The secret to not overdoing a little party, for me, is to make it spontaneous. When I plan something I feel the need to put on the dog, so the speak. Don't worry, Maggie is safe.
Yesterday, when I got up, I pondered if I really wanted to have a BBQ. Our little, a tad cooler, front was over. The muggies were back with avengence. There was a chance of rain. But you know I had that meat and BBQ sauce taking up space and hollering from the freezer.
After a short ponder yesterday morning, I decided I'd go for it. It turned out to be the most relaxing BBQ I've ever done. No time to worry, make a thousand lists, go to 10 grocery stores, work for 3 days and fill the house with food that people have to haul off in trailers. It also limits how many people can come due to prior engagements. And several I asked already had some. That's OK.
We had about 4-5 decent days of cooler weather last week but yesterday it was back to being horribly hot. I asked my clouds for a little help. Y'all know I have a relationship with the clouds. Well, as I was trying to get my pit fire going, along came a frog strangler. No problemo, I had a big unbrella set up over the pit. That shower cooled it off a little and then it stopped but some of the clouds remained. I moved my chairs out to the wharf to catch a little breeze that comes off the water. While we were sitting on the wharf, one of my friends pointed out that it was raining in the front yard. I said, that's OK we're in the back. I knew that we were OK even though I couldn't explain it to him. Thanks clouds.
180 comments:
Oh, and the guy in that last pic just bought that huge pontoon boat, used, 25 feet. He'll keep it for a few months and then turn it over. You know what they say about boats, the best two days of ownership is the day you buy it and the day you sell it. I'll add, a couple of months inbetween.
This guy is usually working, out of town, all the time. He found the boat on the road. Since he had a couple of unexpected weeks off and he and his wife were enjoying their boat, it was the main reason I picked yesterday for the BBQ.
Oh, and last night's Swamp People was even better than the first. You can catch a rerun if you missed it. You might even be able to see it online. A new dude, Mike, was introduced last night, and his dog. I get really nervous when I see dogs around alligators. Dogs are perfect alligator hors d' oeuvres.
Carol, I am sitting on my front porch in the dark (it is 5 am here) enjoying your post in pictures. Your writing makes me feel as if I was there with you. You and Maggie look great. Your BBQ sounds like a real success. I too feel the last minute, spontaneous get-to-gethers are the best ones. Your weather came through for you and gave you a cooling rain. How funny that it was raining in the front and not in the back.
I like your dragonfly t-shirt.
post and pictures.
Could someone do me a favor and dig out our hurricane prayer I linked here a short while back. I don't have time this morning and that Earl is getting a little too close for comfort for the Northeast. We need to go into action here. I tell ya, my/our prayers have been working so far!
Thanks for sharing your day with us Carol. Loved the pics, especially the one of you and Maggie out on your beautiful river.
That is so funny that it was raining on one side of your house, but not the other. I never saw that 'til we moved to Houston, and still, after all these years, it's always an amazing sight to see when that happens. Not many people will say this, but I like the weather/climate here a lot.
Jan, How great that you had a visit from your grandson and his family. I can't wait to see the pics of Landon. Can't believe 8 months have already gone by.
Mary, Loved viewing all the pics of Lauren too. She is so beautiful (like her grandma). I had no trouble finding you in those pics either. You and Carol have such good genes - you're both beautiful.
Hope things are going well for you.
Carol, I went looking for your prayer, and at first I thought you were talking about the unity prayer, but then I found the other one:
"Prayer for Safety in Hurricane Season
O God, Master of this passing world,
hear the humble voices of your children.
The Sea of Galilee obeyed Your order
and returned to its former quietude.
You are still the Master of land and sea.
We live in the shadow of a danger over which we have no control:
the Gulf, like a provoked and angry giant,
can awake from its seeming lethargy,
overstep its conventional boundaries,
invade our land,
and spread chaos and disaster.
During this hurricane season we turn to You, O loving Father.
Spare us from past tragedies whose memories are still so vivid
and whose wounds seem to refuse to heal with passing of time.
O Virgin, Star of the Sea, Our beloved Mother,
we ask you to plead with your Son in our behalf,
so that spared from the calamities common to this area
and animated with a true spirit of gratitude,
we will walk in the footsteps of your Divine Son
to reach the heavenly Jerusalem
where a stormless eternity awaits us.
Amen."
http://ct-carolssouthernspice.blogspot.com/2010/07/happy-birthday-big-sis.html?showComment=1279885655698#c5040781220463473574
I'm thinking we'd better keep that one handy for quite a while.
I'm also going to print out your unity prayer. It is another one we should keep handy (for emergencies):
My Unity prayer for the day always hits the spot:
"Inner Peace
Centered in Spirit, I am at peace.
I am at peace when I remember how lovingly I am supported by Spirit. Sometimes I may get caught up in the drama of my own or someone else's experiences and lose my sense of inner peace. Once I become aware that my mind has strayed from Spirit, all I need do is mindfully take a deep breath. As I focus my attention on my breathing, I become centered in Spirit.
"Spiritus," the Latin origin of the word spirit, literally means "breath." When I breathe deeply, I feel my body relax and I am calmed. As I breathe in and out, I become quiet and consciously aware of the Presence. I listen for the voice within that knows what is mine to do. I right my thinking. When my mind is centered on Spirit, I am at peace."
"The fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace patience, kindness, generosity, faithfulness.--Galatians 5:22"
The Daily Word.
http://ct-carolssouthernspice.blogspot.com/2010/07/saga-of-my-summer-flowers.html?showComment=1280497722130#c5242766707928469457
-- Coreen,
That last one took us back to your post with all the beautiful flowers pics - and the one with our pretty little cat out on the porch, enjoying the plants. That, and the second one was my favorite - the shot of those gorgeous pink roses.
Chloe, I knew you would come through with the prayer Carol was asking about. I love the Spirit prayer. I am going to print that and hang it all over. I need it badly. Maybe I should jut commit it to memory. It really has meaning for me. Thanks for sharing it here.
Chloe, I have posted pictures of Landon on Facebook. There is a little icon in my pics that I can do that. Can't do it here - or at least can't find the way to do it. I think we are friends on Facebook.
