Tuesday, May 23rd

[Colliemom]

Morning all. It’s overcast from Canadian fire smoke, as has been the case for many days. It’s spreading all across the Midwest and down entire state of Michigan. Once in a while, it will clear out and we see blue sky and sunshine. I do not expect it to be leaving too soon as we have a cold front coming in late tonight for the next couple of days which means Northwest winds will just bring along more. Currently, our temp is 49°. Heading to about 82 today.

Has been a few busy days here. Spring is busting out all over the place, so there is a flurry of activity as everybody’s getting flowerbeds and gardens ready to plant among other projects. The garden centers are busy, busy. However, it will be this coming weekend before I will plant here, as we have two potential frosty nights coming up. I have not even purchased any plants yet. But I have added a little more stone to the beds across the front of my house, some compost to one flower bed, and the one out at the entrance to the sub, and put new mulch around a couple of my trees. Still need to get some compost to add to the flowerbed along the side of the house. And a load of topsoil for the yard. I also got into another project, and that was building a raised planter box on legs for the front of my house. Hoping to stain that this morning. The boy and girl are ready to go out to the front as soon as I add a couple of the pieces that I need to put on them. My plan is to spend Friday mowing my grass and then also getting the sub entrance mowed and the flower box decorated and everything for Memorial Day. I have a lot of irons in the fire right now. But it is a beautiful season to be out with all the new growth and trees flowering, lilacs starting to come out etc.

The other thing that has gone on this past weekend was the commemoration of the one-year anniversary of the tornado that hit Gaylord on May 20, 2022. There were a number of events from Thursday to Saturday. One was any emergency preparedness expo, which was very interesting. The other was a storytelling program where people could share those stories and experiences from the tornado. Habitat for Humanity also had a showing of a documentary they made of the destruction and work they did in the mobile home park, the which of I was a volunteer on. I was also interviewed on one of my volunteer days and part of that interview was included in the documentary. But by far the biggest thing that happened was a major tree planting project last week Friday what’s involved a bunch of organizations coming together to plant about 100 trees, through the city along the path of the tornado. I joined this effort as well. We planted across approximately 4 1/2 blocks of town. It has made a big difference already, as it has beautified up the areas where the tornado ripped out trees and homes. As these grow, hopefully we will have left a living legacy to the city. There was also a lot of media coverage over the past few days, a lot of it looking back over the past year of what happened and has been accomplished. They were also covering the tree planting project and by fate of chance I had my picture on one of the news stations. But I have also spent some time thinking back over this past year of all that has gone on since the tornado hit, the things that have been accomplished, what remains to be done, the organizations and the people that I have met, etc.

But right now, I need to finish my breakfast and get this day moving. I want to get that planter stained before it gets too warm in the garsge. I’m thinking that this might be a day off from work. Not sure if I want to take the girls and maybe go for a ride up to Mackinaw or go down to the Greenhouse in Grayling and start picking up some plants. No matter what I do it will probably involves spending some green

Lyn, sorry about your fall, but glad you are healing. Anita, congrats on your move. Hopefully the manager will get her act together. It was Interesting reading the stories about our days and difficulties in school. I was never that good at math either. Fact, to this day, I still have issues reading a tape measure. I have no problem with inches, 1/4 and 3/4 and stuff like that. But the 16ths and the 8ths always throw me off big time. So I have a tape measure with those marks on them and also a couple of charts. Sometimes I just count marks But I excelled in history.

Have a great day everyone.

[Shirlv]

Morning Sue and All, 62° and partly sunny. Accuweather issued a warning about air quality because of wild fires. Sue sorry your spring is impacted by wildfires. You have some interesting projects planned. pictures pleas. Using cvc hoops and plastic for your raised bed would prolong your plants. Do residents there use hoop tunnels? Another memory popped up. My 92 yr father told me he use to lie and tell his teacher he didn’t understand math and she would put her arm around him to explain, he said you know my mother never hugged me. I guess teachers have alway worn many hats. Maintenance starts quarterly work today on the third floor so birdwoman was out early scraping thing and cleaning I guess. They will be on my floor tomorrow, I am ready. My iPad is getting so very slow and Best Buy has a $100 off the 5th generation Air iPad. So pondering that purchase. Othwise just another putzing day. Guess Anita is putting big time. Be safe.

