Senior Golden Sneakers
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Happy Wednesday!
We are expecting rain for the next two days but hot weather over the Memorial Day weekend and into next week. Our pool opens this weekend and Lisa is taking the boys for a cub scout camping trip so no movie night this week. Going to go for our Real ID's today but might hold off on social security and try to call them when we get home. The wait is always horrendous but all we want to do is change Babe's address.
The school shooting in Texas has broken my heart as I am sure all of yours. 19 innocent children and 2 innocent teachers. Why can't the US do something about all this gun violence? I just read 20 years ago a man walked into a Dunblane Primary School and murdered 16 children and their teacher. Soon after the U.K. banned the ownership of all handguns. There have been no school shootings in the U.K. since.
Why does anyone and especially this 18 year old need an AR-15 rifle? Why does Texas allow people to buy guns without a license? This is all so senseless and the US has got to do something about gun control or change all the politicians. You can't be prolife if you don't carry about the school children being murdered for nothing.
I am sorry to vent but this is just so heartbreaking.
Anne, I see your Canada Day is the same day as our Memorial Day so I would get that grocery order in as soon as possible so things are sold out. I picked up my groceries Monday and everything I ordered was in stock. I hate bad weather especially tornados and it sounds like you might have had a microburst.
I hope Michael was able to salvage food from his loss of power. Putting you A/C in is like washing your car. Never fails to get colder or rain. lol
Barbie, your garden area sounds great. I hope all goes well for Jake at his appointments. We are just starting ours for this year but will be glad when they are all done.
Lin, that was my first landlady who said no dogs. The girl before me had a dog which is why I am hesitate on bringing Ewok here to stay for two weeks. If he smells the other dog he might want to mark his territory which would not make me happy. It is probably best I stay at their house where he has a big yard to run around as I am not sure I can walk him with his strength. Will talk to Babe about this today.
Jackie, yes, I expect a rent increase even if taxes stayed the same. I will admit most rents with my amenities are much higher but there is still a lot of things he could fix in this place but won't such as new windows and a new furnace. I think he is going to replace the balcony floor finally but time will tell.
I personally wish I could talk Babe into buying a small townhouse but he seems set against it for some reason.
Patsy, I hope all is going well in Oregon.
Have a good day everyone and if you pray please pray for those killed in Texas.
Sandy
One Day at a Time
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SANDY,The shooting broke my heart as well. What must the parents of those little children be going through! And the teachers, the ones still living. Fancy going to school each day to teach children and wondering if it could be your last.
Are the policemen in Great Britain still unarmed on a daily basis JACKIE and only armed under extreme acts of violence or terrorism?
I remember when I first arrived in Canada and was sitting in a restaurant how shocked I was as a policeman walked past and my eyes were level with his gun in its holster. I'm used to it now, but I will never ever get used to youth still in puberty going into schools and killing innocent little ones and teachers. These stores that sell weaponry, guns, rifles, hunting knives, machetes, etc should be shut down immediately - as in today Mr Biden. Right thinking people in the States should be clamouring for all weapons to be collected from the general public. Think how many lives would be saved if no one with murderous intent could grab a gun to do the easy and dirty work for them.
Sorry girls, really sorry to rant on. I didn't in my previous post but people must start knocking some sense into peoples and mainly politicians, heads.
SANDY, you made a start and encouraged me to take a stand as well even though I don't live in the States. I know a lot of responsible, decent folk own guns mainly for protection but unless all weaponry is handed in at police stations etc, these terrible crimes will still be committed.
Tearfully, Anne.
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A very wet start to the day made me rethink my plans and instead of rushing into town for groceries, had a leisurely breakfast while George and Betty caught up on more sleep. It did brighten up after a couple of hours so I took the pooches round the block but we still managed to get soaked and George picked up mud and muck on his tummy so a strenuous rubdown was needed! This afternoon I drove to a garden centre about 12 miles away to look for a birthday present for neighbour Debs but of course, spent far more on myself including a solar lamp to hang next to the path and lightweight shears, weighing just half a kilo, that will make some tidying jobs much easier on my wrists and back. Also bought a delicate small cucumber plant that will require plenty of TLC to survive! A Lidl store is close to the garden centre so I popped in for a few groceries, nothing major, and was shocked it came to so much. No errors scanning because I was at one of those self service points! Thank goodness I wore a mask because several people who didn’t were coughing with open mouth then a man walked past sneezing and although he apologised, did nothing to cover his face. I’m now imagining I’ve a sore throat as I sip a cup of tea!
Thanks for explaining what might have happened to our planet’s axis Anne. So long as we aren’t about to lose gravity and fall off! 😳
Love the pretty teapot Lin. I’ve enjoyed so many you have posted, I could easily start my own collection but probably not a good idea as I do my best to clear everything else I’ve collected over the years.
