Book Board Chat

Evening all..............quiet Sunday..............ok by me.

HAPPY BIRTHDAY JIM! Hope it was special!

Looks like we are getting our first taste of summer later this week.... expecting high80s low 90s.... Gee, still spring!

Hope all are well.........happy, content, and enjoying every day!

Night all!

Evening................HAPPY EASTER ALL!. Had a quiet day..........beautiful weather, cool nights very warm afternoons... everything is all green and new and blooms starting to appear here and there. Hope all of you are well!

Beth: I am willing to walk with a cane, use a walker, a wheelchair, or whatever and keep what brain cells I have and not become mentally insufficient.... as did my MIL and couple of FOL friends I know. Deep anesthesia for older people is damaging - I was warned by my doctor daughter and my primary care physician and others.... and I have seen it happen already in the family. I will do my PT, strength training, etc. and try and keep my clear thinking in tact. I had knee replacement in that leg in 2018, and now I have femoral artery blockage...but my body has made new field of veins/arteries around it...............

Hope you have a good outcome.... think you might be a bit younger than I.........

HAPPY BIRTHDAY DIANE!

Happy Hump day..................gee the time is flying...............

Surgery for Friday cancelled....got some advice, talked to some people, and decided at 84 I was not willing to take the risk of 5-6 hours of anesthesia................gonna get back to the PT, the gym, my walking and let my leg keep growing new arteries and veins like the x-rays show............. several MDs advised me against it............and I was edgy anyway.... will keep on keeping on.

Haven't read the board..... oops, doorbell.............BBL

night all..................going to go pile up and read a book ----- TV tonight is all politics...... just tired, didn't sleep well last night.

Sweet dreams everyone!

Life was harder 50-75 years ago... people worked long hours, unsafe places, etc. Food was sometimes scarce or not what was needed.... most people smoked.............and medicine wasn't as great as it is now............doctors were expected to take care of about everything.....not a lot of specialization. Explains a lot.
My sister and I have looked at pics of our mom when we were small..........and she looked older and frumpier and worn than she did in her 50s-70-s. times were hard - and there was a World War and rationing.................and few of our "modern" conveniences that make life a bit less stressful. Aren't we blessed!

JUNE; HAPPY BIRTHDAY, keep on adding them on, geezerhood isn't so bad! LOL!

Hello everyone - not much to share..........just marking time til the surgery..........trying to stay healthy, one SIL has covid. EEK.

Goodnight, sleep well.....................

Morning all............doing the "medical thing" involved to get ready for the upcoming surgery episode. Unfortunately, our local hospital has been bought out by HCA and it is one "we are having problems with our system" after another.... wish they had never......................but then it's all about the almighty DOLLAR!

We have crazy weather = one day rain, a day of "slight frost", a day of wind, a day of sun, warm day in AM and cool later or vice versa.... craziest end of winter I ever remember.... was in high 70s several days lately and 40s at night... weird.
At least no floods, wild fires, tornadoes, etc................so guess we are blessed and should be thankful. I am!

I got some good news this week - GREAT-GRANDSON #7 IS DUE IN EARLY SEPTEMBER! I have 2 "greats" I haven't met in person as yet - they are scattered all over.............my middle daughter's 6 kids are the parents of all of them.

Everything is beginning to bloom here, and the spring/summer birds are returning.................I saw 2 "v"s of sandhill cranes heading NW last week, a bit early for them to be heading north, especially with the weather bands moving across the country, but guess nature knows things we don't. I love to hear them calling...

Just marking time till March 15 - trying to behave and not do any damage (wow, just hit me "Beware the Ides of March" - LOL! oh well,.......................................

Hard to believe 2 months are already gone............2024 is in "zoom mode" for me anyway.........

OK< lunch time.....................enjoy you day all......................

re: local papers, etc. Our local paper has discontinued EDITORIALS, COMMENTARIES, AND LETTERS TO THE EDITOR, AND QUESTIONS TO THE EDITOR COLUMN.
If you don't follow sports, and local who shot who and got arrested and what's for sale, nothing much to read. I discontinued my subscription....first time in my LIFE I have not had a newspaper in my house. What they do print is about the size of the sale flyers for the grocery stores and expensive. Their on-line paper is blahhhhhhhhhhh and not worth paying for.
I hate it.............I miss the local news, no obituaries, no local input from readers, no opinions................

Well, spring has sprung here in No. Central Florida, the azaleas are starting to bloom, my yellow jasmine bush is producing flowers, the trees have small spring buds/green sprouts, guess our "winter" is over......unless we get an unexpected cold snap. Will be in the mid 70s here this afternoon.

My kitties, Puddin and Sweet Pea are loving the warmer weather, on screened patio watching all the birds in and out. I have tons of birds............and they "watch bird tv" and love it. Hard to believe they are 4 now.

My "baby sister" turned 80 last Thursday, so we are both now Octogenarians! Wish we lived closer together, but neither of us wants to move.... she has been in her house since 1954 and I have been here 20 years by myself. Thank heavens for Facetime, we get coffee and get on facetime every afternoon and try and understand the world.

Hello all...............ups and downs and all arounds here. Found out I have a pretty nasty blockage in my femoral artery in the right leg with the knee replacement. I have been having problems with that leg and going to PT to try and strengthen it, but has lost muscle mass and strength, so they did a sonogram and found a blockage. Went in to have it repaired, but doctor got in intravenously and found out that it was bigger/worse than shown on the scan....sooooooooooooooo off to the other cardiac surgeon, and I am now scheduled for a big operation March 15th (soonest opening) in my groin area to clean, repair and strengthen the artery.
Am now walking with a cane when I leave the house, am afraid of falling. I am terrified it is going to rupture or tear or something before they can get it repaired.... not very happy around here, but at least it is something that can be fixed.
Won't be able to drive for several weeks after, and no lifting. oh well, like I said, at least they can fix it....

Haven't read the board, hope all are well..............we have got all the spring flowers/trees budding and blooming here, we really have had NO winter to speak of..... Azaleas, yellow jasmine, dogwood budding, as are peach, pear trees etc. If we do get a freeze, it will all die back.

Middle daughter and SIL came down for a couple of days, he needed to check on his 87 yr. old dad who is a bit ornery and very introverted. Poor John, dad wasn't very helpful with what John was trying to do to help.

2 daughters and their hubbies here doing well, and the 9 grandkids and 6 great grands too, so am blessed.

Today is my sister's 80th birthday, so we are both now octogenarians - with all that allows....LOLOLOLOL!

off to read the board and catch up........ need to think about dinner, haven't the faintest!

Jim: don't think I could take a cruise on a ship that big with that many people............and obnoxious kids I'd want to throw overboard.....that's why I prefer Holland, quieter cruisers, less hysteria...want to just "chill".......not be frantic.
Glad you two enjoyed yourselves, but that ship is like a "floating city"............yikes!

All of you having awful weather, I feel for you...........I watch the waves of it, one after another......frightening. We have actually had a very mild winter - was 72 here yesterday.

June: re "bookstores" on know of 2 here anymore...........guess maybe that is why the FOL sales are so popular...lots of good reads at really great prices. 5 days this past Oct. they made over $175,000 - awesome.

Diane:. thanks but not my knee, it's in the thigh.......above the "fake knee" - all this time I have been "cursing" the knee replacement.....not the cause.

Been watching the Mardi Gras parades in Mobile on WKRG live feeds - they are holding their breaths daily with the weather moving through South.........tomorrow will be all day coverage of activities/parades, etc. Hope the weather doesn't wash it out. Lord, I loved Mardi Gras as a child and teen..............I really miss it. Thank heaven for TV.

Am really enjoying my winter bird population.........lots of little birds, cardinals, buntings, blue jays, doves, and of course the ever present black crows, boy are they greedy and noisy.
Sadly, our hawk population has diminshed, they are "clearing" uphill to build more houses, and the habitat for the birds and deer is shrinking every time they put in new streets.

Noon, gotta eat something.............. stay well, safe and dry everyone!

Good Monday Morning all................. need to go read all the latest on here...have been pre-occupied. Medial stuff.

The leg which has a knee replacement has for quite a while been bothering me...heavy, tired pain, etc. Been going to PT twice a week thinking muscles needed strengthening............but just kept getting worse. Had heart and leg scans for arteries and veins..found an abnormality in that right leg above the knee area..
Last Wed. cardiologist went in to "clean it out" -right femoral artery - and found it was much larger obstruction than showed on scan and did nothing as it must be done surgically.
Am being referred to a vascular surgeon, seems it's gonna be a much more extensive fix than originally thought.
Am anxiously awaiting to hear from vascular surgeon for consult and plans to "fix" me. I am terrified it is going to break loose or leak or worse before they can fix it...................has not been a good 5 days.

now, to go read all about all of you....................................

Good Morning..................happy Friday....................

All you folks living in the blizzard, frozen warning world today, please stay in, stay safe, warm and well!

