FANCY DINNER

I very seriously considered going back to bed this morning. But didn't as we are having a fancy, candle-light dinner here tonight, and we are signed up to go. When they announced that it was a formal dinner, I knew Bob was OK as he had brought his tux over to the village when we moved. I don't even own a dress, so asked the manager what was meant by "formal." ( I have a clean pair of white pants with good creases in them, and a pretty blouse, and hoped they'd do.) His answer? "Oh, anything but shorts."-------WELL, so I didn't go back to bed. Marian

TRIVIA

Things that caught my eye in the paper this morning:
l. Imagine the dictionary on line and not on paper?!
2. Warnings not to buy an electric car if there were no way to "fill 'er up" in town: Well, dah!
3. I saw nothing about eggs, but I might have missed something.
4. Two men in Texas had the same name, same birth date, and both carried a Texas driver's
license but luckily didn't have the same finger prints.
5. The Martins are flocking to leave, a sure sign of fall.
I was tempted to go back to bed--------Marian

SUNDAY

Had a great time in Bismarck yesterday---and Happy Birthday today, Kay. Make it last as long as you can!!!!!

Today, Sunday, looks like a "catch-up" day, and a take-it-easy day. The papers weren't too interesting, and the Crossword puzzles were too hard for pleasure. Still have a book to finish, and 8 more of the good ones waiting to be read.

So far the weather looks cloudy, so it might just be comfortable out there. There is a Julia Roberts film here at the theaters----- Well, anyway, have a good day---Marian

BISMARCK

We had my very favorite food for our night meal --tomato and bacon sandwiches, thanks to Ken.

I'm going over to Bismarck to have lunch with my art group today. It's the first time I've been for a long time, and I'm all excited. They are such a nice, genuine group of women ! Lucky me!
Marian

WEEKEND COMING

It's Friday, which still is the harbinger of the weekend for any teacher. There's just that little bit of excitement that another week is over, and you have "self-time" before starting still another week of work.. I still have the feeling, and I've been retired for thirty years! It is just a feeling, as I could do anything I want to on any day of the week now. But still there's that bit of excitement because it's Friday. Others beside teachers feel it too, I'm sure, and I hope each and everyone has a wonderful, revitalizing weekend that's just ahead. Marian

THREE CUPS OF TEA

While my computer was down, there was a report in the paper about the spread of the message in the book THREE CUPS OF TEA. The 2nd headline read " Military embraces author's tips on winning trust in Afghanistan". It also said that the "phrase 'three cups of tea' has entered the American troop lexicon as shorthand for any leisurely, trust-building chat with locals." It was a real attitude builder for me---hope, even. Hope you saw it---and also felt encouraged. Marian

CATCH -UP

THANKS FOR DOING BLOG
ANN IS WONDERFUL PERSON (A Japanese Poetry Form)
I AM SO LUCKY--

Im' back at the computer again. There was a plug out, but can't you just see me down under the desk trying to find the hole and putting it back? If I had tried it, I'd be there still. It was worth the $40 bucks to have the expert do it---

We went to Arkadelphia yesterday only to hear that there was a bank robber loose, and that everyone should lock up. OBU locked the entire colloge up, but the man and some of the money were found. Also, according to the paper, there is a man over in Arkadelphia who is entering houses at night and watching people sleep. He is in the nude. Now you probably thought that we moved over here because we are old, but 0000hhhh bank robbers and nude men?
I'm so glad the computer is fixed!!!! Marian

A "Guest Poster"

Mom's computer is still down, but I can get into her blog from mine, so I think I'll add today's post:

When I was a young child, I was shy and scared of doing many things. Mom had a bracelet that I adored: It was like a charm bracelet with huge shiny colorful stones hanging from the chain. Mom named it "The Courage Bracelet" and let me wear it whenever I had to do something scary. That was WONDERFUL! It got me through many difficult situations.

When I was an adult, Mom gave me The Courage Bracelet for Christmas one year. What a great present! And since then, we've sent it back and forth when one of us has had to face something difficult.

Now, Mom would end this post by saying: Find your Courage Bracelet and wear it whenever you need it.

-Ann

Today's Post

I'm to report that Mom's computer is acting up and she can't post anything today. Tomorrow the "computer people" will come to fix it, so she'll be back after that.

Hope you are having a good weekend.

