. Never did figure that one out.
      It is raining here tonight. We just keep getting more and more rain. Hope that it stops by tomorrow have a few things that I need to pick up. Do not like going running around in the rain.
      Hope that you had fun with your friends today. That is fun to go out for lunch. Guess we should do that more often with friends to just to get away.
      Well that is about all from here have a great night.
      Colleen

    • adele shanbar
      Participant
      Post count: 5025

      Hi Colleen!
      We did have a lot of laughs yesterday. Everyone needs that. I brought a dinner home for Tillie, and she was thrilled with that. So, it was good, all the way aorund. Of course, THE HUSBAND, said he didn’t want me to bring anything home for him. He ate cereal….LOL I just laughed at him, as their macaroni dishes are fabulous, and way better than cereal.
      So, I have asked for the 24.00 donuts on Mothers Day weekend. LOL LOL Let’s see if I get any.
      What are you all doing Sunday? Have you decided yet? We will be having a Nor’easter, with 1 to 3 inches of rain. Gross.
      I am going to clean the strawberries, and dip them for tillie’s cake, which I will make tomorrow.
      It is raining here today too. It makes you feel so achy.
      I think we may hear from Sue by tomorrow, as she should be sent home Saturday. I think I remember being in the hospital for 3 days.
      Hope you are having better weather than we are!!!
      Adele

    • Anonymous
      Inactive
      Post count: 643

      Hi Everyone, I just got home a while ago. I will keep this short and tell you more when I feel a little better. I am having quite a bit of pain and am so sleepy I cannot keep my eyes open. They say I am doing well. Will post more another time. Sue

    • Barbara Smith
      Participant
      Post count: 418

      Sue, so glad you are home safe and sound. You will probably find that you become tired very easily; but don’t be discouraged; that always happens when someone has had surgery. I think it is our bodies way of saying to us, “okay, I am in charge now, and I will not let you overwork yourself, and will make you rest so we can recover slowly but the right way”. So many people push themself to want to be better sooner than our body is ready; so I know that PT will really help you along those lines. Just cuddle with your Cuddles, and take naps and rest in between your work outs. Okay; enough nurse bossy advice ha ha.
      I was on here the other day; and wrote such a long note to you girls, and of course; right at the end; POOF away it goes to where ever it hides my and your notes and I couldn’t find it to for anything. I was so frustrated. That is great about Brents promotion. I am so happy he is doing better now; after all that he has gone through in his young life. Glad he has a new “friend” to share things with too. Hope you and Greg can meet up with him in Kansas City. It would make you all feel better just to be able to see him even if for a short visit. I know all of you are so proud of your children with all the special accomplishments each has made. Isn’t it just facinating how each chooses such a different direction in their life? I love to watch young people grow up and move on to adulthood. One of Joey’s dearest friends who he started kindergarten with remains his close friend, and he is now a Sheriff. It is funny how I guess it was worrying our neighbors seeing him stop by to eat lunch with us in his squad car; so one finally asked us one day if everything is ok? We said it was fine; just a dear friend of Joeys eating lunch with him since they work different shifts.
      Would you believe we have not ever been to a play? There is no such thing around here. We have a really old theatre downtown that used to have plays and occasionally still does; but Jerry would not ever be able to sit in one of the seats. I have always wanted to go to NY just to see a Broadway show. But Jerry has no interest. We definitely have meat and potatoes men around our house, and they all love things like IMAX or museums. And they love watching someone make molasses the old fashioned way with a mule grinding the sugar cane, or a bucket maker with the wood, or a knife forgerer. But since our oldest son has been all over the world; he has experienced a lot more of the arts, and he loves it. Jerry sings loud in church; so I guess he loves music LOL I dont think Greg has any competiton though. ha ha
      We have been very busy with Maw Maw and her house. There have been quite a few nights we have been so exhausted that one night Jerry said he was too tired to eat anything, and I insisted he eat at least a sandwich I made him; and took it to him and he literally fell asleep while chewing on his sandwich sitting in his chair. I woke him up gently; because I was afraid he would choke, and helped him get to bed after I got him to drink a good bit of water, and he was asleep I think before his head even touched his pillow. He has really worked so hard. I know there is no way his Mom will ever know what all he has been through; but he has really given her a great Mothers Day gift of his love and devotion to her.
      Speaking of Mothers Day; this was supposed to be Joeys weekend off; but he took a ladys shift on Sat night and tonight. She had been hit really hard by a patient, and she is quite a bit older so he took her place. He is so kind hearted; sometimes to a fault. I asked all of the boys not to worry about getting anything for me; since both Neal and Joey are working. But I have a feeling something is on the way. Poor baby Colin has been so sick. He ran a fever for 5 days; up to 103 at times. Sarah took him to the doctor on day 2; and was told he had a “virus” and just to “let this run it’s course” and he was so sick; Jerry and I were beside ourselves with worry. Thank God his fever finally broke day before yesterday. Sarah stayed home from work one day and then Neal was off the next two days with him. Neal called us and we gave him all the advice we could and it just broke our hearts to see the baby looking so sick. He gave him tepid water baths and kept wiping his little head with a cool cloth. He skyped us yesterday and the baby was smiling and playing with his little toys in Neals lap. We are so relieved. I sent Sarah and my other DIL some of those chocolate covered strawberries for Mothers Day. Also for Lisa; for her puppy babies. Take care everyone. Will write more soon. Need to check on Jerry. Hugs and Happy Mothers Day to All my wonderful friends and their two and 4 legged babies! Barbara

    • adele shanbar
      Participant
      Post count: 5025

      Sue
      So glad you are home, and all went well.
      Drink a lot more water, as the anesthesia remains in your body for a long time. Also, if you take the pain meds like they tell you to, they will knock you on your butt. Add some heavy duty aspirin product, like Alleve, and maybe you can scale back on the pain meds, and be more awake.
      Also, just the task of getting into your house, and settled in, is very exhausting, and makes you very sore. It will pass in a few days. Sleeping is the worst- you may be more comfy in your recliner for a couple of days. The rain coming will make you sore too.
      We are plugging for you!
      Hugs and prayers!
      Adele

    • adele shanbar
      Participant
      Post count: 5025

      Barbara
      I am going to tell you a story, so you can see where this goes. Our Amanda was always getting sick, w We swore she caught every virus that came through Mass. Took her to the doctors- virus they said. She would not complain, and always said “I’m fine”, with her little voice.
      By the time she was 5, one simmer she was spiking a fever every night- 103 and up. Urine was taken, but no culture. Virus they said again. At one point, the nurse in the practice asked Heather if she knew how to read a thermometer, as they were not believing she had a fever every night.
      More tests. Now they freaked, called Heather and said to get her to the hospital as they feared she had leukemia, her white cells were so high. Off to hospital # 1. No leukemia….virus. She was still sick,and we then took her to North Shore Children’s- they could not fin out what was wrong. her pediatrician took more tests, and Amanda was having trouble walking.
      Heather called me crying, as the fever was back, and I said we are going to Boston now- Children’s Hospital. Long story short, she had kidney reflux, all her tiny life. This is what the ER doctor told me, and I have never forgotten this….” We clean up all the pediatrician’s mistakes. If a child has a fever, and no other symptoms of a cold, or diarrhea, it is NOT A VIRUS, something is wrong.” I have repeated that to so many foster mothers, and young mothers, you have no idea.
      Amanda had surgery, and when she peed after, she told me that it no longer hurt when she did potty. Hurting when she peed, was her normal, and she had no idea it was not supposed to hurt. She has one kidney that is 100% and one that functions at only 40%- from the damage of all the UTI/ kidney infections over the years. She had the top kidney surgeon in Boston, and he was even on the Today show, and other news pieces. He was unbelievable with Amanda, and tough on Heather he scared her, and even once made her cry. He also scared all the nurses. But, this man was so gentle with these small people it was amusing to watch. Amanda loved him.
      That is my story, for what it is worth. Please have them watch that baby, and tell them our story. Give them the courage to always question the doctor’s opinion. Tell them I said to do it, not you.
      Sorry for the long rant, but, every time I hear a child has a virus, I get a little freaky.
      Hope you have a good Mothers Day!!
      Adele

    • Colleen
      Participant
      Post count: 3077

      Hi Adele,
      Laughter is the best medicine. We all need a day out like that. It would be fun if we could all meet at the qvc when they are having a live Quacker show. We could really have a great time together. Just think of all the fun we could have going thru their store there. It would be a lot of fun. We could see Patrick and Angel and that would be fun to meet them.
      That was nice that you brought a dinner home for Tillie. Gary just missed out on a good meal. What kind of cereal does he eat? I bet that it is some type of sweet cereal. I do not know why I think that but he just makes me think of someone that would eat the sweet kind.lo
      I bet that you will get your $24.00 donuts for Mothers day. One of your kids will get them for you. You have good kids. We are going to my youngest daughters house for mothers day. They are going to bbq. I kind of wanted to go out to eat but that is not going to happen.She really wanted to cook a meal for us so that is what we will do. Do not want to make her feel bad.
      Sue is home already. I thought that they may keep her a little longer since she does not have anyone at home to help her. It is a shame that she does not have someone that can come in and just make sure that she has something to eat of can get cleaned up.
      Your strawberry cake sounds so good. Hope that your Mothers day is a lot of fun and Tillies birthday also.
      Colleen

    • Colleen
      Participant
      Post count: 3077

      Hi Sue,
      I am glad that you are at home and on the mend. I hope that the pain goes away soon. Do not stop taking the pain medicine too soon. Wait until you are sure that you do not need it.
      Take care of yourself
      Colleen

    • Gail Norusis
      Participant
      Post count: 3596

      Hi Sue,
      Glad you are home. It is nice to get back our own homes again. My Mom always used to say that a hospital is never a place to get any rest with someone coming in to poke and prod you every few minutes. Sorry,Barbara, lol-my Mom said it not me. I am with Barbara on this-do your PT but also let your body rest and recuperate. You will be kicking up your heels again before you know it.
      Stay safe and strong.
      Gail

    • Anonymous
      Inactive
      Post count: 643

      You are so right I couldn’t get any sleep in the hospital. As soon as I would fall asleep they would wake me for something. I told them I know they are doing their job. But I did sleep better home in my own bed last night. They gave me potassium in my IV then my levels were to high so they had to give me medicine to lower that. Now I have to do a follow with my doctor on Wed. It is hard to get around at the moment. I just want to heal up and be better.I pushed myself to hard yesterday. I had therapy and then came home and now I have pain and if I rest to long I get stiff. The lady was here to do the paperwork for my therapy to start next week. So I ask if it would be a set back to lay down when I had pain as it is not so bad laying down. She said that is ok just not lay to long or you get stiff. I just feel like I get tired over the smallest thing. But they told me I had major surgery & it would take a while.
      They had me up walking to the restroom a few hours after surgery so I was glad for that & later on went for a walk out to the nurses station. The next day I walked 2 laps around the circle. and did my exercises. It went well then but now it does not seem so good. The doctor seemed to think I was doing well. He said it was bone on bone in there and a lot of scar tissue. so I hope I am on my way to healing. I just feel like such a failure. I guess it takes everyone time and I just do not have a lot of patience.

    • adele shanbar
      Participant
      Post count: 5025

      Hi Colleen
      Well, you will not believe this. Gary sprung for the 24.00 donuts this morning, as he knew you would never even get in the door tomorrow. Price of the donuts today…..27.00. LOL LOL Every time we go, they are higher. Unbelieveable.
      I am glad you are going to your daughter’s tomorrow. That will be fun, not to have to cook.
      I am finally done with the cake. I am attaching pics of the strawberries, and cake all done- one is in the fridge….LOL I have to do the strawberries the day before, so they can set up right, and drian off any excess, and still I get some excess on the top of the cake.
      Everyone is looking forward to the Chinese food tomorrow. ut, we are having a big storm, tonight, into tomorrow. Getting from 1 to 3 inches of rain.
      It is good to laugh. It is also good for your heart. A day without laughter, is a boring day.
      We would have a ball at the show together. I bet we would be booted out, for the noise we create….LOL
      Have a great day tomorrow.
      I am so glad Sue posted, so we know how she is.
      Adele

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    • adele shanbar
      Participant
      Post count: 5025

      Sue, Sue, Sue!!
      It takes a good 6 weeks, just to be able to go out of the house safely. You are not a failure. You did push a little too hard yesterday, and if you are getting the rain we are getting, that will make you feel very sore, as this is quite new trauma to your body.
      You are right, that you get more sore from being stiff. Did they send you home with the machine that moves your knee? I had it for 2 weeks in the house, and had to be in it, 4 or 6 hours a day. If they did not try this- every time you go to the bathroom, do 2 laps around your house. That should move your knee enough not to stiffen up too much. Your PT person will suggest things to do. They are great.
      Does the nurse come daily, or 3 times a week?
      I forgot this- have you thought of getting the Meals on Wheels for the next 2 weeks, to help with cooking? They are good for everyone, as you pay on how much income you receive. Just an idea, to make life easier for you.
      I hope you are feeling better. Every day, you will feel a tiny bot better than the day before.
      Hope you have a good night tonight.
      Adele

    • Colleen
      Participant
      Post count: 3077

      Hi Adele,
      The cake looks so good. I love all the strawberries on the top. Is that a regular cake with whipped topping on top? That would be something that I could make and it could be turned into a diabetic friendly recipe.
      Oh my gosh that is a lot of money for donuts. Is that for a dozen of more then that? I am glad that Gary got them for you. Sometimes it is just good to get something special. They must be pretty good.
      The Chinese sounds really good. We are having ribs and pulled pork tomorrow. She has some other people coming over tomorrow also. We were kind of disappointed we wanted to spend time with them alone. We will not know anyone that is there. That is what is making it bad. Ron is thinking of not going. It will be a dinner for them and their friends.
      That would be funny. Can we get to loud in a crowd of quackers? Seem to me like that would never happen. lol We could show them all how to have a good time.
      I am glad that Sue is okay. She will do fine.
      Well that is about all from here. Have a good night.
      Colleen

    • Colleen
      Participant
      Post count: 3077

      Hi Barbara,
      Ron has never been to a play except the ones that the girls are in. He does not like musicals and he will not sit thru any other type of play either. If my oldest daughter did not get tickets to go to the Fox I would never get to go. We do go to the college to watch some of the plays also. They have some really good ones there. The kids work so hard to make them look professional.
      That is funny that neighbors thought there was something wrong at your house because of the police car being there. I guess that would make people worry that there might be something wrong. It was nice that Joey and his friend still could get together.
      Sounds like you and Jerry have been really busy getting the house ready to sell. Do you have much more to do before you put it on the market? That will be nice when you get it sold and you do not have to worry about it anymore. Just do not hurt yourselves trying to do too much at once.
      That was so nice of Joey to take the place of the woman. I hope that she is okay. That must have really hurt to have a patient hit you that hard. Does he work in a nursing home? You do not know what some of the patients will do if they get confused. You have to be careful sometimes.
      I am so glad that Colin is better. My grandson had a virus like that when they came at spring break. It was the same for him. The fever finally broke and he was fine after that. That would make you feel so much better seeing Colin happy and playing with all his toys. It is so nice that you can skype them ans see the baby.
      Well that is all from here. Have a good night.
      Colleen

    • Colleen
      Participant
      Post count: 3077

      Hi Sue,
      It sounds like you are doing pretty good. It does take awhile to get over major surgery like that. Just do not get into a big hurry. Let your body heal and just listen to the therapist. You will do fine.
      Colleen-

    • Colleen
      Participant
      Post count: 3077

      Hi Gail, Adele, Barbara, DD, Sue,
      I hope that all of you have a very Happy Mothers day. Whether it be fur babies or kids enjoy your day.
      Happy Mothers Day
      Colleen

    • Dianne Danielson
      Participant
      Post count: 1034

      Hi Ladies,
      HAPPY MOTHERS DAY!!! I hope ya have a wonderful day with all your families. I’ll write more later.
      dd & Jewell

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    • Gail Norusis
      Participant
      Post count: 3596

      Happy Mother’s Day to all mothers-whether you have human babies or fur babies or whether you have been a substitute mother to a friend or a good auntie-we all have someone who has relied on us through thick and thin. Have a beautiful day.
      Gail

    • Gail Norusis
      Participant
      Post count: 3596

      Sue,
      Please do not be discouraged. You are less than a week post op. Just follow instructions and do your PT and rest when you need to. Your body needs to adjust and heal. Also at our ages we do not bounce back quite as readily as we did when we were younger. You are doing wonderful and each day will be a little bit better than the one before. Baby steps. You have done great thus far and you have a good attitude so you will continue to do so. We are all behind you rooting you on.
      Gail

    • adele shanbar
      Participant
      Post count: 5025

      Hi Colleen
      I hope you had a good day, even though you will e sharing it with a lot of friends of your daughter’s. Of course Ron is disappointed, as Mother’s Day is a special day for you both.
      The frosting on the cake is whip cream, with cream cheeses in it too- the cream cheese stabilizes it, or the frosting would fall off the cake. Everybody loved the cake.
      We did not have any Chinese today. The restaurant was so busy, they had the phone off the hook. Everyone was disappointed. So we ended up with our favorite take out, where I get the broiled haddock. That was still good, bit you know how it is when you were waiting all week for the Chinese….LOL
      I am glad Sue is ok, and home too. I bet she is thrilled the worst is now behind her.
      Adele

    • adele shanbar
      Participant
      Post count: 5025

      Hello all my Quacker Mothers, of humans, and their beloved pets!

      Happy Mother’s Day to all of you! We are all mothers, who care deeply for all who are in out care.

      God bless all of us!

      Adele

    • adele shanbar
      Participant
      Post count: 5025

      Hi DD!

      Happy Kitty Mother’s Day to you!

      Adele

    • Colleen
      Participant
      Post count: 3077

      Hi Adele,
      Sounds like you had a good day. That was disappointing that you did not get the Chinese but nice that you got the fish that you like. I am going to have to try and make that cake that you made for Tillie. That looked so good. We ended up staying home I am sick and did not feel like making that long drive. So will see them at another time. It was disappointing since she will be leaving soon and did not want to miss seeing her.
      Ron did buy me dinner though and it was good. I could not eat it all so will have more for lunch tomorrow. This has not happened in a long time. I have not been feeling that bad. Oh well if your sick your sick and do not want to give it to the kids.
      Well that is about all from here have a good night.
      Colleen

    • Gail Norusis
      Participant
      Post count: 3596

      Hi Everyone,
      Colleen, I hope that you are feeling better. I’m sorry you missed going to see Melissa. I was thinking maybe they invited those other couples because they had no family around for Mother’s Day and they wanted to share there parents with them too.
      Adele, I am glad that you got those donuts. Jenny didn’t make me my chocolate covered strawberries this year so I guess I will have to get my own or make my own. That was scary about Amanda. Probably 99% of the time the high fever is a virus-but what the ER doc said made sense-if there are no other symptoms it’s time to look for another cause. And for her it seemed normal to hurt when peeing because she never remembered anything different. Too bad she never said anything about that-what a brave little girl she was. So what does Gary eat when everyone is eating Chinese as with all the veggies mixed in that doesn’t seem like something that he would like.
      Barbara, I hope Jerry got some rest this past weekend so he’s not falling asleep over his dinner anymore. I hope that the house will be sold soon so that will be taken care of for him and his Mom. Glad Colin is feeling it’s so hard when the little ones are sick and can’t say what is the matter with them. It’s hard to believe that there is nowhere in Memphis that offers any type of live theater. I thought every big city had something. It would be nice to see something on Broadway. When i was in theater club in high school we got to go see Little Me in Chicago and it had the original Broadway cast with Sid Caesar. It’s so unusual for a Broadway cast to leave New York to tour. We have friends who live in New York and they actually frequently go to the Kennedy Center to see things.
      Ticket prices are so high now for shows-even in Chicago.
      Sue and DD i hope that you had a good weekend. Sue I hope you are feeling a little better every day.
      We went to brunch yesterday and then went to Jenny’s for hot dogs and hamburgers last night. The place where the brunch is gives all the Moms a gerbera daisy.
      Saturday Tim and Nan came over and Nan and I went out to lunch and shopping while the guys rehearsed. Saturday night we went out to dinner at a new place that opened in our area. Tim and Nan knew the chef and the owner from ONP so we wanted to try out the place. It was very good-Adele, they must be Italian as they actually referred to the sauce as gravy. So it was a nice day except for one thing. My friend Nan found out that she has polyps in her stomach that if left alone would turn into cancer. They are not like the ones in a person’s colon which can be removed. In this case they will have to remove all or part of her stomach. Needless to say they are very upset but this will be life saving surgery so it needs to be done. They are seeing the surgeon today so we will know more tonight. So ladies I need to ask you for lots and lots of prayers for a successful surgery and a good recuperation for Nan. I told her I would be praying for her and I know a group of ladies (you guys) who are very successful at praying for intentions so I would ask for their prayers too. So I will thank you in advance for your prayers. Nan is just such a good person-you all would like her.
      Oh, I forgot. Gabby was running for Milk Day queen. The pageant was Saturday night and she got 1st runner up! So that was pretty exciting-there were 15 girls trying out this year so there were quite a few.
      Gail

    • Anonymous
      Inactive
      Post count: 643

      I saw the photos Jenny posted of Gabby. She is very pretty.

