A Beehive of Activity

I HAVE MISSED YOU GALS!!!

I took my computer back to the shop on Tuesday--not for repairs, but to have my "lost" files put on my new computer.  I feared I had lost my 40 years of genealogy work that was on my FAMILY TREE MAKER stored on my old hard drive.  I had not, but I was told, I had to re-install FTM.  No big deal?

WANNA BET?

I no longer have the install disc.  I "loaned" it to someone and they have moved and they loaned it to someone else.

FRUSTRATED!!

But you know me--I solved the problem the easiest way I knew how.  I ran to Best Buy and bought a new FTM and ran it over to the computer shop.

They also found all my old e-mails in Outlook 8, in the folders where I have them saved and put them into my new (much hated) Microsoft Outlook 2010.

All this cost me nothing because--it was supposed to have been done when they built me the new computer.  Well--there was a cost of $71.00 for the new FTM, but................
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So much activity across the street.  It will give me something to watch and take pix of and blog about, LOL.

The work started  yesterday morning.  I watched as they starting digging holes into the ground with a post hole digger on the front of the BobCat.  I said, "Those guys are going to tear up an electrical line for sure."  And they did--but it wasn't an electrical line--I heard a big WHOOSH and looked out.  They had broken the natural gas line.  Even though, Miss Dig had been out and clearly marked, in bright orange paint, where the electrical and gas line were.  MEN--working too fast and bulling ahead!

This guy arrived--I have no idea why he has a ski hat on. 

and then the boss, Miss Dig arrived.  

Hefty gal for sure.

She went over the entire lot--marking lines and boundaries. 

The gas company arrived and fixed the gas line.

====================

Here we are this morning at 8:00.  A BackHoe comes in and the team has an early morning conference on "how are we gonna do this?"

They proceed a bit more cautiously this time.

Then help arrives--knowledgeable help.

and a more careful, gentler work begins.

Note the shirtless kid--it was 58 degrees at this time.

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But wait--what's this going on.......a new supervisor?  

NO!  IT'S DARLENE!

She wants to talk to Rob, the park manager--note: the guy with his hand to his head--can we imagine what he is thinking?

He's talking to the guy in the BackHoe and pointing at Dar--who has a really bad pair of under pants on today.

Aha-so this is it.  She walks them over to her stump removed sawdust pile.

"As long as you have the equipment here, have him take away all that sawdust for me."

<sorry I made a catty remark about her underwear, but she was just over last night bragging about how she has gained 30#, but still wears a size 8 pants.  Me thinks her underpants are a size 4 and she needs to get some bigger ones?  After all, she gets a 15% discount where she works.>

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What I didn't get to tell you was MY adventure. 

 Tuesday, when I took my computer to the shop, I drive right by the street to Jen's house.  I knew Pammie was there with the kids, so on my way back, I just drove right up there and right up to the front door!  and, I got to see my Pammie and all of my younger grandkids.  Of course, baby Evan (almost 3) has hardly a clue who this Mimi person is, but................................

While the kids were inside, Pammie and I went out to the front porch, so she could have a smoke, and she sort of whispers to me that, "Jen and Eric are going out to New Jersey to look at property."

"I thought they had decided not to move."

"They did.  The first part of summer, they went out and talked to Eric's dad again, about Eric taking over the business and they came home and said it wasn't going to happen.  Eric can't work with his dad and his dad won't let Eric do what he wants with the company."

"Well--what changed their mind?"

"It's Jen's idea.  Eric doesn't want to move.  The kid's don't want to move.  Jen is tired of working and supporting the family.  Eric has climbed as far as he can in his job, so he won't be making enough for her to quit work.  She said, 'it's time HE started pulling HIS weight around here.' "

"Why don't they just downsize?  Sell this dang mansion."

"Eric designed this house when he was eighteen.  It is his dream house and he said that he couldn't stand to live in the area and know that someone else was living in his house."

"So---the only solution is to move out to New Jersey, where none of them want to live, just so Jen won't have to work?"

"Jen said she is very unhappy.  Neither one of them sees the kids.  Some days, they both work until after the kids are in bed asleep."

"I know."

"I told Jen that if she is unhappy, moving isn't going to bring her happiness.  Unhappiness follows you no matter where you move."

"Good.  Just what I would have said, but.....she would take it better coming from you than from me."

"I just hope they get out there this weekend, and can spend time alone and talk about all this and realize....."

"You know Pammie--this is the life Jennifer has always wanted.  A big, high paying job.  She's now a partner.  She wanted the big money...the big house.  She's got it and now, she's finding out...the kids are growing up and she's missing out."

