Today was a play day. We got up early and were able to do a compression session before I left for the Fireside. I got to Kmart at 8:20AM and the bus was already there. They were early, I was told so I did not feel bad.

I sat with Bobbie on the way down and Bill was right in back of us. We had an easy trip down. The meal was good as usual. We had a wonderful salad, asparagus, scalloped potatoes, baked sirloin and baked mushroom flan. Dessert was REALLY good, A Banana Creme Brulee. Creme Brulee is not usually my favorite, but this was great.

The show was The Rock and the Rabbi, a Christian musical about the relationship between Peter and Jesus based on the Gospel of John. Sometimes Christian Music can be a bit much but I have to say that this was really wonderful. I signed us up to see the second of the trilogy called Witnesses which will be presented next July. It is based on Peter and Paul and the early church. The same people wrote the music and will perform it, so I am sure it will be good.

I was home before 6PM so it was not too long a day but I am very tired.

Chelsea had an exciting day. Our neighbor Dick came to take her out at about noon and then Jim and Michelle took her out at 3PM. But she was sure glad to see me anyway. It WAS almost six and she had not had dinner yet.

Later

Mary

Friday. And a busy one at that. I got a log done and still spent some time to myself, thanks to Jim and Michelle.

Started off this morning with a nice walk for Chelsea and me. When I got back we got Dick hooked up to the sequential thing. We had breakfast and I took a shower.

I did some paper sorting on the desk and some computer work. When I was doing that, I had the opportunity to try the new printer. I was delighted that I had gotten the printer and copier to work but was still baffled by the FAX part.

At 10AM or so I went to my PT. I am still pretty sore, but much better, so Becky gave me a set of exercises that I will do every day to strengthen and perhaps eliminate the pain. We decided that it is probably best if I put off shooting trap for a while as my neck hurts more now than it was which is consistent with the impact of 25 shotgun shots. So I guess I will stick to pistol and just go to the bust up party. I stopped at Kmart on the way home and bought Dick a toothbrush and picked up two bookcases, one for next to Dick and one for the new "sitting room.' We are however going to go through our books and donate a number of them to a book sale, probably next year's at the Plymouth History Museum.

I fixed lunch for Dick and then joined the bank retirees for lunch at Dairy Queen. It had been several weeks so I enjoyed the break. Poor Betty. Three of her trees, nice trees, over forty years old, fell in the big storm last Wednesday. She also found out that she has to have a hip replacement. She had one done 15 years ago but it is wearing out. So we must pray for Betty.

Got home and dressed Dick's wounds and hooked him up again, so we were done when Jim and Michelle came over at 4PM to help us. My friend Kate, sent us sandwiches for supper from the Rotary food stand out at Road America. What a sweetie. She sent them with a neighbor from June Grass Lane who is also a Rotarian.

After we ate our sandwiches, I left. I went to Evans, Mother's and stopped at Kate's to thank her again. I got home at about 7:45 and we all had apple pie for a late dessert.

I can't believe all that Jim and Michelle did for us. They got the fax machine working and then gave me a tutorial on top of cleaning the house for us again. They even cleaned under the fridge and stove tonight. I am so grateful. That is hours of work that I don't have to do and can spend with Dick and taking care of him.

Guess that is about all. Tomorrow I will be going to the Fireside with Bobbie and Bill on Discovery. Going to see The Rock and The Rabbi, a new musical about Jesus and Peter. The word is that the music is really good. At any rate it will be brand new to all of us.

Love

Mary

A full full hot muggy day.

We had to be at the Sheboygan Clinic for an appointment with Dr. Moreno at 8:30AM. THEN, his FIRST patient was a problem and we did not even get into the examination room til after 9:30AM.

Then Dick turned out to be a problem too. Both wounds had to be debrided ( I think I am using the right term) The one on the right foot looks pretty good. Dr. Moreno is pleased that it is pink and healing. The other he just said he has not given up on. Anyway, he cleaned them, dressed them and the nurse wrapped his legs in the four layer ProFor wraps to help keep the swelling down. We will still be doing the sequential compressions three times a day and have to go back to see Dr. Moreno on Monday.

