December 20, 2017 - Msg 108735: I need to make one explanatory comment. You may be wondering why I would get so lost so easily, when going to a place I've been before. It's because every road in and around Irving, and for many miles outside of town, is under construction. Things and routes change daily. Just because you could take a certain road yesterday doesn't mean you can take it today. And they don't remove the old lane markers when they put down new ones, probably because they know the new ones are temporary. This has been going on for two years, and no end in sight. --Romeena
December 20, 2017 - Msg 108736: Good thing I'm rested up from yesterday, otherwise I'd never have had the energy to sweep! --Romeena
December 20, 2017 - Msg 108737:
Frankie, I noticed you posted earlier in Msg 108691 about your weather in Northern California. When I was in the Navy back in the 1970s, I spent some time at Naval Air Station Alameda. It was located a few miles east of San Francisco. Are you familiar with it? I know the Navy closed it around 1997.

MDC, regarding that train that you and your wife took that had standing room only, that was the popular Metroliner that ran daily between New York City and Washington D.C. from 1969 until 2006. I remember that when my father and I rode it back in the 1970s, it was crowded. But I don't remember if we stood or found seats since it was so long ago and my memory started failing after I became a senior citizen.

from Poor Horatio
December 20, 2017 - Msg 108738: Alameda? Alameda?

December 20, 2017 - Msg 108739: Romeena, I hear ya on the road construction 🚧 Here in Ohio the orange cones have become a State symbol!!..G-F

December 20, 2017 - Msg 108740: It's gettin' close folks!! (:
December 20, 2017 - Msg 108741: Hello Porchsters...wanted to wish everyone a very MERRY CHRISTMAS . Christs Blessings to all
Mayberry Deputy
December 20, 2017 - Msg 108742: A Great and Merry Christmas to the entire porch family! I hope you all get what you want, in family, friends and gifts!
Maybe the night after Christmas, we can all get together at my place and watch "Bread, Love & Beans' while enjoying a bowl of West Indian Licorice Mocha Delight ice cream and a bottle of Huckleberry Smash.

Have a great one, folks!
John Masters
December 21, 2017 - Msg 108743: Good evening, porch. You should see my house. Landry arrived at 11 a.m., and went right to work. My sunroom has been swept, straightened up and looks great. The rest of the house has been vacuumed and decorated absolutely within an inch of its life. He pulled out decorations I haven't used in several years, placed them with amazing good taste, and put the everyday stuff away neatly, out of sight. I took him to lunch at Chili's (one of his favorites) and we had a lot of good conversation and lots of laughs. He's a good kid, has his head on straight and is just naturally fun to be with. It was such a good day, and when placed in contrast with yesterday, it was a little slice of heaven on earth. God is good. --Romeena
December 21, 2017 - Msg 108744: RO--if I may ask, how old is he? Sure sounds like a keeper when it comes to grandkids!
Wow, waht a day u had! We had that rain here on Sunday, I guess it gained momentum over NM. I do NOT trust GPS. Several people (mostly visitors) here have ended up on some dirt road in the desert because of it. My wife's 2 year old Durango has it, but we rarely use it for that very reason! Glad you made it thru OK.
MD and JOHN Masters! Amazing what a little holiday like Christmas can bring to the porch! HA! So good to see you both, along with FRANKIE flint!
BOO- I sure hope you can get things resolved!
Well, i think I have seen it all now! There was a commercial tonite for a Bob Ross Chia Pet! Is nothing beyond these people?
Prayers,
MDC

December 21, 2017 - Msg 108745: What MDC?....Nothing says CHRISTMAS like a Chia head of Bob Ross!..🤣🤣...But It DID make me laugh!..G-F
December 21, 2017 - Msg 108746: Good morning, porch. MDC, Landry is 16, will be a senior next year, has his driver's license and does very well. He's a straight-A student, and has already received invitations from several colleges. He's a really good baseball player, but probably not good enough for a baseball scholarship. Next year will tell, on that. He's eager to help with anything, unashamedly hugs his mom and his grandmothers, and we love it. He's an absolute delight.

Now don't go putting down the Bob Ross Chia Pet! With that head of uber-curly hair he had, that was just unavoidable. Too funny! I used to love to watch Bob Ross, and he was one of my husband's favorites. A Chia Pet?? What an "honor." I wish I was going to a party where gag gifts were expected. That would just be perfect!

