I would be in hot water if . . . . .
I forgot to count the spouses: 4 for the kids, 3 for the g’kids, 1 for the fiance and 1 for the wedding - so not 29, the count is 37.
That would make it a REALLY noisy party.
How lucky you were Darlyne to have the whole family there. I’ve not yet had all of mine in the same place at the same time. There would be 5 kids, 14 g’kids, 7 g’g'kids, one fiance and a wedding coming up which will up the g’kids by one. That would make 28, 29 counting myself.
Whew, what a noisy gang THAT would be.
But no matter how many or how few you have, enjoy.
Jo
It will be hard to beat last years celebration. We had a family reunion at Nags Head and to copy what a daughter just wrote, it was the best with us sitting on the beach with fire works to the left of us and the right of us, a grandson flying a kite with a lite on it, a delicious drink in my hand and the surf providing back ground music. The best was having my whole immediate family enjoying this. All my children were there plus their spouses and all 12 of my grandchildren.`
Hi all - yes indeed it is humid although now that it has rained here, that has slackened off somewhat. But I agree, Darlyne - I don’t go outside much when it’s like that either. We’ve been to the high 80s/low 90s but only once and I must say - that was more than AMPLY sufficient.
I remember going to big firework displays when I was a kid,, or at least it SEEMED big. My dogs, especially Ebony, hated them with a purple passion so I got out of the habit. While in ABQ and when youngest and her two lived with me, we get a couple of boxes of fireworks suitable for home usage and both dogs were in the house, probably cowering under some bed and maybe even ON the bed. WE enjoyed the fun but the dogs weren’t too friendly after all that racket.
Your 7th sounds like it will be lovely, Jenny. And Judith’s with all the family and friends there. I’ve been to Judith’s small town, which is a very friendly place, and her brother’s home is on a dead-end street with quite a bit of land around it so there’s plenty of room there for any number of people.
But whatever you do on your 4th, have a good time and stay safe. As for me, I’ll probably read and watch TV. I do wish some nice cable channel would go back to broadcasting the whole Pops Goes the Fourth! from the Esplanade in Boston. I like that one much more than the Capitol Fourth. Don’t ask me why, I have no idea….I just do.
Jo
>I wish i had family and friends to celebrate with a special picnic.
I’m with you, Jenny. Those were good times. These days, the official city celebration is about a quarter of a mile south of my house. I can watch and hear the huge fireworks display from my upstairs windows without the mosquitoes. 
Candace
well, here in the retirement home we will celebrate Indepencence Day with a Barbecue n`fixings lunch on Friday, july 4th. I wish i had family and friends to celebrate with a special picnic. i would like to wish everyone a very safe and happy holiday Jenny
Summer has finally arrived here and I find that I am not as enamored with it as I was when I was younger. The temp is 90° and very humid. Needless to say I spend as little time outside as possible. I started swimming laps two days ago and the night after the first time I swam I awakened and thought that something was desperately wrong. My legs felt like they were going numb. In the morning I realized that it was because I swam laps and was very out of shape. I am back to normal now and am taking it easy getting up to the 12 lengths I usually swim.
I finished reading The Girls by Laura Lansens. I mistakenly thought that she wrote Memoirs of a Geisha because of a blurb on the cover. That author mentioned that it was a remarkable novel. It is a novel about the life of co-joined twin girls joined at the head. The narrator is mostly one of the twins but they both contribute. I found it mildly interesting, especially the parts about how they got around etc but found myself skimming over much of the book. It takes place in Canada near Toronto. They were born during a tornado and their Mother abanded them. A nurse assisting in the delivery adopted them and she and her husband raised them. They lived to be a little over 30 and the book ends with them near death.
Good to read the recent posts. We took a trip and then had houseguests so it has been awhile since I have posted. I like hearing from all of you, what you are doing and what you are reading. I have a book called “The Shack.” It was recommended but I have barely glanced it.
I want to get DD because I have such admiration for Wede and also because I am of the age when these circumstances become personal.
Take care of your knees everyone.
Georgianna
Gone fishin’!!!
