RMLincoln

Yesterday was very good but tiring. Today is a recovery day. Roy, excellent PSA news! We’re watching DH’s numbers trend up, next check in 2 months. Been creeping up since his radiation treatment in 2020. Your experience gives us hope. Thank you for sharing. I’m sorry about your neck pain; I struggled with neck issues for years. My PT would guide me through stretches then set me in ice packs which did wonders! Both ice and heat increase blood flow. I hope it resolves quickly for you. Yesterday was cousins day… I am the youngest of what we call “the cousins generation”. There are still about 20 of us including blood cousins and spouses. My cousins are a very important part of my life and in some ways closer to me than my siblings. I’m very blessed to have them in my life and celebrate them, even a day late! Yesterday we were on the road early to get to our lunch destination before my 11:00 phone appointment with social security. We hoped to be in a quiet place with a good cell signal by 11 but we hit a traffic jam and were not quite there yet when the call came through early. But we were off the highway and found a good spot to pull over. The SSA rep was able to “request transfer” of my online-application from the review center where it was in Q for beyond the normal 30-day review window. She processed it during our phone call and it’s now approved! Done! She even got the federal tax withholding set up. Deposits begin in October. That will cover our increased monthly cost of where we are now in the senior community. And thankfully we have savings to rely on as our needs increase for greater support and extended care! I’m very grateful. Not only for this income to us but for my parents receiving ss in their aging years so I didn’t have to pay for their needs, and could save for my future needs. Hopefully we’ll have something to left for our next generations’ nest eggs. The adventure yesterday was a good step forward for me in reaching out to live life from my new environment. I’m hopeful we’ll be able to have more adventures, maybe a regional trip for my milestone birthday in September 🤞 Blessings sent to you all early this morning. I’m very concerned about several of you and hold you close to heart. Thank you for updating us as situations evolve. Thank you Vanessa for your lists! Cheers to those celebrating 🥳 Smooth travels to all away especially our cruisers! Brenda, heavy smoke in the air is dangerous with short-term and long-term consequences. Especially if you are distant from the fires because only the smallest particles travel so far, and if the density of the very fine particulate load is so high, it is sure to penetrate lung tissue. I hope you and yours can at least stay inside. Wearing an N-95 or KN-95 mask will help. Electronic air cleaners are great if you have one. DH’s son has asthma and they had to order one last year when they stayed in Chicago for a month and suddenly found themselves in the smoke path. Amazon Prime delivered it the next day, worth every penny! Update: DH’s eye pressure was very low again last night. It’s astounding! It had been running in low teens pretty much since the surgery in April, then a few recent readings around ten, not all of them that low but a few. And suddenly down to 5! No meds, no changes, no “massage” exercises to push fluid through the new incision, just Bam! 🙏 Going to eye doc Aug 1 and he’ll look at the incision and fluid movement. I’ll keep you posted! Thank you all for your continued support! Maybe this will bring hope to someone else fighting to hang on to a plateau! Maureen

Almost out the door , a bit rainy. Ugh. On our way to meet Maryland friend for lunch in Bethlehem PA. Overjoyed to see the twins! Overjoyed that DH had very low pressure readings yesterday and again today in that pesky left eye!✨ We’ll see if trend holds, returning eye doctor Aug 1! Had to share! 🤞 Blessings for all the needs here and afar each of you for sharing here, the woes and the joys! M—

Overcast today which is nice for me, I’m a cloud worshiper. Blessings Debbie for a successful procedure. And Roy for your appointments. 🎂 Happy Birthday Dixie! What a fabulous surprise! @kazu slow and careful Jacqui…. @JazzyV hoping this new wrinkle resolves soon. Belated best wishes to BFF! You two are a great team. Nancy, prayers for your DB. I’m sure it troubles you. I hope your IT people can salvage your computer or at least your hard drive. Denise, I hope you can get your office space set up and be comfortable. Moving on…. Vancouver was our first cruise departure port, very fond memories! The idea of a cruise sprung to me in a miserable moment when we were renovating our house to sell before we moved to the mountain cabin full time. I was stripping wallpaper with the gooey messy falling in my face when the thought came through loud and clear, “A cruise would be nice!!” It took a very long time to sell that house but on the way home from the late August closing DH asked me, as always, “Anything else you want to do in town?” (We lived 90 minutes away.) Yes! Here’s an address…. no navigators then, just a street map. He pulled into the parking lot and read the sign over the store front, CRUISE WAREHOUSE! The rest is history 😁. We bought (too expensive) tickets for an inside guarantee room on Carnival Spirit for an Alaska cruise going out in 3 weeks. We drove our truck and 5th wheel trailer to Washington, left it on DH’s nephew’s land, drove to Vancouver, parked our truck in the old lot next to pier, wheeled our borrowed collapsible duffle bags (they fit in the trailer) into the terminal, worked our way through line after line, had to find a porter with the manifest list for our cabin number, we ate our sandwiches while waiting, it all took 2 and a half hours! But we loved the cruise experience! DH had had his doubts- didn’t want to pay for a vacation that required shoes and had dress codes (we took our wedding clothes for formal night)- but he fell in love with the string quartet, and his brand new first digital camera! Amazing Alaska scenery. Eagles, Glaciers. Waterfalls. Midnight buffets. All so exciting! Vancouver began it all for us! Ahhh. ✨Blessings to all in need of healing, comfort or hope! 🥂 Cheers to those celebrating! You remind us Life is Good🌈 Smooth travels to all away! Thanks to all for being here, hoping you enjoy something special today! Maureen

