Hump day, July 23

[OrchidCactus]

Hey gang,

Supposed high today of 78, looks like the old legs will get another day's worth of relief from the razor! Not to mention it's much safer to wear jeans at work. Had some good rain these last couple days, so everything outside is clean and fresh. Probably making the grass grow tho

Julie, great that you got the ortho book! I use a couple different ferts. I'm using up the Dyna Gro, and have lots of Better Gro for when that happens. Both of these are urea free, which gives more to the plant since in an open mix like orchids are in won't break down urea nitrogen. We can get the Better Gro at Lowes, both the growth and bloom strengths. If you don't have access to these, a basic fert will do, just cut it to 1/4 strength and water 3x with, then flush with clear water. I have noticed that using either one of these ferts does the best, so if you can't find it, pm me and I'll hook you up. (you too, Roger!) Generally, orchids will be reliable bloomers annually, but the bloom lasts for months in many cases (i.e. Roger's Phonecia). Phals can be free bloomers, depending on the cross. I use a growth formula during the growth cycle, then use bloom. You can just use a good growth formula year round and it will help with the bloom too.....so many ways to grow! Have I confused you yet?

Zip, glad you got the vacation interruption straightened around. Such a pain! Good luck finding a rental car...have you tried any dealerships yet? That's how the moms used to rent a car when they'd come down here. They were able to rent by the week, and it was cheaper than the car rental places.

Shawnee, hope you got some temp relief! Our temp drop sure feels good since we had the storms come through. Hope you and Pup can get in some comfortable outdoor time to recharge the batteries!

Susan, most definitely I get paid overtime...wouldn't pull it if I didn't! The only reason I work is for the $$$ (such as it is) and the health insurance. If they tried to quit paying overtime, they'd never get a minute over from me!

Loretta, enjoy the quiet time without company...I do know what you mean! When the moms would visit, it was great and we really enjoyed it, but it was also nice to have the house back to normal.

Linda, didn't know you were a smoker too...$50 a carton? Sheesh! If you ever come to TN or KY, bring stock up and save money! I smoke generics...the big brands are around $25 a carton, and the medium brands run around $20. With both of us smokers, I gotta buy what I can afford! DH's cost 14.99 and mine are around 11.99.

Pam, hows things going for you? Enjoying the DGB's I hope?

Well, off to wake DH, then putter around here...

[LoveMontana]

Hi Ginny and everyone,

Just got a long, marathon msg from our program coordinator at work. Ding bat seems to have forgotten that I am working tomorrow rather than today. UGH!! Never a dull moment. Now I'm trying to straighten out program coverage for this afternoon.What a pain in the butt.

Anyhoo, it's still soggy with a threat of more thunderstorms today and tomorrow. Gerard is out mowing the field. LOL He is having a tough time of it because it's so wet.

My KY supplier was rather reasonable and delivered quickly, but now they can't . Blasted NYS anyway.

Glad you are being paid OT.Wouldn't do it without being compensated either.

Roger, that's a good idea. Try a dealer. It can't hurt. Otherwise just buy the insurance. Since you got the vacation place free of charge, what the heck. It's only money and we can't take it with us.

Waving to Pam, Julie, Shawnee, Loretta and Susan. Back later.

[shawneesioux]

Hi Y'all

Geez, sure a lot of weird weather yet, Nationwide. If ya have RAIN, please send it Been too long since we've seen it here (can ya believe that, here in the so-called rainy Pacific NW???)
Long range 15 day forcast predicts eighties all the way..which is a dab nicer than the ninties we've had forever.

Life for me is slowing to a Snail's pace, I don't "do" hot...it gives me hives and mental fog/ physical fatique.
Going to Curves today, that's about the extent of my body movements..LOL


The yard and flowers are so tired of this heat, they are distressed. At least the veggies are happy with it.

Hope everyone is finding some blessings and contentment in your daily lives. I sure have to remind myself about the Positives I'm blessed with. This (weather) too shall pass.

Shawnee

[Jewels]

Hi all,

Bulletin!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! !!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

Just picked my first 2 toms. Will eat one of them for lunch. Can hardly wait. It is early around here for any toms to mature but we have been having such warm/hot days that it's helped a whole lot with them. Shawnee, I totally agree about the weather. I don't wish for RAIN though....just mid 70's would be nice. I think we will have that the next few days.