Dreary here, but no danger warning yet today....hope it stay that way.

Anyone besides me to the point that you just don't want to turn on the TV news or read the news......... what a mess of a world we have now...................... sad..................(think our alien neighbors are sprinkling "crazy dust" on our planet?)

Evening...................spent the day reading weather alerts and dodging storms, tornadoes and lots of wins..... know that DIANE did the same last night. Luckily, none of the twisters sat down near here...but was quite a nail-biting day.

Hope you upEasters who are now getting that mess with all the snow come out OK................been a harrowing 24-36 hours.
Sister in Mobile came through OK too.

Goodnight all........................

Happy New Year everyone.......................hope it's better than the last, but I have my doubts considering the state of the country and the world...............but one can hope.

I didn't stay up for midnight either...............fireworks in neighborhood was less than years past....but I just took out my hearing aids and went to sleep before the "witching hour". Cats too.........they weren't as "squirrely this year"

Flu, RSV and covid appearing more and more here...........imagine it will get worse with all the travel
ing that was done over the last 2 weeks....School starting back up, so it'll be interesting to watch.

Weird warm weather here and my azaleas are beginning to bloom, about 2 months too soon. If we have a freeze they will be done for this year.... always enjoy them so much, remind me of home. Mobile, The Azalea City...................

Wishing all a very pleasant and happily eventful 2024...................and good health!

Morning all.....................Dec. 29 - gee, where did 2023 go? Year just whizzed by for me.............

Christmas OK, went to youngest DD Lisa's on Christmas Day for Brunch - her Swiss in-laws in for the season, and was lovely to meet my daughters SIL and her husband...their 2 daughters arrived today and they will be here through 1/11 - was lovely.
Chistmas Day went to eldest DD Chris' home on Christmas Eve - just 5 of us and she did lazagna, make your own salad and French Garlic Bread...was most enjoyable and not a huge work job. Chris is the one who had the brain aneurysm 21 years ago..... (gee, long time) and she is amazing. Her son Michael and his wife were there.
Our family has much to be thankful for...............

don't know if I posted, but my ex-husband passed away Nov 10 from multiple cancers and illnesses. He fought hard, like he did most of his life....... we had 44 yrs. together.

Am dreading New Years Eve....I have a fireworks-crazy neighborhood and the poor animals just don't know where to go or what to do. I shut down, turn on a good movie, pile up in bed and pray for 1AM to come and quiet.
Hoping 2024 will be a nicer year, but not sure that will happen............news is not good, politics are stinky and dirty, and am already tired of the campaigning..................oh well, it is what is has become.............

Hoping for a healthy year ahead....at 84, things are slowing down and I am fighting what I can............I accept every day I get with a thank you and look forward to each new morning I am given.

Afternoon all, clouding up here, so we may have a damp/wet Christmas.
Wishing all of you a blessed and Merry Christmas! This group has been buddies for over 2 decades, just awesome! Sadly, we have lost more than several over the years.

I now am not just grano9 but, GreatGran of 6, hard to believe!

Off to eldest DD and family this afternoon and will be with other here in town tomorrow. Middle DD in Tenn I will FaceTime with tomorrow!

Wishing you all a super holiday season!

Good Morning all......................the monster weather mess blessed us here by passing by rather quietly, but we needed the rain. Just glad no tornadoes or flooding here.............been a weird weather year.

BETH: so sorry to hear of all your health problems..............be good to yourself and hope you get some relief quickly.

JIM: Holiday cruise sounds nice.....where in the world are you headed this trip? Have a great Christmas.

DIANE: Your tree is lovely...............but so much work. I haven't put one up for 3 yrs now.........just put out some of my favorite decor, put a string of lights on the silk tree in the den, decorate the mantel, dining room table and wreath on the door. No outdoor lights this year...............no climbing ladders or standing on stools......... Enjoy you good work!

Hi to JANE AND JUNE.....................and anyone else I missed.

Will be right here for the holidays. My youngest daughters' husbands' sister and family coming in from Switzerland. Lisa and Patrick went there a couple of Christmases a go, and now they are coming for 2-3 weeks.... looking forward to meeting them- sure they are just a lovely as Patrick is...........will be interesting.

Stay as well and germ free as you can over the holidays.................. oh, eldest DD helped me clean out the closet in my computer room the other day..........I got rid of a lot of stuff. We are going to move from room to room and discard and rearrange. As I said, no climbing anymore, and lifting is getting harder....time to pitch and ditch!

Oh,remember my eldest DD Chris that had the brain aneurysm in 2001? She is turning 64 today...........she is a walking miracle................and I am greatful everyday for the medical science of today!

Hello all! Had a great cruise vacation with my sister and came home to find I had been hacked.
All finances locked down and waiting for new credit cards and to get to the bank on Monday to make sure all is well. Been a frantic 3 days including a family death! Life goes on!
Goodnight all!

FOL SALE ENDED YESTERDAY, Grand total for 5 days is:

Wed total - $4,512.00. (Dime day)

Sale gross total - $179,622.36

I didn’t work this sale, wanted no germs before trip tomorrow!
Lots of hard working volunteers just get more and more each year!

Oh, Jim, hope you and your wife have a fabulous cruise. Enjoy!

Evening,

Dramlin- shingles, yuck! So sorry

Diane: glad you had a great trip and just rode.

Getting packing started for cruise - off to Ft, Lauderdale Friday, sail Saturday earlier than normal.
Holland Eurodam to the small Eastern Caribbean islands for 11 days. Will be so glad to hug my sister, we have only FaceTimed since 2019.

It’s FOL FALL BOOKSALE WEEK, yesterday they sold A great start: Our Saturday sale amount was $97,037.19 worth . I am not working as I don’t want to acquire any germs to ruin my trip!

Grano9 is now GreatGran of 6—— the eldest is 15 and the youngest 2 are both 3 yrs. My lordy, where has the time gone!

Happy Monday everyone --- (my favorite day - all goes back to normal)
Kinda chilly morning this AM 52 degrees --- felt like fall at last, but we will have some more warm before it settles in.

Very quiet weekend..............did some reading, British TV show watching, and just killing time.
Started off today with semi-annual dental checkup and cleaning - got a gold star * - gee, cleaning and xrays has gone sky high.
DIANE: Glad you had a great trip for the wedding.............you drove? Wow, you are brave!
Dramlin: hello down under, how are things with y ou.

Anne: No ladders or step stools, etc. for me anymore either...........I'm dangerous enough on solid ground... but it sure is a pain to depend on others favors or hiring someone for something I used to just DO

Have a good week all...........am ready for FALL to Fall...........how about you?

Hello all.............sad to hear about Teddy...................she and Fred came to Gainesville and spent a night with me years ago - driving their camper. 2 very lovely people. Sad news.

Been busy, and stupid, and running in circles. Yesterday I tripped myself and fell in garage...thankfully I had old throw rugs and runners around the car...so didn't bleed/break, etc. but boy am I sore today....was a dumb step I made, just not paying attention.

Got my latest Covid booster today.............now waiting to see if cruise line is going to ask for a 48 hour virus free certified test to board....hope not...........ship sails on the 8th, but we are flying to Ft. Lauderdale on the 7 and spending the night to be sure that we get there in proper time.....we would have to have a test on Thursday, certified...we will wait and see.

Pass the word to other FB folks that are old BBers, would love to "friend them" - if they feel like it........

FOL Book Sale is the week Oct. 21-25th... I will not work this one as I don't want to be around that crowd that week and chance catching the crud................the bookhouse is bursting at the seams............hope they have good weather.

Thanks all for the birthday wishes..................being 84 is fine with me, and I am heading to 90........LOL!

Our cruise isn't til Oct. 28th - Nov 8..............out of Ft. Lauderdale..........so I will pop in and out occasionally.

Oh, and I got back on Facebook today (nice BD present....) PATSY SANDERS.............. if you are on, send a friends request if you want. I have missed everyone....just don't mention I got bumped off, as I used a new IP address to sign in and I don't want them checking me too close.

Today has been a good day...a bit quiet... had dinner with one DD and her husband last night......was good... eldest daughter came by this AM for a visit and brought me an awesome potted plant. Many emails and birthday cards... I feel blessed..............thanks to all the good wishes from you guys.................

gotta go rattle some pots/pans in the kitchen...gonna eat kinda light tonight.

Hello all....................wishing for a break in the heat/weather........time for it. Been pleasant when I walk at 7 AM but by mid morning/afternoon back in the 90s+ and muggy.

