I'm obsessed with Newman's Own Chocolate Bars - 54% Cocoa.  I don't know why...I just am.  You can imagine my anxiety when the Whole Foods at SouthPark not only didn't have any but had taken their placard away.  

I sent an email to Whole Foods.  Then, I sent an email to Newman's Own.  Whole Foods quickly got back with a "We'll check on it".  Newman's gave me silence.  After 3 days, I contacted Newman's on Facebook.  This is what I received back.  

Tuesday

Today was equally as normal as yesterday.  Nothing exciting happened at work, well unless you count that  someone decided to scratch the word ass onto one of our elevator doors.  Who does that?  We are an office park with office buildings full of office adults.  I guess some are more adult that others.  Anyway, if you think about it, what a weird thing to scratch on an elevator (or anywhere).  I mean, someone had to stand there and think, "You know what I think I'm going to do?  I think I'm going to scratch the word ass onto this elevator door." Whatever.  

Dad asked me to buy some darts for his electronic dart board so that he could play with Daniel.  The darts came today.  Dad and I played a couple of quick games.  I tried to get a picture of him throwing but, I'm trying not to make him paranoid with all of my picture taking.  

Normal Monday

I'm drawing a blank on anything creative to call this post.  Today was just a normal Monday.

Laura finally is receiving some help from the government (took almost 12 years) and she has two helpers that will switch off "babysitting" her.  I've never met these ladies and there is so much trust that you have to put in their hands.  I hope these ladies fall in love with Laura and take good care of her.  

Daniel went to "camp" today.  I asked him what he did and he said he went fishing.  Daniel has been wanting to go fishing for a long time.  He said he didn't catch any fish and "The only thing I caught was a tree".  He also went kayaking for the first time.  He told me that he and his boat mate kept trying to ram their kayak into the other kayaks.  Mom said, "Why did you do that?"  I said, "Because he's a boy".  He will go back tomorrow for some more fun.  

He talked my Mom into giving him 2 cookies a piece for Laura, his dad, and himself.  He wrote their names on the bags.

If there were a camera filming me tonight it would have been video gold.  I was texting my friend Liz when out of nowhere, a super loud pop of thunder sounded and I threw my phone in the air.  Balto was sitting beside me and he popped his head up.  Thankfully, neither of our dogs are scared of storms.  

Not 5 minutes later, I had a spoon of tomato soup almost to my lips when I saw lighting spark a tree out of the corner of my eye and immediately heard a loud POW! I jumped so fast that I threw my spoon of tomato soup onto the floor.  Unfortunately, it was onto the light colored carpet.  

The storm passed as fast as it came and we didn't get a drop of rain.  We sure do need the rain.  

Sunday Sabbath

Since I believe God created us, I believe it is super important to follow His manual which says Sunday is to be a day of rest.  I didn't say I always do it, I just said I believe it.  I did today and boy, was He right; we need a day of rest.  

The day started as a normal Sunday morning of teaching my 4 year old Sunday School class and then teaching Laura during church.  This afternoon, Kevin and Daniel came over to watch The Incredibles.  Daniel had never seen it and now that The Incredibles 2 is in movie theaters, we thought it would be a good idea for him to see the original movie first.  I asked him how it was and of course he said, "It was incredible!" The boy is both funny and predictable.   

While Kevin and Daniel watched the movie, I went to their house and sat outside with Laura.  

We had a great time sitting in the swing.  I talked to her about everything I could think of and she kept saying "Pah Gegasi".  I have no idea what that means but she said it about 500 times. Whatever it was brought joy to her heart because, as usual, she was as happy as could be.  (No, I didn't cut my hair, it is all tucked up in that hat because it was super hot outside.) 

I decided to let Mom and Dad have a day off from me taking pictures of them.  They had a great day as well.  They even sat outside in the swing while the rest of us were at my house hanging out.  

Here's hoping for a very normal week!  

Lazy Summer Saturday

Today was a super great day!  Why was it a super great day?  Because I had NOTHING planned.  I slept late (for me).  I had a lazy morning.  I watched Golden Girls.  I went and got groceries.  I played with Daniel & Laura.  I sat outside with Mom & Dad.  Scott and I took the dogs for a walk.  That was it!  That was my day.  I loved today.  

Photo Challenge - Day 30 I Did It!

I posted every day for 30 days!  I can't believe it!  Now, that doesn't meant they were interesting posts but, they were my life and there it is...

I think I'll make my first picture a picture of my very best friend.  My mom.  

I received a HUGE surprise today.  

Photo Challenge Day 29

Balto is a weird sleeper.

