Quarantine and chill and kindness chatty clubhouse: Jump in and join the conversation! All is welcome!

[dazedx3]

Breezy Carol....The kids just got one of those frames for DH for Father’s Day. It is very nice but we can’t get the WI Fi to work. So none of the new photos will load, I’ll have to get it working one of these days. I’ m not very tech savvy.

Dinner was Chop Suey and fresh strawberries tonight. Washed the bedding in our two spare rooms today. Also made a phone call I have been putting off( it wasn’t as bad as I had convinced myself it would be )

 

[flyingdumbo127]

I’m so glad you got to meet the new minister, Carol. Do you know when he will start? LOL, a pen and a comb are two very useful travel items so it makes perfect sense to me that they would end up together! Enjoy your yoga class!

, Lynn. Very thankful both of your doctor appointments went well, my friend. Prayers on the Trulicity. I am glad the doctor sounds like a keeper for sure in that she took the care and time (s she should have) to go over all of Mr. L’s medications and possibly reconsider one. I am sorry you had trouble signing in

Hooray, Easyas! Praise God. Thank you, also, for such a happier doggie update!

Thank you for the explanation, Bobbiwoz. I admit at first, the name Moonlight Magic sounded like it could be the name of a Disney Cruise Ship or tour. How very fun to have access to less people in the park ! Continued prayer for both you and Tom.

Hug, Dazed, relieved and thankful for you that the call went better than you expected. I am not a phone person really and certainly not for a call that I am not looking forward to making to begin with! I hope you enjoyed your

PollyannaMom and everyone else who has tried astronaut or similar texture I have only read about. I remember one Boxcar Children book mentioned the children buying astronaut ice cream. Readers never got to read of them actually purchasing it let alone sampling so lol I don't know what the fictious Aldens thought of the stuff.

Here's a picture I took a little while ago of our lamp all lit up. The small plane beside it, dad built from a kit years ago.

Sweet dreams, friends.

 

[Breezy_Carol]

@flyingdumbo127 , Pastor Kevin will start this Sunday. Usually in the Methodist church, appointments are effective July 1.

 

[theluckyrabbit]

... I wish there were a way to be sure the new phone, whenever it comes, truly is new and not refurbished. I suspect my current phone that we are returning that was listed as a new truly wasn't. of course, there's no way to know that now. Keeping a good newthought and prayer.

If the phone (or another item) is refurbished, it should say so in the description. (Of course, that important fact is often hidden in the smallest font somewhere in the mass of fine print.) The price can also be a tip off (not always, but worth checking all the fine print when you find an unusually low price on something which is usually much more expensive).

 

[PollyannaMom]

Got a little bit clearer hummingbird pic this morning. (He's partially blocked by a branch, though - if I had moved to get the right angle, I think it would have spooked him.)

Basically, I stand here playing on my phone while the cat stakes out her spot, and when I hear the buzzing sound, I slowly tilt the phone toward the feeder and take the pic, then zoom in to see if I got it after they've flown off.

 

[footballmouse]

Good morning! Another nice day today!

Have an exercise class scheduled for later. Not really feelin it today, I'm tired. Maybe I'll wake up a little more in a few hours. This class just kicks my butt, not sure if it's due to being new or my age. I'm definitely the oldest one there probably by 10 years.

For those who have flown recently, can I bring a razor in my carry-on?

The dogs from down the street are running loose again. It looks like someone stopped to try to catch them. I think when people do this, they just take the dog(s) instead of knocking on doors in the area. I realize they are trying to help but the dog could just be a couple of houses from his own.

That's it for me, have a great day!

 

[easyas123]

zoom in to see if I got it after they've flown off.

This makes me laugh, my husband spent most of last summer trying to catch a decent photo of the hummingbirds off the porch! You've captured more more/better in a few days than he managed all summer

Not much going on, so many folks out of the office this week, so I'm stuck here! Both my brothers, my SIL, payroll & comptroller ladies also out, so it's really quiet. Looking forward to a longer weekend, especially since I'm on the road 2 out the 4 work days next week. Not sure what, if anything, we are getting into this weekend. Husband may be picking up a new boat this afternoon so I'm sure we will have a shake down cruise sometime this weekend. Mowing to do, and hopefully we can finally finish the barn. It doesn't take a long time to paint it - but the wind has to be right or it fouls up the sprayer, so we are at the whim of the weather. We are soooooo close to being done, just 1/4 of one side and the back part. I also need to do some weed spraying.