Jan, I just looked at your facebook (I always forget to visit there - I need to check in every so often).
What a beautiful baby! You weren't kidding about those bluer than blue eyes, and he looks so happy!
You have so many beautiful grand children and great grand children - and children!. You must be forever grateful for that huge family of yours.
Jan, I really like your facebook picture too. I think you've recently changed it. I'm going to go back to facebook later today, when Em is taking her nap.
... sorry if you're feeling stressed today. :(
Chloe, what comes with this huge family is all kinds of sources of "worry" I tend to absorb everyone's issues. I have not been sleeping well lately. I am having a difficult time shutting off my brain. I usually go to sleep just fine, but a couple of hours later, I wake thinking about some little something going on with one of my family members and then am wide awake. I try laying in bed a while to see if I will go back to sleep and sometimes I do, but if I don't, I get up and get started with my day.
Jan, Maybe you should consider getting something from your doctor to help you sleep during those times. A lack of sleep is worse for your health than the medication is. I have read that if you can't get back to sleep in a half hour, that it's better to get up for a while until you can sleep.
I'm sorry to hear that things are getting to you. There's nothing worse than worry - and lack of sleep makes it worse. When I'm not getting enough sleep, all my problems are magnified, so I know what you're going through.
Remember what Dr. Weil says (paraphrasing): You need to think of yourself as the 'heart'. If you don't take care of yourself, then you can't take care of anything around you either.
You've got to put yourself 'first' Jan. Then all the rest will fall into place.
Jan,
I also would love to see the pictures of your grandchildren. I'm on facebook but I don't have any pictures or profile up yet. Can I be a friend so I can see your pictures.
I feel terrible today. My face hurts, puffy, nose stuffy, and a
cough. Sinuses. Took Vit D and
C. Hope that will cure me. We had a good bit of wind for several
days. Probably blew some of those Yankee allegens down here. I think I'm immune to ours. At lunch. I have
to beat myself to go back.
Yep Jan, get your Doc
to give you some
Ambien. If you can't fall
asleep naturally, take one. As long as you have
5 hours left to sleep. Sometimes
just knowing they're there helps.
Thank Chloe, our blog blood hound. She can find anything.
Ivy, did you see episode
2 of Swamp people? It
was scary. That
alligator hunting is dangerous.
http://www.facebook.com/album.php?aid=2046205&id=1262571666&l=c52ef0f613
Here is a link to the 4 pictures I put on facebook of Landon, our great grandson - with his mom and dad. Lets see if it will work.
Mary, I would be happy to have you as a friend on facebook. I have sent a link above. Get on there and send me a request. I don;t know your last name.
Jan, That link worked. You have a really nice looking grandson and his wife. The baby is precious. He doesn't look too chunky to me. Not like that that little boy was that was on the pictures I posted. He's a chunk.
Carol & Chloe, thanks for the suggestions. I am going to muddle through it. I don't want to take meds. I am going to try some other things. There are a couple of things in my life I am not dealing with that I need to face "headon" I have a feeling this is what is keeping me from sleeping.
Mary, I got your request and approved it. Hope you are doing ok. Life can be pretty tough at times.
Carol, Hope your allergy symptoms clear up soon.
Yall, I was just reminiscing about 5 yrs. ago and Hurricane Katrina which made me think of New Orleans. Every time I think of NO, I think of this song. Best belly rubbing song.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=4NFn0yDe-Ls&feature=related
And right after Katrina came Rita which totally destroyed my home.
We need to edit that hurricane prayer to add Atlantic ocean along with the Gulf. It was written for the Gulf area right after Audrey, 1957 or so. That Earl looks like a bad boy. I think there was another Earl that was a bad boy. I'm sure more than one.
Yes Carol, I hope Earl the hurricane is not as bad as the Earl I once knew.
Like the river views, Carol...& you & Maggie
look pretty content on that boat cruise...
Mary & Jan...enjoyed your family pics...
And Chloe...love the little peek at Chloe on your sign in pic...she is as cute as ever...&
oh those beautiful eyes...
Chloe, I meant "Em" on your sign in pic...
As far as hurricane Earl maybe taking aim at the Eastern seaboard...local weather guys are not getting to concerned so far...they are all
saying most likely it will come close, but veer further out to sea & be a near miss...the target day here is Friday...
Jan, when I saw my pic yesterday and how swollen my face and eyes were, I thought I look sick. When I woke up this morning I realized why. I need one of those neti pots to boil out my sinuses. I usually don't have these kinds of problems anymore even though I did when I was younger. I thought I grew out of those allergies.
Coreen, some of those near misses can wreck havoc on the coastal people. The worst surge I got up the river, since I've been out here, was not with Rita, it was with the one that did in Galveston.
Also, I remember that Rita was suppose to pass us by and hit Galveston but turned at the last minute and we got the worst side of her. I don't trust them. But I do trust that our prayers will work.
How far are you from the east coast?
I have been working on the quilt rather than winding down with som e TV so tonight I am going to change my pattern and see what happens.
Coreen, I hope you are not in harms way with the hurricane.
We are watching American Graffiti. I remember having that much energy.
CT is part of the East Coast...My town is about 10 miles from Long Island Sound, which is fed by the Atlantic Ocean, but we are much higher ground than the sound, the biggest problem would be the wind damage that downs trees, causes loss of electricity, etc...It would be pretty difficult for extensive flooding to reach this far from the Sound....there are lots of shore towns along
the Sound that could have significant damage, flooding, erosion, etc.
I think the last hurricane that caused major
damage was either called Gloria or Bob in the
90s....
Before CT would get a direct hit it would have to go over Long Island NY, the south shore of Long Island is on the Atlantic Ocean & the North Shore is opposite Long Isalnd Sound from CT....A direct hit on LI would be really bad, there are millions of people living on LI, very
developed...very congested....
CT has been pretty fortunate over the years...
I looked to see what was the last significant
hurricane it was Bob in 1991....& found this
list of CT disasters....
CT Disasters
I've been checking in with the Weather Channel and they just can't predict yet where that storm is going. With it hugging the coast, it will make many very nervous. They said when it hits a certain area, it would be moving fast.
These are the models that I watch. They can change from day to day.
