INSOMNIACS place to talk in the wee hours

On point Lover! Oh dog, now I should post. Your trip looked fantastic. I was living vicariously through you. You have taught you DD well. Beautiful what she did with the leftover money she found. Be proud momma. How are your parents doing. I'm going to sound like a broken record here, have you talked with your dad about your family's journey out a Viet Nam. I waited too long to find out info on my dad's side of the family and still regret it after 29 years. It will probably be hard on the two of you.

Queenie, enjoy your dance with NED! You deserve it. Congrats on the A in accounting.

Mags, praying you can get a break soon.

Lori, enjoy your visit with you son. Don't overdue things. You want to have fun with your DS and his family, not recovering from getting things in order. They'll understand.

Junie, love the picture of you and Kirby. He's adorable and getting so big.

Sensi, the picture of you and the one of the view are definitely ones to frame. My daughters you the bag of rice trick when their phones get wet.

Shep, hubba, hubba to Sam Elliot. He has the most mischievous eyes. But those pictures for the 4th were just wrong. You did redeem yourself with Sam's pic though. Thank goodness Lover came along to give us the eye candy.

Kids informed us last Monday that we were cooking out for the 4th. Had just been to the grocery store on Sunday but did not buy food for a cook out. It turned out nice. One of my girls did most of the cooking. I just had to make a pasta salad and cut up fruit.

Mommy, police in my district of the city confiscated 9,000 illegal fireworks alone. Must say if was quieter this year than in the past. Not much before or after the 4th which is really unusual. I'd be interested in the total number confiscated for the entire city.

Feline, you and Zills could definitely pass as sisters. So nice that you were able to meet up.

Sas, love what you're doing with the renovations. How is it going with Donnie's nephew? i think it's wonderful you helping me. Hope it is still going well.

Oh what I get for lurking. Looks like I'm writing a thesis. Waving hi to those I missed.

Got home from my Paris/France trip last Saturday. Paris had a temperature of 97 degrees which was grueling because 90% of restaurants are not air conditioned. Many of the hotels aren't either. The heat was not expected this early ...mainly in August. You get the stink eye when you ask for ice or ice water.

We had some wonderful meals...and I can recommend Uniworld if interested in River cruise. Their customer service was flawless. Bordeaux was rainy. The tour of the French Oak Barrel making was fascinating. I missed quite a few of the tours due to fatigue and of course the Herceptin diarrhea. There are not places to slip into and go to the potty driving in a tour bus without a restroom.

I had left our group and gone into the beautiful Hotel de Bordeaux to the potty. Came back out hurrying to find the group. My hubby was about 30'yards away trying to keep an eye on where the group was going. I missed a small curb and did a flying face plant...in front of many, many people. The worst was a big goose egg on my ankle. Of course, couldn't bear weight....had to get taxi back to ship, wheelchair etc. Refused ambulance...of course...knew it needed ice, ace wrap and elevation. I can tell you the pharmacies do not know what an ace wrap is. They have a very sticky tape (not coban) instead. The people on the boat were wonderful...brought me meals to me in bed....champagne and wine also.

Ankle got me a wheelchair...they take you to the front of the line for global entry, customs and security.

Actually, concerning the lymphedema....since the last reconstruction...my arm quit swelling. Not believable but I'm not questioning it because I don't want to temp fate! I know it will rear its ugly head head again.

The trip was actually too much for me. Thank God I had pain medicine with me for the ankle. My hubby did have a great time and went on the tours I missed with much shoving from me. We had friends on the trip also.

The armed robbery at the Paris Airport Hotel on Saturday was exactly where I stayed and stood waiting for the shuttle only 1 week earlier. 20'people were robbed of their money and belongings and sprayed with tear gas and pepper spray. Glad to be home.

Sas, have you talked to our Phyllo? I've talked to her a few times recently on line...

Loverly ~ Jeepers..... that job would truly be the pits! 🙊

Yes Shep, those people are literally in the pits.

Morning, Mommy!

Kath, sorry I was really exhausted last night and couldn't continue. Anyway, when we first set foot on U.S soil a man sent by T----- Foundation picked up our family along with two friends (who had to leave their wives and children behind) of Dad and transported us to a hotel in New York. We were there for a few days and no one came for us. To be honest with you I only remember the good parts....bathing in a nice clean bathtub with good smelling shampoo and soap, trying to quietly jump on a sofa with my siblings and goofing off in the middle of the night because we were jet lagging and couldn't sleep, tasting juicy giant green and black grapes and nectarines or peaches for the first time. As a matter of fact, those were the only food my sister and I remember eating during our stay at the hotel. I learned that the guy who dropped us off at the hotel took off with our luggages. We only had the clothes on our back and pjs Mom packed in the carry-on. No money to buy food. Dad was able to track down the office of the Foundation with the help of (of all people) the maintenance of the hotel. All I could remember about this kind man was he was bigger than Dad and he was of African descendants. My dad and the friend walked several miles to the office and by the time they got there, Dad's friend fainted (right in front of the people they needed to talk to). This friend of my dad whom my siblings and I called uncle had not eaten for a day or two. From that incident we got $50 (a lot of money in '78) to buy food for 4 adults and 5 kids and was picked up the following day to be transferred to the airport for our final destination- Louisiana.

Kath and Eeyore, you both are right. It is a blessing to hear what my dad had to deal with during our journey while trying to find a better life for the family. Thank you

Lover, so glad you are talking with your dad. I have great admiration for your family. The hardships you went through. Yet some pleasant memories for you and your sisters endured through it all.

MammaRay, well said. It is important to write down family history. Thank you for that reminder. I've got to get back to doing my research on family. Glad to see you posting.

Oh, if only! That is a good kitty 😸

Loverly, so glad you and your dad had the chance to talk about the boat people tragic events. Those oral history specifically related to you family will be lost if you don't try to catch them before too late. My family went through a lot moves from1930 to 1950 due to the World War II and communists take ove in China. My dad is gone and my mom no longer can remember the past. Glad I had talked to them before, and my sister was able to go back to the old homestead to visit some left behind butnot too distant relatives. Keep digging the golden memories from your parents. Is your dad fully recovered from the Hawaii accident?

My fur baby Jackson is 10 today!!!!