WOMEN AGES 50+ FOR AUGUST 2017

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NYKaren - I can't wait until this whole wedding/shower stuff is over. Can't come too soon for me. Just what Denise needed -- added stress. You would have thought Amanda and Maria would have been more flexible -- but that's not to be. Congrats on the colonoscopy being over!

Went in the pool, then went to CVS, then I went to WalMart while Vince went to Lowes Hardware and filled my tank up with gas. Then to Krispy Kreme. I had a coupon for 3 dozen, I'll give one to Jess, one to Denise, and one for Vince. Hopefully, he'll have most of them eaten by the time I get back. Or if he has to leave any, hopefully he'll leave the plain glazed.

Oh no, Sept, that means I'll need to start stringing the popcorn. Probably after this shower

Lanette - Jess said she sent out 29 invites and Maria added two more. Usually, people don't come so I'm hopeful that 28 favors are enough. And if not, oh well.....

pip - I hate when someone says they'll do something and then don't. I feel your anger. BTDT. Glad you found a new gym. The Y will miss you, I'm sure

Allie - I hate to say it, but don't count on Tom being willing to let you see the dogs. He'll probably use that against you.

The next total eclipse anywhere in the world will be across southern South America on July 2, 2019

Karen in VA - last time I had a colonoscopy, they weighed me right before the procedure. I'd only lost 2lbs. It wasn't worth it for 2 lousy pounds

Denise called earlier (around 6). Asked me for pics of her from when she was little. Seems Maria wants to make a collage. She just decided NOW to do it for the shower? Heck, I decided to give her that placq and started on it in May. I told Denise that I probably couldn't tonight, next week I'll be busy with getting ready for the party, but the week after that I can probably do it and mail the pics to her. She wondered if they would get there in time for the shower. I told her that I wouldn't think it would take that long to make. What is Maria thinking, to want to do this at such a late date? I need to find the pics (which I know takes hours since that's how long it took for me to find the handkerchief for Denise's "something old"), take a pic of the pic, print it out and then send it to her. Well, we shall see next week. I reminded her that if she wants me to decorate her favor bags, she needs to get them to me asap so that I have time to do them, as I have no idea how long it'll take me to do. Plus...Denise is getting more and more dependent on Pete. She decided to go to this place for the bridesmaids dresses. I told her I would bring Jess' back with me on Sun. I asked her today if she had it, she said that she and Pete will go Sat. to get it. The place is in a part of Philly that she doesn't like to drive in. So why did she get them there? Because Amanda used to work there and I bet Maria talked her into it. The dresses there were gross as far as I was concerned and on the expensive side.

Michele in NC

got home and Kirby (had the day off) said the airstream dealer called and said the new awning is on and it looks fabulous. now those curtains better fit. unfortunately they didn't give him a pic.

Just got home from the fish fry. Omg! Ate too much. I guess I'll eat with a deficit for the next few days. But the homemade southern Pecan pie was the best. The catfish was really good!

Have a good evening!
Dans in Arkansas

DJ – I had 2 very close former HS classmates of mine commit ‘suicide’ … it is so hard because so unexpected. The last one was a ‘total shot’ to the entire town/county. You never do know what goes on in someone’s head unless they tell you. They did not even ‘share’ their feelings to their families.

Michele – If Denise has made her life ‘revolve’ around him and his family; then, if things go ‘south’ afterwards, she is going to be devastated. His family should not be her only ‘outlet’. Oh, I know about the ‘taking sides’ … DOS and DDnL#1 have had more than their share of “Drama”; but, you say something the ‘least bit’ off about her, he jumps in and defends her. He can be ‘bitching 90-to-nothing’ to Louis and if Louis ‘responds’ … he backs up and punts. I told him a few months back that I did NOT want to listen to it. She had ‘dinged’ him once before we got to the dirt road, twice more before he got to the paved road, a mile away. Hopefully, now that she has a ‘new’ job making more than she was making at the one she quit and went without a paycheck for 8 weeks. That pushed them over the ‘brink’ and they filed for bankruptcy, something my son did NOT want to have to do … but, her car payment was more than their house payment (or real close). They are allowing that to go back. She is not at all happy with the car that a family member has loaned/given to them. I say loaned/given … because if you ‘loan’ them something, it suddenly becomes theirs. I go to use my vacuum cleaner and it is ‘gone’. To me, when you borrow something, you come get it, use it, clean it, and bring it back … like immediately when you finish with it. Don’t come down and get around to it … someday. My vacuum cleaner was ‘expensive’ and after they use it I have to take it apart and clean it out.

