The weather was beautiful yesterday and today is gorgeous. I mowed the lawn and did some edging, pruned my rose bush I transplanted it last year and thought it was going to die, but it’s blooming although there were some dead parts that I had to remove. I have never  grown anything in my life that lived till I moved in with Bill. So I really don’t have that much experience. My brother was always trying to teach me things, but I was never interested.

Bill and I had to reposition one of our evergreen bushes because it decided it wanted to grow backwards instead of standing up straight. So after repositioning it and watering it down I thought it was going to be fine, but the ground isn’t level so Bill had to insert a stake and anchor it till it settles and decides to stay straight.

I also removed my Tennessee grass except for the one showing below (I call it that because I brought it back to Pa from my brothers house)
from the front flower bed and got that ready to plant some flowers Saturday. I know you can get it anywhere, but this is special grass and I don’t know the proper name for it. I haven’t decided on the type of flowers or colors yet, but they will have to stand up to a lot of direct sunlight.

So all and all it was a productive day for me except I keep forgetting about my degenerating disk and today I’m suffering for it. I really didn’t accomplish much on the computer yesterday, but it’s good to take a break every now and then. Now when I go out on the balcony I can admire my handiwork and it makes me feel good.

I don’t mind getting older, but I get frustrated that I can’t do the things I use to do. I keep saying I need to make a living will, but I haven’t gotten around to it yet. I certainly would not like to be kept alive by machines and I definitely want to make it legal so there will be no questions if that time should ever come and someone decides otherwise.

I also moved my Cactus to the front porch so it can get lots of sun, but I waited till the really cold weather had past. I’ve had this cactus since it was eight inches high and that was 4 years ago or maybe a little longer and I’ve transplanted it 3 times. I have seen this type grow to huge proportions. Not quite sure what I’ll do with it if it out grows my house, maybe I shouldn’t put it in a larger vessel.

As you can see from the photo it’s sitting on my suggestion box on the front porch and yes that is a faux commode and yes I am a bit quirky and I love it. I bought it from a place going out of business for 5 dollars. At one point I kept the lid up and was growing flowers from inside, it was cute or at least I thought so. I have to do some other things so I’ll wish you a great day.

There are niche dating services for everyone out there, even senior citizens. At any age it’s hard to meet someone we might be compatible with, but as we get older it seems to get even worse. A lot of our friends and partners have passed on and just because we are older it doesn’t mean that we have to give up companionship and the hope of finding someone that will make us feel happy again.

I’ve seen the children of an older person that is alone, more or less try to keep that surviving parent separated from someone that could possibly make their parent happy. Whether it was because they couldn’t stand the thought of someone possibly taking the place of their Mother or Father or that someone else might share their possible inheritance I haven’t a clue.

Whatever the reasoning behind this I have to conclude that it must be motivated by selfishness. Why wouldn’t you want to see your surviving parent happy and not alone? Can’t say how I might have reacted as an adult if  that had happened to me because both my parents died when I was 7 years old within 6 months of each other, but I’m sure I would want to see them happy and it wouldn’t have been my place to sabotage any type of relationship.

I was 49 when Bill and I started going out and he was 55 and since cohabitating with  Bill I have been happier than any other time in my life. We have been engaged for those 5 years, but I don’t think we will get married and I have to say that his children were very happy that he found someone to share the rest of his life with. I know that I could never find anyone like him so I wouldn’t even look.

I started this post about the senior dating services that have gained momentum online and got a little sidetracked. These senior dating services follow the same procedures as any other and most times if you’ve been alone for a long time this can be a perfect way to find a companion. You can opt for the group or club date because it can be pretty awkward to go on an individual date when you’ve been out of circulation for a long time.

Many dating services around here have get together’s for their members and it makes for a more relaxed way of meeting a potential companion without putting pressure on anyone. These services also will make sure that your profile matches up with a potential date or companion so make sure that you fill out the application carefully so they will be able to find someone in their data base.

I met a couple people through a local dating service that I found online some years ago, but I should have gotten to know them better through chat and talking on the phone and e-mails, because you can usually tell more about a person when they aren’t face to face, they feel more comfortable and their guard isn’t up so high.

You might be able to make a better connection by getting to know them first. At the very least after speaking with them on the phone and chatting you may save yourself the bother of a one on one in person if you find that their interests aren’t really to your liking. Remember that people aren’t always truthful when they fill out those applications.