"I know, Momma...but....you know Jen...once she gets something in her mind...nobody is going to stand in her way."

"Well...if Eric doesn't want to move and the kids don't want to move...her forcing it sure isn't going to make for a very happy home or marriage."

<then I bummed a ciggie from Pammie and we both just stood there and puffed and pondered>

Of course, Pammie is worried about losing her job.  I reassured her that plenty of places around here are looking for employees.  She could work at Meijer's and make nearly $9.00 an hour to start.  She thinks she's too old (at 55) to get a job.  I told her, "If Meijer's hires people like Dar, at seventy-two years old, they surely would hire you!"  

Of course, I'd like to say:

but...it kind of is.

On the other hand--I have no say in what Jen does--and that is a good thing because, you know darn well, it if didn't work out--it would be my fault!!

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Those Dang Monkeys!!!

The high temperature today was:  too hot (90)

The humidity today was:  too high (48%)

Coolness promised for the rest of the week.

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What a weird night last night.  To bed at 11:30 and fell right to sleep.  Woke up at 12:15--like I had had a nap and wasn't tired anymore.  GEEZ!!!

Got out of bed, took a Benedryl, went potty, sat up for a bit, went potty again and back to bed.  Rolled back and worth, trying to get comfortable.  I have tried 4 different pillows and they ALL make my neck hurt!  Finally, I glanced at the clock, saw 3:30 and must have gone to sleep.

The alarm went off at 8:00 and I got up because, NO MATTER WHAT I was going to the doc's office to get blood drawn so I can check and make sure my Potassium is at a good level.

Stopped at Wal-Mart on the way home--turned in my pop bottles-$2.60- and picked up my antibiotic that I have to take before going to the dentist.

Got home by 10:00 and wanted to go back to bed--but I never do that and I never take a nap, so now--I am so sleepy.

I have been having trouble with my eyes again--they feel sticky all the time--like there is gunk in the corners, or a film over them.  I rub them all the time and that just irritates them more.  No, I don't have allergies.  This happens from time to time during the year.  I guess I need to mix up some Boric Acid with sterile water and wipe them several times a day.  That usually cures them.

Did I tell you that my next door Tami's husband had a heart attack Sunday?  I think I mentioned that two weekends ago, he was playing catch with his daughter and he stopped, bent over and was holding his left shoulder.  He had a hard time walking back across the street.  Tami was too busy to notice him, so I wrote her a message on FB and told her to go in the house and check him out.

I try to stay as far away from her life as I can.  She is one weird woman!  When she talks, she paces back and forth and does a lot of gesticulating with her hands and arms.  She is constantly moving while she is talking to you.  She will ask a question, then when you go to answer, she interrupts and starts talking about something totally unrelated.  She has to check her cell phone constantly--I am not kidding--constantly.

Anyway, the way her hubs was looking reminded me of how Fred used to act when he had pain in his chest, so, I thought she should know.  Well, her hubs said he had hurt his left arm throwing the ball--even though he throws right handed?

Sunday night, she is on FB asking for prayers (this is the woman who practices mild witchcraft) that Ron was in the ER, had a heart attack and they were taking him down to Ann Arbor to St. Joe's (where Fred always went),  Long story short, he had to have two stents put in and came home today.

What grinds me, is she has to work nights, so today at 4:00 I hear a knock on my door and there she is and shoves a key to her house in my face.

"I have to go to work.  Ron is sleeping and I locked up the house.  He has your phone number if he needs anything and here is the key so you can get in."

"Wait a minute.  Why did you lock him in the house.  What if he needs to call 911 and he can't get to the door to open it for them?"

"That's why you have the key!  So you can go over and unlock the house if he calls you."

"But--I turn off my phone during the night."

"Well, leave it on for the next few nights--just in case he calls."

DAMN MONKEYS!!!

I am not a nurse!  If I had wanted to be a nurse, I would have gone into that career 50 years ago!  If he gets into trouble during the night, he can call her at work!  GEEZ.

NOT MY CIRCUS!!

BUT APPARENTLY, IT IS?

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Taking my computer back to the shop tomorrow morning so they can load on some of the files I lost when they built this new one.  Just GET 'ER DONE!!!

Jackie, Darlene, Lies and Machinations

Today's high temperature was:  88

Today's humidity was:  58%

Headed for hotter days.  

A/C is on.  House is closed up.  

UGH!

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I truly love nice summer days (70's) with low humidity..all windows and doors in the house open, but...it IS July, so I have to put up with hot and moist.

Jackie (across the street) came home yesterday evening.  She has been gone for three weeks--visiting family in Chicago, and the Upper Peninsula of Michigan.  She was stunned to see "her" Oak tree completely gone.  She was stunned to see the electrical and gas line "flags" on the lot next to her and the information that a new double wide is probably going in there.

