Lounge Lizards / Misfits / Free Thinkers / Bohemians & the Forgotten :: Young at Heart Only

[Uncle Willie]

ps: @Uncle Willie ... gonna be tough to give this up. Its such a joy watching the grandkids having fun in the pool.

Ain't no law says you have to sell the place and move .. as a child, I spent several entire summers with my Grand Parents .. I still carry those fond memories .. it seems to me, you're not that far away .. if they all lived in Colorado, would you move there .. ??

 

[FranC]

Well yesterday might have been the last big hooray at the Ebner's. A combo pool party, make your own pizza party and birthday party for Kate. Just a shame Brian was off flying an airplane someplace and couldn't be there. So glad the weather co-operated, it was a wonderful day and everyone certainly enjoyed themselves.

Michael's pizza oven was a big hit. Each grandkid got to make their very own pizza. What a hoot, watching them prepare it.

I couldn't figure out what picture(s) to post so you're getting the full blown digital version of the day.

iCloud Photo Sharing

Hope the link works properly.

Love the pics

 

[Janet H]

Good morning. Bet it's going to hit a sunny 90 today and the humidity is high. Pretty sure the boys are going to want to be in the pool today.

We heard from a neighbor that another one of our neighbors were wishing they had a bigger house, but wanted to stay in the neighborhood. So we connected and they're going to come over at 5:30 today to look at our house. Wouldn't that be great if they were able to buy our house? Moving would be easy for them, they live in a 3 BR house across the street! But that means we've got to get our house all cleaned up which would have been a lot easier if the boys weren't here. At least they have a 3 yr old child so they shouldn't mind the toys/clothes laying around. My kitchen is a wreck and there are boxes stacked around. Oh well. Wish us luck!

 

[rosesense]

Good morning. Bet it's going to hit a sunny 90 today and the humidity is high. Pretty sure the boys are going to want to be in the pool today.

We heard from a neighbor that another one of our neighbors were wishing they had a bigger house, but wanted to stay in the neighborhood. So we connected and they're going to come over at 5:30 today to look at our house. Wouldn't that be great if they were able to buy our house? Moving would be easy for them, they live in a 3 BR house across the street! But that means we've got to get our house all cleaned up which would have been a lot easier if the boys weren't here. At least they have a 3 yr old child so they shouldn't mind the toys/clothes laying around. My kitchen is a wreck and there are boxes stacked around. Oh well. Wish us luck!

Hope it goes well for you. Surprise is we are thinking of moving and trying to figure out how to work it as we need to sell this one before closing on a new one but don't want to end up with no where to go if this sells first. Been in that spot before and that is why we are in this house that we hate. The house we want won't take a contingency, house has to be under contract before they will accept an offer.

 

[Janet H]

With Gracie's permission [Flowersoul], I'm letting you all know that she's been through a major event recently and is now in a rehab center in St. Augustine. She supposed to be there for approx. 3 weeks.

She called me last Monday morning to let me know that on July 20th, she'd passed out and fallen that afternoon, between her bed and the wall. She laid there until Thursday night when her daughter found her, and she was rushed to the hospital in St. Augustine. They diagnosed her with Sepsis and she immediately began receiving treatment for it. The doctor had confirmed she no longer had it on Monday. [Some info on Sepsis: Sepsis is the body's extreme response to an infection. It is a life-threatening medical emergency. Sepsis happens when an infection you already have triggers a chain reaction throughout your body. Infections that lead to sepsis most often start in the lung, urinary tract, skin, or gastrointestinal tract.]

When I spoke to her at 5:30PM today, she said they'd found that a kidney infection was to blame. She'd had NO inkling of it...nor that she had 7 stones. She was moved to the rehab center to continue her care, to help her get her bearings back, etc. Once they confirm there's absolutely no more infection...they'll deal with removing the stones. Today she sounded much better and more like herself. Said it was the first time she was physically able to even get into a wheelchair, which was a highlight of her day.

With her typical sense of humor, she added that it dawned on her that she was now a perfect example of those "Help...I've fallen, and I can't get up" commercials. When I heard that, I knew she was feeling more like her old self today.

With her permission, I'll keep you updated as I know more.

Oh my! That must have been so scary and frustrating! Poor Gracie! Thanks so much for letting us know. I'm so glad she's doing better now.

