lilyjohn

As many of you know I am participating in the first Rockathon for Relay for Life. My job is to gather information and to be in charge of activities. One of the things I am doing is putting together a quiz. I have realized that there is a question that I do not know the answer to and am asking for your help. I am well aware that there is Small Cell and Non Small Cell Lung Cancers. What I do not know is the 4 or more kinds of non small cell and what they are. Can someone please fill me in. By the way we are focusing on Lung Cancer. I am hoping that if this works out I can find a way to raise funds for Lungevity in the future. Thanks again for any help you may be able to give me.

I just want to add my prayers to all the rest. Praying for a quick recovery and for your name and your condition to be the same again soon, NED

Good afternoon everyone. Spent the morning visiting with neighbors and a friend then went to the store to get bread. I don't want to run out because we are awaiting a very strong winter storm. Seems the snow last week was just a preview. Big storm should bring up to 6 inches of snow witch is a lot for here. Usually only light snow once every 3 or 4 years. Already been snow here twice this year. I don't mind as long as I don't have to drive in it. I did take time for my exercises now hope to start another book in a short while. One of my neighbors doesn't cook so she bought a roast for me to cook for her and another neighbor and I. I told her I will cook it tomorrow and take a small piece off of it to make us a vegetable soup for Friday. Nothing like a good soup when it is cold. Judy I seem to have missed a lot of the news about you cruise. When are you leaving and where are you going? My oldest son works for a company that services the escape capsules for the off shore rigs but he also services the life boats for Carnival Cruise. He usually flies to Florida then works while the ship is at anchor then rides to the other port and works there. Sometimes he rides back and other times they fly him home. He has gone so many times that he does not like the cruise anymore. Eric that is funny about the fake letter. I think that I would have been suspecious of anything that is supposed to be free. I am a very skeptical person. I understand your desire to travel alone. I would like to have one of my grandchildren with me just one time but for the most part I enjoy the trip alone. I have been writing about my last trip. I am almost finished with it. I like to put my thoughts and feelings during the trip into words. My boys deer hunt but I don't eat deer or anything wild. I have cooked deer, turtle, alligator, squerrel and rabbit. I have also cooked wild duck of several different kinds but I never ate any of those things. My son usually has his deer meat made into tamales at least a large part of it. They have to add pork because it is too lean. I say let them hunt deer and eat deer and let me fish and eat fish As for the healthy eating and bike riding I admire you for your determination. Gas is up over 3.50 here now in most places. If it gets too high I think people will do like we did last time and stop using it so much. They claim that is one of the reasons it is going up again. Funny thing is last time it was because we were using too much. I think they use anything as an excuse and raise the price just because they can. I have watched coffee prices this past month. In one store one brand was 4.99 and it another store it was 12.99 for the same 3 pound can. This week it had reversed. The expensive one was down and the other was up. Switched to the opposite in two different stores Well things to do so will get off of here. Have a good rest of the day and Bud keep up the good work just don't try to dress those crappie in a tu tu

I have seen this before and think that maybe you have too but it is worth posting again. STUD ROOSTER A farmer went out one day and bought a brand new stud rooster for his chicken coop. The new rooster struts over to the old rooster and says, 'OK old fart, Time for you to retire.' The old rooster replies, 'Come on, surely you cannot handle ALL of these chickens. Look what it has done to me Can't you just let me have the two old hens over in the corner?' The young rooster says, 'Beat it: You are washed up And I am taking over.' The old rooster says, 'I tell you what, young stud. I will race you around the farmhouse. Whoever wins gets the exclusive domain over the entire chicken coop.' The young rooster laughs.. 'You know you don't stand a chance, old man. So, just to be fair, I will give you a head start.' The old rooster takes off running. About 15 seconds later the young rooster takes off running after him. They round the front porch of the farmhouse and the young rooster has closed the gap. He is only about 5 feet behind the old rooster and gaining fast! The farmer, meanwhile, is sitting in his usual spot on the front porch When he sees the roosters running by. The Old Rooster is squawking And running as hard as he can. The Farmer grabs his shotgun and - BOOM - He blows the young rooster to bits. The farmer sadly shakes his head and says, 'Dad gum ..... Third gay rooster I bought this month.' Moral of this Story? .... Don't mess with the OLD FARTS - Age, skill, wisdom, and a little treachery Always overcome youth and arrogance! OLD DUDES RULE !!!!!