"I called Rob (park manager) this morning and asked him why they took my beautiful Oak tree completely out.  I had requested that they just trim up the branches."

"Oh--what did he say?"

"He told me it was Jim, the tree cutter's decision to take it completely down...and look at the mess I have to clean up.  All that sawdust!"

So I decided to be honest with her, "I talked to Jim.  It wasn't his idea to take it down.  It was Darlene's.  Jim thought it only needed trimming, but Dar called Rob and insisted that it all come down because she was afraid it would fall on her house."

"Fall on her house?  If it ever came down, it would fall this way...on my house.  There was nothing wrong with that tree.  It was straight and healthy.  It just needed trimming.  Besides that...it's on my lot!"

"Well, I guess you will have to take it up with Dar."

"I guess if it was her idea then....it's HER mess to clean up!"

"I'd say so.  By the way, the people moving in next to you are really very nice."

"Yeah--well, I know where my lot line is and I want Rob to come out here and mark it because...I don't want them putting it too near MY lot!"

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I went out for a short walk last night, around 8:30--trying to rest my mind, which is in a turmoil.  I noticed Dar's friend, Judy L. walking behind the houses to get to Dar's--unnoticed by Dar's other, jealous friend Sheila.  I had to smile to myself.

Just as I got in front of Sheila's she came down off her porch to chat for a few minutes--she had not seen Judy L.  We talked a bit and then I walked on.

On the way back home, I saw Dar and Judy L. walking toward me.    We stopped for a minute and chatted, mostly about Dar's day (of course) and then we walked on.  Just as I had taken about half a dozen steps, Dar yells out.  "Oh, I forgot to tell you something."  She was standing directly in front of Sheila's place.

Dar waved me back and I wondered...what is she up to now?

In a very loud voice she said, "Judy L. and I are going for a mile walk.  Do you want to walk with us?"

"Nope.  I've been for a walk and I'm heading home."

"Well, we'd like you to walk with us...so I was just wondering."  Again, very loud.

I turned and headed home.  I knew what she had done--on purpose.  She wanted Sheila to hear.  I think she enjoys the fact that Judy L and Sheila are jealous of each other over her.  

What a dreadful woman!!!  

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I figured out a way to get my Purry Furries up on their bench.  They both love to be brushed, so this morning, I got their brush out of the drawer--they spotted it and came over to stand by me.  So, I walked into the bedroom and patted the brush up on the mat, on top of the bench, and they both jumped up there.  I brushed them really good and massaged their spines and they seemed very happy.  Going to make this part of our morning routine.

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I have been quite depressed lately--overwhelmed with all I need to do right now.  Plus, I miss Fred and have been missing my BFF, Arlene a lot lately.  Plus--I have not seen any of my family in a month!  My sister is entertaining her hubs family from Binghamton, NY.  Karen and her family are vacationing in Maine--wish I could have gone--was not invited and I can't really leave for that long.  Haven't heard a word from Pammie about arranging a Putt Putt game with the little grands.  Plus, I have not received a Thank You from Madeleine for her graduation gift--and that really ticks me off.

You know--it makes me feel like I am only here when someone wants me to attend a function of theirs--or help out in some way, but other than that......which really makes me angry BECAUSE, 11 years ago, Karen and Jen wanted me to move down here to be closer to them and their children.  Well--here I am...where are you and your children?

It is all making me very sad!  Nothing I can do about most of it.  I can't even afford to get in my car and drive over to Lake Huron or Lake Michigan for the day, which I know would soothe my soul.  

I still don't have my "old" genealogy files on my new computer, nor all my saved e-mail folders.  I need to call the computer shop and get it done, but, I am almost too tired to do it.

I need to get the bankruptcy started and did contact the attorney this morning.  I have opened a new checking account with a local bank and only have two dollars in my old checking account, the bank I have the credit cards with, so if they want to seize it, they can have it.  Next month's Social Security will direct deposit into my new checking account--as will my outgoing(EFT) funds to the life insurance company.

I just need to move forward and I am not! 

The road construction is almost finished in front of the park, so tomorrow morning, I will go to the doc's office to get a blood, and stop at Wal-Mart on my way home to turn in my pop bottles and pick up a prescription.

I'm just so very lonely right now and no one can really help that feeling--except me.

I am going to take my new computer back to the store and THEY are going to take my old hard drive and try and get what I need transferred to my new hard drive and in the correct program files.  Heidi, the owner, thought it had been taken care of last week and when I told her "no", she was very upset.  There won't be any charge!  

