Just An Ordinary Day

Today's high temperature was:  72 degrees

Today's humidity was: 54%

Until 5:30, then it started dropping.

Sunny, nice breeze

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

Strange day.  I woke up at 7:45 and got right up--feeling good.  Phone rang at 8:15 and it was AAA Service (the company I bought the furnace from), they were coming out, sometime in early afternoon to give me my free air conditioner inspection and replace a problem area inside the furnace closet, where the exhaust pipe goes through the ceiling.

I decided to try to ride my bike, for the first time in five years.  Merle had pumped up the tires for me over the weekend.  I was a bit wobbly, but I made it around the block--calves were screaming, but I am going to ride twice a day--weather permitting.  I think it will help my balance issues.

It was cool out--67 degrees, but with the over 50% humidity, I was starting to sweat by the time I got home.

There was a message on my phone---from AAA Service.  They had a reschedule and were sending out the repairman at 11:00.

Not my usual repairman arrived and...he had no clue that they were suppose to repair the cowling up on the ceiling, but he said, "I'll bet I can figure it out and fix it!"

"I'll bet you can too!  Go for it!"

First he had to do the air conditioner inspection.  He was outside for 45 minutes.  I wondered what was wrong, so I went out to see.  He was cleaning it!  I did not know they were going to do that--I figured they would just see if it was running all right and the refrigerant was at a good level.

Man--the unit looked great--considering it is 17 years old.  I do keep it covered in the late fall/winter and early spring.  The refrigerant level was good, but he brought a thermometer into the house, turned on the unit and checked the temperature coming out of each floor register.  Perfect!!!

I am never cold, but I have had to turn the thermostat up this summer and down last winter, compared to what I always had it.  He explained that the new furnace blower runs slower so it puts out more air capacity and thus the air feels cooler or warmer, and it doesn't run as much.  WONDERFUL!

Then he went out to the truck, came back in with a ladder, a piece of sheet metal and some screws and screwdriver.  Instead of the measly mastic tape that was up there, covering the hole, it now has a nice, tight sheet metal cover.  He did a great job and when the customer service lady called back to see if I was satisfied, I raved about this kid--all that he had done--gone above and beyond, what he expected was to be his job this morning.
========================
Watched my Soap and then jumped into the car and up to the Meijer store in Howell.  Remember, last week I told you I was never going to shop in the Brighton Meijer ever again?  I had a really pleasant hour of shopping in the Howell store.  These two stores are about 5 miles apart in distance--but miles different in atmosphere and customer service.
======================
Dar came over this evening and we sat and "vaped" together.  I told her "We look like two junkies with our pot pipes!"

She was in a good mood, but tired, so she didn't stay long.  We had a couple of laughs anyway :-)
==========================
Well--let's see my matches for today:

 He's got the cowboy hat, but

at least he doesn't ride a

motorcycle!

Oh Puleeze--a gold neck chain?

Didn't those go out 25 years ago?

I think his eyes are closed behind those glasses.

Tall.  Handsome.  Only lives 12 miles away--down by Karen.

The only thing?  He wants a marriage, but

when I was on a dating site 3 years ago,

he was too and still hasn't found Ms. Right?

He probably is a player too.

The guy on the left--not that twerp on the right.

This guy is way cool.  He is all into baseball and sports and he is tall.

He resembles Dave Rozema (Detroit Tiger Pitcher in the 80's)

they could be brothers.  Kind of like him.

The best of the group.  Nice profile.  Used to be an Executive, of course he might be lying, BUT, he doesn't list his income and I have found, those that have a lot of money never talk about it.  6'3"--which is why he looks a bit weird--really tall men sometimes look kind of funny--big heads, long, gawky necks.  He does have a nice smile and not too much of a turkey neck and he has hair!!  Only lives 15 miles away and it says his birthday was Monday--the day after mine.

I had 4 flirts today--two didn't have photos.  One was 83, the rest in their mid to late 70's.  They either didn't know how to put a paragraph together with correct spelling and proper grammar, or, they just looked weird.  One was an Agnostic, Liberal--we certainly would not get along.  Oh, I get along just fine with Agnostics, but not Liberals!  Well--I can get along with Liberals, but he stated in his profile that he was a "Strong" Liberal and that would lead to nothing good.  