Dinner this evening will be boneless chicken thighs - either grilled or simmered in Vindaloo sauce. Not sure when my husband will be home since he has to head up to PA to look at this boat, and he still hasn't left yet.

I've got some travel arrangements to make for a few employees, I really need to get to that. Have a good afternoon everyone.

 

[flyingdumbo127]

Good Morning

Thank you, Carol, I look forward to meeting Pastor Kevin on Sunday. Still miss Pastor M!

Good to see you, as always, Luckyrabbit! Thank you for your wise tips. I hope you're also enjoying our sunnier weather

I also Googled and found this

How to Check if Your Android Phone is Refurbished or Factory-New
Tap your Phone app and open up the dialer.
Using the touchscreen keypad, dial ##786# (aka ##RTN#). No need to press dial; the phone should automatically open up to the RTN screen. ...
Scroll down the RTN screen to Reconditioned status

Have any of you ever tried the above steps? I am fairly certain my old A01 was refurbished because it was problematic from the beginning. When dad took the phone to a Verizon store yesterday so they could remove the SIM card before we packaged it up to return, the salesman who did so, said the same thing. He also suggested we be careful that the phone we are getting, the Galaxy S7 truly is new, because (we knew this) it is an older model and not currently being sold. Keeping a positive phone that. It's supposed to come by Friday. I just continue to pray that with anything, anyone, person or manufacturer, would choose to honesty always!

What a fantastic picture you took, PollyannaMom! I love it. Today, I even see it

Footballmouse, I hope your class goes well and thank you for keeping an eye out on the neighborhood dogs.

A weekend boat trip sounds relaxing, Easyas. I hope you and your DH get to do that and enjoy.

Have a wonderful Wednesday everyone.

 

[lynxstch]

Good almost afternoon. I tried to get on this morning,,kept getting server encountered some error..all I got was a blank page. That never happened with the old server that I can remember

Already home from shopping...Aldi's was empty of customers, and there are a lot of empty spaces on their shelves. They are having trouble getting canned goods and paper goods. Walmart was practically empty. Noone at U Scans but me..and 2 cashiers standing at the end of their registers waiting for customers

Its getting hot out..high of 89 today. Off to put things away, close up the windows and put the ac on

Have a nice afternoon everyone (and I don't like being the last one to check in...I am usually the early bird with pollyannamom,,lol

 

[flyingdumbo127]

Sending you a little later morning and early afternoon for you, hug, Lynn! Extra check in from me before I head offline for a while. Keep cool and have a good afternoon. I'm glad shopping went smoothly for you!

 

[Pea-n-Me]

We’ve bought a lot of refurbished Apple products, everything from the original iPods, to iPads and iPhones, and we’ve never had trouble with any of them. Most are still warrantied, too. I think it’s important to buy from reputable places, too. Sometimes the lowest price is because the seller is shady. I just remembered something else, my DD bought me a Bluetooth speaker not realizing it was refurbished, but it’s been great, without any problems, too. I mean, even new things can have problems, so you never know exactly why something is having problems, right? Anyway, hope it works out for the phone with you, Mona!

That reminded me of what I wanted to say yesterday, I haven’t had any problems at all with the new server. It almost seemed to me like nothing happened! I’ve never had any of the issues that some have been experiencing here. I use an iPad Pro exclusively. I’m sorry to read that some are still having problems.

 

[Breezy_Carol]

Good afternoon.

Had to drive up to New Castle to get new tires to be put on DH's car after he had a flat yesterday. Needed new tires anyway and this place was cheaper. Bought the tires and the local service station we use will put them on. Had to take my car because he doesn't want to drive his until they are replaced.

Stopped at the mall on the way home. DH wanted to go to the Apple store to look at phones and I wanted to go to Target. I was going to buy a new comb but Target, while they have hair dryers, scrunchies, clips, and shampoo, no longer sell combs and brushed.