We FINALLY got home at about 11:45AM. We had stopped and picked up a bacon cheeseburger and fries to share for lunch on the way home.

Dr. Siddique's office had called while we were gone. He IS going to have to go through more surgery to put in at least one, maybe more, stints in the arteries in his left leg. He is distressed, that is the procedure where he has to lay flat on his back for 8 hours after the process. He is not happy about that.

Then I went to Joan Kramer's for my Reflexology session. It was wonderful. I came home very relaxed, with smooth hands and painted toe nails. I will go again. I think it will provide some healing for my aches and pains. She found it interesting that she detected more of problem in my LEFT neck and shoulder than my right which we are doing the therapy on, perhaps because the right IS being treated.

This evening I started hooking up the new printer/fax/scanner. I got it to fire up and print the test page. Now I AM having trouble with a couple of questions. I don't know if the PC Modum is hooked up to the phone line or not. If anyone knows, please tell me. I decided to stop because it is past my bed time and I can resume again when I am rested.

I know I will sleep tonight because I am SO tired.

Take care

Mary

Boy did we have storms today. Dick had to be at Sheboygan Memorial at 1PM for his ultra sound. This one took well over an hour. He was not comfortable because he had to be on his back but he said he was nice. The technician DID let him sit up half way through to ease his back pain.

Anyway, it started to rain just as we left the hospital and by the time we hit Highway 23 and it was bad. We passed on police car with the lights on and I saw a car in the ditch. It must have hydroplaned.

We got home alright any way and before the sirens went off. Then the TV said to take cover as some tornado type conditions were in the area. So, Dick and I went into the bathroom and closed the bedroom doors. I was not about to go downstairs without him and that seemed to be the safest spot. We did crossword puzzles until they announced the all clear. A couple of more heavy storms came by after that but none with quite the intensity of the first.

I went grocery shopping this morning and then out to Rhine to shoot a round of trap. I joined the summer league. So far it does not seem to have done any damage to my arm or shoulder. We will just have to see. I shot a 13. Which is not too bad for me.

So. It was a busy day. I did tell you that we had the carpet cleaned yesterday. It looks nice. So this evening, Chelsea threw up. Wouldn't you know. I was able to clean it right away so there is no damage, but what a little jerk is she.


A little summer poem.

The music from summer concerts

Floats over strawberry fields

Sounding red and green and yellow,

Every bit as exciting as

A vacation to exotic places.

Sleep tight

Mary

The day is almost over. It is 7:30PM and I am winding down. We had a rather busy day. I am hoping that Dick wakes up in about an hour so that we can get one more sequential compression on his legs. He went to bed because he was so tired.

Got up early this morning. My side and arm were uncomfortable so it seemed better to be up an moving. I do feel better if I am busy. Chelsea and I did have a nice walk. When we got back, I filled the birdbath and took out the trash.

Then I fixed breakfast for us and took a shower before heading to the Clinic for my Physical Therapy. Becky had me doing some different exercises today. Tomorrow I am going to try to shoot some trap. There is a summer league at Rhine. I shot in it last year and the year before and really liked it. I do not need to find a team for this one. And am just shooting against myself. Becky said that the only way to find out if it is a problem is to try. Nancy is going to meet me out there too and we will shoot some pistol since the place is open.

When I got home from PT, the carpet cleaners were already here and cleaning away. They finished just before lunch. So, I fixed lunch and tried to rest afterwards. It is sometimes just too hard in the middle of the day.

I got a haircut at 2:30 and then was really done for the day. All I had to do this afternoon was to change Dick's dressings and hook him up to the machine.

I will be going for a Reflexology session either this Thursday or next Thursday, depending on Dick's doctor appointments. I am really looking forward to that. (The reflexology, not the doctor appointments.)

It was really hot today. The temps are down to 83, so, I think I will go sit on the deck for just a bit befoe it gets too dark.


