Community Chat

[Lakk]

MoonDance

Girl you've got it bad!!! It sounds like you had a very good Mother's day. Sorry it's so cold up there, it got to 70 today but going to near 90 this week. Come on down! Hug the babies for me. I need to hit the hay. Take care of yourself.

[shosh]

i shouldn't be on here right now, so gotta be super fast-

glad to see so many checking in- missing gigi, hope she is well and busy.

yes lakk

i played all that stuff too up here in nj -

jacks [ i stunk], hopscotch [unbeatable], cowboys/indians/cops/robbers/general running about /yelling. running thru lawn sprinklers, accidentally or on purpose.

digging a hole to china was attempted every summer, wonder if the kids nowadays would be up for that !

had to spend all day outdoors, who wanted to sit inside a hot house trying to look busy so my mother wouldn't '' find something for me to do'' .

[MoonDance]

On 5/19/2014 Lakk said:

MoonDance

Girl you've got it bad!!! It sounds like you had a very good Mother's day. Sorry it's so cold up there, it got to 70 today but going to near 90 this week. Come on down! Hug the babies for me. I need to hit the hay. Take care of yourself.

Yes I do have it bad...so bad,in fact...IT'S TERMINAL!

The weather is a little better,today.We have the windows and deck door open,today.It's a perfect 68 degrees.

Have a nice day to you and all the ladies...

[Lakk]

Shosh,

We tried to dig that hole to China too but I'm afraid most kids today wouldn't find that very exciting. I can't even imagine them playing Jacks or hopscotch, we use to play Old Maids, Hearts and we played Canasta with my grandmother. When I got out of school I moved into an apartment, then in the house with my grandparents for 2 years before I married. My grandparents and I would sit around their huge dining room table all with a deck of cards and played solitaire and listening to the Grand Ole Opry and talking and laughing we had the best time.

My grandmother's brother and wife lived across the street and would come over and we'd all play cards then go sit in the front porch swing and the old glider and talk until somebody nearly fell asleep in the middle of a sentence. LOL My two oldest grandsons still like coming to Nannies house and we can sit here till 3 am. playing Monopoly and talking. It's good for all of us.

MoonDance,

Yes Clint's eyes got me too as did Paul Newman's his were so pretty. Sure I'm repeating myself but I liked Wm. Holden and Robert Mitchum too. That's way back when we had real stars in Hollywood and not these one night wonders that stay drugged and drunk all the time setting terrible examples for the younger generation. I do long in a lot of ways for the 50's and 60's way of life to return but it's not going to happen. People can't even advertise bread without making something s-xual out of it, always have their minds in the toilet. Pathetic IMO. Enough of this.

I went to the Dr. yesterday then I went by the cemetery to check the flowers, then to Capt. D's. I came home ate then I took the trash bin to the street and decided to cut down some dead peonies. I ended up cutting for 2 hours on two huge crepe myrtle trees, I always cut from the ground up about 5 feet so I can see around them. I took 4 trash bins full of limbs to the ditch. Too lazy to come in and get my gloves I now have splinters, cuts and bruises, I look like I've been in a brawl. I need to get someone to cut them and another tree back because they are getting too close to the power lines. My poor old bones won't recover for a week. LOL

I drifted off sitting here earlier and now I see daylight has arrived so I need to hit the hay and get these swollen feet in the bed a while. I have some plans for this afternoon if it doesn't rain as they are predicting.

I hope the sun shines at your house today. Take care.

[Lakk]

MoonDance,

That perfect 68 degrees sounds good, I said I'd not complain about it being hot and I'm not BUT (lol) it's suppose to be 90 here later today. The small chance of rain missed me again yesterday. I had plans to wash the car today because if I don't it's going to start by itself and find another home. I may just take it somewhere and have it done I'm not sure this old bod can last to do the job on it I want to do if it gets that hot. All the family is out of town and I don't want to pass on in the backyard and not be found for a week.

One son and his family and some friends leave for Disney today, they were just there in January but they go several times a year. Then my DIL and my 2 DGS's and her family have gone to Hilton Head for their annual trip. The rest of my boys live out of town so I need to act responsible and not do anything, like have a stroke washing the car in the heat, that might cause them to cut their trip short to come home and tend to my silly self.

