Pretty Good Day

An example of a conversation with John:

John:  "I heard we might have some boomers on Monday."

Me:  "Yeah, I heard that too."

"Maisey is afraid of thunder.  She gets very upset and crawls under the bed."

"I don't like thunder either.  I can't fit under my bed or I would."

"I have been thinking about getting her one of those thunder shirts.  Have you heard about them?"

"Yes--I tried to buy one for myself, but they don't make them that big."

"I've got a tarp out in my shed.  That might work."

"It might, but I would need bungie cords to wrap around and hold it in place."

"Got those too."
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That's the kind of conversations we have.  Joking, kidding and fast-paced.  I have missed the fast-paced, quick wit, sarcasm and jabs that I so enjoyed with my long time friends.  He reminds me of my guy friends I had in high school.
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Remember when I told you about Dar being so upset and crying because her one brother, SIL and her 94 year old Dad moved to Arizona and left her here, "all alone".  They moved May 13th.

Guess what?  They are moving back.  The brother doesn't like Arizona--they are far away from their kids--it's too expensive to live there (even though they are millionaires.)

Dad, who hates Michigan, has to move back with them and he and Brother had a fight, so he is moving in with other Brother, who's wife Dad can't stand.

1st Brother is angry because they sold their gorgeous, big house on the lake and ALL the furniture, to take Dad back to Arizona where Dad wanted to live and feels he HAD to make the move just for Dad.

Dad is mad because they won't let him live alone in AZ--he was to sign papers on his new home yesterday.

2nd Brother is mad because Dad gave 1st Brother $5K for the down payment they lost on the house they were going to buy.  2nd Brother wants that same amount from Dad--even though 2nd Brother is a millionaire two times over.

Dad refuses to even consider moving into an "old folks home", which would be the best thing for him.  

Dar is completely unaware of the beautiful Senior complexes we have right here in Brighton.

Judy got a listing of three of the swankiest ones here and sent the links to Dar.  I think when Dad sees how much it will cost him to live there ($2,500-3,000 a month), plus all the women who will fawn over him there, he may just change his mind and want to live there.

I told Dar to check them out and then one day, just show Dad the options he has.  Dad is a millionaire five times over!

So 1st Brother and SIL--who did not want to move in the first place, are coming back with no place to live and no furniture to put in it.  HAH

Dad is flying back next week to a State he hates (winters) and having to live with a son and a DIL he despises.

This could get interesting and probably shorten Dad's life and then all 3 of his kids can enjoy Dad's millions!!
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So the guy--that's his name, Guy, came and power washed the house and shed today.  I told him I didn't have the money until June and could he come back then, but he said, "You can give me a post dated check,"  so I did.  Wonderful!!!

 Before                                      

Now, if I just had the ambition to sweep  up all those Whizzers

 off the Maple Trees, it would look great.

I am so glad this man is running for President!

If any man knows what it's like to live in severe poverty, anger and no self esteem and then pull yourself up out of all that, he surely does.  I think he can heal the racial problems in this country way better than Mr. Hope and Change.  AND, I think he would have the intelligence to have the kind of staff around him that knows how to bring our country back.

His wife is homely.  She kind of looks like Eleanor Roosevelt and just as smart.

http://www.biography.com/people/ben-carson-475422


Have a great weekend!  I'll be here doing nothing, if you need me. :-)

ARGGH!

Wish I had a Carson to wait on me!

The funny thing is, if he turned left (N) out of his driveway and went down that street, it would be shorter to get out of the park.  He always comes by my house.  I guess he is wanting to see if I am all right?  I saw him go by at 11:30--he works at the nearby elementary school as a teacher's aid.

I have felt rough all day long!  Probably the new med?  
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Guess where I got to go today?  I haven't been all this year.

My Bridge Card got reloaded today and off I went to...THE RICH PEOPLE'S STORE!!!

What a treat to get a little bit of all my favorite deli salads and two fresh Apricots and some real orange juice and CAKE!  You knew I had to get cake

You can tell it's a rich people's store--they have purple plastic bags!

Nice Middle of the Week Day

8:00--160/62---not bad for the am BP check.

I have had no problem sleeping.  I take a Melatonin an hour before bedtime and it always helps.  If I am in a bit of arthritic pain, I also take a Tylenol PM.  Now that I am on a blood thinner, I can't take Advil or Aleve.  I can only use Tylenol or Motrin.  I do think the Ativan helped last evening.  I have them to take, but I never think about them unless I have that shaky feeling inside.

I got a call from the head nurse at the cardiologist's office.  She wanted a complete of all the meds I take, as it is far different than the last time I was in there, a month ago.  We got it done.

Then noon arrived and....John picked me up for lunch.  

After the waitress took our orders and we were sipping our drinks, I leaned forward and said, "John, may I ask you a personal question?"

"You can ask me anything."

"What is your middle name?"

He laughed, "LaVern."

