I didn't forget to subscribe, but I didn't bring anything to decorate our new place except a large bowl of beautiful autumn leaves. Later, Sue

Went shopping with a friend today. Finally got new window treatments. Ray and Doug will have the fun of putting it up for me. lol The material is a real change for me but will look good here in my office.

Now that I know there isn't anything wrong with my heart, I am trying not to treat myself like a hot house plant. lol Gotta get moving and not sit so much. Lots to do around the house.

Tomorrow (well really today since it after midnight here) I am picking up my glasses from the eye doctors. I am hoping they can use my current frames for the new 'computer' glasses I want.

Good morning, everyone! Wow, Jane, 2 new computers! Sounds like a good Christmas present. Have you ever used a laptop? I've used my daughter's and didn't like it although I really like the portability of them. I got my computer in 2000 I think and upgraded it to XP this past spring & doubled my DRAM to 256. I had gotten pretty much a top of the line when I got it so that I wouldn't be out of date too soon. However 2 months later, they came out with Pentium 4's! Grrr. But mine still functions fine, so have no plans to replace it for a while. But, enjoy! As much as you use your computer, you should have the best available.

Marjorie, I'm so sorry that you won't be coming to the Book Beach BAsh & visiting me with Sue. Maybe we'll get to meet another time. I hope so.

Sue, as far as I know, January is open. Just pick your dates and let me know so I can block them out. Do plan on spending at least one night. Sounds like you have a major project with your flower beds, but you are right about replacing wood with rocks. I'm sure it will look prettier too. You are from the south, so this probably isn't new to you but was to me. I found a HUGE millipede in my den, or it found ME and grabbed onto my bare toe! Talk about screaming! It was about 4" long! Anyway, I read after that that the mulch around the plants is a very nurturing place for them and other bugs. So, be sure to pull the mulch away from the house as much as possible.

Your neighbor sounds like a doll to help you with your curtains and drapes! Can't wait to see pictures--hint, hint!

Ginny Ann, hurrah for you for deciding to get up and going and for the new drapes. I'm sure they will pick up your spirits. I'm still waiting for my cardiologist to call!

Can't remember anything else right now to comment on. Sharon

I'm late tonight. I did get on the computer this afternoon and started with my subscriptions, but SeniorNet was slow, at least on my computer, and I ran out of time.

I went to Circle this morning. We met at the church and I drove 3 other women in my car. There were 3 cars going from there. The hostess lives in a lovely place they've built on a family farm. They've made it convenient for getting older. Wide doorways, baths with grab bars, open floor plan and on one floor. They had a smaller house there before the husband got a job at a MO University, so when he retired they expanded the older house. They did a great job and it all goes together well. The meeting was nice, too. We had 18 members present, had a play about Ruth and Naomi. I had one line as Orpah, the DIL who went back to her family in Moab. It was a good way to present the lesson.

I've just returned from dinner with the Military Officers group. We had a lovely Veteran's Day program. Our president set a small symbolic table for POW's and read to us about the various things which represented the absent and/or fallen men (women now, too). Then we had a small group of the Auburn U. concert choir sing patriotic songs a capella. That caused chills to run up my spine and brought tears to my eyes. The dinner was good, too.

Jane, I hadn't thought about using my old computer to set up an electronic checkbook. Bob always used Microsoft Money to do that, but I never paid attention. However, I've gotten so lax in balancing my checkbook, I think I need to get it started--maybe on the old one. I haven't erased anything yet, although I have transferred some files to this new Dell.

GinnyAnn, I use an old pair of reading glasses when I'm at the computer. When they don't work anymore, I'll put a newer prescription in the frames and keep on trucking.

Sharon, how far are you from Charleston? I'm going to get AAA to send me maps, so I'll know. I'll be in touch about the details later. I'm planning to arrive at Isle of Palms on Friday, Jan. 28 and leave Monday the 31st. After I meet you, I'm hoping to go on down to Anne's at Jax Beach for a few days. Sue

Well I can't use my old frames for the computer glasses because they have weak spots. If they broke the lenses wouldn't fit into an other frame. On the way home from the eye doc's place I got the idea to buy myself new frames instead of a new computer chair with the money set aside for the chair.

I am plant sitting for my friend Pat who is at their place in Arizona. Today I wore myself out watering them all. lol Pat will be back for Christmas. She will go back to Arizona in January and come back to Ohio around Easter. I sure miss her.

Learned today that a home town young man is going into Flugia(sp?), Iraq. Not sure if he is a Marine or in the Army.

Jane, you want to come do mine?

Ginny Ann, I plant sat for my Ohio friends for 3 or 4 months too, but they only had a couple plants. One was a jade plant that was so big and spread out, it couldn't be moved.

Sue, we are about 90 miles from the south edge of Charleston. You take 17 down to 95 and 95 to exit 8 then follow the signs to Sun City. It's 6 miles from I 95. Can't wait to meet you.

I've been a busy little bee this morning. I took all our lock box stuff in to put in the new lock box, dropped off dry cleaning, filled up at the gas station, dropped off 3 huge trashbags plus 3 smaller boxes at the charity thrift store, stopped at a consignment store still looking for a tv stand, armoire, something. No luck. Then to the grocery, then to the outpatient clinic to sign up for the new rounds of PT. Decided to rest & veg a bit before getting John busy on removing the closet shelves which he doesn't want to do. BG. Back later maybe. Sharon

I forgot to mention that the cardiologist & I finally caught up with each other. My ejection fraction is between 40 & 45, down from 60 in 2001, so I am to go back on Coreg, the beta blocker that worked such wonders before. Since my mother died of CHF and my brother is on oxygen 24/7 because of it, I don't want to take any chances--even though it saps what little energy I have. I feel like my former card.dropped the ball by not starting me back on it last year when it dropped to 45. Sharon

GinnyAnn, do you have one of those cut rate places that make frames where you live? I forget the name of the one in Montgomery, but you take in your prescription, they measure you after you pick out a frame you like, then they send off the measurements. You get the frame in about a week and a half, maybe 2. I think my last pair cost about $35. I looked in the Montgomery phone book, it's Payless Optical Outlet.

Jane, I need to wash at least the outsides of my windows. These are the old ones that were in the house and aren't easy, have to go outside and stand on a ladder, also in house on a step stool. At the farm I had the kind you could wash both sides plus the double panes from inside the house.

Sharon, you have been busy today. What is an ejection fraction? I'm glad you are happy with your new cardiologist. He/she (?) seems to be more attentive to your needs.

I've had a busy day. I did laundry this morning, went to a lovely luncheon buffet at the country club. This was the officer's wives group. We aren't going to have a luncheon in December. One of the wives invited us to her house for an evening party with husbands. We'll all bring an appetizer/snack and the club will furnish the wine.

Afterwards, I went to Dillards and bought a long skirt, black acetate,with chiffon overskirt, just in case I have to go to a really dressy party. I have some tops that will work, but I'll probably buy something new at a cheap shop as I won't wear glittery very often, maybe not more than once.

Then I FINALLY picked up my cusion for my church bench. It is a red and off white check that looks great with the red and off white toile I put on the cushions for the wicker. I also went to Kroger's to pick up a few things.

It's time for the Regency House Party on PBS. The costumes are great and the romantic intrigue is pretty interesting. So later, Babes. Sue

Good morning, Babes. It is a dreary, chilly, wet day here. Glad I got all my errands run yesterday! Sue, I think you were busier than I was yesterday. Congrats on getting your new cushion. I'm sure you are thrilled to be getting everything put together. The new skirt sounds spiffy! I have a black chiffony skirt that I keep for the few very dressy events I attend. I also have a blue & black beaded/sequined top to go with it, but everything is so casual down here, I've only worn it a few times.

Sue, an ejection fraction refers to the amount of blood ejected from the left ventricle with every beat. It is supposed to be about 55%. In 1997 mine was 20%, I had a huge clot in it, and they were talking heart transplant for the future! Fortunately, they came out with Coreg & I began taking Co Q 10, a heart strengthening supplement, and my heart gradually returned to normal size and the ejection fraction to normal. That doesn't usually happen. I was their poster child for Coreg. So you can see why I was so upset when I found out it was down again.

Jane,we really need to get our windows done too, but they are all too high for me to even attempt them. John does them sometimes and sometimes we have them done. We have 12' ceilings with transom windows above the regular windows in the main rooms.

I can't remember if I told you that we managed to remove the wire shelves on one side of our closet, moved the support bars for the top shelf & hanging rod and moved our chest out of the bedroom in there. Then I redid all the things in the chest and on the shelves. It was quite a project, but I really am happy with it, and the bedroom looks so much better without it in there. I still need to get the dresser moved down a couple feet. I also need to get some picture shelves to put a bunch of family photos on that I had on the chest.

After all that, we had bridge last night. Didn't have as good a cards last night as last week but not bad. Today, I'm not going anywhere, just get caught up on some paper work and maybe laundry. I have a full day planned tomorrow--haircut in AM, rug stretcher in PM, a red-hat outting to "The Messugah Nuns", a comedy being put on in Bluffton that is supposed to be a hoot.

Today my son Doug and I went grocery shopping. When I first got up this morning I didn't think I could manage shopping. So I rested for a bit to let the acedemphen(sp) get working. Decided I was feeling good enough to push myself. So that is done for another week.

Tomorrow a good friend and I 'doing lunch' and then Christmas Shopping at a candle place - AI Root. I live in the city where the company was founded by A. I.Root. I see they are now calling it Root Candles. It has been some time since I browsed there. These are bees wax candles.

Hi Jane, Sharon, and GinnyAnn. It started raining hard here about 2:30 a.m. I knew because I was still reading! When Stubby finally woke me up at 8:15, it was pouring. I was glad I'd remembered to take my American flag inside last night when it got dark. I didn't go to the Veteran's Day program uptown because of the rain, but I did get outfitted in rain gear to walk Stubby.