Businesses, I don't care how busy you are, do it right the first time--like we all were taught, back in the day.
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Pearl came down this evening, to "get away from Merle's crabbing at me."

She and I had a nice chat about a lot of things.  We both agree we don't like to watch the news anymore and are basically, only interested in the local weather!  Just when I think the world can't get any worse, it does.  People killing each other--I am talking people in this State, killing people in the worst sort of way.  Dismembering their bodies or dumping them in vacant cars.  People killing their own kids.  Important people involved in sex crimes.  Others trying to kidnap kids and teenagers.

The morality of America alone has gone down the drain.  I don't have much time to worry about what is going on in other countries--some of them are not of my culture and I don't understand how they have such a total disregard for human life.
====================

One of my friends posted a link on Face Book, pleading with the President not to deport the illegals.  Underneath the link she wrote, "What do you think?"

So...I commented, "Don't deport them, stop them at the border."  

Obviously, she didn't really want to know what "I" thought, because my comment raised her ire and she commented back how could I be so uncompassionate and cruel.  Then one of her other friends, who I do not know, commented that she could tell from my comment that I was not a Christian and stupid in my comment to boot.

I commented back that I was compassionate and I would take in every one of those little kids, but...I can't afford it and neither can our country.  

Then I asked if either one of them had ever volunteered to help people in our own country--like Appalachia or Detroit (where they both are from).  That I felt, it is not OUR fault that the illegals live in a horrid country and want to come here and that we can't save the world, but we can try to save our corner of the world.

Well--that comment didn't go over very well either--I was called a few more names and then I realized--ah yes.  I should not have commented because they didn't want to debate or discuss, they wanted it only to be their way of thinking.

Are they Right Wing Conservatives?  Nope--they belong to the Christian Left..in fact one of them is a minister's wife.  Obviously they have forgotten that Christian's are suppose to be tolerate of others feelings?

Done with commenting on their links, or any others posted by my Liberal friends.  They sure like to comment their opposing views on mine, but they don't like my opposing views on theirs and, boy oh boy, do they let me know it!!  

The loudest voices we hear are those who advocate conflict, divisiveness.

It is the people who scream the loudest about America and Freedom who seem to be the most intolerant for a differing point of view.

Or as I was taught, "Usually the person yelling the loudest in an argument, is the one who's wrong."

Sad, Wonderful, Laughing, Amazing Day

Today's weather?

Just like yesterday and the past week

PERFECT!

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Today was the Memorial Service for Bethie's oldest son, Todd, who died April 15th.  They attended his funeral over in the Czech Republic where he lived and today, was his service for his American family and friends.  It has taken a long time to get his cremains back here--State Department and customs releases and all that.

When I got up, I changed my mind about what to wear.  I knew that all our friends would probably wear pants, but...deep in my heart, I wanted to dress up...to honor Bethie and her husband, and Todd. I have known Bethie for 70 years, so I have known Todd since he was born.

I got out my black pin-stripe dress with the jacket.  This one that I last wore to my step-mother's funeral.

It's comfortable and it has the jacket to cover up my ugly looking arms.  I got my panty-hose on to cover up my ugly legs and my black dress shoes, that are badly worn around the edges.    Let's face it, I only wear a dress and heels on rare occasions.  The heels are from my working days--15 years ago, as is the dress.

I had to stop on my way to gas up the car.  It was only when I walked back to the car, from paying, that I realized the waist band on my panty-hose was so stretched out that it had fallen down around my crotch!!!  Too late to go back home and change for sure.  Onward and upward--ever forward.

I had to drive the expressway--north up to Fenton.  I "thought" that map-quest told me to turn left when I got off the exit--which I did and drove and drove, until I got to the next town and realized, that I was heading the wrong way--turn around and go back and found it--just a little ways RIGHT off the exit.

I entered the funeral home and immediately found the ladies room, as the waist of the panty hose was now down around my thighs.  I pulled up the waist band and tucked into my underpants.

Todd was only 53 when he had one of those heart explosions that occurs and by the time he landed on the floor, he was gone.  He had lived such a life!!!  He crammed more into the last 30 years than any of us will, if we live to be 100.    When he was just out of college, he asked Bethie to take him up to the entrance ramp of the expressway and drop him off.  He was going to back-pack around the United States--which he did.  Then, he went over to the Czech Republic to teach and ended up translating many, many of their  historical books into English.  Along the way, he met a lady with two daughter's.  He and she renovated an old house and an old store and started a business.

In the meantime, he became interested in singing with one of the famous choirs over there and was the first foreign person ever invited to join the group.  At his funeral in the Czech Republic--a couple of the choirs were there to sing.  His funeral held in a HUGE, old Cathedral.

