I haven't been able to do much due to having two little kittens who are into everything. LOL When they get put in the laundry room, then I can get into my bedroom and make a few cards. Other than the usual doing dishes and having to reschedule a doctor appointment because the doctor won't be in the office the day I was supposed to be there, that's about it.

I'm glad your blood work came back good. Mine did too.

Laundry, did I mention I hate doing laundry? Luckily husband helps me. I have a hard time maneuvering with a basket of clothes.

I need to get busy right now and put stuff away for the cleaning ladies tomorrow. I have not been very motivated lately I think it's the weather.

Took my 9 year old to the eye doctor today. He just got his glasses last November, 8 months ago) but is noticing vision problems. Ended up there's been a significant change, when I ask how significant the doctor said a 300% change.. new glasses should be ready in 3 to5 days.

Water aerobics, first thing this morning. Lunched with friend at newly opened Little Donkey. Two 1/2 hour lunch, as it's been a long time and we needed catchup big time.

Brunch with friends this morning then we went to play bridge. Did some laundry this morning. tomorrow is a free day....hope to get some work done around the house. Wed. night I have a dinner to celebrate a friends birthday, Thursday and Friday golf. That's my week in a nutshell.

I'm glad that your blood work came back good, Marilyn.

Mamapinky0, sorry to hear that your 9 y/o has had such a large change in his vision! Hope that that doesn't continue.

Glenda, glad you had a nice long lunch with your friend.

I haven't been up to much. We spent 3 months with friends in Arizona after Christmas. Since then, it has been catch up with everything, and all the usual things. Went to Michigan on Saturday to visit friends, then, on Saturday, we went down to Columbus to visit DH's sister. Today I have done a bit of baking, and have a load of jeans in the washer. Dinner will be out, wings.

Spending more time with the grands. About to start advanced training with my dog. Waiting for cooler weather so I can get some horseback riding in.

Spent Friday night in the ER. Extremely bad episode of vertigo that brought on an anxiety attack as I was on my way home from visiting kids. Called DD and she came and got me. Called DH and he came and gave DD our dog to take home with her. The good news is they ran all sorts of tests and I am reassured that I have a healthy heart, haven't had a stroke, my blood levels are good and I am really healthy. It was a long trying night. Started at around 9:00. Left hospital at 4:30 am. Had to pick up the dog before coming home and then DH had to take DD to get her car from the parking lot she picked me up at. I drove home with the dog, DH followed after dropping off DD, I got a shower and both of slept 'til 2:00.

Friend and I went out to dinner last night. Finished shopping for grandson's birthday this weekend. Also found some cute things for grand daughter for "back to school". Great clearance sales on warm weather clothes right now.

Would anyone like to pick rocks? It's lots of fun... Really! That is what I have been doing since the septic was put in. I have about half of it done and grass seed planted. I do it in strips so it doesn't seem quite as overwhelming.

Took mom to see Valerian and she liked it. Good old fashioned comic book adventure fun without the overkill sex and violence of most of them.

And who doesn't want to think that we can be a peaceful race after all and journey to fantastic worlds. The young actors could use some experience but the visual wonder of it all needs a big screen to appreciate it fully. I liked it better than Avatar.

We had a long lunch with our 'kids' over the weekend -- place near them and new to us, a French bistro (run by Italians haha). My tenderloin salad was perfect. We detoured past my childhood home, which DGS wanted to see. (Have you noticed that your childhood home and neighborhood got *smaller* since you grew up?)

Family had early birthday presents for DH. DIL's parents are taking their three daughters and their families on a tour to Poland later this week. (Hope the unrest there doesn't spoil things.) DGS had cookies for Grandpa, and a cute little wooden box he made in woodworking.

Sounds like everyone's healthy -- good to hear. Marilyn Sue, did you ask about the over-the-counter 4% lidocaine patches? (I think of you when I cut one in half -- and try to get it in position on my lower back!)

We are on an end-of-life kick lately. DH experienced a very serious health issue recently so this is on our minds. We are 62.

I need to call to get an appointment to update our will, and we have decided we will order and set a headstone for us now. I visited the cemetery today to measure existing family stones so we can get one similar. Also tried to talk to 28-year-old DS about our wishes yesterday, with predictable results. He didn't want to talk about it! So I wrote it down (cremation for both of us, but sprinkle some ashes here and some there, etc.).

62??? That's nothin'! Very sorry to hear about your DH's health issue and hope it is or can be handled. But you are wise to face the issues like wills, gravesites. It is truly a gift to your children to have everything in order, as my dear mother did for my sister and me. We have some things in order for our kids, not all.

Spent last Saturday with the grandkids. Always love that.

