June 20, 2021 - Msg 116776: Romeena, on the day I was admitted, I was shocked when they checked my glucose level. It was at 20. Yesterday and this morning, it was down to 8. Yes I do believe the high reading caused me to shake and fall. After I am discharged, I will be seeing an endocrinologist and a hemotoligist.

Billy Ray the Postman, when I retired, I thought I could get rid of my alarm clock. But I was wrong. Since I am the only person in our family who has a driver's license, I get up at 4am to drive my stepson to work, then drive my wife to work at 6:30am.
Find a hobby or part time work or investigate a business you can perform fto keep you occupied during some of your free time.

from Poor Horatio
June 20, 2021 - Msg 116777: Happy Father's Day to all of our Porch dads!

Also, prayers and get well wishes for PH.Sorry you're dealing with health issues,PH. Feel better soon!

Have a good day,all!

*****************
possum under a rock
June 20, 2021 - Msg 116778: Congratulations Billy Ray....Just jump in..The water is FINE!..
If you want to join one of the Mayberry TAGS Club chapters in your area I can hook you up....If I remember correctly you live in Cincinnati?...I have a good friend who’s group is very active, their name is...The Gomer and Goober Pyle Comic Book Literary Guild...Let me know if you are interested, I’ll get you the information....

G-F
June 20, 2021 - Msg 116779: Sinking and fainting spells ain't a good thing. I usually eat some candy and that brings me to.
Horatio.. I gots some Oh Henry bars I keep in my sock for just such emergencies. You are welcome to them. Regis
June 20, 2021 - Msg 116780: Regis, I did not faint when I fell. I was conscious before, during and after my fall. Also, Oh Henry candy bars were the first treat I ate after coming home from trick or treating when I was a kid. I miss them ever since I gave up candy many years ago.

from Poor Horatio
June 20, 2021 - Msg 116781:

H A P P Y - F A T H E R S - D A Y !!!


June 20, 2021 - Msg 116782: Oh, that was from me, MDC :)

June 20, 2021 - Msg 116783:

PH-Nice sweep! Prayers going up for you! mdc

June 22, 2021 - Msg 116784: "I wanna whole mess a spare ribs!"
Pa Joad
June 22, 2021 - Msg 116785:

Hello all! I've been busy the past couple days because...drum roll please... the cabinet demo is Wed. and the install is Thursday!! Yippie! We have a family room of cabinets that will
soon be on the wall! And guess what, i saw on the net a youtube of a guy who
'cut out' the counter on either side of the sink, lifted it out, and then re-installed it as he waited a few weeks for the counter tops. So that's what I did with a router and small occilating tool today. I think it will work!
We have everything emptied out, doors off, I pulled the trim, so hopefully it will go smoothly.

ASA- on Sunday evening me-tv had an episode of The Fugitive where the one-armed man shows up in a prison yard. Kimble gets very close to him. I'd never seen that one before! Congrats to Stacey! You said the Lord had his plans, but I think hubby also
had something to do with it! haha

I get three 'retro' channels over the air, COZI-TV, ANTENNA-TV, AND ME-TV.
99% of my viewing is on those three, along with the western channel. I just cannot cotton to today's stuff!

RO--so nice of your sunday school class to chip in like that. Glad you were able
to get out and do a few things. Our intense run of 118s and 119s is over, and today was
"only" 107! haha

Hello to all and prayers to all!
MDC


June 23, 2021 - Msg 116786: MDC’s House TODAY... https://youtu.be/qilvSxU-Bf8 Can you Say...Happy 😀 Dance? 💃🏼....G-F
June 23, 2021 - Msg 116787: Good morning, porch! Cloudy and gray here today, may get some rain. I hope so. All that rain we had earlier is but a memory now, and the trees are already starting to drop a lot of leaves. They put on a heavy load when the rain was so plentiful, and now that it's getting hot and dry, they're releasing a lot of them. The crape myrtles are blooming madly all over town, and mine are doing diddly squat. Haven't figured that one out yet. I have eight or nine of the things around the house, and so far, not a bloom in sight. Rats!

I'm helping out in Vacation Bible School at church this week. We started Monday, will end tomorrow, just a four-day session, and frankly, I'll be glad when it's finished. I'm teaching in the kindergarten department, the kids are adorable, and I love what I'm doing. However, I'm not used to getting up at the ungodly hour of 6:30 a.m., Trinket thinks I've lost my mind, and she may be right. Still, it's fun and rewarding, when one of the kids says something that makes it clear that they actually did hear and retain what we taught them the day before. It's fun being called "Miss Lanni", too. There's one skinny little boy who is going to end up with a dislocated shoulder, I think. His hand is always and ever waving in the air, as high as he can reach. He has something he wants to say, but usually forgets it when we acknowledge his waving hand. I wish I could raise my hands that high these days! So cute!