Barbie, I do hope Jake’s appointments go well. With your tomato plant out and the zucchini the gardeners among us will all be watching our respective weather!
My growing vegetables survived this morning’s horizontal rain but I can see more support canes will soon be needed. More kale has been picked for this evening’s meal and the lettuces planted at the beginning of the project are ready to be pulled. Gravadlax salmon to enjoy with the salad then I will test the new shears on the path at the rear of my property because the rain has knocked some taller wild flowers over the area so anyone walking past will get wet feet and ankles.
Everyone stay safe.
Jackie 🥰0 -
Hello dear ones. We have a cloudy day with a few showers. It is the same weather I have posted about for weeks it seems.
I grew up in Texas on a ranch and let me say, almost every man and a lot of women own guns and not just one! I am terrified of them. It was common to have to warn people not to practice target shooting near or on our ranch. We had cattle, horses and at times, sheep. Even the spent shells are poisonous. I am not sure how on earth you deal with this enormous issue. You would think all of these tragic school shootings would force change. Think of this….there was always a LOADED rifle hanging above the fireplace in my grandparents home. There were children and teenagers running in and out of that house constantly. I shutter just thinking of what could have happened. To make matters worse, there was no special warning or gun safety training in those days.
I have a lot of personal issues to deal with currently. Our yearly health checkups are coming up after Memorial Day. I am not sure about John. I think that old sweetheart has some problems that need a specialist. Will he consent to go? I would guess, “NO!” We will see…..
My big plans for the yard help fell apart. Back to researching solutions. We should have moved years ago.
Patsy☘️
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Hello, cold and wet here today. Apparently the precipitation may be over tomorrow at some point. I heard from a friend and she planted her garden very early. She is pleased with the progress of her vegetables but some things aren’t growing much. I didn’t plant zucchini this spring. I love them, one of my favorite vegetables. I fought pests last year and lost. So if it works out, I will plant a couple of seeds later in the season and hope I am past the season of the vine borer.
I am happy to have lots more potting soil so I am free to plant things as I get the notion.
My state has removed the requirement to get a permit to purchase a gun. I was shocked. We have had procedures in place for years and suddenly, poof, it all disappeared. I am not sure a permit to carry is needed now but I haven’t checked.
While removing assault weapons would be a great idea we really cannot get rid of guns totally with today’s technology. We have lots of ghost guns in the U.S.
“ Ghost guns are unregistered and untraceable homemade weapons that can be made with a 3D printer or assembled from a kit. According to the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives, such weapons are contributing to a rise in gun violence, reported CBS News' Jeff Pegues in February.”
Jackie, nice purchases today. The solar lamp sounds wonderful, I hope it works well for you. Your garden also appears to be thriving. I hope the delicate cucumber also has a good life in your garden. 🤞🏻
Sandy, if you can look after Ewok at his home you would be doing him a favor. His home turf. Lots of space, toys and comfort. And you wouldn’t have to worry about a male dog’s habit of marking new territory. 😁 so glad if you would want to get a dog that this landlord wouldn’t stand in your way👍🏻👍🏻. Have you tried to update Babe’s address online with social security? They say you can…..
“Manage Your Account
Change Your Address
Set Up or Change Direct Deposit”
Anne, I hope you got your groceries ordered. Holiday weeks can be problematic. Higher demand, fewer people may be working. I hope you get the supplies you want and I also hope your garden does well. Sometimes when the temperature is up and down seed can sprout over a longer period of time rather than all popping up at once. Or maybe it is old seed with a lower germination rate.
Barbie, I may regret not planting zucchini early. I usually only have one or two plants since they are grown in containers. I always plant too many tomato plants. 🤦🏼♀️
Be safe everyone.
Lin🙋🏼♀️
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Anne, A tornado. How terrifying. Even worse than a usual storm. We are fortunate with our grocery ordering that we can accumulate our order on the store's website in preparation for submitting it, so there is no need for a paper list. For years I kept a paper list and now I am spoiled by using technology. We drive to the store to pick up groceries, but the store does have a delivery option that we haven't used. Jake saw another medical professional yesterday to address his heart failure condition. He came home with paperwork to fill out about possible financial assistance with his latest expensive medication and the name of a possible (expensive) additional one. He has more information about monitoring his condition and will talk to her again by phone (rather than driving 50 miles each way) for his next appointment. I used the time while he was gone to do some much needed household chores followed by riding my exercise bike while watching a Netflix show that Jake can't stand. My dog walking friend will be walking with us again this morning. She had Mohs on a skin cancer that was deep and required many stitches so she had to take it easy for a few days. She'll probably walk only a short time this morning, but the dogs and I will be glad to see her. Barbie 0 -
Happy Thursday! Meeting day and I am chairing and possibly speaking. After my meeting I am meeting friends for an early dinner. Hopefully there won't be any big storms like yesterday. Our tornado sirens went off but Babe refused to go to the bathroom or downstairs in the garage hallway. Luckily there was no tornado but still very scary. We went to the DMV for Real ID cards but they need either a birth certificate or a passport of which Babe had none to prove citizenship. Back home I ordered him a copy of his birth certificate and after waiting an hour on the phone finally got through to Social Security to change his address. After hanging up I realized he had to have a social security card for the Real ID so I have to call back when he is here to give permission to talk to me. I also explained to the lady that his son had died and he had an account with social security for his father but no one knows the email he used or the password. She told me she changed the email to what I requested but it didn't work and not only did I get locked out for 24 hours I messed my own account as well. This isn't easy ladies.
