Happy Monday everyone

[Pooker]

Guess everyone is too busy this morning to open morning coffee, so Hello from the west coast.

Hearing about everyone's trips and travels make me wish I were 20 years younger. I know it was the right decision to hang up the RV keys, but doesn't stop me from being envious. It's the traditional time for a lot of the snowbirds to be on the move. COVID sure put a crimp in that for the last two winters. I remember how hard it was in some places to get into a park because so many snowbirds filled the sites each night. I wonder if our winter citizens will be here in our community this year. Some of them I knew are getting up in age, but many own mobile homes here (others rent) so I hope to see many of them again, even though the traffic gets horrific. If I lived in Canada I'd be heading south every Fall, too.

Sheila's note about buying bags for shopping struck a cord. Here in California we have been buying bags at grocery stores for a long time and it's such a sham! We have NOT stopped the clutter of plastic. Every store has a different policy about reusing the bags - will they bag them or make you bag your own? Will you remember to bring bags into the store with you or do you get a collection piling up in your car? My kids just pay the .10 or .15 per bag every time they shop and then toss them in the recycle bin. How's that helping the environment? The other thing that bugs me is a couple of stores here are charging .25 to use a shopping cart. Yes, you can get your quarter back after you pack your car and walk the cart back to the store's cart corral, but now you also have to remember to have quarters on hand along with reusable bags!

Bah humbug!

Evie

[OregonLuvr]

Good morning. I am on my first cup of java. The best one of the day. I will have another one and then I am done.
I love hearing about the GTG's and camping excursions but I am still glad I too hung up my RV keys. I had some sort of RV my entire adult life. But as we age our stamina is not what it used to be so I agree Evie, 20 years younger would make my thinking way different.
Here in Oregon we have no plastic anymore unless they are recyclable. I would love it if I remembered to take my bags in with me each time LOL Our family owned grocery store doesnt charge for their paper bags. One of the perks I guess. Walmart charges but you can reuse their plastic bags they are actually pretty heavy plastic.

Shelia you need to get rested up. You have been go go go for a few weeks now. Need to take care of YOU. Barbie sorry to hear about your neighbor always so sad to lose a good neighbor. I miss my next door neighbor since she broke her hip at 93. Not sure if she will be back in her home or not. I hope so.

Well more laundry today, and need to dust so nothing real heavy duty but needs to be done. I have towels and bedding to wash.

[Shirlv]

Morning All, another Shirl day on the island, just beautiful. I have Accuweather for my little town which tells me whether I can open windows and breath also. There is a warning this morning that a tropical storm will affect my area on Friday. I have friends up and down the east coast so hurricanes in the forecast is nerve wracking. Cheryl heading to Tennessee, drive slow. Karen, glad to see your posts are cheerful, glad you are dusting. Lol Also wanted to thank you for the pasta cooker suggestion, saves water, and measures the perfect amount of pasta and easy clean up. Judy, thanks for the suggestion about dress clothes for woman heading into the workforce. I am searching for the closest organizationM. Anita, hope you are on your way. I read every post but sadly my short term memory is getting shorter. Be safe

[Acadianmom]

Yesterday was an adventure in dining. I was going through my closet to find something different to wear because I didn't want to wear jeans to lunch on Sunday. I tried on some shoes I hadn't worn in a long time and the sole fell apart after a couple of steps. I think I need to try wearing some of the shoes and see if they are still good. When we got to the restaurant there was a mixup in our reservation. We either had to wait 2 hours or go to another restaurant. We decided to go to another restaurant. The restaurant sat us at 3 different tables which I thought was good. When they sit us at one long table you can only visit with the people close to you. I think our waitress was new to her job so we had a long time to visit. We finally got out of there about 2:00.

The lady that delivers my mail called this morning and ask if I had a motorhome for sale. I told her that the motorhome I had for sale was a couple of years ago. That made me think, did I want to sell my motorhome. No, not yet. I am using it less and less but not ready to give it up yet.

Some of my camping friends are camping at one of the state parks on Toledo Bend Lake this weekend so I made a reservation. Right now the storm is still headed to Florida but it's not even in the Gulf yet. I'll just cancel if the storm changes course. Now I have to think of something for a potluck. I keep thinking about the Costco muffins at the last campout. Do I really need a membership at Costco just because I liked some muffins. We have a cool front coming through tonight so it should be good camping weather this weekend.

