Just need to talk to my friends (192)

Ron you surely do push. Lou is a lucky Lady. How sweet her singing happy birthday to you.

Lorita wouldn’t be able to make a pocket in my flat bread. Use it more like a wrap or tortilla.

Jerilynn So sorry to hear that about your sister .

The menu on the front porch was wonderful, Jerilynn knows how to cook. Peach cobbler and ice cream hit the spot too. The napkins came in handy too lol.

Was a very cool, cloudy day here. Played pickleball with my sister, nephew and his fiancée this evening. I’m so thankful that we get to do this together. It’s not that often and winter is coming, but I so enjoy it. I’m thankful for the break. Gives my life some normalcy. It’s such a miracle that I’m able to play. Back in late May I planted 2 petunias and then I had to go lay down and was done for the day.

Glad you got some rain Lorita.

Happy Birthday Ron. I’ll check in tomorrow. Joan

Iris hope things have settled down for you.

Jerilynn you are one busy lady.

Got a little more fall cleanup done today. I had planted some carrot seeds in a couple of grow bags Around a tomato. Never got around to thinning them. Figured I would just have strings. Instead I have a medium mixing bowl full. I was really surprised. Haven’t gotten to second bag yet. Have got about half of them frozen.

Good morning porch people. It's still chilly, damp and gloomy here. We're on day 5 of wet & gray.

@ronald71111 Happy Belated Birthday. I am sorry you weren't able to share the video clip. I have that same issue with some videos having a HEIC extension (as @BethL described), too. They can be converted to JPEG.

How to Open HEIC Files on Windows (or Convert Them to JPEG) (howtogeek.com)

@JeriLynn66 I am sorry for your sister's recent diagnosis. I am humbled by anyone here who actively caregiving and has such a thing as a fall tablescape. I think I have a half empty fruit bowl and a bag from DS's Indian take-out from 2 nights ago. Do I get points for a tastefully fall inspired tablecloth?

It's been a rough couple of weeks here for some of my people. My bestie is slowly adjusting to widowhood. The pair of them wed at 50 and 58, so while they did own property and had joint accounts together he generally took care of all things financial and she actively avoided letting herself be looped in on that aspect of their lives. She's been sorting through all and it's been an eye-opener. We talked about car insurance yesterday; hers is really high. I'm paying about $1300 a year for one car with 3 drivers in the house; she was covering 2 late model cars (nothing fancy) and 2 (now 1) drivers and is paying almost $6000. I know her cars are a bit newer than mine and that she lives in a zip code with higher rates and that they've both had an accident or two but yikes.

I found out yesterday that my cousin is coming to visit my mom on her way down to Florida in October. This is great, but mom is vague on the dates but is planning all manner of outings for them completely ignoring the 4 midday appointments she has on her calendar. Since it's almost a month out, I was able to move her PT appointments to the morning so most of the day will be free. I need to reschedule her hair appointment, too. We'll keep the ocular injection appointment and will send cousin keys and gate pass since she won't be back yet when they're due to arrive. Mom's PT does seem to be working but I am wondering if she's really doing all the exercises at home that she's been assigned as her hips are really weak. The PT even asked about this specifically so I don't think I'm the only one on to her game.

Mom elected to get both her flu shot and COVID vaccine at once yesterday. I suggested splitting them up-- we're at Rite Aid all the time so it's no real hardship either way. A friend took her 96-year-old mom for the shots Saturday and mom spent all of Sunday in bed which is quite a response given her age.

I was expecting a quiet day today, but the universe had other plans for me. My niece's friend has a follow-up appointment with her oncology surgeon today and it's not going to be great news. Niece has a big presentation and can't go. The friend's mom is a terrible person, a real monster, so I have been deputized to go with her. I know this seems really weird, but I helped raise my niece when my sister was sick and after she died and she and this woman were kind of a 2-fer. LOL, she's always the one at holiday dinners who would stay up with niece have one last drink and then completely clean the kitchen and dining room-- china and crystal hand washed, dried and stowed back in the breakfront. She's a bit of a compulsive cleaner. I think she knows her way around my kitchen better than either my husband or son do. They both suffer from male refrigerator blindness.

HB

Has been gray here to HP so far this week. A little wet this morning also. I’m not going to complain because I planted grass seed a week or so ago so it’ll be good for it.

Jerilynn Are you artistic? Your table is beautiful. Your great granddaughter will never forget eating off of those plates. It’ll always be a good memory. I have no artistic talent. My house is very plain. Have a sister who keeps her house beautiful.

Meeting up with a couple of friends today for coffee/tea. hopefully this afternoon it’ll not be raining and I can clean up a little more of the garden. I just work about a hour to hour and a half each day and that keeps my muscles from screaming at me.

The Cantelope is starting to Ripen. Still partially green though. Hopefully it’ll have time to finish ripening.

Thanking of all of you and hope each one has a peaceful day.

Had some much needed rain yesterday. Storm after midnight yesterday had some trees down and one school lost power. Lou slept through it all!

Preacher came by yesterday and brought lunch for a belated birthday celebration. Had a nice visit and I thought was extremely thoughtful of him to take time out of a busy schedule for us. A group from church is going to a new Mexican restaurant for lunch today, hope I can get Lou out.

Beautiful day today!

Ron

Checking in - I went back to work a little later than I originally planned - started back last Thursday. I took the extra time because I was just so wiped out after something small like going to the store so figured that was a signal that working 8 hours wasn't going to be a good idea.