Stopped at CFA for lunch on the way home. Heading to DD's soon to watch the kids there so the parents can pack to be ready for the movers tomorrow. And their good news, their house is under contract. Lower than the asking price but not by much and settlement is July 29 so they won't have any months with 2 mortgage payments.

@easyas123 , glad the foster pup doesn't have any major health issues.

I wish there was a waving smilie to just say HI to everyone.

 

[easyas123]

And their good news, their house is under contract.

Excellent news, talk about a weight off! Hope nothing disrupts the second settlement.

glad the foster pup doesn't have any major health issues.

Thanks!

 

[flyingdumbo127]

Thanks, Pea and I'm so glad your DD's speaker is working so well. I felt badly about some of you who had and still may be having trouble logging in. So far, it's been working fine for me. ITA that sometimes older versions of products are far better than their new and improved (which also often means more expensive) replacements. I often prefer the old to the new with so many things I just meant earlier that when something has been refurbished that is how it should clearly be presented for sale as rather than new.

Congratulations to your DD and DSIL, Carol! I'm very thankful their house did get sold and it sounds like for a good price, too. The latest hard to find thing here is sunscreen of all things! Pre pandemic we liked CVS store brand. The same sunscreen now costs over $15! Both the 99 Cent Only Store and Dollar Tree had had no tubes at all. Dad said 99 this morning had 1 spray on sunscreen and that was it. Ralph's $2.99 deal this week on Kroger Brand Sunscreen for 8oz might just ne what he gets. Of course, neither of us use the stuff (I sure don't) like we did pre pandemic but the new prices on it like most everything else is sure eye-opening! Definitely, get what you need when it's available and at a good price! This was all to say you never do know anymore what will or won't be at any store. That is odd that Target no longer sells brushes or combs...unless they are (or were) sold loose as opposed to completely packaged. Could be a Covid concern.

Hooray for your pup, Easyas, and always, of course, for you, too

The phone is out for delivery through the mail today! That is exciting. I'll definitely share how I like it.

I just received such a lovely email from a super kind friend in TX who enjoys sewing/embroidery. Melanie took such care and time to personalize my Christmas stocking and dad's, too! Barbara Ann, who gave me my stocking, will be so pleased that at last it has my name on it. She felt badly that it originally didn't come that way. I also like the green cross. I had been wanting dad's (I got him it one year on Oriental Trading because at that time it was an inexpensive way to get a nice, plush stocking with someone's name on it) to have something special on it. Now it does. I love that it has a for Evergreen! Dad helps tend to Evergreen daily after all. Such a blessing indeed.

Have a wonderful rest of the afternoon everyone and keep cool!

 

[Pea-n-Me]

^ DH stopped on his way home to get me some ink for our printer today, as I have some things I have to print up. It was over $100 for two cartridges! It used to cost $30-something. This is getting ridiculous. DS said yesterday it cost him $72 to fill his gas tank, and he just has a regular sedan.

 

[tazdev3225]

Good morning.

Been busy the last few days with cruise preparations and looking at what I need for the bathroom renovation. My grandson is replacing the sink, toilet, floor and medicine cabinet while we are gone. He's also going to do some painting and changing the hardware on the door. I figured since I will be gone for 8 days it's the best time to do the work. I only have one bathroom and this way he won't be rushed, especially since my husband is on a water pill now. My bathroom is very small so it's not a lot of work. I seriously can stand in the bathroom and with arms outstretched i can touch the wall on my right and reach into the shower, I think we measured it at about 5 1/2' X 8". The trick is finding fixtures that don't make it seem smaller. I'm replacing the vanity with a pedestal sink and actually saving a bit of money because my mom has the base and faucets but not the basin. She bought them and they didn't work in her bathroom so it saves me a couple of hundred dollars I can deal with that. I have a fairly good idea of what I am getting so we are picking everything up over the weekend so I don't feel rushed next week.

The cruise is in 10 days. Part of me is excited and part of me is nervous. I booked zero excursions just because the ship has had issues making it into port. We will find something to do and I am trying to just go with the flow so to speak. The Walgreens near me does the COvid testing so I am waiting for my date to open and book the appointments. I am confident they will be negative but there is always that small chance they won't be. Prayers for a negative as this trop has been postponed enough times.

