A marvelous day. For me at least.

We left from the KMart Parking Lot at 8:30AM for the Fireside to see Anything Goes. Bobbie and Bill went too. So it was extra special.

We had as usual, a wonderful meal, an Asian Salad, Fresh Breads, Tenderloin of beef on toast, green beans, a potato croquette and a delicious chocolate dessert.

Then the play, Anything Goes. The Fireside ALWAYS puts on a good production and this was even better than most. The music and dancing just blew us away. Anything Goes is an OLD Broadway musical with such memorable music as You're the Tops and Anything Goes itself.
There was a lot of tap which one does not see too much any more and they were GOOD.

An uneventful drive and we were home just when they said we would be.

I was so glad that Dick came along this time. He as missed to much. He has mixed feelings. He loved the show, the food and the company but the trip was hard on him. The next one is in June and hopefully we will be done with all the leg procedures AND he will be steadier on his feet. Barefoot in the Park is next and we both want to see that too.

That was our day.

Hope you had as good a one as we did

Love

Mary

Wow. This day has been a whirlwind.

I woke up real early because my back hurt. When I am in bed that long that sometimes happens. SO. I just let Chelsea out the garage door, for her initial business. She was a bit upset with me because it was lightening and thundering but I made her stay out until she was done.

We did go for a walk a bit later. I found that I got really tired and kind of out of breath so we turned back earlier than she wanted to. Except for that initial weakness and a bit of a sore throat, I am no worse for wear. I will be relieved when I get my clean bill of health on the biopsies. I expect clean bills because I have had no symptoms of any problems and this was just a standard test.

Dick had his second physical therapy session this morning. He is doing very well. We had a young attractive lady named Dara putting him through his paces today.

We were able to get a shower for Dick in between this appointment and the procedure with Dr. Siddique. Good thing because he is not supposed to get the leg that was worked on wet for a week. It is going to be a saran wrap event and we will not attempt it for at least a couple of days. This procedure was called a Stab Phlebectomy. Sounds pretty serious which it isn't BUT they do stab and then remove veins. Dr. Siddique did 18 "pokes" and removed at least 18 pieces of vein. So it was not the easiest of the procedures. But not the worst either. We got home at about 2:30 and we both rested

I actually feel better tonight than I did this morning though I am really tired.

Jim and Michelle took us out for dinner tonight to thank us for watching their Bootsie for them. We needed a visit. We found out that their home phone is just not ringing. I was getting a bit frustrated because I would call after I had heard their car and not get an answer so I would either leave a message on her cell or an email or both. They will now check as to why the phone is not ringing. That is not a good thing. I had told Dick that it would do no good to call them if we REALLY needed them if the phone doesn't ring.

We had a lovely dinner at the Wilderness AND found out that they are now serving breakfast so Dick and I can try them next Wednesday. We are trying to find a place besides Mc Donalds that has a decent no smoking area. There is NOTHING.

When we got home Dick invited them to play a game of hearts with us. that was fun. Jim whipped us all royally.

He is feeling pretty good. A little sore in the throat and his taste buds are not fully reawakened BUT he is doing fine.

Dick and I are going to the Fireside tomorrow. At least I hope we are both going. Dick wants to but is waiting to see how he feels in the morning. I am SO looking forward to spending a day with him at FUN. Bobbie and Bill are also going to this show - Anything Goes. I can spend the $10. coupon I won for stumping the Band at the last show with "Whiskey on a Sunday". Jim and Michelle will help our Chelsea by letting her out during the day and feeding her at about 5PM. She CAN make it but she is old and if we have a relief for her we like to provide it.

I am glad that this week is over. Next week is just as busy.

Take care and know that I pray for you all every day.

Love

Mary

This will be really short because I am fading fast.

Bobbie came over this morning and drove Dick and me to the Plymouth Hospital for my colonostomy/gastroscopy. I must have really dehydrated because I got really weak in the shower and had to be quick and lie down until we left.

The procedures went very well. Dr. Sharon found three polyps which he removed and did some biopsies on my esophagus. We will have the results of those in about a week. I am not too concerned as all has been pretty well in there for some time.

Then Dick, Bobbie and I went to lunch at Antoinettes. I was then exhausted and slept for a couple of hours. I think I tried to stay awake too long this afternoon so will head to bed soon.

I also have a sore throat either from the tube or the biopsies and want to sleep it off.

Chelsea keeps bugging me and it is raining out there so I hate taking her out. However, I hate the whining more. Now I will leave it up to Dick when I go to bed.

Pray that my throat is better tomorrow.

Love

Mary

We have been quite occupied today. Started out with the Chelsea walk at 6:30AM.

Then Dick and I drove to the Family Restaurant for breakfast. It was my last meal until tomorrow after my colonoscopy is over. I was able to have eggs and white bread. We are about to give up on the Family Restaurant. We like their food and their waitstaff, BUT it is a smoky place. Sometimes it is OK, but if they get a gang at their counter, which is right in the non smoking section, it is just gaggy. I don't know what it is about Plymouth. They don't have much for breakfast and even less that is non smoking.

Then we did our grocery shopping and came home. Dick took his nap then. He fixed all his own meals today so I don't have to look at food. Chelsea feels that she is being cheated because whenever ONE of us eats she expects the other to eat too.

