Frigid air has returned to Wisconsin. I woke up to 10 degrees at 4AM. Took Chelsea out. Went back to bed until 6AM to find that the temperature had dropped to 4Degrees. Our high was 13.

I put the heater back on in the garage to keep it from getting too cold.

I stayed home until noon today. Our wonderful neighbor, Harold Wendorf, prepared some wood pieces for the spaces where the old hinges were on the door. I am so grateful for the kindness of people. Harold is 88 years old and has a shop in his basement where he likes to do woodwork. After he was done, I went over to see his and Helen's home. They have basically our floor plan flipped. They have only one bathroom upstairs though and it is, much bigger as it takes the space of both of ours. I kind of wish we had that, It would make Dick's moving around much easier.

But we will figure it out.

The Amputee Suppor Group met today out at Rocky Knoll. There were 10 of us there. We had a nice time. Played bingo. I won a gift cetificate for $10 from Kmart. That was nice. We meet the forth Wednesday of every month. I hope Dick can come next month. It will depend on when we get him home and what the schedule turns out to be. I will encourage him to go though.

Got home on time to get ready for church at 4PM. New Year's Day is a holyday of obligation. I did not want to go tomorrow. I will be picking up Chinese food and going to Mother's for a New Year's lunch. We are both looking forward to that. I plan on having supper with Dick. I may bring something.

After Mass, ( I sat with my friend Ceil and then Greg and Kathy Ziegler sat in back of me. I was double glad to see the Widder's, friends from Blessed Trinity at this Mass too.) I went home, fed the critters, gathered something for my dinner and a bottle of champagne and went over to Plymouth Center for a meal with my sweetheart. We followed it up with a glass of champagne and a piece of the fruitcake that Richard and Brenda had given us for Chrismas. BOY is that EVER good fruitcake.

Now I am home again. Critters are very happy and we will bring in as much of the new year as we possibly can. I will probably go to bed pretty close to my normal time but will try to catch at least ONE celebration. We are pretty quiet New Year people anyway, but I sure miss having Dick here.

I changed all the calenders today. Seemed like a good time to do that while I was waiting around here in the morning with Harold.

A blessing for the New Year. From Numbers 6:24 -26

The Lord bless you and keep you!
The Lord let his face shine upon you, and be gracious to you!
The Lord look upon you kindly and give you peace!

Love

Mary

It was a rather mild day. Some wind but not much until about 3PM. Then the snow started falling. I had a haircut at 2:30. It was the first haircut by Jessica since she had her baby. She had pictures of her sweet Madalyn posted at her place. The baby is beautiful, of course. She has a full head of black hair.

Anyway, when I left there and headed to the store to go grocery shopping, it was snowing pretty good. When I got out of the grocery store, it was even worse. I stopped and got gas on the way home too. I figured that it was better to do that today since I was down to a quarter of a tank and it looked like the weather is not going to be so good. I figured I wanted a full tank with a holiday coming.

Dick and I were picked up by Custom Care at 8:30 this morning to go to see Dr. Moreno. All he did was take off the outer wrapping on his right foot. He said he is pleased - so far. He saw no seepage and there was no sign that the graft had slipped at all. We go back next Tuesday and he will take the bandages off and then we will know for sure. (I hope.)

I took dinner to Dick this noon. We had the rest of the manacotti and green beans. They were still as good as they were the first time. I was going to go back and bring a sandwich for supper BUT we decided that the snow was just too much. Whey go out in this weather. It could be dangerous and I have to keep brushing off the car.

Talking to Jessica about her baby, I was remembering when the boys were little. She is being told not to pick Madalyn up all the time because she will get spoiled. I told her not to worry about that. One month old babies need all the ove they can get.

When Bart was less than a month old, the neighbor boy , Mike, came running over one day and said that his sister was hurt. I told him to stay with Bart for a bit and went over there. Robin had gotten her finger caught in a door when her brother slammed it shut. It took the flesh off to the bone. Pretty scary. Robin's Mom was understandably hysterical and unable to function. SO, her husband, Jack, and I gathered up Robin and the tip of her little finger on ice and rushed off to the emergency ward. I knew that the neighbor in between our homes would be home soon and told Mike to gather her into the story as soon as she arrived.

Anyway Jack and I got to the emergency ward where the doctors were able to reattach the end of her finger. I was a mess, I was nursing and smelled, but figured that we were not there for me anyway.

When we got home, Robin's Mom was calmed down and the other neighbor was there. Bart was being a fussy budget. They had given him a bottle to try to settle him down but he just kept fussing. When I got there, I picked him up and he just sighed and went right to sleep.

Needless to say, I got teased a lot about my spoiled baby. Bart was ALWAYS clingy as a baby though. Being a Mom was one of my favorite things in this life.

Love

Mary

I had to be at the Center at 8:45 AM. Tim from Custom Care picked us up at 9AM for his appointment at the Plymouth Clinic with Dr. Sharon. The appointment went very will. He is pleased with all of Dick's tests and his general condition. He understands that we need to get him home by the end of January.

Tomorrow, he has an appointment with Dr. Moreno in Sheboygan. That appointment is also at 9:15 AM so Tim will pick us up at 8:30AM so we get there on time. Pray hard that the grafts are taking. We are on pins and needles.

When I got home at 10:30, I called Plymouth Plumbing and Heating about the hot water heater. Jack told me that Gary would be there as soon as he finished installing a boiler somewhere. He got to our house shortly after 1PM. They are very efficient. He was all done installing AND hauling out the old one by 2:30PM so I was able to go over to Wolf's Jeep and Chrysler to look at some Town and Countries to see what is out there and start getting prices and timing in our heads. Dave will call me by Monday with the trade in value on the Explorer which is the next piece in the puzzle so that we can make some decisions. I also need to go to a VW dealer and look at their Routan which is also supposed to be suitable for installing the elevator passenger seat.

I stopped at the Center to tell Dick what I had found out, then came home for supper before going back to help Dick with the things that I do for him every day. The most important, I think, is massaging the stump. We need to get that toughened up and we need to be sure that the circulation stays good.

So a busy day and I am really really tired.

It seems impossible that there are only two days left in 2008. When I was little, 2000 seemed SO far away and 6o seemed SO old. Times have changed. 60 no longer seems so old to me.

Enjoy your Tuesday. I will up date you on what Dr. Moreno says tomorrow evening.

Love

Mary

Thought I would share our tree. It was truely beautiful. I love taking the picture with all the presents under it. We are truely blest.

Mary

It was raining lightly when we got up this morning. And it had snowed. The temperature was 28. The fog was gone but it was cloudy.

I stayed home snug and warm until 11:30 when I joined Dick at the Center to have lunch with him. I spent the morning cutting out squares for a quilt and cleaning the bathrooms and kitchen floor.

We had a nice lunch of tips on noodles, veggies and a delicious chocolate dessert. After lunch, I went to Walmart to add minutes to Dick's phone. This time I believe we have enough to get him to the end of January. That is when we are aiming on getting him home. Good Lord willing and the creek don't rise.

I got his minutes and found a pair of jeans to replace one of the two that I had to cut up for sewing. When one's bottom is showing through, it is time to replace the jeans - at least if you are my age.

Mom and I had a lovely visit and shared a cup of tea. Usually Dick and I have her over on New Year's Day for dinner. But I am not going to bother with Dick not home. So we decided that I will pick up Chinese food and take it over to her house and we will share that. Sounds like fun, doesn't it?

Dick and I will celebrate New Year's Eve together.

When I got home, I updated Dick's phone and then took him the phone and some Oragel. Chelsea went with me. She was excited but then when she gets there, immediately wants to come home again.

This has been a quiet evening. Roxie has been quite the cuddly kitty. Very insistent on sitting on my lap. She finally got tired of my wiggling and went somewhere else.

Until tomorrow.

Love

Mary

I woke up to 48 degree temperatures this morning. It was misting a bit too but never really rained. Snowdrifts have melted quite a bit and everything is just dripping. Now, with our luck, it will start raining and snowing and then freeze.

I took breakfast over to Dick this morning. We had the leftover Strata and fruit that I had prepared for Richard and Brenda. He liked it a lot and it was a good morning to do this as they were being served a hard boiled egg with bacon for the Center's breakfast.

I finally got a hold of Plymouth Plumbing and they sent a man over to check the water heater. I met him at 10 AM. The water heater is failing. This was installed in May of 2000 and he said the national average for water heaters is 8 years. We go an extra 6 months. They will come Monday morning. I can call them as soon as we are back from Dick's doctor appointment with Dr. Sharon.

I took a nap next. I was really tired. Not for lack of sleep, I don't think. I slept really well last night.

Dave from Wolf's Chrysler suggested that we reschedule the appointment I had with him to look at van's to next week as the fog was really heavy on the highway and he felt it was dangerous. Probably not the best time to be looking at cars out in that lot anyway. So I spent the afternoon cleaning, computering AND cutting out squares for two quilts that I need them for.

Bart and Barb called. I received their present yesterday. The overnight delivery did not work, probably because of the weather. Bart remembered how much Barb and I enjoyed his GPS while we were driving around in Dallas so they got me one. I can hardly wait to try it. I figure I will set it up today and/or tomorrow and then use it driving locally so I get used to it. What a fun toy.

