Fun Friday

 Today was a really nice day

    Sunny, sweatshirt weather.

    I had some errands to run and asked friend Jen if she felt like going along.  She did.

    My last stop was Cypress House, where I treated her to a coffee and I had my first pumpkin spice latte of the season.

    To be honest, I am not a PSL fan.  I have one each year just to say I did.

    We sat outside, enjoying the crisp air and lively conversation.

    It was nice just to sit and chat.  I felt very relaxed.

    I did not realize how much time had passed!

    I picked her up at 1:30 and it was past 3:30, so I dropped her off at her house and  went home.

    As I pulled into the garage, I realized my phone was sitting on the table outside  Cypress House!

    They close at 4.   It was just a couple minutes to 4.

    I went into the house, asked Jackie to call them and tell them I was on my way.

    They found my phone and Cypress House Emily knew it was mine.  She also knew MK was a friend, so she called MK and told her they had my phone.  Meanwhile, Jackie called Cypress House and talked to Emily.

    I pulled up about 12 after and Emily was watching for me.  I got my phone back, said thank you several times and headed home.

    Then my relaxing day turned into a cleaning day .

    Our cleaner was sick and did not come yesterday, so I cleaned.

    Yesterday I did the West Wing.  Today I cleaned the great room.  Tonight I plan to clean the nook, which should take 10 minutes.

    You see the problem right?

    It takes me 3 to 4 days to clean the house!

    I get bored, tired, distracted.......you name it.

    Tonight I did bring up Halloween decorations and Jackie directed their placement.  They are mostly done.

    You are wondering, why did I buy Jen a coffee?

    Well, she is a friend.  But she also bought tickets from me for  the museum's 50/50 drawing.  If people buy $20 worth of tickets from me, I will treat them to a coffee.

    And yes......I do owe people several coffees.  (Actually, I still owe Jen one because she bought tickets last year and we just never got together.)

    But they are all friends, so that is good.

Peace and Love

        Especially Peace

50/50 drawings help keep the lights on!

chocolate banana frappe was good!

Day 1 PC

 I am suffering withdrawal

     This is Day1 Post Cubs.  

    I don't know what to do with myself.

    No checking box scores.  No watching highlights.  No reading about theNorthsiders.

    Nothing to take away from the Sox, but I have always been a Cubs fan.  From the day Aunt Betty took ne to a Milwaukee Braves/Cubs game when I was 10 until tomorrow, I have rooted for the guys.  They have become like family.

    And the other sad good bye is Pat Hughes.  He retired, so his last game was the Cubs last game.  I wanted to hear him say "The Cubs have won the World Series" 1 more time, but it is not to be.

    Sigh.

    I read a story today about Wheatleigh cottage in the Massachusetts Berkshires.

    It was built in 1893 as a summer home, but later was converted into a boutique hotel. 

    The pictures I saw wanted me to go there immediately, but it is closed and for sale.

    $14.5 million seems a fair price for a 19 bedroom 25 bath cottage  Yes, there is acreage and a pool, but it is the Victorian era furnishings and trims that really set it off for me.

    Although it is set up for a hotel, it may be hard to get the required permits to do the upgrades that should be done.  So they are marketing it as a single family residence.

    For some reason, we don't seem to value old buildings in this country.  Go to Europe and you can stand in houses older than our country.  They are preserved and used, not torn down and replaced with parking lots or modern buildings.

    After WW II, the Marshall Plan helped countries rebuild, and the rebuilt many towns and cities with buildings mimicking the ones destroyed.  I always am amazed when I look at before and after the war pictures and the towns now.  Some are hard to believe were once just ruins. St Lo is a prime example.

    And that's the way it is.

Peace and Love

    Especially Peace

glub glub glub

 I am treading water today

    Most of it is my own fault.  As always.

    I had PT today and then I went to DeKalb for more dog food.  Beth is on a prescription blend, and I just opened the last can.  I mix a little of the canned food in with her kibble.  She seems to like it.

    I did not want to run out, so I drove to Dekalb.

    Also stopped at the grocery over there for a couple of items.

    Last night's Cub game wore me out.  I think it was around midnight when I got to bed.  

    I did go out and spread grass seed and some dirt over bare spots in the yard.  Yeah, it was a little wet, but I wore my rain jacket.  Too bad I did not remember it when I went to PT. And DeKalb.

    PT today was tiring.  I. think the lack of sleep has affected my body today.

    And it doesn't get any better.

    All day I kept saying to Jackie, "I have to feed the dogs and let them out about 6:30"

    Well, I was in the middle of cooking dinner when I remembered.  

    I turned off. the burners and headed to Emily's .  I should have turned off the timer, because 30 minutes later it was still beeping and driving Jackie and Beth nuts.

    It's now almost first pitch time.  I have to clean up the kitchen, fold 2 loads of laundry, and pick up all the stuff I left sitting around the house.

    But I plan to watch the Cubs.  Again.

    They will win tonight.  I can feel it in my bones.

    Or maybe it's the PT aftermath.

Whatever.

Peace and Love

        Especially Peace

sleepless in Rochelle

 Holy crap, what a night I had!

    After the exciting Bears win,  I did my normal pre bed ritual.

    Took my pills, took the dog out, played solitaire, checked Facebook.

    It was 12:30 before I realized it.

    But when I got to bed, it was a different story.

    My feet itched. I was hot. I was thirsty.  My throat was dry. I tossed.  I turned.

    The cuckoo hit 1, then 1:30, then 2 and I fell asleep.  Finally.

    Beth woke me at 2:30 because she had to go out.

    When I went back to bed, I finally fell asleep.

    I thought maybe today would be a good day for a short nap, but that did not work out.

    And tonight the Cubs are in San Diego, the game just started and they are trailing 1-0 already.

    I think the Cubs will be in trouble this game.  They flew to Boston, then Tampa, then SanDiego.

    Oops.  2-0. Damn homers.

    I would think. they would be tired mentally and physically with all. that traveling and uncertainty.  Plus their arms will be tired from all that flying.  Hope they went in a V formation.

    But it is a 3 game series, and I believe they will come back.

    I did get 3 more trees cleaned up.  I also picked up all the debris, so it looks fairly nice around the trees.  My circles are a little off though. 

    But really, who cares?

    Now for the rain.

Peace and Love

        Especially Peace

bear down

 Salt, spiders, bears, oh my!!

    This day just got away from me.

    I did spend 45 minutes on the phone with Comcast.  Or Xfinity, whatever the hell you call it.

    Recap:  Last month when I got my bill I called and asked if there was a better rate.  The guy I talked to found a guaranteed $250 a month rate for high speed internet, wifi, and cable.  I said great, sign me up because it was a lot less than what I was paying.