Babe agreed to stay at Rob and Lisa's house to take care of Ewok. He also will go to movie night with me next week to see everyone before they leave for Florida. He is still very dizzy and I pray that the neurologist can help him at our appointment on June 13. It makes him weak and unsteady so that is why he doesn't like to do anything and I can't blame him.
Sorry if this is all boring to you but it helps to put it in writing and keep me sane. Have a good day.
Sandy
One Day at a Time0 -
Overcast but not too cold although this morning’s walk was so windy I had to put a woollen headscarf on. I’ve been catching up with lots of small jobs in my garden and was in the middle of cutting down canes that grow across the bottom to use as supports when a text message arrived. Says it is from our NHS and advising someone I’ve been in close contact with has tested positive for Covid so I should give them details and they will send a test kit. Looked genuine but I’ve come indoors to search about scams and yes, their web address is similar but incorrect; what’s called phishing. I had wondered because the only possible person I’ve seen recently that would have given my name is Ellen who gave me a pedicure but she would have phoned or messaged if she tested positive. So, back into the garden to continue collecting canes!
Sandy, I’ve said before you have the patience of Job and can only reiterate it! I hope you took shelter when the sirens went off. No point you both getting hurt.
Jackie 🥰0 -
Jilly and I sat in the garden in warm sunshine, but now the wind has risen and the black clouds are scudding across the sky. I wonder if this is coming from your suspected tornado SANDY. If so I don't want my wee Jilly blown to the land of Oz so we scooted back in.
Unbelievable JACKIE! Scammers now cashing in on Corvid?
I get a very small pension from the UK which has never increased since I turned 65. Because of scammers presumably not declaring dead parents etc. the Brits want us exiles to send a filled out form and signed by a bank manager, barrister or doctor etc to prove we are still alive. This used to be every 5 years or so, but now, every year. My pension is so small that I was going to cancel but having been told off by two sons and one DIL because I paid in for 13 years during life in Britain they say I am entitled to it. I guess I have to comply for peace to reign. Honest its hardly worth the price of registered mail etc. AND every year!
It WILL keep Jilly in treats I guess unless prices go up even more.
So Sandy you and I have been filling forms out today or dealing with sons and bureaucracy.
What shall I have for tea? Much more important.
Anne.
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Hello. I have started a post several times today and then the phone rings and a protracted, but lovely, conversation has ensued! Then when I come back, the post I was working on is gone, gone, gone. We had another overcast and very windy day. Tomorrow we are promised sunshine although if it doesn’t appear I guess we cannot sue for a weather change. 😄
Anne, I guess I agree, keep your claim in for the pension $$ you’ve earned. Jilly will take the doggie treats for certain. I heard from a lady whose husband had a sudden medical emergency and had to be taken by helicopter to a specific hospital for treatment. Now he will need rehabilitation in a specialized center but there is no bed for him. He may be shipped 200 miles away for what he needs. They cannot wait for a bed closer to their home, if they refuse, he will not be offered a bed again. She is wringing her hands as she could not be with him if he is so far away and she is seeing him twice daily now to take him little bits of food that he will eat. They other thing is their medical insurance will not cover one dollar of the cost of the helicopter transport. She has heard she will be billed tens of thousands of dollars for that trip. This is worrying her to death. So Anne, always take money!! A need may arise.
Sandy, wow, what a lot of upset to work through. I am sorry for everything you need to straighten out. By the way, did the DMV say you needed anything else for your Real ID? We had to have certified birth certificates and women who are/were married needed a certified marriage record. A bill with your current address on it and a social security card. They were tough here when this started out but I think this state has eased up a bit. 🤦🏼♀️ Anyway, best wishes to you as you continue to sort through all of these issues.
Jackie, really? A Covid exposure scam?!?!?! What information were they trying to garner from you? Good catch on that! I hope the gardening is chugging right along. I looked at my green beans which are still slowly sprouting and wow, they do not have good color! Hope they make it. So Dan and family are in Lithuania. They are really getting around. I hope they make it back into England without problems.
Barbie, I hope some financial assistance is available for expensive medications. Wishing Jake all the best with further treatments.
