MyrnaLynne

Gearing up for hubby's birthday this weekend. He wants to go look at the new casino that opened up two towns over - Not to gamble there, just to look at it. They have 12 or 15 restaurants, we were going to go have lunch there, but the timing isn't working out, most are only open for dinner, super expensive etc. We'll eat elsewhere and just go look at it. Have to get a cake...

Don't envy you all the sheets and towels keepsmiling!

Weather has been blessedly mild. We had one burst of snow yesterday - literally like WHOOSH, snow, and then it stopped as quickly/didn't amount to anything. But now it's cold. We think there's something going on with our furnace - it's running still, thank G-d, but isn't that warm as it should be. So Mr ML runs the stove or oven (or both) to heat the house more and scares the life out of me. Well, flames scare me to start with, but he's so careless. Anyway, a guy is coming to look at it tomorrow - we called him a week ago!

But it's supposed to be 60 on Saturday! Go figure. With this climate change, you don't know what the weather will be one day to the next.

podmom

Hi ladies... Sorry to be a little MIA but I've just been knee deep in grandkids and then this week been dealing with my very needy great niece. She has been with us since Monday ( when I got home from being with Liz Emily and the kids and Walter. ) She can really be draining...needs lots of attention and is hyper emotional and anxious. I was up very late at night. I came to OC today and podad bless him is staying with her. She leaves tomorrow morning and won't bug him much so they will be fine.

I'm here getting ready to have my 4 GFs from the hood for our "Christmas" party. They come Saturday morning and will leave Sunday after lunch so I have 3 meals to have ready. I will leave straight from here too Sunday and head 4 hours to Emily to be with her a couple of Days while Robbie is traveling.

Glad to see my kids but wish we lived near each other so I could stop traveling so much....but at least I can drive still so I know I am fortunate....just get tired of living out of a suitcase

I have to wash sheets and make beds tomorrow too keepsmiling I feel your pain

We had that wied little snow too ML glad it came and went leaving almost none behind!

keepsmiling7

PODMOM......we've been missing you, but it appears your plate is currently loaded.
One of these days you'll look back on these precious memories.
Right now I am sorry you have to deal with a needy niece. That drains everyone's energy.

MyrnaLynne

Sorry your girls are spread out and you have to drive so much, PodMom, living out of suitcases gets old. You are lucky you don't mind driving.

MLette's boyfriend's parents drive from Mass out to Indiana regularly, to see their grandkids! That is a long haul. But the lure of grandkids is strong. Your gals party sounds like so much fun, too. I met a former coworker for lunch and it was SO nice to sit and talk to somebody (not online). I don't get to do that much.

Weather - it was been in the 70s (22 C) yesterday and today. In almost the middle of January! If this is 'global warming' - I love it. Everybody is out strolling around, thrilled with the sun and the warmth, and not having to wear several layers of clothes and still feel frozen. It is SO NICE.

Mr ML's birthday was a success, I think. I got up early and set the party table, hung up the birthday sign, etc. Then we went to the Temple all morning. When they came to announcements, I announced it was his birthday (and embarrassed him). I had to lead the Torah service - it's only about the 4th time I did it and I think I'm getting the hang of it/less terrifying. When he asked me to try it, I never realized if I did it once, I'd have to keep doing it, or I would have said no the first time! As they say in the Army: Never volunteer!

MLette and her BF came over and we went out to lunch at Bertucci's - which had gone downhill but is better again (or maybe we're not so fussy?). Anyway, they had a pizza my daughter likes and she's the fussy one about restaurants.

Then we drove over and looked at the new Encore casino. I don't think they're doing that well - they were charging $22 and up for the parking, and now it's free (phew). I am no gambler, to put it mildly. I don't understand the appeal of it. The occasional scratch ticket is enough gambling for me. I found the place very underwhelming (and tacky).

I guess the huge bronze glass building you can see from everyplace is the hotel part (they call 'resort' but what amenities does it have but gambling?). When they opened, the rooms were $800+ a night - I bet they've come down/I bet the place is empty.

The casino was just one giant room, filled with gambling machines and game tables (I don't know what I expected) and pricey restaurants around the edges. I was surprised it wasn't deafeningly noisy - those machines usually ding and beep and bong and flash and make a lot of noise. There were only two shops, an expensive watch store and a 'drug store' with random stuff.

And they have a carousel in the lobby, covered in fresh flowers (the horses, the whole thing) and it goes around/up and down but it's just decorative! I think that's stupid - if it was a real carousel, I would have taken a ride on it. The whole place is decorated with plants and flowers, but they might as well have been fake.

