KarenK

Kay, your memories of Arlie are precious. This reminds me of Marley and Tatum. I eat in front of the TV with my plate on an ottoman, one dog on each side waiting patiently as they know they will each get that "last" bite. I love it.

Good grief, Charlie Brown! Well said, Marg.

Dee, I'm not sure any marriage is "perfect". Neither of us were perfect, for sure. We had only known each other for two months when we married and in reality, did not know each other well. He brought demons from the past which affected our relationship. I should not have aired my feelings here. I will always love the person he was when we met......the one he became, not so much. If only life had erase and rewind buttons.

That's quite a lot to think about, Gwen. In all honesty, our relationship was a very volatile one filled with unfounded jealousy, screaming, and mental terror directed at me. Don't get me wrong. There were some nice times too, but most of the time I was walking on eggs. There, I've said it. We were mostly the couple everyone envied. Little did they know. This started about our sixth year but I was bound and determined to stick it out and I did for 41 years. If he were to return, I would hope that things would be a bit different. Maybe I would be more caring if his attitude had changed. I did love him despite all that, but I'm not sure if I could go through it again. It may sound funny to some, but if he were to return today, my feeling would be dread. I guess that says it all.

Gwen, My health problems are definitely nothing compared to yours and others here. I was just feeling a bit wimpy when I wrote that. It's actually the first time in my long life that I've had a bad enough burn to blister. I got a notice from Humana(which covers my prescriptions) that my premium for next year is more than doubling. I almost wonder what my 3 medications would cost without insurance. The new premium is 6 times my current cost of meds. As for cosmically picked on, I've always felt like the character in Lil Abner is sharing his black cloud with me. But then maybe it's all just part of living in the human race. Who knows?

I should know when to leave well enough alone. I went to the dermatologist on Tuesday for my overdue yearly checkup. I had him freeze off a couple of mole type things. I've had several done before with no problem. The one on the back of my shoulder isn't bothering me at all. The one on my stomach that's been there forever is another matter. Nobody told me that area would blister, so I have a quarter sized blister around the offending mole. Can't put anything on it or try to make it go away and it hurts like a son of a gun. These things fall off in about six weeks. Sure hope the blister goes away before that. Not laughing now, but the last thing I said to the doctor when he offered to remove it was "Go ahead. I might as well hurt on both sides". Open mouth....Insert foot.

Probably a stupid question, Gwen, but is it possible that something bit you on that leg? Has the redness and swelling gone away?

Just brought her home. Surgery went well and she is doped up, resting. Robert has been very sick with the flu for 3 days living on Dayquil and Nyquil, but didn't want to see a doctor. Hopefully, they will both feel better soon. And life marches on............

Tatum definitely growls at Marley if she's not feeling well. She never bares her teeth. It's more of a "don't touch my stuff" growl. It is Alpha vs Alpha. Marley just wants to be left alone, but Tatum constantly wants to lick Marley and herd her around, just her nature. When Marley's had enough , she runs to me for help or will bare her teeth. They are both very possessive about affection. They have had one fight in the two years we've all been together. If one drops her bone, the other has to have it, even if they have their own. Reminds me of little kids. They will sleep in the same room, but never share the couch. Marley is not a sociable dog, while Tatum loves everybody she knows. They are both great alarm systems and unwanted visitor deterrents. Dropped her off at the vet this morning. She was very nervous and hyper. Price presented was $1000 more than the original $1800-$2000, so we questioned the doctor and he lowered it to the original, which is bad enough. Have already spent $700 on x-rays and meds. Three years ago, surgery was around $1600 and x-rays about $400. Time flies and so do prices. What are you going to do? She is a member of the family. It's times like these, you wish you had that pet insurance.

Maggie, My heart goes out to you. Five years ago, I lost my daughter to cancer. She had just turned 50. The year before that I had lost my husband, also to cancer. I lived down a hole, in a fog for a very long time. For me, there is no moving on. I simply exist, living the life of a stranger. I don't like this life. It is not mine. I don't dwell on their deaths. There are simply days when it seems neither of them ever existed, strange as it sounds. Peace to you.

Please keep our big dog, Tatum, in your thoughts and prayers tomorrow, if you will. She is having surgery for a torn ACL. This is her second go around. Three years ago, her left rear leg needed this surgery. Tomorrow, it is her right rear leg. No problems expected, but she is a bit older and a bit heavier now. Recovery is long and tedious(several months), especially as she is a rambunctious dog to begin with. It has been a challenge this last month as we waited to see if it might heal on it'' own, but no go. She can't run or jump or lay on the kitchen floor. My house looks like a Pokemon maze with baby gates and card tables cordoning off room and separating dogs. Such is life. Kay, I'm so sorry that happened with Joe. His picture shows such a friendly dog. Was he just having a crappy day? There are days here where Tatum growls 24/7 at Marley for no known reason and the next day everything is fine.

Gwen, You keep the van for the same reason that I keep the almost 50 year old small souvenir bottle of chablis(plastic glass attached) stamped, Harbour Excursions San Diego. So, it takes up and small space in the fridge. So what! I'm sure there are many small unimportant things around here associated with Ron. The point is, they matter to me. They represent a time of happiness in our lives before we were faced with all the sorrow. I'll never drink that wine, of course. It will stay right there until I decide it's time to let it go.

Marg, I think it's "First Do No Harm"(unless I get a kickback from the meds I prescribe or the specialist I send my patient to). Just my humble opinion.