Be well everyone.
Lin🙋🏼♀️
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It’s a beautiful, sunny day and I’m busy outside. Our walk was wonderful because the cold blast of wind has dropped to a gentle breeze.
Lin, the NHS scam apparently begins with a text message pretending to be from them that asks for a test to be taken. I paused filling in their online application for a kit when after date of birth they wanted more information because the usual way to get into the genuine website is with nothing more than that date together with name. Apparently, if I had continued I would have been directed to pay a small fee for the kit but then of course they want bank details and the original £1.50 fee would give access to clear my account. Not only that but they use your address to locate you and bombard with more scams, as usual hitting the vulnerable. I hate being suspicious of every unusual email but unfortunately it’s the only way!
I haven’t caught up with Dan and family for a couple of days but imagine the ever increasing price of fuel for their car will soon send them west again, hopefully with Pumpkin.
I’ve been researching how to plant out Pak Choi which turns out it’s easy… haha, we’ll see but definitely more slug pellets required!
A happy, safe Friday to everyone.
Jackie 🥰0 -
Darn, Jackie, I am sorry, it was Lichtenstein! 🤦🏼♀️ NOT Lithuania.
Good luck with the Pak Choy (and additional slug pellets)
We have sunshine. 🌞🌞🌞🌞
Lin🙋🏼♀️
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Happy Friday! Laundry has been started and will be picking Babe up around 1:00. Will try calling Social Security again to order a new card for Babe. Also for help in getting him an account online. Will try to make three appointments for myself, one to check my back, the other for my yearly physical and the dreaded colonoscopy.
Our dinner was excellent and I even won a little money playing some slots. Got caught in a downpour on the way home but only for a short time.
Will weigh in tomorrow although as of today I only have gained 2 ounces from my last weigh in.
Lin, yes we have to have all the same documents which I have for myself. But Babe doesn't have a passport nor his birth certificate so I had to order a new birth certificate and now a social security card.
It will get done just not for a while waiting for the new documents. If not raining maybe we will take a ride to social security office today to see how crowded they are. Might be easier than on the phone.
Have a great day and enjoy life, it is just too short.
Sandy
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That’s ok Lin, although I did wonder why they were going in the wrong direction! Hooray for your sunshine 🌞
Jackie0 -
Hello young ladies, not much going on here I'm afraid. It rained through the night, it rained through the morning and its still raining. Mind you the parched earth needed it and I can report the broccoli and tomatoes are happy perky campers.
Michael decided to go into work on his day off for month end paperwork and because he didn't see much point in staring out the window with Jilly Bean at falling rain. Especially as she would be nattering for a long walkie. I had a piece of salmon hiding in the fridge so I'm afraid, having defrosted it, I thoroughly enjoyed my cooked portion with his piece for tomorrows lunch. I'm not sure what we will have if he comes Saturday after work or Sunday.
Wow LIN, how awful for your poor friend with a poorly husband and an enormous bill for helicopter cost! Could your friend lose her house if she owns it? We had friends in Quebec who's wife's mother on a visit from the UK had a heart attack and then died in Florida whilst on vacation with them. No insurance. By the time they got her body back to Canada and then flown to the UK for burial with her husband; they had lost their home and were living in a rented apartment when we met them. The husband in particular was very bitter. Not surprising as he'd just retired.
Anne.0 -
Hello dear ones! Cloudy as usual with an early shower.
Hearing about the sad experience of Lin’s friend and the costs of medical helicopter ride, I am astounded. As to the burial and costs of sending remains to another country, wow! I can understand that man’s bitterness. Being a very practical man my dad, and my mom, were adamant about this in their will. They didn’t want a huge funeral. No big fancy headstone or graveyard. Cremation, and ashes scattered or buried under a tree was what they wanted. Sadly we could not do all as they wished. My brothers and I needed that special place to sort of focus our grief. We did the traditional funeral and the costs were eye watering! No expensive travel for remains involved. Everyone feels the death industry is pure robbery at one’s most vulnerable time. We need to let family know in our will what we want to happen.
On to more interesting topics….John was trying to change out another burnet out light bulb. This time in the kitchen. Wouldn’t you know…the whole fixture fell apart. Electrician is on the way! I read about refurbishing older homes and there was a whole section on the age of a house and it’s life expectancy. Depending on the age and if it was a part of a development, a house and the usual things like electricity, plumbing, heating have an expected amount of service time. Then things start to breakdown. Repairs and replacement start happening. A normal house has a life expectancy of about 30 to 40 years. Then get out your checkbook….repairs are going to be happening. We are there! But we really want to continue to age here. It is home!
Lin: the Ukrainian family that everyone is following is interesting. I keep wondering at some of decisions they have to make. If In their position, I am not sure how I would react. My ancient relatives from Ireland came to the U.S with the clothes on their back, one small suitcase. Lots of resentment and bad feeling about the Irish in the US at the time. I wish them well.
