phyllser

Karla, I don't think young people these days have a CLUE!! But, seems your daughters should be a little more mature at their ages. I remember when our three oldest threw a 25th wedding anniversary party for us back in 1989. Youngest son promised to come and help them. He didn't show up, but when we all went back to the house to go in the pool... there he was having a party with his friends. He was 17 at the time. Kids got there before us and almost killed him!! Earl "thinks" I hit my head, but... SAND... so shouldn't have jarred my brain! Think maybe I'm having allergy problems cuz I was sneezing like crazy last night when the wind was blowing. It's died down this morning, so I better go get ready for the pool. No excuses not to go!! Hope it doesn't start up again. Neighbors are nervous about that because party this afternoon is on their porch and no room inside for all of us!!

Hope you have a nice relaxing weekend! Yeah... end of season parties. Tonight two carloads of us went to Miracle Springs for dinner and the Range Riders concert. Had a good time. One glass of wine before we went! I"m almost afraid to drink now. And I asked Earl tonight if I hit my head when I fell... can't remember much about that evening, headache and not dizzy, but keep losing my balance. Almost fell a couple of times today and yesterday.

Linda.... you do a GREAT job of keeping up with everyone! It's so overwhelming! Yes, Lori... thinking of you this weekend. So much so that I keep thinking we're busy this weekend.. when it's really YOU that has a BIG weekend! LOL! Linda, glad your snow has melted! We're having great weather here right now, but this morning's weather report sounded a big ominous... like wind is already kicking up AGAIN, and temps are supposed to cool off.. but that just means it might not be in the 80's for a day or two!! :biggrin: Thanks for your compliments on my jewelry. I so much enjoy making it. I don't think I'm particularly talented in that arena, but teacher keeps asking me if I've ever done any painting, or am I an artist!!?? She thinks I have a good eye for putting colors together. I had a compliment at Red Hats yesterday.. lady at my table was admiring my "Red Hat" bracelet and earrings andshe was all ooooos & aahhhhs when I told her I made it. She said if I'd make some more, she'd buy it from me and is sure I could sell to the Red Hat ladies. I've thought about that. Afraid people wouldn't want to pay the price because buying those beads is not cheap!!

You may have room for a quilt, but not all the "tools" of your trade!!?? That guitar will take up some room, too! We carry way too much junk with us! Keep it simple. You're Canadian... don't you play Cribbage??? I thought all Canadians played that!

You like those little zip up jackets, don't you. The Walmart here still has some of those you talked abut a couple of months ago. I like things like that, too. When we get home I guess I will have to start looking for a wedding outfit, too. I have a niece in Buffalo who is getting married the end of August and I want to find myself a "stunning" outfit to wear. We're going to take the RV... Seattle to Buffalo to Oklahoma City and then back here to the desert. So we won't be home for very long this year!!

Good Morning! I'm here! Red Hat picnic yesterday afternoon up at Whitewater Preserve. So I was gone from 11 a.m. - 4 p.m. No excuse after that... I think I was playing solitaire and sudoku on my laptop most of the evening! TOPS this morning.... we'll see... Wii says I'm down 1 1/2 lb. It and our scale don't always agree. Our German neighbors flew back to Germany yesterday so we have a huge RV next to us in their spot. Relatively young couple compared to the rest of us, with at least one huge dog. "Range Riders" concert tonight at Miracle Springs... dinner there with the neighbors beforehand. Too much eating this weekend. Canadians are all leaving... Happy Hour party tomorrow afternoon... heavy snacks. I think we're taking prawns.... peel and eat, with cocktail sauce.

Well, I guess it was funny, but now I'm embarrassed, after Earl told me some of the things I did! Didn't get hurt falling down and don't even remember it except for a very vague memory of a close encounter with the sand... and had sand under my fingernails this morning! I'm having ONE glass of wine today. Kind of scares me that I don't remember things like falling down, and eating pizza. I woke up at 1 a.m. all mad because I came back to the RV before Jim got back with the pizza, only to find out I DID have some pizza! RV sounds nice, Steph. You'll enjoy the convenience when you're doing your kettle korn thing! Sorry you got the flu! Thought that was all done for the winter! Michael preparations moving right along! That's good!

