Best/Worse/What did I Learn today? Chat with friends new/old

Thought I'd move us over before calling it a day

http://davesgarden.com/community/forums/t/1393648/

Why one step forward, one step back?

I think she was referring to Katie's postponed meeting.........

Not needing woolies, cuz it's not cold here - quite the opposite, it was a lovely summer day - with a bit of a wind to keep us cool. 22c
Had 2 lovely young women helping me pack one of our sheds in the back yard. Loaded one vehicle, and also my car - Twice. Boy was I glad of their help. I got to sit a lot and gently unpack and place stuff in cupboards. It was clearly a productive day! Also went to new house to meet with pest control and get that done.
Ker came by saying he would help Bob with mudding of a wall in our current place, so I could paint it. We want the place looking nice for Kristen's move-in

Idris, the woman I was supposed to have lunch with, said she's having trouble getting someone from retirement to talk to her bout my case. No s,,t, I said. They've been putting her off for more than two weeks and the more they do that the more it makes my point - they don't want to talk about what they've done to me. I added to her that my IR man is calling me to reassure me of their help, emphasizing that the IRS people are disgusted with what the retirement people have done. This may be more of a step forward than I first thought. It is kind of funny to think of how the retirement people are tossing around this hot potato.

Maybe I'll go to the Board meeting tomorrow and then not speak. Just let them sweat about my being there. After all the crap I've taken from them I might as well enjoy their discomfort.

Amma will be here in early June and I want to stay to see her. Meanwhile, I'm getting my ducks in a row and thinking about contingencies.

Bears are scary. Almost as scary as politicians. Fortunately, most of the people I'm dealing with don't know that arrogance is not a substitute for intelligence.

hugs, katie

Morning,
Was indeed what I meant, you were thrille with the call, step forward,
Cancellation of lunch with someone willing to help, one step backs

Drats

Best of my 'Irish luck' be with you today Katie .. be assertive as opposed to aggressive .. you WILL win !!!

All I can say about me right now is BUSY .. Lorna got a new 'leg' yesterday (socket) .. I got my immunizations updated .. 3 needles .. OUCH .. now I am off to the university, and, hopefully home by 1 or 2p,

Gordon is doing ok .. he's off to a Sportsmans Show with friends tomorrow for a couple of days ..

Dianne .. I hear ya on the bears, very careful around here right now .. hope your Chaos is doing well ..

Off n runnin

~M~

cool her today . had a bit of rain yesterday.
kids are almost done with school. wend is the last day.
quiet day for me today
gym and i m taking back some lights i got . To expensive and i think i can live with out them LOL .
Susan so glad you have help for your move.
M slow down girl. we can't keep up with you :) Savannah is due for her immunizations. she has a few she needs to get before camp.

just up, and already tired. Bob & I were at the new place until 10:30pm last night. He wanted company, and he can only work (during the week) at night, so I get to keep him company and put items in cupboards

Good morning friends, Michael is making an omelet for our breakfast. We are laughing about the trouble Idris is having getting anyone at retirement to talk to her about what happened to me. A Chinese man is here doing the housecleaning and I am gathering strength to do some more yard work.

Today I was reminded of the expression "revenge is a dish best eaten cold." The retirement people have been so obnoxious and arrogant in their treatment of me I don't think it ever even crossed anyone's mind that I might be taking notes, gathering evidence. An old social worker trick as we never had the money for resources like a team of attorneys and, in fact, had to spoon feed a case to our county attorney and have it fully prepared for them to take it. Now they are having their words and behaviors fed back to them and they don't like it. They also think "social worker" equals stupid. Not always the case. I can be less than a barrel of laughs at times but I'm not stupid. At least not too often.

It's chilly here but still t-shirt weather once I start working. And this really is a beautiful city. The house next door is being extensively remodeled and it's downhill from us so I can look out the windows and wave at the men who are working. We have become "waving" buddies. I say hello to most everyone on my walks and many people respond. Some seem kind of surprised but pleased. I've also made friends with a few dogs. Michael doesn't have any pets.

Anyway, not much news. No bears. Rumors of raccoons but I haven't seen any. I'm enjoying the retirement thing. The longer they delay, they more I am able to think of another question for Idris to ask them when she finally does get a meeting. Giggle.

hugs, katie

Keep up your persistence Katie. Your on the right track!