Computer Model Hurricane Forecasts
Scan down the page on that link to see the map with all the little lines. Each represents a computer prediction of the storms path.
My weather guy Jeff Forx is on now...earlier he showed
that historical tracking lines of the various
hurricanes...& the same current tracking model...he just said it looks like it
will pass close, with lots of rain, mostly in
the other end of CT New London area, which is
closer to the end of the Sound nearer to the
Atlantic....
Meantime, it went back up to 90 yesterday, today, tommorrow & getting more humid again...
we had those exquisite days & then back to the
heat... I can't wait for a Canadian front to
finally drop down & end this summer!!!Once the
jet stream drops down from Canada, we in CT
will have a season change....
Coreen, I sense some Fall leaf color change pics, of the Northeast, coming in the near future?? I certainly pray no trees are traumatized prior to that event.
Maybe...seems these 2 months of hot, dry weather may impact the leave watching...but
if the heavy rains come maybe it will save the
season...
Local paper had this article just the other day about the chance that the colors may not
be so good....
This a.m. all locals still saying storm will
pass close but not hit...but heavy rain & tropical storm winds a distinct possibility...
may not be a good year for leave peeping
I hope a little of the rain comes our way.
It seems Earl might be expected to hit the N. C. coast Friday, so says John.
I slept well last night. I think I know the secret - just good sleep hygiene. I quit working on the quilt by 8 pm. Watched a little TV that was not at all exciting and read my book for 30 min. No caffeine and some good protein for dinner and no sugar before bed. Slept until 6 am.
Coreen, maybe Earl will bring some heavy rains for you.
Hi Jan,
Glad to hear you slept ok...not sure, did you
say what the latest quilt is....I'm experimenting with knitting patterns for some
scarfs &/or afghans...
And yes, it appears that Earl will bring some
rain here...hopefully little wind....the loss
of electricity is what I worrry about...especially since we had that 24 hr loss
in June from the wind/rain storm that passed through...power failures are a nightmare...
The expected arrival of Earl is sometime late
Thursday night/early Friday morning...will just
have to wait & see...
Coreen, I am making 2 t-shirt quilts for granddaughters in Ark. Most people make simple t-shirt quilts. I am making them reversible so taking more time. It is taking more time also because I had to take some lessons on how to use my sewing machine. Its a Bernina John bought me 8 years ago. We were preparing to move here so I packed it away and just got it out before starting these quilts. I used my old 1954 Singer to make the baby quilts. Also took lessons on machine quilting. I seem to make a big job out of most anything I do. I have a talent for making the simplest thing complex.
You are so right about power failures. We had them frequently in OK and ARK. When there was an ice storm, we could count on them.
Jan, I have an old Singer straight stitch machine too...I don't use it, but couldn't throw it away...it is solid, the new Singer I
use with more stitch combinations is plastic
& a lightweight...but I only sew to hem & fix
things...have not tried to sew from a pattern
in many years...but the old Singer was a great
machine...
Would be interested in seeing what a t-shirt
quilt looks like....do you put stuffing in it, or just quilt the pieces of the t-shirts...I would think that t-shirt material stretches as
you try to sew it...
Well, my sinus problems didn't allow me to make it thru the day today. I felt and sounded too bad and was coughing sputtering and spitting. Can't remember the last time I felt this bad.
I came home but before I did, I went to the drugstore to put together a sinus repair kit. I called my Doc for some of that steroid nasal spray, if I would have had that earlier, it likely I wouldn't have progressed this far. I also got some extra soft tissues for my nose, a sinus irrigation kit, some lemon drops, antihistamines, and a movie. I hit up the vitamins when I got home.
I'm piled up on the couch now. The movie is City Island. Big sister recommended it. The main character is a prison guard. It got 81 on Rotten Tomatoes, not that that matters. ("Consensus: Raymond De Felitta combines warmth, humanity, and a natural sense of humor, and is abetted by Andy Garcia and an excellent ensemble cast.")
Sorry to hear that Carol...hope you feel better with your various cures...about 2 weeks
ago goldenrod came out here & since then my sneezing/post nasal drip/congestion/choking has been increasing...I have never found anything that actually cures it...I take sinutabs & have nasonex spray as well...I am convinced that mine is seasonal...but so far no itchy eyes or headaches...mine seem to get better after we have a freeze...& the way it is looking today not likely for quite some time...another hot day...I think it may have
been hotter here today then yours...& tomorrow
more of the same...
Local news my Jeff Fox weatherguy is still saying Earl will pass us by but will cause a pretty good rain/wind storm...
Never heard of the movie City Island, but I like Andy Garcia...I liked him as Vincent Corleone, in Godfather 3...thought he made a good heir for Michael...& he was the restauranter who spurned Karen in a Will & Grace episode...did you guys watch that show...
I still watch the reruns...I liked Karen & Jack...
City Island is a real place in NY, a little
island peninsula off the Bronx...I think near the Throgs Neck Bridge, actually in Long Island
Sound where it goes in close to NYC....
And tonite I think America's Got Talent has more live performances...if you stay awake...
Carol, sorry you are having problems with allergies and sinus problems. I have that 24-7. I take OTC Claritin daily. If its real bad at night I take another kind of allergy med. for your nose, I recommend mens white handkercheifs from Walmart - all cotton are the best. I love them. They are easy on your nose and they are good for cleaning your glasses too. I buy a dozen or two at a time. John uses that Netti pot and swears by it. I can't stand to put water in my nose so I just "enjoy my suffering."
Coreen, you can't beat those old singers. I will never get rid of mine. If you ever decide to sell it, check with a quilt shop. You are right, the t-shirts stretch so you have to buy the stuff at a fabric shop to iron on the back of the t-shirts to make them non-stretchable. I bought a book on making t-shirt quilts that gives complete instructions. I also took a class on making them too (Carol will have something to say about my taking the class). They are fun to make and kids like their t-shirts. The shirts can be faded, stained and even torn and they will work.
Carol, I also put vaseline on the outside of my nasal passages when I am "blowing and going" and it helps - good to do before you go to sleep and when you wake up, your nose is like new.
"Would be interested in seeing what a t-shirt
quilt looks like....do you put stuffing in it, or just quilt the pieces of the t-shirts...I would think that t-shirt material stretches as
you try to sew it..."