I've got to leave a little early this morning. I have a dear friend, who has scoliosis and arthritis much worse than mine, and has had a miserable back surgery years ago that didn't help, I think it did more harm than good. It's the surgery that my own back surgeon refused to do. He said it did harm more often than it helped, and it appears he was right. Anyway, she's teaching with me this week, and is definitely over-doing her activity. I've been concerned about her, and she just called and asked me to come a little early and bring my tube of Voltaren with me, so she can try it. I had told her about it yesterday. She's miserable, and not sure she can get through the morning. So, I'll meet her there, and we'll go in a restroom and rub her sore spots down with Voltaren. It's not a miracle, but it does help some. If it helps her, she'll get a tube of it from the store near the church. It has given me some appreciable relief, and I hope it does the same for her. She's a lovely gal, I've known her for years, and love her like a sister. We have a lot in common, both widows, both with the same physical complaints, both love the church and our Lord. She's definitely not a complainer, and puts up with physical difficulties that far exceed mine. I hope the Voltaren helps her like it has done for me.

Well, better get moving. Still got to confine Trinket, and break her little heart. She'll be glad to see me when I get home, though. All will be forgiven. We could learn a lot from dogs! Blessings, friends. Keep looking up! --Romeena
June 23, 2021 - Msg 116788: Good morning all.

MDC, Thanks for the congrats buddy. I am really excited about it as we all are. I just worry about Stacey. She gets so sick, especially the first trimester. But I am confident she will be fine.
So glad your new cabinets are there and ready to go in. And you are doing some demolition your self. Thats always fun. Just don't get carried away. Pull a Tim the tool man Taylor escapade. lol (Heck Cecile, we never liked that wall there anyway)

Well I am off to go trim some tree limbs. I have some lower hanging branches on a big old cottonless cottonwood tree out back that just about wants to pull me right off of my mower unless I duck. And my back don't cotton to me ducking. So off they go.

Prayers for all.

Asa
June 24, 2021 - Msg 116789: Romeena, I am getting frustrated trying to reply to your email using my smartphone. Please wait until they kick me out next week.

from Poor Horatio
June 24, 2021 - Msg 116790: No problem, PH. Rest, relax, and get well. No worries, I got your email, and sent you a reply. It was a simple matter of the differences in terminology between America and Canada, and you understood and let me know. I have never learned to convert between metric and imperial, and at my age, it's not likely that I ever will. Some of it I understand, like 2.2 lbs equals a kilo, but the whole spectrum? Not gonna happen, not at this stage.

Well, Vacation Bible School is finished, and so am I, just about. We had a class of ten kids who had just finished kindergarten. Did you ever try to keep up with ten kids that age, and keep them focused for four hours? I'd rather try to herd baby ducks! There was one little boy with the charming name of Christian, who was a study in perpetual motion. During story time, his hand was constantly in the air. When the reader would finally acknowledge it, he would look blank, and couldn't remember what he was going to say. He couldn't sit still, and would try to crawl around the room, instead of sitting in the circle. He annoyed his neighbors. During crafts, he would get up from his table and wander around to see what the other tables were doing. I was on his case constantly. For three days, I was nearly hoarse from saying "Christian, sit down!" or whatever. So, yesterday as we were leaving to go home, I walked through the foyer of the sanctuary, and he was sitting with his mom on one of the benches there, waiting for his older sister. When he saw me, he jumped up, ran to me and threw his little arms around me, and said, "I love you! Will you be here again tomorrow?" Today, he was as unruly as always, but he came to me several times, just a quick pat on my arm, or a very fast little hug and a shy grin, and my friends, that's what makes it all worth while. That, and the fact that these little kids, who never appear to be listening, who try your patience in a thousand ways, will suddenly say something or answer a question so well, that you realize they are learning and remembering what you have tried to teach them. I can quote scriptures today that I know I learned in VBS when I was a small child. I'm tired, my back hurts, and I feel like I've been hit by a truck, but believe me, it was worth it.

Asa, how exciting! Another little grandkid to love. Stacey is a wonder, and her reward will be great. Young mothers amaze me. We have a new young youth minister at our church, and his wife has a tiny baby, just about six weeks old. The girl has been a leader at VBS all week, up on the stage talking in general assembly, leading in group songs, and all over the school, helping out and keeping things running smoothly. That tiny baby has been snuggled in a long strip of soft fabric, wrapped around her body, with the baby tucked in, in the front. He sleeps with his little head against her chest, hearing the same heartbeat he heard before he was born, and never wakes up or fusses. He just bobs along with her! She has both hands free, does all the little hand motions that accompany a lot of the songs, and he never objects. It's amazing, and beautiful to see. God is good!

