May 19, 2012 - Msg 88627: Good Middle of the night gang!..here at work till 6am then off the weekend...gona go look at a golf cart in the morning to use around the house...Rev our Braves won again!..6 out of 8 ..on a roll...hey Boo,asa,possum,Romeena you working?...hey MDC...Rev I love sea food!ALL of it..well watching a movie called Sahara..pretty good adventure..In the morning lets meet at the duck pond and I will bring my camping grills and pots and whup up a camp breakfast!..fish a little...prayers....SPOT
May 19, 2012 - Msg 88628: cough...cough...(dust)...SPOT
May 19, 2012 - Msg 88629: Good Morning Porchsters...Beautiful day on Goob's end of the porch...SPOT how about some walleye filets for the grill? Brother just caught a bunch and brought them over.
Have to go suit shopping for the wedding...Oh boy, bunches of fun I HATE to go clothes shopping
:( I did buy new dress shoes so at least got that out of the way..G-F
May 19, 2012 - Msg 88630: are you gitting marrie G F
May 19, 2012 - Msg 88631: After reading Msg 88621, both Barney and Andy must be big spenders. With each giving a 25 cent tip for an 80 cent meal, that's a tip of over 31% ! I generally give a 15% tip. How about you folks?

from Poor Horatio
May 19, 2012 - Msg 88632: You know what PH, I had never considered the percentage thing on the tip. But you're as right as rain. I was always figuring they was cheap, when in reality they was being pretty generous. My tips are determined by the service I get. I don't mind leaving even more than 20% when I get good service and good food. A local steak house we used to go to a lot before my wife took ill was fun because we were noted by the folks who worked there to be good tippers, and so they would do battle to be our servers. Even the owners daughters who work there got to know us, and appreciated the good tips we would leave there employees. More than once they gave us our dinners for free for being such good customers, and I lost count of how many free deserts they gave us. And these were pricey meals. It's a top notch restaraunt here. I miss our date nights we had there. :( Oh well. Life goes on.

Asa
May 19, 2012 - Msg 88633:
Howdy porch family.....such a nice day today here in SC. Wife and I had a day out enjoying ourselves. Last weekend before heading back out on a very long tour. Went to Texas Roadhouse....was very good.
As for the tips.....I'm kinda like Asa...it depends on the service I get. As a rule of thumb I normally leave 15 - 20 percent. If it's a small bill I sometimes leave more because of the small amount and they have to work almost as hard on a small meal as a large.

Got a concert tomorrow here in SC so I get to be back home tomorrow....loving it.

You all have a great rest of the weekend!
Love and prayers
-REV.
May 19, 2012 - Msg 88634: No, G-F's not getting married my Daughter is...I did opt for the Tuxedo, all set for June 2nd.
Hey REV, we have a Texas Roadhouse in my neck of the woods, I like going there but usually long lines tho..
We went to one of our favorite places tonight it's called: "Das Dutch Hause" Amish style cooking.:) So..REV you ready for your daughter's wedding? it's when?...
PH..Is that US $ or Canada $? Not quite sure what the exchange rate is these days...G-F...
May 19, 2012 - Msg 88635: I'm sorry you can't go on your date nights anymore, Asa. :( You seem like the type who would tip well...I can see that. My father-in-law (now deceased) like to take his wife and eat out once a week at a particular restaurant near them and they did this for years. He was known and desired as a customer because he would tip with silver dollars. He always kept alot of them on hand and when he would go to the restaurant, he would put a stack of silver dollars on the table. The waitresses knew that if they were attentive, they would get the entire stack, but if they weren't the stack would diminish. It was an incentive to step up the good service if the stack began to shorten.

Well, the yard sale is done and most of what is left is boxed and ready to take to the thrift store. Bruce said he was never doing that again! Why won't he just listen to me? I told him to just have the salvation army pick it all up instead of working so hard for next to nothing, which is what happened. At least my garage is finally clear and I can park my car in it.

I'm with REV, I love to give extra when its a small bill.

Boo
May 19, 2012 - Msg 88636: Hey there G-F, we must have been posting simultaneously (did I spell that right?).
I wish we had an Amish style restaurant around here. Sounds great.

Boo
May 19, 2012 - Msg 88637: G-F, the exchange rate has been hovering around parity since December of last year so it does not matter which currency you use.

Boo, at today's prices, a silver dollar coin has about $25 worth of silver in it if you melt it. How much will you tip me for that advice?

from Poor Horatio
May 19, 2012 - Msg 88638: And as for all of you penny pinchers out there, save or cash in your Abraham Lincoln pennies dated between 1909 and 1982. Since they are composed of 95% copper and 5% zinc, they have a melt value of 2.3 cents each at today's precious metal prices. So you can make a profit of 1.3 cents for each one you sell.

from Poor Horatio

from Poor Horatio
May 20, 2012 - Msg 88639:
Wow, Spot sweeps the porch in the middle of the night, and no one mentions it! ha Good job Spot, and it looks like you found PH in one of the corners and swept him right back on his rocker! ha
Now we'll APB FOR BIG MAUDE and find her too!
Boo, Ro is right. Your MIL's behavior is a stage of Alz disease, and she needs to be taken to a doctor ASAP and DIAGNOSED with it, and then things can kick in more. But first Bruce needs to become her POMA, and she should also set up a living will and living trust, find out what she has $wise, and where, or else probate court will have to do it all, and they also TAKE a lot when her time comes. It can be a real messy situation.
My parents set up a living trust years ago. I am "PO everything" for it, and it makes things real easy to do. I can take out $ for his groceries etc, and it all works great. i HIGHLY suggest it. Also, if I may say, isn't it funny that YOU were the one who washed all the clothes etc for the sale, and now Bruce is the one who doesnt want to do another?? You need to tell him, sure sport, I did 90% of the prep for the dang thing! ha
Wife and I went to CB tonite for dinner, great food, great service, so we left about 25% tip! So were all in agreement on that one!
Prayers,
MDC


