Going

Going from hot South

To cooler Alaska in

The morning. Hooray!

Lovely

"It's a lovely day today..."  Sounds like a song lyric. 

But today has been lovely - one of the best we've had in several weeks.  The high was about 85, with low humidity - much more pleasant than the high 90s and high humidity we've had for the last couple of weeks.  And the forecast is for several more days like this.

And then we head for Alaska, where the predictions for Juneau show highs in the upper 60s and showers.  But we'll love it!

I looked at a replacement car this afternoon.  It's a definite possibility.  Jesse's going to come over on Monday and look at my car and this one.  I don't know whether we'll get any finalized before we leave or not.  Stay tuned.

Rain

It's been great today.
Lots of lovely rain came down.
Slowly and gently.

Funnies from Ginny (thanks)

Apolitical Aphorisms

 

"If God wanted us to vote, he would have given us candidates."

                                                                        ~Jay Leno~

 

"The problem with political jokes is, they get elected."

                                                                       ~Henry Cate, VII~

 

"We hang the petty thieves and appoint the great ones to public office."

                                                                        ~Aesop~

 

"Politicians are the same all over. They promise to build a bridge even where there is no river."

                                                                       ~Nikita Khrushchev~

 

"When I was a boy I was told that anybody could become President. I'm beginning to believe it."

                                                                       ~Clarence Darrow~

 

"Why pay money to have your family tree figured out - run for office and your opponents will do it for you."

                                                                      ~Author unknown~

 

"Politicians are people who, when they see light at the end of the tunnel, go out and buy some more tunnel."

                                                                      ~John Quinton~

 

"Politics are the gentle art of getting votes from the poor and campaign funds from the rich, by promising to protect each from the other."

                                                                     ~Oscar Ameringer~

 

"I offer my opponents a bargain: if they will stop telling lies about us, I will stop telling the truth about them."

                                                                     ~Adlai Stevenson~

 

"A politician is a fellow who will lay down your life for his country."

                                                                      ~ Tex Guinan~

 

"I have come to the conclusion that politics are too serious a matter to be left to the politicians."

                                                                     ~Charles de Gaulle~

 

"Instead of giving a politician the keys to the city, it might be better to change the locks."

                                                                     ~Doug Larson~

 

"There ought to be one day -- just one -- when there is open season on politicians."

                                                                     ~Will Rogers

Day 2

Just got back from getting the estimate...

Can you spell T*O*T*A*L*E*D?  

Their estimate was @$5,700, value is about $3,400.  Not a surprise for a 12 year old car. 

My insurance doesn't cover a rental.  I could get one for the rest of this week @33/day, which I'd pay up front and hope to reimburse from the other guy's insurance. But a rental would be sitting in the parking lot most of the time anyway, so I'm not going to do that.

The estimate guy (Aaron) tells me that State Farm will come to me to check things out and officially "total" it.  Then they take it away.  Aaron says the car is safe to drive, but would be very dangerous if I should get rear-ended again.  There is structural damage to the rear end, and the lights on the left rear don't work.

So I'll plan to stay home this week, and then, of course, we'll be gone for two weeks.  I've cleaned it out, and will ask the maintenance guy here to take the license plate off for me.

Decision time.  I don't think I want to buy another car, but I don't think I'm ready to quit driving yet.  Maybe this is the opportune time to think about leasing for a year or two.  (Fortune works in mysterious ways.)  And then there are other options arising.  The maintenance guy here is interested in buying the car, if the insurance company totals it.  He says he can fix it for his use.  Hmmmm.  And then a woman here want to sell her 2015 Nissan.  She's going to get the specifics from her son so I can check that out.  Hmmmmm.

I hope the insurance company calls me tomorrow.

I'm okay, but...

I always hated getting calls that started like that.

I got rear-ended on the way home from bridge tonight about 10:15.  I really am okay, and the car is drivable.  I was stopping at a light (second car) and the guy behind me didn't.  He said he sneezed.  The police were called. The insurance company was called.  All information was exchanged.  The police were satisfied that he was totally at fault, and sent me on my way.  I got home about 11, and spent time on the phone with State Farm.    There is denting to the bumper and a hole torn in the bumper.  The trunk is bent and the left blinker light doesn't work.  And I'll probably be sore and achy in the morning.  I guess I'll take it to the repair shop in the morning and see what happens next.  Maybe they can get it done while we're gone.

