TUESDAY - THE IDES OF MARCH

[Colliemom]

Good Morning all,

Well, here we are the, Ides of March and the mid point of the month. This date has some interesting historical facts: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Ides_of_March.

For us here at the 45th and the rest of northern Michigan, it is the day when all ice fishing shantes must be removed from area lakes and also the transition time when spring starts to take over more from winter, the days longer and warmer.

It is to be a beautiful day here again today. Highs in the lower 40's and plenty of sun. The snowpack is slowing melting down and bare ground is appearing again. We have about three days of rain in the forecast for later this week and first part of next, so that will reduce the snow further still. That's not to say that winter won't be back. I always say it has to have it's "last hurrah" before it's over.

So sad reading and listening to the stories from the survivors of Japan's tsunami. Losing friends and loved ones, even having them torn from their holding hands. And also watching the ever growing threat of a nuclear meltdown, which I'm sure, those of you on the West coast are watching with a little bit of aprehension.

Breakfast was poached eggs, sausage and strawberries this morning. Now a glas of water. No coffee for this person. Gonna be heading into Gaylord in awhile to pick up a few things and some lumber for my project I am working on now. A few years ago I built a box for the "girls" to use to jump from the ground up, into my trucks and vice versa. Works out great for them. Well, it's gotten kind of beat up over time, not to mention run over a couple of times , so I am building a new one. That way I can stay outside for awhle as well and just enjoy being out again.

So as I said, no coffee here, but I can offer you a cup of tea or yummy hot chocolate. Pull up a chair and talk about your upcoming day or whatever's on your mind. Have a great day all.

[Nasoosie]

GOOD MORNING SUE AND ALL!

Another beautiful day here in Orlando, with temperatures predicted to get into the 80s----pool weather for me! I planted three new rose bushes next to the driveway between me and a neighbor yesterday afternoon, and they are looking beautiful there. I'll take pics later and post them somewhere.

And today, being the Ides of March, is Nasus Day for me. Back in my school days, both as a student and as a teacher, I used this day as a day of 'escape' to take off and spend some time doing what I chose to do. I usually went to the beach when I had a car and was old enough to drive, or packed a picnic lunch and rode my bike to some nice quiet place to read and eat and swim in the peace of the wild things when I was too young to drive, or stayed home from teaching and spent the day on my own property, hiking, skiing, snowshoeing, or whatever the weather allowed. Playing hooky is what it used to be called in the old days! I had a best friend who used to take the day with me, but she died a few years ago from a brain tumor, and now Nasus Day passes without a card from her. I miss her a lot on Nasus Days now.

But----Nasus Day is now my life most of the time anyway, as retirement is the ultimate Nasus Day, or, more properly, Nasus Life! I love this extended freedom from work schedules, lesson planning, studying, test taking, test giving, punching time clocks, and so on. With every day being a veritable Nasus Day, I guess this has become just a token to remember now. Every day is now spent doing what I like most, or working on jobs of my choice. What a nice feeling!

So, to all, Happy Nasus Day!

[JudyJB]

Interesting information on the Ides of March, Sue. Some I knew and some I did not, so I was interested to read it all.

And today is my son't birthday, so I will send it on to him! (He thinks I specifically picked this date for his birth so it would have a Shakespeare reference.)

Beaches in Michigan and other north places are still frozen on March 15, Nasoosie, so a picnic would not be as much fun as yours were.

[khenrie]

Good morning. Feeling a little ogre-ish this morning. I was cranky last night because things were not running smoothly and between that and the time change, I am C.R.A.B.B.Y. this morning.

I've never really spent too much time thinking about the Ides of March. I may have to read up on that.

Here the skies are spectacular and dramatic this morning. Cheers me up a little

I grew up on the West Coast. The picture floating around the news of Diablo Canyon was taken by my high school classmate, Marya Figeroua. We are proud of her It was posted on rollingstone.com yesterday or today.... lived through nuclear drills in middle and high school. I really feel for Japan. Our company is matching our donations 2 to 1, so I think that we'll be sending some funds today.

Booking plane tickets this morning to Kansas City for my daughter's birthday, April 1-4, so should be fun. We'll take the RV there in June/July.

Have a great day! I'm thinking the hot tub'll cheer me up.

[avalen]

Good morning ladies
well, the theraflu made me puky last night so I didn't get any sleep until later in the night.
I feel ok this morning but will do things slowly and try to get a few things done that really
need it. DISHES, for sure, then rest up before I tackle something else. I don't want to overdo
and wipe myself out like yesterday. Will sit out in the yard and soak up some sunshine later
on, vitamin d is really beneficial.
Not much else going on here.
Have a great day everybody and be safe.