I went to the 4PM Mass. Saw lots of friends after Mass who are praying for Dick and are concerned, but I still managed to get home, feed the critters and get to the Plymouth Center with my chili to have supper with Dick. I got there at 5:20. He was already in the dining room and served, but some of the others were already being served so it was OK. They were having chili too.

Now I am home for the night and perhaps maybe for tomorrow too, if the weather gets bad. Otherwise, I will have a meal with Dick and go spend an hour or so with Mom as I will not see her on Monday.

Roxie has positioned herself on the desk like the old days. I have the lamp there and she likes the warmth and being close to me. Makes me feel good.

Love

Mary

Just for fun:

Isn't this the truth!

Whatever you give a woman, she will make greater.
If you give her sperm, she'll give you a baby.
If you give her a house, she'll give you a home.
If you give her groceries, she'll give you a meal.
If you give her a smile, she'll give you her heart.
She multiplies and enlarges what is given to her.
So, if you give her any crap, be ready to receive a ton of shit.

It got too late to post last night. Hope no one missed me but on the other hand hope maybe someone did. It is nice to be noticed.

Yesterday was a superfragilistic day. I set off to see Dick for a good morning HI, at about 9AM. Then headed over to Sheboygan Falls to visit with Mother and take her Christmas present and her stollen to her. We had a nice visit. She is kind of weary and tired but looks good. Randy, Donna, Erin and Jessica arrived shortly before I had to leave so I got to visit with them too. Donna, Erin, Jessie and I all discovered that we are tea drinkers as we looked over all of the neat teas that Mom received for Christmas. Someday the five of us should have a tea party.

I left there and came home to check the critters. Jim and Michelle had been there and dropped off the dinner goodies. My counter and refrigerator were full of the bounty. They "rearrived" shortly after I go home. They had gone over to visit with Dick. Bret called as I was preparing Dick's lunch. We had a nice visit and he liked his present. He sounds good and will be out at the River over New Years. He was spending Christmas with Mary and her family at his home.

Dick and I visited until 2PM then I came home as I figured that Richard and Brenda and Bobbie and Bill would be arriving soon. I was right. Bart had called also. I called back and had a nice visit with Barb, Bart and Marlise, Barb's Mom.

We unwrapped presents at about 3PM (except for mine, it had been decided that Dick and I would unwrap ALL of ours while we had dessert at the Center when we all gathered with Dick.
It is such fun watching people open presents. Everybody seemed very pleased with their gifts. That made me feel good.

Bobbie and Bill took appetizers over to Dick at 4 then had a SUPER dinner. Michelle and Jim prepared a wonderful array of appetizers, then followed with Spinach/Mushroom Manacotti, green bean casserole and a delicious salad.


When we finished Richard and Brenda took Dick his dinner and we all cleaned up and loaded up the presents and dessert and joined them.

The next two hours were spent together. Dick and I unwrapped our presents and did we ever get a lot of thoughtful, fun and beautiful gifts. Everybody was so generous and caring. Especially nice, Bobbie and Bill donated to Fr. Mike's Sarnelli House in my name. I was thrilled.

After pie with whipped cream and mulled wine and samples of my homemade Grand Marnier we closed down for the night. Jim and Michelle headed home first as they had to get back to Oshkosh and Bootsie. Bobbie and Bill went next. After Dick was all settled, Richard and Brenda and I came back here. Richard did a lot of cleaning up and fixing on my computer which is now working much faster and seems to be working cleaner. I am SO grateful. I have so many things that I depend on that computer for.

Dick is now in the Modern Hep age. Richard and Brenda got him an IPOD. Richard loaded it with LOTS of old movies and radio shows for him.

Anyway I did not get to bed until after 10 and Richard was still working on the computer. We had a glass of wine AND dried the nice decaf tea that Brenda had bought for me. It is a nice Irish Breakfast tea.

This morning, I baked a nice egg strata and fixes a pear/orange bowl for our breakfast. There is enough left that I am taking breakfast to Dick tomorrow morning.

Richard and Brenda left shortly after 11AM. I took lunch over and ate with Dick in the dining room. Then I came home because I had to wait for the Culligan Man. I don't know if I mentioned it but there was a leak of Something in my basement. It looked like it was under the Softener unit but when he came it appears to be under the water heater. Since he got here after 4PM, I left a message at Plymouth Heating and Plumbing. They have an emergency number but apparantly don't check it often because it is after 8PM and I have not heard yet.

I had supper with Dick too. We discussed the car situation more. I am going to Wolf's Auto tomorrow to check out a couple of cars that can be converted for easy access.

Now it is after 8PM. I am home and glad to be here. Critters are glad I am hear too.

I received this the other day. I wished a Merry Christmas to everyone that I met. Did you? Happy holidays could actually be all right but not with the avoidance it implys.

Sad Christmas News From
Washington, D.C.

The Supreme Court has ruled that there cannot be a Nativity Scene in the US capital this Christmas season.

This isn't for any religious reason, they simply have not been able to find Three Wise Men in the Nation's capitol, nor could they find a virgin.

P.S. There was no problem, however, finding enough asses to fill the stable.

God love you all

Mary

Another busy day. I went grocery shopping this morning in the snow. I was beginning to think it was going to pass us by but no such luck. I went over to spend the morning with Dick after the groceries were put away.

They had the Center's Christmas party at 10AM so I went with him. Merry knew better than to give Dick the red and green beads to wear, so I got them. It was fun. Santa came with gifts for all the residents and dis he EVER bring nice gifts. Dick to two new crossword puzzle books and three nice new shirts. Wow, were we impressed.

Then I went home because it was snowing pretty good and getting slippery. I vacuumed a bit and watered the plants and tidyed up a bit and waited for the snow to stop. Miracle of miracles, it did and I was able to get to the 4PM Mass and then got back to the Center to have supper with Dick. They were serving soup and grilled cheese sandwich with fruit and a Christmas Cookie. One of the nurses said that their suppers aren't really worth the $5 they cost, but as I told them. Dick is worth it.

I brought our Christmas stockings and one present for us to unwrap tonight. I brought one from Bret that was kind of torn and we could see part of it anyway. It is a tea for two set, with a pot, two cups and two kinds of tea. Really nice. I can hardly wait for Mom to come over to share it with me.

I left for home at a little before 7PM. It is really slippery out there. I hope it is better tomorrow because I need to get to Sheboygan Falls to see Mother and take her the stollen and her present. I couldn't go Monday because of the weather and today was bad again. Tomorrow is the big day.

Christmas. Do you know the story of the Polar Express. The author says that the silver bell that Santa gave to the boy could only be heard by the heart of a child. They boy and his sister were the only ones who could hear it that first Christmas morning. Then the boy says that all of his friends could hear the bell but as the years went by they all lost the ability to hear it.

The Capucian priest we had say Mass for us tonight also talked about the ablility to be a child. He said that we all need to hang onto the freedom of a child. After all Jesus came to bring us that freedom. The freedom to be us and to belong to God.

Happy Christmas.

Love

Mary

See who is under the tree? Our Roxy has settled in just fine. I sure did miss them.

Love

Mary

Twas quite an exciting day.

I had my appointment for my reflexology treatment at 8:00AM at Joan Kramer's home. She lives right off of Hwy 32 just this side of Howards Grove. It was snowing, BUT Mary decided to attempt it anyway and once I got out onto Hwy 23 it seemed silly to turn back. I saw on car in the median. It was on it's side but both passengers were on their feet and talking on their cel phones so I guess it was not too serious (except for righting the car and fixing it.) Whe I got to Joan's Richard was shoveling. I stopped to thank him for doing that "just for me." He got it. So I didn't feel goofy. Joan wondered what I was thinking coming in that weather but as I told her once I got out on the highway it was just as easy to keep going as to turn back.

So I had a wonderafully relaxing session. She does such a nice job and told me that from what she can tell, I AM doing the right things to take care of me. That is important if I intend to be able to take care of Dick.

When I left there I came home and took care of critters, fixed a quick sandwich and went over to the Center so we would be ready to leave when Tim came to take us to the Clinic. We got to Dr. Morales office at a bit before one and were the first patient after the lunch hour. Our friend Brian came specially for us. He was actually working at the hospital today, but came to assist Dr. Morales as Dorothy is on vacation. We always like seeing Brian. He is one of the best RNs I know and is a wound specialist.

Anyway, Dr. Morales had the graft material and had plenty to cover both wounds. Now Dick has to be non weight bearing for two weeks. Dr. Morales will look at the wound next Tuesday. It will take four weeks for complete healing. Then we will have to get special shoes made to keep the pressure when he walks where it is supposed to be.

Pray. The next two weeks are very crucial. We are really putting all of our cards on this.

I came home shortly after f0ur and just stayed. There is supposed to be more snow and it is really slippery out there. Three critters are glad that I am here anyway.



IF A FAT GUY GRABS YOU AND PUTS YOU IN A BAG, DON'T WORRY I TOLD SANTA I WANTED A GOOD FRIEND FOR CHRISTMAS!