I recognized the channel marker immediately! We did a houseboat rental on Ridou Canal for two weeks. Fabulous in so many ways. Kawartha plys those waters too. Fascinating to watch her fold up to fit some of the locks! m—

+me too

Thanks for your Newcastle pix @grapau27 and suggestions. We enjoyed touring Alnwick castle! I’d love to return to your region and see more! And you and Pauline! Cloudy today and mid80s, so not too comfortable out. I have a full agenda today starting early with a Newcomers gathering, then I’ll meet up with a new sacred circle group and learn what that’s like. There’s jazz this afternoon, an early dinner before a book group call with my Maryland group to discuss Lessons in Chemistry. Blessings to all in need. And our country, your country and the war zones. ✨ Cheers to the celebrating 🌈 Life is Good! Smooth travels to all away. A good recovery day to Sandi and Dennis. Smooth consult for Roy, and infusion day for Chuck… I hope the edema is reducing; strength for Annie and Terri and Terry! @kazuJacqui, I’m sorry you are feeling unwell; if that doesn’t resolve soon please alert someone. Post-surgery recovery could have complications, caught earlier the better. Gentle hugs! Gotta get moving forward! Wishing you each a blessed day! Stay cool enough, dry enough or wet enough, safe and well! Thanks all for being here. You’re my Team! Maureen

Thank you Graham, it’s closer than I thought I should have looked at a map! m—

@grapau27 Thanks for the video and pix of Gretna Green. We stopped there on our bus tour, darling place, good memories! But that is not close to you on your NE shore. Enjoy your change of scenery. m—

Trending up into upper 80s today and mid 80s all week but not too bad for July. Last night I left the Saturday night movie, loved just sitting out on a perfect night, even saw fireflies! Only slept 6 hrs but that should be enough, not much happening today but tomorrow my schedule is too full! Life is good! 🌈 Blessings to you all for all that’s needed. So many! And our country. And the world. Home safe Sandi! Bon Voyage St Pete! Rest Jacqui! Eat Chuck! Eat Tana! Breathe Terri! Baby steps Bonnie! Cheers to all celebrating. 🥂 Smooth travels to all away especially our cruisers. 🛳️ We stopped in Lifou on our LA-Sidney crossing in 2013. These are not my pix but enjoy the beauty. Have a great day today! At least it won’t be cold! Maureen

@St Pete Cruiser 🤞All smooth from here on…. Thanks for letting us know. You really made a Herculean effort to make it happen! Never daunted even into the wee hours! And now you’re there! 👏 Glad the hotel is beautiful! Bon Voyage! m— @StLouisCruisers After such a harrowing day I hope you get some rest to refuel you for the next leg. On the road again…. @Cruzin Terri It’s so disheartening to hear you are going through this bad turn of events, and not anywhere near at your best. As hard as it is to see the horizon from the bottom of the trough, it’s there! Praying the next wave will lift you up. m—