Ginny, thanks for the info. I havent had much chance to read the Ortho book yet but was at Lowe's and the only fertilizer they had right now was Peters Specialties orchid food. 30-10-10. I'm assuming I should use this now but when do I start the bloom one? And is it ok to use this one on the one that is still blooming? Lowe's was out of one fertilizer so maybe it was the one you mentioned. What do you use for pottine? Moss or bark? Ok enough questions for today..

Linda, work sucks doesn't it. Is it worth the extra money? DH must be doing well if he's out mowing the lawn. Good to hear!!

Later, Julie

[zip2play]

RAIN!

We had 3 inches yesterday...poor New Jersey is floating away. More storms predicted today.

You Washingtonians are lucky, a dry spell concentrates the taste of tomatoes...Julie, those tomatoes will be delicious.
Shawnee, keep the hose flowing: we don't want to see that pretty garden of yours dessicated.

Loretta and Ginny are you getting as much rain as we are (and also the Georgians and Alabamans?)

Between rain, you can see the steam actually rising from the pavements.

Looks like someobody opened fire (2 killed) in NYC City Hall this afternoon- Southern Manhattan locked up tighter than a drum.

Guess we'll postpone the holiday for a week and do 11 days. That way at least Bob won't have to do the back and forth. We'll leave the morning of the 5th. I was willing to go up for 6 days and come back and return the car (and let him do his business) and then rerent, but he doesn't want 2 long drives. I reluctantly agreed. So it's 11 days - better than nothing.

BTW, 18 days of Collision Damage Coverage would add another $144 to the rental....that's almost $1 grand for transportation counting the RT bus....for THAT amount I want Paris and Rome, not friggen Massachusetts.
So with the 11 days the credit card picks up the CDW!

Looking for another Ink Jet Printer...this Lexmark is going into the garbage- I've never owned anything quite so crappy! It needs a major overhaul after every 3 pages! In the meantime, the old 9-pindot matrix will have to do (but if you want to see an AWFUL looking map, try black dot-matrix...LOL!)

Linda , thanks again for all those links.

Julie, a tip: When your year of Norton Anti-Virus Updates is about to run out, look for a good sale/rebate on Norton Internet Security. Usually for less money (sometimes $0.00) you get a new CD, the Anti-Virus, a year of updates and full Firewall, Ad Blocking, Popup blocking....really a total package. I got the 2002 for free and saved the $19.95 update fee. I unfortunately forgot to buy the 2003 when Staples offered it (also free) but they may offer it again.

[Loretta V]

Hi to all

Still getting out from the company fog. Took several bags of garbage yesterday to the dump. Today I am packing up some items for New to You thrift shop that I have been putting off. Got that cleaned up and ready to go. Baked in the micro wave my Rye Bread. You all had given me the bug with your talk about nuking the muffins. I checked my Micro wave book and it had some recipes in it and they were bread type. I just took my revised recipe (thanks Shawnee) for the rye bread. I have a 10 inch round metal crisper pan that came with my micro and the recipe used it to bake it in. The bread came out perfect, only problem is that it will be in wedges. The taste is great. Good idea gang.

Ginny before I forget about Shamoo, the gal that has her said that there is no new growth on her yet. No signs of disease but no growth. I was surprised. NO rain here. Had to water the toms. Getting ready to can soon. Lots of them ripening.

Shawnee I don't function well in all that heat either. It seems to wilt me. My petunia is sure looking wilted. Wonder if I need to trim her back. Got some cukes today from the garden and zucchini is on the way.

Linda I am going to make the Deep Dish PIzza. Any tips for me? I am going to use a 15X11 pan and make the crust a day ahead. What type of pizza sauce do you recommend? IF you use sausage do you pre cook it? I have some dandy Italian Sausage I want to use. Can I freeze the leftovers. DH will not care for it.

Julie how is that corn? How are your electrolytes? How are the leg cramps at night?

Zip sounds like you have come up with a very workable solution to several of your problems. I sure would take those 11 days compared to zero. I have a xerox printer that I like but the ink is very expensive. I don't think they make one like mine anymore. Now you can get a scanner, copier and printer all in one. Wonder if that would be worth it?