Good to see some of the old gang coming home. I hope more will show up. You folks are always missed, and welcome when you return. --Romeena
December 21, 2017 - Msg 108747: Good evening, porch. You are not going to believe this. Remember the $3800 new transmission the mechanic said my car needed? Remember that I let my son take the car to a friend of his who owns a car repair shop? Well, the jury is back in from that mechanic. Diagnosis: A vacuum modulator (I think that's right) on the engine. Nothing wrong with the tranny. Nothing. Cost to fix - $300-400. However, he says the motor mounts are old and in bad shape, and could fail, highly recommends replacing them. The car is 13 years old, I can believe that the rubber in those motor mount pads could be bad. I've noticed a little vibration or shaking at times recently. Cost to fix, about $800, since the entire motor has to be raised. Total cost to fix my car - about $1100. Why the first mechanic thought the tranny was shot, I don't know. Maybe he just thought I was dumb enough and wouldn't verify it. Either way, I'm thrilled with the new report, and of course, we're fixing it. I should get my car back tomorrow afternoon. God is good. I consider it my Christmas present. --Romeena
December 21, 2017 - Msg 108748: That’s Great Romeena..That is the same reason Gomer difered the carburetor work to Wally..tehehaha!..
That is why some people should only stick to air and gas...G-F
December 21, 2017 - Msg 108749: Hi everyone, wanted to check in while I am home. I have been at the hospital all day. Bruce's younger sister, Vicki, was found in her apartment yesterday evening, unresponsive. We believe she took an overdose. She is the sister I have mentioned several times who had a substance abuse and mental health issue. The last time I saw her she looked very bad and I knew this might be coming..we all did. Everyone tried to help her but she wasn't willing to help herself. Anyway,, she is still alive with the support of the respirator and iv drips that are trying hard to stabilize her pressure. She is in multi-system organ failure and the DNR has been signed. I think it will just be a matter of days or maybe hours. Bruce was able to spend time with her and say what he needed to say and that has helped. Her three kids are doing ok..sad but have seen their mother suffer so much and they have not been able to help her for many years now. They are sad and it hurts, but they are ready. Unfortunately, there is a lot of guilt being felt by family members who think that maybe they could have done more..not true, though. She had been depressed this past week and we found out today she had told someone that they would not be hearing from her again and that she thought we would all be better off without her. It was not unlike her to say things like that, so the family members that heard it, didn't think she would do anything to harm herself.

Bruce and I will go back to the hospital in the morning. I am trying to be a support to him and Vicki's children. They are in their 30s and look to Bruce and I for a shoulder. I pray we can be a help and comfort.

Love to All,
Boo
December 22, 2017 - Msg 108750: Just a quick hello tonite. Busy day as Christmas nears. More on Friday.
MDC
December 22, 2017 - Msg 108751: OK, I guess I over-reacted about the c-c-chia pet!
I guess it's better than the clapper! ha
me
December 22, 2017 - Msg 108752: Just read BOO's post. So sorry boo, i will indeed be praying for her and all your family! mdc
December 22, 2017 - Msg 108753: Oh, Boo. That's just so sad. I do understand how and why some are experiencing feelings of guilt, but you're right, that's not true. At the end of the day, we all make our own choices and decisions and are responsible for the decisions we make. It's good that those who need some support right now, can turn to you and Bruce and find that support. You are in my prayers.

My friend Ted came by this afternoon to repair a broken kitchen chair, did a nice job of that, then stayed to help me locate a short in the backyard power system that keeps tripping a GFI in the line that feeds all the power posts that feed the lights and the pond pumps. Ants had built a hill that completely covered a light, which just funneled water into the light's connection whenever it rained. Killed the ants, swept away the hill, and the lights now work. He also found a smashed fixture, probably stepped on by Eddie's fumble-footed helper. It was shattered and mashed into the ground, so is probably actually where the short was occurring. Rain would definitely have shorted it out. He then strung my twinkle lights in the shrubbery in both front yard and back, a total of about 1500 feet of LED lights. My back yard looks like a Christmas wonderland, so pretty. For all of that - chair, power and stringing lights, he charged me only $50. I hung about five strings of lights myself, he did the rest.

Ted is indeed a good friend, and he does all this with arthritic knees that so badly need replacement, but he's not ready for Medicare yet, and can't afford insur@nce (thanks, Obama) so he just bears the pain and keeps going. Ask him how he's doing, and you always get the same answer - "Doin' fine!"