Blessings, porch! Keep looking up! --Romeena
June 25, 2021 - Msg 116791: Here ya go MDC....https://youtu.be/YCfInEIfeo8 DONE & DONE!👍...Good Luck Buddy...G-F
June 25, 2021 - Msg 116792: Good morning, porch! Well, Trinket and I slept until 9:30 this morning! I don't know about her, but I needed the rest. She is always ready for whatever I do - if I get up early, she looks a little annoyed, but she's up and at 'em. If I sleep late, she just snuggles and doesn't bother me. She does understand what the alarm means, though, and that's a good thing. The second day of Bible school, I didn't hear the alarm because I was lying on my left side, and since I have no hearing in my right ear, I couldn't hear the alarm. She did, though, and proceeded to wake me up, very persistently. Smart little thing!

We have a beautiful day here, bright and sunny, with cheerful little puffy clouds in the sky. It will be pretty warm, with a predicted high of 97°. I know, MDC, that sounds like a cold front to you, but our humidity is at 41%. There is a brisk breeze blowing though, so that helps.

Drat! I just noticed something moving on the trunk of the big cottonwood outside my window. I thought it might be one of my little lizard friends, and I love to watch them. However, it's not a lizard, it's one of those abominable cottonwood borers, first one I've seen in two or three years! If you're not familiar with them, they are a big beetle, about 2 or 2.5 inches long, black and white spotted, and an invasion of them can actually kill a tree. Guess I'll get me a big old rock and go out there and send him to the happy boring ground.

Ha! I got him, actually her, just in time. They go to the line where the soil meets the tree, and burrow in. They chew a hole in the tree/root line, and lay eggs. Where the larvae go when they hatch, I'm not sure, but eventually they become more of the huge, creepy beetles. This one had already buried the front end of her body, so I dropped my rock on her big old swollen, egg-laden rear end. End of story. Mess with my shade tree? I think not!

Today is going to be pretty much a do-nothing day. I think I've earned it. Getting up at 6:45 all week, and doing battle with the kindergarten army every morning. Then yesterday we had to tear down all the posters, pictures, the sand box where they dug for "artifacts" (broken bits of pottery), all the trappings of teaching little kids, and get it out of there. We were in an adult Sunday School classroom, and our stuff had to be out of there so Mike, the custodian, could get the room cleaned and ready for the adults on Sunday. Mike, our unsung hero. Need a room rearranged for a one-time event? Need it put back in order? Wondering where you might find a certain thing? Need a door unlocked so you can get in to get something done? Ask Mike. You will be met with a big smile, an answer, and a "you betcha!" if you need his help. He's been our go-to guy at the church for years, and I don't know what we'd do without him. On top of that, he pastors a tiny church elsewhere in town, and schedules his services so he can be on hand at ours on Sunday, in case he's needed, and he always is. I've been told that his little church can't afford to pay him, so his job with our church is his support for himself and his family. That's dedication to the Lord's work, and we are grateful for him.

Well, guess I'll go try to brush a few tangles out of Trinket's hair. It's about six or seven inches long now, and is tangling constantly. She can build up an impenetrable mat in a day's time! Her groomer is scheduled for Wednesday, and this time I'm going to let her clip her down to about two inches. It's just a constant battle, is hard on her, and wears me out. She's got a beautiful, thick, snow-white coat, and I hate to cut it off, but she's a pet and a companion, not a show dog, so why do we both have to put up with that long hair? I love Maltese for their loving nature and sweet temperament, and while their beauty is nice, it's not the main thing. So, a haircut is coming!

Blessings, porch! Keep looking up! --Romeena
June 26, 2021 - Msg 116793:

Hello gang! Well, the cabinet install went very good on Thursday, and now we have our "red neck" countertops in place! ha When ya set old countertops
on top of the new cabinets, you're probably a red neck! :)
The countertop man came this morning to measure, (he had to wait for the cabinet install to get precise measurements for the tops.) They will take about three weeks to make, BUT, we are going on vacay to Santa Barbara in three weeks,
so we will wait until we return to have them installed. We ordered the cabinets
on Feb 3rd, and hopefully all will be done by mid August! wow! Oh, did I mention that I 'cut out' the sink portion, and we set it back in today and hooked it up temporarily...yankee ingenuity! :)

RO--we do usually get some pretty good humidity in late July and August during our 'monsoon' time, which the last couple of years has been more of a "non-soon." Also, I agree, a good church custodian is a real blessing. Our chuch is 1500 families, with 4 sunday services, and it takes a lot of cleaning come monday! I've helped a few times, and we find everything from kleenex to cheerios in the pews!
Do you get cicadas in your area? Talk about a nusance from just rubbing legs together!!

GF--that was a good video! Yup, about how it went.

HEY TO SPOT, POSSUM, ASA, BOO, BIG MAUDE, NN, CHARLOTTE, PH, JM AND ALL!

One tuckered out MDC
June 26, 2021 - Msg 116794: MDC..Glad it all went well! It was a good idea to use part of the old top until the new one arrives..👍..G-F
June 26, 2021 - Msg 116795: Good Saturday morning all.