Boy, I feel sorry for all involved. A friend is going through that with her son and his ‘ex’. For her, it is okay that she is stuck up her own Mother’s butt; but, her son has to take her to court to get her to go along with the normal – every other weekend and 1 day during the week visitation’. OMG, if he intends on taking the child ‘out of the city limits’ … he gets served with papers to appear in court. Her mother has the ‘attorney’ she used in her back pocket. Then, of course, he ends up backing down (because his parents just drive the 2 ½ hours to Columbus to visit). My friends are beginning to show the wear. I would not want to make my friend, or her husband, mad … they would be a force all their own. They are beginning to get to the point of saying, ‘bring it on’!!!!

Apparently, Denise is getting ‘something’ out of this one-sided relationship with her soon-to-be-outlaws (I mean ‘in-laws’). Maybe they will pay for things. Let ‘em. Just make sure she knows you will be there for her … just not to bail her out, like the insurance situations. We had to pull the rug out from under our oldest son’s feet, too … or they would have pulled us down with themselves. Best thing we ever did … to make them understand we were not ‘human ATMs’. I think I pulled back a lot sooner than Louis did. But, when he did … he did with both feet. Never looked back either. We’ve always had a close relationship with both boys; but, DDnL#1 got jealous when DYS married (of his wife, for no good reason). She tried to be ‘divisive’ and I just won’t allow it. She gets her fanny up on her shoulders, ‘fine’. I don’t have to listen to it and won’t. My boys will be my boys until the day I die; but, they have both married and that is now ‘their lives’. I guess it is easier not to ‘know’ what is going on when one lives 4 states over and is, by nature, a ‘very private person’. He does not have a FB account, does not want one, doesn’t want his ‘life’ on FB. Tami had deactivaited hers; until this school year, when the school her daughter announced that notifications would get sent out on FB and no other way. She finally had to put a sign up at work, that she did not take ‘appointments’ over FB and not to call her on weekends. She would no longer work on Saturdays other than to do ‘weddings’ (on Saturdays or Sundays) … she can make a ‘lot of money’ doing wedding parties or helping a co-worker.

Sounds like ‘whether they hurt Jess’ feelings or not never has entered their mind’. Sending out a ‘change of venue’ would be best … or you might have ½ the people just not show up or be confused about a 2nd invitation on the same day. ?????

Marcelyn – There is a man in Albany, who has mapped out the ‘caves’ at Radium Springs. He is a ‘rescue’ diver as well. We represented a dive shop because they told 2 men from out of town to NOT go in the cave (it had a grate across it). They took it off and only one made it out. This same man went it to bring the body out. He said that he would NEVER go diving in the ocean, ‘because there are things out there that would eat you’. We found this funny. The cave system for Radium Springs is extensive and he and a friend are the ones who have mapped it out (as far as they’ve been able to go with 4 tanks of air as reserve.

Joyce – A friend of mine, who works for an eye doctor says she would not trust any of the ‘so-called’ eclipse glasses. She will just see it – on TV … I can remember in 7th grade we had a ‘partial eclipse’ and we watched it by putting a hole in a piece of cardboard, and held a sheet of copy paper. We turned our backs to the sun with the piece of cardboard held over our shoulder and adjusted the paper so that the light through the circle was clear; and, when the moon went in front of it, there was a ‘crescent’ on the paper. I thought that was pretty cool, so that is how I plan on watching it.

Our house belongs to the humans and ‘dog’, the cat has to stay outside. Right now something is making his allergies kick in … he will open his mouth to “MEOW” and nothing comes out. Been laying out by the door … something must be making him feel bad. When we let Cracker out, something had to have walked by close enough to set off the motion sensors lights, she was at the door and it doesn’t usually stay on that long.

Anybody with houseplants – How do you get rid of ‘mealybugs’; or if you have a plant with them, can you even get rid of them? I have used 2 bottles of spray on one particular plant and still have them. It has been removed from the house. Do I need to repot it? Not looking forward to having to do that … not really a ‘cactus’, not really a ‘succulent’. Took my big Jade out to treat it, even though it doesn’t have them. Just, in case.

Carol – Sweet pix of your grandson and dog. Boy, the dog sure has ‘big paws’!!! I would not want to have to ‘clip his nails’.

KJ – That’s interesting. Not sure that I ever ‘thought’ about that. It would be important to know for months on end out in space.