Coreen, After ironing the stuff on the back of the t-shirts to prevent stretching, I use a rotary cutter to cut out the patch I want to use on the quilt. For a throw-type quilt, I might use about 8-10 shirts. For a bed size quilt about 12 + shirts. Depends on how big the pictures or logos or writing on the shirt; After I have cut out all the shirts - it is best to have them all the same size. I then cut out sashing (these are just strips to separate the shirt- patches). then you sew the sashing and shirts together. Then you need a backing and batting, just like other quilts. These are put together like a sandwich and you can either machine quilt it (that is what I am doing) or use yarn and do ties on the quilt.
Sounds interesting Jan...the iron on stiffening fabric makes sense, had no idea how
the t-shirt material could be used to make a quilt...is the 'art' of the
quilt in that you cut the T-shirt designs &
lay them out in a pattern of some sort...not familiar with a rotary cutter, I would have thought a pinking shear maybe...do you use a theme of the designs or just kind of random designs...I do not like to sew either hand or machine,so not something I would tackle...but have always marveled at the intracacy of quilts, the patterns, the themes
that are used...& the patience one must have to piece them all together has always impressed me...they are like fabric works of art...
I just finished watching City Island and I do give it two thumbs up. Recently released in DVD and you can get it at a Redbox for a dollar.
And yes, I do/did love Will and Grace. One of my favorites is when Grace was at that art exhibit and sprung two leaks in her water bra. Did you see that one.
What do you mean Coreen, stay awake? Well, I did take a little nap after taking that little antihistamine. It's one of those cheap little old ones, the one I use with my inmates at the joint, chlorpheniramine. It does make you a little sleepy but nothing like what Benadryl does. It's awful. When I feel this bad a little sedation is required.
What's funny is that my inmates want that little antihistamine and ask for it even when I see no signs and symptoms of any nasal congestion. When they ask for it too often I put then on Claritin, (loratadine). It's actually better but doesn't cause any drowsiness so they say it doesn't work. They want the sedation.
Hummer activity is picking up. I've had a few all summer but more are arriving. If you don't already have your feeders up then get them out and fill um up. My friend, in town, who didn't have her's up just put them up and said they were starting to swarm.
Someone is stealing fuel and other things like Stabil from up under my camp. Just found my full 6 gallon can of gas empty, I just filled it last week. Last week a large container of Stabil went missing. I feel pretty sure it is someone who visits my neighbor, next door, if not him. No one else around or who is going to come from a distance to take that kind of stuff. No one else knows my schedule. Dang it.
It is funny Coreen how you have the patience to knit and I would have no patience to knit. I think hand knit items are beautiful but not my thing.
I have always loved fabrics - I can spend hours in a fabric store. I can remember as a young child, I loved the feel of certain fabrics. I don't like to make clothing though. I have made a couple of dresses and then didn't like them.
Quilts are my thing. When I went to the Bernina store for some lessons on how to use my machine, the teacher gave us tips on sewing clothing and I was bored to tears - I just wanted the info I could use to make quilts.
I will look for the movie, City Island.
Carol, Claritin is my antihistamine of choice b/c it does not make me drowzy.
Carol, my sister is in the hospital. I just called and she has been there since last wed. She has an infection and they are trying to find the source. They think it is the port thru which she gets her TPN. She sounds ok though. She is getting IV antibiotics and they are giving her TPN in the hosp. I am pretty worried. Her health is so vulnerable. She no longer has a fever but they are concerned about her blood work. She didn't know what to tell me about that. I need to call her daughter who is an RN and talk to her.
I'm sorry Jan. I hope she is OK.
When the President came on the speak tonight, I swear I thought it was an act from SNL. I had to do a double take. Obama is starting to sound more like the guy on SNL who imitates him.
DSCN0915
Ignore that number above. I am trying to figure out how to post a picture without doing a new post. HELP
Jan,
Pretty sure you can't add a pic to a post by someone else, but you could email it to Carol & she could add it to the post...
Coreen, Go to the previous post and there are 2 pictures at the top of the t-shirt quilt. The 2nd pic is just the t-shirt parts for the quilt and the 1st pic is after I have put some of the sashing on the t-shirt pieces. The background for each piece is black with little white "puppy or kitty" feet.
Jan, put up a new post. It's time for a new one.
I did not want to mess up Carol's (current) post. I was able to add the pics to the "Indian Market" post but it added them at the top - and I wanted to add them at bottom. I figured out how to do it.
I don't want to put up a new one Carol. Your post is great. Lets let it run its course.
Put up your quilts on a new post Jan. That would be great.
Jan, it already ran it's course. There is no course.
I'm ready for my puffy face to be history.
I am sitting here LOL at you Carol. I feel the same way about my pictures. John just asked me what I am laughing about.
I will post some pics when I get the quilt finished. Sorry the 1st pic is so blurry. I have made myself a "design wall" in a room so I can pin up the quilt in various stages of work to get an idea how I want to do it.
Besides, Its Coreen's turn to put up a post. How about some pics of your kitties and your beautiful house and garden.
Those are the only pics I have of the quilt so far. what you see is what there is!
Ok everyone left. I am going to watch the American talent show.
Wow Jan, what an effort...Nice idea for the
pin up to set it up on the wall...
I think I missed the black background & the pawprints...I will go back & see if I can see it...I will look forward to seeing the completed quilt...
Boy if we could all collect different t-shirts
for you what an across america quilt you might
set up...
Again patience & lots of work...which I know
is well worth it...
Jan, nothing in my mind just now to post...please put up a post if you are ready, I enjoy seeing everyone's world...
I've been semi keeping up with AGT. Nothing has wowed me yet.
Ok, went back & found the black background on
the blurry pic...
am watching America's got talent, but so far
I really only liked the magician...
Whew! I was hoping we wouldn't have to watch that guy on the bike bust his face again!
I guess my problem with some of these acts...is
how do you build a show around them...
the dance routine did not impress me either...
the singers were just ok...
the pianist while talented....but I did not enjoy listening to the piece he played....
That little Jackie blows me away!
I'm sure the 10 year old will be a finalist...though again, not for me...did enjoy
the fighting gravity, but to me its like the
magic acts...it's more how do they do that...
and tell me how does the child's voice come out
when she talks, but when she sings its an adult voice...