May 20, 2012 - Msg 88640: Man...MDC The server must think you're a Rockerfella! Cause ya must have set out on the porch and did some rockin after your meal too.
(it's early...so i'll go slow..Rocker + fella= Rockerfella..get it? haha just incase ya all didn't have your coffee yet...."My cousin may be ugly but he ain't stupid!".....G-f
May 20, 2012 - Msg 88641: PH, What happened to the days when a penney was a penney, and a Coke was a Coke,and getting high was when ya climbed to the top of the tallest tree,and getting loaded was what ya did before ya went hunting...Scratch that one, I think they still do both....Send me down some Tim Hortons I need some coffee & doughnuts...G-F
May 20, 2012 - Msg 88642: Thanks, MDC. That is what will be happening this coming week. I talked at length with MIL's oldest son who is willing to do whatever she needs. He is the kind of guy who will not shrink back when things get tough. She already has a living trust and bruce listed as POA but for some reason they never did the medical power of attorney. I am going to make sure they get the wheels in motion on that this week.

So you took the wife to Cracker Barrell. Did you sit under the cow castrator? haha I think it is so funny the way they have farm implements hanging from the ceiling.

Speaking of doughnuts, G-F...I saw on the news that the local cops beat up some guy pretty good the other day. He started out leading them in a car chase but decided to pull over. When he did, they pulled him out and whipped him good. I have found the cops here to be very nice and helpful...oh, well! haha

Better think about getting ready for preachin'....yawn...good thing I have nursery duty because I am too tired to stay awake through a sermon....Anybody seen my dangly earrings?

Boo
May 20, 2012 - Msg 88643: pssstt, Boo, nobody else is wearing earrings this morning. Better sneak behind the bushes and take yours off.
-Hazel
May 20, 2012 - Msg 88644: Mornin' Dears & Honeys! Hope everyone has a beautiful Sunday. Miss Laci spent the night with me -been a while since she's been here,due to her being in school & me working.We've been having fun!

Speaking of working,let me tell y'all what happened to me in Cracker Barrel the other day (no,it don't involve a cow castrator! Ha!).. An elderly couple came in & I noticed the man's t-shirt- it had a picture of a ball & chain & the saying "Sorry,I'm taken." on it. I told them I liked it & we joked a bit about the shirt. Later, I saw the man leaving the store & spoke to him again,told him to come back again & all that kind of stuff. I also told him "I still like that shirt." At that point,he said,"Here-I have another one in the car,you can have it." and he stripped his shirt off right there in Cracker Barrel & gave it to me!

One of the other guests observed this & told me later that I'd better be glad that I didn't tell the man I liked his pants- LOL!

Yep,exciting times at the ol Cracker Barrel!

Y'all have a good day-love to all!

******************
possum under a rock
May 20, 2012 - Msg 88645: Yikes Possum. I bet you don't do that again! lol

Yes Boo, if you wear your dangly earrings, yer gonna stand out cause no one else is. Even G-F took his off. :)

Well I planted my last couple of rows of corn yesterday. My first planting I did back in mid April is about 6 inches tall now. So far, so good as far as frost. We come close last night at 36, but it's supposed to be warming up this week. I'm keeping everything I can cross crossed. No late frost please!

Guess I better get moving if I'm going to preachin. I hate being late. In fact I refuse to be late. If I know I'm gonna be late I just don't go period. And that's my quirk. If I ain't to something 15 minutes early, I feel I'm late. My wife and children got used to me and my oddness, bless their hearts. Anyone else got that compulsion?

Asa




May 20, 2012 - Msg 88646: (whispering...) Thanks Hazel.

Great to see you Possum! Funny story...you never know what is going to happen at the ol' Barrel. :)

Boo
May 20, 2012 - Msg 88647: Oh hey there Asa. Well, if G-F isn't wearing his earrings, neither am I!

I hate being late, too. Never am, really. Its kind of a compulsion.

Boo
May 20, 2012 - Msg 88648: Hey ya all, be nice...At least Mrs. G-F will get me in a tux for the wedding, dangly ear rings would be over kill! I really hate getting killed over & over...haha! Hot on my end of the porch but I'm not complaing...G-F...
May 20, 2012 - Msg 88649: Hi All
G F will it hot hot in too!
maybe you would look nice wearinr the earring?

TOM

May 20, 2012 - Msg 88650: Hot on my end of the porch, too, but I'm complainin'. Pass the mulberry squeezins.

Boo
May 20, 2012 - Msg 88651:
Howdy porch family....had a great concert this morning. Great crowd.

G-F....my daughter's wedding is not until May 2013 but yes we are getting everything booked up for it. Pretty much have everything booked and bought.

Boo....glad you made it through your yardsale....without choking somebody...hehe

Possum....good ole CB stories....I'm sure you'll be able to write a book.

Asa....I'm the same way brother....gotta be early:)

MDC....how hot have you guys got so far this year? We hit 91 today.

