Today is Holy Thursday. It was COLD this morning when we went for our walk. Fortunately, Chelsea wanted to cut through the park before we finished the whole trek around the condo complex which cut the walk short and then I turned her around again because the wind was so cold that I didn't like it. We are supposed to have this cold weather at least through the weekend. It was in the 20s this morning and did not get over the 30s all day. It felt a bit warmer late this afternoon because the wind died down and the sun came out.

There are some little bulb plants blooming in the planter in front of our front door. I thought that they might be scillas because they seemed little and were coming out blue but not some of the flowers are white and gold or orange so I am confused. I believe the other bulb plants are tulips. Only time will tell.

We had lost our internet connection yesterday and called Time Warner for a repairman. They scheduled one for today. Then the connection came back on. BUT, we didn't cancel and he came anyway. He checked everything out, tightened things up and did a couple of things to give us more power or something. Hopefully this will stop the outages.

This afternoon, Dick had to go the the Sheboygan Clinic to have his legs wrapped again. Darlene did it. She did a nice efficient job. We hope that this will help continue the healing. He had an appointment with Dr. Sharon, his new primary physician, on Monday. That way, his nurse can unwrap them and see how they work and Dr. Sharon can see how Dick's legs look. Last time, the wraps did not seem to do as well as they had done previously. So, I won't be putting the salve and bandages on until Monday night.

Tonight is Holy Thursday, so I went to St. John's for the Holy Thursday service. It was very warm and nice. The traditional choir sang. I sat with my friend Joanne Miley and saw Maryanne Robinson and Kate Herman after the service. Tomorrow, I will go to the Good Friday Service at 1:00PM. Dick and I will have our main meal at noon because I also have to work at Rhine in the evening.

I don't know who to credit the following to. I have received it a couple of times in emails. Perhaps you have seen it also, but it is beautiful and I do surely WISH YOU ENOUGH.

I wish you enough sun to keep your attitude bright no matter how gray the day may appear.

I wish you enough rain to appreciate the sun even more.

I wish you enough happiness to keep your spirit alive and everlasting.

I wish you enough pain so that even the smallest of joys in life may appear bigger.

I wish you enough gain to satisfy your wanting.

I wish you enough loss to appreciate all that you possess.

I wish you enough hellos to get you through the final good-bye.

Mary

Just for fun. A Peace Rose with an opening bud.

As Winnie the Pooh or was it Christopher Robin said "It was a blustery day." There were flurries most of the day and I don't think it ever even reached 30 degrees. The wind was not at my back when Chelsea and I went for our walk. She loved it and even found frost here and there to roll in and rub her belly. But I am tall enough that the wind was holding me back and my ears got cold through my cap. Needless to say we only walked for about a half an hour. Too long actually.

Dick and I went to Woodlake. He kind of wanted to get meat for raw beef sandwiches but changed his mind because he couldn't get exactly what he wanted. But I got some tea and chorizo and a nice fresh loaf of half and half so the trip was not in vain. We also had breakfast at the Parkview in Sheboygan Falls and I stopped at Mother's to pick up some Mary Kay that my friend Barb had dropped off there. Mom was making Hot Cross Buns. She said that she had been disappointed that she was too weak to make her Christmas Stollen. So she is baking Hot Cross Buns which she usually makes every Easter. I told her it was certainly a good day for it. Nothing like fresh bakery in the oven on a blustery day.

I forgot to tell you yesterday that Chelsea and I saw a deer, a doe, at the bottom of Tall Grass Lane yesterday morning. She was standing real still between two of the units thinking that Chelsea and I wouldn't see her. Suddenly Chelsea did. I could see Chelsea suddenly get really alert and hunch her little shoulders in excitement. Then she let out one YIP and the doe took off like a shot. Where are they when I am out in the Kettles at my stand.

I tried to sleep today but it didn't work as I got too uncomfortable. My hope is that I will be tired enough tonight to get to sleep before I start hurting again.

I called Dick and Brenda tonight and they are going to help us solve some of our computer problems. Thank God! We are so grateful.

We had chili for supper tonight. I told you all that you could come, you know. It sure is good. And I found out that it is impossible to make a small batch of it.

Almost Easter already. We shop tomorrow and I am getting extra eggs. I like to die them using natural dyes. Limits the number of colors, but they are pretty and fun to do.

Have a great Thursday. I hope it is warmer and doesn't snow.

Love

Mary

Poor Chelsea had quite a night last night. The thunder sent her down into the depths of the basement to hide. We lucked out this morning though. There was a respite from the rain just at the time we were ready to walk and it was not too cold. SO we went for quite a good walk. We did not go down to the big part of the park because I could see lakes in the part near highland and did not particularly want to swim the last few hundred yards.

This morning I had a gastroscopy done. Dr. Murthy was hoping that we could find out the reason my stomach hurts. They did not find anything out of the ordinary but did biopsy the esphagus for some reason. I see Dr. Murthy next Tuesday and he will explore other reasons for the discomfort. In the meantime I will keep taking antacids and watching when and what I eat.

I rested most of the rest of the day.

My computer is driving me crazy. Now I can't print and can't adjust the sound. I think it has something to do with the System set up as I have been getting odd windows when I boot, but the things I have done to correct them are not helping. I guess me and the computer do not think alike. I wish I had taken some classes in computers. I do understand when things are explained to me and can usually correct the SAME problem, but something new comes along and I think either my logic or the computers is warped.

We also have this new backup but neither Dick nor I know how to use the darn thing. I am too tired tonight to try to figure anything else out. So. I won't.

Have a nice Wednesday. Tomorrow I get to stay home except that we are out of gauze for Dick's dressings so I will have to zip on over to Walgreens.

Love

Mary

I turned out to be a rather pleasant day, all day. A storm is supposed to be coming in tonight but I didn't see any signs of it as of yet. Chelsea really zipped along today. There is a new condo going up on Cattail Lane. I think it might be the last lot in the complex except for those two singles that are proposed for the land in front of us. I sure hope we can convince the builder that building on that would be a mistake. I really have NO idea where they would go with snow without that area. It was full and high after the big storms this February.

Bible study this morning. Tom and Kathy Keyes are back. We are so glad to see them home safe and sound. They spend a good portion of the winter in Texas near their son. I am sure Joe is glad to have another guy to add some input. Last week we had a question as to whether we to are the "suffering servant" referred to in Isaiah 50:1-4. Because of the Passion which was read and spoken about the priest did not even mention any other readings but the gospel. Maybe, if I see Fr. Van Beeck, I will ask him.

Then I stopped at Mom's after the study. She had and has some banking for me to take care of. Jeff was coming this afternoon to do some yard work for her. We had Bobbie check to see if it is too soon to uncover the roses and came to the conclusion that it is not.

The rest of the day was quiet until this evening when I went to the Rhine meeting. It was a bit long but we had a lot to discuss with taxes and insurance questions and also proposed improvements.

Now it is evening and time to settle down for the night.

My friend Janet sent me a really funny email that I will share with you.

Subject: Wine vs Water

It has been scientifically proven that if we drink 1 liter of water
each day, at the end of the year we would have absorbed more than
1 kilo of Escherichia coli (E. coli) bacteria found in feces.
In other words, we are consuming 1 kilo of Poop.

However, we do not run that risk when drinking wine (or rum, whiskey,
beer or other liquor) because alcohol has to go through a purification
process of boiling, filtering and/or fermenting.

WATER = POOP

WINE = HEALTH

Ergo: It is better to drink wine and talk stupid than to drink water
and be full of crap. There is no need to thank me for this valuable
information;

I am doing it as a public service.

This afternoon, I went out to put some cow manure on to the rhubarb. (I remembered, Bobbie) For some reason, It reminded me of my Grandma Deeley and my Dad.

Dad was quite a gardener. And Grandma was too and she loved me and used to like to give me little gifts. One year she gave me this set of seeds that were all named Biblically. There was a St. Joseph's Staff and even more important, Mary's Thistle. Dad helped me plant them and they did reasonably well that first year. After that, Mary's Thistle appeared every year. Dad came to look for it and would get rid of all but one. It was a large thistle with a prickly leaves crossing smooth leaves. Quit pretty but really a pest. I wonder if the new owners still are "blessed" with it.





Love

Mary

Am I every embarrassed and relieved. On Friday, I was trying to trade work weekends at Rhine. For some reason or other, I thought that I was working the weekend of April 20 -22. That is the weekend that I am going to Galena. Today, I went to check which teams would be OK to trade with and realized that I work NEXT weekend, which is just fine. Boy am I glad I didn't find anyone who COULD trade.