Younger son and his friend, who both live in Brooklyn, met up here this week. They plan to go camping in Yosemite with his older brother and his wife who live in Los Angeles. They did this 2 or 3 years ago and had a great time. Older son just got back from their belated 2 week honeymoon in France. They will be married 5 years in September, so they had a lot of saving up to do. Then they will all come down here for the evening of their camping return to join their sister from Texas and her two boys to celebrate my 76 birthday this coming weekend. I do love having the kids visit. We live in coastal southern California, where my three kids grew up. So I am baking and cleaning and baking.

We got back from a 3 week vacation to Michigan and Georgia on Thursday. On Friday we went to Bismarck to get our cat from DHs bother who catsat for us. We cam home Saturday and I went out to see my BFF who is battling cancer. I was out there yesterday and today too. I took her to church yesterday morning too. Now I need to start on some crafts I want to get done for the county fair in 2 weeks. I also had to do the laundry from our trip.

Got up this morning and started the washer and dishwasher before I headed for a 3.5 mile walk. Went to the post office to mail a box of books to my niece and nephew, then headed to Aldi's. Came home and put away groceries, unloaded dishwasher, two more loads of laundry. Sat down and read my book for a couple of hours. Now I am making supper and my dd from KC will be home tonight for a couple of days.

This morning I went to my book-market volunteer job that raises funds for our Children's Hospital. I took a couple of books home that weren't marketable and were destined to be recycled. Did some walking outdoors, but was happy to come indoors where it is cooler. My sister is visiting from the west coast and she made dinner today - yum! She is a very good cook.

Went to lunch with my Mom's sister and her husband who was celebrating his 90th. birthday today, their daughter and grandsons, and also Mom's other sister. Their's was a May/September marriage, he called her his "child bride". Inseparable all these many years. Lucky for him she is a retired nurse so he gets excellent looking after.

Chisue, I did ask my doctor about the Lidoderm patch and she said insurance companies are funny about paying for it unless you have a bad case of shingles. So they will not pay anything on mine if I want some and they are very expensive for a box of them. I will not be getting any at this time. Yes, I was pleased that tests came back fine as I am not on medications for any but the thyroid and it has stayed the same all these years.

Sue

Marilyn Sue -- I'm using half a patch for 12 hours within 24. I don't need it every day. This costs 80 cents per treatment. The patches come five to a box for $8 retail at Target. Between using this 4% lidocaine -- and my new Reeboks -- I can move more without fearing pain.

seniorgal -- I'm very unhappy to hear that your management wants to risk injury to residents with slippery flooring and inappropriate seating. Don't they have to meet health department standards for senior living? I'm happy about your company -- and winnings -- but can't these hazards be corrected?

chisue--I tried to find health department standards as you mention but they seem to be few and far between. This is considered quite a nice place and is not cheap. But- I find that many of the residents won't speak up as I do. Probably getting a record as a grumpy old lady. I will say that I have been polite and business like when I have called things to their attention. I served the maximum number of terms on the Resident
Council and was able to get things done. That group has changed so that it is more the voice of management than residents.

Did my 8 mile run/walk. We have a sick deer that is now missing. She has a healthy appetite, she's drinking water. Today I can't find her, so I started calling neighbors.

Washing bed sheets. Making hamburgers for dinner. Filling hummingbird feeders. Waiting for a call from the radiator repair shop, should have been ready yesterday.

I contacted the owner of the hot tub store where my hot tub was purchased. He might be interested in buying it. Said he'd make an appt. w/ my renters to see it this week. waiting to see if they make me an offer, if not, then I need to buy a new cover for it.

Sweating.....mostly. I have changed my shirt four times already this morning. I hurt my back. Had a full truck load of pet food donated to me a week ago Saturday. Jody said he would help me unload it but due to his recent health problems, I didn't want him to so did it before he got home. My back didn't hurt until a couple of days later. I stripped Val's stall and that took an hour and a half because my rake broke. I think that finished me off. I have never hurt my back before....so I hope this isn't something I have to deal with from here on. The pain is my left side....not my spine, so I think it is just a strained muscle.

Putting up the remaining gutter guards before the leaves (two massive trees that overhang the gutters) fall off. Fixed the sagging gutter. Wished they were full of flowing water. The grass is crunchy and brown. I went through my closet and threw out an entire garbage bag (big black one) of unwearable clothes (stained, thread bare, holey, etc. I cannot figure out why they were in my closet since I wasn't wearing them. Lazy, I guess). I also donated an entire bag of too big clothes. I have in-grown my clothes. That is the opposite of outgrowing your clothes, right? Then, I pulled out what needed to be ironed and actually ironed it. I was going to finish painting/staining the odds ends left from painting the entire house/pergola, but it was too hot. I was going to put up the last section of welded wire onto the fence posts. Instead, I sliced my thumb very thoroughly from a broken glass I was putting in a recycling bin, and ended up giving up for the day. I have four butterfly closures on the slice, and four bandaids holding them on. So I guess, I have been "bleeding" lately. Lovely.