Hi Ann................have missed you and all on Facebook...........have lost track of so many people. Connie and I are so looking forward to our trip...........thanks for the good wishes.

about AI - not sure I understand it much....but from what I hear from those w ho do, you may not be speaking to a person most of the time............or a real company or a human at all................kinda scary for and old 83 yr. old... Yikes~

Sad to hear about Ellen, but good to hear that Laurie is still about -

Gotta rattle some pots and pans and feed myself................am so looking to cooler weather and some fall/winter stick to your ribs food............... (oh and I am trying to control A1c to stay off insulin with my diet and it is no fun. High BP, High Cholesterol and High A1c doesn't leave much room for variety of good tasting food. (I know, bitch, bitch, bitch)

howdy all, well, it bypassed us with the worst of it...................I actually slept through the whole thing... am very sorry for those in those small towns where it made landfall.... lots of destruction. We got winds, rains (not as bad as it could have) and we are now out of the "tropical storm warning" as of 3pm. Now I have to put all the stuff back in place. I never lost power, though 2 daughters and several friends here did. Am tired and will probably crash early tonight. Stress level is down considerably. We are lucky..................

Morning all..................been extremely hot and humid here in Alachua County and surrounding for weeks, dew points to 103-105 in afternoons...........................now, we will be visited by Hurricane Idalia sometime in the next 12-24 hours - schools closed today and tomorrow and government offices. I am ready, have plenty of food and a natural gas Generac generator to keep my house cooled, fridge and freezer running and lights on..............now if the windows and roof hold, should be OK.
Me and the 2 cats will hunker down and wait it out.............

If I missed any birthdays, Happy Birthday.........have kinda been in a funky haze for a couple of weeks, niggling medical stuff and the heat is just awful............be so glad to see fall temps.

Sister and I looking forward to our cruise in October, will spend Halloween at sea and am so looking forward to getting away...it's been over 3 yrs. since we have been together except for FACETIME daily -(that has been a blessing). Am a bit worried about cats being here for 12 days alone 24/7 but daughter and SIL will come feed them daily.... but Punkin will definitely miss me letting him in and out onto the screened back porch through the day.... Sweet Pea is just content to stay in the A/C and nap off and on.... hope they don't freak while I am gone. Used to board my pets, but prices now prohibitive. ACK!!!!!!!!!!!!

Have a doctor appt. in a bit so will close.............please keep all those in the hurricane cone in your thoughts............hope it doesn't become a real nightmare..............

Don't faint, yes, I'm still around..........just had lots going on..... no need for details.

Our weather is just miserable, very hot, humid, bad thunder/rain/wind storms day after day and where they "say" it's going to be it isn't, and vice versa. I hate summer, be so glad to see fall, but fall is even getting warmer (as is winter here).

Sister and I have scheduled a cruise for 10/28-11/8 in the Eastern Caribbean - counting the days. We Facetime daily, but we haven't been in each other's company since our last cruise we returned from on 2/21/19.............and I have only be out of this county ONCE in 3 years...and that was about a month ago. Really looking forward to the cruise, we have missed 3 yrs. of vacations.........bummer.

Jim: I agree about the decor............I have white walls and cabinets, but I have lots of colorful wall decor, colored carpets (which need replacing and I don't want to have to empty all the bookcases to get that done), and colorful stuff on my tables, etc. I couldn't live with that bland decor............no the black/grey/white. I like color.

talking of "non-human" biological matter, I saw a clip this AM that scientists melted glacial waters millions of years old and a worm came to life and wiggled away, was a video...................... do I believe it or not? in today's world of AI, who knows.

June: I have heard them called "rain lillies" - they are lovely.

Hope bookdelle and Beth of Vt. are ok...............those floods are terrifying.

Diane: Guess Pensacola has been having the same nasty weather as my sister in Mobile with heavy storms and high"feels-like" temps... She has gotten lots of lousy weather.............

I am still walking daily, but awake at 6:30 and get out the door before 7....using a cane, as my leg with knee implant is acting up - am in PT 2x a week to try and stay strong.... living alone gotta be - cats can't help much..... but they are such a joy.......... DD and her hubby gonna feed them while I am on my cruise, but they are going to get lonely I know....and will miss being out on the back screened porch. (I can't get them in carriers to board them anywhere...theyhate those carriers, and would cost be about $1K dollars for 12 days..................prices sure have changed.

Speaking of prices, gasoline is $3.79.9/gal here in Gainesville, and groceries have gone up too............yowza!

Good Morning...............hope all had an enjoyable Memorial Holiday. Mine as very quiet and "at home". Had carpets cleaned last Wednesday and all the moving out and then moving back of furniture, tchatzki (sp) and just clutter wore me out.. I paid dearly, was exhausted. Spent the holiday quietly and napping, etc.

On Cousins..................My sister and I only had 5 - 2 boys where we lived (both dead now) and 3 in South Carolina we never saw/met - finally met youngest at one of the other 2 boys funerals....was kind of bizarre.
There is/was a 6th, an out of wedlock boy who was named Douglas and put up for adoption when I was about 9 yrs. old.
I have often wondered where he ended up and where he is and if he is still alive - he would be about 74 if still living.

I often envied large families that had big reunions and vacations together and memories to share over a lifetime.

CRUISE SCHEDULED - sister and I have an 11-day eastern Carribean cruise schedule end of October to Nov. 7 - two ports we have been to before, but several smaller island that are quieter and less travelled. I don't care where it is going, I just want to get out of Alachua County and get onboard a ship and just drop-out for 11 days. Only problem is the 2 cats, I can get neither in a carrier (they just go stiff) and the cost of boarding has become prohibitive.

Happy Birthday Carol (bookdelle) and anyone I have recently missed.

Time marches on..... I have the 9 grandkids (eldest will be 40 in August) and 6 "greatgrands, (eldest 15, youngest 2 are 2 - (5 girls and 1 boy) Hard to believe at times. The youngest 2 I have only seen in videos or pictures, they were born during pandemic and live in different places. Maybe someday.............

3 weeks ago, I went out of Alachua county for the 1st time in 3 yrs........ went to visit my "ex-husband" in ST. Augustine who is very seriously ill with liver, pancreas, intestinal cancers and Transverse Myelitis..... he is a ghost of his former self, and it was extremely sad to see him in that condition. I count my blessing that so far I am pretty healthy for almost 84.

well, enough..................better get something "accomplished" before I have PT at 3...............still walking every day it's not raining, but dreading the summer heat.

One hour flights from both home cities to Atlanta, not direct flights to Ft. Lauderdale from Mobile or Gainesville.

Hello all..............sorry, been doing "health stuff" -- more and more with every year.

GAIL: About the FOL SALE.......... they missed 2 years because of Covid, but the last two sales have been OK... they changed lots of rules - limiting number of shoppers in bldg...... at a time....as some leave the line moves forward. (not sure I like that, standing out in the Fla. hot sun is not pleasant...even for cheap books. Also, lots of new worker, many of we older ones have not been able to return for health reasons..... I haven't worked a sale in 3 years........... and the finally decided to accept credit cards as well as cash and checks, and it has improved the income.

That said - the total for the sale this spring was $179,113.00 - all on donated books and volunteer labor.

My sister and I have made reservations for a Halloween cruise to the Eastern Carribean this fall. I can hardly wait.
11 days - 10/28 - 11/7 - out of Ft. Lauderdale. We will NOT drive to Ft. Lauderdale as we have done before, our old bodies can't take the time and hysteria of South Fla. driving....so we will meet in Atlanta and fly together the day before the cruise.... same on return - back to Atlanta and then fly to our individual homes.

"yanked" not ranked

Morning..................... Hi! KAREN.... good to "see" you.

Well, 1/4 of the new year has almost gone in another week, the older I get, the faster it goes.

I stupidly tried to "step over" a box delivered and the left leg made it, but the bad leg with fake knee isn't quite as agile, I tripped, pitched forward and sprawled. Luckily I fell towards the sofa and it somewhat broke the fall damage, but hallelujiah, I ranked everthing from my head to my toes... shoulder was stopped by sofa front... the rest of me just kind "landed" wherever... I am miserably achy and the leg with the fake knee is "not a happy camper". Gladly, I didn't land on it. I feel like I have been put in a blender and kinda just whirled around...............ackkkk. Such a bad choice....but my mind still thinks I am much younger and much more agile..... WRONG!

Our FOL STARTS TOMORROW......... 5 DAYS...will only work Sunday shift............less traffic and less hassle to find a place to park.

Not sure I have brought the count up, but the Grano9 has multiplied to Great Gran of 6...........yes, six great grands - 5 girls and 1 boy.... 2 of them born during pandemic and have only seen videos/pics of them...they are in Ga. and N.C.

We have had very cool/cold mornings (high 40s) and then up into the low to mid 80s in afternoons the same day....very little rain.........we need, and the wild fires have popped up in some area this week.... also, has been a very bad pollen year and everyone's allergies are going wild.............you can tell the cars that must sit outside - they have a yellow patina.

Oh, Oh, oh.........................hi to KATHLEEN............WOW, BEEN A LONG TIME.