Mom is starting to have a lot of trouble with her car so she and Dad were discussing what type of car she should buy next.  Dad kept suggesting cars that Mom feels are just too large for her.  Dad told her that Porsche makes a smaller car.  I told her that nothing would be more fun than to tell everyone that my 81 year old Mom had just bought a Porsche (won't happen).  It sure would be the slowest Porsche on the road.

Scott's BFF is waiting on him outside of the bathroom again tonight...  It's really the only place he can get away from her.

Photo Challenge Day 28

Laura is enjoying her summer.

Photo Challenge Day 27

I can't believe I've posted 27 days in a row.  I think I will try to continue to post every day once the challenge is over.  One reason is because it is therapeutic for me.  Another reason is because I need  the routine.  The most important reason, however, is because it is a great diary for me.  I look back at my old posts and I realize that I had totally forgotten most of everything that I ever did in those times.  So, this is my diary and I need it to remember my life if, by God's grace, I become older.  

I told you our new fountain has turned out to be a glorified doggy water bowl.  I was sitting outside tonight enjoying the (ridiculously hot) summer night and this happened.  

Photo Challenge Day 26

Dad didn't have his hearing aids in tonight.  This is the look he gives me when he can't hear what I am saying.

Photo Challenge Day 25 - Father's Day

Father's Day 2018 

Photo Credit goes to my neighbor, Malissa Morrill.  Thank you Malissa!  

After church, everyone came to my house for burgers.  Scott cooked the burgers and I took care of everything else.  

Photo Challenge Day 24

It finally happened.  A squirrel figured out a way to get to my bird feeder.  

Today, I had my first appointment with Dietitian, Samara Abbott, of G & G Nutrition Co.  Wow, I learned a lot at my first appointment.  The main reason I am seeing Sam is for preventative  maintenance.  My eye doctor has told me twice that he believes I am at a high risk for Diabetes.  After researching, I found that the new eye test he has been giving me if highly accurate and can even predict Diabetes 7 years before a blood test does.  As I've said here before, Diabetes does not run in my family so being at such a high risk is a surprise to me.   The test is given with a fairly new machine called a Clearpath Diabetic Detection machine.  Here's what I found online:

Photo Challenge Day 23

Balto is just hanging out in Scott's office.

I went over to visit my Mom and Dad but they were pulling out of the driveway to go out to eat with Kevin and the kids.

Photo Challenge Day 22

The view outside my office window today...

Road construction all day long.  As my boss said, "It was calamity".

Tonight was wonderful though.  My sweet, sweet friend Karla is in town for a few days and I got to see her.  I don't know why I didn't get a picture of her so I'm posting an old one.

Karla is a true artist and now, she has her own Youtube Channel, KC Creates.  If you get a moment, check it out.  Tonight she showed me these GORGEOUS Fairy Wall Hangings that she has made.

Aren't they beautiful?  I love my super creative friend.

Photo Challenge Day 22

Dad's new exercise machine came today.  He's only had it for a few hours but Daniel already thinks his muscles are bigger.

Photo Challenge Day 21

Balto wasn't very excited about the rainy Tuesday morning.

I did something really "Julie" today.  I went to Shomars (a fast food Greek restaurant chain in the Carolinas).  I placed my order at the drive thru window and as soon as I did, I realized that I had left my wallet at work (I had done some online shopping earlier today).  So....I drove around to the pick up window and said, "I left my wallet on my desk at work.  Can you hold my order and I'll be right back?"  I'm sure they were thinking, "Sure...you'll be back".  I drove all the way back to my office, went up the 3 flights of stairs (ok, I took the elevator) and got my wallet.  I endured the laughter of my boss and headed back to the restaurant.  

I pulled up to the order box thingy and said, "I'm the goofus that ordered a grilled chicken chef salad and realized I forgot my wallet at work".  They said, "Please drive around".   

Tonight, I drove my Dad to Monroe, NC to the visitation for an old friend of his who had passed away.  Mr. Joyner was 96.  Afterwards, Dad decided he wanted to eat out at Maxwell's Tavern in Waxhaw.  Here's a picture of my super handsome dinner date. 

I sure hope this post makes sense.  I'm so tired that my eyes are going in and out of focus while I type.  Maybe I'll proofread again tomorrow.  Good night.  

Photo Challenge Day 20

I went to Whole Foods at lunch and bought this.  I ate a small bowl of it this afternoon.  I came home and heard on the news that it has been recalled due to a salmonella outbreak.  So there's that.  

Now, I am on Salmonella Watch 2018.  I feel pretty confident that I'll be ok.  Normally I'm a nervous wreck.  Maybe I should be nervous that I'm not a nervous wreck.  Maybe I should just be a nervous wreck.  I know how to do that pretty well.