I did some laundry and just sort of poked around this morning. Tim called while I was eating lunch. He was over this way after spending the morning cleaning up a doublewide trailer he bought--either for renting or resale when fixed. Anyhow he came over and put up my Temperance sign on the brick wall in the family room. I've had this large black board with a gold leaf eagle and the word Temperance written above it for many years. I really like it--and I try to be moderate, if not temperate in all things.

While he was here, Lue came over and we worked on the valances. We got 2 of them pinned on and one stapled, but then we couldn't get them back into the holders. Thank goodness Tim and Kris are coming over here tomorrow evening to go out to Red Lobster with me. Hopefully he and Kris can help me get them back up. I've spent a lot of time and a good bit of money on those things. Plus there are flourescent lights on the wall behind where they go, so I have to have something to cover that up. If I took the lights out, it would make a major repair job in the wall over the windows.

This evening I picked up Dorothy and we went to the church supper together. They had 2 kinds of homemade cole slaw, hot dogs, chili, saurkraut, onions, grated cheese, pickle relish, potato chips, corn chips, tea, lemonade, coffee, and sheet cake with red stripes and blueberry stars. The speaker was interesting with a power point presentation about the "Black Belt" counties in Alabama, the poorest, and efforts to increase the economies there. The county I moved from is one of the poorest. I kept sort of dozing off, though. My late night was catching up with me. I need to get to bed soon as I have to get up early to go to Ft. Benning in the morning.

Sharon, thanks for the information about ejection fraction. No wonder you have been concerned. I hope you can get it adjusted again and soon. Sue

It will take time to get it back up, Sue. The meds have to be started very slowly and work up very gradually to the maximum. Last time I had to be at each new level for 2-4 weeks. It also took 3 yrs to get it back up to normal, so I am estimating at least a year this time. That's providing that it works as well this time as it did last.

Good luck with your valences. Red Lobster sounds good!

I didn't do a lot constructive today. Just some laundry, straightening up, washed my hair, etc. I didn't go to the Veteran's Day ceremonies either due to the rain. I heard the fighters go over though. We usually get some flyovers on special days from the Beaufort Air Base. Sharon

Hi all. Apparently I missed that there was a new discussion. I realized that subscriptions hadn't taken me here for a while and I looked for you. There were 17 posts tonight for me to read. (I skimmed them.)

Things are progressing well here. Still have doctor visits but the testing is almost over. Test results have been good so far even the one for a spot I had shaved on my head. It was a spot that kept changing size and was frozen twice but didn't go away. I got a note that said it was a "harmless growth." I like those results.

Not much else.

(((HUGS))) to all.

Marjorie

JANE, hope you have a good trip. I have been in trouble and could not get here very well. I pulled a ligament in my left knee, I can't even say when, but I suddenly could not walk anymore. Now it was my turn for the Doctor and I got an injection into the spot, ouch. I am also supposed to not walk too much.

As usual, when those things happen things go wrong, Paul came back from the house this morning and they had put a window in upside down, can you believe it. Well he sorted that out and then fetched me as I had to say something about the cupboards in kitchen and bedrooms that were being started, there were also certain things to be changed.

Well I read all your posts and enjoyed them, but I have to put my leg up again. I shall try and come in again tomorrow.

SUE, SHARON, MARJORIE, GINNY ANN and FAITH, hope you are all well.

Margret.

Margret, so sorry to hear about your ligament. Know what you mean about the shot & the pain of it. Good that you were on top of things at the house though. Now go put up that leg and rest!

Jane, hope you have a good and safe trip & visit. Are you going to Christmas shop there? That's always fun this time of the year there. What burb are you going to? Lori has lived in 3 of them and my brother lived in Oak Park in the early 60's.

Marjorie, so glad to hear the tests were good. That's what we want to hear.

I got my hair cut and done this AM. Feels so much better. Looking forward to my Red Hat outing & the play tonight. Sharon

Margret...OUCH...keep that leg up so that knee can heal.

We're going to Buffalo Grove but no Christmas shopping...just visiting and going to a couple stores there, I hope.

jane

Have fun anyway. Don't know Buffalo Grove. I guess there are just too many Chicago burbs! Sharon

I've decided that my time is worth something, so will start using the military pharmacy by mail when these 2 prescriptions give out. I had to wait 1 hour and 40 minutes to get up to the window and 10 more to get the new prescription filled. Then I had to go to the BX to pick up the other one. It was swamped because the pharmacy was closed yesterday, but the pharmacist who helped me told me it's like that all the time because their military pharmacists and techs have been sent to Iraq, so I didn't complain. I have to fill in a form and mail it to the mail in pharmacy, but it will be 6 months or more until I need a new one.

Marjorie, I'm glad the spot was OK. I know that was a relief. Did it happen to be brown by any chance? I've had brown ones on my abdomen for several years which I've had checked but now I have a new one on my forehead. I can keep it hidden by the way I'm wearing my hair, but I think I'd like to have it taken off.

Margret, I am so sorry about your knee. I know it is painful and also that you'll be needing to make trips to the new house as work progresses. Just try to stay off it as much as possible. I hope it heals soon.

Sharon, doesn't getting a new hair cut really give you a lift? I always feel better when my hair is manageable. Good luck with getting your blood back up where it belongs. Does having a lower number make you more tired than usual?

Jane, have a great weekend. I thought I'd seen that you may be doing some more computer shopping, so good luck.

After I got my prescriptions I did a little shopping at the BX and commissary. I got home about 1:00, walked Stubby and then Lue came over with one valance finished and we stapled the last one. We were able to put one up. Tim and Kris are coming over soon to go out to dinner with me and I'm hoping he'll put up the other 2 valances. I'm going to unpack my antique bottles tomorrow and put them in the windows under the new valances. Sue

SUE: I think the spot was brown. I don't remember. Out of sight, out of mind. <BG> When SAGE needs refills for her prescriptions, I usually get enough warning to go online to her HMO and they mail the refills to us. It really does save time.

((((HUGS)))) to all.

Marjorie

Sue, I get most of my meds by mail. They are so much cheaper that way because of my insurance. The only problem is that it takes almost 2 weeks to get an order. I can use a local pharmacy for short term meds, but I pay a little more for them. Yes, essentially a lower ejection fraction means a weaker heart that isn't pumping enough oxygen into the blood, therefore fatigue is a problem. The lower it goes the worse the fatigue. It's not too terrible now, but will be worse with the medication. Congratulations on getting one valence up. Hope Tim managed the other two tonight. Hope you ate some extra shrimp & lobster for me. BG

My hair cut did make me feel much better. It looked like a haystack when I went in. My hair is so thick and heavy that it really needs to be cut oftener than I get it done.

This afternoon a young Chicano man came by and restretched a couple of places on our master carpet. If you remember, we had a flood in our house 4 yrs ago. When they put that carpet back down, they didn't or couldn't get it to stretch enough to get a tight attachment to the tack strips in a couple places. Whether it was because the length of time had allowed the rug to stretch more or the young man's skills, he was able to do a really good job of it. He even brought in his vacuum and swept up the shreds, etc. I was so happy to have it done. One of the women I know needed hers done & couldn't get anyone to come out for just 1 rug, so she called around and found 5 of us that needed it.

This evening I went to see the play, "Messhugah Nuns" with the Red Hats. The play was very silly & sophomoric, but lots of good fun. We had a good time. There were 9 of us, a fun group.

As you can probably tell, my cortisone is keeping me awake again. I hope to get to sleep soon or I'll be exhausted tomorrow because it was 2 AM last night. Sharon

This has been a really lazy saturday. Visited a couple of friends while I was taking a short walk. It is cold so I didnt stay out very long. I need to get that little walk in though every day or I will start backsliding. Too bad I dont have my doggie anymore. My kids think I should adopt a little old lady doggie and maybe I will.My problem is in the Mobil home rules we are limited to small dogs under 15 lbs. That Ms. McDuffy was a 25lb fatty course she was pretty tall too, certainly not a petite thing. It sure did keep me busy when Ms. McDuffy, a grey cocker-cross bred of some sort, was my roommate. Of course she was a messy babe because her undercoat was that fine white hair that comes out in the spring like a collie.Plus I had to keep my shoes picked up or she ate them.I seem to be nostalgic for her these days.

I hope all are having a nice weekend. hugs to Sharon,Sue, Jane,Ginny, Margaret, Marjorie and I hope Lois drops in an sees hse is included too and see the prayers that she is improving. Hugs to all the babes including any I forgot to name. faith

This has been a good football day--at least for Auburn, they played great. I'm afraid that we won't get to the Orange Bowl, though, because USC and Oklahoma will probably remain at # 1 & 2 in the BCS polls. WVU lost--didn't come out to play, I thought, and South Carolina is struggling against Florida. Alabama is beating LSU right now. I really don't want them to lose tonight because they will be way up for our game next week. I'm hoping Auburn can finish up undefeated.

Well--enough football as I doubt any of you are very interested. I've done the usual dog walking today. I found out how tiny my bedroom really is. I'd found 3 pieces of wood that were the bed slats that Tim forgot to put under the box springs when he set up my bed, so I decided to turn the mattress, take it and the box springs off and put them on the the frame. I also wanted to put on a bed skirt I'd used at the farm. Well, there was only room to push the mattress off one side of the bed, stand it on an edge, then I got the box spring halfway up, put the slats on one side, then did the other side. I finally got it all together again with clean linens, too, and one of the slats fell off the frame. I just left it hanging there and will try to get Tim to lift it up sometime and I will slip it into place. This whole operation took about 2 hours!

Other than that I've been studying my SS lesson. I'm teaching tomorrow and it's about St. Paul and his view of resurrection and it's a toughie. At least there are some people in the class who will help out with discussion questions.

Sharon, Tim put up the other two valances in just a minute or 2, with no problem. Of course he's 6'5" tall and Lue and I were standing on a step stool trying to hold it up over our heads. I had shrimp scampi and coconut shrimp on the endless shrimp dinner at Red Lobster. It was all yummy, including the salad and baked potato.

I hope Jane and Ray have a safe and fun trip to Chicago. The weather seems to be OK up there.