Where is everyone?
Jacky, when I was working, I started having dizzy spells and I’d be REALLY dingy with it. Went to the doctor and he prescribed meclizine and sudafed for it; if I caught it soon enough, it wasn’t a bad spell. Then I had a really good spell and my folks took me to the dr’s office. HE asked me what I was worried about and I said I didn’t think I was worried about anything. Told my mom what he’d said and she immediately said, “Your job.” So I started looking around and when I found one, and gave my notice that I was leaving, the spells went away. Maybe your daughter has an issue with something that is bothering her more than she realizes. Anyhow, whatever it is, I hope she finds out the cause pretty soon.
Jo
I may not have been the first, Darlene, to recommend this book, but I know I did recommend it. Glad you enjoyed it, as did I.
Joanne
I surely want to get this book, it sounds fascinating. I’ll see if our library has it.
We are leaving for St Paul again this am. Youngest daughter is still struggling with dizzyness, the Dr assured her it can be normal, but driving gets a bit iffy, and the kids are in VBS this week. Our son’s daughter is going with us, its so nice to see more of any of them, as they are growing up much faster than our kids did, I think.
We have MN Twins tickets for Sat, and will be back on Sun, with more grandkids, is the plan.
Jacky
I can’t remember who recommended this book but I thank that person. It was a page turner. I copied the book cover review because I know I couldn’t do it justice. It was a one week new book at the library and due tomorrow so after my Dr. appointment today I sat in the car and finished it so I could put it in the drop in thing near me. I highly recommend this book and look forward to reading more of this author.
“Set in the Kaw River Valley where Sara Paretsky grew up, Bleeding Kansas is the story of the Schapens and the Grelliers, two farm families whose histories have been entwined since the 1850s, when their ancestors settled the valley as antislavery emigrants.” “Today, the Schapen family, terrified by the lawlessness of the 1970s - when Lawrence was the most violent college town in the nation - has turned to that old-time religion for security. The Schapens keep a close eye on all their neighbors, most especially the Grelliers. They maintain careful track of everyone’s misdeeds, printing the most egregious on their family website. When Gina Haring, a Wiccan, moves into an empty farmhouse and starts practicing pagan rites, the family members are so outraged that they begin an active harassment campaign against the Wiccans.” “The family members worry, too, about who stands better with the Lord: their family or the Grelliers. When a Schapen cow gives birth to what may be a “Perfect Red Heifer” - needed if the temple is ever rebuilt in Jerusalem - the Schapens feel convinced that God is indeed smiling on them.” “Despite parental cautions, the Grelliers’ teenagers are enraged by the Schapens. All their short lives, they and the young Schapens have fought, first in their country elementary school and now in high school. One particularly angry confrontation causes Chip Grellier to be expelled from school and consequently to join the army. Chip’s death in Iraq is the catalyzing event for momentous, even monstrous, changes in the lives of not only both the Schapens and the Grelliers but of all the families in the Valley. The powerful, climactic scene at Gina Haring’s Samhain bonfire will forever haunt the reader.”–BOOK JACKET.
Haven’t heard that name in a long time. I remember back in the 30’s thinking that he lived the most interesting life of anyone alive. His world travels were high adventure to me. Our battery radio was always turned on to hear him.
Jo about the injections–they were painless. They swabbed on a topical anesthetic and injected the lubricant with a thin needle directly into the knee joint. As the doctor told me, there are as many variations and results with the treatment as there are patients–I have been very fortunate. It was no worse than a flu shot.
Candace
My knees are really a pain, literally as well as figuratively. My left knee is still not the same exterior configuration as my right knee, the left being the one I landed on the hardest. The dr still has me taking 400 mgs of ibuprofen twice a day and it IS getting better but it still isn’t up to snuff.
As for knee replacements, I’m inclined to agree with the dr about doing it now when you’re in good health rather than waiting - who knows what shape you (or any of the rest of us for that matter) will be in a few years from now. Of course, I don’t like shots either, so that may color my feelings somewhat.