I went to Mass in Falls. I think I mentioned that I was going to. Mother was really glad that I was there. I suggested that she go over with her walker to get the practice. We sat in the back and I brought her communion so she didn't have to walk up to the front without support. She has decided that if she DOES go alone, she will sit in the front so they can just bring communion to her. A friend, Dorothy Walsh, does that so Mother finds it acceptable.

It was Palm Sunday, so most of the congregation met in the church hall and processed into church at the beginning of mass. I took our palms and joined the crowd downstairs so we could have them blessed while Mother waited upstairs. It is a long Mass with both the blessing of palms AND the reading of the Passion so we weren't back to Mother's until almost noon.

Then, I went home by way of Hunters Glen so that I could run the water and flush the toilets. There is a showing tomorrow morning at 8:30AM. Kind of early, I hope that is a good sign. I decided to take the pot off the deck that I have wanted. It was full of water. I managed to get it off the deck and down the stairs with just a few splashes on the pants and shoes and dumped the excess water out of the bottom. Just then our neighbor, Mary Yurk, from across the street came over to talk for a bit and she helped me get it into the car. I also took two smaller ones so the only pots left on the deck are the real big ones. It seems wise to take the rest as the one rotten offer we got indicated that they wanted stuff hauled away and I got the impression that the pots might have been part of that. On the way home, the big pot toppled gently over and dumped dirt out. SO when I got home, I had to vacuum and wipe down the back of the Santa Fe. It cleaned up just fine.

We had chili for dinner tonight. Mine this time and it is really good. You still can partake you know. I think we will be having it again on Wednesday.

I watched CatMinster on the Game Show Network. It is supposed to be the Westminster of Cat Shows. Saw some real ugly and some really great cats. There was a beautiful Manx. It had no tail at all but is built much like our Roxie.

I sent a poem in to Prairie Home Companion for a poetry contest. Mine did not win. But I listened to SOME of the show today between chores. You can read the winning poems at prairiehome.publicradio.org. and I will share mine with you. Garrison said he had over 2000 entries. He also told the story of a research librarian who is writing a novel and intends to sell it and retire somewhere on the coast of Maine.

Here is my poem

DRESSED IN DRAB

Spring enters quietly dressed in drab

Trying to sneak past Old Man Winter

Who has become old and blind

And he still causes havoc in his dying days

Trying to sneak past Old Man Winter

She is young and full of frolic

And he still causes havoc in his dying days

Because he knows he cannot win

She is young and full of frolic

She tucks fresh life under her shawl

Because he knows he cannot win

She slips past him with gentle power.

She tucks fresh life under her shawl

Who has become old and blind

She slips past him with gentle power

Spring enters quietly dressed in drab.

Have a good week

Mary

For such an unscheduled day, it turned out to be quite busy after all.

I slept until 6:30AM. Chelsea and I had a very nice long walk. Then I just kind of caught up on things. I made a pot of chili for Sunday's dinner. I tried to make it small but it is still most of a big pot full so we will be eating chili for quite a while. Again, I invite you all over for dinner if you want some. Dick says I sure would be surprised if a bunch of people did show up, but I would love it. I do like to feed people.

I was hungry for bratwurst. We did not have a fryer, so I went over to WalMart and bought one. They put it all together for me and everything. I cooked up about a half a dozen brats and a couple of hamburgers so I will be way ahead on meals this week.

Tomorrow I am going to go to the 10:30AM Mass in Sheboygan Falls so I can walk over with Mother. Randy and Donna are out of town and she kind of hinted that she is a bit nervous about walking by herself. So I will go there tomorrow. I can stop at Hunters Glen on the way home. There is going to be a showing on Monday Morning at 8:30AM. Hope it is something serious.

Mom and I were telling Donna about Tim when he was a little boy. We were talking about cleaning our plates. She had told Tim that he couldn't leave the table until he cleaned his plate. He sat at the table for quite a while as she was cleaning up the kitchen. Then he called her and she looked and saw the clean plate so she said he could leave. Then when she cleared his plate off the table, neatly arranged under the plate was all the food.



Tomorrow is April 1st already. April Fools Day.

Guess that is all for now.


Love

Mary

Another day that was supposed to be in the 50s but never got above the 40s and it was damp and chilly.

Actually it was quite nice when Chelsea and I walked but it went downhill from there on. She did not pick up any new burdocks today.

After I cleaned the kitchen this morning and cleaned my desk. Had my usual lunch at the Dairy Queen. I just had a cup of soup though because Dick and I had decided to go for dinner to St. John's again. And we went REALLY early. We left here at 4PM. It is a nummy fish fry. I am sure glad that Dick got well enough that we could go before Lent was over. Otherwise we would have had to wait until next year.

After we got home, I went out to Rhine to shoot pistol league again. I am STILL not up to what I was doing, but felt a bit more in control. It will come back. On St. Patrick's Day, I ran into a friend, Nancy Roehre, who said she would like to go with me sometime. I think after Easter, I will see if she would like to join me. She would like to see if she likes it.

I watched Ghost Whisperer tonight and now am winding down for the night. I sure do like Ghost Whisperer.

Chelsea is really a dirty little girl. I have decided that she will get a bath late next week so she can be clean for Easter when she goes to visit the "Goddess". We are having Easter Dinner at Bobbie and Bill's house. I hope that my kitties will come out to see me. Last time Roxie was kind of friendly but our Oscar ran away from me. He was always my biggest cuddler too. I sure do miss him.

Did I tell you that I went for a check up with a new doctor, Dr. Murthy, yesterday. He seems very nice. Anyway, he told me that when he first came here, he lived in Tall Grass. I told him that I don't have my kitties and that I miss them and he said, just like everybody else, that I should just get them and not tell anybody.

"Whose cruel idea was it for the word "Lisp" to have and "S" in it?"

After lunch I went to three local stores to find cow manure to put on the rhubarb. Walmart had it delivered, but not available without searching it out on the parking lot and dragging it to the checkout. KMart does not have any yet and Moraine Gardens was closed. What a waste of time.

I found some blueberries in the freezer so I made scones and cookies. I do love to bake, come by and I will share.

Love

Mary

Weather was strange today. It was cloudy and kind of damp this morning, but got up to 55 degrees this afternoon and the sun was shining. Chelsea and I cut our walk a little short today because, she sat on some burdocks and got a big old clump of them between her legs under her tail. Then I had a terrible time getting her to hold still and not sit on them so I could cut them out. She is starting to look a bit patchy because I keep cutting little clumps of hair entwined in those awful burs out of her. Poor Baby is very confused.

We sent to the Family Restaurant for breakfast and then to the Pig for our weekly grocery shopping. We got home at about 9:30 or so and I had time to clean the bathrooms AND play with the Roombas. I have one of them working and will use it downstairs once a week or so.

The dishwasher stopped working on Monday so I had called a local repairman. He got delayed yesterday but was able to make it today. He replaced a fried wire and it is just fine. He also tried to help us clear the vent to the clothes dryer but was unable to complete it because he can't get to the beginning. He suggested that we call one of those services that blow out heater and a/C vents. He did however shorten the vent from the dryer to the wall which was WAY too long. That in itself might help.

We had to get more horse wrappings to hold on the dressings on Dick's feet so we zipped over to Fleet Farm. I also got more bird seed. NOW, I have to try to figure out a way to keep the silly old piggy squirrel from eating all the good stuff. I filled the feeder and the next thing I know, he was draped over the feeder and stayed there for ages just chowing.

I am so grateful. I have been unable to use the new server that Jim and Michelle installed because I could not send any messages OUT on it. Dick and Brenda called tonight and walked me through a fix. Brenda REALLY knows Thunderbird so it went really smoothly. They also explained that I don't have to maintain Google AND Thunderbird which was wearing me out. I only have to check G-mail in Google occasionally to be sure that nothing ends up in junk that shouldn't be there. Then we had a fun visit. This weekend is Brenda's birthday and they are going away for four days to rest and play and jell.

Guess that is all the news. Can an atheist get insurance against acts of God?

Love

Mary

It turned cold today. And it rained just a bit. Chelsea took a shortcut herself on her walk this morning. A good thing since I did sleep a bit late and we had to be at the Sheboygan Clinic at 8:30AM for Dick's blood test. He was a little high this time but we don't need to be too alarmed. The count is supposed to be between 2 and 3 and he tested at 3.1. Sue adjusted his meds a bit and we will see how things are in two weeks.