      I will pray for Nan. When I think of people with more serious issues I think I should not fuss about my knee. It is just hard for me to do things or walk any where right now. It hurts and I get so tired. I did wash my hair this morning. I could get in the shower but do not trust stepping in over the tub yet. They called from therapy and they are not coming until tomorrow. Wed I need to go to doctor and am not looking forward to that as it is a long walk when you have trouble walking. I will be worn out.

      Do any of you know when I will be able to walk without pain?

      They said we have had rain everyday this month except 3 days. The sun is out today but very windy. I put a pair of shorts on here inside because I thought therapy was coming and it feels chilly when I am not moving around. It takes such an effort to do anything I work up a sweat then. Well must go get something for lunch. Don’t feel like eating but must eat anyway. Now I could eat a piece of the cake Adele made for Tillie.

    • adele shanbar
      Participant
      Post count: 5025

      Hi Colleen!
      I hope you are feeling better today. That is awful that you felt bad on Mother’s Day.
      When is your daughter leaving? I forgot when you said she was going. Ihoep you will be able to spend some time with them, before they go. We will all be praying for them. Please tell them we appreciate all they do in service of this country.
      I have PT later today.
      I have been having a problem with my left ankle. It has been collapsing, when I walk- does it a few times a day. That scares me, as what if it happens outside, and I have no place to hold onto, accept my cane on one side? I was lucky and got an appointment Friday,a s they had a cancellation. I am a little disgusted with this, as it is yet another joint that has a problem. Oh well. It is what it is.
      Hope you are feeling better, and your day is sunny.
      Adele

    • adele shanbar
      Participant
      Post count: 5025

      Hi Gail!
      Congrats on Abby getting First Runner up- that is fabulous!
      Sounds like you hit on a good Italian restaurant, because they call it gravy. that gives yo a clue they are genuine Italians….LOL
      Amanda was a brave little muffin. She is also smaller than she should be, because of the kidney damage. She would have been at least 2 inches taller than she is.
      That was a nice place for brunch. Around here this past weekend, you could not get into any restaurant, as the weather was so bad, and everyone’s BBQ’s got cancelled. We are out of the drought, for sure.
      That is so upsetting about your friend Nan. I have never heard of that before. I would say she is lucky they found it, so she will still have some of her stomach, and not get cancer. Still, that is awful, as I bet she will have problems eating for a while, after the surgery. We will add a prayer for her.
      I hope you are good today, and your weather is good. It is still gloomy here- read my post to Colleen for more joint issues. This aging is disappointing some days.
      Adele

    • adele shanbar
      Participant
      Post count: 5025

      Hi Sue
      I am sorry you are not feeling better. But, it has only been 5 days. If the knee gets stiff, it will hurt more. Did they send that machine home with you that moves the knee for you? If they did not, ask your PT person what you can do to prevent it from getting stiff. Until she gets there, maybe walk aorund the house a little more. Just the motion of walking will prevent some stiffness.
      Have you thought of calling your doctor to complain that PT has not been out yet? I think it is awful they have not been there the day after you got home. Has home health aid been a put? They can help you with a shower.
      I know washing your hair made you feel better. That is one thing that always does. A shower makes you feel good too, even though it hurts while you do it. I can tell you I took a nap after every shower.
      One more thing. If you feel the pain is not getting a little better every day, you need to call your doctor. You should see some improvement, even if it is only tiny. By Wednesday, you should notice you feel better than you did after surgery, as that is a whole week. It really takes 2 weeks to see any noticeable difference in the pain level. But, that is with the PT person coming 2 to 3 times a week, and with that machine they had me use every day to keep the joint from getting stiff.
      God, I wish I were closer, so I could come and sit with you, eat with you, and help you . when you are all by yourself, pain gets overwhelming. You arein my prayers. Hugs and prayers sent your way!
      Adele

    • Dianne Danielson
      Participant
      Post count: 1034

      Hi Ladies,
      I’m way behind so forgive me if I leave something out. Sorry to hear some of you weren’t feeling good on Sunday. That’s always a bummer!

      Sue, didn’t the hospital have a social worker talk with you about having help come out to help you out while you’re recovering from your surgery? I’m surprised they didn’t set you up with someone to help you out. When I had my elbow operated on they talked to me about having someone help me out. But she only lasted a few days, as I’m so independent, I did it myself. Your body has gone thru a traumatic (!!) change & you will tire easily for awhile. you have to have patience, dear. As someone who has had open heart surgery, many yrs ago now, it took me quite awhile even back when I was a lot younger!! Nowadays, when I do laundry, or run errands, it takes me a day or 2 to recover from it. Just go with it, & get lots of rest. Of course do the exercises as directed so you don’t stiffen up. that only makes it worse. The meds will knock you out at first. They’ll wean you off of them eventually, as the knee heals. But it does take time. It won’t happen overnight. Patience, patience.

      Did any of you watch the QF TSV Friday? I broke down & got the multicolored butterfly shirt in hot pink. I saw all those gorgeous colors of butterflies & I couldn’t resist!! I wanted one of each color of shirt, but the budget wouldn’t let me. Sigh.

      Adele, what on earth could be in those doughnuts that would cost $27!!!! Are they frosted in gold or something?? LOL I’m sorry I missed out on your strawberry shortcake!! Where I grew up in a small town south of Portland, they had a strawberry fair the first week of June every yr. They had the largest strawberry shortcake in the state at that time. I don’t think they have it anymore. It used to kick off the summer season of the local berries. They are the BEST berries!! They are the sweetest berries. Not these green things they sell in the stores from Ca. If I can find a local road side fruit stand I try to get a bunch of them. That helps out the local farmers as well.
      Do you have sciatica? Every so often my left leg feels like it’s gonna go out from under me. It feels like it isn’t there, even walking to the kitchen or around the house.. when I go out to the store, I always have my “granny cart” with me as a walker.

      Congrats to all of you who have grands celebrating accomplishments, what ever they may be. I can’t keep everyone straight so I’ll congratulate all at one time.
      I’m concerned about Colin. He’s still a baby right? A fever that high for a small baby should be a concern of a Dr., I would think. Especially if it went on for days. Yrs ago when a Dr would say ” a virus” to me I figured he didn’t know what else to call it. I thought if a baby had a fever over 100 there was something really wrong. This from someone who’s never had children. I’m just going on what my friends have told me about their kids. I hope he’s better now & giving his mom & dad a run for their money, LOL.

      We had a doozy of a thunder storm Sat. afternoon. I saw a huge bolt of lightning & crack of thunder & it poured hail the size of peas. It came down in buckets for quite awhile. I haven’t seen it come down like that in a loooooooooong time!!! Right now it’s cloudy, but the rain returns later today into tomorrow. We have to get thru Wed, before it clears up & they’re saying we’ll warm up to almost the 80s by the weekend!!
      Yesssssssssssssssss!!!!!! May’s been the driest month so far this yr!!

      Well, I guess that’s all I have for now.
      If I left anyone out, I apologize. Take all.
      dd

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    • Barbara Smith
      Participant
      Post count: 418

      Hi Ladies! Sorry you and DD are not feeling too well, Colleen. Hope today is a better day. Your kitty looks perfectly contented DD. Mine is giving me his little “pitiful” meow right now; since I walked out of the kitchen and he had seen me with a new bag of his kitty treats and didn’t open them; so now I am going through the guilty phase. I literally have to try to take them out of the grocery bag when he is not looking or he acts like he is just starving LOL
      Yes, I am beyond words happy that Colin is better. He crawled for the first time on Mothers Day! Neal sent us a video. It was so cute. Thank you so much for letting me know about what happened to your daughter Adele with her little kidney as a child. I know after over 35 years of some form of nursing that is is simply not right for anyone to run a fever like that for days, and you all are smart and know this too, but it is so hard when you are saying just the opposite of what a doctor is telling someone, and how to convince them that the doctor is just plain wrong! But before I let something like that keep going on I would fly out there myself and make an enemy for life if I had to in order to get that baby some help. I really thank all of you for the good advice. We help each other, don’t we? And speaking of that I will have to put back on that nurses uniform and friend hat Sue, and ask you to please try as hard as you can to not get discouraged. It is just so hard for us strong take care of things, women, to have to really slow down and let our bodies heal and be patient waiting for that healing to happen. I know you are in pain, and one little piece of advice on that is that pain medicine is really designed to keep a steady level of it in your bloodstream 24 hours a day and if we wait too long in between taking it, then it really does take longer for the medicine to take effect and to ease our pain. Now keep in mind that this advice is coming from someone who DETESTS taking medicine, and went years without taking hardly any pain medicine because I thought it would make it take longer for me to heal. So now; I have learned, that every 6 hours, to take my medicine even if I am not hurting too badly at the time, and it keeps me from really hurting badly when another few hours have passed. I am certainly not an advocate of just swallowing pain pills but if you are hurting, and I know you have been after the surgery you have gone through and also, take your pain medicine about 30 minutes BEFORE you have to do your PT or make that trip to the doctors office, to help keep you from hurting so badly. Also, one last thing, call the doctors office when you first get in your car to leave, and ask them to have a wheelchair to meet you when you call them back as you get there, so you can ride in that inside the office and back out to your car. They should gladly make that available for you.
      Well, I have preached for so long, I have to check on my pie, but I will try to write more a little later. Bye for now, Barbara (I will gladly include your friend Nan in my prayers, Gail)

    • adele shanbar
      Participant
      Post count: 5025

      Hi DD!
      I was told the ankle could be connected to my back. I do not know whihc is worst, having an issue with an ankle, or having it be another issue with the back.
      I totally agree. the strawberries you get now are not sweet at all. Even with them being soaked int he glaze for over a day, they were not as sweet as in years past.
      This weather is crazy. It is cool here, and on and off clouds all day, and then it is supposed to be near 90 on Thursday.
      I went to pT, and they did the eval on me today. It showed seem improvements, the biggest one was in being able to reach behind my back. Not terrific, or what everyone else can do, but it is a start, and i am grateful for that.
      I did not see a lot of Tv on Friday. I was especially disappointed that Blue Bloods was not on.
      Thank you for the well wishes for Mother’s DAy- back at ya, for being the best Kitty Mummy!!
      Adele
      DWTS tonight…..I have to go clean my Mr. Fishie before I can get into the recliner to watch it……

    • adele shanbar
      Participant
      Post count: 5025

      Hey Barbara!
      I have the visual of you on that plane right now…… You are so right, it is very difficult when the doctor you trust is not listening, or doesn’t believe you. Poor Heather was devastated through the entire ordeal (the last month), and her self esteem was in the toilet. She cried so hard when they were doing an uncomfortable test on Amanda, that I had to ask her to leave the room, and I would handle it, as Amanda was getting anxious from her Mom’s reaction. Heather went into the bathroom, called Tillie, and bawled her eyes out. I wish you were the nurse at the pediatrician’s office, as all that would not have happened.
      I am thrilled little Colin is better. I was so worried he was running into an incompetent pediatrician, like Heather did, as they are in a new area, and do not know all the actors out there. I was almost forgetting what you did for years in your own career!
      Thank God we have you, especially for Sue. I am very worried about her, because I was thinking how much help I have here….get me a glass of water, breakfast, something to wrap myself in because I am cold, etc. Sue has nobody there. her choice is to be thirsty, or somehow get herself to the sink for a glass of water when she hurts so much. I am also horrified it is taking so long for PT to get to her. They kept cautioning me to keep moving, or the joint will stiffen up and that would mean a lot more pain and difficulty getting the knee to work. Plus, I had my little exercises to do on the days they were not there. Sue has nothing right now, and that is not right. I wish one of us could get to her, and none of us can. It is so hard to try to give advice, when you are so far away, when you really wish you could stop by to help. We are very lucky to have you on here, to give the nursing perspective, with the caring, and concern you showed all your patients over the years. Thank you for your kind words, and being our friend. All of your words, to all of us. You are one of the kindest nurses I have ever met……maybe that is some of your Southern charm coming through…..LOL
      It is so wonderful for you to see little Colin crawl. The technology is wonderful, when his cuteness is so far away. I bet the tow of you were laughing and crying at the same time. Were you able to save the video he sent, so you could enjoy it every day?

      DD:
      I forgot to say, there is nothing that spectacular about the donuts that they should cost that much. I do have to say they are very good, they are a little bit bigger than Dunkin Donuts, and definitely more tasty. I also have to say, they are getting smaller, as they get more expensive. We think their expansion is the problem- they ow have 3 stores, one of which is in Boston. They are competing with the Boston designer donuts, as I call them. The ones that have the funky things in them….bacon, all kinds of weird toppings, etc. Bobby said there are a couple of donut places that charge 3.00 for some of the fancy/weirdo donuts. I like just the plain, old, honey dip donut.

      Have a good day everyone….I am a little tired, as the PT form yesterday stirred up some pain, and it was a tough night sleeping. Still, not any way as bad as what our Sue is going through. I hope she had a restful night.
      Adele

    • Anonymous
      Inactive
      Post count: 643

      Adele you do not need to worry about me as I am getting what I need it just takes me a while. Only one thing I had trouble with was filling the ice cube trays. I was going to wait & have my neighbor do it but I got it done myself. Then my neighbor scolded me and said she would be mad if I did not ask her to help. I am just used to doing for myself. I am worried that PT has not shown up yet. I am afraid of losing ground. I try to walk a lot and do the exercises from the hospital but get tired & need to rest.

    • adele shanbar
      Participant
      Post count: 5025

      Hi Sue
      I am so glad you have a neighbor who stops by to help. That is fabulous.
      Of course you are used to doing for yourself. the hardest part of this dam aging process, is that we have times when we cannot do everything. In a week, you will see how much better you are doing, as the first 2 weeks are the most difficult.
      I am glad they gave you some exercises from the hospital. You can always do them in stages, and not all at once, depending on how you feel for the day. Barbara and Gail’s advice on listening to your body is key.
      I would also be getting a little concerned as to why they have not been by. Sometimes people make mistakes, and I hope they have you on the schedule.
      The sun is shining up here- I hope it is shining down there too, as you always feel better when it isn’t raining.
      Have a good day, and I Hope OT comes out .
      Adele

    • Gail Norusis
      Participant
      Post count: 3596

      Hi Sue,
      Glad to hear from you. I hope you hear from PT soon. I know we are all used to doing for ourselves and like being able to do so. However, I have learned as I have aged to accept help when it is offered and it makes things easier on myself.
      I have e-mailed James about all the crazy postings that have been getting on here recently so hopefully someone will be coming on soon to clean the place up again. It’s best to get these things nipped in the bud.
      Be well friend.
      Gail

    • Gail Norusis
      Participant
      Post count: 3596

      By the way Sue, you are not whining. You just had some very serious surgery and of course you will hurt while you heal. Even though it’s not life threatening it is happening to you and that makes it important. What happens in each of our lives is important-some things are more serious than others but they are all important.
      I hope your sun is shining and if it’s hot your friend already put in your AC.
      Gail

    • Gail Norusis
      Participant
      Post count: 3596

      Barbara,
      I’ll bet little Colin was very pleased with himself that he was crawling. As you well know once they are on the move there really is no resting anymore. I’m glad they got it on video. That’s one thing about the kids today is they document everything. How old is Colin now? I’ve lost track.
      You are right. We are pretty good at helping each other and giving advice. Between all of us someone seems to have some experience with whatever question comes up.
      That was good advice for Sue about keeping ahead of the pain. I was thinking about that but didn’t know how to express it nearly as well as you did.
      I hope Colleen is feeling okay. She said she was unwell the other day.
      Gail

    • Gail Norusis
      Participant
      Post count: 3596

      Hi Adele,
      It’s funny how the ankle could be connected to the back now. However, I guess it does make sense. Just be careful when you are out and about. I guess maybe just walk slowly and carefully.
      I’m glad the PT is helping with the arm and shoulder mobility-that’s a good thing.
      My friend Nan saw the surgeon yesterday. Her surgery is scheduled for June 9th. So we won’t be going up North in June. All The Choirboys were going to be there so they could do rehearsals for that whole week. She still wants them to come to Chicago and do that but that was scheduled for the third week in June and I don’t know if she will feel up to having all those people in her house even at that point. We’ll see what happens.
      She and her husband and their friend, Barb are going up north tomorrow to plant their flowers and such so I am babysitting Barb’s dog while they are there.
      I’m waiting for the air conditioner guy again. it’s in the upper 80’s and we have two AC units one for the main floor and one for the second floor. I swear-that second floor unit has never been right and they put a new one in a few years back and it still isn’t right. Two years ago they added freon and that made it good for the last two years but now it is just blowing air again. I don’t think they can keep adding the freon so who knows what will happen next.
      Gail

    • adele shanbar
      Participant
      Post count: 5025

      Hey Sue and Gail
      I am so out of the loop on postings. What crazy postings? I have not seen any on here.

      Adele

    • adele shanbar
      Participant
      Post count: 5025

      Well said, Gailster!

      It is getting hot here, and I cannot believe it.

      Adele

    • adele shanbar
      Participant
      Post count: 5025

      Hey Gail!
      I feel so bad for your friend, Nan. I hope the surgery is successful, and she doesn’t have to go through a lot of chemo/radiation too. i imagine she will have a difficult time eating for a while. Having a stomach issue is never easy.
      I would say you ar right, as they changed the air conditioner regs a few years back- just when we put in the central air.
      do the Choirboys have a full schedule for the summer? I bet they do a lot of outside concerts this time of year. those are always so nice in summer.
      Our air is not on yet. I think it will have to go on tomorrow, as it will be in the high 80’s.
      I find I am walking strange. I have noticed that, especially when the ankle hurts. I have been trying to be conscious of my gait. i do not want to do more damage. I am so lucky they had an opening for Friday.
      I hope your air is back on, and making you comfy!!
      Adele

    • Colleen
      Participant
      Post count: 3077

      Hi Ladies,
      It has been crazy around here and it is only Tuesday. Had to babysit for Aliza today and she is so cute. She is a little chatter box. She is going to be a lot like her mom. She loves to run and play outside. She is a mess.
      Barbara that is so cool that you got to see Colin crawling. That is such a big deal in their little lives. Neal and Sarah will have to watch out now he will be getting into everything. It won’t be long and they will show you pictures of him walking. That is just so nice that they take the videos so you can see him as he learns all these new things in his young life.
      Hi DD, I watched the quacker show on Friday. I did not order anything though. I thought the skort was cute but I have one and wore it one time and have not worn it since. So it would not make sense to by another one. I like that shirt that you ordered. i wonder if Gail ordered on she loves butterflies. I love the pictures that you posted. I like the night shirt with all the cats on it how cute.
      Gail, I am so sorry to hear about Nan. She is in my prayers. I hope that everything works out okay for her. They will have a list of food that she can eat and they will help her thru all of that. Maybe when they get in there and look it will not be as bad as they thought. I will definitely be praying for that.
      Sounds like you had a really nice Mothers day. The brunch sounds really good and going to Jenny’s afterward and being with family sounded really good also. What is Piper up to? You have not written much about her lately. She is such a little character and does such funny things.
      Adele, Sounds like you had a nice Mothers day also. Glad that the kids all came and Tillie had a nice birthday also. That cake looked really good and there was no way that they would not eat all of it. You always bake such delicious desserts. ( hope I spelt that right) Sorry to hear about your ankle. Did you go to the doctor yet? It would be good to find out what is causing all the pain.
      Sue, Hope that you are doing a little better every day. Barbara is right about the medicine. I would also call the therapy people and ask them why no one has been there yet. You really need to see them soon. I would not wait too long before they send someone. over. That is not a good thing. Just take care of yourself.
      I hope that everyone has a good night.
      Colleen

    • Gail Norusis
      Participant
      Post count: 3596

      Hi Adele,
      The Choirboys don’t really have any concerts scheduled until the fall. They have done some outdoor concerts in the past though. It’s much harder to schedule things now with a member in NY and one in Idaho.
      The AC guy did add more freon to the unit but this time they put a dye in it so that in a couple of months they can come back and check to find out where the leak or leaks are. That makes more sense than what they did last time-just adding the freon and hoping for the best.
      I am babysitting Tim and Nan’s friend Barb’s little dog while the three of them go up north to plant their flowers for the summer. She is a Bichon Pekinese cross and is a cute little thing but I forgot how energetic a puppy can be as she is about 7 or 8 months old. I’m used to dogs that sleep all day and don’t run around at all. It’s quite a change being around a bundle of energy.
      Gail

    • Gail Norusis
      Participant
      Post count: 3596

      Hi Colleen,
      Did you go in and babysit Aliza or did they bring her out to you? That’s cute that she’s chatting away now. I swear Piper never stops talking. I’m trying to think what she has been up to lately. She did pour a whole bottle of body wash into their hot tub so the whole thing was overflowing with bubbles. lol She was very upset when she saw the wrist corsages that the girls had for prom. She wanted one too. I’m sure she has been up to other things too but right now my mind is kind of a blank. I am getting hungry for lunch but I am afraid to get off the couch and make something as I don’t want to wake the sleeping puppy. lol I think this is going to wear me out.
      Gail

    • adele shanbar
      Participant
      Post count: 5025

      Hi Colleen
      i hope nobody in your area was affected by those tornadoes last night. We heard about it on the news this morning. I hope you are all safe and sound.
      They did enjoy the cake. We will have to get the Chinese for Tillie this weekend.
      Gary is at the gastro doctor. They want to do the scope down his throat, as he has been choking on everything- even water.
      I go to for the ankle on Friday. It is ridiculous how many joints are affected by arthritis. Still better than what some other people are going through.
      Marissa stopped by today, and Heather and Dave are suppose to pop by this afternoon too. I hope they stay for dinner, as I did the beef crock pot dinner, and they love that.
      It is hot here- the air is on. Tomorrow we are supposed to break a heat record. Yuck.
      hope the sun is shining out your way too.
      Adele

    • adele shanbar
      Participant
      Post count: 5025

      Hi Gail
      That was a good idea to out in the dye. I hope they figure it out, so you will not have to worry about it going out on a grossly hot day. Our air is on, and has not shut off all day. It is in the high 80’s out there, and tomorrow we will break a record. From the heat on, to the air on….that’s New England for you.
      That must be tough on the Choirboys, to have some of their members so far away. How is the one in NY, who was sick? I think he was in NY??
      You are a good puppy babysitter. Did she/he take a nap? I bet the puppy is adorable with that mix.
      I hope you and everyone there has not been affected by those awful tornadoes. That looked awful on the news. These storms are so scary.
      Hope the sun is shining in your neck of the woods!
      Adele

    • adele shanbar
      Participant
      Post count: 5025

      Hey Gail….is the puppy still holding you hostage?
      Next time there is a prom or contest, someone will have to get a corsage for Piper. You should get her one for her birthday. Imagine her wearing it to school that day.