Sandy: how well I understand your frustration when trying to get documents set up. We occasionally have to do similar efforts. Good grief! All this effort to make sure we are who we say we are and yet the scammers seem to have little trouble getting into our pockets. Once Babe is completely under one roof,(condo) adjustments and plans can happen. I think you both might enjoy time together. You are such a beautiful lady, and with a good heart. I think he is still in love with you.
Anne: forms and documents are a huge bother. But we must do what we can to gather our resources, no matter how small. We have a small pension like that. It is just a funny little school pension that is a lot of trouble but we keep filling out the forms each year to keep getting it. Grumble grumble…we earned it and I think we should get it, so I fill out the forms.
Jackie: our government sends rapid home Covid tests to each household regularly. I just got 4 more tests. Our daughter had to take our sil to the er yesterday. The hospital was full. He had to stay on a gurney in the hallway for hours. The pandemic isn’t over. I wish I could send you a couple of tests to have if you needed to check yourself. Our daughter and son in law will isolate for 10 days before trying to contact us except by phone and zoom. It has caused a family situation. Our son is saying he wants my daughter to test before she ever try’s to see us. We are too vulnerable not to be very careful around us. Wow! Hope this family situation smooths out soon. We are fine, daughter and family is okay so far, son is fine and tests regularly. Whew!
Hello all other sneakers. Stay safe, keep your masks handy.
Patsy☘️☔️🧘🏼😱😳0 -
Good evening. Time for a teapot!
See you tomorrow.
Lin🙋🏼♀️
❤️❤️
The Dan family made it to Paris!
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Good morning!
I sometimes think that governments hope that we WILL give up on the paperwork as we grow older and older and show no signs of being scattered under a tree - I LIKE that idea PATSY! My lot have been told to dispose of me as cheaply as possible after viewing both of Mary Jo's parents extremely expensive funerals and bun fights afterwards.
The tiny house I live in with its decrepit appliances that match me in looks and age will be 100 years old in 2024. Mark seems resigned to forever replacing things. The three of them, Ms and Mike are extremely careful around me [the dreaded Corvid] treating me like Dresden china which can be frustrating at times. I think I would be difficult to replace being a bit of an odd ball.
Nothing going on here after looking at rain falling for hours, there's hope for today though BUT the dry up comes with a cost. Hot, muggy weather drifting in UGH. The veggies are happy at least.
Anne
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Happy Saturday! It is going to be in the low 70's for our first pool day so I might just skip today. Tomorrow and Monday is the high 80's so those should be good days. After my two weeks in Florida I don't have the urgency to get to the pool as I normally would and not that fond of how I look in swim suit with additional wrinkles.
Well we did it again at the social security office, needed to prove who Babe was and with him having an expired drivers license they couldn't accept that. She did however help me get on the website with the account his son made for him but I have to wait for them to mail me a new access code. She did say a medical report would be accepted and after we left I had a doctor's appointment letter with all his meds and diagnosis in my car but didn't go back in since Babe was impatient sitting there waiting. I will be able to order a new card through the website once I get the code which I hope is soon.
Babe just called and is staying home today as he is very dizzy. A good day to clean out my dresser drawers and get rid of unwanted clothes.
Anne, we are getting that hot weather as well but I love it!! I also am being cremated but put in a niche in a wall near my sister. I already purchased the niche so my funeral expenses should be minimal. I do not want a wake just a funeral mass and luncheon. I told my kids spare no expense on my luncheon and let the people party. I only want my kids to take my ashes to the niche after the funeral. I want to be remembered how I am now and not by a dead body. No offense to any of you who want a wake.
Patsy, I hope you are right because after living alone for ten years it is a hard adjustment to have him here right now. I am sure it will get easier but I really hope his health improves so he can do more.
He did go with me last night when my son called and asked if I could watch Charlie while he went to a meeting. We were only there about 2 hours so he was fine but Ewok keep jumping on him and annoying him. Ewok was just excited to see a new person but is not allowed to jump or go on furniture so I had to put him outside. I hope he behaves when we dog sit next week.
So I saw this on Facebook and immediately thought of Buzz.
Have a good day.
Sandy
One Day at a Time
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Dearest Buzz! Don’t we all miss her wit, political integrity and courage dealing with her health issues. Sandy, I just wish I’d had an opportunity to meet her as you and Babe did because I know it would have started with the biggest hug. ❤️
George, Betty and I were out early because I knew the temperatures would rise quickly and we had an amazing walk in a gentle breeze across the top of the moors. Not a soul to be seen anywhere until we got back to the car park and shouted good morning to Paul with Brody who had just finished their walk and were heading home for breakfast.
