phyllser

Hope you have a great time in Temecula. If you get to South Coast Winery... ask for Stephanie Blue. Our step-grandduaghter-in-law! Jodie & Al live about 50 miles away. I think they're going out to lunch with us, but she did comment that the kids can't wait to eat when they get out of church on Sundays... but they are going to skip the Sunday school hour, so that should make a difference. Anyway, I think it's more SIL who can't wait to eat! LOL Gigi is a "Shorkie"... 1/2 Yorkie, 1/2 Shitzu. She's adorable.. Weighs maybe 8 lb, if that. I use one of the recumbent bikes. I was just a little bit sore this morning, but as soon as I got on that thing everything started hurting.. knees, hips, shoulders, back... so I quit.

You sure need some down time!! You make ME tired reading about your daily/weekly routine!! You are one BUSY lady! You asked about the beach house $$ a couple of days ago and I don't remember if I answered you! Deposit was $38 each, I believe... someone correct me if I am wrong. And now we owe $802, so that's $100 each. OMG... so glad we no longer have teenagers living with us!! Worry about the grandkids, but they're not here under my nose driving me crazy and keeping me awake nights! What an awesome week... let's see... this incident last night, then there was the day his dog ate your carpet, what else???? :thumbup::eek::thumbup: How sweet of your DIL to remember the coffee machine! Wow! I have no one in my family that thoughtful! Tracy & Chris (well, Kellie, really) always remember birthdays and Mothers Day/Fathers Day, but.... Jodie & Steve just don't. At least Jodie & Al & family are coming up here Sunday, for a change... We've lived here 3 years and that's about how many times they've been to the condo! i know... they have 3 young kids... but.... And it doesn't take much effort to mail a card! Yes, I went to the gym again today. But he trainer caught me on the resistance machines and scooted me off... said I need to rest my muscles at least 48 hours before using them again... and he'd like me to wait until I see him again on Monday so he can watch me one more time to check my "technique" again. So he told me to do some cardio. So I went to the recumbent bike... stupid thing kept shutting down and wouldn't track my time or anything.. Told Tracy where that bike was and she used the same one the other day with the same problem. Anyway... as soon as I started pedaling my joints really started hurting. So I did a few minutes and decided I should probably quit. Maybe I'll go back again tomorrow. I have another appt with Ryan on Monday afternoon. Warmed up to "normal" this afternoon... high 50's, and the sun finally came out late in the afternoon. Highlight of my day was a visit from Tracy & Jim. So I went out to the car when they left to cuddle my grandpuppy, Gigi, for a few minutes. She loves me! Tracy & Alisha were very sick with the flu yesterday. So she was telling me how Jim let the dog come up to their room and she jumped on the bed and got under the covers with Tracy.... laying on her back, with her paws just over the top of the covers! Jim tried to take a picture but Tracy insisted she NOT be in it and he couldn't figure out how to take it that way! She is such a sweet puppy! I want one just like her! Earl was gone ALL day getting tow bar put on the new car. And they never got to the electrical!! He left around 7 a.m. and didn't get home until after 4 p.m. And he's sore because he amused himself by walking all over the place! He thinks he walked 5 miles... I say, in 8 hrs... it was probably a lot more than that even though some of the time he was shopping, looking at RVs, etc.

Saw Boomer on the Today Show, but disappointed not to see Jodi or Dassi!?? Did I miss something or did they decide not to let your on camera!? They used staff.... Ann, Meredith, intern!? What's up with that!

Our cat usually hides when she sees the cat carrier appear. But she didn't do that last week.. went willingly. I took her on my scooter.. she hollered all the way over and all the way back. But she was pretty good.. only tried to bite the vet once!!! :bored::biggrin::glare: Ah, ha!!!.... You flashed your underwear! NOW I see where you got that reputation you told me about!! LOL!! Nice chatting with you today! Ah.... good info! I will remember that! I had the resistance on the bike up to 5 today... probably better, then, to keep it down to about 3 and increase my time. I did have some pain in my hip joints and knee.... the good one, after my 12 minutes on the recumbent yesterday. So probably too much resistance. I really enjoyed the workout today.. just have to work out the bugs of using my iTouch, and build some appropriate workout playlists. Congrats, QUEEN!! Vet $$$$... ridiculous! $30 for the rabies shot, $48 for the exam!! DH has a fit every year when I take the cat in.. wants me to find a cheaper way to get her shots. I say, she's 13 yrs old... she needs a yearly vet check-up! Then they tried to sell me a bottle ... mouth wash, basically... put drops in her water to help prevent calculus on her teeth! It was $23!!! And a lifetime supply for several cats!! I said NO THANK YOU! YIKES!! That's a tough one! TWO YEARS???? Too long! Too dangerous! I'm with you, Mom! Nuts!

