Nice Day and Joy

 We started out the morning with Terry trying to find a doctor who can see her, per the recommendation of her Chicago physician.  No luck.

We then went to Angela's Nails for mani/pedis.  Terry had Abigail and Marilyn had Mai for the second year.

After lunch, Terry continued her efforts to find a doctor with the same result.

We decided not to go hear Patchouli and just have dinner with Joy.  Since we are recovering from Covid and were exposed to the flu, we decided not to share the possible germs with Julie and Bruce (as he has been fighting cancer).

We went to dinner at Glenview Country Club and sat on the porch.  We had a great dinner and it was fun catching up with Joy, since Bob's death.

We are going onto our Temple's services at 8 p.m. our time.

Another Pretty Day

Right after breakfast, we cleaned the house - dividing up the duties.

Around 10:30 a.m., Bernie (our landlord) came to open the windows (living room and Marilyn's bedroom) it took muscle to get them open.  We will leave them a little opened so we don't have to call him each time we want them opened.  He will come and oil them one of these days.

After lunch, we went to Beall's Outlet, at Mulberry.  Usually, Terry is very successful there, but not this time.  Marilyn bought a top and a pair of sandals.

The price of gas went down so we bought some gas on the way to Walmart.

From there we went to Walmart and did a little grocery shopping while Marilyn's prescription was being filled.  It was cold in the store!!!  Our jackets were in the car 😒

Our friend Jan was having brain surgery today, in Chicago, and her daughter just emailed us that it went well.  She'll be in ICU after recovery.

Marilyn watched Jeopardy while Terry and Mindy talked.

Jessica's knee surgery (ACL) is scheduled for February 12.  One part of the knee (MCL) is healing on its own, so that is a good thing.

Over the years, we have seen a couple do  programs about various presidents and their wives.  We just signed up for their latest program about the Carters.

Pretty Day

 Terry went on the Village's Hospital's portal and sent their paperwork to her kids, nurse granddaughter, and her doctor.  We don't know if any follow up will be suggested.

After lunch of our Mexican leftovers, we left the house to go to the post office for Terry to buy some stamps and we then went to Goodwill.

Terry bought a cute jacket that can be worn with black or blue clothing.

Marilyn bought three pairs of slacks (2 pairs of jeans and one pair of black summery pants). To find pants that fit and are the right length is not easy - so exciting!

Our dinner was leftovers from our Japanese dinner.  Capped off with ice cream and whipped cream.

After dinner, we watched Jeopardy at 7 p.m. and then Celebrity Jeopardy at 9 p.m. (not that we knew any of the celebrities).  

They broke into the program saying there had been two planes who crashed in D.C.  They are trying to rescue people in the water.

Lunch with a Good Friend

 After breakfast, we were on Zoom to listen to Mike Swidler's funeral, held at our Temple.  Rabbi Kedar and Cantor Frost did the service and it was lovely.  Andi and Mike's son, Evan, spoke as did their oldest grandchild.  What a hard thing to do, but so wonderful.  We contributed toward the shiva even though we could not be there.

After the funeral, Terry and I met Ethel for lunch. at Festive Grande, in the Colony Shopping Center.  The food was very good.  She had taken Steve to the airport for his annual trip home, and she also watched the funeral.

We were a little early for lunch so went into Beall's Outlet, but bought nothing.  After lunch, we all went to Anthony's and none of us bought anything there.  We did take a selfie, as we forgot to take a photo in the restaurant.

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After lunch we went to Walmart to pick up some medications Marilyn had ordered.  Terry bought a pair of PJ's there (VERY reasonably priced).

We just got off a Zoom with Barry Bradford, talking about the month of January.  Of course he highlighted a lot of the nutty things Trump did.

Marilyn signed up for a RAC Program with Jamie Raskin (hopefully, she'll get a link to a recording).

Happy Anniversary Diane and Tom - 63 years!!!!