Ain't no law says you have to sell the place and move .. as a child, I spent several entire summers with my Grand Parents .. I still carry those fond memories .. it seems to me, you're not that far away .. if they all lived in Colorado, would you move there .. ??

We've had a few phone calls where we had to jump in the car and get to their houses quick. It's an hour drive. And a 40 min drive to get to our son's house. We need to live closer. And it will also help us when we need some extra muscles.

I grew up without grandparents, felt like an orphan. We want to have a close relationship to our grandsons and we can't do that very well if we aren't a part of their daily lives.

Yes, I did seriously consider moving to Colorado, but then Michael would still be in PA. At least now we don't have to take a plane trip to visit. Kate's husband would love to live back in Colorado, but agreed to live here to be closer to us. It really helps to be near family.

 

[MikeE3]

Hope it goes well for you. Surprise is we are thinking of moving and trying to figure out how to work it as we need to sell this one before closing on a new one but don't want to end up with no where to go if this sells first. Been in that spot before and that is why we are in this house that we hate. The house we want won't take a contingency, house has to be under contract before they will accept an offer.

I feel your pain. We're in the same boat. If we sell then we are under pressure to find the 'next' house and don't want to settle on something we're not thrilled with. So do we sell 1st, then rent while shopping for the next one. Or gamble and sell and hope to find what we really like in time to not be homeless. Sure would be nice if we could afford to buy first, then put our home on the market. I'd really like to avoid selling, renting, then finding and buying the next house.

 

[DavidOck]

Morning, all.

They did manage to get it right, yesterday. We didn't make it to 90. Awwww. And said to be cooler for the rest of the week. The plants might even have a chance to keep the water we give them, at least longer than 15 minutes!

Yeah, having to move twice isn't very appealing!

 

[FranC]

Good morning to the young at heart.

 

[Uncle Willie]

We've had a few phone calls where we had to jump in the car and get to their houses quick. It's an hour drive. And a 40 min drive to get to our son's house. We need to live closer. And it will also help us when we need some extra muscles.

I grew up without grandparents, felt like an orphan. We want to have a close relationship to our grandsons and we can't do that very well if we aren't a part of their daily lives.

Yes, I did seriously consider moving to Colorado, but then Michael would still be in PA. At least now we don't have to take a plane trip to visit. Kate's husband would love to live back in Colorado, but agreed to live here to be closer to us. It really helps to be near family.

I feel your pain. We're in the same boat. If we sell then we are under pressure to find the 'next' house and don't want to settle on something we're not thrilled with. So do we sell 1st, then rent while shopping for the next one. Or gamble and sell and hope to find what we really like in time to not be homeless. Sure would be nice if we could afford to buy first, then put our home on the market. I'd really like to avoid selling, renting, then finding and buying the next house.

Dear Mike & Janet ::

I fully and completely understand the draw of Family, as in my case, I have little left .. and, I cannot profess to know where your heads are at .. we have followed each other from the practical inception of Randall's original Thread, it's been nigh on at least 10 or more years ..

I wrote a couple paragraphs and then deleted them .. it's not really my business to present my viewpoint to you .. the one thing I know is, your Heart and Soul has been put into your current Home .. it has been somewhat of a central narrative over the years, from each of you .. leaving that behind has got to be one of the most heart-wrenching choices anyone could ever make, regardless of the motivation ..

There are any number of facets that an Independent party such as myself can postulate on, however, I'm sure you both have stepped away from the emotional aspect and logically thought about those facets .. because you are both rational and logical people ..

I would never be so bold as to attempt to second guess your choice .. please take what I have written in the context of how it was intended .. that of a long time follower and friend ..

At the end of the day, I simply wish the best for both of you ..

Sincerely;

Willie

 

[MikeE3]

Dear Mike & Janet ::

I fully and completely understand the draw of Family, as in my case, I have little left .. and, I cannot profess to know where your heads are at .. we have followed each other from the practical inception of Randall's original Thread, it's been nigh on at least 10 or more years ..

I wrote a couple paragraphs and then deleted them .. it's not really my business to present my viewpoint to you .. the one thing I know is, your Heart and Soul has been put into your current Home .. it has been somewhat of a central narrative over the years, from each of you .. leaving that behind has got to be one of the most heart-wrenching choices anyone could ever make, regardless of the motivation ..