Well, guess I'll actually go to bed. I fell asleep in my "wheelerette", woke up around 1 a.m., and stopped off at the computer. Guess I'd better go to bed for real and get a bit more sleep. Blessings, porch. --Romeena
December 22, 2017 - Msg 108754: Prayers for Boo’s family and situation, yes hard times ahead indeed...

MDC, Glad you had a change of heart about the “Rosschia” but if you recall they also did a “ Obama” one too! Now as for THAT one it’s Ok to get your grits frosted over...lol

As we get into the home stretch for Christmas let’s be in prayer for ALL of those folk who have a hard time over the Holidays. A lot of people struggle with loneliness, sadness and depression this time of the year. This is especially true for Mrs. Goob, She didn’t even want to set up the Christmas tree this year..

On a lighter note, did y’all see the two episodes of Andy they colorized? The Christmas Story and the Aunt Bee Pickle episodes. MeTV showed them both last year on Christmas, and hopefully they will do the same this year. (Some of us bought the DVD)..haha We have had great discussions and debate on the podcast about the colorization, we came to a consensus that it was Ok to do JUST those two episodes, and leave the rest of the B/W episodes alone!...

G-F
December 22, 2017 - Msg 108755: Amen GF. The holidays certainly can be a time of severe sadness and loneliness to many. I took my Grandkids out the other night and we did some Caroling at the homes of some Widows in our area. As much as I could see how those Widows enjoyed the visit, I am pretty sure we were blessed more by it than they were. Funny how that works.

Boo, I am so sorry to read about your SIL. My best friend ever killed himself when he was 19, and the guilt those left behind felt was tremendous. 40 years later and I still wonder what if I had done this, that, or the other. Bruce and your family are in my prayers. Terrible thing to happen at anytime, but especially this time of year.

Romeena, that is so great to hear about your car. I am glad it was a much simpler fix than initially thought. And glad he caught the motor mount issue. Back when I was a young-un, I was very much into Drag racing. One day I was getting ready for a run. We do that by first doing a "burn out". We tell ourselves we do that to heat up the tires for better traction. There may be some truth in that, but for the most part it's just an excuse to flex our car muscles. lol The last few runs I had made in my Duster (yes I was a Mopar lover) I had noticed an unusual clunk when I would leave the starting line, but had been unable to determine what it was. Well the feller who operated the starting "Tree" had this habit of standing in one of the race lanes when we were doing our burnouts. It was not permitted for us to extend the burnouts beyond the starting line (immediate dq if you did), and I think he would stand there just to let us know where the line was. Well as I hit my throttle to commence my burnout, again I noticed the clunk. And as I let my foot off the throttle to end a most powerful and manly burnout, the accelerator pedal stayed down. I quickly realized it was stuck wide open, as did the official starter. I remember his eyes going real big when he realized I wasn't stopping. He was a pretty large feller, and I remember how impressed I was when he managed to get out of my lane in time. I was quick enough to push the clutch in and hit the brakes before going much further. And I killed the ignition before I scattered the engine. Now you may ask, what does this have to do with motor mounts? Well one of the mounts on one side had broke off. When I accelerated, the one side of the engine jumped up from the torque and it caused the linkage going to the dual quads to get jammed and stuck wide open. That starter official was pretty mad until we popped the hood and discovered what had happened. If nothing else, I broke him of that habit of standing in the middle of the lane during burnouts. :)

Lucy, Thank you for the lovely Card. I hope you and yours are well.

Guess I better get going. After today I am off work for a 5 day weekend. Then back for two days, then off for a 4 day weekend. GF, To answer your question, I may retire this year sometime. I just need to see how Debbie's health goes and how my back goes.

Prayers for all for a great day and Christmas weekend.

Asa
December 22, 2017 - Msg 108756: Asa...A “Duster?” ...Mopar?...That explains why you are a good repairman..HaHa...Lota time under the hood and underneath it huh Buddy? I grew up a Chevy man in a Ford household...Nova’s were my ride of choice!...But in my old age I have been a Ford Guy, a Minivan and 2 Focus’s Go Figure!

As I may have shared before, my first car was a 63 Chevy Biscayne station that did 0-60 in a hour and a half!..LOL

G-F
December 22, 2017 - Msg 108757: Thank you everyone, for the kind words and prayers. Yes, it is a sad time of year for something like this, but expect there is more of it during the Christmas season. People are more depressed and sad, overall. I am not sure if Vickie intended to do herself in, because there were many pills found in bottles in the house and it doesn't appear that she took a lot of anything. She had a new bottle of Tylenol with codeine that was prescribed to her on Friday, and although she had taken more than prescribed (not at all unusual for her), she did not take a lot and left some in the bottle. I think she was just really sick already from years of self-abuse and maybe the Tylenol with codeine, along with her other meds like her sleeping pill and depression meds, was just too much and caused respiratory depression. I am going with that theory anyway because right now it is big comfort for the kids to think she didn't try to end her life.