The dishwasher is not working. I called a repairman who was supposed to be here between 11 and 12. He called at about 1:00 and apologized. He had run an hour behind and asked to reschedule, so we are set for between 11 and 12 tomorrow. If that doesn't work, we will go back to Bitter Neuman, I called this guy because he is a local Plymouth guy and Hill and Bien recommended him.

I went over to my friend Kate's house today for tea and to drop off a copy of the Blessed Trinity Angelus, the quarterly newsletter. She and a committee are thinking of starting a newsletter for St. Johns and she thought seeing a working one would help. We had the nicest time. She and her husband Ron bought one of the beautiful houses on Collins Street that were owned by all the people who WERE in the developing days of Plymouth. This was built by people who owned the brewery and lots of farmland years go. She is interested in Celtic Women and wants to go to the Galena event. This is great because I won't have to drive alone.

I also found out that my friend Cindy Matyi is having her art exhibit shown at Mineral Point during that time, so I can stop and see it on my way home.

Mother, Donna and I went out to dinner and to the Sheboygan Theater play tonight. Dick just wasn't up to sitting in that confined place for that long yet. Donna was delighted to come and we three ladies had a great time. We went to Richards for dinner. The wait staff was Rosie Mielke and another gal who is the sister of one of my classmates. I found out that Nancy, my classmate, is the mother in law of one of the members of the band Beef Tea, who played at 52 Stafford on St. Patrick's Day. Now - if you got that you are one of MINE!!!

The play was well done and charming. Cheaper by the Dozen is a great story. If you haven't read it you should and the first movie was great. Anyway. We loved it. Donna said that I was probably lucky that Dick didn't come. I would have been a wreck trying to get two of them with canes down to the seats. There is quite a flight of stairs. But we do have great seats.

I ran into my hairdresser, Maria and her fiance, and a classmate, Norm Fenner during intermission when I bought a maroon sweatshirt with The Diary of Anne Frank on it in silver for ONLY six bucks. Such a deal and I do have trouble passing up a deal.

That was the day. Pretty good. I am glad it is done now because I am tired and Chelsea is nagging me to go to bed.

Quote from Larry the Cable Guy

"Inside every older person is a younger person wondering 'What the heck happened?' "

Enjoy and run into tomorrow like it really counts.

Love
Mary

Chelsea had a very exciting day today. When we went for our walk it was still pretty warm and we just did the whole thing. She pranced along really good and so did I.

Then at about 9:00AM I picked up that prescription for Mom and took it right over to Falls for her and let Chelsea ride along. That doggy does like her rides and Mother is always glad to see her. Mom had already taken a regular Tylenol but as I told her it was probably just as well. Today she was going to the Senior Meals at the grade school and the prescription MAY make her drowsy. Best to find that out when she is going to be home. I hope she tried one this afternoon or evening.

Chelsea's final excitement was a thunderstorm. Boy was she unhappy. All of a sudden a big boom of thunder followed by heavy rain sent her hopping. It did not last too long though. Just enough to wet everything and fill the birdbath.

Dick and I worked on a household project today which still needs work but is getting there. Dick also got the wine up on the bench so we can rack it tomorrow. We have pretty well decided that unless we can figure out a way to get those five gallon jugs up and down from the bench, we will have to give up the big batches of wine.

Tomorrow will be busy. We start early with a finger blood test by Sue for Dick at 8:30AM in Sheboygan. After the 6 count we had two weeks ago, which adjusted so quickly, I hope it has stayed where it belongs.

Have a good Wednesday.

A friend sent me this one. I was sure surprised and pleased that it works.

If you hold down the Ctrl key on your key board and turn the small wheel

in the middle of your mouse, the print size will change - it will either get

larger or smaller - depending on which way you turn the wheel.

Mary

It was and still is very unseasonably warm today. It is currently still 67 degrees out there. They say rain and a cool front are on the way but it is supposed to drop down only to the 40s which is much more normal for March in Wisconsin. Chelsea was very pleased that I am still willing to keep on a truckin'. We saw two bunnies and a squirrel today which she finds quite exciting.

Went to Bible Study. There were just 5 of us today but we kept it lively. We are coming down to the last weeks of lent now. The first reading today was from Isaiah. It spoke of the fact that the Israelites were supposed to be the voice of the Lord. We wonder if this is expected of us. There seem to be often both sides of an issue given as commands. Jesus also says that we are to submit or turn the other cheek. Does this just apply to us or what. We want to see what the two priests will have to say on Sunday and compare notes.

Then I went over to Mom's. She is still having pain in her right leg. The Tylenol is not helping so we called Dr. Hancock's nurse. She checked with Dr. Hancock and they have prescribed a stronger Tylenol that I will pick up tomorrow and take over to her. The pain is wearing her out and she doesn't need that. Aside from that all is well. She was planning on walking out into the back yard to her garden this afternoon because of the beautiful weather. She has that nice walked now and seems pleased to be able to use it. I hope it doesn't give her false confidence now. But at least if she is out there and gets tired she can just sit.

I stopped at WalMart on the way home and picked up some spring and summer dog walking shoes, a bird feeder, and a couple of shirts that were on sale. Chelsea and I hung the bird feeder down below the deck on a tree where we can see it from the living room AND the deck. Birds are already sampling, so I am going to have to get more food, I am sure. I filled the bird bath while I was at it. I probably will be free of that chore for a couple of days as it is supposed to rain through Saturday.

Her is a little spring poem that I wrote this past week.

LET'S PUT ON A SHOW

Propelled by sunshine
Washed in gentle showers
The daffodil, Spring's yellow trumpet
Joins the serenading cardinal
In a flowering musical extravaganza.

Enjoy YOUR beginning of Spring too.

Love
Mary

Today was TRULY spring. It didn't start out that way. Chelsea and I walked in rather comfortable temperatures. I did make her turn back at the end of the tract because I didn't want to be rushing to get to church on time. Then when I came home from church, it was really foggy.

But by this afternoon, though it was cloudy, it was also warm. The temperatures were up in the mid 60s. I took the captains chairs out on the deck with one of the little plastic tables and sat out there and read for about an hour. Then it started chilling down at about 4:30PM so I came in. But it was a portent of things to come. Dick and I will REALLY enjoy this wonderful spot when summer really arrives and we can sit out there in the afternoons and evenings. Just like at Hunters Glen, it will be shady in the back during the afternoon hours.

Jim and Michelle fried out tonight. They have a gas grill and it is on their deck. Their burgers smelled SO good. I am jealous. Remember that I WON two gas grills but Dick and Jim said they did not want one and I had to donate them back to the church. Now I wish I had hidden one of them somewhere. I am so hungry for a good brat. But God knows when that will happen. Probably about the same time I get my Kitties back. We had to throw our old charcoal grill away too, you know. It was really too old and disgusting to bring along. It was after all 20 years old and overused. Well, such is life.

We did have a good dinner, chicken breast with pork and beans, fresh biscuits, salad and banana bread pudding. I do love to cook.

It is not almost 8PM and I am very tired. I tried to take a little nap after lunch but there was too much noise. Dick took one of the sleeping pills that Dr. Phelan had given him after I came home from church.. Most of you know how much trouble he has sleeping and the past couple of weeks it has been getting worse. We figured that if he tried during the day and had any trouble with sleepwalking, I would be awake and able to take care of him. He did not have any adverse reactions and DID get more sleep than he has had in a long time. I hope this will help. It is really a discouraging situation.

Tomorrow is comparatively quiet, at least to start out with. I have bible study at 9:30 and then will stop at Mother's . We are going to call Dr. Hancock about a pain that she is experiencing hin her leg. So it may turn out to be more eventful than I expect. We will just "play it by ear".

Have a glorious week. It is supposed to be sunny and warm tomorrow and rainy and warm the rest of the week. I am grateful for either.

Love

Mary

It was rather warm today but kind of damp and misty. Chelsea and I were able to have a very nice walk this morning.

I went to the meeting at the Senior Center in Plymouth. I think we all know that once the deal is set, the State of Wisconsin and the Railroad Consortium will outvote and outweigh any input or reasoning that we give, but still believe that if a person DOESN'T give input and/or show up you have noone but yourself to blame. There was a nice crowd and not just from the Tall Grass condos and we have been doing most of the noisemaking.

Senator Leibham, the mayor, representatives from the railroad, Reprsentative Kestell and several alderman were there. They all told their takes on the deal but did not convince anyone that this is a good thing. The initial story is that there will be maybe two or three runs a week of maybe 10 cars going through the right of way at about 10 miles per hour. By the time they had finished the number had jumped to possibly 6 DAYS of runs going up to 40 miles an hour. This is past a park which runs in front of a school. Street traffic is limited to 25 MPH and 15MPH when children are present. I knew that railroads have a lot of power (still) but was a bit shocked by the fact that local laws mean nothing. It is noted that the entire 11 miles of track will have to be removed and redone. There are several intersections that have been paved over and will need signaling. The most significant is where the track will have to go over Hwy 57. The most significant to US is the one just outside of our Tallgrass Lane between us and Plymouth.