Checking in late today. Beautiful evening in north Jersey, sitting out on our balcony feels perfect! Blessings sent out first thing this morning! Hope it all works out for Sandi and Dennis getting home, and St Pete Cruisers getting to ship! Oiy! Loving your “feel good” pix Annie. Making it through today! ✨ Terry, genius ideal for Sandi to buy a pass to Delta lounge, get the concierge to help! Absolutely Brilliant! Denise, I feel your mixture of sadness and angst. Hugs today and a better day tomorrow. Joy, hoping you can help Bonnie through the shock, and onward to the hope and belief that her path ahead will bring her many years of sharing the joys of Life with her loved ones! Gentle hugs! Praying for Amazing! Jacqui, please please please go slower than you think you should! (We know you…). Taking it cautiously is a beautiful way of loving yourself…. I know you know that, just saying… (And I’m not going to ask you, What would José tell you? because I know you can hear him…. 💝 🤗). Paul, I cracked up out loud and almost dropped my phone at your mention that maybe Sandi and Dennis are destined to start a new life in Boston! Humor in a crisis is so leveling! 👍. Terry, loved DB pic in the prized sweater! A keeper, DB and the sweater too 😉 We’ve had a good day! Went a to lecture on some “outta this world” ideas about how space colonies might work! Bizarre but good for me stretch my thinking a bit. And a quick stop at the our new, very handy fitness center! And 🫣 DH’s has had 2 eye-pressure readings this week in that pesky left eye at or below target! 🤞 Maybe it’s settling down. If this can be a trend, maybe just maybe he can stay off the eye meds? That would be SO Amazing! I know you’re all with us on that! Many thanks! My picture of last night’s moon isn’t as good as Bruce’s but it sure was nice sitting with it. Keeping watch for good news coming in. And to all a Good Night (or G’Day). m—

Only 83 for a high today and dew points in the 50s! Nice! I’ll have to learn more about the IT outage. I have a friend-of-a-friend flying from NM to Washington today, then together they fly tomorrow to Denmark for a Scandinavian tour. At least they purchased the whole transportation package through the tour company, Collette, so I hope they get it all worked out. Geezsh, travel is hard enough when things are “normal.” @kazu Thanks for gathering the energy to update us! Sorry about the prospective buyers but your job now is to recover. So glad you have help! I hope Ivan is recovering well too. Good luck to Annie and Chuck today! And Lenda and Steve! And Ann and Pat! 🥂Happy celebrating to Katherine and DH, and Terry and DB! 🌈 Life is Good! We’re glad to be rocking along, one day at a time is Everything! Enjoyed dinner in our main dining room last night with neighbors down the hall, nice of them to invite us to join them. DH continues to put up pictures! This afternoon I have a mindfulness “class” and either the pool or the gym on my way back from the other side of the campus. Monday I did pool exercises for my hip and aggravated a back issue so I’ve been gentle to it this week but it’s time to get moving again. Still no update from Social Security on my application of June 12. They say 30 days so it’s overdue. I have a phone appt for July 24 that I should be able to cancel because of the online application but now I’m not sure. I had hoped to see a Maryland friend that day while she’ll be only about 90 mins from me in Bethlehem PA. Still hoping I’ll see her! DH says he’ll come with me so I can do the call even if we’re driving. I’m just not sure…. Blessings to all in need of direction, healing, comfort or hope! I hope you can enjoy something meaningful today! Thanks for being here! Maureen

Checking in late. Great to hear that Chuck enjoyed a meal, and Annie’s gotta feel better about that! Oiy, double oiy on Ann and Pat’s fridge, but hoping for better news from surgeon and cardiologist!! Trusting Jacqui had a good day! Everybody in my hemisphere have a good rest tonight, those in the other hemisphere, have a great day! m—

Cooler today, I might use it to make a run to the grocery. DH’s recent project is putting up pictures in our apartment. We moved 100 pix from Maryland: mostly his travel photography, a few of my photography, many family items including portraits and heritage paintings, wedding and anniversary remembrances, fire department plaques and several other odds and ends. It really makes it start to feel like home! @Denise T your adventure into a travel company sounds exciting! You have SO much going on, keep it going! Heart hugs to all in need of healing, comfort or hope! I’ll check back later for updates. @ottahand7 safe drive into town for the Rx (and more, there’s always more for a trip into town …), it was always an hour and a half to town for us, I don’t miss it! Nelson Mandela endured, inspires us to endure also. The papal infallibility doctrine was limited to when he “spoke” ex cathedra, “from the chair”. I think the last proclamation “from the chair” was in the 1920s. Paul, I’m so glad you recognized your low BGL. Scary! Recovery slowly and with care. Blessings to you all, thanks for sharing the journey. To Rich, Vanessa, Dixie,Ann, Graham, Paul, Roy, GTV, Lenda, Sandi, … oh all the contributors, photographers, gardeners, travelers, writers! Hugs! Please be safe! Maureen

Sending love Annie @marshhawk to you both! Blessings for whatever can help✨ What’s good right now? Ground yourself in gratitude for strength for the next 10 minutes, hour, night, day ! And blessings for tomorrow for Jacqui, Bonnie, Tana, Maurice and any other procedures or urgent needs! Rest well tonight.