I don't what happened with the quote but I was going to ask about the knee replacement. My left knee has had 5 MCL surgeries so I know I need a replacement. I have been having a lot of pain lately and swelling and am really afraid to see the dr., IF I can find one. The orthopedist who did all my surgeries retired during the pandemic and all the drs. around here are grouping with Rothman. My daughter has been in some of their surgeries and doesn't like the practice at all. They get paid by how many patients/surgeries they can do in a day and I do NOT want to be a number. The hospital she works at is a bit of a drive but if she can recommend a good dr I could have her as my OR nurse.

Seriously I am putting off surgery as long as I can. Aleve works most night on the pain, but even that I use sparingly.

I spent some time with a friend yesterday for the first time in over a year. we belong to the same swim club, so we met and chatted for hours. It was so nice to be able to do that. We were outside and did distance a little bit, but she gave me some ideas for my granddaughter next year in her high school search. Philly has a system where in 8th grade the students can choose up to 5 schools to apply to for admission in 9th grade. It used to be the top Magnet schools were based on grades and standardized tests. Last year the powers that be decided that wasn't fair! Now the elite schools are a lottery with a heavy emphasis on the neighborhood area above all else. One of the best schools in the city, ranked #1 or #2 depending on the polls, is Central High School. Two of my brothers went there. You had to be an exceptional student to gain admission. Ella has had straight A's for 5 years, scores at the top is standardized tests, an ideal candidate under the old system. Now she has almost no chance of getting into ANY of the top schools. A student who has all D's and ranks at the bottom of the tests has a better chance of getting admission if they live in the neighborhood. I don't want to see Ella upset so I am preparing her for the worst and praying for the best.

Hope you all have a great evening. I will go back and read comments later. I tried posting this earlier today and just came back to try and fix it.

 

[flyingdumbo127]

How terrible, Pea! Those prices are outrageous! I thought the last time we bought ink the 2 pack for $55 was a fortune! Gas here sure keeps going up. Last week it was $6.09. Don't know what it currently is. For those of you with Kroger stores, thinking of you dear Kirby for sure, possibly AuntieMe3, Footballmouse, and Luckyrabbit, too, that when you a download a digital coupon. A 24 pack of Aquafina is buy one, get one free! This couldn't be more perfect for us since we buy Aquafina almost weekly. We do get Sparkletts home delivery but the smaller bottles of Aquafina (our preferred brand of bottled water) is sure handy to have, too. I drink both like a

Taz and so much prayer all-around! I attended a magnet school for high school, which was then considered 10th-12th grades even though 9th grade was officially considered the first year of HS (I don't think I never found that out until later in HS). Honestly by that time after horrendous Junior High years I just wanted to be DONE. Good and bad, of course, with the school. Continued prayers for Ella and extra for all kids and their families right now, this time as I've said all along, in an extra way must be so tough on them.

I am not happy and saddened to have to share this phone experience is our worst one ever. As I said in a PM earlier to Pea, I always pray to think and somehow see the best of and in everyone. That said, should any of you ever be considering buying a phone from Walmart that is through a 3rd party seller, please PM me first so I can share the name of this seller. I do not want to publicly post it because this is my experience and may not be another person's. Plus, it is never my intent to speak ill toward anyone as I pray all of you already know.

The listing for this phone indeed described it as new. To me that means brand new and in original packaging completely sealed. This phone came inside an unmarked white box loose inside except for a thin layer of bubble wrap! There is NO original phone packaging! The charger is clearly not new either because it is brown-taped closed. This gets worse what we got is NOT the phone we ordered! So wrong all-around. You know what honesty means to me and this sure is anything but

We will be contacting Walmart and possibly Allstate who already activated our $20 protection plan on this phone. I told dad, we will just figure out how to get a brand-new phone that he'll get in a physical store. If it ends up having to be at a Verizon store than it does. We are blessed to have some savings. Just, of course, never intended or truly easily can afford hundreds of dollars on a phone. How blessed we are though that this is even a possibility! So no complaints from me just, of course, disappointment along with feeling badly for dad since he now has two extra going out trips to make--return (probably) this phone and get a new phone.

On a brighter delivery note, I did get a brand-new looking book this afternoon from a friend.

Have a good evening, friends!