 For most of the day, we worked, lazed around and then got dressed.

We went to get our Premium Forwarded Mail, which we will open tomorrow. 

We went to Sakura, a Japanese Restaurant, with Diane, Tom and Joyce.  It was a lot of food and we both have leftovers.  Our treat in honor of Diane and Tom's anniversary.

After dinner, we went back to Diane and Tom's to eat some of the wonderful fruit their son Rick and daughter-in-law Wendy sent as an anniversary present.

In the 70's Today - YEA

 We expected a package from Amazon, with computer ink, yesterday.  However, Marilyn got a message that Amazon needed a one-time passcode to deliver it , and we'd have to be home to deliver the passcode to the driver- really????  

This morning Marilyn got another passcode from Amazon and they would try to deliver it today.  Since we had plans to go out, we taped the order form and the passcode to the door.  They left the package.

In all of the years that we have used Amazon, We never received a passcode or been required to be present for them to deliver anything.  WEIRD.

We did leave the house.  We went first to the postal station to mail some mail.  Both of our Premium Forwarded Packages will arrive tomorrow.  Marilyn's was supposed to come on Saturday.  That never happened even though it left Skokie on Wednesday.  Terry's package was mailed a day late on Thursday (no surprise there).

We went to Kohl's and Terry returned the PJ's that she bought.

We then went to Beall's Outlet on Highway 441, and Terry got a lovely top and a pair of shoes that she says are very comfortable.  Marilyn tried on some tops, but nothing was exciting enough to buy.

Our last stop was Walmart to pick up our grocery order.

As we drove into the garage, Ida called and we both had a nice conversation with her.

Watched the news, Marilyn had to leave the room - Trump is such a cruel individual that it is too difficult to watch the news.  His actions are so unnecessary and harmful.

Are We Having Fun Yet?????

 Terry woke up this morning and decided that on Thursday she did not slip and fall, but passed out.

We decided that we should plan to fly home to get it checked out.  Then, Terry spoke to Miranda, her nurse granddaughter, who said she should not fly without being checked out. So, we started at MD Now, Urgent Care, which did a few tests and suggested that Terry go to the Emergency Room at The Villages Hospital.

Fortunately, she is okay, with a problem that could have caused her to blackout. They gave her an antibiotic in the hospital and a prescription for another one, which we picked up at Walmart. Her head, which she had hit, is okay!

We tried to get a reservation at Olive Garden, but there was a 40 minute wait.  We came home and had peanut butter and jelly sandwiches.

Another cold day

 At 11 a.m., our time, we were on our I-Pads, watching Ben Goldstein's funeral.  Ben was a Temple Member for years.  Cantor McKenzie did the funeral and it was bitter cold at Waldheim.  He did an amazing job at the graveside service.  Rest in peace Ben.

Around that same time, we learned that Andi Swidler's husband, Mike, died and will be buried on Tuesday.

After lunch, we left to return a purchase from Amazon to Kohl's.  Terry purchased some PJ's, thinking that the 20% off coupon that Amazon gave her would be applied, it was NOT.  I see another trip to Kohl's in our future.

We also stopped in the Dollar Tree for some items, and then came home.

After dinner we went on our Temple's Shabbat Services, on our I-Pads.

Another Cold Day - Good Friends

 We spent most of the day reading, napping, eating, etc. 

Terry had a little spill and we found out that the Apple Watch works!

Until it was time to go to Diane and Tom's for dinner.  OUR FIRST DAY OUT REALLY SEEING FRIENDS!

We enjoyed a great dinner, playing Golf (a card game) and just enjoying the company of friends of long standing.  Photo is from last year, because we forgot to take one tonight.  This was at our rental here.

We've had such a great time these past over three weeks that Terry wants a refund on 2025

Printer, Jessica, Recycling, Thrift, Jeopardy and Sisterhood

 

COLD DAY - BURRRRRRRRRRR

We had a full day.  It started with trying to put a new black ink cartridge into the printer.  We both worked on it, but the printer was not happy.  Terry finally did a YouTube which said to clean the contacts!  YEA!