Tom....I agree....I think G-F should go with the dangling ear rings...lol

Well ya'll have a blessed remaining day.
Love and prayers
-REV.
May 20, 2012 - Msg 88652: R.I.P. Robin Gibbs. I know Frankie will be sad. :(

Asa
May 20, 2012 - Msg 88653:
Boo, now that your yard sale is over, how much did you get for the yard?

G-F, I'll send you down some Tim Horton's coffee and Timbits. I will also include some of our unique french fries with poutine.

Here in Canada, we have a holiday tomorrow (Monday) called Victoria Day. Prince Charles and his wife Camilla are expected to make an appearance in Toronto to view the fireworks.

from Poor Horatio

May 20, 2012 - Msg 88654: R.I.P. Robin Gibb....busy day at Church today...Grads day...ok....any left over supper ?...SPOT
May 20, 2012 - Msg 88655: PH, Thanks for the Tim Hortons not sure about the poutine, maybe chedder cheese curds with the gravey may be ok...I'm open to try new things, are they hard to get thru customs? haha. If ya see Prince Chuck tell him Goober-Fife say's hey!
Sorry ya'all about the ear ring thing, the Goob don't roll that way...G-F.....
May 20, 2012 - Msg 88656: Only made 240.00 in the yard sale, PH.

Feeling a little down tonight. Yesterday I started missing my dad for some reason. Erin asked me how old Andy Griffith was and I said, "He's 86 like Pop" and it kind of hit me that 86 was it for Dad. He's gone now and its been over three months and I miss him! To make matters worse, Dad's van, which he left to Sean, broke down today. It was fine and then it seems like the engine seized up and started smoking. Won't even try to turn over now. Needless to say it doesn't look good. It only has about 50,000 miles on and the oil has been changed regularly. I don't know what is going on but it will have to be towed to the mechanic tomorrow. Sean is broken hearted because he just got the title in his name and got insur@nce on it on Saturday. I think the worst part is that he has all kinds of memories of Pop tied up in that van and he wanted to take good care of it make Pop proud. I feel sorry for Sean because he misses his Pop (and so do I). I can't understand how for months it was like I didn't feel anything and now since yesterday, there is this pain that just wells up like he just died yesterday. I guess I need to feel it and get through it. I know it will get better again and I wouldn't bring him back to suffer for anything. I wish I could talk to him again, though, and hear him say he loved me. I know he does and that's enough.

Boo
May 20, 2012 - Msg 88657: Good evening, porch! Tipping, huh? Well, our sales tax rate here is 8.25, so for easy figuring, a lot of folks just double the tax. That comes out to 16.5%, and that's what they leave. However, I know one woman who will use a pen and paper to figure 15%, and then fumble in her purse to come up with the exact amount. Good grief. I know she's not hurting for the money, so it is a little bit irritating. Personally, I usually go for about 20%, with quick mental figuring, and then round up to the even dollar, if the service was good or even just acceptable. If it was lousy, I may drop down to the even dollar. Even if it was awful, I do try to notice whether there were extenuating circumstances - overloaded server, overly demanding group somewhere, whatever. Table service, like nursing, is a tough and demanding job, and there can be factors involved in the quality of service that are beyond the control of the server. A few cents or a dollar over the required amount won't break my bank, but if everyone did that, it could mean the difference in the server paying his/her rent, or not. I rarely risk making a mistake by trying to send the server a message with a small tip, because I figure it won't really make the point, and if he or she is really lazy or incompetent, the manager will take care of it soon enough.

Boo, I'm taking note of your garage sale experience. I so badly need to have one myself, or do something, because this house is just crammed with unnecessary stuff, and the garage is half full. It has become a sticking point, this garage sale idea. In order to do that, I have to clean everything out, and that's a very daunting prospect. Four bedrooms with closets and dressers, an office with a huge closet, yards of kitchen cabinets, and a garage. Yuck! I'll never get it done, and even if I do start sorting out, where will I store the discards? I need to forget the garage sale and just call somebody periodically to come get what I've cleaned out. That will please my sons, who don't want me to have a sale and attract people to hang around here. Besides, you can put an honest value on the stuff, the pickup person will sign a receipt, and you can take it off your income tax! That's what I need to do, and I need to start with my clothes closet. I've got enough clothing in there to start a thrift store, and I wear about a tenth of it. I'm such a packrat!

About the medical POA thing, may I make a suggestion? One day when MIL is in a fairly reasonable mood, try to talk with her, (probably best if Bruce does this) and tell her that you all are concerned about what would happen if she fell ill and went to the hospital. If she wasn't able to speak for herself, like a stroke or something, then the hospital would just "do whatever they want" without regard for her wishes. Use that phrase. Tell her that Bruce needs to have the authority to tell them what to do, because he knows what she would want. We did this with my dad's sister, and when that phrase was used, her eyes got big as saucers and she indicated that she wanted to sign. By then, she was unable to write (Alzheimer's) but I guided her hand as she "signed" her name, and my friend in the insur@nce office, who was a notary, witnessed it. There's nothing wrong with telling her that, because it happens to be true. Hang in there, my friend. This too shall pass.

Well, guess I'd better get to bed. Good to see everyone - wish some of the other regulars would come home now and then. --Romeena
May 21, 2012 - Msg 88658:
Morning porch family......This is the day that the Lord has made so let be glad and rejoice in it!