MDC, So glad the install went smooth as it did. That is rare anymore it seems. Hopefully the countertop install will be just as smooth. As Col. Potter would say, there ain't enough "o's" in smooth to describe it. lol You deserve it after all the hassle you had just getting them delivered.

Romeena, Thanks for the congrats. We are so excited for Stacey and Matt. Being a parent of adult children, you tend to look back and think how quick they grew up. Well being a Grand Parent, those Grnd Kids grow up at warp speed. It seems like just a few years ago I was posting on here about the arrival of Mariah, my first Grand Kid. She now has her learners permit and is driving. My goodness, how did that happen.
It sounds like your VBS went very well and has left you with some nice memories. Both for you and those children. That's what it is all about.

GF, You ever worked much on small engines? I kind of enjoy tinkering with them. Years ago I had a little side business repairing lawn mowers and what not. With a young growing family and a demanding full time job that required a lot of overtime, I never really had the time to devote to it that I would have liked. And doing repairs for folks... well sometimes dealing with folks can be interesting. lol The only time I really made any money was when someone would bring me in a machine, and then I would give them a price quote to repair it. Half the time they would get mad and say for a few dollars more they could buy a brand new mower. And often times that what they would do. And just leave me with their old mower. So after 30 days if I had not heard from them, I would repair it and sell it as is. That usually worked out pretty good. Anyway, I have been rescuing a few old mowers and tillers and repairing them for resell. Been kind of fun. Like I said, I enjoy tinkering with them. Very satisfying to rebuild a carburetor and bring a machine back to life. That seems to be the most common issue. The gas gets old and damages the carb.

MDC, I hear you on the "nonsoon". It has been so dry here. And with the water restrictions they are imposing, my poor lawn is looking very distressed. You know when your old and retired, a nice lush green lawn is a big deal. Where is the justice? lol What we need is some gypsies here doing a rain dance.

Well off to rustle up some breakfast. I think I have a hankering for a stack of pancakes and a glass of ice cold milk. A good old gut bomb.

Asa
June 26, 2021 - Msg 116796: Good morning, porch! It's going to be another three-H day here. That's pilot parlance (learned from my late son) meaning "high, hot and hummy" - describing the weather. It refers to high cloud cover, hot temperature and high humidity. Pilots are strange people.

Looks like I may get to see my plumerias bloom this year! One of them, at least. I have two, each about six or eight feet tall, and they do set buds, but the stinkin' little squirrels nibble the blooms away the moment they appear. I love the squirrels, but would also enjoy seeing my plumeria trees bloom. This year, for whatever reason, the smaller one has sent up some foot-long, slender shoots from the very top of the tree, and the buds are appearing on the ends of those shoots. The shoots won't support the squirrels weight, so they're having trouble getting to them. Ha! Finally, something frustrates the squirrels efforts. I wonder why the plumerias haven't done this before now???

MDC, I'm so glad you've finally got your kitchen in order! Well, almost anyway. Those countertops should be no problem. Be sure to get some pictures and post them where we can see them!

Asa, I can't believe Mariah is already driving! Wasn't she just born last year?? Time doesn't just fly, it rides a rocket! Stacey must just be the light of your life. She sounds like such a good mother.

A few days ago, I bought a box of the small-size Salonpas pads. I had tried one given to me by a doctor a couple of years ago, a big patch, and it didn't seem to help my back pain much, so hadn't bought any. They're expensive! Then I saw that box of small patches, about 1.5"x3", and there were 60 in the box for $12, so I got them. I thought the smaller size was more adaptable to my needs. (Dumb me, I never thought about cutting them down.) Anyway, I had a spot on my neck, where it meets my shoulder last night, that was just so tense and tight, hard as a rock, and hurting. Some kind of spasm, I guess. I thought about the Salonpas pads, and put one of them on that area. Within five minutes, it had relaxed and no longer hurt. I'm convinced! I now have a new friend - Salonpas pads! And I may even cut these small ones to fit the sore joints on my hands and wrists. One thing puzzles me, though. How did they come up with the name - Salonpas?

Asa, you done flung a cravin' on me for some pancakes! I think I've got the fixin's to swing it, too. I like buttermilk pancakes, and I always have buttermilk, and of course the rest of the stuff is a staple in any kitchen, so I can whomp up a small stack easily. Yep, that's what I'm gonna do - gonna make me some pancakes!

Well, see y'all later! Blessings, and keep looking up! --Romeena
June 27, 2021 - Msg 116797:

HI FOLKS! I've just been busy.
Hope you all had a Good Sabbath.
More later, :)
MDC


June 28, 2021 - Msg 116798: Hey MDC....Your wife says can you reach that box for her on the top shelf in the new kitchen cabinets for her? She needs it to make something...I bet you are enjoying spinning that lazy Susan all around too!...lol

No Asa, I haven’t done much with small engines, but I do have a question about my riding mower carburetor, I will email you.