Allie – At least you asked, going to talk to a CPA will be a ‘wise’ idea … or to a ‘financial advisor’ to invest your ‘share’ of assets received in the divorce. Depending on how much you get and how you invest them, it is possible that you could reinvest any of the interest until you need to start taking it as payments. We did that when we inherited money from parents. It builds up quickly for when you do need it.

Lanette – I wonder who she had to get to ‘tease’, ‘back-comb’, ‘rat’ her hair; for it to be ‘that high off her head’ it had to be long! I remember my oldest sister ‘ratting’ her hair to put it up in a French Twist.

Dorrie – In most states a ‘divorce’ or a ‘remarriage’ will ‘void and null’ a Will, leaving that person to die intestate … (no Will) and whatever will be divided among his living relatives. So that is ‘good’ that he did name his daughter for those very important documents. People think that ‘not’ having a Will is no big deal; but, if you have minor children … you need to have one. If you have things that you want to make sure ‘go to specific people’ it is important that you, at least have something written down, witnessed and notarized. Most married people have basic “I Love You” mirrored will, which leaves their estate to their surviving spouse, if not living, then to their children. Step-children and how things are divided can get touchy. It is worth an hour with an attorney to get this done. Otherwise, it could be far more costly to your family as they will have to advertise everything they want or need to sell for 4 weeks and then have to run it through the Probate Court system. Need to make sure that your children are placed with those that you want to raise them. Best thing would be someone near your own ages (if you are a “Mom and Dad” … then you want to make sure that any life insurance policy proceeds go to YOUR children and not to someone else to spend as they please. Quite often if a minor child inherits money, the Probate Judge will appoint a Guardian ad Litem to protect their interests so that the person has to prove where, why, and when they spend money for that child/children. But, if you name someone specific … they have the control without having to report to the Probate Judge. Those things are examples of what you need to talk to an attorney about. Makes it clear. Living Wills, POA, Durable POA, and Advanced Directives … different names for the same thing. But, the hospitals want you to have them in the event you need to be taken off life support systems.
Prayers for a good night sleep and that that ‘numbness’ from the news you’ve gotten will let up. My DBnL (still reads the obits from this area, he grew up here). He called me once and said he saw that there were 6 people ‘in Bronwood’ that had died during the week. Asked me, ‘if I knew any of them’. I told him that I didn’t; but, what most people do not know is that we have a nice little A.L.F/nursing home in town. He laughed and said, well, you know they usually come in 3’s; I was just thinking that y’all were having an ‘epidemic’. LOL!
{{{{{HUHS}}}}}

MEOW!!!! I just thought of something … a Barbie cake with ‘deep yellow’ food coloring between her legs. Whoops, when it gets cut open, “Oh $#*T, she ‘peed’ in the cake!” Or a few of those chocolate Peez candies … “OH $#*T!” I’m being so ‘ugly’. Damn, I sure don’t want to be standing around when Karma comes to visit.
Talk about this ‘eclipse’ … will damage your cellphone camera. So what is going to be different from looking at it directly or seeing the news reporting on it (unless they have some sort of strong filter on their cameras to prevent that sharp, bright light … they just showed on example on the news … I had to look away from it. Like having someone flash that light in your eyes when you go to the eye doctor (or some other MDs). I see rings of lights around it – like driving at night in the rain, I don’t do that. Louis won’t even allow me to drive on the Interstate. I can understand. I would not let me either. But, on Hwy 82/520 – between Dawson and Albany, it is one of the most ‘ticketed for speeding’ roads in the State. Actually from Albany, through Dawson, to Columbus (because it is on the Ft. Benning Military reservation.

I think I just broke my little toe. Hurts; but, I might have jammed it, went numb when I pulled on it. But, already bruised a couple of inches up side with a big red bump. Hurts to move it now. Guess I will know it when I wake up tomorrow and it is swollen even more than it is right now.

These the invites made by Jess … or the ‘new’ ones?

Cute bug … rolly polly? We used to dig for them in the dirt floor of my childhood BFs (twins). When we were little they would let us play in a picket-fenced yard. Seemed so tall. Years later went over and it was maybe 2 ½ feet tall, at the most. Rosa could pick us up and over it.

Lanette – When my BF’s husband was sick and dying … his children would show up at the hospital and call their Mother who would also come to the hospital ‘if’ she was not there. The day they took him off ‘life support’ she was at home, and the MD came in and talked to the daughters and the ‘ex’ … all along thinking the ‘ex’ was the wife. When he told them they needed to make a decision, she finally said, ‘oh, I’m NOT his wife’. By the time my friend got to the hospital, she was ready to ‘kill’ her … she’d just show up at the house when she thought that she wasn’t there. The lady she hired to sit with her would call her every time she came.

