First Monday

[Colliemom]

Good Morning from the 45th,

Well, here we are, the first Monday of January. And the 4th day to boot. Seems like everybody was getting ready for the Christmas holiday and now it's 4 days into the new year already. Time is marching right along whether we want it to or not. Days are getting longer slow but sure. Cloudy and frigid here this morning. Lake effect snow is going down both side of me from the North to Northeast winds, but supposed to quit later. Temp is about 12, wind chill at 0, but starting tonight temps are to rise and we are heading into 30's for the week. I see pleasant walking days ahead.

Nothing earth shattering on the agenda today. Town and errands this morning, walk this afternoon and who knows what else might pop in there.

I too have been wondering where Micki is. Assuming Carolb is working her way towards Martha's. Hoping Sarah can get to see Magic this week so she can rest at ease and know everything's okay. Guess everybody else except Liz, Anita, Sandi and those out west are pretty much at the home front just doing the day to day things; or out at work. Not much going on in the GTG thread other than Hardee Lakes and Q. Time to start dreaming of spring, summer and the plans we might make.

Have a nice day today, whether you are home doing nothing special, on the road or whatever. Keep safe.

[Olive6001]

Good morning Sue and all who follow. Sue, I so enjoy reading your opening posts, and this morning's is especially well done. You make me feel like part of a real community, here. And your descriptions of your surroundings remind me just how huge and diverse our wonderful country is. There are folks who enjoy a brisk walk in 30something degree weather! I love that visual. The coldest weather I've ever experienced was in Kenai, Alaska in the coldest February on record. Even the natives were talking about it. It was so cold it wasn't cold any more if you know what I mean. Anyway, thank you for opening MC. You're a talented writer.

I've pinched a nerve in my hip. Or re-pinched. It happens pretty regularly so it's no big deal, and I know how to deal with it. It's just painful. Housework is on the agenda today; I'll go slow and watch how I move. The heating pad and ice pack are my new best friends. Getting old ain't for sissies. I haven't checked the weather report for this week. How much you want to bet there's a lot of rain in it.

I too am wondering about Magic and Sarah. I hope all is well. Sandi, Anita, Liz, and anyone who is out there on the road, travel safe.

Nikki

[gingerK]

Good morning all!

Have I mentioned lately how much I hate this laptop? I had a lovely long post and apparently touched the wrong key again--POOF! (maybe it's that powdered sugar I spilled on the keyboard the other day? LOL)

Always glad to have "coffee" with my WRV friends. Good way to start off my day. I enjoy hearing what you're doing and where you are headed. But it sometimes does give me "hitch itch"!

Cold here in IL too, but not to the extent of Sue's MI, I don't think. Haven't looked at the weather or a thermometer but at least it doesn't feel so to me. And Nikki, some of us make our living walking out in the cold! Unless it's brutal; then we just go out for a quick potty break.

Making tacos for supper tonight. DH made pizza last night so I guess I'd better do my fair share. I'm typing as I fry!

Ordered some small items for Angel online yesterday. Some replacement parts and a voltage meter that plugs into a wall outlet. Since I got Angel, I am not using Pony anymore, but I hesitate to sell her (Pony) for fear that I can't or won't pull the horse trailer with Angel. So I guess Pony stays for at least one more year because I'm planning on getting back in the saddle this year.

That's about all from here, everyone take care
Kathy

[Othersharon]

Good morning! Woke up to sun this morning! Yippee, never did see it yesterday so was a welcome sight this morning! Cold with a bit of snow on the ground, I'll need to probably sweep the sidewalk out front...or wait a bit and see if the sun does its magic! Sue, it is hard to believe we're already 4 days into the new year! Time does fly! And like you I'm thinking about a trip for the spring! Did you say you were coming east next summer? Hope if you do we can gtg. I was also wondering about Micki. Donna, you did have a busy December! And now a gtg this month, sounds like fun! Beth, sounds like you will have a good couple of days visiting and then on to your new job. Have fun! And Liz and Anita, thanks for sharing your adventures!