Harry Truman said:

'My choice early in life was either to be a piano player in a whorehouse or a politician. And to tell the truth, there's hardly any difference. I, for one, believe the piano player job to be much more honorable than current politicians.'

Would that we had some politicians like him around today.

Mary

Mondays usually are OK. Today was no exception. At least the morning. I had Bible Study at Blessed Trinity. There were six of us. The readings were on the qualities of God which are also the qualities of a good leader. They seemed to also stress the fact that we have to know when to ask for help and to look for the things that God sends to help us. Sometimes it is hard to recognize the help that is there and to admit that we are not in this all alone.

Had a nice visit with Mom. When I got there, her cleaning lady was cleaning and Mom was sitting on the porch. It was a lovely day, so we just decided to stay out there for our visit. I brought her some cheesecake. I will be helping her choose a binding for the quilt she has just finished. She thinks that from now on, at least for a while, she will just make crazy quilt squares when she feels like creating. I told her that I have trouble with crazy quilt. I think backwards and CONSTANTLY have to tear out and try again.

Got home at about 11:30 and hooked Dick up to his sequential compression machine. We were expecting Rachel, the VNA, at 1:00 but she never came or called. We wonder if we misunderstood.

Anyway, I had a doctor appointment with Dr. Ganju here in Plymouth. He said that I do have cysts on my kidneys but they are small and he can't really do anything about them. At least I know that I am not crazy, the discomfort is caused by something. I also know that it is nothing serious apparently. Perhaps, the reflexology that I am going to have will help the discomfort. The only thing he could suggest was Tylenol, unless it gets much worse. It will have to get a LOT worse before I will spend any more precious dollars on it.

The rest of the day was very quiet. I sat our on the deck for a while and read. Our deck is just beautiful and very restful. I planted a hummingbird pot with a fuchsia, begonias and sweet potato vines. It is blooming and the fuchsias are gorgeous. Next year I will get more fuchsias. They are SO gorgeous and obviously do well back there between the trees and the house. Everything else is doing well and I even have buds on the bean plants.

We had leftovers for dinner which was very easy. Now, I hooked Dick up again and as soon as he is done will hit the bed. I am really tired.

A thought for today, Graydon Carter, editor of Vanity Fair Magazine, who objected to the war in Iraq before it began said the following about Bush. He wrote, "I see none of the worry lines that should be etched in the face of a man taking the greatest military power ever assembled to war."

Take Care and be well.

Mary

A quiet Sunday mostly. I got up at 6:15Pm and Chelsea and I went for our walk. It was not the best night for me but I slept pretty good towards morning. Some day I may be able to sleep myself out.

We got Dick on the sequential compression machine the three times today. As usual the last one was a little shorter than the hour because he just gets so uncomfortable. I changed all his dressings this afternoon and we got his hair washed too so it was a successful day.

At about 11AM, I went to Rhine Plymouth to help out with the Pig Roast/Lewis Shoot. I stayed for two hours. That was as long as I felt good about leaving Dick alone. It was a nice break for me. I helped dish up the food. Jerry Coenen and Doc both asked about Bobbie. Jerry said that I should tell her that her year is "coming up" and he is looking forward to her coming back to the club. We do hope that she does come back.

I am going to try the summer trap league on Wednesday. Becky, the PT, says that if I want to shoot, the only way to find out if it will hurt is to try. So I will. Nancy Roehre is going to meet me out there at 10AM and we will also shoot some pistol. We shot on Friday and did pretty good considering that we had not shot for several weeks now.

I brought dinner home for Dick and I. Pork sandwiches, beans, German potato salad, coleslaw and desserts. WOW. Was it good and we have enough for another meal too.

This will be another busy week. Tuesday we are getting the carpet cleaned. I am going to take all the small stuff out into the garage tomorrow. Schroeder's said they will move the big stuff. I am so glad.

Someone named William Carlos Williams said, "In summer, the song sings itself."

Have a good summer week.

Mary