Just need to talk to my friends (209)

good morning

Zetta you are on the move, lady

Iris, I cannot remember if it was Anchorage or Fairbanks. Laugh out loud Iris I have my own issues too. I was just saying looking at her picture overwhelms me. Used to that would not have, I would’ve looked at it as interesting to go through, not anymore.

No Spam at the luau. Senior Age tries to serve healthy food, not "meat" that is 90% fat and 5% salt. l liked Spam when I was a child, but we never had it at home. My father grew up on a farm and never ate processed food of any kind until he was in the Army. After the war, he was amazed that civilians willingly ate Spam. Spam is quite popular in Hawaii and in England, I am told, the locals having developed a taste for it during WW II. My father had his fill of it. After his walking tour of France and Germany in 1944 - 1945, he never again wanted to sleep in a tent, shoot a rifle, stand in line, or eat Spam.

I doubt that Spam is affordable on the senior center's budget anyway. They provide meals that are as healthy as they can provide without spending more than $4 per meal and without offering things old people won't eat. It's better than Depression food, but it's apt to have one protein, one veggie, and two carbs instead of one protein, two veggies, and one carb. It gets us out of the house and away from eating alone though, and that is a bigger health benefit than one more veggie.

Speaking of veggies, I bought more tomatoes and cantaloupe from the vendor of Amish produce. I bought extra cantaloupes for the neighbors who have given me things. My car smells like cantaloupe, so I hope they like cantaloupe.

Iris, thank you for the advice on volunteering and on evicting ants from my kitchen. I hope you have a wonderful trip. One nice thing about a cruise, you only unpack once after you board ship. It's like staying in a nice hotel, with scenery that changes before your eyes. ⚓️

I hope none of you are affected by Hurricane Erin. It is in the Leeward Islands, traveling north, and intensifying at a record rate. It went from 75 mph winds to 160 mph in 24 hours.

We are under a heat advisory here in MO. 97 degrees (feels like 100+), sun with cumulus clouds, little breeze, no rain in sight for days. August!

Have a great trip, Iris! If you come through Seattle at the end of your cruise, you should still get great weather.

HB - here's hoping the dinner goes well tonight. Your mom really keeps you on your toes.

Carl - Every time I think of spam, I think of the Monty Python spam sketch. Every time. And even now, for any of us who watched Monty Python, if spam comes up in conversation, we will always launch into the spam (song?) (chant?). Heck, I was singing the song in my head as I read your post! It's really all about the Vikings. Here's the Monty Python spam sketch if you haven't seen it.

As for me, I'm enjoying our sunny and not hot, weather. I was expecting more clouds but I'm pleasantly surprised by the sun. But for those of you with really hot weather, drink lots of water!

Today's my cleaning day, so I'll be doing that too.

A friend of mine is coming up from SF and will be staying with us for a few days, so I'm prepping the guest room for her. It'll be great to see her.

My s.o. is in the kitchen making vegetarian chili. He has such a great recipe for it. He already made the vegetable stock for it this morning, so now he's on to making the actual chili. I'm banished from the kitchen right now, but once it's simmering, I can go in and clean up after him (which I absolutely don't mind).

Well, they certainly love spam. (lovely spam, wonderful spam) I really need an emoji for Viking ships.

Good morning and happy Saturday.

Iris safe and fun travels. Its wonderful that you are 'blown & going,' as my mom used to say.

Scams are everywhere. I'm dealing with a dispute with Hike shoes myself. I've ordered shoes from them before so I wanted to order again and did. Everything was the same as the first time I ordered, except I didn't get the shoes. The emails weren't answered. I finally started writing on their Facebook page. Now that got their attention. They say I did order, but it went through a 3rd party to fill the order and they aren't responsible! I put it in dispute with the bank - the bank agrees with me. However Hike sent the bank a copy of my receipt, and in the teenies of tiny printing on the bottom of the receipt it says "maybe filled by 3rd party." Even if I'd seen that, it wouldn't have meant anything. Moral of the story, even purchasing from the proper website the company seems to be trying to take your money and not send you your goods.

