JEANNE LEE - Good morning!  I really smiled at your post RE what your family thought of your driving.  I recall when I was working with the International folks in Washington DC years ago, I had several experiences with new Chauffer's staff at the Embassies where we often met to welcome new Diplomats.  Some of the Chauffer's were highly experienced, while others were still driving as though they were in their home Countries with no particular speed limits.  It often took some time to convince the latter drivers to "slow down or lose your job."  Most of them learned about the speed limits in the City, but a couple I remember were recalled and sent back to their home Countries.

LARRY - Your comment RE the Cracker Barrell being very loud sure reminded me of my own experience there a couple of years ago.  I'd invited my son and his family as well as a couple from Church to lunch.  We had comfortable seating, but continued to hear staff SHOUTING from the kitchen to staff serving tables around the restaurant.  I finally got up, went to the door of the kitchen, called out for the Manager and complained while standing a couple of steps inside the Kitchen.  Everyone was absolutely silent as I talked with the Manager (and he apologized profusely).  But a few minutes later, the noise started again. I haven't been back since!

Good morning all, or should I go down the line and wish you all a Good Morning individually ? I could get to be a Sr. Member very quickly that way.

I woke up at three o'clock this morning and could not go back to sleep, so naturally I got on the computer, did a few emails, tried to go back to sleep several times, no luck. Now I want to stay awake for the Bible study program at 10 a.m., then I am free to sleep all day if I so choose.

Jeanne Lee, from another non-driver...My husband taught me how to drive when I was still young enough to be trained, so I always figured I obeyed the rules of the road. Now I am content to just stay home, and only go out for dental or eye exams. My social life is right here where I live, as is the Chapel, and my doctor comes here once a month. I have to enquire about a podiatrist now. Age seems to be all about the physical part of us. Alas.

Hi Larry
Thank you for the information regarding some States allowing those over 65 or those with disabilities additional allowances, but are they Income Tax allowance?

There seems to be a difference in the UK Income Tax system and the Isle of Man, which I think is beneficial more to Isle of Man residents than UK residents.

I must look into this from the Island side and the UK side.

Kelly

Good Morning Everyone!

Well we had a quick shower and now the sun is out shining brightly.  It will end up quite muggy and hot. 

I am sure the sponsors of the yearly golf tournament are happy campers to see some sunshine since the tee off is tomorrow morning.  I read that Phill Mickelson is going to play and big write up about a local pro who won last year (and hasn't won anything since).

June guess we both missed some sleep last night.  Seems I was up every two hours taking care of business and woke up feeling like no sleep at all.

I just doing some banking on line and filling out some insurance forms on my car insurance for renewal purposes.  So now I can play on my computer.

Amy it must be nice to go out and hear nature instead of the city noises that we have to constantly listen to.  When things do finally get quite you can still hear the freeway noises that are over a mile away and also some sort of siren from police, ambulance or fire truck.  Cities tend to isolate folks even though things are always teeming from something or other.

Janie, when you are good, you never lose the touch.......  

Joanie, hope your day is going well.

C U cats later.

Hi Hal
Does that include the Manx cat

kevin

Hal, Fox News showed quite a bit of rain in San Antonio are you more close the the ocean or inland ?

My eyes are starting to close. Maybe I can grab a quick nap and still be up and about for my class at 10 o'clock.

June we are about 150 miles to the Gulf of Mexico. Two hour drive.

Good Morning from a sunny Interior. Summer has been here for a few weeks, we have not had any of the weather issues in the lower 48 and I will be out hoping to find some nice photos of the swans and others at the wildlife sanctuary as well as a few hopefully decent shots of the Alaska Range.

I thought perhaps we simply had no real snow because we are normally so dry with little humidity so I checked and this is what NOAA's site had to say.

"Fairbanks has been exceptionally dry over the last two months. A total of just 1.9 inches of snow fell at the airport in December and January, besting Fairbanks previous low mark for the two months set in the winter of 1952-53.

National Weather Service lead meteorologist Christopher Cox attributes the snow drought to El Nino driven high pressure.

“The large ridge of high pressure that’s built up over the eastern Interior and west coast of Canada, and that’s a direct result of a very powerful El Nino that we have ongoing,” he said. “So that blocking ridge has basically blocked the storms to the south of us, and we just have not received the precipitation here in the Interior.”'

Mary Ann--Good you got the Amazon shipping charges removed.  I feel the same  way you do about Cracker Barrel.  I won't go there because of the noise.

Larry--I guess several don't like the noise in Cracker Barrel.  The food is OK, but to med, not worth going out to eat in noisy places.  I go out to eat to relax.

Jeanne Lee--Seems the way you drive is a subject for debate.

Molly--Interesting story about your speaking to the manager at Cracker Barrel about the noise.  It seems you wasted your breath.

June--Sorry you couldn't sleep last night.  You're lucky to have so many activities available right there where you live.

halkel--Oh my, another golf tournament.  Hopefully you can nap this afternoon after interrupted sleep last night.

angelface--So El Nino is to blame for your low amount of snow--interesting.