Good point.... #1, he will want to buy the cheapest espresso machine he can find, #2, he won't want to spend $$$ on the right kind of beans, #3, neither of us knows how fine to grind the beans for espresso drinks, #4, we will have to start buying milk on a regular basis. I have a bottle of SF Raspberry flavoring, but I like 1/2 SF Raspberry, 1/2 SF white chocolate... the powder kind... don't know where to buy that. Our Mother's Day plans.. DD#2 and her family are coming up here after church... I think they're going out to lunch with us.. I sort of think she was hoping Tracy would cook... but that wouldn't be fair on Mother's Day. And she was mumbling something about the kids being so hungry after church that they have to eat right away.. she didn't know if they could wait until they drive up here. That's why we usually drive down to them each Mother's day... Which we were willing to do, but SIL told her they need to come up here this year! Okay with me. But hope it all works out okay. Hope you have a good day despite having to work! Empty nest is a GOOD thing... issue an ultimatum to that girl... she does chores or she moves out. She should be doing her part around the house without being told she HAS to!! You've let her get away with that for too long! Get tough!! And BUY SOME NEW SOCKS!!

LOL!! Yesterday when I was asked why I was gone so long to the "gym", I explained that I wasn't coming home with any more lattes in my hand (although I already broke the new resolution today!), so... I went from the gym to Surf Shack and then took my latte and went shopping at Target until it was gone!! And I told him when this pre-paid card is used up, I'm buying my lattes with cash from now on so he can't see my purchases! I usually load my card with $25, reload when it gets low. So he sees all these $25 charges on the debit card. So.. Yep.... I will be withdrawing cash from now on. My idea was to set up an automatic deposit of $300 a month from our main checking account to my "mad money" account that he can't see. He doesn't realize it, but he's turning in to his father... whom he ... I don't like to use the word "hate", but it was close to that. The only money his mother ever got was cash to buy groceries... and she didn't drive, so he took her shopping. But she would hide whatever she didn't spend, and that was the only way she could ever buy herself anything.. like a new pair of shoes, etc. And then she had to take a bus downtown after he went to work in the afternoon to shop for herself. He was a tyrant! Earl doesn't come close to doing some of the things he used to do, but... when it comes to money.... he's getting there!! :bored::sleep::glare: His mother had NO MONEY when his father died... no insurance, etc., just his social security. She lived about 12 more years after he died.. and she'd been so used to saving every scrap of change she could get her hands on.. when she died each of her 7 kids got $10,000... AFTER all other obligations were met! How did she do that!!! Some of it maybe from selling mobile home they lived in, and car, but that couldn't have amounted to very much. Funny story Earl's brother told us once... She sent him to the store to buy her ONE apple. He brought her TWO so she made him take one back! Okay... enough about MONEY!! Was at the gym for about 45 minutes... for real... then I went to Surf Shack... but it was raining too hard to go waste time somewhere else while I drank my coffee, so I went home! Had 2nd appt with my trainer, Ryan. Puzzles me that no one has asked me for $$$$ yet! Yes... Tracy gave me a 1 week free pass, but owner said I was entitled to 3 free consults with a personal trainer.. on a free one week pass??? oh, well... he's the owner! So.... first day we just talked about me and my personal goals, and my health, etc., and what kind of program he suggested for me. So today.. we did recumbent bike, 5 minutes, then four of the resistance machines... 15 reps X2 on each... 2 legs, 2 arms... When we were done I did 10 more minutes on the recumbent bike. Then I got soaking wet going back to the car. I'd had thorough instructions as to HOW to park the new car!! Only my 2nd time to drive it... so.. being obedient, I parked in handicap because the slots are WIDE. Unfortunately they are at the far corner of the building no where near the front door. It was POURING when I came out and I got soaked!