-Ann

THE PAPER SAID---

The Paper said this morning that the moon is getting smaller. I thought I had noticed that, hadn't you? And another item of interest was that the Prime Minister of England, in an effort to lower their huge debt, asked for people--ordinary citizens--to suggest ways to save money and lower the debt. He got hundreds of answers. If Pres. Obama asked for suggestions, from our citizens, what do you think he would get? Do you have any ideas? Let's help lower our national debt today. Marian

THE ROUTINE

By now we seem to have established a routine (rut?) to our days. Up around 6am to read the papers and do crosswords; decide whether we will or will not do our exercises (too many nots) at 8am; Bob's wonderful breakfast followed by 6 games of solitaire each; by now it's time to do dishes, pick up and make the bed; answer the daily wrong number; and now dress as it's lunch time and we must be ready to eat. Mail comes at noon, so we come home to read and throw it away, and by now, the afternoon is ours. We read. Then at news time (5pm) we listen to 1 and 1/2 hours of news. Time to eat again, and since we belong to Netflex, we watch a movie. By gum, it's now bed time again. A few breaks in the days are: a call from Ann on Friday plus a good visit from Mary Jo and Ken, and on Monday we participate in the Kitchen Band (don't ask)About every two weeks we go to our various appointments in Arkadelphia and have lunch with friends. My goodness, I'm sleepy--or am I bored? Have you checked your routine lately? Marian

TWO BIG THINGS TO BE THOUGHT ABOUT TODAY: COMBAT TROOPS OUT OF IRAQ, AND SCHOOLS START TODAY------MARIAN

Oh JOY! He came, and the rug looks LOVELY!!! Good day after all, and it's only 11:30am Marian

COMPLAINTS

And still the carpet cleaner hasn't arrived. Some things annoy me far more than they should, as when we change our schedule to accommodate something, I want them to follow through as they have said they will. Well, that makes me unique!

Had three answers to my blog yesterday in response to my not having anything to say. Do I express my opinions that much? Don't answer that!

Nothing really happened yesterday; the worst thing was a broken finger nail. What a nuisance!

Take care, Marian

A BLANK

This is an unusual thing for me: and I hope you appreciate it. It happens very seldom: I CAN'T THINK OF ANYTHING TO SAY!!!!! Perhaps tomorrow-----Marian

CARPET CLEANING DAY

We were all up and dressed by 8:30 for several reasons, one of which that they are coming to clean our carpets today!!!!! But it is now almost 10, and they have yet to arrive. We skipped our exercises (a real disappointment, of course, ) and tried to do the cross words too hurriedly. Oh well, such is life-----take iteasy. Marian

Miscellaneous

l. Aren't the melons, cantaloupe and watermelons good? Peaches too,Ken , though they are still ripening. 2. I read in the newspaper that friendships keep one alive. That must be true as we have had both long lives and lots of wonderful friends. 3. I make our Christmas cards every year, and I see on the calendar that it's time to start thinking of ideas. 4. I'm trying to beat the salt habit (heard this before?) so I gave up my perfect egg-toast-sausage breakfast for cereal. It was horrible 5. Still have to finish Andre Agassi's biography, which I find very interesting. What he had to go through to be the "best" is unbelievable---but a little thought shows that to be the "best" of anything the person must have to really work and even sacrifice.
6. Well, that's all. Have a good day-----Marian

WEDDING ANNIVERSARY

Today is our 40th anniversary. I remember Day One vividly. I remember that the preacher in the service started to say, "this young couple"---but gave a long pause before saying "couple" and final said. "this young AT HEART couple". Than as we walked up the aisle afterward, Bob's grandson yelled out in a loud voice, "GRANDDAD". But it was a nice wedding with family and friends there. And it's been a great 40 years since. Bob has often said that if we get to the 50th, he planned to get me a sable fur coat. I'm NOT GOING TO HURRY TOWARD THAT LANDMARK---Hope you enjoy our day too. Marian

JUST A "SO-SO' DAY

This is the kind of day that comes along once in a while where nothing is of any consequence. Some guy was operated on for a cancer on his lung, only to have them find a sprouted pea. Another fellow was reported to have been fined for licking a frog. We don't even have any Netflix movies. The predicted temperature is 101. One plus to the day is that we go to lunch at the Country Club again as guests of the Hot Springs Henderson alum, and hopefully our usual Friday visitors will drop by. I guess that I'm glad that I finished my absorbing book that took up so much time in this week, and can start a new one. But now it's time for exercising---oh what a day! Good luck to you--Marian

ORANGE IS TODAY'S COLOR

There's nothing scheduled on the docket today except the daily lunch. SOOOO I can finish my book, send pictures via e-mail to family and friends, and work with my new clay supply which Ann sent for my birthday. You can't imagine how beautifully she can wrap presents, and these were no exception. They had tags of great sentiment and bright orange patterned paper with orange bows. Luckily, I had on my orange pants to match! Ha! Marian.

OUR CAR

Our lovely car drove so well, was very responsive to our wishes, looked so good, that we were really happy on the way to Arkadelphia yesterday. BUT we realized that we never have given her---him---it a NAME. It should be dignified, and meaningful. So we found a name.. He-she --or it is now VANCE ELIZABETH! Be kind to your car, and she, he or it will want a name-----that's real bonding!!!! Marian

TO ARKADELPHIA

Today we are going into Arkadelphia for hair and doctor's appointments--and it's still hot. One good thing about it is that I'll get to drive to--Bob always drives fro. And I must say, I won both the solitaire games this morning, a very unusual occasion. Also had two "just-right" eggs. Guess with that good start to our day, we should have a fine time. And THE SAME TO YOU! Marian

