Coincidence?

ITEM: The New York City subway system suffered an atrocious commute today, with some trains being inexplicably stranded in stations for long periods of time.

ITEM: The website “The Dissolve” folded today.

ITEM: United Airlines was forced to ground all of its flights after its computer system mysteriously stopped working.

ITEM: The New York Stock Exchange suspended trading today after its computerized trading system mysteriously stopped working.

ITEM: Immediately after, the Wall Street Journal’s website mysteriously stopped working.

ITEM: More than 2,500 people in Washington, DC mysteriously lost power.

Hm-mmm

Perhaps a test run by the Chinese hackers to see just how much panic and damage it would cause/

A wake-up call for our cyber-security people to take this problem seriously?

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

During all this, the financial-economical systems in China and Greece or not only in the toilet, but the flush handle is about to be pushed.  

Now that our government is about to downsize our military and our military's budget, the soon to be top guy in the War Department stated today, "Our biggest threats come from Russia, China, North Korea and ISIS."

Two Russian bombers flew into USA air space, over the past weekend.  Our allies no longer respect us and our enemies no longer fear us.

If we ordinary citizens think none of this will affect us--we aren't paying very close attention.

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

I had a wonderful thing happen to me this morning.  Something that directly affects me at this time--I got a call from a lady at the hospital who has  been working with my welfare case worker.  She told me that my hospital bill ($675.00), my ambulance bill ($219.00) and my attending doctor bill ($238.00) were all being paid from the St. Joseph Mercy Hospital's McCauly Fund for low income people.

Both of these ladies are so very sweet to me when I talk to them on the phone.  They don't act like they are over worked or rushed, but I know they both are.  There is no note of condemnation in their voices that I am on welfare.  In fact today, the lady from the McCauly Fund said, "I have talked to Karen, your case worker a few times.  We want to make this happen for you because you are a nice person.  You don't try to defraud, like some people do.  It is not any of your fault that you find yourself in this position.  We see quite a few women your age.  You stayed home to raise your children and didn't have a career in the workforce and receive no retirement pension.  You are divorced and receive no pension or help from your ex husband.  We are here to help keep you going."

I wept.  I thanked her profusely.  After she hung up, I laid my forehead on the desk and I thanked God. This afternoon, I made two thank-you cards which I will mail to each of these ladies.

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

At 11:30, I drove up the short distance to Gleaner's Food Bank.  There wasn't too much, but I found two ears of kind of dried up Sweet Corn--10 minutes in a steam bath and it should be tender enough to eat for supper.  I found a bag of cut up salad greens and a bag of chicken, washed it, drained it and a cucumber sliced in it with some Catalina dressing and that was my very, tasty lunch.  I also found a small chuck roast, some potatoes, carrots and onion which I will cook in my Crock-Pot.  I found a half-gallon of milk, some Croissants, which I use for my sandwiches, a dozen eggs, Grape Jelly & Peanut butter (we are allowed one of each) 1# sugar, jug of detergent and package of bathroom tissue and some Lady Fingers that I can put raspberry jam on for a nice dessert.

Outside I found the young man and his two small children, who were ahead of me in line, and I gave him my bathroom tissue, sugar and the grape jelly and peanut butter.

Pay it forward in whatever way I can.

.

Hump Day

What did I do today?

Nary a thing.  

I also did not do any "humping" on Hump Day.  I'm sure you are all glad you don't have to read about that!!!

80 degrees and so humid yesterday, I stayed inside all morning with the A/C on.

This morning, 54 degrees and gray.  I stayed inside all morning with the furnace on.

Rainy tomorrow.

We are having the strangest summer ever, here in the Mitten.  I feel kind of sorry for people with backyard pools (well, not really, just trying to be nice), as it's been too cool to use them and here it is--nearly mid July when it is usually pretty hot and sunny.

Weird.  Can't say as it bothers me a whit because I do prefer cool weather!!  

I saw John walk by early this morning and although Maisey the Dog stopped at the end of my parking pad, I didn't go out.  I had just got out of the shower and was still in my thin nightie.