Sharing something in the news, about our Mobile Home Park, where I live. I was not affected by this, thankfully.......
http://calgary.ctvnews.ca/video?clipId=617958&binId=1.1201914&playlistPageNum=1

Quite the video Susan .. I hope 'Janine' gets her home cleaned by the city, has to be a horrible smell !!

Katie, how are Michaels parents? I take it they must be feeling better ..
Kinda confused, (MY NORM) .. did you go to the retirement meeting today? Sorry can't keep up ..

Hope everyone had a good day .. I'm done, and, off to bed !!


~M~

Michael's parents are much improved and he's back home.

I was going to the retirement board meeting but a bridge was closed and traffic was horrible so I was only there for the last few minutes. I hadn't planned to speak and didn't but was sickened by the jolly good fellow attitude of all the people there. Good thing I don't carry a machine gun. Went to a nursery which did not have the cilantro seeds I wanted. Got some other stuff for the yard.

THEN, knowing how to turn a bad day around, I went to a great Berkeley barbeque place and got take-out for our dinner. Michael jumped with joy. He took Jane there once but it was late and they were closed so this will be her first time to have this treat.

I need to hunker down and regroup about where to go from here. After I've had barbeque and some sleep.

Got plants and garden tools. I dug up a big bed of naked lady bulbs this morning. Scared the postman as I was lying flat on the ground digging the bulbs as he cut across the lawn. He didn't see me until I said "hi" then he jumped!! I told him I was just a big worm.

Will probably garden a lot for a day or two, then have a better idea of where to go with the retirement stuff.

hugs, katie

BE SURE TO READ TO THE END -
Be Sure to read about Audrey Hepburn at the end.
Thought I would share

Now I lay me Down to sleep I pray the Lord My shape to keep.

Please no wrinkles Please no bags And please lift my butt Before it sags.

Please no age spots Please no gray And as for my belly, Please take it away.

Please keep me healthy Please keep me young! And thank you Dear Lord

For all that you've done.


Did you know that it's Beautiful Women’s Month? You are one of them! Below is a wonderful poem Audrey Hepburn wrote when asked to share her 'beauty tips.'

It was read at her funeral years later.


For attractive lips, speak words of kindness. For lovely eyes, seek out the good in people. For a slim figure, share your food with the hungry. For beautiful hair, let a child run his/her fingers through it once a day. For poise, walk with the knowledge that you never walk alone. People, even more than things, have to be restored, renewed, revived, reclaimed, and redeemed; never throw out anyone.. Remember, if you ever need a helping hand, you will find one at the end of each of your arms. As you grow older, you will discover that you have two hands; one for helping yourself, and the other for helping others.

That is beautiful, Betty!!

Yes, Marilynne - I hope Janine has gotten it fixed by now. It's 24 hours later, so surely the City has "hopped to it" and dealt with this awful situation.

Is this a man for all quilters? (some have a "man for all seasons" - I think this version is better lol)

Morning all,

Terrible situation Susan, I'm with you, town should be cleaning it up! Smiling, there is my kind of guy

"m" how is Lorna coping with the new socket, good fit? This year her work should be easier as she did most of the revamping done last year. She has a new overseer now doesn't she, hope he appreciates her.

Katie, so laughing, poor postman, usually they only have to be watchful of flurries.

Lindakay, has the pain subsided a bit?

Barb, know you are sewing up a storm,..I must go downstairs and see what I can finish up

Sunny outside, cold through, weekend promises to be awesome
Have that young man coming this a.m, we will tackle back shed
Perm at 3

Morning everyone. Still raining here. The pain has let up some, but I still know it is there.

hahahaha Katie - a "big worm"? I"ll get he laughed then, too!!!!

Bearable though?

Was laughing to myself, helper said he would be here early this a.m...my early and his early aren't the same.mwill wait until 10:30 and call

Hey and hiya and hello and how do :-)

What a gorgeous day here .. likely to be about 70F .. did an early class, dropped by and checked on Lorna, her leg is giving her some problems, but, this woman is as STOIC as they come !!
DH is off with his buds to the show west of here .. and, it's me and the dogs, and cat til about 5pm when Lorna comes home.
Laundering my summer sun dresses ..
Likely just puta around the yard, have a Mum to plant ..