LOve

Mary

Another cold day. It was -2 when I got up. (That is not counting the time Chelsea woke me up at 2:30AM. I don't know what is happening to her these days. She is not at all consistent. This morning was the WORST. At least after I let her out and SHUT HER OUT OF THE BEDROOM, I get to sleep until 6AM every morning.) Actually it is -4 right now. Now it is supposed to be warmer tomorrow BUT there is going to be more snow. The lot is already full. Where will they put it. If Mark builds two units in that lot, I don't know WHERE they would go with it all.

I sent a bunch of email cards this morning, frosted the stollen and cut out some denim squares. I need them to make our denim bedspread bigger. Then at about noon, I went to the post office for stamps and then over to spend some time with Dick.

We had a talk with Carrie, the social worker. Dick's insurance status is changing and we needed to be made aware of that. I am also investigating getting a vehicle that will be suitable for Dick. He needs to be able to get into it so that we can transport him to doctor antherapy sessions and maybe EVEN out for some fun.

My friend, Joann Miley stopped by the Center hoping to see me with Dick. She is such a dear. She brought a basket with fruit and candy and a card for Dick. Dick called while she was there so I could talk to her. I DO have the best friends.

Got a message from Bobbie this morning. We WERE going to have a liver dinner tomorrow night, but she cracked a tooth and asked if we could put it off. (No kidding.) I hope she got to see her dentist. She can't chew on that side and it hurts to brush. That would be NO fun at a wonderful Christmas dinner and it will only get worse. Pray for a quick fix.

Tomorrow will be VERY busy. Dick gets the graft on the wound on his right foot. This is a very exciting thing. and should really promote speedy healing (we hope). So pray that all goes well.

I am very tired tonight and am just waiting until 9PM so that I can crawl into bed. I would go now except for Chelsea. If take her out at 9PM and she wakes me up as early as 2:30AM. Whatever would happen if I went to bed SOONER than that.

Bret's package arrived today. I opened it up and a lively white Bear wearing a green stocking cap and a green quilted vest popped right out of the tip. He is wearing a sign that says "You look like you need a hug. So I hugged him.

The unwrapped presents went under the tree. Only two more days til the festivities start.
Good night, Sleep tight. Don't let the bed bugs bite.

Love

Mary

Can you believe that the highest the temperature got today was minus 1? And the wind is still blowing. Even Chelsea is not eager to stay out for any more time than it takes to do her duty.

Dick and I decided that I should not leave the house today because of the cold. So I did not and I am grateful. I put a heater on in the garage to try to take the chill off and it got all the way up to 19 degrees.

The plows DID come through and the poor guy that does the sidewalk shoveling did too. I am glad that I did not see him, I would have been worried. But maybe I could have given him some hot chocolate or something.

I did a lot of stuff today around here. Everything is pretty much put away and I am actually almost done with my preliminary stuff for CWI. The main thing that I have to do is recruit another person to be on the board.

I called my friend Nancy today too. We had not talked for some time. I found out that probably the best Mass to go to on Christmas Eve will be the 6PM. It will be busy but not as busy as the 4PM whish is for the kids. I am reminded of an Irish priest who was the pastor at a parish that I belonged to in Costa Mesa. I think the parish was St. Joachim's. Anyway. Christmas came and the church was, as usual for the holiday, packed to the rafters. Every seat was filled and there were chairs along every wall and every aisle. The priest gave his sermon and with an Irish twinkle in his eye said that none of the parishioners would mind being crowded at all as long as everybody came back the next week.

Wouldn't that be something.

When we were really little, Mom and Dad would store presents over at the two sets of Grandma and Grandpa's Houses. Dad would go to Midnight Mass, which was actually at midnight then. Before he left for Mass, he and Mother would decorate the tree and he would pick up all the presents. When he got home at 1PM, they would sort all the presents and then he would have a T-Bone steak for breakfast.

How they ever got up with us at 6AM, I will never know and Mom had to fix a big Christmas dinner too.

A house full of love and it was go good thing. With all those people in the house it could have been a disaster if we did not love each other.

Mary

I went to the 4PM Mass tonight. Good thing. We are supposed to get 4 to six inches of snow tonight. If we do, I will not go to see Dick until later in the afternoon when things are plowed. When I was leaving, the neighbors that requested permission for us to get Roxie back asked if she was here. I was able to really thank them and tell them that Roxie is settled in, eating and seems very content again. I am grateful for people who care.

Today was the day to pick up Share and the morning got a bit crowded. I stopped to see Dick at 8:30 and took his phone. Then I went to Kate's and we got Share and payed for next month. Next, Kate and I went to Walmart so that I could add minutes to Dick's phone and pick up some milk. The milk turned into some potholders, some pants for me and an extra tin for buckeyes and fudge.

When I got home, I took care of Chelsea, petted the kitties, put the Share order away and then went back to the Center and had dinner (remember Dinner there is the noon meal.) It was quite good. Delicious beef, nondescript mashed potatoes, tasty veggies (not mushy) and pineapple upside down cake.

Then Dick and I "hung out" until about three when I came home to get ready for church and to work on the Stollen. I rolled it out and set it out to rise while I was at church. When I got home from church I fed everybody (including me) and then went back to spend a little more time with Dick. I was able to do everything that he needs help with today. Yesterday, I was not there. I massage the stump, help him get water and everything for teeth brushing and fill the cpap machine.

We got a card for Leslie today. It is musical. It plays Deck the Halls and Dick and I love it. Heard from Jim and Michelle. I was beginning to think that I should send a "where are you" message. They are settling in to their new digs and it sounds like all is going well. They are grateful to be only three miles from Michelle's place of work if nothing else.

The time for our Christmas meal is all set. We will have to do the same thing as we did on Thanksgiving. I am going to be sure that we have a place to gather for the dessert portion. Dick really liked that. It will only be two days after the graft is stitched in place and it would be dangerous to try to bring him home.

I have been trying to finish this blog and to get ready for bed but I keep getting phone calls. Wonderful phone calls. My friend, Barbara Litursky Sadler, called from Minnesota. She is basking in being a Grandma. Her daughter Paula had a daughter who will be 5 months old on Chrismas. Barbara also has a grandson who she lost contact with for a while in a divorce, but who's mother is now willing to share this grandson. He is 8 years old and so proud of "his" cousin, the new baby. He is so proud to be able to have someone related to him who is not a part of his half siblings. Isn't that cute.

Only four days until Christmas. I am ready as I can be.

Alice Walker said that "The most common way people give up their power is by thinking they don't have any." Remember your power. We had it when we were babies and slowly let the world take it away. It says in the Koran the "Every child has the right to believe that God created the world JUST for him(or her)"

Love

Mary

Today was a stay at home day. It had snowed ALL night so there was 4 to 6 inches piled up all around us. I let Chelsea out just from the garage door most of the day. I had to shovel out a little spot for her. The snow was almost as deep as she is tall and it is hard for a little dog to go potty when she can't even squat down.

They finally were able to come around to plow us out this evening when the snow stopped.

So - I mixed up the dough for the Stollen, assembled a couple of lasagna's (one for tomorrow night and one to freeze), did some Christmas cards both snail and email and designed a letterhead and envelope for the CWI. I will be sending out some letters to members who have not paid their dues since 2006. We are catching up and cleaning out the membership list. I also cleaned the bathrooms and kitchen floors.

It was peaceful but I am very tired. It is much nicer when Dick is here. At least now I have all of my critters to keep me company. One critter is not very happy with me. Chelsea got a bath this morning. She was just grubby and I felt that if I was home all day with her it was a good time for that bath. She is sparkling now.

Tomorrow there is not supposed to be any snow until evening. So. I will be able to visit Dick, get Share and go to Mass at 4PM.

Then Dick and I will have lasagna for supper together. We did not get our meal together today. And he is running out of minutes again. We have been talking more. I think I will give him my phone. It has lots more minutes than I need and may just last him. He and I are aiming for him to be home before January is over.

It is going to get colder again. Single digets again. I remember the year the boys and Dick Johnston and I came back for Christmas though. I swear that it was 10 to 16 below every day we were here. I remember that we walked out of the airport in Milwaukee and my California boys darn near froze in place. They had been up to Big Bear Mountain on Snow Jeep runs but never in their lives had they experienced THAT kind of cold. That was a fun time. We suprised Mom and Dad. All my brothers and sisters knew we were coming but not my parents. I remember that Mother said. "Well I guess that I will make cut out cookies after all." And she did and the boys helped her frost and decorate them.

Love

Mary

Aother cold day. It was below zero when we got up this morning and did not get above single digits that I was aware of.

Roxie finally ate a meal. She had not eaten all day on Wednesday but this morning she was quite enthusiastic and tonight she ate too so she is settling in just fine. Right not she is sleeping on the desk under the desk lamp just like the old days.

Oscar has a really good sleeping place. I have not been able to find him several times. BUT he came in to me several times for petting during the night so we are starting to feel at home here.

They find Chelsea mildly annoying, but are not afraid of her and she seems rather indifferent to them. I think her only complaint is that I do not let her in the room with them while they are eating. She would just nose them aside and eat everything. Dogs DO love cat food.

We had disappointing news today. Dick was supposed to go to see Dr. Moreno for a skin graft on the wound on his right foot this afternoon. At about 10:45AM we got a call that the graft had not arrived and we have had to postpone the procedure to Tuesday 12/23.