I have been just laying low for a few days. I have been going through old pictures to share with my family and still trying to get out of the low mood I have been in sense my sister in laws death. Now facing a lot of other dates of losses is not helping. I went to the movies on Saturday with one of my neighbors then we went out for Chinese food. Sunday I spent most of the morning on the phone with my kids then did a lot of reading. I get in moods where all I want to do is read. Unfortunately I have to stop for a while because my eyes start giving out on me if I read for too long. I made a big pot of chili beans yesterday so I don't have to cook today. Fitness class this morning at 10 so I am not rushing to do them before I go down for coffee with my neighbors this morning. Well you know Judy Becky dressing that deer could be pretty funny. If she is trying to dress it in Bruce's tu tu it is probably protesting big time. lol Well I guess I had better get dressed and get this day started. They are passing so fast it might be gone before I get up and around. Have a great day everyone.

Sorry Judy I didn't mean to slight you. I hope you have a better day and enjoy your visit with your daughter and grandson. Take care and have a nice day.

We had an unusual snow yesterday. Doesn't happen often here. It snowed off and on all day and managed to stick to the ground for a long time. In fact despite the light rain all night there is still some snow on the grass. No need to go out so I am enjoying just staying in. Doing some reading and working on organization of old family pictures just to mention a few projects. Becky did you report that car to the police? The fact that it was following your son in what I assume is your car is kind of scary. He could be watching you and waiting for you to be alone. Please be careful. I don't want to scare you but you do need to be aware and take precautions. Annette hope that your family problems settle down and you can have some relaxing off time soon. Bud I am a true believer in the old saying that a bad day fishing is better than a good day of work. I always love to fish but don't get much chance anymore. When my husband and I would go he would end up throwing the bait away so I would quit and go home. As long as I had some bait left there was a chance that the "Big" one was just waiting for me to find the right spot Eric I envy you getting to see so much of this beautiful country. Going by train is the very best way to see the most of it. I checked into that same tour package and it is about 3 times as expensive for residents as it is for non residents. I know that you will enjoy it even if you will be missing the best state of all California. Not the city California that most people think of but the real California. The one that exists in places where people haven't discovered how great it is to live. Well got to run. Just a day to play it by ear but exercise and cooking has to get in somehow. Have a great day everyone.

Good morning everyone. The sound of the rain woke me this morning. Have to admit I lay there for a while just listening to it. I like the sound of a gentle rain and we need it so it is ok. I don't have to drive in it so I can say that. When I lived in Louisiana our biggest animal problem were Armadillos. They would dig up everything in the yard but the only thing that ever got in the house was a rat. A real one Becky. Denis put a trap with a piece of pecan and caught it right away. It was a big one and gave me the creeps thinking of it running around in my house. When I was little we lived on a creek bank and had a snake in the house. Now believe me that was the worse. It was over the fridge wrapped around a spice rack. Mama saw it and yelled for my sister in law Sherrell to get a stick, We were already outside but Mama stayed in, well she got a stick about 2 feet long By the time we got a bigger stick it was gone and we never saw it again. Not sure what happened to it. We had a lot of deer in our yards up in French Gulch and last week while at my nephew's house they had about 10 deer in there back lot. One time a neighbor up in French Gulch, she lived further up than me, woke to a noise and found a bear in her house I asked her what she did and she said she just started yelling and waving her hands and it ran out. Now if that had been me I would have dived out the window and chocked it to death with the dust I turned up on my way by. Hope everyone is feeling better. Knock on wood so far I have been well. I attribute that to no heat at night and fresh air. Well fitness time even though it is not in the moonlight. Just do a few stretches and dance a little. If I don't do it early I won't do it at all. We have our sewing group today and later Bible study so I will be busy most of the day. Stay warm and stay dry all and have a great day.