Dar came over this evening and she was so calm and quiet, I could hardly hear her when she talked.  She actually asked me several questions and then, sat and listened to my responses.  I wondered if she was on a new tranquilizer.  Nope.  She started taking Melatonin at night, is sleeping well and "it seems to keep me relaxed all day."

This is good!

Oh yes--I did vacuum today and fill bird feeders and went up to Subway to get my supper.

I am the laziest person I know!!!

Ticked Off

Monday I had to chase all over the county again--well not the entire county--I exaggerate--but Brighton.  I went to the Chiropractor's and then stopped at the Hair Salon to get my bushy catapillars (eyebrows) tamed down a bit and then on to Pearle Vision to get my glass prescription filled.

My Advantage health plan pays for $200.00 on a pair of glasses and 20% off things like progressive lenses, etc.  They did not have a pair of frames under $237.39.  I thought, "well that's cool.  I will only have to pay $37.39."  I AM AN IDIOT!!

I forgot the lenses expense, so when the girl was done figuring out the cost, it was over $400.00, which still would have left me with $200.00 to pay AND, she wasn't sure, even though they are listed in my provider list, that they worked with my insurance plan.

So, I grumbled all the way home!  I got inside and it occurred to me.  If I have to pay $200.00, why don't I just forget this insurance and buy them at Wal-Mart or Costco.  I have purchased my last two pair there and it has always been $189.00.

So today, I was going to go to Wal-Mart and get the frames I looked at last week ($48.00) and just get it done.

BUT--I woke up this morning, it was raining and hotter than heck and I didn't feel like doing anything.  By the time it cooled off this afternoon, I was not in the mood.

When I came out from the bathroom, there was a message on my voice mail from my case worker that she had come up with a way to help me pay the hospital/ambulance/doctor bills that I owe.  That she would call me back.

I waited around all afternoon and of course, she never called back.

I wanted to call the insurance company and sign up for the kind I used to have, but didn't want to take the chance on missing the case worker's call, so---in essence, I got nothing done today except three loads of laundry!!!

Then I got a phone call from Bethie and she drove down for a visit.  The highlight of my day!  Day heck!  The highlight of my month so far.  We decided that we would go to the Old Gals lunch next week.  We will meet in Byron and I will ride up to the restaurant with her.  It will be nice to have a few minutes to talk before we get to the lunch, where the conversation will be dominated by Liz or June--or both.  LOL

Nice to talk with Beth because, we've known each other since we were 6 years old and we both feel the same way about most things.  Just when I think perhaps I am a nut case, she will mention something that is the same way I feel.  So, if two feel the same that means, nothing is wrong with either one of us.

Right now we both seem to be in the "life is so brief that it's silly to worry about much, because in the end, it doesn't make a damn bit of difference."  HAH

My Alter Ego

Confused

This is a very interesting blog post.  Not what I expected, when I first started reading, but exactly what I needed to read and think about.  It humbled me and showed me that I sure can try a lot harder to be a better person.

https://kaitlinebeling.wordpress.com/2015/06/27/dear-homosexual-america-im-sorry-an-open-letter-from-a-christian/
======================

I didn't do very  much today.  Watched H2 channel, series called "The Sons of Liberty"--I had seen it before, good enough to watch again.  Then I watched "Independence Day" tonight.  Great film.

I was half asleep in my chair and Jennifer walked in the door.  She was on her way home from a bar-be-que they had at church.  

I stood up and she gave me a big hug--asked about how I was doing.  Then, we had a "real" talk like a woman would have with her mother.  

I won't disclose our conversation, other than to say, neither one of them really wants to move, but Eric thinks they should, but he is very troubled lately.

Jennifer received a call from our Governor's office wanting her to be on a committee of some sort--probably pertaining to her vast knowledge of non-profits.  So she's not real keen to leave.

They are having trouble in their marriage because Jen keeps trying to get Eric to make up his mind, figure out a schedule of sorts on when they will move, or even IF they will move and he is angry that she keeps asking him those questions.

I let her talk and gave absolutely no advice!!

She hugged me good-bye and told me she loved me.

I'm glad and sad about all of it.
================
Then it got real noisy around here with lots of fireworks going on down by the lake--even though it is forbidden in this park.    Fireworks going on in Brighton, which I can also hear and in a town south of us.  We are surrounded by loud booms and lots of noise.