[OregonLuvr]

Good morning. It is chilly here this morning 42 good grief, it was only 59 in my house so kicked the heat on for about 10 minutes just to take the chill off. It is cloudy this morning but supposed to warm up to 70 today. Which is perfect working in the yard weather. I did housekeeping chores yesterday and then just relaxed the rest of the day. I so enjoyed my friend visiting for a few days. She helped plant my plants we picked up and did lots of visiting. LOL Today I will work on my watering system. Need to put fresh batteries in the watering timer and figure out exactly how I want the lines to go.

Lyn I am so sorry you took such a tumble. Hope you are continuing to heal. You know we just dont bounce like we used to. Was your little dog with you??? Anita hope you will be enjoying your new apartment and the management is improved.
After reading all your stories here about learning in school and your experiences I consider myself lucky I did not have those issues. I did have a couple of teachers that were less than stellar but no lasting consequences thank goodness.

I have to go to the grocery store this morning to get just a few things (I will try anyway). Then have to pick up my paint at Home Depot. I am going to start painting the primer on my bathroom. Will start masking it in small areas at a time then paint. They say it might take 2 coats of the primer as it is manufactured home walls called VOG (Vinyl on Gypsum). Then I am going to paint it with lightly textured paint. It covers up lots of imperfections so I am going to try it. Have watched Youtube, read instructions on it, and now I am going to go for it LOL Starting in my bathroom for the practice run first.

Going to grab a shower and head to the stores early. Breakfast time too soon.

[Othersharon]

Good morning all. So much happening in everyone’s world on the forum! Some interesting discussions on our education systems. I sometimes think I could write a book on some of the things I dealt with both me and my kids! Sunday was quite a day for me. Had news that 3 different family and friends dealing with medical situations. The worst being my step granddaughter was in an accident and burned 50-60% of her body. She was life flighted to burn center in Allentown and so far she is surviving under heavy sedation. Report is that tomorrow will be the first of many surgeries she will have to have. She is 19 and faces a whole new life after this. So at this point I’m just trying to support son and family the best I can. I was supposed to get Lola inspected yesterday morning but had to cancel in order to take son for his second cataract surgery so was a very early start to the day for me! Then coming home they were laying asphalt in front of my house. Luckily a nice flag lady helped me so I could get into my driveway! So once in I was stuck for the day! Luckily by late afternoon the traffic was flowing again but I wasn’t inclined to go where I like to walk Buddy not to mention I was just pooped! I hadn’t really slept the night before so it was a long day! Today will be yard work and a nice long walk for Buddy. Temps starting to moderate so if I were to put out plants I probably could. The way Buddy likes to dig I’m not hopeful but maybe some color out front! Unfortunately a couple of projects my son was going to help me with probably won’t happen so may be back to hiring someone to do it. If I can find someone which has been a problem all along. No one wants to take on small projects. Oh well, I’ll figure out something. So that’s my tales of woe. Better days ahead. Hope you have a great day!

[Acadianmom]

I am just waiting for my neighbor to call so I can bring my motorhome to the shop. Hope she doesn't forget me. I pulled it out and parked in the front yard. Sugar couldn't see me me move it but guess she recognized the engine noise. She was all excited like we were going somewhere. She is feeling a lot better after the vet visit. I have been giving her 1/3 cup of the rice and ground beef every morning with the probiotic pill. She loves that. I might try cooking some chicken and rice and see how she does on that.

Yesterday they started cutting the grass on the land next to me. The guy left about dark. Later I hear a bunch of noise that sounded like a helicopter landing. The mower had started up agin and he was mowing by headlight. This morning they picked up the tractor so will probably be back to bail hay in a few days. The lady that has the land on the other side should try that. All they do is mow. At least they would get some money for hay.

I will have to ask my brother in Canada if they get the smoke where he lives. I wish he lived close to me because he is Mr Fixit. I could sure use a handyman. The guys Harold would get are gone too.