Our temperature went from high 70s to high 40s. We had rain off and on for two days and nights but the sun is trying to peek out as day starts. Possibility of some thunderstorms and hail later but temperatures still in the 40s. Can't complain after seeing the weather where all of you are. My exercise consists of a few stretches and simple strength exercises then about 15 minutes of dancing. Some days it is easy and I am more than ready. Other days that sounds like running a marathon Off for morning visit with neighbors then laundry, exercise and make some good healthy cookies. I found a recipe for some applesauce oatmeal cookies with raisins and nuts. Very little sugar so they should be good for me and maybe even good to eat. I love oatmeal cookies and applesauce cake so am hoping these are as good as the two combined. Still have to watch how many I eat. I finished one more book last night so now I will put the reading aside for a while and concentrate on some sewing . writing and family picture organization. Tired just thinking about all of that. Oh well maybe the cookies will keep me going

Spent the morning doing housework. I can't believe how little it takes to make my back hurt. Trying to do some stretches and exercises everyday to make me stronger and hope against everything that I will lose some pounds and that will help my back. Feeling a little better today emotionally but still have a ways to go. Very determined to spend more time with my family who are close. I go to Louisiana every year to see children and grand children but have not gone the little over two hundred miles to see the family I missed so much when I lived in Louisiana. Time just seems to fly by. I had to run to the store for a few things. Can't help but wonder if the rain makes the bars loose so all of the nuts escape!! Parking lot at Foodmax was like a circus. Not much planned for tomorrow so will try to be on here earlier. Have a great evening everyone.

Sorry about all of the errors in my post. My mind just doesn't seem to keep track with my fingers.