The big disappointment is that this puts us off almost a week before he can do any weightbearing on that leg. He cannot bear weight for two weeks after the procedure. That means he will not be able to refit the prosthesis for another week after the two weeks. We want him home and he cannot do that until he is safe and able to move himself around. Pretty hard when you can't bear weight on one leg and the other is waiting for the prosthesis. So pray hard that it is not delayed again and that the prosthesis process will go well when it finally gets started.

I did not go over to the Center until after lunch today. And I came home at 4PM. Dick got his beard and hair cut today. He looks very dashing.

When I got home, Bobbie and Bill had just finished changin the hinges to the bathroom door to offset hinges. It is WONDERFUL. They door opens outward and folds flat against the hallway wall. Dick should be able to roll easily into the bathroom and then we will be able to shut the door behind him leaving the whole floor area for him to move around in.

Bill (and Bobbie) did SUCH a great job. Everything like this makes me feel that we are closer to getting Dick home again. I really miss him.

I guess that is all. Quite a busy day, wouldn't you say?

We are supposed to be getting snow from any time after 6 PM tonight until 3PM tomorrow afternoon. I hope it is not TOO bad tonight. Dick is supposed to have an appointment with Dr. Sharon in the morning. It is in Plymouth so if there is not too much snow, we should be able to make it.

I talked to Bret tonight. He got his packages and is doing fine.

Until tomorrow.

Love

Mary

A busy busy day. I had to take Chelsea out at again. This is one of those situations that kind of started when Dick was here. She would get up BUT he could tell if she was really anxious. Now, I can't take the chance. So we are getting into the routine of letting her go to the bathroom and then my going back to bed until 6AM. It's working. Not my preferred scenario, but it works.

I fed everybody. Oscar ate like a little pig. Roxie is not eating. So I put it down, and I figure that she will eat when she gets hungry. She may have a little tummy distress from the changes too. She is coming around for love and attention. And though she is not impressed by Chelsea, hissing at Chelsea if she gets too close, she is not frightened. Roxie also found the heating cat bed that Jim bought several years ago and now she likes it.

Oscar has found a hiding place that is REALLY good. He comes out to eat and occasionally for some petting but is mainly laying low and I have NO idea where.

I went grocery shopping at about 8AM, then to the bank and Walgreens. After groceries were put away, I went to spend a couple of hours with Dick. I watched his therapy, then went to Bill Cain's Annual ReMax open house. Bill is looking good. Better than he has looked in years. He was very sick for a long time. I saw several old friends there and head a wonderful lunch.

When I got home, Roxie was in the cat bed and very content and there was no sign of Oscar. I took a nap and did a bunch of straightening up and CWI work. I have one more board member for 2009. Janet Bieschke said she would be on the board. Now I only need one more. Perhaps tomorrow, I can take care of that.

I heated up the last of the chili for Dick and me for our supper tonight. It sure hit the spot. I came back home at a bit before 7 and am really going to be ready for bed at 9PM.

Would you believe that a week from tomorrow is Christmas? Tomorrow, Dick has the graft sutured onto the open wound on his right foot. Thank heavens, the big snow that we are supposed to get is not happening until late in the day. This graft has to be used very quickly or it won't work.

He has an appointment with Dr. Sharon, his primary physician, on Friday but if things are too bad, we can always reschedule that.

Archbishop Desmond Tutu said "Do your little bit of good where you are; it's those little bits of good put together that overwhelm the world."


Like I told my boys. Bloom where you are planted.

Love

Mary

P. S. Roxie still doesn't like it if I whistle.

A red letter day. I received an early Christmas present. My kitties are back in my home again.

I got up at 4 to take Chelsea out and it was -2degrees. Would you believe? I took the girl out and went back to bed until 6AM. It was still -2. It only got up to 9degrees all day. Unbelieveably cold.

I vacuumed the living room and took care of computer work then went over to the Center to stay with Dick through his therapy and dinner. I had to be home by 1PM when Bobbie and Bill brought the kitties. We put them in the old office with their litter box and water for a couple of hours. Bill worked a little more on the door. He has all the routing done (I think) Now the time comes when they come again to actually hang the door and see how it really works.

After they left, I opened the office door and sat in there writing out Christmas cards and watching TV to get them used to seeing me again. Eventually Oscar checked out the water and litter box then disappeared. I think he was exploring on his own or perhaps he found a nice care like place to rest for a while.

I fed them at their designated time 5:30. Roxie was a not a good eater. I rescued her food from Oscar and then from Chelsea and finally just shut her in the room and let her eat for a while. Then I figured if Oscar still wanted it he could have it.

Roxie is being stand offish but Oscar is being very friendly. I know they will be nervous for a while, but I know now that we will be all right. I am just hoping that Oscar will cuddle with me tonight. I have really missed that.

Have a great day tomorrow. I know I will

Love

Mary

Well, today was not restful. But it was FUN.

That silly Chelsea woke me up at ten minutes to four to go out to the bathroom. It was 3 degrees and I told her that she was nuts but what can I do. I went right back to bed and slept until 6AM.

I wrapped some presents and cleaned the kitchen a bit before I left around 8:30 so I could stop and see Dick before heading to Sheboygan Falls for Bible Study. We did not get the ice storm that was predicted so the roads were just fine. It was just cold and windy.

Bible study was lively. We discussed the first reading for most of the session. It was in 2 Samuel (4 Kings if you have some bibles.) the reading where David wanted to build a house for the Arc of the Covenant as there was peace in the land and the Arc was still being housed in a tent. God told him to wait and let his son do it later. BUT it brought up the point of moneys that are spent to build big temples and big cathedrals and such. It is good to have beauty dedicated to the Lord and nice and comfortable places to worship, but as was brought up, is it really necessary to spend millions of dollars on renovating Cathedrals when there are hungry people in this land and all over the world. Something to mull over.

Then I went to Mom's. I had picked up a bulletin for her as she did not go to church Sunday. It was too wet and cold for her to be out. She admitted that she also felt rather weak on Sunday so I am glad that she is being very sensitive to her body. She and I talked about how lucky we are. We have her and she had her mother well up into the 90s. So many people lose their parents at young ages. I helped her put her tinsel on the Christmas tree. Her house looks very festive. She gave me my Christmas present early. She now buys us all a cheese box. Num Num.

Next I came home and let Chelsea out before getting gas and picking up Kate to go over to Antoinette's for our Cream City Writer's Christmas party. We had a really lovely time. We shared Christmas writings, had a good meal and exchanged Christmas presents. Sy also had my door prize and Christmas present from the Sheboygan County Writer's party. I love getting presents. We have a $5. limit so these are REALLY fun. From last week I got a nice ceramic snowman for a door prize and a box of chocolates and some pens and note paper for my present. Today my present was a pretty ceramic basket with candy and a Culver's certificate. WOW.

I took Kate home and had a cup of tea with her before heading home to again take care of Chelsea. I got things ready for my supper and took everything over to the Center to have supper with Dick. Then I stayed with him until 7PM.

Home again. Home again. Boy is that ever good. I am feeling quite content.

Read something in an email that I would like to share with you before I go to bed.
Freeman Dyson, physicist and author said.

"Whatever it is that you produce, a baby, a book, or a theory, it is a piece of the magic of creation. You are producing something that you do not fully understand."

Just something to think about.

Love

Mary

It was a restful busy day today. I was able to spend quite a bit of time with Dick, as it turned out.

Chelsea woke me up at 4AM again. I wish I knew what this is going on in her little head. I took her out and then went back to bed until 6AM. It seems to be working, so I guess I won't mess with it.

I had some egg whites left from the Guy Pie recipe so I made coconut macaroons this morning. They are the EASIEST cookies in the world but are only practical if one has used egg yolks for some reason or other. It made a nice treat for Dick tonight.

I cleaned the kitchen floor and the mat for under the kitty litter box. It fits perfectly in that corner of the old office. I need to do a bit of protection for the corner but it will work just fine. I had leftovers for lunch and then prepared a portabella mushroom sandwich to take over to eat with Dick for supper. They had hot turkey sandwiches for him. (Guess what, he does not like mushroom sandwiches.)

We had a nice visit this morning. He was in therapy when I got there. (Lori cannot be there tomorrow so came in today as some of the patients are required to have a minimum number of sessions. I was able to tell her about the graft and that we have to be very careful about weight bearing for two weeks.

When I left, I went to the bank for some cash, picked up some pretzels for Dick and ran by Rhine Plymouth Field and Stream. We were hosting the Badger shoot and I had promised that I would stop by. I told them that if they REALLY needed me, I would work for an hour. They are such sweeties and told me that I should go home. I was able to pick up the orange/grapefruit box that I ordered from Rachel who is in 4H and sells it for a fundraiser. It is always SUCH good fruit. A case is really too much, but it does last quite a while and I will share.

I took a nap this afternoon. That was helpful. I never seem to feel quite rested these days.

Now I am home. I forgot to watch the Packer game and since they lost, I am just as glad. Again, they were favored. I do know that their defense is useless. But don't know WHAT happened today. Dick said that they lost in the last couple of minutes again. What a pain.

Dick commented tonight that he is probably the youngest patient on the floor. He may be. Mary is probably younger but most of the residents are there because they are in Senior Care. Again it is a comparative situation. He can feel young.

