Should I?

Wish I could.  Yesterday morning after a little fright with my car (I thought it started funny) my daughter and I went to the Buick/Chevvy dealer.  While my car was being checked out my daughter and I checked out the new Buick Regal.

The Regal in the show room was right at $29,000.  The thought kept running through my mind as to what I could get for a trade in for my 2002 LeSabre  with 80,000 miles.  Fortunately for me the intelligent half of my brain talked me out of that really fast.  Also, the intelligent half of my brain reminded me that this was a white car and I would have to let that baby sit out and keep it clean. 

By this time the service advisor came out and told me that they could find nothing wrong.  They even checked the battery and I had watched them while they  checked several things under the hood.  When Tom (real name) said No Charge I about fainted.  Thanks Tom!!

It is another scorching hot muggy day in Central Illinois.  Will it ever end?  Yes, I know it will and the snow and ice is right around the corner.  I don’t mind the cold but I hate the ice and snow.  Plus, after August comes September, the birthday month, and I have vowed never to acknowledge another birthday.  Ice cream and cake is OK though.

I hope you are all having a great weekend.  Stay safe and be happy!!

  Beth

My Kroger store…robbed

GateHouse News Service

Posted Jul 26, 2011 @ 09:55 AM

 

PEKIN —

Two employees chased a man from the Kroger grocery store he had just robbed Sunday, but stopped when he paused, turned and aimed a handgun at them.

No one was injured, but the robber escaped and was still being sought Monday afternoon, as police reviewed security camera video and other evidence the thief left behind, said Pekin Police Detective Don Jolly.

Shortly after 2:30 p.m. the man entered the store at 1607 Broadway St. and asked one of the checkout clerks if she would exchange some dollar bills he had for change, Jolly said. When the clerk opened the register, the man handed her a note, stating, “This is a robbery and he had a gun,” Jolly said. Without displaying the weapon, the man grabbed an undetermined amount of cash from the register and ran from the store.

Two employees gave chase, but the robber disappeared after he froze them by pointing his handgun, Jolly said.

He was described as white, about 6 feet tall and wearing a dark hat with an emblem and dark short-sleeved shirt, shorts and shoes.

Copyright 2011 pjstar.com. Some rights reserved

This happened Sunday afternoon.  I do my grocery shopping  in the morning.  Needless to say this bothered me a bit.  I have been shopping there for over a year now since I moved here. 

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I woke up this morning to severe thunderstorms.  My beautiful tomato plants were knocked over and some of the tomatoes knocked off.  I haven’t been able to get out and take care of the plants because of the rain.  It is still back as pitch out right now.  The best thing about this is the temporary relief from the heat.  I was listening to the weather on my weather scanner this morning and this heat is forecast to last through all of next week too…  Clear into August where we have the dog days of summer.

I hope you all have a great weekend.  Stay safe and be happy!!

  Beth

This never ending heat…

is back with a vengeance.  But you know what, I think I am getting used to it.  I know to only go out in the early morning hours to grocery shop, etc.  For example today the temperature is only to reach 95 with humidity in the upper 70s, predicted heat index is only 106 to 110.  I shrugged that off thinking well, last week one day the heat index was 118.  I am OK as long as the air conditioner keeps plugging away.  I definitely do not like the ice and snow but I will honestly say that I am longing for fall.

Yesterday I was a busy beaver.  I changed the furniture around in the living room with back breaking results.  I should know never to do this.  I forget that I only have two bedrooms now, and not a third one to use as my computer room.  I have been looking at houses for sale here in town and dreaming, wondering if I want to get tied up in all of that mess again; taxes, etc.  I miss my washer and drier, the garage and the water softener.  Those things I miss almost as much as my old friends.

Speaking of old friends, I received a photo from Sandi last week.  Her husband Rex won 1st place at the Fisher Fair last week for his antique car.  Sandi and Rex are among the friends I miss most from home.  I feel sure they won’t mind if I show you the picture.  Click to make larger.



As you can see they are ST Louis Cardinal fans too!!  One reason I had to show this picture.  LOL
I need to get moving as I haven’t done my workout this morning as I overslept.  You all stay cool and be happy!

  Beth

HAPPY BIRTHDAY RAE

I’ve had such happy moments with you as my sister,

and I treasure our times from the past.