So make sure you gather as much information as possible and make sure that there would be no problems that might complicate things for you in the end. If it’s a free online site you’re dealing with make sure you don’t give any credit card information because there are a lot of fraudulent sites out there.

You never know where you might find that special person you can share with and you might make a few friends that you simply enjoy talking to. I was lucky I found Bill right in my back yard, actually he ate at the restaurant I worked at for years, but for whatever reasons the timing was never right so it just goes to show regardless of how you meet someone that anything is possible.

I know that we the more mature and even the younglings some times fall for scams that are perpetrated daily on the Internet. Lately I have received many e-mails telling me that I am eligible for a rebate from the IRS, but I listen to the news and try to keep updated and I never respond to this type of spam. If you receive the following in your inbox please simply ignore it because they only want your private information.

  We are pleased to inform you that upon reviewing your fiscal activity,
we have determined that you are eligible to receive
a tax refund of $285,14.

To access the online form for your tax refund, please follow this link :
         
  Deleted for obvious reasons by me.

Because this letter could help resolve any questions regarding your exempt
status, you should keep it in your permanent records.

If you distribute funds to other organizations, your records must show whether
they are exempt under section 497 (c) (12). In cases where the recipient
organization is not exempt under section 497 (c) (12), you must have evidence
the funds will be used for section 497 (c) (12) purposes.

If you distribute fund to individuals, you should keep case histories showing
the recipient’s name and address; the purpose of the award; the manner of
section; and the relationship of the recipient to any of your officers,
directors, trustees, members, or major contributors.
——————————————————————————————————————————————————————————————

Sincerely,
Natasha Morgan
Director, Tax Refunds Department

Whatever you do never, ever reply to any of these form letters because this is  simply a technique called Phishing that scammers use to exploit people that don’t know better. Before clicking on any link that is sent to you have someone that knows what is going on check it or better yet simply delete without viewing if the name is not recognisable.

The Internet can be such an enjoyable experience for older lonely people and it only takes one bad experience to disillusion you from it forever. The Internet has made it possible for so much good and learning, but a small faction have learned how to use it in devious ways to benefit from the young and older population to benefit themselves.

So I give a very strong caution to never give out personal information unless you know the site is a trusted site and make sure your computer is protected with a firewall and virus protection. Before starting this great adventure make sure you learn how to protect yourself online so you will be able to enjoy this for a long time.

I have been online since 98 and I’m still learning because daily they have new ideas that they try out and many people don’t understand and fall for these devious and fiendish ways to take control of your life. We have enough problems as we age that being duped is appalling to even contemplate. So keep your eyes and ears open and enjoy the great place that you have created online

I have been entering to win a totally green home in South Carolina, but if that doesn’t happen there is a $20,000 dollar promotional contest from Renuzit TriScents that is going on right now to win a makeover for your home. The promotion is called “Renuzit TriScents Tranform Your Home with Tanya Memme.” Most people I know love to enter contest and sweepstakes because they feel like they might be lucky someday, It’s fun.

If I were ever lucky enough to win the Transform Your Home makeover I would have to start in the bedroom and I would like the wall in between knocked out and reconfigured so my bedroom would have more space using the small room that it connects with. I always feel like I’m smothering in there because it’s so close.

I would probably keep my existing furniture, but  I would like a window seat alcove where the exsisting windows are and different lighting for a more relaxed cosy place where I would like to hang out. It would be nice if the attic above could be knocked out and a sky light added, but then I would need storage space. I know it would be more attractive to a buyer if we ever sell.

One photo is from inside showing the wall and the other shows the wall that connects from the other side.

We have our 2 canine citizens and while Shadow doesn’t have a lot of  body odors Sadie does even though I use animal perfume that penetrates the skin, I still have to use room freshner and Renuzit has a couple of new scents that you can download a coupon for called Seaside Breezes™ and Morning Meadow. I would like a space for Shadow because he sleeps by the side of the bed, but I would like it hidden somehow.

It’s easy to enter and if your good with videos, that would be even better than a picture, people get to vote on their favorite and a winner will be chosen. Be sure to follow the official rules and also make sure your submission will be elligible by following the three points below. (1) upload video or a photo and essay (2) Explain and demonstrate why your home needs a makeover (3) Explain how Renuzit TriScents can help you.