When we had the Orange County Four Wheelers Jeep Club Christmas party, we always exchanged gifts and did it in this fun way. All who brought a gift were given a number . Number 1 picked a gift and unwrapped it for all to see. Then Number 2 would do the same. If Number 2 liked number 1's gift better, he could trade. And so on down the line. As you got further up in number, you had more choices. It was amazing what would turn out to be the most popular. At the end Number 1 had a choice of ALL of the gifts. One year, a young single guy who was quite shy got a tray with the naked picture of Marilyn Monroe on it. He was so shy and embarrassed that he just exchanged it for the closest opened present that he saw. That was so sweet.


Love

Mary

This has been a roller coaster day. I am exhausted and my nose is all plugged up from the badness of it. Don't worry. The goodness of it has since far outweighed the badness. Isn't that wonderful?

Started off with Chelsea waking me up at 4AM again. I am afraid a habit has been established, but am too tired to try to work it out. I just take her out, give her a treat and go back to bed until 6AM when I HAVE to get up. It was, at least this was better, 28 degrees at 4AM so was tolerable.

I got up at 6AM, as I said. Chelsea and I had breakfast, I took a shower, vacuumed the bedrooms and the wood shavings out of the hall and then I went over to the Center to be with Dick before the Condo meeting.

This is where things really got goofy.

Dick and I went down a bit before 10 for the meeting. I had my vote and two proxies for the business end of this meeting. If you are not aware, this is the meeting that was presenting my request to change the by laws to allow two pets maximum for each unit instead of one. I was really planning on having my kitties back.

The meeting went quite well up until that issue. We do have an increase in our monthly fees, not surprising, there had been no change since 2004 and frankly, we were paying what we paid at Creekside over 10 years ago. I can't see that this is a big thing. We don't want to be dipping into the reserves for sure.

Then the vote for the by law change came. I stated my case. Then there was discussion. One woman said - there are 120 units, what if every unit decides to get two dogs, we will have 240 dogs. Another complained about the farm cats that are running loose and a third complained about people not picking up dog doo at the end of the cul de sac's in the wet lands. (Many of them are not people from the condos.) But it was enough. The by law change was voted down and I started to lose it and Dick and I had to get out of there. Several people, including board members followed us and told us to just get the cat. I told them that Dick wouldn't let me. He is too honest. I just had to leave. I really melted down. It is, in retrospect, a small thing but I couldn't take any more. I felt like Popeye. "I stood all I can, I can't stood no more." I took Dick upstairs and headed home to grieve. Dick and I had decided that we would move as soon as economically possible.

Then after I had been home about an hour, Dick called. He had gone downstairs to find out what the vote actually had been and MaryAnn Bernauer told him that they had had a special motion which passed to allow us to bring our kitty home. I am a wreck but getting ready.

There is supposed to be sleet and rain for the next 24 to 36 hours. I am going to get the room ready for the litterbox and all. Monday I have bible study and a Cream City Writer's Christmas Party. So Bobbie and I decided that Tuesday would be good. I can spend all day with them to get them reacclimated to me. After two years, I can wait two days. I really feel mean taking her away from Bobbie and Bill, but Bobbie assures me that as much as she loves them she knew from the beginning that it was only until we could have her.

This afternoon, Bobbie and I brought Dick's computer home. We hooked everything we know about up and everything is working - except the internet. I will look at it closer tomorrow. I wish I knew more. I will try to compare my tower with Dick's tower and see what is missing.

I am glad that I have no plans for tomorrow. I am spent. If it is not too slippery, I WILL go to see my sweetheart sometime during the day.

Love

Mary

This has been a VERY cold day. When Chelsea woke me up at 4:30AM it was 4 degrees and never got over 9 that I was aware of. It will warm up over the weekend and even rain. I am not sure that is a good thing either but it will bring down the snow banks.

Dick had his appointment with Dr. Moreno this morning and for a change we have good news. The wounds are healing, albeit slowly. He is pleased with the way they look and feels that this is the opportune window to try a skin graft on the deeper of the two. SO - we have scheduled that procedure for next Thursday. Another day for everybody to be praying like crazy. This will mean a delay in the second fitting of the prosthesis as he will have to be non weight bearing on that right foot for two weeks but if the foot is healed, that is a small price to pay. So next week will be another adventure.

Bobbie and Bill came over at about 1:30PM and we went to the Old World Market at the Osthoff (they used to call it Kristkindlemart.) It was very pleasant. We walked around to all the booths, sampled the cheeses and wines and candies, bought a few things and then came back to our house. Bill started the changing of the hinges to make the door to the bathroom swing out instead of in. Just another step in making things easy for Dick when he comes home.

I went back to the Center at about 5 with some of my chicken soup to have supper with Dick. I came home at about 7 and am slowly settling down for the night.

Next week was looking rather quiet but now is full of lots of things. Can you believe that the week after next is Christmas ALREADY. I am down to one present. Actually, I thougth I had them all but cannot find a confirmation on one of them. SO I must take care of that tomorrow.

Be safe and happy.

Love

Mary

Another busy day. I got up at 6 as usual despite having gone to bed at 12:30AM because the play lasted SO long. Long but worth it. Today was busy enough that I have not felt the tired too much but I know I will really sleep tonight.

We had our care meeting at the Plymouth Care Center today. I think it was quite successful. Therapy is going to concentrate on transfers - bathroom and car in the next two weeks. We are really aiming for getting him home for Christmas. He is stable on all dangerous things, like the diabetes and his heart. And the fact that he has lost so much weight, a good hunk of it fluids is a very good thing too.

We have tentatively scheduled a home evaluation for December 23 and his prosthesis will be back on December 22. We thought that the prosthesis was going to be ready next week but maybe it is better to have the extra week so the abrasions can really heal and we can keep stimulating healing with massage and Vitamin E.

Anyway, that was the exciting news of the day. I came home for lunch "with Chelsea" and did a bit of cleaning while I was here. Then went back to have supper with Dick and just be with him for part of the evening.

Now I am home and winding down very fast. Bed at 9PM on the dot is the goal. Tomorrow we see Dr. Moreno. The nurses are telling us that the wound looks better now. Not so deep. I hope they are right.

I am going to share a funny joke from the Reader's Digest.

Even though she's been teaching English for 25 years, my mother never felt her age was an issue, until the day she helped a student with a report on the Vietnam War. Mom recognized the name of a war correspondent mentioned in the textbook and blurted, "I used to go out with him!"

Peering up from his work, another wide-eyed student asked, "You dated someone from our history book?"

That reminds me of my Mother. I remember that she never minded any age she reached, but when she turned 70, she said that it sounded old. (I am less than two years from that now.) Then when she turned eighty, Aunt Kathleen said that she asked Mother how it felt to be an octogenarian and Mother did not find it very amusing. Now she is 92 and just seems to be enjoying herself at whatever pace she can. We sure did have a lovely time at The King and I.

Hope you have a good Friday.

Love

Mary

No snow today. Good thing, we seemed to be still digging out from yesterday.

No walks for Chelsea and me. It is way to cold and way to slippery.

I went grocery shopping and to the bank this morning fairly early. I intended to go right over to see Dick but got a call from my friend, Gail McAleese, she and her husband Tom drove up from Milwaukee to pick up a box of mailings that needed to go out for Celtic Women and had been accidently left behind on Saturday.

So - I got over to the Center at about 11AM. Dick was in therapy so I waited for him there and then we went up to his new room. Yes, Indeed, He is all moved. His new room number is 404 it is just three doors down from the elevator - turn left instead of right when you get off. He is right next to Adelle, a darling gal, who told me that she has been there and in that same room for 11 years. She has a marvelous sense of humor and told me that I had better watch out because Dick is a very handsome man and many of the staff and patients have their eyes on him. Isn't that sweet. (She is probably right.)

We had dinner (the noon meal) together. I stayed until about 3PM then headed home to take care of Chelsea and get ready for the evening.

This was the big dinner/theatre evening for me and Mother. I got to her house at 5PM in case I had to do some shoveling of her ramp. But her wonderful neighbor had cleared it for her. Randy usually does it BUT he is on a business trip to St. Louis until Thursday. She and I went to Richards for dinner. I had steak and she had a fish platter. Then we went to Horace Mann Theatre and met Bobbie to see a really wonderful production of The King and I. Ralph outdid himself this time. He got some real talent and they performed their hearts out. I loved the King and the Uncle Thomas segment.

Now I am home and Chelsea is very irritated with me because I am spending her valuable sleep time posting to this blog so I will sign off now and go to bed. It is way to late for me anyway.

Love

Mary

I pretty much stayed home today because of all the snow. It finally stopped shortly after noon and they came and plowed us out by three. Then the wind started blowing and I figured that I had better take a quick run over to see Dick for just a few minutes and take him some clean shirts. I needed to be with him for just a little bit.

I got a LOT of little things done. I finished decorating and made some soup and wrote a couple of letters. Maybe I will even get around to doing Christmas Cards this week.