Heading out the door to take my motorhome to be serviced....check back a little later.
Love and prayers
-REV.
May 21, 2012 - Msg 88659: Hey gang, here on my netbook at the cancer center...Chemo day!...prayers...any left over breakfast?...SPOT
May 21, 2012 - Msg 88660: Prayers for Miss Sherry as she has chemo today.

Ro, I feel like you do about tips and I think, as you, that my attitude comes from being a nurse. You really never know what the waitresses are going through. I know since Sean has been working at Whataburger I have a new respect for the friendly employees who I know are under a large amount of stress but still continue to be very courteous to the customers. Sean has put in for another job at a local restaurant and I think he will get it. Once he knows for sure, he will put in his notice at Whataburger. The restaurant he wants to move on to is a well-established seafood restaurant that is very popular with the locals and the owner is a very nice man. My nephew worked for him as a cook for years and is putting in a word for Sean. He would start out washing dishes and cleaning tables but the work environment is much better and no one is going to be yelling at him and throwing him in there without training and it would only be 3 evenings a week so it shouldn't interfere with any of his schooling.

Ro, I think it is wise to donate and get a tax receipt, especially if you are trying to get rid of clothes. I had alot of really cute things that Erin outgrew and were barely worn. I though they would be bought up but I hardly sold any clothes at all. I think because there are so many thrift stores now that people go there and buy clothes for their kids instead of getting them at garage sales these days. Hey, maybe you should have your family over one saturday, and have them help you with a big de-clutter mission?

Good idea about how to explain the medical POA to MIL, by the way. I will pass that on to whoever gets that assignment. My brother-in-law stepped in and is taking her to her eye doctor appointment today...bless him! She still isn't talking to or calling me or bruce. That will change, though.

Better get going. Plenty to do today.

Boo
May 21, 2012 - Msg 88661: Hi All.
Who turn the heat up on high.
Will I can do a little outdoor befor it dit to hot to be out!
Prayer for all who can used thim.

TOM

May 21, 2012 - Msg 88662: Good morning, porch! Yes, Boo, I think you're right about being a nurse making us a bit more sympathetic to those who serve the public. Once I took a hateful tongue-lashing from a visitor - a visitor, mind you - because I didn't return immediately with the cup of coffee she had requested. Why? I had been called into the room of a dying patient, and spent the next twenty minutes at her bedside as she passed. I just apologized to the angry visitor, all the while thinking, "Oh, if only you knew what a fool you are making of yourself." Oh well, such is life.

I have a big. beautiful,pink-tinged creamy lotus blooming in the pond. It's so pretty. I've got to get out there and clear pumps, though. The string algae is bad, and is clogging the pumps. I have some new algae controller, but since I just put a new koi in last week, I want to let him get adjusted really well before I change the character of the water. I knows the stuff is safe, but still, I don't want to take any chances.

Apparently a clutch of robins has hatched back there somewhere, because there are two fat, full-sized robins in the shrubbery under my window. They just keep hanging out in and under the shrubs, and I wondered why, until I got a close look at them. They still have the stray fluff-feathers on their faces, and the yellow, rubbery "lips" at the corners of their beaks. They're not fully mature yet, and though I can't hear them through this thick glass, I know they're "buzzing" at their parents for food. Haven't seen the parents yet - they're probably trying to wean the big old lazy things and make them take care of themselves. What was it Barney said? "The ways of the wild things are many and wonderful..." Something like that, anyway.

Boo, I'm so sorry you're having to deal with the moods of your MIL, but I guess we all get our turn. Certainly many of us here on the porch have been there. It still hurts though, when someone you have tried to be so kind to turns on you and accuses you of things. Patience and prayer will get you through.

Well, guess I'll go scare up some lunch. I have to work tonight, so lunch, fix pond pumps, nap - that's the plan. Yep, lunch, then fix the pond pumps, then catch a nap. Yep, that's what I'm gonna do. Lunch.... --Romeena


May 21, 2012 - Msg 88663: For the love of Mike Ro, do it! Eat lunch! Fix the pumps!! Take a nap!!! JUST DO IT!!! :)

Asa
May 21, 2012 - Msg 88664: Thanks, Ro. It's not easy but with the other sibling getting more involved now, it sure helps. :)

You know when you mentioned that visitor and the coffee, I remembered that it was my experience that visitors caused me much more trouble and frustration than patients ever did. It's a shame really.

Boo
May 21, 2012 - Msg 88665: (:
May 21, 2012 - Msg 88666:
Boo, I can sympathize with you about missing your father. I went through all of our family photo albums and created a collage that I have mounted on my living room wall. It serves to remind me of the happier times when my mom and dad were still alive. I would recommend that for you.

Boo, it's funny to hear that your dad's van conked out. When I came home from the cemetery after my mom was buried, the living room television stopped working. It was something that help keep mom entertained during her invalid years.
As for Sean's delayed reaction after your father passed away, I had something similar. Although I was extremely close to my mother, during her entire funeral home wake, I did not shed any tears. The same was true during the memorial mass and at the burial site. Then after I returned to the house after the burial, the silence and absence of mom finally hit me. By the next day, I was balling like a baby and continued off and on for many months. I would visit the cemetery multiple times a week. I had to relearn prayers including how to say the rosary.

Romeena, I liked your idea about tipping double the amount of the state tax. Very convenient that doesn't require a calculator.
Since I give 15%, I could calculate that in my head like this. Suppose the meal was $20. Well 10% of that is moving the decimal point one place to the left ($2). Then take one half of that ($1) and add them together ($2 + $1 = $3). In essence, I'm calculating 10% + 5%. So my tip would be $3.
For more complex numbers, I would just round off.