I found my legs weren’t as ’strong’ after my two spinal surgeries (laminectomy and then fusion of the lower back) and even though I would use the stairs rather than the elevator at work, it didn’t seem to make any difference. My legs still give out before I do and walking any distance is no fun.
Your description of your supper sounds good; I remember walleye pike from my youth in Michigan. I also remember very fondly the lake trout. Getting hungry here…which isn’t hard to do when it comes to fish. Had wonderful catfish while I lived in TX.
The author’s name I got half of yesterday is Robin D. Owens - that series is called The Summoning and thus far there are some 5 books in the series. If anyone else likes fantasy, let me know and I’ll give you the titles. My favorite fantasy series of all time, however, is the Belgariad (5 books), the Malloreon (also 5 books), Belgareth the Sorcerer and Polgara the Sorceress (she’s Belgareth’s daughter). There is humor and an enthralling tale - I’ve read the series over and over and still like it.
Well, time to do something constructive so - so long until tomorrow (as Lowell Thomas would say).
Jo
Someone asked my brother in law what this fish tastes like. He answered, “Tartar sauce.” Which is kind true. Really fresh fish has almost no smell, hence, no taste. I don’t know why we like it.
And Judith, I’m mailing DD today, its so exciting to know the authors, sort of.
My husband and I lived in Lawton, OK when we were first married, is Stigler near there? Jacky
Yes, indeed - I love it,but don’t think I have had any since I left Minnesota those many years ago.
Jan
I could hardly walk with knee pain, many years ago, and had an arthroscopic procedure done, I was on crutches with no wt on my rt leg for 6 weeks. I was so disappointed to have pain again when I threw the crutches, but the pain gradually left and so far, so good. I did do my exercises faithfully. but I’m sorry for anyone with that painful walking.
We got back from the Lake of the Woods, and last night, ate walleye pike, which my bother in law caught. No one else in the boat had any luck. But the sun shone, and the company was loving, well it did cloud up and rain on our way into the cabin, but we all huddled under the canvas roof over the driver, pilot?, and didn’t get too wet.
Walleye pike is a delicious, fresh water fish, which I’m sure Jan and Darlyne are familiar with. Jacky
Thanks, Darlyne, that sounds encouraging. I recently heard from a friend about a woman who was moving comfortably just three weeks after her knee replacement. I go to an exercise place four to five days a week, concentrating on the leg muscles hoping to keep them reasonably functional.
Candace
I had them done three months apart. That way I didn’t need all that blood work and x/rays done again. I was in the hospital for three and a half days with therapy at home for a while. I had no problem walking right away but there was some pain. I got along with Tylenol after I had been home a couple of days, I had been exercising my legs and biking for a couple of years so was in good condition, I also had a husband to help. We did go on a trip in our travel trailer less than six weeks after and I had no problem. After the second knee I told the physical therapist she didn’t have to come anymore as I knew the exercises and why charge Medicare for her just watching me? You do have to do the exercises after the surgery and I found it helped to take a pain med about 30 minutes before. I could bend my knee more with the pain med.
Darlyne, did you have both done? I had the Synvisc injections hoping to avoid replacement and can repeat them in July. How long and difficult was your rehab? The doctor said one advantage of doing it sooner would be my present good health rather than later when perhaps it might not be as good but I keep hoping the injections will continue to work well enough, if not like new.
Candace
I had knee replacement surgery 11 years ago and now my knees are the only joint that doesn’t give me a problem. Before the surgery I couldn’t even walk 1/2 a block without resting and now I can walk two miles without a problem.
I had to put down Bleeding Kansas so I can go for my walk. It was hard to put down.
I sure relate to cranky knees, Jo. I didn’t realize how much I used them for pushing and shoving until they started showing their age. Right now I’m trying to talk myself into getting up from the computer, ignore them, and into overdue housecleaning.
Candace
i had avirus in my computer, it took my son at least 4 or 5 days to cure it.Very annoying since i don`t understand why it
(This was in the saved posts; Jenny started it and then got sidetracked. So here it is - she e xpanded on this when she got back to the post. Jo)