Well we had the memorial Saturday for Sherrell. It seemed so strange that she wasn't there but that was only one of the many things that seemed so out of place. So many emotions and memories of her and all I have lost over the years. Going back to the bay area was a real experience both good and bad. Good because I saw a lot of family and friends that I haven't seen for many years. Bad because of all the memories of people and places that just aren't there anymore. I rode down with my nephew Clint. I saw his pain and the memories he was facing just as I was. My brother Harold died in September 1974, Clint was not quite 13. Sherrell remained a widow the rest of her life. Just the memories of them would have been enough but there were so many ghosts from the past. When I was a child and growing up in the Santa Clara valley it was the fruit producing capital of the world. Time has not been kind to my valley or my memories. I used to get mad when someone called it the Silicon Valley but now I see how wrong I was. The Santa Clara Valley is gone. You have to drive to the very Southern part of the valley to see even one orchard or field of anything growing. Everyone where you look there are people and buildings and cars. Most of the landmarks from my youth are gone and it is so hard to put the memories with what I see now. I think maybe it can't even be the Silicon Valley anymore because much of the electronics industry has moved to other countries. Now what is left? It was a melting pot at one time but not what I see is a boiling caldron of humanity that is spilling over and leaving scars on all it touches. Then there are the people. My family or what is left of us. Those of you on facebook will see what is left of my generation. There are nieces and nephews but even they are aging quickly, or so it seems to me. My brother Richard died in 1978 and his wife Carol was there Saturday. I am ashamed that I have been this close and not seen her or my niece and nephews in 8 years, some in 10 years. My niece will be 59 soon and it shows. Carol never remarried either. She did have a boy friend for 11 years. He wanted to marry her but she had a son in a wheel chair with serious problems both physical and emotional. She didn't want to burden his so she ended up staying single. She buried him just a couple of years ago. My brother Bob is still alive. He was always my Daddy substitute when Daddy was off on a binge. Sometimes those binges lasted for months but he was my daddy and how I missed him and Mama and my brother Arthur. Arthur and Mama have been gone 25 years now and Daddy has been gone for almost 17. There ghosts were all there. I felt them long before going down there. Even on my way home in January I was feeling my lost family. I think coming up through the San Juaquin Valley was part of that but with all that has happened sense it is almost as if they were gathering to meet Sherrell and to hold me up through one more loss. Many of you know that robins are one of the signs I look for from Johnny. They were also Sherrells favorite bird. One the Sunday before she died while she was in the hospital the yard outside my window was filled with robins and quail, one of my other signs from Johnny. I see quail all of the time but those are the first robins I have seen sense moving from French Gulch. I never saw one even on all of my trips to Louisiana. So my Johnny was there too with the rest of them. I got a lot of birthday wishes from all of you and my family and old friends that I have found on Facebook but the one that surprised me the most was one from Johnny's son Johnny Ray. His wife Valerie writes but he seldom does. He not only sent me birthday wishes but sent me a private note telling me about a dream he had of Johnny. He said he felt compelled to share it with me. He was wondering if it was just a dream. I doubt it was. I believe it was Johnny reaching out to him and to me through him. Valerie also posted a sweet message on Facebook. I feel so good knowing that we are like family even though Johnny and I never got the chance to marry. I know this is long but my emotions are so raw and there is so much in my mind and heart right now. I feel that if I don't get it written down I will burst with the words that keep going round and round in my head. Many of the most important happenings in my life have been in January and February and with Johnny's death December was added to that list. Sometimes I wish I could just skip those months then I remember how many of those things were the best and how they have shaped my life. I guess I have to take the bad in order to have the good. Today is especially hard because had he lived long enough this would have been mine and Johnny's 8th anniversary. I can't imagine how it would have been to have 8 years out of these 52 that he has been such a part of me instead of just 5 months Oh I guess I am really going on and need to stop. Just one more thing and then I am off of here. Next week on the 23rd it will be one year sense Johnny's brother Harold died. Strange that I didn't realize until yesterday that he had died on the 4th anniversary of my ex husband Denis' death. Yes that will be 5 years next week and that date too will haunt me. Wow I do need to get out of this mood. I have made up my mind that I really need to go spend some time with my family down there this summer. Maybe a week or more. I just never know how long you will have that option. I also made up my mind to take a trip up to Washington. I am hoping to do that this summer too. I had said I would never go back but lately I have been feeling the need to go to see Johnny's family and the places where I was the happiest. So now I really must go. Sorry if I am getting anyone down. I just somehow need to go through this in order to get back on track and come to terms once again with all of the loss. As always thanks for being here.

Ok I have been out of the loop. Witch one is Bruce? Lucky they had water close to hold them up should they fall.

Good morning Annette and everyone else. Annette I hope your problems with the boy get settled soon. That kind of tension is not good for you or your mom. I just wanted to stop by and say hello. Thanks to everyone for your birthday wishes and words of encouragement. Memorial was good but painful for so many reasons. It was so hard going back to my birthplace and seeing that it is really not there anymore. I used to get aggravated when people called it the Silicon Valley and tell them it was the Santa Clara Valley. When we got near Friday I told my nephew that I was wrong it is the Silicon Valley. I see no sign remaining of the valley I grew up in and loved so much. I am so thankful that I found this beautiful place where I live now. It has much of what the Santa Clara Valley had except for the weather of coarse. I want to wish you all a happy Valentines day. I don't celebrate it for reasons that you know and because had Johnny lived it would be our anniversary we were supposed to get married that Valentines day after he died. Well I need a shower and to let my neighbors know that I am home. Take care and have a great day everyone.