Boo and Romeena, regarding garage sales, I agree that what you earn seems much less than the time and effort required to prepare and hold one. Because I am in no hurry to sell my USA house, I'm selling of my household items over Craigslist and Ebay. So far, I'm happy with the amount of money I'm making. What surprises me is that I have been able to sell stuff that others are giving away for free. I just recently sold an entertainment center for $35 even though others had similar entertainment centers advertised for free. Maybe that is because I provided detailed color photos with dimensions identified in my listings.
I also check the classified ads in the local newspaper. They often have a column titled MERCHANDISE WANTED where people are looking for specific used items to purchase.
I also discovered that some jewelry stores, coin stores and pawn shops are interested in purchasing old jewelry, toys, militaria, sports items, etc. Some of these businesses advertise in the local newspaper. Or just telephone them.

Romeena, I realize that you had a notary public present, but I did not know that they would accept guiding a person's hand as they signed a document.
Also, regarding your incident with the coffee and the visitor, am I to understand you did not explain why the coffee was late? Had I been that visitor and given the explanation, that would have served to remind me not to repeat it. Then again, I would never ask a nurse to get me a cup of coffee unless it was for a patient.

G-F, when I saw Prince Charles, I told him that "G-F says Hey!" His reply was "What's a G-F?"

TOM, so now you're complaining about the heat? Just a few months ago, you were complaining about the cold. You are a person who is hard to please. (I hope you realize I'm just joking with you.)

from Poor Horatio

May 21, 2012 - Msg 88667:
P-H....everybody complains about the weather but no one does anything about it.......Who said that? hehe
-REV.
May 21, 2012 - Msg 88668:
REV, according to the internet, the following three have been credited for making that quote:
Charles Dudley Warner
Mark Twain
Calvin Coolidge

from Poor Horatio
May 21, 2012 - Msg 88669:
Hey Folks

Spot-prayers for Miss Sherry and you.

It was 90 degrees here yesterday and that is way, way to hot. I can do without summer, never cared for it.

Romeena-As for tips, I do what you posted 16% double the tax. Living in the People's Republic of New York, we're used to doubled tax anyway.

Boo-I feel for you and Bruce, the last few years we have been involved in so many (5) POA's, DNR's, and estate executorships we're getting dizzy. Hang in there buddy.

PH- What are your thoughts about Nik Wallenda walking across Niagara Falls on a tightrope?

Peace,
auh2o
May 21, 2012 - Msg 88670:
oh, Hey PH.

auh2o
May 21, 2012 - Msg 88671: Thank you for sharing your grief with me PH. It must have been very hard for you to lost your mom. I think sometimes the intitial stage of grief is shock and it doesn't really hit most of us the first few days. The reality sets in later for most people and then it really hurts. I feel better today but find that I am wearing my emotions on my sleeve, so to speak and it doesn't take much to make me cry. I think I need to slow down and allow myself to cry when the feeling comes instead of trying to keep busy and not think about it.

PH, I was thinking what you were concerning the visitor. I don't remember ever getting coffee for a visitor. We would sometimes point the way to the coffee pot but that is about it. Of course, the environment I worked in might have been a little different than Ro's. I worked in a sometimes very crazy labor and delivery unit and only the essentials were accomplished most days. I'm not kidding when i say that by the time I finally quit that job after 13 years, I felt like I had something like post-traumatic stress disorder! I must have been crazy to keep at it for that many years.

Went to a meeting tonight to discuss the possibility of our church starting what is called a "Grace House" for women coming out of prison who want to change their lives and are afraid to return to the same environment they came out of. I think it would be a wonderful thing. We heard the testimonies of some young women who's lives have been changed. I am praying we will have a grace house here in Corpus Christi one of these days. It would wonderful to have a safe place to mentor girls that are 18 and have to leave the drug rehab for teens.

Well, I think i am ready for bed! See you all in the morning with my coffee..

Boo
May 21, 2012 - Msg 88672: Oh, hey there Auh2o! Thanks for the encouragment. :)

Boo
May 22, 2012 - Msg 88673:
auh2o, I am not interested in people who take unnecessary risks like the Wallendas. If Nik performed the Niagara Falls tightrope crossing with some kind of safety rigging, then I would consider that entertaining and just as thrilling. I'm shocked that his request got approved. I still remember seeing Karl Wallenda fall to his death back in the late 70's. A tragic but preventable death that is still viewable on YouTube.
Will you be attending this event? I know I won't.

from Poor Horatio
May 22, 2012 - Msg 88674:
PH-Nope I won't be there either. I agree with your sentiments.

When did Oklahoma City get an NBA team? I haven't followed basketball since Frazier and Monroe but I guess that surprises me.

auh2o
May 22, 2012 - Msg 88675: Good morning, porch. Just got home from work, had a sausage egg McMuffin and some juice, and am now headed for bed.

To address comments and questions - on our medical floors, it was not unusual for a visitor to ask for coffee, and I always tried to accommodate them. Our coffee pot was not accessible to the public, and it was a long way to the cafeteria. No, I didn't tell the idiot woman why her coffee was half an hour getting there - it wouldn't have been professional to give her that information, and besides, I thought maybe she'd figure it out when the funeral home rep rolled his cot past the door and into the next room. Besides, an explanation would have fallen on deaf ears - the woman was as obtuse as a mule.