      Colleen- that was great that you got to babysit Aliza. She must be over a year old by now. They are small for such a short time. We need to get in all the moments we can with them, and it is hard when they are further away.

      Adele

    • Barbara Smith
      Participant
      Post count: 418

      Gosh, girls, we are really having our problems with aches and pains,aren’t we? Hope you all are doing better today. Hope Garys test came out good, Adele. Hope they gave him some good sleepy time medicine during the procedure. I know you have had a busy day puppy sitting, Gail. It is so different when they are young and have so much energy. You don’t happen to have one of those stretchy ankle support things do you Adele? Jerry has to wear one sometimes; and it seems to keep his ankle from turning when he takes a step. HIs looks like half a sock. I hope that PT has shown up and is helping you Sue. They really need to be exercising that joint to help keep it looser; and even though there is no way to do the exercises without some pain; it will actually help in the long run. I know Colleen knows more about this than me with her medical experience, but I have seen it help so many including me.
      Well, wouldn’t you know it, the weather has been sunny all day here and now it is thundering like crazy. I count my blessings though if it just is thunder and rain, and not those awful storms. I just feel so badly for everyone in the path of those things.
      You all are right about Colin really going to be on the move now that he has learned how to crawl. It seems like it is no time until they are up on those little legs and holding on to the sofa and walking. Neal said he wants everything (like coasters) that they are saying no to and once he spies something that catches his eye that he is relentless trying to get to it. LOL They are “baby proofing” everything now. Jerry and I read him a book some of our visits and show him pictures in the book. Sometimes he stays interested the whole book; other time, not. ha ha Jerry and I are still doing the Readers Digest thing most nights. We don’t seem to have the stay awake power to get into a book. We fall asleep even more quickly in a book. But we get to laughing at some stories in the Digest.
      The bloodhound ate some of my Iris: but I know the rest will come back up. I planted those things in a big pot on the patio the day Joey left to go in the AF; which is over ten years ago now; but they are still coming back every year. I must say; they are one of the only flower things I have gotten off the Q that has lived. I have no luck with plants from the TV. I finally gave up ordering them and go to the local stores and those do okay.He has a really sweet personality; but Jerry will always feel bad at him for what he did to his GInko trees. He is still busy spraying on them, and doing tons of other things. I just don’t ask him what he is up too as long as he is not complaining. LOL
      Better close for now since the thundering is getting worse. I think I forgot to answer you Colleen about if Joey works in a nursing home. He works in a combination Rehab and Long Term Care facility. They have some residents that have been there for years/some with dementia and others clear but just live there. Then the rehab area where they have a really nice PT department. It is where Jerrys’ Mom went after her fall. Joey is really kind and compassionate with the elderly. I am very proud of him for that.
      Hope everyone has a good evening; safe and sound. From the rumbling state of Tennessee Barbara

    • Colleen
      Participant
      Post count: 3077

      Hi Barbara,
      We have sunshine all day today but the wind has been terrible here. We are not supposed to get any rain until Friday we will see though. I hope that you do not have a lot of bad storms where you are.
      My daughter is moving to Tennessee the name of the town is Cooksville. Have you ever heard of it or know anything about it? I hope that it is a nice town and they have good schools there. Do they have an Army base there? We know nothing about that place and neither does my daughter. I just hope that they will like it there.
      That is so nice that you can read to Colin and show him the pictures. I bet he listens most of the time. That is just so nice that you can do that and actually see him. I bet that he gets into everything. It is interesting to see what all they can get into even when they are crawling. They can find more things. My granddaughter can find something in the floor even if you have just vacuumed. She is a mess.
      That blood hound eats every thing. He is a mess. It is a shame that you cannot keep him away from your trees and now your flowers. It is hard to feel good about an animal that trys to eat your tree and now your flowers. I still have not forgiven those buffalo that ate my garden and our tree. Not too happy with our neighbor either. lol
      Does Joey do any of the work with the patients in rehab? I really liked working in rehab it is really rewarding. You get to see people improve and a lot of them get to go home. It is nice to see that and then the ones that have to stay in the nursing home do not get you down as much. I am glad that he is doing that. We need a lot of people that will work in places like that.
      I hope that you have a good evening. Stay safe my friend.
      Colleen

    • Colleen
      Participant
      Post count: 3077

      Hi Adele,
      I hope that things went well for Gary at the gastros. Hope that he gets the results soon and does not have to wait for a long time before he gets it. That is what makes it worse is the waiting for the results.
      No one from around here was effected with the storms. We have had a lot of wind today and a lot of limbs have fallen off the trees. Ron has been out picking them up in between working on his lawn mowers. We are not supposed to get any rain until Friday so hope that they are right and the wind has died down by them. That is all we need is a lot of rain again.
      That will be nice to have Chinese another day for Tillie. I love Chinese food. They are always saying bad things about the Chinese restaurants around here. They keep saying that they serve cat. I do not believe it they would not be in business if they did that. For one thing they would not pass inspection if they served food like that. People just get really strange ideas and like to spread them around. We like the restaurant and eat there a lot.
      That will be nice if Heather and Dave stay for dinner. Your pot roast dinner sounds really good. i hope that Marissa is doing well. It is nice that they all pop in like that to visit. It kind of breaks up the day.
      It was fun babysitting for Aliza. I had to drive up there. She will not bring her down here. It is too far for her to drive. I guess it is shorter for me to drive then it is for her.lol She is a pain in the neck sometimes. She is a year and 1/2 now. She is a character.
      Well that is about all from here. Have a good night.
      Colleen

    • Colleen
      Participant
      Post count: 3077

      Hi Gail,
      I bet that was a mess when Piper poured the body wash in the hot tub. I hope that it did not mess it up. She is a little character isn’t she. I agree with Adele you should get her an arm corsage for her birthday. She would really like that and think that she was special.
      That puppy sounds really cute. Sounds like he is holding you captive though. Hope that you got to eat lunch and not have to sit with the puppy all day. They are as active as a little child. They sure can get into as much as a little one can. Well if you get another dog you know that you do not want a puppy. Maybe a rescue dog. They are usually needing homes for them.
      Danyielle did not bring Aliza to our house I had to drive up there. It is too far for her to drive. It is a shorter drive from here to her house I guess.lol It was fun to just go and see her and spend the day with her. She is a mess. She is going to be like Piper and talk all the time when she finally start saying words. She does say bye and see ya. She does say a few words but does not make many sentences.
      They had a thing at Owen’s school where they read a book report about their favorite famous person. They had to dress up like them also. Owen got up there and read his and it was really short so they did not know that he was done. SO he just looked at the people and said well aren’t you going to clap? They all laughed and started clapping for him. I never thought that he would be that bold to say something like that.
      Well that is about all from here. Have a good night.
      Colleen

    • Gail Norusis
      Participant
      Post count: 3596

      Hi Colleen,
      Well so far the puppy is calmer today. I think she was excited by being somewhere new. Greg is being really helpful and taking her out a lot for walks on her leash. He’s like a little boy being really good in hopes that his Mommy will allow him to get a dog. lol However, when we do get one I think it won’t be a puppy. I just don’t want to have to give up that much of my reading and computer time to watching a puppy all the time as they have to be watched like a baby when they are small.
      Isn’t that funny how it’s a shorter distance when you drive to Dayielle’s? lol Weird how that works.
      Owen was funny asking for the applause. So who was his favorite person?
      Well if Melissa is moving to Tennessee that’s closer to you than Texas or Florida where you originally thought that she was going. Maybe you and Ron can drive down sometimes and stay in a motel and visit with them or something like that. Make a vacation of it.
      When Piper added the body wash to the hot tub fortunately it didn’t ruin it. I’m surprised as we have a jacuzzi and that’s one thing that they specifically tell you not to do. Jenny said she added a whole bottle too. I guess the hot tub wasn’t bubbly enough for her. The kids treat it like a swimming pool anyway. lol
      Gail

    • Gail Norusis
      Participant
      Post count: 3596

      Barbara,
      We have never had any luck with the Q plants either. I just gave up buying them.
      That’s so cute that you read Colin a book when you skype. Thank goodness for modern technology.
      Did you get your MIL’s house on the market yet. I hope all the work over there is done.
      Joey sounds like such a kind young man. I’ll bet all the people in his care just love him!
      It’s nice to get some good laughs together from the Reader’s Digest before falling asleep for the night. Hopefully the laughter brings good dreams.
      Gail

    • Gail Norusis
      Participant
      Post count: 3596

      Hi Adele,
      I will have to get Piper a corsage for her birthday.
      It’s so weird-we went from running the heat to running the AC. Now tomorrow the high is supposed to be only 59.
      Bill from The Choirboys is doing good. I’ve heard that he has put on some weight. Maybe from the treatments. I have not seen him but Greg has.
      The puppy is cute. Her name is Ollie. They originally told Barb that she was a boy so she named her Ollie and then when the vet told her it was a girl she liked the name so she didn’t change it.
      We had a wild night last night. 10:15 the phone rings. It’s Jenny-she says get in the basement. I said I just switched over to the local news and saw there was a tornado warning. So I have to go upstairs and get Greg-who was not a happy camper and me Greg and the dog go down in the basement for the next 45 minutes. At one point there was this huge popping sound and i still have no idea what caused it. I felt sorry for Greg as he had to be at work at 7:30 this morning to interview someone. Anymore he leaves the house at 8 and is home by 3 so he basically works a half day. Anyway, after we came back upstairs the power kept going on and off and then the backup battery in one of the carbon monoxide detectors started beeping so I had to go change that. When that happened when Belle was alive she would literally crawl on top of my head as that sound freaked her out. Fortunately it didn’t seem to bother Ollie. Anyway, I’ll bet I got about 4 hours of sleep last night so i hope that i can get a nap in later. lol
      How did Gary’s doctor’s visit go? I hope he’s okay. That’s kind of scary choking all the time.
      Gail

    • Colleen
      Participant
      Post count: 3077

      Hi Gail,
      Well mom are you going to get Greg a new puppy? lol That is funny. Greg must really want another dog. I do not blame you for not wanting a puppy. They are a lot of work and you have to watch them all the time. It is so much easier if they are a grown dog unless they can stay outside.
      I thought it was funny how much farther that it is from her house to ours. I guess we know a short cut and we did not realize it. We are getting old and that is probably why we do not understand her logic.lol
      Owens favorite person is Houdini. He loves magic. It is funny because his mom loved magic also. He is getting more and more like his mom everyday. When we use to go to the circus museum in Barabou she always wanted to see the magician so we had to go there every time. That really was a fun place to go.
      It will be nice when they move to Tennessee it will not be that far for us to drive and we will find a place to stay. We will be able to see the kids more often then we thought. They usually get a week off for Christmas so they may come home. That will be good. The other holidays are not as important to me as Christmas. It is a day for families. I am already worrying about Christmas and it is a long ways away.
      Sounds like the storms are hitting where you are a lot sooner then here. They are supposed to start here tomorrow. Maybe late tonight. It is nice that Jenny calls and tells you to get into the basement. It makes it really nice since the tornado sirens do not sound out in the country. We have a friend that calls us and tells us we can come to their house and stay in their basement when there is storm warnings. We have been friends for a long time though.
      Well that is about all from here. Have a good afternoon.
      Colleen

    • Dianne Danielson
      Participant
      Post count: 1034

      Hi Ladies,
      I don’t know what happened but I had to re-sign in all over again today. For some reason I wasn’t able to reply but was able to read the posts.
      I’m sorry to hear about all those storms out there. those tornadoes would scare the life out of me!!! We just had really cold weather the past few days. There was a winter storm warning for heavy snow in the Wa. & Oregon Cascade mts all weekend. They got another foot or so of fresh powder. We got rain. I’m hoping it’s all over with now. For awhile anyway. Now we’re heading into some warmer weather, even down right HOT weather!! By next week we’ll see 90 degrees here. Talk about weather whiplash!!
      I got my new QF butterfly shirt today & it’s gorgeous!!! The butterflies are even more beautiful in person. So many beautiful colors!!! So springy/summery.
      Well, that’s about all I have today. Stay safe everyone!!!
      dd

      Attachments:
    • Barbara Smith
      Participant
      Post count: 418

      Wet have a HOT day here today with some storms supposed to be looming around the corner. It seems like at times the storm just waits until the minute either Joey or Lisa is leaving for work; and then the “bottom falls out” as they say around here. He keeps an extra pair of scrubs in his locker because he has gotten soaked on his way to work before. Colleen he is in charge of the whole facility at night; so he works in an office and out on the floor all over. He told them when they asked him to take the manager slot that he didn’t want to not be taking care of the residents. He said all he could think about was how I told him that was what I missed the most was being able to actually spend time with patients. I still would go out in the unit and start IV’s or other things that I won’t bore you all about, but I love hands on care and I just personally think a nurse can make all the difference in the world in how the patient feels.
      I do know a little about Cookville, Tn. It is located about half way between Nashville and Knoxville Tn. We were there years ago to see Cane Creek Park, and camped there. The kids loved it, and Jerry and I had a good time too. That was back when we could do a lot of swimming, and we did a lot of camping. It seems like they had lots of vegetable roadside stands and boy were those tomatoes good. It is not a big city, but not tiny either. But it may have grown a lot since we were there. We stopped there for a few days on our way to Chattanooga. I just remember we had fun so I think your youn g family will enjoy it. And it is not that far from Nashville, and that in one booming city. I really like Nashville.
      That was so sweet for Owen to be waiting for applause. I guess he was thinking, “what is wrong with you people?” Jerry got his Mom a wrist corsage for Mothers Day also. Of course; they can’t have anything sharp; so she really loved having that to wear on her wrist. Isn’t that sweet that the baby wants to be all grown up too? Neal is off today with the baby and he skyped us, and the baby laughs at me and Jerry making all our silly noises and in general making fools of ourselves. You know; talking about taking care of the puppy, Gail, I really understand what you mean in how you kind of have your routine settled into; and puppies and kitties are just babies and they do need LOTS of your time and attention. I always feel so bad for the little animals in the shelter that are either older and no one wants them; or young but not “so cute” as they were, and now they are just cast off.
      I am trying a new crock pot recipe tonight. It is so simple, just some floured then browned boneless pork chops, and you use the rest of the seasoned flour you dredged the chops in and mix that with a can of chicken broth and pour over the chops cook for about 2 1/2 hours on high and they are supposed to be tasty and very tender. The flour dredge has some dried mustard, garlic, and salt in it. Hope it tastes good; because I just didn’t feel like standing at the stove frying chops today. So I will let you all know. It is smelling good. Just add me some veggies, rolls, and I got a cheesecake from Costco so that is covered.
      Hope you all have a good evening. I have kind of made Jerry take a few days off. He really needed it. We are supposed to have a rainy weekend; so as long as it is just rain; I will be grateful. Have to find our blessings wherever we can. Take care Barbara

    • Anonymous
      Inactive
      Post count: 643

      I thought I would stop in and let you know how I am doing. The therapist say I am doing good & ahead of a lot of others at this stage. I still don’t see much improvement myself. I went to the doctor yesterday and got a wheelchair but he was running behind and I was left sitting for over an hour so I could not get up without help. But after I moved around some I got right out of the car at home and those are low bucket seats.
      My neighbor brought me dinner Tue night. I don’t remember if I told you as the pain medicine messes with my mind. She made beef & noodles over Mashed potatoes. Only problem she gave enough to serve 4 people so I had lots of leftovers to heat up.
      They told me PT was coming today and finally I called at 3PM to see what was going on. I was up around all day and was so ready to lay down & put ice on my knee. They said he is coming at 4 so I waited and did exercises best I could. Now I am exhausted.. So will probably be in bed before long.

    • Colleen
      Participant
      Post count: 3077

      Hi Sue,
      Sounds like things are going pretty good for you. That is a good sign when the therapist thinks that you are doing better then others at this stage. Just hang in there you will be better soon.
      That was so nice that your neighbor brought you dinner. It sounds really good. Well you will have a lot of left overs to eat this week. You will not have to worry about fixing anything.
      Take care of yourself.
      Colleen

    • Colleen
      Participant
      Post count: 3077

      Hi DD,
      The pictures are so pretty. I live the pictures of cottages. They are so pretty. Wish we lived in a scene like that one. If we keep getting a lot of rain we may have a lake in our yard. lol
      This is so strange that they are getting all the snow out your way. We heard that Colorado is getting a lot of snow there also. It is lucky that it is just falling in the mountains. You sure do not need any snow.
      I bet that butterfly shirt is really pretty. Their tops are always when you get them and see them in person. I have a few tops like that. I ordered a pair of capris from Denim and Co. They were on sale for $15.00 dollars, That was such a good deal could not pass that up. It was an as is pant but I have gotten them before and they are usually just fine.
      Well that is all from here. Have a good night.
      Colleen

    • Colleen
      Participant
      Post count: 3077

      Hi Barbara,
      Thanks for the information on Cooksville. It would be nice for them if it is a small town.It will be like being home. We live in a small town and I think that Stephen did also. I just hope that he likes his new job. He is going to be a recruiter. So that will be different.
      Joey is a really good nurse. If he is manager and still wants to take care of the patients that is really good. Most of the nurses that I have worked with only liked to sit at the desk and not do much else. It was really kind of aggravating. Especially if they were training a new CNA and they do not understand on how to tell if a person is dying or what is going on. Well now I am getting morbid.
      They will like that park if they can go camping. I will have to mention it to them so they can look for it. I hope that the schools are really good there also. I worry about Ethan and what type of school that he will be able to go to.
      That is so cute that Colin laughs at you and Jerry making noises. He sounds like he is really getting so cute. That is so nice that they skype you so often so you can see him and all the new things that he is doing.
      That was really nice that you got a corsage for Jerry’s mom. I bet it was really pretty. That had to make her feel special. I am glad that you and Jerry are taking some time off from working on the house. You really needed that. You two have been working so hard. I hope that it sells quickly so then you will not have to worry about it anymore.
      Well that is all from here. Have a good night.
      Colleen
      p.s. Thanks again for the info on Cooksville.

    • adele shanbar
      Participant
      Post count: 5025

      Hello everyone!
      I read all the posts, and here goes…..
      Gary went to the urologist today. He got good news – no more kidney damage from the infection he had. he has another apt. in 6 months, so that is good. Unless, of course, he gets another infection.
      Gary goes for the scope in June. They will put him out for that, and I will drive him back home.
      My doctor appointment with the foot ortho was cancelled. My insurance would not do the referral, so my GP doctor is asking them again to do it. So, we made an apt, for mid June, and I hope it will not be an issue. If it is, I will call the damn insurance myself.
      We are going out for the “Friday night fish dinner” with our friends, Al and Winnie, to their favorite Friday spot.
      We broke all records the last 2 days- it was in the 90’s. Gross.

      Sue:
      That is fabulous that the PT said you were ahead of schedule. See? You thought you were not doing well, and look where you are at. You are not used to being laid up, and did not realize how much progress you were making.
      Your neighbor is so nice to bring you so much dinner. Now, all you have to do is pop it in the microwave. She must be a sweetie. Is she a Quacker, like all of us?
      As far as the pain meds- call your doctor. There are a lot of them, and they can change you to something less strong. They have adverse affects on a lot of people. They make me physically sick, whihc ends up to be worst than the pain. They make Gary psychotic, if he stays on them for any time. he gets real weird, and very belligerent. Tillie does even worst on them, and gets paranoid.

      Barbara:
      I do not have any supports for my ankles. I was hoping that would come today. Not. I will end up at the ER if it gets worst, prior to the appointment.
      I Hope you are all safe from those awful storms,and tornado warnings.
      How did the recipe comeout? Post it for us, if you liked it. I am all about the easy crock pot recipes lately.
      I am so glad you get to see your Colin on skype. Isn’t that the best? It is great when they are so far away. Feels like they are right there with you.

      Colleen:
      So glad you were not affected by the storms. Poor Gail and her family had a tough night because of them. Those are awful
      It is fun when the kids pop in. I cannot tell you how much I miss them when they are too busy to stop by. the house gets very quiet.
      Wow- Aliza is 18 months old? Where does all the time go?
      That is hysterical about Owen. Good for him, that he had the courage to stick up for himself. That is wonderful that he was comfortable enough to do that. You all must have been so proud. Did anyone get it on video?
      Melissa going to Tennessee is at least a little closer to home. I bet Barbara will give you the best places for them to go to see the state, and eat out.

