Yes, and you can find Mc Donald, KFC, Pizza Hut, Burger Ranch and what not here too.  We are very much under the influence of the American life.  We also can buy Home Depot, Home Center, Ace. No Walmart as yet!

Here in Texas we have a chain of what started out as ice cream places, they are now fast food too, but they have what we call soft ice cream and make what is called a Blizzard, which is nothing more than an extra thick malt, with no milk just ice cream.  Anyhow they have a cherry flavored one which is my favorite.  You have to eat it with a spoon too thick to use a straw, you would have to suck so hard the back of your head would cave in.....

Bubble I think you would love it.  McDonalds has a similar drink, but they use mostly candy which I don't care for.

They also have Lattes

http://www.dairyqueen.com/us-en/Menu/Full-Menu/

As Larry says, it is warm and a little wet here in coastal South Carolina but the showers are supposed to move on out today.  I was so happy to get back into Seniors & Friends the other night and eventually to find the Bait and Tackle Shop!

Mary Ann, I think of Norm's spirit keeping up with the forum also.  Great guy!  Hard to believe that both he and Papa John are no longer with us. 

Mary de, so good to see you posting here!  I still remember our visit with you and John and Patrick and his wife when we visited NZ in 2005.  Can't believe it has been that long.  Are Patrick and his wife still around?  I'm having trouble remembering her name - something like Weezy?  It has been a beautiful spring here.  My camellias are starting to fade and the azaleas are almost in full bloom now.

Is the Molly To which we are referring the lady that sometimes went by "Mahlia" and has a husband named Mohammed?  We talked on the phone yesterday and she is having difficulty registering to get back in.  I tried to tell her how to find "Register" in order to reregister but not sure she understood.

We have had a really busy week.  Windell went back to the doctor Monday with a cyst on his rear end that had gotten larger in the past two weeks and the doctor decided he would remove it on Wednesday.  We had to stop his blood thinners and I wasn't sure whether that was going to affect blood flow in his five heart stents.  Tried to get the cardiologist who did his heart surgery and he is out of the country for three weeks, and miracle of miracles, the surgery went great.  He didn't have a blood clot and almost no bleeding and has not taken a pain pill since he came home.  He even went back to cardiac rehab yesterday.

Bubble, so good to see you here, too!  Seems like all of our major chains are worldwide now.  My older sister did all of her shopping at Walmart and I do very little there.  I don't care for their meats at all.  We use Kroger for our groceries; it is only a mile up the street and we get points for what we spend on groceries that reduce the price of gas at their gas station.  We also use their pharmacy for our prescriptions.

Larry, I guess the Master's Tournament will soon be gearing up down your way.  We will watch the final four play for the top two tonight also.

Trying to get some de-cluttering done today.  Hope you all have a great weekend!

Hi Larry
Still raining and just been for a walk, slightly wet but good exercise.

Kelly

Hi Sandy
How goes your day!

Kelly

Hi Eveyone
I used to work with a chap over forty years ago who liked kippers and custard.

What a mixture!!

Kelly

Good Morning All! Its so nice to see many new and old members back! I do think Norm would be glad to see so many old friends again!
Not much new here. I've been out and about paying bills and other necessities of life.

Speaking of ice cream, I am more of a sherbet type with yes, coffee, orange and pineapple, (separately!);  predominating.

However, speaking of odd combinations, have you looked at coffee cremes or more accurately, syrup lately? I don't use it but a good friend does and lately she has been talking about a new favorite, jalapeno! Not something I want anywhere near my coffee!

Oh that sounds gross, Kelly. I haven't had Kippers in years, lost the taste for it. My current ice cream madness is Butter Pecan with a caramel sauce topping.

Hal, I love Dairy Queen and nearly every small town in Texas and Oklahoma has one.

When I was a kid, their cones cost a nickel and it was a treat when we got one.  Their chocolate dipped cones were a dime and that was an extra special treat .

Do y'all remember the dixie cups that were half vanilla ice cream and half orange sherbert, and they came with a wooden spoon?

Mary

all this talk of ice cream is making me wanting one. and it is bed time too!

