Well, Joanie and Lloyd and all, I don't have the kind of money or insurance or the VA on my side but I guess I have something even better.  God has seen that I don't need any of those expensive pills.  The only thing I need is eye drops that might be costing me about &115.00 a month if it were not for the goodness of my eye doctor.  They have been supplying me with pharmaceutical samples for at least 2 years now.

About the microwave and the cups....when microwaves were introduced, I was working regularly for my Father-in-law, in aTV and appliance business.  They were asked to send someone to a class at the distributor so that each store had someone who knew about this new appliance.  When he read the letter, everyone looked at me.  So I was the one who went to a 3 day seminar and I was the demonstrator at the store.  It's probably the only appliance that I knew more about than my FIL.  He was one smart cookie but he didn't really care about the microwave.  I did!

I worked this morning so now that I've had some lunch and the doggies have had their snack, I'll go let them out again and go see if there are any zzzs floating around in the sofa or my bed.  I'm really tired... 

Janie--Now we know who to come to when we have microwave questions.  How lucky you are to get eye drop samples from your doctor.  I hope you found some ZZZ's.

I am very fortunate with my medical insurance from the company where I worked those many years.  So far, I have not paid a dime for the insurance itself.  I have both dental and medical.  As you know, Medicare pays 80%.  My insurance company pays 80% of what Medicare does not pay and I pay the balance.  I have five prescriptions that are mailed to me every three months.  I think the most I've paid for any of them has been $40 for a 3-month supply and one of them is less than $10 for a 3-month supply.  The company puts a certain amount into a fund to take care of retiree medical expenses.  They recently changed their procedure for current employees and I think the employees pay something or are given an allowance for them to find their own insurance.  The company is self assured and the insurance company administers the program.

My insurance does not cover glasses or hearing aids.

I know things can change but I've been retired over 30 years and gotten good mileage out of the program so far.

Mary Ann

Good day from the Interior, where it is five minutes after twelve. I have been out for the past couple of days with that same sinus issue, but I'm glad to be back, if not wholly functional!

We are at thirty degrees and skies are no longer simply white.

I hope everyone is having a nice day and Happy Valentine's!

Mary Ann--You certainly are fortunate to have such good medical insurance.

angelface--Glad to hear your sinus problem is somewhat better.  I guess 30° is warm for there?

Joan, February is our coldest month of the year, sometimes remaining below minus thirty to minus forty for six weeks. We have had highs about minus six to minus seven with lows in the minus twenties so having a low about minus one and a daytime high of plus thirty without any humidity to chill, its a very good thing!

  ❣️ HAPPY VALENTINES DAY EVERYFRIEND ❣️

I don't know what happened to today, but it has escaped me. I got an early start..up at 6:30..or maybe it was 7:00 Did my usual devotions, went down for bandage change..they had doctors calling today, so left to come back after lunch. Got on the computer, and I guess that was my mistake…I got involved in answering emails and then it was time for lunch, Came home for  a nap….as I recall…then down for Balance and Mobility at 2:45…home for more reading, and it was suddenly time for supper. And now here I am. Have read all your posts.

Janie, it is a delight to see you posting, and I am sorry you were ill. I pray you will not have a recurrence.

Gloria, I usually have a good eight hours of sleep every night..more or less…so I am glad to be awakened early, or I may just keep on sleeping the whole day away. Seriously…I never seem to get enough sleep, and can nap three or four times during the day. I finished the Louie L'Amour book and picked up another one. There are quite a few in the library but they are all hard back and quite thick. Too hard to try and read while laying down, and that is how I do Most all my reading. Paper backs are more my style now.

Larry, I too like pineapple with cottage cheese and also in cole slaw. They use quite a bit of pineapple here, so it must be good for us. They also use melon and strawberries, but they have no flavor. They must be imported or hot house grown.

Bis, I keep my bread in the freezer. I use so little that I would be throwing it out if it were not frozen. A few seconds in the microwave thaws it out.

I had supper tonight with a lady that was from Australia, she married a Navy man during the WW11 era, and has been in the U.S. ever since. A lovely outgoing lady. The meals today also had special desserts for Valentines day, and when we woke this morning there were hand made valentines hanging from our door knobs. We are so nicely treated here.

Hi Jenny. Hope you had a good day.