I think what is bothering me most is that Bruce's mother is about 6 miles north and is still in isolation with the flu. The doctors recommended that she not be told while she is still so sick and her 02 sats are low. I am in agreement because I think it would be torture for my mother in law to be there and unable to come here to say her goodbyes. She is weak now and needs to recover, and since there is no possible way for her to be her, it seems the most humane thing to do. Terrible situation, no matter what you do.

Well, might be a long day but I am up to the challenge. I have to say that since I have been on this vegan diet I feel like a million bucks. I don't know how much we walked yesterday..it was a lot! I had so much energy and had to keep stopping to wait for Bruce to catch up with me. It feels like a miracle. I'm so thankful to God for leading me in the right direction so far.

G-F, I am sorry to hear that your wife is down this time of year. I will say a prayer for her and you. God bless you both.

Better get going. I hope you all have a wonderful day.

Boo
December 22, 2017 - Msg 108758: I said Bruces mom was 6 miles north of us and of course I meant to type 6 hours north of us...

Boo
December 22, 2017 - Msg 108759: Prayers for you & yours,Boo. I'm so sorry.

*************
possum u.a.r.
December 22, 2017 - Msg 108760: Happy Birthday,Spotty,ya ol' talkin' dawg!

possum again
December 22, 2017 - Msg 108761: I may have mentioned this before, but I have a brother who has been incarcerated for dui, did the
12 steps, got sober, then fell off the wagon, divorced, then back on the wagon, but now gets depressed during this time. We help him as much as we can, but as Ro says, everyone makes their own decisions. So I can relate to those of you
with similar situations. Prayer is about the only thing we can really do now, and my prayers are with you all.
Well, on a better subject, Cecile and I are hosting Christmas dinner this year, so lots to do.
We actually had a "freeze" last night as it got down
to 32 according to our outdoor thermometer.!!
ASA--that drag race story was a good one! You're funny for a HVAC man. :)
I used to go to drag races all the time in my 20 somethings. n Loved the burnt rubber smell, the nitro, the dual quads, and using the
term "peel out!" ha
RO--you're yard sounds amazing. Could you post a pic on FB? thx
Prayers,
MDC
December 22, 2017 - Msg 108762: oh, happy birthday SPOT
December 23, 2017 - Msg 108763: Thanks yall...58 and doing great !...love ya porch !..making homemade salsa...SPOT

December 23, 2017 - Msg 108764: Happy belated Birthday Spot. Hope it was a great one.

MDC, Not to knock your town but we got down to 32 3 years ago! (trying to sound like Ollie) HA! Actually I think our high yesterday got up to 32. And it is snowing this morning. So the kids are all happy to have a white Christmas. And I agree, there is nothing quite like the smell of nitro methane. I had a friend who ran a Top Fuel Dragster back in the day and I would hang around with his crew. That was back when a small time backyard team could afford to race. Now days the cost has pretty much killed that.

GF, I was probably more inclined to GM than to Mopar myself, although those late 60's early 70's Mopar muscle cars were very strong. I bought the Duster from a guy who had partly set it up for racing (he had put in a scatter shield in the floor) which the NHRA required if you were running in any of the Class brackets. Having a car with the scatter shield in already was a big plus. And he gave me a good deal on it to boot.

Well I hope everyone has a great Christmas weekend. Prayers for all, especially for Boo's family and Mrs. GF. And anyone else who is needing them.

Asa
December 23, 2017 - Msg 108765: Here is some footage of the original dragster he ran back in the late 70's.
https://youtu.be/jSO65xIf0Kg

Asa
December 23, 2017 - Msg 108766: Pretty Cool Video Asa.This is the closest I got to drag racing
https://m.youtube.com/watch?v=VFsoFvAL0Xw
My Buddy had the Evil Kenevil one, mine was like the one in the video. He had a long smooth driveway we would race for hours...And YES we DID the Bleach Burn-Outs too!....
But I did laugh at the video, they WERE tricky to get started much like in the video !....

BTW, I did have a static line P-40 Warhawk plane too!...I flew it only a few times until I crashed it and destroyed it..lol
I got it by selling seeds and stationary if you remember those programs to “WIN” prizes...Really made me sad losing it after so much work earning it...