Mr ML and John stuck two dollars in some random gambling machine, they had no idea how it worked (men!) - zip $1.60 gone in a second. They 'cashed out' the 40 cents (lol). There is also NO place to sit, unless you sit at a gambling table/machine, and I am not good at standing and walking around endlessly. My legs/feet/back were aching. And it was a loong way back to the car in the parking garage too.

There is a little mezzanine that has some 'high roller' rooms but all in all - it's a whole not of nothing. We visited Foxwoods (Indian casino in CT) a few years back - I'd never been to a casino (except on a cruise ship) and I wanted to see one - that was much nicer and more interesting. There were lots of stores and restaurants, and stuff about the Indian tribe, and they also have a venue that has all sorts of shows. Oh well - we looked at it! Once is enough for me. Mr ML would have been happy standing for an hour watching guys playing poker.

Then we went home and had cake and ice cream and cards and gifts and the whole Happy Birthday thing. Also sent Mr ML and John to the comic book shop, so John could spend the gift card he'd gotten for Christmas from Mr ML (some guy bonding time) He got Mr ML a gift card to the comic book store at the mall - we're going there today.

And we watched the Celtics basketball game last night (although my eyes were drooping, I was so tired) and they beat the shorts off New Orleans (after losing their last 3 games) so that was very nice.

And now it's Sunday and warm out/beautiful day. Allll!

keepsmiling7

ML........glad your hubby had a great birthday. My son did too, as it was a combination birthday/Christmas gathering. I have been tired since they left, guess it is the final holiday let down. Now I'm trying to get the energy to start putting up Christmas decorations.

Tomorrow the tree pruners come. That should be a loud, busy day here.

MyrnaLynne

keepsmiling good luck with the tree pruners! Glad your son's combined birthday/Christmas was great.

My son has a 'big' birthday in September and we need to come up with a family celebration idea...


I thought I was getting a cold Saturday, but Sunday I was fine, Monday, Tuesday.. today, I am definitely getting a cold (I hope not the flu). Tiny men in my sinuses with pick axes.

Daughter showed up unexpectedly today, which is always nice (hope she doesn't catch anything)...

Good news is the furnace man FINALLY came and pulled a wad of GUNK out of our furnace and it's suddenly working again like it is supposed to! We talked to him about a new/bigger furnace, but who knows when we'll hear from them. I had to chase this company for the bill for my tenant's water heater, to get it before the end of 2019 (for taxes).

podmom

Hi ladies.... Home from the travels....great to be in my recliner with my lap top and to have some leisure time with my FF friends ( of course I should be putting away the Christmas wrap stuff that is covering my dining room table and all the rest of the house work I need to do but first things first..... enjoying staying in my PJs in the late morning and catching up on FF.

More importantly I had a nice long quiet time and started a book I have had on my Kindle for a long time and the Lord led me to it today. I think I have shared here how much CS Lewis's works have helped me in my growth in my relationship with the Lord ( I can't really say spiritual life because that word has been so cheapened in it's original meaning....just MHO) anyway it is an anthology ( basically the most important quotes culled by Lewis) of the books ( the Christian ones in this anthology) by George McDonald ( the most influential author says CS to himself) who wrote novels and mythologies and Romance stories in the late 1800's but also was a Christian author ( kind of like CS in that way) anyway these writings already have impacted me in a significant way so I am prayerfully hoping for some more much needed "dross" to be removed.

ML Good for you to be willing to lead the Torah service ( and for embarrassing MrML in a good way ) oh yes I know that feeling....once you say yes in church stuff too it is the beginning I Have to lead a women's sunday school class( more scary then bible study on Wednesday.....way more people and tons I don't know) in a couple of Sundays and I was a long time saying yes. Never easy to stand up in front of people and talk but even worse is knowing you need to face yourself and see what needs to be yet again dealt with in your inner life before taking that step of leading the Word even in such a small way. Ahh well all for our good. I'm proud of you.

Happy belated birthday to Mr ML......you guys have such nice birthday "days" sounded lovely. Glad your team won too! I know the January thaw was great and we have had nothing to thaw yet. Yesterday was 61 in MD so we took Margot to the park before lunch and her nap. Then I left around 3 to drive home here to PA. MArgot is at such a cute age....1 1/2 and she has a charming sweet nature ( similar to her mother) just a joy to be around. I showed her angel kisses this time ( where you put your eye to a cheek or face and blink and your eyelashes tickle...which I'm sure you guys know but just in case. She was very taken with that and wanted it often ….so sweet. I could go on and on about her

keepsmiling I'm pooped too.....seems like I have been on the go since before Christmas) You have been entertaining a lot plus you had a big trip!! Take your time with the decorations....baby steps Happy belated Bday to your son.