Martha

[SoCalGalcas]

Good morning, o’cast and cool. Temp 61*. My adventure today is having a dressing change. I changed it myself Sunday. Wish they would release me and let me change it myself from now on.
Saturday, my 1 year old GGS had his first birthday party. Hugh crowd, good food. I come home from those parties exhausted. I don’t do anything but sit and visit.
My daughter drives me to the appointments, otherwise I would have to use Uber. I look up what Uber would charge, then pay her that amount.
Not a very exciting day. Lyn

[BarbaraRose]

Good morning gals!

Lynn, I am so sorry to hear about your fall and the ER stuff. Maybe you should have called 911. You probably would have gotten seen faster. Glad you are healing well tho. Be careful!!

Sharon, that is so awful and sad about your GD! She is in for a long, painful recovery! And so young! I feel for her and your whole family as you all go thru this. (((hugs))).

I had one really nice teacher in 4th grade. Back then, there was a program I think run by the county, that would have teachers in different schools recommend one of their students (per school) to go for a week to camp, for under-privileged kids. She nominated me and I got to go. It was fun and I met a lot of other girls. I was paired with a girl from a neighboring community and two ladies took us shopping before the camp started and bought us whole new wardrobes, shoes, sleeping bags, etc (much more than we needed for just the camping trip). She was extremely shy but then so was I. We hung out together thru the week at camp. It was a great program.

In school, I loved art class (of course!), also liked science, English, home ec, music/chorus, and photography. I was not the least bit athletic so didn't like gym/sports, struggled with math, terrible with Spanish, and got kicked out of band!

I finally put the 1" eggcrate foam pad on my bed last night and it adds a nice soft cushy feel now.

Just hanging out in bed this morning. I had the windows open in my bedroom overnight which felt nice but now my eyes are puffy and itchy from the dust coming in. Need to put in some drops. I need to do laundry and finish the cat door for the porch. Hoping that SIM card comes today!

Have a good day and stay safe!

[Colliemom]

Shirl, those fires in Canada are so huge and hard to get at, plus sometimes They let them burn if nothing is in harm’s way, that unless Mother Nature Intervenes, we will be having hazy skies for a long time. You can’t smell it though as it’s high in the atmosphere. The air smells of blossoming trees, and the fresh sweet smells of spring.

As to hoop houses, no they aren’t common up here. Some of the big garden centers that have a lot of plants, have them inside big greenhouses, of course and those are usually heated. You just don’t plant before Memorial Day here in the higher elevations. Or, if you do plant, you can put them in containers and just move them inside. A hoop house works for keeping frost off, but doesn’t do much good in below freezing temps depending on how long they last.

[JudyJB]

Lyn, you mentioned going to get wound care. Shouldn't they be sending a nurse or two to your place to do it there???

Believe it or not, I was so shy in elementary school that I never got there on time--never in 5 years! I only lived half a block from the school, and my mother would send me on time, but I would hide behind the wooden post of the "School" sign until after the bell rang and all the kids went in. The kids used to tease me horribly, mostly because my mother did my hair in long curls and sent me to school with white shoes and frilly dresses. Now, I have NEVER been a frilly dress person and never liked my long hair, but I think my mother was enamored with Shirley Temple or something. She even sent me with a bow in my hair! The other thing she did was send me to school with two pairs of underpants--one was cotton "for warmth" she said, and the other one was frilly and nylon. Most days, I ditched the fancy ones in the girl's bathroom! Unfortunately, the supply never ran out, however.

I was much more of the tree-climbing, dig holes and build forts in the woods, and play with the boys kind of kid, but somehow my mother never caught on, and I guess she thought kids would like me better if I was dressed up. But we lived in a very working class neighborhood, so I just got made fun of. After a couple of parent meetings in one of the early grades, the teachers just let me be late every day. They must have felt sympathetic for me!! Oh, and as you might guess, my mother said I came home filthy all the time. Now that I think of it, she must have spent a lot of time getting my clothes and shoes clean because I played in the dirt. My poor mother just got the wrong daughter. She would have loved one who liked dolls and to dress up!

All of this is why I keep my hair short and simple, and wear shorts and t-shirts all the time. I don't even own a dress anymore.

It is hazy here, but I don't know if it is clouds or smoke. And Barbie, what did you do to get kicked out of band??