It never ceases to amaze me that some of these guys come on a dating site.  Wanting a serious relationship or marriage and yet--the picture they post is horrid.  I want to message them and say, "Is that truly the best picture you have of yourself?"

One stated that he was "a sexy senior citizen--all my parts work!"  he was 80.  I doubt all his "parts" work, but even if they did--I have no desire to find out.  YUCK!!

A lot of them want someone to drive for them, or help them around the house, or be their nurse or their sex therapist.  One guy was open enough to state that he has COPD and diabetes--I've been there, done that!!

Perhaps I am way to snobbish, but I figure, if I am perusing the dating site, I will only save the ones who look like they aren't about to die, can drive their own car, have a bit of money and want JUST a casual relationship.

You are suppose to send them a Thank You message if they view your profile or send you a flirt.  Not happening!  The only guy I responded to was the tall, gawky guy above and that was only to wish him a Happy Birthday.

This whole dating site thingie is not near as much fun as it was when I was in my 40's and 50's!  Then it was personal ads in the newspaper's Companion Column and you sent snail mail letters back and forth and the guys were decent looking.  Now we are all too old to be pretty anymore.

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

I had a brief moment of panic today at the Meijer store.  My food assistance has been $55.00 for the last 3 months.  So, today, I ran my Bridge Card through and there was only $15.00 on there.  The clerk checked my number and said that was my amount.

I must have looked like I was going to cry because she said, "A lot of people are coming in and there is less on their Card then they thought.  They must have lowered every one's food help this month."

Luckily, I had a Meijer gift card that my sister gave me for my birthday for $50.00 AND, my $15.00 assistance and I found some money in my billfold to make up the other $15.00,  WHEW!!.

Tomorrow at noon, is my humiliation appointment at the food bank.  I hope they have stuff that I can use--it will help.  Still with the price of everything going up and living on SS--it just isn't working.  I am telling you younger ladies--YOU GET A 401K at work and you put as much in there as you can!!!

I Waste So Much Time!

Today's high temperature was:  78

Today's humidity was:  55%

70% dew point

Heavy rains in the morning

Horrible humidity this afternoon

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

I know it probably isn't nice of me to post the old guy's pix and make fun of them.

I know it probably isn't nice of me to post stories about Dar and her friends.

I know it probably isn't nice of me to post stories about Pearl.

BUT--it's what I observe during my day and then--I get together with you my "girlfriends" and we all gossip and tell stories and laugh about the weird things that go on in our lives.  I guess, because you don't know any of these people, I feel it doesn't do any harm.  We talk about our "stuff" and then laugh hysterically together, take another sip of your wine and I puff on my vap pipe, LOL.
==========================
I walked up to Merle and Pearl's last evening, around 7:00 and we chatted.  Pearl had started a new medication from "our" doctor for her arthritis.

"Is it working?  Is it helping?"

"I think so."

"Well--I think you have to take any medication for a couple of weeks before you know if it is doing any good."

"I took it for four days and...I seemed to be better...so I stopped for two days."

Merle looks up from his newspaper and says, "If it was helping.  Why would you stop taking it?'

"To see if it was working!  If I stopped and the pain came back, then I knew it would work if I started taking it again.  Lord--don't you understand anything, Merle?"

Merle took of his glasses, turned to her and said, "If you took it and it worked...wouldn't you assume that it was going to continue to work?  You aren't suppose to take medicine and then quit and then start up again."

She turned to me, "I guess I goofed.  I should take it every day---right?"

"Yes.  That would be best.  You need to be consistent with all your meds."

Merle is back reading his newspaper, but I see him roll his eyes and shake his head.

I would think that after being married sixty years--you'd just kind of let whatever the other person said, roll off your back, instead of trying to correct them.  Certainly, he knows by now her quirky ways.  Oh well...
====================
Today, I trooped into Brighton, through the orange barrels, construction tape and orange and yellow cones, to get my hair cut.  It had been six weeks and even though, Pearl thought it didn't need cutting--it was beginning to get "prairie dog" tails that stuck out in the back.  Let's face it--I like my hair short, so it will just lay in place and I don't have to worry about it.  It will look perfect by next week.  It grows like a wild weed!

When I got home, it was only sprinkling and so I got some pix of my newly blossomed lilies--Freddie's lilies, I call them, because he got me a lily plant every year for Sweetest Day.

