Soda Shoppe February 1, 2025

patricia19 · February 11, 2025, 03:24:44 PM

Good late morning, My day so far has been both busy and humbling.

I went out to pay bills and pick up a few items as my store's monthly coupons had arrived and wouldn't you know it, I had an opening in my day's schedule. I took a cab and I thanked the driver for something, and he replied, that I was an elder and should be respected.

Then, after paying at the register, I noticed the clerk had handed back three of my five coupons.

Upon arriving at customer service to fix the issue, I had a number of mishaps, not being able to get my card out of the slot, trouble finding the coupon items in my bags, and then needing to collect the change I spilled out from my wallet on the counter, while trying to retrieve the card from its slot. By this time, the customer service lady was "hun-ing" me every time we spoke.

I may have to change stores...

patricia19 · February 11, 2025, 03:40:50 PM

MG, she eats both in the morning and smaller amounts during the day. It takes a week to finish a 5.5 ounce can. That is partially because she's become finicky over what she eats, and it tends to change a lot. She has a senior dry food and fresh water daily. I may look up the wellness brand or Amy's sardines.

I also have a dry eye issue in the winter but use distilled water in a tabletop humidifier. It is extremely dry here in the winter, but I don't notice a problem in the summer.

Amy, evidently, I too, need that elusive bottled energy, but, also that elusive fountain of youth! I seem to age each time I leave home and return youthful once I'm home behind my door

RAMMEL · February 11, 2025, 04:06:27 PM

"King Oscar" brand of Sardines are still good. In oil or water. Small 4oz tin.

phyllis · February 11, 2025, 04:38:49 PM

I feel just as you do, Patricia. I wrote a similar complaint in Bait and Tackle. I get very tired of being patronized by younger people who call me honey, sweetie, and darlin' and VERY upset at being forgotten, overlooked and dismissed by people I have thought were my friends. I am 96 but I am still alive and not senile yet. I still have feelings that can be hurt and I still have the right to express those feelings. 😠

patricia19 · February 11, 2025, 05:50:32 PM

Phyllis, It's odd to feel the same, somehow frozen in middle age, albeit, at the older side of middle age; yet noticing a seeming sudden change in behavior of those around me.

Amy · February 11, 2025, 06:12:53 PM

MG, I am sure you have tried just about eveything. I went through this with Babe ,our Border Collie. I even gave her sardines which she did eat, hamburg t bone steak, scrambled eggs chicken breast, just about everything I could think of.

Phyllis and Patricia, understand what you both are saying. We had a man stop to look at the trugs and one thing lead to another on age . He looked at me and said I didn't think you were a DECADE older than me! If he had of said 10 years it wouldn't have sounded so bad. Yes hun , deary, sweetie are a few that annoy me from strangers.

Enjoy your evening

JaneS · February 11, 2025, 06:21:42 PM

I'm just going to say "Good Night, Everyfriend!" I wish you the best night possible and a great day tomorrow. I don't have cats to feed so I can't think of anything to say about cat food!

We're supposed to get more snow starting late afternoon tomorrow. I have a dr. appt at 1:30 so hopefully I'll be home before it starts and Cathy will be to her home before it starts!

CallieOK · February 11, 2025, 09:53:54 PM

I remember when the Soda Shoppe had real conversations - with opinions and comments about all kinds of subjects.

I like being treated as a lady - but not as a little girl! I get tired of those who treat me as if I'm senile because I have mobility issues and a severe hearing loss!

I don't take part in group activities any more because of those and I'm pretty much ignored by those who are still active in things I used to participate in - like church, Bridge groups and a couple of organizations.
Friendship is a two-way street and, if there's no traffic coming toward me - I just pull over and park!

There will never be enough e-books for me to read! I can borrow as many as 10 at one time from the metro library and put a hold on 10 more. There's no limit on how many I can put on my Wish List. The neatest thing is when a book is due (two weeks) and you don't recheck it, it just disappears! No overdue fine to pay!

Sleep well, Everyfriend, and have pleasant dreams that don't involve snow or - as we're supposed to have the next few days - freezing drizzle.

BarbStAubrey · February 12, 2025, 02:13:00 AM

Yep, one look at anyone with a walker and the assumption is some degree of dementia - but also, for the past few years it is not easy to have a conversation regardless of age - it appears most subjects have political overtones and either walls go up or agitation is visible - laughter seems to have left the room - another is those younger than 55 have a different way of expressing themselves - not only are their thoughts quick and short but often their use of language makes me uncomfortable.