I love to remember our growing-up days

and the years that have flown by so fast…

What a wonderful gift to be given a sister

as caring and thoughtful as you.

And I’m glad all the love that we found growing up

is something we never outgrew.

Happy Birthday

Love,

Beth

Rae, this is a birthday card that I received from our sister Ebby many years ago.  It is a Hallmark card and I give credit to them for the picture and the verse.

Getting caught up…

Friday night my daughter and son in law took me out for supper at The Rendezvous in Creve Coeur.  On Friday nights they have all you can eat wall-eye with salad, baked potato, green beans and hot roll.  Good eating.  Then Saturday it was so hot I didn’t leave the house except to water the tomato plants and the marigolds.  So I was knee deep in old pictures all day.

Yesterday (Sunday) the cold front came through and we had thunderstorms and rain all day.  Blessed relief from the scorching heat.  Summer isn’t through though, after today the heat will be back along with the high humidity.

This morning I have errands to run and then my niece is coming over for lunch.  And that is my boring schedule for today.  Rather boring than worrisome I think.

I have one more old picture to show you.  This one is me on the left, Ebby in the middle, Rae on the right and my little brother Billy standing in front of us.  The quality of the photo is very poor, but I was delighted to find it.  Rae, Bill and I are the only ones left of 8 siblings.

If you thought that was an outhouse in the back, yep! you would be right. 

I am going to enjoy this cooler day (high only to reach 90 today) and thank God for the opportunity.  I hope you all have a great week.  Stay safe and be happy!!

  Beth

Still knee deep..

in those old pictures.  I am really enjoying it but I have quite a mess in my spare bedroom.  I am yet to find the pic I have been looking for and I am about to finish this long journey back in time.  Before I go I will post another pic from my senior class trip with my best friends Shirley and Anna.  The man in the background was one of the teachers who was along as a chaperone.  I see no reason why he stuck his head in our photo.  I think his name was Mr. Vance, not sure of that though.

I look at the 21 inch waist all cinched in with a cinch belt and I wonder where in the world did all of the time go.  To my waist I think.  LOL

Still hot here but not quite as oppressive as it has been.  I have sent the heat to the east to my blogging friends in New York and Boston.  I hope you guys are staying cool.

For now, stay safe and be happy!!

  Beth

Reliving lots of memories…

going through these old pictures.  Memories of my senior class trip to Chicago where we stayed at the Palmer House Hotel.

Below is a photo taken of me on the left with my two best friends, Anna Mae in the middle and Shirley on the right.  Take note of the flowers at the neckline and the crinoline petticoat.  High fashion in the 50s.  Shirley was my maid of honor when Jim and I were married.  I recently found out that she lives not far from me.  We had a nice long visit on the phone.

That was really a fun trip.  We saw New Faces  of 1954 starring Eartha Kitt.  To this day I can remember one of her costumes was lime green.  I remember thinking how beautiful she looked.

That first night we wandered around the hotel all night long looking in every nook and cranny.  I remember the little boutique that had nothing but hats on display and they were all red.  Times were different then and there was no thought of not being safe.  Looking back kind of makes me shudder.  I definitely would have wanted my kids to be better chaperoned on class trips.  In fact, I know that my kids were because I acted as chaperone on many a class trip through the years.  We had a wonderful trip and we all returned home unscathed.

******************************************************************************************************************************************************

It is still miserably hot here.  It was 99 degrees (real temp) here last night at 7 PM and is to get to mid to upper 90s.  The excessive heat warning has been extended now till 7PM Sunday night.  I am staying in the house and not venturing out unless necessary.  I have been to the store and done laundry and that is about it.  I am transported back in time looking at these old pictures.

I hope you all have a wonderful weekend.  STAY COOL!!

  Beth

Keeping busy…

despite the unrelenting heat.  At this very moment after having checked with my weather scanner, it is 97 degrees and the heat index is 116.  The air conditioner keeps running non stop.

I have been busy sorting through old pictures, desperately searching for one particular photo.  I have sorted through hundreds of photos, putting lots in the computer, via my new scanner.  I have sorted in piles, one for my daughter, one for my niece, one for throwaway and an enormous pile for final sorting.  I have to check with my son and see if he wants any of these.  Why oh why, did I think I needed 2 copies of every photo I ever took?  Still no luck with finding the one pic I have been searching for.  I did find this pic of me taken when I was 5 years old.