A cultural ignoramus...as Pierce Morgan said
about Howie...
I think that little girls voice is a miracle.
Something about that young girl's voice reminded me of a voice I really loved..Jane Oliver. I don't think I ever heard her on the radio but someone turned me on to her years ago. I haven't listened to that CD in years.
Jane Olivor ~ Stay the Night
Ever heard of her?
We just finished AGT here. My fav acts were Jackie, the little girl singer and Fighting Gravity. Iliked the guy who made the train disappear too. Jackie Evanco will have a career in music whether she wins or not. She is phenomenal.
I don't remember ever hearing Jane Oliver before. I love her voice and the way she says her words so clearly. Wow! Can't believe I have not heard her before.
But Jackie Evanco. How does a 10 year old have a voice like that?
Coreen, LOL when Piers called Howie a Cultural Ignoramus. I broke up.
Jan, I think that many of the talent acts will have a career whether they win or not. That one female singer made some kind of comment to that effect. Maybe that is why the Chicken Catcher won last year. I think he was one who was least likely to have a great lasting career but since he had a good story, at least he got some money.
And I agree with everyone about that Fighting Gravity act. It was very unique and they will have a Vegas act. The little girl doesn't need to win. She has been discovered and will have an amazing career no matter what.
One of the groups, at least, from last year has a Vegas act.
Jan, there is a lot of good talent, like Jane Oliver, who never made it to the radio or at least to my radio. I used to have some friends in Austin who turned me on to people I would have never heard of if they didn't.
I decided to take another day off to get better. I feel better than I did yesterday but coughed all night. I have all my remedies for the fix but wish I would have had them before this stuff made a home in my face. I really did know there was a problem coming and my stress level hasn't helped. Probably the stress level is the main culprit. Too many irons in the fire and I got burned.
For allergies, I think the steroid nasal sprays have the greatest affect. I had one that was about 3 or 4 years old and I had squeezed the last drop out of it.
I have a squirrel, who if she isn't happy with what I throw them to eat, climbs up to see what my problem is. You know, like the hummers who look in your window to ask why you haven't freshed up their sugar water.
What Gives?
Carol, take care of yourself. I love your little squirrel. May I recommend some chicken soup. When I have a sinus problem or bronchitis, I start eating chicken soup (with noodles) and drink lots of warm liquids.
And Jan if you want to make a link to a pic, like I just did, set up a photobucket or similar pic program. Then add your pic. When the pic is there, place your curser over the pic and below there will be several options for sharing. Put your curser over the direct link option, highlight it and copy it. Paste that link in your blog comment.
Chloe and Ivy, I am missing you.
Jan, there are several things that I learned to hate as a kid because they are associated with illness. One is honey and the other is chicken soup.
I miss them also Jan. Hope everything is OK. They probably needed a break.
I hope Ivy gets a chance to hit Portland before the rainy season.
I'm sitting here, looking out my window, watching the pollen fly by. This used to a time when I always came down with bad allergy problems but I thought that I grew out of it. I hadn't really had problems since about age 50.
When I got home yesterday I saw the tree man and friend, who hangs out next door, out fishing my honey hole. When he came in, he said he caught 20 white perch. He went back out for more. Drats, I shoulda fished instead of BBQing Sunday.
Good idea Carol...sure you could use the time
off from all the goings on at work...& it gives you some time to feel better...
The squirrel looking for you...I have a couple
here who wait for me in the a.m., like they are
saying what's with you, we've been up for hours...
I'm am doing the hot green tea with pomegranate, no honey.
Carol, How are you feeling? Did you get some rest/sleep today?
I worked this afternoon. I am enjoying getting back in the thick of things. Work takes my mind off some family issues I am dealing with. I am dealing with the fam issues - but I like being distracted from them for a time.
Yes Jan, I slept on the couch most of the day and I feel very lethargic. Can barely put one foot in front of the other. Old people don't do sick well.
I have to get back to work tomorrow so I had better get over this by then. I'm so backed up. I don't get sick because I've never had a job that went on without me. It's just piled up waiting for me. When I left work yesterday, I already had over 100 charts waiting to be reviewed and signed. Now I have to add today's and the back up of patients. Makes me sick just to think about it.
I had to get up to return City Island. Y'all do need to rent that one. It's interesting. The main character is a correctional officer, but not much about that. He finds a son, in the prison, he had when he was very young, before he married his current wife. The son has to be released to family, I guess some sort of probation thing. His mother is dead so this officer, Garcia, takes him home but doesn't tell him that he is his son.
Everyone in this officer's family has some sort of secret they are hiding from the rest of the family but the con ends up knowing all of the secrets. It's interesting how it turns out when all the secrets are revealed.
Jan, I hope your sister is doing better.
And Coreen, it is the City Island in the Bronx area.
Can you believe that the Alaskan Republican Senate candidate, who won the primary, supports getting rid of Social Security, Medicare, unemployment, and thinks women who are raped should be forced by the government to have the baby? Did the cold get to those people's brains?
I think that America has gotten change on the brain and it doesn't even matter what that change represents anymore. Out of the frying pan and into the fire.....
that should have read "unemployment compensation". I think we all support getting rid of unemployment.
And the Yankees win!!! Carol, now each game is
important...
Saw the end of AGT, I'm sticking with the singer with the hat & raspy voice & the magician...I like magic acts...the little girl
is in too & fighting gravity...
As far as the extremes on both sides of the spectrum...both do damage to the country as a whole...but look on the bright side the Alaska
right winger may just be to extreme for them & the dem may have a shot at it...
The anger & frustration is real & unfortunately
the dems seem so shell shocked with the realization that they could lose to those they find so inferior...they can't even see what they have done to create the anger....
I can tell you where I am there is little love for Obama & the things the dems have pushed, in particular the health care bill that really
only has caused those who actually pay for their insurance to have to pay more, quite a bit more...
Coreen, I knew that health care reform was way, way too complex to try to tackle in a hurry but they insisted on trying and just as we here expected, it was a big bust. It also had way, way too much big money, money that supports campaigns, involved. It was a no win situation.