It was a early Life Lesson that all things in life were not peaches and cream, and life will come with heartaches!..
But I guess that made us who we are ....10-4?

G-F

December 23, 2017 - Msg 108767: One again another perfect example of how great it was growning up a “Free Range” Kid...Amen?...G-F
December 23, 2017 - Msg 108768: Good morning, porch! Love the videos. They clearly prove the old saying "The main difference between men and boys is the size and price tag of their toys." My oldest son was fascinated with airplanes from about age two. When he was around eleven or twelve, he saved up and bought a flying model airplane. He built it, painted it, and it was beautiful. For weeks, every spare minute he could get, he was out in the yard with that plane. We would hear Rrrrr! Rrrrr! Rrrrr! and finally it would start, and we'd hear Rrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrr-splat! "Aww, man!" At that point, I'd just go spread some newspaper on one end of the table, because very shortly it would be covered with little bottles of glue, tiny pieces of wood and paper "skin." The smell of model plane fuel hung over our house outdoors, and the smell of glue permeated the inside. Those were the days!

Asa and G-F, I'm glad to know that the two of you stood around on race tracks and inhaled all that fuel vapor and exhaust. I think that might explain a lot.....(just sayin'). :)

Well, I get to go pick up my car today (and return that devil-car to Enterprise) so I guess I'd better get busy. --Romeena
December 23, 2017 - Msg 108769: Oh yes, G-F I agree about the free-range kids. I was one, and am thankful that I had the good sense to raise my own kids the same way. They're all creative, enterprising, determined, fearless and respectful of others and of the earth. They also all love animals, because they were a big part of all their lives as they grew up. Free range is the way to go!

Granted, in today's world I wouldn't let my kids wander as freely as they did back then, but then "free range" doesn't necessarily mean unobserved or even require distance and countryside. It can also include freedom to explore ideas, read, a little travel, volunteer - lots of possibilities to expand their personal databanks. It can also include getting a job, even as youngsters. They can mow lawns, walk dogs, wash cars, whatever. The key to "free range" is letting them seek, find or create new experiences (within reason) for themselves and learn to rely on their wits and imagination. I think those are great gifts to instill in a child, second only to the gift of faith in God. --Romeena
December 23, 2017 - Msg 108770: ..Asa & I like the smell Nitro in the Morning....Smells Like....VICTORY!..In my Bob Duval voice!
December 23, 2017 - Msg 108771: https://m.youtube.com/watch?v=nx5N-4JvVyk
December 23, 2017 - Msg 108772: Well, I have some very interesting news.. Last night we were at the hospital with Bruce's sister Vicki, and she was unresponsive, still needing various of drips of Epinephrine, etc. to maintain her blood pressure, and it was still very low. She was not responding to painful stimuli and the docs believed she had been oxygen deprived for a long time before she was found. Remember, I think I told you all that she had gone into cardiac arrest and had to have chest compressions on her way to the hospital. The docs weren't giving any hope to the family and we had met with the transplant nurse, since Vicki was a registered organ donor. The ball was rolling and we were looking at them harvesting her organs on Christmas Eve morning. That was last night. This morning she woke up, was extubated, breathing on her own, was oriented, memory was intact, she was talking, and moving easily. The doctors were pretty astounded. So...not sure what happened but she was spared and given another chance at life. I pray that she is able to realize that she came so close to death and what that did to her family. I hope so much that she doesn't waste this gift and will get some help. Maybe this is the thing that will open her eyes. She has caused so much division and pain in her family and we all came together while going through this. It certainly seems that God is giving us all a chance to make something good to come out of all of this.

Well, we are tired but thankful. I am so happy that my mother in law wont have to go through losing her child on Christmas. It would have been terrible.

Our family will have our Christmas eve together tomorrow night with my sisters family. We will attend the annual Christmas Eve service at church and then come to our house for food and will have our gift exchange with Susan's family. It will be rather low-key this year compared to Christmas past, but that sounds really nice right now. I am behind on the prep since being at the hospital for the past 2 or 3 days. Bruce and decided that we will do just what we want on Christmas Day. We will probably sleep in, I will get up and bake some cinnamon rolls, as is my custom, and then we will open our presents. After that, we will do whatever we want. I will make an easy supper and we will just be together. This will be the first Christmas that Bruce, the kids and I have every spent with just us. I think it will be great.