Oh, good news, sister and I have booked a cruise in late Oct. to Eastern Carribean isles, some we haven't yet seen. Hoping hurricane season has done it's thing by then... We will spend Halloween afloat...............counting the days...been 3 years since we have seen each other in person... We Facetime daily with a cup of coffee and gab and gab for an hour or 2.
I will be 84 in Sept. and she just turned 79 in Feb. so we want to get some more sea-time any as often as possible before we are unable to.
If I was "rich" I would be like that lady on I believe it is Princess Line who has a permanent "cabin" and just cruises round and round the world yearly.....................I'd like that.... no cooking, cleaning, doctor on board 24 -7, new people every day and lots of different sites every port.....................sounds great to me!

Good morning, been absent awhile again...lots going on, some good, some not....won't go into it.

Happy Birthday Jim!

Beth: Sorry about your cat friend... it really hurts to lose them.

Diane: Keep on walking, every little bit is better than none. Keep on trucking, kiddo!

Had a very quiet Easter, talked to family but essentially spent the whole weekend just me and the cats.

Just picked up "special parking pass" at FOL.................our Spring Sale starts Saturday... the bookhouse looked so neat and orderly and clean...............then the hordes with hit it at 9AM Saturday. Still going to mask for workers or buyers/browsers......and limit density of the crowd. I will work as office monitor, checking in volunteers for their shift and manning the phone, lost and found of items and small children.

Our weather has been crazy....Fri., Sat., Sun was in the high 40s at dawn and 80 or above by 3 PM. This AM a bit warmer, but only low 50s. Luckily, we have avoided the serious storms that have hit the panhandle, lower Ala and Miss and Louisiana. My sister has had awful weather in Mobile over a month of weekends.

Morning.....................not much going on here..........same thing, day after day. I need a cruise.........BAD!

JIM: about students in Ft. Lauderdale on Spring Break.... I am surprised she even may what day it was or where she was...they stay stoned or drunk the whole time they are there. OR - maybe she was just being a "smart ass" and wanted to shock the guy with the mircrophone. On spring break, they don't care what day it is, much less who is president.

MORNING ALL..........................

HAPPY BIRTHDAY, DIANE!

Afternoon all, been on a weather roller coaster here, 80s temps several days, 79 here now and 2 nights this week of heavy frost.
All the trees are budded out, oak pollen has been awful this year. Fruit trees budded too, and the grass is green and much needs cutting. Weird weather, we really had very little winter and an overly anxious spring has exploded.

Got a phone call today. Fraudulent website : gejhxd.xwr.com.tr +12363085676
Mar 9, 2023 — Suspected scam: gejhxd.xwr.com.tr | +1 236-308-5676 | Pretending to be grandson | Fraudulent website on Scamwatcher.com.

He said this is your oldest grandson, Grandma. He said don’t you know your grandson’s names? I said I have many grandsons, which one are you, Samuel? He hung up.

Eyelids all healed, but the one that was really drooping I don’t think he tucked up enough.

I too, have wondered about JoAnne. Hope she is ok.

HAPPY BIRTHDAY LYNNE! Hope it is a great bunch of years ahead!

Good Morning all.................awakened to pea-soup fog this AM - back up into the mid 80s today.

all stitches out and eyes almost no swelling left, but very itchy, and can't rub/scratch.

Must return to books to Amazon today...bought for me and sister and I told her about them and she said "we already have those!" --- (anyone else ever done this, made me feel really ditzy!)

Well, after pandemic declared over, and new officers elected at FOL - seems the "new administration" is "modernizing" the whole shebang - committees for everything, making people work specific hours, etc. The organization had worked well since the 1950s - as long as you did your job and were finished by sale week, no one bothered you. It was a "team effort" of one goal - a successful sale and money for the libraries. Oh well, I guess about 3 dozen or more of us have "aged out" of the new regime. Several have died, several are ill and many are restricted on health reasons........ I wish them great success..............but I sure do miss my Book House buddies - we had such fun.

Happy Monday......................just returned from eye dr. and stitches are out..........ahhhhhhhhhhhhhh

Going to be another hot day here in No. Fla. -beginning to feel like summer.............everything is either blooming or budding out... I just hope we don't get a "surprise March freeze" - not unusual.

Beth: Happy driving in the new wheels. I had to get another last Sept.... Percy PT Cruiser blew a head gasket...and since they are no longer mfg. no parts.......got him in 2003 and he only had 158,000 mi for all those years.... I sure hated to see him gone.. I loved that little car. SAFE DRIVING!

My plants will stay inside until March is over, I don't want to do the flower pot mambo again until April.

Good Morning all.........hope all had a Happy Valentine's and those dealing with the "blizzards and blowing snow" stay in and stay arm.
We could use a bit of "winter/spring" - it was 85 here at my house yesterday and is already 80 and going up - my azaleas, bridal wreath are blooming profusely (too early) and everything here has budded/sprouted..... trees, shrub, etc. Sure we will get one more frost/freeze in March and it will all get damaged. I think Mother Nature is extremely angry about something or she has been in the whiskey closet........ just strange.

I have been through a eye surgery this week, due to a case of Bell's Palsy years ago, as I have aged, the muscles in my eyelids have drooped enough, especially the left, to hinder clear sight as pupils occluded 1/4 to 1/2 - I look like I have done 10 rounds with some prizefighter, but the swelling is going down a bit - the frozen peas in a bag on and off have been a blessing.... stitches in both lids..... ahhhhh, the joys of getting older.... the birthday gifts get strange. See surgeon Monday AM - hoping stitches come out.

Those of you in bad weather country, stay warm, inside, safe and don't try and drive anywhere.

If I have missed any birthdays, etc... sorry, excuse but Happy Happy whatever.

ROBIN ALERT........ they are here in Gainesville, and hungry..... all over town.

Medical “stuff” , not Starr

Afternoon all, crazy weather here in. North Central Florida- frosty morns and 70-75 afternoons, must dress in layers and peel off as the day passes. No, we don’t all go to the beach, water and winds a bit too cold.

Have medical Starr going on with me and in family members too. Mine not serious - SIL just had rotator cuff surgery and will be 5-6 months before he can even do PT. He is very active and it is going to be hard.

My twin great niece and nephew will be confirmed on Saturday. Am so proud for them. Their mom is my niece Kerry who was in that awful car accident in Atlanta in 2000 and lost fingers and had much physical damage. Time has flown.

I sure would like to go “somewhere”, preferably a nice cruise. Maybe in the fall. Oh well, “if wishes were horses”, right?

Off to PT, doctor is determined to keep me strong an Mobile since I live alone. Must be able to gat myself up if I fall, LOL, (My biggest fear is choking!)

Tata, have a great rest of the day!

just finished a walk....heard the sound of a flock of sandhill cranes....and lo and behold large one headed NW -- it is way too soon for them to be headed north....so cold up NW and plains, etc. Hoping they were just looking for a new grazing place - looked to be about 30-50 - love hearing them.

Not gonna complain too much... could have been worse. sorry poor grammar

Good Monday Morning all.................. lovely day here, sunny, spose to get into the 80s 3-4 days this week. We have false spring and shrubs/trees budding, grass is green and it is really weird.......... Bet February will be a b*tch.......LOL!

have a few medical things going on, but at 83 guess that is to be expected. The surgery I had to have on my pointer finger on left hand ( I am left-handed) froze the last joint on that finger with a screw through the two end bones, and has really affected by life.... picking up small things...opening jars, tupperware, gripping/lifting, etc. Not gonna complain to much... could have been worse.

For diabetics, I understand doctor wanting patient to be on a bit of a schedule, it controls quick changes up and down of sugars and affects A1C..... I try and eat all 3 meals about same same (withing hour) daily, go to bed about same time and arise the same or earlier if early appts. I am type2 diabetes and trying to stay off meds, etc... so I try and do what I am asked to do. It is a PITA, but keeps me off another med, out of the hospital and able to function OK living alone.

My daughter who is a doctor has actually "fired" patients for either "hunting pain meds" or refusing to follow directions or her advice -- after all, she has the knowledge of "why" and they came to her fore "help" - so why not just try and comply?
JMO..................... worth about 2 cents or less.

OK, time to put on the walking shoes and get in my daily stroll...........getting harder and harder, but keep on chugging.!

Have a good week everyone.................stay well, be happy and hope your weather is bearable.

Morning all....................under the weather, bad laryngitis, breathing a bit tired...no fever, Covid negative...just some crud I pickedu p somewhere. Cancelled PT for today...................have already scheduled Dr. appt. for tomorrow AM for 3 mo. check, so will dump it on him..........at least he can listen to the lungs, etc. Everyone I talk to has "something".

Anyone else watched the new AMC series "Will Trent" - kinda of a quiet quirky main character, but so far OK.

Also found mystery series "Three Pines" out of Canada - set in Quebec....low key detective, and a bit "different" approach to investigating. Sister says it is from a book series, she has read.

Have a good day everyone!