We also got an early call from Stacy, telling us that Jessica broke her knee when skiing!  Jessica says she may need surgery(s).  We sent her and Andrew some $$$ so they can order in from a restaurant(s) of their choice.

We started at the postal station, where we had an Amazon package.

After lunch, we put weeks worth of newspapers into the car to take to St Tim's Church for recycling  

From there, we went to the hospital thrift shop, where they were having a sale.  Marilyn left with a purse and a sweater.  Terry left with one sweater, two turtlenecks and another top!  

We came home and did laundry!  The excitement!!!!

After dinner, we watched Jeopardy and then went into our Sisterhood's Board Meeting on Zoom.

After the Sisterhood Board Meeting, we watched Celebrity Jeopardy.

Another Cool Day

 After lunch, we did leave the house to go to the postal station to get Terry's Premium Forwarded Package and an Amazon order.

From there we went to Publix to get a few things to fill in.  That's when Marilyn discovered that she left her cell phone in the house!  Terry was to call when she finished shopping - oops.  Marilyn watched the exits and drove up as Terry exited.

Terry made a good rice pudding for dessert, from the leftover rice from Cheng's.  It was yummy - raisins and all.

We watched Jeopardy at 7 p.m., and then at 7:30 p.m. went onto Barry Bradford's Zoom presentation about George Clooney.

After Barry's program, we listened to Main Justice, (formerly Prosecuting Donald Trump) about the Executive Orders that were filed yesterday and the law suits being filed as a result.

Cold Day

 Life in the fast lane!

It was very cold out - in the 30's this morning.  We did not leave the house - wimps that we are.

We both did some laundry and were reading sitting on our living -room recliners.

We did not watch today's activities (Inauguration).

We instead honored Martin Luther King, Jr  a man of faith, leadership, and foresight, gone too soon.

Rainy Sunday

 Marilyn went out to get the newspaper before it started to rain.  It rained a good part of the day, though the temperature was mild.  Going to be a COLD week ahead.

Today is Biden's last official day in office.  😖

Marilyn spent most of the morning opening mail that was in the damaged box.  Don't think anything was missing, but only time will tell.  Compared what was in the box to the daily emails from the post office.  One piece of missing mail, from last week, was the Mah Jongg League newsletter.  Terry lent Marilyn her copy.

Terry and Mindy worked on reconciling their bank end-of-the-year corporate statement. 

We both worked on our computers, napped, read, and never left the house.

BTW:  Terry is not happy that I have referred to a porch, when she says its a lanai!  So when you read porch, know that it is the lanai, according to Terry.

We finished some of our Cheng's leftovers!  Yummy!

Watched the news and release of a few captives from Hamas.  Why more captives were not released is a mystery to us.  We pray for their safe return.

Today was 80 degrees

 Marilyn wore sandals, Terry did not.

Terry said to quote her - "this is the weather that we paid for."

After lunch, we went to the Postal Station to get my box.  There was a key to one of the bigger boxes, but nothing in the bigger box - fortunately, the postal employee was there and had not yet put the box into the bigger box.  Here's what the box looked like:

Hopefully, nothing is missing from the box.  Terry's box will come on Tuesday, as Monday is a holiday and they did NOT mail it on Wednesday.  No surprise there - Des Plaines P.O. sucks.

We then went to the flea market and Terry found another watch band like she likes - she's a happy camper.

From there we went to Marie Rose (the consignment shop).  Terry found a top that had to come home with her.

Next was Walmart to pick up our grocery order.

Final stop was Cheng's for take out - yummy. we have a lot of leftovers for the next couple of days.

Terry is in a recliner out on the porch!

Happy Birthday Ashley

 First - Happy Birthday wishes to Ashley!!!!

After breakfast, Marilyn went on the REALTOR Contracts and Forms Committee meeting for her association, via Zoom.