Good morning, EVERYFRIEND. 

I am feeling grumpy today....think it started as soon as I saw the painting crew arrive early this morning.....the snow still covers all of
the roofs and they are setting up ladders and are attempting to caulk, etc.  water is pouring off the roof, so who in there right mind would be trying to caulk now?  In addition there are about 20 five gallon buckets of paint sitting on the curb!  Looks like they think they are going to start painting today! 

There, now you all can agree, I AM grumpy!

LARRY, you had me laughing at your comment to SHIRLEY, regarding her son warning her about the speed trap!  So true...he knows mama well and felt a need to warn her.

SHIRLEY, you are so funny..... A bit heavy footed on the gas feed at times, but I love you anyway! 

Have a good day.

Jenny

I'm home!  And I'm tired!  I think I'll go put my feet up and take a snooze before Kiran comes home. 

Glad to see you've been being yourselves all day.  Please continue while I nap!

Jenny--I don't blame you a bit for being grumpy.

Janie--I hope you got a good snooze before it was time for Kiran to come.

It sure has been quiet here in the SS today.  Folks must be "out and about".  I am going to go watch TV.

Bis, my excuse for not adding to the conversation is due to sleeping for three hours this afternoon,Went to the Bible study at 10, then to an early lunch, then home to sleep. It may have been closer to four hours of sleep.

Speaking of cars and those who service and sell them, I had a positive experience last week. I drive a 2006 Accura with only 45000 km on it and I began having power steering issues with it. I took it to the dealer for service and was advised that I had a defective electronic power steering module which had to be replaced. With a sinking heart I asked the estimated cost and was delighted to hear "no charge." I asked how come a ten year old vehicle could be under warranty and they said this is an "ongoing, known issue" for which they would assume responsibility regardless of the car's age. They are under no legal liability and treat this as a public relations good will gesture. If I had to pay for this it would have cost me around $1200, so this act of goodwill has made me a customer for life.

Hi Radioman
Good to hear about this dealer and what superb customer service.

kelly

Don, it seems strange that after 10 years a car should finally show up that problem. Thankfully you took it right in, that could have been a tragic problem. I agree with your dealer being your dealer for life. I recall my husband driving a new car he had purchased and on the way home, the whole engine dropped out of place. He drove so much when he worked for the government he would get a new car every other year. He felt his responsibility toward family so greatly, he wanted to keep safe at all times.

When I was on my trip across the USA,
I got in trouble with my van,  a dodge
caravan, in the boonies of Colorado
(Near Canon City - where Proe and
Con lived)  ..
(This was after they had passed) 
I had to pull into a Dodge Dealership, 
figuring I was in deep deep trouble.
   
(It was an electrical problem where
the van just stopped working while
I was driving it in city traffic   -   
It stopped for minute and started
up again...  boom,   just like that) 

They had a man there who was a
Caravan Guru.  He worked on my
car for over three hours.  Took
it out an drove it around  and finally
gave it back to me. 

Results?  They could find no problem.   
When I went in they told me that a
check up would cost me $80..  (just to
look at it!)     

Hours later they presented me with
the bill ...
It was only $40!

I was shocked,  to say the least. 
And grateful beyond words.     

But I also want to say that all
across the USA,  I was so
fortunate to be treated well by
car repair people.     

I think that they felt sorry for me.   
This old women, who they could
see was "living in the van"  and
traveling across the USA, just took
them by surprise, and they opened
up their hearts to me.

I had more people say to me
"I have always wanted to do that.... 
just packed it up and go.   
 
So I think that is why they treated
me so well.  They knew I was traveling
"on a wing and a prayer (with only
the slightest chance of success),  and
gave me a huge break.

I will never forget how well I was
treated from East to West,  and
North to South.

Sandy
   

Sandy, I am so glad you were brave enough to take that trip across our wonderful land. You have memories that will last you forever.

I didn't manage a nap between work and Kiran.  I'm still tired and I don't think I can go to sleep unless I actually lie down on the couch and pull a cover over me.  It fakes me into thinking I'm actually in bed. 

My neighbor called me just before I left to take K. home and asked if I wanted to go to Appleby's for supper.  I did and she was ready when I came back.  It was nice not to have to scrounge or cook or...whatever!  And now I'm home to stay.  Got my jammies on and ever thang!

I think I'm going to hunt a blankie and lie on the couch.  Nighty night!

My dad and I were in Michigan’s Upper Peninsula, driving his 1956 Chevy Bel Air.  Dad took good care of his cars and he heard a noise that was unfamiliar.  I didn’t hear it.  Anyway, we took it into a Chevy dealer in Manistique (I think) who found something in the middle of the universal joint, which was about as far into the innards as could be.  The dealership fixed the car and we had to drive 35 mph from there to below the Straits before we could assume regular speed.  I often wondered if there was really a problem in the universal joint, but we got home OK.

