Aug. 1st

MONDAY:
This is a nice breezy morning!  The first morning I haven't turned on all the air units in some time.  The weather man said, "it's been the hottest July in 144 years!"   I love it as long as I can stay home by the pool, otherwise it's unbearable.



BEAR SPRAY EXAMPLE 



Talking about bears; another one was sighted at the fair grounds which is directly south of our house.  (2 miles-give or take)  Bob noticed the hunting store had a sign that Bear spray was available.  The Parks Canada (Baniff National Park & Lake Minnewanda Trail)  has mandated till 9/15 that hikers travel in 4's and at least one of those  persons should be carrying a bear spray.  Non-compliance is a maxium fine of $25,000.00.  Bear spray contains 1% oleorisin capsicum derived from cayenne pepper.  Choose a weight of 225 grams and a spray range of 5 meters.  No permanent damage to bears or humans.  A friend from Varysburg had their bird feeder smashed to pieces recently, could be a bear as one was reported sighted in that area too.   I'd think in this heat the bears would be headed for the mountains.  A Bear went over the mountain, A bear went over the mountains to see what he could see. (Old Girl Scout Song)

Reading my e-mails; it's confirmed that our (along with all of western NY locations, Conn. & NJ.)   HSBC BANK has sold out!  The FIRST NIAGARA BANK has purchased the business.  HSBC wants to serve a larger INTERNATIONAL community.  Even thou their head quarters are in London we always thought HSBC stood for Hong Kong,Singapore ????  Like all mergers, they are saying that nothing will change but time will tell if we are facing many changes with our banking.  It's upsetting and I'll probably stew all day about it as HSBC has been our bank since we moved to Batavia in 1968!

TUESDAY:
Another beautiful day, a little breezy.  The morning didn't last long since I didn't get up till late.  Betsy drove our car to work this morning as her's was in for service again.   Nothing immediate on the agenda so I putzed all day.  I folded clothes to put away.  I fixed a birthday gift and card for Thursday night.  I made out some thank you cards.  I fixed a blouse that didn't wear right; I actually got out the sewing machine.  I made supper and then baked brownies. 
Bob has been polishing the motor home.  He is still on the first side!  He is fussy!  After dark, he helped me to find photos for developing.  I have ordered a Pic Folio Album that I can just slide the photos in without actually scrap booking them.
And here it is-time for bed.  Guess I'll go have some brownies and then start a new book.

WEDNESDAY:
This morning we were going to continue selecting photos for developing; they were all gone!  The whole download!  Rats!  We thought we knew what we were doing when we signed off last night. 
So we blew that off until we have more time.  I had to be at Orthopaedic Surgeon's by 11:00am. 
I dressed and gathered my x-rays and off we went.  After 2 1/2 hours the outcome is Osteoarthuritis in both knees.  The cartilage is gone and it's bone on bone with spurs yet.  A shot of cortisone in each knee and good wishes and we were out of there.  I liked the doctor, he was American, very friendly, very thorough.  I'm to call if it doesn't help. 
We had a late lunch and I put ice on my knees as recommended.  What better excuse to read a book!
Super was easy with goulash, salad and Italian bread.  Then gather the garbage to put out.
Guess I'll check out the web site on Osteoarthuritis which they mentioned.  http://www.orthoinfo.org/.
We went back to the photo job.  I selected 133 prints from the Ride For Roswell event and sent them off to Wal*Mart.

THURSDAY:
I updated some computer work.  Man, there's always something to do on the computer.  Bob went downtown to the bank and Wal*Mart to pick up a few items plus the photos. 

My friend Mo was picking me up at 3:30pm to go to a birthday dinner for another friend.  Mo just filed for Social Security and I gave her the business about her age like she did me when I registered for it.  She told us all that the SS interview was conducted over the telephone.  I couldn't believe that.  They can acquire all the identification documentation on line.   She was pretty sure the call was legit because they mentioned her appointment for the next day and the time of it.