Phil Kalkthaler, an attorney and old friend who lives down the street, is concerned because he is just a street width from the track. If there is a derailment he could end up with a car in his bedroom. We are almost as close but DO have trees that would slow things down a bit. However, there was no satisfactory answer as to safety issues or what would be done to protect the homes along the route as far as noise and vibration etc. It was much what I expected. I sat with our neighbors, Harold and Dick.

This morning was a happy time though. When I took Chelsea out for a second chance to relieve herself, I finally heard and saw a red winged blackbird and he was singing his little heart out. Hope he comes EVERY day.

Jim and Michelle came for an hour or so and did some of the repairs on the computer. Dick now has Windows and I have been changed to Thunderbird from The Bat. However, I cannot SEND anything from Thunderbird so am still using Bat, Thunderbird and Google kind of where it works.

Oh. Well. Nobody said life would be easy.

Tomorrow, I have only to go to church. The rest of the day I can stay home.

I made the corned beef and cabbage for supper. Also some parsnip cakes. It was really good and Dick even ate a decent supper.

DOG DIARY

8:00 am - Dog food! My favorite thing!
9:30 am - A car ride! My favorite thing!
9:40 am - A walk in the park! My favorite thing!
10:30 am - Got rubbed and petted! My favorite thing!
12:00 pm - Lunch! My favorite thing!
1:00 pm - Played in the yard! My favorite thing!
5:00 pm - Milk bones! My favorite thing!
7:00 pm - Got to play ball! My favorite thing!
8:00 pm - Wow! Watched TV with the people! My favorite thing!
11:00 pm - Sleeping on the bed! My favorite thing!



Til tomorrow.

Love you

Mary

The day was eventful. Chelsea and I had a really nice walk. I didn't wake up until well after 6AM so it was pretty light when we started. It is so much more pleasant to be walking when it is light.

I cleaned the kitchen and hall this morning and cleaned up the desk. Then I picked up some canned goods that were on sale at the Pig for the bust up dinner that I will help prepare in May. Seems logical to save as much money for the club as we can. I figure on making a BIG pot of calico beans. I will be watching for the rest of the stuff to be on sale too.

Had lunch with my bank friends at the Dairy Queen. Sure glad they have the grilled cheese sandwich as it is Friday in Lent. I hope they feature their Crab chowder before Lent is over. That was really good too.

Dick and I are working on changing our doctors and dentists to Plymouth. I made an appointment with a Dr. Murthy at Aurora in Plymouth because I need to have my tummy meds figured out AND I made an appointment with a Dr. Joseph DDS on Mill Street and will cancel my Wednesday appointment with Dr. Huberty. I will miss him but it will save me a lot of driving.

This afternoon, Dick and I went over to Hunters Glen. We ran the water and flushed the toilets. I checked out the flower beds and neatened them a bit. My tulips and day lilies are coming up nicely, also my chives. I took down the hanging pots from the pole out front and emptied them.
Then I loaded the yard waste into the car and when we got home, I added the bags we had here and hauled them off to the city yard. I was a little worried, but it was real easy to find and to get in to.

We went over to St. John's at about 4:30 for an excellent fish fry. The church puts them on during Lent. I had heard that they were good and I heard right. We got the senior meal. Two pieces of fish, noodles or chips, cole slaw, applesauce, rye bread and a huge piece of dessert. The sponsors of each week bring the desserts and they are extremely generous. Dick and I brought ours home. We shared one this evening after I got back from shooting and will have another for tomorrow. Tonight we had apple pie.

I went to shoot league and my friend Lil has absolutely nothing to worry about this time. I am just unable to hunker down this time. Too much on my mind and I wander. Well, I still have fun and practice practice practice is bound to do something eventually.

Tomorrow will be interesting. There is a meeting at the Senior Center involving our congressmen regarding the proposal to reopen the rail line that runs about 20 yards behing our house. I will go alone as Jim and Michelle are coming for our alloted hour to do some work on Dick's computer sometime after 10:30AM and we don't want to take a chance on losing our "appointment". We have questions for the congressmen and the railroad itself such as what sound and sight protective measures will be provided as we are practically sitting on the track. My other question is the cost. I know it is federal and state funds but that is our money too and it is in the MILLIONS. Can the two factories that will benefit from this justify it. I would like to know. The whole track has to be almost relaid and the spots that go over roadways are non existent. Hope I can bring home some answers.

We received a thank you note from Nora today (Pray for her - It is a hard thing she is doing and I give her credit. Poor little thing said that she is scared. That is not a bad thing. Being scared I mean.) We also received a DVD of the lovely wedding. She was gorgeous and the groom isn't bad either. AND we got her graduation picture. I must get a new frame so we can display it properly.

SO it was quite a day and tomorrow will be busy too. I am going to fix the corned beef and cabbage for our supper.

Have a nice weekend. It is supposed to be warm but rainy. Even Thunderstorms - Poor Chelsea.

Love
Mary

Today was beautiful. The sun shone. The temperatures were such that I was able to get by with a spring jacket all day.

Chelsea and I had a lovely walk. We took the whole route and she probably would have gone further. No sitting down on the job this day.

Dick and I went to McDonalds for breakfast then on to the Pig for our grocery shopping. I had that list to pick up for Mother too. I used to shop for Aunt Helen, Aunt Nonnie and myself but have lost the knack. It was very confusing but we did get it done in good time.

I had to be in Sheboygan at Mead by 10:30 to meet with Paul and Jane for the choosing of the final winners of the poetry contest. It only took us about an hour. We had some struggles as this year there were none that just jumped out at us. I felt a bit bad about one that was really good, but did not reference the theme at all. But we finally picked three that were acceptable to us all and were on all of our yes or maybe lists. Then we went to Applebee's for lunch. I had a wonderful spinach, shrimp salad and a wrap.

Stopped at Battery plus for a battery for my gold watch, then took Mom her groceries. We had a nice visit. She had a quiet week this week but next week is really hopping. She will go the the Senior Meals, the Sheboygan Theatre and Canasta with friends.

Yes, next week is the Sheboygan Theatre production, the second last already. It is Cheaper by the Dozen and I believe that I will finally be able to go. We saw the first one, Annie, then Mother was sick for the second, which was Beauty and the Beast and then Dick was sick for the third, The Diary of Ann Frank. If Dick isn't up to going, Donna hinted that she would join Mother and me this time.

Chelsea and I walked around to the back of the condo this afternoon to see what is coming up. I found the rhubarb, chives are coming and a few other things that I cannot identify. I measured for the size of planter boxes that we will need for the deck. It smelled so springlike that it made me anxious to get a start. Of course we all know that one cannot do TOO much before Memorial Day because there is always chance of frost.

Have a good Friday, I hope none of you have to work the weekend.

Nora is on her way to boot camp. We must keep her in our prayers. That is a lot to take on.

Love

Mary

A comparatively quiet day. A gloomy one too. It did get up to 55 degrees this afternoon which was at least nice for me as Chelsea was a real little pest this afternoon. I don't think she feels well lot of the time and thinks she has to go out. Or maybe she isn't feeling quite right and wonders why I don't just fix it because, in her eyes, I take care of everything else. She sleeps SO soundly now and a lot.

We had a pretty good walk this morning. I turned us back a little early because it was raining. Then when I thought that she might like to go around another cul de sac, she just sat down and looked at me. She does that when she if feeling worn out.

I spent the morning writing and clearing my desk. I also ordered a prescription, watered and transplanted some plants and caught up on the computer. Took Dick to Aurora Plymouth for his blood test at 11AM. Then we stopped at Walgreens for a few more supplies ( we are putting that salve on his feet and ran out of sterile pads). Then I fixed lunch and took a little nap.

This afternoon, I vacuumed the den and downstairs bedroom and baked some carrot raisin muffins. We had spaghetti and meatballs for dinner. Then I went downstairs to watch BONES and sew for a while. I have almost finished another kitty.

Now I am ready to wind down. Tomorrow, we shop and I need to pick up some things for Mother too. Usually, Donna just gets Mom's groceries when she goes, but Donna has had a terrible cold/flu for several days. She had a fever of 103 which is really scary. But she is improving. Anyway, I will pick the groceries up for her tomorrow and drop them off on my way back from finishing the judging of the poetry entries for the Write Stuff Contest that The Sheboygan County Writers is sponsoring with the Sheboygan Press. Three of us have read the poems, all 107 of them, and selected those that we feel are the best. Now we will pool our notes.