The service today was beautiful, moving and very spiritual.  Bethie's niece is a minister and gave such a beautiful service.  Bethie's brother also took part.  They had a piano/flute duet and then an older gentleman, with a trained (I presume) baritone voice stood and sang "How Great Thou Art".

All of our Gal Pals were there, along with their husbands, and another classmate.  It seems the only times we get all together anymore, is at funerals.

I was amazed that when I first arrived, Bethie's younger son came up to me and said, "Remember me, Mrs. Miller?"  I haven't seen him in probably 40 years and yet, he knew me.  He went on to reminisce, "Wasn't it one of your daughter's that Todd had a crush on?"

"Yes, my daughter, Karen."

"Didn't they go out on a date, once."

"Yes...when they both were at Michigan State."

Now--how and why would he remember that?  Way back in 1980?  Amazing.

Then Bethie's younger brother came up and hugged me and said, "Judy, thank you so much for coming."  I haven't seen him in over 50 years!  I am stunned and amazed again.  How did he remember me?

Then I introduced myself to Bethie's two grandsons, that I have never met, and tried to guess their names by the way Bethie has talked about them.  I got their names wrong--Doug, who I thought was Jacob.  HAH, such nice young men, we had a great talk.

The biggest surprise?  Bethie's nephew, that I haven't seen since Beth and Harry's wedding in 1960, came over and said, "I was in love with you in 1956."

He did look familiar, but....."I don't recognize you," I said.

"Roger."

"OHMYGOSH!!  Roger?"

His family lived next to my in-laws back then.

"I kept kicking my football over into their yard, hoping you would get it and bring it back to me and talk to me.  I had such a crush on you!"

"But...Roger...you were only ten or eleven.  I thought of you as a little kid.  A cute little kid, but way too young for me.  What year did you graduated high school?"

"1968."

"Oh," I said.  "Well--I have to tell you.  I lived for twelve years with a guy who graduated in 1968, so...I guess you aren't too young for me!"

He hugged me and said, "Okay then", and we laughed and laughed and his wife said, "Am I going to have to watch you two?"

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This happens to be all the time--people I haven't seen in decades recognize me.  I figured it out once.  In high school, I was tall and skinny and blond.  I am still tall, having only lost 1/4 inch since high school, and I am once again thin and, even though my hair is now grey, it is still cut short, like I always wore it.  So--I tend to still look the same as they remember.  Even though I don't remember them--perhaps because a lot of them were kids when I last saw them.  It's cool!

=================

Bethie had invited all us friends to the family dinner afterwards.  It was held in a church that is a few miles from her house.  I was going to take the back way, but then, decided perhaps I should get back on the expressway and take that back south.

I distinctly saw the sign that said, 'US 23, SOUTH" and that's where I took the entrance, only to realize in a few seconds, before I even got on the expressway, that I was headed north--toward Flint!  EGADS!!!

Up to the next exit--turned left, over the expressway and entered onto the expressway, headed south.  I was afraid I would be late, but got there in plenty of time.  Sought out the nearest ladies room again, to haul up my panty-hose, down to the basement and sat down.  I was not going to move!!

But, of course, it was a buffet and we had to line up and walk to the tables of food.  I took my left hand and pinched the panty-hose, waist through my dress to hold them up.  One of our Gal Pals, standing behind me in line asked if I had a pain in my side.  I quietly told her the problem I had.  Which of course, she had to relate back to the other Gal Pals--as we share everything (I guess)...and of course the husband's heard.  Well--in high school, I was thought of as the class clown, so....the reputation continues, right? 

Then I wondered...how was I too load up my food plates?  I had to let go of the panty-hose and by the time I got back to our table, I could feel the waist line flapping against my thighs!  Thank goodness, only the body of the hose were stretched out--the thigh part and legs stayed up nicely.  I did not go back for dessert, by the way.  I was not taking any more chances.

As I left--I walked out of the church and into the sunlight and then realized--for the first time in 15 years, my black pin-stripe ensemble is NAVY BLUE!!!

I turned to one of the Gal Pals, who was walking out with me, hoping to witness a complete panty-hose fail where they would end up around my ankles, and I said, "Is this outfit black or navy blue?"

"It's navy,"she replied.

"I have had it forever and I have always thought it was black!"

"You're getting old, Jude.  Maybe you better get your eyes checked!"

I got in my car and said, right out loud, "If I'd known that. I would have worn my navy shoes!"

My navy shoes are in much better shape.  GEEZ LOUISE!!!