Romeena...I’m guessing someone just wanted their “Pa” to feel like he was in a relaxing in a nice Salon? 🤷🏼‍♂️🤣
That’s how me and Upchurch see it.....

G-F
June 28, 2021 - Msg 116799: Asa...I sent that email to you...Thanks!....G-F
June 28, 2021 - Msg 116800: Here's a thought....

In "Citizen's Arrest," do you think Barney would've come flying out of his self imprisonment if Andy would've said "You want to stay there? Fine. Just know this...by sitting in that cell, you are no longer working. So, you will be docked five days pay for the five days you are sitting in there!"

John Masters
June 29, 2021 - Msg 116801:

Good point JM! Hope you are doing well these days!
I saw one tags tonight, Hollywood Mayberry, with that
classic line: We tried to tell 'em didn't we Andy!" :)

GF, today it was more like, "where should these dishes go now?" Quite a busy day putting things back.

BTW, it ended up not really being a lazy susan, but a really
cool 'swing out shelf.' The mechanism is like something for NASA! ha Once the dust settles, I'll email some pics.

BOO--you and yours doing OK these days?

ASA- for many years I had a Sensation mower. That thing was
well made, and simple with the back and forth handle, But changing the
wheel height took a wrench and some patience! :)

Hey to all!
MDC


June 29, 2021 - Msg 116802: Good morning all.

MDC, Amazing how a company that had the smarts to come up with the idea of the flipping handle (ingenious) but had to make the process of changing the mow height such an ordeal stuns the mind, huh? I remember a number of years ago visiting my Dad. He had his riding mower in a most unusal position. Standing straight up. He had rigged a chain fall from one of the roof beams in his shop and hooked the other end ot the front of his riding mower and raised it up until it was completely upright. I asked what on earth he was doing. Well the drive belt had broken off and so he had to replace it. The problem was the number of pulleys this belt had to travel around was incredible. And trying to figure out the correct way to rebelt it was not easy. So he had lifted it up for easier access. He and I spent several hours trying different ways before we finally got the correct route figured out. I marveled at how complex they had made this.
Then you have other companies that already made a superior product, and make it even better by enhancing it in some manner. I am thinking of the company that produces WD-40. I have always liked the product. It seems to work well, and smells kind of good to me. lol And then they did something that sealed the deal when they came up with the little flip up straw on the spray can. Works like a charm and no more lost straws. I bet old GF would give me a big 10-4 on that one.
Glad the install went smooth buddy. Been quite a struggle.

GF, I hope the info I sent you was helpful. The more I have thought about your description the more I think the valve adjustment maybe the only issue. I think I would try that first before tearing into the carb. Just a thought.

Good to see you JM. I hjope you are well. Portland is a mess, ain't it?

Romeena, I am going to have to give those pads a try. Debbie uses a patch (Lidocain or some such thing) that she says helps her dealing with sholder pain. I tried it once on some lower back pain but it didn't seem to do anything for me. One of the joys of getting older is finding I hurt in places that just a few years ago I didn't even know I had. Aww, the golden years have more lead than gold in them. :)

We may get some rain up here tomorrow and Thursday and Friday they say. That would sure be nice.

Well off to go fiddle in the shop for a bit before it gets to hot. Sure is nice to not have to battle the temp extremes anymore, but it has softend me up some. lol

Oh, I was going to mention Debbie got me an Alexa thingmabob for Fathers day. Anyone have one of those? Dang thing is amazing. Ask it anything and she gives you an answer. Or plays you music. It took the two of us almost two hours to get it to connect to our wifi. We almost had to call one of our grand kids to come over and do it for us, but we finally got it figured out. Anyway, been having a lot of fun with that.

Prayers for all for a good day.

Asa
June 29, 2021 - Msg 116803: Good early afternoon, porch! Funny day here, bright sunshine one minute, threatening-looking clouds the next. Mild temp, just 83° at just past noon, might make 90° before night. Looks like intermittent rain for the next week. I'm happy, every rain shower lowers my water bill just that much more. The weeds are proliferating, though. They can grow a whole lot faster than Eddie and I can pull them, the miserable things.

I have been almost as frustrated with my second set of hearing aids as I was with the first ones. Oh, I can hear with them, for sure! Everything! All at once! No separation, can't distinguish one voice from another, just a goulash of sound pouring in, if there are more than two people talking. It's very frustrating. I got several mailers from the Miracle Ear people recently, and just on impulse, I visited their location yesterday. They are well named, I think. They actually had a pair of "demo" aids, and they allowed me to wear them, put me through an audiology test, and then we just talked, with distracting noises going on, and I could hear so much better than with my old aids. So, yes, I pulled the trigger and ordered a pair. The amazing thing was that with their aids, I actually had some hearing in my right ear, which has been silent for several years. It's not much, would not be enough by itself, but it was just enough that it let me locate the source of sounds. Up until now, all hearing has been in the left ear, so anything I hear is interpreted as coming from my left side. Now I heard a sound that was coming from my right side, and I knew it was. Until you've experienced monaural hearing, you wouldn't understand how annoying and sometimes dangerous that can be. Even though the sound was muffled, I could still locate it, and what my left ear was hearing told me what it was. The darned things are very pricey, right on a par with what I've paid in the past, but it's going to be worth it. I have literally gotten up and left a room because the undifferentiated roar of sound entering my left ear was so nerve-wracking. I'm fine with up to three, maybe four, people in a room, but when there's a room full, and all are talking in little groups here and there, it just becomes a roar, and I can't understand anything.