I just finished "I, Claudius" on Prime...have seen it several times - 12 episodes......wicked treat of Roman Caesars........

A very good morning.................and enjoy your weekend... Had a bit of a freeze here last night, but sun is out, and warming. More predicted tonight.........

Jim: Have been watching your "cruising" with envy.... sister and I haven't cruised since Feb.2019. Glad your flying was uninterupted yesterday.

Diane and Lynne: I too haunt Prime, Britbox, Acorn, and anything out of Australia or Canada are my fave genres..... US tv really is "stinko".......................Midsomer Murders, Poirot, Miss Marple, over and over..... and I also like their mysteries....much more interesting.. less guns - more intriguing ways to kill. I love British comedy too.....so dry, blunt and real. (Oh, I do watch Law and Order: Criminal Intent over and over - quirky actors make it for me)

My sister informed me Mel Brooks has done "The History of the World Part II" to be aired on HULU in March... He certainly has never been politically correct (Love Blazing Saddles, over and over) - and will be looking forward to his irreverant treat of World History....................always classic.

I wasted most of yesterday - really accomplished little, and looks like today is going to be a repeat. All the Christmas decor is down and stored.... and I have hit the "winter doldrums" - just wanta hunker down and be warm and drink coffee and watch TV and crochet. Working on a new, large afghan to pull colors together in my den - new light colored sofa and trying to get a throw that will put the same colors on it that are on the love seat and its pillow. Just have to contantly keep Punkin away, he likes to chew the yarn - I even have to put it in the laundry behind closed doors. He loves to chew yarn, string, etc.

Evening all...............

JUNE - sorry to hear about your senior kitty, always so very hard to lose them...

Jane - hope all is going well with your sister............sending good vibes.

Gail - I adopted 2 kittens, who now are almost 3yrs. old.... brother and sister, Punkin, the boy, a marmalade tiger cat and his sister. Sweet Pea who is becoming a fat/fluffy calico and quiet - but both are "fixed". Good company, but little conversation - LOL!

Hi Dramlin --- how is your summer coming along.............are you still selling on eBay?

Morning...........wow, I appeared and everyone else left.............LOL! off to get a haircut........... TATA!

Well, ended the day turning on the A/C - weird weather this year.

Young 24 yr. old pro Bills player down and out and unresponsive, taken to hospital... game ended. Sad.......

Time to call it a night.............. sweet dreams all....................cya tomorrow.

Happy New Year everyone! Warm weather here, but foggy nights and early morning.

Fireworks started about 8 last night and some very heavy at midnight, couple sounded a bit like gunfire. My 2 cats ,though they have been through it before, we’re really spooked.

Some relatives and a great friend sick with flu or COVID possible for one. Holding my breath.

All my Christmas decor is down and packed away, every year is less and less.

Awaiting some shared pics/videos of the great grandchildren-

I'll put a 3rd on that too...............year was not good and went way to quickly...it flew by.

Happy New Year All.....................going to go watch Titanic.......................just love the clothes in that movie.

Night all...................sleep well, hope the fireworks aren't too bad where you are.

memories..... when I was a kid and TV had just become popular, my family loved watching the Philadelphia Mummers Parade (of course no color then, but the costumes were wonderful and the music was so happy).... go on you tube and you can find lots of film of them over the years...... Here's a ladygiving a "history" of how it all came about.

Belated MERRY CHRISTMAS, and early HAPPY NEW YEAR! (don't faint, yes, I am still alive and kicking, just not as high)

Had a very quiet holiday, same as the last 3 covid dominated years.....mostly stick close to home except for groceries, banking, filling gas tank, seeing doctors, going to physical therapy twice a week and neighborhood walking...a rather quiet and quiet existence..
no FOL anymore, they had a SUPER sale in October, over $200K - biggest ever...I didn't work it. I miss FOL but a new, younger crowd has arrived during the pandemic as many of the elders had to hibernate.

Had a sad goodbye in September, my beloved PT cruiser Percy blew a head gasket and could not find parts, so he was donated to the Rodeheaver Boys Ranch (place for boys being trained for "honest" jobs of car repair) and auctioned off.
Actually shed tears when they towed him away.....only had 156,000 miles and was bought in 2003.
I am now driving a 2022 Toyota Corolla - silver, named Tigger - quite a difference.... I actually prefer the PT - was easier to enter/exit and didn't have 2 gazillion new things to learn......... oh well, things do wear out (as I am finding with my 83 yr. old body)

My sister and I have not cruised for visited or vacationed together since Feb/2018 when we returned from a lovely cruise - I really miss our cruising....but doctors say no.
Have graduated to GreatGrano6 - yes, 6 great grandbabies..........two I have only "met" in pictures/videos. My kids and grands are scattered from Alaska to Florida.......

Healthwise - am ok, had a couple of minor surgeries this past year and I go to PT twice a week - doctor trying to keep my strong and fit since I live alone...... ladders/step stools are outlawed - and I "try" and behave carefully, but am not one to depend on others much..............just try and be safe.

My saviors the last three years to keep me from going completely bonkers have been two kittens I adopted, - brother and sister... Punkin is a male orange marmalade cat - rather aloof - and his sister, a fluffy fat calico female names Sweet Pea...who is most docile and quiet....Punkin is a bit standoffish - and has a broken tip of his tail. They keep be from sitting too much and give me great company.

I got booted off Facebook for asking a question - (they don't recognize punctuation evidently) and I really miss hearing from old school buddies, old neighbors, BB buddies, and all you folks. However, I tried getting back on with a new IP address, new name, new email, etc... and the minuted I added friends from my list they booted me again... I gave up.
I do hear from some BB buddies and several high school friends..... but everyone has been so covid consumed the last 3 years things just seem to have changed.

Forgive me from not staying in touch............ I miss our old BB on eBay..........what a great crowd we had.

HAPPY NEW YEAR EVERYONE....................... will try and touch base more often.. (typing for a while was not easy as I had my index finger in a cast after surgery for a cyst and it now has a screw between the first two joints...it lost feeling sensation for a while and was in a cast) Just getting the dexterity back)

I wanted to do a cruise to Australia. but don’t think sister and I could do the plane flights to get to the ships and then back home. When I was younger, couldn’t afford it. Australia and New Zealand always been on my wish list.

Evening...... safe and sound but very tired. prepped porches and yard and wore me out. did nor sleep well last night, very intense 24 hours. We got no tornadoes, just rain and some very gusty winds in bands, still get one once in awhile
My dear friends in Naples came through with no damage and I am relieved

SW Florida is changed forever - happened to Miami after Andrew. When kids small and then with the young grands we would go to Sanibel Island for Labor Day........ it is destroyed. Hope they do not count many dead from this storm, but doesn't look good

I have not put my porch and yard back together, just too pooped.....it will eventually get done.

Hope Virginia Rose Honaker and Sue Grimshaw Luther both got out and are safe.

Typing with a cast on finger means a sure mess of a post

IAN is a vicious and super destructive storm, and meandering slowly toward Disney, St. Augustine and Jacksonville. Storm surge was deadly.
We dodged the bullet this time, but tornadoes and extreme rains due overnight. A small co9l front from NW last night pushed it farther south than expected. Florida is in a world of hurt sadly.

I have dear friends in Naples - spoke to them this AM and they did not evacuate- worried about them, they did Andrew in 1992 like we did.

Hi Dramlin, thanks for the good wishes - you still in Australia?

Jim: glad yor back to back cruises were quiet

Anyone in touch with Sue Virginia Rose Honnaker, I have lost her email. Share please if you would. Also Sue’s.

Hoping for a quiet weather night.

saying night all.............gonna be a "prep" for IAN day, so going to shut down early. Had hand surgery 8/26 and have check up at surgeon in the AM - then it will be bring in the plants, bird feeders amd tie the porch furniture to the posts. Willl be fun with a finger cast on.
Anyone else dealing with Ian - stay safe.

night all.....

Well, looks like I am going to be doing the Hurricane Samba.......dread it.

JIM: worried about you cruising in the Caribbean lately....any tossing and turning?

Jane: Thanks - was very quiet.... #83

Bevcoper: sent Sue an email.... wasn't delivered, do you have her current address.

Diane: glad you numbers are down.............WTG
A remembrance of Easters as a kid....the Saturday we died the Easter eggs, we did not throw out the dye liquid, but cut pieces of Bridal Wreath and put them in the different colors of egg dye over night, and in the morning they would have pulled up enough colored water to be "pastel colored flower pods"..... still do it every once in a while. long time ago.........