Good morning Judy. I see two airs but decided to post on the top one. You sound like one very busy lady. I know at times it can be overwhelming to be so busy but aren't you glad that you are able to do all of those things? I complain about being tired but am so glad that I can keep busy and feel useful. I don't think I would be happy with the alternative and sounds like you wouldn't either. I am taking it easy today. I wore myself out yesterday but sure like the looks of my new arrangement. Nice having more room for my books and what nots too. It has been a while sense I put a piece of furniture together so I had forgotten how hard it could be. Off to Sunnyvale tomorrow for the memorial on Saturday. It will be strange being there without Sherrell but then again maybe she will be there. Her kids have been having "signs" not sure how many are real and how many are wishful thinking but I am the last person to deny they could be true. I have had so many from Johnny. We still have a strong wind blowing but it is supposed to get up to 70 again today. Weekend should be really nice weather then next week the rain should start. We need the rain and I want to see some Winter here. I see plenty in Louisiana but each year it seems to be over when I get home. I am just glad it is waiting until after the weekend. Have a great weekend everyone and thank all of you who wished me a Happy Birthday. I really appreciate it. I will be back Monday or Tuesday.

Furniture moved and bookcase put together. That was a job. I just couldn't figure out how to get it started. Once I figured that out it went together easy. Then I had to stand it up, now this is a very tall bookcase. I was thinking of calling a neighbor for help but when I lifted a corner I found that it wasn't that heavy without the shelves so I managed on my own. I am always careful with moving furniture Ginny sense I have gotten older. I never used to think only do and I pay for that every day now so I take my time and I bought some of those furniture sliders. They work great. It was the getting down and practically standing on my head to get the screws going that caused me problems. Luckily when I moved here I saved my little garden cart that I sat on to work in the yard. I am afraid to get down in the floor too much in case I can't get up. I have a knee that slips out of place once in a while That little cart works great for working with things on the floor or cleaning bottom cabinets or the bottom of the fridge. Thanks for being concerned though,really appreciate that. Didn't get all of the moving things to dust done in my bedroom but I will get that next week when I get back from the Bay Area. I am learning to pace myself finally. I am very tired now so will spend the rest of the afternoon reading. There is still a lot of Spring cleaning I want to do but I know that I can't do it all at once anymore. Talking about taking the wrong thing. My nieces husband and his dad went hunting. Some how they got the Polident and Alkaseltzer mixed up. Needless to say the stomache didn't get better only worse. Well I guess I will get off of here and check on line and see if I can find a Spice Rack. Who would have thought they would ever be almost impossible to find?

Taking just a minute to say good morning. Busy day today with furniture moving and dusting and exercise. Not as cool temperature wise but a very strong wind this morning makes it feel cooler than it is. I went to see How Do You Know with two of my neighbors. It was really funny. I love having that $1 theater and seeing movies that are not more than a couple of months old. It is a fun outing and one that I can afford every week. When I was in Louisiana my daughter took me to see Little Falkers and it cost $10 a person. That is just too high., especially when you wait a month or two and see them free on tv or rent the vidio for a dollar or two. Well got to run and have breakfast them get to exercise so I have time to do all my house work I have planned. Have a good day everyone.

Good morning. Judy I love the new picture and the hat! Sounds like I missed some fun yesterday but I am still trying to catch up from my trip and being gone again for a week. Then I leave Thursday for a few more days. I will be so glad when I can stay home for a while. Snowflake when I lived in French Gulch about 20 miles up in the mountains from here we had only the dish for tv and dial up internet. The only cell phone that would work was Verizon so I had to cancel out Cingular and ended up costing me over $200. Verizon worked great as long as I didn't go past our little town about 1/4 mile from my house. After that no cell phone worked. Still I loved that place and would have stayed but it was too far from everything and only one road out when we had the fire made me know I needed to be in town. It has cooled down a little here. Temperature is still supposed to be around 60 with clear skies but the 40 mph wind is going to make it feel a lot colder. I really don't mind though. Not a lot planned today other than fitness class and going to the movie. I may put my new bookcase together this evening to get a head start on tomorrow. I plan on moving things in my bedroom so I can chase dust bunnies. Even the dark doesn't scare them away anymore Still trying to stick to a diet of sorts along with exercise but it is sure hard with all the temptation around. Going to my nieces Thursday so we can leave for the bay area early Friday. She is planning on making a home cooked Mexican dinner for my birthday. Her husband is Mexican and she can cook better than going out to eat. Well got to run and see if I can spend a few minutes visiting with some neighbors at our morning coffee. It was my idea to have coffee in our recreation room every morning. I thought of it before I left on my trip. It really caught on and now I feel almost obligated to go for a few minutes. That can take the wind out of my sails when I have a lot to do in a day. Take care all and make sure you all keep your clothes on. You see I did manage to read a little of yesterday's air. Not worried about you getting cold just thinking of all the poor pets who may get an eye full and run out in the cold to get away