I spent the week end playing with the new smart tv I got to replace the one that went in the living room. Still can't get the remotes to work. Guess I need to call Comcast and hope they can help me. Apparently the thing is way smarter then me! i can change channels but it won't change the volume level or mute. So frustrating! And I don't even use it that much! But at least I took out my frustrations in a constructive way, managed to clean the whole downstairs and made a pot of split pea soup! So guess it wasn't all bad!! And I did lots of muttering while I was doing it!

Well, coffee is done and snow is still there so guess I should bundle up and get to it! Hope you all have a good day and if you are on the road, stay safe.

[grammynmaggie]

Good morning everyone... oh my what a start to the day wasn't too bad until after I took my shower.... I decided to take Pheebe outside again. She just loves to be outside and since I have to go to the doctor this afternoon and she will be cooped up in the bedroom where she was cooped up in the bedroom while I took my shower because I can't trust my dad not to open the door and look down before he does... anyway I said do you want to go outside and she got in a frenzy running out to the living room and jumped up on the couch where I keep her harness and leash and that's where we put it on she was jumping around like a ball... she could hardly contain herself as usual I have to remember she is just a puppy yet and is so enthusiastic about everything I'm looking on the positive side here... anyway I got her harness on and pull back the clip to clip the harness with the leash all the while trying to hold this bouncing ball well just as I went to clip it she jumped and turned and it clipped right into her little eye lid... oh what a traumatic experience she was screaming and screaming and flying all over the place I could hardly contain her this lasted probably 2 minutes but it seemed like an hour... I finally got it loose and held her tight until we both calmed down... that's all I have for now I'm still not calm down even after walking around the block right now she's under the bed lying down which she never does under the bed anyway.... praying for less stressful afternoo
PS... I have been checking her eye and it looks like but is ok and I can't even see where it took the eyelid but I will continue to keep checking it

[BarbaraRose]

Good morning gals!
Slept good last night, but probably because it was crazy busy at work yesterday! It was so busy that none of us even got to take a lunch break! That rarely ever happens! I stopped at the bar/restaurant next door afterward for dinner before heading home since I figured I would crash and burn once I got home and be too tired to cook something.

Well, since our winter weather just started a week ago here, we only have 2 1/2 months left before spring starts, so that is a nice thought! And the days are already starting to get longer too. The larger parts of the lake here just finally froze over about 4 days ago and there are already fishermen and snowmobilers out there! Crazy!

Sophie climbed my fake tree for the last time last night! She got her leg caught between two of the branches and I had to rescue her. Needless to say, the tree went down to the giveaway room right after that! She sure is hell on paws! But when she settles down, she is so sweet and affectionate! Such is life with a kitten I guess!

Feel so bad about Kathleen's kitten, Sissy. I hope she pulls thru but didn't sound too good on FB last night. Some birth defect of some sort apparently. Donna, I hope you can find a good trainer for your new little pup! A good trainer can do wonders for behavioral issues! Don't give up on her yet!

Will be heading back to work in a few hours here. Probably will be slow now that everyone will be back to work and the kids back to school. That is OK by me (and my feet)!

Linda (bikerchic) is with Liz and Anita for a mini GTG and then heading to Apache Junction for the rest of the winter. She got a job for the summer in Wisconsin so I am going to GTG with her for a few days there this summer! Haven't seen her for almost 4 years!

Have a good day!

[bluepinecones]

Good morning.
Oh Donna, how terrifying for both of you. Hopefully the baby is okay.
Bitterly cold here by my standards anyway - won't get out of the 30s today. Icy north wind adding to the chill all day but there will be some off and on sunshine.
The TN River finally slipped back into it banks at Ditto last night. Last I heard, staff expects to be able to reopen the campground by Wednesday; hope the cold does not delay that. Also keeping my fingers crossed that I don't have any messes to clean up inside Magic from things freezing (canned goods, bottled and jugs of water, etc). Additionally I'm not confident that I properly drained the water heater - sure did not look like enough water came out.
Need to get something constructive done today - like cleaning and bookkeeping - probably my least favorite activities.
I am working on getting my step count up, Fitbit must have felt very neglected lately as I fell below couch potato status.
Enjoy you day.