 

[frog3101]

Good evening to all.

@flyingdumbo127 I'm sorry to hear that your phone experience was not a good one. I hope that you are able to get it resolved in the quickest and easiest way possible
@Breezy_Carol I hope you like your new minister. I so was hoping ours would get reassigned, but that did not happen. I think once we get a bit more settled in the house and there is a schedule for the kids, I will be looking or a new church. I'm sad to say it, but I need something and I just can't get into or enjoy the current pastors sermons/messages. My kids are not fans either, so that makes it really hard to get there. Ironically, he is now our neighbor across the street. The house we are living in happens to set across from the church parsonage. Also hooray for your daughter to get an offer on her house.
@tazdev3225 your bathroom sounds like one of ours. My oldest daughter says its so small she feels claustrophobic when she's in there. Ironically though the show is a great size, it's just the rest of the space is tiny. I also wish you so much fun and relaxation and whatever else you need to help make your soul happy on the cruise. Also, great time for a little updating of the house. Living in a remodel of any type is zero fun.
@footballmouse I so much respect that you are doing the exercise classes. I'm hoping once things settle down and I know what my work schedule will be I too may join a class or at least start getting in more regular walks around town. Not to offend anyone, but the "divorce diet" so many have told me about seems to have skipped me.
@Pea-n-Me Thank you so much for doing such a wonderful job. I can only imagine what it is like to be in healthcare. I admire anyone who can do what you do and still have their sanity.
@AuntieMe3 What a nice set of pictures. I can see how it would be hard to take them down.

My orange cup story for one couple who were two of my most favorite relatives is that I have yet to take their phone number out of my phone. She's been gone almost 10 years and he over a year. Just can't do it.

Things here continue to be stressful. There is a lot of stress between my oldest and her dad. I hate that I can't be a "buffer" any more or really give her my true thoughts on most of the matters she is having problems with, as that would involve me telling her things about her dad that she prob doesn't need to know, or knows but I should not confirm...if that makes sense. I just need for July to be over, which I hate saying because that means summer is almost over. Our summer has pretty much been ruined anyway, but I'm def. not ready for school to start back up. But, lots of stressful things are happening in July and I just want to get past them. I keep telling myself that if I can "just make it past this point" I'll start to feel a bit better. So far it hasn't helped much, but I do tell myself that so far I have survived, sometimes by only a thread, but that I have made this far, even if it wasn't in the most kept together way.

I got a call that I didn't get the job I had applied for and interviewed for last Friday. It's ok, I tell myself it wasn't meant to be. I have another month before I feel I need to commit to the place that has offered me a position, so that does give me some time. I do have an interview Friday so maybe something will come from that.

 

[PollyannaMom]

This morning's hummers:

 

[lynxstch]

Good morning. Day 2 of a 6 or 7 day heat wave. At least they have 'downed' the expected temps to 89-90 instead of the 97 they were saying for tomorrow. Of course rain expected on the weekend, at least I won't have to water much. I may or may not mow this morning while it's still coolish (55 now). But probably not. The guy 2 doors over, pays a lawn company to mow his every week to the tune of $40 (and he does not have a big lawn). They mow it so low it looks like a golf course, when the grass is green, but now it's all brown. They showed up last night after dinner and mowed it again,,that's just not right. He has to pay them $40 for grass that didn't need to be mowed. Everyone's front lawns (and some of the backs) are all brown and dry.
I didn't fall asleep till almost 3 am,,had a headache I couldn't shake. Slept in till 6:45, and headache is at least less than it was.
@frog3101 --sending you good thoughts,,you made it through another day. Keep going! Sorry about your older daughter's issues with Dad, but as you know,,mine went through the same thing. It does get a little better, with time. But it may never be the same as it used to be.
@FlyingDumbo --Sorry to hear about the new/not new phone issue Mona. Can't you buy a new phone physically in a Walmart store near you? That would be the only way to be sure you are getting a new phone. That third party seller sounds like a real loser.
@PollyannaMom --love the hummingbird pictures. We have some that show up every year when the echinacea start flowering. They have already started to flower, so am hoping to see the hummings appear soon

Hoping all my fellow Quackers dealing with life's issues find some resolution--
Have a nice day