    I also said to cancel our mobile line, which we never use.

    I checked boxes that said I agree  to the terms, was over 18 and all that other malarky.  (Now that's a word you don't hear often!)  I even gave the guy a positive rating on the survey at the end of the phone call.

    Opened my bill today  and it was higher than when I started!

    So I spent another 45 minutes in Comcast Hell. The guy I talked to this. time said there was no record of me having a plan like I described.  Nor was there a record of me cancelling the mobile account.

    Long story.......I am NOT paying $250, but I am paying less than I was.

    Lesson learned:  get a confirmation number when ever you make changes

    After PT Beth and I went to Julia's to move some water softener salt from the garage to the basement.  I took my hand truck, or dolly, whatever, and made 3 trips down to the basement.  I also brought in some downspouts that were laying in the yard.  

    Then I went to Emily's with my bug net to capture a huge wolf spider that took up residence in her dog room.

    I did mention that they make bug spray for those situations, but she wanted to catch and release the 8 legged venom producer.

    But when we swept the nest to catch it.....no spider. 

    Three jobs completed, I made dinner and then watched the Bears dominate the Eagles.

    Honestly, I thought the Bears would be in trouble.  They had a third string quarter back who is 38 years old and has not played in 2 years or so.

    But damn, he was good!

    It would be great if that win was the start of a 5 game sinning streak for Chicago sports teams this week.

Go Bears!

Go Cubs!!

Go Sox!!!

Peace and Love

        Especially Peace

tree amigos

 I consider myself a friend of trees

    On our lot we have a red oak, white oak, burr oak, sugar maple, shagbark hickory,  English plane tree, red bud, gingko, and 2 eastern blue spruce.  Or something, not a Colorado one, but a different variety.

    On my folly, I have planted sugar maple and hickory.

    While I get them planted, sometimes I fall behind on maintenance.

    So I spent about an hour and a half outside today, weeding around 4 of the trees.  

    When I was on my fourth, my old legs started barking and the little black bugs started biting my arms, neck, face.....so I quit for the day.

    Doing this is something that should not take a long time, but it did.  Hopefully the rest of the trees will be a little easier.

    It's not just weeding.  The pines have grown and their grass free circle has to be expanded.  So I had to dig up some grass and make their circles a bit bigger.  I am terrible at circles.  It looks more like an oval.

    I did listen to the Cubs on the radio.  

    I think the ending of the baseball season is a sad event.  And watching Justin Verlander toss his last pitch as a pro baller did bring a tear to my eye, especially when his daughter ran out to hug him.  

    We have spent a good part of the summer watching Cubs games.  Rooting for PCA, laughing at T Mac, singing when they win, pouting when they lose.  

    Yes, the playoffs continue.  but the cast changes. 

    I just hope I can hear Pat Hughes say it one more time:  "The Chicago Cubs have won the World Series."

    All they have to do is win 14 more games and they will.

    It can be done.

Peace and Love

        Especially Peace

temptati0ns

 My daughters went shopping today

    Well, technically not today.  Huh.  I guess  it was today.

    Julia and a friend went to Cranfest  in Warrens, WI.  My brother use to call it crapfest.  It's a huge shopping event.  There is a craft zone, antique zone, flea market zone, and I think a made in a country other than the US zone.

    That is where they went  Friday.

    Today. they wandered through Amish country,  Julia brought back:  cinnamon rolls, cinnamon bread, a deep fried pecan pie thing that looks like a taco, a small pecan pie, 2 dozen sugar cookies and 2 dozen peanut butter cookies.  The cookies are 4 inches in diameter and are very good. 

    Emily did not go this year, but she did go to a market in Aurora, I think, and in DeKalb.

    She brought me dark chocolate malted milk balls.  OMG, are they good!  And she bought white chocolate coated pretzel chips.

    Now, I am not strong willed at all.

    If I open the pretzel chips, they will be gone in a day or 2.  I have opened the malted milk balls and a fair amount have been consumed.

    And yes, I have had a couple of peanut butter cookies.

    Knowing they are there makes me hungry, even though I  am not hungry.

    Believe me, it is hard for me  to resist a temptation when it comes to sweets.

    Hopefully I can stop eating tonight and save some for tmrortroww.

    After all, the world could end Monday and all that stuff would go to waste.

    Now it is still going to waist.  Mine!

Peace and Love

        Especially Peace

whose turn?

 I like board games

    Clue.  Scrabble.  Sorry.  Monopoly.

    But I don't have anyone to play with (poor me .. just like my youth).

    Years ago I read about a game called Settlers of Cataan.  The girls got it for me for Christmas.  The directions were so detailed and long, I lost interest.

    I noticed on Big Bang Theory, they played that game.  I never did.

    Today I read about a game called Campaign for North Africa.

    Here is what the writer said about the game:  "It is so detailed, complex, and cumbersome to play that it is thought no one has actually finished it, including its creator."

    Two guys in England have started to play.  They spent 2 years studying directions and practicing a preliminary campaign.  

    The game ends after 111 moves.  It is based on the campaign against Germany during WW II.

    There are specific rules.  For example, aircraft can not pick up dead camels, but they can pick up live ones.  Why anyone would want to pick up either is beyond me.

    I do not want this game for Christmas!!

    Which is just as well.  It is out of production and sets are selling for $1,000, according to the article.

    And if you have questions bout the game, tough.  The company is out of business and the creator has died.  

    I guess no one knows how it ends or how you determine a winner.

    We have friends traveling all over this week!  Massachusetts, Paris, Washington and Oregon, among other areas.

    I worry about the friends in Massachusetts.  Midwesterners have never experienced a Northeaster, and it sounds like they are in for one heck of a weekend.

    Cubs game was moved to Tampa.  They are not playing well at all.

    Weather  was gray and cool today.  It sapped me of any energy.

    Hell, I could not even beat myself at checkers!  And I cheated!!!

    Maybe tomorrow.

Peace and Love

        Especially Peace

wheels

I don't like driving our van 

    I have trouble backing it into the garage.   I have to back it in if Jackie is going somewhere.

    Sometimes it takes me 2 or 3 swings to get it parked.  A couple of times I have scraped the side, but I have not done as much damage as I did with the golf cart.

    So the girls and I looked at a car a couple of weeks ago, but model does not seem to accommodate  a swivel seat.  

    The girls suggested I buy a second car, just to drive around and only use the van when I have to take Jackie somewhere.

    That got me thinking.

    I saw an article about an all electric car that I thought sounded like it would be a good fit.  A 7 minute charge is good for 100 miles.  It has a nice interior and looks sweet.

     I believe it is a Torcal  and is made by Bentley motors.  Price as shown in the article was only $250,000.