[gingerK]

Just a quick note for those of you not on FB with Kathleen, her little kitten passed away last night.

[dayspring39]

Sad Morning for Princess her tiny Little Sister passed last night... the vet took her home with him on Sat night and gave her fluids every hour until she passed... guess that is what a no kill shelter vet they need... Princess is not doing very well but she will be ok... they believe the birth defect was an underdeveloped liver... I held her for hours every day she was here... the Rainbow Bridge has had many of our fur babies pass over this past year time to close it for awhile...

I need to figure out what liter is best... everyone says that there is odor in my condo... sure do not like that... yesterday I washed down the bathroom with bleach and pine sol.... then after I was done Sue said to be careful it could hurt Princess... yikes I could not let her sleep in there so I put her in her small kennel for the night around 2am... better safe than sorry...

Oh we are having a beautiful sunny day here in Bloomington.. miss being Normal... lol... I too like the travelers posts when I read them... cannot keep up with all of the blogs so finally depend on posts on Facebook...

My thought for everyone is: tomorrow becomes yesterday too soon...

Smile friends... oh and the rest of you go suck an egg... lol

[Olive6001]

My thought for everyone is: tomorrow becomes yesterday too soon...

Smile friends... oh and the rest of you go suck an egg... lol

Thanks for the belly laugh.

[Acadianmom]

The sun is out for a change and I think we might have 3 days without rain. It's suppose to freeze tonight and then start warming up. Will be in the 70's by the weekend. That will be nice if it doesn't rain again.

Kathleen, sorry to hear about your kitten. If they used the bathroom on the carpet that might be what you are smelling. It is hard to get it out of carpet. There are urine remover sprays you can buy. Pet stores have it and Walmart probably has it in the pet section.

Sarah, I sure hope you find Magic ok when you can finally get there. I know how frustrating that is. After the hurricanes we couldn't get home for 4 or 5 days. When you hear people are riding down your road in a boat you know it isn't good. The rivers won't crest in Louisiana for another 2 or 3 weeks. I am trying to get my step count up too but I don't think I have ever gotten to 10,000 yet.

Poor Pheebe, I hope her eye is ok. She will have to learn that she needs to sit until you get the harness on. Harold isn't careful when he comes in and goes out and he let Frosty out yesterday. The other cats can go out if they want to because they stay by the house but Frosty wants to fight with the barn cats. He's the one that loses the fight. If it wasn't a vet bill every time I would let them teach him some manners.

I hate that all the electronics are smarter than I am. I can usually program the Directv remotes if I can find the instructions but I don't want to. All the TV's except the one in the living room are the old kind and it's getting hard to find the code to use for them. Harold can't learn the remotes and he will change the channel with the TV remote and then the satellite won't work. I have the directions on a paper by the TV but he can't even figure that out.

I think a pinched nerve is what I have in my hip. Right now it only hurts if I lay the wrong way and when I turn over. Just standing around aggravates it the most like when I'm standing in the kitchen cooking. Good thing I don't do much of that. lol I am trying to find a new doctor. The one I went to for over 30 years retired and the next one I saw for a few years retired. There are only 2 doctors left in that group and the one I saw last I didn't like. The ones I have called don't take Medicare. Harold has been lucky that the doctors he has needed to see take Medicare.

When someone says First Monday I think of the big flea market in Texas. It's the weekend before the first Monday of every month. When Texas was having all the rain I saw pictures of the market grounds flooded. It looked like a big lake but guess the water is gone by now. My neighbor goes every December and I use to go. I just don't like all the crowds anymore and it's a lot of walking.