Faith, having a little dog is a great motivator. I have that hair shedding problem, too, but don't have carpet any more, just area rugs on wood floors, so it's not so bad. I'll bet there are some nice little dogs at your humane society. I don't like the really small breeds, though, as they seem so yappy. Stubby weighs 25 pounds, but seems small to me because I've always had big dogs. He's a really good natured dog and only barks at squirrels or when someone drives up that he doesn't know.

Marjorie, you're right about out of sight, out of mind on those brown spots. I never think about the ones I can't see when clothed. I do have a couple that are near the edge of my bras and that is a nuisance.

Have a nice weekend, Buddies. Forgive me for all the football talk. The season will be over soon. Sue

Faith, Sue is right about finding a dog at the humane society. You can probably find an older one who is already trained. My Princess is a Lhasa Apso, so she doesn't shed to speak of. She is also a very small Lhasa, only 10 lbs. I like the small dogs. They are limited in the amount of damage they can do for one thing, although Princess chewed on some things when she was a puppy, but it didn't last long. My mother got an older miniature poodle at the humane society and she was devoted to her and kept her lots of company in her last years. Unfortunately, they had to put her down about a year before Mom died. She missed her so much.

Sue, the dinner sounds delicious! I had paella tonight and it was just so so. So glad Tim got the valences up. We forgive you your football talk. That's one nice thing about posts, you can skim what you aren't interested in and no one's feelings are hurt! Your bed project sounds like a lot of lifting and hard work. Be careful & don't hurt your back again.

The dominoes were much better tonight and I was the big winner, though not to the extent John was last week.

I sure will be glad to get off this cortisone so I can sleep. Sharon

SHARON, I made it last night through the night again, the first 2 days after the injection I could not sleep either. Unfortunately its still pretty sore, but I suppose it takes a while to heal out the ligament. I have to be quite a bit on the leg checking the things going on in our new house. I shall have to rest it some more.

SUE, its nice to hear what you are all doing, I also watch sports at times quite a lot. Funny you describing your bedroom troubles, I have driven Paul crazy with measuring the bed, night tables etc. After I have seen all the new cupboards built in I suddenly worried about fitting in our kingsize bed and the night tables and beeing able to open one of the wardrobe doors. Well we might have to have a new headboard with the cupboards built in or something like that. I first want to try how close a fit it really will be. We are living in exciting times. LOL.

Hello FAITH, I am glad you seem to be feeling good again.

I wish you all a good week, hope JANE is having a good time.

Margret.

Hi Margret, sorry you're still hurting, but rest does seem to be the answer.I can imagine all your flurry of measuring for the bedroom. I seem to remember that with a couple of my rooms. Take it easy though on checking everything out. Let Paul do most of it.

I go for PT tomorrow where they will do the ultrasound & electrical stimulation, etc in addition to other exercises, but I still have my doubts about it helping. I also go in to see my onc and my surgeon tomorrow for my 6 mos checkups. I'm not worried though since I already got a good mamm report.

We had to stay an extra hour late at church today for Charge Conference with the District Supt. It's a yearly even involving all the church council members.

I just got off the phone with my oldest grandson filling me in on his current life. He won a # of football awards including the mental attitude award and all-conference and player of the week. He also was named student of the month for the school for this month so he was pretty proud of himself, as he should be. I wish I thought his grades were as good as his behavior though. He doesn't talk much about that, which is a bad sign.

Hope everyone is having a nice weekend. Sunny & chilly here. A high of about 60! Unusual for this early. Possible frost tonight. Hi to everyone else who drops in. Hope Jane is having fun in Chicago. Sharon

Hi Buddies,

I don't know where this day has gone. SS lesson turned out OK even though I was nervous about it. I have a good group of students who participate and raise questions as well as answer them. We had dedication Sunday to collect pledges for next year's funds and talent sheets. I remembered at the last minute to get mine ready. They had been mailed out a couple of weeks ago.

This afternoon I unpacked the remaining box of silver and pewter objects, also the small box with my antique bottles. I had kept 15 of them. We dug them up years ago while living in Maine. I sold them to the estate sale dealer, but kept a few. I put them in the dishwasher and now have them in the living room windows. I also finished polishing my souvenir demitasse spoons. I used to get one or Bob did whenever we visited a new place. Unfortunately my silver polish didn't do that great a job. I need something better for badly tarnished things.

Sharon, I love paella, but the only place I've had a really good one was in Madrid. It's too late about my back. My lower back is fine, but I've been having twinges between my shoulder blades all day. I don't think shoving the mattress and box springs around did it though. It's more like over use of the computer. Good luck with your appointments.

Margret, measuring furniture and space before moving in is a really good idea, especially when building. I knew my bedrooms were small when I bought this house, but the other factors outweighed that. I don't know how the previous owners managed in the bedroom. Their furniture was larger than mine. They had a king bed and mine is a queen size, also dressers and they had an armoire for TV that took up a lot of room. Try to stay off that knee as much as possible.

It was cold here today, too. Only 48 when I walked Stubby at 7:00 a.m. I hope it doesn't last long. I prefer milder weather. Lots of wind this afternoon, too, which made it feel colder. It was in the 60s, though. I hope Jane isn't freezing in Chicago. Sue

Hi gals. I finally got home & on line! I left at 8:30 this morning, went to PT (She says it really is the tendon that runs on the outside of the leg primarily & that the knee is fine.)She just did a thorough appraisal today + the ultrasound. It has felt better since then.

After that, I raced home, changed and headed for the island and my appt. with my surgeon. I told him I had a little pain on the breastbone & so now I have to have a bone scan Thursday. I really don't think it is anything & neither does he, but since the question was raised I'll feel better to find out for sure.

Then I had lunch at the hospital & went to SteinMart where I found a new Christmas tablecloth & a sleeveless sweater for John. I also went to Tues.AM but didn't find anything special. By that time, it was time to head back to the medical center for my appt. with my onc. Everything appears fine.

On my way home I stopped at Sears and got a set of sockets for one of Brian's Christmas gifts. Isn't that exciting? But he loves tools! Then I stopped to pick up some bananas and flowers for a neighbor who is just home after a hysterectomy.

Tomorrow, I can relax and hopefully get caught up on some paperwork & laundry.

Sue, I still want to see pictures. The bottles sound neat. My mother had a bunch of teaspoons or demitasse spoons, but I passed them on down to 2 of the granddaughters. Have you ever tried using foil, hot water, & baking soda in a glass dish to take tarnish off of silver? I've been thinking of doing that, as I have a bunch that needs polishing. Sharon

Jane, welcome home. We missed you. I'm glad you had a nice time and no ice, but I know what you mean about Chicago area traffic. I think it gets pretty bad down here, but nothing like up there. Sharon

I've been cleaning house all day. I think everything is ship shape now and I'm ready for tomorrow's bridge club. Lue is the hostess, so she prepared the snacks, made little pumpkin muffins and bought nuts and other little snacks. She's bringing over hot spiced cider in the morning. All I have to do is make coffee. She even had lots of packets of sweetner, sugar, and creamer, so I don't have to run out to the grocery store. I did have to call substitutes, though, and that was a pain. Did I tell you that her husband has some kind of neural/muscular disease and can't go out by himself and her house doesn't have as much space for card tables as mine does. Plus her husband likes to use the living room to watch TV or use the computer.

Sharon, I promise I will try to take pictures before the end of January! You really had a busy day today. I hope it doesn't cause more knee pain and other aches.

Jane, welcome back. Did you get a chance to look for your new laptop? I'm glad you didn't have to drive on icy roads. Rain is bad enough.

I'm going to bed soon. I have to set the alarm to get up early as I want to get Stubby walked before the "girls" get here. Plus I'd like to read the paper and work on the crossword puzzle after I have my breakfast. I hope Stubby will want to stay outside tomorrow morning. I really hate to keep him in his crate all morning as I have to go out tomorrow night to my book club at the library and he'll have to stay in there then. Sue

I'll hold you to that promise, Sue, on the pictures! Have fun with the bridge club. Most of our girls call their own subs if they can't be there. My bone scan is Thursday morning and then I have bridge club in the afternoon, though not at my house. Still it will be a tight schedule. I get the injection at 8AM and then the scan at 11:00, both on the island. Bridge starts at 1:00.

My knee did get really sore last night, so had to take a pain pill at bedtime, but I got a good night's sleep.

I had called my brother to check on him last night and didn't get an answer. This AM my SIL called saying that he is back in the hospital and very, very weak. The doctor talked to her about a living will and a do not resuscitate order, something he has never done before, so it doesn't sound good. He is essentially wheel-chair bound now. He was to have an echogram this Fri, so they will do that in the hospital. They also think he may have a urinary infection. He has been going down hill for the last 2 months and the doctors just kept poopooing it. Sometimes I think they have morons for doctors. Please keep him in the light. Sharon

Ray had his hernia surgery this morning. He is doing well and not in as much pain as thought he would be in. Of course he is taking his pain medication.

I didn't get enough sleep last night so I ended up napping this afternoon. My colonoscopy won't be done until January.

Sue I think of you every time I hear about the Aburn football team.

My knee is still giving me trouble but I don't plan on doing anything about it until January.

Oh, Sharon, I am so sorry to hear that your brother is so ill. Does your SIL think he will be able to complete paperwork for living will and do not resuscitate? I know this is a hard thing for some people to do, especially when they think it may be necessary soon, but it really helped us for Bob to have those ready. I have them, too, so the boys won't have problems with doctors. I have put him on my prayer list, you and SIL, too.

Our bridge club is just getting started, this is only the second meeting. We do have 4 subs on our list--3 I found, but the older women who couldn't come didn't call any, so I was calling at the last minute. One of my SS friends in her 90s came for me. She's a really sharp lady and played very well. I was high today, but we didn't give prizes as they hadn't discussed that at the first meeting. I'd say at least 5 of the 8 are at least 78, probably in the 80s.