Time for me to close and get ready for bed.
Have a blessed peaceful night and a happy tomorrow. Hugs, Love and Prayers. June

Good night Everyfriend and may God bless us, every one!

Good Wednesday morning, Everyfriend.  There’s blueberry toaster strudel to accompany your coffee or tea. I wish everyone a great day!!



Questionnaire

An Army private filling out a questionnaire for a correspondence course was stymied by the question, "How long has your present employer been in business?"
He thought for a moment, then wrote, "Since 1776."




Ants on the Battlefield
(By Chris Long)

I just got back from battle. And boy am I exhausted!

I have hope that maybe this time, I FINALLY have won...but I'm not so sure.

What am I talking about, you say?

ANTS!

A few weeks ago, I noticed a couple of them in the bathroom, killed them and thought nothing more of them.

A few days later, and a few more appeared - this time in the kitchen - which I again killed and thought little of them.

Then they started showing up in the den. This time there were several, so I went out and saw where they were coming in and dutifully sprayed them. Problem solved, I thought. Boy I can sure be naive! Ants, I have discovered, are quite the tenacious little critters!

For a few days, all was calm...and THEN, several were in the kitchen - not a lot mind you, but enough that they were becoming a problem. I killed all the ones I could see and then I went outside and found a whole trail of ants and sprayed them. Again, all seemed fine for a few days.

Then tonight, they were all over the kitchen, high up on the walls, above the pantry, at the sink - you get the picture. Subsequently I discovered that they were also in the living room. I even found one lone ranger in the den.

It took me hours to clean up and do a full house perimeter check - spraying all around the house.

For now, I'm thinking that maybe, just maybe, I've showed them who's the boss and they won't be dropping by for a visit again anytime soon. Then again, I may just be living in some fantasy land. I'm not quite sure. The Orkin Man may be my next call...

But, you know, these pesky ants got me to thinking.

About sin. And about spiritual warfare.

You know, unlike most of my previous ant experiences, these ants were a tricky bunch. They didn't just all show up one day in one location and make it easy for me to eliminate them. No, they initially showed up a few at a time, making it easy for me to dismiss them as "not really a problem".

How often this has this been my experience with sin!

The devil knows that often times the easiest way to snare someone is not to rush at them all at once - to lay a giant temptation. No, he often starts with small, seemingly little things - things that lull us little by little away from God and His desires for us - all the while maintaining a false sense of security. Then the devil lays out the big one - the big trap. Weakened by so many of the little compromises we've already made, it is then much easier for us to give in.

Had the devil tried to lay the big one from the outset, we probably would instantly recognize it as a problem and resist. But by drawing us little by little away from the things of the Lord, we become desensitized to the voice of the Lord and in our weakened state, we're just like a deer caught in the headlights waiting for the car to come and take us out...

When I first saw those ants, what I SHOULD have thought was: "ANTS!!! They shouldn't be here! I'm going to kill them and then go make sure there are no others!" But, instead, I mostly ignored them, not realizing that a much larger ant problem was soon to be in my future. Because I took a passive posture, rather than an active one, I set myself up for so much more trouble than I might otherwise have had.

And that's how it is with sin. Whether we like it or not, the reality is that there is major spiritual warfare going on all the time behind the scenes. When we accepted Christ as our Savior, we actively chose Jesus and moved from the kingdom of the devil into the kingdom of God. But the devil, he just ain't content with that. No, he will still try to woo us and he loves for us to live weak, sin-filled, ineffective lives - where we aren't a good witness for Jesus Christ.

There is spiritual warfare going on in the spiritual dimension over us. And we are a participant whether we want to be or not. It is a part of the cosmic struggle between the devil and God. We were once on the side of the devil (whether we knew it or not). When we chose Jesus, we transferred onto God's team. But we don't get to just sit on the sidelines. And God doesn't intend for us to sit on the sidelines.

The Bible tells us to be active. We are told to "put off your old self, which is being corrupted by its deceitful desires; to be made new in the attitude of your minds; and to put on the new self created to be like God in true righteousness and holiness." (Ephesians 4:22b-23) Did you catch it? "Put off", "Put on": These are action words. Same thing a bit later in the well known part of Ephesians 6 where we are told: "Put on the full armor of God so that you can take your stand against the devil's schemes." (Ephesians 6:11) We've got to actively put on that armor. We've got to stand our ground. We've got to take up our shield, put on our helmet, wield our sword (the Word of God!). We've got to be prepared for battle and maintain a healthy, vibrant prayer life.