      Gail:
      OMG, is Piper funny. I bet her parents were not laughing, as much as we are. I cannot imagine the amount of suds they had in there.
      That is fabulous that Bill is doing better, and gaining weight. Everyone’s prayers were answered. His wife must be so happy to see him improve.
      Is the puppy still with you? I guess they are a lot of energy, and take a lot of time to train, and keep happy. A puppy is way beyond my capabilities, even though I always wanted one. Mr. Fishie is enough for me to take care of. Hey….you could always get a fish. My other fish was more friendly than the one who is still living. But he has been coming to the top of the bowl,when I change his water and clean his fish bowl. Since he recently started to do that, I am wondering if he will not be around for much longer, as the other fish did that, and then he died. We will see.
      Was the puppy with you the night of the tornado warning? That is an awful story. I am so glad you are all ok. As I always say, I would be completely psychotic, if we had a tornado warning up here. We have no place to go, and no basement.

      DD:
      It is good that the rain finally stopped out your way. I hope the sun is shining, and the weather good. It is in the 80’s here today- way better than the last 2 days.
      Glad you got your shirt. I bet you look so pretty, and sparkly in it! What color did you get- I don’t remember if you said the color you chose.
      Have you made anymore of your great brownies lately? I ahve not baked since I did Tillie’s cake….oh, I did do blueberry muffins on Tuesday. I forgot about those…LOL

      Hope everyone is having a good day!
      Adele

    • Anonymous
      Inactive
      Post count: 643

      Adele I hope you get a good doctor that can help your ankle. All that I was told & others also was that I was to fat to hold up my weight. They say lose weight it will be better. As if it is easy to lose weight.
      My PT also said That my orthopedic surgeon does good work. So glad I got a good one. I laid down a bit this PM and I got such pain in my leg. Could barely move it. I removed the ice pack and the elastic hose were digging into the incision. Once I fixed it it was better. Now if I could keep my legs and feet from going to sleep. The therapist said they move the muscles when they operate & it takes a while for them t get back in place.

    • Barbara Smith
      Participant
      Post count: 418

      Hope everyone is having a good evening. Sue, I am so proud of you for the progress you are making. This recovery is just going to take TIME; and it is just human nature for us to want to be back to our old selves after we have had surgery, but our body just has to rest. I used to coax families to go to their home (take turns because I knew someone would want to be there at all times), but that if they could take turns to go to their own home and get in their own bed and rest; as hard as I knew it was. I told them that we are there to see about their loved one 24 hours a day; and how important rest is for the patient and for the family. I would also encourage the patient to not feel guilty if they needed to just rest; because I would see them so many times trying so hard to stay awake just to make others feel like they were fine. I know you must have been exhausted by 4 in the afternoon to see PT. I asked them to please come see me as early as they could. It surprised me when they said no problem, that most people don’t want them there before noon. So you are doing even better, and if your pain medicine is making you feel bad let the doctor know; like Adele said, it may not agree with you. A sort of funny story for me was I was looking at my chart one day after sitting in the exam room for over an hour, and it said I was morbidly obese. Now, I know I am really big, but I thought to myself, who makes this decision of what weight a person is and puts this “label” and what in the world do they put on a 400 pound person’s chart-“gigantic hippo” LOL Seriously though, guess it just sort of hurt my feelings. I always said if I ever became small that I wouldn’t ever look down on larger folks. Course; I haven’t had to experience that yet ha ha
      Colleen; I know exactly what you mean about how nurses can really be “uppity” with the CNA. I started my life in medicine as a CNA and worked SO hard. A good nursing assistant is so important in taking care of the patient. I bet you were so good to your patients. They were lucky to have someone like you to help them. You have such a good heart. I would always have the new nurses spend one full day on the unit assigned to a CNA who would explain the aides duties, and the nurse would follow them and assist them so they would hopefully see the aide as an important person to help them and the patient.
      Gail, glad you made it safely through the storm. They are SO scary. Glad Gregs friend is doing better. That is good news. You as well that Gary got good news Adele. So sorry that you are having such problems getting your ankle cared for. Take care, my friend and I hope you get the appointment. Better close for now, and have a great weekend. Barbara

    • Colleen
      Participant
      Post count: 3077

      Hi Adele,
      I am not sure if they taped him or not. I was watching Aliza while Danyille went to watch. I will have to ask her. Owen is a little character. He made everyone laugh though.
      I got that wrong about Aliza. She is 14 months not 18. It seems like she should be older. She is around adults too much. They all talk to her like she is older. It is better to do it that way though. We never talked baby talk to our kids either.
      Gail really did have some bad storms the other day. We are supposed to get those storms tonight and tomorrow. I sure hope that they are wrong. We do not have a basement either. So we have to go to a room with no windows. I do not like storms of any kind. They are scary. Do you get many toronados in your area?
      Barbara did tell me about a park where they can go camping. I hope that it is still there and they can camp. They really do like to go camping. It is nice that they will not be that far from us. 5 hour drive does not sound that far. We always have a long drive no matter where we go.
      It will not be long and my granddaughter will graduate from high school It is on the 25th. Still trying to talk her into walking down the isle and get her diploma. I think that she will regret it later.
      Have a good night.
      Colleen

    • Colleen
      Participant
      Post count: 3077

      Hi Barbara
      That is one job that I would never do again. It is too depressing to work in a nursing home. I did love working in rehab though. Did that for a long time and then went to work for a rehab company. Did that until I retired. Had to retire early because I had hurt my back working at the home.
      Sounds like you were a good nurse and a good supervisor. The nurses need to know what the cna’s have to do. It is hard work and a lot of lifting. They need to understand that and see how hard it is.
      I hope that all the storms are gone from your area. This has been a stormy spring this year. We have had more storms then we have had in a long time. I really hope that they are gone. We are in for some tonight and tomorrow. They never just come for one day and move on. Hope that the summer will not be as bad for storms either.
      Well that is about all from here. Have a great night.
      Colleen

    • adele shanbar
      Participant
      Post count: 5025

      Hey Sue
      A good surgeon makes all the difference in the world.
      I am anticipating that being said to me….LOL
      I heard that too from my PT person after the knee surgery. Everything gets moved, and it does take time. I wonder if that is why your legs keep falling asleep. It is not easy to have a joint replaced. But, once all is healed, the lack of pain is very nice. You will be able to do the stairs easier, and how great to have a joint that works again.
      So happy you are doing well.
      Adele

    • adele shanbar
      Participant
      Post count: 5025

      Hey Barbara!
      I think I asked once how much overweight do you have to be to be morbidly obese- the answer was 20 pounds. Well, i passed that mark in my early 20’s. LOL LOL
      So you can see that term is on my charts too. How about we make one up for the skeletally thin? Like my new word?? That is for anyone more than 20 pounds too thin.
      I am amusing myself today!
      Adele

    • adele shanbar
      Participant
      Post count: 5025

      Hi Colleen!
      We had a good time last night. I did not get the fish, as the eggplant parm sounded much better. it was delicious.
      You will not believe this. We went form 90’s to 60’s. I had to shut the windows, it is so chilly up here.
      We all have funny grandkids. Don’t you love it when they have great personalities? I love when they make us laugh.
      Gail got awful storms. I hope you didn’t get any last night.
      Hope you are having a good weekend, and getting ready for the graduation.
      Adele

    • Barbara Smith
      Participant
      Post count: 418

      I am surely glad you mentioned about your daughter graduating, Colleen. Congratulations,by the way. I surely hope she decides to walk because I think she will want that memory as time goes by, and I know you all want to see it. One of our dear neighbors grandson is graduating also; and you helped me remember that I still need to get him a little gift card and graduation card. I graduated in 1966; ancient times. The really big thing back then at our school was to have a BEER after you graduated (the guys did this). Can you believe how innocent we were? All of us graduates met up at the favorite BBQ place afterwards unless you had plans with your family and most of the families even came there too ha ha. I was in what was called Distributive Education in my senior year; which was just a fancy way of your getting to leave school at noon and go to a JOB. I worked for the neighborhood MD on Monday-Friday and Sat. mornings; so no late night dates on Friday night for me. So this old girl really has been doing medical things most of my life. What was your first job if you took one outside the home? I really wanted to be an airline stewardess; but didn’t want to be away from Jerry. Isn’t it funny how things really influence the roads we take in life?
      I love your “skeletal” description for the stick figured folks, Adele. Made me laugh. It also made me laugh to think that just being 20 pounds “overweight” would make us morbid. That is unbelieveable. If I was just 20 pounds overweight I would think I was doing great!
      It is muggy here today. Jerry and I have decided we have to get a new mattress. Any good suggestions that have helped you all? His back is really bothering him and now it is getting pretty bad in his hips. We went to a good mattress store recently; and we tried to lie down on several to see how they were feeling to him; but it got so hard for us to keep getting up and down on them, and we were both getting embarassed. I don’t know why the salesperson just wouldn’t let us be alone and he kept trying to help me and Jerry and that just made it worse. So I have been looking up all I can about them on the computer. We have one of those now that you can adjust the amount of air that goes in each side in these chambers but it is over 10 years old, and I don’t think it really works anymore. Jerry is really wanting just a regular mattress and boxed springs; but not sure where to start. So anything you all may have that works for you I surely would appreciate a heads up for us to consider it.
      Today is Neals birthday. This is his first one away from here. I sent him a message this morning at exactly the time in Ca. that would have been the time here when he was born to wish him a good birthday. He has to work today; and he wrote back that he knows he will miss his cake, but I told him that I bet Sarah will have a cake for him. He is our youngest and is 32 today. Got my little tears of missing him out of the way early today. Just know time is moving so quickly for us now. But I bet he has a great day; and wouldn’t be surprised if work let’s him leave a little early today to celebrate.
      Take care everyone, and enjoy the rest of your day. Hugs, Barbara

    • adele shanbar
      Participant
      Post count: 5025

      Hi Barbara
      I am sure Neal’s being so far away on his birthday is sad. That is the one thing a skype cannot fix- a hug and a kiss.
      I graduated in 1967. My Dad pushed me into a computer school after high school, as he said computers were the way the world was going. I actually learned computer programming- imagine that? I hated it. I wanted to go to art school. My first job was at the First National Bank of Boston, in Boston, and I was the “leader” for their key[punch department. They did not call me a supervisor as I was too young. Hated that too. Married the department manager- my x- hated that too…..LOL LOL LOL
      I always wonder what I would have been, had I gone to Massachusetts College of Art. Oh well.
      Oh yes- if I were a mere 20 lbs overweight, I would be in a bikini.
      That story about having a beer was funny. Our lives were so different and innocent way back in the day. Good times. I wish these kids had soem of that innocence, and fun we used to have….without cell phones, and computers.
      Have a good night..I am off to the recliner.
      Adele

    • Colleen
      Participant
      Post count: 3077

      Hi Adele,
      I really like the eggplant parm. That is much better then fish. We get that when we go to Pasta House. They are very good and Ron even liked it. That is unusual for him. I am glad that you had a nice time and the food was good.
      It is fun to see how our grands are growing and getting personalities of their own. They do so many crazy things and you cannot help but laugh. I just thing that it is such a joy to be a grandparent. We can have a lot more fun with our grands then we could with our own. We did not have the responsibility of making sure that they do their homework or clean their rooms. We get to spoil them and send them home. lol
      The storms went around us this time. It rained really hard for awhile last night and this evening and then it quit. So all we can do is thank the Lord that was all that we got. we are supposed to have more rain later this week so we will see what happens this time around.
      I hope that Gail and Greg did not get anymore storms. She has not been on here for a few days. Hope that she is okay. This weather is so crazy. One day we are so hot that we have to turn on the air and the next we have to have the heaters on.
      If you are comfortable in your own skin it does not matter what they say about how much you weigh. We are all loving and caring people and that is all that counts. We have lived a life of raising children, working and taking care of our husbands. They all seem to be happy with us and that is all that matters.
      Well I will get off my soap box now and close. Hope that you have a good week-end also.
      Colleen

    • Colleen
      Participant
      Post count: 3077

      Hi Barbara,
      That is so sweet that you sent him a text right at the time he was born. Neal probably really was happy to read that. I hope that Sarah does bake him a cake so he will not miss out on that. It is hard when they are not home for their birthdays. I have a funny story about sending a cake in the mail. My daughter and her x lived in Texas for awhile. She wanted me to send her the rest of her wedding cake so they could have it on their anniversary. They put the top of the cake in our freezer. So when we went to send it to them we had to put it in a tuper wear bowl and send it that way. They also put it in a box but would not let us put ice in there. It was supposed to go next day delivery but it didn’t by the time they got it the icing was all melted and they could not eat the cake. So I guess the moral of this story is never mail a cake thru the post office.lol
      My first job I worked in a chicken restaurant. They made a lot of other things also. I learned how to cook on a grill. I was only 15 when I started there. It was my boyfriends aunt that owned that place. That is how I got the job. I worked at a couple of different restaurants before I worked at a nursing home.
      Our mattress is old also. I would like to get one of those beds that you can raise the head of the bed up if you need to. I cannot remember what they call them. I think that Gail has one. She really likes hers.
      Well that is about all from here. Have a good night.
      Colleen

    • Gail Norusis
      Participant
      Post count: 3596

      Hi Everyone,
      I have been so busy puppy sitting that it has been hard to get on here. I sure have not gotten my regular chores done. lol She has decided to become a shoe thief. lol
      Sue, Sounds like the therapist feels like you are making good progress. How nice to have your neighbor drop off dinner. Did you drive yourself to the Drs. appointment? I know you don’t feel like you are making much progress but I’ll bet you are making more than you realize. Keep your eye on the prize and think about how it will feel to walk without pain. Will you have to get the other knee done eventually?
      DD, every 6 weeks or so I have to resign in again too. It’s probably something that’s built into the system to have people resign in after a certain amount of time.
      That’s interesting that Owen likes Houdini. The local live theater place has a magic show once a year geared towards kids with an interest in magic called Nothing Up My Sleeve. I’ll bet Owen would like something like that. I remember when we were in Dollywood, Greg got called on stage to help with some trick and then they did something silly to him. The kids thought that was so funny.
      We have taken the kids to the Circus museum in Baraboo too. Jenny goes up to the Dells frequently-she should take the kids there too-they would probably like it.
      I hope Kylie will decide to walk the aisle for graduation with her friends. It’s too bad that some meeting couldn’t have been arranged for the kids unhappy with the policy to air their grievances and maybe the school would change it’s mind.
      I never realized how spoiled we were having a dog run to put the dogs in when they had to go to the bathroom so we didn’t have to be out there in the rain and snow with them. I put this little puppy into the pen a couple of times and she immediately came into the house and pottied. So we figured she was used to being walked on a leash and she just had no idea what to do out in the pen. So we have had to walk her all week in the rain and the wet and the cold. I guess we were spoiled. lol
      You know Barbara, I have never been to Nashville. I have been to Memphis and Chattanooga and Pigeon Forge and Gatlinberg but somehow we never went to Nashville. I think it should be on my bucket list as there is music everywhere there.
      I think a person is considered morbidly obese if their BMI is over a certain number. I know I am in that category. It’s funny-I was never heavy until I got older and took prednisone and stopped smoking-I grew up being thin. However, now that i have been both I still feel the same and am the same person on the inside so when people want to look down their noses at overweight people I wish they would remember that we are all just people no matter what our size. i think that’s what amazed me the most was how much harder it is to go around in this world as an overweight person. People just do not give you the same consideration and they think less of you. It is very sad. But like you Barbara, if I was ever thin again i would make it a point to be good to heavier people as you never know what they have gone through.
      I believe when i was in high school-I graduated in ’66 also-they called the program where kids worked a half day the diversified occupation program-better known as DO.
      We also have a sleep number bed so i have no recommendations for you-just don’t get a Sterns and Foster the one we had sagged in the middle within a few years and we would both roll toward the middle-and it was an expensive mattress too. I still love our sleep number. Except the split king is a pain in the butt to change the sheets-but other than that it’s all good.
      Tell Neal happy belated birthday!
      Adele, good news on Gary’s kidney. I hope the next test will be good too.
      I don’t think I’ll be getting a fish-we have had every animal imaginable, fish, turtles, hermit crabs, guinea pigs, cats, dogs-everything but spiders and snakes-that’s where I put my foot down.
      You don’t get used to the tornado warnings exactly but after awhile you don’t get freaked out either as there is nothing you can do about it. You just follow the drill and hope and pray for the best. However, I have lived in this area all my life so I guess you just learn to adjust. You don’t like it but you learn to live with it.
      That’s funny-you wanted to be an artist and i wanted to be an archaeologist but my mother wanted me to be a speech pathologist so that’s what i started out studying in school. I guess that’s the very reason that I didn’t push my kids towards any particular field of study but just let them choose for themselves.
      You know I have never eaten eggplant Parmesan. You can tell I’m not Italian. It just never seemed appealing to me as I don’t eat eggplant. I would try it if I could do it as an appetizer and just try a little. I guess I am like a man and don’t think of a vegetable as a whole meal. I like a lot of little tastes on my plate-not just one big one. Sometimes I just order appetizers for dinner.
      Hey, have any of your kids or grands ever went to one of those places where you have a certain amount of time to find all the clues and get out of a room. I keep on hearing about those places and they sound like they could be fun.
      Gail

    • adele shanbar
      Participant
      Post count: 5025

      Hey Colleen!
      Very well said. All us Quackers are comfortable in our own skin, and we have Jeanne Bice to thank for being the leader of that parade. i really do miss her presentations. She added so much humor to the shows, and her life experiences were hysterical.
      So, here is what broke in this house this weekend……..one of the 3 shades in the dining room, making me purchase 3 new ones, as they are older, and you cannot get that color anymore; the air conditioning in the Jeep ( for the 4th time); one of the security cameras; the Keurig coffeemaker; and possibly the one air conditioner downstairs ( not sure if it was just overworked from 3 days over 90).
      We have to have a serious discussion as to fixing the air in the Jeep again, or giving up and getting a new one. The Jeep is 12 years old, and the last few years we have replaced the compressor on to 2 times a season. Most of the compressors went within the warranty period for the part, but nobody pays to put them in, and this is getting ridiculous.
      Comcast is coming Monday for the camera. I hope they will be done before I have to leave for pT. I do not want to cancel my appointment.
      So, I called all over this area, to all stores,a nd nobody has the keurig we use in stock- all were delivery only. I tried Best Buy, Target, Macy’s, Sears (they were way too high on price), Kohl’s, and Walmart in our city. the Walmart in another town has one in red, so I ordered that one, and Marissa will get it after she is done with work. Gary went out for coffee this am, as he did not want to have tea.
      Did I tell you JJ made the front page, and the 3rd page of our local newspaper for the play? We are all so excited. He is our little star of the day.
      Hope your weather is good. Gail posted today, and I am about to read it….
      Adele

    • adele shanbar
      Participant
      Post count: 5025

      Barbara
      I forgot to weigh on on the mattress.
      We have a King Coil that is pretty old, and it is still comfortable. I have thought of the moveable base ones too, especially as we are all getting more bone issues. I will be watching what you end up getting, and see how you like yours.
      Adele

    • adele shanbar
      Participant
      Post count: 5025

      Hi Gail!
      Please read my post to Colleen for all the news out here.
      None if us have ever gone to one of those clue places. I am not sure if any are aorund here, or they never wanted to go.
      You do have a lot of pets. That is so funny. Have I told you my fish has been getting more friendly? I wonder if it is something they do before they die, as my other fish was like that, and then he died. Either that, or being close to me kills things….LOL
      It is cool here, but sunny. We are getting rain tomorrow again. We have the pool open, and GAry is getting the water ready for summer. It takes some time to clear it all out, and he absolutely hates it. I swear, if the thing springs a leak, it is history.
      Did I tell you 2 of my prescriptions doubled in co pays? I have Tufts Medicare Preferred, and they changed the tiers of the meds. They said I owuld have to get my doctors to do this “Tiering exception form”, and they may drop the co pay down again. I have to say, I am annoyed, to say the least. Oh well. It is what it is, as I say.
      Hope your day is sunny and bright.
      Adele

    • Dianne Danielson
      Participant
      Post count: 1034

      Hi Ladies,
      I hope all of you had a nice weekend. It’s been perfect out here. Nice, sunny with a nice breeze yesterday & today. It heats up tomorrow (Mon) to the 90 degree mark. I got the AC ready to go. I got the window all ready for it. But it’s supposed to cool down Tues to mid 80s, like today. Then it’s back to normal, 15-20 cooler. It’s wonderful to see the sun again!!
      I’m glad I got those capri/pedal pushers from QF & Denim Co. Perfect for this kind of weather.

      Adele have you ever considered a different health insurance co? I have Health Net Jade. My copays went up too but not doubled. It seems everything is going UP!! Everything but our payments from SSI. Every time I get a raise, something takes it. Rent, copays for Drs, meds, groceries, you name it. That’s why when I get something from QF or something else, I have to be sure it’s on 6 pay.

      I did something to my computer & couldn’t figure out what it was I did so I had to re up on Windows 10. When it was done, everything was back to normal, altho I had to redo my personalization, background pics, etc. Had to resign in here again. I;m getting to be a pro at it now.. lol
      I’m so glad I got that butterfly shirt, I tried taking a selfie but my arms aren’t long enough.

