Really, really early Tuesday

[JudyJB]

Made it to London at 6 am my time or 1 am your time. (Not thinking straight because I have Got almost no sleep last night). Have a bad headache but I checked into hotel and took shower. Drank coke and thad few bites of chocolate. Breakfast on plans but decided I needed caffeine. More details on blog tonight when I am less sleep deprived. Am going to take nap now.

[Colliemom]

Glad you arrived safely Judy. Hopefully your trip will run smoothly from here on.

Another beautiful morning here. Looks like I can put my flowers out again after two nights of frost/freeze advisories. Need to take a trip to town as my Jif Peanut butter is in that recall Otherwise not sure what I am getting into today. Got some woodcraft projects to start on, so might do the preliminary stuff and save the painting for later this week as rain is in forecast. Now that we have lost Hobby lobby which was the source of my craft paint, I may take a little trip down to Houghton Lake to a craft store down there to replenish some of that I am running out of. Walmart does carry craft paints but the brand they carry is more watery than other brands and I don’t like to use it. Craft paints like regular paints are not created alike. Sometimes, depending upon how much of a certain color I need, I will go get a sample jar made up if I can get it in an exterior. There is a hobby lobby in Petoskey which is about 50 miles northwest of here and that is another possibility. We shall see.

Our Meijer store here dropped the price of their gas down to $4.29 a gallon after the tornado hit, to help out the community, as there' are so many coming to help, using their personal vehicles, chain saws, equipment etc., and yesterday, Walmart followed suit. Rest of the stations are holding at $4.55 or $4.59 which is what the price has been before the tornado. Those are all big oil company brands, but nobody’s making a big deal out of it. There’s enough going on here without worrying about who’s got low gas and who doesn’t. However, the state has sent a team up here to check to make sure there is no price gouging going on so we’re thinking that somebody must’ve complained . Everybody’s feeling is that it is not necessary, because they are not gouging.They are in line with the state average. There is no price gouging going on in this town in fact it seems to be going the other way in terms of business is trying to help out.

So I guess I shall get my act together and get a move on here. Hope you all have a nice day out there.

[BarbaraRose]

Sue, I would imagine that any business there that tries to price gouge would not get any business and would get a bad reputation. It does happen in larger communities but can't imagine anyone getting away with that in a small town like yours.

Judy, glad you made it to your destination. Now, get caught up on your sleep so you can enjoy your excursions!

Finally have 4 days off, after 4 days of work! Am still hanging out in bed catching up on here. Lola is patiently waiting for her wet food breakfast. I don't have a plan for today but need to figure one out soon. Yesterday they mowed the lawn here and afterward, they always come by with the leaf blower to blow the grass onto the street and then clean that up. They were kind to me yesterday and the leaf blower guy blew out all the debris that had accumulated in my carport from the winds lately, and it is all cleared out now! I was so happy to see that when I got home last night! Looks SO much better! Now all I have to do is spray off the rest of the dust and dirt with the garden hose! And put a few things away that are out on the patio. I also need to get the phone number of the guy in charge of the landscape crew to get that branch cut off that is laying against the back of my porch.

I think I will work on my living room today and get that cleaned up, and organize the gourd stuff I have in there. I can put almost all my gourd stuff out in the porch, except the paints, glues, and other liquid-type stuff that would be affected by the extreme heat. Those things will go in bins in the corner of my living room. That won't take up too much space since they are all in small sized bottles and containers.

Also have time this week to frost my hair which is badly needed. Lost some of my curl with the haircut but that will come back as it gets longer again.

Yesterday I had a customer who lives in the small town I worked in back in MN. He remembers me cutting his hair at the Great Clips there! Small world! He did tell me about a really tragic thing that happened last week there. A mother went crazy and shot her 6 year old son 9 times and then put him in the trunk of her car. Someone reported seeing a car with the back window smashed in and one tire blown out, at a local gas station. The police investigated and saw blood on her and in the car. They then found the kid in the trunk. Such a horrible situation! The parents are divorced and the dad and his fiance have been trying to get custody of the boy for awhile now saying they felt he was in danger being with his mom due to her mental health issues and drug use. She had been awarded full custody even after the CPS had taken him away from her awhile back and then returned him to her. I swear that the CPS (all over the country, not just in MN) is really messed up and needs a major overhaul! Way too many kids are put back with abusive and neglectful parents just because the judges feel they are always better off with their biological parents and usually the mom, versus the dad.

I better get up and moving here.