They haven't started making us buy bags yet here but the Aldi's that opened in Lafayette has the 25 cent baskets. I didn't know that when we went so didn't have bags to put the groceries in. Ended up with a back seat full of groceries. I have a bag in the motorhome to put Walmart bags in and I use them for trash bags when I camp.

Irmi, hope you don't have any damage from the storm if it heads your way.

I forgot to pick up one of Sugar's pills last week so have to go to town. I have an appointment to get my hair cut tomorrow.

Martha

[Colliemom]

Good afternoon from the wet and windy UP. I arrived here yesterday afternoon and had a nice drive drive except for one rain shower, until I got here and then it started raining. It was on the forecast and it’s going to be until late tomorrow. It’s not I have a kind of rain just those misty. Type type rain showers. But it is doing the same back home too. The fall color is coming in very slowly it will probably be at least next week before it really starts to pop out but it is still getting pretty here.

I took a ride back to Ishpeming and Negaunee this morning which is about a 25-30 mile drive, to run a couple errands and also stop to see one of my friends from Gladstone which is about an hour south from here. I met him and his wife when I was camping at the state park down that way and we have become friends. He and his brother own a used car dealership in Negaunee and Escanaba and he is in charge of the one in Negaunee. So he has to commute back-and-forth. But we had a nice short visit. His wife is on her way home from Georgia right now and she is hoping to get up here to see me before I leave. The weather is too crappy to go out just to take a drive and enjoy the scenery right now. That will come once a quits raining. I have at least three waterfalls I want to check out again and a couple other places that I wanna go. So once the weather straightens up I will be out of here on the road during the day. I might mention that driving 25 to 230 miles to run a couple of errands might seem a little crazy, but this is a remote area of the UP and the closest big city is Marquette, which is 33 miles. There is a small local market in Michigamme down the way here. They stock up the basics. But if you want the big stuff like Walmart, Lowe’s and some of the other big box stores and all the stuff that the city has, then you need to go to Marquette.

It’s nice and cozy in here right now so I don’t care what it is doing outside. The pups are snoozing on the floor as they are tired from yesterday’s drive and also three or four walks plus going with me on my errands this morning. They are definitely out of their routine ha ha.

As to the paper or plastic shopping bags, we have no charge us for any of that stuff. I do have some store bags that I had bought for a dollar apiece and I am making myself get into the habit of taking them. But if I do happen to forget to take them in with me, then I will use a paper bag. They hold more for one thing. I go through self check out all the time as I like it better. I can get out of there at half the time it takes me to wait in line at the regular cashier and there is a regular cashier on the prowl there so if you have a problem she’s right there. I can take either paper or plastic whatever I want. Both of them going to my recycle can anyway. Aldi’s which I don’t shop at, charges a quarter for their shopping carts, which you get back when you are done. Doing that keeps the carts from being left out all over the parking lot. But if I am going into my local grocery store that I shop at, I just grab a cart out of the cart corral on my way by. They have a person who goes around and brings them all in, but I figure since I need a cart and I’m going past them, I might as well just take one with me. I’ve seen other people do the same thing. Nothing aggravates me more then going to pull into a parking space And have a shopping cart sitting tbere, because somebody was too lazy to walk it over to a cart corral.

Well, Molly Is giving me the, I want supper vibes, so I guess I better get it moving and I need to get mine too. I’ve been jabbering enough about nothing anyhow, so I will wish you a good rest of the day. Those of you down in Florida stay safe and also up the East Coast.

[OregonLuvr]

I bought these bags a couple of years ago and I love them. They go in this little bag that has a clip on it so you can clip it to your cart or self. You just wad them up and in they go. Bags are made of parachute type material. No ripping or tearing. The handles are part of the bag so they dont come off. Sometimes I just put a couple bags in my purse when I am not buying much. Mine came with 10 bags, They are good sized so i usually only use 4 or 5

https://www.bagpodz.com/

[Shirlv]

Karen I bought bags on Amazon and they sound similar to yours. Mine are washable so throw in with a load of towels. Shopping a Bjs, Sam’s you need bags to carry in groceries. Food Lion curbside uses paper bags but they are not very durable. When shopping you pick your produce, weigh it, bag it, put in cart, take out of cart, check yourself out. I’m not paying to use a cart so they don’t have to pick it up from the parking lot. Soon they will want you to unload the semi’s or rail cars. Geeezzzz

P.S. I’m already growing food in pots. They don’t accept chickens as pets in this complex.