I'm sorry to all the folks having health issues with pets and loved ones (and themselves). I hope things improve or at least remain stable.

The guests seem unusually mean upon my return to work. It could be me not really caring to have that energy in my life, but it's a job where I have to be nice no matter how entitled or unreasonable they are, so I grit my teeth.

I did decide that when I turn 62 in 1 year I am going part-time and taking my Social Security early. If they won't let me go part-time then I'll find a different part-time job. This cancer episode and my family history where nobody lives past 70 for one reason or another tells me working until full retirement at 67 really isn't going to be worth it in my situation, so I am going to live on a little less and have a better quality of life.

@dayn2nite2 You probably already know this, but just in case you aren't aware. If you are working and receiving SS, there is a limit on how much you can earn. This is if you are at less than your "normal retirement age."

You do need to enjoy life and part of that, for some of us, means working less or not at all. Best wishes!

Oh thank you for posting.. I was getting worried about @Lorita !!

@JeriLynn66

Those are lovely. The story about your great-granddaughter reminds me of my niece as a little one. She was always very proper and enjoyed the nicer things. This was the niece to whom I gifted a single piece of sterling flatware for birthdays and Christmas so she has a nice basic set. Some day, she'll have mine, too. As an adult, she has scouted out extra pieces for the small sets of china my mom has given her and has several gorgeous vintage MCM sets that fit her current vibe. She does a quirky table-- both she and my goddaughter registered for wedding flatware made up of random patterns. It kind of makes my eye twitch but it is fun I suppose.

I hear you on the paper plates. About 8 years ago, my niece was living with me and paying down her student loans. During this time her serious boyfriend died in an accident in his home. My niece's friends came and put a kind of potluck together at the house for her. I asked them what they needed and the leader said "it's fine, we'll bring everything and clean up after". The leader arrived as I was headed out to give them privacy. Again I asked if she needed me to get anything for her and she looked at me and said "Where do you keep your paper plates?". She could not believe I didn't have a single disposable plate or cup in the house. She also could not believe that I had 50 dinner and salad plates in my basement with flatware and a basic bar service for 75. Plus, napkins. I bought my parents' house when they retired and mine was destroyed in a flood and mom left the stuff for entertaining behind. It came in handy that night as there were about 40 of them.

@BethL

Very pretty. One of my family friends chose "Old Country Roses" when she got married. It was amazing how many different pieces where available in that pattern. It's rather like Pfaltzgraff back in the day. I used to shop their factory outlet just to see what random pieces they could come up with-- I had "Heritage" which had all sorts of bits and bobs. My mom once bought me a tape dispenser in the pattern as a joke. Another year it was switch plate covers. I still have most of the serving pieces.

@dayn2nite2

Customer interactions are hard when a person isn't feeling 100% or has real difficulty in their own life. I recall managing the C/S of a huge grocery store while going through my divorce. I don't know how I didn't get charged with assault.

I think you plan to retire and pick up something parttime is a brilliant idea.

@Lorita

I am sorry you have tech issues. Yuck. The scammers have gotten so good that even a tech-savvy person has to be on their toes when online.

@ronald71111

I do hope you got out for Mexican food.

The trip into the city to see the oncological surgeon went really well. My niece and her friend were confused by the path report. The doctor took her time and explained it in depth. The plan had been to do chemo to halt the progression of the invasive cancer and potentially shrink tumors so the surgery could be less extensive and that's exactly how it worked out. The friend was much relieved and while she'll need to make a decision about her ovaries and be followed at 6-month intervals, things look pretty good right now. I took her out for a celebratory cocktail before dropping her off at her apartment.

My mom did OK with her vaccines. She was a little tired the day after, but mostly OK. I am vegging out today. The sun is finally out after 6 days of gloom. I may go buy some mums for my front step. The ones I bought last year were fully budded out but never bloomed. I transplanted them and they're heavily budded but still not blooming. I still don't know what color they are. The white ones from 2 years ago are massive and gorgeous. I think I'll try a different nursery. I should also start cleaning up my summer perennials.

HB

Hacking.....it is rampant and the hackers look real. Really real. I had one and it had just a ghost of not looking real. When checking the address I found it was a PO Box in a small town in Kansas. It looked so real.

My theory is that if someone really wants to get in contact they can mail me!

Lorita...I do not know what tech club is but I would not let anyone take control of my computer. That said I do have a computer repair store where I know exactly who will be working on my computer. I feel comfortable using them.

The ophthalmologist who checked my eyes yesterday said she did not think my fall caused any harm but that I had a veil of old cells on my right eye causing me to loose some sight. She said that she could fix it with laser surgery. I said OK. She asked "now?" I said OK. 30 minutes later it was finished. Amazing, yes?

I have an occasional floater which she predicted. I keep thinking it is a bug flying and try to swat it away...lol.

Splendid weather today.

Love the photos.

I have paper nothing except paper towels for spills.

My silver is Craftsman by Towle and my china is Wedgewood White. It was introduced in 1962. I do have my mother's cream on cream Wedgewood Queen'sware. I have "pine" chargers which I use instead of placements and always use cloth napkins. I have pine pepper mills and pine salt cellers.

My table was made for Dick when he was with Air America in Laos. It only seats 6 so when I h ave more guests I put a piece of "nice" plywood on top. The children have started the tradition of guests leaving a written memo on the table top. I love it.

Big trash pickup is next week to we will be doing a lot of yard clean up, I will mark what stays with some white spray paint and hope for the best.

Happy news. I think the new volunteer tree is a Hackberry.