Two bad episodes with the back, but nothing in 6 weeks now. X-rays don't look so good though! :bored: Bone & Joint place won't see me until I get a referral from my primary care Dr. Primary care won't give me a referral until I see her for THIS problem! Stupid! Medicare doesn't require a referral! But the clinic does! So I go next week to the primary care doc. That's what made me go find the CD with the x-rays on it. Have to take it to her. I went to a local gym today... my 3rd time this week. DD gave me a free 1 week pass. So firs time the owner took me on a tour through their facilities. Pretty impressive... day spa, tanning beds, espresso bar, therapy pool, very nice treadmills, stationary bikes, etc., and resistance machines. So today trainer got me set up on a routine... use 2 resistance machines for arms, 2 for legs, and showed me how to work the recumbent bike. There is a jack to put your iPod in... charges it, too. But then you plug your earbuds in to the jack on the bike.. and it wouldn't work. I kept getting loud screeches in my ear. So I took it off the jack and plugged my earbuds directly in to my iTouch. Working out the bugs! Now I have to "build" a work out playlist! What I'm hoping is that when I see the ortho doc maybe he will order physical therapy and I can go there for it, and use the nice warm pool!!

No kidding! When I needed a fill last year when we were in CA it was cheaper for me to fly home and get one, even with rental car, than to get one from one of the docs down there!!

Decided to skip Primetimers today so we went to Costco this morning. And I made an appt with Ryan at the gym for 2 pm. Oh, got chewed out over the weekend for spending too much money on lattes since we've been home.... $25 a week. So now I'm supposed to buy an espresso maker and make my own! We've had one before and never could quite get it right. Steaming the milk, for one thing...a pain. And I ENJOY going over there every day. It's a social thing, too! Some days I just wish I was single! I'm tired of having all my purchases scrutinized! Riteaid has some wine I really like on sale all month for $4.99 a bottle - so I got in trouble for buying two bottles of that the other day, too. We are just barely on speaking terms at the moment because I am TICKED! Every time I say I want an allowance, he says that's ridiculous because I can buy ANYTHING i want to buy! Yeah, right!! I may run away! The directions were right there... enter age, I did, enter weight, I did, enter program, I did.... then this 84 would pop up and I couldn't figure out what I was supposed to do next. So I'd hit enter again and it would cycle right back to age!! So I gave up and just started pedaling! So sorry to hear about your friend's death. Hugs!

My surgery was covered under Medicare/Tricare. Though I don't remember if Tricare picked up any of it. They started covering LapBand after my surgery but made it retroactive back about 6 mos. I think they made me pay $200 for something... but Tricare should have reimbursed me and didn't. I've never been charged for a fill.... Medicare has paid for them. Going back to see personal trainer today. Monday he mostly interviewed me and told me what he'd like to include in my program. Hope to get him to show me how to set up treadmill and recumbent bike today. Used the bike yesterday for almost 15 minutes,but was a struggle setting the program I wanted to use. No sore muscles today, but hip joints hurting some, and my GOOD knee!! That sort of concerns me! Would have expected the right knee to hurt but not the left!!

Did some time on the recumbent bike but really need to have someone show me how to work the machines. Everything all computerized and I couldn't figure out how to program the thing. Got it to function, but never did get it to track my heart rate. My watch will take my pulse... when I stopped it was 127, so I think that's about right. Trainer wanted me to come back tomorrow.. said I couldn't, but after trying to use the machines on my own, I thought about calling him today to set up an appt and skip Primetimers. But... Earl wants to go to costco tomorrow after Primetimers, so I didn't do it.

UH OH.... the fur is going to fly tonight!! I would come unglued, too!! I think the puppy would be looking for a new home! I was going to go to the gym this afternoon with Tracy & Alisha, but it's so cold out... I couldn't make myself go out again. AND.. they are going late tonight... like about now, and it will be crowded... and it's my first time. So I think I'll just go by myself in the morning. Found out at my "personal trainer" appt that the guy who showed me around last week is the owner! just a young guy... thought he was one of the trainers! Tracy's one day a week job has turned in to just about full time now! She is filling in for a lady who is in ICU, so I'm thinking this may last through the end of the school year! So.. I may be going by myself most of the time because I don't want to go in the late afternoon. I don't know what is going on, but feeling sick every time I eat for the last three days. Maybe a touch of the flu?? Problems with reflux, too. But that's been going on for a couple of weeks. Not fun.

