MORNING ROLL CALL L MAY 2026

[DaveMcK]

MORNING ROLL CALL MAY 2026

Top of the morning to everyone on this First day of MAY 2026

Happy Birthday to all of our MAY  Birthday membs.

[LisaS961881]

….This morning I feel that I must add an addendum to the post above.  Our group was having so much fun yesterday that we never checked the news or social media at all ….

     Then we all awoke to the heartbreaking news of the Texas floods and those missing girls, and felt a sense of remorse.  Our group, now retired, once had various careers working with children.

      While we were sitting around watching the graphic news broadcasts and being bombarded with images of the extent of the flooding, again I remembered Mr. Roger’s advice to “find the helpers”.

We actually scanned the reports and found many examples of altruism  - that there are already 450 “boots on the ground”, that a local Walmart donated a pair of shoes to someone who lost everything, that 167 people had been rescued by helicopter, and many, many stories of small (and large) acts of kindness!! 🙏

As I’ve mentioned before, having been evacuated during a severe flood, I was so extremely grateful and very humbled by the Red Cross volunteer providing me with clean water and a blanket…and I have never forgotten what it feels like to be on the other side of the news camera.

While none of us could realistically help in Texas, we all decided to rummage through our clothing for donations, and to try to give blood this week.  It’s not much, but every little bit counts.

 In this jaded age, Fred Rogers is often mocked and the subject of ridicule.  Yet, I am not ashamed to admit that the 65 year old me still appreciates Mr.Rogers and am glad he shared his mother’s advice to him all those years ago when he ran to her upset about what he had seen on a news broadcast.  As we sit here surrounded by leftovers from last night’s feast, ensconced safely in my home, we will look for the helpers and try to be helpers! ❤️

*** As an aside, my friends, all retired, yet unfamiliar with this forum, were taken aback that I just had to log in twice.  Once “in”,we were all - myself included - stunned that dozens of SPAM messages that filled the message board. (I went directly to the Front Porch yesterday, so maybe they were there then too, but I can’t say for certain.). When I explained that there are always multiple “glitches” daily on this board, my friends worried and felt that it might not be prudent for me to continue using this site being that it isn’t being monitored 24/7.

Sigh - I fully realize that this post, as well as myself, might be deleted on Monday, but it just wouldn’t feel right if I did not share this with all of you. In retrospect, I believe I have just become inured to all of the maintenance issues on this site, but now that bad actors are bombarding this site with SPAM, I would hope that AARP takes notice.

Hope everyone who reads this is safe and secure.

    ~ Lisa 

[SummerOnTheWay1]

I have deleted my comment.

[LisaS961881]

Hi Nicole!

Geez -your PM is working? 🙏🎉☀️ I thought everyone was having the “glitch” I had - that little envelope thing had a “21”, but I clicked and clicked and nothing happens!😮. I had been able to get messages two weeks ago., but I did read somewhere here that several newbies are also having PM issues. 

So many glitches on this site, but it’s still a lovely place to visit!
🙋🩵

Thanks so much for your speedy response to my quick post!

~Lisa 🇺🇸

[LaDolceVita]

Hi folks, hot here in Ga too.   @DaveMcK   Perhaps you are out of this heat umbrella?  @LisaS961881 Yes Thomas Mann is the author of Magic Mountain, and I guess you have read it?  We used to have an excellent book thread here, with lots and lots of people contributing but all good things come to an end.  Nicole does a good job by her lonesome but the traffic is sluggish.   

[LisaS961881]

….When I read your, “two or three pages” comment, I flashed back to over 40 years ago when I read Magic Mountain.  My much younger self found it mesmerizing - dense and lyrical - and I usually read only two or three pages in a sitting - and often found myself pausing to turn back to previous pages and then just try to soak it all in.

💡📕 Your post made me realize that, forty-four years of life experiences later, this book deserves a re-read!

   While there might not be a book thread anymore, and very few people seem to actually post, it’s still a nice place to visit, and I’m glad I discovered it.

~ Lisa 🙏🌈

[LisaS961881]

   While I am relishing the additional “me” time that retirement provides, the additional volunteer opportunities I’ve discovered bring a special joy. There is just something so gratifying about giving back and working gratis. 🌈

[LaDolceVita]

@LisaS961881    Nicole had a book thread as well as a thread for movies and PBS shows.   Both of them generated some traffic, just never really took off like they deserved.  I love word of mouth about books and movies as opposed to reviews.  As for Dave's Front Porch I agree it feels good here and I too am glad you discovered it!

[MsStretch]

@LisaS961881 . NJ was one of the worse and hottest states hit according to the map. The heat index is what makes it so miserable.  I was just out with the fur kids and it is 87°.  It felt downright balmy.

Yes, @SummerOnTheWay1 , over here on the eastern side of VA, it's gonna be in the high 80s - low 90s, with a chance of storms every day, but that's normal... for July, not June. ☀️ Extreme weather - the new normal, unfortunately.

[MsStretch]

Supposedly, today is the last day of the unprecedented heat wave in the NE.  My upstairs window AC unit has turned into an expensive fan -- blowing air, just not AC cold.  I have a large wall unit downstairs that is under the spiral staircase and the downstairs is nice and cool, but we all know heat rises, so it doesn't do much good to cool upstairs, even through the open space.  Ah, well. 🥵

 @catwoman500 , glad you got power again.  Yeah, ACs pull a lot of power, so it would have been a real strain on your generator.  Even Dominion Electric was asking customers around here to try and conserve power, since it is even a strain on the utility companies.

@LaDolceVita , you are one busy woman.  Sorry to hear hubby is having a slow recovery.  I know it must be frustrating for both of you.  Glad you can both take advantage of swimming at the gym. 

. 