    I could cash in all my retirement funds and then borrow $225,000, but Jackie said no to that plan.

    I then pointed out Ferrari has an all electric called Luce that is close to being marketed for only $640.000.

    The Bentley sounds like a bargain, doesn't it?

    If I had the money to buy one, I wouldn't.  Food pantries and homeless shelters can use the money more than a person needs either of those cars.

    I also read that California grape growers are having problems because people are not drinking enough!

    Wine consumption is down 20 percent over a five year period.  Grape growers in California don't have the market for their grapes, so some are converting the vineyards to something else. 

    The experts said young people are not drinking as much wine.  They have other sources, like cannabis, that are more a part of their culture than wine.

    I feel bad because I have not been drinking as much wine either.  I hate to open a bottle for a glass, then let the wine sit and eventually spoil.  Also, I have Swiss wine I like.  

    Suffice it to say, I have come a long way since Mad Dog 20/20.

    Now, I am putting a cork in it for the night.

Peace and Love

        Especially Peace

baseball

 Baseball been berry, berry good to me

    Ah...the SNL of my youth.  I have not watched it in years.  Different generation.  Different culture.

    Baseball has not been good to me!

    I'm a Cubs fan.  Right now it is berry, berry frustrating.

    They can't  hit with runners in scoring position,  They can't get key outs.  They can't win the close games.

    They may qualify for the playoffs, but I don't. think they will do well.

    I was going out with a girl named Irene.  It must have been 67 or 68, before I met Jackie.

    The Cubs were in first place but the Cardinals were gaining.  Harry Carrey kept singing," The Cardinals are coming, try la la la."   He was broadcasting for the Cards.

    Anyway, I wanted to impress Irene.

    I got box seats for a game with the Cardinals.  I bought her flowers.  I went downtown to meet her and then we would ride the EL up to Wrigley.

    Imagine my surprise when I went to get her and she brought a friend!

    So, me being the nice guy I am, I gave her the tickets and the flowers.  I bought standing room for the game.

    I don't remember who won, but I know I lost.

    Mo other favorite memory from that summer was the two of us going up to the observation floor at the Prudential building.  It was the tallest building in Chicago at the time.

    There was an express elevator up and down.

    We were the only 2 on the one going down, so we started to make out.

    Imagine our surprise when the doors opened and a bunch of people stared at us.

    She was embarrassed and I made some stupid joke like, "And that is how you perform mouth to mouth on a person standing."

    Sigh.....the Cubs just lost another one.

    Wait until next year.

Peace and Love

    Especially Peace

brrrrrr

 Fall started today

    It was equinox day.  At this point the sun is most directly above the Equator, marking the official start to fall.  The Chicagohenge pictures were pretty cool.

    And it feels like  it!  Currently it is 55 degrees outside, and I don't think it got much warmer than that today.

    Plus there is a pretty stiff breeze.  I got a hot coffee from Cypress House and attempted to sit on the porch and read.  But the pages kept blowing! I tried to hold down both pages, drink my coffee and pet my dog, which proved totally impossible with only 2 hands..

    I read somewhere that an octopus actually has 6 arms and 2 feet.  I don't know if that is true.  I guess I will have to Google it if I am that curious.

    I am 78.  I am also a slow learner.

    I put my yard sweeper together last year.  I used it Friday, and the handle that attaches it to the mower was loose, so the handle shifted far to the left.

    When I tried to tighten it, I discovered one of the 2 bolts that hold it on were missing.

    So I took the completed bolt, spacer, and turning knob to Ace and got a bolt, spacer, and a turning knob.  I will say, it was a valuable lesson to learn:  tighten bolts and nuts and check them before use.

    Beth went to a new groomer today.

    She told Julia Beth would be done bout 10:30.  So I headed over to Ashton about 10;15.  As I approached Ashton, I got a text that it would be 11 before Beth was done..

    Now, it is at least a 15 minute drive.  It made no sense to return home.

    So I drove around Ashton, eventually parking at a playlot.  N kids were there, thank heavens.  I finished my morning tea,  and at s10:50 I headed out.

    I knew exactly where I was going.

    But I passed the place.

    I had GPS on, and I swear it told me to keep going.  When I hit a T intersection, it said I had arrived.  There were no houses!

    Turns out, it was the first house I passed.  The horse on the mailbox should have been a clue.

    As a side note the house near the playground is a mid 50s home, with all the original decorating.  I think it is on Zillow.  but it was neat when I saw pictures.

    And that's a wrap.

Peace and Love

        Especially Peace

This is how I dress on coolish porch days

I think I found out what was wrong with my cucumber plant.  Can you guess?

get real

 Sometimes I just get a little pissed

    Like just now.  I could not spell little.  I kept putting el at the end.  Then. I put a t in front.  Why?  I wish I knew.

    I have complained before about car and truck commercials where the people drive in crazy ways, spinning around in circles,  driving through streams and doing other senseless deeds to  show there strength of their vehicle.

    Give me a break! 

    The one that absolutely gags me now is the smug looking guy who drives his Range Rover up the stairs of a chateau, and then down again.  Why?  Because he can, I guess.  But it is good to know in case I buy one and am too lazy to climb stairs at somebody's house.

    And is it me, or does he have kind of a demented look on his face?

    It's like that one betting commercial where the guy in the blue shirt keeps betting and nodding yes.  He also has a demented look.  And he is wearing the same shirt in every place he bets!  At least he didn't lose his shirt, at least that one.

    Then there is the Colonel.  (Try explaining to 10 year olds that this is correct spelling.  It's a hard sell.)

    I used to like the Colonel.  He was kind, happy, pleased with the world and his chicken.

    But the new guy?  He is mean!  He throws food, punches people and is generally an angry  old man. Maybe that reflects the mood of the people now, but I don't like it.

    I would really like one of those buckets or baskets with the food overflowing.  Whenever I order one, I get it with a lid.  It's not like they show at all.

    Same with the burgers chains sell.  

    The smashed down versions don't resemble the pictured ones at all.

    We should all sue.

    Thank you.  

    `Now I feel better.

Peace and Love

    Especially Peace

oh my

 Today was not a good sports day for Chicago

    Caleb Williams left the Bears game in the fourth quarter with a hamstring injury.  My guess is he will be out 4-6 weeks, but I am not a doctor, just a pessimist.

    And Alex Bregemann of the Cubs took a foul ball to the face while waiting in the on deck circle.  He really got nailed.  Hopefully the injuries are not serious, but it looked nasty.

    Speaking of nasty, take our kitchen.  Please.

    We made apple pies today.  We don't bake them, we just assemble them and put them in the freezer for Thanksgiving and Christmas.