We still try to get together at least for birthdays.  Our older friend, Gen, was quite confused within her conversation and she was quite upset about it and mentioned it several times.   The conversation came around to my knees; and Diane told us all that research with chicken combs (the red parts) is being done to make the shots for osteoarthritis.  CHICKEN FAT!  I don't care as long as it helps.  My knees are much better today and I had a much improved nights sleep. 
While I was out to dinner, the girls from Lockport came down to meet Betsy and they were all driving to Boston to see Sarah and go wedding dress shopping.  They drove all night and arrived @ their accommodations at 3 in the morning!  Ah, to be young again. Christianna has a friend living there who she wants to invite to be a bridesmaid.  She met Julie @ Disney when she exchanged a semester from NU for a work program. 

FRIDAY:
I wanted to clean off the dinning room table.  A couple nights ago, I had put the painting supplies out to finish my hand painted wine glasses.  I still had one glass and a few other details to finish.  Now I have that done and the glasses are in the oven at 200o for a 1/2 hour.  The painting is kinda juvenile but I like them. 
When I called Betsy to reconfirm the baking time; she asked if I had a call from Sarah yet.  I said, "No, why?"  Apparently, Sarah was signing a 2 year contract for work at Deloitte Accounting firm.  She was offered a job when she finishes her next year at college. They will pay for her CPA EXAM TOO!  Good news!  This is her last week working as an interm there.  She will be coming home next weekend for 3 days.  The 10 weeks went by fast.

In the evening, we went to the VA Nursing Home to see our friend who had been transferred back to Batavia from the Rochester hospital. 




CHRISTIANNA, BETSY, ANNALYNN: THE GIRLS JUST HAD TO HAVE A CUPCAKE.  SOME WHERE ON FREEDOM TRAIL IN BOSTON.

 

BETSY, DEBBIE & ANNALYNN  @ CHEERS ON FREEDOM TRAIL-BOSTON!


SATURDAY: 
We left home about 9:00am to drive to Clarence Center to watch a Fast Pitch Softball game that my niece's daughter, Erika, was playing in.  It is a travel team and they are from PA.  When we arrived at the Memorial Park there was so many teams playing we didn't know which way to go.  Just a lucky turn, parking and we were right across from the field they were at.  Bob was walking to the hut for a program and information and my niece's husband called him.  We enjoyed the game.  We had never seen Fast Pitch and those girls really wind up.    Erika's team won.  This was play offs and they had two more games to play, but we headed home to let the dog out! 



ERIKA #3




READY TO LEAVE FIRST BASE!




THE WINNING TEAM!

 While at the game, I had a phone call that a very good neighbor and friend had passed away.  Once back in town we stopped to pay our respects and offered to call all the neighbors. 



GOOD DAY FOR A RIDE!  THE RED BIKE IS COUSIN RUSS'



The bikers (David, Donna, Eric, and cousin Russ)  called and wanted some where to ride so they came over and we all enjoyed a nice visit with pizza & wings for dinner.  Alex was on his way home from RIT so he stopped to visit too.   After they left, it was still muggy so we went in the pool to cool off.  There was a few sprinkles during the day and that was it.  We still need more rain. 

SUNDAY:

The girls were coming home today from Boston so I hurried up and cooked some macaroni salad and a chocolate cake for supper.   I got out some sausages and hots for sandwiches.  It's about an 8 hour ride.  I called them to see if they were in NY State yet, and to tell them I had the meal ready.  
They got here about 3:15pm and they weren't hungry as they just had McDonald's before I called them. Figures!  I guess the T train was quite an experience for them.  We had a short visit before they left for Lockport as they were all exhausted.



RAIN IS ON IT'S WAY!



8:00pm:  We are having strong winds and thunder, maybe it will rain yet today.  I guess I'll post this and shut down the computer.   Have a good week everyone.

Golden Gram