I like to use those "Smiley Central" animations. They sure have some cute ones. I will be able to go to the gym w/DD & GD. Could've gone over with DD this afternoon... but after two cruises around the neighborhood on my scooter in the frigid wind this afternoon, I opted not to go out again. She was going after work... like 5pm, and that's kind of late for me, and it's crowded then. I think I'll go tomorrow morning. Straws.... I've heard that we're not supposed to use them, but I do anyways. I don't have a problem. I think it's something about swallowing too much air. But I burp whether I use a straw or not!! :thumbdown::biggrin::blushing:

Oooops.... Knew that ass-kicking was coming!! Wait until she sees the "Ben & Jerry's" post! UH OH!!! More lashes with a wet noodle for you! Ditto, Karla.... and I'M 66 and I would've helped you push it in! And I'm a weakling wimp!! Turkey meat loaf sounds good! Got some Lean Cuisines at Albertson's yesterday... on sale this week for $1.88 w/Albertson's card. And if you buy 6 of them you get a free box of Skinny Cows! So I got a box of Truffles... 100 calories each, not 140 like the ice cream sandwiches. Speaking of kicking ass, I think you need to kick that DD's ass right out of the house!! I think you need some empty nesting and she does not appreciate what she has. She is inconsiderate and takes advantage of you! Sorry... just telling you how I see it! Let her go live with her "study group"!:thumbdown::smile2::blushing: :thumbup:

Grain-haulers for lunch?? I just had leftovers!:thumbdown: Glad you had a pleasant weekend. Sorry about the vertigo!! We did miss you here! It was a little quiet and boring without you. HO HUM!! LOL! Sorry gals!! Uh oh!! You sound kind of unhappy!! :blushing::biggrin::thumbup: Like they said.... it will get better, but first it might get worse!! :smile2::biggrin::glare::eek::bored: Sorry! Yes... Gas-X, very definitely. And lots of walking. Both will help. Being hungry is a b-----, but... try to stay occupied with other things. It won't last. When you get on some real food, and start getting fills, things will be a whole lot better! We've all been there, so forgive us if we're smiling just a little bit. We promise, you aren't going to be sorry you did this and within a few weeks, all this misery will be a distant, vague memory! Great grades, kiddo!! You're doing a wonderful job w/school! Underwear.... I think I was about a 13 pre-surgery! And now down to 9! I wore a 7 in high school, so that's pretty good for me! Just bought about a dozen new ones! I had an appt with a personal trainer at a nearby gym this morning. It was a bit of a disappointment because all we did was talk for 30 minutes and I thought he was going to get me started on machines. So, I think I'll go back tomorrow and do some time on a bike and treadmill for starters. He wanted me to come back Wed. to get started on a routine, but I can't do Wednesdays, and he only works Mondays and Wednesdays! So... I'll start on my own and I have another appt with him next Monday. I don't know what the deal is... they haven't talked to me about $$$ yet! I had a 1 week free pass from my DD, but.. when the owner showed me around last week he said I could have 3 free sessions with a personal trainer! Sr. rates are only $25 a month, so I'm more than willing to sign up! But so far no one has asked me to! Maybe when my 1 week is over, but kind of surprising that they'd give you free trainer sessions before you even commit! Julie... hope you're having a quiet, restful and pain free day... or at least, less pain! So sorry for all you are going through! So... you are organizing your 40th HS reunion??? Want to do our 50th??? LOL! Here I am on the other side of the country and they all keep asking ME what we're going to do for our 50th next year!! HELLO????? Most of you are in the area so why aren't YOU doing something about it!????

WTG!! CONGRATS!! That's fantastic!! Have a GREAT time in TX!! I had some back problems crop up in March. Went to urgent care and they put the x-rays on CD for me to take home to my Dr.. Pretty interesting because you can see my band and port. Thought I'd share one!

