Message Forum

Nancy, Ron

I don't have regular conversations with the car, I just tried it that one time. It's a new car, with all the latest safety stuff, and I found out that the only time you can do anything with the GPS is when it's in park. My last car, if you were navigating with GPS and got hungry, you could punch up "restaurants" and it would come up with places along the way. The new one, you'd have to pull off, park, and push the buttons to get something. Not cool on a freeway.

The new car owner's manual says however, I can push a button on the steering wheel and tell the car what I want while I'm still driving, so I thought I'd try it. It worked. At least now we won't go hungry or wet our pants on trips. I suppose that's a good thing to concede to technology.

And Ron, my watch has hands, and I only talk to my Iphone if there's a person on it that can talk back. (Well, I don't answer, but I do frequently say some Navy/Marine words at it, when I get those 3-4 calls a day from the anonymous "credit agency" telling me I'm approved for a super$K loan and asking me to call to complete my "loan process," but I don't expect an answer. )

03/16/26 10:34 AM

#3704

Well, it looks like winter must be over. The forecast here is 90+ degrees every day this week, which honestly feels a little unfair for March. I had expected a few comfortable spring days before things warmed up, but apparently, we’re skipping straight to summer.

I know you’ll be concerned for me because I’m supposed to play golf tomorrow. Walking around a golf course for several hours in 90-degree heat isn’t exactly what I had in mind. I’m already planning the essentials: extra water, sunscreen, battery operated fans attached to my golf cart. It’s going to take some real determination to get through it. I’ll check the temperature on my pool to see if I can plunge in when I get home.

I appreciate the sympathies you’ll be sending me and concern for my health. It isn’t all luxury living in California you know! I hope you can appreciate my suffering as you enjoy Spring-like weather in your area.

03/17/26 08:28 AM

#3705

Tom Burger

Mmmm...still a pleasant 72 degrees here...last time I checked the thermostat.

03/17/26 11:28 AM

#3706

John Gilbert

Garry, here I thought we had it bad here in the midwest with anywhere from 8" to 30" of snow yesterday. However, after reading your message, I don't know how you put up with all those issues. I'd give up golf if I were you.

03/17/26 04:07 PM

#3707

Ah, Garry

But remember, in California, it's a "dry" heat.

03/18/26 06:41 PM

#3708

By now everyone has probably read the news of the fun and games in northern Michigan this week. We missed it by being in Boulder for our grand daughter's swim meet, but it might have been easier to get through it by being here, stuck in the house. We were scheduled to return here Monday morning, but when we got to Detroit we learned that the flight to Alpena was cancelled, as was the afternoon flight. And then on Tuesday that one was cancelled. After two nights in two different hotels, we hauled our old bones out of bed this morning at 5:15am to get through TSA for this morning's flight. The one that was cancelled. Giving up on Delta, we rented a car and drove from DTW arriving at the Alpena airport to find our car iced in. Drove home in the rental, with plans to return tomorrow morning with shovels, and maybe a pick ax. Karsten had left our John Deere in the garage closest to the road, but couldn't get it out through all the ice. So we walked to the house, along the way stopping at the other garage to pick up a pair of snowshoes which we thought would be great, as we'd crashed through the ice several times, up to our knees. Frozen old straps broke, so we tried duct tape. Nope. Carrying on, we faced a five foot drift which the wind across the lake had dumped ten feet from our door. That drift we crawled up on hands and knees, then slid down the other side. We can dig that out tomorrow on the way to the airport to dig out the car. We're very tired.....we may be getting too old for this.

03/18/26 08:24 PM

#3709

Nancy,

Sounds like you need a flame thrower - Amazon, $49.95, and they deliver.

03/18/26 10:41 PM

#3710

Nancy claims this is Karsten today in Michigan, though the photo mysteriously didn’t upload—so I’ve helped her out. Clearly, we’re supposed to feel sorry for them. I would… but I’m dealing with my own crisis.This afternoon I nearly incinerated my bare feet on a blazing 92° pool deck, and when I staggered to safety, the pool was an arctic 70°. Seventy! I don’t know how people survive these conditions. I require at least 80–85° just to consider basic floating. Karsten may be buried in snow, but at least he’s properly insulated. Also—what was the water temp at McGovern Park or Bradford Beach? Somewhere between ‘refreshing’ and ‘medical event,’ as I recall.