Our lunches came and we chatted and ate, then I leaned over the table again and whispered, "May I ask you an even more personal question."

He leaned over and had a serious look on his face, "Yes," he whispered, as he sipped on his lemonade..

"John," I whispered, "Why do you keep all the blinds in your house closed?  Are you watching porn all day or is the FBI after you?"

He practically spit his lemonade all over the table, chocked on laughter and explained.  He keeps the blinds closed because the old guy that lives next to him, Corky, is somewhat like Dar and drives John nuts and the other young guy that lives on the other side is constantly watching John's house and then calls and asks him why he is taking a nap, as he can see John sleeping in his recliner.

So now John knows that I have a sarcastic/weird sense of humor.  He is quite the kidder too.

There were no innuendos, there was no touching, except when he put a hand out to haul me up from the booth.  There is no attraction--he is 5'6" and 4 inches shorter and 4 years younger than me.

I had a good time and he did too.  We are Buds!!
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Then tonight Dar came over and ruined my mood with all HER stresses and problems.   Her Dad, brother and SIL moved to Arizona.  They were all going to buy a house together.  It seems that brother and 93 year old Dad got into an argument and Dad is hunting for his own place.  What is bothering Dar is that they won't answer her phone calls and she wants to get in on the advice giving and feel she has some control in what is going on.  She is going nutsy cuckoo--AGAIN!

GEEZ LOUISE!

Appointment at the primary care doc's at 2:30.  BP still too high, I guess. 180/68.  The bottom number (diastolic) is fine, but I can't seem to keep the top one down.  It will be low at one time of day and high 6 hours later.

Doc says, "I am at my wits end to figure you out.  I usually have no problem getting the blood pressure down."

"I know Doctor John.  I'm perplexed too.  This is way beyond anything that I have researched or tried to figure out."

"I want you to go home and make the earliest appointment you can with Michigan Heart.  Any cardiologist that is available."

"I have an appointment in June with my regular cardiologist."

"Nope...I don't want you to wait.  It isn't real critical, but.................wait a minute...I'm going to page your cardiologist.  Can you give me a urine sample too?  I want to check something out."

"I'm on water pills, remember?  I have to wee like crazy."

"Okay--go pee then come back."

So I did and when I came back, he said, "Dr. Leonen is not returning my page.  He is an awfully busy man.  You go on home.  Call them and tell them I want you in soon."

So I left, stopped at Discount Tires to check the tires and when I got home, there was a message from my doctor's office telling me that the cardiologist called back, wanted me to come in right then.

So up the road I went to the little hospital.  I didn't see the cardiologist, but the nurse said he wanted me to get a blood draw.  

Luckily,the lab is downstairs in the same building.  Got three vials taken out, I didn't even feel it!!!

Got home, another message from the doc's office.  Doc had called in a new med for me.  It would be up at Wal-Mart--back towards the doctor's office.  I went in the bathroom to pee again and the phone rang.  Another message for me from Wal-Mart that they had a prescription ready for me.  Off I went again.

So--one round trip up to Howell and the doc's--10 miles.  
One round trip the other way to Brighton and the little hospital--only 3 miles
One round trip back up to Howell to Wal-Mart--5 miles.  (I guess this is the good reason I don't live way out in the country!)

When I got home, another message--this one from Pammie.  She had stopped in on her way home and I missed her!!!!!

I was damn near exhausted!!!

Then, I heard on the news that we may have a frost tonight so....I had to do this........

 I took an Ativan at 8:00 so now, I am feeling pretty relaxed. :-)

Nice Weekend

Little bit of rain.

Little bit of planting.

Whole lot of crocheting.

A small party on the porch.

It's been kind of hot and muggy, because of the rain I suppose, but a nice breeze.  Nothing like what other people west of here are going through.

Saturday I decided I should get my porch pots planted with the annuals I bought.  I wasn't really in the mood, which is unusual for me, but my porch was so dirty, I wanted to get it back in shape.

Sunday, I crocheted most of the morning and early afternoon.  I am getting paid to test out this pattern, so I need to keep at it/

Sunday,  late afternoon  I planted a couple more pots and then Pearl walked down.  We sat out on the porch and talked,  Than next door Tami came over and Pearl and I sat and listened--there is no conversation with Tami--she talks, you listen and nod--a whole lot like Dar.

Just about dark and John walked by with his dog, Maisey and he came up to the porch and then Tami's hubby came over, so we had quite a chat. 

9:00 rolled around and Pearl wanted to walk on home, but was afraid to break up the party--I had 3 people sitting on the porch steps.  I was getting kind of tired and there was a TV show on I wanted to watch, so I just rousted every one up and walked part of the way with Pearl  When I got back, John, Tami and her hubs were gone.  PRAISE!!

Today my lawn guy came and woke me up at 8:00 with his mowing under the bedroom window.  I jumped on here for awhile, then out to finish the planting.  Crocheted, watched my Soap, then up to Wal-Mart to pick up a prescription that I was out of.  