Another hot day but here it’s not as bad as some places, 92. Maybe storms tonight. Last night they missed us, maybe tonight too? I just hope the power holds! I miss our generator! But they always feed us here so no worries about getting a supper. Plus, our community has 3 gathering places, each with a dining room, large open “living room,” fitness center, salon, multiple club rooms, a front desk and mailroom. During power outages these centers have power, HVAC, and each building has one elevator on generator power so we’re in pretty good shape! Hallways have generator outlets and security will use them for extension cords for those who need it for emergency medical equipment. We’re in a good place🙏 Love the quote, inspiring! Sorry to hear of more COVID! Blessings to all in need! @kazu Happy Ivan did so well! Prayers you will too, praying for Amazing results! Congrats to Jake and Juan! 🥂 and all celebrating. Reminds us that Life is Good🌈 Thanks all for sharing the journey! Maureen

We’re happy indoors, it’s very July outside! We enjoyed our visit to Nuka Alofa but sadly many of the parliament and other government buildings we saw in 2016 were leveled by a typhoon a few years later. The palace was next to our dock and was not seriously damaged. Tonga still has a monarch and has had close ties to the British monarch. The Tonga queen attended Queen Elizabeth’s coronation, not easily fine in the 1950s. I think both DH and I qualify as Atomic Veterans. We retired from Sandia National Laboratories in Albuquerque. In 1949 Sandia was spun off from Los Alamos Laboratory to engineer the non-nuclear components of nuclear weapons including delivery navigation systems for guided missiles, specialized battery systems, parachutes, many other attributes and especially surety systems- that they would not explode unexpectedly, ever, no matter what accident or malicious event could happen. It was an interesting place to work in materials science. Snakes are important but I appreciate them more from afar. When I was about 19 or 20 I worked as a waitress at a resort in the PA Poconos for part of a summer. Sons of the owners were a bit devilish and tried to scare me with a snake but I quickly thought, if it’s safe for them it’s safe for me and I put aside my qualms and accepted it more graciously than I felt. They never bothered me again. We had rattlesnakes on rare occasions in the desert terrain around Albuquerque but they are very quick to leave people alone. As an EMT we’d get called out for snake bites- usually the patient provoked the critter; typical scenario is a young adult male with bite to hand! The large snakes around our mountain home were bull snakes that kept the mice population down. Blessings for Ivan and Jacqui today, and all in need of healing, comfort or hope! Glad to see at least some good reports. One day at a time is everything! 🌈 Thanks all for being here, for all your support and good wishes! Stay safe, stay well, do your best to stay cool! Maureen

Hot here through Wednesday then not much better…. still July. Great to have granddaughter and her DH join us for supper yesterday. Their saga of the many insurance claims due to a tree falling into their driveway, cars, a rental U-Haul storage trailer, neighbors car and house continues but they are dealing with it all. DH continues to manage ok, his itchy eye problem is so much better than last week! Grateful, but still uncertain as to why the miserable flare-up. Horrible sleep last night for me but today will happen anyway. Blessings for all here, our Care list, all the appointments and procedures coming up…. For Vanessa, Jacqui, Joy and Allen and Bonnie and stepson, Lenda and Steve…. Terry and Tana and family helping! Yay! Ren and his dad, oiy! Amazing they had a non-stop flight! Ann and Pat, Annie and Chuck, Terri and Jim, those with family and friends in need… Glad to hear of the happy celebrations! Gerry, what a grand Summerfest! Nice catches Nancy and John! Beautiful beach house for Bruce and Sue, settling in in Ogunquit for Mr Boston, hope you’re feeling better. 🤞 for Jacqui’s house sale, trying times… I had more tears than smiles but I kept going and you will too, remember deep breaths! I’m still waiting for my social security application to clear for my 70th birthday, it’s been more than their 30 days the website says it usually takes. I’m holding a phone appt for July 22 in case it’s needed but now I have a chance to meet a Maryland friend that day while she’s up in Bethlehem PA, only about 90 mins away from me… so I hope it all comes together. Onward into a new week! Grateful for all of you, thanks to all who research, share pictures, post their needs and encouragement… please be safe and kind. Extra Blessings for our country! Maureen

Oh no… my post is lost, oh well, have to head out now, maybe again later! 🤦🏼‍♀️

Oh Annie, I’m sorry! You’ve had a lot to absorb and no closer to resolution. I’m impressed at how you’re holding it together. Hugs from New Jersey! m— @bennybear and @Quartzsite Cruiser thanks for your concern. We’re both better today. DH isn’t sleeping well, everything is off kilter but that will eventually work out. Between the Benadryl and the cream I think we got on top of this episode… just wish I understood more. But today is today and we’re good! DH’s ear thing went better too. I got to mindfulness class and did hip exercises in the pool… it was a good day!