Okay----I definitely overdid it last night with the wine! Earl was getting ready to BBQ steak on the grill yesterday afternoon when we heard all this laughing and carrying on behind us. So he went to investigate and didn't come back right away, so I took my glass of wine and followed him. There was an impromptu party going on.... the men were digging holes to plant some palm trees and the ladies were watching and having some wine. I remember about the first two hours and that's it. I guess I embarrassed myself. I have sand and dirt under my fingernails.. apparently fell down. Don't remember that or eating pizza! Earl said I had two pieces of pizza. I have NEVER EVER drank so much that I didn't remember things! So... true confessions here!! Must never do that again!!

Where is everyone today??? Not one single post, and very few yesterday! I am feeling "down in the dumps" today for no particular reason. Skipped water aerobics this morning... it was gloomy, chilly and windy outside. So we went to the rehab center to visit our friend from OK. Then we went to Costco and Walmart. Got home almost 30 minutes late for book club, but I went anyways. Shouldn't have bothered. By the time I got there, the one book I'd read they were just finished discussing. Ad the one they talked about after that wasn't even on the list I had for this month! We usually read 2 books. But last month someone was not happy with the choice for #2 book and suggested several others. So I didn't know what the heck I was supposed to read but definitely not the one they apparently read! I think I am missing some of the emails. Besides that, the chair I was directed to was kind of situated such that it was pretty impossible to carry on a conversation with anyone when the general discussion was over. Kind of felt like a 5th wheel but probably my own fault because of the mood I was in. Plus, felt like this month's hostess sort of slapped my wrist at the pool yesterday in front of a bunch of people. She let me borrow her book. While I was reading it, one of the other gals sent out an email asking if she could borrow someone's book. So I emailed back that I had Jean's book but was almost finished with it. So she sent another email to both me and to Jean saying she would have the book next. Well, Jean says she didn't get the email and she would have "preferred" that I gave the book back to her so her sister could read it. I guess my fault... I should have made sure it was okay to pass the book on, but I see them passing books on at the pool all the tme and I just assumed it wold be okay. MY BAD!!! So shoot me already!

Yeah... missed opportunity. By the time he got back I'd been sitting on the neighbors patio finishing up my jewelry and drinking wine for about an hour and didn't care! LOL! I'm BAD!! And now he tells me we have a cracked belt of some kind so we repeat the whole scenario as soon as the belt comes in! UGH! Hope all works out for your closing. We have done at least one that I can think of "in absentia" by signing papers at our convenience at another time. Or you can ask for a specific amount of time to get out of the house.

Yes, we are both now certified... Community Emergency Response Team.... C.E.R.T. _ complete with green hard hats and green vests and backpack full of tools.. first aid kit, crow bar, work gloves, goggles, etc.! 20 hours of excellent training, including practice with fire extinguishers, triage, splinting, bandaging, etc. They trained us for search and rescue.. procedures for going through houses/buildings to assess damage, hazards, victims, etc.

So so day here today... warm temps, partly sunny skies, but clouded up this afternoon and the wind picked up. Beading today...made bracelet and earrings. "Homeless" most of the day... evicted by Earl at 7:30 a.m. when he took the motor home in for 2 new tires and oil change. He didn't get back until about 5 p.m., so long day for me. He walked a lot.... Costco, Walmart, Casino... where he won $90+, and Dominos for pizza!

Our oldest son always does his preliminary research online. Probably does some test driving first. But... doesn't go and do his serious shopping until he has settled on exactly what vehicle and what options he wants. And, he finds out what the invoice price is. Some credit unions will do the negotiating for you. But, our son has been known to do the negotiating via email, too. Eliminates a lot of frustration. OH, MY!! Throwing their goodies away!!! Too Funny! You are one gutsy chick!! HAHAHA! Funny you mentioned Red Robin because that's where we had lunch today on our break from training! But... I always order the same thing... have studied the menu extensively. Our oldest GD lives in CA but goes to U of WA.. in fact, just emailed DIL to tell her we'd take her to lunch on her birthday again this year... her favorite restaurant.... RED ROBIN!! So... they have this "Ensenada Plate".. it comes with either 1 or 2 chicken breasts. With one, it's 629 calories. You get salad, chicken breast, salsa and another white, spicy sauce. It's very good, and not too bad calorie wise. So that's what I had for lunch. I just hate to do it so I procrastinate. But, yes, it is a big relief now that it's all done. Here is a BIG frustration, though. Nothing changed.... our income, deductions almost exactly what they were last year. But last year we got back over $1500, this year.... $289!! Don't spend it all in one place! I will restrain myself from making a political statement here, but I sure am ticked! HAHA HAHA... Scary typo!! Sorry you are hurting again. My back is much better today even though I spent 4 hours sitting in class last night and 8 hours today!! Community Emergency Response Training. I will upload a couple of pictures. We practiced with fire extinguishers. I was embarrassed.. I didn't have the strength to pull the trigger!! But when I switched hands... held it in my left hand and aimed the hose with my right... then I could squeeze it hard enough! We also put slings on each other, and head wraps for head wounds. Tomorrow... I think he said we're going to practice splinting. It's very interesting and informative. Besides being a retired RN, I also have a HAM radio license, so once a few folks here in the RV park got wind of that... I got recruited for the park C.E.R.T. team!! And I recruited DH!! So sorry you're having that trouble AGAIN!! Hope you are feeling much better soon!!

