It was a wonderful day. I am now putting some weight on that right foot and it still doesn't hurt. My wish is that when I go to the doctor on Thursday he says that I do not have to take the crutches to Texas. I will be as good as I know how til then.

It was a nice day. Dick was double busy of course, but I was able to fix the meals and load the dishwasher so that made it a little easier. Naturally this HAS to be the time that we are feeding Jim and Michelle's Boots as they are out of town. Usually this is my job but it is still a bit slippery out there, Dick tells me. So he is doing it. He does not see much of Boots and I hope Boots misses my visits. But he is well fed and his litter box is kept clean. His folks will be home tomorrow.

Dick and I did go out to do some banking and to get gas. With our Pig points we paid $1.91 per gallon. What a deal but who a few years ago would have thought of that as a deal. At this point we are REALLY happy to get the discount.

I did a bit of sewing this afternoon to make good use of my time. I was surprised by a welcome encouraging call from Nora, my sister, because she heard about my food injury. Nice to know that people care. I talked to my Bret today too. His package to us arrived yesterday and both of the packages I sent him have arrived so we are all set on that end.

When I was a little girl, Mom and Dad would just keep presents at the Grandparents houses. They would also pick up the presents From the grandparents on Christmas Eve. They put up the tree and would have it decorated when we woke up in the morning too. Not at all like now when we do all that decorating shortly after Thanksgiving. As we kids got older we stayed up later and did help with the decorating and all. Dad would go to Midnight Mass. (Which was actually at midnight.) and on his way home pick everything up from the Grandparents. Then he would come home, have a TBone Steak for breakfast and he and Mother would arrange the presents in the living room. Eventually 9 little piles of presents for 9 children. What a joy. Probably not such a joy for them when their little people would be trying to get up at about 6AM to see what Santa brought.

Have a good Saturday. I am going to see the Clancy Legacy. Pray that the snow holds off as they say until after midnight.

Love

Mary

A rather eventful day considering that I am still stuck sitting with my foot up as much as possible.

Bobbie came over to take Dick to get his blood tested this morning. It just seemed that he needs a ride there as I usually drop him off at the door and then join him so he doesn't have to walk so far. She had a "free" day so was glad to come. Then they stopped at the store for a couple of things and lastly we had a nice visit. Chelsea was SOOOOOOO glad she came as she took Chelsea for a nice long walk. It will be a while before I can do that for her.

Bobbie said that she kind of needed a walk too and Chelsea is fun to walk in snowy weather. She rolls and eats snow and runs just like a young pup. It was doubly good for Chelsea because she has done a LOT of coughing since last night. No seizures but that poor body is just racked with those coughs. She is drinking an awful lot of water too. Not too encouraging.

After their walk, Bobbie and I had tea and cookies for a little treat. Chelsea was rather offended that we did not offer her any but as Bobbie pointed out, Chelsea had not offered to share any of HER treats either.

Only 5 more days until Christmas. I read the cutest story of a Christmas pageant. When the little guy Wise Man said his lines, he got a bit mixed up or perhaps he just said something that made sense to him. "We bring you gifts of Gold, Common Sense and Fur."

The rest of the day was spent resting and computering. Dick is taking good care of me. Tomorrow I can start putting a bit of weight on my toes of the right foot. Yea, before you know it all will be well again.

Hope you have a nice Friday. Mine will be quiet of course as I had to cancel my Blood Donation appointment which was going to involve a couple of other errands in Sheboygan. Now I am going to HAVE to do them after Christmas.

Oh Well. Life will go on even if I DO have to change my list around.

Love

Mary

A Government study found the average American walks 900 miles a year. Another study found Americans drink, on average, 22 gallons of beer a year. That means, on average, Americans get 41 miles to the gallon. Kind of makes you proud to be an American!

Just a day trying not to walk. My foot feels fine now but as Dick says, I have not stepped on it since yesterday and have iced it down four times so it should feel better.

My arms are getting tired from those blankety blank crutches. I don't think I would make a good disabled person.

Dick has been very good to me. He went grocery shopping all by himself this morning and has been preparing meals and cleaning up. I sure will be glad when I can get back to normal stuff. I like being waited on but not because it has to be. Chelsea is VERY confused.

Saturday I am supposed to be going to Milwaukee to the Irish Cultural and Historical Center to see The Clancy Legacy with Robbie O Connell, Donel Clancy and Aoife Clancy. Barring weather I have it figured out. John and Toni Nevicosi will drive and take me and Peg Payne and (if she comes) Kate Herman. Kate's husband thinks she should and that it would be good for her. I think so too but not if she would be worrying about Ron too much. Only she can decide. Anyway, barring weather, this wretched ankle will not stop me.

Less than a week until the big day. Jesus birthday. It is a wonder that we are the ones that get the presents. Maybe he is like me and likes seeing us open them up.

Have a good night

Mary

Today has not turned out at ALL like I planned.

