Saturday already. A bit colder today. Chelsea let me sleep until 6:30AM but it was 23 degrees. She was eager to walk. But she did lead me kaddycorner accross the park instead of going around the WHOLE thing like we usually do.

I spent the morning catching up on computer stuff, working on a couple of poems and researching a bit on Door County. We are going there next weekend, you know. I am getting excited. A whole weekend with no phone and a hot tub and fireplace in the room. Such a deal.

Dick and I went to the Shops on Mill Street for a soup lunch. That is where I went yesterday with Beth. We had Lumberjack Vegetable today and I had a taste of Cream of Broccoli. Both were delicious. Bobbie and Bill came over for a "gourmet" liver dinner. Dick and Bill had hamburgers with mashed potatoes and gravy. The liver was really good. There was just enough left for Bobbie and I to split for sandwiches. Venison Liver is every bit as good as baby beef liver. This will not impress liver haters.

Jom and Michelle worked at a fundraiser for Children's Hospital this weekend. They had a shift last evening and then again late this afternoon. It is put on by a Pinstriper's group and a car group. They make money by auction and admission. The auction pieces are art pieces done by pinstripers. Jim and Michelle bought two and we were very impressed. Pinstriping nowadays is usually just strips pasted on. True pinstripers hand paint designs and do custom work.

We played a game of rummy tonight after they got home and Bill and Bobby left.

I heard on the news that China is facing a crisis. They suddenly have too many men for the women available for marriage. Surprise! Surprise! They had their one child per family in place and many couples used selective abortion to ensure that their one child was a boy. Well DUH!

For some reason, I was remembering a real macabre true event that occurred to a friend of mine years and years ago. She and her husband were filing for divorce and it was not a very civil divorce. One day he came over to the house in a real snit. He started screaming at her and suddenly collapsed on the doorstep and died of a heart attack. She was so grateful that the children were at school and did not have to witness, first: the tantrum and second: their father's death.

Remember that it is better to lower your voice in an argument because then the other person has to lower his or her voice to hear you.

Mary

A very busy day today. I cleaned the kitchen and bathrooms this morning. Then Dick and I went to Hunters Glen to pour water down the washing machine drain. We think the odd odor comes from there. If the water is not flowing regularly, there would be an eventual small of sewer. The house was nice and warm again so it should be pleasant for viewing.

Then I went for lunch with the bank friends. There were five of us today. Betty, Mary, Barb , Ceil and me. I had a grilled cheese. I do like the grilled cheese at the Dairy Queen. Probably next week, Dick and I will be on our way to Door county for our get away weekend.

I fixed spaghetti sauce this morning and we had spaghetti and meatballs for supper. Sure was good. I made half of what I usually make but have enough for lasagna and at least one more spaghetti meal.

Went shooting tonight. Not too good but not too bad either. Hope I can start getting good on the first one. It usually takes one to get my sights in.

I am working on two poems that I need to have finished by Monday morning. Both are kind of coming together. It is really good for me to have deadlines. ( Otherwise I need a REALLY big inspiration.) Deadlines, however, make me crazy. I like to put periods on sentences.

This morning on Good Morning America, they had a bit being put on by Lynn Shearer (I think I spelled her name right, but don't hold me to it.) Any way it featured reunions between animals showing that they do have memories and attachments to their own kind. One of the most touching things I have ever seen. Two circus elephants, one who had never seen another elephant in 25 years and one who had met this elephant that 25 years earlier were reunited at a refuge for elephants and other wild creatures. They had a fence between them in case the creatures were not receptive to each other. But the minute they were close enough they started caressing each other with their trunks and trying to get close and greeting each other. By morning they had disassembled the fence in their efforts to get close. The last scene is a film of the two walking across a field sides pressed together with their trunks entwined. It brings tears of joy.

Love is really special isn't it.

Mary

"In happiness or unhappiness, living is a duty and must be done thoroughly." From Cadfael's Book of Days by Robin Whitman, taken from Ellis Peter's writings.

We went grocery shopping today. We couldn't seem to get moving very fast. Then we went to the Family Restaurant for breakfast and that took forever. By the time we got home, it was after 10:00AM about an hour later than we usually are.