I went to CVS for several things and finally remembered to get a button battery for my JR ladybug watch, now I can't get the back off to put the new one in. The jewelry store that use to be about a mile from me closed years ago so I'll have to take it somewhere else and let them do it for me.

I left there and went to a fruit and garden stand to get some hanging baskets and it was closed, I think I missed them by a few minutes. It was not my lucky day. I gave up and went to Subway and came home.

I mopped the kitchen and bathroom floors and talked to an old friend on the phone. I got off the phone realizing just how blessed I am, I haven't talked to her in over a year and she's been through lung cancer, breast cancer and then had a heart attack within the last year. I use to work for her and one year for Christmas she gave me a small crystal clock that I loved but couldn't find a battery for it. I also found it at CVS so I called to tell her again how much I've enjoyed it all these years and learned all this has happened to her. Our Dh's were friends since childhood and they died within 8 months of each other, she's about 2 miles from me so I need to get off my rear end and go see her. If she's up to it maybe we can go to Cracker Barrel.

I have to go back to the Dr. this week to repeat of a test I had last week and I have a few things on the to-do list I can knock out so it's going to be a busy week. I don't do anything on holidays except Thanksgiving and Christmas so I'll spend today doing some more de-cluttering and missing the junk mail not being delivered. LOL

Retired Banker is fine and back from Fla. trying to catch up with all her duties tending to her mom and her DH.

Shosh,

Gigi is around most every night usually on WEN or somewhere in the beauty forums if your trying to connect with her she just hasn't posted here in a long time.

Take care ladies.

[Lakk]

OK ladies you need to come out of hiding and post, I'm here talking to myself again. I hope your all enjoying the nice weather. It rained for a short time here yesterday nothing major just a lazy rain.

I got out yesterday burning up the roads so my tank is passed half empty and I need to put in my normal 25.00 to fill it back up to last me another 3 months. LOL I went back to the Doc. for the redo test and an ultrasound, all is fine. Thank you Lord. Then I went upstairs to my regular Doc. and got the results from my blood work last week. Everything was in the normal range and they said if I was any better they couldn't stand me. They're all ailing from something but what I don't understand is how everything checks out fine and I feel like I've been pistol whipped.

The sun was shining when I got there and raining when I left so I made the best of it and stopped on the way home to get Chinese takeout. Later I went to the grocery and thought since I had such a good report I should celebrate with chocolate ice cream to make me some Frosty's this week and some cookies for my lonesome looking empty cookie jar. Then I got to the checkout and lo and behold there sits 50 cent packages of Tootsie Rolls and corn candy. Well at least it wasn't 2lb box of Russell Stover.

The UPS man graced my porch with a lovely pair of Clarks while I was gone, (A253582) I know it's a shocker, poor me. I'll be able at this rate to have enough for everyone in the nursing home when the kids put me away, they tell me I'm already on the waiting list. LOL I have the set of 2 Isaac scarves lavender/green (A253157) coming via snail mail hopefully they will arrive before judgment day.

I have an ex SIL in a nursing home about 30 min. from me having a B'day this weekend so I hope to get down to see her.

My DGS mowed the yard last Thursday before going on a vacation and the clover has taken over and now the rain, don't know if I can take it until they return or not. I thought about getting out my old mower and trying it again myself. I sold my riding mower to the man next door years ago. I probably shouldn't tell this on myself but I will. Years ago Dh, and I use that term loosely, came in from work and I was on the riding mower. Just as he looked out a wheel fell off, here I sat half on half off the mower. It was funny, then he went to work and told them "she broke my riding mower she looked like a bear on a tricycle." LOL

With that I'll bid you adieu, I better hit the hay so I can get a glimpse of some daylight today. Take care.

[retiredbanker]

OK, don't faint or anything, I am posting here. Like Shosh said, I don't need to be on here (lots of things that need attention), but what the heck, here I am. Sorry I have been so long posting but it has been hectic around here lately. We got back from FL, then DH (and I know what you mean Lakk about loosely LOL) had to go to the dentist, then my youngest DGD graduated from Kindergarten, and all of the rest of the drama here, I have been busy. Then to top it off, I caught Lakk's bad back and have had a time with that ailment. I don't know how all of those old folks do it. LOL I have read some of what others have written and seems everyone is hanging on so to speak.