      I know those beds you talked about are on the Q every so often. IT’s on the tip of my tongue, but I can’t see it. Not Serta. But those adjustable beds are EXPENSIVE!! I almost fell off the sofa when I saw the prices!! My mattress is almost 20 yrs old! I should get a new one, but I need a new bed frame first. I got the one I have at a garage sale before I moved in here. It’s an old wooden headboard with wood slats & is terrible!!
      Well, that’s all for now.
      Have a great week girls.
      dd

      Attachments:
    • Gail Norusis
      Participant
      Post count: 3596

      Hi DD,
      Glad you had good weather. We were cold this weekend. Had to turn the heat back on.
      I’m glad you got your computer up and running again. They are wonderful to have but frustrating when they are not working right.
      Are you talking about the sleep number beds? I think that’s what Barbara already has and they are looking to get something else.
      Hopefully you can find a new bed frame at another garage sale or something. But then how would you get it home? That would be a problem. Glad you like your butterfly shirt. Quacker does do a beautiful job with their butterfly items.
      It’s funny-everyone here knows that I am a butterfly nut so now when they see something with butterflies they think of me. Even my doctor says she thinks of me when she puts on a shirt with butterflies. lol I wear butterfly jewelry also. lol Plus I just bought some butterfly pictures for our bedroom and kitchen and new butterfly curtains for the master bath and upstairs hallway. I have these little butterfly clips that I clip on things throughout our house. What can I say? I’m goofy!
      Gail

    • Gail Norusis
      Participant
      Post count: 3596

      Hi Adele,
      You sure did get a weekend full of broken things.
      I hope since the pool is ready that Memorial weekend will be nice. It’s too bad that you can’t figure out a way to get into it. Does it have a deck around it?
      Hope you get all the AC’s fixed before the weather amps up again.
      I am so excited. I found out this little theater up near us in Wisconsin is opening back up and they have a whole summer and fall full of concerts with all sorts of good groups. Their opening act for the season is this guy called Lance Lipinsky-i just love him! I have already seen him twice first in Million dollar quartet and again in his own show. This young guy is so talented. Check him out on YouTube. He played Jerry Lee Lewis in Million Dollar Quartet and he played the piano upside down and backward-I swear!
      Hopefully we will finally be able to get to Lachlan’s baseball game today if it doesn’t rain first. We missed the first two. They should be picking Ollie up later today. she really is a nice little dog and I would baby sit her again. But a puppy requires a lot more work than a 17 year old dog. lol I guess I just got so used to my couch potato dogs I forgot how active a young dog can be. lol
      Fixed fajitas for dinner last night-I haven’t made those in quite awhile. It was good.
      Gail

    • adele shanbar
      Participant
      Post count: 5025

      Hi DD
      I am glad you got your air conditioner in, as you never know when you will need it in a hurry. This weather is crazy, all across the US. We went from breaking heat records, to cool and almost needing to put the heat back on. Nuts!
      I know if you get a new mattress, they give you a free frame- a metal one. but, like you said, the mattresses are very pricey. If you need only a twin, it would be a lot less. Just please don’t ever take a frame or mattress from a yard sale, as you never know if someone has bed bugs.
      I am glad you were able to fix your computer. Every time they do an update, it seems like something has to be fixed. Every time an update is done, I end up not being able to print anything, uni til either I fix it, or I have to call the Geek Squad.
      I have very few choices on health insurance, because half of it comes from my retirement, and half from Medicare. I pay 2 co-payments, whihc I think everyone over 65 does. I get 4 choices, and some, like Blue Cross are way out of whack for premiums. I think I have the best one, as I have always had Tufts. This is the first time I have had any issues, and I think it is related to the state of Mass. I believe(not totally sure) the governor made the retirees and state workers pay more, premiums, and co-pays. i talked to my doctor about whihc one to choose a long time ago, and he is for this one. he said the others will make you wait a long time before a life saving test can be performed- all prior approvals.
      I really shouldn’t complain, as I have health insurance, and a lot of others do not. It is the meds that I get killed on, as Gary has a lot of medications- he takes about 8 pills a day. A lot of my meds are creams, for allergies. Those (ones for allergies) and the celebrex are the ones that are so expensive.
      It was cool here today, and riany. I had to take 2 Alleve’s when I got home from PT (physical torture)…LOL
      Hope the sun keeps shining out there!
      Adele
      PS….love the sayings.

    • adele shanbar
      Participant
      Post count: 5025

      hi GAil
      I just read your post to DD, and I told her the opposite….from the warnings from The Exterminator. He even freaks if someone says they are goign to the movies, due to the bed bug issues.
      Bobby think his air conditioner is ok- it is one of those inside ones, with the vent outside. It stopped leaking after the temp went down below the 90’s. We will have to watch it, and see what happens.
      Gary is happy he had his Keurig coffee back this morning. It certainly is convenient. this new one has more things to play with- temperature, 2 settings for different size mugs, strength of the coffee, etc. But, I feel the more computerized, the more issues later. everything is getting so complicated.
      that is fabulous about the theatre. I hope you get to see a lot of nice shows this summer. Maybe they will have a nice Christmas one too.
      I hope you got to Lachan’s ball game. It would have been cancelled aorund here.
      We had hot dogs and beans- always something very simple on PT night. I was a little cranky when I came home today….LOL My hands kill me, from all the pulley’s/weights they have me do. On the plus side,the shoulders are getting stronger, and less painful. No pain, no gain, as they say.
      did I tell you one of my PT people is Muslim? I am learning about their culture while we work. They have a day like our Christmas/ New Years. They do not have any special day for Mother’s or Father’s Day, as he said they have a different respect for their elders, that happens every single day. Respect, and honoring your parents,and elders is a very big part of their culture. He is a very nice guy, and I get a kick out of him.
      DWTS tonight…..have to get Mr Fishie cleaned, quick.
      Adele

    • Colleen
      Participant
      Post count: 3077

      Hi Ladie
      I missed a lot just being gone one day. It has been crazy around here again. My granddaughter is not going to walk down the aisle for graduation. I am very upset because she gets a scholarship and she should be there to receive it. That is such an honor and it shows how hard she worked in school to get her diploma. You just cannot convince kids to do it if they make up their mind.
      Adele, I agree that it is hard to take Jeannes place. She was so funny and could make you want to keep watching her the whole show. You never knew what she was going to say. She was funny. I think that Angel is doing such a good job and she can make the shows fun also. She is really good on Chics night in. They just do things and have fun on there. I guess you still cannot get that show. Oh my gosh you have had a lot of things break down at once. We had trouble with our jeep and the air in there also. We had finally found a guy that was really good at fixing it and he got it fixed and it has lasted for awhile. Thank God for that. I do not know what it is with the air in the jeeps that keeps breaking down and why they do not have a recall and fix the problem. You sure had a lot of things go wrong at once. Hope that you have most of them fixed and do not have to worry about them anymore. That was nice that Marissa picked up the Keruig for you. Now you can have your coffee. Wish everything was that easy to fix. That is so cool that JJ made the papers. I hope that you cut it out and are saving it. It will be fun to show it to him when he gets older. I bet he was excited to see his picture in the paper with his friends. That was so cool that they did that.
      Owen always has been interested in magic. He would love to go to the Circus Museum if they would take him. I think both kids would love it there if they could take them maybe next year. They are going to Mexico this year so that is probably the only trip that they will take. Maybe that would be something that Ron and I could do with them one summer. Jenny should take the kids they would really like it. It is hard to get a dog to change his habits. It is not fun to have to walk a dog when it is raining outside. It is better then having to clean the mess up out of the floor. it is hard when you have a puppy that is for sure. How much longer will you be watching him or has he gone home again by now. We have had just about every animal that you can think of. We have rabbits, turtles. fish, hamsters, dogs and cats. We finally told the kids that was it. We were not going to have anymore animals in the house. We even had a frog a couple of times. The grandkids were the ones that liked the lizards and use to bring them into the house. Did you get the storms that they were predicting? We did not get them over Friday and Saturday they went around us. We did get a couple of down pours and that was about it. Now we are supposed to get more tonight and tomorrow. I sure hope that they are wrong. Hope that none of them go your way either.
      DD, I am glad that you got your air in the window. This weather is really crazy all over. We are hot one day and cool the next. This rain is causing a lot of the weather changes. Do you have a Big Lots store in your area? They have some good sales on frames and mattresses. We bought a mattress there and it was pretty good. It is getting old now and we need to get a new one but have not done so yet. It would be nice to have the sleep number bed it is nice to be able to lift your head up when you need to. There is no way that I could buy one of those beds off of the q.They are expensive and it is so much easier to find them in stores closer to home.
      We use to have Blue Cross and Blue Sheild when Ron was working and it was really a good insurance then. I would not suggest getting Humana it is not as good as they say that it is. We are looking for another insurance company for when we can sign up again in the fall. Hope that we can find something better.
      Sue, Hope that you are doing better and not having as much pain. It is hard to keep doing the exercises that the therapist give you and to the ones they gave you at the hospital. They will pay off in the end. SO just hang in there. Like everyone has said you are a strong woman and can do this.
      Hope that everyone has a good night
      Colleen

    • adele shanbar
      Participant
      Post count: 5025

      Hi Colleen
      I have never watched the chicks night in- have no idea where that chanel is. We may not have it on our line up of channels. Angel really does do a good job. She is such a sweetie. It was so much fun to see her get ready for her wedding.
      Most of the broken things a have been fixed. Actually, when I think about it, only one- the Keurig. The shades have been ordered from Home Depot. Comcast has to get a supervisor involved, and book a longer appointment, as the equipment we have for the camera is outdated, and they need to change them. The guy who came said that should solve the problem. The Jeep goes in tomorrow to get another compressor, whihc is under the warranty, but the repair charge is not, of course. Things are moving along.
      What year is your Jeep? Do you know what the guy fixed that made a difference?
      I wonder if Owen will be on stage some day, doing magic. Maybe we will see him on AGT.
      the sun is shining up her- thank God! It will be in the 60’s.
      I am making vegetable soup tonight, and they all like that. I haven’t made it in a while. I make it with some hamburg, for extra flavor.
      Isn’t it awful what happened in England? Arianna Grande is such a cutie, she must feel awful that happened at her concert. Young girls go to see her, and that is just disgusting. This world is scary, and you have to worry everywhere the kids go today. My heart goes out to all of them.
      Hope the sun is shining out there!
      Adele

    • Dianne Danielson
      Participant
      Post count: 1034

      Hi Ladies,
      I hope everyone is well. We’re having a brief heat wave out here. We hit 91 here in Portland yesterday!! I believe it was close to a record. We normally don’t see those temps till late July or into Aug. But it’s cooler today, mid 80s, & tomorrow it’ll be down to the upper 60s!! The marine air off the Pacific will be rolling in tonight. Ahhhhhhhhhh relief. It was miserable night for sleeping, not being used to it yet. And we don’t have high humidity. But the big news is that they’re saying we’re gonna have a beautiful holiday weekend!!! It’s supposed to be in the 80s for the whole (!!!) weekend. You don’t realize what a big deal that is for us! We rarely have sunny weather for Memorial day weekend. One yr it was so bad that a friend & I watched as the rain poured so hard it was swirling down the street!! It’s usually cold, wet, & miserable.
      Adele, I believe you can watch Chicks night in on your computer, just go to the QVC home page, type in QF or chicks night in in the search bar & it should take you right to it. I’m pretty sure we don’t get it on the TV out here. You’re right about the bugs being in mattresses, etc. Until I moved in here I’d never seen a bed bug or roach!! I’d heard of them but never came close to seeing one!! They are so GROOOOOOSE!!!!!
      I haven’t heard of your health insurance. It must be regional thing. I know they go by your income. At least that’s what I was told.

      Colleen, it was sleep number beds I was thinking of. They’re waaaay too expensive for me.

      Oh, I was going to ask you guys, have any of you cooked with one of those Copper Chef pans they sell on the Q? I got one of the griddles recently.

      That was terrible about the bombing at that concert last night!!! Those poor kids & their families. Out for a fun night out at the concert & that happens. Just EVIL!!!
      That’s all I have for now.
      Take care.
      dd

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    • adele shanbar
      Participant
      Post count: 5025

      Hi DD
      I love houses with porches. I always wanted one. I could decorate it, put a Christmas tree on it, and plants in the summer. How fun that would be.
      Well, I am ready for summer now….Marissa went to BJ’s for me, and got me a huge package of hamburger. So, I mixed it all up, and then made 19 hamburg patties out of it. I mix my hamburg patties, like I mix my meatloaf. they taste real good like that, and are a lot more juicy. you do nto even need to put ketchup on them. Now, all we need is the warm weather.
      Thank you- next time I will try to watch it on my laptop. It seems like I am missing a good time.
      Well, my ear/nose throat doctor called. he said the insurance company wants me to try the over the counter nose sprays first for a month, and if they do not work, then he can do the form, and they will authorize it. Seriously?? I have been using Nasonex for at least 20 years. So, now I have to try Flonase. This is new, and I am not liking it at all. I think you are right- Tufts is regional.
      I have never used the copper pans. Has anyone else tried them? I do have to tell you, I love the new electric mandoline. It did the carrots, celery, and onion so fast for my veggie soup today. Also, my hands didn’t hurt from all the chopping.
      It is going to rain again here. Do you believe it?
      Adele

    • Dianne Danielson
      Participant
      Post count: 1034

      Hi Adele,
      I just started a post when it went bye bye. I’m pulling my broom out of the closet, dusting it off & I’ll be out there in no time!! Those burgers sound delicious!!
      We are 20+ degrees cooler right now than we were hrs ago!! I have to say I love the natural AC off the Pacific. Saves on the AC.
      I didn’t know insurance companies had that kind of power to the Dr what to prescribe for you. You could be allergic for all they know. In fact I was told
      NOT to use those over the counter nose sprays. I was given a script for Flonase & its a lot better. I went to Costco recently & they have a package of 5 bottles of the same thing but it’s called Aller-Flo. I also got the equivalent of Claritin there too. My Dr. opposes Benadryl. He says it causes blood flow issues to the brain & can cause dementia.
      Since it’s gonna be cooler tomorrow I’m gonna make a batch of brownies. In time for the weekend. I don’t have any plans for the holiday weekend. I’ll probably put up my summer décor, tropical pics, etc.
      I love those old homes with porches too!! I love anything older, like homes. they don’t make em like that anymore!!
      Have a good day tomorrow.
      dd

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    • Colleen
      Participant
      Post count: 3077

      Hi Adele,
      I am surprised that they do not have QVC 2 on your stations there. I wonder why they have a lot of good things on there. I am glad that they put the schedule up on this site for when the shows are coming on. This Wednesday they are having a two hour show and it comes on an hour later. So that way I will not miss it. I do dvr the show it is easier then trying to get the tv for that long to watch it.
      Did you watch dwts tonight? I was happy with the results. I would like to have seen the baseball player win he tried so hard and I think that he is the one that improved the most this time. At least he got second place and that is good. They all seemed surprised that the girl singer came in third. I did not care for her that much I liked the Olympian she was so good. I noticed they had her do a lot of routines tonight. Wish I was better with names then what I am.
      It hasn’t been that long ago that you had the camera installed has it? Everything get obsolete so quickly. This new technology changes all the time. Too fast for me.
      Our Jeep is a 2006. He just put a new compressor in it and that was it. He was not a dealer he was an individual that worked on air in automobiles. He was an older guy and he did not charge us very much to install it. One thing that I liked about him when one would go out he would send it back to the company that he bought it from and demand that they give us a new one. He was really good but he retired said that it was getting to hard for him to work in the heat all the time. He was a nice man. Do not find many repair men like him.
      It will be interesting to see what he ends up doing. Their interests change so much as they grow up. It would be so cool to see him on AGT or on the stage doing his magic.
      That is terrible what happened in England. Why would someone do that to young people. I guess that he died in the explosion. The poor families that lost love ones in that. It is terrible.
      Your soup sounds really good. Especially since it cooled so much. Our weather is cooler now also. We did not get the rain that we were supposed to get either. We had a little bit of rain and that was about it. I hope that the storms are going around you also. This weather is crazy.
      Well that is about it from here. Have a good night.
      Colleen

    • Colleen
      Participant
      Post count: 3077

      Hi DD,
      Your weather is crazy like ours. Hot then cold and then hot again. You never know what to do about the weather. We have had our air on for a few days and then we turned it off and are using fans. Hope it stays like this for awhile. We do not need a big electric bill this early.
      Do you have any plans for Memorial Day. We have a graduation party to go to on Sunday and Monday Ron and I will probably bbq and just stay home. Their will be people traveling that day so it is better to stay at home. It seems like it is the beginning of summer after that. Which it really is not it does not start until June 22nd I think. Is that the right date?
      I love the pictures that you posted. Like you and Adele I love porches. We have the deck on the front but do not have any cover over it. We need to get that done. It would be so much cooler.
      I have never used one of the copper pans from QVC either. You will have to let us know what you think of them.I hope that you like it. I have been tempted to buy one but never have done it.
      We should all dust off our brooms and go to Adeles for hamburgers. She is such a good cook. She sure puts me to shame. Well that is about all from here. Have a good night.
      Colleen

    • Gail Norusis
      Participant
      Post count: 3596

      Hi Colleen,
      I was surprised at DWTS. I thought Normani would win. She was really the best dancer. There was a lot of surprises this year. They really don’t have to make the finale 2 and a half hours though. I think Rashad may have gotten a big boast in voters when he said he had never won anything before. It was nice for his partner Emma though as she had never won here. Sometimes i think having a pro that has won before works against the star. Seeing Charo last night was interesting as i had forgotten that she really is a guitarist. I liked when Bruno and Len were background dancers for Val and Normani. Bruno was really getting into it and then Tom and Erin scored him with a 3 and a 4. lol
      The finale of The Voice was also last night. I had a hair appointment yesterday morning and then had to come home and take a three hour nap (I was tired from Puppy sitting) to watch all this stuff.
      Tonight is Piper’s graduation from one preschool class to to the next.
      Monday we went to Lachlan’s baseball game. So he’s on third base waiting to get hit home and the kid hits the ball and Lachlan goes skipping down the baseline-and we’re yelling at him run-there’s no skipping in baseball. What a nut!
      Gail

    • Gail Norusis
      Participant
      Post count: 3596

      DD,
      I don’t have one of those copper pans either. Is there a reason that they are supposed to be better than a regular pan?
      I think those terrorists are cowards. Killing innocent people for no reason and then killing themselves so they don’t have to face any consequences. I can’t understand how these people can be so full of hate and disregard for human life. It’s beyond my ability to understand. This is the most horrible part of modern society.
      Gail

    • Gail Norusis
      Participant
      Post count: 3596

      Hi Adele,
      We just have the small single cup kuerig but I think we have gone through a few of them over time. And they do get clogged and have to have the little holes opened up occasionally too. We tried using the filtered water from our refrigerator but that does not filter the well water enough. So we were buying bottled water but that’s kind of a pain in the butt always lugging those bottles home from the store. Then i found this aquasana on the Q and bought one of those and that does pretty well filtering the water.
      That’s interesting that your PT person is Muslim. I love learning about different cultures and religions. It’s such a diversified world that we live in and the more we know about other people the better we can understand them.
      What system do you get your TV from. I wonder if you can google and learn if they offer QVC plus so that you can see Chick’s Night In. I know Dish and Direct TV carry it.
      Speaking of QVC I was so surprised to read on the boards there that Jacque Gonzales has left QVC. It was a very abrupt exit so it makes you wonder if she left of her own accord. I also read that they have hired like five new hosts but I have not seen any of them yet.
      Here’s a question for you-if you make vegetable soup and put hamburger in it is it still vegetable soup? lol I actually make a soup called hamburger soup. Got the recipe from my Mom.
      I have two porches. Upper and lower. You are welcome to come and decorate them anytime that you want. We actually never use either porch. We use the deck in back more as the view is better looking out that way.
      Gail

    • adele shanbar
      Participant
      Post count: 5025

      Hi DD!
      I take the generic for Claritin D too. The funny thing is, the prescription is actually a generic for NAsonex. This is a pain in the butt. I will have to get a Flonase, and see how it works. the doctor told me the Flonase is now over the counter- is that the one you take too?
      It is grey and lousy here today- supposed to rain. Another yucky day out here.
      I am getting ready for summer food- crock pot goes,and grilling starts….LOL out, the weather isn’t cooperating.
      I hope your weather continues to be good…it will eventually come out here.
      Have a good day.
      Did you see DWTS last night? I was surprised the woman was eliminated first.
      Adele

    • adele shanbar
      Participant
      Post count: 5025

      Hi Colleen
      I was surprised the gymnast left too. We were rather shocked. She was so cute, too. Gary thinks it is because she said that comment people did not like….”you do not win medals with a smile.” I was surprised the woman got 3rd, and I wonder if people did not vote for her, because she is already a performer. Did you see the judge’s reactions? I do love the football player, and I was thrilled he won. He has so much personality. I loved when he hugged his Dad who is in a wheelchair.
      The jeep is getting fixed today. i did research getting a new one. I found this real odd. I usually play the hard line, and keep saying no to a price, and then they call an eventually meet my price. They are playing the hard line now, and not even calling back. I refuse to inquire further, as then I look desperate for the Jeep, and then no more movement on the price. So, I look at it this way. In September, they will be a year old,and the 2018’s will be arriving, and then I will get a call back….LOL I can wait. There is no emergency. My Jeep is a 2005. Not one spot on it- no dents, no accidents. People think it is new, and it is not.
      the cameras are not old- 2 are 3 years old at the most, and one is a year old. They said it was all the things that make them work-they said it was the wireless routers, etc. i guess mine are all outdated.
      I am so sorry your good mechanic retired. They do not make them like they used to, for sure.
      It is gloomy here, and supposed to rain again. Hope the sun is shining for you.
      I will watch the show this week- I have to remember when it is on…LOL
      Adele

