Tuesday, June 7, 2022 Primary Election Day

[MandysMom]

Woke to sunshine and now 70°. Need to fill out my ballot and get Chris to do his and we take them and drop at a polling place. We have been in a mail only precinct for years, but since Chris prefers voting in person, this taking them in, is our compromise. Rest of week, once all the shouting is done, will bring a respite from the constant political ads. And will bring our hottest day of summer, at predicted 106°! Ugh
Think I'll cut some boxes today, maybe get them to recycle over where we drop ballots at the near by regional park. Put out a bird feeder and bath, but have not seen a single bird! Makes me sad as we used to have lots of songbirds. Not even a turkey in my yard this year!
Everyone have a good day!
Velda

[Shirlv]

Afternoon Velda, the last nice day here for awhile. Was running a few errands this morning. Tomorrow I am delivering Chick Fila Cobb salad to new Mom (granddaughter) just because. That is my excitement for the week. I prefer a mail in ballot also and drop in the box at the polling site. After I voted last time I received a letter addressed to my family at my address. They wanted to know the date I died. Someone removed my name by mistake because of the same name. They got an earful. The next time I vote I am going to carry my purple cane in case there is trouble.
Be safe

[Acadianmom]

It's 90 again today. It's not suppose to rain but looks like it could. I don't know how people stand temperatures of 106 or higher.

I got about half the yard mowed yesterday and the belt broke. The shop came and picked it up this morning. I would like to have it back this afternoon but will probably be tomorrow.

Shirl, does the purple cane mean anything or you are just going to use it on someone? I put one of Harold's old canes in the motorhome just in case. I got to a campout a couple of years ago and could hardly walk because my knee hurt so much. I have to be careful not to push sideways with my left leg or my knee will go out. That happened the other night and I almost cried it hurt so much. I couldn't straighten my leg or get up out of the chair. I used my right foot to lift my leg and my knee went back in place. It's hell to get old.

I have a question for the nurses. My finger still hurts from the cut I got from the rose bush the other day. I have been putting Neosporin Cream on it but was wondering if I should soak it in something.

Martha

[Cudedog]

It's 90 again today. It's not suppose to rain but looks like it could. I don't know how people stand temperatures of 106 or higher.
Martha

Well. . . it is difficult. It is not at all unusual here for temps to top 110 - 112 for days on end in the summer - it happened last summer, I don't doubt it will do it again this year.

I used to love 4th July fireworks, and where I live I only need to step out my front door to see them - everyone and their brother is setting them off, up and down the street. People even shoot off bottle rockets, which are illegal here, but that doesn't seem to stop people from doing it. More than once one will land on someone's roof and start a major fire.

The 4th July it was still 117 degrees outside at 8:30 p.m. (dusk, when the fireworks generally start up) I didn't even open the door.

When it gets much above 100 about all I can do is sit on my couch and hope that my (aged) a.c. unit doesn't crap out.

Anne

[JudyJB]

A tiny bit warmer today, and the sun came out for a while in late afternoon. I went to the town of Whitby for the day and tried to find a jacket or fleece sweatshirt that I liked, but there were few stores and even less merchandise. I learned that most people in this area order clothing online and then return what they don't like. Anyway, I am hoping it stays a little warmer later this week. I also drove along the coast and visited another nice, but very small seaside village, but with the chilly weather, it was really off-season and most things were closed. There was one nice restaurant to eat inside, but the sign on the door said it was completely booked, so a lot of visitors like me, grabbed takeout fish and chips and ate it in our cars because it was too cold to eat outdoors!!

I am going to work on posting something about driving here. The problem is really not driving on the wrong side of the road, it is the narrowness of the roads and having to "play chicken" when another car comes towards you and there is only one lane for the two of you. Mostly, I have been driving so slowly that I get a line of cars behind me, and I also just stop, rather than try to squeeze past someone who is coming towards me. I also drive a lot more slowly for the sheep on or very near the roadway in the Moors area. The problem is that if the lambs are on one side of the road and their mother is on the other, at the last minute, they will panic and dart right in front of you. Really, people are driving much too fast for the narrow roads and things that might be just over the next hill, like bike riders, dog walkers, and of course sheep. I met a man and his 12-year-old son in Edinburgh and shared a lunch table with them near the Castle, and then bumped into them at a Pret at the train station. He agreed that people were too aggressive in England with their driving, and said I would notice a difference once i got into Scotland. That was my experience in the past, and I compare it to people driving around LA or the Bay Area, and people driving in a rural Midwestern or desert area. I think it must be the stress of crowded living, and Scotland is much less crowded and stressful. Will be there on Friday, by the way.

But there are some things I really like. For example, instead of a detour, you have a "diversion." Sounds like a fun activity. Also, stopped in a grocery store to get some dry cocoa so I could have my nightly chocolate milk, and walked past a display of outdoor bird seed. The brand was cleverly called "Peckish!" Like I feel peckish when it rains!!