Gonna check the other threads and see what is up there.

Love to Wen and Mezzy in case they pop in

came back to say I had a nice time with the GFs but it was a lot to have guests ( for me) that aren't family over night and for assorted meals but I think it went well and they enjoyed seeing the house ( and all my Christmas decoration there) and walking the beach and collecting shells.

MyrnaLynne

Welcome home PodMom! Ah, I think those are also called 'butterfly kisses'? Angel kisses is even nicer.

I've never minded getting up in front of people and doing stuff, but Hebrew is tricky! I discovered the transliteration (Hebrew in English syllables) at the bottom of the page and I 'cheated' and it worked a lot better! Yes, it's all getting over yourself and the stuff in your head.

Speaking of stuff in the head - I'm SICK! Felt a cold descending on me yesterday. MLette dropped by too, and I was just feeling worse and worse as the day progressed - hope I didn't give it to her! By night I was wrapped in an afghan in front of the TV, watching my Celtics lose (again) to Detroit and moaning periodically "I'm SICK!" "I'm sick." "Ughh, did I mention that I'm sick?" LOL!

I was afraid it was the flu - I had the shot, but our rabbi guy had the shot too (the senior citizen stronger one) and he STILL got the flu - that made me worried. But seems just to be a cold, so phew! Not achy, not feverish. Just a stupid head cold.

Meanwhile, Mr ML went to the doctor today to get his cough checked out. Giving him a different medicine, going to get a chest CT, which I guess sees more than an X-ray. They used to give people chest x-ray's all the time, not so much anymore.

podmom

Oh sorry you are sick ML glad it isn't the flu! I have had good luck taking Zicam when I feel a cold coming on. It does seem to help it not be as strong a cold.

I have only heard that eye lash blinking kiss as angel but butterfly makes sense too

I have to finally get dressed but I don't want to. Need to go to the store though.

podmom

ML and keepsmiling nice to see you girls up there live

keepsmiling7

Good to see you PODMOM, just posting away.
You keep us going.

MyrnaLynne

It's not such a terrible cold - slept through the night


Just annoying, cough sounds bad, hoping it gets over soon. Drinking lots of hot tea with honey!


My friend swears by Zicam too, I should try it. I rarely catch colds and now I've had two in two months. With your grandkids, you need to be on guard, kids are such little germ spreaders.

Funny, Barbara came over for her tea last night and when she found out I was sick, she turned on her heel and went home - she's a huge germophobe (hey, I was coming down with the cold yesterday when she was having tea, it's probably too late already!)


Weather turned very cold again too. I didn't go outside at all yesterday; need to venture out and mail some bills (and get some sun on my face). I think I prefer sunny and cold, over grey and gloomy (but warmer). Oh well - we got a lot of both!

podmom

You keep us going too keepsmiling it is half your name here


ML me too...way rather have sunny and cold over damp and grey! We are to get snow tomorrow in PA 3 -5 but you never know I feel this one will be tough to call since they keep going back and forth between forcasts. I always pull my car up the long hill of a drive so no matter what I can get on the road after the plows come through. Podad has to plow. Our original neighbors ( we built our houses at the same time 20 odd years ago) moved before Chrsitmas and a relatively young couple from the Baltic countries have moved in. Tomorrow podad will plow their drive too ( they are below us and I doubt they can plow) and if I have the stuff I will make cookies and take them some and meet them.

Glad your cold isn't bad. Yes I am around germs non stop. I am very careful....no touch eyes or nose and take zicam…...mostly I don't catch but sometimes I do of course.

all

keepsmiling7

ML........good to hear your cold isn't that serious. It's still a pesky problem when you have things you'd rather do.

And PODMOM,.......what a nice husband you have to help out the new neighbors with the snow plow.

I still remember how happy my late son-in-law was when they moved from Nebraska to Houston and he was able to get rid of all the snow shovels and equipment.

podmom

Ahhh your late son in law glad he had that joy!

We are waiting for the snow to happen....we are on the edge of the front so it will be snow then maybe rain over night supposedly. Glad I pulled my car up because you can't plow ice

He might not have to plow we shall see