I took the alternate route home so I didn't have to get out on the expressway and drive fast with all the other idiots!  Got in the door, kicked off my shoes, pulled off the panty-hose as I walked back to the bedroom and threw them--quite violently--into the kitchen wastebasket!!!

Next funeral, I will wear the same outfit, but a smaller size of panty-hose and my navy shoes!!  In fact, I think I will put a note on the jacket saying, "This is navy, not black"==just in case the next funeral is mine and my girls will know how to accessorize my outfit!!!

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Tonight, I am thinking of my Dear Friend, Beth.  She is worn out, I know.  She has already attended one funeral for her son and then....the long wait.  When she should have been on her way through the grief process and today---she had to go through it all again.  Later this afternoon, they were to take Todd's remains up to the Byron Cemetery, where he will be finally, laid to rest, next to the rest of his family.  

The next time I drive up to The Farm, I will stop in at the cemetery and say a prayer by his grave.  Tonight, I am saying prayers for Beth and Harry and Tom, their son, and all of Todd's family, especially his lovely wife who has to travel back to the Czech Republic, all alone.

Just a Normal Friday

Today's high temperature was:  78 degrees

Sunny with nice breeze

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My daily weather report seems to be the same every day.  We have had the most beautiful weather this summer.  Here it is, the middle of July and we have only had two humid, hot days.  Remarkable!!  Our winter reminded me of the kind we had when I was a kid and this summer is the same way.  We didn't have an air conditioner in our house--didn't need one.  The windows were open day and night, with a nice breeze and I don't ever remember being too hot.

The guy came today to remove Darlene's large stump.  I think she thinks that means the wood from the stump and all the saw dust and mulch will be cleaned up and gone.  She is not going to be happy when she gets home from work and sees this!

She has a 3 feet high by 8 feet wide circle pile of ground up wood.  Do you know who is responsible for cleaning that mess up?  The person's whose lawn it sits on.  I can't wait to see what she says--plus, I think they cut her cable line.

In the first place, that beautiful tall, straight Oak she insisted be cut down, only needed to be trimmed.  Her house was NOT in danger of that tree falling.  Her roof was not being affected by that tree.  There were four dead branches from the winter.  Cut those off and trim it up a bit higher and it would have been all right, but she got all aggressive and demanding and she got her tree cut all the way down.  It's not nice, but I think it's good riddance to her when she sees this.  No doubt, she will be on the phone calling the office and yelling and carrying on until someone from maintenance comes and cleans it up.

The guy came over and asked if I wanted my stump ground up and I declined.  I don't want that mess to clean up and besides?  I kind of like my pot sitting on it.  I still can't get used to that Mulberry being gone, if it sat anywhere else on my lot, I would have left it, the birds and squirrels loved the berries.  It was causing moss on my roof and it was restricting the canopy growth of my Maple.  Instead of trimming their trees, or do selective harvesting, this park just let's them grow out of control.  

Star Gazer lily ready to pop! 

I made the kids get up on the bench and I gave them their morning massages.  I am hoping they will associate massage time with the bench.  They both spotted a bird on the lower part of the hedge and they did stay for a few minutes, but---never got up there the rest of the day.

I got the utility room and kitchen floor mopped and shined, cleaned up the kitchen, vacuumed the living room and this room and dusted.  I had on my ToDo list, clean out the shed and take a bike ride, but I never got to that.  Too tired out.  There's always tomorrow, right?

I mixed up ten pounds of bird seed, with the Habenaro Chili Pepper hot sauce, and filled the feeders.  So far the last few days, no squirrels have bothered the seed and the birds love it.  I had to buy a box of latex gloves to use with the hot sauce.  I found out the first time, that just washing my hands did not removed all of it and the first time I used the bathroom---well let's just say, I was one HOT MAMA for about an hour!  YEOUCH!

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Pearl came down this late afternoon to get away from Merle.  He has come out of his depression and is back to snarling at her, I guess.  She said, "The computer is going to save our marriage!  When he gets grumpy or won't talk, I just go back and play games."

Yesterday, when I called up there, Merle answered the phone and said, "Thanks for getting her on that computer.  It gets her out of my hair for awhile."

Ah-hh, wedded bliss.  Whatever works, I guess. LOL  Of course, if either one of them died, the one left would be devastated and neither one could care for themselves completely.  He doesn't know how to cook or do laundry.  She can't vacuum and doesn't know how to turn on the furnace when winter comes.  She has no concept of how the thermostat works, because, once he told her not to touch it, so she never has.

I laugh as I write that last sentence.  IF my husband has ever told ME that--the minute he left for work, I would have been over to the wall, studying the thermostat--seeing how it worked--checking out the buttons and how to raise or lower the heat.  HAH!  