Cloudy, cooler in mid 80s for high today, nice respite, maybe a shower around supper time. Last prayers last night for Annie and Chuck, first prayers this morning. Praying for Amazing! DH’s niece retired as a merchant marine radio officer. Although she is fluent in Morse code it’s not used much anymore. Thanks for the Night of Nights info. Terry, how wonderful to hear Tana had a special request meal. I’m sure you were overjoyed! DH was better yesterday, thankfully! We were both getting beside ourselves. I started searching for other causes but more antihistamines got it under control. Getting the electronic air cleaner going again too. 🤞 Thanks for your continued support! Today I’ll meet up with DH at medical after my mindfulness gathering, he has an ear issue…. 🤦🏼‍♀️. It so great to be able to walk there! Thanks Sandi for the Greenland pix! I love the rocks! 🪨 It a good portion of my reasons for leaning away from Cape Cod and more toward Niagara Falls or lately Adirondacks for my birthday trip, better rocks! Always the geologist…. Special Blessings to Annie and Chuck, Terry and Tana, Terri and Jim, Ann and Pat, Jacqui, Elizabeth, Vanessa and BFF, Mr Boston, Denise, Joy’s friend Bonnie- let us know! And each of you as we journey together. And our families- Sandi’s DB and the twins and Ren and family, Nancy’s DB. And I know I’m missing people but they’re in my heart. And for our country, your country and the world. Smooth travels to all away especially our cruisers! Cheers to all celebrating- you help remind us that Life is Good🌈 Thanks all for being here, enjoy something of this day we share! Maureen

It’s late Annie but my night prayers are for you and Chuck🙏. Remember to breathe… good and deep… in and out! 💖

Some cooler days, 88 today and cooler tomorrow and Saturday! Nice! Maybe it’ll help DH’s eye feel better. He’s trying some new anti-itch cream… I’m beside myself, so is he, we don’t know what’s going on! And neither do the doctors. sigh. One day at a time…. But he can see… 🌈 Strange days to celebrate. My first thought was, It’s 7-11 day! I hadn’t heard of a 7-11 until I moved out west at age 23! I guess they are everywhere now. (It’s a convenience store chain, open 7am-11pm, a novel idea 50+ yrs ago.). 🎂 HAPPY BIRTHDAY FR DAVID 🎉 Terry, glad Tana is feeling ok with the new approach. We’re with you! Terri, hoping you can get hooked up with some support, maybe through the Alzheimer’s contact you made. I know there’s a lot going on, unsettling and painful, but don’t miss the opportunity to appreciate What’s good right now! You may not have family support but you have us! Sending gentle hugs. Nancy, Joliet MO? That’s a far piece away! Hoping your neighbor gets the help needed! And thanks for the news that your DB is home! Ya-hoo! Hoping his IV meds did the trick! And you can John can catch some fish… Elizabeth, those bruises look nasty. Arnica salve might help clear them quicker, if you have access to it. Sandi, St Anthony was on our Newfoundland trip itinerary, trip that didn’t happen when life got in the way… still hoping for “someday”! Interested if you get to the Viking site! The iceberg looks ominous! Jacqui, you are making Amazing progress! I’m glad you have help. Sorting and moving stuff forward took us several months! A friend helped us advertise on a FB local yard sale page, especially DH’s tools. It was often a tough parting but life is much simplier now. I found it just as hard mentally and emotionally as physically. When you rest, rest your mind too. And remember my lists: All the things you will not miss having to deal with; and all the new opportunities you will have, and the energy to do them! @Mr. Boston Thinking of you both in your new environment! 🎉. We have great memories of Ogunquit ME! Annie, you have an infectious positivity that helps me every day! I’m sending it back to you! Hope you all have a good day today! Blessings to you all for a safe and grateful day! Thanks for being here! Maureen

@Cruzin Terri Terri, I’m glad you can arrange for help. Where we were we couldn’t hire help, too far away from town! Yes, I’m younger, turning 70 now, DH is turning 82, 12 yrs apart. Blessings for your video ortho visit and a positive direction! You’re making great progress, managing a lot of fronts! I remember the very long process of settling your brother-in-law’s estate. You have a lot of “stick-to-it-ness”. My poem: DH and I are old. We used to live in the cold. When finally we’d had enough, We were swamped with too much stuff! I’ll look at Windjammer! Sounds like a nice adventure. We’re still able to do stairs, ladders are more challenging! m—