I also notice the books they choose to read with plans to discuss are so far from my interests - filled with technology being used or built by the characters with that and AI as the main focus with no reflection or analogies to characters or events from the classics much less history during or before our lifetime.

I say age 55 and thinking on it even my sister who is 6 years older than my daughter falls into choosing books that to me seem almost like Buck Rogers rather than Captain Courageous.

Back to how the elderly are treated differently - even those in early retirement treat those of us over the age of about 82 as if we are incompetent. I did work till I was 85 but realized those last couple of years I had less business and the few whom I worked with acted as if they were doing me a favor - I must say in addition, the business was no longer fun. Everything, including agents talking to each other to smooth out details, was online. No face to face and often no voice but typed messages - even closings were done with little to no contact between buyer and seller - where in the past they closed at the same time sitting round a table chatting about the neighbors or garden tips and the best grocery or dry cleaning etc. All that was gone...

Adding up all that suggests maybe some of the isolation we feel is the way of things today and we are just not used to it... must say though, the language sends spears through me and so I'm even selective what I read on facebook or any of the other sites furthering my own isolation.

A book I read really gave me some insight - Two Old Women: An Alaska Legend of Betrayal, Courage and Survival by Velma Wallis - lots of eye opening ways of handling aging that I was ah ha-ing as I read.

Amy · February 12, 2025, 06:40:28 AM

Good morning..

Today is a busy one and I hope to get it all done before the snow starts.Between later today and tomorrow we may get up to 16 inches.
Kyle has blood work first thing this morning ,then I hope to wash the van before I take it for an oil change,deliver a quilt.

I must say that young people we have encountered have been respectful of my husband and his walker. He doesn't walk fast and we will often tell the person behind us to go ahead....most times they will say they are in no hurry...or they will go ahead just so they can hold the doors open for us. After the thank you I also tell them they have good parents that taught them well.
I think the lack of respect has a lot to do with the young ones coming up, not all but if not taught in home they can't bring it to the outside .

My friend went to the manor to visit a friend, the treat cart, for want of a better word came by and asked them if they wanted pink or white ice cream..........my friend a war vet told the young lady that she can say vanilla or strawberry. They are seniors not senile....again respect.

Ok ,better get busy.

Enjoy your day and stay safe.

JaneS · February 12, 2025, 06:52:22 AM

Good Morning Everyfriend! I don't really know what to say this morning. I agree with almost everything that's been said...especially how we are treated in our old age. I've been thinking back and I had 3 grandparents who lived into their 80s when late 60s was their predicted age limit. I do not remembe any of them being treated any different then they were in their younger years. My father's parents raised 7 boys and they all showed respect for both of them and they all did whatever they were asked to do by them. We lived in the same house with the other set of grandparents and while we lost my grandfather in his late 60s, my grandmother lived to welcome all my children into the world...and they LOVED her! And they did things that she suggested!

And that's life. And that's changed!!!!

I guess I better get this day started. I have an appointment with the foot dr this afternoon and my daughter asked if I'd like to stop at the Amish grocery store on the way home. It's practically next door to the drs. office. I do and we're going to stop there!

I wish you all a great day! Make it your own in every way and let us know how you did that. We might want to try it out!

MarsGal · February 12, 2025, 07:58:58 AM

I feel really at home here with you all. After George died, I am now pretty much down to my sisters and my cats - and all of you.

Amy, I know exactly what you mean about friendship. It is a delicate thing and its permanency is certainly not guaranteed. I've never had a lot of friends. Mom always thought I was shy when I was young. I always thought people just weren't interested in me or what I had to say. I called everyone friends but Dad said friends are hard to find, most of my "friends" were just acquaintances. Shades of Henry Wadsworth Longfellow's "ships that pass in the night"?

Barb, I love Science Fiction, although that passion came relatively late to me. I think the most difficult one in that genre I read has to beSeveneves. Lots of technical stuff in that. I did try his Quicksilver, but oddly, it didn't interest me at the time. There are several other books of Stephenson's that I would like to try, but haven't. What I generally stay away from is modern romance and family drama. I do like the classics, though. My very favorite has to be Jane Eyre. My current reading are a SciFi and a history of India, focused on the British East India Company. My next up on the library wait list is also a History, this one about Magellan and his circumnavigation of the world.

Patricia, I read the book some years back. Really liked it.

RAMMEL · February 12, 2025, 09:46:31 AM

Quote from: Amy on February 12, 2025, 06:40:28 AMMy friend went to the manor to visit a friend, the treat cart, for want of a better word came by and asked them if they wanted pink or white ice cream..........my friend a war vet told the young lady that she can say vanilla or strawberry. They are seniors not senile....again respect.