    I get so frustrated with things.  We have 2 apple corers and peelers.  You put the apple on this prong, crank the handle and it peels the apple.  Then you keep cranking until it hits the corer pat and it's easy peasy.

    Except when it is not.

    The peeler is supposed to suction to the counter top.  It did not. One of the peelers did not take all the peels off, so I went with the older one, which worked fine if I held it down with one hand while cranking with the other.

    I was surprised how long it took to put the pies together.

    I was even more surprised when I looked at all the dishes.

    Beth seemed fine today.  I think she used the pee mat Emily lent us.  There was a circle in the middle. But she did not bark all night and has only been out a few times today.

    She even dragged one of her toys out and was throwing it around.

    I hope those are all good signs.

    I don't know how much rain we got.  I emptied out 2 inches last night, and 1.4 today.  But I had about 1.5 in the gauge yesterday morning and I am not sure if I emptied  it or not.  We might  have had 4.9 inches, or 3.4.  In any case, it's a lot of ran.  I am leaning to the 4.9 figure.

    Jackie  and I were both surprised our  detention pond did not have any water in it.

    More is on the way.

Peace and Love

    Especially Peace

Hi and Low

I enjoyed today with my brother and sister in law

    But I have to admit, I might have been a terrible person.

    I spent a lot of time on Julia's porch.  I  enjoyed listening to the rain.

    But there was another reason.

    Bob and Anita and sister Judy got to our house about 12:30.

    Beth started  acting goofy.  Every minute or so she wanted to go out front.  In the pouring rain.

It was starting to get on my nerves a bit.

    But when I took her out, she could not make it to the grass and peed on the sidewalk.  It was bloody.

I called Emily and she took Beth to the emergency vet clinic in Rockford, where they spent the next four hours or so waiting to be seen.

    Emily called it when I told her about the bloody pee.  She said it was probably a UTI, and the vet at the clinic said the same thing.

    Beth is now on another medicine.  I can't buy coffee for the next 5 years.

    We went to Julia's for supper.  We had Portillo's beef, taco salad, cheesy potato salad and lots of snacks.

      It was nice to visit.

    Bob and Anita drove up from Florida and will be in Illinois for a few more days, spending time with Anita's sister in Olney IL, the home of the white squirrel.

    When Emily finally joined us, I took Beth out onto the screened in porch where she proceeded to pee about 6 tines.  We stayed out there because I did not trust her in the house.

    We also made a few trips out to the road.

    It was great to see them all again.  I wish I had spent more time with them.

    This morning I went to get Beth's dry dog food.  I use a blue scoop to measure out a half cup.

I picked the scoop, got distracted, and then could not find it.

    We looked everywhere 

     No scoop.

    When Jackie and I got home I looked again, carefully retracing my steps.  Turns out, I put the scoop on the lid of the crock pot in the pantry. It must have slid out of view.

    Coming home from Julia's was a challenge.

    I always turn at  an abandoned house on Skare Road and 64.   But it burned down this year.  (Or it burned up.  You pick.)

    The rain was falling , the windows were fogging up, the defroster was on and even though there is a sign for Skare Road, I drove past it.

    Compounding the errant driving, I went down Queens Road because I know that meets Bethel, which I can take back to Skare.

    Evidently I missed Bethel.  I can't figure out how because there is a stop sign there.  Which I must have missed.  

    Anyway, we got home.  Beth is settled in.  The Cubs won.  And the rain seems to be holding off for a while.

Peace and Love

    Especially Peace

Fried Day

I am looking forward to tomorrow 

    Jackie's brother Bob and his wife Anita are here for a visit.

    We are all going to Julia's for lunch.

    I am looking forward to it for 2 reasons:  1: it's nice to see them.  2: I won't have a lot of stuff to do!

    Visiting with them is the important one.  

    But after today, I can use some rest.

    Friends Dan and Linda were in town and I met up with them and visited with Dan for about an hour.

    Then I raced home to get Jackie lunch before going to my PT session.

    I went to 2 stores for groceries, got gas in the car, (damn near fainted at the price!), stopped at Cypress House for a coffee, got home and finished a load of laundry, then I went out to mow.

    Knowing it is going to rain fore the next 40 days and nights, I wanted to get the grass cut before it got too high.  I was too late.  I ended up having to use the lawn sweeper, which was fine until it got dark and I messed up the sweeper.

    But my trimmer worked....so I got some trimming done.

    For some reason, I am not tired.  It might be the coffee is circulating through my system.  I feel like I should be doing something physical right now.

    When I go to bed I will be regretting the coffee.

    I will never learn.

Peace and Love

        Especially Peace

oops, oops, and oops

 Some days I just don't function well

    I thought Julia was going to DeKalb Friday, so I ordered some special dog food from the vet and told them it would be picked up Friday.

    Well, Julia is not going to DeKalb Friday.  She is going to Rockford.

    Oops.

    So I went today.

    I figured as long as I am going to DeKalb, Jackie wanted some towels at Kohl's, since we have a 30 percent off coupon.

    I was almost out of Rochelle when I noticed I brought the Ace coupon, not the Kohl's.

    Oops.

    Jackie had a library board meeting tonight, so I figured to work on my new Great American Novel.  I packed up my laptop, and my notebook.  Got to the library, unpacked and discovered I did not bring the cord.  

    Oops

    I am sure there were more oops.......sometimes I lose count.

    I read that Japan has 107,677 centenarians.  People 100 and over.  88 percent of them are women.

    Maybe I should move to Japan.  And maybe I don't want to live. to be 100, so never mind.

    I texted someone about plowing our  driveway, and then texted him about baseball.  He should not have gotten the baseball text.  He probably thinks I am crazy.

    He may be right.  I may just bet the lunatic you are looking for.

Peace and Love

        Especially Peace

not much

 Today was one of those days, again

    Misty, humid, and I had no motivation to work in the yard.

    What did I do?

    Read on the porch and even worked in a short nap when I fell asleep in my porch chair.

    And I did watch most of the Cub game, holding my breath while the ninth inning unfolded.  Damn relievers.

    HVAC technician was here to get the furnace ready for winter.  

    Whew.  I love it when we sing Go Cubs Go.    A big thank you to  Steve Goodman for writing it.  Another talent gone too soon.

Peace and Love

    Especially Peace

ick

 Note to self:  check bread

    I made BLTs for supper. tonight.

    I actually bought lettuce, washed it, burned some bacon, and cut up the 2 tomatoes from our garden.

    I made Jackie's sandwich and gave it to her.  Then I got distracted.  About 15 minutes later I made my sandwich.  Toasted the bread, put it on thy plate,  slapped some mayo on it, put on the bacon, tomato, lettuce......and noticed this black spot on the bread.  I checked the other pice. It too had a black spot.