Son started marching band camp for this fall's show yesterday, and is learning how to order and pay for taxis. Took out a money order to pay my FINAL payment for marching band for my son's high school career. He's a senior as of August 10th. Each year, the fees are around $1000. A little more, a little less. I've fund raised all but $500 of it all these years. Last year, someone donated their remainder to me. I was so very happy to write that money order for $53.49. That's all we had left. And we're paid off before band begins. I'm usually lagging, finishing up by December. I'm done. No more. Thousands of dollars. Many many hours of standing on my feet and being abused or entertained by folks parking to go to football games, marathons, CMA goers, you name it. Done.

I have been enjoying my eldest son's last summer before going to college. He usually travels a great deal on his own during the school breaks for various competitions and projects, but this year, we are spending most of the summer together.

Last night I started looking for what to buy for his dorm room. He being who he is has practically no interest in the subject. And his school provides very little guidance- plus his school does not let students know who their roommates will be until the first day of orientation, so you can't coordinate who will brink the fridge and who will bring a microwave.

Seniorgal, with respect to the situation with the remodeling of your senior living campus, I am incredibly upset by the callous disregard with which your concerns have been met. The last thing anyone wants as she ages is for her environment to be an impediment to getting exercise and socializing. So here is an idea, it is obviously worth exactly what you paid for it, but I just wanted to suggest you keep a written record of the conversations you have had with management about the new hazards they have installed. A paper trail lets people know you are serious about a problem and when something bad happens, as it surely will, not to you, but anyone else, you have documentation to back up your claims (of negligence, my word, not yours.) It would be good if you could email a brief summary of your conversation to the person you spoke with, his/her supervisor and an outside party, one of your children is a fine choice. For example:

Hello Joe,

I appreciated the opportunity of speaking with you about the slipperiness of the new flooring in the dining area. As I mentioned, this flooring has caused me to lose my balance and so I no longer can use this part of our lovely facility.

I hope you can find a way to resolve this issue, because I am distraught at no longer being able to get out as much as I would like as a result. And I am quite concerned that this flooring will cause someone to slip and fall and hurt himself. As you know, falling is a serious danger to senior citizens. One of the reasons many of us chose to leave our homes and live in a facility better suited to our needs.

I have attached a link to the Wiki page on Universal Design for your perusal https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Universal_design .

"Universal design (close relation to inclusive design) refers to broad-spectrum ideas meant to produce buildings, products and environments that are inherently accessible to older people, people without disabilities, and people with disabilities."

Best regards,

Seniorgal

Make sure you get every issue covered this way.

ETA for clarity.

I've had a busy July thus far. We started with a Fourth of July party at our new house, where we had over 70 guests, mostly just hanging out by the pond or sitting in the party gazebo.

Then that weekend we hosted a family reunion for my family with nearly all of them staying at our house. I even tried the zip line that traverses the pond.

My brother from St. Louis arranged to leave his 11 year old son with us for the following week. My wife helped him work toward a Horsemanship Merit Badge, and my sister took him to James Madison's house, Montpelier. And after a week we took him to DC to see several museums and put him on a flight back home to St. Louis.

Then this past weekend I met my two brothers in Chicago, mainly to see Roger Waters in concert, but we also took an architectural boat tour of the city, saw the Museum of Science and Industry, and had deep dish Chicago-style pizza.

On top of all this I've had a big project at work that has been in the works for a couple of years that suddenly got green-lighted, so I've been working extra hours to try to make it go smoothly.

Night before last I was getting ready to take the kids and Lauren's boyfriend out to dinner in Louisville, when I got a massive abdominal cramp. I finally realized I had to do something about my inactive life style. I started doing pilates when I got home from work last night but realized it was a little too advanced for someone so out of shape...leg cramp this time. Drank some water and did some beginner yoga and then chair yoga for beginners. Muscles are sore but no cramping. Did another 20 minutes before work yesterday afternoon and getting ready to do another 20. My back has also been hurting from my new job, sitting and answering phones. Sometimes I'll take one of my breaks and go for a walk on the grounds but can't go far because my old sprained ankle is still hurting when I walk too much. Hoping this helps with the back pain too. Will work myself up to pilates and hopefully will be able to hike again someday.

Wondering if I should retire sooner than I had planned. Been thinking about it a lot lately. I had planned on a little over 7 years, will be 62 then. Not sure I want to wait that long, though.

kathsgrdn, I had a bum ankle forever. Wore a brace, stayed off it... the doctor said I'd weakened it. Try to do some strengthening exercises with it? These are pretty dang close to what they gave me to do.

I started a new job a few weeks ago and have been so busy trying to learn the ropes. Everything is going well with it. I was hired to work only 2 days a week but have been working 4 since I started. I am enjoying it, and hope they continue to need me 4 days a week. I enjoyed reading what everyone is up to!