WE ARE BOTH RIGHT..... SEE

https://www.google.com/search?sxsrf=APq-WBvAnBma7CzielgSyQD08ZFRUrO5mQ:1647884131190&q=Spiraea+prunifolia&stick=H4sIAAAAAAAAAONgFuLUz9U3ME7OMTBWAjNTygqLK7Uss5Ot9JMy83Py0yv184vSE_Myi3Pjk3MSi4sz0zKTE0sy8_OscvLLU4sUUAWLF7EKBRdkFiWmJioUFJXmZabl52Qm7mBlBAAhRqmIawAAAA&sa=X&ved=2ahUKEwikzJTi3tf2AhX1DkQIHaEUAIoQxA16BAhMEAk&biw=1280&bih=567&dpr=1.5

oh, and WELCOME SHELLEY!

Hello all.................happy Monday

HAPPY BIRTHDAY LYNNE!

been doing the medical mambo......seems maybe my stents are closing up with "crud" so looks like another reaming of the arteries is ahead on April 20th (soonest appt. avail) just hope the fluid keeps flowing til they can get to me.

Fla. spring has sprung.... cool one day, warm and A/C weather the next.... will be that way a couple more weeks.

My azaleas have been glorious this year..........but we had some heavy rain and wind and some got beaten down.
Now the spirea is starting to bloom (we always called it "bridal Wreath")

I also need to do some sorting, etc.... but I love it all, and hate to part with things with good memories of people and places and momma and folks who are gone..................think I will just take it very slow, sadly I love my tchatckes (sp?) I really need to weed clothes.... 3 years of wearing them over and over and they are not only showing wear but I am kinda sick of them...However, I care not for the styles today at my age.

Sorry, late, HAPPY BIRTHDAY, JUNE! and congratulations on ebay retirement.........been lots of years.

Had a week of medical mess.........ambulance ride, 2 days of hospital poking, sticking and prodding, but not heart episode or damage.... now on to detect "what" it was..........oh well, getting old is always one surprise after another.

Those dealing with gout/arthritis, etc...........hope you get some relief soon.

Will not complain....my ex-husband has been diagnosed with Stage 4 type 2 liver cancer....huge tumor...no surgery, no treatments, no chemo, palm-sized tumor and many small ones, inoperable..........just pain meds. He has also had surgery for transverse myelitis and is on a cane/walker, losing weight and mobility....knowing him, it must be very hard. (still some love there - he sold our business, retired with plans and now is stymied - )

We had some wicked weather last night...very heavy rains and some sideways winds............now it is supposed to freeze tonight after being in the 80s fr 3-4 days.............ahhhh, spring in Florida.

Jim: Sister and I are "talking cruise"---- either fall to New England or next Jan/Feb to Panama Canal and ports in Caribbean during winter. have done the canal twice, but would like to see the "new" canal if they have a little day trip while in Gatun Bay..............we had planned "spring trip to New England" at end of season before pandemic shutdown. Have seen the "leaf peeping" before, kinda would like to see New England in the spring.

Morning, happy Monday..................... gee, February almost over already.

Jim: have lots I would have sold on ebay years ago, and really need to start "cleaning house" at 82, but ebay has gotten too big. I don't like holding "yard sales" - and used stores, etc. won't give much to resell.. guess I will let the girls have an estate sale when I am gone..... will donate to the thrifts, but lots of antique glass, crystal, china, etc.... nah, they offer pennies on the dollar.

Beth: Hope your gout attack has calmed down..............be good to you!

JoAnne: Glad Jim got home and you got to see your son. Hoping the "residuals" calm down and he recovers a bit more.

Going tomorrow for a scan of aorta and illiac arteries and next Monday one of arteries in groin of stents in legs.....bottom half of me has decided to be "very heavy and tired". Already have an LAD stent and stents in both groin arteries, but worried that something else is "clogging up"....just have not "get up and go" and I run out of steam quickly. Oh well, whatever, at 82+ to be expected things get tired.

Was in the 80s here yesterday and is to be so the rest of the week. trees and plants so confused...many are starting to bud, and I know there's another cold snap ahead somewhere.... I ran the A/C last night and yesterday. Next week could be freezing.

Good Morning all...................well, another week gone.........

Beth: Sorry about the gout toe.............have a BIL that suffered and they found out that spinach kicked his off.

JoAnne: Sorry to hear your son is in hospital......know it's really hard he is not near. You take care of yourself...

Jim: Enjoy that cruising...........do a balcony sitting watching the water go by for me.........

Life here just rolls along....one or two days of Fla. "winter", then same for warm/hot A/C weather...best to dress in layers most days so one can peal off as the temps rise.

Got an alert: Scammers calling offering "free Covid tests" but ask for your Medicare number.... DO NOT GIVE IT - the tests are not real and they just want to scam the government with your Medicare number.

My covid company kittens are now 2 yrs. old and grown... They have been a life saver to have something else with a heartbeat and a "voice" in the house besides old me. Punkin is a long legged, rangy marmalade and Sweet Pea is a chubby, soft Calico.....brother and sister........neither very vocal...and sadly, neither is a "lap cat" - no lap sitting. I miss that, but they do love belly rubs and snuggling by my side to sleep at night. I have many bird feeders in back yard, plus a bird bath, and they have a screened porch to enjoy "bird watching" off and on all day.

HAPPY VALENTINE'S DAY EVERYONE!....................

most quiet weekend, just like the weekdays. Bright sunshine and blue skies today, 50 degrees now mid morning...

sunny and warm one day, dreary, rainy and damp cold the next.... keeps everyone off balance of how to dress and deal with the "what's best to wear today?"

HAPPY BIRTHDAY JOANNE..............Wishing many more....stay well.............

Good Morning all.............after a very hard freeze over the weekend, it's back up headed to the 70s today. This is the kind of weather that makes Southerners sick, up down, up down....dress in layers and peal.....

Had plant on back screened porch covered for freeze (as well as the stuff in front that wouldn't go in the garage) and my 2 cats who are now full grown and very adventuresome, decided to "Play under the frost covers" and they knocked by 32 year old Christmas cactus off onto the floor. Did lots of damage, but took it to my nursery where I buy my plants and supplies and they repotted it and did a bit of doctoring. The stem coming out of the pot was about and inch and a half thick and has moss growing on it..............hoping we have saved it............

Diane: I too am tired of spending so much time at home alone.......gee, a trip to the bank or gas station is a "big date".
That said, I get out into lots of people, and I get "squirrelly" (sp?) and can't wait to get home. Mostly I am sick of my own cooking and not being able to meet my friends for lunches, etc.

My ex is fighting liver cancer, (inoperable) and the effects of Transverse Myelitis for which he had surgery a couple of years ago. He is holding, but losing weight and has never been one to be idle.... his wife has her hands full....he is not a good patient, never was, a cold was a disaster.. I saw him during Christmas briefly, am sad and sorry he is suffering and they are only treating pain...no radiation, no chemo, just treating the pain mostly from the the spinal problem.... sad, I know he hates it all.

Several of my family members have had covid, but mild cases thanks to vaccinations and boosters I believe. So far, my sister and I have managed to dodge it...... we facetime every afternoon with coffee and gab and laugh and discuss and cuss the world. She didn't go to Atlanta for the holidays----- She usually goes for all birthdays, Thanksgiving and Christmas, but not this year.
My grandkids are scattered from Alaska to Florida - all but one of the 6 got to their parent's in Tenn. for Thanksgiving...

Got word from hometown that my high school class of 1957 is planning a 65th Reunion in May..... with the hopes that this all will be better by then... I plan to go, health permitting. Gosh, 65 years - sometimes it seems like yesterday.

Just finished an interesting read: Before We Were Yours, by Lisa Wingate..... novel based on the true stories of the Tennessee Children's Homes in Memphis that kidnapped/just took kids, changed names and sold/adopted out and mistreated poor childlren from the 30s to the 50s.... really was a story of horror, fear, sadness and how some managed to overcome.

Jim: I envy your cruises, but just not ready yet to chance getting "quarantined" or ill on one. My sister and I had 2 planned when this started, but she nor I are ready to take the plunge.
I could be like that lady that "lives on a Princess Cruise Line all year, just cruises round the world... what an adventure.

JoAnne: are you getting settled, have you moved, how are your plans going.

Diane: I can relate.... I get longings for things I shouldn't eat too........but so far doctor is not fussing at me...

Stay warm, well and dry everyone.....................

Good Morning all from sunny and cool Gainesville, we have had one frost so far this year...and it melted by 7:30-8:00

Am trying to decide on spending $$$ for a new cellphone and ipad tablet....both are 10 yrs. old and beginning to act up.
Boy, have the prices gone up since then.... I don't need lots of bells/whistles, just phone, be able to facetime, photos and my few "activities" or games I play. Decisions, decisions.

Last night went to Lisa's for supper - she Patrick, Cameron and Evan spent Christmas in Switzerland...Patrick was born there - and hadn't been home in over 2 years. Last night I saw their pictures - oh my, the scenery was awesome, the laughs fun (lots of snow antics sledding, skiing, etc) and the weather was perfect for them - they only had one "snow day" - and they came home well and with so much to share. I cannot remember name of town, but not far from Zurich, a small mountain town.. was lovely to see.