Had to go through a song and dance this morning to get it.  I was taking 3 a day--doc doubled it, so I ran out, but my insurance wouldn't pay for it BECAUSE it wasn't time!.  Called the doc and had them call in a NEW one that shows 2 tabs, 3 times a day.  Of course that took some time for the doc to get it done and for Wal-Mart to get it filled.

Just saw John walk by with Maisey.  The dog now wants to come up to the porch every time they walk by now.  She's a sweet pup and he's a nice guy, but I wasn't in the mood and glad they didn't stop.  
<He is hinting we should go out for lunch.>

Hot Pink, Dark blue/purple and Chartreuse--again this year.

My view from my recliner.

#1 Grand Babe

#1 Grand Babe stopped at Subway and brought lunch here.  She wanted to come here instead of going out so that we could talk and laugh and not be restricted on time.

Talk and laugh we did and reminisced--from 11:30 until 3:30!!!

I gave her a copy of my book "Grandma's Treasure" and she was excited.

"Gramma, I just love everything you write."

"I'm making a book for Christmas about our family history.  Written in story form."

"I want a copy!  I love hearing stories about everyone in our family.  I really enjoy reading about our genealogy,"

"Well, I found out some new stuff.  I was able to get back into Europe and find where our ancestor's came from...even the ship they sailed on."

"Oh my gosh!  I can't wait."

"My Dad's ancestor's came from Prussia."

"Prussia?  Does that country even exist anymore?"

"I don't think so."
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We talked about our times together when she was little...my goodness, she remembers it all.

"I was just looking at that photo album you made me.  All the pictures in it of you and me and the things we did together.  Remember when we found that octagonal barn and you wanted to climb the ladder and I was scared for you and wouldn't let you?"

"Yup."

"I'm still like that.  I am such a worry wort!"
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Then we talked about her plans.  She has her Master's in Statistics.  She interview with her Dad's company.  He works for a government contract company that views satellite pictures and uses statistics.  That's all we have ever known about it.  He can't tell us what he does.

"So if you work for Dad's company...you will know all the secrets he has never been able to tell us.  Right?"

"Yup...and I won't be able to talk about it either."

"Wow!"

"I'd be here in Michigan for awhile and then, probably, be transferred out to D.C."
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At least she is back here now.  Out of the sand storms of Arizona.  The quakes of California.  Back here where there is no drought, or dust storms and the earth rarely shakes.  I told her, "You are safe back home...in the State shaped like the right hand of God."

She showed me how her smart phone works and we tried to take selfies.  We couldn't get any good ones with her phone, so I had her try with my camera.

When we stand up, we are eye to eye.  She is as tall as I am and was very proud the year she achieved that goal.

Many hugs and kisses and I love you's--then when she got to her car, she ran back for more.

She is the sweetest young woman you would ever meet.  I pray she has a great life.  She so wants to marry and have children...and she'd be the best Mom.

What a wonderful day I had.

What?

This was me when I got up this morning.  I was supposed go up to The Farm and then out to lunch with my sister, BIL and friends of ours.  I hardly knew what day it was, let alone go through all that, so I called and canceled my visit.  Not only was I foggy, but my head felt like it was 2 feet square and about 6 inches above my neck--just floating there in the air--like a balloon on a string.

I kind of stumbled through the morning.

I have squirrel deterrent that I mix in with my bird seed.  As I mentioned yesterday, apparently my South of the Border rodents like that hot sauce, so---------------

...instead of fighting them, I put out a dish with corn and peanuts.  They do stay away from the bird feeders now, but.........................

...now I have birds eating the squirrel goodies.  I give up!  I am just going to keep the feeders filled and let whomever is hungry eat at whichever feeder they like.

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I fell asleep watching my Soap!  Woke up at 3:00 and decided to run around and buy my annuals.  The weather man has promised we are all done with freezing night-time temperatures.  I went up to Lowe's first and their annuals looked terrible!

Then I drove next door to Wal-Mart and got a flat of Impatiens.

Then I drove across the road to Meijer's to get some Tiny Tunias.  I needed 10 and all they had were plants in large pots at $4.99 a pot!  I think not!

Then I came home and stopped at Bordine's garden center.  The minute I walked in the door, I felt better.  I love that place, but....they are more expensive--their plants are bigger, but...................I got my Tiny Tunia's, and my large Geraniums.  

Do you think you see a color scheme here?  I always plant all my container gardens in the same color scheme.  I have so many other colors in the perennial garden around my porch that I like to keep the containers the same.  I think I might have OCD.

<ya think?>

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My grand daughter Madeleine was asked to be the God Mother of this beautiful baby girl, Astrid. How is Maddie ever going to be able to leave all those people she has known and grown to love in Guatemala?  She was suppose to come home at Easter time, but got her Visa renewed for another three months and will be coming home July 1st.  I have a feeling this won't be her last visit in that country.
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The scent coming in through my open kitchen window is magnificent!