Then after he died, one of the insurance policies he had taken out when they were minors to fund child support should he die, had never been changed. It was a ‘big’ one, too. He had changed all the others. When he died, she locked herself in her bedroom because they were making plans for his funeral. Her sister called me and I went over. Her sister comes running over and said that she was worried about her because the door was locked and she would not answer them. For a while she was telling to ‘go away’. I knocked on the door, told her ‘it was me’ and she came and unlocked the door … when she told me what was going on, I went out and told Carolyn to get them ‘inside’ because I had something I wanted to say. They came in and I told them that Teresa was his wife and SHE would be making all the freaking funeral arrangements. His Mother had been living with them. She had changed her Will for her estate to be divided between Teresa and her other son. The grandchildren were all ‘up her @$$’ until they found out she had changed her Will. Then, they stopped coming over. After she died, shortly thereafter, they wanted to come into her house and get some of the things they thought were ‘family pieces’. She told them ‘they family pieces were hers now, they would just have to take her to court over it. They haven’t spoken to her since.

It’s sad when a ‘death’ breaks a family apart; but, my Daddy used to say, ‘nothing brings out the worse in people than a good old family funeral when there is $$$ involved’. I used to witness Wills that he make for older people who had several children; but, only one or two who had anything to do with their parents, mainly to keep them from taking their homes away from them. We had an older black family living on some land my Daddy owned and he deeded the house and 2 acres to them and had it recorded. It reverted back to him upon their death, because they had no children; but, it still kept anybody from taking it away if he sold the other part of the land. It was some of the prettiest piece of property he owned. If we had stayed in Macon, we probably would have built out there. A big creek with boulders in it that it ran over. He later sold it and it has been broken up into about 5 tracts with 20 or more acres each.

Pip – I feel your pain. This is how I am feeling about ‘Windows World’ … they do NOT want to piss me off more than I am already. It’s been 4 or 5 weeks since they came out, brought the wood for Louis to paint 1 side of half of it, and 3 sides on the other half. Sent pictures and the measurements to reorder the panes. I called today to find out when they planned on coming back. The girl said ‘well, Jamey is supposed to be in today and he will ‘order’ the glass … “WHAT do you mean, he WILL order the glass? It wasn’t done back when they came out here and the guy broke one pane trying to get them out and the decision was made to reorder all the glass panes to have in the event they break any more trying to get them out! I WAS HOT! So, it won’t be done until AFTER Labor Day. THAT damn porch IS going to be finished before the end of this year, including A/C-Heat, flooring, I am going to enjoy it, if it means I open the door to our MBR every damn day! I already open it if it is cool out (until Louis comes home, and fusses about me doing so … am I trying to ‘cool the entire yard’? SURE, if you aren’t going to finish the room, then I am going to use it anyway. GGRRrrrrr!!!!! The windows are guaranteed for life, so the installation needed to be done ‘properly’ for them to be ‘guaranteed’. When we signed the contract, he said that he ‘personally’ would be out here to supervise the installation. Instead he sends 3 men out here and they picked up ‘raw’ pine to cut to make the stops. Needless to say they all warped. Were butt-jointed and totally unacceptable. The guy (and his wife) who are going to be putting them in will miter-cut the corners. That way, even ‘if’ they warp, which they shouldn’t … there will be something holding them in. They want to make sure that I am a ‘satisfied’ customer; if not, a form letter will be sent to every single BBB in the southern half of the state … I will ‘gladly’ pay the postage.

Marcelyhn – WOW!!!! A submarine! How neat! We’ve kept our equipment; but, it is so old that it took ‘tanks’ on the back for air supply. They used little packs now … we can use the snorkels, masks, and fins to snorkel. I doubt that we’ll ever go diving again. It is an ‘expensive’ hobby; but, got our equipment ‘free’.
When Louis was in the service, he was on a ‘submarine finder’. On one trip they saw a volcano erupt. It was cool, thankfully, he had his camera with him.

Allie – IMHO – You’d be better off ‘selling everything a splitting’ … otherwise too easy to say, ‘well this is worth this, that is worth that’ and it not be. Selling it, you’ll be able to shop around and make sure of the ‘comparables’ in the process of setting a list price. Why should TomCat get to keep everything and offer you ½ of what HE THINKS it is worth (which would be a lowball figure, you know that … his is tight as a tick bite.

