@fyrqueen Katie, what fun having more jade plants. Yes, I'm forever having to go pick up my Mike's meds -- but no croissants, he's diabetic so I try to minimize the carbs.

@carma I love Santa Claws! Glad you're safe and warm and will be seeing your girls later in the week.

@dorbitz JimL, glad you're safe and warm. This weather has been crazy!!

We're down at our daughter's house in Virginia. As she usually does, Kate, the critical care paramedic, is riding rescue today so someone else can be home for the holiday with family. We're happy she's only doing the day shift, not the full 24-hours. She'll join us later at her good friend's house for Christmas dinner. It is starting to warm up here -- supposed to be a high of 31 today.

@carma Wow, quite a storm. Glad you're okay.

Apparently there may or may not be another snow storm at the end of the week. Every time I look at the forecast it has changed. In NJ, by Friday it's supposed to be in the 50s and raining. But, by the evening the temps are supposed to be around 18 and the forecast says "Watching a potential winter storm". Our plan is to head to Virginia on Thursday, arriving mid-afternoon, where it's supposed to be raining. Their forecast for Friday is "Watching a potential winter storm". I figure as long as we make it there, we'll be fine.

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Nancy@jerseystar27 Yes I remember Jim aka Moose. Happy Heavenly Birthday to him. We have lost quite a few Glassies over the years 🙁 😥 This morning I was looking at some cards Marypat had made for me and sent to me and the Fenton basket Betty had sent me when DH was so ill and I was thinking of all the Glassies, no longer with us. Some I had never met in person but we had a bond, a genuine friendship.
Jim @dorbitz good to see that you will be getting a much deserved break. Enjoy
Katie @fyrqueen congrats to your son on his promotion
Carl @carma your garden sounds amazing.

@dorbitz JimL, so, you survived tax season? Good to see you hear.

We just had a line of severe thunderstorms pass through. The good news is they weren't very severe -- heavy rain for a little bit and some lightening & thunder but no strong winds or hail. And the best news is that the temperature has dropped at least 15 degrees.

@fyrqueen Katie, I noticed a little more color this morning when I was out. And it definitely felt like Autumn this morning.

We're at the Jersey Shore for the week (Barnegat Light on Long Beach Island). Our son was with us for the weekend but he drove back home this morning (someone has to take care of the house and the cats!) And our daughter drove up from Virginia yesterday and will be with us until Thursday morning. We share the house with my sister, her husband, and their son. As we haven't seen much of them over the past 1-1/2 years (although they live about 20 minutes from us), it's nice catching up with them. And sitting here, looking through the sliding glass doors at the ocean, is grand.

Jim @dorbitz as they say "it's a small world"

Katie @fyrqueen I do know that the jadeite Hens on Nest have been reproduced but I am not sure how to tell the difference.I think there is an actual webiste for all the repro Jadeite and I am sure Fran (dbfrogs_Fran @fran) would know. Do you have her as a friend on Facebook?

Jim @dorbitz that's how I broke my wrists putting it out to block the fall. Last one was done on black ice up in the Himalayas trekking and days of trekking from any help. Only transport was on foot or on the back of a mule or pony LOL So I was helicoptered out. Gotta love travel insurance 😀 OMG what an experience, absolutely breathtaking.
I am glad you are recovering OK but continue to take things easy for awhile.

So after snow showers in NJ, we'll have several warms days, upper 50s, and then next week back to chilly.

It is snowing lightly in NJ -- not forecast to stick. It is 34 out, with a high expected of 36. But by Friday it's supposed to be back in the low 50s.

I went for a pushbike ride on Saturday with some of the girls from bootcamp. The weather conditions could have been better. It was so so windy and at times a struggle trying to ride in a straight line and keep on the road, the gusts were that strong. BUt all in all a great day out, and a challenge accomplished and one I am proud of completing .It's been a lot of years since I have ridden a bike. 26 kilometres all up from start to finish. Some of the younger ones ( I am talking 20 and 30 years younger then me) did not complete the round trip. They managed(some really struggling) to get to the Pub, where we stopped for lunch and they phoned for someone to come pick them up.But I think 14 kilometres is a good ride in those conditions so they should be proud of that.