[dayspring39]

Good Morning... I have coffee but have gotten so used to the international dairy creamer it does not taste good to me without it... ugh maybe I should stop using it...
I have my table up now to do some sewing so will get the machine out and start maybe tomorrow... I feel very lazy... ha ha ha guess that is what happens here in the winter...
I am going to go back and look at the other rv park with Molly today... need to have it in my mind for next year or maybe I will go visit my friend Donna in Lakeland for a few weeks before finding camp... who knows for sure that is many months away...
Glad everyone is awake and that you are feeling better Ava...
Have a good day...
Kathleen

[Travelinana]

I don't know why March is a always a 'downer' for me. I love the change of seasons but I truly have spring fever, always have had it and probably always will. It's a slugginess that is made worse because I try so hard to deny it as I feel it coming on. My mind wants to go out and get my hands in the dirt, start my repotting, raking, trimming, etc but the body won't allow. It passes, this I know and by the 3rd or 4th week all the senses will be in sinc again. I'm don't even have problems with pollen so I know I'm fortunate, wish it would help with the depression tho.
Ava, sounds like you've had a round of it for sure. Hopefully, the worst is over. How is Gracie? If our little fur babies ain't happy ain't nobody happy
The news is enough to put us in the pits. All we can do is pray for them and give to what we feel is the best source. Money probably isn't the problem. Getting food and other necessities distributed is critical. Have any of you wondered about your money you sent to Haiti? How can anyone stoop so low to steal knowing children are starving.
Let's remember that today is the first day of the rest of our lives and be thankful to live in the greatest country in the world.

[Irmi]

Good morning everyone!

It's a partly sunny morning in MD and still a little on the cool side. I'm so looking forward to the warmer temperatures this weekend.

The motorhome's gas tank was topped off yesterday and we're getting it ready for the first outing in 4 weeks. Since the weather will be so nice this weekend, the plan is to get it washed both inside and out. Another chore this weekend is to pick up the limbs and twigs, for the umpteenth time, in the yard and light a fire in the fire ring. The lawn tractors have been serviced and are ready to keep our yard cut for the season.

It sounds like my father may finally be coming home from the hospital today following the second carpal tunnel surgery. The first surgery became infected and he had to be re-operated on to clean out the infection and stich him back up. My sister from Florida flew up yesterday and is their caretaker until Thursday. So things are looking up.

Take care everyone and remember that spring is just around the corner.

[AlmostThere]

Morning!
Today is my middle GD's birthday. Happy 11th Danica!

Not much planned for the rest of this week, for a change. I did get to the dentist yesterday for my broken tooth. Came to find out it was a porcelain crown that broke. It's on the very last tooth in the back so I couldn't see it in the mirror. The dentist said that the porcelain is coated over a gold crown and some of the porcelain chipped off, but the gold is still covering the tooth just fine and is it's not bothering me in any way, just to leave it be. So that's the plan so far. Kinda ticks me off the $$ I had to pay for the porcelain and to have this happen. I guess I could complain and ask for a replacement, but who wants to go thru more dental work to do that? Not me.

Ava, I'm a bit concerned about you and your health this past week or so. I do hope you start feeling better soon. Also Kathy (KD). Please see a doctor if you aren't feeling better soon.

Watching all the panic about the nuclear mess in Japan. I fear for the people trying to fight against a meltdown, which seems hopeless by the reports coming in. Continued prayers for all victims and families.

[dayspring39]

Almost evening here in Fl... I got a call from my daughter and our young friend Scott who was in college in Japan actually flew out of that sad country and landed in Normal late last evening... he had lost a lot of weight in the few short days since the earth quake and tsunami... he was so frightened... and said what is being reported is not exactly true... he said there were near riots wanting to get on busses to leave... he simply walked past those people and was the last one on a bus... the rest had to make reservations to get on a bus... he got to the air port and was able to fly out... he was afraid to eat or drink for fear of radiation poisoning... they all stayed up into the night praying, crying and talking... he was sleeping when Margie called... it was interesting as my daughter had been cleaning out the spare bedroom this past couple of weeks... then the news came that Scott was coming! my grandson Pete took his bed apart and put it in Scotts room... Pete put a mattress on the floor to sleep on... I am proud of those boys... Scott speaks either 4 or 5 languages fluently... he is a very bright young man...
Kathleen

[AlmostThere]

Kathleen, so glad your family friend is home safe. I'm sure there will be a lot of PTS for all who lived through the mess. They need to keep him talking about it all.
Yes, the news seems to want to portray the Japanese as just standing around calmly, but I have seen some video that says differently. And why wouldn't they be expressing their fear, anger and grief? Come on, they are human beings after all! Now they have the nuclear fallout to deal with, too.

[khenrie]

Kathleen, so happy for your friend, that he got out and made his way to your daughter's home. And I too am very proud of your grandson - what a great great gesture on his part.