And John, give up golf? That’s my only remaining outlet for creative profanity—and competitive club throwing.

03/19/26 06:37 AM

#3711

Um, Jim.....deliver? Deliver? Nobody is delivering anything.....newspaper, mail......but the propane truck comes, if they can make it. Luckily we left our iced-in car full, as gas stations were reportedly empty for a few days. But our garage with all the tools in is only a five-foot drift away from the door.

03/19/26 10:25 AM

#3712

John Gilbert

Nancy, as Jim said get a flame thrower, saves on the back. Here ya go!!

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03/19/26 02:30 PM

#3713

John — looks like Nancy wasn't the only one having trouble uploading photos. Luckily, I uncovered this gem, which explains a lot about their… “warm” relationship. Apparently, when Nancy says she’ll “help,” it’s best to stand well back and check your insurance coverage first. Lesson learned: never hand Nancy anything that plugs in, lights up, or involves fire. Good news — Karsten is out of the snowbank… just a touch more well-done than planned.

03/19/26 02:58 PM

#3714

Terri Levenhagen (Hoornstra)

Well, Garry, I knew when I posted that you would somehow manage, in a perverted and malevolent way, to derive great joy from our misery. And you didn't disappoint.......

Jim, I thought you were joking about the flame thrower, until I checked the Amazon website. I think you're onto something.

03/19/26 03:22 PM

#3715

Nancy - OMG!

03/19/26 08:46 PM

#3716

Nancy,

Would I lie to you - - - and spoil such a beautiful friendship?

03/21/26 12:24 PM

#3717

Ronald Imig

Nancy,

Wouldn't mind helping you out with the snow and ice. It's been in the mid 90"s most of this past week in Simi Valley. Prior to this week had about 42 march days above 90 going back to 1915. Now Simi is up 47. Wonder what it's going to be like when the hot weather get's here this summer.

04/05/26 04:11 PM

#3718

Here’s proof - history does repeat itself. I figured that the threat of ice and snow here is about over now, so I was out planting the spring flowers. To enjoy the experience even more, I turned on some music I had recorded on my iPhone. Good stuff from our time.

If you don’t remember, there were some good folk-type songs from the Kingston Trio and the Limelighters. Listen to the Kingston Trio’s “Merry Minuet,” recorded in 1959, and see if history doesn’t repeat itself, in our own lifetime.

04/05/26 11:52 PM

#3719

William Nelson

June, 1961 Graduate, Janet Farchione called to wish me a Happy Birthday, a few days ago. We were unable to get to the phone at the time. It was getting pretty late, so we put off calling back that evening. I forgot, they're at their home in Yuma for the winter and I think it's an hour earlier there. When she answered, she asked, "Back when we were 13 and in Junior High, did we ever consider what we'd be doing 70-years later?" Nope!

They're watching the weather reports for their prime residence near Wautoma. She said it's been so hot there that they're looking forward to the cooler weather, but not enough to shovel snow.

We've been into the 80's several times in the past few weeks, here in North Louisiana, but it's been so dry that it's not uncomfortable. We're 80% behind on rainfall so, officially, we're in a drought with outdoor burn bans everywhere in the area. We hope y'a'll are enjoying spring weathe rin good health wherever you're located. Our daughter is coming down to celebrate our birthdays together next week. She cancelled her airline reservations and will drive her little Fiat, after all the problems with air travel, the past couple of weeks. She's done it both ways before, so she knows what to expect.

