Just need to talk to my friends (208)

Good morning.

HB, yesterday I drove around with my friend from 11 am until 1 pm. The streets were packed but the one freeway that I drove over didn't look packed.

My neighborhood looked and sounded like a war zone after the sun went down, from fireworks.

What a tragedy at the supermarket, Carl. Here in SoCal but not near me, a house that was storing fireworks exploded and caught fire other houses on fire, and one person was killed.

Iris

Afternoon all…..

Finally my migraine has subsided. This one was very different from any other one I've ever had. And it didn't respond to my meds either. Thanks everyone for asking.

Much to my great surprise we didn't have many fireworks. Usually some goober about 4 blocks away shoots fireworks. Lots of great big booming ones. Last night we only heard about three. I was fine with that.

Grey drizzle here today, very odd for July 5th. The terrible flooding here in central TX is just beyond words. We don't watch tv during the day and that's a good thing because its just news coverage about the flooding. 750 girls at a summer camp, I can't imagine what they've gone through. I don't know how many are still missing. There was a camp ground with 24 campers - pull trailers & motor homes - all are gone. The river rose 39 ft in 4 hr in the dark. Such devastation.

On a brighter note, DH ask me if today we could be pajama people. I ask him what he meant. He means after dinner, we get cleaned up for bed immediately & in our jammies. We can watch a Hallmark Christmas movie (or two) & maybe have popcorn. Oh the simplicity of life. Yes, we are going to be pajama people tonight.

Belinda and her evil twins have been busy on the board this afternoon.

Beth - I'd have never guessed that's what a walking taco is. Are the bags reinforced? Or are they double-bagged?

HB and JeriLynn - I'm so impressed by all the different kinds of foods! Even when all of my family gets together, there aren't that many different options. And for the 4th, most of those options are salads of some sort.

eaglemom - I'm glad your migraine has subsided. It sounds just miserable. I don't get them myself, but my bestie does, and when they hit … I love the idea of being pajama people for the day/night.

Judith - I'm glad you're starting to feel better!

Over in our neck of the woods, and on the far end of the porch, we're having a food debauchery weekend! Yesterday we had burgers - beef burger for my s.o. and an Impossible burger for me. Heirloom tomatoes were on sale, so we added those, along with lettuce and pickles. For me, burgers have always been a delivery device for mustard - one of my all time favorite condiments. My s.o. made baked french fries, which were pretty good.

Today we're having "loaded" quesadillas. I guess technically I'm just going to be having a "dilla" since I won't add cheese to mine. Otherwise, they'll have mushrooms and corn inside. I'll make salsa with the rest of the heirloom tomatoes, jalapeno-poblano-fresno-serano peppers, cilantro, and lime juice. And I'll make guacamole. My s.o. is going to make pomegranate margaritas to go with all of that.

Oreo cookies for dessert - because we are just that bad.

Once the weekend food debauchery is over, we're both going on a strict ABC diet for three months. No (a)lcohol, no (b)read, and no processed ( c ) arbs. Essentially you end up shopping the perimeter of the grocery store because that's where all of the fish, fruits and vegetables live.

Hope you all have a great rest of the day.

Lorita, I’ve been trying to figure this out for awhile now but finally decided to just show my ignorance and ask. Who are the GP’s? When I first saw you mention them I thought “grandparents “. But mention of letting them in and out, and them standing in the shade tells me that’s not quite right. :)

Also, please tell me more about this donut spread. Sounds like something I would like.

Good morning, busy day here

Judith glad you were able to get back out on the porch for a little bit. Nice to see you.

enjoy being around the ones you . I even enjoy being around my mom now which is such a blessing. She still does crazy things this week. We realized why all of a sudden the disposable underwear was . My sister found what appeared to be clean ones very neatly stacked in the garbage can. So we had to get creative and come up with the system to stop that for sure. Seems to be working so far.

Good morning on the porch. Bright and sunny here today.

Eagle— I'm glad you're recovering but I hope this doesn't become a new normal. I had to laugh at your DH's pajama people. I'm afraid we probably qualify. I tend to do chores around the house in my bathrobe (I have at least 5 different ones) before getting cleaned up and DH puts his jammies on right after dinner.

Gothic— The bags in which things like Doritos are packaged are quite robust and easily contain the mess that is a walking taco.

I have a semi-vegetarian bestie who loves Impossible Burgers and treats herself to one weekly. Her church sponsored a refugee family from Afghanistan and bestie is quite fond of them. She drives the teenaged daughter to her clarinet lesson each week (which she also funds) and after they go to BK for an Impossible Whopper which is also Halal.

Good luck with the A-B-C diet. I don't eat much in the way of ultra processed foods, but wine/craft beers, cheese and good bread sustain me emotionally. Good luck with this; I hope it's not a long 3 months.

Speaking of sarcophagi, I had dinner with a friend who interred his mom with family last week. The siblings were shopping for a suitable urn for their beloved mom and decided instead on pouring into the cookie jar she kept filled for them growing up.