Today, Dick and I were watching the game show Hollywood Squares. We were laughing at the wit of Martin Mull as the center square. Then we reminised about Paul Lynde who was the center square on the original Hollywood Squares. I will always remember his answer to a question presented to him. It went as follows. "What state was Lincoln born in?" and Paul said. "The same state as the rest of us, Naked and Screaming."


Love

Mary

It was cold most of the day. It was cloudy and the temperatures never got much more than 35. Once the sun came out late this afternoon it felt better anyway.

We had Dick's annual eye exam this morning early. Everything is OK except there is a clouding on one of his implants . We need to see another doctor to find out if it is far enough along to laser clean. Otherwise his eyes are healthy and he does not need new glasses.

I feel that I was busy most of the day but don't feel that I accomplished a whole lot except confusion. However, I am making progress on Quicken. Dick, in Madison, has found out that we can install Quidken in up to three computers in a household, so that solves that problem. Now we have to determine how to do this. I think we can do it with the instructions in the package and Dick said that he would walk us through it if it would help. I am going to read a bit more and then try it when he is available to call for help if I run into trouble. We will have the same situation as before in that only one of us can be IN Quicken, we can't be on at the same time.

We went to Walmart for toilet repair stuff and another rug for the office. We are trying to keep the carpet protected from Chelsea's icky drool. I found a pot that is all ready to mix and plant tomatoes. It made me feel a bit more like spring on this cold and damp day. Tomorrow then. I will plant tomatoes.

I had a telephone conference at 4:00PM with the Celtic Women's board. We are not as big as we wish we were but are doing quite well. The Chicago area is co sponsering a Women's program called Imperfect Balance. One of our board members is doing a theatrical production as part of an art exhibit and the Celtic Women International have assembled a list of books for women. I will give you a site to peruse them as soon as it is available.

I am going to a conference on April 21, 22 and 23 in Galena. Mary Schultz made room reservations at the Irish Cottage where we will be doing most of our meeting. I can share a room with her. I met her at the Celtic Women Conference in September and that will be fun. The room includes breakfast. I like that.

We had Philly Sandwiches for dinner tonight.

Tomorrow the only outside errand is Dick's blood test. We scheduled it for the Aurora in Plymouth at 11:00AM so we won't have to go into Sheboygan.

I am very tired. Dick says I am not getting enough sleep. Don't know about that but I think we both need catching up.

I hope we can get one of the five gallon wines racked tomorrow too.

Guess that is all for now. Tomorrow is the first day of Spring. The Cadfael Book of Days for SPRING with Quotes from Ellis Peters assembled by RobinWhiteman says "A time for all manner of births and beginnings, and for putting death out of mind." Sounds like a perfectly wonderful thought to me.

Be good to yourselves today. Remember that I love you all.

Mary

Today was a GREAT day. Chelsea and I had a lovely walk. All through Tallgrass and around and through the park and woods. She is SO pleased that things are coming around to her way of thinking again. Those walks are when she shows the most energy. The rest of the time she mainly sleeps.

Next I went to Bible Study. We had some animated discussions about judging others. The Avery trial was a good tie in. We were impressed with the compassion that the Halback family has for the Avery family.

Mom and I had a nice visit. She got lots of St. Patrick's Day cards. She had fixed a corned beef for the day's supper BUT -- Jeff and Kathy stopped at Chuck and Sue's in downtown Sheboygan Falls on their way from my house. Keith Carpenter was tending bar and had cooked corned beef to serve at the bar. When the Carpenter's owned the bar, Lynn Carpenter, Keith's brother always fixed the corned beef and they brought a dinner over to Mom and Dad. This year Keith fixed a plate for Mother. What a guy. We also had such a good talk about the old St. Patrick's days with the singing that went on in our family and the extended family. We wonder if the current and the next generations will even know these songs.

Home again where Dick and I had the leftover Mexican Lasagna from Bobbie for lunch. Imagine my delight when I got home and found that there was a message on the machine informing me that I was a semifinalist in a poetry contest that the Wisconsin Fellowship of Poets did with the Green Bay Symphony Orchestra. I did not will the first prize but am so proud to be one of the semifinalists. She said there were 13 semi finalists, 16 finalists out of the over 300 entries received. I am just glowing and was so proud to be able to announce it at the Plymouth Writers Club meeting. When I got to Book Heads, the book store at which we meet, I found that she had sold one of my books. This is the first one sold through a store, so this is INDEED a red letter day.

Now I am all pumped up to do more.

Love

Mary

Today was a lazy lazy day. Chelsea and I went for our walk at about 6AM and I went to the 8AM Mass. It is good to be back to that. I really prefer that early Mass. I was Eucharistic Minister and I like that too. On the way home I stopped at Fleet Farm to pick up some wrappings for Dick's feet to hold the pads over the areas that we put salve on. Teresa at Sheboygan Clinic told us to get the wrapping there. They are cheaper. The ones at Fleet are marketed to wrapping horses legs so they cost less that the ones in the drug stores for humans. I got four different colors. Won't that be fun. I did not get the fuchsia though.

I was starved when I got home so fixed a nice big breakfast of bacon, sausage, potatoes and eggs. That made Chelsea really happy. She is probably hoping that life is settling down again. She has been very confused these past few weeks. She coughed pretty bad this afternoon, but I rubbed her and talked to her and she did not have one of her episodes.

I did a bit of sewing today but mainly just rested and did some miscellaneous stuff on the computer.

We had pork chop, fresh parsnips from Jeff and Kathy and cranberry relish for supper. I heated a bumbleberry which we shared with ice cream for dessert.

Tomorrow is Bart's birthday. I can hardly believe that my little baby is now thirty six years old. I remember his birth so clearly because I got to watch him being born. There are no words that can describe the wonder of seeing your child enter the world and take his very first breath. He was such a pretty baby too. He had a nice shaped head and round cheeks and just a brush of dark hair on his head.

I remember too that a friend of mine came to the hospital to wait and was a bit under the weather and kind of make a spectacle of herself. Fortunately, I was unaware of all the to do. And so was my ex, I guess. Her name was Tome and she was married to Crazy Karl Kendall. Karl was a carpenter and a real hard head. One time he was framing up a second story of a building and fell off the roof. He landed with his head wedged between the bumper and the body of a truck. They pulled him out and except for a couple of scrapes on his face he was just fine. We always told Karl that if he had landed on his feet he probably would have killed himslf.

Have a great week.

Mary

Today was a day of highs and lows. Mostly highs.

Started off a bit before Six AM with Chelsea and I going for a nice long walk. She sure is happy that we are not turning back at the corner any more. All of her good smells are back. But she sure is tired when we get home.

We got Dick to the Clinic at 9AM for Sue to test his blood again. Yippee! it tested out at 2.2 Quite a dramatic improvement over the awful 6 that it tested at on Thursday. Sue was very happy too. We are to go back in two seeks unless the blood test next Wednesday shows some problem.

We got home at 9:30, plenty of time for me to change and gather stuff up for the bit Irishman's Walk. Jeff and Kathy got her at 10AM. Jeff, Kathy, Jim, Michelle and I all piled in Jeff's van. Jim dropped us off at the Family Video for the gathering. Boy was there a crowd this year. What with the beautiful weather and the fact that it is a Saturday the ranks just swelled. We made our way to the Inn where Jim had a table saved for us. We ate (I had root soup and a corned beef sandwich with fries) and then went out in plenty of time to get a good seat to see the band. This year they did have entertainment. Sometimes, when it is during the week, they don't have a band until evening when the crowds come. But this year a band, Beef Tea, was in a tent in the parking lot. There were lots of friends there. The Mersbergers, Nancy Roehre, Rip and Christine O'Dwanny. I had a really good time.

We came home at about 1:30PM. Jeff and Kathy headed for Falls to see Mom so I sent her some wine and the money I got for her the other day. Then I took a nap.

We left for Bobbie and Bill's a bit before 5PM. Nice drive. Bobbie fixed an excellent dinner as usual, her Mexican Lasagna. It was GOOD. Then we had Sacher Tort for dessert. Chelsea got to go along, of course. She always gets to go to the "goddess's "house.

Roxie came out and let me pet her. She may remember me. I am not sure. But Oscar was scared and would not have anything to do with me. My heart is broken.

Now that we are through with hospitals for while, I will be able to go to he 8AM Masses again. So tomorrow will be normal. I am a Eucharistic minister too. So glad, it would be embarrassing to have to find another substitute.