Maybe the "young lady" didn't know the difference

RAMMEL · February 12, 2025, 09:54:38 AM

Quote from: MarsGal on February 12, 2025, 07:58:58 AMI feel really at home here with you all. After George died, I am now pretty much down to my sisters and my cats - and all of you.

It's about the same for me here, only it's just my son and I. No pet any more. Too old to take on another (properly).

JaneS · February 13, 2025, 05:51:35 AM

Good Morning Everyfriend! I'm up and attem at my usual time and Cooper is coming an hour later than usual this morning. H won't be here until a bit before 7. So I'll have time to make the bed and get dressed before he comes and we won't have to wait very long for the light to take our walk.

I wish you all a great day! Make it your own in every way! And don't forget to share a piece of it with us! We miss you all when you don't stop by. I hope you are all well. I'm just waiting for Spring to show and if I had that Groundhog in sight, I bonk him on the head for putting it off!

Amy · February 13, 2025, 06:47:21 AM

Good snowy morning..

Went to let Jesse out and could hardly push the door open for snow!! They did say we were to get up to 2 feet in this area. Still snowing out but I am not going to wait till it is done...much easier to do some at a time. Oh to be a wallflower and sit this dance out!

Not much else will be done other than dancing with Mr Snowblower. Have a pot of meatball bean soup ready for lunch..supper.....hmm will think about that.

Rick, I don't know of a child that hasn't had strawberry or binilla.......yes binilla as saying vanilla was difficult for most. I just get annoyed when young ones talk down to seniors.

Jane, did you get snow?

MG, I just lost my sister by another mother last June. We did a lot together,going to quilt shows, inhaling fabric shops, and just having fun when we were out. We would bounce ideas off of each other on quilt patterns and fabric. I enjoy my friends in here, wish at times we were closer so I could help when needed.Envious of my son as he has met one and even hugged her!!! I wouldn't be surprised if he hugged her twice!

Better get my dancing gear on..thinking about it won't get the snow removed.

Enjoy your day and stay safe.

RAMMEL · February 13, 2025, 08:56:52 AM

Looks liker a blahhh day here. Just over freezing, dark and rainy. Good nap weather.

patricia19 · February 13, 2025, 02:00:13 PM

Good morning, zero degrees at 9:27, and morning routines, meet and greets and coffee made, plus Farrah fed so far today. This afternoon's schedule will be boxes broken down for maintenance, refill the kitty litter, garbage taken to the wall's drop-down, and bathroom deep clean. I have a feeling I'm forgetting something, but hopefully it'll come to me.

I was surprised to find so many people feel as I do. For so long, I was secure in my place, what I considered late middle age, when I slowly realized I had unknowingly passed out of that stage and was moved further to another classification. My entire concept of self was shaken as I adjusted to this new reality. And further surprised that it wasn't just me. Ageism is real, and I want to go park, as Callie said.

I was in middle management the majority of my employment, and had/have a small group of friends that began to dwindle after Covid. There are only nine of us left and Covid and age brought many from living in the country to an easier, but not as happy city life.

Rick, we've moved back into the pluses for the remainder of the month so, I'm hoping the snow, freezing rain and ice will all melt away. Most of my days are blah, with only daily routines, reading on my Kindle or venturing into the city for groceries or paperwork. Meet and greets seem to be my daily interactions, other than my time spent drifting along on the Internet.

Amy, for me, it's the little endearments and the assumption that I'm somehow less than other folk. Hun-ing has become a verb.

Jane, I used to walk all over the place and commonly spent my off time wandering around the wildlife refuge with my camera. Then in 2011, I fell hard on some black ice and now rarely venture outside without my trekking pole.

MarsGal · February 13, 2025, 02:13:54 PM

Oh, excitement! The fog has cleared, and the sun is out between patchy clouds. aaaannnndd, it is 43^o at almost 2pm.

Amy, my big thing has always been needlework knitting and crochet. My supply of yarn and embroidery floss are about the only craft thing I brought with me to the apartment. It has been a few years since I have done anything, partly because sht cats kept attacking the yarn or needles, or just plain commandeering my lap. That last is one of the reasons I switched most of my reading to e-books. Lucy was particularly adept at shoving her nose under a book and pushing up out of the way. Oscar and Shan just crowd. In fact, if I am still on the computer around 2:30, he will be in to insist I spend sofa time with him. Spoiled brats!