===========

I saw Dar when she came home.  She walked back to the pile of sawdust and then I saw her get on her cell phone.  She has the manager's personal phone number and by the way she was gesticulating, I'll bet she was giving him what for.  

==================

Sally, you left out an "i" before the "s" in louisianabelleforever, but I found her.  I have absolutely NO CLUE what the flower is.  It has spiky things on the leaves--must be a southern flower?  Also--at one time I studied Lepidoptery and never saw a butterfly like that one!

It's Okay To Be Nice

Today's high temperature was: 69

Beautiful--sunny, nice breeze.

==============================

When I called the office and left my message about my tree, I didn't rant or rave or make demands or act mad.  I just said that I had talked to the tree cutting guy and he said I wasn't on the list and I wondered why.

7:25 this a.m.  The phone was ringing.  I couldn't see the caller ID and almost didn't answer, but then....it might be a family emergency, so I answered.

"You gotta get out here right now!"  It was Dar.

"I....what?  I....."

"Get to your front door...right now!"

So I staggered out to the front door--in my nightie, and there stood four guys and Dar.  I took one step back into my house so the guys couldn't see through or up my nightie.

"The guys are here to cut your tree.  They have been knocking and ringing your door bell.  They almost left!  Get dressed!"

So I staggered back into my bedroom and pulled my clothes from yesterday, out of the hamper and ran back out to my front porch.

Jim--the owner of the tree cutting company said, "You wanted the Mulberry down.  Right?"

"Yes...the one we talked about last fall."

and...suddenly, chain saws were buzzing and the Tree Monkey was climbing and.............................

Dar pulls me off to the side, "Rob (park manager) called me and asked that I call you on the phone because they couldn't wake you up.  He said you are on the list to get the tree down, and they were going to do it later this summer.  He felt so bad when he got your message that he had the guys come do it now before they go back to the rest of the jobs."

 Just then, Rob pulled up in his truck and got out.  He had a big smile on his face.  I walked to the end of the driveway and just hugged him and thanked him.

"Hey...you are always so nice.  You welcomed my parents the other day.  You always have a good word for all our workers.  I just didn't want you to have to wait until the end of summer to get those branches off your roof."

By then, I had a few tears in my eyes.  I was thinking what a nice blessing God had bestowed on me.

He gave me another hug.  "I just appreciate this so much!", I said.

"I know you do."

Then Jim, standing in the background, gave me a thumbs up and a big smile.  He has done a lot of work for me over the years--taking down the big Willow tree , between Tami's house and mine--that Tami had promised to pay half of, but never has--$800.00, and Jim has trimmed up my Maple tree three times.

He and I had talked last fall about him taking down the Mulberry tree.  I told him I'd wait until spring, because, it would cost $200 and I sure didn't have the money.  Today, he was really happy for me too.

So--I guess it pays to be nice?  You don't always get taken?  You don't always end up last?

Although, Dar with her demanding way and aggressiveness, DID get that big Oak taken down yesterday, and to my way of thinking, it only needed to be trimmed not killed!

Whatever--the Mulberry is gone.  No more branches laying on and destroying my new roof.  No more purple bird doo-doo staining my white siding.  I am very happy.

 
I can't believe how much sun is coming in--really open ed up that corner and allows more sun on my front garden.  I do miss the tree, however.

Oh oh.  someone's looking in the window right at me!  He used to climb this Maple and then jump to the Mulberry and up onto my roof.  I think he is a bit angry and can't figure out how he is going to get on the roof.  He is going to need his flying "cape" to make that leap for sure.

Then, they took down the pine across the street-=-this one---photo from April.

The manager's parents are putting a double wide on this oversized lot.

==============================

I got two old step end tables from Pearl--she bought new ones.  Merle took off the "steps" for me and I glued them together with Gorilla Glue.  I wanted to make a bench for the "kids" to sit on to be able to see out the window--instead of having to sit on the narrow, 3inch window sill.

Put it in their favorite spot in the bedroom and put a nice soft pad on top. 

But look--the kids want to lay or sit under it, instead of on top. 

I put Maggie up there and petted her and tried to explain to her how nice it was, but..... 

Silly cats!!!

=================

Then Tami came over, fire coming out of her ears.

She let loose with a few nasty words about them not taking down her tree and why did they take down mine?

I told her that I had talked to Rob and she is on the list.  They are doing a second cutting later this summer.

"Most of the trees they took down they felt, were in danger of large broken branches from the winters storms, coming down on people's roofs."

"Then why in h*ll did they take down yours?"

(I lied--sort of) "because I had turned in my request over a year ago (which is true) and they decided to get mine out of the way now."