Katie, so do you feel the meeting went well ? What's next ?

LindaK, I'll move over on the 'boo boo bench', and give you a space .. I'm a hurtin unit, arthritis is very ugly today .. but, as Katie says, 'move it, or lose it'!
Will move IT slower today.

Susan and Sue, how do you do today ?

Hey Dianne and Barb .. enjoy your weekend.

Got the following in email this morning .. I was going to turf it, but, I opened it, and, WOW .. does it have me thinking !! A really good watch .. you will learn something about our bodies and brains .. just amazing stuff ..
here's the link ..

http://viewpure.com/MFzDaBzBlL0?ref=bkmk

Off to feed my crows and hang out the dresses .. hope the fella showed up Betty ..
Neighbours down the road are having renos done .. the company doing it is there at 8am on the button each morning .. good thing it's out in the country ;-)

Take care

TOODLES

~M~

I saw that about the backwards bike. Pretty amazing, I'll bet most folks think...oh nothing to it..until they try it.

That is some video!

Loved that video "M"!!! I guess I learned something new today!!!!

Good morning everyone,

Another lovely day here in San Francisco. Plants, seeds and garden work are waiting for my pain killer to kick in. meanwhile, I'm playing poker.

While I didn't speak at the meeting yesterday, I'm sure that my presence was noted. The next County Board of supervisors meeting is not for another two and a half weeks so I'm doing a lot of thinking before taking any further action.

One good thing happened yesterday. I sent copies of the emails between me and Idris (the Assistant of one of the Supervisors) to my friend Nancy who is also the attorney who handled my unsuccessful attempt to collect the taxes I overpaid from the retirement association. She is living in Mass. with her 98-yr-old mother and making jewelry which she sells on Etsy. She was very depressed and discouraged by losing my case when the judge ruled that it was OK for the retirement people to lie to me and had said she really didn't want to be kept informed of any developments. I said I would only update her if there was good news or something funny. I sent her the emails as I think the situation is getting to be amusing, if nothing else. Happily, she agreed and now wants me to keep her informed. So - another good addition to my support system. She thinks it's hilarious that I have my own personal IRS person. I do too.

Didn't sleep very well last night due to pain and am having quite a bit today so I'm going to take it easy. A lot of the yard work is basic clean-up which can be done at a leisurely pace. No other plans for the day.

hugs, katie

Katie, you have never done anything at a relaxed pace. So happy you are making waves with those people. Rocking the boat is always a good thing. I have been rocking boats since I as a kid. "If you do not conform, you will never succeed". I was told that many times during my youth. I was not a bad kid, just did not like stupid rules and I knew the difference. One time someone burned the Homemaking books. (Remember those). We all had to write the constitution all day for several day until someone would fess up or tattle. i was a junior in high school and finally on the 3rd afternoon, I stood up, said I did not do this, I did not know who did this and I was not going to do this anymore. And I got up and walked out. About half of the auditorium followed me. What were they going to do, expel half of the school.

I worked in my landscape for the majority of the week. No appointments this week. Side effects of Effexor XR withdrawal are dwindling. That was a shocker. And I was a total bitch. My poor DH had a look on his face of "Where did my sweet wife go". High high anxiety but I killed that with garden work. Nauseous has finally relented. And I no longer have muscle pain at night and I am finally back to loving to go to bed to go to sleep.

So my spring flowers are mostly gone because of the early arrival of heat. But as soon as the flowers fried, the heat cooled down. We have had rain and cloudy days and that has been wonderful.

My back landscape is finally close to my liking.

I lurk everyday and wish you all great things and minimal pain daily.

I have had Emily (statue) for over 20 years. My mother and I came across her at a small lovely garden shop in Santa Barbara. Emily as my mother's middle name. This is the view out of my kitchen sink window.

Beautiful gardens, and I love your statue.

First photo is fire pit in back landscape lit because of rain. Second, smoke tree, third my front landscape from coming in drive way angle, forth is white clover in bloom in front landscape and fifth is street view in front of my home. Tree lined street.

Rain in moving in and temps are dropping on the patio DH and I out here listening to Frank Sinatra. I am getting cold. Must be getting below 75 degrees so I had best shut this down and move inside.