If we're not active, we're passive. And if we're passive, we're just asking for it because the devil and his cohorts are NOT passive: they are QUITE active and they WILL be paying you a visit (and like my ants, they'll keep coming back!). You can count on that.

So as believers in Jesus Christ, we really only get one option if we want to live vibrant, joyful, powerful, abundant lives: We MUST actively fight. We're told in God's Word to "Be very careful, then, how you live - not as unwise but as wise, making the most of every opportunity, because the days are evil." (Ephesians 5:15-16).

We're told in Philippians 4:8, to think on (put into our minds) things that are "noble", "right", "pure", "lovely", "admirable", "excellent", and "praiseworthy."

If a believer spends their days and nights listening to worldly music, watching worldly t.v. shows and movies, engaging in worldly entertainment, focussing on the world's gadgets and gizmos, etc. then it probably shouldn't come as a big surprise why they are not living the victorious, abundant life God wants them to live. I mean, if a movie has inappropriate language and/or sexual situations (stirs up lust) and/or messages and themes contrary to Scripture (i.e. "revenge", "living together before marriage is ok", "homosexuality should be celebrated", etc.) then we really need to ask ourselves what part of that is "noble", "right", "pure", "lovely", "admirable", "excellent", and "praiseworthy."

It's the little compromises that set us up for bigger failures. If we're not active in fighting the "good fight of faith" (1 Timothy 6:12a), then we're passively just awaiting the devil to come and tweak us out and rip us off. Jesus, aluding to the devil, said: "The thief does not come except to steal, and to kill, and to destroy. I have come that they may have life, and that they may have it more abundantly." (John 10:10)

If we will take the time to really read and study God's Word, talk to God in prayer, spend time with other believers, and put good and edifying things into our minds, we will reap a beautiful harvest. We will truly live the type of God-honoring lives where not only are we living the abundant life Jesus talked about (which is only found in Him), but it will be a tremendous witness to those around us as well. (sidenote: our witness with others is one of the key things the enemy is after!)

In the end, God's Word tells us how this great longtime struggle between God and the devil (with the other fallen angels) turns out. They lose. God wins. End of story. They've actually already lost; the outcome isn't even in question. Colossians 2:15 tells us that the devil has already been disarmed by Christ at the cross. So, actually, largely what the devil comes at us with is deception. He makes himself seem a lot scarier than he really is. But we must stand in these realities for them to be realities in our lives. We rest in the finished work of the cross, but out of that reality, we also maintain an active posture of resisting the devil. For our own sake and the sake of those around us, we cannot afford to be inactive.

Back to those ants: You know, I don't know whether they're going to show their pesky little ant faces again. I'd like to think they are but a distant memory. But I know this: the next time I see one or two of them, I have no intention of ignoring them.

Because, you know what?

Those ants mean business.



The best way to avoid temptation is to avoid the tempting situation.

--Author Unknown

Good morning everyone.

We did take off yesterday and shopped at Costco. Our timing was perfect as most of the items were on sale! Dogs love it when we go there to as they get to share a hot dog.
Have a date this morning, not much snow to move but it does have to go.

Joan, thank you for breakfast.

Enjoy your day everyone..

Good morning, Amy.  You treat your dogs well--hot dogs.  Sorry you have to dance with snow removal equipment.

It's errand day for me, so I'll be getting out early to beat the crowds.

Good Morning Everyfriend!  It's cloudy and cold here today.  It's my day to go in later this afternoon to work today so I didn't set the alarm last night and we slept until 7 a.m.!  That's really late for me.  So far this morning, I ground coffee, made dog food, fed the dogs and had my own breakfast.  That's after the doggies did their inspection of the yard.

Now I'm ready for the day.  Like Joanie, I have a few errands to run including stopping at the court house for dog licenses....a job I've put off until it's LATE for getting it done.  And I need to have someone find my ears.  If the right girl is in the shop, I might do that today, also.