I'll get the new ones Thursday, and will be playing bunco on Friday night, so that's a perfect test. We'll have 12 women in one room, at three tables, all talking, laughing, and even screaming at times, and usually I'm just barely able to remain in the room. I think it's going to be different this time. I certainly hope so.

Those plumeria buds I mentioned earlier are opening, and I'm actually getting to see some beautiful flowers on that one tree. The other one has set a few buds, but they never opened. I can only conclude that Mr. Bushytail had some plumeria salad. Oh well. The trees themselves are very pretty, quite tropical-looking.

You guys and your machinery repair. I would be so lost! I can do little minor repairs on some things, but I can't imagine standing a mower up on its haunches and replacing one of those serpentine belts. Takes more courage and lots more know-how than I would ever have. I guess that's why God made both men and women, and made us different, with individual talents and abilities. I think I could change a tire, if I just desperately had to. I think. I'm not at all sure, probably don't have the physical strength anymore. Tires are heavy! Anyway, when I was 14, we lived in the country and my grandmother, who lived with us, was a brittle diabetic, who might have needed emergency care. I was able to get a hardship license at that age, so I could get her into town if necessary. My dad taught me to drive, and taught me how to change a tire. He didn't want me stranded and depending on a stranger if I had a flat tire. I could do it then, and still remember how, but am not sure I could handle that heavy thing these days! So, that's what cell phones, a son, a friendly mechanic, and other friends are for.

Well, guess I'll go get Trinket in my lap in my wheelerette, have a big glass of tea, and watch a little TV and maybe take a nap. Retirement is a wonderful thing. Blessings, friends. Remember to keep looking up! --Romeena
June 29, 2021 - Msg 116804: Asa...I watched Donyboy’s video, I sent you an email....That sure looks like that’s my problem! Thanks!..G-F
June 29, 2021 - Msg 116805: * Who says we don’t discuss important things here on the Porch!....G-F
June 30, 2021 - Msg 116806:

Just a quick hello tonight.
Besides the kitchen project, we are also getting some things together for a trip to Santa Barbara
for the week of the 17th.
And yes ASA, I agree, I'd like to know who invented sensation's tire mounts! haha

More later,
MDC
June 30, 2021 - Msg 116807: Hi everyone, sorry I have been absent. Its still hard for me to sit at this keyboard due to my back pain. I am greatly improved but not totally fine and certain things still hurt. I would use my phone but it is kind of small and very hard to type on without continual typos.

We are doing fairly well. Erin is still here and I may have already told you that her lab work was ok and she is doing much better. We saw the neurologist today and he said the EEG was normal but the way she describes the episodes makes him think that they are pain-related due to the pain of the fibromyalgia and headaches. She is supposed to have surgery soon to correct the deviated septum and constant pain and pressure caused by the nasal fracture she got back in highschool. The specialist said she needs surgery to correct the problem but he wouldnt do it until she was 21. She turns 20 in a month and I am hoping they will consider correcting the problem soon. So, that is where we are. Her mood seems better the last few days and she is acting more normal and less manic. She now has the ok from the neurologist to start back on her psych meds so hopefully we are on the road to improvement.

The weather has been hot as usual, but we have been seeing some rain off and on the last couple of days, which helps. I cant believe tomorrow is July! June flew by.

Not much else to add. Hope you are all well and blessed.

Love,
Boo
July 01, 2021 - Msg 116808: Hey porchsters. When I get the misery in my back, I use Absorbine Jr patches. They're at most any dollar store and they can be cut down to size. I was surprised how well they work the first time I tried them.

One month to go...

Billy Ray the Postman
July 01, 2021 - Msg 116809: Billy Ray...Good to hear you're to the 1 month countdown mark...Have you picked out your new “Wheeler” reclining chair yet?....A must have for all of us Retirees to sit back and watch out favorite TAGS episodes!...Now you will be able to Say...
Sit down, RELAX, “What’s Your Hurry”?.....

Boo glad you popped in for a min. to talk...Hang in there!

G-F
July 01, 2021 - Msg 116810: Billy Ray the Postman, in the military, we would refer to you as being a 30 day midget.

Boo, glad to learn you are improving. I am out of the hospital and my back pain is gone without taking any pain medication.