All the Republicans had to do was hold out, say no, and look like the good guys when we all know their idea of reform is to have nothing available for the poor so they hurry up and die!
They should have done what Chloe always recommends....taken baby steps. Fix one thing at a time. The first should have been...get rid of fraud and abuse in the system. I offered my help, I really did, but they didn't take me up on it. When Obama sent me a email asking for a donation I emailed back that I would be glad to give them plenty of advice.
And I hope that when the people of Alaska wake up from their, we need a change, stupors, they do vote for the Dem candidate.
So how exactly do our Yanks rate right now?
It is closing in on BB play offs. When do they start? If the Yanks get in, maybe I'll get to watch a real game. Those stick games got old.
Sept 9, first Saints game, playing the Vikings.
And I believe the Saints game is on National TV....
Right now the Yankees are in first place in
the East, but only by one game over Tampa Bay,
who they will play 7 more times this month
3 in Tampa, 4 at the Stadium...& they also have
to play Boston 6 more times, 3 at home & the
last 3 at Boston the first weekend of October...so each win is important...
The conventional wisdom says the Yankees & Tampa will both be in the playoffs, one as the
division winner, the other the wild card, but
that is not a guarantee yet...
You have another month before playoffs in October...& no more stick guys...
And we are all still waiting for Earl to make
his move...still saying it will miss but cause
lots of rain & wind...which as you know here is
a problem with all the trees....
The hurricane hunters dropped a weather parachute into Earl and found a wind gust, in the upper atmosphere, of 199mph. Yuk.
Heard that from Chad on AC360.
We need to put our anti-hurricane prayer circle into full action.
Unity's World Day of Prayer is coming up on Sept 9. Remember, I put us all on the list. Not a minute too soon for me.
I think I heard there may be 2 more to follow...will just have to hope for the best...
Good luck tomorrow, try to roll with the flow
when you get overwhelmed at work...what did
George's father in Seinfeld say 'serenity now, serenity now' when he was ready to explode...
See you later....
Coreen, are Sea and Renee in the path of that Earl? It seems that Sea is close to the water. It may be touch and go for her.
And you just need to prepare for the possibility of no electricity for days. You already know how much fun that is. I went 21 days without it. That will get your attention. Good thing I had lots of camping experience.
Need your flashlights, a ice chest, a little butane cooking stove unless you cook with gas and lots of patience. A friend with a generator is really nice.
It seems that Sea is surely in the path of some
significant weather Friday into Saturday...Marthas Vineyard is an island in the Atlantic just off Mass....
Don't know where Renee lives in NH, not sure how much bad weather is on its way, but I would guess they will get something from Earl as well...
Today is another hot, sunny day here...but along the coast boats are being moved & secured
at marinas in anticipation of the storm...
Here they continue to say the worst wind & heavy rain will be at the other end of CT closer to the Atlantic Ocean where Earl's still
heading...but they keep saying just a small change back west toward the coastline could
happen...& then more severe weather for us....
Well, I made it half a day and got one clinic done. Will try again tomorrow and start at the other clinic. I was so much sicker than anyone I was seeing today.
To top off the day, a guy came in to see me and I recognized the name. He was the same guy who broke into my house and robbed me over 5 years ago. I came home to the robbery in progress but he did get away. They caught him down the road several hours later but had lost some of my stuff on his trek thru the woods and swamps.
He got 10 years because he was a felon and took a loaded gun from under one of my pillows. I guess he got out with good time. He was in jail at my joint when I first started working there but shortly after was transferred to a state facility. He didn't recognize me then or now.
He was released from prison in January this year and back in for the same thing, robbery. That is all he knows and this will continue until he is locked up for good. He's been in jail for almost all of his adult life, robbery is his career choice. Since he has spent most of his incarceration time in jails, I helped him get to a DOC facility where he might learn a new trade. I guess that didn't work out.
Another rig explosion off the coast of Louisiana. Jees.
Coreen, the Atlantic coast is in better shape when a hurricane brushes the coast because the bad side of the storm is on the opposite side of the storm, away from the coast. When a hurricane brushes the Gulf coast, the bad side slams us all the way.
Sorry to have not been around, but I've had the weirdest few days. Yesterday I had to take my youngest little cat (Tazzy, the one I mentioned finding on my property about a year ago -actually she found me) to the vet. I am so attached to her, and I was convinced there was something horribly wrong, because she hasn't been herself and seemed worse. But they couldn't find anything except a very slightly elevated temperature, and her blood work looked fine. So they sent her home with some Amoxycillin, and it seems to be doing the trick.
Monday wasn't much better, but today has been relatively smooth, and Emma finally decided she's take a nap, so I'm trying to get caught up on the posts.
I did see you haven't been feeling well Carol - is it mostly the allergies? I've noticed my allergies kicking in a lot earlier this year too. I think it's mainly the dryer air that has been getting to me. I'm allergic to common dust, and there's a lot more of it when the humidity is down.
Jan, I hope your sister is doing better too. These painful hardships that constantly come along sure can make it difficult to cope with the day to day things.
Hope everything else is going along well for you. Glad to see you're enjoying your time back at work. 10 hours a week sounds just right.
"the health care bill that really only has caused those who actually pay for their insurance to have to pay more, quite a bit more... "
"the dems seem so shell shocked with the realization that they could lose to those they find so inferior..."
I hear you Coreen (on both these things). I'm one of those people paying a lot more than I was paying before it was passed. Somebody's always got to pay - unfortunately!.
... and isn't it bizarre, how many people see those who disagree with them as 'inferior'?
Didn't see you Carol - and didn't know there was another explosion off Louisiana. I'd better read the news too.
Chloe, welcome back. Sorry about kitty.
This mess I have started as an bad allergy attack and turned into a sinusitis/bronchitis. I'm trying every homeopathic fix I can think of. I'm not going to go for any antibiotics unless everything else fails. Antibiotics don't like me or me, them. Don't do chicken soup, as Jan recommended, but I made some chicken gumbo. Maybe that will cure me.
It's a production platform that blew Chloe, off Vermillion Bay, central, south La. They did see a oil slick. I think we need some more oil exploration out there, don't ya think?
The thing is Carol, that if it's a sinus 'infection' an antibiotic mike clear it up pretty fast.