Love.

Mary

Boy, this was the first time in AGES that we have not had to got to either a hospital or a doctor's office ALL DAY. I slept until almost 6:30AM and Chelsea and I went for our whole walk for the first time in weeks too. Boy was she ever tired most of the day. But she was sure a busy little bee during the walk and did not act a bit 13.

Then I cleaned the kitchen this morning and cleaned out my recipes. Actually, I was looking for a specific bread recipe that seems to have disappeared.

Had lunch with Marlene, Mary and Barb today. That was a pleasant break. We did get a counter offer on the house. They only came back with $197000. We just rejected it with no counter. If they are not serious, why bother. Why are they looking at home in the 229,000 range if they intend to pay less than 200,000. Give me a break.

Someone is going to look at it again on Tuesday.

I went and shot league today. The first one was terrible but the next two steadily improved. I seem to need to shoot one to get my bearings. Perhaps it will improve as my stress reduces. Now that Dick is somewhat better - at least we are getting some rest now.

Yesterday, Dick and I saw our first robins. Good sigh. Today, while Chelsea and I were on our walk, I (and I mean I, Chelsea is not too alert unless something moves you know) saw TWO deer in the grasses at the end of Cattail Court. Then later in the day when I took her out, I heard geese honking and there were two of them sitting on the top of a house across the way.

Lots of nature activity. I like that. When I see a red winged blackbird and hear it's trill, I will really believe that spring is here.

Love

Mary

Dick and I now get to sleep until 6 or later. I actually did not wake up until 6:20 and probably could have gotten back to sleep but I could feel Chelsea getting anxious. It was SO cold after these extra warm days that we have been experiencing. And I was unable to "keep the wind at my back". Pretty hard when you go around a block.

This morning we picked up the salve for Dick's feet that must have gold dust in it for the cost. Then we went to the Sheboygan Clinic to see Dr. Hodous, the podiatrist. He took care of Dick's feet then we went to have Sue check Dick's blood count. For the first time in over two years, his count is BAD. It is supposed to be between 2 and 3. Today it was 6. Ouch. So down we went for a full blood test. Now Sue has had him stop taking the cumedin until she tests him again on Saturday morning. We have to be there at 9AM. Which will give plenty of time for me to get back to go to the Irishman's Walk at 10:30.

Jeff and Kathy are going to join us. Jim and Michelle are joining me too. It will be fun to have family. It has always just been me. But I have lots of friends there so I always have fun. Of course, I usually have fun whenever I do anything. Bloom where you are planted I always say. Enjoy the moment. It won't return again.

After we left the clinic, Dick and I went grocery shopping, to the post office and out for lunch before getting home at about 12:30AM.

We were talking about congestion today (Don't ask me why.) I remembered something about Bret. When he was a very small baby, he developed asthma. For years, he never really got a cold. Every time there was the slightest sign of an infection it would all settle in his chest and he would wheeze like an accordian. It was really scary. I spent many a night with him sounding like he was breathing through cotton.

Anyway, when he was about 11 years old, he came to me one day obviously frightened. He said that I had better take him to the doctor right away. He couldn't breathe through his nose. I had to explain to him that he had a normal cold. For the first time in his life he had a just plain head cold that didn't turn into bronco pneumonia.


Tomorrow will be St. Patrick's Eve. Sure hope they have something musical on TV. Saturday will be nice with the walk and dinner at the Mays.

Have a happy Friday.

Mary

Guess what. My day at home turned out to be just a dream. Our appointment with Dr. Phelan was changed to 9:30 this morning. and we did not get home until about 12:00Noon.

The appointment went very well. Dr. Phelan feels that, at this point, the antibiotics have done as much as they can. There is still Something wrong, but we will go without the meds for a while at least and see how things go. We have to pick up a very expensive salve to put on some spots on his feet that are troublesome and must continue with the special soap and cream when bathing.

SO. He had Theresa, a nurse there, take out the PICC line. BOY is that a long thing. It just slides right out though and Dick felt no discomfort at all. He has to have a blood test next Wednesday to see if the good levels are holding. We stopped at Walmart for a bit of shopping, the Plymouth Clinic to make an appointment for the blood test and I filled the tank. We were beat when we got home. I fixed lunch and then took a nap.

Anyway, no more 5AM wakeups and every evening at the hospital. We are SO tired and SO grateful that we can maybe get caught up on some rest. Dr. Phelan gave Dick some sleeping pill samples which we hope will help him get some rest too.

When I got up, I vacuumed and made some fudge to send to Bart for his birthday. I have some left if you want to come over.

Now we don't have to worry about what time Bobbie will have us over for dinner on Saturday. She can just choose a time.

Just a little joke. I read Andy Capp this morning. He is at the track and tells his companion. "It's not a good sign when the horse you've bet on sinks to its knees when they put the saddle on."

Love

Mary

Another 5AM wake up. I was really sound asleep when Dick called me. This morning went well. We asked Linda to check and be sure that we were getting a dose this evening. She called Dr. Phelan's office and they said that we were but that he wanted to see Dick tomorrow instead of Thursday. There goes our "whole day at home". Oh well, we wouldn't know what to do with all that luxury.

I have a feeling that Dr. Phelan will be putting him on another round. We got to Valley View tonight to find out that there WAS NO evening dose, but the trip was not for nothing as the lab had to take blood anyway. He also got the ports flushed one more time.

We countered on the low ball offer that we got on Hunters Glen. I don't believe we will hear from them again.

Tonight I went to the funeral of a dear friend, Stan Payne. Stan and his wife, Peg have been Irish friends for many a year now. Peg and I found common roots when we worked at Wells Fargo together. For Example: Her mother, Margaret Michaels, stayed with my Grandpa and Grandpa Bowser in Sheboygan Falls while going to the Normal School (the teaching college) back in the late 1920s or so. Families did that. The Michaels were friends from the Parnell area.

Stan was a barber in Cascade until he retired. He had been quite ill with heart failure for the past few years and the last time I saw him he was quite weak. It was at a picnic at St. Michaels out in Town Mitchell. He stood up, sweet gentleman that he was, to greet me. He said that with his struggles he felt that people were looking at him and it made him feel funny. I told Stan that he should stand tall and let them look because he was well worth looking at. The past few days, I hope that he remembered what I told him and walked up to St. Peter at the gate and said. "Here I am, Stan Payne and I have come to get what I have been promised." If anyone earned the promise of the Lord, Stan did.

Today was absolutely beautiful. The temperatures were up to 63 degrees and the snow is fading fast.

Love

Mary

What a day. It was well up into the 50s. The snow is melting like crazy and we have at least two more days so most of it will be gone.

Had to get up at 5AM of course. This morning's intravenous went just fine. Then the rest of the day for me was run run run.

First I went to Fleet to pick up my turkey license. I got a free compass for buying the license there. Big WOO but I took it anyway.

Then on the Bible Study. There were 5 of us. Almost everybody else is on vacation somewhere exotic like Florida. The study went well. It was all about reconciliation. Actually the Gospel was the Prodigal Son. It is easy to understand the feelings of the son who stayed home and kept on a truckin. But God expects more of us. I am minded of a poster that my friend Pam Mc Carthy had on her wall above her desk. Iggy is standing on a mountain looking up at the heavens with his arms outstretched in a big pleading prayer and he is saying."You expect TOO much!" Sometimes it is really hard to hang on the the promise that He won't give us more than we can handle.

Stopped at Mother's next and brought her the prescription, and her papers and a cheese shaped like a shamrock from the Mars Cheese place. She really liked that.

Leaving there, I stopped off at Mark Miller my accountant friend and dropped off the K1s that have arrived. We figured out what still should be coming in so I know what to look for.

Then I swung by the Superior Aurora and picked up Dick's compression stockings and on the Jumes where I at an egg salad on rye for lunch.

Lastly was the Sheboygan County Writer's club meeting. I gave the 107 poems for the Write Stuff Contest to Paul for his chance to judge them. When Jane gets back next week, the three of us will get together and pick out the final three winners.

Are you tired yet? I sure am.

I got home with an hour to spare before Dick and I had to be back at Valley View for the last treatment of the night. We only have tomorrow now. Guess what, Wednesday we don't have to to ANYWHERE. Hope to high heavens that nothing ruins it.

Then we had dinner and wonder of wonders, Jennifer from ReMax called with an offer on the Hunters Glen house. We got ahold of Jim and Michelle and went over to get it. It is a REAL low ball offer so I have been crunching the numbers and we will counter. This should just be a beginning anyway. There have been lots of showings and several other people besides these have been expressing interest, but we will counter with an offer acceptable to us. The good thing about this offer is that there are no contingencies and they want to close in a month.