Hal, we have DQ here too and I have had Blizzards and I like them.  My ice cream at home is frozen yogurt and I buy vanilla so I can put chocolate or pineapple toppings on it.  I can eat it plain, too.  Years ago, my doctor suggested I not eat too many foods with animal fat so I went to frozen yogurt.  I admit it is an acquired taste, but I'm used to it and like it.  We have an ice cream maker in Holland that puts out various flavors with Michigan names - Moose Tracks is one and that had chunks of chocolate.  Their ice creams are delicious and rich. 

Incidentally, we are having a blizzard right now and I cannot see across the pond.  Misty blizzard, though.

Johann, I figured that Molly was having trouble registering.  I hope she can get some help soon.

Johann, I take a blood thinner too, for A-fib and I had a tooth removed recently.  I was advised by the dentist that I might have to stop the thinner for a day or so, but she decided that with only one tooth to be removed, it was not necessary.  Everything went well - except I have another hole in my head!!!

Maybe I'll have a dish of ice cream now.

Mary Ann

Mary Ann I am inviting myself!  I'll have the Vanilla  frozen yogurt with you and I will sprinkle it with  instant coffee powder.

Sounds good, Bubble, make yourself at home.

Mary Ann

Thank you.  I hope you have the heat on with this blizzard weather.

Bubble, you bet, nice and cozy inside.  Especially since we're having ice cream!

Mary Ann

Hi MarsGal
Your right kippers and custard sounds awful.

Actually I thought this chap was kidding me about Kippers and custard, but he was serious about it.

Kelly

Hi Everyone
It id gone midnight here and I am having a nice cup of tea.

kelly

HI EVERYONE    so great to find so many here.  Norm must be looking down smiling.  Mary Ann he would be so proud of you keeping up communication between  us all and family. 

Johann, I remember your visit in 2005 very well, glad your husband is keeping so well in spite of his ailments.    Its been some years since I last saw Pat and Wisia, think he was going to ring me and time passed...  he had major problems with computing and I think he was getting overwhelmed.  Of course, because of Wisia they had many committments with the Polish community and Pat did not have much time to himself.  We are also working around health needs, John was diagnosed with Alzheimers Dementia (?sp) and its necessary to fight to keep upbeat.     PS  your decluttering rings a note, that clutter never stops and its an ongoing battle here


I know others have remembered me and I feel touched and more than a trifle guilty when I haven't kept up.  I remember you all fondly.

Hi MaryD,
So good to see you have found your way
back to Seniors and Friends.         Phew... 

I am sorry to hear that John has been
diagnosed with Alzheimers ...  That is so
difficult for him and everyone who he
is close to ..   

Best wishes to you both
Sandy


(aka "dapphne" )

It does seem that no matter where you travel in the world you can find lots of American goods. Specially fast food places. Can go in a big Grocery chain in UK .Even in the small town family live in and like going into Walmarts here. 
Yet one can't find goods for other countries that much in the US.  We know that all our clothing and tech stuff made in other countries but not hardware type things . Most everything made in Asia.

Remember going into a Old city in Germany a few years ago and what takes over the Main Square.  MCDONALDS.  Awful.  One thing that didn't make it was. Kentucky fried Chicken. At least not in the UK

Hi JeanneP
Most many American good in the Isle of Mn shops!

Kelly

Good evening. Another day that has passed much too quickly.

So good to see more joining in.....Johann, Maryde and Nita!  Great to see everyone and I must say I feel badly for those that are struggling to find their way. 

JEANNEP.  The last time we visited our little community in England a couple of years ago, we did not recognize ANYTHING.  They had built new shopping centers and roads over all of our old places where we lived and wanted to see..  Even the base, Greenham Commons no longer existed.  Also found a McDonalds at the end of our little street in Bitburg Germany.  We found it very sad. 

I wish you all pleasant dreams. 

Jenny

Hi Everyone
Time to retire as getting late, well early on Sunday at 2.25am!

Kelly

We used to have a Wendy restaurant for hamburger but that closed long ago.  Now I heard that KFC has also disappeared.  I am sorry about that, I used to like them and even had it as take away for the kids, to eat on the beach in summer.