I use WAY less catsup than I used to! Sometimes, for fish, I mix miracle whip and catsup.... my DIL got me started on that. Yeah, I'm excited about the gym thing. Best part is, it's almost as close as the distance from the RV to the pool! Well, maybe twice that far, but probably less than a mile away. Maybe a little too far to walk because I don't want to be tired when I get there! But easy scooter ride on days when it's not raining! Price is great! And I think I could add Earl for only $10 a month... but he says NO! Back is doing okay... minor aches and pains but nothing like 3/10!! That was horrible! I'll see if I can post one of those pictures where you can see the band and the port. Pretty interesting! A spreadsheet.... Earl would be proud of you!! LOL! Don't know what kind of Visa you have... but our costco American Express is great.. At the end of the year you get a printout of everything you spent and what category... travel, gas, restaurants. And the rebates are good... Got a check at the end of the year for almost $350. And we can go online any time to check our balance or see where we're spending our money. Have to have a backup cc as there are places that don't take AmEx. Tracy & Jim use a card that racks up air miles. But... yeah, it can be easy to pull out the plastic when we know we shouldn't! But.... I WILL have to check out that Moreno Valley Mall that you always talk about... next winter!! Stupid gym!! Yeah... so put up a sign... NO WATER!! I am using less catsup, honest. Using a lot of hummus... my latest snack.. in fact, lunch yesterday.. one rye crisp cracker, thin layer of lite cream cheese, hummus, and a little salmon on top... or... Earl bought me a can of smoked oysters... very good... put a couple of those on top. Says the whole can is one serving and fairly low calories, but so far I think I've had about 4 servings out of that can. Have enough left for one more cracker. Weather is GREAT everywhere in the country except here! I didn't even wake up until almost 9:30 a.m.!! I planned to sleep in today.... but not THAT late!! No sun coming in the window to wake me up! it's 50 degrees outside now and showers predicted for pretty much the whole weekend I think! I did manage to squeeze in some cruising this week between the rain drops. And Earl is making me keep a big umbrella in my basket at all times! I'd walk over to the d..... Surf Shack if the weather was decent. Did it with Candice one day last week when we were walking the dogs. Bus stop/park and ride is about half way, so... can stop and rest if back/hips are hurting. Usually a few minutes sit down and the pain goes away. And I keep bugging my Surf Shack lady that she told me last summer she was going to put out a table and some chairs! She has limited space... and limited income. Doing good with her new mobile van, though. And... as she pointed out, there's a bench in front of the nearby tavern where I can sit and rest. And Tracy and I have used it a few times. They don't care. The owner is the one leasing her the space for her coffee shack. But... to get back to the subject I was pursuing... the weather here sucks!! Well.... Happy May Day, everyone!! It's Tracy's 44th birthday and we are going out to Tokyo Steakhouse with them tonight. And it's opening day of the boating season! Whoppee! Big stuff going on in downtown Seattle... in the rain, no doubt!

I started a shopping list. Earl is at the hot tub. I should be on the Wii!! But, I'm cold! And I'm watching Bones. And my stomach does not feel good! Just pb'd some of my salmon! Why does that happen every time I eat something I like... salmon, tilapia, etc! I'm excited about the gym thing! It will be great! Tracy and Alisha go there... can go with them sometimes. Found the CD with my spine x-rays on it this afternoon. Laptop wouldn't read it when I treid it before, but it did today. Pretty interesting! I can see my LapBand and the tubing and port in most of the pictures. Very cool!

Yes, I think this gym will work out perfect for me! I was hoping to find something like that when we got home. So much miss water aerobics. Some of their equipment actually has earphone jacks and a place to plug in your iPod or Blackberry, etc. Unfortunately, the bike I want to use doesn't have that, but it does have a place where I can hang my iPod. And it's only about 10 minutes away by scooter, less than that if I drive over. Probably 3 minutes... like 2blocks away! When is the last time you had a new CPAP machine?? Insurance will give you a new one every few years if your policy pays for that. I just got a new one this year and I love it. It adjust automatically to whatever your needs are. It sounds like it is not meeting your needs! Does your mask fit well? I have a lot of problems with my mask. I've lost so much fat in the back of my neck that the mask just sort of slides off the back of my head. I guess you and I are the only ones around tonight! Just had some Alaska salmon that one of our Sky Valley neighbors gave us before we left. It was in the freezer. He caught it last spring. First few bites were nice and tender, but the rest of it was sort of well done, so now it's not wanting to stay down even though at the end I smothered it with catsup to lubricate it!!