I’ve achieved lots in my garden and managed to cut the grass about 5.30pm because I know the weather is more unpredictable tomorrow. Lots of sneezing followed! A few spare sweet peppers have been left outside in a container and more slug pellets tossed on to the raised beds but I have enjoyed the first of my heads of lettuce so that’s an achievement!
Patsy, in the Uk we were offered as many free Covid test kits as we wanted until recently so knowing how devious our government is (boozing at parties during lockdown!), I genuinely think their Covid strategy is to hope as many of us as possible catch it during the summer months so that if a new variant appears next winter, we will have natural immunity. Our infection rate has fallen dramatically but I’m sure we have fewer anti vax people per capita than in America. The scammers haven’t come back to me so I think that proves I’m in no danger of infection right now.
Hang in there Sandy and hopefully once all the registering is completed you can relax. After Chrissie’s wonderful funeral with cheap decoupaged coffin and burial in a woodland, I’m thinking I must be more specific about how I see my own remains being “tossed” on the moors. My Will has become a bit outdated since being written some 12 years ago so I will make an appointment to tie up a few loose ends! It’s a subject worth having so as not to leave anyone with difficult decisions.
A good amount of laundry washed and dried that needs to be put away then it will be time for a glass of wine and tuna salad.
Jackie 🥰0 -
Dearest Buzz! Don’t we all miss her wit, political integrity and courage dealing with her health issues. Sandy, I just wish I’d had an opportunity to meet her as you and Babe did because I know it would have started with the biggest hug. ❤️
Jackie 🥰
It was just me Jackie. I went to Club Med in Florida In March of 2012 with Cheryl, Marisa and Bryanna.
We were not too far from Buzz so I invited her for lunch to the horror of Cheryl who thought I might get killed if I met them at a restaurant. I invited Buzz and Mike to have lunch at the resort and it was wonderful. I had a picture of Mike but I can't find it anywhere, but here is me and Buzz.
Sandy
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Hello all! I have been doing laundry and fussing with lots of different ideas for the July 4th cards. Have been cutting out bits and pieces and seeing how they might fit together. Nope, haven’t finalized any design yet. 😄 I think I will stop the laundry for the day. There’s always another day right?
It is in the low 80’s right now and very windy. Many of my plants on the deck have seen little sunlight and the combination of bright sunshine, higher temperatures and wind are causing some wilt. Poor things. Hotter tomorrow and maybe a rain shower? My garden hose is hooked up and ready to water the plants if they look poorly this evening.
Jackie, what a productive day in the garden and all that mowing! Wow, you are entitled to some sneezing for certain.
Sandy, another long day trying to straighten things out. You have perseverance. Dogs do get excited when new people are around but when we don’t feel well, it is more difficult to tolerate. With his health problems, Babe must feel quite miserable most days. I hope the doctor will be able to help him. Settling in together may take some time given the amount of time apart but I know you will do your best. We have seen that already. ❤️
Anne, yipes, rain followed by heat! Muggy for certain. I guess it is time to turn on your air conditioner. Don’t freeze little Jilly! 😄 and I hope your garden is growing well!
Patsy, did the electrician get everything resolved with that light fixture? I am glad your children are trying to do their best to keep viruses away from you. My friends opened their house this weekend to their out of town son, wife and children. I was surprised, they have previously preplanned all get togethers with people testing several times just before a visit. This was a last minute plan — with only a few hours before the visitors descended on them. I ordered tests once again because they were available. I have only used one so far.
The update from the friend with the hubby in the hospital heading to rehab at a moment’s notice is just so nerve wracking. Poor dear. The helicopter bill is $40,000, and the newest worry, the hospital staff have not been helpful in this transition. They did have to take the open bed even though it is the holiday weekend and there is very little staff at both the hospital and at the rehab place. She had to pay on the spot for his transport to rehab. An ambulance is only paid by insurance if the person cannot sit up at all. That was all in confusion for a number of hours. She ran home and fed the animals and started off to the rehab place. Her GPS did not get her there. She called someone she knew who drives for Uber and he helped her via the phone to get there. Now this place is a longer drive each day and she must have a negative Covid test each day to get in to visit him. They charged her for the test yesterday. She has no tests at home and is scrambling to find a solution that will not be a daily expense. The gas for the car is pricey enough, although I am not sure of the mileage each day. Anyway, she is really on edge but is devoted to taking pudding to him each day (the only thing he has consistently eaten) and makes him a half sandwich at home each day although he really hasn’t eaten much. It is a total fright to be old and sick in the United States with so many things not being covered by Medicare (and so not covered by a Medicare supplement plan either).
Take care everyone. Sorry for such depressing news. But there is a lot of that coming from every direction.