About the notary accepting the guided signature, she probably wasn't supposed to, but I had known her for fifteen years in that insur@nce office, and she knew my dad as well, so when the two of us brought daddy's sister in, and it was obvious she was not able to sign, the notary just went along with us. She did ask my aunt if she wanted to sign the paper, and she said yes, that she did, but wasn't sure how to do it. She had totally lost the ability to read and write. It may have been a bit questionable, I suppose, but we got it done and it saved some really expensive and harrowing difficulties.

Boo, L&D is still a war zone much of the time, only now you have about six different cultures involved, all expecting their beliefs to be honored. We nearly lost a mom with a placenta previa, because the woman's husband would not permit a male sonographer in the room. We had to wait until a female could be called in from home. Like any man is going to be turned on by the sight of a woman's belly at a time like that. Crazy.

Well, I'm going to bed. See you good folks later. -Romeena
May 22, 2012 - Msg 88676:
Howdy porch family....kinda cloudy on this end today.

Spot....praying Miss Sherry is doing good after the treatment.

Ya'll were taking about a guided signature.....I've been a notary for over 30 years and as a rule we are not suppose to witness an assisted signature (in SC) but as Ro stated...if I know the person really good and I know that everything is being done the way the assisted person desires, I have no problem. As with anything I believe a little common sense goes a long ways. And as for Ro....I would notarize anything for her even if I was blind and deaf and she had to guide MY hand to the paper....that's how much I trust what she says:)

You all have a great day!
Love and prayers
-REV.
May 22, 2012 - Msg 88677: Ro, I know what you mean. Religious issues were some of the toughest things we came up against in L&D. I remember having a Muslim patien in our unit for weeks who was threatening to miscarry. No males allowed in her room, either and she had to carry out some unusual religious rituals which included keeping a pan of dirt in the room to put her hands in....can't quite figure that one out. Then there was the occasional Jehovah's Witness with bleeding that wouldn't consent to blood transfusion for religious reasons. That always made me very nervous because one of the most common emergencies in L&D is hemmorhage.

Well, been cleaning out the closet in my bedroom and let me tell you, I had some giant dust bunnies in there! Now I am all choked up and have an irritated throat. Sure is alot cleaner in there, though. I threw away a bunch of old shoes and got rid of some clothes, too.

Sure is hot here already...whew! summer is going to be a killer.

Boo
May 22, 2012 - Msg 88678: Aww, REV, you're too kind! I hope I never do or say anything to shake your confidence in me. As for my auntie's signature, I can't say for sure that she knew what she was being asked to sign - she said she did, but she would also put ice cream in her purse to save for the next day. However, I knew in my own heart and would have said so before the Lord, that what we were doing was the best thing for her. It made my dad her medical POA, and at the time, Daddy was still pretty lucid. If he wasn't clear on something, I would offer guidance and he'd listen to me. With the POA, we were able to avoid devastating medical bills. Without it, the hospitals would have totally drained my aunt and uncle's resources, to no good end, and left my uncle penniless. Incidentally, he was as bad off as she was, if not worse.

Oh yes, Boo, some of the strange religious beliefs can really cause problems. I remember one patient, from some obscure Eastern culture. It was the middle of the winter, and the middle of the night, and the father was not permitted to look at his new baby until a priest had blessed the birth. Only problem, the nearest priest for their religion was thousands of miles away. So, by phone, he gave instructions for a ritual that could be substituted. It involved a hammer and a coconut. A coconut? In Dallas? In the wintertime? Still, the man left, was gone almost all night, but returned with a coconut - I have no idea where he found it - and a big old claw hammer. He took the coconut into the room, put it in the sink and cracked it with the hammer. With some of the milk he managed to catch, he stuck his hand under the blanket that was draped over the baby's little crib, smeared some of the milk on the baby's face, and wonder of wonders! Now he could see his child for the first time. Weird, but I had to admire his determination.

Well, guess I'll go scare up something to eat. I have slept this live-long day, and it sure felt good. Now I'm hungry!! Blessings, friends. --Romeena
May 22, 2012 - Msg 88679:
PH-I don't know if you get Niagara Falls news up in T.O. but did you hear that another person went over the falls today? That's two days in a row. I'm guessing the "tight rope walk" may have had an influence. BTW, the person that went over yesterday survived.

auh2o
May 22, 2012 - Msg 88680: Boo, I really miss hearing about those crazy goats! Bernie must be behaving had not gotten any reports on him. I think It's time you get a Armadillo, you guys have those things down there I don't know anybody who has one, maybe Bernie needs a new kind of friend! A Rooster does not live by goats alone ya know!.....G-F
May 22, 2012 - Msg 88681:
auh2o, yes we do get Niagara Falls news up here since we have a few Buffalo stations on our cable system. But even the Toronto stations reported the incident.
Earlier today, they reported Monday's Niagara Falls survivor as an attempted suicide. According to surveillance video, he climbed over the safety railing unassisted and jumped. Last I heard, he had life-threatening internal injuries, but was expected to live. Supposedly he is the third person in history to survive a Niagara Falls fall without a safety device or protection.

from Poor Horatio


May 23, 2012 - Msg 88682:
Here inPhx we think Niagara (falls) is just a spray starch, but then what the heck do we know? ha
Besides, our Coyotes lost to the Kings tonight. Boohoo.
AUH20-The Oklahoma Thunder used to be the Seattle Supersonics. Happened a few years ago. Keep up or take notes my friend! ha and maybe Bill Russell will do an underhanded free throw for ya! teehee
Sorry I have been scarce lately, but with 6 days to go, I have worked some late days getting everything caught up and teaching the new person the ropes.
Prayers for all,
MDC
May 23, 2012 - Msg 88683: Wow MDC. I didn't know the Sonics had moved either. I don't follow the NBA much. Now the NFL, that's a different story entare. :)