Good morning Bud and everyone else. Sounds like the weather is just tempting you to go fishing so it can catch you outside when the snow comes again. We were at 74 yesterday and warmer temperatures expected today. We do need rain but like I said it is so nice I could get used to this year round. I woke at 4am this morning but forced myself to stay in bed. I was exhausted from all the furniture moving and cleaning I did yesterday. Ended up sleeping until 7:15 so got a late start of phone calls to my kids. Eating breakfast here at the computer if you call cottage cheese and yogert breakfast. lol but that is what I feel like eating so I am enjoying it. I will make up for it at the small superbowl party a few of us are having. Well I hope everyone stays safe and warm. Have a great day all.

Wow busy day today on here. Judy any excuse is a good one to visit with friends. Linda the day I got home the last leg of my trip was by bus, when I got near and saw Mt.Shasta and Mt. Lassen I actually got tears in my eyes. I love my family but two months is just too long to be gone. I was home less than two weeks when I had to leave again because of my sister in law's death. Next weekend I am going down to the bay area with my family for the memorial / celebration of her life. I will see my only remaining brother and a bunch of other family that I haven't seen in years as well as some friends I haven't seem in close to 50 years! Then they will have to pry me out of my house for a while. I spent the day cleaning and moving furniture around. I completely rearranged my living / dinning room area. Desk is so heavy I was sure glad to have the sliders I bought to help. Then ran to the store. I was so tired and sore I could hardly make it home with my purchases. One thing I bought was a new reading lamp. I was having trouble seeing to read already and once the room was changed I knew I had to have a reading light. Got home and put on my night clothes at 4 pm then sat and read. Going back to it after I eat a bite. I love Criminal Minds too and the original CSI . I started watching Survivor a few years ago when there was nothing else on. I also watch Dancing With The Stars and my favorite is Biggest Looser. I guess that is because I keep telling myself if they can do it I can too. Yeah right Eric I envy you that trip. I would love to travel on one of those passes but they tend to charge more for US residents than they do for those who come from abroad. Maybe one day,that would be second choice to going by ship up the inside passage to Alaska. Too bad you will miss California. Personally I think you are missing the best but I guess my view is a little slanted ha ha!! Oh well I am tires and need to have a bite to eat. I am a little late but had a snack of carrots and ranch a couple of hours ago. Have a good evening and hope you warm up soon. I have both windows open and my fan on

Good morning! It is supposed to be another record breaking day today with temperature in the mid to high 70s and no rain in sight. I wouldn't mind seeing some snow again sense I wouldn't have to drive in it but I sure don't envy those of you who have had so much. I am just hoping that the rain holds out until after our memorial next weekend. Then we will need more rain or all the early rain will not have us caught up enough to see us through the summer. Judy every time I turn around I see something else that I need to do. I used to be a real determined house keeper but my energy level has dropped big time as I have aged. Today I am planning to rearrange my living room and dust as I go. Weather is too nice to close windows and curtains so I can't scare those dust bunnies away by putting them in the dark I am still trying to read through the pile of books that I bought in the past year and then yesterday we had to get rid of about half the books in the recreation room because of redecorating. Well guess who took another 30 or so. Yep it would be be. Some things in life I just can't pass up that being a good book or a cup of coffee. Annette I know what you mean about waking up early. No matter what time I go to bed I always wake up at the same time. Usually I am up around 6am but some mornings I get up at 5. It is very rare to sleep past 6:30. That is why it is so hard when I go to my sister in laws house, now my nephews, They never go to bed before 1am so I loose sleep. I would go earlier myself but their dinner hour varies from 7pm until close to 10pm,.When home I eat at 5pm so I am always trying to get back on schedule in order to lose weight. I am off of here now for exercise. breakfast and some housework. Have a great day everyone.