[JudyJB]

Foggy, chilly day today. In fact, I have left my little electric heater on all day. I started out with windows open in the morning, but it took very little time for me to close them and turn on the heater!! Low tonight is going to be 48!! (Just your kind of weather, Anne.) Supposed to be cloudy and cold all day tomorrow, and rain on Wednesday. Got lots of inside projects to do, so that will be fine. I made five pasties yesterday, which takes a long time to cut up all the vegetables, roll out the pie dough I made yesterday, and fill them. Also, I have only one pan to bake them on, so it took three loads. I did eat one pastie and froze the other four so I will have four extra meals I can heat up in the future!!

So, right now, I also have some bread dough rising and will put that in the oven soon. I am going to cook a small steak and mushrooms for dinner, so will have a slice of fresh bread later this evening.

Also, I looked up those bags and ordered a set of five. Thanks for the tip!!

[Cudedog]

Foggy, chilly day today. In fact, I have left my little electric heater on all day. I started out with windows open in the morning, but it took very little time for me to close them and turn on the heater!! Low tonight is going to be 48!! (Just your kind of weather, Anne.) Supposed to be cloudy and cold all day tomorrow, and rain on Wednesday.

Today's high here was 92, with $$A/C$$ still blowing cold air at 8:30 p.m. Low tonight 60. Hot and sunny tomorrow (Tuesday) with a a probable high of 90. Sunny and hot on Wednesday.

And dry. No rain in the forecast.

And so it goes.

Anne

[snowball]

my only claim to doing anything today was to get unpacked and stuff put away and hung up... although there is stuff on the bed that I need to take care off should go in and do the nebulizer... will after I get off the computer...
now the should haves... should have gotten dressed... should have gone to the store for milk and bread and fresh stuff and RX but as Scarlett said there "is always tomorrow". or words to that effect
the oxygen people came and replaced the concentrator and left more portables as well as a full taller tank for a back up... I have several portables so I can use them on the trip to SD just need to start driving with oxygen on to shorter areas first like the grocery store
Jackson went to no plastic not sure how long ago so I keep the bags in the car... as well as some sturdy plastic bags rolled up in my purse that way if I forget I'm covered need to replace one as it's got yarn in it right now... the plastic bags in WA at Walmart were a lot better quality than the ones in Idaho... those I really would reuse the others the free ones that lots of places don't have are used in the small garbage cans... I hate being charged for those really light weight ones... the bag I bought is really pretty and will not be for groceries or other stuff of that nature... it's lined and has really heavy rope handles it's got hummers and flowers on it... oh and zips closed... I am one of those that walk past the carts and get the ones inside... because for many years I've wiped the carts where I will most likely touch did it before COVID and will continue... I hate it when they are out of the wipes I do try to care those with me as well perhaps I ought to use the bag as a purse lol no that wouldn't work I like it a bit more organized..
I remember one time I mentioned that I wiped the carts and my sister made the comment about you are one of those?" no I'm not germaphobic I just don't like the sticky stuff that can be there...
I have the pulmonary test on the 29th and see the dr on the 12 my brother and his wife and daughter will be going to FL to see his son and family but we do need to decide what is the best for mom she will say staying home but she can't by herself...
I truly am hoping that if I can be out of the higher altitude for longer that two weeks my lungs will heal and I can come up for the summer... guess we will see what the dr says after the test...
last summer the plans were (when I had planned on going to Q for the winter) that he would sell my truck (it has some repair work that needs to be done now I don't remember what) so his thought was to sell the truck and put that on his new one and he would drive me down and I would take one of his cars down for the winter basically he would become my driver... but things change the truck wasn't sold and now sil won't be my driver for quite awhile... he told me to keep paying insurance on the truck but not to license it... so now I need to figure out that part as he took the old ones off... and get what needed repaired repaired that is if I can go south...so perhaps I'm jumping the gun although I really wish that I'd licensed it ... it's been used several times so worry about that use without it being properly licensed...
well it's late and I want to play my game...
Karen so glad that you are feeling better... since you are in the mood to dust you can come here..
you all have a good day
sheila

[BarbaraRose]

Good late evening!