    • adele shanbar
      Participant
      Post count: 5025

      Hey fellow Good Witches….I have a parking space for the brooms….
      Adele

    • adele shanbar
      Participant
      Post count: 5025

      Hey Gailster..
      LOL I still call it veggie soup. With a twist….LOL
      OMG- I can only imagine the outfit Piper will wear for graduation. Please tell me someone is getting her a corsage. She will be devastated if she doesn’t get one, and she will tell you how she feels.
      that was funny about Lachan’s ball game. It must have been hysterical to see him skipping along.
      We have a filter for the kitchen sink for the cold water, and I still use the filters Keurig sells too. I “purge” the Keurig 2 times a year, with vinegar. You get the vinegar into the machine, and let it sit for 4 hours, then run the water through, and clean everything.
      We have Xfinity, or Comcast, whichever they call it. I have no idea why they use 2 terms for the cable company. I think they were changing their name, and still use both.
      Soooooo, you need to make a space for the brooms to park, so we can decorate your porches.
      Adele

    • Colleen
      Participant
      Post count: 3077

      Hi Gail,
      I agree with you about the finale for dwts. It was too long and not all that interesting. I would rather see the dancing and see who wins then all that other stuff. Some of the singers that they have I have never heard of so that are not all that good to me. Charo is still a good guitarist. I remember her playing and singing when she was younger. She use to be on a lot of the old talk shows.
      That will be so cute to see Piper graduate from pre school. I bet that she is really excited. Did she get a new outfit to wear or did she have a dress in her closet that she wanted to wear? I think that it is so cute when they let the little ones graduate it makes them feel grown up. I hope that she got a wrist corsage also.
      That is so funny that Lachlan was skipping on the bases. Was his coach telling him to run or was he just letting him skip? I hope that someone got videos of that. It will be something to show him when he grows up. He will either get embarrassed or laugh one of the two. It is so much fun to watch the grands play ball. They are funny.,
      Jacque left qvc!! Wow I am really surprised that she is gone. That was awfully quick. I thought that she was a pretty popular host. I hope that someone finds out what happened and let us know. I will miss seeing her on the show. Maybe she will go back to radio she seemed to really like that. That is really sad she has been on there for a long time.
      We make hamburger soup here also. I guess when you had to make soup in hurry for a family the hamburger soup was the easiest. That is one that if you do not have the fresh veggies you can use the can ones. I really am a lazy cook.lol
      Well that is about all from here. Have a great night.
      Colleen

    • Colleen
      Participant
      Post count: 3077

      Hi Adele,
      I did see how the judges reacted when she lost. It was really surprising. That baseball player should have come in third but he tried so hard and he was having such a good time. I thought that he looked surprised also. It had to be the viewer votes that made that decision. Oh well she did make it to the finals. I was disappointed when Nancy Kerigan was voted off the show. I thought that she was really good also. I thought that the judges looked surprised when she left also. This was a different year that is for sure.
      It seems odd that they are not calling you back about your offer on a jeep. They are not selling that many new cars right now. You are right they will be calling when the new ones come out wanting to be the others off the lot. I am glad that you are sticking to your guns and not calling them back. You might of gotten a salesman that thinks you are desperate enough to call him back. Salesmen like that really get on your nerves.
      It is always so expensive to take the car back to the dealers to be repaired. They charge a lot of money for labor and they are not worth it. One thing that I liked about the guy was he knew how to talk to these guys where he ordered the parts.I guess that he had been doing it for so long that they knew him. They say that everything that they make now are throw aways. They may last a year or two and then they have to be replaced. They are right about some things that is for sure.
      There has not been much going on here today. The sun has been shinning though but a little chilly. It is funny they keep taking the rain out and in the forecast here. They say it is going to rain Fri. Sat and Sun. then they take it out again and it isn’t going to rain so I guess that it is going to be one of those things if you look out the window and the sun is shinning it is not going to rain. If you look out the window and there are rain drops then it is going to rain. We can almost predict the weather as well as the weather men can now days.
      Well that is about all from here. Have a great night.
      Colleen

    • Gail Norusis
      Participant
      Post count: 3596

      Hi Colleen,
      The kids had little caps on made of upside down paper bowls with card board glued on top and a tassel. They were given little diplomas. It was cute. This was a pretty lively group and for the most part they all participated in the songs with great enthusiasm. Other times we have been there the kids were a lot shier-I guess it just depends on the particular class. The little girl right next to Piper was standing there with her thumb in her mouth when they first walked out but then once they started she participated-I guess she just had stage fright at first. When they were all done with their songs and Kelly told them that they were graduated Piper yells out “Yeah! Time for Cake!” Everyone got a chuckle over that.
      I’m not sure if the couch was telling Lachlan to run or not as he was over by first base-but we were telling him to. lol
      We will probably never know exactly why Jackie left. All know is I had seen her on a show that morning and the next thing I am reading that she had posted on Facebook that she had left the Q. All I know is I hope she is okay and has something good in mind for her future. These are people that you see for years and years and you kind of feel like you know them.
      You are not a lazy cook! You are like me-we just aren’t as interested in it anymore as we used to be. Now any time that I can order out or eat out I am all for it.
      Gail

    • Gail Norusis
      Participant
      Post count: 3596

      Hi Adele,
      Plenty of parking for the brooms available right on the porch. lol
      Piper wore an apricot colored dress with a poufy bottom and a sequined clip in her hair with (guess what) a butterfly! A child after my own heart who complimented me on my sparkly necklace. What kid doesn’t love Kirk’s folly jewelry! It would have been a perfect opportunity for a corsage and I forgot again. We did all go out to eat after the ceremony though.
      We clean our kuereg a few times of year with the vinegar too. I guess the single serve ones do not have a place to put a filter.
      I looked it up and it seems like xfinity does not offer QVC plus yet. It may eventually.
      I have a funny story about those security cameras. Greg bought some and they sat in a box for a couple of years. Then last year he mounted them but never had the time to actually connect them. So we have them up but they are basically decoys as they show nothing. maybe this summer he will finally get them hooked up and running. We don’t want to get things accomplished too fast around here. lol Your’s are probably connected to a security company though. Ours our there just for us to monitor the outside ourselves.
      Have no idea if we are doing anything this weekend. Probably at least try to get the boat in the water. And probably barbecue at some point.
      Gail

    • adele shanbar
      Participant
      Post count: 5025

      Ho Colleen
      Did you enter the new contest? I just did.
      Well, they called back today- this time it was the manager. We have gone down on the price, but are still over what I want. he worked out a lease payment that was reasonable, but not sure about leasing. I still said I have to think about it. I would still like to pay less,a s I am concerned about all the medical co pays going up.
      I was sorry about Nancy Kerrigan too, plus others. This year they had a lot of talented people, and the decisions were strange, for sure. I think we all have to start voting again.
      it is so cold up here, I had to put the heat on again, as Gary was complaining. I didn’t want him to freeze.
      I do not think it will be BBQ weather this weekend. I have no idea what to make- it seems like crock pot weather to me!
      What are your plans?
      Adele

    • adele shanbar
      Participant
      Post count: 5025

      Hey Gailster!
      OMG- that is funny. Our cameras are connected to Comcast, the cable company.
      Read my post to Colleen for the Jeep commotion.
      OMG…do I have to send a courage to cutie Piper?? Did she say anything about not having one? She must have looked adorable. I hope I remember to check Facebook and see if Jenny posted any pics.
      It is rainy here again, and will rain on and off all weekend. Not BBQ weather at all. I am disappointed.
      The pool is ready and you owuld have to be a polar bear to go in there. LOL go figure.
      Hope your day went well.
      Adele

    • Dianne Danielson
      Participant
      Post count: 1034

      Hi Ladies,
      How’s every body tonight? I hope everyone’s fine. We had a cloudy cool day yesterday, which was nice. The cool before the heat comes in. Sorry to hear your not gonna have a nice holiday weekend for BBQ-ing. That’s usually our weather. We haven’t had temps we’re gonna have since the 70s!!
      I’m confused about something. You’ve been talking about cameras & Comcast. What’s the connection? And what cameras?

      Gail, I’d love to see the expression on your face if you found some brooms on your porch. LOL.
      Adele, I’d be weary of a lease thing. Don’t they have a balloon payment at the end of the contract? I’d check into that before signing on the bottom line.

      For the weekend, I boiled some potatoes & eggs for potato salad, made some strawberry jello & put sliced bananas & crushed pineapple,(strained). Great for those really hot days. Have any of you had the bbq chicken from Costco? I hear it’s really delish. If I can I’ll get one from the local grocery store so I don’t have to cook. I’m all set for the weekend.
      Critt, my neighbor is taking me to lunch tomorrow (Friday) to a place I’ve never been to. Of course there are a lot of places I’ve never been to.

      I’ve been on FB & found Jacque’s new page. There are ALOT of upset people leaving their comments on her sudden departure. Last fall Albany left suddenly too. I wonder what’s going on. A lot of people are not happy with QVC of late, & I don’t blame em. I remember when Lisa Robertson left she had two farewell shows. One was black tie which I thought was over the top.
      Well, I guess that’s all for now.
      Take care.
      dd

      Attachments:
    • Colleen
      Participant
      Post count: 3077

      Hi Gail,
      How cute that they made their hats. I am guessing that they got to make their own hats for the graduation. That is so cute. The program sounds so cute. That is nice that they did that for them. That is funny that she was ready for cake after the ceremony was over. She is such a little cutie. That was nice that you all got to go out afterwards she must have felt really special. Her dress sounds adorable. I bet that she looked so cute. Sounds like you all had a really nice night.
      You are right when a host leaves the q it is like losing a friend. They have had so many leave and a lot of new ones. Have you ever watched their beauty channel? I have never seen it but do not know where you can watch it at. Probably not do much good for me to watch since I do not wear make-up. I do like Philosophy though. I usually get that when they are having a sale and get it on auto delivery. I like their shower gel. I wash my hair with it sometimes also.
      It is mind boggling to see these guys invest in things and then never install them. That is like my bathroom floor. It is still sitting under my bed. I have started to take the carpet up off the floor in the bathroom and he got upset. So will stop for a few days and then start again. The one thing that worries me is if I get the carpet off the floor and he does not put the flooring down that will be a mess. Greg seems to be better about getting things done then Ron is.
      Eating out is better then ordering in. Ron went to the store to pick up something to eat and brought home bologna hoagie. I could not believe it. I told him if I wanted a sandwich like that I could have made one at home and saved some money. Now he is not allowed to buy sandwiches anymore. Who would go out and by a sandwich like that. I guess he is just a red neck.lol
      Well that is about all from here. Have a good night.
      Colleen

    • Colleen
      Participant
      Post count: 3077

      Hi Adele,
      I did enter the contest but when I typed my name and that in it does not print it right. It seems like it only prints half of the letters. Did you have any trouble like that? It is weird. Hope that it went thru and I am entered.
      We have never leased a car before so do not know anything about it. Guess they will come down more if they really want to sell the jeep. I could not believe that they would not call back. Car sales are not that good right now. Hope that they come down to the price that you want to pay.
      This weather is really weird. You never know how to dress when you get up in the morning. One day it is hot and the next it is cold. Hopefully spring will kick in before summer. Just do not know for sure what the weather will be. We may have a cool summer. They were talking on the weather channel about the water is going to be cold this week-end to be careful about going swimming. They said that there has already been a lot of drowning this year. I wonder it it is because of people getting caught in the flood water. They had some drownings then. They were talking about how if the number starts out high it will stay like that all summer.
      We are going to bbq on Sunday. It will just be me and Ron so it will kind of nice. We will grill enough meat so we do not have to cook that much during the week. It is easier to just come up with sides. We have a few things to grill. I want to grill some corn on the cob. That just sounds really good to me. They were having a sale at one of the groceries stores this week-end.
      Well that is about all from here. Have a great night.
      Colleen

    • Colleen
      Participant
      Post count: 3077

      Hi DD,
      We are doing pretty good over our way. The weather here has not been too bad. We are in a hold pattern from having any rain. They said that we may have rain tomorrow but am getting to where I do not believe it until I got outside and get wet.
      We have not tried Costco’s bbq chicken. We have eaten a lot of other things from there will have to try that. Did you end up getting those hamburgers off the q. I was wondering if you got them and if they were any good.They look good when they are cooking them on the shows but that does not always true when you get them home and have to fix them. They always leave the meat so pink when they eat them on those shows. I like mine done and not pink at all.
      How nice that Critt is taking you out to lunch. Hope that you like the restaurant that he is taking you to. It is nice to try new restaurants. He is a good neighbor to you.
      We are going to have to get on or brooms and go to your house for the potato salad and jello salad. That sounds so good. That is one thing that I am not good at making is the jello salad with the fruit in it. I usually do not put it in time and it either all sits on the bottom or on the top. Do not know what I am doing wrong.
      I like the pictures of the housed that you posted and the woman with the hose. She is right if you think life sucks and you are in your twenties you are in trouble. It is funny that the dog let the bird sit on is nose for so long. That was a cute picture also. You always find such cute things to post.
      Well that is about all from here. Have a great night.
      Colleen

    • adele shanbar
      Participant
      Post count: 5025

      Hi DD!
      You found more houses with porches for us. More space for our brooms….LOL
      Comcast/Xfinity is my cable company. They used to be called Comcast, and still are in certain areas. The cameras I am talking about are the security cameras. I can see who is in our street, and who is at the front door, and one more in the backyard. It is good for me, as Tillie opens the door and I do not want her opening the door to someone I am leery about. Also, it records, with motion, so if someone tries to break in, I have their picture. I used to have only 2, but since the kids started to whack the mailboxes, and egg cars last year, I added the street one. Funny- since it was added, we have not had any more issues with eggs or mailboxes.
      isn’t it awful we have to install these things to be safe? Totally ridiculous.
      It is so chilly here, I had to put the heat on again this morning. As of this moment, it stopped raining. Not sure if that will hold.
      You are way ahead of me for holiday food. I have done nothing,a s I am not sure if the weather is cooperating or not. I was planning on doing potato salad, and beet salad, if we BBQ.
      I have never done a lease before, but, now they tell you exactly what the cost is for a buy at the end of the lease. It seems that everyone does a lease nowadays. I am still on the fence. No rush, so I have plenty of time.
      How is your weather today?
      Adele

    • adele shanbar
      Participant
      Post count: 5025

      Hi Colleen
      We are still not sure what we are doing. This weather is nuts. When I answered DD the sun was shining, and now it is not.
      I wanted to do a potato salad,and beet salad. I will not do them if the weather is not good, as we would have to do something else. Maybe I’ll do an American Chop Suey. I did cut out a new vanilla bundt cake recipe, and maybe make that tomorrow. It tales 3 sticks of butter….LOL
      The manager, and salesperson have been calling me for the past 2 days. If they get the sale down a little more, I think i am going to bite the bullet, and do it. God help me. I have not had a car payment since 2010, and that has been very nice.
      We have the heat on here. Do you believe it??
      I got that new corn set ,with the gadget that gets the corn off the cob, so Tillie can have fresh corn again. I hope it works. Did you get one? you can even put the holders int he corn, before you cook them, so you do not have to play with hot corn to serve them.
      I am anxiously waiting for your warmer weather to make it’s way over here……
      Adele

    • adele shanbar
      Participant
      Post count: 5025

      OMG….I for got to say to have a good time at your dinner out with Critt!
      DD, you will have to tell us about the restaurant, and how you liked it. Have a great time- sorry I forgot to say that.
      Adele

    • Barbara Smith
      Participant
      Post count: 418

      Hello everyone. Sounds like you all have been having some good times with your friends and families. We have been busy with the lawyer parts of doing the home selling thing, and going back and forth with all the errands; and then trying to squeeze actually taking care of some of our pwn things on our “to do” list. The children sound so cute in graduation and baseball. Isn’t it funny how they can just come up with things that you would not have ever thought of them saying or doing. I am not at all surprised about the butterfly hair decoration, Miss Gail. She is just following a good tradition and I know you were proudly beaming. Neal sent us another video of our little crab moving along to get his toy that Neal sits right outside his reach. He will seem frustrated and rock back and forth on his little hands and knees wanting Neal to get it for him and Neal keeps saying “come on, you can do it” and then he will try again and get to it. Then he just smiles. We feel so blessed to be able to talk with him live skyping and see and hear him in real time. It is a joy for me and Jerry, and we get to see Neal too. Just helps us with them being so far away.
      Hope the salesman comes through with a good deal for you Adele for your new car. It is a big decision whether to go ahead and get a new car and feel like we have done the right thing. There has certainly been more than once that I have had second thoughts. But all you can do is just do what you think is right. It is so smart to have the security cameras. That was something we had had installed at Maw Maw’s too while she was doing good and living at her home. It is sad that we live in a day that this is so necessary, but it is what it is as they say. I saw this thing on TV the other day that I really am thinking seriously about getting for me and Jerry. It is a small clip on or wear device that when you are in danger, or sick, or lost or in some kind of trouble, you push the bit button on it and it automaticly dials 911, and they start talking to you on this little button thing that you just pushed, and it does it from wherever in the country you are. It has some type of gps that lets them know your exact location when you push it to call them; and even if you are say sick, and not able to talk, it sends the police right to that spot to find you and bring you help. I was talking to Neal about getting one for Sarah and the baby; for Sarah to clip to her blouse or purse or whatever and she could call for help that way if she was to need it, and then when they are all together; they still take it wherever they go. It was not just designed for the elderly, but for everyone. I am really going to check more into it, but it surely made sense to me. I will let you all know if any one may be interested.
      We don’t really have an special Memorial Day plans. They are calling for rain again starting tomorrow. We have some pork to grill in the freezer; and not sure yet if we will just end up doing it in the oven with potato salad, and I would like to have some fresh corn and a nice fruit salad. So we are taking it just a day at a time here. As long as the bad storms keep away then I will be happy. Sounds like weather is making most of the decisions for you all too. But hope it is good for everyone; whatever our plans are.
      I was surprised to see that Jacque had left the Q as well. She surely kept it private. I enjoyed her and she seemed to enjoy what she was doing. Some of the hosts I just cannot watch; just a personal preference, but I don’t watch as much as I used to unless it’s my Quacker. LOL
      Take care all; and be careful this weekend. Talk soon. Barbara

    • adele shanbar
      Participant
      Post count: 5025

      Hi Barbara!

      So glad to hear from you. I hope we hear from Sue soon, so we can hear how she is progressing along.
      Gary spent most of the day with Comcast, as they did have to reprogram all the cameras, and even the computer. It is now all fixed. I hope ti stays that way. the guy was here for 4 hours. Can you imagine?
      So, Colin is moving his little self along. how exciting. Also exciting you can see it for yourself. How cool is that! do you think they will come home for the holidays? That would be the best gift of all.
      We had a beautiful day here today. We are on our way out for dinner with our friends at 5:00. Not too sure about the weather for the rest of the weekend, so we are playing it by ear. I love fresh corn and a nice fruit salad. It is the go to think for a holiday in the summer. I hope we can BBQ tomorrow, or Monday.
      I would love the info on the 911 button. I would love it for Amanda, who works in Boston, and for Tillie too. She has not been fleeing great since last night at dinner. She said she just does not feel good, and does not feel bad enough for a doctor or ER visit.
      I hope you are all done with the legalities, so the house can be sold. It will be a big load off your backs. I will be saying an extra prayer for that!
      I hope the sun is shining at your place, as it makes you feel so good when it is.
      Adele

    • Gail Norusis
      Participant
      Post count: 3596

      Hi Everyone,
      DD-that would be funny if I looked out and saw a bunch of brooms parked on my front porch. lol Love the picture of the dog with the bird perched on his nose. How was the new restaurant that you went to with Critt?
      I have never had the Costco barbecued chicken. I will have to try it. I do love their stuffed green peppers. I buy a bunch and freeze them.
      Barbara, that fresh sweet corn and fruit salad sounds appealing to me too. I am so glad that you are getting to Skype so that you can see Colin and Neal. I’ll bet you and Jerry look forward to and cherish those times. I heard this morning that they were getting bad storms with power outages around Memphis. Hope you are away from that area.
      It is storming here right now but I think it’s supposed to pass in an hour or so.
      Colleen, when I type to enter those contests I get the same thing as you. The letters are only half there. Have no idea why it shows like that but I think it goes through as readable.
      I won two books from Goodreads again last week. I love when that happens!
      I think you have Dish like us. The beauty channel is 73 on dish. I don’t really understand why QVC has branched into three channels now. Like Barbara said I don’t watch the Q nearly as much now as I used to. Mostly I DVR the shows that I want to see and just flip through them. I can remember years ago when the Q was on all the time as kind of background. I just don’t do that anymore. Of course back then there seemed to be a lot more diversity of products too. I can remember when a fashion day used to be exciting and now it is just a yawn.
      That was funny about Ron bringing home the bologna hoagie. sometimes we will just pick up a sandwich at Walmart. It seems like when I buy packages of lunch meat anymore we just don’t finish all of it in a timely manner so sometimes we will just get a sandwich for each of us on a Saturday. Speaking of husbands and food. Last night I was cleaning up in the kitchen and asked Greg to order us something for dinner. I normally do the ordering but i thought he could do that while i finished up as he wasn’t doing anything. So he takes out two menus from two different carry out places and is looking at them side by side. We decide to have a deep dish pizza. So only one of these places has good deep dish so he is supposed to call that one. So when you call that place for delivery they already know where you live just from the phone number-so i thought it was weird that they were asking for the phone and address. then he goes to order the ten inch pizza and they say they don’t have that size but they have 12, 14, 16 etc. So now I’m thinking this is really weird and just not right and telling him that but he’s shushing me because he’s on the phone. So he gets off and I tell him that all those things seem screwy to me. So the delivery arrives and it ends up that he ordered from the totally wrong restaurant. The moral is never send a man to do a woman’s job!!! He has just guaranteed that i will never ask him to order again. So it was disappointing as I just didn’t like the deep dish from this other place at all. I would rather have eaten a sandwich. Of course he didn’t like it as well as the other place either.
      Adele, when we got to Jenny’s house on Friday Piper was wearing a tiara so at least she had that. I told her if I had known she was wearing one I would have worn mine too. lol When she tells me that she is the princess-I tell her yes but I am the Empress and her mother is the queen. lol
      How is Tillie feeling today? Better I hope. How was your dinner out?
      Sue, we haven’t heard from you for awhile. How are you doing?
      Gail

    • adele shanbar
      Participant
      Post count: 5025

      Hey Gail!
      So the sun is still shining up here,. but not for long. It will rain by tonight, and all day tomorrow.
      We are doing a BBQ, but not sure who is coming. Amanda is working, and Marissa has to go somewhere with Enzo. We just decided this am, due to weather reports. I am goign to make a Vanilla Bundt cake for dessert.
      Dinner last night was good. We went to a place we have not been in years, and the waitress was so nice. I had bread pudding for dessert, and I have not had that in a long time. Lots of laughs, of course.
      Piper is so cute. I was on facebook for a few minutes yesterday, and saw a couple of Jenny’s pics- saw the butterfly hair bow! They are all so adorable.
      I have my favorite, in the Kitchen with Dave on, while waiting for the butter to get to room temp.
      That is great that you won the books again. I hope one f of wins the summer contests.
      Also hope everyone is safe and sound, as so many storms are going around.
      Adele

    • Dianne Danielson
      Participant
      Post count: 1034

      Hi Ladies,
      I hope everyone is having a good weekend, & are safe. I wish I could share our weather here with all of you; it’s absolutely perfect. They had predicted 90s for today & Monday, but it looks like it may not be that hot after all. Whew!! It’s way tooooo sooon for those temps. Our summer doesn’t start till July 5th as it is. LOL That’s the running joke about summer out here.
      Lunch with Critt was fun. The restaurant was an indoor/outdoor type place. We had the fish & chips, the menu is small. They have mostly drinks. It was good tho. It was only a few blocks from here.