Hi to Pam
Time to start supper, Later, Loretta

[Jewels]

Boy I guess I sound like a hypercondriac!! Corn, I have an appt. to hopefully have it removed. Leg cramps will hopefully be diognosised by the lab work done yesterday but don't know the results yet. Sure hope they find something so I can get some relief.

Roger, thanks for the tips on Norton. Will definately check it out before I renew.

[SuSUN]

Hello Magnificient Ones!

Just lost a long post, dont know what I touched.

Here I go agin!

Ginny, I am Soooooo glad that it is HUMP day! I hope this "Group" I am in the middle of, is over the hump now. All this Prep-reading is for the birds! It is class #5 tomorrow, so only 2 more to the end. Cant wait!
Glad you get overtime. I thought you would! I work too for the $$$s. Plenty to keep me busy round my place! One Day!

Linda, your coordinator sounds a tad confused! Causes lots of stress for those concerned! Hope it is sorted by now! Glad to hear that Gerard is back to his old self mowing the field!

Shawnee, we have it hot and muggy up here too. DH still has his sinus-allergy headache. He was in bed for 8p.m. last night and up at 6:30a.m. this morning. He popped more decongestants today along with tylenol. Like you, he doesnt do "hot" or "pollen" a delicate Brit, tudor type.....reddish hair, pale delicate skin, but a Big heart and a great personality!

Julie, wow, the "mouth is watering" thoughts of crumbled feta, chopped fresh basil and balsamic vinegar! My tomatoes are all shop bought.....vine ripened but not the same as fresh picked, ya get more Vit C from yours and licopene!

Roger, sounds like you are getting your trip more streamlined!
Too bad about the Rain. I guess we will get it soon!

Loretta, Glad you are clearing away the "cobwebs" and "fog" of your company! Wow, I am impressed that you made some bread in the nuker! I have been eating flax-seed bread this last two weeks off and on, with no weight gain yet! So I am really pleased with that!

Pam, working hard agin? Hope you are having Fun with those Gbrats of yours! Ya know I am still waiting to catch up to you!

[Loretta V]

hypercondriac NO way

You are just getting old.

[LoveMontana]

Hi gang, just poping in for a minute before I hit the shower and get into my snuggies. Trying to finish laundry and just made the blueberry flax muffins. Now to find a place to hide them from Gerard

Loretta, I use Dom Pepino (sp) pizza sauce and find it in our local grocery stores. I would cook the sausage first. I always par boil links and pan fry the ground. I always cook the crust till lightly browned because the original recipe is too mushy. Yes it freezes well.

Shawnee, That miserable heat is just awful and makes me physically ill too. Try to stay cool and rest. Can you put a sprinkler out in your flower beds?

Julie, yes fill us in on the blood work etc.
LOL so rub it in about the toms. Mine are a little bigger than golf balls and green. Aw well, some day.
Yes work SUCKS but the money is great! I just remind myself that it's only 8 or so hrs a week. My 401K distribution is way down still but if it picks up soon, I'll tell them to shove that job.


Roger, I think I'm tighter than you are and lazy too. I couldn't be bothered trying to get a freebee from Norton. Love my AVG and all the free updates. No problems either.
Lexmark printer of ours is just awful!! Little ink cartridges and all. When the ink goes this time, we will hook the HP back up. At least the ink is quite a bit cheaper and more of it.

Sorry you have to cut those days off the vacation but I sure understand the financial reasons. Rome and Greece would be less expensive.

Nasty scene in NYC. My God!!

Off to hit the shower.

[LoveMontana]

Susan, we must have been posting at the same time. Coordinator isn't confused, she is a scatter brained ding bat.

Sorry about dh and the allergies. Has he been to an allergist? There is help out there. I suffered for years and am now mostly symptom free.


Julie, you aren't a hypercondriac. LMAO at Loretta
Maybe we all are getting old.

[Jewels]

Loretta, how I love you!! You are so funny. I laughed so hard, thank you for that. Boy that good laugh sure makes ya feel better. I guess we ARE ALL getting old, no matter how you look at it. Born, live, die!!! Kinda inevitable!!!!! Linda, you said MAYBE. Know something the rest of us don't??? LOL Julie