Blessed Sunday morning to you all!

We had a bit of a scare last night.  Ray had gone to the Legion for a steak takeout for us, and as he always does, he and his friend Todd, the guy who bought my classic car from me in June, were out back having a cigar and chatting. He said Todd didn't look good...pale and Todd's BIL came up and said Todd's wife, also a Veteran and member of the Legion, wanted him up at the cash register where she was working.  He and Ray slowly made their way up there, and Todd collapsed.  Luckily the "Rider" the motorcycle group of the Legion...most of them Sons of the Legion...got him up and seated and held up traffic on the street while the ambulance took him off to the Hospital.   We went up a few hours later and they were checking his heart and all of that. He looked a lot better and sounded good.  As it happened, his PA was on duty, so she talked to Ray about how he'd been acting before the collapse.

It's a lovely day here, and the temps are climbing.  I got involved in reading last night and it was 11:00 before I reluctantly put it down and went to sleep. 

Ray's got his omelette going and then we're going to walk.  I'll do my egg whites, toast, and some bacon when I get home.  I can't eat first thing in the morning...and yep, I slept in until 9:30, so it's still "early" for my tummy. 

Nothing but restful and relaxed on the agenda for today.

Mary, I think most of the things you mentioned are standard at regular ACBL games. What I was referring to was a partner's bidding card that is usually available free.  John keeps one for each of his partners.  You & your partner discuss bidding conventions,etc, write them down and then each of you knows what your partner means by a bid.  Also, the opponents are allowed to look at them as well.   The computer feedback is wonderful for improving your game I think. John always goes over them carefully.   I'll have to try the melatonin again. I'm sick of not being able to fall asleep.

Jane, I didn't know you had sold your classic car. I bet that was hard.  I hope you got a good price for it.  I guess everyone is different--I have to eat as soon as I get up. It was certainly a good thing Ray was with his friend when he collapsed. I'm glad he's doing better.

Jeanne, you rock!  I bet you did get good service from lthen on in.  I've never used a wheelchair, although my mother did when she flew up to visit me. She never had a problem and one time got bumped up to first class!

Marilyn, glad you having fun with the grands. I saw your pics on FB. They look cute.

John is off to his tournament (just 1 day). I didn't go to church as there was no SS on 5th Sunday. It was also promotion Sunday for the third graders and others, which didn't interest me much.

Still hot here but not as bad. Mid 90's, I think.   Sharon

Sharon - yes, we do get those sheets, too, but I've never filled one out.  I don't know what most of those conventions are - and I don't think my partner does, either.  I'm really not interested in getting much past a few of the basic ones, myself.  I really meant that I never knew on her "regular", non-convention bids what she meant.  Oh, well.  Since I'm really not that competitive or interested in earning master points, it shouldn't be that much of an issue.

jane, I hope your friend is okay.  It's scary when something like that happens, and it's good he was with people who knew what to do.

A quiet weekend continues here. Next week, it'll get busy.  Happy Sunday, Buddies!

Hope everyone is having a quite Sunday..Today was dinner on the grounds day...so I come home from church stuffed...want need any supper....still hot here but August is always worse..Hi to everyone..Darlene

I see parts of MD are having terrible floods. 

Sharon...I was very pleased with the amount they paid me for the car, and it was time.  They also gave me "visiting rights."   

Ray talked to our friend today. They'd sent him home and said tests they did were clear.  He and his wife are flying to FL Wed. to look at buying a place there but will be home in 3 days and then the med people want him to have the brain scan to rule out, I guess, a TIA or whatever.

It's to get very hot and humid here this coming week.

Tuesday I go to the Univ. of Iowa Eye Dept. about this growth on my lower eyelid.  A couple of people have now told me these are fairly common...I just hope she'll take it off, but I suspect I'll have to go back for that.

jane

It was flash flooding in Ellicott City, which is in Howard County.  My son Rob lives in Columbia in Howard County.  It is between here and Baltimore.  If anyone is as old as I, or nearly so, you might remember Ellicott City as having a humongous wedding business when I was a child.  Folk came from all over the nation to elope there.
Anyway, we had a lot of rain yesterday evening in a cloudburst in a small period of time.  Seems Ellicott City was built OVER a river.  Must have been a dried up river?  I dunno.  Anyway, the river rose many feet in a very short time and a flash flood raged down Main Street, which comprises the oldest part of the town, and left nearly as quickly as it appeared, leaving behind a ruined town with two dead.
http://www.baltimoresun.com/news/maryland/howard/ellicott-city/bs-md-ellicott-city-flood-20160731-story.html

OMG, MaryPage - We spent a day in Ellicott City in that area.  I'll send the link on to Sue and Margaret.