My cats, Punkin and Sweet Pea, are watching off and on a pair of doves building a nest in an azalea bush by my bedroom windows. They sit quietly and just watch...the doves just keep working, as long as the cats don't jump onto the blinds. It is quite interesting to see the intent interest they have at what is going on.

Hope all of you are well and stay that way...............

Oh, WTG Diane, and JoAnne - yes those old folks knew - after the Spanish Flu and then the Polio epedemic (I remember that one)

hello all, been a weird week, weather wise, health wise, body aching wise and sick of trying to decide what to eat/cook.

Jim: Glad you two are home safely...............gee, would love to take a nice 14 day cruise and not have to cook, clean, shop, and not hear any news unless I want to. LOL!

I too am staying away from the news as much as possible, just gets me all cranky and ticked off. don't know who or what to believe half the time anymore...............

Glad the holidays are over.... was the most alone one I have spent before....and really not much fun without kids around.
All the neighborhood kids (my tribe) have either moved away or grown up to middle school age and don't much see them any more. No kids playing outside with Christmas toys around my couple of blocks. I miss the sound of kids playing and laughing and imagining.

Oh, if you have Roku, you can now get RedBox and there are lots of "free" films to watch.
Yesterday, I watched "Miss Potter" - starring Rene Zellweger(sp?) - it is a biography of Beatrix Potter - and is just absolutely delightful.

I am reading "Beyond the Crushing Waves" - by Lilly Mirren - based on true stories of orphaned or very poor children from Britain sent to Australia to be "farm workers" - understand they were also sent to Canada and South Africa. Worth a read, had no idea England did this after WWII.

Really would like a change of pace, but doesn't seem to going to happen very soon. Florida is a petri dish... so I just go to grocery, drive up banking, gas station, doctor appts., and physical therapy twice a week (my doctor has them keeping me strong and balanced since I live alone) and I look forward to it - everyone masked of course.

Those of you in the "snow and storm belt"- please stay well, safe and warm and dry. Just seems like one wave of bad winter weather after another this year.

HAPPY NEW YEAR EVERYONE.......................personally, I am "hoping for a better year" but the pragmatist in me says don't count on it too much. The last two have been awful. BUT, I and you are still here, so that is a blessing for us in these times of pandemic and other problems.

Spent last 24 hrs. waiting to find out if my youngest DD Lisa and her family will get home from Switzerland. The were in Zurich for 2 week holiday at her husband Patrick's family - Cameron and Evan along... (ages 25 and 21 now) Their fight from Zurich to Frankfurt for connection to flight to Orlando was 15 min late and they missed their connection by 4 min. Lufthansa waits for no one! Luckily, they managed seats on today's flight and had to clear a 2nd covid antigen test in Frankfurt to go to a hotel to sleep. As of now, they are somewhere over the North Atlantic and should be in Orlando about 5:30 this afternoon, and then a 2-21/2 hour drive here. Be glad when they are home safely.

I spent a very, very quiet and solitary Christmas - covid in full swing here in No. Florida, and at 82, I just kinda do the "hermit thing" and stay to myself...........bit of an outing is grocery store quickly, bank, gas station or a doctor's appointment - (sound familiar to anyone else)? Did have a nice lunch with eldest granddaughter Friday...ate too much.

Spent yesterday taking down Christmas decor, no tree up, but had porch decorated/lit and stuff around the house. Needless to say sleep was no problem last night.

Wishing a better New Year to all....and hoping that things get much less hectic and dangerous in 2022.

Sorry to be so late - but MERRY CHRISTMAS EVERYONE, hope you have all had a great holiday.

Mine has been very quiet, am fighting a strep throat type infections, on a Zpac and been pretty much by myself since Wednesday. Thank heavens for Facetime and emails, etc.
We had cool mornings and 70s in the afternoons for Christmas...not quite South Fla. type Christmas that was always hot but not cold enough for coats or heavy clothes, just a sweater... Florida is weird in the climate department.

Diane: Wow, what an exciting Christmas....but a bit worrisome. Glad all are safe.

Jim: Envy you two "just floating around in the ocean" --- my sister and I haven't had a cruise since Feb. of 2018...we had plans for 2020 but then our Covid event started and we are landlocked. I really need a cruise...it is like a charge to my psyche and so settling for my old bones and brain.

Youngest DD and husband and Cam & Evan are in Zurich, Switzerland for the holdidays... SIL is from there and he hadn't been home in over 3 yrs....so they planned a trip. DD has not "met her inlaws" and SIL lost a brother last year and couldn't attend the funeral. Just hoping they get back into the US next Saturday....fingers crossed.

I spend today by myself, Omicron on rise in the county and I was already "germy" so quarantined myself.

Oh, mentioning Evan, many of you will remember when turned from Grano8 to Grano9 - at his birth....he is now 21 yrs old and studying to be a "journeyman" - likes working with his hands... He'll never be without a job.. gee, time flies.

Sister and I Facetime every afternoon...she is widow, I am alone too, so we make coffee and sit and talk to each other every day - not the same as being in the same room, but better than a phone - at least you can see expressions and tell how the other is feeling....harder to hide your ups and downs and fib...LOLOLOL! about what's going on. We enjoy the time and it really has helped in the pandemic. We have not been "together in person" since we returned from a cruise in Feb. of 2019.....

Bought kitties new toys for Christmas, and they have preferred the bags, boxes and tissue paper more. Cats, they are really independent souls! (oh, they are brother sister pair, he is marmalade named Punkin and she is calico named Sweet Pea. They had saved my sanity the last two years...

Hope all of you had a wonderful Christmas and are well and safe..... gee, who ever would have thought this pandemic would last this long? Please stay well..................

Afternoon everyone................ back to warm today...after several dreary, damp and foggy cool days. Gotta love No. Fla.

Beth: so sorry you took such a bad fall. hope you improve quickly, and that nothing develops from all the bruising. Face injuries are just so miserable. Feel better soon. oh, and love the book Christmas tree pic on the bookshelves, so clever.
Also, anniversary Congratulations..................

Morning, temporary "cool snap" here this AM....was 44 on my back porch at 8 AM... by Friday back up to almost 80 in the promises.

This is my favorite time of the year... fall and spring............ Sunday, about 3:30 EST the sun , shadows and light reminded me of the walking home from school in that lovely glowing, sliding sun....the shadows are different and the air is cleaner/crisper. Won't last but a couple of weeks, but always found it gloriously golden.

Was in our paper yesterday that Florida added almost 3 million people in the past 10 years, swelling from 18.8 to 21.7 million and muscling into the No. 3 spot in the nation, pushing New York down to No. 4.
Glad I live in the top of the state.....but little old Gainesvile is sprawling out too, and real estate prices are ridiculous.

Anyone else becoming agoraphobic after over 20 months of being restricted. Always was a people person, but now, I go out and around larger amounts of people and cannot wait to get done whatever and get back home to my two cast I adopted during pandemic to have some other beating heart and breathers in the house besides me. Was invited to a large Thanksgiving get together, and declined, don't t think I could do about 30 people, dogs, cats, ducks, peacocks, etc on the farm - though I love the hosts dearly. Just not up to the "huzzah and frenzy".......

Evening all.............rainy and dreary here the last 2 days..........was 49 degrees this AM at 7:30 - kinda chilly for this time of year. I spent the day putting away summer stuff and getting out the cooler weather clothes for Florida winter.

Our Friends of the Library had a 5 day sale in October.... we had missed 4 for the covid pandemic. I didn't work it, the doctor said no. Too many unvacinated people coming and going.... oh well, first one I have missed in 21 yrs.

Results were astounding. They finally decided to accept credit cards and pay for the service and it sure was worth it.

We had record 10 cent day the last day — $6,023.07. That means 60,230 books, puzzles, artwork, etc. went out the door in 6 hours.........

The Fall sale brought in a total of $158,736.14. Credit card fees for the sale total $3,058.88.

Now comes the fun part when we add in adjustments — money we have taken in since the last sale in Fall 2019 — which total $45,752.52. (we had some order a Bag of Book sales, drive up and pay during the pandemic when we were closed)

. Our grand total is $204,488.66.

Lots of books went out the door, lots of money came in. It was a very good sale.

Family news...... my 5th and 6th Great grandbabies each turned 1 yr. old in the last 8 months. Doctor grandson Samuel a doctor in USAF, got stationed at base in Anchorage, Alaska. He and Valerie are real outdoors pair and they are totally enjoying themselves there. My family is now scattered in Alaska, Tennessee, North Carolina, Georgia and Florida. Two youngest great grands only seen in pictures or videos.

Hoping all of you are well.................and stay that way. Sister and I both wanting to cruise, but not yet...soon I hope before I get to old and cranky to go.

https://www.jacquielawson.com/ecard/pickup/rfc404759af554073b066b6ff90bd9020?source=jl999&utm_medium=pickup&utm_source=share&utm_campaign=receiver

Enjoy! Happy Halloween

To any of you who use FACETIME to visit with friends and family......