I read about a poor old dog that got left outside and its poor but froze to the sidewalk. Fortunately it was a really obese dog and after they used warm water to get it off the sidewalk, the Humane Society says he will be OK. They had a lot of advice about how to treat animals in the cold weather, one of them being to bang on your car hood to be sure that cats who sometimes will crawl onto warm engine blocks don't get hurt when the engine goes on by the fan and all.

It reminded me of my Sam cat. We had a beautiful black cat that we named Samantha. She was a really elegant cat and was well known throughout the California neighborhood we lived in. In those days, at least where we lived, cats roamed pretty much free, though Sam usually slept in the house.

One day I drove the truck and camper over to a local mini mart to pick up something. When I opened the camper door to put the purchase in, Sam shot out of the camper and took off. We were only four blocks or so from home, so after looking around and calling for a bit, I headed home figuring that she would probably beat me there.

She did not. We looked for her but could not find her and after a couple of weeks, I figured that she was gone forever. Then, one morning, I thought heard her and opened the kitchen door. There she was. She walked into the kitchen with her left side towards me and I could see that she was extremely thin. I immediately called John, a neighbor across the street to tell him that she was back. (John used to bring her fresh chopped liver from a restaurant that he worked at.) Then she turned around and to my horror, there was a scar about an inch wide that ran down her entire right side. So I bundled her up and ran her over to the vet. At first he was kind of suspicious of abuse but when I told him what had happened, he examined her and said that she must have gotten caught by a fan or fan belt under a car and crawled off and holed up until she was strong enough to come home. All he could do, as the scar was clean and healing was give me some salve to put on it. You know that scar healed so well that there was no sign of it after a while.

She was a beautiful cat.

Love

Mary

The snow has begun. It is supposed to snow through tomorrow afternoon. We could get up to 12 inches. Actually I don't expect as much as that here but it will be a pretty good snow.

This morning I went to visit Mother BEFORE Bible Study as I had to be back in Plymouth to pick up Jena to take her to the Sheboygan County Writer's Club Christmas party at the Villager. I ended up having to leave at 12:30 because Tim from Sheboygan Prosthesis brought Dick his first prosthesis this afternoon at 1PM.

I had plenty of time to eat and listen as we went around and each told what we had done to prepare for or how we are going to celebrate. Then Sylvia said that she would take Jena home, so I did not have to haul her off before the gift exchange and door prize drawing. I called her this evening to make sure that she was, indeed, home safe and sound. She was and told me that I won a door prize which she has along with my present. Our Jena works at the Pig and I will be in there on Wednesday shopping so she can give me my "loot" then or, if she forgets, next Monday when we do the Cream City Writer's party at Antoinette's here in Plymouth.

I got to the Center just on time to meet when the leg arrived. We went down and Tim, after some explanation, put the leg onto the stump and he stood up. He has some discomfort on the shin, which is normal. Adjustments can be made to alleviate that, time will build up a resistance AND he has to practice really standing tall and not leaning forward. Tim did several adjustments, having him stand after each. However, a kind of abrasion happened on the scar area and two small blisters developed just in the four times he stood. SO, he took the leg back and will do some other important adjustments. He will be back in a week and we will try again. This will give the stump a chance to heal and we need to keep massaging it to help it toughen up.

Dick told his nurse that he was thinking of having his meals all in his room because he is so far from the dining room and his arms get SO tired and sore pushing himself all hat way. There are some rooms empty in hallway four which is the hall that has his dining room. The room he could have is only four doors from the elevator. It will be somewhat noisier and has a fire door which has to be either open or closed but not ajar BUT is closer and he likes that. He will be right next door to Pearl who says that she has been there in the same room for eleven years and she loves it. It has a nice view too of the flagpoles, trees and he will be able to look down on the parking lot if he wishes. It is room 404. I will let you know for sure tomorrow . He will probably move tomorrow.

I brought Chili and Guy Pie tonight and we had dinner in his room. The chili is still great and mellowing nicely.

I came home shortly after we ate after helping him with the things that I help him with. I was home shortly after 6PM and if we have the snow they promised may be here until Wednesday. I am supposed to go for a mamagram tomorrow morning at 8:30. We'll see if I can get out.

Barbara had some surgery today. I called and left a message that I would call tomorrow when she felt a bit stronger but she called me back. She had that surgery to remove excess skin after weight loss and said she feels good as long as she lays still. Pray that she heals quickly. She is a dear girl and I hate to think of her hurting.

Bible Study was nice today. There were eight of us . I Especially liked the second reading. It was from Paul's 2nd letter to the Thessalonians Chapter 5:16-24. It is a wonderful map for living starting with "Rejoice Always!" I like that a lot.

Love

Mary

Cold has really settled in to our corner of the world. It was supposed to get up to 20 degrees but the warmest that I saw was only 15.

It is about that now but I am sure it will be dropping. We didn't get any more snow, at least until tonight. When I took Chelsea out a few minutes ago there was a thin covering all over everything. At least it will cover the gray and black.

We are supposed to have a big winter storm tomorrow evening and Tuesday, up to a foot of snow. Winter is coming in with a vengeance.

I stayed home most of the day and mainly rested. I could use even more, I think. But did get two naps. The second was rather short because that goofy Chelsea was a real pest this afternoon and woke me up when I had only been asleep for about a half an hour.

I went to the 10:45AM Mass and then to the Plymouth Care Center where Dick and I had Dinner together. I stayed long enough to take care of the things we like to do together, and then came home again. It was nice to just be home. Now is Dick was here it would be perfect.

I ate leftovers for supper and now am winding down for the night. Tomorrow will be a busy day. Bible Study, visiting Mother, going to a Christmas lunch AND Dick will be getting his prosthesis at 5.


We decided that I will be bringing supper and we will eat in his room. He will finally get some of that great Chili that I made for the guys on Friday.

Hope you all have a great week. Perhaps we can too.

Love

Mary

What do you think of that wonderful ramp? It is wonderful. Chelsea is still confused. She keeps trying to go down to where the steps were. For those who might not know. From left to right. The archetects - Bill May, my son in law, Jeff and Randy, my brothers and Shane, Jeff's son, my nephew.

They were wonderful and the ramp is perfect, ready for Dick to come home


Love

Mary

It was snowing this morning when I got up and continued snowing for most of the morning albeit quite lightly. I got a couple of calls from CWI ladies wondering if we were still having our Christmas Tea. We did.

I had to pick up one of Chelsea's prescriptions this morning, then went over to see Dick for a bit. When I got home, I called Mary Schultse at the hotel and the four ladies from out of town came over here for a couple of hours. Rosemary and Gail stuffed the booklets that Chris Wolff put together for a Christmas gift for all our current members. It is a lovely book, a compilation of stories, poems and recipes by our members and others. We have extras for sale too. Mary and Maureen and I reviewed and worked on the new branch booklet that we are compiling to give to people who would like to start a branch like Plymouth/Sheboygan or Chicago.

I am the new president of the Celtic Women International as of January 1. The main thing that the president does is coordinate the monthly telephone conferences and write the agenda. My push this year is to try to get more local branches started and make the communication between us all as good as possible. I am turning over some of the things that I do for the local group to the others. We are pretty loosely put together also and it amounts to communication but is very important so we keep going. I have one volunteer but she is new and would like a backup.

Then at 1:30PM I went over to the Plymouth History Museum for the Third Annual Christmas Tea sponsored by the Plymouth History Museum, the Sheboygan County Historical Research Center AND the Sheboygan County Branch of Celtic Women International. The History Museum provides the place, the Celtic Women provide the food and the Research Center provides the music and publicity.

Despite the snow and the slippery streets, this year was a great success. We had a wonderful turnout. Would have been nice to have more, but we had lots of people turn out. Beth, Director of the Research Center, hired three musicians that play at the Stafford on Wednesday's and they were wonderful. All of the Sheboygan members (except for Kathy who lives in Kewaskum, kind of far and she called) were there. At least those that have joined the International Group. This tells me something. I think joining CWI as part of joining the branch makes a commitment. They are a great group of women and a wonderful support for each other.

Our next meeting will be music and literature. We want to share our favorite Celtic books, whether fiction or not.

After that was over, I came home to feed our girl and then went to have supper with Dick. I stayed with him until 7:00PM. Now it is about time to start getting ready for bed and am I ever tired. I woke up early this morning, can't even blame the dog and could not get back to sleep. To top that off, I didn't get a nap. To even more top THAT off, I was busy all day. Dick is concerned that I am doing too much again so I need to try to take it easy. But I need to do things that take me away. Otherwise I will burst.

Chelsea finally figured out how to come up the ramp. Bill had to lift her on it yesterday.

The next project is to figure out how to get the door on the bathroom rehung with the wraparound hinges. Then it will open OUT and not block the bathtub or take up valuable maneuvering room.

There was a bible published in England in 1631 that was called the Wicked Bible because an important line read "Thou shalt commit adultery." The printers forgot that all-important "not." They were fired.

Love

Mary

Today was a very eventful day.

Chelsea and I got up early, 6AM and took care of a few things around her. She got a very short walk, (it was 4degrees again so we did not go far.) I made the Guy Pie to feed to the "ramp crew". Then I went over to visit Dick for a bit before they were going to arrive.

Jeff, Randy, Shane and Georgina arrived at about 10AM with the lumber and everything they needed and proceeded to work on the ramp. I had turned on a heater in the garage so they did not freeze to death while working. It was still cool but working and dressed right it was doable.