I’m sorry; but, I would have to agree with Mary, get him ‘ordered’ out of the house until the divorce becomes final. He can just continue making the payments on the house until it is sold. He is the one who wanted to ‘screw around’ … so ‘tighten them for him’. Surely, TomCat is 'not' stupid enjoy to let an asset be foreclosed on him after paying 20+ years on it. That would be 'idiotic'.

If you leave your dogs, you can probably ‘kiss them goodbye’. Visitation rights. Follow your attorney’s advice … we’re just throwing bombs ‘of thoughts’ your way. Not trying to confuse the situation.

Getting a divorce will probably give both of your ‘credit scores’ a bit of a ‘hiccup’; it won’t last long, when you prove that the house or other property is up on the market. IF you are ‘being broke’ for paying Tom what Tom has said is ‘your share’ (which would not be 50/50 due to the disparity of your income’ … I’d go along with what she said. That can be ‘corrected’ … it will take a little while; but, it can be corrected.

TomCat will attempt all he can to be ‘charming’ and get you back ‘under his thumb’ … don’t fall for that. You might even consider looking around for a ‘new’ place (unless, you have already signed a contract). One that might be ‘pet friendly’, with a ‘garage’.

Talked to a friend yesterday at the grocery store, so obvious she had been crying. One of her aunt had just buried her husband last week, and found out yesterday that he 21-year-old son had been killed in an automobile collision in Atlanta.

Michele – again – Gee, you’d have to go through the pictures to make sure you were not sending one that you have only one copy to, … what, doesn’t your time have any meaning? I loaned Tami Louis’ baby bracelet that I made into a necklace and told her she’d have ‘something old, something borrowed, and something blue – all she’d have to do is come up with something new. She had it wrapped around her bouquet. She gave it back to me before the reception.

The wedding will be over soon (sooner than you think) and then ‘it will be Pete and Maria’s problem (or choice).

Whatever. I hate that it has come to this.

Lenora

Did not make the Korean BBQ tonight but will be doing so tomorrow. I had rotisserie chicken that I needed to use so I made chicken and dumplings for the boys and I had some chicken slices with the broccoli left from last night.

Doctor thinks that the problem with Rj's ankles is the tendon that runs along the outside of your foot to under the heel (it starts with a P that's all I can remember). They're sending him to PT and put him in ankle braces. He is also flat footed so probably contributing to the problem. He does have orthotics but probably time for new ones. this is my 12yr old who is now 5' 10" tall. Both boys are very tall as their dad is 6'6" and his dad was 6'4". RJ already wears a size 13 shoe!

Thanks to RE who's PT had her do the elliptical backwards to strengthen her knee I was able to start using mine again last night. Total difference in force on the knee between forward and backward.

Got to run to the store for carrots. I have the start of chicken soup in the crockpot and had to throw out the carrots.

Have a good night, morning, afternoon etc. I for one will not be heading to Oregon for the eclipse much to Rj's disappointment. He doesn't understand why I would be concerned about the 1million people they are predicting to be going. Ah youth and their naivete.

Gloria in WA

Good morning to all. I have been reading your news and we really have lots going on. Michelle is on my mind-no clue as to what will evolve but just be there when you can and also go home when you need to. Dorrie-I think August is being a poopy month. With my husband's death, well, I try not to reflect on it but goodness, what was I thinking not to monitor his finances more? So many lessons from my parents and I let it all happen again. This is what gets me up in the night to worry over money and how to juggle it all. I am sorry I can not recall who is dealing with suicide right now-just know it happens and there is really not fault. On the home front here, I have told myself to just sit tight, go one day at a time, take care of the boy, and I will do something in October (when I am 60). I walk through this old house in the dark and wonder What do the dogs think? One of them is somewhere near me and snoring. More weed-eating to do when it is daylight. Everything needs to be filled up--if the machine runs out of gas, I quit for the day. I dropped an open can of grape juice concentrate out of the refrig last night. Cleaning that up more gets added to the list. And why can I not have my stupid prescription for thyroid pills? The procedure for getting opioids is easy compared to this. I suppose I will just wait for the mail order 90 day supply to arrive-surely it will be here in about 2 weeks. I have no clue how needful it truly is--my thyroid was removed about 10 years ago and I am obviously still kicking. Oh wait-I have to drive to the base pharmacy today-maybe they have a prescription on file for me. I will re-shuffle the schedule for today to fit that in. It takes up to 3 hours for that and the pool there opens at 11 so we swim while we wait for those meds. There's time to read paper there so if I weed-eat early for an hour (a tank of gas worth), shower, roust kid out of bed, and we drive/go to pharmacy/swim/eat at Subway/pick-up meds the day still has time for cleaning under refrig and possibly mowing field on riding mower. I am off to take control of this day.