Was a long day at work and only did 6 haircuts in 9 hours!

Last night, I fell asleep sitting on my bed sometime around 7pm after posting on here and didn't wake up until 1:30am still in my work clothes! Put on my PJ's but it took an hour to fall back to sleep, but got caught up from the previous two nights of not sleeping well.

As far as bags go, WM charges .10 cents per bag which I forget to bring back in most of the time. Then I end up with a bunch that I put in their recycle bin, and start all over. They do sell some "cloth" type bags with designs on them for a buck or two, but the heat will literally turn them to dust if left in the car for too long. I had some out in my porch for awhile and they really made a big mess when they disintegrated! Why can't they go back to the paper bags from the old days? Those worked pretty good and very biodegradable. I sure hope they don't start charging for carts!

Tomorrow I need to get busy on my bedroom and all the books! After that is done, I am back to trying to finish the living room that I got stalled on. By then, hopefully, it will start cooling off outside and I can work on the porch, deck and shed. I could bring some of the bins in the house to go thru tho, if it is still too hot out. But now I am worried about doing that since I found another roach in the house the other night. Well, Romeow found it. He was looking and pawing under the stove and later I found a half dead roach on it's back on the kitchen floor with Romeow batting it around. It was about 1 1/2 inches long!!! Not sure how it got in the house other than hitching a ride in another bin I brought in. Going thru my kitchen the other day, I didn't see any signs of roaches and there was no food around to attract them. I keep everything in plastic containers and keep everything clean. The only living thing I have ever had in this place since I bought it over 3 years ago were the teeny tiny ants that came in for a bit.

Time for bed! Romeow already went to bed in the closet and Karma the fish is on his leaf hammock sleeping off his dinner.

[Pooker]

Another gripe: I simply cannot walk around these large stores, so it is nice to find a riding cart - when I can, that is. However, many stores won't let you take these carts out of the store. That means you have to transfer all your groceries into another cart and trundle them out to your car where you get to unload them again. Then home - where you unpack car, make however many trips in and out, and put things away. It all exhausts me these days. One of our large box stores - Winco - has had such a problem with the riding carts that they installed locks on them. Cart won't run without the key. So folks started keeping the keys so they could be guaranteed a riding cart when they returned! So now we have to walk to the customer service counter, stand in line, and leave our driver's license in order to get a key. That means you have to bring the cart back to customer service (and possibly wait again) to get your license back, transfer your groceries to a regular cart, and walk back to your car, etc. Kinda defeats the purpose of having a handicap parking sticker and getting a riding grocery cart, doesn't it?

I remember years ago when I still lived back east, one of our larger supermarkets had a large portico roof over their large entrance where you could drive up to the door and have your groceries packed for you. Remember high school bag boys and girls? All the shopping carts had a number on the front. When the cashier finished with your order, that number was written on your receipt. When you pulled your car up, you handed the receipt to one of these bag people and they got your cart, and actually packed it in your trunk for you. It was worth the small tip that most people gave them. Sigh - never thought I'd say it, but "those were the good old days"!

[BarbaraRose]

I remember years ago when I still lived back east, one of our larger supermarkets had a large portico roof over their large entrance where you could drive up to the door and have your groceries packed for you. Remember high school bag boys and girls? All the shopping carts had a number on the front. When the cashier finished with your order, that number was written on your receipt. When you pulled your car up, you handed the receipt to one of these bag people and they got your cart, and actually packed it in your trunk for you. It was worth the small tip that most people gave them. Sigh - never thought I'd say it, but "those were the good old days"!

I remember that! The little town I last lived and worked in back in MN, the grocery store there still does that. They give you large plastic cards with the number of the bins they put your groceries and when you pull up to the front under the awning, you give them the cards and they load your groceries from those bins, into your car. I remember some stores where the bag boys would take your cart out to your car for you and load it up. Customer service has really gone out the window now days!

[MandysMom]

My local BelAir market, part of the Raleys chain, always has young people who bag your groceries, who offer to go with you to the car and they load groceries in car for you. Always been that way. It was a service the BelAir owner family asked to continue when the local Raleys family bought the markets to add to their chain, but which would also keep the BelAir name. in fact, before the sale, Raleys did not offer the service, but soon saw how well it worked and added the service .
Velda