Here are a few photos from our C.E.R.T. training today. In our C.E.R.T. gear, practicing with fire extinguishers, head wraps and slings.

Well, I'm going to be on the communications team because I have a HAM radio license. I've bugged him for years to get one, too, but so far he hasn't. So... it's not that I want him on another team... he just has to get his HAM license if he wants to do that. But his electrical expertise and his strong "handyman" skills might be more useful anyway! He learned how to "jury rig" in the AF... "brogan maintenance"!! HAHA! He can usually figure out how to fix ANYTHING! Which can sometimes be annoying!! LOL... something breaks and I'm thinking... "oh, goody!! I get to buy a new one". But, NO... he fixes it!

Congrats!! You're doing GREAT!!

Good Morning!! Earl and I are "in training" ALL weekend... 4 hours last night, 8 hrs today and tomorrow... I joined the Community Emergency Response Team here at our RV park... they say if there is a BIG earthquake we could be cut off for 3 weeks or more... so we're preparing. I have a HAM radio license, so I joined as part of the communications team, we'll see about medical later. I will persuade Earl to be part of another team. Anyway... we're taking the Riverside County training course. Very interesting and informative!! This morning we get to play with fire extinguishers!! And we each got a green backpack full of supplies.. so I now have my ver own green hard hat and green emergency vest and crow bar!! LOL I will be scarce this weekend!! We're off in a few minutes! Won't even be back in time for happy hour!! LOL!

I'm choosing to ignore the snow discussion because if we get home next month and it snows, I'm going to be really depressed!! Either last year or the year before.. Aprl 18... big snow storm! Anyway, we have a Honda CR-V that I love. Duaghter has one too, and her DH wants one!! But... won't hold a lot of people. But I had a ride in a HOnda PIlot a couple of weeks ago..when I went to see Menopause the Musical with a bunch of ladies, and I reall liked that and she had 7 of us in there with no problem... 2 in front, 3 in the middle and 2 in te back. It rode really nice. I'm really short and I had no problem getting in the front seat. I loved it!!

Now you hit the nail on the head!!

And she NEVER will!! NO WAY, JOSE! LOL I used to do them for our youngest son when he was living with us, and when he was in the area. That was probably the only time he even filed!! HAHAHA!!

Gotta keep this short because it's midnight and I need to go to bed! Our little friend is dong SO much better. They got her up in a chair today and were planning to walk her tonight. She was complaining that they were STARVING her to death and she hasn't had anything to eat since Sunday, so a good indicator that she is better!!! Complaining, and hungry!! LOL! Wait until she realizes that she's missing all the basketball games!!! She is a BASKETBALL FANATIC!! She's going to be really mad... and she has a little TV right there next to her bed on a big telescoping arm tat she could pull right over in front of her! It never dawned on me until we were back home that she's missing her tournament games!! Back was hurting some today and I had to really back off on the water exercises. I kept moving for the whole hour, but quite a few of the exercises were hurting so I went easy!

Somewhere there in the software is an option to import your address book.... from whatever email program you are using... Outlook, Outlook Express, etc. See if you can find it because when it imports your address book it scans for anyone in it who already has SKype. I am still figuring things out... like I was trying to build a "group" that I wanted to name "LBT". So I started by creating the group... but I couldn't see any option to put a name on it. Then I added Karla and Janet and then I couldn't find it again! Linda is on, too, and she and I had a nice chat yesterday. So then I tried t find my group again so I could add her and I can't find any group!! So, I'm certainly no expert... still learning how to use it!