Joy over in Norm's place corrected my bad memory.  It was ELKTON, not Ellicott City, that was the famous place for quickie weddings.  I really resent being so aged my memory is desolving.

Oh, let's not talk of deteriorating memories!!

I walked this morning to the bank, and it's getting back to the hot and humid. I was literally dripping wet by the time I got home.  Lots of dark clouds roll over and then it's clear and then more roll over. 

Laundry in and that's about my work load for today. 

jane

We got home yesterday  it took 7 hours without traffic, Keith got us lost in Portland when we got off to get gas. I wanted to get gas before we left Vancouver because it was right there where we got on the freeway  to come home.  We spent at least 1.5 hours trying to get back on I-5 south. The nhe wanted to stop for lun ch at carl;s Jr in Cottage grove, well after we got there and I took freckles for a walk, he didn't want to eat there but to eat the ½ sandwich I had in the cooler. Lucky for me I had taken along A Slimfast Protein drink and bar so that's what I had for lunch. I  made him take me olut to dinner though  after we got home.

Today I  have been busy catching up with our weekly Walmart run and doing  other thinks around here and  catching up with my emals. 

Hi Gals, it is about ready to storm here, or at least there are dark clouds and thunder. Who knows if we will get any rain though.

I had to mess around with John's computer this morning to get it to open. He had lost his PW again! Drives me crazy.

I agree, Jane, on loss of memory. I have such a time remembering names and some words now. Scares me to death.

Marilyn, I think I would tell Keith to leave the driving and navigating to you!  It seems like he's always messing up your trips.  Good for you for making him take you out to eat!

Mary Page, it is a shame about the flooding. It seems like there has been so much flooding everywhere the past couple of years.  It must be a horrendous thing to go through.

I called the gastroenterologist today for an appt and had to take one for Sept 23 with his NP! So guess I'll have to suffer a while longer.  The nurse did say to stop using Splenda or other artificial sweetner. She says it often causes gas and bloating which are some of my problem. I'll try doing without it and see if it helps. 

Well, John just took the clothes into the bedroom to fold and got his done, so guess I better go do mine before I start dinner.  Sharon

Marilyn - sorry, but I had to laugh at your Portland disaster.  John finally took his BIL's advice and really learned "U-turns are our friends!"  LOL

Sharon, interesting about the artificial sweeteners.  One of John's nieces is allergic to them - has been for years.

No rain here - just heat and humidity.  Not much in the way of cards today, but some were fun to play.

I am also allergic to artificial sweeteners.  After my experience, after years of using them, I urgently want to warn everyone not to use them or drink anything that contains them.  They messed with my BRAIN!  When the long ordeal was all over, then, and only then, I found out my neurologist had the same allergy to them, as did my personal physician's office nurse.  Scary stuff. 

I've been using Stevia for years and it is all  natural.

How frustrating, Marilyn!

I have an appt at U of I Eye Clinic today about this "thing" on my lower eyelid.  I hope it's something she can take off today.  Others have told me they had what were cysts there and the doc drained them. 

Have a good 2 of Aug, Buddies!

jane

I wish you luck, Jane.  I have what I think they called, years and years ago, a "wen" growing just barely above my eyelid at the inside corner of one eye.  I asked about it when it first appeared, around 1980, and was told it was nothing to worry about.  Since that time, it has grown considerably, but it is not huge and is not a nuisance.  It is kind of sort of whitish as compared with the rest of my skin coloring.  Like a colorless mole, I guess.  When I look up "wen," I cannot find anything, so maybe I misheard or misremember.  I have, over the years, noticed many other people with these.