We had a message from Shanna at ReMax that there was a showing last night and that they are coming back next week to look again and to see the yard as it was dark when they came through. Shanna also told us that the house was VERY cold and that it looked like the thermostat needed batteries and that there was an odd smell just inside the back door.

SO we d took a drive over to the property with batteries and a screwdriver or two and sure enough the batteries were dead and the house was down to 49 degrees. BRRRR. We replaced the batteries and waited until heat was coming into the living room before we left. We decided that the odor is simply a "sewer" odor. There is no gas in that part of the house. The only source is the drain for the washing machine. Since it is not being used now, there is a drying out and a slight odor from the unused drain. We will pour water down there as well as running water in the sinks from now on.

Pray that we get a buyer soon.

This afternoon, I met Beth Hoegger, the music director at Blessed Trinity, for lunch. She has asked that I write a poem to be read at Fr. Neumann's farewell Mass as week from Sunday. Jim Wilsing will back the reading with a flute music background. Which sounds great to me. I have an idea. Now if I can just get it into words that will be appropriate. We had the best soup at the Mill Street Store. Red Pepper and Gouda cheese. Num Num. Come to visit and I will take you there. They have the soup special. $3.00 for all the soup you can eat with bread and croutons. They always have two choices of soup.

Jim and Michelle came over to try to put up the grab bars that we want in the shower stalls. However, we found that the studs are not up against the stall so we hit a snag. I am gong to make some calls to see if there are any other suggestions from the Department on Aging or perhaps Home Depot.

When Bart was in the Boy Scouts, he had the opportunity to go to camp in Colorado with his troop. He earned part of the money with a bike a thon and other things and we paid the rest. They got to tour many parks, Bryce comes to mind on the way there and then a week at camp. The first night I got a call from one of the parents who felt that she should prepare me for Bart who came on next.

He was homesick. I think he realized how far away we were and how long it would be til he came home. He was really distressed and I became so too. However, we could not do anyhting that night and he agreed to that. The parent and I decided that if he was still SO distressed the day after the next, he could come back with a couple of parents who were returning to California. I was on pins and needles for the next 24 hours or so, then got a call from Bart himself. He said that he was OK now and was staying. I was so proud of him. This was a once in a lifetime trip for him to see all he did at that age. He still sees scenic places and remembers being there on that trip. He is quite a guy and has tried a lot of things. I am proud of him. I hope he knows that.

Jim and Michelle brought Boots with them this evening. He sure is a cute little kitty. It sure makes me realize how much I miss my guys. I just wish I knew that they don't think that I don't love them anymore.

Take care

Mary

Today was a mixed day. It was cold this morning but there was no wind. I did not let Chelsea lead me around the park because Dick was concerned with us walking that far when it is so cold.

Dick had an 8:30AM appointment at the Aurora Clinic in Plymouth to get his blood test today. So we did that. Uncle Ken Thuemmler came in while we were there. He does deliveries for Aurora. So we caught up a bit.

Then home again where I spent the day just generally cleaning my desk, stirring wine and taking the tree down. It was quite quiet.

This evening Chelsea had a very bad seizure. It was the first one that she has had for quite a while, but it lasted longer and she slammed into the file cabinet on her way down. I couldn't get there fast enough. It scared her and scared me too.

I had expected that when the New Year came around, things would start looking up. Hasn't happened. I am trying to stay positive but it does get difficult when new things keep popping up. And I still don't have my kitties. They were always good about cuddling and purring to make me feel better.

Today on a quiz show some guy said that he set a record for eating crawfish. It reminded me of the time that Bart and his friend Scott went crawdad fishing in the drainage ditch when we lived his Huntington Beach. They came home so excited with this bucket of crawdads. For once Bart's Dad was enthusiastic about something that Bart did. Dick loved crawdads and helped the boys clean them. Then we cooked them up for dinner. They are really very good. Much like a crab or lobster meal. A bit sweeter and not quite as firm a meat but very good.

Yesterday we received an invitation to Dick's sister Hazel's 90th birthday party next month. That is something special to look forward to.