The planters on the porch are over-flowing

I was watching TV this afternoon, puffing on my vap pipe and all of a sudden, BREAKING NEWS--there is a tornado near Indianapolis!  I have two blog buddies who live in that area.  I dashed into the den and got on Face Book and pleaded with them to let me know if they were all right.  I really was scared for them.  They answered back right away that they were okay.  One had seen it and it hit sort of close to her, but still okay.  

I was worried because, you know, they are part of this girlfriend's group and would be sitting here, sipping a glass of wine, smoking a ciggie and laughing at my stories!!

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

and now--the candidates for tonight---

 He lives way up in the Northern most point of

our Upper Peninsula.

I love the UP, but I'm really not into Michigan Hill Billies.

YIKES

No--he dyes his hair--I can tell

Well now--you do know I love a guy with a

John Deere!  

5'6" -- 145# 

 Look at that emblem on his shirt.

He's a U of M fan!

YUCK!!!

 Oh My--there are no words!

Wait a minute--wait a minute, here!!!
What do we have listed here?

SWWEEEEEEEETT.

Oh my--a man with a new baby in his arms

gets me every time!

Occupation:

Teacher / Professor / Education

Income:

$35,001 to $50,000

Religion:

Christian

Height:

6' 0"

Body:

About average

Hair:

White/Gray

Eyes:

Blue

Ethnicity:

White / Caucasian

Status:

Divorced

Children:

Has 4 children

Pets:    None

Sign:

Leo  / Compatibility

Smoking:

Social Smoker

A little about me...

Well rounded - love my family but active socially, sports minded (golf being my favorite) but not to extreme, love traveling & seeing new places, friends consider me easy to get along with.

About the one I'm looking for...

Ideal partner would have great sense of humor, share common interests, have high self esteem and feel secure, be outgoing and friendly...list getting a little long, so I'll stop here.

He's only 72--but look at his profile!!  

You know I love intelligent men!  

He's 6'0". 

I am outgoing and friendly.
  

I get along really well with Leo's--Pammie is a Leo.  

Blue eyes--I prefer brown, but 

then...................................He's not fat AND NO 

FACIAL HAIR!!!

Me thinks it is time I paid for a month's subscription-- 

just so I can send him a message and tell him how 

adorable I think he is. 

I'm warning you Jean--hands off this one!!  Besides, 

he lives too far away from you!  AND he is a 

Conservative!!!

Well--Let's See What's Going On

Today's high temperature was:  78 degrees

Today's humidity was: 62%

Steamy, plus showers just to make it feel like a swamp

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

To celebrate my 75th birthday, I decided that I needed to quit smoking "real" cigarettes.  Can you believe?  I have smoked for 55 years, and as yet have no effects from that addiction.  HOWEVER, I know it is an accumulative effect...so any day now, I could be diagnosed with COPD or worse.

Why have I continued to smoke, when all my friends quit in their late 50's or 60's?  Can't explain it.  It was part of who I was.  I have quit several times for varying lengths of times. Then something emotional would happen and the first thing I'd want "to make me feel better" was a cigarette.

Now--I have been advised not to quit cold turkey.  Because the nicotine has become such an integral of my internal system--almost like a hormone--that if I quit all at once, I very well could have a heart attack or heart rhythm problems, perhaps, even an emotional break-down from the lose of the Seritonin in my brain--the feel good hormone--because---nicotine DOES make you feel good!!

So--Sunday, I traveled up the road to the Smoke Shop and talked to the owner, went over how I had smoked, what I had smoked and all that and then he advised me on two different kinds of Electronic Cigarette Vapor thingies.

I chose this one:

Sorts looks like a flash light, doesn't it.

 I did not want it to look like a cigarette in any way, shape or fashion.  This is a nicotine delivery system--much like the patches, gum or lozenges.

The battery is inside this

It can be recharged

 On top of that is the nicotine oil tank

 Which is filled with this

Nicotine Oil

They call it "juice"

Put the tip on last and

puff away.

This particular one has that button that controls the wattage.  You click on it 5 times and the light shows, red, purple or blue.  The higher the voltage, the more smoke--which is really only flavored vapor.