Asa
May 23, 2012 - Msg 88684: ...and gas is 30 cents a ding. (:
May 23, 2012 - Msg 88685:

... up here that's 13 1/2 dings to the gallon. That's a lot of dings.

auh2o
May 23, 2012 - Msg 88686: 1 ding-a-ling, 2 ding-a-ling, 3 din-a-ling more, We dont't want to pay those high prices no more!Sounds like Otis's jump roping cadance,how did that go? Something about going out and getting some gin....G-F....
May 24, 2012 - Msg 88687: Hi All.
Ben a crazy day .
Everything gong wrong and this wram weather is not helping my stepdad what copd he stay on his ox all day.
Work outdoor to I git to hottjhe people across the street may me stop and go in door.
P H I knowthat I heat tgis weather, but I can not do a thing about it.
G F how are thing in Clevelad going ?

TOM

May 24, 2012 - Msg 88688: Good evening, porch. It's late, and I'm on my way to the ironing board, but thought I'd stop and rock for a short spell.

Tom, if your stepdad has COPD, you are absolutely right, he won't handle the heat very well. He needs to stay cool. Getting too warm increases his oxygen need, and his damaged lungs can't absorb like they should, so he'll get very short of breath. I'm glad your neighbors are looking out for you, and got you to go inside and cool off. With your health issues, you don't need to get overheated either.

I just filled up my car tonight, and regular gas was 3.39 a gallon at a Chevron station. Not too bad, considering it was almost $4 just a few weeks ago. I hope it keeps going down.

I made a batch of wonderful cookies. They are sooo easy. Here it is:

1 box Betty Crocker Butter Pecan cake mix
2 eggs
3/4 c. brown sugar
3/4 c. MELTED butter

Mix all together (it will be pretty stiff dough) and blend in:

1 c, shredded coconut
May 24, 2012 - Msg 88689: Well, drat! What did I hit??? Anyway, to continue:

1 c. chopped pecans
1 c. chopped dried apricots
1 c. dried cranberries, or dried cherries (extra good)

You can vary the fruit/nut stuff to suit your own taste.

Drop in pingpong sized balls on cookie sheet, flatten slightly with your fingers, and bake at 350 for 12-15 minutes, or until golden brown. Remove from cookie sheet while still warm and place on rack to cool. Store when cool in airtight container, but they won't last long enough for that to matter. These are goooooood!

Well, I'm off to bed. Blessings, everyone! --Romeena
May 24, 2012 - Msg 88690: The recipe sounds good Ro, but your instructions at the end are a bit off. Remove from cookie sheet while still warm and place "in my mouth" is how it should read. :) Hate to get technical on you, especially where I ain't a cook, but lets get it right! lol

Prayers for all to have a good day and act like somebody.

Asa
May 24, 2012 - Msg 88691: Rommeena, I'm with Asa..Those directions for the cookies sure need to include the "in my mouth" part! haha.

TOM, believe it or not the Indians are playing real good ball right now, they took 2 from the Tigers and are in first place, 5 games ahead I think in the division. Let's see if they can keep it up cause you know how Cleveland sports go! Just don't over expect as Andy would say...
The relief pitcher Perez call out the fans for booing and not supporting the team they have the lowest attendance in baseball..It may of helped they had 22,000 last night for a Wednesday game.
It may have something do do with the $8.00 hotdogs & $10.00 beers and the new Casio being just a couple of blocks away. Or maybe it's just me!...I look forward to the minor league season that starts in June just 45min. from me in Niles.
A whole lot cheaper and it's fun to watch the up & comming players before the $ ruines them..G-F
May 24, 2012 - Msg 88692: Morning porch. Slept in until am! Yay! i did wake up around 4 am and couldn't sleep for awhile but finally fell back asleep again. I think being at the lake yesterday did me some good. I took the kids and some of their friends to the lake for a swim and a picnic. It is still cool enough here in south texas that being outside during the day isn't miserable. There was nice breeze rippling the cool water and lots of shade treed and green grass. I did take a dip in the lake but then just sat in the shade and read and enjoyed the beauty around me. Had a cute little squirrel to keep me company. I shared me pistachio nuts with him.

I have some news from sis-in-law that I would love to see come to pass! She located a senior apartment complex in Corpus Christi that will give them a 2-bedroom apartment for 6-something a month. She can move there with MIL while she finished her online medical coding classes and is able to get a job. I am praying it works out. It could be such an emotional load off of us.

Well, should get to the chores. Plenty of laundry to do!

Boo
May 24, 2012 - Msg 88693: I don't know what happened to the "8" in that first sentence!

Boo
May 24, 2012 - Msg 88694: Good morning, porch! Good grief, do you people have to be told everything to do, step by step? I guess I made the mistake of assuming that you'd have sense enough to eat a couple of cookies while they were still warm, without being told. (heehee) Seriously, these are some dangerously good cookies. Got the recipe from Eloise, who got it from someone at church, who got it I don't know where, but they're just so easy and soooo good!