TGIF!! Happy Friday, everyone! Hope you're all having a GREAT day and off to a good weekend. Julie.... so sorry for your dr. appt and the disappointing news. Laura had some good advice. And I'd definitely give the epidural another try. I've had a couple that did nothing and I've had them give me months of relief, so it's worth a try. I am so sorry you're having to deal with all the pain. I had an appt for a dental cleaning yesterday and forgot to take my mandatory prophylactic antibiotcis beforehand! DUH!! How many times do I have to reschedule before I remember??? So... had to go back this morning. Thankful they had another appt available so soon! I have to take 1500 mg of Keflex one hour before and three hours after dental work, including cleaning, because of the hardware in both knees. Had a good appt.. complimented for my good oral hygiene! Had a hygienist that talked non-stop. Then I continued to cruise the neighborhood on my scooter... which is sort of like my golf cart now! I can walk so much better, but... long trips around the neighborhood... I take the scooter. One of my stops was at the gym where my DD#1 & GD work out. DD gave me a coupon for 1 free week, so I thought I'd go check it out. I had a personal tour by a nice looking young man who showed me every nook and cranny except for the ladies' locker room which I explored by myself. So, at the end of that I made an appt with a personal trainer for Monday morning. I will see what kind of program they recommend for me and probably join. A 1 yr Sr. membership is only $24 a month, and they will freeze my account when we leave for the winter and restart it when we get home. I think that is quite reasonable. I miss my winter time water aerobics, so this wil be very good. They have all kinds of equipment! And places to plug in your iPod, so I will have to put together a "work out" playlist. Cool, cloudy, rainy weather persists here in the NW and I am so missing the sunshine and warm temps in southern CA. I've heard they've had horrible wind this week, though, and that is never fun! Another good reason to start going to the gym.... when weather is yucky I sit in my recliner in the condo and veg on the laptop!! I did do a load of laundry today and made some progress in the book bags, etc I have to sort through.. stuff that came out of the RV that is still sitting around the LR!!! Tomorrow is DD#1's 44th BD!! SIL made reservations for 4 of us to go to dinner at Tokyo Steak House... never been there but sounds good. Someone at work told her about it so we'll give it a try.

Good afternoon! It's mighty quiet here today! Everyone must be busy. The beach house..... we have to pay the balance of $802 by the first of June. I count 8 of us... Janet, Karri, Karla, Steph, Rose, Linda, Candice and me. Is that right?? So.... I need a check for $100 from each of you between now and the end of May. I already have Linda's. $200 of that is the security deposit, but rather than have $25 to refund to each of you, if its okay with all of you... I will spend $200 on groceries. Janet wants popcorn, we need coffee, wine, breakfast stuff... Please make suggestions as to what I should get. Need to know how many drink wine and how many white vs. red. Also need to know if you want me to get other "adult beverages". Like... if we want to make Margaritas, I'll get a bottle of tequila. I had a dental appt yesterday and forgot to take my antibiotics prior to the appt so I had to reschedule for today. I have to take 3 Keflex one hour before and 3 hours after any dental work including cleaning because of the hardware in my knees... for the rest of my life. My dentist is just a block away, so I took my scooter instead of the car. Then I went to the grocery store next door to get Earl one sour dough roll. After that.. Tracy had given me a 2 week free pass for the gym she goes to which is also in the neighborhood. So I cruised down there and got a personal tour of the whole place by one of the trainers. What a gREAT place... they have a day spa... do hair, nails, facials, pedis, massage. Then they have a small pool heated to 96 degrees that is used for physical therapy. They have lots of equipment, all different types. The rate for Srs. is only $24 a month. You have to sign up for a year, but they'll freeze my account while we're away and then resume when we get back each spring. So I think I'm going to sign up. I have an appt with a personal trainer for Monday morning right after TOPS.