Lakk - I will have to look up those new shoes you bought. I bought a new pair of sandals from K-Mart if you can imagine and they are the most comfortable things. They are like walking on air. I also bought some shorts and two tops which I am taking back. They have that Spandex in them and it's not what my body wants haha. I was in a big hurry and didn't notice that the Spandex was in them, so back they go. It is getting harder and harder to find some decent tops that don't look like you are melted and poured in them. Of course if I weighted 20 lbs. it wouldn't matter.

Glad you got a good report from the doctor even though you feel like you have been pistol whipped. I think the same things when the doctor tells me everything is good, I then think well I would hate for everything not to be good and it make me feel ever worse. Go figure....

Wouldn't you think that your DH would be proud that you were trying to help him by cutting the grass instead of making smart remarks? Maybe if he had done his job and checked the wheels, they wouldn't have come off. I have cut hundreds of days of grass and never has the wheel came off, but I do my own checking so I guess that's why. Maybe you can stand the grass until your DGS gets back home. Hope all of the kiddos are having fun at Disney.

I really hate that the grocery stores have the candy right there at the checkout while you wait it just calls your name. I usually just buy some sugar free gum but sometimes a Payday will jump right into my cart, bad candy.

Shosh - Hope you are well and are behaving. If you are like me that is a full time job.

Bobbisue - Hope your COPD is better and that you are enjoying the warmer weather, I know I sure am. It rained here yesterday and looks like more rain today and maybe tomorrow, but the weekend is looking good. We needed the rain, so I won't complain.

Moon Dance - Happy Clint Walker Day to you LOL. Hope you have a good one.

Pris and others - Write when you can, I know it's hard to settle down long enough to post sometimes, but just pop in occasionally. I know, I know, I'm one to talk, right?

Signing off and hope you ladies have a good weekend. Oh, I forgot to tell you that my DD got her wound vac out yesterday and she is so happy. She had that thing for 40 days and it was a big hassle. But I am so grateful that those machines are available because her wound healed so much faster than the old way. Hopefully, she will not have to get home health nursing for much longer, maybe two weeks at the most. She has had a really bad time, and I praise the Lord that he has brought her through this. Thanks for the thoughts and prayers for her. Later.....

[Lakk]

Banker,

I think I'll do a Happy Dance (LOL) it's good to see you lady. It's good to know your DD is doing better and rid of her wound vac, that's great.

I'm with you, I'd hate to know how I'd feel if all the numbers were not good. We both know my problems and if I could get rid of the bad habits I'd probably be skipping around here. I am my own worst enemy.

That's unfortunate about the Payday candy bars jumping into your cart but it would be cruel to put it back on the shelf. That's like Mrs. Stover's son pestering me in CVS, I try to go down other aisles to avoid him.

About the shoes, I got the pewter only because their wasn't a big choice. I do intend to keep them but they don't seen to grip as well on the kitchen floor as I would like. The are NOT slippery but there is just something about them. I'm so use to wearing the Lexi and Leisa bottoms, I'll get use to them. I have several slide type so I've been buying some with a back strap that I need these days when I go somewhere.

I haven't heard a peep from the Disney addicts and honey they aren't kiddos anymore ( my middle son and his family) he's 47 and the biggest kid there! He and his step-DD's husband spend a lot of their time at a restaurant called 'Ohana's seeing you can eat the most oak grilled shrimp. They have a contest every time they go down there, they're just grown up little boys trying to one up the other one! LOL

I better get off here, think I hear the washing machine calling my name. Once again good to see you posting, take care of yourself.

[Lakk]

A NYC Taxi driver wrote:

I arrived at the address and honked the horn. After waiting a few minutes I honked again. Since this was going to be my last ride of my... shift I thought about just driving away, but inst
ead I put the car in park and walked up to the door and knocked.. 'Just a minute', answered a frail, elderly voice. I could hear something being dragged across the floor.

After a long pause, the door opened. A small woman in her 90's stood before me. She was wearing a print dress and a pillbox hat with a veil pinned on it, like somebody out of a 1940's movie.

By her side was a small nylon suitcase. The apartment looked as if no one had lived in it for years. All the furniture was covered with sheets.

