A cheery hello from Grandma B.

Hi Paul,

Sent another box today of mostly miscellany. Post your own post of goodies you are now in need of and please tell me if the liquid soap I sent was satisfactory. Probably smells much better than Tannie's offering. The darn customs declarations are such a nuisance - know they are necessary, but there is so little room for packing contents. But today is the first time I have to ever read what is listed front and back. Since I have been alone I spend much time reading, or trying to read, the legallese (wrong spelling I think) on forms. Much of it repetitive nonsense to discourage reading and understanding. Sending by way of flat rate boxes does save money and especially finding the proper size boxes. When "old boy" was in Korea I had to scramble to find boxes and packing was a real headache. But, that was when he actually began to use hot sauce. He said the K rations they had in the field were so dull after a few meals the hot sauce made eating at the very least interesting. Yuk. Something he never got over either.

The "ladies" are back from Chicago and by all accounts had a fine time. Back and forth through the city and environs. It is a wonderful city and I do miss the lakefront. Chicago is certainly unique in the water. Indy is a nice compact city, not too difficult to get around in except for me. I still can't tell south from north most of the time. I wrote I bought a new RAV-4 and it has no compass in the car. My old van had one and I am so used to it pointing the directions. I have tried two portable compasses and neither would work properly. I am getting a bit upset. The only time I know which way I am heading is when I go west to the interstate, and east to the library. South and north are a real problem here. Mr. Pete was going to look through the internet to find something useful, but haven't heard from him lately. Some of the mapping sites in the "net" are okay, most are not. Just to see how accurate a site was I asked for directions to the old house in Crete and their directions added several extra miles. Oh dear, I guess it's too late to get map savy at my age. All my children have internal map logic built into their genes from their Dad. He's another one who never got lost (unusual for a man).

Guess I will finish. Have to make halloween cookies for Mady. She usually comes Saturday and if it rains tomorrow she will be inside. Frosting cookies seems to please her. Especially coloring the frosting. Some of her color offerings are plain disgusting to look at, but thankfully, they taste good. She and the two neighbor children come up with the oddest color combinations. And they make a royal mess of the floor with the sprinkles. But sprinkles they must have. Just cleaning the floor after they leave is nasty.

Love to you and share what you don't want. I usually pick up oddments on sale here and there and might as well send them to you. Surely someone in your command will appreciate your discards. Take care - Grandma B.