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I took the dose this morning and will take the next dose Sunday night.

Ouch! That hurts me just to read it.

I remember back when people made copies of the letters they wrote to loved ones.

Truth is, hardly anyone writes long form anymore. We just text each other with emojis. We may be the last generation who actually wrote.

Greetings all

The sun is briefly out after all the rain yesterday. My friends arrived a bit bedraggled - they did not realize how winding and slow the roads are around here. Got here much later than they expected. No surprise to us. So we went out to dinner at our favorite place and had a brief glimpse of the sunset. Today they are up the road to redwood national park and various attractions. Better weather today.

So I went to the gym and did my walking. Quite a few cars in the parking lot thought I dont know where the people were.There was a kid using the treadmill next to me who was running full tilt on it wearing crocs! Huh? How is that possible? Minimal grunting today. Then I went to the studio and with one gloved hand I picked up some clay. Made a few small things and delivered a bag of apples from a friend. So many people have fruit trees around here and fruit is shared.

So Liz, sorry bocce ball was less than ideal. Better luck in the future

Yeah money is the root of all evil - or is it? Having enough is pretty critical. My mother grew up poor in the south and it greatly impacted her views about what is enough. She saved money like a Scottsman and I wish she could have enjoyed more of it though it provided her with full time nursing care in her later years at home. I have always been sort of a penny pincher - comparing prices and evaluating whether a thing is a good deal. Just my nature even though I am lucky enough not to have to do so. My brother is the same way. Just our nature. There is an interesting book "The Millionaire Next Door" about average people who live below their means and become wealthy by being frugal. I used to see such people in my law practice - people of outwardly humble means who were quite well off due to conservative financial habits. It's a good thing.

Yep Peps, Ann is right. You look great. Be proud.

DD and Paula you gotta find ways to get Florida into your life. Or Maui. My mom wanted to get a place at St, Georges island off the coast of Florida . I wish she had done that.

So Ann, you are now the Grande Dame of the family. Enjoy. I think I might be the same since I have such a small family and DH oldest sister died some years ago. Odd feeling.

Leftovers from the restaurant for dinner tonight. It was odd to be eating out with people who eat restaurant sized meals.

Diane S

I understand your regrets about not buying someplace warm. If you live with this brutal weather in Minnesota and Wisconsin, but you're made for sun, sand, heat, palm trees, you probably spend your whole life dreaming of the great escape. I remember one winter we went to my parents Florida house the week after Christmas. I felt such loss or longing or something sad when I realized I was staring down the long tunnel at the cold dark winter still ahead of me, and realizing not everyone lived that way. Winter was NOT coming for them. And I wanted my own house in Florida so I could grow my own palm tree and jasmine vines and hibiscus and drink tea on my patio in February.

But all that being said, I'm at peace with our decision to keep Minnesota as our home base. Already KNOWING I can chase the sun whenever I want next year makes this winter seem less daunting. I'm going to go on as many adventures as I can while I can and that has me feeling very excited for what's coming.

DH and I were just talking about money issues. He took my car in for new tires. I said 4 new tires at once? I don't think I've ever had 4 new tires at the same time. And he answered, and the old ones weren't completely shot. Then added, they said your back brakes needed to be replaced pretty soon, so I said, just do them now. We were laughing about how affluent we've become with our new tires and brakes. But I remember too well the days when I thought long and hard about a $3 purchase of some item from the clearance bin. If you can't count on being able to afford car repairs, medicine, getting cavities filled, fixing appliances or all the things kids need, life is really stressful.

Studies show money does buy happiness up to a certain point. The number used to be around $75,000 a year (I assume it might be higher now). If you were making less, and your income rose to that figure, your happiness increased because you could count on being able to meet your needs and your life gets easier. People who have sufficient income will see an increase in happiness when they get richer (ex win the lottery), but happiness typically return to their previous levels within 6 months to a year. I am already happy, so I would be willing to test this theory if anybody wants to share some good lottery numbers.