You may click to enlarge if you would like to print this off to use for target practice. 

Otherwise I haven’t done  tiddley poop today.  The furniture is unwaxed, the sweeper not run, the dishes not done.  Told you all, I have been knee deep in old photos.  Besides taking time out to fix me a hamburger for lunch (which was very unsatisfactory by the way, having been eaten on stale bread).  Plus you all know my motto, who’s gonna care 100 years from now.

Staying put, waiting impatiently for it to cool down. 

  Beth

Through pondering…

It was a hard decision to make but I have decided that I can cope with a heat wave better than I can cope with 2 feet of snow which is what mother nature blessed us with in February.

2 Feb 2011 my nephew’s house in Northern Illinois.  Click to make larger.

I was out as soon as the places opened to pay my cable and utility bill this morning.  Even at 9 AM the humidity was so high that it was a chore just to breathe.  Right at this minute our heat index is 106 to climb as high as 115 by 4 PM.  And the “excessive” heat warning as been extended now until 7 PM Saturday. 

I skipped the grocery store, but I will probably go there very early tomorrow morning (7AM) as tomorrow is supposed to be the hottest day this week.  We haven’t had but a trace of rain this month and the grass is turning brown.  My poor old tomato plants are struggling.  I have been lucky enough to get 4 ripe tomatoes so far.  I had a bacon and tomato sandwich for lunch.  YUMM!!!

STAY COOL !!

  Beth

Baby it’s cold outside…

NOT!!  It is summertime here in Central Illinois.  Each year at this time I ponder this question, would I rather have extreme heat and high humidity or would I rather have a blizzard like we had on February 2nd of this year?

The first pic was taken at my nephew’s house in northern Illinois on 2 February 2011.  The second pic was taken at my house the same day looking out my back door.  Click to make larger.

On a brighter note, I have enjoyed 3 ripe tomatoes from my 2 plants.  Delicious!

Not much to say here except it is hot.  Tomorrow I will have to get out to pay some bills.  Then back home to the air conditioning which I hope keeps working.  You all stay safe and be happy and STAY COOL!!

  Beth

The Dinette Set ~ Julie Larson ~

I have said so many times before that I love the Dinette Set.  I actually think Burl and Joy might  be relatives of mine. 

We are under an ’extreme heat advisory from 7 AM tomorrow until 7 PM on Friday so I will be sticking pretty much close to home and hitting the grocery stores as early as possible.

I hope you all have a really good weekend.  Stay safe and be happy!!

  Beth

The oppressive heat..

won’t be back until tomorrow.  Then for the next several days we are under a heat advisory.  Summer is returning with a vengeance.  This means more days of non stop AC running. 


I was talking to my next door neighbor a couple of days ago.  I am on one side of her and a couple that is several years older (can you believe it?)  than me is on the other side.  Then directly across (catty corner) from me is a middle aged lady that lives alone.  To get back to my story, my next door neighbor said that she received a letter with her Ameren (utility) bill last month.  It stated that all 3 of her neighbors were conserving electricity while it appeared she was not.  I asked her what she kept her AC on and she told me 70 – 72 degrees.  I told her I kept mine on 80 degrees.  She pointed out to me that she and her husband liked to stay cool and I pointed out to her that her 3 neighbors were all living on a fixed income.    If they can afford it, I say more power to them.

The birds in the nest are barn swallows.  They were in a combative move as I was trying to do laundry today.  Swooping in and out at me like I was out to get them, so I got a very good look at them.

My daughter and I went to the opening day of the Big R here in town today.  I was used to the store because there is one a few miles from my old home that Jim and I liked to go to.  This store is quite a lot larger.


I ate my first tomato for supper last night wit h bacon and mayo on wheat bread.  It was delicious!
Stay cool, stay safe and be happy!

  Beth

One For the Money ~ Janet Evanovich

Attention Stephanie Plum fans.  Janet Evanovich’s first book in the Plum series is in the process of being made into a movie, estimated to be in theaters on 27 Jan 2012.

I read  my first book in this series (Smokin’ Seventeen has just been released) shortly after Jim died.  I remember that I would be crying while I was reading and then burst out laughing.  Since that time I have read all 17 books.  They are hilarious.  Even though they are grossly over priced I still purchased 16 and 17 for my Nook.  The first 15 I was able to check out through the library at home. 

