phyllser

Turned out to be an unusual day. Our "old" friends from OK.. the ones who are here for the winter in their RV... we knew them from Winnebago club when we lived in OK.. we get together with them several times over the winter for lunch. They don't get here until well into January, and they usually leave about mid-March... so we were to meet them Thursday for lunch as they head home next Tuesday. Well, this afternoon we had a phone call from him to tell us his wife was in emergency surgery. He sounded very scared and near tears, so we just dropped everything and headed to the hospital. They are both 87 years old!! She is extremely frail and has asthma and other lung issues. She's a tiny little thing... doctor said her bowel was twisted and he thought he was going to have to do a colostomy. But, he was able to repair the problem without taking that drastic of a measure. Their daughter was flying in this evening from OK, so then he won't be alone. So that took several hours of our aftenroon. When we got home, I started working on the taxes again! I'd just started them when we left So, it's about midnight and I have them almost done. Just have to wait for AmEx to post a couple of last year's statements for me so I can see what we spent on dental and eyeglasses.. we may meet the 7.5% for last year! We both got glasses and had some pricey dental work done. But as soon as those lsat few things are entered,, I'll be done! Got NO beading done today at all. I went up intending to stay for an hour or so, but apparently she had a small turnout today. So the last lady was leaving and teacher was packing up her stuff! And that was my day!

I just downloaded it yesterday but haven't tried it yet. Someone told me you can conference call on Skype. And... you don't HAVE to have a webcam... without it you just get audio.

HAPPY BIRTHDAY, Joyce!!! :scared2::party::thumbup: Good job on the birthday dinner! I'm not far behind you!! I'll be 67 in November~~!! But I feel about 32!! LOL

I completely agree. Here's a little tidbit... last week when my back was hurting so bad I was in tears, ... I was praying for the Lord to take the pain away... I felt I had an answer when a "still small voice" spoke to my heart.... "PAIN IS FOR A REASON"! Pain that is that intense is indicating that something is NOT RIGHT!! So, YES, you need to contact your doctor. It may just be adhesions, it might be a port issue, but you must make sure it's not something more serious.

Hardest move for me was in 1991 when we moved from WA back to OK with Boeing. DH had an offer for a management job, so we went. Our two oldest were living in WA at the time and our three oldest grandchildren were toddlers. It was a heartbreaker! DH said 5-7 years and it turned in to more than 15 yrs before we moved back! So I can relate to your pain in this upcoming move! The earring is close to done! But I'm fighting the urge to go to beading again today to force myself to work on my unfinished projects, including the earring. Conflict is.. I really need to start the taxes!! Have I mentioned that before??? :wub::biggrin::tongue2: Software is now installed on DH's laptop, and I located last years' backup on a jump drive, so I have no more road blocks and need to just do it! Then I can relax and enjoy my other projects!! Hope you are feeling better soon... and the flooding issues get resolved quickly!! I wish that site would send a message when someone has played a game! I never know! I did go look for the one that you won! Excellent! I sure enjoy that game! I always add DH to every game... so I play my turns and then play his and try to beat my score! You see why it's so hard to get my "projects" finished!!!

Hope you have a GREAT time in Philly, etc.! Sounds like good fun. I've never been to Philadelphia, and I grew up about a day's drive away. HAHA... short and sweet and to the point! Back was a little aggravated by water aerobics this morning, but doing better overall and made it through about 4 hours of beading today!! Sorry about your work mess! Trying to convince Earl that you said to cook the catfish TWELVE minutes!! He wants to cook it 20!! NOT MINE!! It won't stay down if he cooks it that long! He wanted me to call you to verify!! Phyl is quiet today... water aerobics, hot tub, shower, free lunch at the clubhouse, beading!! Left the RV at 8:45 a.m. and returned about 7 hours later!! Appreciation lunch for everyone... just have to turn in survey/questionnaire critiquing park programs, procedures, etc. Nice lunch... chili dogs, potato salad, sauerkraut, onions, and ice cream. I skipped the roll, the ice cream and the dill pickle!!

I know what I forgot... moving "traditions".... I've probably moved more than most of you, if not all... almost 22 years in the AF, several moves with Boeing and a couple others thrown in for good measure... I think I counted close to 15 last time I counted... in 45 years of marriage. I don't know if this would be considered a "tradition", but it is my ONE BIG RULE!!! Setting up the bed is a PRIORITY!! And knowing exactly where the bedding is! And don't let movers, husbands, or anyone helping you move put ANYTHING on the bed! The bed gets set up and linens put on!! Because you might stay up until all hours unpacking, arranging furniture, etc., but you DON'T want to be scrounging around for the linens, taking a bunch of crap off the bed, and making the bed at midnight!