Praise God, at least no one is shooting off those M-80's over my house.  Perhaps tomorrow, it will quiet down?

Happy

Maddie is home!!!

Her best friends were there too--they rode to the airport with Stephen and Helene.

She and her bestie, Susanna, had a sleep-over.

and then, Maddie reconnected with life in America and her favorite--Jimmy Johns

...but I kind of worry about this guy who keeps sending her love-lorn messages on Face Book---

Then I notice in her Jimmy Johns photo, she is still wearing her "Purity" ring, so I am reassured that ALL was not lost in Guatemala!!
==========================

You just never know.  I remember when Jennifer went to Spain for a 3-month work/study program while she was in college.  There was a guy named Miguel--her host family's oldest son.    He even came to the States the next year to visit.  Then after she graduated from college, she went back for nine months.  Miguel was distraught when she married. Then, after her divorce, she went back again--just to see if they had a future.  THANK GOD--on her plane trip back home to Boston, she sat next to a guy from New Jersey and, as they say, the rest is history.

Then I remember when I went for the summer music program at Michigan State University ( 2 months) and on the 4th day there, I met a really, tall handsome and suave kid.  The first time I was on my own, so to speak, and he was so cute and funny and really interested in ME and not just some jock who only wanted to talk about himself.  He was a fantastic dancer; taught me some of the new dances that were unknown to my small hick high school, and his kisses?  Be still my heart. The last week, he took me downtown Lansing, to a jewelry store and told me to pick out any ring I wanted.  Oh my!  But, I came home and married the high school boy I had known all my life.

Richard Spencer Dunham.  His name still sends shivers.  Luckily, we are still in touch, and sometimes he says, "I wonder how different my life would have been if you had said 'Yes' to my proposal."
==================
There is something so romantic about being away from home, for the first time, and meeting a boy, and no one you know, knows him and............... 
================
As Maddie was flying home to Metro airport, her Mom Karen, was also headed out from the same place, headed west to spend some time with Susie.

So, I had two in the air at the same time, which gave me a moment's pause. Back in the day, I would have had their flight numbers, the airline they were flying on, when they left and when they arrived.  Sometimes, even going on line and watching their flight on the radar thingy.

Nowadays, I just ask God to keep them safe and go about my day.
==================
Pammie called this morning.  I asked if her two gay friends, Jimmy and Paul had gotten married or were planning too, now that it is legal.

She said, "They've been together twenty-five years and they see no need for a certificate to prove anything.  Besides that, I've heard them talk about how gay marriages usually don't work out.  Nope. They think the whole legal thing is rather stupid."

Hm-mm.  A younger friend of mine, Phil and his partner DID get married.  They too have been together 20 years.  They thought it was important to get the "certificate."

Different ways of thinking, I guess.
==========================

Hosta luego

Cool.

The Farmer's Almanac foretold of a cool summer for the Midwest, including Michigan, and sure enough.  How does 49-50 degree night and morning temperatures sound?  I sleep with the bedroom window open and had to switch over to the "heat" setting on my thermostat, just to take off the chill so I could take my shower.

On the other hand, I just love the temps in the 60's to mid 70's all day.  My kind of weather!!

I was running on $1.66 in my checking account and the Fur Kids only had one can of wet food left and my prescription was ready and I had one pill left here.

I checked my bank account this morning and THANK YOU, LORD, Social Security hit a day early!!  I was off and running--at 2:00.  Up to Howell, with stops at the gas station, bank, Wal-Mart (to pick up prescription) Tractor Supply (for cheap bird seed, which was on sale--SCORE).  

Then drove past my place and on to Brighton.  Cartridge World to get more inkjets, VG's (the Rich Peoples store) for two deli salads,  Grand Traverse Pie Company (pure impulse for a slice of pie for supper), Michaels, and Aldi's--hunting for the elusive Finish POWDER dishwasher detergent.

The traffic in Brighton was awful--which is normal for that time of day, but the driver's there are so polite--they will stop and let you out of side streets, malls, etc.

All that and I forgot to drop off my rent check on the way out and the way back in to the park.  DUH!!
============================
I called John when I got home and said, "I need your help, when you have time.  I've got two bags of bird seed in the trunk."