So far not been the best 3 days. Starting Sunday. Went to Indy. to pick up GD and children. That was good. (They really grow in a year). Took to Daughters house which is 38 miles from me. On leaving I backed out on her driveway and hit the last big stone with a point sticking out  on their Stone wall. (Sun was in my eyes. ) It got my back tyre ,tearing a big hole in it. Went flat right away. Lucky I found I had a doughnut tyre not used in my car. Took awhile to put on. Also made my muffler sound even louder. Tyre made it back to my home. But just as it was out of air.  And me out of gas. 8pm at Walmart's getting new tyre on. Ran around to muffler shop and they took care of putting a full system on. Boy was the old one full of holes. rusty. Not many have the older Flex hoses.Also don't like to work on them. Full Check up and Oil change done now. So all in All things should be great. Will drive the car longer now. I even took it and got it all washed and cleaned out. Feel good driving it. Now for a good time for  last of this week. Other than it is going up into high 90s again. Hope the kids are  in a mood more for indoor Recreation.

Hi Gals,  I just got back from the eye doctor. I also took Ms Frances with me as I was able to get her an appt at about the same time.  What an ordeal it is to get her in and out of buildings. I took her walker today and that worked better than just her cane, although she doesn't like using it away from home.  I guess she thinks it makes her look old!    Anyway, afterward, she suggested we go to the golf club dining room for lunch as her treat. That was nice, but I was worried about Bunny because I didn't get home till after 1:30 and she expects to eat at 12:00 sharp!  However she was fine when I did get home.  I'm always so relieved to get Frances safely home without any falls etc. At 98, she really is frail.  Neither of us needs new glasses, so that was good.

Mary, John is playing 10 sessions of bridge this week!  A sectional tournament here in Charlotte.

Jane, I hope you were able to get the "bump" removed. It sounds bothersome.

Jeanne, you did have a time. Glad your car is all fixed up and ready to go now.

Mary Page, I think "wen" is a good term. Don't know why you couldn't find it. I've heard it used in the past.

Nothing else going on here. As Mary said, just hot and humid!   Sharon

Hot and humid here.  I have been inside most of the time these days.  It must be the weather that has me dizzy. Of course I try to be careful. Ray did his volunteering at the hospital today. He does it on most Tuesdays.

Ray has a good sense of direction. I sure don't :-(

Haven't got a notice for an eye appointment yet, but may try for one soon.

Hello everyone: I went to the ENT this morning, He isn't going to do the Balloon procedure on my nose  right now
I go back in 6 months.  I also made my eye appointment for 31 December, That's how far ahead they are making the appointments, I had received a card to make one. Next week Freckles goes back to the vet to be weighed, hopefully she hasn't gained any being on the Prednisone.

This evening is the National Night out with the First Responders at the park, Furry Friends is participating so Keith and i are taking Freckles  and the Police Dept. will feed us. The Fire and Rescue will be there as well.

Doc not sure, but thinks this thing she removed may be a mole in layman terms.  She did send it for biopsy and if a basal cell, then dermatology and she work together to go deeper and then reconstruct.  Nerve wracking day, but I'm glad the thing is gone.  She'll call with biopsy report and I see her in a month for check up that it's healing. TWO women eye docs today....her resident is a beautiful New Orleans gal who has both an MD and a PH.D, is married with a baby who'll be 2 on Sept. 2 and is an accomplished cellist.  WOW...and the Doc is also young looking,an Assistant Professor,  but said she was so glad to be practicing in Iowa. She was in Palm Beach .  She said the women there have all have these huge makeup mirrors and complain  if they lose ONE eyelash in a surgical procedure. I told her I just want healthy eyes!

Jeeze, jane, I hope all is okay.  That does sound scary.  But what a duo of doctors!

Ann & Al got here okay.  Just a long all-day trip from California.  I hope they get a good rest tonight, and we'll see what we do tomorrow.  Nothing too strenuous - we're too old and it's too hot!  LOL

I was up early and awake a lot as Ray's got bronchitis or whatever and so was restless and coughing.  He's hoping to get into a doc today, or will go to the WalkIn Clinic at 4:00.