Sigh......

Sunday Stealing

Sunday Stealing
Around the House

Bedroom: what’s your sleep schedule? No set schedule, except on swim class days.  Then I get up at 6 a.m. I'm usually asleep between 11 and 11:30, and wake between 6:30 and 7.

Kitchen: favorite comfort food? I usually finish my day with ice cream.  And I love home-made soups

Washroom: showers or baths? bubbles? bath bombs? Always showers.  I can't remember the last time I sat down in a tub.

Closet: sum up your style in a few words. Informal and comfortable.

Parlor: favorite party or board game? The only game I enjoy is bridge.  Sometimes at the beach, we play Scrabble or Mexican Train or dominoes or Rummi-Kub.

Living room: what do you like to do with your family? Go to the beach and hang out.  Or just hang out anywhere.

Dining room: favorite special occasion food? My favorite food has always been "somebody else cooked it".

Garden: favorite tree? flower? I'm no gardner, but I love all trees and flowers.

Attic: what’s one thing you have a sentimental attachment to and you will never throw away? We pitched out so many things when I moved.  I can't think of any one particular thing.

Library: favorite book genre? Police procedurals, crime stores, nonfiction.

Office: if you could have any job in the world, what would it be? The one I have now - being retired.

Guest room: have you been to a sleepover? if so, when was your first? do you like them? The first would have been a zillion years ago.  My family has started having weekend "sleepovers" and they're fun.

Foyer: do you like small gatherings, large parties, or one-on-one meetings? Generally small gatherings and one-on-one meetings.

Pantry: favorite meal to make? I used to make lasagna and split pea soup in large quantities to freeze.  And I liked doing all the stuff for Thanksgiving dinner.  But even more, I like not cooking any more.

Laundry: favorite and least favorite chore? Laundry is something to do - not to like.  Of that particular thing, I least like folding and putting things away.

Garage: favorite mode of transportation? favorite car? I like river travel.  Trains can be fun.  Cars are for transportation - I don't get attached to them.  I do like my current car, a Nissan Altima.  It's very user friendly.

Panic room: what was the most nerve-wracking experience you’ve had? Dealing with the time of John's death, unexpected and out of the country.  I was so lucky to have had loving family with me to help.

Powder room: do you wear makeup? if so, what one item can’t you live without? what’s your favorite look? I don't have a "look".  I use a little pressed powder, blush, and lipstick.  And I can go without any of them.

In good shape?

I read somewhere a list of things for older people to do to keep their brains healthy longer.  These are the ones I remember...

Work puzzles (crosswords, etc.) - Check
Spend time on the computer - Check
Play games (computer, card, etc.) - Check
Do some sort of hand work (knitting, painting, crocheting, embroidery, etc. - Check
Get an hour's exercise several days a week - Check
Socialize - Check
Play sports - Well, can't win them all

Guess I'm in pretty good shape (for the shape I'm in) - at least for the time being.

HOORAY!!

Duplicate tonight.

Did not seem like a good night.

But we came in first!!!!!

Sunday Stealing:  Firsts

First Job: probably baby-sitting
First Real Job: doing filing preparing for opening a new hospital; then transcribing dictation of old autopsy reports (my father was a pathologist).
First Favorite Politician: John F. Kennedy
First Car: I learned to drive a 1951 Chevrolet
First Record/CD: I have no idea.
First Sport Played: Whatever I had to take in school.  I learned to swim early, but never participated in organized sports.
First Concert: (and only) Jimmy Buffett
First Foreign Country Visited: I may have gone into Mexico with my family as small child, but my first "real" trip out of the country was to Venezuela.
First Favorite TV Show: I don't really remember, maybe M*A*S*H.
First Favorite Actor: Alan Ladd
First Favorite Actress: June Allyson
First Girlfriend/Boyfriend: Jimmy B (in junior high school)
First Encounter with a Famous Person: I shook hands with LBJ when he was campaigning in Nashville in 1964.
First Brush With Death: Car wreck in about 1967 or so, probably not really life-threatening.
First House/Condo Owned: 106 Trucord Dr., bought in 1963.
First Film Seen: I have no idea.  I loved movies as a child, and went to the neighborhood theater often. I remember them being $0.09 for children during WWII.
First Favorite Recording Artist: I didn't buy many records.
First Favorite Radio Station: Probably WPLN in Nashville (an NPR station)
First Book I Remember Reading: I read the Bobbsey Twins and Nancy Drew books.
First Meme You Answered on Your Blog: Sunday Stealing

Sigh....