A friend sent this to me in an email today. Am I ever lucky. I found someone like this.

Find a guy who calls you beautiful instead of hot.

Who calls you back when you hang up on him.

Who will stay awake just to watch you sleep.

Wait for the guy who kisses your forehead.

Who wants to show you off to the world when you are in your sweats.

Who holds your hand in front of his friends.

Wait for the one who is constantly reminding you of how much he cares
about you and how lucky he is to have you.

Wait for the one who turns to his friends and says, "...that's her."

Guess thats all for tonight. Have a great evening.

Mary

We were at the Clinic today at 9:45 to see Dr. Phelan. He has put Dick back on antibiotics. The legs are swollen and red and look kind of weepy too. The antibiotic will insure that infection does not settle in. Dr. Phelan noticed that the big toe nail on his right foot was loose. So we went upstairs to see Dr. Hodous. We had an appointment scheduled for next week but Dr. Phelan did not want us to wait that long. Dr. Hodous was able to fit Dick in and remove most of the nail. When we see him next week he will see if the rest should come off and trim the callouses. Now he takes medicine and we wait.

We stopped off at Mother's on the way to the clinic to drop off her VitEyes (vitamins to help her sight) and picked up Dick's prescription on the way home. By then it was almost noon. So I ate lunch and then made the rounds of the middle schools in Plymouth to drop off the information on the Write Stuff contest. That was an adventure as I was not familiar with the location of two of them. The public middle school and Faith Christian. I finally found them. When I got home I was exhausted so I took a nap.

The Ziggy cartoon was very funny today. It said "It's been six months and you haven't paid your bill. We've come to put your tonsils back in."

Have a great day and pray that Dick's legs heal very quickly.

Love

Mary

I got all the Christmas decorations stored today. The only thing left is the tree itself. That will have to be disassembled and stored in the basement.

Tonight I went to St. John's for Fr. Van Beeck's Adult Education hour. This month he covered the establishment of the Church. As he pointed out, we have two things that make us special. The Eucharist and history. We are the only church that has a history dating back to Christ and we supplied the New Testament. I also liked his statement that going to Mass on Sunday should not be an obligation but should be a privilege. Actually if I started feeling that it is an obligation, I probably wouldn't go.

Dick and I met his new doctor, Dr. Mark Sharon today. Dick had to have someone check his heart for that murmur and Dr. Phelan is phasing out of the clinic as I have mentioned. Dr. Sharon has told us that he does not consider Dick borderline diabetic but just flat out a diabetic. He is going to have the experts at the clinic arrange for education for us so that we can become wise in the eating habits. He also gave us some hints to help the circulation and ordered some tests of his own. We are pleased. Dr. Phelan is going to look at his legs tomorrow and will forward his findings to Dr. Sharon so Dr. Sharon can decide how he wants to treat the problem. Whew. So we see Dr. Phelan tomorrow and get blood tests on Wednesday. Then next week he will have an EKG and see Dr. Hodous for the callouses and Sue for the blood count. I wonder what they would do without us. Probably go out of business.

I did get to about half of bible study this morning. We had a good group there and the reading was the Wedding Feast at Cana. We all had our theories as to why Jesus asked Mary what she expected but noted as mothers ourselves, most of us anyway, that she acted like any mother. She smiled at his statement and told the people to just do what he said.

Then I stopped to visit with Mother. She really has a shiner from that fall. She never would have been able to hide it from us. She is feeling well enough to go the the senior meals tomorrow and to play cards with her friends on Thursday so I know she is better.

Next I went on to the Sheboygan Writers Club. We are in the middle of two events. Our 50th anniversary as a club is in 2007 AND we will be doing our second Write Stuff (a writing contest for middle school students) in cooperation with the Sheboygan Press. We have three categories: poetry, short story and essay. I will help judge the poetry. Last year we just went to the Sheboygan Schools and we had over 100 entries. This year we have opened it up to the county. I will be delivering the envelopes to the Plymouth schools tomorrow.