Oh, and forgot to relate my latest little old lady experience. Last week, one of the local boys, who always seems eager to help, made the comment that he likes to help people me. It seems his grandmother instilled a kind of work/help ethic in the boy. Certainly not to be discouraged.

patricia19 · February 13, 2025, 02:28:04 PM

MG, perhaps more for the "helped?"

This might surprise a few of you.

Alaska volcano earthquakes spark '50-50 chance' of eruption as state on high alert
The Alaska Volcano Observatory has warned that Mount Spurr may erupt in the near future after experiencing unusually high seismic activity.

10:10 ET, Wed, Feb 12, 2025 | UPDATED: 10:57 ET, Wed, Feb 12, 2025

Alaska is part of the earth's ring of fire.

"The Ring of Fire is a horseshoe-shaped zone around the Pacific Ocean known for its high levels of seismic activity, including earthquakes and volcanic eruptions. It contains about 750 to 915 active or dormant volcanoes and is responsible for approximately 90% of the world's earthquakes."

phyllis · February 13, 2025, 04:19:48 PM

Very late today but I have been busy sorting tax documents and trying to force myself to do taxes. Oh my, how I hate that job!

All is well otherwise and even the rain has finally stopped.

Take care, All.

JaneS · February 13, 2025, 09:16:18 PM

Hello Everyfriend! Today was a busy day. I have to gather some id papers to get a new card made and I had them all except one that was always nearby. I simply could not find it so Cathy came over and started to look for it too and right after she applied for a new one, she picked it up out of a box on my desk. I cannot believe it was there. I even looked there at least 3 times. but it was in an envelope and I never put it in an envelope before. So she cancelled the order and got all the papers together!

AMY, thank you for posting my picture for me.

Everyone, she posted a very recent picture of my newest Great Grandson Isaac over in photos. Take a look at him! He's growing up so fast! He's three months old this week!

Also Amy! That nice young guy that's your son and drives a truck all over the country, drove through her once and stopped and we met and YEP, we had a COUPLE of hugs! That was a very special day!

Now I have to get to bed or I'll end up sitting here when Cooper shows up tomorrow. Good night! Sweet Dreams! Sleep peacefully and wake refreshed! I'll be back tomorrow!

Amy · February 14, 2025, 06:34:19 AM

Good morning..

Starting off at -3 and no new snow! Mercy that was a snack full we woke to yesterday. Thankfully the 12+ inches was light and fluffy ,easy to move. Snow was higher than the blade on neighbours truck so we both ened up using our snowblowers to clean up the snow. I had most of ours done when ,thanks to Jesse , our dog that likes to bring a stick of wood in dropped one. I found it when the snowblower picked it up and I broke a sheer pin. Of course it wouldn't be on one of the blades out front it had to be behind all the blades.a place that is a stinker to repair. Put a fire on in the garage, let it warm up with both fire and propane and fixed it. I don't know how a man with large hands would get into the small space as I had a time fixing it and my hands are small. Oh well job done but I told Kyle today we are going to the lumber yard to get large tarps to cover up the wood piles.

Jane, you caught me at the right time to do that. Isaac is so cute! Yes, I thought so!! I have the photo of you both right beside me..

Phyliss ,that is our next chore getting things ready for the tax man Still waiting on papers to come in the mail after that everything is off to the bookkeepers.

Patricia, we are to get another snack of snow tomorrow and maybe again on Sun. Once I gas up the Mr SB I should be ready to go. Missed my partner when trying to fix the shear pin as one time he could hold the flashlight so I could see to fix the pin. Than the light came on...I used my headlamp.....worked like a charm!

MG, I also like needwork and crochet but quilting has taken front row seat. My friend loved to knit and I think she could close her eyes and knit!! They had two cats Peter and Penelope that were always into mischief and she would be knitting away then yell!! One of them had chewed the yarn breaking it apart!!

Rick, did you get your nap? I didn't get a nap during the day but hit the bed around 8:30..

Better get on with the day..

Enjoy your day and stay sade

JaneS · February 14, 2025, 06:57:30 AM

Good Morning Everyfriend!! No snow here last night but we have two days coming up with snow in the forecast. I'm truly looking forward to SPRING!And If I could find that Groundhog that predicted more winter, I'd punch him in both eyes!

It's beginning to lighten up and Cooper just came to the office door to tell me that it's time for his morning walk! I never go until it's light enough to see out there!

AMY, you sure did have a lot of "fun" with your snowblower! I sure hope it doesn't let you down again. And I'm thinking that keeping the sticks away from the doggie is a very good idea!