Ball park food is ridiculously overpriced, just like the food in the theaters. I feel sorry for kids these days. I don't know how they maintain any kind of dating life. No way can they go to school and study enough to make decent grades, and still have time to work at some minimum-wage job enough hours to earn enough money to go to a movie and have some popcorn and a soda. It's ridiculous. Of course, I remember when a couple of quarters would let me and my cousin into the movie (nine cents) and leave enough for a coke and popcorn (five cents each) and a candy bar somewhere along the way (also five cents) and still have a penny left to get a couple of Pixie Sticks on the way home (two for a penny). Plus, we stayed in the theater from around noon until about 7 p.m., when we had to leave in order to walk home before dark. Those were the good old days! We earned our quarters by mowing the lawn - with a push mower, yet. We were six, and we'd each get on one side of the handle, and push the monster together. We got the job done, got our quarters, and off we went. Sweaty and dirty, no doubt smelly, but happy as two puppies. I wouldn't take anything for that experience.

Wow! The big old egret just swooped in, landed in the yard, eyed the pond and the blow-up snakes, and took off again. I think I may have won the war. Just to be sure, I ordered a floating alligator head thing, with flashing reflective eyes, to float in the pond. It's very light, and will move around with the breeze and the disturbance of the water from the aerators, so it should look pretty menacing. That should seal the deal. Miserable bird, coming in here to my little old pond and eating my pretty little pet fish. I'd like to fricassee him. Wonder what egret tastes like?

Well, Jorge just walked into my back yard, guess I'd better go open the garage so he can get the clippers and things out. Today is a yard day. Joe will be here soon, and we've got a lot to do. Pruning, trimming, weeding, repair the drainage pump, maybe plant a few things - will be a busy day. Later, taters. --Romeena
May 24, 2012 - Msg 88695: Morning gang...bad week for Miss Sherry...sick this post Chemo time...im home with her...gona read the post in just a bit "Mayor you beat all,if you would have let me run things Jess would not be up in that tree,you would not be up there beside him with yer clothes all up and WE were not be down here with a Bear in our back seat...You Beat all ya know it Mayor"....Lunch?...SPOT
May 24, 2012 - Msg 88696: A floating alligator head thing with flashing eyes?!! BAHAHAHAHAAAA....that's hilarious.

Poor Miss Sherry. Prayers for her today.

Boo
May 24, 2012 - Msg 88697:
TOM, yes it is true we can't do anything about the weather except complain about it. I hear ya.

G-F and Romeena, it sure is shocking the cost of food at baseball games and movie theaters. I no longer attend or watch millionaires play ball. I enjoyed it more when I attended my nephew's high school and little league baseball games.
A few weeks ago, my wife and I went to see "The Three Stooges" movie on discount night. Although it cost only $10 for both of us to enter, we spent $20 for popcorn, candy and soda!!! No wonder the last movie I attended was 8 years ago.

SPOT, so sorry to hear Miss Sherry is having a bad week. I wish I had something more positive to offer.

Romeena, check out the following news story:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=vgW4KWe2WMI

from Poor Horatio
May 24, 2012 - Msg 88698: Neat video, PH...haha How was the three stooges movie, btw? Erin is wanting to see it but I have never been a stooges fan.

Boo
May 24, 2012 - Msg 88699: Hahahaha! Yep, PH, that's the gator head I ordered. I got it through Amazon. You can find anything with Amazon. I'm delighted to hear that it worked that well in a large pond, and scared away that many geese. In my little old pond, with one bird to scare off, it should be an easy win. The gator head should arrive next week. I'll let you know how it works.

Spot, I'm so sorry Miss Sherry is having a bad week. Back when I was taking chemo, my Dale used to encourage me when I was so sick, by telling me that the side effects were proof that the drugs were active and doing something. I think he was right. Prayers for both of you.

Well, it has been a long day. We didn't quite finish - Joe will be back in the morning to finish up a little pruning, and to install a new pump in the drainage system. We finally proved it's the pump, not the GFI plug. It kept tripping, and we thought maybe the GFI was just wearing out. So, we ran a line from another GFI and plugged the pump into it. Sure enough, it tripped that one too, so it's the pump. Gonna cost me a couple of hundred to replace it, but it has worked faithfully for nine years, so I guess you can't ask for much more than that.

There was soooo much to do! Weeds were everywhere, because I haven't been able to get out there and make any dents in them. Roses were really rowdy, badly in need of pruning down. The eleagnus that covers my fence almost solid around the whole back yard was way overgrown, and the spent iris bloom stalks were still standing there, all brown and dry. I was having a very good day with my back, so I got out there and weeded and pruned right along with the guys. We got a lot done, but by noon it was obvious we were never going to make it in one day. So, when Eddie and his helper came, I enlisted them to get involved in the weeding and slipped Eddie enough extra to make it worth his while. Bless his heart, you know what he said? "Aw, you don't have to do that. I'd pitch in and help just because you asked, you know that." Yes, I do know that, and that's precisely why I gave him some extra money, and bought his and his helper's lunch, too. When folks are good to you, and take care of things and look out for you, you just naturally want to reward them in some way. I know I can trust Eddie, and I appreciate all he does around here. He's taken care of my yard for over ten years, and I consider him a friend.

Well, I've finally dried off and cooled down - no longer all sweaty, but still dirty, downright grubby, in fast. The shower calls and I'm ready to answer! Then I'm going to get in my chair with my feet up for a while, then go to bed. I'm betting I won't be moving very much or very fast in the morning. I can already feel my back locking down. Oh well. I was moving pretty well today, and it was fun while it lasted. You gotta just take your joy where you find it.

Blessings, friends! --Romeena