I turned in The Knockeen Dolmen poem for the booklet that we are putting together for the 50th celebration on February 10th. We are all submitting a piece for the booklet and then will have a reading from 1 to 2 on the 10th in the Rocca Room at Mead.

Hope that you can come. Hope I can. I am not sure when the Wild Game Dinner is. Jeff thinks it is the first weekend. I thought it was the second weekend and have signed up for a Celtic Spirituality Retreat for Feb. 2, 3 and 4. Oh well, I will just get the roast ready and over to Becky before I leave with instructions. If it is the second weekend I will have to miss the Writer's thing as family will come before that. I might be able to sneak away for a bit or perhaps go to the dinner after the readings. Oh well, sufficient unto the day.


Have a nice evening.

Love

Mary

Tonight was the Rhine Plymouth general meeting. I am no longer the secretary. It was my first meeting in four years that I didn't have to take notes for. Was that ever nice.

We had pizza for supper tonight. Hadn't had pizza in ages and I had one in the freezer begging to be eaten. Tasted pretty good and we have some left for lunches or another meal. It is rather hard to cook for two. But I am learning. I am certainly cutting out any recipes for two that I find. Usually they are enough for four anyway and we have two meals out of them. I cooked a pound of venison the other day. We have had two meals with it already and have enough left for at least a sandwich. I may have that tomorrow for lunch.

It will be interesting to see how much I have to change the way I prepare food and if we have to do much changing of habits. I told Dick he is probably going to have to give up his Pringles.

It was really chilly today. But no wind so manageable. Chelsea and I did have a nice walk. After that I showered and headed for church. I am embarrassed. I was supposed to be a communion distributor. I forgot. Fortunately all ministers watch and if there is one short someone fills in. I confessed to Fr. Van Beeck after Mass and he forgave me.

I spent the rest of the day resting between putting Christmas decorations away. I got the tree totally undressed and should be able to finish the rest in one more session. Then I want to spend some time sorting the boxes downstairs so that I don't have stuff we don't need.

I called Bart and Barb tonight. Bart is still having kidney stone troubles and will be tested tomorrow to see how bad the problem is. A few prayers are in order.

This is an old post but since we are getting election hype already, perhaps it is a good time to revisit it and to ask a few questions.

----------------------------------
SOCIAL SECURITY:
(This is worth reading. It is short and to the point.)

Perhaps we are asking the wrong questions during election years.
Our Senators and Congresswomen do not pay into Social Security and, of
course, they do not collect from it.
You see, Social Security benefits were not suitable for persons of their
rare elevation in society. They felt they should have a special plan for
themselves. So, many years ago they voted in their own benefit plan .
In more recent years, no congressperson has felt the need to change it.
After all, it is a great plan.
For all practical purposes their plan works like this:
When they retire, they continue to draw the same pay until they die.
Except it may increase from time to time for cost of living adjustments..
This is calculated on an average life span for each of those two
Dignitaries. For example, Senator Byrd and Congressman White and their
wives may expect to draw $7,800,000.00 (that's Seven Million,
Eight-Hundred Thousand Dollars), with their wives drawing $275,000.00
during the last years of their lives.
Younger Dignitaries who retire at an early age, will receive much more
during the rest of their lives.
Their cost for this excellent plan is $0.00. NADA....ZILCH....
This little perk they voted for themselves is free to them. You and I pick
up the tab for this plan. The funds for this fine retirement plan come
directly from the General Funds;
"OUR TAX DOLLARS AT WORK"!
From our own Social Security Plan, which you and I pay (or have paid)
into,-every payday until we retire (which amount is matched by our
employer)-we can expect to get an average of $1,000 per month after
retirement.
Or, in other words, we would have to collect our average of $1,000 monthly
benefits for 68 years and one (1) month to equal Senator! Bill Bradley's
benefits!
Social Security could be very good if only one small change were made.

That change would be to:
Jerk the Golden Fleece Retirement Plan from under the Senators and
Congressmen. Put them into the Social Security plan with the rest of us ..

then sit back.....
and watch how fast they would fix it.

We start the doctor appointments again tomorrow. I am glad that I took it easy today. I think I needed a day without pressure.

Have a good week. Til tomorrow

Mary