[monik7]

Put out a bird feeder and bath, but have not seen a single bird! Makes me sad as we used to have lots of songbirds. Not even a turkey in my yard this year!
Velda

Keep putting the bird food out for a few weeks Velda. They will come. I started with one feeder and now have 3 of different styles. There are so many birds all day, I marvel at how often I have to get more food. I love to listen to them chirping and singing while I’m reading on my deck.
Sandi

[Cudedog]

Put out a bird feeder and bath, but have not seen a single bird! Makes me sad as we used to have lots of songbirds. Not even a turkey in my yard this year!
Velda

Keep putting the bird food out for a few weeks Velda. They will come. I started with one feeder and now have 3 of different styles. There are so many birds all day, I marvel at how often I have to get more food. I love to listen to them chirping and singing while I’m reading on my deck.
Sandi

I have given some thought about the paucity of birds here the last couple of years (there used to be a lot of them here), and have considered putting out a bird feeder. Haven't quite made up my mind.

There are a LOT of feral cats (or at least a lot of cats whose owners let them run at large) in my neighborhood (my backyard, and also my neighbor's backyard, have both become "cat box central" with un-buried and disgusting cat poo all over the place), so between the cats, and the seemingly ongoing bird-flu epidemic, I am not sure that attracting birds would be the best idea for my area.

Wish it was otherwise.

Anne

[Shirlv]

Martha, there was innuendos that there would be problems at the polls. It’s probably hype by the media but I will have my purple cane if needed to poke someone.

[JudyJB]

Act a little bent over and mumble to yourself while whacking people with your cane and they will excuse you as that crazy old lady!!

[Shirlv]

I can do that!

[Bethers]

Thanks Judy. I'm laughing out loud.

[snowball]

dd and her husband got in really late last night like 1;45 good thing I am normally up they spent the day hauling and going through stuff so they can find a spot to store stuff while the reconstruction is going on... guess the back of the truck is full of stuff going to the land fill and then pick up stuff for the browse and buy (a thrift store) they have lots going on tomorrow as well... it's a good thing I am going down next week or I would fill bad because I wouldn't get to see them...
Barbi do you by any chance have a thyroid issue? being tired is one of the signs... if you are already on med for it it might also be that you don't have the right dosage... just something to talk to your dr about...
weather is something that is hard to get used to whatever the temp is if it's different than what we are used to...
did go and get some moss rose's calling them that as I can't think of the "name" of them well that's not it I can I just can't spell it... starts with a portu.... guess I will need to work on that tomorrow also got 4 geraniums for two of the planters will need to find something to go with them... and then count my containers and think of what I want to put into them... saw one in the garage last year I guess but thought it was a ice cream machine a few weeks ago I looked at it again and realized that what at a distance I thought was the ice cream machine was in fact a planter still looks like one
I just need to come up with plants to put in them... was at the store today and saw some bulbs and saw some Freesias if I'd sent the order in for Brecks I would have gotten them so bought them patted myself on my back thinking that it was a better deal but if I'm recalling the amount in Brecks it was a lot more than the 8 in this box but it gives me and opportunity to see if they have a long enough growing season to actually grow...
you all have a great day
sheila

[Redetotry]

Put out a bird feeder and bath, but have not seen a single bird! Makes me sad as we used to have lots of songbirds. Not even a turkey in my yard this year!
Velda

Keep putting the bird food out for a few weeks Velda. They will come. I started with one feeder and now have 3 of different styles. There are so many birds all day, I marvel at how often I have to get more food. I love to listen to them chirping and singing while I’m reading on my deck.
Sandi

I have given some thought about the paucity of birds here the last couple of years (there used to be a lot of them here), and have considered putting out a bird feeder. Haven't quite made up my mind.

There are a LOT of feral cats (or at least a lot of cats whose owners let them run at large) in my neighborhood (my backyard, and also my neighbor's backyard, have both become "cat box central" with un-buried and disgusting cat poo all over the place), so between the cats, and the seemingly ongoing bird-flu epidemic, I am not sure that attracting birds would be the best idea for my area.

Wish it was otherwise. Anne

Anne, I recently saw a discussion about feral cats and the many diseases they can pass to humans and other animals. The cost of the issue in Australia is staggering. So trying to control the population is really important.

[Cudedog]

Anne, I recently saw a discussion about feral cats and the many diseases they can pass to humans and other animals. The cost of the issue in Australia is staggering. So trying to control the population is really important.

Bj, I agree with you 100% on this. Thank you.

I support - and salute - those of you on here that have the love for cats and the kindness in your hearts to deal with stray and feral cats (Barbie and Martha, I'm looking at you two here - thank you for doing what you do).

For myself, I am mostly neutral on cats - I don't dislike cats, but they are not my personal companion of choice. It is not my wish or desire to deal with feral cats on a personal level.

As for my avoidance of stray and feral cats - a lot of reasons for this - one of them is that rabies is fairly endemic to my general area in the wild animal population here.

The primary vectors are bats, skunks, coyotes, raccoons, and foxes. We have all of these species of wild animals here.
And, of course, it is possible for any - and all - of these species to transmit rabies to cats, dogs, livestock - and people. Thankfully, it is very rare that a person will contract rabies - but once infected, rabies is nearly always fatal.

It doesn't necessarily take a bite to transmit rabies to a person - for example, the spray of saliva from a hissing and rabid cat can enter the body through the mucus membranes of the eyes or mouth. The incubation period can be from a few days to several months - so one might not even remember the specific cat encounter that started it all.

https://www.cdc.gov/rabies/transmission/index.html

So I prefer to keep my distance from stray and feral cats. Again, I applaud those who make the attempt.

Thank you.

Anne