    By then Jackie had finished her sandwich.  She said it was good, but no I wonder if she had moldy bread too.

    I guess I need to be more observant.

    One the plus side, she may have had an antibiotic.

    I  made my almost daily trip to Walmart today.

    I figured into the store, pick up about 10 items, then out to. the car.  Quick.  Easy.

    But I met someone  I have not seen in years.  We talked for a while.

    Then on the way out I met another friend, and we talked for a while.

   Amazingly, I knew both names!!

    After my next 2 errands, I got home about 90 minutes after I left.  So much for a quick trip.

    I started the day in shorts, went to long pants, came home from the store and switched to shorts.  I am ready to put long pants on again, but it is almost bedtime for Bonzo.

    I sat on the front porch reading today.  It felt good to just read for about an hour.

    Yes, I had things to do.  No. they did not get done.

    If it is worth putting off yesterday, it is worth putting off today.

    That's my motto

    And I am sticking with it.

Peace and Love

    Especially Peace

nosey me

 I love checking Zillow for available properties

    We are not looking, but I enjoy seeing what other houses are going for.

    There is one in our subdivision listed for just a shade under 500,000$.  And there is one on Knoll Road    listed for just a tad under 900,000$.  Both are nice houses.  

    I would need 4 jobs to make payments, and they had better be high paying jobs!

    Took Beth for a short walk today.  Her do do looks normal, which is a great sign!

    I noticed a crispness to the air.  A harbinger of fall perhaps.   The breeze certainly was cool and I was even chilled in my sweatshirt.

    But tomorrow it should be 80 again.  And humid.  I want fall.

    I do have to get going on my outside chores.  I still have 3 to do from last week.  I just don't seem to be motivated.

    I bought some trees from a nursery last year.  Nice trees.  Good size.

    But one of the trees has a dead leader.  My plan was to take a branch and bend it up, then use tree wrap ti hold it in position. That way the new branch will be come the leader.  In theory.

    So I went to the hardware store and found some tree wrap.

    Went to the check out counter and it was $10!  I foolishly bought it.  I noticed it was made in China, which means there is a tariff on it.  I swear I have bought this stuff in the past and it ws no where near that price.

    When I got home, I thought about it and decided to take it back.  I will do that tomorrow.

    In its place I will use a panty hose.  They expand and I can't remember the last time Jackie wore some.

    Besides, they have to be cheaper than the wrap.  Right?

    Just hope it works.

Peace and Love

        Especially Peace

whew!

 This was a pretty busy day!

    I took part in a museum program.  I read a letter from John Jay arguing for a Constitution.  Friend Steve read a letter from Mr. Gerry opposing signing the Constitution.

    Writing back them was much more, how to say it?  They used big words and complex sentence structure.

    Sometimes I stumble when reading big words.  Like sanguine.  I think this is the first time in may life I had used it in a sentence.

    Digression.  I would give my fifth graders a spelling/language assignment where they had to use a spelling word in a sentence with correct capitalization and ending punctuation.  My sentence for sanguine would mimic some fifth graders.  I don't know how to use sanguine in a sentence.

    But I learned it is an adjective and is used to display optimism in a tense situation. 

    I also realized we will have a whole generation of people  who will not be able to read any of the letters or hand written manuscripts done before Covid.  Reading cursive is a lost art.  Writing cursive is lost art.

    Actually, my handwriting is terrible.

    A student came up to me after the first report cards of the year went home.  He said his dad thought I had a funny first name.

    I said it was pretty common.  The boy replied his dad had never met someone named Tenny.  that is when I realized my cursive r pretty much looked like an n.  Still does.

    After the museum thing, I watched a little of the Bears game.  When do Super Bowl tickets go on sale?

    Jackie and I also put together fruit kabobs for our neighborhood block party.

    I cut the fruit and she put it on the kabobs:  apple, banana, grapes, strawberry and cucumber.

    I also bought a yellow watermelon, but the pieces were too hard to stick on the kabobs.

    And yess, the melon is yellow on the inside!  I cut up pieces and put them in a platter but not a lot of people seemed adventurous 

    I saw an Eastender and asked where he lived and what his name was.  (I divide our street into Eastenders and Westenders.  We are Westenders.  It has nothing to do with a certain British drama series.)

    He said, "Same house I lived in last year when you asked.  And the year before.  And the year before when you asked me.  I think n ext year I will just put Terry on my name tag."

    It was a nice time.  I did know a lot of the people, and even met some new ones.  

    I just don't remember their names.

Peace and Love

        Especially Peace

and you are?

I went to a retirement party tyesterday

    Jackie opted not to go, which was lucky because the facility was pretty crowded and getting a wheel chair around would have been hard.

    Anyway, saw a lot of people I know.  A young man came over and said hello, and I asked him if he had been in the new Tilton School yet.  He looked at me like I was nuts. He said he had passed by it, but had not been in it.

    That's when I realized I was talking to the wrong name.  Let's say I thought it was Tim, but it was Bob.  As soon as he said no, I realized my error and called him Bob.  I was correct.

    A woman was serving appetizers.  I called her Susie several times.  After my third helping, I realized here name is not Susie.  I said, "I have been calling you Susie, but that is not your name, is it?

    She told me no, Susie was her boss.  She was Barbara.

    But the coup de grass came when a woman came into the room. 

    I said to her"Long time no see."  and I  chuckled. Then I said, "Jackie likes the shirts I bought."

    She had a puzzled look on her familiar face. Finally she asked, "Do you know who I am?"

    I admitted I did not.

    "Joanie Johnson," she said and I immediately smacked my forehead!  Of course!  I confused her with a person I bought some shirts for Jackie.from.  (That's a real awkward sentence, but I don't know how else to say it.)

    The only similarity is they both are short ladies with short light colored hair.  Facially they are not the same and I knew  this woman.  I had her kids in school!    At one point we were neighbors!!   

     Good grief.

    That explains why I can never find Waldo in those insidious books.  I can't distinguish faces. (Again, I know.  You have to look for Waldo's clothes, not his face.  Still can't do it.)

    Today we were at a place and I had to ask Jackie, 'Which one is Mona?  Whose Beth? Is that one Mary"?

    Of the 3, I was 1 for 3.  If Jackie had not been there, I would have called everyone by the wrong name.  Maybe I should just use the word friend instead of a name.

    That is certainly safer, though less adventurous. 

Peace and Love

        Especially Peace

Cut the square night at the museum.....this 1931 Rolls Royce made it

I love hood ornaments and decorations on older cars.