Photo Challenge Day 19

You can't quite see the 3rd one but, there are 3 squirrels under my bird feeder.

Photo Challenge Day 18

Today was a good day...and it is only 6:00 pm.  This morning, I took Dad to Carolina Fitness Equipment to buy a new recumbent elliptical machine.  He has been wanting one ever since he used one during his week stay in rehab.  I'm so thankful that he is wanting and able to use one.  He has come a long way.  (No, I had no idea that was something that even existed until a few weeks ago.)

This afternoon, I walked over to bring Daniel and Laura some cookies.  I found this...my Dad playing with Play Doh. 

Photo Challenge Day 17

That's Dad in the final phase of his Nuclear Stress Test.  Praise the Lord, he did not go into Afib due to the drugs that sped up his heart.  I'm not sure when he will get the results from his test but, when I took my parents home, he was doing well (except for a headache caused by the chemicals).  

Photo Challenge Day 16

My boss made this for me to have at the hospital tomorrow...

He knows I'm concerned that when they inject Dad with the chemical for his stress test, his heart will go out of rhythm.  How great is this?  He handed it to me when he left for the day.  He said, "This is for tomorrow".  

The hospital called and changed Dad's appointment to 8:15 tomorrow morning.  I'm really glad.  I'm hoping that everything will go smoothly and I can take Mom and Dad home and be back at work in time for lunch and soap operas!  I sure hope I am able to give you good news in tomorrow's post.

Photo Challenge Day 15

Goofus

Three's Company is on while I'm typing this post.  Remember when Jack got his own restaurant, "Jack's Bistro"?  Well, it is opening night and so far, no one has showed up.  Poor Jack.  

Photo Challenge Day 14

Slowly buy surely, I'm making progress.

I can't remember if I told you (and I'm too lazy to look back) but, Dad's pulse has been pretty low lately.  Last week at the Dr's office it was 44.  Dr. Cedarholm told us it should never be under 50 and we were to monitor it.  He even showed me how to take Dad's pulse to make sure his heart is in rhythm.  For the past few days, it has been teetering from 48-53 so when my office phone rang today and I saw Dad's name pop up on the Caller ID, I assumed it was Mom saying, "I'm calling the doctor" or "We are on our way to the ER".  Instead she said, "We are going to visit Aunt Sara".  Aunt Sara and Uncle John live about an hour away in Chesterfield, South Carolina. I was so happy that they were feeling good enough to make the trip.  Sidebar:  They had a great trip.  

Photo Challenge Day 13

My husband works from home.  It is 8:00 pm and he is hard at work...still in his pj's from last night...with his 2 trusty assistants.  

Here's my question of the day:

If you had a boat, what would you name it?  

I will have to give this one some thought.  All I can think of is a few years ago when they decided to let the people of Great Britain name a submarine and the public chose "Boaty McBoatface".  Unfortunately, it was overruled and the sub was eventually named RRS Sir David Attenborough.  I don't know why but I absolutely love Boaty McBoatface and I might have to go with that. Wait, aren't boats supposed to be named after women?  I don't know Sir David but, I doubt he was a woman.  

Photo Challenge Day 12

Here's a picture I something I hate.

I see this stupid vine every time I walk to Mom and Dad's house.  It taunts me.  I've asked God, "Why God, Why?' I'm sure He had a reason for creating Poison Ivy but, I can't imagine what it could be.

I just saw a funny question, "What would a world populated by clones of you be like?"  I'm going to try to answer this.  A world populated by Julie clones would be a world of niceness.  Everyone would be really nice to each other but, that's basically it.  There would be no scientific breakthroughs;  nothing would get built.  It would be a very happy and kind place but, no one would be smart enough to accomplish anything.  There would be a lot of really good helpers but no leader.  Everyone would worry what people thought and wonder if they were doing things right.  All of the animals would be treated with kindness but, poison ivy would be be irradiated somehow.  Wait, none of the clones would be smart enough to know how to do that.  In summary, thank God there is not a world populated by Julie clones.  One is more than enough!  

What would a world populated by clones of YOU be like?  

Photo Challenge Day 11

Too bad I'm not doing an exercise challenge because Day 11 would be pretty good for me!  Here's today's photo:

When I was in the process of sitting down on my daybed to write this post, Balto jumped up and got my spot.  The funny thing is that before this week, he never sat on this daybed???!!!  Now, he has taken it over.  So, I took this picture.  Here is another one. 

Photo Challenge Day 10

We Like Turtles just happened to be the category that Alex Trebek was introducing when I snapped this photo.