Dot and I just returned from an organ concert at our church put on by the Music Committee but featured our relatively new organist.  She is wonderful, I almost think better than any of the organists we’ve had in many years.  We both were very impressed.  Going to the early service as we do, we do not have the pipe organ, but an electric organ. 

Mary Ann

MaryAnn, our Episcopal church has a pipe organ that is said to be an antique and is listed with the building for the historical society. There is another one very similar in a coffee shop that used to be part of an older theater from the twenties and thirties. I do not know anything about either organ other than that and I remember the coffee shop one in the old Empress Theater from the fifties.

I just got back from the University and the wildlife sanctuary. My knees surprisingly seem to be okay but my feet hurt and feel flattened. I walked altogether 6 miles today but only the University was up and downhills although on pavement. The sanctuary was in moss and tussocks but the rougher parts had boardwalk.

I'll do photos tonight or tomorrow. I did err in that they were having a day for the Girls and Boys Clubs so you know there was no wildlife in the back acreage showing. The public areas total ten acres, back trails and public viewing while the remainder, around 2700 acres.

Good night everyone, sweet dreams.
well we had a busy day today, had Nancy to hospital for tests at 7:45 am; there untill 12;30 Then took her out to lunch. came home and took a load of scrap and sold it. cu all tomorrow;

Lloyd

Well it has been a kinda do nothing day.   Just piddled around doing much of nothing.  Wife really didn't want to fix supper so we ordered a pizza and had that for supper.  Not healthy but at our age, just how much of life did we take off, a week?   I don't know why I was surprised tonight when on the news they were talking about life expectancy and they say average age for men was 76.  WoW!  I have had a full measure and then some.

Oh and ladies your life expectancy has gone down by 2 weeks.......


Off to bed, up early in the morning.

Nite, nite, sweet dreams and God Bless.

Janie, will you end up on the couch all night long ? If I ever get a recliner I'm sure that will take the place of my bed

Patricia, you did very well on that long walk today. Congratulations !

Lloyd, where to you go to sell scrap ? Is it metal scrap ?

Hal, I had a do nothing day too. A long nap was needful and I had it. A pizza now and then is not going to take years off your life Hal…enjoy it while you can.

Time to say Goodnight and wish you all well. A peaceful night and a happy tomorrow. God be with you. Hugs and Love. June

Jenny, I can sure sympathise, re, today being " grumpy day, " or rather for me yesterday.....as you well know that R never gave me a second thought to phone, not once, even to let me know he arrived safely or, he was now on his way home.....an 8 hour 3 to 4 motorways car journey....

Today he will be out with his family members who are down here for a week on holiday.....

Oh yes those workmen, they seem to have a rule all to themselves.....

Good Thursday morning, Everyfriend.  There's  bear claws to accompany your coffee or tea. I wish everyone a good day!!





Excuses

My friend's husband, Ray, is a state trooper and enjoys sharing the excuses people use when stopped for speeding. One day, however, the tables were turned. Ray maintains an aquarium of exotic fish, and a prized specimen had threatened to turn belly up. The off-duty officer called a pet store, and they advised him to immediately purchase a special additive that would correct the water's pH. Ray and his wife jumped into the car and rushed to the store. A state trooper signaled them to pull over. "Go ahead," Ray's wife said. "Tell him you've got a Sick Fish!"



Silent Witness
(by Krista Ryals, 12 years old)


We say that we are Christians and that we are walking in God's ways,
but do we really walk in them every single day?
When we go to parties and people pressure us to drink,
do we ever take that time to really stop and think?

The Lord is always watching everything we do,
and when we tell people we are saved He knows if it is really true.
We think it does not matter what we do when no one is around,
but God is always standing there even if He does not make a sound.

He walks with us through good times and carries us through bad,
and when we let Him down He forgives us even if what we did makes Him really sad.
We tell our friends we love Him and that heaven is where we'll go,
but if God asked us today would we really know?

When we stand before God on our judgment day,
Will we be embarrassed by things He might say?
Just remember when you go out the Lord is always standing there,
He is our silent witness with whom our lives we share.


 

"It is much easier to suppress a first desire than to satisfy those that follow."

- La Rochefoucauld

Joan, good morning, now what a fishy story was that? re, " Excuses "

Looks like it might be another fine dry day, would like to try getting myself outside this home today, but I'm not sure I can make those concrete steps down by myself, nor would I be able to get my rollator down them unaided.....R is soon out to meet up with his family, think they go back this weekend, to where R was all day yesterday when he swapped his car over and briefly met up with an old time friend....

Good morning everyone..
Looking to be another nice day out there! Yesterday I had quite the chuckle when coming home, there must have been 10 -15 box turtles sunning themselves on a piece of log. Finally heard the frog singing last night, now I have been told they have to be froze in 3 times before Spring is really here!!

Taking a friend to the city today,guess that will make sure I don't undo any of the physio work I had done yesterday.

Jackie, good morning.. be careful going down the steps. I wonder if you could put a ramp in there to help you?

Joan ,thank you for breakfast.

Enjoy your day everyone.

Good morning everyone

Kelly