This was a1951 Dodge Wayfarer  .....Note the man behind it wearing a black and red shirt, just like the car

And the pup is a stuffed animal

25 years

We all have our memories of 9/11

    The sheer horror of those images will be burned in our minds forever.

    I had stepped into the hall at Tilton and saw Miss Gates.  She told me a plane hit one of the twin towers in New York City.

    I grabbed the tv on the cart and plugged it in, keeping it out in the hallway while I tried to find a channel that I could see in those pre cable classroom days.

    What I saw looked like a scene from a disaster movie.  I had expected  small plane, not a huge jet.

    My kids asked what I was doing and I told them I was watching the news.

    Then the second plane hit.

    I left the tv on, but did not see the news about the other 2 planes until later.

    I told the kids what basically happened, and that when they got home today they should talk to their parents about what happened.

    At home, I watched the news reports, horrified, as bodies flew through the air. And with anger as the buildings collapsed.

    I called my cousin Bob because his son was working in NYC, but luckily he was not in the area of the towers.  I believe he could smell the smoke and also experienced the terror and confusion.

    It was the days that followed that were, well, odd.

    I remember kids looking up, as if to expect a plane barreling down toward the ground.

    We had a field trip to Brookfield Zoo that coming Friday.  One parent asked if I should cancel the trip in case Chicago was a target also

    I ensured her that we  were safe.  The zoo was quite a distance from downtown Chicago and at the first sign of any trouble, we would board the bus and return.

    She let her daughter go, but I know she worried the whole time.  

    I think we all did.

    And the stories I remember coming out: Passengers  texting loved ones and saying they were battling hijackers over control of the plane over Pennsylvania.   People carrying a handicapped woman down the stairs to safety.  A man singing to comfort people as they raced down the stairs. A person who ran late to work and ws not in the building.  I read a story today about a man and his wife who had tickets to the observation floor for that morning, but decided to go later. He still has the tickets.

    I also remember the feeling afterward.  The anger.  The confusion:  Why innocent people?  Why the towers?  Why?

    And eventually the hope.

    People in Greenland taking in thousands of passengers from grounded planes.  Opening their arms to complete strangers, doing their best to make them feel safe and comfortable.

    The feeling that we need to help each other,  No political debate.  No blaming.  No name calling.  A united stand for our country and our freedoms.

    Julia was offered the job in Switzerland in October.  I feared for her flying, but by the time she left  in February there had been changes in airport security

    The children in my class that day will be in the 36/37 age range today.

    I often wonder what they remember .   What do they tell their children about 9/11?

    And if they remember a time we all felt safer.

    Our world changed.  I don't think for the better.

Peace and Love

        Especially Peace 

meh

 I just can't get going tonight

    I got up early to get Beth ready for her trip to the vet.  Emily took her, and Julia picked her up.  Jackie and I were getting haircuts, so I am glad the girls were able to step in for us.

    I don't understand all the medical terms for dogs, but Beth has a pretty severe condition.  She acts normal, seems normal, eats normal.......but has some "striations" on her stomach linings.  The ultra sound found that today.  The vet would like to do a biopsy, but can't because her albumen level is still below normal.

    He put her on a prednisone regime and we go back in 2 weeks for another blood draw.  He said,  based on what we know, it is a manageable condition. 

    After we picked her up from Julia's, we came home and I decided to mow our yard.   Finished at 5:30 and had to hustle to get to my museum meeting at 6.  I guess I just lost track of time while on the mower.

  We did have a visitor today.  I was in the kitchen when I saw movement on the patio.  I looked out and a huge hawk was sitting on the gutter!  I hope he was getting ground squirrels.  

     I am just sitting here.  It's about 9 and I have a load of laundry to do, a dishwasher to unload and then load with supper dishes.  I don't want to do any of it.

    It will all be there tomorrow.

    And so will I.  But I will also have to clean a bathroom!

    No rest for  the wicked, I guess.

Peace and Love

    Especially Peace

tour de farce

 I loved riding my bike

    I have not been on  it this year at all.  At least I don't remember being on it.

    I grew up in Chicago.  My dad sold the family car when I turned 15.  I. think he saw the future with me behind the wheel of the 51 Dodge we were driving in 1963.  It was old, but it was paid for and ran well.

    I think the only time we ever used it was going to Dewey Lake in Michigan.

    I got around by bike, foot, or bus.

    Bike to the zoo.  Bike to work.  Bike to friends' houses.  Bike to the lakefront.

    Ah....biking to the lake front.

    I had a really old Schwinn.  Thick frame, huge tires, it was like a truck. It was used by at least 4 people before I got it.  The first thing I did  was paint it black, then wrap tape around it in circles and painted it yellow.  It looked cool.  Black and yellow stripes.  The cat's meow.

    Somebody stole it.

    I was delivering papers.  I bought a new Schwinn with a basket on the front.  I biked to  the Coca Cola Bottling place on Ravenswood, biked to the store, biked to the Riverea Theater.

    Somebody stole it.

    And it was my fault.  Yes I chained and locked it.  To a parking meter.  The friendly officer I reported it to said that was a poor choice as the thief could just lift the bike over the parking meter.  

    So I bought a used 3 speed racing bike, with narrow tires.

    It was great!  

    I could ride like the wind.  Again, I was free to go anywhere I wanted to. And pedaling was easy with 3 speeds.

    One day I was down at Montrose Harbor.  There is a huge parking lot there and lots of times people take children or friends there to practice driving.

    I was just biking around when I saw my friend's car.  We were both dating the same girl, which put a little strain on the friendship.

    He was teaching her how to drive stick. 

    They saw me and I decided to show off my bike.

    I pedaled as fast as I cold toward a curb.  Now, I had jumped curbs before.  You pull up on the front wheel and the back wheel follows.

    I was inches from the curb when I pulled up on the front wheel.

    The bike also had hand brakes.  I pulled on the hand breaks. Why?  Because I was stupid.

    The bike did not lift, but came to an abrupt stop. 

    I went over the handle bar, wondering if I would ever have kids.  The pain was severe.

    I did what Bill Cosby suggested under those circumstanced:  I grabbed my head.

    They came over and took the bike off me, I may have still been pedaling  on my back with my feet up in the air.   then asked if I was ok.

    My now falsetto voice managed to creak out. "Hunky doory.  Just let me lay her a while."

    They could not give me a ride, because it was a small car.

    I said that was ok, I would just walk it off

    And I did.  Walked all the way home.

    It was a few days before I could ride again.  And sitting for long was uncomfortable.

    I did eventually have kids.

    And I never curb jumped again.  On purpose, anyway.

Peace and Love

    Especially Peace

home coming

A friend took her daughter shopping for a homecoming dress

    Boy did  that trigger a memory!!

