Taste Like Chicken Tuesday 7/27

Karen, thanks for the start. The no name system has moved north of us. We were getting a lot more rain before it showed up and pulled dry air over us. We're supposed to return to our normal afternoon thunderstorm pattern this week. I wonder if those ducks are used to being fed by people. I haven't been close enough to the ones around here to hear the wheezing sound. I have heard some late night disputes though with loud quacking.

Linda, I was watching a little of the canoe slalom today. I don't know how they make it down that course! Really disappointed that Simone Biles pulled out of the competition and hope she's okay.

Chele, we never really put the masks away. I despair of common sense too. We have new laws saying the local governments need state approval for any emergency order lasting more than 10 days and they can't impose fines for mask orders. DeSantis says he will fight any kind of federal mask order. Some of our hospitals are delaying elective procedures again and our mayor said we're seeing numbers as bad as the peak last year. I liked Macron's comment that it's time for the unvaccinated to stay at home instead of the rest of us.

Waving to everyone. Hope you have a good day.

Linda, that was a scary video of the Jeep in the water. I didn't realize there was also a 16 year old missing. Were they siblings? Awful any way, but even worse if parents lost 2 children. One is gut wretching enough. I guess you saw the new CDC mask guidelines were released today. The irony is we will wear masks and the unvaccinated will not. Both our governor and the Knox County mayor announced today that there would be no new covid protocols introduced. The Knox County Commission essentially took the power to set health mandates away from the county health director, who was the adult in the room. Did your TJs require masks when you were there last week? I'm anxious to see if it's a requirement at mine on Thursday or if there will just be a few of us. I haven't been there for about 3 months and they were still strictly limiting how many people could be in the store at one time. It's a pretty small store anyway, so I'll see then if that's still happening. When I do squats, my knees sound like a bowl of Rice Krispies just after you put on the milk. My new name could be Swims with Ducks or the Duck Whisperer. I haven't watched any of the Olympics so far. I probably would have watched the kayak slalom if I had know it was on. Biking over boulders scares me. Bones break easily.

So you were working off an invalid phone #, Becky? Interesting! Were you able to get everything switched on the billing? How's the new phone doing? Did you remember how you had things set up so you could duplicate it? Back in the days before they could transfer everything over (which you didn't have the luxury of this time), I could never remember what apps I had. Have you heard how much jewelry you will get from your party?

Chele, the salad turnips are really easy to grow. I got a deep dish pan from Dollar General, drilled holes in the bottom, filled it with potting soil, and planted the seeds. Then I just have to keep it watered and in a month or so, I have pretty little turnips. I forgot you had a slope to mow. The thing about swimming with ducks is that they tend to go their way and I go mine. And sometimes we come back together and they sneak up behind me and I don't know it. The gym wasn't too crazy today and everyone was pretty well behaved. It pays to get there early. Are the parents pitching a fit yet about the ODH mask recommendation for kids in schools? Some of the loud-mouthed ones here would be having a hissy fit and getting their 5 minutes of fame on the local news about how unfair it is. As my DF was fond of saying, "whoever said life was going to be fair?" It's a shame your governor no longer has the power to issue mandates. Ours could do it, but he won't. He doesn't want to infringe on the civil liberties of the anti-maskers (his base). Never mind about the civil liberties of the rest of us! Meijer sounds like Food City was today. I saw a couple of employees with masks and maybe 3 or 4 other customers.

Liz, OMG on 21K+ steps. I'll bet you're feeling it today. Good luck with the rest of the survey and congrats on the great rankings. Good that the cultures came back negative, but a shame you won't know. I still have some small blisters but the itch is decreased, so that helps.

It looks like the system with no name has dissipated, Kathy. It's not even on the NHC map this afternoon. Have you gotten your afternoon t-storm yet? I have heard these ducks squawking quite loudly at times so I know they can be quite loud when they choose to be. I was also disappointed Simone Biles wasn't in the finals. I guess the pressure got to her. So sad, and something she will probably regret in hindsight. My stash of masks is still on the front seat of my car and won't be moving any time soon. I totally agree with Macron's statement, but we've already mentioned the lack of common sense.

After the gym I did the grocery shopping and we have started stocking up on things like TP, tissues, and distilled water. We were out of a lot of things so it was the biggest grocery trip I have done in some time. We're at 92° with a real feel of 103, so we are doing inside stuff to keep paws off the hot pavement. We got about 1/2" of rain yesterday evening and into the night, so watering was limited today. That will change tomorrow.