Although there is much due to the pandemic that has made us unhappy & scared, there are silver linings. Our daughter lives in Virginia, while we're up in NJ. We've been enjoying Friday evening services with her via Zoom and since July, she has been leading the service (and I've been helping). Last week, we "joined" her for the two days of Rosh Hashanah services over Zoom. Prior to the pandemic, we'd already semi-planned to come down to Virginia for Yom Kippur. So we are in Virginia right now. It was fun doing the service with Kate, in her family room, joining her synagogue community via Zoom. We head back home tomorrow.

My poor little fur grandbaby, Hamish the Cavoodle, was taken to vet emergency yesterday with a suspected snake bite. Turns out it was a funnel web spider 🕷️ bite. Granddaughter sent me a video of him this morning . He is Ok now

Jim @dorbitz When I was working for Kmart I had one of the male managers come to me for help. There was a big brown snake out on the store room. Of course I told him where he could go. No way was I going anywhere near it lol. I was Manager of the Cafe , the snake 🐍 was in his department not mine lol

My green glass plinth sold, there was a bit of a bidding war on it too. I started it at $15 and it sold for $55 As with FB you have to do your own timing for auction ending. I thought the last bidder had placed her bid just seconds before auction ended and me closing the auction.BUt there was a dispute and Admin awarded the auction winner to the second highest bidder.I was lucky the lady was very gracious about it all. I'm not a big fan of FB auctions for that reason.

Jim @dorbitz are you referring to my riverbank pic with the brown snakes? Yes there probably is a brown snake or two and I'd say a red belly black snake or two as well, just coming out of hibernation and ready to catch some sun.

Cool & rainy in NJ -- nice change.

@dorbitz/JimL Loooking for some free advice. IRS refund tool says my retun was not received. Any suggestions other than hanging on the phone?

After several bands of showers yesterday afternoon and evening, it's pleasantly breezy this morning. My garden is happy that it's watered. And I just refilled the bird feeders, so the birds are happy too.

@dorbitz JimL, first, on a regular basis, our brains are so full of information, some of it sometimes gets lost (I was trying to remember the names of our neighbors children and grandchildren yesterday, slowly started coming back -- just remembered the last grandchildren as I was typing this -- still only can remember 1 out of the 3 SILs). Second, we all have pandemic brain right now so everything is muddled (I do the weekly eLetter for our synagogue which includes the schedule for the weekend service -- on Zoom of course -- and totally blew the dates in Thursday's email. Said Friday was May 7 and then didn't change Saturday & Sunday from the week before.)

It is chilly & windy here in NJ too. At the moment (10AM) it's 39, feels like 30. At least it's nice & sunny. Very glad I tucked the delicate plants into my car last night. Will go visit them soon.

Nancy @jerseystar27 I have been lucky. My favourite little coffee shop where i get my coffee each morning ater training is still operating but only as takeaway. No sitting in allowed. But at least I get to have a little normality and my little treat.

Jim @dorbitz Marypat passed away January 2018

George @george Yes Susu tracked down MP's obituary

MaryPat DeGroodt

Fran @fran2 A lot of our businesses have adapted so well to all this. Most have the call in pickup only service. It was that or shut shop. A lot are now even offering home delivery, where before it was dine in only. Some offer free delivery, some for a small fee and some free delivery if your order is above a certain $$. Some stores are offering shop online and pay (Click and collect) , they will get your order ready and you call in and pick up. I think it seems to be working well for them.My regular coffee shop I go to after my training sessions has adapted well. One person at a time in the shop to place order. Most of us just have to stand in the door way and they see us and automatically know our order. Once the order is placed we then wait outside at a good distance (It's located in the perfect spot to be able to stay well away from anyone) Matt will call out your name when your order is ready. He has it ready on the counter and stands the required distance away. No cash sales. It is tap and go only, so we do not even touch the machine for payment. No contact at all with anyone or anything.
Julie