    I was a freshman at Lake View High School.   Homecoming was approaching.  I had no idea what that was about.

    After being clued in, I thought it might be fun.

    So I asked a girl to the dance and festivities.

    Now, I don't do anything a normal person would do.  I have my own unique style.

    My folks had  ordered a pizza from Biasetti;s on Ashland and Irving.  I was sent to pick it up.  That was a big thing in our household because money always seemed tight.

   Now at  age 15, it should not be a problem for me to walk 3 blocks, get the pizza, pay for it, and come home.

    I was walking down Irving Park with the pizza when I saw Mary Jane.  She was also a freshman at Lake View.  We had a couple of classes, or maybe homeroom, together and I thought she was nice.  I think her parents owned a hardware store on Ashland but I am not sure about that.  Hell, I am not sure about anything that happened past yesterday!

    So we stopped in front of a hamburger joint called the Patio and talked.

    After a few minutes of chit chat, I shifted the pizza and worked up the courage to ask her.

    So I did.  But she said no, because her father would not allow her to date until she was 16.

    Then she looked at me and asked what I had in the box, which was tucked neatly under my left arm.

    I told her pizza from Biasetti's. 

    She said I should not carry a pizza like that and I responded that I always carried it like this, trying to make it seem like I was some kind of bon vivant.

    We parted ways.  I continued home.

    When I got there, I laid the pizza on the table and my dad opened it.

    All the pizza was crammed into one side of the box.  Plus it was cold.

    "What the hell?"  were the only words out of his mouth.

    I don't recall ever being sent for pizza again.

    And I never asked Mary Jane out when she turned 16.

    But it all came back to me when a friend said she took her daughter shopping for a homecoming dress.

Peace and Love

        Especially Peace

olio

 A lot of different things today

    Jackie got me up at 7:30 so she could use the bathroom.

    Our alarm goes off at 7;45.  When it goes off, I put on pants, open the garage door, and do little things, like get out her clothes, put her towels out, and wait for the morning help.

    But today. there was about 30 minutes before our morning help arrived.  So I lay on the bed with Beth and turned off the alarm.

    The next thing I know is someone is poking me.

    I fell asleep.  Jackie called, but I was sleeping on my good ear so I did not hear the phone.  Not only that, but our morning help was late.  It was 8:30!

    I am not supposed to sleep on my good ear!  I am supposed to have a phone next to my good ear!

    Neither happened.

    About 11 the doorbell rang and 2 of our neighbors' children were at the door with a pan of snack mix!  I did not have my hearing aids in, so I may have missed some of the conversation.  But Jackie rolled over to join the talk and we had quite  a nice little visit. 

    Another neighbor had a Labor Day party for the kids.  He had a hay rack and hay bales and they took a hayride round the neighborhood.  A good time was had by all.

    We turned on the Cubs game, but could not see or hear anything!  All the other channels came in fine, but not Marquee.  I tried the online chat and that was totally worthless.    We ended up streaming it on the computer, which makes no sense.  Could not see it on the TV, but could on the computer.  Plus our neighbor watched it without any problem.  Weird.

    And yes, the game did frustrate us.  

    I got. rid of 4 bags of grass clippings, but I still have huge pile in the back.  I may resort to burning it, but burning grass has such a terrible smell.

    Tomorrow I am going to tackle a mountain of cardboard and my new bird feeder.  I figure I have most of the day to do that, and I may get one done.

    Also tomorrow, I am going to take Jackie out to the porch and surprise her with the mums.

    Beth is having good days. I walked her out to the back of the yard and she froze when she saw my bison.  She approached it very tentatively and after sniffing it, backed away.   I may take her out there again so she can see it is not going to do anything.

    The weather was great.......and I hope everyone took advantage of that and had a happy Labor Day.

Peace and Love

        Especially Peace

Broken promises

I went back on my word today

    I said I would not mow my yard on a Sunday, because Sunday was a day of rest.  And quiet.

    Well, I mowed.  And mowed.  And  mowed.

    Yard done.  Lot done.  I'm done.  

    I have christened the lot "Folly."  Part of me is thinking buying it was a mistake, but the other part of me says I don't have to put up with construction noise or neighbors who are not as great as the ones I have.

    While I was mowing, a bicyclist rode by and stopped in the driveway.

    It took me a minute to recognize friend Wendy, who rode out from town and stopped when she saw me  mowing.

    We had a nice. talk about riding, vacations and all other good things.

    In a sense it made me sad, because I used to be able to do what she is doing.  And no, she does not have an e-bike.  She pedals, which is the purpose of a bike.  

    I have not even taken my bike down this year.  I had said I would ride in August, but didn't.  Then I said September, and haven't.  There is still some time though, so maybe it will happen.

    For the first time this summer, I ate on the back patio!  It has always been too hot before, but tonight it was perfect. In fact, I was a little chilled by the time I was done.

    Emily got me some buttered chicken Saturday, but I ate so much at Costco I wasn't hungry.  So I had it today and I think I have enough for 2 more meals!  They sure gave me a lot of food.  I wonder if I can freeze it?   I am not sure about 3 nights of buttered chicken.  The nice breeze kept the bugs away, except for on aggressive fly that kept landing on my arm. 

    And I got the corn blanched and stripped from the cob.  It is now down in the freezer.  Next up will be carrots, but not for a while.

    Finally, I have a red tomato!!  I have no idea what I did wrong with them this year.  Too much rain?  Not enough water?  Too much sun?  Shade?  Is it the soil?

    All I know is the tomatoes were a flop.

    Beth had a pretty good day.  She has a semi solid BM working now.   The is progress, although pretty disgusting too.

    Happy Labor Day

Peace and Love

        Especially Peace

what a day

 This was a very strange day

    First off, I went car shopping.  Sort of.

    Julia and Emily went with because I do strange things sometimes.

    Today, for example, I found out my Paramount Plus subscription was automatically  renewed for $139 for the year.  Well, I am a Walmart whatever member and I get Paramount Plus for free.

    So I talked to a nice young man who cancelled my subscription.  He then offered it to me for $59 a year and pointed out the major differences. 

    I opted for the free offer.

    I attempted to call back after thinking about it and get the $59 offer.  But I got a different rep and she said there was no cheaper rate available, just the $139.    Here's the rub:  I only watch Twilight Zone on Paramount Plus!!!!!  I was thinking Peacock.

    So, we hit a car dealership in Rockford and I explained my situation.  I said I wanted a car that had the capability to have an after market swing out seat installed.  The salesman had no idea if the car we looked at could do what we wanted.

    Julia, or Emily, saw an article that said the car did.  But the seat manufacturer does not list the car as compatible.  I can't buy a car unless the seat can be adapted.