Well, my "multi-quote" didn't work this time so I'm going to have to rely on my memory!!! HAHAHA!! Seems you aren't the only one having wake up problems today Julie!! Laura, that was a close one!! LOL! I have felt like a slug for two days now. I wish we could just stay on DST!! I like to get up about 7 a.m. but have dragged myself out of bed 15-30 minutes later than that the past two days. I didn't think it'd take this long to get back on schedule! Jodi... glad your storm is over! Saw some of the aftermath on the Today show this morning. Janet... I do love the new avatar, and you look "SMASHING" in that new outfit! Forgot to tell you gals I almost lost her that day!! She was in the fitting room at Karen Kane and I thought she must have slipped by me and went outside! Thought I'd find her on a bench having a ciggie. But she wasn't out there... and I looked in a couple more stores and walked a ways down the sidewalk and didn't find her. So I sat down on a bench and started reading email or texting on my Blackberry. Still no Janet, so I went back in Karen Kane to find her at the cash register buying that lovely outfit and another top. Crossed my mind that she might be in the fitting room, but then I dismissed that idea and went outside. Okay... I give up! I can't remember anymore!! OH.. loved the freezer story and I can relate because we live in an RV for 6 mos. a year... with a very small fridge/freezer! Next door neighbors have a chest type freezer out on their patio which they've told us we can put things in, but for some silly reason, DH doesn't like to do that. But.. funny thing.. he can always find room for steaks, but when I want to buy some fish of some kind... there's no room in the freezer!! :smile2::thumbup::thumbup: Here is today's beading project! I am going to make matching earrings. Four hours in the chair making this pendant was enough.. OH... the last hour or so I was working on the 2nd earring from last week's project. No photos of that yet because it's STILL not done! Almost, though! How do you like my tan??? :biggrin::w00t: We leave here in 4 weeks and I can tell you that it won't last long in the PNW!! Might change to rust when we get home!

Well, I am usually the one taking all the pictures! But I've never minded anyone taking photos of me, even when I was well over 300 lb! Just never minded. I might try to hide halfway behind someone, though! But, I just figure I am what I am!

Well... probably more than 2 hrs! LOL! And your rig is a lot less stressful to drive than ours. We are usually on the road by 8 a.m. and like to quit around 2 p.m. And Earl stays between 55 and 60 mph because of the weight of the rig, etc. You can probably drive somewhat faster than that, too! Okay... mutilating our digestive system??? That's a little extreme! We are actually just making a minor adjustment in order to assist us in portion control! But nothing gets cut or "mutilated". That would be BYPASS surgery! Right? And that's probably why most of us opted for the band instead!

Great blog, Sandi! Congrats on your success!

I LOVE looking at everyone's pictures! And helps us get to know each other to see the photos of your life!

Good Morning! Yes... wind was AWFUL yesterday, especially last night! We did acquire two new "noodles" though... which Earl put back outside this morning hoping someone will claim them. Last week we acquired a CA handicap pass. Must remember to take it up to the office. Earl has asked around and no one knows where it may have come from but I'm sure someone is missing it. Thank you again for those beautiful tulips! They sure add a touch of spring to our humble abode! Look so pretty and I am really enjoying them. Well, I'm not crazy about the "springing forward", but I do like it when we have extra daylight at night. I just wish we didn't have to undo it in the fall! That's what I really HATE! If I had my way, we'd just stay on DST all the time!! But I do feel like a slug this morning. For one thing, my back always hurts more in the morning when I first get up. And, the past few nights have been restless at best... though last night not as bad as the previous two. Only comfortable position is lying on the sore side because on my back or on the other side seems to put more stress on the side that is hurting. But.... shorter sleep has me really groggy and not wanting to move this morning. I am obviously not going to make it to chapel by 9a.m. for choir practice! So I just won't sing in the choir this morning. Missed practice Friday anyway, and I think this might be the Sunday that the men are singing and the ladies are excused. Of course, I don't know if I'm a man or a lady in the choir!! LOL! Alto parts are too high for me so I sing tenor with the men. And we have about 30 people in the choir right now and I'm always scrounging for a place to sit anyway! So... I will skip today.... does that sound like enough rationalization??!!