Happy Friday to All! Prayers and Good Thoughts for Everyone!

Got out of bed at 3 AM after tossing and turning for about an hour. Discovered that most of me is sore from doing the PT exercises I was given to do plus some others on my own. Have another session this afternoon so hope I will loosen up by then.

NY Karen ~ Happy birthday to your daughter! Enjoy your IP when it comes. I use my pressure cooker a lot but have not tried any of the settings other than High. Really need to learn how to use it as a slow cooker.

Carol in GA

Returned from funeral, it was a very good service my friend's son was in the Police Force. There were mounted police and police escorts on motor bikes, lots of colleagues from the Force. The family is quite small but the Crematorium was overflowing, obviously he was well liked and respected. Felt so sorry for my friend as obviously lots of attention paid to his wife and children but not a lot for his Mum and late Dad who were wonderful parents. She is absolutely devastated, can't believe he's gone. He took ill 5 months ago and died last week aged 51 noone should outlive their child

Kate UK

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Allie - I'm glad to hear that you plan on paying off the condo after the proceeds of the divorce are received. I'm like you ... knowing how TomCat loves the FL place, I'd be fighting him tooth-and-nail over it. That would be the 'final' kicking in the balls. Even 'if' it has to be sold to do it. Why, after what all he has done to you, should he get something that I am sure is worth a lot more than anything. You'd already have it 'rented out' for 6 months out-of-the-year; then you could possibly rent it out by the week or month; and, block out times for you and/or your children to go down and spend the time doing so. Even 'if' you pay yourself to rent it to yourself. But, I would be vicious under the same set of circumstances ... I'd rock his world any way possible. 'M-E-O-W'!!!!!

I don't think TomCat is going to be 'accommodating' to you about the dogs, he knows how important they are to you. Do your children live close by and could they take the dogs so you could visit with them any time. TomCat strikes me as someone who, if he got the dogs, would send them off to the pound just to get back at you. Things are NOT going his way and he is having to give up a lot more than he ever thought he'd have to do. His trying to keep you at 'arm's length' by making you give him all your money and then expecting you to deal with only $20 a week makes that obvious.

Michelle - Apparently Maria and Amanda just have a lot of 'gall' and don't care who they hurt in the process. A friend of mine would describe it as: "They want what they want when they want it; and, they don't care who they were in getting it."

As for zits on Maria's face, how would that affect the 'obvious' wart she has on her chin with hair growing out of it. Didn't the "Wicked Witch from the West" in "OZ" have one?

Lanette - Since I tend to get 'long winded and write long posts, it does mean a lot to me that, at least some of you enjoy reading them.

Watching "Flea Market Flip" ... some episodes I haven't seen. I am always amazed at the things they make into. This afternoon going to the Orthopedist to get foot x-rayed (ankle, too) because the toe is obviously broken and my ankle is really sore. I have a lot of pins and plates in the ankle and heel because of a bad wreck I had and want to make sure that it isn't involved or that I have not knocked any of the pins loose.

I just realize that one week from today we'll be on our way to LA! I'm so excited! I will take my laptop; but, not sure I will get service. I still don't know if Will got 'satellite service' to get on the Internet. He's always used his computer to download all the cameras he has out there. I hope to find that he has gotten it. I find it difficult to track my CI on my phone. We've decided to 'board' Cracker this year; but, instead of staying at the vet office she will stay at the 'doggie spa' they own. More money but she will get out of her pen a lot more.

I've spent the last 2 days making painted rocks. I think I am 'hooked'. Need to get my butt up off the chair and do things around here like making my bed and getting ready to go into town.

Lenora

Lenora found this online for getting rid of mealy bugs:

Mix 1/2 cup of ordinary rubbing alcohol with 1 quart of liquid soap. The alcohol helps strip away any waxy coating on the mealybugs so the soap can penetrate and kill them. Wait 20 minutes after spraying, then rinse the plant with water. Repeat, if needed, every three days.

I would also replace the first two inches of top soil too and wash the edge of the pot. Good luck!

Hope your foot heals quickly.

Margaret