SLOWED DOWN

I guess I've been retired over here at CC Village too long--I no longer can do three things at once! It would have been easy and natural to do three things at once a year ago, but today ----can't do it. Sad. I guess I'll just have to not have three things to do at once anymore. Slow down, friends----Marian

SUNDAY PAPERS

We very much enjoy the Sunday Papers, especially the book page and the Cross Word Puzzles. The one in the Gazette is very hard except, maybe once a year. And that once a year is always a great one for me. Usually, however, Bob does the one in the Gazette, and I do the one in the the Sentinel, the Hot Springs paper. Even on weekdays it is easier. Today, Sunday, I'm in the progress of "tearing up" the Hot Springs one, and because I am, the rest of the day will reflect the happy feeling I always get from doing successfully some cross word---- (I should add that Bob always gets them all---)

Happy day to you too----Marian

WEDDING ANNIVERSARYS

It's getting to be anniversary time for Ann and Joe, and Bob and me. Walt and Mary were married in June, if I remember correctly. Bob and I were at both of their weddings, and remember the pleasure we felt at all of them.

After our wedding, Bob and I played golf, visited caves and ate a lot for a week, then went back and got Walt and Ann and friends and went on another week. The newspaper's report of our wedding ended by saying, "and the group returned from the honeymoon-----"

More to say about ours next week on the 14th------Marian

DECKS OF CARDS

One of the commenters to the blog about playing solitaire which mentioned that l6 of us use to play at a time, asked if we had to have a deck of cards each when we played. And indeed we did. We must have had 20 or 30 old decks around for use in the game. It didn't really matter if they were missisng a card--in fact it helped us to find out who won the game, as we added up the cards left in our hands, and the player with the least cards was the winner.

The cards were also used to build towns by making cards stand on their sides and hold a top one. This was a building, and many more made a city. I've seen "towns" that covered the entire living room floor. And it wasn't too many years ago that Walt and Ann came home for a visit, and built a city of cards. ( Granddaughter Susan helped in this venture.) Walt had even brought some little cars which gave even more reality to their buildings. I have pictures to prove all of this-----So save your old card decks: they have GREAT value-----Marian

TEN GOOD BOOKS AT ONCE!

I'm reading about 11 girls who grew up together in Ames, Iowa. This book is very interesting, as the author traced their lives from their births through their 40's and showed the loyalty, and belief in each other that not only supported each through the good times in life, but also the bad. I've had some wonderful friends in my life, but have outlived any with whom I grew up. Now let me tell you the true luxury that I have now. All of a sudden, and I don't know how it happened, I have TEN books piled up that I can hardly wait to read!!!!. For at least five weeks, I won't be conscious of the weather at all. By then it will be time to think about Fall and Winter----How lucky can I be? Marian
I

THE DAY'S START

Just finished our exercises---ones where we follow a tape and are directed about what to do. It takes about 25 minutes; we use dumb bells, and a chair. They aren't too strenuous, but they do help IF IF IF we keep them up. Not much in the paper that gave excitement or good feelings, but the crosswords were fairly easy. Now it's time for the super breakfast that Bob makes, and our day will be on its way. We have company for lunch, and I have 3 good books that should last a long time. Don't plan to pay any attention to the heat---at least, that's my plan. Will it work? Relax, friends, and have some fun today. Marian

SOCIAL SOLITAIRE

We learned to play social solitaire ( throw all aces into the middle of the table, and everyone one plays on any ace as they can) at our Father's knee, so to speak. He would hold the youngest child on his lap until the child could play on his own, then take on the next youngest. We had lots of rules: no singing, no standing up, no play from anyone if and when Dad had to go to the phone, etc. We played often and many, many times through the years. I can remember as many as 16 in one game (did we all stand up for those in order to get all of us around the table? I don't remember.), and friends, and neighbors often joined in.

Bob and I still play solitaire after the morning and evening meals---keeping up the tradition, I guess. What family game do you remember? Marian ps Did you know that Zsa Zsa Gabor is 93 years old, and been married 9 times? Wow!!

SOCIAL SOLITAIRE

We learned how to play social solitaire (throw your aces into the middle of the table and everyone plays on any of them that they can) at our Father's knee. He would hold each youngest child on his lap as he played, and it wasn't long before that child could play, and then Dad would take the newest young one on to his lap. We had rules: no singing, no standing up; no playing if and while Dad had to go to the telephone, etc. We played a lot, and with a lot at one time. I remember that it wasn't uncommon to have 16 around the table at once (counting the youngun' on Dad's lap), and we played often.

Bob and I have kept up the tradition: we play solitaire after every morning and night meal.

What's your remembered family game? Marian

PS Could you have guessed that Zsa Zsa Gabor is 93 years old?

'DON'T WANNA'S'

I can already tell that this is going to be a "don't wanna " day--didn't wanna get up, don't wanna exercise, don't wanna get dressed or take a shower. I just plain don't wanna. These days come along once in a while, and I have to just live through them. BUT Bob just called me to breakfast, and so perhaps that will help today's "don't wannas". Hope you don't have them: they are so discourageing------Marian