Well, I guess by the time I get all my winter outsice duds on, it will be light enough to go for a walk so I wish you all a great day! Make it your own in every way! And don't forget to tell us how you did that. We're very interested!

MarsGal · February 14, 2025, 07:51:33 AM

Good cold morning to you all. Not as cold as where you are, Amy, but cold enough. Right now it is 25^o, but the sun is shining, so, with along with breakfast, that should perk me up enough to start my taxes.

Sue and I have been contemplating this years' bus trip offerings. We are currently contemplating a trip to the Chesapeake for a riverboat ride, with meal, along Maryland's Eastern shore. Unfortunately, it does not appear to leave much, if any, time for shoreside activities. The tour I was interested in the year before was to St. Michael's which also had a boat ride, but shorter, and with a history and conservation lecture along with a land side meal and time to visit the museum and/or shopping. I can assume that there will be some kind of narrative during the boat trip, but the agenda does not mention any. I think I will keep looking.

RAMMEL · February 14, 2025, 09:36:01 AM

Quote from: Amy on February 14, 2025, 06:34:19 AMRick, did you get your nap? I didn't get a nap during the day but hit the bed around 8:30..

Naps are the No. 1 Priority here. Weather pretty much the same as the rest of you. Maybe a tad warmer.

phyllis · February 14, 2025, 09:45:49 AM

After many gloomy days the sun is shining this morning but it is supposed to turn wet and cold again on the weekend so I must enjoy this bright day while I can.

AMY, I did many handcrafts, too. Sewing, crewel embroidery, counted crossstitch, needle point, crochet, rug hooking, knitting...which I loved...quilting, and floor loom weaving. I enjoyed all of them. Now I don't do any of them.
I even knit a wool coat for myself plus many sweaters, socks, mittens, gloves and winter hats for family and friends. ..even sweaters for our mini dachshund, Charlie Brown. I made several knitted and crocheted blankets for The Linus Project. I've even been thinking of digging out my hooks or needles and starting a new project but can't decide what that might be.
My packed full craft room has become a catchall and I hardly ever go in there now.

phyllis · February 14, 2025, 10:09:07 AM

By the way.....

HAPPY VALENTINES DAY!

patricia19 · February 14, 2025, 03:00:32 PM

Happy Valentine's Day

Good morning, six degrees and a gusting 30 MPH wind alert. Nothing new here, but morning routines are finished and coffee's on.

Phyllis, I used to knit and hook rugs, but that was a long time ago, before my hands and arthritis got too bad.

My mother used to knit, do embroidery, crochet and hook rugs. She sewed everything, all our clothes, and even taught herself to make pairs of strong work blue jeans for dad. Both of my parents came from large Midwestern farm families and were used to always working.

She had a large wooden loom in her sewing room that dad built for her and would make quilts and used batting, I believe is the term, for stuffing. Both of my parents worked and put in a large garden plus hunting and fishing to provide for our family of five.

Alaska was a territory until 1959, and we simply didn't have a lot of the amenities that states had. The city itself wasn't established until 1903. It had been a gold camp, during the gold rush, there are still some working gold camps in the area, and before that, it was a trading post due to its proximity to five rivers.

Amy, we got a dusting, no real accumulation and no freezing rain, luckily. We don't have the humidity for snow when the skies are clear, with no clouds to hold the heat in. Weather reports say we'll stay on the positive side for the rest of the month, so we may have more snow.

MG, I've got all my tax information ready to be sent in. I'll be glad when that is over for the year. Other than that, the only thing for today and tomorrow is receiving packages for others, and I have a vegetable order due tomorrow for myself. Both the kitchen and bathroom need a good wipe down, I may get to that over the weekend, and I need to pull out the vinyl shelf liners from the fridge to wash and a donation to set up. And I'm going to stop myself now before I think of anything else!

Jane, Isaac looks very happy to be here. And three months already!

JaneS · February 14, 2025, 07:24:40 PM

Well, it's getting on towards bedtime around here. I won't have any Cooper tomorrow because Frankie has the weekend off and she is on her way to visit her mother in Maryland. She should be arriving there in a few more minutes. I put the timer on when she texted me that she was on the way! If she doesn't text me in the next ten minutes, I'll be texting my daughter to see if she arrived and forgot to let me know!

I have to be up and attem tomorrow because my cleaning lady and her helpers will be arriving about 8:30. If I don't check in early, I'll be around after they leave. They are usually here about 2 hours or a bit more some times.

I wish you all a peaceful night's sleep and a great tomorrow. We're supposed to get snow starting late afternoon!

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