Lin🙋🏼♀️
❤️❤️
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I went with Jake to see the cardiologist. The doctor is a delightful charming man who really knows his stuff. He pushed harder for Jake to reduce his sodium intake so we came home and took a long hard look at what we're eating and made some changes for the future. Jake cut the grass this morning faster than usual because it was about to rain. A little while later, he felt funny and took his blood pressure and it was lower than usual. He took it three times and it continued to drop to a level that was so low that he had me call 9 1 1. They came immediately and took his blood pressure again, sitting and standing and did an EKG. His blood pressure increased to a point where they concluded that he was OK and the EKG showed no serious problems so they could leave and could come back later if necessary. He is feeling much better now. We were reminded that calling 9 1 1 is a good idea even if you think you're being overly cautious. Barbie 2
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Buzz on her 90th birthday in 2017
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I went with Jake to see the cardiologist. The doctor is a delightful charming man who really knows his stuff. He pushed harder for Jake to reduce his sodium intake so we came home and took a long hard look at what we're eating and made some changes for the future. Jake cut the grass this morning faster than usual because it was about to rain. A little while later, he felt funny and took his blood pressure and it was lower than usual. He took it three times and it continued to drop to a level that was so low that he had me call 9 1 1. They came immediately and took his blood pressure again, sitting and standing and did an EKG. His blood pressure increased to a point where they concluded that he was OK and the EKG showed no serious problems so they could leave and could come back later if necessary. He is feeling much better now. We were reminded that calling 9 1 1 is a good idea even if you think you're being overly cautious. Barbie
Barbie, what a fright. Good job calling 911 and so happy everything ended up okay!
Lin0 -
Good grief! Barbie! I am so glad things worked out okay for Jake. Anything regarding the heart is terrifying. You seem to be well versed on what to look for and how to handle the situation at hand. Good for you. Lucky for Jake!
Still looking at rain but Memorial Day is to be sunny and warm. We will see…..
We are also dealing with stomach bug (?). Doctor appointment on the 3rd. I am slowly cleaning up deck. Yardcare not happening. It is on beyond overgrown. I am just trying peck away little by little at the shrubs that I can reach. The electrician came and the fixture was up and working in all of 10 minutes. My dear John was humiliated. I have no idea why repairs no matter what or how big or small, he feels he should be doing them. Even if he was to stand on a 12 ft. Ladder. Getting old requires adjustments, reality checks and humor…most of all. Sandy! Remember! Get ready for that male ego that comes with even the nicest of guys.
Patsy☘️☔️🌦
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We've just got up and I've just read everyones news. Oh my goodness, I'm so sorry for everyone particularly the poor lady facing such a huge helicopter bill! LIN, I think what we would do here is have a "whip round" for cash. Even a 5 dollar contribution would help. And Jake BARBIE, I'm so glad everything turned out okay but what a fright for you both. SANDY, I think you are going to have your hands full with your Babe. You are very caring and I'm sure you will cope, but it won't be easy at the beginning of your new life. and PATSY coping with John who is fighting old age with everything he's got.
We emigrated to Canada because Rolls Royce was in deep trouble at the time. My ex was offered the job here but was also offered a job in Phoenix if my memory is correct. I'm very glad he chose here when I read about the cost of medical care in the United States. We didn't consider that in our thirties, more the climate. The pills I am taking are just over $6 a month. No insurance required.
You are all very much on my mind. I wish I could help but pretty much helpless up here!
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Happy Sunday everyone although I do echo Anne’s concerns about medical bills in America. Living on a smallish island, we never have to travel too far to get specialist care and most journeys are by road. We do have a helicopter service in Cornwall because so much of our terrain is not easily accessible, especially when annual visitors arrive. It’s run as a charity and relies on donations plus a monthly lottery that residents are happy to support because we never know when it could be our turn. No charge for its use and most of our English counties have followed our example and I’m sure Wales and Scotland have their own too.
Lin, that’s a desperate situation for your friend with no time to think what would be her best option but also, I’m surprised medical staff take time off over holiday periods. Unfortunately insurance is the same the world over… any tiny to invisible clause to avoid paying out and it’s down to the insurer’s interpretation! Do you have crowd funding websites Lin? Stories like your friend’s get told and anyone can pay an amount to support them and it’s amazing how quickly tens of thousands can be raised from total strangers.
That teapot lid is an accident waiting to happen!
Goodness Barbie, that was a scare for you and Jake but thank goodness he got checked over right away. I’m sure being reassured that ringing the emergency number is the right thing to do gives you some peace of mind. Lesson learned, it’s only rain and the grass can wait to be cut at a leisurely pace another day. That’s what I often tell myself and as you know, it rains a lot here!
Ever patient Sandy, I expect you are noticing changes in Babe since you lived together before. My friends Christine and Richard are going through a period in their lives where now, if he finds he has no control over things not going the way he’d like, he becomes, as she puts it, a grumpy old man. He would have laughed at that not so long ago but unfortunately is losing his sense of humour too. No sign of Christine losing hers so hopefully she’ll be able to jolly him along!