Lue's pumpkin/date muffins and spiced cider were delicious. She's a whiz with cooking and sewing, too. Stubby wasn't too happy at first with staying outside, but he soon settled down and sat out on the porch all morning, watching for squirrels and the cat next door. I think Muffin might be coming over tomorrow morning for a play date which will make him happy.

I haven't prepared very well for my book club meeting tonight. We are to discuss the American West and/or books about it. I have an anthology of Western Stories written by women and will tell about it, plus a non-fiction book about the wives of miners and ranchers. I used to have a Journal of women who were western pioneers which is fascinating, but I can't find it. I must have mixed it in with the books the book seller bought.

I've had to do yesterday's Latin homework today. Now I have more to do. I'm having a hard time keeping up. I like to do the translations, but not declensions and conjugations. We're getting lots of vocabulary, faster than I can memorize it, so I'm having problems there. Sue

You are more disciplined that I to be taking the Latin course, Sue. I know lots of latin roots from studying French & Spanish + I taught an etymology course, but that is as far as my interest in latin goes.

Thank you for the concern for my brother & most of all for the prayers. Marilyn didn't say if they had any of the paperwork done or not. Knowing my brother, probably not. They did pick out a cemetery plot a year ago when he was so sick though. We have all of the paper work taken of for ourselves and we plan to be cremated & scattered, so no cemetery plots.

For prizes our bridge club puts in a dollar each and then it is divided up for 1st, 2nd & last. We also have started giving a "deuce prize." The hostess wraps up some sort of small prize and it goes to the person who takes a trick with a deuce. If there are more than one, the 2nd person takes it from the first, etc, so the last one keeps it. I gave a little Walmart Halloween light that showed 3 ghosts on a street light post. Cute and small. We don't do any special foods, just nibbles & soft drinks. BTW, if you have a recipe for the spiced cider, I would love it.

I've been doing laundry and working on John's computer. He has been using my old 19" monitor and it finally bit the dust, so I had to hook up the Dell 17" that he had had before & upgrade all his virus & zone alarm stuff. He really is a neophyte on the computer. Anyway, it is all up and going and adjusted now.

Speaking of upgrading, one of you said that you were using Firefox browser. How do you like it by now? Our Computer Club guru is recommending it because it is less vulnerable to attack, but I'm not sure I really want to mess with it.

Well, dinner is about ready. I was trying to be creative today, so we will see how it turns out. Sharon

Sharon, I took Latin in 8th and 9th grade and really liked it at first, had a great teacher the first year and a lousy one the second year. However, I do think my ability to spell and also to increase my vocabulary was helped by the study of Latin. I took this class to sharpen my mind. I have a great fear of losing it as I grow older! Also want to learn common Latin phrases which show up in crossword puzzles.

I had Bob cremated and scattered his ashes at the beach and have asked my children to take mine down there, too. It is so much easier than having a cemetery burial. So many people move around that IMO there is no point in having a plot where no one will be able to visit. I do love to go to the cemetery in my hometown, though, where my older family members are buried. That was a big part of my childhood, not gruesome at all. We sort of had family reunions on Memorial Day at the cemetery.

I think Jane might be using the Firefox browser, but am not sure. My new computer came with 90 days of Norton Security with lots of bells and whistles. It's about to run out now, so I'm thinking of uninstalling it and installing AVG. The Senior Net gurus praise it often and it's free. Sue

I agree about cemeteries, etc., but I also have fond memories of going down to southern Indiana on Memorial Day to clean & decorate my grandparents'graves and have a family picnic at my great aunt's.

I use AVG also. Norton can really screw up the machine. It has too many bells & whistles. When I installed it about a year or so ago, it locked up the whole thing and I ended up having to take it in to be worked on. I uninstalled it when I upgraded to XP & then just downloaded AVG & Zone Alarm. I also use Ad-Aware & Spyware Blaster, all recommended by the Comp. Club guru.

I agree that Latin is great for vocabulary development. That was the reason I took Etymology in HS & later got it added to the curriculum where I taught. However, I preferred the living languages I could speak. Agree with you on keeping the mind sharp though. Sharon

Thanks, Jane for putting Phil in the light. I haven't heard anymore, so I imagine they are just running lots of tests and trying to get a handle on the worst problems. He has so many, it's hard to tell what is causing the general debilitation, but he has held on for so many more years than anyone ever gave him. My mother was so afraid she would outlive him and she's been gone 4 years.

Sounds like your new notebook & Ray's PC are right on. I may have to investigate Firefox, but when one browser is working well, it is hard to change.

I've been to PT this morning. I was going to run a bunch of errands, but we had car coordination problems. Gotta run. Sharon

Sharon, you mentioned that you added Zone Alarm to your XP set up. Doesn't XP have a Microsoft firewall? I'm thinking I have 2 right now because the Norton Security thing has one, too.

Jane, I still don't have SP2 on my computer. I don't want to download it as I use a dial up connection. Tpik Dave told me that Staples is giving them away, but I didn't have time to find the one in Columbus when I was over there last week. Does BestBuy have an SP2 CD? There's a new BB here now.

Stubby had a busy morning with his pal, Muffin, here for a play date. They wrestled and ran around the yard for about 4 1/2 hours. I did take them for a mile walk about 11:00. I could tell that Stubby was getting tired because he didn't race walk like he usually does. He was happy to get into his crate about 1:15 when I took Muffin home so that I could go down to Union Springs to garden club.

Jane, are you taking anything for your cold? It's a good idea to stay at home while you're sneezing and coughing. Did you get a flu shot? I haven't had one--and most of my friends are older. So I don't want to infect them. I'm hoping I don't get a cold or worse yet, the flu. I'm doing a lot of extra hand washing and plan to keep it up during flu season.

I was late getting on here this evening. I had to do my homework for Latin Class and e-mail it to Ginny, so I haven't looked at most of my subscriptions. We are doing translations in class, too, taking turns. It's not easy to keep up--and sometimes some of us don't stay in turn, so it can be very confusing.

So--I'm off to bed. Goodnight, Babes. I hope all who are not here are doing OK. Hugs to all. Sue

Sue all you have to do when you have sp2 with ms firewall and you already have one that is working well is disable(uncheck) the MS one. It will have a "wizard" to tell you how to do that. If you have several firewalls running it will interfer with various web pages. You just need one and of course I prefer my Norton System. Also I would not worry about whether you have dsl or dial up that should make no differense to the Operating system.

Jane my sister has that Toshiba and it is a great machine. Hers came loaded with all that junk too and it took me awhile to get it all off. Most of those programs had an uninstall with them so it was not difficult. Also some just expired. She is coming down today. She to get her flu shot.

When I learned tht some MD's had the vaccine I called mine and yep he made an apointment for me I also had mine this morning at 8:30. Then I went to curves and had a good workout. Then home for a quick shower and dress as they will come over after her MD appointment.

We are cold and foggy here but said to be clear for weekend. Will love that. I get moody along with the weather. hugs to all babes faith

Hi BUDDIES, sorry I have been missing a bit, I did read and enjoy all your doings. Had to go back to the Doc. yesterday with my knee there was no improvement. He changed my medication and prescribed a patch which you stick over the sore area on the side of the knee where the tendenitis sits. It felt much better today, so keep your fingers crossed.

SHARON, I am sorry to hear about your brother, hopefully the doctors can still do something for him.

JANE, you poor thing, nothing worse then the misery of a bad cold or the flu. Hope your new computers will cheer you up.

SUE and FAITH, hope you are both alright.

See you again,

Hugs,

Margret.

Faith, my concern about the SP2 is that people say it takes so long to download on dialup. That's why I'm looking for a cd so that I can download when I'm not on dialup. I'm glad you and Sis got the flu shot. You are doing well to get to Curves after your shot.

Margret, my fingers are crossed.

Jane, have you ever tried Echinacea? Some doctors don't think it helps, but some people who use it think it shortens a cold.

I'm bathed and ready to go pick up my 2 ladies for church supper tonight. This is the last time we'll eat there until after the holidays, New Year's specifically.

Kris e-mailed me that Carolina has hired Steve Spurrier to replace Lou Holtz. I don't like that. He's a good coach for winning, but I don't think he's much of a gentleman and doesn't treat his players well. I'd rather lose than have that kind of coach.

I'll be back after church. Sue

Sue: Yes, I'd tried Echinacea some time ago, but I don't think I have any in the house now.

Hmmm...Spurrier replacing Holtz. Is Holtz retiring or ?? There were a lot of bad things said about Holtz and how he treated his players when he was at Minnesota (?) for that year or so before he got the Notre Dame job. I've always wondered why he left ND when he told everyone it was his dream job...and the one he had in his contract as a reason accepted for leaving a school. He did, too, when it was offered.

I wonder who has gotten/will get the Fla job that Zook was fired from and where I guess Spurrier was before?

It's been a rainy day...still going on...and through the day tomorrow...better than snow, though!

jane

Hi gals. I've been rather scarce, but really busy. We played bridge last night. Then today, I left the house at 7AM to go to the hospital for a bone scan which involves getting an injection of nuclear stuff at 8AM and then coming back for the scan at 11:00. In the interim I went to the mall & read in my car for an hour till it opened, then did a little Christmas shopping. My DIL loves to cook & bake & had requested some things I had to get at Williams & Sonoma at the mall. I was back at the hospital at 11, had to wait & finally got finished by 12:15. Grabbed a fish sandwich at Burger King & sped home in time to comb my hair, drop my purchases and leave for bridge club. Didn't get home from there till 4:30, so I am pooped! I fixed a very light supper of fish & salad & am now going to crash in front of the boob tube!

Tomorrow, I have to go in for a fasting lab and then to PT, so another early morning. Groan.

Sue, Stubby sounds like a happy puppy. Dogs are so much fun. Sounds like you have been busy with all your activities too.

Jane, echinacea and zinc and Vit C. They really do make a difference. I take something called a Wellness Formula that combines all of those + goldenseal. Of course, I only take it when I think I'm starting a cold, but I do take 500 mg of Vit C daily! I swear by it.