Yesterday, I made Jambalaya for my supper.  It was so good that I put some in the hidey hole to share with anyone who likes it.  I've made it many times and it's never the same twice.  It was all that talk about New Orleans and beignet that reminded me I hadn't made it for a while. 

Make today a good one!

Good morning, Janie.  You've done lots already this morning.  Hopefully the right girl is in to find your ears.  I love jambalaya.  Thanks for putting some in the hidey hole.

Good Morning Everyone,  from the cold and rainy  (right now),  rocky coast of Maine... 

I was up late last night watching the snow removal going on here,  to get rid of all the snow left by the last storm.   They didnt' get rid of it all but the rain today should help clean things up before the big snow starts to fall tonight.... 

And so it goes here in Maine in the Winter  (as we start to look forward to the Spring) ...   (Panting)
 

All is well here.  I am tired as I was up listening to the News  and that ain't pretty,  but very tiring. 

Have a good day,   Everyone... 
Sandy

Hi everyone on a dark, cloudy morning here in South Carolina with a very high chance of rain today.  We stayed in all day yesterday and it was a beautiful day but today Pat has PT this morning at eleven and we plan on going to the Chop House to complete celebrating my birthday.  It is becoming a new tradition to go to this nice restaurant to celebrate birthdays and special occasions.  Since we will be eating a big meal in the middle of the afternoon we will not be going to the Wednesday night dinner at church. 

Lloyd, I misread your message about the rat poison you still have to take.  Sorry.

Joan, we have had that problem as well with bread going bad, especially during the summer when there is a lot of humidity.  Like June, I sometimes put part of a loaf in the freezer and then just microwave it for a few seconds and that seems to work. 

Sandy, I know that some people must stay on Warfarin and glad it is keeping you safe.

JaneS, interesting that you had special microwave training.  I am sure the your eye doctor receives the eye drop samples free so it is nice he has helped you out with the expensive medicine.  There is a good site to check local prices of drugs called goodrx.com . You put in your medicine name and dosage and it will give you prices for pharmacies around your area.  There sometimes are large variations in prices of the same drug among pharmacies. 

Amy, what does COSTCO charge for a hot dog and drink at their food counter?  Here is is $1.50 and it is a big hotdog and drink. 

Good Morning Everyone!

Our weather here is kinda in between, not cold, not warm, sunny but.....well just but.  We  are at that time of the year where we have the heat on in the mornings and a/c on in the afternoons.  It's Texas.

Amy you will soon have the type of weather I hated in Canada when things start to thaw and you have the pot holes, nasty cars, all the accumulated sand at intersections and dog poo and thrash coming out of the snow that has been pushed to the sides of roads.  But you did learn to appreciate the warm weather.

Well, tomorrow I have an eye appointment and then on Friday I get my shot in my lower back.  I have to come off the blood thinners starting today and the worst part go all the way across town to a surgical center and of course it is in one of the most congested/busy areas in town.  They put you out for the shot, I just hope it helps.

Got a phone call early yesterday morning from the wife of one of the folks I worked with telling me her husband had died during the night.  He had had a stroke a few weeks ago so it wasn't unexpected.  Boy-o-boy it seems our friends are dropping like flies.  I have to think hard to remember who is still alive.  Mostly just wives, us old men seemed to move on to our new homes. 

You know what sounds good.  Smothered steak, mashed potatoes, green beans, a nice lettuce and tomato salad.

Larry, you talking about living over a fault, San Antonio is built over a very large aquifer, covers a couple of hundred miles, but they assure us that it is stable and not longer active......oh, and we "used" to get all our water from this aquifer.  Long, long story.  Hope you never have to use the insurance.

LARRY, thanks for the tip.  I'll check it out but the reason my eyedrops are so expensive is that they are not on the approved formulary for most drug plans.  I keep checking that and so far nothing.  When the dr. prescribed them, we went trhough a lot of possibilities and they were all out of my financial reach.  I think that's why they keep supplying me.  All I have to do is go in with the almost empty vial and they give me another.  And it's not even out of my way.  It's on my way to almost anywhere I go and not even 5 minutes from home.

Sandy--Good morning. I think you have some time to wait before Spring arrives.  If it makes you tired to listen to the news, how about turning it off?