After lunch, we went to Beall's Outlet.  Tomorrow, we will have been here three weeks and this was our first visit to a Beall's Outlet!  

We also went to another Dollar Tree and found a few more things on our list.

After dinner, we went onto our Temple Services to say Kaddish for our grandmother Jeanette Ball and "cousin" Larry Egel.  The service included the kids choir.

Sunny Day - Zooms and Dollar Tree

After breakfast, Terry went onto Sally's class.  But, Marilyn, who is still coughing, went onto an interview with Brooke Shields, who just wrote a book about being older.  They had some technical difficulties and sent a link after the fact so Marilyn could see the first half that she missed.

After lunch, Marilyn went onto a meeting at the North Shore Barrington Assoc. of REALTORS, Government Affairs Committee.

After the meeting, we went to Dollar Tree but did not get everything on our lists.  So exciting to get out of the house.

After dinner, we both listened to Alvin Bragg, Attorney General of New York, who spoke about Antisemitism and the cases revolving around the same.  He was interviewed by Amy (forgot last name) who was involved in filing suit against those Antisemites in Charlottesville.

Wednesday, January 15, 2025

 After breakfast, Marilyn went onto a four -hour Professional Standards Training with the Illinois Association of REALTORS.  During the lunch break Terry served us some soup.

We both watched the Colleyville, Texas documentary of the hostage situation at a synagogue in Texas.  We could not get into the talk back later in the evening as the link was not working from Central Synagogue.

The Colleyville synagogue hostage crisis was a 2022 incident where a 44-year-old man armed with a pistol took four people hostage in a synagogue in Colleyville, Texas, in the United States.

The incident occurred on January 15, 2022, when Malik Akram, a British Pakistani man, entered the Congregation Beth Israel synagogue during a Sabbath service.^[1] Hostage negotiations ensued, during which Akram demanded the release of Aafia Siddiqui, a Pakistani national and alleged al-Qaeda operative imprisoned in nearby Fort Worth for attempted murder and other crimes.^[1] He released one hostage after six hours, and the remaining three hostages escaped eleven hours into the standoff. Tactical officers from the FBI Hostage Rescue Team subsequently entered the synagogue and fatally shot Akram.

Marilyn watched Jeopardy and then we both listened to President Biden's farewell speech.  He tried to warn the nation of the pending direction for the country.

Terry got a tracking number for her premium - forwarding package, but there is no evidence that the package was actually mailed.  Here we go again!

Marilyn has a tracking number and her package should be here by Saturday.

Full Day

 Marilyn got an appointment with Urgent Care (M.D. NOW) and left to see Barbara, the nurse practitioner, who ordered some meds from Walmart.

Shortly after coming back home, Tom dropped off our box, which they keep in their garage from year to year.

After lunch, we both took brief naps before heading out to Vanessa's to have our hair cut and dyed.  We were in desperate need.  Marilyn wore her mask so as not to cough in Vanessa's face.

We then went to Walmart to pick up Marilyn's prescriptions.

It was dark and we were both hungry so we stopped at New York Pizza in the same shopping plaza with Cheng's.  The pizza was okay, but I don't think we will rush back.

We came home to listen to formerly Prosecuting Donald Trump - now called Main Justice.

We Went Out

 OK - we went out but only to the Postal Station to get Terry's Premium Forwarded Mail.

It was an overcast day and a good day to stay in.  It is raining now. (7:30 p.m.)

Our beauty shop appointment got changed to tomorrow.  Hopefully, we will be healthy enough to go.

We watched the news and are just heart sick about LA.  Winds of 75 miles per hour to start there, not that they need that.  We think everyone, family and friends, are okay.  One friend, near the airport has her emergency bag packed just in case.  Others have evacuated or preparing to do so.

We watched Jeopardy and got a few right answers!