[BarbaraRose]

And Barbie, what did you do to get kicked out of band??

My band teacher finally figured out I couldn't read music and was just playing by ear. Got by with that for a few years amazingly! I played the clarinet.

[chalet05]

I can't say I ever had a problem with teachers except when the band teacher found out I wasn't going to continue in high school - he gave me an obviously low grad.

Sharon, so sorry about what your granddaughter will go through along with the family. Lyn, I'd be tired after a crowd, too! Awful to admit what we just can't handle anymore. Karen, it's been cooler here, too.

Since they were coming between 12 and 5 to hook up the Internet, I was still deciding about whether to go to old apartment - until I realized I didn't have a clean shirt! Didn't bring back a full load but I also got groceries. The manager saga continues. I told her more than once yesterday the Internet people were coming this afternoon. She left at 3:30! I got a text the installer was on the way at 4:15 so walked over to find note on office door she had gone to lunch and would be back at 4:30. She works 6 hours and gets a hour for lunch!?! At 4:35 I started calling her and left a message. She called at 4:39 and what could she do for me!? Now it wasn't lunch but an appointment (hope it's for another job). Luckily, the router had to be mounted which took time and the guy was patient enough to wait! It's not 6 yet and she's gone! Sure miss the other gal!

Daughter was asked if she was coming to work today and her yes reply brought several 'thank goodness'. Guess they had quite a time yesterday and some of it due to an upset in routine with her not there. One boy wouldn't get off the bus yesterday morning because she wasn't there and they had to call his mom!

[snowball]

I drove by the knitting shop since I had tried to call and no answer several times... that is all I did it looked like a note was on the door.... and no parking so didn't want to part a long ways away just to find that they were closed... after I got home I called my sister in law to see how she is (she is recovering from hip replacement) and remembered that she crochets as asked if I can send the pattern to her and her look at it and see if I'm doing it correctly... I'm just practicing right now
spent a ton of money today... went to Ace's and got a bunch of stuff most of it was in the 15 dollar range so it added up really quick... was surprised they had orchid fertilizer so got some of it... didn't get planter's there thought I'd look else where see if I could find them cheaper then on to Target surprise the planters were cheaper so got a couple
then to Smith's got a gift card for my youngest... her birthday is tomorrow so it will be late but at least it's been bought... I also want to get her a mug just trying to decide which one... my husband picked up several bumper stickers with the saying "Tree's are the Answer" and found a mug with that on it... but he also liked the story "The Giving Tree" and also found a mug with that on it... she even has a tattoo with the giving tree on it... so need to decide which I maybe should call her husband and see if she has either or both it is so easy to spend a lot of money at the store and come away with not much of anything... came out of the store and it was pouring down rain finally slowed down but the employee's also got a umbrella and helped me out... was very kind of them...
so sorry to hear about your granddaughter Sharon hopefully she will eventually recover that is such an incredible amount of the body... just feel for her...
I was perplexed after I payed for my groceries I stopped in at Starbucks for a cup of ice water and big cup of ice water she came back with a that as well as a lemon bar now I didn't order it but since I like them I paid for it will enjoy it but really did she remember that when I get ice water I usually get the lemon bar and just assumed ???
Sue it sounds like you are really busy .... we have haze from the smoke as well although today was a better day
Anita hopefully you will get all moved then the real work begins... and hopefully your manager starts doing her job
you all have a great day
sheila

[Cudedog]

And Barbie, what did you do to get kicked out of band??

My band teacher finally figured out I couldn't read music and was just playing by ear. Got by with that for a few years amazingly! I played the clarinet.

Barbie, just my opinion - but I think a child (or anyone) that can play music "by ear" - and do it well, as you obviously did - should be praised, rather than punished.

I guess I just don't understand how the world works. Being able to play music by ear is a talent that very few people are gifted with. My late brother had it - he could hear a piece of music - once! - and ten sit down at the piano and play it two-handed!

I couldn't carry a tune even if I had a box to put it in.

So sorry to hear about the burn victim. Burns are a terrible thing, I'm sending her healing and good wishes.

Lyn, awful fall! Glad to hear you are recovering. You must be in a lot of pain. Hope you are fully recovered soon!

Anne