You can get different strengths of nicotine--similar to the nicotine strength of the ciggies you WERE smoking.  I made a mistake and got 18%.  I thought the top of my head was going to come off.  I have smoked ultra, ultra lights for years.  So, I had to run back to the Smoke Shop and trade it in for 12%.

Later on, you decrease the percentage of nicotine and you also can get different flavors of oils--coffee, strawberry, fuzzy navel, chocolate.  I can't see myself going in for flavors--but who knows.

You still get the nicotine--which is the addictive aspect of smoking, but gradually decreasing.  You still get the warm feeling of smoke in your mouth, you still get the flavor (I chose menthol) AND you still get the sight of the smoke as you exhale.

But--there is no smoke smell--as it isn't smoke at all.  It is merely water vapor--the oil being heated a bit when you puff the "flash light".

What you don't get are the other 7,000 contaminants in a real ciggie.  Just to name a few, arsenic, formaldehyde, carbon monoxide,  lead, ammonia--all the good stuff.

Dar has been using hers for the last 11 months.  She now has no nicotine and is using the flavors--she likes coffee best.  I don't know why she is even using it anymore.  There is no nicotine in the juice--must just be the pacifier effect?

Although I figure it's way too late for me to reap any health benefits from quitting, the price of a pack of cigarettes is so far out of sight that I certainly cannot afford them.  So--onward we go.

I'm just really glad I never drank alcohol--I would be a mess by now if I had.  Probably feel really good, but still, an unhealthy mess.
==========================

My Stack and Grow has filled in nicely, BUT--I see very little dark blue in there--so I took a picture, printed it out and made a notation to put the Dark Blue Tiny Tunia's in the second level next year.  BTW--none of the "fancy" garden centers around here will grow or sell Impatiens--something about a dust mold that occurred two years ago.  So--I bought a flat at Lowe's.  They are thriving!!!

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

You might get a kick out of this story:  Dar was over this morning--she had purchased a pretty, glass bird bath and couldn't figure out how to put the bowl on the stand.  It was a pretty easy fix--she had the stand upside down.

She just got back from a 4 day trip up north with her friend, Sheila.  Dar has never seen the Mackinaw Bridge or Mackinaw Island.  She said that most of Sheila's travel itinerary included places to eat.  They did manage to find a small shop that makes Northern Michigan Pasties.  Dar gained 3 pounds!  She would have rather seen some natural sites--the Falls and Big Spring and a casino or two--which are prevalent in that area..  

So--this occurrence made Dar's other friend, Jane, extremely jealous.   So, Dar is going to the west side of our State on a four day junket with Jane.  There will be natural sites to see and...Casino's!

The jealous triangle continues between Jane, Sheila and Dar.  Although, Dar swears she won't get in the middle of it and every time one of them starts to gossip about the other, Dar stops them and says, "Work it out."

Jane sneaks down to Dar's via the back way--between their houses (both on the same side of the street) and the woods.  If Sheila sees Jane walking down the street, she waits until she think she is at Dar's, then calls and tells Dar she had to see her right then because of an emergency.

If Jane sees Sheila walking, via the street, she waits and then calls Dar and tells her she has a problem and has to talk to her "right now!"

Jane and Sheila live directly across the street from each other, but Sheila and Dar work and take lunch together and that makes Jane mad because she feels Dar owes her that extra time too.

Earlier this spring, Jane had a lot of damage done to her place because of the ice storms.  She got her insurance company to pay for a new carport and roof and she paid to have all new siding and windows put in her house.  Quite an expense and it looks real nice.  New raised gardens put in and a lovely raised deck in back of her house with privacy fencing.

Sheila decided she wanted a new back deck put on her house and had that done.  

This morning, Dar told me that Jane is so angry with Sheila's spying and interference that she is putting her house up for sale and moving to another one, two streets over.  That way, she can walk down the far street, just down a few yards from me, and come up the street to Dar's and Sheila won't be able to see her movements!

The trouble is, Jane will never get the money she has invested in her new stuff, out of the sale of her home and the new house is a double-wide and going for $20,000.00, but--she's doing it anyway.

Dar says, "Does this remind you of third grade?"

"Sort of," I laughed.  "You know--it IS harder, or at least I have found it is harder, to have a 3-group friendship.  You need 4 in your group."

"Oh--do you want to join our group?"

