Had a nice day with Alison yesterday. The three of us just talked, hearing all about the marathon (Mike did very well and was pleased with his time), had lunch, then drove down to the bay. Pat was happy to have seen her and enjoyed hearing about the race.
Today's election day and Susan and I will stop at the clubhouse to vote on our walk--very convenient. I go to the doctor at 1:15 for a flu shot, to get some referrals, and to see if she can prescribe something for this cold or whatever it is I have.

Question: What constitutes the scum of the earth?
Answer: Politicians.
ALL of them, D.'s or R.'s--and, I assume, S's. and C.'s and all the other snakes in the grass--are lying, thieving scoundrels that would take candies from babies if it would get them a vote.
In the past two days, we've gotten more than a dozen taped "phone calls" from various and sundry such monsters of both parties. Incredibly, they've also penetrated the Internet. Just now as I was into The Times of Trenton on-line, I was assaulted with not only a visual pop-up, but an audio one urging me to vote for one of the candidates in Jersey.
May they all be sentenced to performing charitible acts for their constituents at least once a year without expecting anything in return. Well, no, come to think of it, that's too cruel and unusual a punishment for politicians. Then, let them refrain from "truthiness" (my favorite made-up word) for at least one hour a decade. Huh, who am I kidding? That would be impossible for any politician--born low-lifes and thieving bastards all.
With that off my chest:
Looking forward to Alison coming down today. Talked to her after the race yesterday as she was boarding the volunteer's bus--Mike was on the runner's bus. She said Mike did very well--yay, Mike!--and will tell us all about it today.

Got a call from sister Betty yesterday morning and had a nice chat. California Carolyn sent a neat picture of her Finn and Claire in a rocking chair with their Dad. They're sweet kids.
Phone rang last night and a little voice said, "Hi, Nana." It was darling Preshy and we actually carried on a conversation until she abruptly said, "bye"--presumably, she had had enough. However, she then sang "Old McDonald" and "Twinkle, Twinkle, Little Star." For two, she really talks (and sings) well.
Our complicated social life shapes up this way: I had had a lunch date with WS friend Edith for tomorrow, but then Alison called to say she had taken off tomorrow and wanted to come down. I didn't want to miss her, so called Edith and regretfully postponed, asking her to set a new date. She can't meet until next week now. I had also invited Ray and Barb for dinner, but have to wait to hear back from Edith to specify a day. I also want to call Muckie to see the pics of the St. James gala and have her for lunch, but can't until other engagements are firmed up. Maybe I need a social secretary.
I was delighted to get a call during dinner last night from old classmate Pat M., who said she was in Tuckerton and could come over to measure the closet. She did, we had a nice visit, then she left for ice cream and cake at her son's (he lives only a mile or so away) for her granddaugher's 11th birthday. Then talked to Alison about the NY Marathon Mike's running.
I've been wanted to make lemon squares for a long time, but never did. Finally, I made them this morning and boy, are they good. Hope to save some for lunch/dinner company.
Today: Saw some of the race on T.V. and am anxious to hear how Mike did. Just finishing is, of course, a major accomplishment for anyone.
For dinner, will have......
...well, something or other.

Did indeed serve the chicken, baked apples, and scalloped potatoes last night and they were good. Will have beef tips tonight.
Note: All the business about what we have for dinner, etc. is a hangover from early in this blog a year or so ago. I named it "My Weight and Welcome to It" when I was active in Weight Watchers; thought I'd chronicle my struggles. Well, the whys and wherefores are too lengthy--and too dreary--to go into, but I've reverted back to making this simply an on-line diary.
Yesterday? Not much went on except I went down to Reynolds in Manahawkin and got several baby gifts, I was in touch with a few friends, AND son Mike posted more pictures of adorable granddaughter, Vivian, on her web site.
Alison took Monday off and will come down while Mike rests up from the Sunday NY Marathon. We'll take Pat to a restaurant for lunch if he feels up to it. Called friend Edith to ask to postpone our lunch date.
My cold is finally receding--what a long siege. When I go to the doctor on Tuesday, will ask what I can do to minimize future ones.