There are any number of facets that an Independent party such as myself can postulate on, however, I'm sure you both have stepped away from the emotional aspect and logically thought about those facets .. because you are both rational and logical people ..

I would never be so bold as to attempt to second guess your choice .. please take what I have written in the context of how it was intended .. that of a long time follower and friend ..

At the end of the day, I simply wish the best for both of you ..

Sincerely;

Willie

Willie no harm, no foul. Anything and everything you say I know is coming from a good place in your thoughts about the changes coming our way, what we're leaving behind, what it means to us, and what the future has in store for us.

I watched my Dad get the house in order in his later years because he didn't want my Mom to be troubled with any upkeep / repairs that might be needed once he gone. Part of my thinking with respect to downsizing and moving is similar. Odds are I'll pass on to whatever comes next before Janet. Even if our kids were already close to us it's time to leave what we've built and loved behind.

In the event I do pass on before Janet, this place is just too much for her to handle by herself. So there are reasons beyond getting closer to the kids that the rational part of me/us have to take into consideration.

I also completely understand Janet wanting to be closer to her daughter in her later years if she's without me. Her older sister (much older) is in close proximity to her daughter and that has been most helpful because of health reasons, etc. The mother-daughter bond, go quote Yoda, "strong it is.

It kind of comes down to trading one love for another. I'd love to stay here at Ebner's park, but I'd also love to spend more time with the grandkids and being closer will help that happen. Given my recent health tests showing I'm a high risk for stroke or heart attack also adds some incentive to get out of this big house and property and into something more manageable to say nothin about being closer to out kids and their kids.

Enough rambling, I'm starting to feel like you when you get all melancholy and wax on and on about something.

 

[Janet H]

Good morning. Going up to 90 today and the humidity should be less. Then there's a heat advisory for tomorrow because it's going to feel like 103. Ugh!

Hope it goes well for you. Surprise is we are thinking of moving and trying to figure out how to work it as we need to sell this one before closing on a new one but don't want to end up with no where to go if this sells first. Been in that spot before and that is why we are in this house that we hate. The house we want won't take a contingency, house has to be under contract before they will accept an offer.

That's what we were afraid was going to happen to us. You could also look into the possibility of selling your house and renting it for a month or 2 from the buyers to give you time to look. Evidently that's something that's common these days. The timing of coordinating buying and selling makes me crazy. Younger people look to buy with the idea that they can always move later. At our age I figure our next move will be to a nursing home so we don't see multiple moves in our future. My niece is the only person I know who doesn't mind moving every 2-3 years. Living that way means she doesn't have much in storage at all. We on the other had have stuff stored in every square inch!

 

[rosesense]

That's what we were afraid was going to happen to us. You could also look into the possibility of selling your house and renting it for a month or 2 from the buyers to give you time to look. Evidently that's something that's common these days. The timing of coordinating buying and selling makes me crazy. Younger people look to buy with the idea that they can always move later. At our age I figure our next move will be to a nursing home so we don't see multiple moves in our future. My niece is the only person I know who doesn't mind moving every 2-3 years. Living that way means she doesn't have much in storage at all. We on the other had have stuff stored in every square inch!

Sadly, we have to move again in 2 years due to DD's job. I wish they would allow her to continue remotely but Disney has other ideas.

 

[Janet H]

Dear Mike & Janet ::

I fully and completely understand the draw of Family, as in my case, I have little left .. and, I cannot profess to know where your heads are at .. we have followed each other from the practical inception of Randall's original Thread, it's been nigh on at least 10 or more years ..

I wrote a couple paragraphs and then deleted them .. it's not really my business to present my viewpoint to you .. the one thing I know is, your Heart and Soul has been put into your current Home .. it has been somewhat of a central narrative over the years, from each of you .. leaving that behind has got to be one of the most heart-wrenching choices anyone could ever make, regardless of the motivation ..

There are any number of facets that an Independent party such as myself can postulate on, however, I'm sure you both have stepped away from the emotional aspect and logically thought about those facets .. because you are both rational and logical people ..

I would never be so bold as to attempt to second guess your choice .. please take what I have written in the context of how it was intended .. that of a long time follower and friend ..

At the end of the day, I simply wish the best for both of you ..

Sincerely;

Willie

Thanks Willie, I appreciate your thoughts. There's a lot of reasons to stay, but also a lot of reasons to move. I want to make the best of this new phase in our lives.