Terry is planning on going into the Sisterhood's Book Club discussion.  I never read the book North Woods by Daniel Mason, as I got it from the library and then they took it away.  Terry hated the book.

Sunday January 12, 2025

 HAPPY BIRTHDAY to IDA on a big birthday!

The Red Tent Program from our Temple with Amy Kaufman, who talked about how the national abortion groups have taken anti-Semitic positions since October 7th, 2023, and how she and others have started a Jewish organization in response.

We left the house to go pick up our groceries at Walmart.  that's all of the excitement for today.

We left the House!!!!!

 Before you get too excited, we only went to the Postal Station to get Marilyn's Premium Forwarded Package.  A lot of the third-class mail was missing and Marilyn will call the post office on Monday to see who was cherry-picking the mail for the box.

Terry had to get assistance from the postal person, who fortunately was still in the office, as some of the mail was not reachable.  Here's a photo from last year so  you can see how high up the box is.  You'll note that Terry has sandals on in the photo - TOO COLD NOW FOR SANDALS.

It's so cold that they have been cancelling the entertainment at the squares for a few nights!

We are monitoring the fires in California.  So far, everyone we know is safe, but ready to evacuate if necessary.

After dinner, Terry ordered groceries from Walmart which we will pick up tomorrow afternoon.

Friday, January 10, 2025

 When you live in the fast lane, it is hard to remember to do the blog!

Marilyn ran to the postal station to mail some mail - it doesn't get too much more exciting than that.

Today, January 10th,  was the anniversary of our mother's death (2002).  She was a fantastic mother and our Dad used to tell her that if the government knew how much she enjoyed being a mother they would tax her!

Mom, with Betty, Marilyn and Terry

Marilyn had a Zoom meeting to go over the new real estate multi-board contract form - fondly referred to as the 8.0 contract.

We are both still coughing - Marilyn more than Terry!  

After dinner, we went on our Temple services.  All of the clergy, except for Cantor Frost who is recovering from surgery, were present.

We are Bored and Boring

 After breakfast, Marilyn went on the READ Board Meeting at the Illinois Department of Financial and Professional Regulation, for the company she teaches for, and they could not get their act together.  Half of the group had one link for the meeting and the other half had a different link.  Thanks to my friend Larry, everyone got back into one room together.

After writing up the report of the meeting, both Terry and I went on our politics discussion group with Sally.  Terry explained that we  both had Covid and would just be listening.  Marilyn never went on camera, but had her photo up instead.  Terry was in the "office" and Marilyn was on her I-Pad in the living room (too cold to be on the porch).

After dinner, our nephew Marty called to say that they are safe (in California) and that his brother, Mitch, has a new job with a company that feeds firefighters, etc., in disasters, and was at the Rose Bowl working.

Marty took a personal day since half of his mall is empty since they are above some grid system.

A cousin sent a map of the fires and they are surrounded, and ready to evacuate.

Another California friend just posted on Facebook that she is Safe.

Trying to catch up on three days of newspapers!

Watched Jeopardy - second chance.

We both watched reruns of Jimmy Carter's funeral on our I-Pads.  He was a man of Character!!!!!

We Did Not Leave the House, but had an interesting Day

 Started the morning with Terry getting an email from the Post Office with a tracking number for her Premium Forwarded Package.  Marilyn, got an email that there was NO mail to forward!!!!  WHAT!!!

After a telephone call to the Skokie Post Office, they did have Marilyn's held mail and put it into a Premium Forwarding Package and gave her a tracking number.  Why she was billed twice is a mystery and will have to be settled with the Post Office online. 

We then went onto a travel program with CJE of Iceland, but had to leave before it was over to go onto Annette Gottinger's Funeral.  The funeral was conducted by family (a Rabbi, a Cantor, and four grandchildren speaking, along with her daughter).  Lovely tribute to a lovely lady.

After lunch, Marilyn took some cough medicine and slept for a few hours.  Terry and Mindy were on the telephone when Marilyn woke.