"Ah...no thanks!  They get mad enough as it is if they call you and you tell them you are over here!" 
.
"That's why I tell them.  I am trying to show them, I have more friends than just the two of them!"
<which I don't view as very nice of her to try and add me to the mix>

"Well...I can't afford it, but if I could...you and I could take a weekend trip over to the EAST side of the state and drive them both nuts!."

We both laughed.  Just hope she didn't take that seriously.
=============
Well--let's see who we find today as one of my matches on Our Time:

 Now--he looks like a real, pleasant fella.

Plus--I hate beards!!!

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

Oh wait--I just went back and looked and--hm-mm, now.

Not too grizzly.  Kind of cute--although "cute" is a real hard word to use when viewing guys in their 70's!  He looks pleasant.  Hm-mm--he lives in Brighton.  He's 6'1"--he goes to church every Sunday--a Lutheran--well, I can deal with Lutheran's.  He has a summer home on Lake Huron! You know how I love a cottage overlooking the water! OH--oh--he's old=76.

Well now--what do we have here?  75--lives just 20 minutes south of here.  Doesn't say how tall he is, but looks kind of tall.  Wait--he reminds me of someone I know.  

Oh--now I remember.  My ex.

I am having a bit of fun with this dating site thingie.  You can put your profile on it without having to pay a subscription fee.  Of course, you can't message the guys, but.........you get to see what's "out there" every day.  I've got nothing better to do each morning, LOL.

Nothing Else To Do

So, I just read Jean's blog post http://misadventuresofwidowhood.blogspot.comand, because she had read where I spotted an old friend on Our Time (a dating site), she also went off adventuring to see what she could see.

And what did she see?  You'll have to read her post.  It is hysterical and very true.  LOL

Most of these poor old guys write the same profile.  The ever present, "I like walks on the beach and holding hands,"  sounds like the lyrics to a song I once knew.  "A few extra pounds" could mean anything from 10 pounds overweight to 50 pounds overweight.  

What attracted me to Fred on his dating site profile--9 years ago, is...he wrote the most fantastic profile.  I couldn't believe a man could spell or use such correct grammar.  In fact, at one time in our three weeks of communicating via e-mail, I accused him of having one of his daughter's write his words.  His profile photo sure wasn't too cute--at the time he was dyeing his beautiful salt and pepper hair and it had taken on the reddish shade that happens to so many men that dye.  But--it was the way he wrote and expressed himself that got to me.



So today--here is my latest find.

He swears it is a recent photo, but good grief--do men still wear this style?  He looks like he is trying to emulate John Travolta in "Staying Alive!"

So that's what I did with my Sunday evening!!!  

Hey--don't judge, it's good clean fun and--"nobody knows my name."

June 21st. The First Day of Summer. The Longest Day of the Year.

My Diamond Jubilee Birthday

YIKES!!

I still chew my tongue when I am concentrating on something

and using my hands

Look at the size of those candles!!

I must have been very special OR more likely,

those were the only candles Mother had in the house

See my right hand going for that frosting?

Every time I turned another year older,

Grandma was hauling me to the photography studio

Story about this very same hammock--when Mother went into labor, Grandma called the doctor out.  He came from a town about 20 miles away.  He checked Mother and said it would be quite a few more hours.  Grandma would not let him go back to town and paid him to lay/rest/snooze in that hammock until I was born, at 8:15 that night.  .

I changed this around to be more like how I am

A 75th birthday is called: Dodranscentennial, which means, "A whole unit, less a quarter."  So--I guess that means, I am only playing with 3-quarters of a deck?

Another Wonder Full Day

The high temperature today was:  65 degrees

Cloudy, cool and rainy in evening

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

It took me 15 minutes to drive 2 miles into Brighton.  Four lanes and a middle turn lane, down to two lanes.  This is all I saw--stop and go--stop and go.

I am always early for any event--usually way too early--not so today, when, of course, we had a time constraint on the amount of time we had for lunch!  I finally got here at 12:38.

and we ate in this room--very swanky place

I kept mis-saying "Ciao Amigo's and Karen kept saying, "Mom--this isn't an Italian-Mexican restaurant!"  Well, I knew that, considering this was the exact room Fred and I had reserved for his birthday, our surprise wedding!  I was just flustered.