Zetta— That's funny that you're still breaking in the new teeth. While my mom treats her hearing aids as an optional accessory reserved for people who matter more than me, the teeth are always in place. So important are they, that I am charged with popping them back in when she's in recovery after surgery.

Carl— The likelihood of memory issues increases rather dramatically with the super-elderly. While the rate of dementia for 65+ is about 10% (21% MCI), for people in their 90's it's about 35%. Sobering.

One in 10 Older Americans Has Dementia | Columbia University Irving Medical Center

The friend I had dinner with last night noted that his favorite BIL, who is 80-something, is showing worsening memory issues but still pleasant. This is the husband of the family's designated caregiver. This sister is a retired RN who oversaw the care of their mom with dementia until she died over the winter and the dad with CHF. (Friend used to visit 3-4 times a year so sis could get a break) It is so unfair that her stage will be more caregiving and the loss of her life partner.

Lorita— I'm glad the drought is over. That is not a comfortable way to live when worried about wells holding out.

Your snake story reminds me of the snake my parents had in MD. They had black rat snakes which are valued for keeping the vermin population down; some folks even feed them over the winter to hold onto them. Mom had a 5-footer who took a shine to her black garden hose and would entangle himself with it. She thinks he thought it was his mate, so she left him to it, and bought a bright yellow one for herself.

Mint— I am so glad you are able to have a nice visit with your mom these days. You, and your sister, worked hard for that outcome. Bummer about the disposables. Yikes.

Jehjeh— Back when I was a lurker, Lorita's GPs confused me as well. I assumed the same as you which made for ridiculous mental images especially regarding things like nail trims and wanting to be out all night. The MH stymied me for a longer time— manor house, mobile home, main house, mental hospital, mom's house, motor home. Color me confused.
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DS wanted to go to Lancaster but DH is loath to make the drive with weekend traffic, so we'll do it tomorrow. DS is annoyed because there was a specific engine he wanted to see under steam and DH isn't budging. I'd be inclined to advocate for today and get it over with. The weather will be better today and I don't fancy rainy weather with my bad knee. We usually drop DS off and then go antiquing or to the outlets and meet up for dinner. Maybe they'll go see the F-1 movie instead. I'll need to swap cars and take the Miata to the grocery store which means I can't buy much aside from tonight's dinner.

No changes on the baby-front. The mom-to-be's BP is still elevated but no longer rising. She has appointments with at least one doctor tomorrow. Bestie is holding her tongue for a change, so things are quiet on that front.

HB

For those who are nervous about subways - try an underwater tunnel such as in Hampton Roads. I've driven it and it was claustrophobic and rather terrifying. HB, have you driven in it? Hampton Roads Bridge Underwater Tunnel: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=HgL65iQiWco

Thank you for the mornings laughs.

Lorita. I'm glad your letting your grandparents, in and out daily, especially when it's hot. 😅😅😅

Be careful of those snakes. Do you get mean ones? You Bet, your fur babies understand what your saying. When I talk about going someplace Molly, picks on a word I said and she goes right to the front door.

I was surprised 😮 when I found out I was going on the Bart, to leave San Francisco. That was 30 years ago. I was a auditor for, Destination Resorts. The Argent, hotel in San Francisco, was on strike. I was flowen in from Oregon, to do auditing during the strike. A taxi pickup me up from the Airport and I was escorted into the Argent, threw the picket line. No one had any idea who I was. Two weeks later, leaving was not as protective, so management sent me to the airport on the Bart.

Does Darwin understand he needs to stay safe for his wife. Would his wife know how to call you? Checking in on each other as you guys do is good.

Carl. That was funny when the lady thought a pump broke, when she went over The river, I was in Poland, few years ago and I was surprised and a bit nervous, how people took boats right up to the front of businesses.

Ron. Have a safe trip and stop as many times as needed. Rest areas are a good place, some even have places to get coffee, and get out to streach your legs.

HB. Your mom is so lucky to have you as her daughter. And that your willing to pop her teeth 😬 in. I would never ask anyone to do that for me. I'm still trying to get used to them. I might put them in later today.

Mint. I'm glad your enjoying your visits with your mom, I remember some of the trying times you had, when she lived alone. Sounds like she is enjoying her living place.

Beth. How long was the underwater tunnel? I was in one years ago, I don't think it was long, I think it was between New York and Canada. That was about 40 years ago.

Have a good day, and thanks for the laughs. Lorita, don't forget your grandparents. Hugs Zetta

Well our camping trip was canceled. SIL said she was weed eating Thursday, tripped and fell. Back out on Friday for more weeding, got hot and dizzy. Didn’t feel good Saturday when we talked. Went to the ER late afternoon. She’s got Covid AGAIN! I think she’s picking it up at her church. I think she has had Covid at least 4 times.
So today I’ve been unloading everything I just finished putting in the RV. Oh well, another time.

Safe travels today Ron.

I need to get leftovers from the fridge.

Talk to everyone tomorrow