Faith, I'm glad you and your sis got your flu shots. None of us needs to get that disease. I can't remember if I told you that our daughter ended up with some extra flu shots and is going to mail us 2 that we can have a friend who is a nurse give us. I am so relieved that we're going to get them. I have always been prone to catching the flu and have had a couple of really bad cases. Those were when I was a lot healthier and I don't want to risk getting a serious case now.

Margret, what kind of patch did the Dr give you for your knee? Is it strictly for pain or is it supposed to get rid of the inflammation. I wore a knee brace today for all my running around. Those neoprene braces that you pull up over the knee really do help. I hope you get some relief from the pain. It is so frustrating to want to do something and to know that you shouldn't.

Well, all for tonight. Sharon

Sylvia just called. She'd heard from Lois who's enjoying the nice weather in Phoenix.

Syl and Al are getting ready for her Mom's birthday...cousin is having an Open House for her, etc. Lots of family and friends will be coming in, so Syl is busy as always! She said to tell everyone hello and Happy Thanksgiving!



jane

Ray is doing great! In fact I have to remind him about the lifting. He wanted to take a laundry basket from me. When he is back to normal I will let him get back to carring the heaverier stuff. Now Doug is doing the heavy stuff.

We are in a deep fog. The National Weather Service has a DENSE FOG ADVISORY IN EFFECT UNTIL 8 AM EST FRIDAY Issue Time: 5:38PM EST, Thursday Nov 18, 2004 Valid Until: 12:00AM EST, Friday Nov 19, 2004

Jane - The temp is around 53 here tonight. So far for November the weather has been mild tempertature wise. I agree with you, I am happy it isn't snow.

Margret I hope your knee starts to show imporvement.

Sharon - echinacea and zinc and Vit C have been helpful for many people. I take vit C every day. Right now I am thinking what I thought was a cold was probably an allergy reaction to the fragrances at the candle store. Why did you have to have the bone scan?

Sue - Stubby is such a great campanion for you! It is fun to read about his play dates.

Faith - I am happy you and your sister got flu shots.

Hi to anyone I missed.

GinnyAnn, I must have missed one of your posts. Why is Ray ailing? I sure hope he feels better soon. It's tough having a sick husband.

Jane, Holtz has said earlier that he wanted to retire. There was some speculation about Spurrier at Carolina, also at Florida. I heard on ESPN that he was interested in Carolina so that he could play golf at Augusta National where the Masters is held. That is a very difficult golf club to get into. Tonight on the Cancer Memorial basketball tournament, they were saying that the Utah coach may be going to Florida. Oh, and thanks for the info about Lois and Syl.

Sharon, what a day you've had. When will you get your test results? I understand about the early get up. I like to sleep late, too, but Stubby needs to go out between 7 and 7:30. Tomorrow I'm getting up at 6:45 as Tim is coming over to go to one of my gentleman gardener's place to look at his Japanese maples. He's going to give me a couple to plant here if I can get the holes dug. Yesterday at garden club our speaker suggested I rent an aerator and then top dress with lots of organic matter. I think this is a good idea, but it will take several years of constant work to get this soil improved.

Goodnight, Buddies. Sue

Good morning, Gals. I got my blood test done & the PT out of the way, so now can try to get caught up around here. I think that John & I are going to drive down to Tallahassee tomorrow to see my brother & come back on Sunday. I will have to wait until later to call my SIL to see if she thinks that will work out. We'll stay at a motel, but last night my sil didn't know yet what they were going to do with Phil, send him home or to a rehab or keep him at the hospital. I don't think he is going to die within the next few days, but you never know and I do want to see him at least once more.

My surgeon called this AM & left a message that while I had arthritis in the knees & lower lumbar & breast bone, there was no sign of metastic disease. Thank the good Lord! Ginny Ann, I had the scan because I had had some pain on my breast bone. I'm glad Ray is doing so well from his hernia surgery. Forgive me for not asking about him, but so much has been going on around here, I hardly remember my name!

Sue, I love Japanese maples! We have 2 of them, one by our pond that is spectacular. They aren't cheap, so if you are having them given to you, you are really lucky. I'm sure you will need to amend the soil for quite a while. Ours is just terrible too. They call it muck. Heavy clay that holds the water. Raised beds are really the only ones that do well.

My sil was asking me about Spurrier last night! I told her I had seen mention of his coming but that while I knew what a football looked like, that was about the extent of my knowledge of the sport! LOL. Since my brother was asst. to the President of FSU and at one time even acting athletic director there (He hired Bobby Bowden), they live and breathe FSU football. The Seminoles can do no wrong!

Well, I better get busy. If I'm not in over the weekend, I'll be in FL. Sharon

Thanks, Jane. It's one less thing to worry about.

SHARON, I am so pleased to hear about your good news. You asked about the patch I have got, its called TransAct and contains 40mg Flurbiprofen ment for the inflamation. So far its improved my walking somewhat, he said it could take a time, as the steroid injection did not really help. I do hope you find your brother improved.

SUE, You are a busy lady, hope your garden will thank you for all the hard work you are putting in.

JANE, I hope you are feeling better, do I have to send some nice warm air along?

GINNY ANN, I am glad that Ray is doing well, do remind him to be careful.

Greetings to you All.

Margret.

Thanks so much, Margret, for the info on the patch. I will look into it and talk to the doctor about it if I still need it by the time I go in.

It looks like we won't go to Tallahassee this weekend after all. My niece says that this is the big football game weekend for FSU, so all hotels + all my niece's & nephew's guest rooms are full up. We will try to go next weekend instead unless he takes a turn for the worse sooner. Sharon

Hurray for your bone scan results, Sharon, although having arthritis is no picnic. It's certainly MUCH BETTER than bone cancer. I hope you have time for a nice visit with your brother. I know it's hard to say goodby, but also nice to be able to do so.

Jane, not long after we got home from Bill's home with our new plants it started raining here, pretty hard, too. I'm hoping it gets it all out of the way before tomorrow morning. I'm driving down to Montgomery to watch the Carolina-Clemson game with my alumni group and don't want it to be raining at Tuscaloosa when Auburn meets Alabama on their home turf.

Margret, it sounds like your medication is beginning to work on your leg. I hope you are soon without pain and with greater mobility.

Bill has hundreds of plants, many Japanese maples, but others, too. He took us on a tour of his green house and garden, giving us Latin names for every maple and for some of his other plants, too. I can't remember any of them, however. He gave me a cascading maple and one which is upright with yellow leaves that I'll have to plant farther from the house. I want to plant the cascading one in a v shaped area between one part of my drive and the front walk. He also gave me a hydrangea, 2 lemon basils, 2 airplane plants, and a St. John's wort. I don't know where I'll plant all of them yet--will probably put the basil and airplane plants into pots for the house. I need to get some more flower pots. I left hundreds of them at the farm, should have brought a few back when we got the canoe.

I'm hoping the rain will let up soon. I'd like to walk Stubby once more without getting my feet wet again. I need some rubber shoes for these rainy days. I want to put my tomato pudding cockaigne casserole together this evening as we are to bring a covered dish and an "adult beverage if we want one" to the game party tomorrow. The club is furnishing chicken. Sue

I'll hope that it clears off for you, Sue, so that you can have fun at the game. Going with a group and tailgating would make it worthwhile even for me. I can do without the football but the social is good! Lucky you, getting all the free plants! There are so many pretty things that grow down here in the South, but it does get expensive normally to really landscape. We have done 3 major sessions of landscaping and still move, add, and fine tune every year.

We just got back from dinner at the Golden Corral. I was never much of a fan of it back in IN, but this one just opened a few weeks ago and it is really good. It is $9.49 each for the entire buffet including drinks and dessert. Of course, if you want steak, it's more, but we never get anything but the buffet. They have a great surshimi salad, tossed salad, baked or fried chicken, shrimp & rice, popcorn shrimp, really good mashed potatoes & gravy, fresh broccoli, meatloaf. I had some of all that, but there were that many more dishes too + the desserts. I'm stuffed, but I was starved tonight, so it tasted especially good. My days have been so messed up this week with all my appts and running around, I haven't eaten very much or very healthily.

Guess I better give my sil a call & decide for sure whether we are going or not tomorrow. Unless he is lots worse, we won't. Sharon

Just have time to say HI. Ray and I are going to watch JAG and then a movie. He is continuing to feel better. YES!

GinnyAnn, just as JAG started, my oldest son called. I didn't tell him I wanted to watch it, but he didn't want to talk long. We'd talked on Wednesday anyway. He just wanted to Bug me about Steve Spurrier. Thanks for the good news about Ray.

Sharon, I'm not going to the game, just to a party to watch the game. But it'll be like tail gating. The only problem I see is that I'll have to listen to the first half of the Auburn game on the radio as it's about an hour drive back home. Let us know how your brother is. If you do go, be careful driving and come home safely.

Have a nice weekend, Buddies. Sue

Drive carefully to the airport, etc. Jane. Glad you're feeling better.

Sue, sounds like fun anyway! You have a safe drive too.

We have put off our trip till next weekend. When I called last night, my brother answered the phone. They discharged him yesterday afternoon. He sounded remarkably good. Apparently he had had an underlying infection and some pneumonia that was pulling him down. He is still on antibiotics of course, but he was able to get out of bed on his own and walk into the next room, something he hadn't done for weeks. Anyway, since today is the big game day between FSU & FL, we will wait till next weekend. It may not be a really necessary trip now, but I haven't seen him for a year and you never know. Thanks for all the good thoughts and prayers in his behalf.

Here it is noon and I haven't done a thing! I slept in today. Now that I'm getting the cortisone out of my system, maybe I can get rested up again. Gotta go give Princess a bath in a bit. She needs some sprucing up before Thanksgiving! Sharon

Jane, that's good news about sleeping last night and that the cold is better. I hope you'll be as good as new soon.

Sharon, your brother is probably biting his nails right now. Florida is whipping up on FSU, but it's still early in the 3rd quarter. I hope it doesn't cause him to have a relapse!