Anyway. An offer is a hopeful thing.

1. Go to the Super Bowl
2. See a Broadway show, front row, center
3. Go to the Olympic Games
4. Ski the first tracks at Deer Valley
5. Try to hit a Major League Baseball fastball
6. Stay at a five-star hotel in the best suite
7. See the Northern Lights
8. Take a train ride on the Orient Express
9. Go the the Galapagos Islands
10. Ride a motorcycle across the U.S.
11. Help dig for dinosaur bones
12. Float along the Nile
13. Own a set of Frette linens
14. Volunteer to help the environment
15. Climb Mount Olympus
16. Watch the Sumo Wrestling Championship in Japan
17. Ride a mule through the Grand Canyon
18. Train like an astronaut at space camp
19. Fly across the Atlantic in a private jet
20. Have Gospel Brunch at the House of Blues
21. Drink a mint julep at the Kentucky Derby
22. Drive on the Autobahn in Germany

These were suggested in an email. Why don't we all think of our OWN 22 things to do before we die. I will if you will.

Mary

It was a good day. The weather was beautiful. The 50 degrees that we were promised for Tuesday showed up today. I have not heard that Tuesday will have any surprises so we should be in for a few really seasonably warm days.

It was cold during the night however, and I had to pick my way around sheets of runoff ice on the morning walk. Chelsea just runs hell bent for leather and slips and falls and gets up with the same enthusiasm for it all.

Both visits for Dick's intravenous went very well. As a matter of fact, they were all over us at Memorial because they had goofed us up twice. Once last week when we were there for almost three hours because they could not find one of the meds and yesterday when we were not on the list. We have never once had a complaint about a nurse, however, and that says a lot. They have been compassionate and very helpful and professional. On the way out tonight we ran into Dr. Phelan and chatted with him for a bit. We will see him on Thursday. Things are better so we have hope, but I do believe that there will be some ongoing treatment.

I went to the 10:30 AM Mass again. Sure will be glad to get back to 8:00AM. Fr. Van Beeck reminded us to either stay on track for Lent or reapply ourselves. Frankly, I am just trying to keep afloat this Lent. And I must say I am not really impressed with this early daylight savings time. I think Arizona has the right idea. Forget it.

Mary Calvey and Donna (I don't know her last name) hosted that Seisun that I mentioned yesterday. I went and had a great time. I took some Irish Brown Bread and Butter to share. It was all gone except for one lonely heel. I think it was a nice first time for the event. There were about 6 musicians that came to Jam and 40 to 50 people who came in and out. I read a couple of my poems and sang Whiskey on a Sunday. Sold three books and left five for the Art Center to display. Mary led us in several sing a long songs too. She has a lovely voice. She sang the Fields of Athenry which she does very well. I asked if I could finish with a "blessing" and did the one I know you all remember.

May Light always find you on a dreary day
When you need to be home , may you find the way.
May you always have courage to take a chance
And never find frogs in your underpants.

They loved that one.

Have a nice St. Patrick's week.

Love

Mary

Today was quite satisfactory.

Got to sleep until a bit after 6AM. A treat that won't happen for a day or two because Congress, in its "wisdom" has decided to start daylight savings this night, instead of later in March. They say that we will have more light but it means that I will be walking Chelsea in much darker conditions.

It was warm today and will be just as warm tomorrow. It is not supposed to freeze tonight so I will not have to worry about slipping or sliding anyway.

This morning we got home to find Bobbie just knockin' at the door. She was a bit early for our Quilt Show trip with Jim and Michelle. Chelsea was sure glad to see her. She said that kitties , Oscar and Roxie, are doing just fine. They are yearning for lots of attention. So am I and I miss them terribly. I am sure glad that their "foster parents" love them so much.

The quilt show was very nice. Actually there was a huge geometric painting that Jim wants us to make a quilt of. It was an altogether nice day. It was so nice to take a bit of a trip, have lunch and see a "show" and stop at the Mars Cheese Shop for some fun food shopping. Bobbie and I bought two Irish Cheeses and split and shared them. One is a Porter Cheese that I will try tomorrow.

The trip to Sheboygan Memorial was interesting. We got there to find that we were not on the list. It turned out OK anyway. The nurses were quite concerned. As it turned out the meds were there. The nurses assured me that we did not have to worry, they would take care of us anyway. I am not sure how reassuring it was to Dick but I felt really good about it.

Mom called today while I was gone. To check on Dick, of course, and to let me know that Leif is through his surgery. It went well. They are together in the hotel now and Stenn is coming in to Houston tonight to be there to help Nora drive back to Dallas. George is picking him up. Everything went well. He is a bit uncomfortable but that is to be expected.

I found out also that Erin went to wherever it is that students go on spring break near Houston. She had a meal with her Uncle George and he drove her to the airport. That is so nice. They are both so sociable. Mother said she was going to tell Erin that she hoped that she kept her clothes on.

I found out that Garrison Keillor is doing a poetry contest with Spring as the theme. I must look it up and send one in. I am excited. Remember, tomorrow I am going to a seison at the Plymouth Art Center and will real some of my poems. Perhaps I will stimulate an interest in people buying the book. I am having a couple published in the Celtic Women's Newsletter. At least Maureen, one of my Celtic friends, likes my poems.

Have a great Sunday. It is going to be wonderful, I know.

Love

Mary.

It was rather warm today. What a pleasure. Sunshine and no wind and it went up into the low to mid 40s.

Had to get up at 5AM again but tomorrow we get to sleep in as we don't have to be at Valley View until 8:00AM.

I met Sara Behr at Rhine at 10:30AM and we got the roast beef and everything we could ready for the Bust Up Dinner tonight. Then I went on to Dairy Queen and had lunch there with Barb and Alice. I had an exceptional grilled cheese. They are always good there but once in a while they are really exceptional. I picked up a couple of Blizzards while I was there because Dick said that it sounded good. I AM trying to tempt him to eat. The trick will be to start backing off once his appetite is back.

The Bust Up party went well. I got another trophy for the Pistol League. Lil Pipping, my friend and competition, beat me this time. But my average was 53.8. Each time it does go up and frankly the last few weeks, I was not concentrating. I had made a tuna casserole for those who did not want meat. The trouble is that almost everybody likes that too so it went very fast. The food was really good and we were able to get everything cleaned up so I could come home at about 8:30. Nice because I am really tired.

I want to share a joke that was told at the Irish show last night. It was new to me and I really liked it.


An Englishman, a Scotsman and and Irishman went into a bar. They each ordered a pint of Guiness. As they were sitting there, three flies buzzed into the bar and one flew into each of the pints of Guiness.

The Englishman got upset and said. "How disgusting!" He pushed the pint away and called. "Barkeep I need another. Take this away."

The Scotsman scooped the fly out and drank the pint.

The Irishman picked up the fly by the tail and shook it shouting. "Spit it out, you bloody fly. Spit it out."

Tomorrow, Jim and Michelle are taking Bobbie and me to a quilt show in Kenosha. How fun.

Love

Mary

A LONG LONG day but well worth experiencing.

We got up at 5:00AM, as usual these days. It was only 6 degrees out there. Chelsea seems agreeable to shortening her walks at that hour and in those temperatures so despite the fact that I had to help Dick get his stockings on we made it to Valley View by 6:00. Everything went well, even the dressing change. We were very relieved to see Denice was on duty because Dick says her dressing change hurts the least.

I baked two batches of Kahlua Brownies for the bust up tomorrow. Boy are they good. I made one batch with nuts and one without. Cleaned bathrooms too AND took a nap.

We got to Valley View this evening JUST at the right time. Nurse Lisa got us hooked up and going just before patients started streaming in to Urgent Care like there was no tomorrow. We had to wait for a bit to be unhooked and flushed because they were so busy. But as I said, if we had come there for an urgent reason, I would want me to come first before someone who just needs to be unhooked.

This evening I went to the Plymouth Art Center for Shamrocks and Shenanigans. It was VERY good. All local performers who sang and played guitar and fiddle and told jokes for almost three hours. We had soft drinks, Guiness and O Douls available and fresh potato chips during intermission. It ended with a sing a long. Some was not exactly professional but who cared. They all had good voices and really sang with enthusiasm and care. I was pleased.

Sunday there is going to be a seisiun at the Center from 1 to 3PM. They are serving Tea and breads. I will bake some brown bread and join them. I told Mary Calvey that I would be there and would bring my book of poems to share.