      Now for a more serious subject. I’m sure you heard about the attack out here on Friday afternoon. It made the national news. It was horrific!!! Personally I think they should tie that guy to the back of the train & drag him at a high rate of speed!! Show him NO mercy!! I’ll never sit on a jury!!!!

      Gail, I got a laugh out of your hubby calling the wrong place. Never send a man to do a woman’s job is right!!! If ya want it done right, do it yourself!!!
      too bad it wasn’t good.
      Have a great Memorial Day.
      dd

      Attachments:
    • adele shanbar
      Participant
      Post count: 5025

      Hey DD
      So glad you and Critt had a good time. Did you like it enough to go back there?
      Well, it turned very cloudy here, and I was afraid Bobby was goign to get drenched cooking. We had the usual- hot dog, hamburg, sausage, and a few steak tips. My old friend gave Bobby some asparagus from his yard, when Bobby went over to help him with some ants. They were delicious. He grilled them. Also had corn on the cob, and Tillie was thrilled she was bale to have some, as I used the new corn thing the Q sold- got the corn right off the husk, with no effort at all. Tillie was so happy. the cake wet over well too. But, I have to say I thought it was too rich. You could actually taste the butter in it- it had 3 sticks of butter. So, not sure if I will make it again. It was delicious, though.
      DD- I have not heard of any attack on Friday. What happened, and where?

      Gail…..I for got to say. That was hysterical about Greg calling the wrong place. I can see Gary doing that too….LOL

      It will be raining for the rest of the holiday over here. Hope the sun is out for my Quacker buddies! Oh….Tillie wore her new 3 piece set from Quacker today- the one with the stripe top, and red band on the end of the sleeve.

      Happy Memorial Day!
      PS….my funny neighbor is having a huge party in his pool. His pool is heated. I cannot imagine how cold they all are when they come out…..LOL

    • Colleen
      Participant
      Post count: 3077

      Hi Adele,
      Hope that Bobby got to bbq and not get soaked. I hope that you are not having the storms that we had. The wind was terrible and it poured down rain. They said that some places got hail as big as a fist. So far we have not had hail or any damage from the storms. Just the same as always limbs are down and we had to clean them up. There were trees that fell over and that is always a mess. They had a big tree that fell across the road. They had to have someone with a tractor to move it off the road.
      Your bundt cake sounds really good. Sorry that it was so rich and tasted like butter. That is one hard thing about using a lot of butter in a recipe. I wonder if you make it again if you could cut down on the butter. Just use two sticks and not the three. It would be worth a try. It sounded really good and everyone liked it.
      I am glad that you had a nice dinner out with friends. I love bread pudding. It is hard to find it at restaurants anymore. I use to make it for the kids when they were home but Ron does not like it so there is no sense in making it.
      I did not see the gadget for the corn. That is nice that you can get the corn off the cob for Tillie. That is nice that she could have the fresh corn with the rest of you. It does sound nice though. I will have to look it up on the q and see what it is. You have so many neat gadgets that you have bought from the q.
      We went to Kylies graduation party today. I still think that she will be sorry for not going and walking down the isle to get it then. She got her scholarship and I think that she is getting a grant so she can get her books. She worked so hard to get all of that and did not even go up and get it at the ceremony. Kids you never know what to do for them
      Well that is about all from here. Have a good night.
      Colleen

    • Colleen
      Participant
      Post count: 3077

      Hi Barbara,
      It is so cute that Colin is crawling. It is so nice that you get to see him on skype and Neal. Our granddaughter is getting good about blowing kisses to us all the time.She is not a cuddler now she is getting older. That will be another thing that you will get to see him do. It is so much fun to have grandchildren. They really warm our hearts.
      Hope that things are going quickly with the lawyer and the house sells fast. It is so hard to do anything anymore with out lawyers and all types of paperwork.I will just be nice when it is all over with and you and Jerry can take a couple of days and just relax and not have to worry about it anymore. That will be a big relief. How is Jerry’s mom doing now? Hope that she is doing well. It sounds like she really likes where she is living. That makes things a little easier.
      My mom has one of those buzzer things that she wears. We were so glad when she finally decided to get one. It really does take away some of the worry. It is nice for you and Jerry also. If one of you are sick or something happens you will have someone there really quickly. Those things are nice.
      We are going to grill tomorrow. The rain and storms have left our area already. Thank God for that. We did not have any real damage just trees down on our road and things like that. They had more problems a town away from us.
      I do not watch much of the q either anymore. They do a lot of repeat shows and if I can record them it is easier to watch them that way and not have to watch them live. Even some of the tops that they show on the quacker are things that they have been showing a lot already. They have too many channels. Jacque will be missed by a lot of people.She was a good host.
      Well that is about all from here. Hope that you have a good night and good day tomorrow.
      Colleen

    • Colleen
      Participant
      Post count: 3077

      Hi Gail,
      When they announce the winner of the Quacker contests I always listen to see if any one you girls have won. I think that we all have the same kind of luck. It would be nice to win the money or the party pack that they send. I just keep trying to win but it does not happen. Maybe one of these times.
      Men are such a pain when it comes to bringing home the food or ordering out. They do not deliver where we are though so we have to go and pick it up. That is a shame that you did not like the pizza. Hope that you had something good to eat for dessert. That would make it easier to eat the pizza. At least it was not bologna. That would be like adding salt to the wound if Ron got a pizza with bologna on it. He would be eating potato soup for the rest of his life. It is like that at our house when we buy lunch meat. We just cannot eat it fast enough. Sometimes if we have ham we will make a chef salad and add that to it.
      Fashion day is not as exciting as it use to be. So many people have left QVC that it is sad. Even their Christmas shows are not as good as they use to be. I just hope that they do not take too much on and not have enough vendors to keep three channels going. It is just a shame. A lot of shows on QVC 2 are repeats from the main channel. Maybe they will get some more exciting companies on there.
      You are really lucky winning two more books. Do you get to pick them out or do they just send them to you? I have so many books right now that I do not think that I will ever finish all of them. I am trying to read some of them and give them away before I start getting more books.
      I can see you and Piper with your tiaras on. Do you two have the royalty wave down. That is funny that you are the Empress and Jenny is the queen. You should be the queen and Jenny should be a princess and next in line to take over the throne. lol Now you need a chair with the high back and red velvet. Piper would really get a kick out of that. It is a shame that they do not have one in a kids play chair.
      I spent too much time with Aliza today. We went to Kylies graduation party today and had a nice time. Aliza was there and she was the star of the day. She was just jabbering and laughing like she always does. It would be nice to know what she is saying. We were all sitting on the back porch today and she came and grabbed my hand and wanted me to go inside with her. Never could figure out why cause we were in there for a few minutes and then she wanted to go back outside. She is funny.
      Well that is about all from here. Have a good night.
      Colleen

    • Colleen
      Participant
      Post count: 3077

      Hi DD,
      Glad that you and Critt had a good time and you liked the restaurant. Sometimes those places with small menus have the best food. It is nice to have a choice of where you want to sit and eat. We do not sit outside very often at a restaurant it depends on the weather.
      I am not sure if I heard about the attacks out there or not. There are so many bad things going on right now it is hard to remember. We have been having crazy things going on here also. I do not know what is wrong with people now days. Was this the guy that shot those men for defending those Muslim girls? I agree they should do something to him that makes him pay for what he did.
      I like the pictures that you posted. That watermelon looks good enough to eat. It is a shame that we cannot just grab it off the page and have a piece. It is kind of early around here for watermelons. Cannot wait for them to come into season.
      Are you and you neighbors going to do something for Memorial day? Hope that you can all get together and have a nice meal. It would be nice for you to get together with friends.
      well that is about all from here. Have a great night.
      Colleen

    • Dianne Danielson
      Participant
      Post count: 1034

      Never Forget those who died for our freedoms.

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    • Gail Norusis
      Participant
      Post count: 3596

      I just want to take a brief moment on this Memorial Day to remember and thank all those who have given their lives so this country can be safe. You have made the ultimate sacrifice for the rest of us and we will be eternally grateful.
      On a side note-there was a discussion on the Q boards asking if anyone had worn a POW MIA bracelet. I had for many years and I still have the bracelet. At one time I had found an address that you could write to in order to find out if the man on your bracelet had ever been found or his remains discovered. I did write and found out that his remains had been found and identified and returned to his family. However, this was all that I ever knew about him and I was always curious. Someone on the discussion suggested to someone else to Google the man on her bracelet-and a light bulb went off. I can’t believe I never thought to google the man on my bracelet. Probably because Google didn’t exist back then but it seemed so obvious now. So I did just that and was finally able to see a picture of him and learned what he was doing when he was lost. He was also from Illinois and actually had family that lived about 50 minutes from here. It really made me grateful to see his face and hear his story after all these years.
      And finally on a lighter note-Memorial Day was always special for a variety of reasons. My Dad who was a veteran of both WWII and the Korean War always marched in the parade and each year there was always speculation as to whether he would fit into his uniform or not. lol After some years he finally became a fire trustee so he didn’t have to try and fit in the uniform and could also ride on a firetruck instead of marching. lol Anyway, this was always a big day in our town with a parade, a ceremony and 21 gun salute in the park and then a big town picnic afterwards. So even though this is a sad day of remembrance, for me it also brings back warm memories of my Dad, my family and my community.
      May America always remain the land of the free and the home of the brave!

    • Gail Norusis
      Participant
      Post count: 3596

      Hi Adele,
      I probably would have loved your cake as I like when things taste real buttery. You should see the butter that i slather on my corn on the cob. I also like vanilla-we always add it to the egg batter for french toast.
      I had an Americana Quacker shirt on Friday and Piper was admiring it. Maybe I will make a
      Quacker out of someone yet.
      We barbecued yesterday. Greg did steak, potatoes and asparagus all on the grill so I just put my feet up and had a cocktail.
      Who needs Pablo? lol He was probably trying to make up for the dinner fiasco of the night before. lol
      Hope that you got your barbecue in before the rain fell.
      Tonight I am making it easy on myself and defrosting some Costco stuffed peppers and cooking them later.
      Gail

    • Gail Norusis
      Participant
      Post count: 3596

      Hi DD,
      I did hear about the attack out there. It was all over the news. It is so sad that those men died trying to defend those women. They are real heroes. I will never understand why people do such horrific things to each other.
      Your patriotic pictures are very moving. We are so lucky to live in this country.
      Glad your lunch was good. Did you sit outdoors or indoors?
      Gail

    • Gail Norusis
      Participant
      Post count: 3596

      Hi Colleen,
      That is a great idea to use the leftover ham in a chef’s salad. It sounds so good that now I want one! lol
      You can not pick out the books that you win because you enter the contest to win a specific book. They have hundreds of giveaways on Goodreads. Plus if a book is on my “want to read’ list they send me an e-mail if one of those books come up in a give away. Otherwise every couple of weeks I browse through some of the giveaways and sign up for those that sound interesting. Plus i subscribe to two other newsletters-one has a weekly give away and the other has seasonal give aways. If I live to be 150 I will never read everything that i want to especially because i keep adding more and more to the list. I hope there is reading in heaven. lol
      Tell Kylie congratulations on graduating and on the scholarship. That is so exciting!
      Aliza sounds so cute. It will be fun when you finally figure out what she is saying. She sounds like she will be like Piper and never stop talking. I swear sometimes we get worn out just listening to that child.
      Gail

    • adele shanbar
      Participant
      Post count: 5025

      Hi Colleen!
      We were lucky. It did not rain until after the cooking. Bobby got some sausages form a new place he wanted to try, and they were real good. So, our small group was happy. Everyone else was at other events, as we did it last minute, because of the weather. We just could not plan ahead for this one. A lot less clean up too.
      I have to say, the rest of them loved the cake so much, they want it again. I have a pound cake recipe that is just as good, and dos not have the extremely rich buttery taste. I think that one has more flour and milk in it. I will have to compare the recipes.
      So, today it is raining….again. So chilly I may have to put the heat on again.
      I think I know what DD was talking about. I heard late last night on the news about that awful attack on the train, where those good men came to the aid of 2 Muslim women. That was disgusting. This is America. people should feel safe to walk on the streets, and take public transportation, without being assaulted for their race, religion, or ethnic background.
      I feel the same way that you do. Kylie is going to be sorry some day, that she did not do the graduation walk. just like the kids who do not attend Prom. They are always sorry later in life. What was her reason?
      Hope your day is not stormy again. Those storms are scary.
      Have a good day!
      Adele

    • adele shanbar
      Participant
      Post count: 5025

      Hi DD!
      I will also add that freedom is not free, and a lot of our service men and women pay the ultimate price.
      Happy Memorial Day to all- love those Patriotic pictures. God bless this good country, and all the people in it, regardless of their immigration status. We are all immigrants, it is just a matter of how many generations before us have been here. For me, it is one on my Mother;s side, and 2 on my Dad’s side. I am proud to say my Dad was career Army.

      Love you !
      Adele

    • adele shanbar
      Participant
      Post count: 5025

      Hi Gail!
      you triggered a memory for me. Every single holiday, my Dad was marching in a parade somewhere in Mass. After he retired form the Army, he was an ROTC teacher, and did the Girls’ Drill Team. Each year they had a Military all, and he had to wear his dress blues.
      Here is a not so funny story about that. My Dad wanted to be buried in his dress blues, and I refused to have it done. I had to bury him, and I could not give up his treasured uniform. Just could not do that. So, as was usual between me and him, I got in the last word. An only child, who he raised to be an assertive woman, who still thinks she can do anything she wants.
      When we meet again some day, I bet we will have a little discussion about that one. LOL
      Happy memorial Day to all!
      Your Crazy Quacker Buddy,
      Adele

    • adele shanbar
      Participant
      Post count: 5025

      Hey Gail!
      Read my post to the girls. We had asparagus too. I am so glad we got in our BBQ, as I was dying for my first grilled burger.
      I have to say, I think this was the richest cake I have ever made. It also had a tablespoon of vanilla. I love vanilla. I put it in the French toast too. We Quackers are so much alike!
      I know Piper will make us all proud, and will be a Quacker. She has all the right moves for that! Plus, the best role model of all. Let the butterflies fly! Go, Piper!!
      I think Greg redeemed himself for what we shall heretofore call the “Friday Night Pizza Caper”. he has made the need for a Pablo obsolete.
      We are having my left over veggie soup today. My dam nose is cold in here….I may have to give in again on the heat.
      Adele

    • adele shanbar
      Participant
      Post count: 5025

      Colleen..
      Where are my manners today? Please tell Kylie congratulations. I hope all her dreams will be realized.
      We still have trouble knowing some of the words Aizen says, as he talks real fast, and has a little accent. It is so cute listening to them, whether we understand them, or not.
      Adele

    • Gail Norusis
      Participant
      Post count: 3596

      Adele, Is your Dad buried in a military cemetery? My parents lived in Alexandria Louisiana when my Dad died and there was a National Cemetery there and that’s where he wanted to be buried. So he is buried in Louisiana and my Mom is buried in Florida next to her second husband. Kind of weird, I thought but they must have agreed on that as he had a first wife who died also back in Connecticut and he didn’t get buried next to her. Anyway, other than the day that they were actually buried i have never been back to either gravesite and I always think about that on Holidays where people traditionally decorate the graves of their loved ones and i hope their graves don’t look too neglected. Now I feel sad.
      I’ll bet your Dad will have a few words to say to you up in heaven about honoring his wishes. What did your Mom say about all that? I know in our family my Mom would have had the final word on anything like that-not any of us kids. Those only children!!! eye rolling and lol.
      Actually I was always jealous of my friends who were only children as they didn’t have to share a bedroom with a grumpy older sister who liked to “borrow” my stuff without asking. I guess we all want the opposite of what we have in those circumstances-the grass always looks greener.
      Gail

    • Dianne Danielson
      Participant
      Post count: 1034

      Hi Ladies,
      Yes that was the attack I spoke of. IT was Friday afternoon rush hour, when people were heading home to spend the long holiday weekend with their families. Three men stepped in when that #$%**(@ was harassing two young teenagers. Needless to say Portland is still reeling from it. I saw CNN &
      HLN is covering it today, focusing on the heroes. There’s more videos of him the night before on a bus spewing the same venom.
      There are 3 GoFund Me accounts to raise $ for the families of the 2 slain victims & medical costs for the 3rd victim.

      Our 90 degree day faded away. Clouds rolled in overnight, but no rain. Just much cooler. They should burn off later today.

      Hallie had the memorial service for her mom on Sat.. she had to postpone it when she was in the ICU the day she’d originally scheduled it. I wore my new QF butterfly shirt. She sure thought it was pretty. I just wish I could afford all of them!!!
      Well, that’s about all for today.
      I;m glad you enjoy all my pics.
      dd

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    • Anonymous
      Inactive
      Post count: 643

      I can see the parade from my deck and as I was remembering those who made the ultimate sacrifice I could not help but remember how the streets use to be crowded with people at the parades. Today only a few were watching and I imagine there were only a few at the ceremony at the VFW. How sad that todays generation just do not seem to care and were not taught respect. I also wonder how those we lost would feel at what is going on in the world today.

      I do see a little progress with my knee. Everyone says I am doing well. When I went to the doctor to have the stitches out it was easier for me to get on to his table. I am now able to get on my recliner and my desk chair and get up again. The therapist says he thinks I will just be using a cane this week and not the walker. The pain is better most of the time. I overdid it Sat with doing laundry and hurt all weekend. I no longer have any of the good pain pills and they won’t give more because of the chance of addiction . The others just do not work as well but I do not want to become addicted. I think some of it is the crappy weather we all are having. The rain & cold make my whole leg ache. Today was a nice day but tomorrow we are back to rain and dark. Thursday is to be the only dry day but who knows that could change. They said this is the 6th week in a row for a rainy weekend and more of the same next weekend. It is to be in this cool rainy pattern until mid June. Then change to hot & dry.

      I have eaten better the past 2 days. I just have not been hungary and would feel nauseous, Today I wanted a burger. So I made a burger and French fries for lunch. I would have like some potato salad but did not have any or the ingredients and energy to make some so settled for frozen ff. Dinner was ice cream. Not things that are good for you but what I wanted.