I enjoyed seeing my friends and having a nice meal together at half-time, but the game was terrible. Carolina didn't play well at all, there was a big fight at the beginning as Clemson came into the stadium. I left before the even bigger fight in the last quarter. What a disgrace and such unsportsmanlike conduct. I feel really sorry for both the coaches. It was a terrible way for Holtz to end his career.

Then when I got home, Auburn didn't play well in the first half and Alabama led 6-0 at half-time. But our guys came out all fired up and put the game away in the 3rd quarter. So I'm happy about that.

Sharon, I'm ashamed to say that I haven't bathed Stubby in a while. I really hate to do it. I need to take him over to the Pet Store and have him bathed. They only charge $13 while my vet here charges $20. My old vet always gave him a free bath on the morning that I was to pick him up after boarding. I really wish it weren't so far down there as he really likes them. The new vet is nice, though, although pricy.

Enjoy the rest of the weekend, Babes. It's still raining here, but is not cold, so not too bad. Stubby doesn't mind getting wet, so it's foot wiping time every time he goes out. His little belly gets all wet, too. Sue

Sue, I seldom give Princess a bath between groomings, but she was really getting downright stinky from being out in the rain & rolling around. Your $20 still sounds like a good deal. My groomer charges $45, but they trim her all over in addition to the bath & brushing. If left alone, her hair would drag the floor. It's pretty that way, but it takes way too much time & energy for both of us to keep it brushed and decent. When we moved down here to warmer weather I started having her clipped fairly close on the body and just a little longer on the legs & face.

I'm sure Phil was having a fit if FSU was getting beat. He really takes it to heart. All of his kids went to FSU also, so the whole family is nutso about the "'Noles"! I heard about the fracas on the field of the Carolina game. That is such a shame, especially since it was Lou Holtz last game. Of course, poor sportsmanship is never excusable in my book. I heard there was an awful fight, etc. last night at the Piston's game too.

I got my church newsletter about 2/3 done this afternoon. Then we went to our friends' to play dominoes tonight. I am trying to fight off a kidney infection and have been swilling down cranberry juice all night. Also started on Macrobid. I have just felt lethargic all day. Sharon

Hope you All are having a good Sunday. I am very sad, we have such very nice neighbours here in the rented house. He has just been diagnosed with pancreatic cancer and he told me it has also touched the lung and liver a bit. He is trying to be very stoic about it, but his wife Frieda has completely gone to pieces and has a job to try not to upset him, she is very dependent on him. Cecil has to see a group of oncologists tomorrow to discuss strategy, I hope and pray that they can still help him. We will help were we can,although their family that lives in Cape Town will support them. Please say a prayer for my friends.

Margret.

Sounds like you were smart not to push it, Jane. If you take care of yourself, you ought to be well by the time Ray gets home. I'm sure that young family appreciated the tickets to the breakfast. My dad was a Mason also. As to the Pistons game, I didn't realize till I read your post that they were playing the Pacers! That's pretty unusual for Indianpolis fans! I agree that they all need to be fined heavily and the fans that were involved need to be prohibited from attending games, at least for a while.

Margret, I am so sorry for your neighbors. I do hope it is still treatable, at least long enough for Cecil's wife to be able to accept it and learn all she will need to to carry on by herself. Cancer is such a devastating, insidious disease, but in the past year I have seen some incredible recoveries that I didn't think were even possible.

After church we went back and checked out our teen room. They laid the carpet this last week and it looks so nice. Teen attendance has already picked up due to the excitement of having a cool new room of their own.

After that, we went to the Atlanta Bread Co. with friends for a light lunch. Now, I need to get busy trying to finish the newsletter. I still lack two articles, but they are supposed to bring them to me this afternoon. Have a nice Sunday afternoon everyone. Sharon

Margret, I am so sorry to hear about your neighbor's pancreatic cancer. I'm putting him and his wife on my "in the light" prayer list. I'm afraid pancreatic cancer is one that spreads quickly and not many survive it. She'll need to toughen up to help him through his treatment, whatever is decided.

Jane, I'm with you about the unsportsman like conduct, both in the pros and at the college level. There is no excuse for it anywhere. Parents should start when the kids are young, teaching it and the teaching should continue through organized sports. Holtz had made a point this year of making his players come to a class he was teaching about manners and getting along in the world. It sure didn't take, though, did it? I did wait up late to see Sports Center and the fight at the end started when a Clemson player leaned over and punched the Carolina quarterback in the face after he was tackled and laying on the ground. That doesn't excuse it, of course. I think the first fight was started because the Carolina players got too close to the "Howard" rock which the Clemson players rub for luck while coming into the stadium.

Sharon, I hate to be the one to tell you, but 3 of the 4 players involved were Pacers. I've always liked the Pacers, I think one Auburn's Person brothers or cousins played for them, also like Cheryl Miller's brother, can't remember his name, but he must be retired now. The Pacers had only 6 players available for yesterday's game. The fight was on Friday night. Wallace of the Piston's started it after getting shoved in the game, but Artest then just went wild and his buddies helped him. The fans were awful, too.

Oh, and Sharon, Florida won last night. I hope your brother didn't get too upset. That was a really good game.

I'm supposed to go over to Tim and Kris's at 3:30. We are scheduled to do the 7 mile March of Dimes Fantasy in Lights walk at Calloway Gardens. It just rained here and more is predicted, so I don't know if we'll walk if it's raining. I've got to take Stubby out once more before going, so will go now.

However, today's Humane Society had a picture of a black with white markings Border collie/corgi mix up for adoption. Her name is Stubby, also. She has the opposite markings of my Stubby. He'd probably enjoy me having her, although he might be jealous, but I don't think I could take care of another. And if I had 2 Stubby's that would be just too confusing! Sue

Are you that close to Callaway Gardens, Sue? We spent a few days there in the fall a couple years ago. Nice area. Hope you don't get soaked. There's a heavy drizzle coming down here. I know the Miller you were talking about, but I can't remember his first name either. Since I don't really follow Pro sports, it's in one ear and out the other. Anyway, I'm in full agreement about sportsmanship! That was one of the reasons I was so proud of Jonathan getting the mental attitude award for the football team this year. A nice note to graduate on.

I have to agree about having 2 dogs. I never have and imagine it would be more than I wanted to deal with. Sharon

Sharon, it was pouring when we left here this afternoon and still raining when we got there, but not so much. It stopped soon after we started on the walk. The lights were beautiful and it was fun as usual. However, we walked the entire 7 miles and I know I'll have trouble getting out of bed tomorrow morning. We finished in an hour and a half, which is pretty good time, I think. We are about a 45 minute drive from Callaway Gardens.

I may go out to the humane society and look at the other Stubby. When I came home this evening, Stubby kept smelling my pants. Muffin, Kris's dog, greeted me thoroughly, rubbing against me and asking for pets. He knew I'd seen her. He really enjoys her company. Bob and I liked to have 2 dogs at the farm. They kept each other company when we had to go out and also when they were at the vet's when we took a trip. I'm tempted, but will try to use reason in deciding. Sue

Sue, once you go look at the dog, you'll be lost! I never met a dog I didn't like, I don't think. If I looked at the dog with any speculation, I'd get it. When I went to see Princess as a puppy, I was just going to go see the puppies to see if I would like a Lhasa. Ha! I wasn't there 10 mins when I whipped out the check book! Gone, hook, line & sinker!

All your Stubby walking must have you in good shape to walk 7 miles in an hour and a half! A 20 min. mile is about the most I could handle.

We had quite a scare today. Our son-in-law in IN fell asleep at the wheel Friday night after working late at the store, went off the road, hit a tree, totaled the car, & knocked himself out. He was taken to the Indy hospital for over 12 hours. He had a concussion & didn't make much sense for a while, but is relatively okay now, just stiff & sore & with cuts & contusions on his head. I guess he went through the windshield but was lucky enough not to do major damage. Of course, it terrified Melanie & the kids to receive a call from the police, & hospital. It's a wonder she didn't have an accident driving to the hospital, about 30 or so miles away. He was awfully lucky, but it just goes to show you how quickly something awful could happen to a loved one. We have one more thing to be thankful for this Thursday. Sharon

Jane, I hate rebates! why don't they just lower the price and be done with it. It's got to cost them to process all the paper work.

I just got back from PT. I really think the therapist is doing some good with her deep massage & ultra sound. The tendon feels as good as it has in a long, long time. I also did 10 mins on the bike.

I have the newsletter all done except for the music article which I still haven't received, but she has promised I'll get it this afternoon. When that's all finished and my cleaning lady is done, I can get started on Thanksgiving. I need to polish silver & set the table & make the cranberry sauce. I'll wait on the pies & other stuff till Wed. What are all of you gals doing for Thanksgiving? I hate to eat out on TG, so I always cook & can usually find someone to share it with. Sharon

Jane, I hate rebates! why don't they just lower the price and be done with it. It's got to cost them to process all the paper work.

I just got back from PT. I really think the therapist is doing some good with her deep massage & ultra sound. The tendon feels as good as it has in a long, long time. I also did 10 mins on the bike.

I have the newsletter all done except for the music article which I still haven't received, but she has promised I'll get it this afternoon. When that's all finished and my cleaning lady is done, I can get started on Thanksgiving. I need to polish silver & set the table & make the cranberry sauce. I'll wait on the pies & other stuff till Wed. What are all of you gals doing for Thanksgiving? I hate to eat out on TG, so I always cook & can usually find someone to share it with. Our Ohio friends are coming this year. Sharon

Ray's gone to Montana, so I'm going to Gary and Kathy's...down the driveway and they'll have another couple as well. I spent last TG with them and it was nice. I still don't feel much like doing anything or going anywhere, so hope I feel much better by Thursday.

I'm killing time until I have to go to the dentist. I HATE going to the dentist.

I went to the PO and mailed out the one rebate...and paid $5.65 for proof that it arrives at the address given. I've gotten some of those "we never received your paperwork" before on rebates and $150.00 one is too big to take that chance on.

I'll mail the other one when I can get the code cut off the box. Such a bother!!

jane

Sharon, thank goodness your SIL came out of that dreadful accident OK. What a scare your daughter must have had. Your PT session results sound great. I know you're happy about that.