Our 2 kids have their own kids and jobs to think of. They're doing the same thing Mike and I did when we started our family during our working years. We've loved living here and doing all the work it takes to maintain a large house for just the 2 of us, but it's getting to be too much to handle. I wish Mike and I lived closer to our parents for the contact and help they could have provided us while our kids were little. It was hard doing it alone and we'd have to give up whole days to help them when they needed it.

And then there's the adventure of starting something new. Who knows what we'd be missing out on by staying with what we know. It's too easy to get lazy and be in a rut and what happens to us if one of us gets sick? I refuse to be a burden to either of our kids. I've already told our mechanic, dentist and chiropractor they'd have to move with us when we go, but we really won't be all that far away. We can still come back to this area for appointments until we find someone new.

 

[DavidOck]

Morning, all.

Dang, humane weather! What'll they think of next? Temps to be in the mid - upper 70s until the weekend, then pop back to the mid 80s. No more 90+ in sight, for now.

My niece is the only person I know who doesn't mind moving every 2-3 years. Living that way means she doesn't have much in storage at all. We on the other had have stuff stored in every square inch!

Pretty much the way I grew up, military brat. Pros and cons on that, but I really don't like moving We've been in our house about 30 years now... and yes, after that long without a move, a LOT of, well, stuff.

 

[clnire]

I recently went through several closets and we brought 6 big garbage bags full of nice towels, misc sheets, clothes, etc. to Goodwill. It is nice to have things organized.

 

[Janet H]

Good morning. It's said that it's going to feel like 103 today. Not a good day to do much outside, but looks like we may try to get an hour of fishing in with the boys.

Our neighbor who is thinking about buying our house wants to come here at 5:30 to walk through again and also take some pictures. That means another clean up. We had it totally cleaned up for the walk through, but it takes the boys about 7 minutes to trash the place. Better not take them much longer than that to clean it up or Nana is not going to be happy.

 

[Janet H]

I recently went through several closets and we brought 6 big garbage bags full of nice towels, misc sheets, clothes, etc. to Goodwill. It is nice to have things organized.

I totally agree about having things organized. And isn't it nice to actually see some empty space? Not every open space has to be filled - especially empty flat surfaces.

And, ever notice how you can cull a closet and then a couple months later go through and find even more stuff to get rid of?

 

[DavidOck]

Morning, misfits.

Nice weather continues, no 100+ for us! May stay in the mid 70s the rest of the week, then back to the mid 80s for a while. May have been rain north of Seattle, but the promised heavy dew (well, the guess was less that 0.1", yeah, heavy dew....) didn't even happen.

Our neighbor who is thinking about buying our house wants to come here at 5:30 to walk through again and also take some pictures.

If they're looking to "up-size", then they probably already know about kids and grand kids

Not every open space has to be filled - especially empty flat surfaces.

But isn't that what flat surfaces are for?

 

[Uncle Willie]

Hola ..

Had what seemed like an actual monsoon roll thru last night .. rain in sheets, wind a whippin' .. heavy lightning / thunder ..

Power went out for a couple hours .. it did not take long for the house to heat up .. the weird thing was, early on in the power outage, it was like I was getting half voltage .. lights were dim but functional, air would not kick on, same with the hot water heater .. I immediately unplugged or turned the breaker off on anything but lights .. low or fluctuating voltage can kill an appliance .. after maybe 15 minutes of that, everything in the 'hood went dark ..

Looks like my stuff made it thru OK ..

I've only seen this happen once before ..

It's funny some would mention closet cleanout .. I went thru one clothes closet a couple weeks ago and weened out a good load .. you know, if you have not worn it in 20 years, it's probably time for it to go ..

I found my pair of Vasque Mountaineering Boots that I wore when I backpacked through Rocky Mountain National Park / Yosemite and Yellowstone around 100 years ago .. they had held up well .. no plans to put them back into service .. but they did bring back some great memories ..

These boots were expensive, even 100 years ago .. I don't know if they are still in business or not .. they were made in Italy .. but, one of the top rules of backpacking is 'Protect Your Feet or You're Screwed ..'

 

[Uncle Willie]

I know I have a scanned photo of me wearing the boots, but I can't find it .. this one is from that era .. funny thing is, I now hate flannel shirts ::