Tomorrow during the day, we will all go up and see Vicki and tell her Merry Christmas now that she can hear us. :)

Merry Christmas Mayberry!
Boo

A Christmas quote for ASA: "Don't forget the rubber sheets and the gerbil!"
December 23, 2017 - Msg 108773: Wow,Boo.That is some amazing news regarding Vicki! I am happy that she's getting a second chance and pray that she will realize just that and make the most of it. Very glad that your family (mother in law,especially) won't have to go through that heartache of losing Vicki to an overdose. God bless you all and have a wonderful Christmas!

************
possum u.a.r.
December 24, 2017 - Msg 108774: Poor Horaito I am familiar with the Alameda area. I live in the Sacramento area. We would go by there when going to a Oakland A`s game.

You all have a Wonderful and Blessed Merry Christmas. Frankie

December 24, 2017 - Msg 108775: BOO--that IS indeed wonderful news!! :) I am going to
boldly add that I'm sure the power of prayer was
a big factor, for as you stated, the doctors were astounded!
Jesus has acted in many lives this year. I have seen it, and believe he is speaking to the world! :)
Christmas blessings to all!
MDC

December 24, 2017 - Msg 108776: Here’s one for you all...G-F
http://www.wkyc.com/article/weather/forecast/forecast-snow-inbound/95-406706275

Quite a outfit!....But we ARE talking about Cleveland!..lol

.p.s. Good News Boo!...Possums comment hit the nail on the head...
December 24, 2017 - Msg 108777: Wow! Wonderful news, Boo! What a wonderful Christmas gift to your whole family. God is good. Prayers continue that Vicki will recognize the gift she has been given and will use it wisely.

And now, a great big loving MERRY CHRISTMAS to my porch family, and may Christmas not end for us tomorrow, but continue all through the year! --Romeena
December 24, 2017 - Msg 108778: Merry Christmas Eve all.

Wow Boo, what a miracle indeed. Has all the makings of a Hallmark movie if Vickie uses this as a stepping stone to change her life. We should never underestimate the power of prayer and Gods healing power.

Yes Romeena, perhaps our odd behavior is a result of racing fuel fumes. lol But I was weird prior to my racing days.

Hey Frankie, living in N. California, are you a Raiders fan? Just curious.

MDC, When is your Dinner? I hope your turkey comes out better than did Kathryn's in Christmas Vacation. :)

Prayers for all for a wonderful Christmas, and as Romeena said, maybe hold on to it for the entire year.

Asa

Boo, "Shut up Ralphie"!
December 24, 2017 - Msg 108779: Good Sabbath and Merry Christmas to my porch family! I pray everyone have a blessed Christmas with your families .


Big Maude
December 24, 2017 - Msg 108780: Oh yes a Raiders and A`s fan here Boo

Happy Christmas Eve Porch!
December 24, 2017 - Msg 108781: Frankie

December 24, 2017 - Msg 108782:
Frankie, although I spent a lot of time in the San Francisco bay area, I never made it up to Sacramento. However, I did catch an Air Force flight out of Travis Air Force Base (near Fairfield) on a very long journey overseas.

Boo so sorry to learn about your sister-in-law health issue. Glad to learn she is improving.

All this talk about car racing reminded me of my one experience involving racing of sorts. When I was with the auxiliary police, I had to work security at a demolition derby. In spite of the netting around the bleachers, there were very small parts of vehicles flying all over the place. I am surprised no one got injured.

Merry Christmas to everyone. I only wish the charitable feeling that many people have at this time would last throughout the year. I wish I was in a better financial position to do more like I used to do before I retired.

from Poor Horatio

December 24, 2017 - Msg 108783: Merry Christmas Eve to all....so busy here but having a ball ! SPOT
December 25, 2017 - Msg 108784: Merry Christmas! We had a good day today. I went to the hospital this afternoon and Vickie knew me and Erin. She is not back to normal and sometimes answers incorrectly when questioned. A lot of that could be due to her hearing impairment but you can tell she has a ways to go. They tell us that her brain is healing from the trauma.

I don't think I told you all that they had to do CPR on Vicki for 5 minutes in the ER. Strangely, one of the first things she said was something she said to her 5 year old granddaughter, Natalie. When she first saw Natalie, she said, "I saw your granddad...wait, you don't know him". She had to have been talking about her deceased father because none of Natalie's grandfathers are deceased or had been to the hospital. Interesting. I hope she is fully awake and able to tell us what she remembers from the last few days. She may have quite a story to tell.