[LisaS961881]

….Heat wave here in New Jersey too!  ⛱️😟….It just dropped to 89 degrees and it’s 6:45 PM!  
  So glad it is almost over!

   ~ Lisa 🌈🙏☀️🌸🐈

[MsStretch]

@catwoman500 , generator to the rescue just in time!  We got some of those same storms, too.  *knocking on wood*  We kept power, although alerts went out about widespread outages across our county. Whew! 😮‍💨 Dodged that bullet.

Seriously, a generator is probably one of the best investments to make.  

[LisaS961881]

….We had a five day stretch of rainy, drizzly weather, then a severe weather warning as the front moved in, after which we had one beautiful sunny day (yesterday).  We now have a five day severe heat wave warning starting tomorrow.
 
      I find myself doing a sort of morning mantra now - saying, “But no 65 mph winds and no severe flooding!”  It has been difficult adjusting to the increased frequency of severe weather events.  What had been an anomaly in the past has become the norm.

  Take Care everyone! 🌈❤️

 ~ Lisa

[SummerOnTheWay1]

I have deleted my comment.

[LisaS961881]

Enjoy your perfect weather!

[SummerOnTheWay1]

I deleted my comment.

[catwoman500]

Heythere, @LaDolceVita, @MsStretch, @LisaS961881, @DaveMcK, 

@SummerOnTheWay1, and all you other folks out there.

Another bright sunny day here after so much rain this spring, but still no power.

I cooked bacon in the microwave this morning. Windows are open so hope no neighbors are jealous smelling it!

Latest estimate for restoration of power is 3 PM today. Hope this one is true as we are due for a heat wave starting tomorrow, and I'm not sure if I can use the AC without blowing up the generator. I think I can but will check with my stepson before I try it out!

Hope you all stay cool and dry. Happy first full day of summer! 😎 🌞🥂

[SummerOnTheWay1]

I have deleted my comment.

[catwoman500]

Hi!

Power came back 2:30 Saturday afternoon. According to my stepson it would not have been OK to try the AC, so glad I didn't, but it's on now. Actually, it's raining now and not as ugly steamy as it was earlier this morning.

You all stay safe and hydrated! 

[LisaS961881]

   Wow!  So glad to hear that the estimate for power restoration was accurate, and everything is up and running for you now. 🙏

     Your investment in a generator was certainly money well-spent.  The few times I’ve lost power for an extended period of time, the resulting food spoilage was disheartening.  

       Thanks for giving us an update, and you too stay safe,

            ~ Lisa 🏠☀️🐈

[MsStretch]

@LisaS961881 , I L♥️VE the patriotic fur kids!  🥰😻

[SummerOnTheWay1]

I have deleted my comment.

[SummerOnTheWay1]

I have deleted my comment.

[LaDolceVita]

Hello Porchers  hope you are all well.  @SummerOnTheWay1   You know I love to read and watch PBS so always check out your various entertainment threads🙂.   Still reading Magic Mountain, believe it or not,  reading 2-3 pages per day.  No time for TV, not even Max Miller's youtube channel on these long summer days.  No sauna even.

Hubby's knee is very slowly healing, not making the progress he should.  He is conscientious about PT and home exercises plus swimming at  the old folks' gym we both go to.  He still needs pain meds,  hurts 24/7.  

Dogs and chickens are well, and now I have more chores with the chickens.  They dont retire for the night till 8:30 and I am dead on my feet by then.  We have banana peppers, okra and tomatoes and if it stops raining it will be hard to keep them going.  Planted asparagus and garlic too but they will take a few seasons to mature.

Had my perm today and look a bit like an older version of Little Orphan Annie.  Quite a bit cooler than having that shoulder length hair on my neck.  Now you know all that is going on in my world!!

[LisaS961881]

   Thanks for letting us know how you both are doing. ❤️

    It certainly sounds like your Hubby is doing everything that he can to speed along his healing/mobility, but I am so sorry that he is in constant pain.  That must be so difficult for the both of you.  My heart goes out to you.

   I am glad that you are getting a tiny bit of “self” time in the form of reading - despite the fact that your days are so full! 📕 ….Magic Mountain?  Mann?  

  🪴 … Surprisingly, despite the weather extremes here, my basil, tomatoes, catnip, cilantro are all doing well.  (I’ll have to wait and see about the pumpkins and gourds, but the flowers are always happy - the Liatrus and coneflowers are just about bloom!)

…..Lastly, I’m hoping - being that we are past the solstice- that your chickens start readying themselves for bed a bit earlier.  The sun might set just a minute or so earlier each day, but hopefully they will notice! 😇

Take Care,

       ~ Lisa ❤️🌈

[DaveMcK]

[catwoman500]

Summer in a little less than 4 hours here!

Lost power last night at 5:30 as storms rolled through. Still don't have any. First test of the generator I had put in in January. Loving the peace of mind! 😻

[LisaS961881]

I hope that by the time you read this, your power is back on! ❤️

….and fingers crossed that the generator did its job too!  (We had the warning up here, but missed the outages and wind damage by 40+ miles.)

Take Care and am sending hopeful thoughts your way! 🙏🌈

~ Lisa

[DaveMcK]

Hope you are enjoying the first day of summer. If is going to be a hot one!

[MsStretch]

Thought I'd share my bony patriotic kitties. 🐈🇺🇲  They dwell at the end of the driveways always ready to greet passers-by with holiday greetings (whatever holiday that may be). 😁

----Happy 250th birthday, USA!

[LisaS961881]

   I loved this idea so much that I did indeed kit out some bony cats and their dog friends in patriotic gear!   Thanks for the idea of adding a touch of whimsy to my yard in the Summertime too!  🇺🇸💥🏠 🐈

   ~ Lisa