If you are interested, check out the links below.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=LZPJa6WLHWI

http://www.movieinsider.com/m1037/one-for-the-money/

http://www.netkushi.com/gallery2/index.php/Hollywood-Movie-Stills/O/One-for-the-Money-movie-stills

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I am just home from getting my hair cut so it is nice and short and spikey again.  Then I had to make a trip by the grocery store again as I forgot the milk yesterday.  I rarely run out of milk because 1/2 gallon does me about 10 days.  This time I did.

A bird has built a nest on the light fixture by the door that leads into our laundry area.  My neighbors are thrilled about this and I will be thrilled with them so long as I don’t get caca dumped on my head as I am going in the door.  After that I will cease to be thrilled.  My new neighbors think it is barn swallows.  I personally think the nest is too small for barn swallows, but then what do I know?

Click to make larger.

It is the middle of the week for you all that still have to work for a living.  Do take the time to be happy.

  Beth

What can I say…

except it is hotter than blue blazes here, however hot that is.  It never cooled down all night and the AC ran non stop.  Yesterday the temp got up to 96 with the heat index of 107.  Now that is too dang hot for this old gal.

I am just home from the Kroger store buying the necessities needed for a hot day, such as ice cream and stuff for sandwiches.

Yesterday morning early I went out to Staples and purchased the scanner that I thought I couldn’t live without.  So far I like it.  I had forgotten how easy it is to scan something without having to pull out the printer drawer.  I scanned quite a few pics in and I am quite pleased with the results.  Below is a pic taken when my daughter was senior in high school and my son was a freshman.  Already you can see at 5’ 4 & 1/2 in I am the shorty in the bunch.  My son made it to 5’ 11 in and my daughter to 5’ 6.  Me, I remained the same height, just growing in a different direction. 

Click to make larger.  You know what, those were the good old days.

I have watered the tomatoes and talked lovingly to them this morning, promising them if they will get ripe for me that I will be happy to share them with bread, mayo and bacon.  I think they are responding as there are lots of new blooms on the plants.

I guess you can tell that I have nothing much important to say today.  Do be mindful of the heat if you are living in a state where you are affected.  You be careful Twin!!

  Beth

Gonna be a hot one…

today as the heat index is to reach in the 100s today and tomorrow.  I am all settled in for the day having sweet talked my tomato into getter redder and watering the plants.  I have another tomato turning on the other plant.  It takes two tomatoes to make a really good bacon tomato sandwich.

I went with my daughter and son in law to the Red Lobster yesterday.  We had the 5 course meal for $15.  It was great.  I had soup, Caesar  salad, breaded shrimp, loaded baked potato and key lime pie.  I was so stuffed.  You see I am trying to eat enough for my twin  and me.  Anyway, if you get a chance to go to the Red Lobster do try this special.  And the cheese biscuits, I could make a meal on them alone.

The scanner part of my printer has never worked properly.  I should have returned it immediately (2 years ago).  My old scanner which I really liked wouldn’t work with Windows 7 so tomorrow I am heading out to staples to buy a new scanner.

I am trying to decide what to cook for lunch today, not really hungry after overeating yesterday.  I got some pork chops out of the freezer but I think I am too lazy to fix them.  I am sick as I can be of TV dinners, in fact I haven’t bought any for a few weeks now.

I have my iPod on the Bose speaker playing now and it is playing a Christmas song, Chestnuts roasting on an open fire.  I guess that is what I need to cool me off.  I have over 5000 songs on this iPod having taken my favorite songs from my hundreds of CDs.

Now it is time to read the paper and find out what is happening in central Illinois.

  Beth

My tomato has a glow…

Yes! Yes! Yes!  One of my tomatoes is starting to turn red.  I am watching it as closely as I can to make sure the birds, squirrels and bugs leave it alone.

Click to make larger.

I am just home from garagesaleing.  Lots of fun. I got some really good junk, total cost about $5.  The day is perfect, checking in now at 77 degrees.

Nothing else much happening here in the heart of the midwest.  I hope you all are having a great day.  Stay safe and be happy!

  Beth

I have the answer…

First, let me begin by saying that I do not believe in the death penalty.  The one good thing that our disgraced governor George Ryan did for the state of Illinois was to temporarily abolish the death penalty.  Our present  governor, Pat Quinn made it official this year.  If I did believe in the death penalty I could think of no more deserving a person than Casey Anthony.