Best wishes,

Bill and Mary

04/20/26 10:49 AM

#3720

Fun and games in Northern Michigan! Perhaps you've seen some of the news ( we actually made the NYT this morning - Cheboygan, just north of us, is watching their dam closely). Our lake has an outlet to Lake Huron and its water level is controlled by a weir - that is, it WAS controlled until the 20 inch thick lake ice began to melt. As we watched the huge floating chunks, the NW wind kicked up and brought increasing amounts of ice to the ege of our property, which is ( or rather, WAS) lined by rocks and boulders. The wind continued, and the ice kept coming - looked like there was an invisible bulldozer coming in our direction. And it kept on coming, closer and closer, bringing our rocks and boulders along with it - our own, private glacier. As of now, the lake is exactly level with our lawn, the water has reached our deck, and we have an impressive collection of debris at the edge of the lake ( which now is on about 20 feet of our lawn). A short drive on Sunday to check out the weir revealed a seriously overwhelmed and barely visible structure with torrents of our lakewater on its way to Lake Huron. We aren't looking forward to the cleanup, once the lawn reappears and dries out enough that we can walk on it. We could grumble and complain, but need to be grateful - our house is still dry, and no one died. Anyway, we need the exercise.

04/21/26 08:09 AM

#3721

Tom Burger

marriage. Nancy, while your yard is "on the rocks" rejoice that your marriage is not "on the rocks"! Intact marriages are rare, you and Karsten did well and are blessed. I can't say the same for my first marriage, which was "on the rocks" early in the marriage. However, I am very blessed in my second marriage of just under 40 years. The difference for me was finding faith and understanding my purpose in life.

In regard to your "challenge" of flooding (weather) which seems uncontrollable, allow me to relate my recent "weather experience". I was driving home from work (yes I still work) last Tuesday night about 6:00pm. I was on a 2 lane rural road. The weather was "threatening" but the sun was out, yet it had an errie green color. I noticed that I was the only vehicle (I have a minivan) on the road (should have been a clue). In literally an instant it turns completely dark (as dark as midnight). Next it began to rain in torrents accompanied by wind and large hail. The wind brought debris and lots of tree branches. Everything outside was streaming by at rocket speed in a horizontal direction. The most "unnerving" thing was the sound. Hail hitting the windshield and roof, rushing wind, tree branches crashing into the van and a persistent roar...all unlike anything that I have ever experienced. I slowed to about 15 or 20 mph. And now the van was starting to be pushed sideways on the road

There was no place to pull off, and it didn't seem to "make sense" to me to stop. I remembered the humorous (yet true) phrase "if you are going through hell...don't stop, keep going!" I do have what I call a personal relationship with the Lord and prayed for His help and protection. After driving for about 6 minutes, it suddenly stoped and/or I drove out it. I stopped, it was as dark as midnight, but when I inspected the van, it was perfect, no scratches, no dents. I heard the tornado sirens, got back into van and drove comfortably home. Later I saw on the news that a tornado had torn the roof off a church in the area that I had traveled. I believe the lord sent angels for my protection. Nothing is impossible for our God... we have not because we ask not.

04/21/26 10:27 AM

#3722

Terri Levenhagen (Hoornstra)

Congratulations ahead of time for your 40th.

Regarding your weather experience, I have no explanation for that one.

One of my mah jongg partners yesterday related that she also has part of her lawn under water. Apparently the water is quite deep, as she spotted a good-sized pike swimming around. She was tempted to grab her camera and position her husband with his fishing pole, out there among the trees and lawn ornaments.

04/21/26 12:59 PM

#3723

Nancy and Tom – So glad you survived - and are surviving - your scary weather experiences! Garry, how did you survive the rare lightning and thunderstorm of yesterday in the Bay Area? Down here in LA we are just getting a little rain this afternoon. Then the same boring sunshine.

04/21/26 04:03 PM

#3724

Nancy, Tom - OMG, glad you guys came through all that ok. Funny you mentioned the green sky Tom. My daughter, who lives just east of Lake Winnebago, also saw the eerie green sky and called to tell us what she was seeing and how weird it was. No tornado though.

When I was on the sheriff's department in Waukesha we had 2 tornados come through. Interesting.

And down here in swampy old Florida, we're having a very serious drought. Crazy.

With all the goofy weather around the country, don't you wonder how Bill Carlson, WTMJ, would have explained it with his one map and hand-drawn charts.

04/22/26 05:58 AM

#3725

Nancy,

You made the news. Just saw the Weather Channel showing a bit about the flooding in Cheboygan County, and the ice floes on Black Lake.

04/22/26 03:56 PM

#3726