    I did ask the guy if we bought the car and the seat doesn't fit, could we return it for a refund?

    Car sales don't work that way.  He may still be laughing

    Afterward, Julia wanted to go to Costco.

    I have not been in a Costco for years.

    I encountered a very nice lady from Australia who was sampling the Nespresso macing.  I had an espresso, and she added some caramel machaitta flavoring and it was out of the world!

    I was tempted to buy the machine.  But in all honesty, I would never use it.  I prefer going out for coffee and talking to people.

    I think I only missed 2 food sampling stations in the store!  Coffee, wafer cookies,  sliced steak, lunchmeat, brownie bits, (which were amazing) a chicken filled won ton like item and more........and then I topped it all off with a $1.50 hot dog and drink!

    I am not sure how the espresso and the Coke will help me sleep.  2 Cokes, actually.  Emily had a drink from somewhere and it was not what she ordered, so I finished that.

    And I spent more than Julia.  My impulses were out of control!

    After I got home and rested, I went into town for gas to finish mowing.  Unfortunately, I got back at 7 and it didn't make sense to go out for 20 minutes.

    So I shucked corn.

    Tomorrow I will blanche it and take it off the cob and freeze it for winter use.

    Just like peoneers in the olden days.  Except, they did not have freezers.  Or sweet corn.

Peace and Love

    Especially Peace

When Emily was flying home, she saw Wrigley!

A sign?

My hot dog......10 p.m. and I am still burping!!

damn it

 Sometimes my mind is in n neutral

    I had to go to DeKalb to puck up some meds for Beth.  We had enough until Monday, but with the holiday I did not want to run out.

    Stopped at the grocery store.  Bought a few things, loaded them in the back seat, got in the van and started to drive.

    I didn't go too far before I realized I never closed the sliding door.

    I needed gas for the mower and I was not comfortable carrying smelly gas cans to DeKalb.  With the windows up and the AC on, I thought the fumes would not be good for me.

    So I planned to make a second trip after I got home:  Drop off groceries, pick up the gas cans, finish my errands.

    I planned to go for dinner at about 5:30, so I was going to hold off mowing until 4:30 or so.  Julia was here and asked the basic question:  So, you are going to mow for 45 minutes, go into town, get gas and supper, then eat and go out to mow again? 

    That did seem a little odd, so I opted to put off mowing until after dinner.

     I went to town to get gas, stop at Wallyworld for a prescription and pick up dinner.

    I was near the gas station when I realized I did not bring gas cans.

    I got supper, which included a carry out strawberry margarita.  Julia ate with us, I watched the Cubs, then went out to mow.

    It gets dark pretty early.  I will be interested to see what I actually did mow considering it was so dark.

    Jackie asked me for something and I told her I would get it after the Cubs batted.

    An hour later she mentioned I was getting her something an hour ago and never actually got it  So I fetched that for her.

    But I did watch the Cubs a little.  Had a nice margarita and a burrito. and got some of the lawn mostly mowed.

    Yes, I could have gone out earlier but it was so darn hot!  I passed a bank In DeKalb and the temp was 95 while the temperature reading in the van was 92.  In any case, it was too warm for me to mow.

    That's my story and I am sticking to it.

    By the way, Beth is acting perfectly normal.   More than I can say for me.

Peace and Love

        Especially Peace 

late night

 Late night tv knows how to target audiences

    We watch Antenna TV at night.  Jackie likes to hear the shows when she drifts off to sleep.

    But the commercials?  

    Pain relievers you rub on your legs to help you walk.  Orthopedic shoes.  Life alert buttons. 

    If it is a product that appeals to Boomers, it is advertised!

    But the one that gets me is for ..... wait for it....  a Viagra like product.

    No, I am not interested in it.  But some people are.

    In the commercial some guy said he was looking for some way to spice up his marriage.

    But Viagra was $40 a pill, according to the man.

    $40?  Holy cripe!  

    But this guy found a plan where you could get a generic equivalent for only $8 a pill.  

    Yes, you need a prescription, but they have a doctor on staff and all you have to do is call and answer a few questions.  (By the way, the last 4 numbers for the phone are 6969.)

    He then says his wife now walks around the house with a smile on her face.

    Hell, I bet if he did the dishes, laundry and cleaned house once in a while she would really be smiling!

    One of the fun things I do is try to figure out who the guests are on Carson's show.  People don't look the same today as they did 40 years ago.  I honestly thought Marc Harmon was Tom Cruise. 

    There are so many comedians I never heard of that appear.  But George Carlin, Bill Mahr, and Roseanne Barr were all on at some point. 

    I realize most of the people have now died.  

    Sometimes it is hard for me to grasp the passage of time.  The Beatles were in their heyday 60 years ago.  The Summer of Love, Woodstock, man first walking on the moon.......in my head they were just yesterday.

    But late night TV, and Sirius Radio bring them all to life today.

    Beth's blood work came back pretty normal.  Our next step is an ultrasound, which will be done next week.

    We are to just keep on doing what we are doing until a reason for her low albumen and cholesterol counts is discovered.

    I may need a part time job.

Peace and Love

        Especially Peace

Ding, Dang it

 No word, no patience, no rain, no cool

    I did not hear from the vet today. the message they sent said  test results were not back yet.

    But I asked about Beth eating a bird carcass and having bugs in her food and they did not feel that would be an issue.

    I somehow turned off the     "leave a message" option on the land line.  Figured that out t today.  No wonder for the past few months we have not had any callers leaving messages!

    Amboy must not have called to tell me I won the big 50/50 drawing.  If they did, there was no ability to  leave a message.

    Jackie had a doctor appointment in Sycamore today.  Boy, was it hot!  I told her if I dropped her during the transfer she would probably fry on the blacktop.  Luckily, I once again made good on moving from the car to the chair, back to the car, back to the chair, back to the car, back to the chair and into the house.  

    About a month ago I contacted Comcast about our bill.  We worked it out, lowering it some 50 a month.

    Got the bill today and it was up 50 from last month.

    Tomorrow I hope to talk to a human.  Not "chat," but talk.  

    Time will tell.  I don not handle dealing with them very well.

    We had some packages of Rosti in the pantry.  I made it tonight along with peas and carrots, and bratwurst.  All the food was done almost at the same time.  I thought it was pretty good.  Rosti is a Swiss hash brown dish.

    At least it was different.  I need to find simple meals that taste good.

    And that I can cook.

    The frustrating thing is I had some special brats in 3 separate freezer bags.  I can't find any of them!  How can I lose brats?  I have looked in my freezer upstairs and the freezer downstairs and did not see them.  I don't smell them either, which means I did not put them on a shelf somewhere.  

    Oh well.

Peace and Love

    Especially Peace