JeriLynn I have no doubt the garage will be neat and tidy in short order. I know its bothering you. As Iris said, I'm not going to say a thing, I have my own issues.

Carl I think you being a councilor is wonderful. You've got the correct mindset for it. I think you getting out is the best thin you can be doing for yourself.

Zetta I bet your ready to get out of that heat. I'm glad you've found a house. Let the boxing begin.

Hot, hot, and hotter here. I need to water before its too hot to be outside. We have a covered patio and then a flagstone extension. Those flagstones get hot. I have the umbrella's up so the pup's pads won't get burned. She doesn't seem to mind it one way or another, shade or not. But I can't walk on it barefooted without the umbrella shading it, so umbrella wins!

HB did I miss it? What time did your mom leave on her great adventure?

Let's be safe everyone.

Eagle, that sounds like Depression food to me. Depression food is what you cook when everyone is hungry, you don't have enough noodles to go around, and you don't have money to shop. My wife had a friend who was raised by a single mom and, when she was homesick, craved white beans with biscuits cooked on top. It was what her mother made when there was month at the end of the money. I ate some Depression food when I was a child, but I never had that particular dish - or noodles with mashed potatoes. I'd try it if it were served, though, it might be good.

iris…please remember the photos for us

Lorita, thank you for the warm welcome! Your message brought me to tears and I think I just realized that I may need to start with a good cry, and then on to learning all I can. You are correct in that I will be the sole caregiver. We live in a very rural area however we have an awesome neighbor I can call on in case of emergencies.

Heading out now for a walk with my dog to check on the veggie garden. My daily “therapy”.

Thank you again.

Iris, thank you! What a beautiful view from your balcony. Many years ago we cruised to Alaska and thoroughly enjoyed it. Have a wonderful trip and please keep the pictures coming.

Dinner was Alaskan rockfish with risotto and dessert was Alaskan berry tart, both delicious.

There is musical entertainment going on and the casino is open, but I'm ready for bed now. Good night.

Iris

Good morning

Welcome to the porch Eve. You will find we're a very supportive group of one another and you are very much included.

Carl I have done all of the things you suggested. What I might do though, is a follow up letter. My bank is now taking up the matter with Hikes bank. I've ordered these shoes through Amazon & clearly should have done that again. But alas, Amazon didn't have the color I wanted, so I ordered from Hikes website. Lesson learned.

Iris beautiful pictures and the food looked amazing. Enjoy your trip & know that we are with you!

Ron I hope Monday goes well for you.

Lorita be careful of the heat if you go out.

HB sounds like you did win the lottery, an extra day away. In your wildest dreams did you ever think you'd ever say the words to your mom 'I want my Fedora back, don't give it away?' As long as she's safe & having fun, right?!!!

Everyone let's be safe out there today. Its a hot one again, temp in the 100's and heat index 110.

Lorita, yes, Springfield is where I go for all appointments except for primary, which is Branson.

I have had a couple of disappointments; 1st was my son and daughter in law had us tickets for the Hank Williams Jr show in Branson Saturday night and I didn't feel well. The 2nd was seeing results of CT scan Friday looks like my lungs are not satisfied with just COPD.

CT scan results:

1. COPD/emphysema with peripheral fibrosis in the lung bases which

could reflect an early manifestation of an interstitial lung disease;

there are also innumerable relatively high density pulmonary

micronodules in the lower lobes suggesting developing superimposed

pulmonary ossification.

2. Consider a 3 month follow-up high-resolution chest CT to evaluate

for progressive pulmonary fibrosis

I couldn't believe how fast I saw the results. I had the scan Friday at 11am and went to the hospital web site just to register on line portal and saw the results posted. In shreveport it was usualatleast a week before seeing ang results.

Ron