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With all our new retirees and the mention of the $20 annual senior pass for national parks, an even better long term deal if you like national parks is the Lifetime Senior America the Beautiful Pass for $80. Same pass as the annual one, but lasts the rest of your life. My hiking friends loved them because it works so many places! You're eligible for it at 62.

My dad is still in the hospital, but I talked to him last night and he sounded in good spirits. They are waiting on the urine culture and blood tests to make sure they are giving him the right antibiotics and that his kidney is hanging in there, which take 24 and 48 hours. So he probably won't be discharged until tomorrow. But his TV has the golf channel and there is a tournament he can watch today, so that's a plus.

I finally got approved by the HOA for my new retractable screen for the patio that will probably always be referred to as "the cat patio". So that can be ordered (takes 6 weeks). I have an electrician coming on the 30th to find a way to put an outlet in the ceiling for it.

Did I mention I figured out how to fix the driveway lights? They turned them off inside the screwed-shut transformer. I must admit I patted myself on the back for figuring that one out with no help!

Today I am meeting my bff half way (well, more like 2/3 me-1/3 him) for lunch to give him back some mirrors he gave me a million years ago. He had them in his first house, he gave them to me for my second house, I'm giving them back for his current home. Recycling!

Today is only going to be 86! Woohoo! And tomorrow 82! So exciting. I even walked Kirby last night which other neighbors also decided to do, so his nose was in super sleuth mode smelling his friends the whole way.

I think I'll go walk Kirby again since he'll be alone this afternoon and it's only 73 now.

Take care all!

That's awesome you had a nice visit with DS. Preparations for Europe must be getting underway. Any updates on your SIL and her plans?

Yesterday I came home from my workout and thought, I'm tired, although it was physically tired, not mentally. So I read on the porch for awhile. Also a good retirement activity.

My Aunt's surgery went well, and she will probably be released today! Although its about 2 hours drive from Boston to Amherst. I hope that isn't too much. We arrive in Boston Monday. They have a caregiver lined up until Tuesday, which is when we'll take over.

Not good news about my friend's husband. He can't have his biopsy yet because he needs to be off Plavik for 2 weeks. The scan shows 3 tumors: the biggest in his pancreas, another in his liver, and one in his stomach. His blood work has some kind of cancer marker in it, which is astronomically high. Hope is always still an option until it isn't, but ... Another painful reminder that we must embrace the time we are given.

Off to a babyshower. My nephew and his wife are expecting a son in August. T will be lovely to see all my nieces.

Liz, it sounds like you had a nice return and visit with DS. It also appears summer has come to the Cape! That's wonderful!!!!

Got to check off another bucket list item yesterday! I went to Salzburg for a single afternoon when I was 23 while traveling with my aunt. High on the hill overlooking Salzburg is a fortress. I so wanted to go up to the fortress then, but was unable due to time constraints (and probably my aunt's lack of interest). Yesterday, I got to go! It was more than I had hoped. There was an entire little city up on that hill hundreds of years ago! And the views....SPECATACULAR!

I decided to be dog focused yesterday and took a lot of photos of dogs I happened across during our wandering. I also took photos of the sites, but the dog watching was fun for me. (Almost as fun as some of the people watching can be! LOL)

Today we explored the Melk Abbey in Melk, Austria. While it is an abbey for benedictine monks, it is hardly austere. The abbey is a stunning example of baroque opulence. I'm having a bit of trouble reconciling the expense of the abbey with the needs of the community in the early 1700s, but what's done is done! And it is quite a testament how important this site was and continues to be. (Here's a wikipedia link, if you're interested: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Melk_Abbey)

Yesterday I was worried I was coming down with something nefarious. Not so.... just a mild, little sinus cold. Didn't even trip me up today. Whew! Ron and my brother seem a little less lucky. Jamie is having chest congestion which triggers his COPD. Ron has bronchial congestion and is gently hacking the day away. Luckily, Ron feels well! He is just annoyingly congested.

The Danube river valley is gorgeous. I could live in Austria. The vibe is very good.

More later and more on TT after my nap! .

Beautiful! It is amazing how hardy they can be if they have a good root system.

With the heat you are going to have this weekend you will have to act like people do in Florida in the summer. All outdoor activities in the early morning or late evening and stay in AC the rest of the day.