That said though, I'm the same way - and rarely go to the doctor.
But still, bronchitis can lead to pneumonia, can't it? I went for my flu shot today (at the HEB Market pharmacy). I'm thinking about getting the pneumonia shot too. I hear you only need it like every 5 years. They give that at the market pharmacy to.
Good idea Chloe to get those vaccines. I will when I'm better. I never had that pneumo vac.
Sorry you are still feeling under the weather Carol...
Latest Earl update...probably tropical storm
type winds & rain Friday late afternoon, evening & overnight...the worse still in the New London area & unfortunately my local weather guy says Martha's Vineyard where Sea
lives as well as Cape Cod & Nantucket is going
to get the brunt of the storm....
Chloe, hope your Tazzy is on the mend from whatever it may be...it's so hard to figure
out what is wrong with our fur family...
Thanks Coreen. She does seem to be feeling better, but will be on the antibiotic through the weekend.
Carol, I spoke out of place, because I looked up bronchitis and sinus infections (very briefly), and if it's not allergy, it said it's usually viral. So I guess those antibiotics wouldn't be much help anyway. Also, I know antibiotics can be hard on some people.
I hope you start feeling better soon.
Thinking about all of this, I've decided I am going back for that pneumonia shot this weekend. It surprised me that they got the flu shots out so early this year. I still have to take Emma to her doctor for one too. I dread that - she really hates shots (and doctors).
... they finally seem to be getting more focused on prevention. That's a good thing.
Hurricanes have smacked the Northeast before — a fast moving whopper in 1938, Carol and Diane in the 1950s and Bob in 1991. But National Hurricane Center records show they are generally once-in-a-generation events. In parts of the Northeast, hurricanes occur as infrequently as once every 35 years." http://www.foxnews.com/us/2010/09/02/trough-earl-going-hurricanes-gone-follow/
... first part of the quote didn't show up on that for some reason:
Because of trough, Earl is going where few hurricanes have gone before; but more may follow "Pushed by an ill-timed trough of low pressure, Hurricane Earl is heading uncomfortably close to an area relatively few hurricanes tend to go: the Northeast coastline.
And Earl may be foreshadowing more northerly big storms to come with global warming, two hurricane experts said Thursday."
Chloe, I heard that the flu vaccine this year has the Swine flu vac in it also. Did you hear that? Our pharmacist usually orders the flu shots for all of the medical staff at the jail. I haven't thought about asking her about them.
And yes, bronchitis is more often viral and so can sinusitis. I've been stressed and run down lately so the bugs jumped on board. It might be because you have let up on the health posts and I got sick.
I hate to admit it but I'm sure glad the bad hurricanes have left us alone so far this year. I'm also glad that the Atlantic ones have been keeping off shore. Even though the conditions in the northern Atlantic aren't that condusive to hurricane development, they are getting more that way.
Have y'all noticed that Hillary is letting her hair grow? This evening, on the news, I noticed it's getting long.
I have not been ignoring you all. My computer would not start up this morning and had to work. This evening John found a site (from his book on dummies with Macs) and managed to get it started. It is not working at 100% - so will take it to apple store in next few days.
I have lots of reading to do before I make any further comments.
I see that Sea checked into TM. She was distressed because she didn't get all her windows covered. With Rita and her over 100mph winds here, I didn't have the first board or piece of tape on any of my, mostly cheap windows, at the house or camp. With the camp facing the east and the river, the wind had to be horrible here. Windows hung in there. 1/4 of the roof went bye bye and the wind blew the locked front door open but the windows were just fine.
Carol, did I remember it right that you were
at work during Rita...so you were not able to
secure either of your homes...
I can not imagine the horror of 100 mph winds
& rain & flooding...
They are all now saying that Earl has started
to weaken & moving east so it looks like we
may dodge a bullet...except for as I said
earlier people like Sea....but lets hope it weakens enough before it gets there as well...
I don't even like the thought of 20-30 mph winds here, the trees sway & bend so much & they are all more than 60+ feet high around the
house...the only good thing is my electric utility is underground on my property, but the
feed on the streets are all still overhead....
Coreen, I had no one to help me and way too much, with two places, to do. I just threw my pool furniture into the little pool house. I locked up my places, said a prayer to "Mother Mary" and left. I stayed in the jail. Even in that concrete and steel building, the noise was horrendous. Wind blew all the dust out of the AC vents. Rain came thru the walls and windows that didn't open.
The worst hit about 1Am. I had never been thru any serious hurricane before so I had visions of surges coming into town. I even had a raft/paddles in my truck, just in case. With the noise I heard, I didn't expect for there to be anything left standing in town.
There were people who stayed in their houses but said they wouldn't do that again. They watched their windows and walls moving in and out.
I think y'all will be OK unless tornados come thru and they do have a tendency to do that. They counted hundreds of tornados during Rita.
Ya know that sinus irrigation thingy seems to be working pretty well. Anyone ever try one? I didn't get the neti pot. I got the plastic squeeze bottle you fill with luke warm water and add salt.
Carol, did you have maggie with you then...
was there extensive flooding for your area
as well as the wind damage...did your river
overflow up toward the house....
Oh yes Coreen, Maggie was by my side. It was no Maggie, no Carol. That year they allowed some dogs at the jail but it did get out of hand because unlike me, with a little dog, in a little cage, some had big ones that they didn't take care of.
For the next hurricane they said no dogs and they had no Carol but I stayed in town and risked life and limb. Fortunately none of those hurricanes hit here. If they say I can't have my dog, then they need to find some other sucker to live there for a week.
The hospital where I work, evacuated for three plus weeks, everyone did, they stayed in nice hotels, while I lived in hell for all that time and provided care for the staff and the jail and the community here. Inmates were evacuated but we were taking new ones in the entire time, for looting and other crimes.
The first 8 days I was stuck at the jail in a concrete, sweating building with no water, no AC, not a breeze, sleeping on a prison mat. (I do understand the inmate's complaints about those mats) I cried myself to sleep, with Maggie's leash tied to my leg. I took her out of her pen so we would be together. The weather was 100% humidity and hot as hell outside.