I had no idea what to order and really couldn't tell from the menu, which was written with a lot of Italian words--so Karen suggested we have the Amici Gorgonzola salad--although, I don't like Gorgonzola cheese (I don't think) so they put Parmesan on mine.  Dried Michigan cherries, pine nuts, shrimp or chicken (I got the shrimp) and cheese and some sort of really luscsious dressing.  Out of this world--and it should be for $14.99!  What I REALLY wanted was the Filet Mignon--I do like beef, but at $30.00, I didn't want to burden my daughters with that hefty bill!!

Suddenly it was 2:30 and we had to scoot to get to Madeleine's ballet camp recital.  We all drove out to Jen's which is on the way.  Jen is not home, but Pammie and I parked in the driveway and hopped into Karen's car and off we went--about a 10 mile fly, down the freeway.

The recital was held in the dance studio--we were all lined up along the edges of the little room, over by the ballet barre.  Karen did get a chair for me, but everyone else sat on the floor.  Talk about close!  I could have reached out and tripped Madeleine, if I wanted to be extremely cruel!

i wish I had a better camera to take video's

It was over in less than an hour.  Maddie had been there all week, every day from 10:00 to 4:00, practicing--she was exhausted!

...and my precious Susanna was there too.

We all came back to Jen's to pick up our cars and Pammie had to go in and check on the animals.  I came back into Brighton to get gas, as it was only $3.79 a gallon and has been $3.90 around here.

Then I took the back way home from town so I wouldn't have to drive in the construction mess.  Hee Hee--they think they can fool me?  No way!

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

I was sitting here clicking around on the computer and checked out the, "Our Time" dating site and one of my matches just happened to be!!!  

You will never guess.

I should make you wait..................

The boy I met when I was at MSU for the 6 weeks music program--in 1956!

  

Richard Spencer Dunham!!!!!!!!!

<just saying his name gives me chills>  

The 6'2" track athlete mystery man, my girls have heard the story.  The "city" boy my mother warned me about and was so much nicer to me than the farm boys I went to high school with.  My precious--Little Richard and I was his Long Tall Sally. 

(Oh--there is such a neat story about those weeks at MSU)

We see each other about every 5 years, or so.

He stopped in last year and it was so good to see him. He still has that adorable grin that I used to love, that funny laugh of his and boy-oh-boy--he is the VERY best kisser and hugger I have ever known.  

I think I posted about how he stopped in driving, his renovated Corvette, took me to lunch, and then, when we got back here, he wanted a tour of the house--"I'd really like to see how you have decorated your bedroom," he said, with that cute crooked smile and adorable laugh.

(He stopped in another time, just after I moved in here and said nearly the same thing--shortly after he told me that God had sent him a wonderful woman and they were getting married.  At that time, I told him, "Richard--I'd go straight to Hell if I slept with you..after you tell me God has sent you a good wife.  You better just head on back to East Lansing and be content with God's blessing on you.")

BUT--Richard is a player!!  

He is looking, on the dating site, for a "serious relationship or marriage"--which is hysterical.  He has had both many--but they never last--BECAUSE--Richard always finds someone better looking or sexier.  Now--he is 76--but I can't see as that part of his life has changed all that much--but he sure is a charmer!    AND, he is really, really polite, caring and nice.  He would move Heaven and earth to make you feel loved and wanted and happy!

<did I mention he is the best kisser in this world?>

BUT--

IF he and I ever got together in anything other than a friendly relationship--I would be madly IN love with him in about--hm-mm--probably 30 seconds and he would be madly in love WITH me for--hm-mm--maybe two weeks?

Well--I have been there and done that in 1986--after my divorce and...Judy is a lot wiser now!!!  BUT--OH MAMA--HE IS GOOD!!!!!

He has a "gear head motor lounge" in his basement

with all sorts of vintage stuff from the

1950's, including a drive-in movie

speakers and post (that I gave him years ago.)

He belong to the Corvette Club and has

renovated many Corvettes and is now a

judge for the shows and travels all over

the USA!

BUT--

In his dating profile, he wants a tall woman (that's me), aged 55-68 (that ain't me).  He last girlfriend was 45--and he is now 76. 

He is 18 months older than me and--I do not date men older than me.  Basically, he is way too old for me!!

but..OH MAMMA...HE IS GOOD!!!

 <be still my heart!!>