CalicoKitty

Thank you.

The only picture I can see is the one @Lunera sent. All the others are just a large gray area. Well, I could see the wedding topper picture, but not the picture just posted--something about the Silos. Not sure what is going on. I'm reading on my computer, not my ipad or phone.

Well, Thanksgiving went pretty well with my elderly parents, considering that my brother and I told them they had to move to assisted living and we have put a deposit down at a very nice facility. My mom, in her advancing dementia, is trying hard to convince us that they are "just fine", and my dad is getting more feeble by the day. At the moment, my brother has him in the ER with dizziness and shortness of breath. His wounds from his falls last week are not looking very good, and I'm hoping he does not have sepsis. I should hear any minute now if he is being admitted. One of the good things about this particular assisted living place is that they have dedicated memory care available. Mom will be ready for that soon, especially if (when) something happens to my dad. So, I guess my feeling was right. This was probably the last Thanksgiving I'll have with my parents. I am so thankful for my brother. He lives about a mile from my parents and is there when I can't be (I live an hour away). Between the two of us we have been able meet most of their needs, but we want the very best for our parents, and they need more than we can provide. Question: has anyone heard of or used the Grandpad? It is a tablet geared for folks 75 and older. I just ordered it for my dad so he can read his email with a one-button tap. I have been amazed and wowed by their customer service, which is geared for the elderly and their family. My dad likes to read his email, but can't double-click anymore. I am curious to hear other user comments.

I actually know what the Thanksgiving plans are this year. My family is not very organized, but I am, so it is always difficult. There have been years when I did not know what to bring until the evening before Thanksgiving. This year I actually know when, where and what. We are getting together Friday instead of Thursday so my niece and nephew can go to their in-laws on the actual day. This year it is "bring what ever you want", and my brother will barbeque turkey breasts. I am going to try to make stuffing. Since I am gluten intolerant, I never make or eat it, but I found an apple-cranberry stuffing recipe, and the "same" one in gluten-free, so I'm going to try to make both. I hope its edible. I am very much thinking this might be my last Thanksgiving with both of my parents. My dad is 93 and has become quite feeble recently. He fell twice last week and had a brain scan today. Poor guy is intact mentally, but unable to speak due to primary aphasia. My mom is in excellent condition physically, but her memory is going so fast. I just have a feeling that I will be losing them one way or another. So I will appreciate our unorganized Thanksgiving this year, and be thankful for the time I have had with my wonderful parents.

I've heard of cornhole from all my time in Iowa, and my family in California actually has a ladderball set. It is a lot of fun, until the balls get caught in a tree. It really takes a lot of skill to learn to throw the balls correctly (it is two balls connected by a piece of rope). It also takes a lot of skill to get the balls out of the tree or off the roof!

I'm having a recirculating pump installed on my water heater today. Have any of you, ever, had a plumber show up that actually has everything he needs? My plumber had to stop in the middle of the job to go to the store to get a part. EVERY repairman or plumber that I have every hired has always needed to leave the job "to go to the store". So much for a one-hour job. Teachers and nurses can't do that. I guess I had the wrong jobs! (Plumbers can also leave the job go to the bathroom when they want. Teachers and nurses can't do that, either.)

In Kenya I saw many, many guys with huge holes in their ears. Sometimes the lobes were so stretched out and the holes were so big that they actually touched their shoulders. When they were working at the restaurants, they would pull the long lobe up around their ears so they weren't dangling. I don't think I would want to make this type of fashion statement, but it was certainly not uncommon there.

My dad only had one brother and one sister. My dad always eats fast and finishes well before anyone else. He claims that he had to eat fast growing up to make sure he had his share. I'm not sure the size of the family makes any difference. It is how much food is available. On the other hand, his mother, my grandmother, was an absolutely terrible cook. I think he learned to eat fast so he couldn't taste it as much.

I run my central air and heat all the time. My vents are not dusty. I would never allow gobs of dust hanging on my walls. She needs to get her ducts and filters checked, and clean the outside of the vents occasionally. They make microfiber dusters with long handles that work great, and take SECONDS to use--maybe once a year. That said, you do need to vacuum your floors and carpets dust occasionally so the dust is under control. If you never dust or clean your house, your vents will get dirty. The dust does need to go somewhere!

I was going to suggest turkey baby food. That has worked well for my picky kitties, especially with liquid meds. I have found that, much to my surprise, sometimes they LOVE the liquid meds and lap it up right from the dropper.

GO GIANTS!!!

Salvation Army. They have an excellent record of low overhead and getting the most of every dollar to the needy. According to the stats I read recently, United Way and Red Cross are among the ones with the highest overhead and the least percentage being used for aid.

It is hazy with a strong smoke smell here near Lodi.

I worked as a nurse at a Catholic Hospital when then there were still several nuns working there. The head of the hospital was a very nice nun, but she did not like denim. We were not allowed to wear anything denim at any time at the hospital, even if we were changing into scrubs immediately upon arrival. That anti-denim rule lasted a very long time.

Thursday will be my parent's 70th wedding anniversary. No, I am not giving them a drippy sundae. No, I am not sending a public message to them. We will have lunch together, and I will take them a pretty rose-colored hydrangea for their garden. I couldn't find a Happy 70th Anniversary card anywhere.

There are Mennonites in the Modesto area.

Sew, Just drive down the valley a bit--it is supposed to be 102 today! I'll trade ya.

Question: Has anyone "cut the cord" and gone with an on-air antenna and a streaming device? I found an antenna that I plan to put on the roof, but I pull in 30 local signals with it in the house. I tried the new Hulu Live, but I found I need a grid schedule. So I am trying Sling, and I like it, but I think it is overkill since I have Amazon Prime and Netflix. There are still so many stations that I will never watch, but it is cheaper than what I pay with Direct TV. If anyone has done this, how do record over-the-air stations? Does anyone regret making the "cut"?

I've seen them at COSTCO.

This is first I have heard of this. I am Lutheran, and I was a Scout for several years.

It's not only "I didn't know I could get pregnant". It's the "I didn't know I was pregnant" moms that amazed me. One mom told me - as she was holding her 8 lb newborn- that she had taken a pregnancy test just the day before. Claims she had no idea. (!?)

I just watched my first episode of House Hunters Family, and it will absolutely be my last!! Totally obnoxious.

My mother's eldest sister was only 5 years younger than my dad's mother. Mom is the youngest of 10 (not fundie--Lutheran) and she was 20 years younger than her oldest sister. Mom is the last of her generation at 90. And, strangely, there were only 5 grandchildren on this side of my family.

I was able to find it on the PBS web site. It was listed in the PBS program guide, so I have no idea why it wasn't on. Anyway, I was able to see the episode, I'm happy Andrew won star baker, and I will hope the program shows on time next week. At least now I know where to watch if it is not on the tv.

Where can I watch this episode? My PBS station just decided to skip it tonight, and I don't see where it is being repeated anytime this week. And only "tudor week" next week. I wonder why the station would just skip it? (I'm on the west coast)