After dinner, we watched Jeopardy (2nd chance).  

Then we went on a program where Dr. Faucci was the speaker.  It was very interesting.

After that program, Celebrity Jeopardy was on and we watched it, not that we knew the celebrities.

We are still home and will be for the rest of the week.  Had to cancel dinner tomorrow with some friends and dinner/program with another group of friends Friday night.

The Good News and the Bad News

 The good news: We left the house today.

The bad news, we left to go to MD Now (Urgent Care) to see if we still are contagious.  Not only are we contagious - we both have COVID-19.  WE ARE SHOCKED!

We are too far along for the traditional medications.  We only went because we had plans this week to be with people and wanted to be sure we could do that safely.  GUESS NOT!!!!!

Terry thought we only needed retail therapy!!!  GUESS NOT!!!!!

We stopped at CVS to get more cough meds.

We also ordered for pickup from Cheng's our favorite Chinese restaurant - yummy!

Tonight, Barry Bradford is doing a program about Neil Diamond.  We will get our Neil Diamond fix because we are missing that on Friday night with a group of friends.

Home Again

 We both are still coughing periodically.  We no longer are wearing masks at home, because what's the point, we already are both recovering.

It was a warm, but windy day, and Terry opened the porch windows to get fresh air into the house.  She also went to sit in one of the chairs on the porch.  Not realizing that it was a recliner until Marilyn showed her how to get it reclined.

I took the photo of Terry without showing her, because we both look like shit - no makeup.  You get the picture.

You only see Marilyn's legs here as I too have no make up on.  

We moved from the recliners in the living room to the recliners on the porch, to the table to eat, etc.

Marilyn did some laundry, so it wasn't a completely lost day.

Ashley sent us her birthday wish list and we are having some things sent to her in time for her birthday.

We watched Jeopardy and got a few answers correct.  Some we did not even understand the question much less get the answer correct.

WE LEFT THE HOUSE

 Before you get too excited, we went to Walmart to pick up our groceries.  Nice young woman put the groceries into the trunk.  Each item was carefully encased in it's own bag.

Our neighbors had some guests visiting.

We both listened to Irvin Keller's Ted Talk.  Irwin just wrote a new book, which Marilyn is reading currently.  Irvin's talk was about his marriage, in the early days of approval of same-sex marriage.  Very funny!

Another boring day - Saturday January 4

 On Saturday, Terry decided that we would order groceries from Walmart for pick up.  However, they kept cancelling her order.  We finally tried it on my Walmart Account and it went through.

So on Sunday, January 5th we will pick up our order.

We are supposed to go to Vanessa for haircuts Monday, we will see how we feel.  We gave her a heads up.

Another boring day - coughing

 Nothing too exciting - we are both still coughing.

Lots of napping, laundry, etc.

Amazon delivered our order of new masks and some vitamins for Marilyn.

All was calm. until Terry went to put dinner in the oven and dropped it on the oven door and the floor got the worst of it very noisy! What a mess  

We then listened to Temple Services - Rabbi Goldstein and Cantor McKenzie did the service.

Nothing too Exciting

 Sometime after lunch, Marilyn headed to the Dollar Tree and then Publix.

Part of what she bought was honey (for tea) and cough medicine for Terry.  Without knowing it, she bought a child's cough medicine. (only one that said cold/cough).

While Marilyn was at the stores, the Carbon Monoxide detector went off in the garage and Terry had to deal with that.  

After dinner we watched Jeopardy and Terry got three questions correct!

Can you stand the excitement????

Happy New Year - 2025

 Generally, we would be at Diane and Tom's for their annual New Year Day Party, but Terry is coughing and we did not go.

This morning, I realized that I had some masks in my car and wore one all day, as did Terry, except to eat.  However, it may be a day late to wear it.  Ordered more masks from Amazon-should be here on Friday.

We both spent the day napping and reading.

That's all of our exciting news!

Hope everyone is well.