Just Saying:  I am really missing our Shirley/Tisie.  Holidays seem to bring to mind all those we loved in nearness or far away; yes, even in the virtual world!  Hugs to all of you here who are having these feelings, too.

Remember the days when it took around 48 minutes to navigate the site? There are many I miss, some just quietly faded away and others shook us at their leaving. Besides Shirley, remembering Ginny, Bunny, Doris, Adrienne, Karen, Johann, Gladys, MaryAnn, Rae, Gloria, and Caroline, especially at this time of year.

Then there was Glen, Jerry, Hal, Jack, Robbie, and Larry.

I thought I posted here before about my birthday, but I do not see it.

I have continued to enjoy all of my Birthday celebrations‼️

We had a wonderful time at our grandson's birthday party on Saturday.  He had a wonderful time and when it was over mine started.  So much fun. 

We enjoyed The Nutcracker Ballet on Sunday so much with Dr. Dave and Family.  My Birthday Dinner was at a beautiful restaurant and our table was the best view of our beautiful Colorado Mountains.

Tomorrow is my surgery.  I had some last minute calls that were rather annoying to say the least.  The surgeon s office called to tell me I needed to go to a medical supply store to be fitted and pick up my neck brace on my way to the hospital to check in.  I had specifically asked them last week at my pre-op appointment about the neck brace and they assured me it would be at the hospital for me.  After two more calls we went back to plan A....the company will come to me in pre-op and measure me there.  Shaking my head.......does anyone ever do their jobs these days?

It will all be good.....just want to get it done and start my healing process.

I will look forward to getting back to posting when I can. 


Have a good evening 🦋🦋

Good luck tomorrow. Heal fast.

A few others that I remember and miss from this site:
FlaJean, who left us a little over a year ago, Sept, 2022.  Also, Joy, Shirleyn, and  Western Joan, (wjoan).  Soultwin, (We shared a birthday - same day, same year),  GloriaD (lindancer), so sweet and friendly . . . and Chia, who had such a funny personality.  When she called me on the phone, she always made me laugh.

Hi seniorsandfriends.  Was just lovely to read through all those names and see many I had corresponded with.  Many have passed on but are remembered.  I have lots of time these days to search my memory and think of my travels in USA and I have to say that on the internet Seniorsandfriends is the best.  We are about to get a taste of really hot weather this week.    What a mixed up world it is today.  With Christmas coming very soon, I can only say "LET THERE BE PEACE".    JUNEE

Bummer! There was some sort of hangup and I am computer-illiterate, so had to wait for Chip to study the site and then solve the problem for me, and now here I am, but not in time to have wished Jenny a successful surgery and all happiness following it.  So consider that belated message delivered now, Jenny.

Patricia, I remember just about every one of the names you mention, and met about half of them at various bashes.

I concur, Junee. I tend to be a pessimist when it comes to the historic behavior of mankind, but I, too, say Let There Be Peace.

The lyrics continue: Let There Be Peace on Earth, and let it begin with me. That's really gonna start my tears flowing.  I haven't yet heard the Christmas Carol that wipes me out..."Mary, Did You Know?"

December 7th, 1941 . . . 82 years ago today!  The surprise attack on Pearl Harbor.
Not many people still around who remember that day. My memory is of  seeing my parents, my grandma and my Aunt and Uncle, gathered around the radio, listening to the news.   After that, life changed for everyone, over the next four years. 

It was a terrible time, and I remember every bit of it. So many awful things, but some wonderful, beautiful things, as well.  We were unified.  We ALL went to war.  We cared about one another.  Remember the small silk notices in red. white and blue in one window of almost every house in town?  Each star was a member of that family who was in uniform and away fighting.  One color for alive, and another color of star for killed.  But we ended and won that war with one of the most awful inventions ever:  the atom bomb.

Still morning here, but I'm getting a late start on the day, so have accomplished nothing except cleaning the kitchen.  I have a feeling the whole day is going to be like this, so I might as well relax and enjoy it.  Winter weekends are always slow around here.

Hello to all who post here.     Hope we hear from some of you today as to Christmas shopping and Christmas plans?   I've started, but still have a long way to go.

Jenny - so sorry that your surgery was cancelled!     Hoping that by now it's been rescheduled, and it will be done early next week?   I know you're looking forward to Christmas, so you want to be feeling better by then. 

Callie - Hope you're feeling better, and that you no longer have wrist and hand pain?   Let us know how you're doing? 

I am feeling better and am able to use hands more - but still limited.  X-rays of both hands showed osteo-arthritis and I have problems squeezing tubes, opening jars and opening doorknobs. I'm able to fix meals but probably won't do any Christmas baking and decorating was limited.