For a week that started out really slow, things picked up.    I played duplicate Monday night, and out of 21 hands I think I opened twice.  And most of the time was unable to respond if my partner bid.  But we must have done something right, because we wound up with a fraction of a MP. 

This morning, after Silver Sneakers, I actually went to Walmart.  And you KNOW how much I hate actually going to the store.  LOL 

When we got back last Saturday, I found that the a/c in my apartment had been leaking again.  The carpet in my living room and bedroom was sopping wet.  I immediately called to report it - knowing that nothing would be done on Saturday night.  Nothing happened on Sunday, though I called again.  I told the desk again on Monday morning - no action.  At noon today (Tuesday), I again told the desk about it, and was planning to go to the Head Honcho if nothing happened by midafternoon.  As it happened, the maintenance guy was at my door as soon as I got back from lunch.  He worked on it all afternoon.  I had been told this was a very old unit, so I mentioned that It might be time to replace it.  They're going to try to get it fixed one more time.  The guy left at 3 and said he'd be back first thing in the morning to check it, and move my furniture back into place. 

By the time I went up to supper, although it was set on 65, the actual temperature in the apartment was in the mid80s (with the outside temp about 91).  I hoped for a final cool-down, and went on up to supper and bridge.  When I got home, it was stifling in here.  I called the desk, and asked for another place to sleep, or at least a box fan.  I got a window open and left my hall door open for some cross ventilation. A couple of the CNAs came down to check and agreed that it was miserable in here.  They checked the thermostat and, DAMN!, it was set to "HEAT"!  And was happily chugging along.  Of course, I never thought to check that. 

So now, the unit is again happily chugging along, but at least it's cooling this time, and I hope will be freezing in here by the time I get up in the morning.  Sigh……

Sunday Stealing

1. Where were you three hours ago?
Sitting here, watching a small fox just off my deck.
2. Make a confession.
I can't think of anything specific - but there must be many.
3. Bad habits?
Too much sitting and TV and eating.
4. Favorite color?
I wear a lot of turquoise, purple, and blue.
5. Can you drive?
Well, of course.
6. 3 pet peeves.
Bad grammar; prejudice; rudeness
7. Last "person" you hugged.
Margaret when she brought me home last night.
8. Something you miss.
A working government, willing to compromise to accomplish things.
9. What song is stuck in your head at the moment?
None.
10. Favorite quote.
It is what it is.


11. Favorite band.
I don't have one.
12. Something you're excited for.
Getting ready for the trip to Alaska.
13. Favorite movie.
There are several - maybe "Singing in the Rain"

14. What type of phone do you have?

Samsung Galaxy 6
15. Favorite animal.

I guess if I had a pet, I'd want a cat.

Home, after a good week.

Margaret got me home about 5 ET today.  Unlike the trip to the beach last Saturday, this drive was more "normal" - only one bad slow-down just south of Birmingham.  And only a few light showers along the way.  We had a good week, with lovely weather - how could it be anything else.  We were at the BEACH.  Even though there were rain showers around, we only got some lightning/thunder/rain for a little while yesterday afternoon.  But, as always, it's good to get home.  All our group has checked in from their respective homes, too.

Unfortunately, sometime during the week, the a/c in my apartment started leaking again, and the carpet is wet.  I hope they'll get to it tomorrow (even though maintenance is minimal on weekends).

From the beach

We got here safely, but the traffic was the worst we've ever seen.  It took us 10 hours to make the usually 8-hour trip, including 3 detours, with slow-ups on each of the detours.  And that was pretty much true of the folks who came from SC and from TX, too.  But the beach is still lovely and the weather is great.  I put a photo on FB, if anyone can look there.  With the winter storms and during the tropic storm a couple of weeks ago, the beach in front of the house is about 100 feet less than it has been in previous years.  Friends and family are all good, and more to come over the next couple of days.