Best Of

We are booking PR for next week. To save $500 or more we’ll be flying out of Fort Lauderdale - an hour and a half from home.

In addition to $ savings, Fort Myers has no direct flights either, we’d need to fly way north and add 4-8 hours on to a short trip.

Hotels charging up to 22% for resort fees, some hotels are next to the airport to boot, or landlocked near the major highway.

SO trying to work deals on points etc… I’m done, just book something on the beach.

Martyccrn, sorry you had to join the group. We chatter on just about everything under the sun. Ask away and one of us may know the answers. Some of these ladies were nurses too.

Reader, the desserts looked great.

Betrayal, the luminaries sound great. Post a picture once they’re up if you can.

Chris, it sounds very cold where you are! Keep warm.

Bloodwork was easy, the tech was very good. I ate my Cliff bar and sipped my seltzer as I left. No results yet. It was 53 and felt 43 this morning as I left.

I’m heading back outside to get some sun and read my book. Enjoy your day ladies!

I'm sorry about the Tippy story. I gave you too long of a leadup to the punchline. Last winter, he had the zoomies after a bath, and rolled around on the carpet where a sewing needle pierced him, probably in the belly. He passed it in a BM the other day. It wasn't arthritis after all!! Yes, poor Tippy. He is so much happier.

martccrn, I am with you on all the false alarms. Mine were all with one side. Began with lumpy at the age of 18.

Reader, I should be writing, but I constantly find myself roaming on the 'net. Is there any cure?

Betrayal, bitter cold, barely above freezing? It is now 28. Sunday's low will be 2, Wednesday's will be -1. Five inches of snow expected tomorrow. Enjoy!

My silverish coat with a hood is permanently dingy. My blue coat is bad after sundown, and doesn't have a hood. I bought a matching hood for it, and realized that our wintertime bedtime potty walks are very brief and do not cross any streets, so the silver is retired.

We had a good family meal yesterday. DS makes the turkey and stuffing while DDIL makes amazing mashed potatoes. Her mother brought string bean casserole and pumpkin pie (from Costco, yum). I brought the pineapple casserole and the candied sweets (made from scratch) and they were a hit. I also made up a platter of assorted cheeses, dried apricots and dates, fig jam on the Brie (delicious), and almonds. I had multigrain crackers, and DDIL added club crackers. It was good. I also get delegated the chore of making gravy and I now know not to try to make it in the electric roaster because it would not thicken. Once we put it in a regular saucepan on the stove, it thickened quickly.

It was nice that both sided of DS and DDIL's family could get together. We enjoy her parents and being an only child, that's all the family she has. My DD and DSIL also came and they brought the wine and an apple pie.

Today I have lots of errands to run. I made an appointment to get my tDap updated because it expired in August. I have to pay for the luminarias that we purchased to take part in the annual Christmas ritual in our neighborhood. Two women organize the purchase of plumber's candles and white paper bags and a local landscaper donates the sand for the bags. The majority of the neighbors line the street and sometimes their driveways on Christmas eve at dusk. we usually take a ride around the neighborhood to see them lit. It is such a pretty tradition.

Lastly, is a run to the pulmonologist office to pick up a different mask to try. The one they gave me to wear is doing a job on the bridge of my nose. It remains reddened for the entire day and gets worse each day. Plus it makes my nose tender. I tried a band-aid as she suggested, but the adhesive is doing damage to my face. I guess we'll figure out a plan on Tuesday when I see her.

cindyny, I imagine your blood sugar might be a bit elevated after all those carbs yesterday, but should return to normal soon.

canarycat, glad everything turned out to be good for you.

reader425, lovely baked goods. Were they blonde brownies? I love them and had a friend in high school who made them the best. I have never been able to duplicate her efforts.

Chris, poor Tippy having arthritis. I like the "buttons" story. I am sure your cold weather gets to his bones as well. I know the cold gets to mine.

intolight, I second Chris with "you have paid your dues". I find that as I age, my mental energy exceeds my physical energy and after all the cooking I did yesterday morning, I didn't offer to help with the cleanup after dinner. I usually do, but my back was kicking up, so I sat. Normally, I offer to wash dishes.

I do hope everyone had a peaceful and enjoyable Thanksgiving. Today is bitterly cold, barely above freezing, but sunny. There is a good breeze so I am sure the cold will be penetrating. I hope everyone has a great day and waving "hi" to everyone.