I sent a group text to all family members asking for the places from which they would like gift cards.  They all answered and I "went shopping" on-line!  Asked each place to have cards sent to me and heard from each place that cards have been sent.so they should arrive before Christmas and I can give them "in person". (I use PayPal so don't have to give credit card # to any place that uses that service, which all did.)

Have spent quite a while addressing Christmas cards and am saddened at how short my list is because of deaths - including one friend I've known and kept up with since we "met" in the church nursery when she was 4 months old and I was 3 months old; last time I heard from her was in October and she died of Covid just before Thanksgiving.

Probably won't post much but I do read every day (sometimes several times!) and send Good Thoughts and Prayers to each Bait and Tackler.   

I have 28 great grandchildren now.   Emily is the oldest.  An architect, Emily will be married in April.
 
Cleo claims the spot of youngest.  She turned two on the 9th of November.  Cleo is a dancer and will probably also design clothes, but for a long time now, if a long time can be seriously thought of in regard to Cleo, I have suspected she is a Party Girl.  I already acknowledge a Party Boy: Solo is 7 and lives in St. Louis, MO.
 
So last night, not long after ten o'clock, Cleo climbed out of her crib and into her parent's bed.  She smiled her brilliant smile and said: "Hi!  Let's Party!"
 
There you have it, fresh out of the mouth of a Babe.

GOOD MORNING to Mary Page and Callie, and anyone else who looks in today.   

Callie -  Looks Like you're feeling much better, and have had a good diagnosis as to your hand problem. (other than the sprained wrist.)  Did you see an arthritis doc, or just your GP?  Like you, I have given up on baking or doing any kitchen cooking that involves lifting anything heavy or needing a tight grip on a handle.  No more boiling water for me, except a just enough to make Jello.   Lifting anything heavy into or out of the oven, is not possible.
Like you, our Christmas card list has come to a sad ending.  This past year, two of AJ's cousins passed away, plus a couple of long time friends.   I didn't buy cards this year.   
Most of my shopping has been online, except yesterday we went to the huge Bass Pro store and bought some things for our son and grandkids.  I was worn out, but that store is so beautiful and fun to shop in, that it's worth it! 

Mary Page -  Twenty eight great-grandchildren is really amazing!  I thought I was doing well with FIVE!   My oldest Great-grand, Virginia, is 19 years, and the youngest, Casey, is now 18 months old.   I'm looking forward to seeing him next weekend at a big family Christmas party.
Good that you get regular reports on with the little ones like Cleo and her sister. (Ava?)  I hope you'll be seeing both of them over the holidays, as well others who live close enough to visit.

I have not posted about my doctors appointment regarding why I was not able to have my surgery. The appointment went very well and my doctor assured me I was indeed told to take my Metformin and he would tell me to again as there is no problem with it before surgery.  He said he told my surgeon Metformin is safe and that I am definitely well controlled with my A1c being where it is. So once again I have been cleared for surgery.  Mind you it will be late January before they can schedule me again😩😩

This being said, I fell that night here at home and have hurt my "good" shoulder. I simply lost my balance and down I went. After a trip to urgent care, I know it is not dislocated but it appears to be a bone fragment that was seen. X-rays do not show tissue or muscle so they were not able to see if my already damaged rotator cuff is ok.  I made an appointment with my shoulder surgeon for Monday morning to follow up.

I am trying to type with my left hand so this has taken me forever to type this.

MY BEST TO YOU ALL‼️

So sorry, Jenny.
 What cruel experiences you are having.  Hope this gets all fixed to your great satisfaction and 2024 will be a blissful year for you.  Sending you love and all the comfort I can think up.

Jenny, so sorry you have to wait so long for your surgery, but at least it's scheduled.  Until then, I hope you feel well enough to enjoy Christmas, and any New Year festivities.

Christmas Day is exactly one week away, and per usual, I'm not prepared.   Starting to feel the pressure, but somehow things aways get done.  I'm going to post a couple of Christmas photos on FB, so be sure to take a look.

Knock, Knock.

Come right in Rick!     The welcome mat is always outside the door here at Norm's Bait and Tackle.  Come on in and sit for a while.  The coffee is hot and fresh, and plenty of it!   