There were no clocks on the walls, no knickknacks or utensils on the counters. In the corner was a cardboard
box filled with photos and glassware.

'Would you carry my bag out to the car?' she said. I took the suitcase to the cab, then returned to assist the woman.

She took my arm and we walked slowly toward the curb.

She kept thanking me for my kindness. 'It's nothing', I told her.. 'I just try to treat my passengers the way I would want my mother to be treated.'

'Oh, you're such a good boy, she said. When we got in the cab, she gave me an address and then asked, 'Could you drive
through downtown?'

'It's not the shortest way,' I answered quickly..

'Oh, I don't mind,' she said. 'I'm in no hurry. I'm on my way to a hospice.

I looked in the rear-view mirror. Her eyes were glistening. 'I don't have any family left,' she continued in a soft voice..'The doctor says I don't have very long.' I quietly reached over and shut off the meter.

'What route would you like me to take?' I asked.

For the next two hours, we drove through the city. She showed me the building where she had once worked as an elevator operator.

We drove through the neighborhood where she and her husband had lived when they were newlyweds She had me pull up in front of a furniture warehouse that had once been a ballroom where she had gone dancing as a girl.

Sometimes she'd ask me to slow in front of a particular building or corner and would sit staring into the darkness, saying nothing.

As the first hint of sun was creasing the horizon, she suddenly said, 'I'm tired.Let's go now'.
We drove in silence to the address she had given me. It was a low building, like a small convalescent home, with a driveway that passed under a portico.

Two orderlies came out to the cab as soon as we pulled up. They were solicitous and intent, watching her every move.
They must have been expecting her.

I opened the trunk and took the small suitcase to the door. The woman was already seated in a wheelchair.

'How much do I owe you?' She asked, reaching into her purse.

'Nothing,' I said

'You have to make a living,' she answered.

'There are other passengers,' I responded.

Almost without thinking, I bent and gave her a hug.She held onto me tightly.

'You gave an old woman a little moment of joy,' she said. 'Thank you.'

I squeezed her hand, and then walked into the dim morning light.. Behind me, a door shut.It was the sound of the closing of a life..

I didn't pick up any more passengers that shift. I drove aimlessly lost in thought. For the rest of that day,I could hardly talk.What if that woman had gotten an angry driver,or one who was impatient to end his shift? What if I had refused to take the run, or had honked once, then driven away?

On a quick review, I don't think that I have done anything more important in my life.

We're conditioned to think that our lives revolve around great moments.

But great moments often catch us unaware-beautifully wrapped in what others may consider a small one.

[shosh]

ladies -

lakk

you are talkin to me, not to yourself- i read here everyday, don't you hear me talking back at ya ??

cause i do reply out loud while i am reading, i will admit.

i love hearing about your family times together, that 'extended family' is a valuable thing for all, and sadly rare nowadays for so many reasons. my maternal grandfather lived with us often as i was growing up, but we didn't interact too much, tho i knew i was his 'favorite'.

remember letter writing ?? i have a big box of old letters from friends, and some in there are from him, after i had gotten married and moved away. they are funny to me now, always just a few lines, maybe referring to the weather, usually staying away from anything serious. i see now it was his way of just keeping a connection, he wasn't a great communicator.

when i was a baby, he had bought some inexpensive savings bonds for me, and 50 years later, they added up enough to pay for a grandfather clock. so we cashed them in to get the clock we had always wanted, and put a wee brass plaque inside that indicates it is from him. i also kept his rock maple bedroom set, and so far that has been used by my sis and i, my children, and now my dgs has it. they sure don't make dressers like that anymore !

i love being able to have those few things, as otherwise i have very few 'family' things, whether good memories or actual items. sadly,we just didn't have that kind of family. when i think of what i will leave for my family, it is a big bunch of 'stuff'. some of it is really swell stuff ! imho...

but i can't imagine them wanting any of it. i better make some good memories fast, to offset the 'mess' they will have on their hands.

banker

so glad your dd is improving, sounds scary to me. it doesn't matter how old are kids are, does it ?! sometimes after we get through an ordeal like that, one looks back and wonders how we did it- it does remind us to be extra grateful for ordinary 'boring' days.

hello to moonie, and barb and whomever is passing by....