No nasty FB messages between family members today! Praise God!! I can't deal with much more of that! Beach house.... You gals are going to love it. Setting is just wonderful. Place is smaller than I pictured it, but it will work just fine. The outdoor areas are GREAT... pray for good weather so we can enjoy it!! July 4th weekend can be wonderful, or not!! The remainder of our bill is due June 1... $802, and $200 of that is cleaning/security deposit. So we'll get that back. But... I think we have 8 confirmed.. so $100 each. If you are in agreement, I will spend $200 stocking with groceries, wine, etc... whatever you want me to get.. and then The $200 deposit will be mine, assuming we get it back. And I don't know why we wouldn't. Let me know what I should get... I know red wine for Candice and I. Then... what else... Long Island Ice Tea??? Tequila?? Vodka??? Beer??? Seems we drank mostly wine at Candice's, but I'll stock whatever you want me to get. Then... suggest some breakfast items... Kashi Go Lean?? Eggbeaters??? Yogurt??? Give me some suggestions... I may have to spend more than the $200 but we can sort it all out later. Place is rented Thurs night through Sunday night... so those coming in a day before or staying the day after, can stay in the condo here with us. We have an extra bedroom with queen bed and a pull out single in the LR. Suzanne preferred payment by PayPal with the deposit. Some of you had a problem with that, so just send me a check for $100 and I will deposit the checks in my checking account and pay with my PayPal account. Sounds like you guys are driving hard this week!! Relax... take your time, smell the roses! Are you stopping at the Mall of America after Steph's??? I hear Uncle Ed is doing pretty well... still a little confused at times. I think themain thing is tha he is depressed... I can't drive anymore, therefore my life is over. Making comments like, "I'll be leaving this place soon", etc. My sister, Barb said he was already talking like that before all this happened and now it's worse. Told my Mom they can't go to church anymore because he doesn't want anyone driving him aroujnd! Ridiculous! Their complex has a shuttle that will take them places. AND, he's been driving ladies who can't drive around to church, lunch, etc., for YUEARS!! Male ego!! UGH! Kinda pissed at Earl the last couple of days. Since we bought the new car he's doing things like sending me a detailed email account of our projected expenses for the next 6 months telling me our finances will be "touch and go"!! RIDICULOUS!! And today's thing... having a fit because I'm taking the cat for her once a year checkup and shots tomorrow... about $75. He wants me to take her to the animal shelter for the shots and not get a check up! He says he doesn't get a yearly check up so why should she??!! She's 13 yrs old! I'm taking her in or a check up tomorrow and shots!! Told him I'll take the money out of my "mad money" account if necessary! We only financed $10K, and our son-in-law financed that for us... so we're paying him...at 3% interest instead of what the car dealer was going to charge us. So the payments are minimal. Did it all formal with a contract and all. And it is not going to stress out our budget!! He had our financial adviser take a few K out of our IRA so we could have a "cushion". I told him... in 3 more years Uncle Sam will MAKE him start taking money out of that based on his life expectancy. That was a revelation for him... guess he thought he'd have control over how much he withdrew. Not the way I understand the "rules". So... then our income tax is going to go up. It's to our advantage to start taking some out yearly NOW! WHAT are we saving it for... for our kids to spend when we're gone!! SORRY... TMI, I know! I have had 2 glasses of wine and I am really frustrated... and YOU are truly my closest friends!! I have to VENT to someone!! Oh, CRAP!! News is reporting there is NOTHING you can do to help ward off Alzheimer's! Can't prevent it! But.. a better diet can lower the chances of getting it! HUH??? May have made more sense before the wine!? What a cheery new report! Now they're talking about breast cancer! I think I'll be done with the news now! Too depressing! Oh... here's some fun news from my family!! My nephew... sister Mary Lou's DS#2... just about to finish many years of school and officially be certified as a pediatric neurologist.. His wife and he wantd to wait until he was finished to start their family. He is 36 years old this month. I got a very clever email from him a few days ago about a "high terror alert". It went on and on with all these big words... and said the "non-specific indications of terror" were to increase on or about Oct. 14. There were two photos attached to the email. They were the most amazing ultrasound pictures I have ever seen... 3-D... of their TWINS!!! It was incredible! You could actually see that they are undoubtedly fraternal because they don't look very much alike... and one looks just like he did as a baby! They don't want to know the sexes, so you could only see the torsos, but, you could see the placenta, details of the fingers, etc. Needless to say, my sister is on cloud 9. She is 62 with 4 kids over 30 and these are her FIRST grandchildren! She is so thrilled! She already ordered two "onesies" online... Dr. Seuss theme.. "Thing 1 and Thing 2"!!