OK - curious if any others having problems with connections locking/dying on Facetime~
Each day sister and I Facetime - she in Mobile at CDT, me in Fla. on EDT - usually up to a couple of hours, each with a cup of coffee.
In the past 2-3 weeks, every afternoon about 4 PM my time, 3 PM hers... we get "poor connection", screen goes black, and then it just disconnects. Always right at top of the hour. It is driving us nuts.
Can't get it to reconnect for awhile.... a real mystery. Sometimes it goes out on her screen first, and others it's on mine....we lose the sound first.
Anyone else experiencing this problem?

Morning all.........been awhile.... thanks for the Happy Birthday wishes...was a quiet one.

Don't know if it has been posted on here, but Karen Larsen Graham, our beloved ebay buddy AQUILTMAVEN has passed away: https://www.fluehr.com/obituary-detail.php?obitid=5063&obitnum=0%2F&fbclid=IwAR0liBTSD_XmEfOjH1_my7dLqEbBX4-btFKEZjAre9oJBicP2dpb_KCd80s

On her Facebookpage someone posted her memorial service video. Unexpected, at home, in her sleep, if I understand right.

Hope all are well. I am doing OK, me and the 2 cats, Punkin and Sweet Pea, just plug along daily. I adopted themover a year ago just to have another beating heart or 2 in the house. they are funny and keep me moving.

JIM: See you are cruising the Canal. I have done it twice.... but not seen the NEW canal yet. Yes, 1 foot clearance on either side is really kinda close. My sister and I miss cruising, but neither feel that it is quite safe enough as yet for us.Sorry to hear you lost such a great friend.

Diane: hope the insulin change settles down for you............

I now have 6 beautiful "great-grandchildren" give to me by 3 of my grandchildren... (2 of which I have only had pictures, not in person loving and hugging and all my grandkids are spread all over from Florida, Georgia, No. Carolina, Tennessee and Alaska.

My sister and I Facetime on ipads every afternoon...she lives alone too. I do have kids here, but she has one BIL and a nephew who is a priest....her kids all in Atlanta/No.Georgia area. We make coffee and just sit and gab online for an hour or 2 every afternoon. I do physicial therapy twice a week, trying to keep me strong since I live alone and keep me able to balance and not fall or injure myself too often. have take a couple of flops, but nothing really bad.

I got bad news that my ex-husband has "Transverse myelitis" which is debilitating with pain and weakness in his lower body and then was diagnosed with liver cancer and other problems. He called and asked to visit, was quite sad to see him so frail and in such pain. He is getting no chemo or radiation, just meds for pain. Last Sunday would have been our 63 anniversary..... time marches on...........

Our FOL has missed 3 sales, (which amounts to a loss of about at least $130,00+ a sale) but this weekend, they are going to have one...for 5 days... limiting number of people in the bldg. at a time, must wear masks, and as one leaves, one is allowed to enter. Usually it is filled with hundreds of folks browsing for hours....but number will be limited, so don't know how the "public" is going to react to the new regimen. I will not work the sale, advice of doctor. Also, I am so hoping they don't have any "unpleasant" patrons that cause problems with the rules/regs.

Hi Dramlin......................often think of you and wonder what you are up to...............yes, we had a lovely time when you visited and all met for lunch....................gee, time flies. Hope you are well.

Beth: my sister has a similar problem, but hers seems to be only in her throat.....she has had every test, allergy, CT scan, x-rays, scoped, et all. She just seems to have a constant throat full of phlegm - all day. not covid...no allergies except to one kind of grass......... is a mystery. Hope you get an answer.

So sad and sorry to hear of the death of Karen Graham/Aquiltmaven - we used to get together for "half-way" for lunch when she lived in Florida........... she was a great lady, fun and funny and interested in everything and everybody.
She will be missed.

Happy Easter Everyone ----------------- don't faint...................been a long time since in this room. Hope all are well and have endured the last year with good health and sanity...............been a long one. All well here... can't complain.

Good Morning, Happy Valentine's Day............................been a long time since I popped in... lots going on.
Good stuff #1............grandson Matthew married in Dec. and a great weekend in Raleigh had by all.
Good stuff #2 ........... Greatgrandson Jamison Thomas Farrell born on Feb. 2 -- that makes 5 great grands.
Good stuff #3............ after many months of PT, epidurals, MRIs, angiograms, etc.... was discovered I had 4 deposits in arteries feeding blood to legs, hip muscles.... reamed and stented 2 artereries and doing much better. Had gotten to where I couldn't walk 10 min. without dragging let leg.... much better now.
Had a very quiet Christmas....wasn't feeling well and just was in a Grinch mood. Florida has had a very spring/summer-like winter..............one frost...didn't do much damage...no freezes as yet...and the azaleas, red buds, spirea, japanese magnolias already blooming - maybe groundhog was right...early spring.
Also, the sandhill cranes are already heading NW and the robins are all over town.........headed north too.

Haven't read the board, - will do so now....hoping all have been well and had only good stuff going on!

HAPPY MOTHER'S DAY LADIES.....................

Hello all..................another Spring FOL sale ended yesterday.

10-cent day brought in $5,357.06, meaning 53,570 books went out the door. Pre-sales were $3,810.52, bringing the sale total to $143,239.37. As large as some of our Fall sales, which are usually bigger. We moved some books.

I have been enduring a chemo cream treatment on my face for sun damage, and sadly, had a bad reaction. My face has NOT been happy and doctor stopped treatment and gave me steroid ointment to use.... it has been miserable. I don't ever want to hear "sun damage face needs treatment EVER again".... at almost 80, no more.

Summer has arrived in No.Central Florida... 91 Monday, 89 Tues & Wed. Fear we are in for a very hot and miserable summer...we had no winter to speak of...only down to 32 one day..and a few frosts....

Hello Bookies..................just a pop in to share news of FOL Sale - started yesterday.

We had a wonderfully sunny day yesterday and took in $84,586.61. This is $2,500 better than fall and the best Saturday for the last 4 years.

Working the 3-6 shift this afternoon, so will touch base later.... June, sorry to hear about neighbor, and Diane, you need to go to the doctor....please!!!!!

Happy and Blessed Easter to All!

OH, Belated HAPPY BIRTHDAY, JIM!

Happy Easter to those who celebrate it....and Happy Passover to those who celebrate it.

We've had some awful weather this week.. straight line winds yesterday did quite a bit of damage around the county/state.
Snapped the metal bracket at the wall holding my flag...metal just popped at weld and pole and 1/2 the bracket flew across yard.
Found shingles on my grass, and house across the street lawn had abour 20-30 - no mine, not his, not house next door to him....have no idea whose roof we got parts of. Hopefully it's over, but cooled down. Our temp for Easter Sunday AM here in Gainesville to be about 47....kinda chilly for this time here....Sunrise service will be a bit cool.

Am having chemo cream treatment on my nose/cheeks - very ugly, very uncomfortable, itchy, tight, oozy, icky and UGLY. Too much sun for years - trying to scour out any skin cancers... be glad when it's done.
Also doing some PT for a priformis muscle pull in my left gluteous maximus.....really a PITA - literally...(sorry)

Jim, sorry you went "round" the world to get home....but going through Atlanta is always an "if".......hope your cruise was nice.
Taxes, paid less t his year than last...but had more deductions.... I can't remember the last time I got a refund.

Robocalls...I got a new Panasonic phone system - base and two satellites...($60) and it has a "call block button" on each receiver...if they call back - it rings once and then they are blocked.... I don't move anymore till I hear a 2nd ring...then if it is a toll free, unknown caller or whatever, I just hit call block button..... blessed relief. (DO NOT CALL LISTS ARE A JOKE)

For the bookies

oh, and we are not big "drinkers" either............

Afternoon all...................gorgeous very warm day here.

JIM: Yes, sister and I prefer the promenade deck too.... books, puzzles, smelling the salt air, feeling the breezes and some shade.
We are also walkers. That new ship's promenade deck was only about 5 ft. wide and at the bow, it narrowed to about 2 ft. Very tight and uncomfy...not conducive to exercizing...or just strolling. Didn't get in one walk the whole cruise except what we did on shore.
We cruise to get away, to disconnect, don't do all the "pool parties and drinking and swimming and you couldn't get me in a hot tub. I haven't owned a bathing suit in 20 years.... I truly believe lots of the outbreaks of illness on board comes from the pools/tubs. JMO.
We aren't bingo, trivia, etc enthusiasts, nor up for the big shows. Nice jazz piano/combo is great but no big productions. Guess we are just a bit "weird" - but we pay our money and we got to "get AWAY" and just enjoy each other's company.... some ports we even skip shore excursions, cause ship "empties" and you can find little hideaway places to read, etc. Yes, kinda anti-social I guess....but it's our choice.