Our falafel in pita is not as tasty.  We do have the shwarma that is quite palatable, with all the different salads that come as free adding in the pita pocket bread.

Good very windy Morning to everyone.

I spent the night on the sofa downstairs just in case one of the remaining pine trees decides to come down. I already had one come down and hit the corner of the house a few years back, and two years after that the Colorado Spruce (which was closest to the house) had to be removed because the trunk split and it was leaning towards the house. The remaining white pines, I estimate, are between 160 and 180 feet tall. High winds always bring branches down; occasionally some are quite large and hard to move by myself.

Got a good, clear view this morning of Mars and Saturn with Antares and Spica and Arcturus off to the side as well as some of the dimmer/smaller stars (like the Zubens in the Libra constellation). The cats always have me up early enough to check out the pre-dawn skies.

I hope you are safe and without damage to the house.
Great that you have such a clear view of the sky.
Here with all the tall buildings around, I have not much of a view.

Well, the backyard is clear. What a surprise. The damage to the pines seems to depend on the direction the wind is coming from and if it whips around rather than being steady in one direction.

One thing I never do is yardwork under them on a winday day. That's inviting a bonk on the head. Most of the drops are smaller dead limbs and tons of pine needles and cones. It is a constant battle to keep the area clear to mow under. I don't like the possibility of  clogging up my mower with pine resin/residue.

Hi Bubble
I have a very good friend called Wendy!

Kelly

Hi everyone on a 50 degree sunny and calm morning here in South Carolina.  The high is suppose to be 68 for a short while this afternoon.  I stayed up too late last evening watching the basketball games, neither one of which were particularly exciting.  The first game was a rout with Providence winning by over 40 points and the second one had North Carolina winning for over 10 points.  The Master's Golf Tourney week activities are underway and getting started on a very nice morning.  In addition to the golf, there are also many other activities going on related thereto.  Many of our church folks leave town during this week as school is on spring break and a number of people rent out their homes for the week. 

I had a really nice thing happen to me as I was putting my purchases at Walmart in my truck yesterday.  I had mostly pretty heavy items including 6 gallons of distilled water we use for the CPAP machines.  This nice couple walked by and saw I was struggling a bit as was exhausted from all the walking I had to do in the store and they wanted to help me load the purchases in the truck. I willingly accepted their kind offer and really appreciated the help. 

We will attend Sunday School and church today as usual.  I signed up several weeks ago to bring the devotional today for our Sunday School class and have something ready to share.  I expect we will eat out after church and then have a quiet afternoon.

Mary Ann and Bubble, I do not care for coffee and have never liked coffee flavored ice cream.  I did have some frozen yogurt a couple of weeks ago and it had none of that yogurt tang, which is what I very much disliked about yogurt.  It was very smooth.  We bought our first ice cream at COSTCO a few days ago and it is the best ice cream we have had in many years.  It actually comes in a half-gallon container and only in vanilla but it is rich and creamy and very smooth.  I do remember Tutti Fruiti. 

Hal and Mary, I love those Dairy Queen blizzards but my they have become very expensive.  I guess this is a good thing as I don't often treat myself to one.  I do remember the Dixie cups of vanilla ice cream and orange sherbet and the little wooden spoon.  They were a nickle, which was usually the limit that our folks would give my sister and me when we went to the store about once a week.  I also liked the fudge cycles, which used to be very big compared to what you get today.

Mary Ann, hope your blizzard didn't carry through the night. 

Maryde, so sorry to read that John is now struggling with dementia.  I hope you are taking care of yourself.  If you have an Alzheimer's Association and you haven't done so I would encourage you to contact them.  They were most helpful when our family was going through this horrible situation with my mother and I think it was the first time my dad really accepted what was going on with mother.   

Johann, I had to hunt for Norm's B&T and was happy to find it under the General Topics heading.  Yes, Molly was called Mahila for awhile.  I have been in touch with her and she hopes to get re-registered next week and said she was busy this weekend.  Glad Windell's surgery went well.  That was certainly not a good place for a cyst. 

Kelly, was glad to see your rain has finally moved out as you have certainly had a few wet days. 

Mary Ann, I found I was able to remove the weather information from your signature box, so I think you'll find it's now gone.