Always enjoy your photos! I love to take pictures and I love to look at other people's pictures! Pickled eggs??? Yep... I think I'll be one of those turning my nose up! I don't care for much of anything if it's pickled, especially in dill. I don't like the taste of dill at all. Shakes... I wonder if you could make a Merlot shake?? HAHAHAHA!! Well, your guess was right on with me! Nurses' Aide in a nursing home. If you don't count all the babysitting I did in the neighborhood prior to that. Yeah.... wiped butts, etc. And, I too fell in love with those old folks and that's what prompted me to decide I wanted to be a nurse. I had several "favorites"! One lady who had cerebral palsy. She was very picky about who took care of her and she liked me. She even came to my wedding. Then there was one who had her feet rubbed every night with lanolin cream, and sometimes I came in on my days off because she loved the way I massaged her feet. I have a good story about my first day on the job. I was assigned to one of the "experienced" nurses' aides. I was to follow her and help her and learn what the daily duties were. So... first thing in the morning, we were to go room by room and put fresh ice water in everyone's water pitchers. I observed and assisted about half way down the hall before she let me go in to one room by myself. I came out with what I thought was a stainless steel water pitcher. But, my "mentor" burst into laughter and told me that what I had in my hand was the man's urinal!! He probably didn't want ice water in that!!! HAHAHAHA!! There was an old Italian lady who didn't speak any English and she and I got to be good buddies. She'd see me coming down the hall and she'd do a little dance for me. And she'd talk to me in Italian.. she taught me to say "NO CAPICE"... don't understand! So she'd talk and I'd say, "NO CAPICE" and she'd giggle and keep talking! Apple... sounds like you had a VERY busy life even as a 13 yr old!! Hadn't thought about it until you mentioned it, but all 4 of my GPs had died prior to my nursing home job, too. I just absolutely loved that job! Makes you wonder, doesn't it? I especially missed my maternal GM because she used to take the bus out to our house in the suburbs and I'd walk down to the bus stop and wait for her to get there and walk home with her. Don't remember my maternal GF.. he died when I was about 3 yrs, I think. And paternal GPs were German... didn't speak a whole lot of fluent English so my relationship with them wasn't as close. My most vivid memory of my paternal GM was that she'd give us a warm smile and give us each a quarter, but didn't say much! Sat in one corner of the LR and smiled a lot and listened!! Thiings are so different these days. We grew up in close proximity to our GPs.. I did, anyways. And there were frequent get togethers with all our cousins at GP's home. But our kids grew up across the country, basically, from our parents. Society is so much more mobile these days and our kids don't get to know their cousins as well.. and other family members. I was so touched that our daughter-in-law decided that they would spend spring break week this year back OUR home town in Buffalo NY to visit my Mom and family and DH's family. I guess she gets it! In fact, both of our daughters have gone back for a week or two in recent years. It means a lot to me that they do value those relationships! That just makes me tired!! Don't know how you did all that, even at 13 yrs old!!!

Good Morning! Hope you get a nap today, Karla! I had a tough time getting to sleep last night. Went to bed a little before midnight, then couldn't get to sleep for a couple of hours. Yeah, this whole stupid car thing has everyone stirred up. Nasty FB messages still being flung around. It's ridiculous. Another cloudy morning here. Primetimers today so have to get in the shower soon. Tomorrow.. kitty shots in the morning, and then dental.... we both get out teeth cleaned. I finally made appt to get this "nevus" on my cheek looked at, but first available dermatology appt .... June 1st! Also seeing my ortho guy in two weeks to complain about the right knee. The more I walk the more it bothers me. And still have to get an appt for my back. They want a referral from my primary care doc but she's never seen me for the back problem, so I may have to go see her first! What a hassle! Hope you all have a GREAT day!

HAHAHA~!! Nothing to do with dog hair... didn't see any! I've been bugging Earl for a new car for a couple of years. A couple of weeks ago someone emailed him something that made him nervous about keeping the 2002 any longer.. over 100K miles on it, too. So our plan was to start looking. Then he told Jim that after we got home last week and Jim said they wanted a new CRV, too. Theirs is a few years newer and had 60K miles. So then we all started joking about how maybe they'd give us a good deal if we bought two! But, kind of spur of the moment decision to go car shopping Sunday afternoon when they were over here having lunch after church. And the rest is history.... twin cars! So sorry to hear about your friend! That's terrible! I'm still unpacking our RV stuff!! I'm a great procrastinator! I did get a nice long cruise around the neighborhood today, though! Hit ALL the stores! But Tracy called and chewed me out because she saw me crossing the highway on my scooter!! LOL! I crossed with the walk light, and I put on my emergency flashers. But then I have to ride up the shoulder for a block and some idiots like to drive on the shoulder!