Asa, you might be interested in the following web site https://www.thesun.co.uk/tech/9658182/amazon-echo-spying-alexa-how-to-stop-listening/

Today it is Canada Day here in Canada. It is equivalent to the 4th of July in the USA. Lots of fireworks.

from Poor Horatio
July 02, 2021 - Msg 116811: Good morning all.

PH, glad you are back home and on the mend. And Happy Canada Day. I have had concerns about the echo dot listening in. I have heard some things about it. I do keep the mike muted. But it still concerns me. But I have heard our smart phones and tv's can do the same thing. We all need to be careful I suppose.

Boo, so good to see you girl. I am sorry your back is still gimpy. But I do feel your pain. Nothing much makes me more sour than when my back is hurting. Do you ever ice it? I swear by ice. Glad to hear Erin is doing better. Is Sean still thinking of moving to Florida?

Billy, you are coming down the home stretch. Good for you. I don't know where you live but i bet your outlook on things will change. I know I hated winter. For 35 years winter meant nothing but back breaking work and long miserable hours. But now I find it a bit cozy to sit by the fireplace on a cold snowy day, sipping on some hot cocoa and watching the snow falling.

GF, how is the hip doing? I hope the surgery helped. I have been very blessed in that respect. Other than my back, I am not bothered with other tender joints and stuff. I know so many people my age who have had knee or hips replaced. Or shoulder or even ankle repair work done. I did have knee surgery done some 30 years ago but it seemed to do well. Being a former football player and motocross racer, I was pretty hard on my body. I have broken more bones than I care to think about. There was once I had broken both wrists and a forearm at the same time. My left arm was in a cast to my elbow and my right arm was in a cast to almost my shoulder for 3 months. That was miserable. Sometimes I will get a bit arthritic in those wrists, but that is about it.

MDC, are you and Cecile flying to SB? I bet it will be nice to get out of the heat for a few days. Enjoy some of that coastal air. SB is a beautiful part of the world. But it is full of loons. Lol If you ever get the chance you guys should drive up the coast on the PCH and enjoy the scenery. The drive up to Monterey and Big Sur is awesome. Especially if you rent a convertible.

Well we have 3 of our grand daughters here.They had a sleepover here last night. I need to fix them breakfast. They love grandpas awfuls. lol Then we are going to Stacey's house for a swim party and pizza. Good times.

Prayers for all. We surely need them.

Asa
July 02, 2021 - Msg 116812: Oh and Romeena, as much as you are amazed at us men folk and our shop stories, I am just as amazed at you women folk and your wizardry in cooking. Although I am more comfortable in the kitchen than I was a few years ago, I still feel like a bull in a china shop, or even as an uninvited guest in my own kitchen. lolSo I have to agree, God knew what he was doing when he made fellers and gals.

Asa
July 02, 2021 - Msg 116813: Billy Ray, I made a mistake about the military phrase for short timers. It's 30 digit midget, not 30 day midget.

Asa, as you probably know, anything connected to the internet can spy on the owner. I know hackers have a way of turning on the camera or microphone of your smartphone whether it is on or off. So I always keep a tape over the camera lens. As for the microphone, the only safe way of defeating a hacker is to remove the battery. My older smartphone allowed this, but my newer smartphone does not allow this.

from Poor Horatio

Poor Horatio
July 02, 2021 - Msg 116814: Good late morning, porch! Lotsa happenings around here today. Yesterday was a busy day, appt with the eye doctor, pick up new sunglasses (with distance correction in the upper half of the lenses), pick up new hearing aids, which included an hour-long visit with the audiologist as she adjusted and tweaked the settings, and explained a lot of things. These make the third set of aids I've had, and came from a different source - Miracle Ear. So far, I'm really liking them. I can hear more clearly, and they seem to allow for locating the source of sounds more than either of my old ones did. The last ones picked up sounds coming from my completely-deaf right side, radioed it to the aid in my left ear, and in a crowded room, the result was a goulash of sound pouring into my left ear, and I couldn't understand a thing that was being said, or have any clue as to the location of the sounds. The ones I just got seem to sort that out pretty well, but the big test will be tonight, as I go to play bunco in one room with eleven other women, all talking, laughing, and sometimes screaming when somebody rolls a bunco. Those bunco parties were painful for me, to the point I sometimes would leave the room for a few minutes and let my partner roll for me, just so I could get a little relief from the cascade of noise that was pouring into my ear. It's going to be interesting tonight.

This week has been rough. Seems like one thing and then another here lately. Yesterday morning, Ted was here to do a minor repair, and when I walked into the living room, I realized that the carpet was wet and discolored in the corner, out in front of the fireplace. Ted immediately went to the adjoining hall and checked the a/c condensation drain pipe, and it was running over. Apparently a big old algae plug had built up in the p-trap, and impeding the flow of the condensate into the sewer drain. So it backs up and overflows the top of the standpipe, where the drain from the a/c enters it. I immediately shut the a/c down, and wrapped an old towel around the standpipe to catch any remaining overflow. After the water receded out of sight in the standpipe, I poured baking soda followed by vinegar in and sealed off the top of the pipe. The boiling action of the soda and vinegar often will flush out the algae, but it didn't work this time. Or the second time, when I tried again. So this morning I called Mark, my plumber friend, and he came and snaked the pipe out. It's open and running now, and the a/c is back on, thank the Lord. I was thanking Him for a ceiling fan last night, as Trinket and I slept in relative comfort.