Dick had his first physical therapy session today. It went quite well. He is definitely, as he puts it, wobbly. He was put through several tests and then several exercises. The idea is to increase his ability to maintain balance. It was quite interesting. We are scheduled for three weeks of three sessions each.

Then home again. I am now in the middle of "getting empty" for the procedure tomorrow, so I am not too happy. But this too will pass. Bad choice of words.

Walking this morning I was delighted to see worms all over the road. I think I have mentioned before that I have come to know that this is a final sign of spring. After the first few spring rains, the worms come up out of the freshly thawed earth to avoid drowning. I wrote a haiku about this some time ago that goes like this.

Rain soaking the dirt
Drives earthworms up from the deep
Drowning the sluggards.

This provides a true feast for the robins who get very fat this time of year.

Love

Mary

It was a chilly rainy day. Fortunately it did not rain this morning, so Chelsea and I had a really lovely walk. We went around the park for the first time and came through the back yard. I need to do some work on that last slope for the times that it is wet and slippery but we did just fine. She was a happy little girl.

We had to be at the Sheboygan Clinic for Dick's coagulation check. He is even lower than last week, which is OK for the procedure he will have on Friday bit Sue changed his dosage so we hope he is back within the parameters when he is tested next Tuesday.

On your way back to Plymouth, we stopped at my cousin Brian Ayers to pick up my watch. He is a jeweler. Dick had given my a watch that was way to big and I had him take out some links so I can wear it. He took out a lot and it is just fine. I think he thought he should have taken out a couple more but I am happy. He says my wrists are like a 16 year old. If nothing else is skinny, my wrists are. Anyway, I gave him a bottle of our Gewertiziminer wine. He did not charge me. What a dear. It is nice having cousins who are wonderful. His daughter got married, actually renewed her vows in the Catholic church this past weekend. Mother went to the dinner and reception. He was so glad that she was there. We marveled at our mothers. His Mom, Kathleen, is my mother's younger sister and they are just spectacular. We are SO lucky.

Next, Dick had his annual appointment with Dr. Cheryl Ziegler, the eye doctor. He had some eyelashes that were brushing on his eye and needs one lens corrected. She is such a good doctor. I am so glad that we found her.

The rest of the day was at home. We both napped and now we are working on getting his shower and his legs taken care of. I am going to go over to feed Boots soon and spend an hour with him. Jim and Michelle sent me an e-mail that they are in Chicago this evening and need someone to take care of him tonight and tomorrow morning. He is a sweet kitty and I am glad to spend time with him.

Guess that is all for now. We had scalloped potatoes and ham, green beans and banana pudding with strawberries for supper.

Tomorrow I have to fast for my colonoscopy. No fun. But I can have breakfast. Eggs and Toast. So I will.

Have a nice day.

Mary

This has been a day and a half.

I got up at 6:30, walked Chelsea. Went to Bible Study at 9:30. Then over to visit Mother and take her some scalloped potatoes and friendship bread. Then I drove to Kewaskum to have lunch with Gail McAleese, a CWI person to give her the Celtic Women Banner and some other stuff for her to have for the table we have signed up for at the Irish Center in Milwaukee this Saturday.

Then to Walgreens to pick up the Fleet that I need on Wednesday to get ready for my Colonoscopy and Gastroscopy on Thursday. WOW.

Wouldn't you think that is enough. But OH NO. Silly me, I put all of THAT on the first Monday of the month when the Rhine Plymouth meeting takes place at 7PM So here I am at 9:45 writing to You All. I am also trying to get a dumb thing off of my computer that I was silly enough to let in. I am hoping that Norton will take care of it and am running a whole scan. Pray that it will.

I won't bother you any more tonight. Except to tell you a cute saying that I got in an email. You have heard of a "flock of sheep" or a "pod of whales" or a "gaggle of geese"? How about a PADDLE of DUCKS!

I love it.

Mary

Another perfectly loverly day. It was warm. All the snow seems to be gone, except for the last small hills that remain from the mountains that the snow plowing left.

Chelsea and I had a nice walk this morning. Then I went to the 8AM mass. I was Eucharistic Minister this morning. That is always such a privilege. I filled up the tank on my way home so am set for the week.

I spent the day baking and resting. A pleasant way to spend a Sunday. I made Friendship Bread. Then when I was talking to Kate about it I realized that I forgot to put the instant pudding in it. We tasted it and it seems just fine so I am not going to worry about it. I made a double batch and will be able to share it at the Tea during our Celtic Spring Fling.

I also made the homemake banana cream pudding that I promised Jim for during his healing. Then I have been unable to reach them. I saw them leave sometime this morning and did not hear the car come home though it must have. I tried calling but got no answer so I left a message on her cell but did not get a reply from that either. So I will try again tomorrow. He has to be careful what he eats until he heals. I remember a soup I used to fix for the boys that they loved. Egg Drop Soup. I would just heat a can of broth or bullion nice and hot. Then beat an egg in a cup and swirl it into the hot broth and cook til soft cooked. Tasty and healthy.

We had scalloped potatoes and ham for supper with pudding and strawberries for dessert. My, we do live like royalty.

A busy week looms ahead. Dick is still feeling pretty good after the most recent procedure so we think we are on the home stretch.

Thanks for all your prayers and please keep remembering.


Love

Mary