Guess that is all for now. I am tired, but am so grateful for an evening away with the Irish.

Love

Mary

Only 6 more days until the next evaluation. The intravenous went well, except that this evening the nurse accidentally set the time on one of them for an hour. I realized it when a whole half hour was complete and went to tell her. She was able to reset it for only 10 minutes more but that did add time to the procedure. It was almost 6 when we got home.

We did get to spend the entire day except for the hospital at HOME. I went downstairs and did some quilting twice. Got two motifs done.

I worked on a couple of other projects and caught up on phone calls today also.

Tomorrow we will go grocery shopping AND I have my Irish Program in the evening. Guess I had better bake those brownies too. There won't be much time on Friday what with hospital, lunch, helping prepare the bust up and the bust up itself. We have almost 80 people signed up to come so it should be quite a bash. Del, our scorer and MC, had throat surgery. I wonder who will be doing his emceeing for him. We are having roast beef sandwiches, chips, chicken soup and I am making a tuna casserole for the mackerel snappers.

Does anyone out there know how to get a form in Publisher to print the vertical grid lines?

I'll tell you about the Shamrocks and Shenanigans show tomorrow night. I am going to get up my Irish Decorations tonight. Of Course, the downstairs has LOTS of Irish art and stuff.

Love

Mary

One more week to go. I sure hope that this round will clear things up. We went in at 6AM as usual. Denice was our nurse. She is the one who prayed with us over Dick's leg. You would all like her. She just exudes enthusiasm. Today, she told us a story. Her husband went to give blood at the Bradley Center so he could get free tickets to a Bucks game. They wouldn't take his blood because (get this) he had slept with a woman who spend over a year in Africa. It was Denice. They met there when she was in the Peace Corp. She spent two year there. He was only there for a few months but that is when they met. Anyway, because he slept with her, he is ineligible to give blood.

I had my annual eye exam this morning. Dr. Cheryl says my eyes are healthy and there is very little change in the vision so we will wait til next year for glasses changing.

We left there and trucked to the Aurora Pharmacy on Superior to pick up some new compression stockings for Dick's poor sad legs. Then we went to the house on Hunters Glen and changed the air fresheners and poured baking soda down the drains to freshen. It has been vacant long enough that it is beginning to smell stale. If it ever warms up, we will open everything and let it air out.

Next time, I may bring some cinnamon and a pan and freshen it that way. Maybe a bag of apples.

We got home in plenty of time for me to take a nap before we headed off to Valley View again. We had to be there a bit early so the lab could bet blood samples from Dick. The Lab closes at 4PM. The evening doses went well and we are now home and winding down.

Barbara called tonight. I was able to tell her that Dr. Phelan says things are better but that we are still traipsing over to the hospital twice a day. She had some sad news. Their dog, Sheva, has cancer and is in quite a bit of pain. They are still exploring things but it does not look good. She is a really sweet creature.

I read this in the Reader's Digest. A Jonathan Katz said "I see a sign that says 'Caution, Small Children Playing.' I slow down , and then it occurs to me: I'm not afraid of small children."


Have a good Wednesday. Except for Valley View I don't have to go ANYWHERE!!!!

Mary

This morning the alarm went off at 5AM. I was the ONLY living creature who woke up. Even Chelsea slept through the whole thing. So I slipped into the shower and got ready before I took her out. Then we walked and got back at 5:30 so that I could wake Dick up for our first trip to Valley View. That went well this morning except that he had to have his dressing changed and it was not Denise on duty. The nurse this morning is very nice but she seems to feel that pulling it off quickly and fast is the best way. The area was still stinging this afternoon. That skin under the arm is really tender.

We went out for breakfast at the Wilderness today. I was hungry for corned beef. Could only eat half of it. (They serve way to much like most restaurants.) We brought the rest along with about 2/3 of Dick's potatoes home. Next stop was Valley View again for the third of our four classes on diabetes. We talked about exercise and foot care mainly. June agreed that until Dick is feeling better, exercise is pretty hard to be regular with.

I drove to Sheboygan Falls after lunch to bring a few things to Mother and visit for a bit. Her new walker is really sharp and I think she is pleased with it. She figures it will give her some freedom outside once the weather warms up. I took Chelsea along. Mom was glad to see her. Remember when she was afraid of Mother's kitchen floor? Well, she isn't any longer. We decided that the "little people' must have moved out or else, she has come to no longer consider them a threat.

The evening Valley View visit went well also. It was quiet there and we were all done and home by 5:30PM. I fixed something to eat and then went on to the meeting at Rhine.

A busy day and tomorrow will also be full. But I won't have to go out in the evening tomorrow. That makes it a little easier.

POLITICAL CORRECTNESS GONE BERSERK, AMEN!!!!

The U.S. Mint hopes the redesigned $1 coin will win acceptance with consumers.

It doesn’t have IN GOD WE TRUST on it.

DON’T ACCEPT THESE COINS…. RETURN THEM TO THE BANK....

Love

Mary

This was a unique and crazy day at the hospitals.

This morning we got there just at 8AM. The same time as the weekend nurses arrived. They took us in right away which was REALLY nice and got us all hooked up. I went out to look for something to read for Dick a bit later and the waiting room was FULL. There was a woman waiting in a chair. Two people at the counter. A car pulled up and some people were walking from the lot. Boy - were we glad we got there early. Once we are hooked up we just have to wait to be done. Then they flush the ports and send us on our way.

We came home and I got ready for the rest of the day. Went to the 10:30 Mass. I had to find someone to substitute for me as a Eucharistic Minister for the 8AM as that is JUST when we have our weekend hospital visits. I feel like that is the only ministry that I am doing right now and I keep having to find subs. But this too shall pass.

Went right out to Rhine for my Sunday shift. Bobbie was already there. She and Bill had a wonderful time at the Fireside. I think you know that since we couldn't go, we asked if they could and they went. It was their first bus trip and their first visit to the Fireside. They had discussed doing this and we gave them a perfect opportunity to "test the waters". Bobbie said that Bill loved it because he could see everything and she said he talked the whole trip. I am so glad it was enjoyable.

Rhine was quite busy until a bit after 3PM then it went dead. So we closed down the cash boxes and Bobbie and I left for home. Dick had expressed an interest in KFC Pot Pies. I planned on picking them up on the way home. Got to KFC in Plymouth to find they no longer make them there. Fortunately, we had two Market Day Chicken Pot Pies so I popped them in the oven.

Then I called Jane Kocmoud, a fellow writer, to tell her that we were going to be in Sheboygan at Memorial at 6:PM. We were delighted that this was convenient for both of us to have Jane bring the poetry entries for the "Write Stuff" (the middle school writing contest sponsored by the Sheboygan Press and our Writer's Club) to me for MY judging. I have about a week and then must get them to Paul, another member, for his input. Anyway, she lives just about around the corner from the hospital, so she loaded her dog and the poems in the car and dropped them off to me after I got Dick settled in his room. There are 107 of the bloody things.

This is were it gets goofy. They hooked up the Cefipine and the nurse mentioned that she figured that she would use the half hour to find the Dapamyicin, which was NOT to be found. As it turned out, it was not here, they had to mix it from their stock (or something like that) and it was almost 8PM before they even got it started. We got home JUST before 9 and are exhausted. Now we have to look forward to getting up at 5AM to be at Valley View at 6AM. Then we have a Diabetes Class at 8:30AM so it will be another Marathon Day.

Our Chelsea must be very confused. I just wonder what the early daylight savings will do to her. At least we will only have two days that we have to get up at the ungodly hour of "4AM". I know the clock will say 5 but our bodies are going to say 4.

When Bret was a little baby and getting his first shots he started to display his gift for words. He was about 6 weeks old and due for his first shot. Dr. Roper gave him his shot and he looked at me wide eyed and shocked but did not make a sound.

HOWEVER, I got him all settled in the car for the ride home and the minute we started moving he started complaining . One would have thought he knew how to talk but was using some foreign language and that little person cussed me out all the way from Laguna Beach to Santa Ana Heights.

Yes, my doctor was in Laguna Beach, about 20 miles from home but the doctor was recommended by my Aunt Lenore, my Grandpa Bowser's sister, a nurse. I don't know if you have ever heard of "The Greeter" Eiler Larson, a Dane, with long hair and a beard who stood on a corner in town and waved at ALL who passed. He was eventually proclaimed the official greeter of Laguna Beach, an art community. Two statues of him immortalize him in Laguna Beach. I saw him every time I took the kids to see Dr. Roper.

Laguna Beach is REALLY an artists community and has the Pageant of the Masters and Art Festivals every year.

Love

Mary