NO, NO, NO!! Just download the software, Chick!! It'll walk you through it! Then import your address book... wherever it is!! I just had a great video chat with Linda A!! Figure it out!! It's NOT hard!! LOL! Good Grief!! Are you drinking??? LOL! I had to correct all your spelling!! HAHAHA!! Peter and Earl have got to be made from the same mold!! I told him today that he is a "penny pincher" and it is so ridiculous!! We're doing FINE!! WE don't need to short waitresses on their tips like all the other OLD people!! We don't have to buy the cheapest brand of EVERYTHING! Give me a BREAK!!! We had this discussion TODAY!! I threaten divorce quite frequently!! :cursing::biggrin: Our SIL has prepared him... COOK ISLANDS... 2 years from now... SAVE your money. He says a $15,000 trip of a lifetime! Hell... we have half that much saved in a separate account right now! If he says NO... I'll go with them by myself!! All you have to do is import your address book. Then you don't have to individually enter each person! This is NOT hard!! You can figure it out! C'mon, Chickie!! P.S. I still love you! Sometimes I have little patience with my cyber challenged friends!! LOL! Sorry!

I'm going to go backwards...... yes, calcium can cause constipation... like cheese, milk, too. Apples did the research. She might not be a nurse, but she knows how to get the "straight skinny" on stuff. Good work, Karen! I love the note in the sandwich story. Think that's so cute that Laura puts a note in Nels lunch everyday... and so sweet that he saves them all! Reminds me of a ladies' retreat we had once about 20 years or so ago. We were at a couple of condos on the beach on the OR coast... which is totally irrelevant to the story... but it was such a nice place, special weekend. I was doing piano for some worship sessions we had and we carried an electric piano up two flights of steps... but to get back to my story, what turned out to be the highlight of the weekend for me... One of the gals who was hosting.. brought paper bags and note paper, index cards or something like that. We each were to put our names on a bag.... paper lunch bags... and we hung them on a clothes line that was strung across the living room of one of the condos. Then we each were to write a note to each lady who was there relating some special memory or thought that you had about that person and then put it in their paper bag. At the end of the weekend, we each got our bag of notes. I don't remember if we took any time to share any of them out loud, but... each one was so special to me and all these years later... I still have them... somewhere!!?? But over the years, I have gotten them out every now and then and reread them all. Writing little uplifting notes to others is something that can have a lasting impact on someone's life. I hope Nels keeps those notes FOREVER!! Can you imagine what those will mean to him as an adult... the thought his Mom put in to writing those every day??? Priceless! Hope you are feeling better, Lori! And hope the MIL issue turns out to be nothing! We went back to the hospital to see our friend today. She was awake and alert and looking better than I expected. She is so tiny and frail.. probably not 100 lb soaking wet. She had O2 on and I.V., but no more NG tube. She is very stressed...worried.. I'm sure what is on her mind is that she has to recover enough to get back in the RV and head home to Okalahoma. I think they were supposed to head home next Tuesday. Obviously, that's not going to happen. He's going to have to persuade the Thousand Trails folks to let him stay past Tuesday, or find another RV park to move to as his reservation is up on Tuesday. Earl prayed for her and I told her I have put her on our park prayer chain as well as asked for prayer on FB. They were both touched by his prayer and her husband stepped in to the corner to dry his eyes afterward! And I have to give a little testimony as to the power of prayer. As I said, many, many people praying for these people! Chet told us his daughter (RN) was flying in last night at 7pm. So Earl said we'd go pick her up at Palm Springs airport and bring her to the hospital. At first he said okay, then he said... she is probably going to need a rental car anyway, so I'll just tell her to get a rental car. Earl argued a little.. but finally agreed. Well, today he tells us that his daughter met this Navy Lt./Dr. on the plane who was going to the same hospital because his mother was in ICU. So he suggests they share a cab to the hospital. She thought that was a good idea. He told her to go get her luggage and he'd go find a cab. So he was waiting at the curb with a cab when she came out with her bags. Very little conversation on the way as he was texting on his cell phone. They get to the hospital, he jumps out throwing $40 at the cab driver and disappears before she can give him any money! A big blessing from God in my book! His provision.. taking care of her! God is GOOD, ALL THE TIME! Watching out for his kids! Okay you guys... we are going to pray Lori and Jessica through these traumatic moves!!! One more note on Calcium Citrate vs. Calcium Carbonate... it's very hard, if not impossible, to find Calcium Citrate chewables any more. RiteAid and Albertson's used to sell a brand that looks like what Costco sells, but they were citrate and not carbonate. Both stores discontinued those and I haven't found them anywhere since and now I've forgotten the brand name anyway!! If Lori is not having trouble swallowing the small ones, I will try them again. But when they started to make smaller ones, WHY did they make them SQUARE!!!! What is up with that???? I guess I'll try them again! But, as I said, WHY are they SQUARE!!?????? Yeah.. it's the absorption. I even read somewhere that if you're taking Calcium Carbonate, you may as well not bother!! But that's what I"m taking now... 4 a day of the Costco Kirkland brand. I think I'll try the stupid square ones again since I am taking this discussion to heart! Julie, Julie, Julie... enjoy all your posts! Hair... I'm "saving" mine for my GS's girlfriend to give me a good hair cut and highlights when I get home next month. This is going to be a big challenge for me because I like my hair short and get it cut about every 6 weeks. It's probably been almost that now and I won't be home for a little over a month and I AM going to wait so she can give me a new "DO"! Her sister just opened a new salon last fall in a touristy area of Snohomish WA... where all the antique stores, etc. are, and they serve WINE while you get your hair done! I'm looking forward to being pampered! I want some subtle blond highlights. I really don't mind the gray/salt and pepper stuff, but I'd like to mix it with a little blond!! I was very blond as a toddler and I want to be there again!! LOL I don't know if I"d enjoy a massage or not! I don't like anyone to see my naked body!! LOL! I WILL finish the earring SOON!! I promise!! I have so many unfinished projects that it's overwhelming.. sort of like the taxes! I do my best work under pressure!! LOL The necklace/pendant has to be fixed because it doesn't hang very straight. I know how to fix it and it will only take a minute. But right now the taxes are a priority!!! Yuck! But, they are almost done. I should have them finished and transferred electronically by tonight! Jodi... very funny story!! Forgetting where your car was!! LOL!! My granddaughter did that once, but she'd been drinking!! LOL!! So did you hit the sauce anywhere while you were out and about???? HAHAHAHA!! I think that is really sweet that your GS noticed your weight loss! What a sweetie!! Our youngest son has typically been our "problem child", even though he's now almost 38 yrs old, that's still the case. But... .he is always the one to notice things like that! And last week when I was having all that back pain.. he kept texting me, calling me, etc. And he was the one who expressed the most concern. He has a very tender heart, as does you grandson apparently. That's very special. This is my favorite time of the day... a little wine, few tiny cubes of cheese, a few pretzels, a few "Judge Judy"s!! Quiet time with DH. Ooops... he left!! LOL We actually had to put the air conditioning on today.. HOT! But, now it's off and the windows and door open again! I love it! It's a beautiful day!! DH went out to the desert to fly his RC airplane! And I just finished having a video call with one of my LBT buddies. Life is GOOD!!