This morning I tripped over Chelsea and my boots but seemed alright.

First, Dick had an appointment with Dr. Hodous to check and trim his callouses. The deepest one is shrinking some. That is really good news. We stopped at Mother's on the way home and I dropped off the Christmas gifts for my brothers and sisters and Mother. Then when we got home,I vacuumed downstairs in the den and sanitized the jug to rack the currant wine and put a casserole together and lots of other little things.

Everything was JUST fine. Then I sat down and shortly, my foot and ankle started hurting. It kept getting worse, but I figured I could walk it off when I got my hair cut at 2:30PM. It didn't work. By the time I got home, I couldn't put ANY weight on it at all. So. Dick drove me to Urgent care here in Plymouth. (He finally got to drive the car anyway. I have been suggesting that he should do that.) They took X rays and examined it and all. There is no break so I have my work cut out for me. For 48 hours I have to stay off of the foot and put ice on three times a day. I have crutches and after the 48 hours instructions on how to gradually get back to full use of the foot. We had an interesting time getting my blood pressure and I am not sure they ever did get a good one. Otherwise, I am really messed up. The first one was 240 over 100.

So I am home again. And really distressed. Poor Dick. He needs me to take care of him and now he is stuck with me. Well. We will have to take each day as it comes. He is going to do the shopping tomorrow.

So now you know the story of the great Christmas Ankle sprain.

Yesterday was fun. The bible study was lively and we will now disband until January 7. The Writer's Club party was indeed fun. We went to Antoinette's. We had lunch, exchanged presents and read to each other. It was a warm fuzzy. I like those.

Take care and pray for me.

Love

Mary

Well, It is the 18th. I usually unwind in the evenings by blogging, but last night I unwinded by going to bed.

It was a busy fulfilling day.

Bible Study, Writer's Club party and lunch and a Celtic Women telephone conference.



Just letting you know that I am still around and will flesh things out tonight.

Mary

A view after the snow from the deck looking out on the woods towards the park. Isn't it beautiful.

Love

Mary

The plows had the driveways and roads cleared in plenty of time for me to get to church at 8AM. After that first fiasco the snow plowing crew have been Right ON. With all the snow, I can't even begin to wonder what the condo snow plowing will amount to this year. Want to bet that our condo fees go up next year?

Chelsea is absolutely in hog heaven with all the snow. She is constantly asking to go out. I am sure that the water pills are contributing to the problem but the way she digs around and rolls around in the snow, I sometimes think that she is just taking me out to play. She is filthy. On Wednesday, she gets her bath. She will not be happy, but at least she will be presentable for Christmas.

Fr. Van Beeck is extremely proud that we, St. John The Baptist Church, are "featured" three times this advent season. Today John the Baptist asked Jesus if indeed he was the "One I have been waiting for." Kind of an interesting question. Who would have thought that John would have doubts at this time. He was in jail and was beheaded shortly thereafter. But as Fr. Van Beeck says it gives US hope when we lose a little hope sometimes.

When I got home, I baked the Stollen. I think I told you that I kind of mixed up which part got which amount of sugar, but it did not make TOO much difference. They are really good.

Bobbie and I worked for a couple of hours at Rhine. I brought some pear bread for everybody to snack on. They let us go home early because it was SO slow. We had only two or three rounds shot and half of the shooters were member. It was Bobbie's last day of working. She is dropping out as of January. I will miss our work times together. We really don't see each other that much otherwise. Probably will have to MAKE times to visit. I brought three bottles of bubbles for the kitties too. I sure miss my kitties. Especially when I am very tired and achy. My Oscar was such a comfort. I don't think I will ever have my babies back again. I don't care what anybody says. It has been over a year and I just don't have any hope anymore. I am so glad that Bobbie and Bill love them too. But I miss them SO much.


We racked the Lemon Balm Wine this afternoon after I got back from Rhine.

Now we are spending a quiet evening watching a Christmas Movie that I haven't seen before. It is a little vague but is pleasant enough. A nice way to spend an evening.

I called a number that I had for a cousin of mind, Diana Cool, Uncle Jim's daughter. She sounded so glad to hear from me and asked first about my Mother. So I know her memories are pleasant. We will, I hope talk again soon, and can catch her up on us and me up on her and hers.

Tomorrow is party day. Last Bible Study until after the New Year and the Cream City Writers party right after. I also have a conference call for CWI at 4PM. So it will be a full day. I have not heard from Kate so am assuming that things went reasonably well for Ron on Friday. It is well to keep on praying until we know all is well and then give thanks. Remember to pray for Bret's friend Travis too, the young man who was seriously injured in that motorcycle accident. The last I heard he is improving but his kidney (he lost one) had not started working as yet. Lets opt for Christmas miracles.

That's all. Have a pleasant week before Christmas. I hope you are almost all ready and that your time is special.

Love

Mary