[MandysMom]

Judy, glad you arrived safely. Have fun exploring.
Sue, I'm glad your state is proactive in protecting from price gouging and other hurtful practices. It happens so often in natural disasters. Here in CA it's an ongoing battle with each fire or other incident. Price gouging is followed by unscrupulous contractors or wanna bees that show up with offers to rebuild, then abscond with funds!
We are headed to hottest day so far. It's already 87, I think about 5 degrees up from same time yesterday. However our humidity is 31% and dropping !
I bought a small AC for window in sunroom yesterday, and Sean showed up and installed it! So my sunroom will become more a year around place to sit, once I finish getting pantry stuff back into pantry. Thats waiting on a high school young man, who has finals this week. Once I get sunroom empty, Sean is going to complete finishing work Mel began long ago. We have a plan and it will be really nice. He plans to paint dining room today, I think, now that I finally settled on "Yoga Haze" green and bought the paint! Once dry, he will move hutch back and I can put my dishes back and get those boxes gone and reclaim half my living room!
I have annual in person visit with my investment guy at hottest time of day,3 pm this afternoon! Have AC, will travel! It's only about a mile and half there, but being outdoors getting there is mighty warm.
Have a good day everyone.
Velda

[Shirlv]

Afternoon All, it’s 63°Cloudy and a very comfortable day after high temps. Judy so glad you arrived safe even if very tired. Daughter #1 always picks up items at Sam’s club for me. Rode to her house to get items and the ice cream cone she left for me in her freezer. Anxious to try the shrimp scampi tomorrow. Have leftover salmon cake and German potato salad for tonight. Also got Jimmy Dean precooked sausage links, 60 seconds in the micro wave works for me. I ration bacon and sausage but really enjoy when I do cook them. Still waiting for dryer vent guys so no running around the apartment naked. Sun is trying to come out. Karen hope you were able to work outdoors. O’Sharon love my Subaru Forrester, bought the cheapest version, didn’t want bells and whistles just no blind spots and good vision. It’s blue so drivers avoid me because they think an old lady is driving. Everyone take care.

[JudyJB]

Just posted my first blog about arriving in London today, and my weird experiences with going through security, or at least NOT having the usual experience going through security and customs at the airport upon arrival.

https://2022humongousukadventure.blogspot.com/

[OregonLuvr]

Yes Shirl I got outside yesterday for a while. That really stirred up my allergies. Sneezing and coughing the rest of the day. In fact gave myself a headache so took a coule of Tylenol and Motrin. I also went grocery shopping so I at least had food. I heated up my steaks that I couldnt eat the night before as it was too late for me to eat. I think I still dont really like red meat much. I dont have a reason to not eat it I just prefer pasta, salads, seafood, soups, chicken, pork. I actually could be a vegetarian if I wanted LOL I do buy lots of hamburger tho to make tacos, enchiladas, sauce for spaghetti, ravioli, ziti etc I rarely eat out or buy fast food. Mainly because I am very wary of their cleanliness right now. Lots of young kids working that dont have the same cleanliness level that I do. My neighbor asked me if I watched MONK?? I laughed, I think she was trying to tell me something ha ha I really am not a germaphobe, but after reading about so many of the fast food places in our community and issues people have seen it just isnt happening for me. I will eat off the food trucks tho. They are more pricey I think, but the owners are working and most are very hard working AND they are also inspected. I dont even eat there much either. I would rather make a batch of food, freeze it, and heat it later.

I am not going outside today. I feel better and I want it to stay that way, keep these allergies under control. I am living in a chemical environment right now. It is chemical warfare against my allergies. I did change meds I am now taking Xyzal.(smallest pill I have in my arsenal LOL) I take it at night a couple hours before bed, it is a 24hr pill and can make you drowsy so they recommended taking it after dinner. Then there is Motrin and Tylenol, Benadryl, plus my supplements Magnesium and Vit D. OK done whining, going to fix something cold to drink.

[Bethers]

Judy, I'm glad you're there safely and totally enjoyed this blog post. I've never understood why more places don't have motels like that. Or like the tiny cubbies in Japan just for sleeping. I'll be watching for all your posts.

Karen, I eat a lot of chicken as far as meats but do like some occasional red meat, usually in something I make like a stew, etc. But for meat I will usually gravitate to chicken and pork. Let me know how the Xyzal works for you.

There are pavers working on a couple roads in the RV park. I never could smell it yesterday as the wind was going away from the motel. Yikes. This morning I first had a guest first tell me there's a fire down there. Luckily she was wrong but the work was putting up a haze. Then a guest opened the door a bit later coming or going for continental breakfast and my head totally filled with the stink. I've had a headache since but it's finally getting better from the Tylenol I've been taking.

Velda, you'll have to share pictures as the room progresses. Please.

Someone's headed in so off I go.

[Cudedog]

The discussion of beef vs. pork is interesting.

Most of my life I have preferred beef; the last couple of years I am finding that I prefer pork. I don't know what's going on with beef - but it seems like unless I buy a really pricey cut from an upscale grocery store, the beef from the chain stores around here just tastes kind of "off", and I often end up $tossing$ it.

I wonder what's up with that? Beef just doesn't taste like beef these days. And, no, I don't have Covid. This has been going on with me for a while.

Velda, you probably eat more beef than I do - do you have any insights on whats going on with beef?