I am pretty sleepy tonight. It was certainly a full day. Susan, her husband and 3 grandkids were with us tonight. We ate and exchanged gifts. It was a nice time but after last minute prep, going to the hospital in town, going to Christmas eve service at church and then celebrating Christmas eve, I am about ready for bed.

I bought sean and erin each a nice set of flannel sheets from JC Penney because they are forever complaining about being cold at night. I also got Erin a wonderful, soft blanket that covers her entire bed. She loves it. I ordered Sean a down-alternative comforter with a duvet cover made of Egyptian cotton and I swear that is the softest bedding I have ever felt. He is going to sleep in comfort.

Speaking of sleep..I am on my way to slumber land.

Christmas blessing to All!
Love,
Boo
December 25, 2017 - Msg 108785: Looks like I'm the first one up & on the Porch this Christmas morning,so I'll get the coffee going!

Merry Christmas,dear Porchsters-love to all!

******************
possum under a rock

December 25, 2017 - Msg 108786: Merry Christmas, to one and all in the Porch family!

John Masters
December 25, 2017 - Msg 108787: On my way to the hospital but wanted to check in first. Merry Christmas to my porch family! Hope you are all well and blessed. I am feeling very thankful for the loved ones who remain with us this day.

Last night I was feeling a little melancholy at candlelight service. I was missing my parents, Karen, and others who are no longer with us. I looked around the church and saw so many new faces, which I am so very thankful for, but so many missing too. I was thinking about how no one is really gone from us, but in another place for awhile and I needed to focus on the fact that we will all be together again...later. I think the Lord wanted to drive that point home to me because right as I was thinking it, pastor called up am man named Bobby to read the Christmas Story. Bobby is one of the founding members of our church and he and his family moved away years ago. We had not seen them in a very long time, but low and behold, there they were here in service for the first time in years, unexpectedly. It gave me a great feeling...we wont all be apart forever...we just have to be patient and thankful for what Jesus did to make it possible. :)

Merry Christmas, Porch.
Boo
December 25, 2017 - Msg 108788: Porch-Everyone have a Blessed Merry Christmas to all. Frankie

December 25, 2017 - Msg 108789: HAVE A BLUE MERRY CHRISTMAS
TOM
December 26, 2017 - Msg 108790: M.E.R.R.Y...C.H.R.I.S.T.M.A.S porchsters!!!
and Happy Boxing Day to PH on the 26th.
Tom--hope all is OK in your home. Try not to
be blue, instead, thank Jesus for coming to save us! :)
Boo--glad to hear that Vickie continues to improve! Sure sounds
like she may have had a near death experience!
We had a full day here. As u know, we did not do thanksgiving this year, but said we'd do Christmas, as we are both feeling much better these days. To misquote Gomer: "I am tired as can be, but I had the time of my life." :)
God's blessings on all!
Love, MDC
December 26, 2017 - Msg 108791: Happy Birthday, MDC!!

I had a nice Christmas and hope everyone here did as well!

possum again
December 26, 2017 - Msg 108792: Good morning, porch, and Happy Birthday to MDC. I hope everyone had a great holiday weekend, and that the real reason for all the celebrating was remembered by all.

I went out to David and Brittney's for Christmas Eve, then to Eloise's for Christmas Day. Now I have the rest of this week to finish shopping, wrapping and baking, because we're "running it all through again" next weekend. My girls are coming up from Fredericksburg with as many of their adult children as can get free of work to come with them. Eloise and her family will join us, and of course David and Brittney and the boys live here, so will be helping me pull it all together. I was sick the whole first half of December, and didn't even finish my tree until about a week ago! That has never happened before, and I hope it never happens again. However, it all worked out well, with having our "second Christmas" next weekend. It gives me time to do the things I couldn't do before.

Update on the car - not good, so far. They replaced all four motor mounts, as one was broken. They replaced a vacuum modulator on the engine, and expected it to fix the hard shifting. It did improve it somewhat, but it's not fixed. Also, the engine is running very rough, it "lopes", misses, and sometimes the whole car just shakes. Then it will smooth out, and run fine for a few miles, then will start again. David talked to the mechanic who said it was fixed, and he's completely puzzled. Said it ran fine for him. I'm beginning to feel like Gilly Walker. We just can't seem to get the car fixed. One difference from Gilly, though. I'm not the only one who feels the problems. David and Brittney both drove it, Jerry rode with David, and they all said there's definitely something wrong. Transmissions, like little old ladies, aren't supposed to clunk! Or clank, either. Oh well, we'll eventually get it fixed, I'm sure.