Hang in there Patsy, there is surely help out there by way of a payed gardener that John could maybe work alongside. It’s never easy giving up even the smallest of tasks and I have the sincerest empathy for him knowing how I would NOT cope!
Gorgeous photos of Buzz.
Threatened rain is still holding off but I’ve dug out the container of paintbrushes and sheets of plastic to protect floors etc and will start to paint over the dark wall in my snug that I’ve never liked since I put it on!
Stay safe. Covid infections falling here but Monkey pox going up! 🙊
Jackie 🥰
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Happy Sunday! It's going to be a hot day here and I will be at the pool. Babe is staying home again because of dizziness so I will get some sun and relax and then go to see him and pack up some of his things. He is stressed about the move which doesn't help with the dizziness. Hopefully he will be more relaxed once he is moved in here.
Jackie, our health system is terrible and we pay so much for premiums it's unaffordable for some people.
So many things need to be changed in the US, but both political parties fight each other and nothing ever gets done. Be sure to take a picture of the new wall when finished and be careful.
Anne, good decision on choosing Canada over Phoenix, not only for obvious reasons but for the heat alone. It is unbearable in the summer but people say it is dry heat with no humidity but still hot.
Dogs have to wear little booties if they go for a walk so they don't burn their pads.
Barbie, I am so glad to read Jake is okay. Good decision on calling 911 and glad to hear they told you to call at any time. My ex fell down a few weeks ago and had to crawl to his cell phone to call 911 and it took 5 guys to pick him up because he is a big man at 6'4" and weighing in around 300 pounds. He refused to go to the hospital but at least they got him up.
Patsy, sorry to read you and John are having tummy issues. It is a good thing you have doctor's appointments for your checkups soon. Yes, I know that male ego is frustrating at times but we are women we are strong.
Lin, as the others suggested it might be good for your friend to start a go fund me page for help with those medical bills. Just enough to cover their expenses. It helps a lot of people who need help so might be worth it to tell her.
Have a good day and let's stay healthy.
Sandy
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Hello, sunny and windy weather now after a morning of light rain. I watched church online and made lunch. Time to get back to the cards! I have tried several more things that don’t look good to me. Just before church, I tried to die cut a very intricate die with double stick tape on the back. Oh, what a disaster. Back to the drawing board. 😄
Thanks for all of your tips on how I might help this lady. She said this morning that they will work (and she will be there to assist him in his exercises) with the goal of getting him home as soon as possible. She was asked if she would accept assistance and she said the only thing that would help her is for people to support her work. I will wait a bit and see how things develop. ❤️🌻❤️
Sandy, oh yes, Babe may be quite stressed over the changes in his life including this move. I really hope he settles down and feels better soon. Happy first pool day in Illinois! Enjoy!
Jackie, I was looking for a photo that might include Mike but couldn’t find one. I admit I have forgotten his face and it bothers me a bit. I think of Buzz from time to time. When I was hunting for a new comfy chair, I ran across the Ekornes brand and Buzz told me about the pieces of furniture she had of that brand. I was encouraged by her positive comments which led to the purchase of the chair I sit in as I type this. I hope the painting is going well or better yet—finished! Medical debt in the United States is a major cause of bankruptcy. Or if people do not declare bankruptcy, they work with agencies to try to set up payment plans to pay off the debt bit by bit. The situation causes much anxiety here.
Anne, definitely a wonderful decision to stay in Canada. I pay for prescription drug insurance and it has a deductible based on a complicated system of tiers of drugs. I am well over my deductible for the year with one prescription drug fill and two Shingrix shots but I still pay $125 for a 3 month supply of the one and only drug I take (right now 😁). Again, you landed in a very good spot. Where are your weather conditions now? Hot? Temperate? Rain every day? Hoping your plants are happy.
Patsy, I am glad the fixture is repaired but sorry John felt a bit sad that he didn’t do it himself. Doubly sorry you and John are fighting some type of stomach bug. The 3rd will be here fairly soon but it is a long time when you feel unwell. I find it odd these days that when you have a doctor’s appointment they now ask if you feel unwell and if you do, they may not let you come to their office. 🤦🏼♀️
Well, did I mention the beautiful Cardinals which I adore, may be the culprits that clipped off some of my finally pepping up green bean plants yesterday? The male Cardinal brings his bugs to my deck to eat them, eyes my plants each day and sits on top of the wire covers I am using right now. Anyway, I found a few more seeds and tossed them in the pot hoping to fill in a few of the spots of the now headless seedlings. They are very pretty birds.
Be safe everyone.
Lin🙋🏼♀️
❤️❤️
A plain teapot with a very whimsical tea cozy. Yesterday’s pot was decorative!
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