Anne

[Shirlv]

Judy, enjoyed your first day in England and much prefer your small cozy hotel room. Karen my food preference is similar to yours. I buy meats from Sam’s, 5 lb of 90% ground beef and freeze in 1 lb packs, frozen chicken breasts, sleeve of angus burgers. Ham slices, pork loin which I freeze in small roasts and seafood. Large bags of frozen broccoli, Brussels sprouts and green beans. I cook batches from scratch and freeze portions. Of course ice cream. Tree pollen is doing a number on me too and I take Generic Claritin, Magnesium and vitamin D3. my only meds. Watch YouTub, videos of children and pets instead of watching news so do not need tranquilizers. That is my boring life.

[Shirlv]

Anne, had a thought after I posted. My sense of taste go has diminished as I have aged. The ground beef I eat is used to cook chili, spaghetti sauce, meat loaf etc and angus burger has a different flavor. I hated vegetables as a young person but.now like them, Not cooked spinach, never spinach. Guess we just change with time.

[OregonLuvr]

My preferred meal would always be seafood but dang it is expensive too. Shirl I also buy those Angus burgers. They are so tasty. I buy mine at Costco. I can grill em, pan fry, air fryer them or even micro them. Since they are already cooked and charbroiled I usually just throw em in the micro for a minute, add some cheese and I am good to go. I also love veggies. I bought some beets, spinach and brussels sprouts yesterday along with salad fixins. I like cooked spinach if cooked from fresh. Not frozen.....mush. I put it in omelets, and tomorrow I am making a quiche, spinach, mushroom, sausage, and cheese. I packaged up the hamburger tonight and used my food saver to seal and put them in the freezer. I made tacos. Emma and I had tacos LOL

Going to the Plant Warehouse tomorrow to see what kind of tomato plants they have. If they dont have what I want I will also go to Home Depot and Lowes on my way home. Not going to plant too much this year. I have lost my mojo for gardening but will get it back before next year LOL

[snowball]

I sure haven't done anything today
I lay there and think of all that I need to do and then it doesn't happen
with the thought there is always tomorrow
I am not sure what occupied my time either ... came out and decided to work on my Swedish Weave
I was trying to make sure that the diamonds were finished but as I counted the ends of the yarns realized that if I was doing now I can't remember the number... however it should be even but it was an uneven number so went over to the side that I'd started what is called the end motif had done four rows there... just to see if it was right... then I realized that what I used to mark the center was off and although it looked right it wasn't and my friend told me I'd been talking to her to get her thoughts .... if it's off it will really show up in the pattern later better to take out 4 rows not many more... so got two full rows unwove... first time I've made this big of a mistake ... it's not my favorite thing to do but oh well... want it to be right...after I take out the rest of the end motif I will count and see if it can handle the extra diamond if not then I will take out a row of the unfinished diamond one day I will see progress...
tomorrow is my granddaughter's graduation have the zoom link hopefully I can make it work but it starts at 5 typically that is when I'm making supper so need to figure out what we will do about supper whether it will be late or early think it will be after other wise it could be an issue
glad you got to London ok Judy
Barbi that is quite the (and the word is escaping me) having a customer that you had in Wisconsin... and that he recognized you...
had waffles and bacon tonight... AF lost bacon so much crisper than even I like... will have to have a talk with another of my granddaughters (same brand of AF) to see what I should do... I also got thick bacon that was so wrong... it was not thick at all...
you all have a great day
sheila

[Redetotry]

I rarely eat out or buy fast food. Mainly because I am very wary of their cleanliness right now. Lots of young kids working that dont have the same cleanliness level that I do. My neighbor asked me if I watched MONK?? I laughed, I think she was trying to tell me something ha ha I really am not a germaphobe, but after reading about so many of the fast food places in our community and issues people have seen it just isnt happening for me. I will eat off the food trucks tho. They are more pricey I think, but the owners are working and most are very hard working AND they are also inspected. I dont even eat there much either. I would rather make a batch of food, freeze it, and heat it later.

I'm with you Karen, I don't eat at fast food places, I especially wouldn't now that help is so hard to find. I will go to Panera with friends but I only order a cup of coffee. The paper cups are on the counter where you can pick it up, pay and fill it yourself. They never get the chance to pick it up by the top! No one must tell them how to pick up a cup. Basic sanitation seems to have disappeared. A friend of mine taught nursing several years ago and said the hardest thing to teach the students was how to wash their hands.

Judy I'm glad you finally made it!! So sorry you had so much trouble getting there!! Customs certainly has changed!! Beth that smell of asphalt is horrible and sometimes if they use the really cheap stuff it lingers a long time.

[OregonLuvr]

BJ one of the biggest issues that has been posted about fast food is the milk shake and the ice cream machines. The either dont know how to clean them OR they are not cleaning them correctly OR the just dont clean them at all. This has been verified by the health dept checks. The other stuff is just posted on our local forums but I am of the theory if there is smoke there is fire LOL