Good morning, Larry.  I've never been to a Chop House, but have heard their food is great.  The closest one to me is  in Orlando.  Guess I should try putting my bread in the freezer.

halkel--Good morning.  I hope that shot in your back helps.  That menu you listed sounds good.  Are you cooking?

Janie--I've asked many times for medicine samples and think only twice did I ever get any.

Good Afternoon Joan... 

I do turn off the news.    Have been turning it off for a very long time....    Unless something compelling is happening,  the my curiosity kills this cat...    (giggle)

I hope that everyone has a great day!

Good Morning all,

Finally getting in at a decent hour. I have just a few minutes before I head down for Bible Study, but once I go out it seems my day is gone. All your messages have been read and enjoyed. Will be back later. 

Sandy--I usually watch the local weather, but that's about it.

June--Enjoy your Bible Study.

Home again, and it will soon be time to head downstairs for lunch. Bible study was very interesting..Jeff Davis is an excellent speaker, and brings the Bible alive.He will be leaving for three weeks on a mission to Aftrica, so we will be keeping him in Prayer. He is about Gary's age and I like him.

There is a Valentines Party downstairs at two p.m., so if I am awake I will attend.

I hope you are all having a nice, pain free, relaxing afternoon. I have a bunch of hugs that want to be spread around, so if you like to be hugged, grab on to some.

June, thank you, I did grab onto a hug and here is one back (((((((June))))))
I managed to clean the driveway and out back, then I went into town for some meds...hubby is having a very rough day and maybe this med will help..I sure hope so.
Got our dogs nails done , just have the neighbours dog to do, he is so easy to do..love him to bits!

June--Glad you enjoyed the Bible Study.  Thanks for the hug.  Here is a big one for you.

Amy--Sorry your husband is having a rough day and hope the med you picked up will help.

Amy and Bis, thank you for the nice hugs...there is something so heart warming about hugs.I got a real one from one of our workers downstairs this morning, and a nice compliment that made my day..I'll not mention what she said as it would sound like I was bragging or prideful, and God doesn't like either of those things. But believe me, every chance we get to warm someone else's heart, we should do it.

Just about time to head down for the lunch "second seating" in the small dining room in our building. I'm getting so I prefer eating there instead of the big fireplace dining room, which is so filled with conversations and busy-ness, it is not what one could call relaxing. I loved it when I first came here, but I am a year older now and getting a bit "testy" in my ancient age. 

 

Amy:  Hugs for you and your husband.  I do hope he can get the pain relief he deserves quickly.

Oh, my memory of having a beignet is walking down the street in New Orleans with a cup of coffee and the powdered sugar flying all over - something to see with men in dark suits walking to work & chewing their breakfast treats. 

June:  Thanks for your sweet hugs - I grabbed as many as I could hold.


Copied from June:
Amy and Bis, thank you for the nice hugs...there is something so heart warming about hugs.I got a real one from one of our workers downstairs this morning, and a nice compliment that made my day..I'll not mention what she said as it would sound like I was bragging or prideful, and God doesn't like either of those things. But believe me, every chance we get to warm someone else's heart, we should do it.
June, you are so thoughtful of others.  Good advice to be positive and not dwell on negativity that crushes our health and friendships. 

June--Carol said it well about you.  Nice that you have a choice of dining rooms to eat in.

Carol--Those beignets sure are messy, but they are sooo good.  I think they should supply bibs to those eating them.

Another good evening at work.  It's nice to see some of the people who come in later.  I had a nice chat with a high school senior who is relatively new.  I've seen her but never close enough to chat between customers.  She seems to have her life pretty well in hand.  She's a senior in high school and looking forward to college in the Fall.  And she thinks I'm about 65.  She couldn't believe it when I told her I'm 81.  She expects to own her own space ship in about 40 years.  I told her that's within the realm of possibility.

I think I'll watch a little TV through my eyelids and then head for bed.  Good night Everyfriend and may God bless us, every one..

HUGS for everyfriend...especially JUNE!!

Oh, Boy...I feel so loved with all those wonderful hugs you gave me. Janie, Bis , Carol, and all of you good people here. I feel so Blessed. I meant to go down for supper tonight....they were serving chicken fried steak, but somehow, my get up and go, got up and left. So I will have a light supper at home, and an early bed. Sleep well dear hearts. We each really need one another. Hugs, Prayers and Love. June