Hang in there, Kiddo! Good advice from the gals...! You can do this! It will be worth it to be in your own place again! Ugh! I sometimes have shoulder pain at night, and of course, now I'm dealing with this side/back/hip pain! Keeps me turning from side to side frequently some nights trying to get comfortable. I find that sleeping on the side that hurts keeps the pain to a minimum. Thankfully... shoulder and back... both left side pain, so I sleep mostly on my left side. Yes... up until midnight and worked on the taxes about 6 hours, but now they're just about done. After I review those American Express statements, which should be posted today, I should be ready to roll. Hope to get that done today, but also planning a trip back to the hospital to see how our friend is doing. She/they are the same age as my mother, so I keep thinking about that. They are troopers to be still RVing at their age. They are out here for about 3 months each winter, but I wonder if they'll continue now that she's had this major health issue so far from home and family. Plus she was having lung problems last week and had to go to the urgent care center, and I think enroute here in January she had some health problems in AZ. And he had surgery for an abdominal aneurysm before they left home!! Maybe it's time to quit! If they WERE my parents, I'd probably insist that they stay home for the winter or at least not go so far! Like south Texas is a whole lot closer to OK than Palm Springs CA!!! Hugs, GF! Hope things are better for you now! Thanks for the prayers for our friend, Irene. I think they are too old to continue being SNOWBIRDS!!