Ron has been gone over 6 years now, and Debbie for 5. In a way, it still seems like yesterday. The hole in my heart and the emptiness in my soul will never heal. A couple of years after they died, I think I had visions of jumping in my truck and heading for parts unknown, just me and Marley. But those were short lived due to my fascination with throwing all my extra money away in casinos. It was a way to escape reality. I have not been near a casino in over two years now, which is saying a lot for a compulsive gambler. In that respect, I gained a little sense. Being that most of us are older, in addition to the black cloud of sadness that we live under, I guess it is logical that the black cloud of physical difficulties we face would be right there beside it. I have never before felt so tired or in so much pain from various maladies. Right now I am fighting another UTI and another blasted gum infection. I thought sure I was rid of the gum infections after having all those teeth removed. Not so! I got my partial for my bottom teeth, but haven't worn it much as it needs adjusted and then WHAM! along came this blasted infection. I feel like a walking pharmacy. Can't sleep for more than a couple of hours without having to go to the bathroom. Went for my physical in July and doctor wants me to go to a cardiologist because something on my heart didn't look right. Told him I wasn't going and NO, I don't want a mammogram, colonoscopy, shingles shot, etc. I did fill a script for an antidepressant, but after reading the side effects, decided I don't want that either. I am not a good patient. I kind of feel like Edward G, Robinson in "Soylent Green". You're old now, so let me help you on your way. On a side note, I have mentioned before that Debbie's kids in Kentucky don't bother to ever contact me. They are on Facebook, as is my son. He noticed that my granddaughter, Michelle has a new husband. Wonder what happened to the old one? I really liked him. Oh well, none of my business, I guess. Peace, everyone. It's one thing we can all hope for.

Dee, I'm with you on the technology. I use my computer for banking, reading the news, online shopping and conversing on this forum. I don't do Facebook. I don't have a cell phone, much less a Smartphone. I have no one to call anymore and am never far enough away from home to need one. Kind of a sad existence, I guess, but it is what it is. All of our lives have changed in so many ways.

Kay, You are on my heart. I'm so glad you won't be alone tomorrow and will be able to be with the grandkids. Sweet Arlie will always be by your side.

You guys want heat? We've got extra here in my corner of the world. Aiming for 111 today, but probably only about 25% humidity. We're in our "monsoon" season which usually means blowing dust and humidity and sometimes a good downpour. It's scorching hot and muggy for us "dry heat" natives. I sure miss my cabin in the pines.

I was always a perfectionist in my younger days, so my house was spotless. My daughter's house was the same way. Somehow my son missed that train when it went by. It took me a lifetime to learn that there is so much more to life than a clean house. I still keep up with the kitchen, the bathrooms, my bedroom and the family room which is where I spend most of my time. The guys have the living room(now my son's bedroom) and the former gun room where my grandson sleeps. The spare bedroom is storage. They can live how they want in their domains. I used to have long hair done up weekly in curls at the beauty shop. Chopped it off in 1976. It didn't go well with 4 wheeling, dust, backwoods driving, camping, and wilderness hiking which was our way of life. Don't miss it at all. Just miss all the other stuff that I cut it off for.

Marg, You and I looked almost like twins when we were younger, but I think you were better looking. lol You really don't look too excited about holding those fish. I used to love fishing, never caught much, but it was fun. Ron would outfish me every time. Love ya

Gwen, you're so right. Youth was so much nicer and I think we didn't appreciate it at the time. lol I have adapted to the loss of teeth as I have to the loss of so many things in the last few years. At least it can be corrected to a certain extent. At 72, my hair remains blonde. It has been white blonde all my life, but is more golden now. No gray in it that I can see. It's probably my last "saving grace". I suppose on the whole, what we have all lost are our dreams. Ours was to move to our cabin in the mountains. I miss that place so much. It was easy to escape there when it got 110 here, but we were younger, healthier, and very poor financial planners, so it's gone. I can't manage the yard work anymore either, Kay. I did it all for a lot of years before Ron passed away. He lost the ability to do so many thing that he enjoyed by 2000. I still do the housework and cooking, but am so fortunate that my son and grandson are here to do the rest. Marley has learned to avoid her Lupus medication in bread, cheese, lunch meat, hot dogs, etc. so we're at peanut butter now which seems to be working. Drat! Now she's eating all my peanut butter!

I am here just plodding along. My biggest excitement is my bi-weekly dental visits. Have had all the necessary extractions(knock on wood) and now have a whopping 11 teeth left. He wanted to pull 1 more yesterday, but I asked him to try and save it if he could. A couple more fillings and he can order the bridge or whatever it is to make me look presentable. I don't go many places anymore and it's just as well as we are in the HOT time of year here. The TV and making jewelry are my friends, and of course the two big dogs who accompany me throughout the house, which reminds me to ask you Kay about Arlie. It's the time of year for the city to jump my a$$ because my lawn is not "verdant and green", so my son bought a new big sprinkler and some grass seed which the birds will enjoy and I will get to pay a doubled water bill. Ah, life in the big city. Love it!! Peace to everyone.

So sorry Gwen, that you fell and that you are sick, Kay. A drawback of the Internet is not being close enough to friends to help when it's needed. Love you guys, Karen

Marg, have read all the J.A. Jance except the newest one. Have a few more to go of Margaret Coel and Dana Stabenow. Have started in on Karin Slaughter. Her stuff is pretty raw. Fortunately , my mind does not remember the "bad stuff" once I close the book. Like to watch action movies also. Just mundane things to fill up the hours.

Gwen, I made it though my whole life without watching "A Star Is Born", despite all the remakes. I decided to watch this latest one. I made it all the way to the end before the tears threatened. Guess that's why I mostly watch crime dramas.......................

George, I'm so sorry to hear about your father. May you and your family be at peace.