Just gorgeous!!!! I love the smoke tree!

Marilynne - you're a POET - your "Susan and Sue, how do you do today?" made me think of Johnny Cash's "Boy named Sue" (Like him, like the song, do not like it being applied to me lol) You made me grin and laugh.........

I'm doing ok - got my meds refilled. I love it - from the Dr's parking lot in to out (with the prescription refill added in) it was only 20 minutes! Boy, they're fast in his office and the pharmacy!! Really good, too!!!!!!!

Well, back to packing. When I'm done, and Bob's home, he'll take the boxes out to the van and into our new place, while I just unpack and put away what I can reach.

Butterflies on my sunflowers and chaste tree.

Beautiful, LK!!

Sharon - I missed that Smoke Tree - wow, I love it! I've never seen one before! :-)

Love the pics ..
Sharon, is the 'Smoke tree' in the same family as Astilbe .. looks so soft.
LK your butterflies are lovely .. the 'Chaste tree floer looks like Lilac .. patiently waiting for them to even BUD here :-)
We have had 'Marsh Marigolds', a bright yellow wildflower that grows in the ditches, and, ONLY the ditches along the country roads .. Lupines will be poking up in another couple or 3 weeks ..

Susan .. lol .. I was 'waxing poetic', glad you caught it :-)

Gorgeous day to be here .. lots on the go, I best hustle my bustle .. some days, 24 hrs is just not enough !!

~M~

Morning all,
Going to be a sunshine day today..

Been up early, did what housework I had to do, made a quilt display shelf (good day to stain it)
And just waiting for BIL Robert to bring the tunnel cover for his boat for repair..yep, same guy I made all the cuddly cabin cushions and back lay about area for his boat, then he sold it..just bought another, says it's a Roger boat lol. Long,sleek and high powered..love how Roger is never forgotten...so he said he would be by 9am..imagine it will only take an hour..soooo want to play outside

Omg Sharon, what beautiful grounds, tremendous amount of upkeep..how could one not smile just looking out the window at such beauty. I'm in awe of your smoke tree and so disappointed in mine..unless it's late getting its leaves I'd say I lost it..about 12ft high (4 years old)
Must get to the tree doc and ask if I should cut it down or what ...lost so many trees and shrubs this year due to the harsh winter.

"m" my lupine and peonies soon will be in bloom as well..saw the Lowes flyer, they have a tree peony on for $25,mutually about $80-100 Omg so want one, thinking of calling them tomorrow morning and if they have one take a quick run in..at that price doubtful

Lindakay, tell me what your secret for sun flowers is, can never grow them..love butterflies

Pooh be back in a bit, Robert is here

All my sunflowers this year we're planted by the birds.

cannot believe it - ONE week to be outta here......... packed, cleaned, and ready for our new tenant.
She's leaving PEI tomorrow (taking a leisurely drive to get here).
SO much to get done, and now..... SO little time to get it done......

Well, better get to it!!!

Robert just left, got his top repaired..he's happy!

Susan, AND you are ahead of schedule...how many sq ft is the new place? Gardens?

Lindakay, send those birds my way

Want to cut grass and use weeded, still early..will give neighbours a few more hours before I wKe them up

Helper as the much good Friday, didn't show up. Grrr
Going to give him a call, if I can't get him I will undertake the project myself and take all day to do it, take the money I would have paid him and treat myself to something lol

No helper, just came in for a break, 1/2 hour more and voila, clean shed, well, organized at least

What a fire I had going, sure got rid of a lot, had the hose running just in case..was windy when I started, no sooner lit it did the wind come up...note to self, don't plant a tree next to a fire pit, poor leaves..

Finish back shed project, eat least over Chinese and it should give me energy for this afternoon..hmmm if wind dies down I could work my way to the recliner next to the pond and nap

should have taken out the bag of marshmallows

30 totes of seasonal decorations

all but 3 for Halloween, 1 for Red/White/Blue is Christmas

goal for this Christmas, as I empty totes I must get rid of half the items

lordy, one tote I could move, cement for hypertufa, have everything I need, now comes taking time to make something to rid myself of the tote

need to start the push mower and the gas weeder then set them inside and voila morning project done

We had frost here last night. Sigh!!