That sweet guy, Ray H., volunteered to put the grass plant in the ground for us yesterday afternoon, and he did. Then he and other neighbor, Bob, sat in the garage with Pat to chat--it was a beautiful sunny day. I went off to the supermarket, then to Ray and Barb's to invite them for dinner next week.
Got a nice little chicken already stuffed and put it in the oven in time for dinner at 6:00. Also had the leftover scalloped potatoes and baked apples ready to heat up. When I went to check the chicken, I realized I had forgotten to turn the oven on! Fer cryin' out loud! Damn, I'll just have the stuff tonight--I whipped up scrambled eggs instead.
Was pleased to hear back from Brent that he, Stephen, and David will join us for Thanksgiving. That's also Alison's birthday, so we'll have a birthday cake in addition to the pies.
My new-found friend, Pat McH.R., started her own blog. Any old HSHS'ers can check it out at http://wellington.vox.com.
SIL Mike will be running in the New York Marathon this Sunday, November 5. Boy, what an honor, as it's very difficult to qualify. Alison just missed (by 90 seconds), but will be with him to help out. He's one of 37,000 running. They both qualified for the big one, the Boston, which they'll run in April, 2007.

Got a call from Kathy D. around the corner. She reminded me that she hadmentioned last month she was going to have a huge "grass" plant removed and divided into three. She had asked Susan, Barb H., and me if we each wanted a part, we all said yes, and now it's been divided. Ran over there with Ray and Barb and got our grass plants. Kathy also had some plumes cut off the top and I took several to put in the hallway for an autumn display. Later, I cut some red, gold, and green leaves off the trees in back (I don't use artificial flowers or foliage, I don't care how "real" it looks) and put them in baskets in the dining room. They look so nice with the decor in the living and dining rooms.
The D.'s next door are back from NC to visit their new grandbaby; I saw Barbara and we had a nice chat.
Was pleased to hear back from SIL Mike's brother, Brent, that he, his partner, Stephen, and third B. brother, David, will come to our place for Thanksgiving. Hope J., J., and J., will, too, although you never know with them. That's also Alison's birthday, so we'll have a birthday cake besides the pies.
It was raining this morning and not just a drizzle, either, but Susan and I, virtuous girls we are, walked the full mile and a half anyway with umbrellas.
A cautionary tale: I like candles and always have one on the dinner table. Last night, I went to take a shower after dinner while Pat sat reading at the kitchen table. Wel-l-l, when I got up this morning and turned on the coffee, I saw a flicker and yes, the candle had been left burning all night! Ouch, that could have been a disaster, but no harm done.
Want to have chicken tonight--maybe in the crockpot, maybe not--with baked apples and the leftover scalloped potatoes from last night.

Pat McH. R. wrote me yesterday to say she had read my entire blog! Good grief, she must be a glutton for punishment, as the first entry is in September, 2005. I post almost every day, although not always (when Pat was in the hospital, say), so that's at least 350 entries. True, some are fairly short, but still...
Well, I decided to emulate and yesterday, sat here for almost two hours reading every word of my deathless prose. Some of the stuff was not bad, some just plain boring--even to me, for Pete's sake!--but all in all, it was sort of fun.
Okay back to now: What did we do yesterday? Not a helluva lot, actually,
aside from me getting some stuff for Pat's cold at Rite-Aid. Again, the cashier said I had to give my birthdate and again, I told her "January 15, 1982--ha, ha, that'll show 'em!
Called Mary Ann V. just to see how Bart's doing. He's about the same; she said he went to the doctor the other day, and the doc is satisfied with his condition. I was surprised to hear they don't go to a pulmonologist.
I gave Pat an "oven-fried" pork chop last night and I had an old favorite of mine: pasta with broccoli and garlic hummus. It was okay, but really didn't taste as good as I remember. Could be because I can hardly taste anything.
Pat and I both slept well last night, thank heavens. Of course, I took Ny-quill and although it's hard not to throw up because it tastes so vile, it really knocks me out.
Was thinking about ham steaks for dinner, but maybe I should have chicken of some kind instead, as we've been having a lot of pig lately. Okay, I'll get a rotisserie chicken, have it tonight, then cut it down to make chicken potpie later. Think I'll also use my basket of apples to make either baked apples or applesauce.