The corned beef really didn't seem very salty. And I made sure Earl didn't put any seasoning in it other than the little packet that came with it because he tends to overdo it! Hope your dinner goes well. Diplomatic?? Whatever! Can you do it? You need Janet to help you gang up on them! Hugs on your Mom and Aunt issues!! Hope they get the BP, etc. regulated soon! Triple shot... did I teach you that or did you do it on your own?? LOL! Like I said, my "boyfriend" at the Monterrey SBX gives me the quad for free. But he's hardly ever there anymore! I bet I've only seen him about 3X this winter. He was back in NY for a long time taking care of his elderly father. But, "Jose" in DHS gave me the 4th this week one day. So... what's up tonight?? I had a Red Hat meeting today. Nothing exciting going on there. We're just going to be sitting around watching TV tonight. Do you have any marathons coming up this year??

So sorry for your problems! Hoping you get this diagnosed and treated soon! Yes, Cheri.... green neon is not very readable! Sorry! If you want to get us in the St. Patty's mood... try to dark green. It's much easier on our old eyes! LOL Eva.... Yes, I LOVE the guitar glasses and will be waiting anxiously for appropriate times to wear them, like the jazz festival next month!! And any "happy hour" parties we may be going to before we leave!! I didn't buy too much at the mall... got a little billfold at Coach... perfect to hold credit cards, driver's license, etc. And we like the kitchen store... spent some time in there, tried their mustard and dip samples. I bought two packages of dipping pretzels/Raspberry Wasabi Mustard. Hoping it will work out for us to stop and meet Julie. Have to check my "Streets & Trips" to check out possible routes. Ditto on the pictures, Lori! And glad to hear you had no knee problems on your trip. I would like to tackle a trip that ambitious, with that much walking, now that I've had the knee replacement.. Other knee does not give me much trouble even though the surgeon is watching it closely. And I'm trusting these new back problems are not going to impact my mobility too much. Jodi, hope your post-op recovery is going smoothly after all those complications. That is fairly unusual. Pants... very hard for me to find pants that fit properly. My current project... finding a pair of white pants for summer... pants or capris or cropped. I tried on everything from 16W to 1X the other day.. okay, it was K-Mart... and nothing fit right. And the ones that fit best.. were probably the 16W. The others were all too tight in the thighs... my PROBLEM area, to say the least! Plus, I'm so short! Last summer I went through this trying to find black pants for the winter! Okay.. sorry for those I forgot!! Hope everyone is having a wonderful weekend! DON'T FORGET TO SPRING FORWARD TONIGHT!

You look great in your new outfit! And, yes, stop calling yourself an "old broad" because that makes me ANCIENT!! LOL! You're the same age as my "baby sister", Shirley! I had a great time yesterday and so glad we got to spend some time together before our retreat back to the great NW~!! Had I looked a little closer at those purse prices, I might have gotten one! But then "someone" wouldn't have given his blessing to go back to COD today and get the Bagellini bag I liked! They had more colors today than they did last week. Plus, I checked them out online before we left to make sure I was getting a good price and so see what colors it came in. I picked one that is kind of cafe au lait with powder blue stitching and lining. I LOVE it! Earl asked me this morning "what is so special about his purse you HAVE to have??" And I smiled sweetly and demurely and said, "lots of zippers and pockets!" So he let me get it! He dropped me off at COD street fair while he went to Trader Joe's for a case of wine. Then he dropped me off at Starbucks while he went to Home Depot and Costco. I met him at Costco where we then had "lunch" on samples. Then I went o a Red Hat meeting. Busy day! Now it's Happy Hour time before we have some of that left over corned beef/cabbage. So glad to hear you cheery again. Sounds like you have a wonderful day planned. And you better stop those "old lady" comments, too!! LOL! Loved your photos, BTW!! Julie, We'll probably be traveling I-90 at least in to Minnesota. Then I think we have to cut south to go through Madison WI where we're stopping to visit a friend... our SIL's sister, actually. She promised to make me some white chicken chili! Anyway, I doubt we'll actually go up as far as Minot, but how close are you to I-90?? And if we stop to see you, is there a place to park our RV?? It's 32 ft long plus we tow our CR-V. We have a family wedding in Buffalo on the 28th or 29th of Aug., so we will probably leave WA about 10 days or so before that.

Welcome! Sounds like you are off to a great start! I think I lost 18 lb. on my pre-op diet. Will be thinking of you on St. Patty's Day! Hi, Cat Lady! I'm on several threads and don't know of any erosion problems that I can think of off hand. Diane, glad your back is better. Mine is feeling a little better, too.