And now why I think I have the answer as to why Casey Anthony was found not guilty.  The jury was sequestered for over 6 weeks away from family and friends.  They were tired, they wanted to go home, they didn’t want to be burdened with a death penalty case.  Perhaps if it had been a manslaughter case she might have been convicted.  Jose Baez sickened me.  When he would walk out of the courthouse he would pose for pictures.  The celebration across the street from the courthouse that the defense team indulged in after the verdict was beyond ignorant.  It proves that Baez has no class.

Someone was responsible for the death of Caylee Anthony.  Perhaps it was a tragic accident, however, if this were so, I do believe it would have been reported.  I am not sure if George and Cindy Anthony were truthful on the stand.  It makes no difference.  Caylee is gone forever and what is angering me and millions of other people is the fact that she was discarded as if she was trash.  How the jury could overlook that is beyond me.

All of this said, I do respect the jury system in our country, although right at this very minute, I do not think justice was served in  the state of Florida yesterday.

  Beth

Verdict watch…OJ all over again!!

  I, along with millions of people around the world am watching the verdict watch.  Now this doesn’t mean I am watching TV every minute or on my Twitter page watching for Vinnie Politan’s update.  It means that I am checking in every hour so to see what’s up.  The jury began deliberating at exactly 7:30 AM CST.  My sympathy lies with the juror who has paid for a cruise leaving July 7, although that may speed the deliberation up a bit.  Casey Anthony was in the court room this morning wearing a pink and white striped long sleeve blouse with ruffles down the front.  She has worn a different color blouse with slacks each day of the trial.  My curious mind wants to know who is furnishing the clothes for Casey.  She has refused to see her family since she has been in jail.

I had a very nice 4th.  My daughter and son in law had me over for T-Bone steaks, brats and corn on the cob.  It was all delicious.  I also got the laundry caught up.  The weather was perfect, not too hot or too cold.

Thanks for all of your tomato tips.  I think my plants look better.  I took a picture a few minutes ago so you all can see the new little tomatoes on there.



Click on the pictures to make them larger.

Have a great Tuesday Monday everyone.  Stay safe and be happy.

  Beth

Happy Birthday America!

God Bless America Lyrics 

by Irving Berlin

 

God bless America,
Land that I love,
Stand beside her and guide her
Thru the night with a light from above;
From the mountains, to the prairies,
To the oceans white with foam,
God bless America,
My home, sweet home.
God bless America,
My home, sweet home.

I hope you all have a safe and happy holiday.  Big thank you to our men and women in the military.

  Beth

‘The social media trial of the century nears its climax’

http://www.msnbc.msn.com/id/43606828/ns/us_news-crime_and_courts/

I confess, I have watched nearly all of the trial.  I have followed it on HLN and TRU TV, I have followed it on Twitter.  How does someone get so caught up in something?  Sad thing to say that mother’s here in the US have murdered their children before and Nancy Grace didn’t feature them on her show almost daily for the last 3 years.  Leonard Padilla an unknown bounty hunter, has become world famous (or infamous?) because of this young lady (Casey Anthony) allegedly murdering her two year old daughter, Caylee. Cindy Anthony (Casey’s mother) was proven on the stand yesterday to have committed perjury trying to take the blame for the chlorophyll google searches.  Having raised two children, I know what lengths a mother will go to in an effort to protect her child.

Well, tomorrow the closing arguments will be shown live on HLN.  Guess who will be watching?  I, along with millions of others all around the word will be watching.  What makes this trial so different?  My own theory, a  beautiful unwed mother living in the midst of a dysfunctional family.

My thoughts on Judge Belvin Perry.  I like him immensely.  He is a no nonsense judge, as different as night and day from Judge Ito who presided over the OJ Simpson trial (yes I watched that one too.)  I give Judge Perry two thumbs up and Ito two thumbs down.

Actually one of the highlights of the trial was a young man who gave Attorney Jeff Ashton the bird.  Thankfully the jury was not present or there would have been a mistrial declared.

That about sums it up, I think that Casey Anthony is guilty.  However I am not sitting on that jury.  I think that there will be a swift verdict on this case.  We shall see.  I shall be watching.

  Beth