I broke outta the joint after 8 days, after I managed to pick up a generator and some heavy duty extension cords, and a chair saw. Just getting supplies required standing in long lines and waiting, in the heat. I came out to the camp after they cleared the road of trees. The surge pushed 10.5 feet of water up the river but it dropped back down in a week. It killed everything for a long distance up past my camp, for years. Dead fish and the smell of death everywhere. It looked and felt like a war zone. I felt like I was alone and pretty much was since everyone had evacuated and couldn't come back. There were a few others out here. One was RR Randal, my nurse friend. He was a ways down the road.
It was easier to set up camp at the camp. I put the generator under the camp and ran the cords into the little kitchen area. I could close off that area. I had a couch in there and that's where I lived for over 3 weeks. I had a light, a little TV and a baby AC I took from my shop at the house. Actually it was heaven compared to the jail. I went back and forth to work and the rest of my day was standing in lines for 5 gallons of gas, standing in another line for food, ice and water. Getting those goody packages was the highlight of my entertainment. I thank all those people who came to help. They were lifesavors.
It's an experience I don't want to repeat and I get serious PTSD when they say hurricane.
Carol, just reading what happened then gives me
a chill...as I have said in the past you have
some real inner strength...pretty sure I could
never have endured what you did for all that time...
Earl update...cloudy, warm, rain, humid,
winds 20-30 mph with gusts...arrival late this
afternoon/evening...again worst weather will be the SE end of CT(New London area)....
We'll hang with you Coreen. I think everything will be OK.
Coreen, we can all endure what we are given to endure. I wouldn't have voluntered for it.
Thanks Carol....
As usual the local TV channels have reporters
at the beaches watching the waves hit the shore...right now they are at Southhampton, L.I. (the south shore of L.I in NY that faces
the Atlantic Ocean....with sun breaking through the clouds...
Here's a good update about other storms that were brewing...the 2 storms...Fiona? &
Gaston that were out there are no longer a
consideration...the F storm will stay out in the Atlantic & Gaston has fizzled...
And according to local news Earl is rapidly
decreasing in intensity...will likely be downgraded to a category 1 shortly....& they are starting to tamp down the alarms as to what
will be happening later...all good for the
east coast...but many of the local
schools that started school this week are dismissing classes early today in anticipation of the storm...
Wow Carol! I had no idea what you experienced during Rita. You are amazing. I suppose we do not know what we are capable of until put to the test. You more than survived the test - you aced it.
It was in that 2-3 weeks that I became acquainted with Corky's daughter, Stephanie, again. They came here to escape Rita. She has an uncle in Arizona and they stopped over in Albuquerque and she contacted me then. That was when they decided to move here. They thought it would be permanent but after living here 2 years, Stephanie's husband was homesick for LA. I have not heard from her since they left.
Coreen, that is great news about Earl.
My computer is working just great this morning. I thoroughly cleaned out all my files yesterday and emptied all the "trash" too. That seemed to do the trick. It is working like new. I am still taking it in to the Apple shop this weekend.
I am also sleeping just fine too. I did wake up at 2:30 this morning with an allergy attack - throat was so scratchy it felt like I had sand in it. The pollen here is super-high. I got up and took a claritin and went back to bed - was asleep in about 30 min when C took effect and slept until about 30 min. ago. So I think I am cured. All my little sleep-hygiene activities are working.
Coreen, thinking good thoughts and saying prayers for you that Earl will only provide you with some good rain to assist in having some good tree colors this fall.
Chloe, good to hear from you. I hope your little cat, TAzzie, is recovered now. You will have to put up a pic of her soon. We too were surprised that the flu shots were here early. We will get ours. John and I have both had the pneumonia shot. We might be due another one soon. I still got pneumonia last Dec - I had the shot about 3 years ago, so maybe I better get it again. I get bronchitis about every year. I am aware that it starts out viral, but if I have an Upper respiratory infection that goes into bronchitis and it does not clear up in a week, it will go on until I get antibiotics. The antibiotics will clear it up. I bought some antibiotics in Mexico last Dec. so I don't have to wait until I get Pneumonia to get some.
Chloe, Thanks for asking about my sister. She is still in the hosp. Her infection was in the port she had for her nutrition IVs. They took her to surgery yesterday and took out the port and put in a Central Line. She will be getting IV antibiotics for another 2 weeks after she goes home. In a month they will evaluate her for another port. Her spirits are really good and she sounds great. She has an amazing will to survive these things. Her weight is now about 100 lbs which is fat for her. I think they can give her nutrition IVs through the central line until they get another port in.
Chloe, I remember the HEB markets when I lived in Austin. They were great markets.
Carol, I heard something the other day that there may be a change in evacuation policies that people will be able to take their pets when they are ordered to evacuate. Have you heard anything about that.
Yes Jan, they allow people to evacuate with pets. That changed after Katrina since many stayed in NO for Katrina because they wouldn't leave their pets.
It's the jail that didn't want any dogs, the year after Rita, and I wasn't leaving my Maggie with anyone to take care of. We are a team. We take care of each other.
I didn't make the entire day today. This bug kicked my butt. I'm ready to start feeling better.
Jan, I'm so glad you got your computer up and running again. Loved reading your upbeat posts!
The HEB markets are a lot better now than they were in the years when we first moved here (although I liked them back then too). They've drastically upgraded them - rebuilt them almost from scratch - plus have built a lot of new stores. They're much larger and ultra modern, and offer just about anything you can imagine. I like them and Kroger's so much more than Walmart, but I still have to go into Walmart more than I wish I did.
Carol, Nice that you left work early, but sorry to hear you feel worse than ever. I hope the long weekend helps out and does the trick for you.
Coreen, Like Jan, I'm thinking good thoughts for you too. Please keep us informed.
Well we are still looking for Earl...it is overcast & humid, but no sign of rain/wind yet...
The storm is causing huge waves/wind further east along the sound closer to the Atlantic...
& the local weather still says eastern Mass will get the worst...but not us thankfully...
My weatherguy says tonite it will be a stormy night but with little damaging wind....his words 'minimal problems for CT'...but tomorrow
could be windier though Earl will be long gone...
Sorry you are still not feeling better yet Carol...
Hope everyone gets to enjoy this Labor Day Weekend, at least a little...
I put up a new post....
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