Bobbie and Bill arrived at about noon. The guys had the platform all framed out already. The Chili was hot so they took a break shortly after that and ate. The chili turned out really good.

Then back to work and they got it all done by 4:30. It is beautiful. I am too tired tonight but will post a picture in the next couple of days. I am SO grateful to them for this. Jeff said they just want Dick to be able to come home as soon as possible.

This evening I met the Celtic Women, Gail, Rosemary, Mary and Maureen who came up from Milwaukee and Chicago to be able to attend our Christmas Tea tomorrow. We ate dinner at 52 Stafford. They were putting together a special memory book for the members. All paid members will bet one. I have seen the draft and it is really special. We hope to use it to encourage new members too.

Now I am home and exhausted. I just get worn out too easily these days and need to rest for tomorrow.

Chelsea is trying to encourage me to head for the bed also. The CWI ladies are coming over her in the morning at about 10 so that we can go through New Branch Guidelines and I can show them the "inventory" of CWI stuff I seem to have accumulated.

I came home to a phone call that Wells Fargo stopped two transactions that I made today because one of them had the expiration date wrong and tried to put it through 6 times which put a flag on the account. I am really discouraged - now I have to redo two Christmas presents. Ick!!!!! I am happy (I guess) that they are watching.

Tomorrow will be ALL good. Right!!!


Love

Mary

It barely broke single digits temperature wise today. When Chelsea woke me up at 5, it was 9 degrees and when I got up for good at 6AM it had dropped down to 8 degrees. Needless to say, we did not walk very far. Her poor little paws got pretty sore anyway, so she did not care to much, at least then.

I went over to spend the morning with Dick at 9AM. I was able to stay with him for all of his physical and occupational therapy. They work him hard. This is good though he does not always think so. The OT suggested that we get him a CD player and books on tape. You know, one of those little ones that he could wear on his belt or just carry with him. A good idea. Then the exercises might not be so boring.

I came home at noon, had lunch and took a nap. I finished decorating the tree today too. Just a little bit at a time. I am almost done. I made chili today for the guys. Jeff, Randy, Shane and Bill are coming tomorrow to put up the ramp for Dick. I need to feed them. I am making a Guy Pie in the morning too. They are so good to do this.

I had some errands to do this afternoon AND called Suzi who had left a massage last night. She is OK but needs to think of herself too. Hazel is up north near Teresa and is in the nursing home that Teresa works in. She likes it and we know that she is safe now. Apparently they are really kept busy and are WELL cared for.


Had to add minutes to Dick's phone. All of a sudden he only had 8 minutes left. Glad I caught that. Whew.

I took spaghetti sauce with noodles, garlic bread and salad to the Center and Dick and I ate together in his room. We like that. It is like a date for us.

When we were dating, it got to a point where we had seen EVERY movie that was showing and as we are not bar people, this left just Friday Fish Fries for dates.
One day I told him that he was welcome to come over for dinner but all Bart and I were having was Kraft Mac and Cheese with hot dogs cut up in it. He said that this was one of his favorite meals and that was a real beginning. It WAS and still IS one of his favorite meals. After that he started coming over for dinner more often and we started playing Cribbage. He had to teach me. I got pretty good after a while and we had fun.

Take care and have a good Friday.

Love

Mary

Today it snowed again, but not as bad as they predicted.

Chelsea and I took the best walk we have had in several days. After dawn, of course. The little "you know what" woke me up at 3:30 this morning. Don't know what her problem was, but I took her out to eliminate, gave her treats and went back to bed until 6AM.

It was a busy day. I left at about 7:30AM to go see Dick and bring him his clean shorts. They had already given him his weekly shower so he REALLY needed them. Now that he can shift around better, we can get them on him with little difficulty. I actually did better than the nurses, I think. Then I went grocery shopping. I got a donut for breakfast. Very decadent, I know, but I wanted one. So there. Jenna and Jennifer sent good vibes to Dick. They miss him.

I came home and put everything away, after filling the gas tank, relished in my donut and then headed over to City Hall for my pre court date. Atty. Ron Damp, the city attorney, was there reviewing the pretrial cases. I gathered that the idea is to see if an agreement can be reached ahead of time to avoid a trial. I was easy. Attorney Damp reduced my charge to one that carried less points and I was very grateful. I now have a charge of impeding traffic which only carries two points. Sounds fair to me. Did I tell you that the other day, I was at the very same intersection and now KNOW what happened.

I am looking both ways twice now because I am so cautious. Last week, I looked right, sat nothing. Looked left, saw nothing. Looked right again and there was a car emerging from the window frame. If I had moved after the FIRST look - Bango I could have done it again.

I mailed all the Christmas boxes on my way over to see Dick. He was doing PT so I stayed with him until he was done, then came home. Everything was pretty slippery so we decided that I should stay home today. It turned out that it was not nearly as bad as we expected but we decided that it does not hurt to be cautious.

I put another box of ornaments on the tree . It is shaping up.

Hello. My tooth feels MUCH better now. It still hurts a little bit BUT I can tell that the infection is gone as I feel alive again.

I picked up Mc Donald's Egg Mc Muffins for breakfast for Dick and me and we were all ready to leave for St. Luke's when Tim, from Custom Care, got to the Center at 8:30AM. The trip both ways was uneventful and easy. Very little traffic and the roads were in pretty good shape.

It was windy however and reminded me of a little even that happened to a friend of mine named Paul Jones. Paul was driving his big truck with a double trailer on the back carrying his jeep over a mountain ridge coming back from jeeping out west. The wind was horrendous and as he was coming around a curvy road the wind picked up the whole rig, truck-trailer and all and moved it right over into the adjacent lane. Scared the dickens out of him. Paul went on a trip to Baja in his jeep several years later and never came back. His wife asked some fellow jeepers to go down to see if they could find him. They went where he said he was going to be but no trace was ever found of him. Isn't that weird?

We were there for about 2 1/2 hours what with history taking and tests and ending with a consultation with a Dr. Simanonok who told us that with the tests done today, Dick is NOT a candidate for hyperbaric treatments. He has however ordered xrays and more blood tests to rule out a bone infection. IF there is a bone infection, that would change things. After he has the results of the tests, he and Dr. Moreno will consult. We will go see Dr. Moreno next, which is much easier as her is in Sheboygan.

The whole day was not bad but a bit of a disappointment.

When we got back at almost 2PM with no lunch as Tim had to pick someone up in Sheboygan AT 2PM, I zipped over to Mc Donald's again because Dick said he wanted a cheeseburger and fries. Mc Donald's may be fast food but it tastes good. Not something we will do often as Dick's sugar level shot up to 201.

Tomorrow is court, grocery shopping and mailing the Christmas packages UNLESS it snows terribly hard again which may happen and cancel everything.

Take care and be safe.

Love

Mary

Today turned out to be much more exciting than it started out.

I woke up this morning to snow. All of the local schools were closed, so it seemed wise to cancel the Bible Study for this week. I emailed those I could and called the others.

So I had a morning at home. I slept for almost two hours this morning. This tooth thing has just taken all the zap out of me. The dentist called at about 10 and said that they had an opening today if I wanted to come right in so I did. They said that I would not need a driver so I didn't call Bobbie who was going to come tomorrow when my appointment was originally scheduled.

It is done but that took even more zap out of me. I left there and came right home and went back to bed for two more hours. When the numbing wore off the tooth started hurting again, but Dr. Joe said that it probably would hurt some for a day or two. I took some Advil and eventually it eased up. I worry only because many years ago, I had a root canal and there was a hidden root there that took three visits to find and clean out. But Dr. Joe said that he was sure there were no surprises and that it looked good.

Tonight I went over to see Dick after dinner for about an hour. We miss each other, but know that I have to get my strength back now. Tomorrow will be a really busy day as we are going to Milwaukee, St. Luke's, for Dick's evaluation. It will be cold but is not supposed to be snowing. Today would have been impossible.

I am picking up breakfast from Mc Donald's for us tomorrow. We thought that would be fun. And we need all the fun we can get these days. We will have to have lunch somewhere too. Someway - Somehow.

I put some of the ornaments on the tree today. I am just doing one box at a time. Should be done by Christmas anyway. The nice thing about Christmas is that when it comes, whatever you have done will be enough. After all it is just supposed to be the Birth of Jesus and the peace and joy that He brings. I used to bake a birthday cake for Jesus when the kids were young and we would sing Happy Birthday to Jesus. Just for a reminder.

Have a nice Tuesday and think of us.

Love

Mary

This will be a very short post. It was a very uneventful day.

This morning, Chelsea and I had a short walk right after dawn. Then I finished the outside decorations, dipped the buckeyes and took a nap. I went to see Dick shortly after lunch as it had started to show earlier. A really wet slippery snow and Dick did not want me out driving in it especially after dark.

I spent the afternoon napping and finishing the out of state packages and boxes. They are all ready to be mailed this week as soon as I can get to the post office.

I called both Bret and Bart today. I need to hear my boys voices sometimes. I miss them so much and they are so far away.

Barbara will be having surgery next week. So pray for her.

Outside looks like a fairy tale land of spun silk a white pristine covering over all. So clean and pure.