I looked up the next campout for the Louisiana group and it's in 3 weeks. I am ready to go somewhere but not in the cold and rain. My sister is talking about a trip in April. She is going to have to get a lot healthier before I'm taking her very far. She is suppose to be on a high protein, low fat diet and every time I talk to her she is eating food she shouldn't. I can just see having to take her to an ER somewhere on the road.

Martha

[Redetotry]

I need to figure out what liter is best... everyone says that there is odor in my condo... sure do not like that... yesterday I washed down the bathroom with bleach and pine sol.... then after I was done Sue said to be careful it could hurt Princess... yikes I could not let her sleep in there so I put her in her small kennel for the night around 2am... better safe than sorry... lol

Kathleen please don't mix bleach with anything!!! The fumes can kill or make you and the kitten sick. Clean with vinegar and water to get the urine or any other smell out. I keep spray bottles of 1/2 vinegar 1/2 water in my kitchen and bath. It deodorizes and disinfects. If you have carpet it may need to be removed it the odor persists. If you keep using perfumed chemicals like Plug-ins, Fabreeze, bleach or other similar toxic products you will have respiratory issues or headaches and any animals will have similar illnesses including kidney issues. Read the labels! I have read several articles that are saying many women who have never smoked have lung cancer and they attribute it to the amount of cleaning products they have used over the years.

The information below is from one of the many links I found when I googled 'Cleaning products and cancer.' I can't understand why they don't make the warning more clear on label sor why they aren't regulated in some way.

http://www.ewg.org/guides/cleaners/cont ... and_health
"Repeated exposure to chlorine bleach has been linked to respiratory damage and wheezing as well as nose and eye irritation. Bleach fumes consist of a complex mixture of toxic, carcinogenic and irritating gases, including chlorine, chloroform and carbon tetrachloride (Medina-Ramon 2005; Odabasi 2008). Spanish scientists have documented increased risk of symptoms of obstructive lung disease in domestic workers who regularly use bleach (Medina-Ramon 2006). Bleach cleaners applied as sprays may be more likely to cause respiratory irritation and are of particular concern for work-related asthma (Medina-Ramon 2005)"

[BirdbyBird]

BJ, I guess I might start referring to my avoidance of regular cleaning around here as part of my striving to stay healthy. I mean I usually sweep up the hair bunnies and have been known to put a little vinegar in the small Sharp floor steamer.......I really do occasionally clean but it isn't anything I admit to publicly. Someone might start figuring out just how infrequent it is.

My greatest gift to myself was pulling out all the carpeting......Carpeting should never have been a decoration choice for my lifestyle with multiple animals.

[Liz]

I'm sitting out the rain in Tucson. Then there's supposed to be a break in the weather tomorrow to get to Yuma where I can sit out some more rain before heading up to Havasu City and Quartzite. I think Sandi is going that route too, but Anita hasn't decided yet. She has to get to Havasu sooner to have her Slingshot worked on. Weather looks nasty up there thus week.

Kathleen, I can't remember the name of the cat litter I used in my RV, but it was a blue and white crystals instead of clay. It lasted longer with just scooping the poop. The urine was absorbed by the crystals and there was very little odor. I looked it up ...Fresh Step Crystals http://www.walmart.com/ip/Fresh-Step-Crystals-8lb-Cats/10313505

[Acadianmom]

Tina, I can't agree with you more about carpet. I had almost all the carpet out of our old house and tile put in. When we were ordering this house Harold said he was tired of cold floors and wanted carpet. I should have argued more but I didn't have much courage left at the time. I have already put tile in the living room and hall and have enough tile to do my office if I ever feel like moving all the junk out of here. I put an area rug in the living room and when it get gross I will throw it away and get another one.

I have started using vinegar to clean a lot of things. My washing machine comes up with a message it wants to be cleaned every so often. I wonder what it's doing every time it washes a load of clothes. I don't buy the stuff they sell to clean a washer, I just run a cup of vinegar through a cycle.

Martha