She is not a happy camper--but Rob is ready for her.  All the staff knows her and that she had mild mental impairments.  So when she rants, they will know what to do.

=====================

A lot of troubles in our world today.  Russian's shooting down (apparently mistakenly) a commercial jet and Israel going on the attack into the Gaza.  

I'm pretty mad at Sarah.  God told Abraham that his old wife Sari would have a child.  She didn't believe it so she persuaded Abraham to have sex with her handmaiden, Hagar, a Muslim.  Then when Sari had a child, she made Abraham send Hagar and their child Ishmael out into the dessert.  He was Abraham's first born son and ended up with no birth right--nothing.  The Jews and Muslim's have been killing each other ever since! 

It appears to me how easily men can be tempted by women.  Eve, Sarah, Delilah, Bathsheba, even Ruth tempted Boaz by laying at his feet so he had to marry her.  

Men are not real bright, are they?

====================

I talked to Pearl this evening.  Merle went to the Neurologist today.  He has to have an MRI and an EMG.  Pearl said, "I had an EMG once and it was awful!"

"I did too," I said.  "The worse medical test I ever had done.  Don't tell Merle how painful it is--okay?"

I saw him ride by on his bike and he looked great.  I watched as he peddled up the hill in the service drive.  I have to get off my bike and walk it up--he just peddled right on up.  He sure doesn't appear to have anything wrong with him!

Hope not!   

Mid-Week Consternation

Today's high was: 65 degrees

Partly sunny

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In this park, we were told that a tree trimming/removal team would be coming in Mid-July.  If we wanted any of our trees trimmed or taken down, we had to write a letter, explaining our reasons and turn that letter into the office.  Dar wanted the huge, tall oak tree in back of her place taken down, because branches and limbs sometimes came down on her roof.  Tami next door wanted the large, tall pine tree taken down that has grown too close to her house because when the pine cones fall on her roof, it wakes them up.  I requested my Mulberry tree be taken down as the branches hang over my roof, causing the roof to be come covered in moss and eating away at the shingles, Plus the birds eat the fruit and poop purple all over my siding, requiring me to get it power washed every year.

All our letters were accepted and the manager of the park, assured us the trees would be removed.

This morning at 9:00, they commenced to take down Dar's tree.  It took them all day.  I don't think this video is going to work, but.......he was 50+ feet up the tree.

When they were done, I walked across the street to talk to Jim, the owner of the tree company.  He has done three tree trim/removal jobs for me that I had to pay for.  I asked him if he was doing mine and Tami's tomorrow.  He told me, "you aren't on the list.  We have one small tree to do out by the front, but that's all."

Needless to say, I came in, called the office and left a message!!!  
======================= 
Pearl called this morning and wanted to know if I could come down because something was wrong with her computer--so I trotted up to her place.  We walked back to her bedroom and I sat down in front of the computer and she said, "I can't see any ports on the front of the computer."

I looked down at it, "Sure there are.  Two small plugs, like for your speakers, and two slots for your camera or something like that."

"Well, I tried to plug my speakers in there and I couldn't see the hole."

"Because..............?"

"I wanted to plug them in there so they would work."

"Are they still plugged in...in the back?"

"Yes...and they still don't work."
<done with this>

I reached back behind her monitor where her speakers are---picked up the cord with the electrical plug on the end and said,  "Honey, it doesn't matter where you put the plug on your computer.  Your speakers don't work because................." and I dangled the electrical plug in the air between us.

"Oh my Lord!  I just need an extension cord!"

"Yup.  Do you have one?"

"Yes, but you'll have to reach up and get it.  It's in a box, on the shelf,  over the washer."

So I went and got it, plugged the speaker plug into it and said, "Now, we have no room on the surge protector because it only has five outlets and they are full.  Where in the world can we plug this into?"

"I have another wall outlet right over here, on the other end of the dresser."

I had her plug it in, sit down in front of her computer and bring up one of her games and---VOILA' sound.

"That's what you have been trying to tell me for the past week, isn't it?"

"Yup."

"...and I was trying to plug both ends into the computer.  Oh good Lord!"

So--on to the next computer problem.

"Whenever I bring up a new game, there is a black box that comes on the screen and I don't know how to get rid of it."

"Okay--show me."

She Googled the name of a game and up the link came, then, instead of clicking on the name of the game, she clicked on a little green box with a check mark inside and up came a black box that said, "Bitdefender has found this site to be safe."

"That is the anti-virus and malware system we have installed on our computers.  It is saying that the game you want to play is safe to play.  The reason the message came up is because you clicked on the little green box.  Instead, just click on the name of the game."

Which she did and there was her game.

I came home.
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