    • Colleen
      Participant
      Post count: 3077

      Hi Gail,
      Can you imagine if we got Piper and Aliza together they would never stop talking. We could all do something else and they could talk to each other. I wonder if they would wear each other out? My oldest daughter was a talker and she use to walk in her sleep. She got up once and walked to the back door and tried to open it. We had it locked so she just turned around and went back to bed. We never did figure out where she was going and she did not remember it. We know that she was not sneaking out she was too young for that.
      That is so cool that you found about the man whose name was on the bracelet. My dad was not in the VFW he never did join the group. I do remember watching the parades when we were young. He was a Marine during WWII. He did not serve any after that he came home and went to work and school. I agree with everything that you said. It is not only the soldiers that suffer during the wars their families do also. It is great that we have women and men that support their spouse in the service.
      Sounds like Greg did make up for the pizza. Your meal sounds really good. We grilled today also. It was nice not to have rain again. We are supposed to have it at the end of the week. All of the week-ends are ruined because of the rain.
      Well that is about all from here. Have a great night.
      Colleen

    • Colleen
      Participant
      Post count: 3077

      Hi Adele,
      Glad that you got to cook out today or yesterday.We grilled today but it was just Ron and I here. It was nice and quite and we did not have to do much. We have enough left overs for tomorrow so that will be nice. I hope that you find a recipe for the cake that is not as rich. I think that most kids like things really sweet.
      I think that you are right about what happened. That is terrible that you cannot be safe going home anymore. When did it happen that people started thinking that all you have to do if you do not like something is kill people. How sad this world is now.
      They had to pick someone from their class to walk down the isle with and her friend are juniors. Then they would not let the kids out of school early that were graduating. They were going to let them graduate but they had to come back to school until the school year ended. They did finally did change that rule because the parents said something about that. We do not know why they did not just let the kids walk like they always did. In alphabetical order and that was that. I imagine the whole thing was a mess. She will still wish that she had down the isle though.
      We had a nice day today. It was nice yesterday also. It will be nice when the rain stops and the storms. Hope that you did not have bad storms there. Our weather is warmer then it had been but not really bad. We are in a rainy pattern also. It will be nice to see the sun for while.
      I do not think that your dad cared if he was not buried in his uniform after he passed away. He probably understood that you wanted to keep it. Dads seem to forgive their daughters faster then they do their sons. You were his one and only daughter.
      My dad was buried in a church cemetery. My mom will be buried next to him. It is the church that they went too when they were older. They had some really good friends there.
      Well that is about all from here. Have a great night.
      Colleen

    • Colleen
      Participant
      Post count: 3077

      Hi DD,
      I really like the patriotic pictures that you posted. I always think of that song that Lee Greenwood sang. Proud to be an American. That is such a good song and it says it all. We did not have any parades around here. It is a shame that they do not. There are a lot of veterans around here because they march in other parades around here. It is just weird how they do things here.
      Glad that you got the cooler weather and not all the storms. That would have been a mess. That is all that we have weather wise around here. We had a nice two days but now the storms are supposed to be back. We will see if they are right or not.
      That was the right shirt to wear to the memorial. They say a lot of people associate butterflies with their love ones that have died. That butterfly shirt is so pretty.
      Well that is about all from here. Have a great night.
      Colleen

    • Colleen
      Participant
      Post count: 3077

      Hi Sue,
      Glad that you are doing better. It is hard to slow down when there are things that need to be done. Just try to take it easier and do not do a lot of laundry at one time.
      That is good that you got you appetite back. If you were closer I would have brought some potato salad to you. We had some for dinner tonight.
      Colleen

    • adele shanbar
      Participant
      Post count: 5025

      Hi Gail!
      My Dad is in the family plot in Boston. We did not want him far away in Washington. In retrospect, we should have, as that area in Boston is bad, and we have not gone there in years. We do a scholarship for him in remembrance now. I have always thought that is a good idea, anyway, as he cannot smell the flowers.
      My poor Mom, Tillie was so sick when he died, she barley went through the motions. She was in bed, rocking and would not even eat. She was in my old room. I knew she was willing herself to die, and had to do everything for her. I sold the 2 houses, and got this one. She never even saw this before the move day- sold it to the first one who looked at it, and this was the first house I looked at. Her only comment was…..nobody buys the first house they look at. From the first day we were here, she no longer stayed in bed all day. She did sleep late, but she got up, and functioned. If we had stayed in the old house, she would have died, and I knew that. It was a lot of work, packing up 3 houses, then add that my parents were int hat house for a century. We left a lot there- she did not want her bedroom set- she took mine. Even her pretty chandelier was left, and she loved it. She was adamant about not wanting it. Then, months later, she said she wished she had taken that. It was her only regret she left behind.
      I always hated being an only. When my Dad died, it was just me, and still is. When Tillie goes some day, I have moody in my generation anymore. I am really lucky she has lived this long.
      Well,enough of this sadness……sorry girls!
      Adele

    • adele shanbar
      Participant
      Post count: 5025

      Hi DD
      Your pictures are always fun to look at, with great sayings to. Thank you for sharing.
      That was just awful. It is terrible that these incidents continue all over the country.
      I am so sorry about your friend in the ICU, and their Mom dying. that must have been hard to attend. I hope you had someone to go with you. When you sparkle and shine, it makes thieving better. I bet you looked lovely in your new butterfly shirt.
      It is raining here again today. I hope ti finally let sup, as I am going to grow gills, for God’s sake!
      Adele

    • adele shanbar
      Participant
      Post count: 5025

      Hi Sue
      that is great news about your mobility. Take 2 Alleve’s, even though the dosage is one per day. they do make a difference.
      I bet the reason for the nausea was the pain pills. Once they get all out of your body, you will feel so much better. Plus, goign to a cane will make you realize how much progress you are making. Baby steps, my friend.
      It is the weather that makes you feel worst, especially with a brand new surgery. You are getting the same crappy weather we are getting.
      You are so right. Nobody has the Patriotism that we older generation have. that is sad. It was nice you could see the parade from your windows. I hope that brought a nice smile to your face!
      Adele
      PS…heard Thursday will be good weather. I hope for you too.

    • adele shanbar
      Participant
      Post count: 5025

      Hey Colleen
      That is my favorite song. It makes me cry, every time I hear it.
      Adele

    • adele shanbar
      Participant
      Post count: 5025

      Hi Colleen!
      We had only the 4 of us here too. It sure was a lot less cleaning up. But, I did miss all the noise and company. I think we just accept what is- whether all can come, or none can come. there is always tomorrow, if the good Lord grants it to us.
      I feel the same way as you do. Kylie is going to miss that she didn’t some day. Who knows. Maybe she won’t.
      I think my dad will just give me a one of those “Dinoso” smacks that the boss gives him on NCIS.
      I am really tired today, and kind of grouchy. I got sick after dinner, and all we had was my veggie soup. So,nothing that would have upset my belly. I spent the rest of the night in between the bed and bathroom, and I had wanted to see the movie Sully that was on. Gary recorded it for me.
      The weather stinks here again. I hope the sun comes through some day this week.
      Adele

    • Dianne Danielson
      Participant
      Post count: 1034

      Hi Ladies,
      I hope you’re all fine today. Our weather did a 180 from the weekend. Our natural AC came in & cooled us off which is fine by me. We had heavy drizzle but no heavy rain. IT’s back to typical Oregon weather.
      Adele you might want to go back to your post to me earlier today, & re-read it. The part about sparkle & shine…..lol
      Oh yes, you’ve heard about the 2 men stabbed to death last Friday. Well, the one with the red beard, he has a long name, but his nick name was Tillie for short. He was the one who had just graduated from business college & had just bought a house. It’s just so very sad for everyone. The GoFund me pages have raised over $1 million for the families. This will be with us for a verrrrrry long time!!!
      We used to have parades where I grew up, but they stopped having them yrs ago. I think they combined Memorial Day with the Strawberry festival parades back then. then in Albany they had the Timber Carnival over the 4th of July along with fireworks, & a parade kicked it off, but that’s just a memory now. It’s a shame since the kids don’t get to enjoy the fun of watching parades, etc.
      Well, that’s all for tonight.
      dd

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    • Colleen
      Participant
      Post count: 3077

      Hi DD,
      The main parades that we have here are the one for the 4th of July and Christmas. They are the biggest but then we live in a small town and it is hard to get a lot of people together to march in one. I miss all the kids having the firecrackers and letting them go off and the other fireworks that we use to be able to do when we were kids. Some of the things that have changed in this world are not for the better. Everyone really celebrated back then.
      I noticed what Adele wrote also. That was funny. She will get a good laugh out of it when she reads it.
      That is so sad that man ruined three families lives. Especially the ones that he killed. I hope that the man that was wounded is doing better. What a shame the young man sounds like he was just starting out in life. Adult life that is. How sad.
      The butterflies in the pictures look like the ones on your shirt. They are really pretty. Thank you for posting so many pretty pictures. they are very cheerful. You always know what to post.
      Have a great night.
      Colleen

    • Colleen
      Participant
      Post count: 3077

      Hi Adele,
      It is such a blessing to have all of the family that we still have. What a blessing to still have our moms. I do not know what things will be like when she is gone. Guess we just have to thank God for the time that we have them here.
      Kylie said to thank you and Gail. She is just so excited to be out of school. She is now trying to find a job so she will have money while she is in college. She thinks that she wants two jobs but we will see after she starts one full time job.
      I hope that you are feeling a lot better today.You must have got some type of bug and it did not last long. That was nice of Gary to tape that movie for you. At least you did not miss it. Sometimes our husbands can be so thoughtful.
      Well that is about all from here. I have to go to the eye doctor and find out when he wants to do the cataract surgery. I am not looking forward to doing that.
      Have a good night.
      Colleen

    • Gail Norusis
      Participant
      Post count: 3596

      Hi Sue,
      Glad that you checked in. I think Adele may be right. Sometimes those pain pills do something to your appetite.
      It sounds like you are doing very well if you will be graduating to a cane. It was smart to have this done in the spring so you have the summer to recuperate before you have to worry about walking in ice and snow.
      It seems like most of us in the mid and eastern sections of the country have had a cool wet spring. Greg just got the garden in this past weekend and usually it is in the second week of May. So we will be waiting a little longer for fresh veggies this year. I must say that it’s my favorite time of year besides spring when the garden vegetables start coming in. We eat so healthy then with meat off the grill and veggies from the garden. Yum!
      Gail

    • Gail Norusis
      Participant
      Post count: 3596

      Hi DD,
      Those butterflies are just gorgeous! What I would give to see some of those in our back yard. I guess I will just have to do with the ones on the Quacker shirts. And according to Adele-the sparkle and shine is good for thieving-so the next time I wear one i hope that i am not compelled to rob a convenience store. lol I must say that typo gave me a good chuckle and Adele who fortunately has a great sense of humor about herself would just say that she “aims to serve.” lol
      In the town that we live in they have their big Milk Days celebration the first Saturday in June so there is always a big parade then although it is not as long as it used to be because the cost of getting some groups to march has risen so dramatically. some groups used to come for free also but not anymore. I used to work with a guy who back then was the chairman of the committee and as soon as they are done with the celebration for one year they start working on the one for the following year. So many people work so hard to put this all together that I always hope for good weather for them. This year our friends are the Grand Marshalls of the parade. They are being honored for all their years of service to the community for running the retirement home which they are selling and retiring from this year. She is a nurse and he is a social worker. Wonderful people.
      Gail

    • Gail Norusis
      Participant
      Post count: 3596

      Hi Colleen,
      It would be nice if Aliza and Piper could talk each other’s ears off and wear each other out.
      Jenny was not a big talker when she was little but according to family lore I was-so maybe she gets it from me. lol
      Greg has an ONP golf outing on Friday and then Saturday is the Milk Day parade so I hope the rain will hold off this weekend.
      I like that song that Alan Jackson did about 9/11 also called Where were you when the world stopped turning. It’s very moving.
      We are having a beautiful day today sunny in the low seventies. I see the peonies are starting to bloom so I hope we don’t get any heavy rainfalls as that just ruins the bushes. I love all the spring flowers peonies, lily of the valley and lilacs-all the ones with glorious scents!
      Gail

    • Gail Norusis
      Participant
      Post count: 3596

      Hi Adele,
      The scholarship in your Dad’s name is a good idea. It will help out future generations. It’s too bad that the cemetery is in a bad area though as no one would feel comfortable there. I wonder if I am weird as I always kind of thought cemeteries were sort of interesting-especially the old ones with the ornate headstones. I would always wonder what those people’s lives were like in days gone by-I guess I may have the soul of a poet. Around here there our many little places by farms with little family plots. There is also a little church out in the country with many civil war era graves and I always wondered about those people and their life experiences.
      That was very brave of you to pack up those houses and move after your Dad died. I guess you had to be the strong one for the sake of your mother. I’m glad that she recovered after the move. Did she ever date again? My Mom remarried and then her second husband died also. He had very bad emphysema from being a chicken farmer and he also was a heavy smoker so that just made it worse. Greg’s Mom had a few men interested in her but she never really dated again after her husband’s death either. I can see why as they always seemed like the perfect couple to me probably compared to my parents who had a bit of a volatile relationship.
      When we are little we don’t think about our only child friends missing the companionship of their siblings later in life-we only think about them not having to share. I guess maybe more so in my case as my siblings-especially my sister were mean to me growing up probably because she always got stuck watching me. She didn’t even remember the things that she used to do to me when we were little-like kicking me in bed-we shared a double bed at one point-and hitting me. She was very sorry about those things when i told her about them and has apologized-and of course since we have grown up we are very close. I do remember after my Mom died-and of course we were all adults with families by that time my sister saying “now we are orphans” when we were in the car riding away from the church. Even though we are adults when that happens it does affect you in an odd way as that part of your life is gone now-so I understand what you mean about not having anyone from your generation to share the memories. However, you do have children and grands and great grands so some of those memories will live on down the line.
      Okay, now lets talk about something more cheerful like puppies and rainbows and unicorns.
      Lachlan has another baseball game tonight so that should be amusing if we go. It’s a nice day so I hope that we do.
      Gail

    • Gail Norusis
      Participant
      Post count: 3596

      This made me chuckle.

      Attachments:
    • adele shanbar
      Participant
      Post count: 5025

      DD
      LOL LOL LOL That was supposed to be “everything”. You have to watch the auto correct,a sit puts in some weirdo words.
      Adele

    • adele shanbar
      Participant
      Post count: 5025

      Hi Colleen!
      It was a funny error, for sure.
      I guess we will watch that movie on the weekend, or on a night nothing good is on TV.
      I do finally feel better. I wonder if Tillie had a little virus, that I ended up getting. Who knows. Just glad it is gone.
      I hope Kylie finds a job that she likes, and is not stressful for when she goes back to school. School is stressful enough.
      What did you think of AGT last night? My favorites were the clown who sang, and the little boy who acted out the song. Seems like the new host will not be as involved as the old one. I hope she starts to do more with the contestants.
      It is still cool and overcast. the sun is peeking out, and we are supposed to get thunderstorms. I think you need a lot more heat for a thunderstorm.

      DD
      That has been on the news here to. Such a terrible thing for those men to lose their loves for such a loser. He is an absolute waste of a human being. I always wonder what happened to a person that makes then such a hateful person. Those poor women will feel so guilty about this for the rest of their lives- that survivor guilt thing. So many lives were ruined by one total waste of a human, as I will continue to call him.

      Hope everyone’s day is good!
      Adele

    • adele shanbar
      Participant
      Post count: 5025

      Gail and DD
      I certainly got a good chuckle myself thinking of you robbing a convenience store with sparkle and shine….LOL
      I am here to serve the public, as you have pointed out. If I make one person laugh a day, it is a good day. Today, I even made myself laugh.
      Adele

    • adele shanbar
      Participant
      Post count: 5025

      Hey Gailster!
      That is a funny puppy picture. You wonder what they are thinking?
      Well, between our 2 posts, they are enough to bring tears to Veronese’s eyes. I agree- butterflies, and sparkle a way happier topic. But, I have to add one more thing. I find the sayings on the old graves very amusing. I have threatened to write this on Gary”s….”here lies Gary who refused to drink his water, so he is swimming with the fishes for the rest of eternity….per his wife”. that sign would be on the edge of a lake….LOL LOL Gary does not find that amusing. So, I tell him to remember I still have my Dad’s uniform.
      We have to laugh in the face of death, or at our ages, it can get scary.
      I also kind of feel that I never had time to grieve for my Dad, as I was busy caring for Tillie, and moving. the only place I had to cry was in the car. Especially when I heard the song that came out when he died…Dance with my father again. I hate that song. reduces me to a blubbering idiot in one second.
      So….will we see Lachlan on the evening news tonight? Have a good time- take a video so we can all have a chuckle.
      Adele

    • Barbara Smith
      Participant
      Post count: 418

      Hello everyone! We have had some really bad storms here over the last couple of weeks. Our power went out for over 15 hours at ten at night the first time. We knew from the weather on TV that the storm would hit here within just a few minutes. Jerry had me put the kitty in his carrier, and the three of us got in the laundry room. That is the first time ever that he actually told me to go get in there; so he must have heard something because the wind was howling so loud and the trees were cracking and popping. It passed quickly; but did lots of damage. Thankfully we all were safe; and Joey was off that night so he was with Lisa in their pantry. The lights finally came back on for us; but in Memphis there are many still out; including at Jerrys Mom’s house. Trees are uprooted everywhere and power lines down. Hope you all are okay. I really worried about everyone; because it just seemed to cover such a large path.
      The only two things we had for Memorial Day dinner was grilled pork and potato salad. We didn’t get a chance to fight the crowds of people from the storm that were at the store, and the kids said that was fine they were just happy we all were okay. Lisa broght up a frozen pie that she had in their freezer that was kind of like chocolate ice cream and whipped cream topping. It was good.
      In case I have missed any of your children, or grands who may have graduated this year; I know that is a big step in their lives; so congratulations. It seems so long ago since I granduated; such a different world. It seems so innocent to me now; but simple things like getting caught or sneaking around to smoke or heaven forbid; drink a beer; was so frowned on. And I remember how one of my dear friends became pregnant during 11th grade; and how her parents sent her off to “visit her sick aunt”, and then she came back and started back to school; no baby but never the same. It was so sad that here family was so “disgraced” that they didn’t even keep her precious baby, but as years went by I thought who can say but that might have been better for the child to be with someone loving. So you know; I am old. Now it is just something and I even saw where you can buy the pill they take the next morning to stop a baby out of their vending machines at school. My how times have changed.
      I think I have mentioned to you all how my brother who is an artist used to take pencil etchings from graves in Lousiana and then he would trace back their history. He was absolutely facinated with it. You all were talking about how you cry when you hear some songs. I was like a weeping willow all of Memorial Day. When I saw those families at Arlington National Cemetery and then got to thinking of how many people have rushed into horror to protect us knowing they would not see their loved ones again; my heart just breaks at their sacrifices. Even Jerry was crying. I so understand your emotions. I think that is one special reason I enjoy visiting with you all so much; we just care, and we are not ashamed to show it.
      Better go for now and try to catch up on this laundry. We are beginning to wear the same outfit more than one day. LOL Take care everyone. Barbara

    • Dianne Danielson
      Participant
      Post count: 1034

      Hi Ladies,
      Since this is the last day of May, I hope you’ll see this. We had what I call a perfect day. Partly sunny with clouds around but no rain. IT’s getting back to normal weather, finally!!! May is the driest month we’ve had all yr! Hooooray!
      No you’re not crazy or maqcabe (?) about being interested in old cemeteries. They’re part of our history. Where I grew up there are a couple cemeteries that date back to the civil war, or there abouts. When you look at the dates, you find that they had several children & a lot of them died as babies. Probably due to what we now call childhood illnesses, colds, flu, etc. Oregon became a state Feb. 14th, 1859, so there were settlers out here.
      Barbara I hope your safe & sound now. That must have been sooooo terrrrifying for you!!! I’d probably be screaming my head off.

      There have been posts on FB about that POS & someone commented about putting a bullet in his head. My comment was, why waste a perfectly good bullet. Just drop him off in the Sahara desert, without food or water & let him go scream his hatred to the cobras. Pity the snakes.
      Well, I better close for now.
      HAPPY First day of JUNE!!!
      dd

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    • Gail Norusis
      Participant
      Post count: 3596

      Hi Everyone,
      I’m starting a new discussion for June. See you all there.

    • adele shanbar
      Participant
      Post count: 5025

      Hey Missy Barbara!
      Well, your words on many levels brought tears to my eyes. How sad for that poor girl. I wonder if she was ever able to get any information on her child, that they were well, and well cared for. Times have changed, and I would say, for the good. I would like to hope that no girl or woman would have to endure that kind of pain.
      It is humbling to think of what our armed services sacrifice, to maintain our freedom. Colleen’s family is continuing to serve, and we hear how hard it is for them to be so far away, with little notice. We are blessed to live in this great land.
      I am so happy that you are all ok, and escaped any harm from the last round of storms. I read your post to Gary, and he said he is glad we do not have those storms up here. We would be beside ourselves, as this is a raised ranch, no basement, and windows in every room. God bless all of you for handling it so well. Every time I hear about bad storms, I pray all our Quackers are ok, and their friends and relatives too.
      Now, we just heard of an awful explosion in Wisconsin, and hope nobody was harmed there. So much bad news lately.
      The sun is finally shining up here. I think I need sunglasses in the kitchen…..LOL
      So, Gary tells me he has a lump sticking out where his hip was replaced. The lump is not there in the morning, but is as the day goes on. OMG. The issues continue. He made an appointment with the hip surgeon.
      Adele

    • adele shanbar
      Participant
      Post count: 5025

      Hi DD!
      I have to say, I like your punishment. Let him sing his hatred to the cobras, and see who wins. Such a waste of a human being.
      We are having all your rain. I think the coasts have switched weather patterns.
      The sun is finally shining today. It feels so good to have the windows open, and hear the birds sing. I am blessed today, for sure.
      Love the pretty summer pictures- thank you for always finding pretty ones to share.
      Adele

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