Now, here's the clincher. An appraiser is scheduled to be here around 1 pm, to do an appraisal on this house. Lovely. A wet, stained carpet in the living room, explained by a clogged drain pipe, etc. Not exactly putting my best foot forward, it seems. Oh well. I'm sure he's seen such as that before, and it's fixed now. Also, I have ordered a moisture sensor from Amazon. It's intended for use in basements, which are subject to water accumulating. I intend to put the sensor in an old towel and wrap it around the standpipe. Then the next time this happens (and it will) the alarm will alert me before damage is done. The alarm costs $16. Wish I had done it last month!

Asa, I know how you're feeling.....the same way I feel when I watch Ted do some simple repair. I just have to wonder why I can't do that, but I don't even want to try, because I know I'd do something wrong and it would end up costing me more to get someone to come fix what I messed up. I think you're right - God's original plan works pretty well. However, some of the best chefs in the world are men, and I knew a widow lady, in her late seventies, who would climb on a ladder and clean gutters, repair sagging soffits, patch a roof, and paint the entire inside of the rental properties she owned and maintained. She even did some basic plumbing. She didn't mess with electricity, though, thank heaven.

PH, I'm glad you're mended, finally. It's so true, when your back is on the fritz, it's just not a good thing. Seems like anything you do involves your back, and hurts! I've discovered Voltaren and it helps me, but doesn't "fix" it. There's nothing that's going to do that, but even partial relief is welcome!

Boo, hang in there, my friend. I'm glad to hear Erin is improving in her problems. Just keep on loving her. Support her, but don't enable her. The difference is hard to determine at times, but there is a difference. Prayers for you!

Well, guess I'll go find some lunch. I think I have a little bit of cabbage, fried with some bacon pieces, and sparked with a little vinegar. Old southern dish, and it's good, low calorie and cheap. Can't ask more of a lunch than that. Blessings, friends. Keep looking up! --Romeena
July 03, 2021 - Msg 116815:

HELLO ALL! :)
I know that I have been scarce here lately, but things are just happening a lot lately.
Besides putting everything back into the newcupboards, I have been working on the
Santa Barbara reunion stuff, AND, one of my sisters and her husband are driving in from El Paso on Monday for a visit, so things are hopping!
Billy Ray, I will have to try absobine jr. I have heard of it, but never used it.
And Happy 'almost retirement!" to you.
PH--good to see ya. Glad your back is so much better! Short timer is the only term that I used
with a retiree, but yours is 'cuter.'
ASA--exactly why I still use a flip phone, and a plug and use internet. This spying
is real and I just don't cotton to it. Even tho 'alexa' is just searching the net to answer a question, etc, who knows for sure who else is listening in.
And, on a similar topic I will say this, we got a record 23 calls today from 'microsoft,' 'amazon,' home buyers, etc, etc, etc. We have decided to finally let all calls go to the answering machine!
It must be so nice to have the grandkiddies over again!
We are driving this year to SB, and staying a few days past the reunion. A few years ago we saw the redwoods of Sequoia. Those were awesome!
RO--wow, driving at 14! And i bet you learned on a stick shift too! My dad insisted that we all
learn a stick, change a tire, and even a fan belt. Back in the day, the fan belt had to be tightened by 'crowbarring' the alternator for tension. I'm glad he showed us how to do all three. :) Also, I sure hope
your new hearing aids work good for you! And your ac drain problem reminded me of the Tags
ep of the couple looking at the Taylor home, and Opie keeps
pointing out all the flaws! haha Regarding BACKS, Biofreeze helps mine! :) Oh, for Trinket, have you ever seen commercials for
the 'thundershirt?' It is a wrap that helps make a dog feel more secure when owners are away.
Check this out: https://thundershirt.com/
BOO-I'm no doctor, and I certainly don't play one on
TV, but since Erin is doing better without the phych meds, maybe you could try it that way for
a while. It pains my heart to see so many of our young folks on these drugs. Just a thought.
My prayers continue. I also have a septum issue, and I bought some nostril inserts that help keep the
nostrils open when inhaling thru the nose. I may finally get it fixed in the fall.
ALL--the other night I saw Ernest T and Miss Peggy on Alfred. It was a good episode.
And I know that many here like MASH. Saw one the other day that is one of my favorite where Margaret has a case of pr1ckly heat! I always LOL during that one!
HAPPY FOURTH OF JULY WEEKEND! I pray that God will continue to bless America during these strange times!
Love ya,
MDC