I'd like to sit and have a cuppa now but I have to get ready for a trip to my friend the foot doctor. Reminds me of a song 

Rick...
...one that springs to mind, " I'm gonna sit right down and write myself a letter " ( Fats Waller )

Here' another one that could work. 
"Let's Have Another Cup of Coffee, and Let's Have Another Piece of Pie", by Irving Berlin.  Here's an old recording by Glenn Miller.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=SuluXi8euZY

Good morning.  My left hand pecking is getting a bit easier to do🤣🤣🤣

I thank you ALL again for your thoughts and prayers.  HEAVYDUTY bubble wrap is definitely something I sure could use😩😩😩  I am just feeling so disappointed in my self, as I have truly been as careful as I can possibly be to keep myself in a UPRIGHT position.  As you all know, no matter how careful we are in just one nano second we can find ourselves on the ground 😡😡😡. My orthopedic doctor has assured me that my spine issue is definitely a reason why I am having sever balance issues🤷

No word on my neck surgery as of yet. 

Yesterday I did go to see the orthopedic surgeon that did my left shoulder surgeries.  He looked at the X-rays taken at the urgent care and agreed the minor looking bone chip seen is not anything to worry about right now.  I will be getting a MRI this coming Thursday and hopefully it will not show any other serious damage, i.e. rotator cuff issues either.  I feel it is improving a bit each day, and I am trying to move it as much as I can without too much pain.  I was told to take it easy but to get going on physical therapy right away.  I have made the decision that PT is not in my best interest until I her the results of the MRI.   I can assure you without a doubt that if someone were to try to rotate my arm they would need some very heavy duty earplugs as my screams would definitely be deafening ‼️‼️‼️‼️

I wish you all a good rest of your day and forgive me for not commenting on each of your posts.  I love reading all the news and I think of each of you as I am reading your posts🥰🥰

Today, December 21, is the Winter Solstice, the shortest day of the year.  Lots of myths and legends about this day, that are very colorful and interesting.  It's still dark here this morning, at 7:00, with a drizzly rain.  I will return later and post my favorite Solstice legend about the Christmas wreath.  Hope you are all having a nice dark, first day of  Winter morning, wherever you are.   

I wondered why it was so dark this morn when my alarm went off.  Solstice plus rain trying to make itself known.  Been having a nice slow soaking rain since about 11:00 AM.  Hope the weather is nicer in whatever area you are in.  I know, in Alaska and Canada, it is much colder than here.  I think we're in mid-fifties (on my front porch).  The dampness is killing my poor bones.

Merry Winter Soltice!  I'll be glad when I don't have to turn on lamps at 4:00 p.m.!!!!

Hands/wrists are better but I still can't do some motions - like turning a doorknob (fortunately, most of mine are handles) and opening a jar - even with my jar opener.

"Storm #1" (according to the gurus) will move in this afternoon. I can feel it coming 
"Storm #2" is supposed to arrive "late" Saturday into Sunday. That may make it hard for family plans to take me to family gatherings. 
Saturday is my birthday and I've been told to be ready to go by 4:30 on Saturday but not why. 
I'm supposed to be with son/family overnight on Christmas Eve.  Not excited about getting out in rain, etc. But I'll manage because it's important to be together.

Tome and Callie - So nice to see both of you posting on this cold and cloudy Winter Solstice Day!  I'll get back to your messages later, along with Jenny's too.   For now I want to post my favorite Solstice Legend.  Hope everyone looking in has a good night's sleep, on this long, dark night! 

Winter Solstice
The Winter Solstice is a magical season . . . one that marks the journey from this year to the next,  journeys of the spirit from one world to the next, and the magic of birth, death, and rebirth.  The longest night of the year (December 21 in the Northern hemisphere), is reborn as the start of the solar year and accompanied by festivals of light to mark the rebirth of the Sun.  In ancient Europe, this night of darkness grew from the myths of the Norse goddess Frigga who sat at her spinning wheel weaving the fates, and the celebration was called Yule, from the Norse word Jul, meaning wheel. The Christmas wreath, a symbol adapted from  Frigga's  "Wheel of Fate",  reminds us of the cycle of the seasons and the continuity of life.

That the timing of the Christian celebration of the birth of Christ occurs in the Yule season is no coincidence. Christmas was once a movable feast, celebrated many different times during the year. The decision to establish December 25 as the "official" date of Christ's birth was made by Pope Julius I in the fourth century AD, hoping to replace the pagan celebration with the Christian one, since this date coincided with the pagan celebrations of Winter Solstice,  with the Return of the Sun Gods occurring throughout the world.

Thanks, Marilyne!  That was so interesting.  At some point in my life, I had heard of Frigga and her spinning wheel, but would never have put that together with the Solstice.

Anyway, Marilyne to you and AJ, to CallieOK, Denver, Jackie, Rammell, MaryPage, Junee, Patricia, Bubble and anyone I may have missed, Have a Wonderful, Blessed Christmas! (also to Jane, CottonCandy, Oldiesmann...now, who did I miss!)

Merry Christmas and Happy New Year to all

Thank you Tomereader, and Merry Christmas to all here.