Blessings, porch! --Romeena
December 26, 2017 - Msg 108793: Festus...Twas the Night Afore Christmas .....G-F https://m.youtube.com/watch?v=NkuI-yysivI
December 26, 2017 - Msg 108794: Good afternoon all.
Had a wonderful Christmas here. We got about 4 inches of snow Christmas eve that just made it all magical. After fighting to get my snow blower running (stinking gas they sell anymore and sounding much like Ralphie's Dad on his furnace repairs) all was good. Ate way yonder to much. Santa brought me all 4 seasons of The Fugitive. I don't know why, because I wasn't even 10 when it was aired, but I just had this love for that show. So I will enjoy it.

Happy Birthday MDC. At least according to Possum. And she is on top of those birthdays.

Romeena, I'm sorry the fix on the car didn't work. It almost sounds like a vacuum issue somewhere maybe. Is it showing a Check Engine light so you can get a code reading?

Boo, I continue in my Prayers for your SIL. Not only for her physical health, but also that she might use this experience as a learning moment and change her life around.

Well I hope Possum and Boo are planning our New Years Eve bash. I'm getting the old Salt and Pepper pressed. And I heard GF was wearing them porous socks he is famous for.

Well off to see the Grandkids. They are just itching to show me all their new toys.

Asa
December 26, 2017 - Msg 108795: Good afternoon, porch. It's drizzly, gray and cold here today. The kind of weather that makes me want stay in a warm robe, put on some fuzzy socks, and just snuggle in for the day - and that's just pretty much what I've done.

Yep, Asa, David says the engine is "having trouble breathing" these days, as you mentioned. They replaced the vacuum modulator on the engine, because it had a crack in it and was leaking air, and that probably explains why the tranny and engine problems are improved, but not fixed. There's still something else wrong with the air circulation. We did run a diagnostic after the repair, and it actually indicated the catalytic converter. Before the repair, it was saying the transmission. So far, nothing we've replaced has solved the problem, but I'm not sorry, because they needed to be fixed. The vacuum modulator wasn't but about $400, and it did help some. The motor mounts probably didn't improve anything, but the car is 13 years old, one was actually broken, and I feel much better with them replaced. Now, gotta see about the cat. Whatever it costs, it's still cheaper than trading and ending up with a $500 car payment for the next five years.

Have a good evening, everyone, and stay warm! --Romeena
December 27, 2017 - Msg 108796: Plus RO, I personally think the new Caddys are, well, plain ugly!! (My humble opinion) And on the topic
of "breathing", we have had 3 high pollution days in a row here, and forgetting the car for a moment, i can sure feel it in MY breathing!
That should be a lot of fun next weekend with "Christmas #2!"
THANK YOU FOR THE BIRTHDAY WISHES! Yup, the ol' feast of Stephen, but my mom wanted me to be a "ve" instead of a "ph," and that's the truph.
We went out to Black Angus for a 'surf and turf' dinner. (Like Andy had, minus the snails.) Very nice.
Oh, and ASA, speaking of kids with new toys, we have lived in this hood for 39 years, and many "originals" have moved out, with new families moving in, and my were they out today with new bikes, trikes, skateboards and scooters!
Well, 2018 is almost here. I pray we all have a good one! :)
MDC

December 27, 2017 - Msg 108797: Hello All. Sorry about your car troubles, Romeena. I saw some pics that Brittany posted of Christmas. Eloise and her husband were in them but I didn't see one of you so wondered where you were. Glad you are getting well and able to be out and about, and that you got the tree finished. I was a bit late getting all my decorating done this year, too, but am still enjoying it now that it is done and not in such a hurry to get it down and put up as I usually am.

My clothes dryer is still out so I my laundry is piling up. I washed a couple of loads a few days ago and dried them at my sisters but it is a pain. Bruce had to order the part to fix it and it wont be here until Thursday. He and I ran errands today, went to his eye appointment and picked upa new blade for the lawn mower, etc. Bruce took me to a place where I could get a veggie burger for supper. Besides that, just took Erin to the movies and dropped her off, picked her up, and that was about the extent of my day.

Not too exciting but wanted to check in anyway. I hope MDC had a great birthday. I noticed a pic on facebook of him and Cecile eating out.

Better get myself to bed..tomorrow there are chores to do..like cleaning out the frige of old leftovers.

Peace Out!
Boo