We were stationed at Minot 1974-1975. You probably wouldn't want to hear my "I Hate Minot" song!! LOL!! I bet we wouldn't recognize it now 35 years later! I worked at one of the hospitals in town. We may be coming through ND this summer. Maybe we should take a jog north and see what it looks like now!!

Very ambitious!! You're going to tire of driving!! We started out doing 400-500 miles a day. Now we do closer to 200!! The route sounds great... you hit all the bases! We got back around 3pm and Earl had the table all set outside, wine glasses ready! So we ate pretty early. Had a GREAT day. Walked a lot. Hit the Coach store first. Janet got another purse, I got a little flip thing to hold my driver's license, credit cards, etc. I was afraid to bring home another purse!! They are taking over the RV. And last week I saw a "Bagellini" at the street fair that I don't think I can live without. I'm hoping to maybe go back and get it tomorrow or next Saturday. There's a kitchen store that we like.... le Gourmet.. so we went there and sampled a whole bunch of dips and mustards. I bought Raspberry Wasabi mustard last time we went there and we really liked it so I bogt two more packaged with dipping pretzels. Janet headed home late afternoon to get ready to go see Smokie Robinson concert tonight. Back is better. I took a pain pill just before we left this morning, so I had very little discomfort while we were walking around.

So.... you don't want me to wear the guitar glasses tomorrow???? Bummer!! Earl fixed the flashing lights for me. The switch was broken! LOL! I'll model them for you though! They sort of look like this but mine are blue with flashing lights.

Mmmmm... mango salsa and chicken stew sound great! He's going to put corned beef, cabbage, potatoes, carrots and onion in the crock pot in the morning for us to have when Janet and I get back from our shopping, etc. Her furlough day.. she is picking me up at 10 a.m.

No... I was completely flabbergasted when the doctor said I had severe arthritis in my spine! Never had any back problems. I have been avoiding the vicodin... I suspect it was keeping me awake nights after my knee replacement surgery last summer. But, felt I needed one this afternoon.

HAHAHAHA!! That explains a LOT!! Well, my pain is somewhat lessened thanks to a vicodin and a little "bubbly"!!

Thanks, Denise. I will look in to the inversion thing, but no room in the RV, so I will wait until we get home next month. Pain is a lot less after taking a generic Vicodin and having a couple of glasses of bubbly!! But no telling what will happen when I try to get up and walk because I've been sitting for a couple of hours now. Yep, butt pain is probably sciatic nerve. Cheez!! You're too young for all those medical problems!! LOL I need to see a derm, back specialist, ophthamologist and I haven't had a PAP smear in several years. I hate it! Janet and I are going to hang out tomorrow... her furlough day. Earl is going to put corned beef and cabbage in the crockpot for us to have when we get back. So I guess I should clear some of my clutter and chaos off the couch tonight so she has a place to sit!!! After almost 6 months living in the RV, it begins to take over! I am not a well organized person. And I can't seem to keep up with reading my magazines, etc. It's horrible. And I have tax stuff laying around. I need to do the taxes!! But my hard drive is as cluttered as the couch is and I KNOW it's going to tell me there's no room to install the new tax software!! All this is called procrastination!!! HAHAHA! I really can relate somewhat to what you said about students/parents, etc!! We have a brilliant SIL who works at Microsoft, but would've been a very gifted math teacher! He was somewhat disillusioned during the student teaching phase of his college experience with exactly what you are talking about. "My son/daughter failed that test because you didn't teach them good enough!", etc., etc.! One day he got so frustrated that he said a word he shouldn't have, under his breath, but within earshot of a student who then reported him. That was the day he decided he was done with teaching!

That sounds really good!! We made something delicious last week that we sort of made up as we went along. We had some pork loin chops in the freezer. I told DH they'd be good cooked in th crock pot with a jar of spaghetti sauce. Well.... as he has done MANY times lately... he accidentally opened the wrong thing and it was a jar of lime/? salsa... Walmart brand. So he decided to dump it in anyway. Then he said, how about a jar of tomatoes... so he put that in. Then we decided to put in a couple of cans of beans... chili beans and black beans. Then some chili powder, dried cilantro, and some fresh cilantro. When it was done, he cut the chops in to bite size pieces and threw them back in. It was SOOOO good! Kind of like chili, but made with salsa. I want to do it again using chicken legs or thighs next time. My youngest sister sent me a pair of guitar sunglasses today!! They have flashing lights! Can't wait til he next "happy hour" party here in our park neighborhood!! HEEHEE!!