I got my walk in, but the humidity had me soaking wet by the time I got home.  Now to cool down, shower and get ready to go and enjoy some bridge.

My eye looks great...but itchy...and the ointment I have to put on it makes everything foggy...but small price for having that "thing" gone.   

jane

I'm so glad you have that off your mind (and eye!), Jane.  One less worry, but if your life is anything at all like my own, more will come tumbling along!  It just never fails.

Beautiful day in my town.  You have to wait a minute for this to download, but it is marvelous to see City Dock IN THE MOMENT once it does, so I beg you to have patience and Enjoy!

http://annapolislive.com/annapolis-waterfront-webcam

Jane, so glad they removed the "mole". Hope the biopsy report is good.  Sounds like some extraordinary doctors!  Hope you get good hands this afternoon. Sorry Ray has bronchitis again. Hope they are able to treat it quickly.

Mary, glad your fellow travelers have arrived. When do you leave?  I know you told us, but..... I agree that there's not much you can do in this heat and humidity.

Mary Page, nice view from your webcam.  Looks like a nice day.

We're rather overcast so far.  We did actually get some rain last night, maybe a tenth of an inch, but better than nothing.  Supposed to only reach 88 today, the lowest forecast temp in weeks and is to be the same the next 2 days before bouncing back up in the low 90's.  Horrendous humidity though.

John is off playing bridge and I have absolutely nothing planned!  And I'm delighted.  Since John is going to be playing bridge all week during the day, he won't be home to bring in the groceries for me! That is an absolute must by the time I finish all the shopping, so he said he would take me out to an early dinner Friday, then shop with me and then bring it in.  Works for me.

Stay cool, gals.  Sharon

I do enjoy being with Ann & Al - they're really special folks and family.  I picked them up this morning and brought them back here to see my place and just visit a bit.  Then we drove over to the Sculpture Fields so they could see John's tree and the sculpture in the park.  They enjoy that kind of thing, so even with the heat, they walked around a little more than I did (while I got the a/c going to cool down the car.  We had a nice lunch at a nearby local bakery/sandwich shop.  We all got salads - Ann & I got the daily special - fresh local greens,  fresh peaches, goat cheese, pumpkin seeds - delicious!  Then back home for a while.

Margaret came over and we went downtown to take a late afternoon ride on the Tennessee Aquarium River Gorge Explorer (hydrofoil catamaran).  It goes downriver from the downtown dock, into part of the Tennessee River Gorge - a really neat trip.  We saw a number of ospreys and great blue herons, but not a lot of other wildlife.  Probably too hot for them, too.  We finished off the evening with a nice dinner at my favorite Chinese restaurant, and then called it a day.  No specific plans for tomorrow.  We leave on Friday for Portland, and board the boat Saturday morning.

jane, I hope Ray gets better soon.  And Sharon, tell John I hope they do well this week.

Hugs to all the Buddies!

Maryz..is this cruise up and around Nova Scotia, etc?  Is so, and you get to Baddeck , don't miss the yarn shop there....Baadeck yarns...yeah spelled like that.  That's such a beautiful city and that yarn shop is fabulous.


Have a safe and wonderful cruise!

Nothing much here...too hot  🌞 and humid for anything, so laundry and reading.

jane, this is just the "harbors and islands of Maine", so no Nova Scotia.  I've been to Baddeck, but it was a long time ago.  If there was a yarn store there then, I'm sure I found it (love the pun on the name).  LOL.  We got to Nova Scotia several times - it's a lovely place to visit - especially Cape Breton Island.  We always planned to get back there sometime, but......

Happy Thursday, Buddies!

If you get to Vinalhaven, which, I believe, is Maine's largest island, I have family there.  And in Portland, which, obviously, is not an island!

I was in Maine in 1990, and ate lobster all day long!  Heaven!

When I was young, some of my Washington, D.C. family used to go to Bar Harbor every summer, but then it burned down!  I remember their Christmas tree was sent down from there every year up until World War II.  I think the last time the tree came from there was the same month that Pearl Harbor happened: December 1941.

MaryZ.  Being on the river may be a little cooler.  I want to make that same cruise around the Maine area one day. One of the only places not been in US. Where did you pick it up?