I think they have those rebate things because lots of people think it's too much work and don't claim them. They are only losing on a relatively few purchases. Otherwise they'd just have a sale.

Jane, your Thanksgiving plans sound nice. You have wonderful neighbors from all reports. Will Ray have a homemade dinner out there at his hunting place? I'm sorry you're not over your cold yet.

Sharon, Tim told me I was wrong about the hour and a half walking time. We actually walked it in 1 hour 50 minutes which is about 15 + minutes/mile. They've done it faster when they didn't have me along.

This morning Tim went with me to my first Auburn Women's basketball game. I bought 2 season tickets so that I can take friends or the kids. Kris is the one who likes BB almost as much as I do, but her parents were flying in today and she wanted to finish getting reading. I am having Thanksgiving with them. Tim is smoking the turkey, Kris and Rd are making the veggies, and I'm making pumpkin delight for dessert. This is a new recipe for me, got it from one of our good cooks who made it for a recent church supper. Easy recipe, too. You make a kind of pudding with canned pumpkin, sugar, eggs, and spices, put in a 13 X 9 pan, pour yellow pudding cake mix and then melted butter over and bake. I hope my oven will behave. Tim has adjusted it somewhat, but it's still not perfect. Sue

Sue: Oh, yes, Ray will be doing fine. He's staying with his sister and his nephew and his two teenagers are there...and he'll have a grand time. They hunt on his niece's husband's family's ranches, so it's all a sort of "family" and family male bonding thing.

I'm home from the dentist and the only hurt was to my wallet!

They skipped the "probbing/coding" thing of the gums since I didn't feel good... That can wait until the next visit. I've had good numbers all along anyway.

It's become overcast again and now snow predicted for tomorrow.

I'd better go move some laundry around.

jane

Well I had a nice weekend. Sunday after church I went on a walk around in the Folsom Outlet Square. There must be 75 stores there representing big name brand outlets. They carry seconds, out of fashion, unsold stock, etc but also they have tons of stuff that looks to me like it was made for these outlets. I wonder just how a person can tell the quality of the stuff they are buying. One time I bought towels in an outlet for Linen and Things that were the really big fluffy ones that I had seen in the downtown store for 35.00 apiece selling in the outlet for 8.oo apiece. I bought four 2 red and 2 white. I tossed them all in the washer when I got home(I always wash new towels and sheets etc. before I use them) and the red bleed so much into the water that I had four red towels. Well they came out of the dryer sort of 2 pink and 2 red. For a great long time I washed them alone in cold water so it was not such a good buy. Well maybe they were.....because they finally did stop bleeding and they are 20 years old and still big and fluffy. Can you believe that.

I love the Burlington Coat Factory outlet. When I decide to buy a new coat that is where I will go. Saw some wonderful ones but still have serviceable coat and don't want to spend as much as coats cost even when they have good prices. I bought a little pottery pitcher at the Pottery Imports store and it is sunny and cheerful with sunflowers all over it. Makes me feel happy when it is on the table. Since I am not having dinner here this year but instead luncheon on Friday I will set my table with bright sunny things and use some bright green napkins with the Noritaki that has bright fruits pattern on it. The new pitcher will fit right in. I wish I had gotten the sugar bowl too but it was very big and had no lid so I passed it up. It sort of looked like a bullion dish to me. Some countries make curious designs.

I have been reading new research regarding soy in diets of persons who have had breast cancer and the consensus of opinion seems to be that it has no place in our diet at all especially the powders and supplements. A small amount in its own food form is not shown to be that dangerous but the powdered drinks and other supplements were shown to increase the incidence of recurring breast cancers. And here I was last year, using a soy based powdered drink for a year almost on a daily basis. No.1 -I did not know it was soy based I thought it was milk whey protein until I read more carefully after my Oncologist and I talked about it, and he pointed me to the article I have now read regarding this subject. Of course they end the article saying that much more research is needed.

Well I am glad to hear everybody is busy and keeping well except for a few achy bones and Jane's cough. I am sending a healing bear hug to all to help lighten the wintry load. (())faith

Thanks, Faith!

I do think some places make things specifically for the "outlets" and we've found some bargains, too, and we've found some things that were obviously not regular merchandise/quality. I don't mind buying seconds in some things...as long as I know that's what I'm buying.

jane

I agree with that, Jane. I like to shop the outlets, or at least some of them. We have a huge outlet mall with over 100 stores near us. We don't have Burlington coat factory here, but I have shopped in one in INDY. Your pitcher and table sound pretty, Faith.

Faith, I don't think the soy supplements are too bad unless you have had a tumor that was estrogen receptive. Mine was & I was told to avoid all phytoestrogens including soy, black cohosh, etc. I made the mistake of drinking SlimFast soy based drink for a while. Since I am lactose intolerant, I thought that was a great answer. Wrong. Another gal & I in my BC Support group did some research and presented it to our group a couple years ago.

I'm glad everyone will be with someone for the holiday. It's too bad Ray is gone, but I'm glad your neighbors came through for you. Hope you've knocked the cold enough to enjoy it by then.

Sue, I thought you would be with Tim & Kris. I have never had smoked or fried turkey though I know that it's the thing down here. Your pumpkin dessert sounds interesting. You'll have to tell us how it is afterwards. I am doing a thoroughly traditional dinner--roast turkey, oyster dressing, mashed potatoes & giblet gravy, fresh broccoli, cranberry sauce, home baked bread, pumpkin pie & mince pie. Way too much food for 4 people, but I will enjoy the leftovers for weeks!

I tried that deal of putting silver in a pan with foil, water, & salt, but nothing has happened so far. Guess I will have to break down and clean it the old fashioned way! Did get the cranberries cooked. I am just so relieved to have the blamed newsletter done. I don't know what my problem was, but it was a fight to get it to do what I wanted it to this time. Sharon

Sharon...I don't think it's salt...it's something else...I'm thinking baking soda, but I may be wrong. Maybe somebody will say again or we can do a search here.

jane

The one place I found it said any kind of salt or baking soda. I tried both. No dice.

My doctor called this AM and my liver readings were normal, so the Lipitor isn't causing any problems for me. Yea! I have a bone density scan this afternoon because the Femara tends to cause osteoporosis. I had a small amount of bone loss last time, but I'm now taking 1800 mg of calcium with Vit D & Vit C per day divided in 3 doses, so I hope there's no additional loss.

Sunny & 70's here today. Rain predicted Thursday though. Sharon

Hurrah on the liver readings!! Glad to hear the Lipitor is not hurting you.

Sun is finally out for a pleasant change.

I'm working on cleaning my stove and need to get lemon oil on my kitchen cabinets. Nothing but fun here! hahaha

jane

I've been paying bills and writing charity checks. Have finally unearthed my desk. I still haven't gotten to the silver. Bills had to come first. Had long term insurance & property tax both due. Healthy chunks! Fortunately, my cleaning gal was here yesterday, so am not doing any deep cleaning. My windows really need washing though. Sharon

You guys have been busy, so many messages but I enjoyed them all.

JANE, I do hope you are really feeling better. Glad you will be in company at TG.

SUE, you know Sharon is right, if you have a look at Stubby 2 you will come home with him/her?

SHARON, you really made my mouth water with your menue, I think I grab the cyberjet and invite myself in. BG. We don't know it here so I also love to read what you all do.

FAITH, your shopping trip sounded fun, you must have done some walking. I am so glad you seem to be fine again.

Well we went to the house today and found ourselves locked out, the have the doors in now and close up once they leave. I must have a look tomorrow, the tilers are in now and I am curious to see how the tiles we chose look.

Well till tomorrow,

Margret.

Margret, grab that cyberjet! There will be more than enough! Hope the tile looks good. How's the knee?

Just got back from my bone density test & picking up some Rx's. I was glad it was nice this afternoon. John had a meeting in town, so I had to use the golf cart. Sharon

Rain, rain, go away. Little Susie wants to play.

We had another night and day of intermittent rain showers--pretty big ones, too. I woke up about 2:00 last night and didn't get right back to sleep as I usually do, so I read until about 3:30. Then I didn't get up until 8:30. Stubby is a jewel and doesn't wake me. He waits until I'm ready to get up. I'm glad I've continued to have him sleep in his travel crate.

I tried to work around the storms today. I got out to Home Depot for fertilizer and flower pots, also went shopping at the new outdoor mall for a pretty top for my new formal skirt and a lamp for my family room. I didn't find either. I did buy a pair of clogs, just can't pass a shoe sale!

I did get most of my Christmas shopping done over the phone and the Internet last night and today. Now I have to get them here and wrapped. I need to buy a couple more things for the little boys. Stacie doesn't want me to give them more toys, so I've bought books and will probably buy new Auburn shirts for them. Their's are too small now.

Your liver ratings are great, Sharon. Hurray!

Jane, are you feeling well enough to spread lemon oil around? I'm not too fond of that job when I'm feeling great.

Margret, I hope you find your tiles to your liking. I'm loving the ones I put in my family room. They are pretty and so easy to clean.

Time to fix a sandwich, so later, Babes. Sue

Hi, All...

The Lemon Oil didn't get done this time. Maybe when she comes back next time. I had a lot for her to do this week...I moved out some things that needed to be cleaned behind, etc. and she decided the kitchen floor needed to be scrubbed on hands and knees...the mop just didn't seem to be getting the job done. So,maybe she didn't want to help with the lemon oil so found things that took up all the alloted time and even went over a bit. But, she eats lunch here on my time..and she's been finishing and leaving up to 30-45 minutes early, so I think I need to do what I did today and have some things lined up for when she finishes up early. I don't expect her to work longer than we've agreed to...and for which I pay her an hourly rate, but I don't like paying for 3.5 hours and having her here only 2.5 or 3.0 every time. She did say she'd washed somebody else's floor on her hands and knees..and did the lemon oil for somebody else, so I think this will work out just fine. We can do a few each time she comes...just every other week...and work our way around the kitchen, the pantry, etc.