"Okay--give me an hour and I'll come over."
<an hour?>

Ten minutes later, Merle came riding by on his bike, saw my car trunk open and came up to the door and offered to get the bags out and fill up the bird seed can.

Okey Dokey!

Then I called John back.

"I don't need you any more."

"You aren't the first woman I've heard that from!"

I almost fell into the trap, about to say, "No.  I DO need you..." but I quickly gained my senses and said,

"I mean I don't need your help with the bird seed."

"Okay."

"Thanks, John.  See ya later."

Bahda Boom, Bahda Bing!
==========================
Merle is really not well.  He had every test imaginable last fall and just got done with more.  Not one single thing wrong with him, that can be seen in a CAT scan, or an MRI or stress test or Echo Cardiogram or Ultra sound of his innards, plus a Colonoscopy just for good measure, and a sleep apnea test, overnight.  He doesn't have high blood pressure or cholesterol.  Nothing is wrong anywhere.  He is just weak, kind of quiet and not the jokester he used to be and he sleeps all the time. 

 Kind of sad.  Pearl has just given up on him.  Personally, I think he needs to quit work and be 
prescribed a nice, mild anti-depressant.  But that's just Dr. Judy's  observation.
===========================
As I noted earlier,  I cannot find Finish POWDER for the dishwasher!  The repair guy  told me to use only Finish in the dishwasher, but not the Pods.  Nobody around here sells the powder anymore.  I want it!!!  

Plus, the powder is said to be a really great detergent to use in the washer for the white clothes--it gets the yellowing out.  I need that!  

Our water here is full of rust/calcium/lime.  My once beautiful white sheets are now beige--as are most of my white shirts and pants.

I see that I can order it on Amazon, which seems weird, but I just might have too.  Get a few month's supply or something.
======================
I have completed the blanket I was crocheting as a test, for my friend Chrissy.  It turned out quite nice and not too heavy, as I had feared.  I have washed it very delicately (just to get all the cat hair out of it), dried it, very gently, and have it folded, rolled and stored in a nice plastic bag.  I like her pattern and think it might work up really well, using a baby yarn and a size E hook, for a baby afghan.  I just may try it to see what it looks like.
===========================  
John called at 9:00 tonight.

"How are your mosquitoes?"

"My mosquitoes?  Fine I guess.  Why?"

"They are terrible here.  I took Maisey out for her bedtime walk and I got eaten up alive!"

"Well John...your back yard is by the swale.  Of course there are going to be skeeters back there.  Why didn't you walk her down the street?"

"'Cause they are terrible.  Every where!"

"I just came in from sitting out on my front porch and I didn't see or hear one mosquito.  Of course, I wasn't out walking in the grass to stir them up."

"I'm itching to death here!  I've got bites all over my arms and neck and even down my legs!  How did they get up, inside my pants?"

"Because, you were walking around, stirring them up out of the grass!  Anyway--do you have any Calamine lotion to put on?  You know...that pink stuff people use for poison ivy?"

"No.  I don't know what to do.  The itching is driving me nuts."
<Geez Louise>

"Do you have any kind of lotion?  Go look in your bathroom cabinet, or...you could make a paste out of baking soda and water and spread that on the bites."

"Baking powder?"

"No!  Baking SODA.  The kind in the orangeish box with the arm and hammer thingy on the front."
<good grief>

"Just a minute..."

I hear him walking around.

"I just found some kind of salve or something in the medicine cabinet.  It says, 'Cortisone Cream'."

"Okay.  That should work.  Try it and see.  It might take half an hour, but it should work. If you are still itching by bedtime...do you have any allergy medicine.  Like Benedryl or something like that?"

"Yes.  I have Claratin.  I'll try that.  It makes me sleepy too.  Okay.  Thanks.  We'll talk tomorrow."
=================
This and several instances have shown me that John is not the smartest egg in the Baker's Dozen children his parents had.  Either the gene pool was thin by the time he was conceived, #7, or....it's his Polish heritage.
<wow, how many people did I offend with those last two words?>

This goes to prove one thing--men need to be married, or at least have a woman around to take care of them.  As I have said before, men are the weirdest animals I have ever known!