Now I am tired and will go to bed. Hope I can sleep clear through.


Love

Mary

I was able to stay home most of the day, until after 2PM anyway.

So, Chelsea and I were up at about 6AM as usual. We ate and breakfasted and then I took a nap. I slept for about an hour and a half. I can't seem to get enough naps these days.

After I woke up, I felt pretty good so I mixed and rolled the buckeyes. Everybody can breath a sigh of relief. I have to dip them in the chocolate yet but the hardest part is over. I plan on doing the dipping tomorrow.
That is the last thing I need to do to be able to finish boxes to be sent to the out of staters.

I had lunch at noon then took another nap. See. I told you. I just can't get enough.

When I woke up at about 1:30, I put the lights on the porch. Now I have to figure out how to set the timer. They did not light up tonight so I will have to check in the morning. I left at about 2 to do some shopping and to pick up lettuce at the Pig. They had heads of lettuce for .79. Since it has been as high at 1.99 and is Chelsea's favorite treat, I figured that I had better stock up and got two heads.

Went to see Dick next and we called Leslie and Bill, per previous arrangement. They are doing pretty well, though Bill is having some back problems. The girls were able to spend Thanksgiving together and Nora will be able to come home for Christmas.

Went to church at 4PM so now I can spend most of tomorrow holed up too. I will go to have one meal with Dick. We will decide tonight when I g0 back to bring him his shorts and shirts which are as we speak, in the washing machine. We need to find some shorts that work besides the three pair that we have.

Chelsea will be happy. I will take her with me as I will not stay long. She will be beside herself.

The following was part of a much longer email. I felt it was worth sharing.

"An Angel says, 'Never borrow from the future. If you worry about what may happen tomorrow and it doesn't happen, you have worried in vain. Even if it does happen, you have to worry twice."

That is truly the hardest part. Worrying comes quite easily to me.

WE are supposed to be getting snow and quite a bit of it tonight or maybe tomorrow. I am so grateful for cars and not having to go to work any more. When I had my first job at Citizens Bank of Sheboygan in downtown Sheboygan Falls, I did not drive and had to walk there come rain or snow or sleet because I did not have a driver's license. I did not get my license until I was about 20 years old. I had to take the test three time. The first time, was a disaster. My boyfriend at the time let me use his car. The examiner told me to parallel park. A big mistake, I had never done it before. I proceeded to scrape the side of the car I was parallelling too. The second time was bad but at least no accident occurred. The third time, I took lessons and had Time take me out to practice a lot.

It was embarrassing when the two examiners were arguing about who's turn it was to take me out. Finally one took a deep breath and out we went. I was Perfect. Even to the parallel parking test. There was just enough space. I remembered everything that my teacher had taught me and slid right in there. I passed the test to the amazement of my examiner but have never parallel parked again.

Love

Mary

What a night and what a day.

I went to bed last night at about 8:00PM. Slept really good until about 11Pm. Then Chelsea woke me up because she was sick. So. I cleaned up after her and took her out just in case she needed to either be sick some more or go potty. Too much information? Sorry.

Then she woke me up again at 4AM for her usual trip outside. That worked OK though. I let her go out and then went back to bed until 6AM. Then I was ready to get up. We showered and walked and fed her. Richard and Brenda spent the night. They were not up at 8AM so I fixed a fruit cup and my breakfast and ate. I was just finishing up when they awoke so we had a nice visit while they had their breakfasts.

I left a little after 9 to stop off to see Dick before going to Mom's to help butcher the deer. Bobbie met me there and we had to come back here to pick up the meat slicer so that the steak could be cut more easily. It was a long session because there were four deer that needed to be butchered. A LOT of meat. It was good to see Lee and Cory Carpenter and Jason Karls. We only see them once a year. The Carpenter boy's dad Keith came by too. Always too see him. His wife Shirley, usually walks Mother home from church on Sundays. What a lovely lady she is.

Mom had her physical today. Jeff took her. Dr. Hancock said that she is in very good health. All of her complaints can be attributed to her age.

Shane is here in Wisconsin too with his girlfriend Georgina. She is lovely. Shane is planning on making Wisconsin his home again. It will be nice to have him back in the area.

Jessie, Randy's daughter, and the other lady hunter in our midst, (if you remember, a few years ago she got her first deer. So she is a better hunter that I am.) also helped with the butchering. Can you imagine how long it would have taken without all the help. Dick was a bit upset with me because he did not want me to work that hard. He wants me to stay home tomorrow and rest. I will do that but will go to see him sometime around going to afternoon Mass.

Bobbie and I were so delighted. They gave us a whole share to split because we worked so hard. As neither of us hunted this year, we didn't expect more that a package or two.

I had supper in the dining room at the Center with Dick tonight. It was a turkey Croissant and potato soup with strawberry shortcake for dessert. We enjoy that time together. The residents were happy tonight. Lots of joking and laughter going on. Thanksgiving must have been good for them.

I will be going to bed at exactly 9PM tonight. Not only am I very tired BUT Chelsea is really pestering me trying to get me to go to bed right NOW.

Be warm and safe as November goes away and December comes in. Can you believe that Sunday is the First Sunday of Advent? I will put up my Advent Envelope hanging. I showed you that didn't I? I need to pick up some candy canes for the pockets. Maybe not quite so many as I always had Jim to eat them before and since he and Michelle are moving to Oshkosh in the middle of December, he won't be here to eat them all. But I will have to have some for him.

Take care.


All my love

Mary

Just think. Tomorrow will be Thanksgiving already. I am looking forward to it as Richard and Brenda will be here along with Bobbie and Bill and Jim and Michelle.

Today was rather uncomfortable. My tooth hurt most of the day, not bad but just enough to make me unsettled. I stayed with Dick this morning when he was doing his therapy, then came home for lunch here. I went to Rocky Knoll at about 2PM to sit in on the Amputation Support Group which meets once a month. That was nice. There were three amputees and two spouses besides me. Nice and intimate. I know that they will be a good resource. Scott had his right arm amputated and took it off because his stump was cold. He just slings it over his shoulder if he has to take it out. Quite a sight.

I came home after the meeting to feed Chelsea and give her her meds. Then packed up a supper for myself and went off to the Center. Dick and I had supper in the dining room. That was fun. There was a lot of activity and conversation which makes the meal pleasant.


It is almost time for me to go to bed. I will take my last pennicilon and a pain pill and hope to sleep all night tonight. Last night was not too good.

Here is a Thanksgiving story for you that I received by email from a friend. Enjoy


A young man named John received a parrot as a gift. The parrot had a bad
attitude and an even worse vocabulary. Every word out of the bird's mouth
was rude, obnoxious and laced with profanity. John tried and tried to change
the bird's attitude by consistently saying only polite words, playing soft
music and anything else he could think of to "clean up" the bird's
vocabulary.

Finally, John was fed up and he yelled at the parrot. The parrot yelled
back. John shook the parrot and the parrot got angrier and even ruder. John,
in desperation, threw up his hand, grabbed the bird and put him in the
freezer. For a few minutes the parrot squawked and kicked and screamed. Then
suddenly there was total quiet. Not a peep was heard for over a minute.


Fearing that he'd hurt the parrot, John quickly open the door to the
freezer, the parrot calmly stepped out onto John's outstretched arms and
said, "I believe I may have offended you with my rude language and actions.
I'm sincerely remorseful for my inappropriate transgressions and I fully
intend to do everything I can to correct my rude and unforgivable behavior."


John was stunned at the change in the bird's attitude.

As he was about to ask the parrot what had made such a dramatic change in
his behavior, the bird continued, "May I ask what the turkey did?"

HAPPY THANKSGIVING!

Love and Happy Thanksgiving. We have so much to be thankful for. Now to pray for health.

Love

Mary

Dick and I had a busy morning. I got over to the Center at about 9AM. He went down for therapy at about 9:30. Boy were they hopping down there. Lori had four residents in a circle doing leg lifts like a marching band and then playing catch with a balloon for about a half an hour. Kerry had three residents, including Dick that she was putting through their paces. Dick got all done with his Occupational Therapy which takes almost an hour before our appointment got here.

I had called the Aging and Disability Resource Center and a Kathy Lee came out to answer our questions along with Carrie, the social worker at the Center. We learned a bit form her. She gave us lists of lots of resources and some other transportation guidelines. Until we have our evaluation next Tuesday, we are, however, in a kind of limbo situation. I told Carrie and Dick at this meeting that if the Hyperbaric does not work we are going to try the honey treatment even if Dr. Moreno doesn't have any faith in it. As a matter of fact, I intend to call UW Eau Claire for some more information in any case.

This afternoon, I ran some errands, got a haircut and took a nap. Boy was I ever tired. Last night was somewhat interrupted. I kept waking up. Morning came much too soon, announced by a furry little beast. We are only going out long enough to accomplish the necessities at 5AM. But I take her for a little walk after breakfast and when the sun comes out. My tooth is still giving me trouble, so we don't go TOO far but she gets some of her energy out of her system and is more than ready to sleep when I leave.

Another Hugging thing:

HUGGING IS HEALTHY

It relieves tension
Combats Depression
Reduces stress
Improves Blood circulation
It has no unpleasant side effects.

Love

Mary