I did get out and walk today to town to mail a letter. It was cool and brisk, but it felt good to get out and get the body moving again.

I don't have anything I need to do again until I go to Kathy's for T'giving...and then Saturday night she, her husband and I are going to Dubuque for a piano concert by a young man from a town about 20 miles south of us. We heard him at a Craft Show we were at..he's quite talented and we each bought one of his CDs. It's nice to see local talent trying to make a career with their special abilities.

I'm feeling much better tonight, so think that the week is up and my cold is on the way out. It really does take a week, it seems. Weird!

jane

Just a quick note to say Ray is doing great. I hope to catch up on the posts tomorrow. Take care.

Good morning, Gals. Oops, afternoon I mean. I went to PT, then to the bank and the grocery. NOw I have to get started cooking, etc.

GinnyAnn, glad Ray is still doing well.

Jane, you even sound better. Much chirpier! Sharon

Good grief, Jane, where did you get a strep infection? I haven't heard of many of those since the kids were little. Yes, you take it very easy until it is completely healed. There can be a carryover to the heart valves! I didn't know that the contagion was over in 24 hrs. That's good to know. Glad you'll be able to go for TG dinner. Hope you have a good book to curl up with, along with some hot chocolate & good music. Sharon

Strep was from the sore throat I had for two days before the cold came upon me, I guess. I think my contagious period was over last week, in that case...but I guess she counts from when the test is positive. So... My BP was a little high.. and my pulse racing, too, so she doubled my BP meds and I'm to continue at doubled rate until I can get it down. It fluctuates a lot...and is always high as is my pulse when I'm not feeling good.

Got me an ol' Germy Body here today!!

jane

JANE, sorry you got yourself more germs, thats why you felt so poorly all week. I wonder if I will follow you, my throat felt scratchy and I had itchy eyes, so I put it down to allergy, we shall see.

I have my perm tomorrow, and we are supposed to go to the first Barbeque arranged for all the new neighbours in the evening.

SHARON and SUE, I liked the floor tiles, I thought they were a bit darker but this is nice, when I can move in there without falling over ladders and things I shall take a photo.

GINNY ANN, I am glad that Ray is so much better.

Margret.

Margret, aren't you on that cyber jet yet? I'm setting you a place! Glad the tiles look good. It is so hard to visualize everything in advance, isn't it. Sharon

Margret...TAKE CARE...that's how mine started, too!

So glad there are others that have trouble visualizing how a little scrap of this or a small corner of paper will look on a real wall or a sample of tile will look on a whole floor. I just can't "see" that...have to see it on something that's the size of what I'm doing!

I'm glad of one thing, however. Our carpenter tried to talk me into a 42 or 47 inch vanity for the bathroom. He told me 36" would look too small and I'd have all this "space" between the vanity and the tub! I'm glad I stayed with my 36" one that I'd picked out. Otherwise, I'd have had no room for my big basket of towels...or the flat standing heated towel rack we found at Bed, Bath & Beyond. We'd loved those heated towels when in Europe and this rack is perfect...very narrow and S curved and it fits right in between the vanity and the shower/tub. One for Jane...0 for Carpenter! LOL

There is snow all around me...south of me...east of me...but we're dry and just cold.

jane

MMMMM, warm towels sound great! I've thought of getting one of those racks, but it seems pretty dumb down here, so haven't done it. I find that draftsmen, carpenters, etc. don't know how different people live and what they have in mind. I nearly shot my draftsman when I was designing our IN house. He kept changing stuff, and I kept making him put it back! Even down to a curved walk to the door. He wanted a very squared off one. He said he wouldn't want to walk that curved walk to the door. It was all I could do to keep from telling him he would never be invited to do so! LOL Sharon

Jane, you'd better throw out your toothbrush. When Bill was little he kept getting Strep infections. Finally one of his doctors suggested throwing away the toothbrush. I think anytime you get a sore throat, you need to get a new toothbrush when you're no longer infectious. I hope the treatments work quickly.

I made Pumpkin Delight this afternoon for the first time. I was a little surprised because I thought the cake mix would go to the bottom with pumpkin on top as we had it cut in squares at the church supper. Mine looks more like streusal on the top. I also made deviled eggs. Those are Kris's favorites. I left a message and said I would bring them if she'd like. If she doesn't like, I'll eat them myself.

I didn't wake up this morning until 8:30 and after I'd laid there a few minutes the tornado siren blew for about 5-10 minutes. Stubby and I just stayed in bed and thankfully we didn't get one. However, several touched down in central Alabama and did lots of damage. One family in the Montgomery area got up to go out to breakfast at 5:00, something they never do usually. When they returned, their home was completely demolished. The TV announcers told this many times. We've had lots of hard rain, last night and today, but it's supposed to start clearing tomorrow.

I went to the library and the grocery stores this morning. They were crowded, but not too bad. Lots of children accompanied parents so I guess there was no school today. I've not walked Stubby as frequently as I usually do because of the rain. He loves it, but I'm not crazy about bundling up or carrying an umbrella. He's spent most of the time out back and runs in with wet feet and a wet belly. His towels have gotten a workout today.

GinnyAnn, I'm glad to hear Ray is doing much better.

Hi Sharon and Margret. Enjoy the dinner you're preparing, Sharon. And Margret, I know it'll be delicious, cyber or not.

Happy Thanksgiving to all the Babes. I am thankful for all of you, your support and friendship are very important. (((((HUGS)))))Sue

Oh, Sue, I must agree with that. I am very thankful for Seniornet & especially all of you here in Bosom Buddies. I have a lot to be thankful for this year on many fronts.

I just put my pumpkin pie in the oven. John went out to get his hair cut, so he picked up the Carnation evaporated milk for me. My mince pie is done, the dressing ready to mix in the morning, the table is set. I did get the silverware polished. The cranberry sauce is in the fridge, the bread is ready to add the water to in the morning and put into the breadmaker, so I think we are set. I just made shrimp salad for dinner tonight. Didn't feel like messing any more!

Have a very happy, thankful day tomorrow, and remember, calories don't count on Thanksgiving!!! Sharon

I am thankful for your friendship.

It rained today and the weatherman predicted that it will change to snow. Not a lot and because the ground is still warm will probably not stick. But it will make travel a whole lot more stressful.

We are having our usual Thanksgiving dinner tomorrow. All I have done so far is start defrosting the turkey. lol It has been in the downstairs fridge thawing. Most of what we like needs to be prepared the same day it is to be eaten. Mashed potatoes, spinach, crescent rolls, and two kinds of crandberries (Both boughten all ready to eat. For desert we will have Ray's favorite holiday desert Pineapple Rice. Need to go put the wine and pineapple in the fridge.

Happy Thanksgiving!

You'll never believe the bad luck I had after I finished posting here earlier!

Stubby was doing a lot of barking out in the yard, so I got up to let him in but came back in here after I dried his feet as I was still reading subscriptions.

In a few minutes he ran in here, was very agitated, put his paws on my leg and cried. I started to pet him and saw blood in his mouth--right about where a snake might have bitten him. I called the vet and got Stubby in the car to go over there. As we were going outside I saw 4 or 5 about 3 inch pieces of a stickery vine lying on the floor. So I think that was the problem, but I went on anyway.

When I got to the Vet's office, the parking lot was full, so I had to park down by the exit road to the street. I went in to wait my turn as there were lots of people in there. I saw a woman go out with her poodle and 2 children. She came back in and wanted to know if anyone had a Toyota with a dent in it. She had backed near my car and saw a big dent although she didn't "feel" it if she hit it.

We called the police, I got her insurance information while she called her husband. He got there before the police did and told her she must not have hit me because he couldn't see any evidence on her Big Ford SUV, maybe an Expedition. I was with the vet when the police arrived. They looked, too, but also listened to the husband. They wrote the report up as though it was a hit/run by an unknown party. I'm still not convinced she didn't do it, but as I wasn't a witness, no one was, the report will stand. I've called my insurance company and they'll send out an adjustor on Monday or Tuesday. The police told me I need to go to the police station on Monday and sign the report (plus pay $3.00 for my copy), plus send a special form to the state or my license will be suspended. All this money and send the report yourself is because our state is low on money. GRRRR!

Not too long ago, I increased my deductible, so I'm going to be out at least $500 for that. The vet visit was $72.

The vet who examined Stubby gave him a shot, said he had a 103.4 temp and a very red throat, asked if he'd been coughing. After I told him about finding the pieces of sticker vines, he said he probably swallowed one as well as cutting his mouth. Stubby has to take an antibiotic for about 10 days. Thank goodness he takes pills well. He has capsules this time and they are easy to give to him.

What a way to start Thanksgiving! Oh, the kennel attendent who held Stubby while I dealt with the police said his temp might have been up because he was upset. Sort of like human white coat syndrome. He has been drinking lots more water than usual so maybe he did already have a sore throat. Sue

SUE: I hope Stubby recovers quickly and your Thanksgiving is a good one in spite of today's mishaps.

JANE: I hope you feel better soon. The last time I had strep was many, many, many years ago. I haven't even thought about it in what seems like forever.

Tomorrow we are driving to SAGE's daughter's house about an hour from here. We will leave shortly after lunch and I hope we return before it gets dark. I was not happy about some TV reports tonight about traffic problems -- drunk drivers and someone throwing rocks at cars on a different highway. We don't usually go out on the holiday so it has been a while since I have driven with the threat of drunk drivers.

I expect we will have a great time tomorrow. I seem to be in a space right now where I think of all the possible problems before we do anything. I hope that calms down soon.

HAPPY THANKSGIVING EVERYONE!!!

((((Hugs)))) to all.

Marjorie

Sue, what a lousy afternoon! I do hope Stubby is okay after the antibiotics. It's a shame about the car. I don't know why, but there are always so many more car accidents, even minor ones during the holidays. I had someone pull out and into me scraping up the whole side of my car one year right before Thanksgiving. I wonder if the woman was afraid to admit to her husband that she backed into you. Well, I hope today goes well