Spent most of yesterday shopping. I like to take my time and that is the first real bill of groceries I have bought in over 3 months. Still some things are sitting on my table will get them put away later. I am the kind of shopper who likes to take my time and I like to go alone. I read labels and compare prices. Going to watch the game with some neighbors.one has a big screen tv so that will be neat. Get some KFC and chips and dip blow good eating out of the water one more day. It won't be as interesting as when the Saints won but our hometown boy Aaron Rogers is the quarterback for Greenbay so well will cheer him on. Actually he is from Chico about 80 miles from here but he is all over the news here. Hope that soon you will all dig out and thaw out. Our weather is breaking high temperature records for this time of year and no rain. It should be in the 70s for the next several days reaching close to 80 a couple of times. We are not getting the rain that we need but hope this weather holds out through next weekend. We are going to have the celebration of my sister in laws life/memorial in the Bay Area and the only place we can find to do it is a park in Sunnyvale. Well got to run. They are redoing our recreation room and getting rid of a bunch of books. I want to help sort them and maybe bring some home. Not too many I hope. I already have to buy another bookcase soon. Have a great day everyone and Happy Friday.

Good morning Judy and everyone else out there. I too hope you have survived the deep freeze. It is cold here this morning at 39 degrees but is supposed to warm up to 60s today and in the 70s this weekend. Weather is crazy everywhere. I hope we still have more winter or it will be bad this summer with so little rain. Today is pay day so the usual shopping will start early then later it is time for Bible study to start again. It has been a while because the lady who leads it has been sick sense I got home. Judy I am so sorry I missed your birthday. It sounds like it was a happy one and that is what counts. Anyway I want to wish you many many more. Eric I am in the process of writing about my latest train trip. Maybe after it is done I can send you a copy and you will learn a little about the sights along one of the routes. I make that trip every year and it still holds my interest. This is a big diverse country and each area in it's own way holds a certain beauty. With my love of history and imagination train travel is very exciting and enjoyable. Well bills to pay and try to do a few exercises before shopping. Have a great day everyone.

Good morning everyone. I am home again at least for a while. I didn't have much time to get back to my routine before my sister in law went into the hospital. It has been an emotional couple of weeks and will be for a while. We will have a memorial in the Bay Area on the 12th then later I will try to help her kids sort through her things. Not looking forward to that. I know what all of you mean about trying to downsize. I started out all over less than 9 years ago but still find myself with too many things. I like a clean and neat home but it is a challenge for me now. I don't have the energy that I used to have and of coarse this extra weight doesn't help. I try to get some exercise in each day but circumstances seem to always get in the way. Now I have to start over again. Not easy to get started after so long with little or no exercise. I don't envy all of you the cold weather. It is cool here this morning but only the first time I have really run my heater this winter. I have a small tower heater I use to warm the bathroom but my furnace only came on for a short time last night before I went to bed and has run a few times this morning. Don't want to brag but that is one of the reasons I love living in California. Well I guess I had better get off and get started. After my shower and breakfast I will make an appearance at the morning coffee with my neighbors then try to come home and exercise and get some house work done. Have a good day everyone and stay safe. Lillian

She never made it home. Somehow today seemed the fitting day for her to go with Harold. She has been a widow for 36 years and never remarried. I am going to be with my family. Thank you all for your prayer. They mean so much.