It was almost chilly this afternoon. I tried to sit out on the deck at about 4:00PM but it was cool so I came right back in. Sure is a relief actually as the house is quite comfortable and we have been able to open windows and doors and air it out. Kitties are VERY fond of that.

We went grocery shopping in Plymouth today BECAUSE, I picked up the lions share of my book. They still had to trim out about 75 of them but I was able to get most of them. That is good because I can take them with me to the Irish Reunion. I want to share them there and see if I can get Beth to sell them at the Research Center in Falls. I am really pleased. I will be able to take them to Writer's Club too.

We were going to go to a movie, but Dick did not feel well enough, so I just did some more packing and cooked a bit. I made a squash casserole with chiles and cheese that I really liked. Don't know if anyone else did. Jim ate it, Dick didn't even try and Michelle didn't eat much of it. She is very polite of course and probably wouldn't say any thing. I'll take some to Mother and see what she thinks.

I also made cucumber salad and some brownies.

Tonight I started working on my desk. There are less than three weeks until we sign and can start transporting boxes. Tomorrow we will pack some more.

An imponderable. "If flies didn't have wings would they be called walks?"

Love

Mary

Did anyone miss me yesterday. I just got all tired at the end of they day and did not post.

We were home most of the day. I packed some more boxes and Dick took them out to the garage. It is getting full out there. At 4:30PM I went over to Ebenezeer Church and had the quilt that Mother found between the pieces of ticking in the Deeley garage appraised. I want to give it to Becky, who loves antiques and has such a love of the family history. But I wanted her to have a value on it by an expert. The woman who did the appraisal, Carol Butzke, is one of only 14 quilt appraisers certified by the American Quilting Society in the nation. It is quite fascinating to watch her work and she explains as she goes along.

Then last evening I went to the Quilt Guild where Carol gave a lecture on the origin and history of Sunbonnet Sue in literature and quilting. I was glad that I took the time. I think I will make some version of Sunbonnet Sue just to have done it now that I see what imagination can do with the basic premise.

Today was the BIG Brewer game arranged by Uncle Leif Salvesen to gather all who could come together. We had a fun tailgate. There were lots of us. Myself, Jeff and Kathy with daughter Sara, Donna and Randy with all three daughters, Jessica (who left the park in a BUS to go back home in downtown Milwaukee. We all wondered if she was REALLY old enough to go on the bus all alone.) Erin, with boyfriend Josh, and Becky with husband Bryan. (Have I lost you yet.) Then there were Nora and Leif who brought Fred and Eileen with them. Eileen and Fred's son John came from Chicago with my nephew Shawn, George and Betsy's son, who also lives in Chicago. We were rounded off with my Jim and Michelle and Leif's friend Bob Doody and his wife Mary Ann.

Mary Ann and I discovered that we both went to high school at St. Mary's Academy in St. Francis many years ago. Me, several years before her. They are a nice couple. She has her own landscape and design company. I am impressed.

We had a great tailgate. Brats and portobello mushroom sandwiches, salads, cucumber sandwiches, bruschetta and other snacks. And to make the day perfect, the Brewers won.

It was hot in the stadium. They left the roof closed, which I think was dumb, but there was rain projected. I suppose it costs too much to close if they were afraid of having to open it again.

I am tired now again and will close with a quote that I liked from an e mail that I received from my friend Janet.

"Do what you can, for who you can with what you have, and where you are."

We are so blessed, I wish all these blessings for the children of this world. They deserve it. Maybe their parents don't, but the children do. At least a full tummy, a warm bed and a few hugs a day.


Mary

It was a beautiful day all day today. I was actually a little chilly when Chelsea and I went out for our walk. I don't have a thermometer any more but the TV said it was in the low 60s. It got up to the mid 70s and stayed there. Chelsea was pretty enthusiastic about her walk, but did cut out one cul de sac. She just sits down, looks down the road and keeps on going past it.

Today I talked to two neighbors that I hadn't seen face to face since the sign went up. Mary, across the street, was looking kind of sad. We don't see each other too much because we are both so busy but have common interests in quilting and faith. She said that she and her husband will probably be thinking condo soon too. It is getting harder for Gary to keep up the lawns and all and she, like me, can't really do it all.

The videos of our house showed up on Bill Cain's web site. So - if you want to see it go to billcain.com. Look under "Our listings". Select single family and find 4409 Hunters Glen Drive. Nick did a good job of filming. We will entertain offers.

Dick saw the podiatrist today and had his callouses trimmed. They need some extra care for a bit and we will go back to be sure they are healing in three weeks. Then we went and did a wee bit of shopping and Dick took me out for lunch.

Tonight I went to Rhine Plymouth to work the "Traveling League", a trap league that shoots at several different clubs and several different yardage. It was fairly busy. They stuck me in the gun room with little instruction but I finally figured it out. I worked from 4:30 to 8:00. It was Dennis Behr 's birthday and he and Sara brought cheese, sausage and crackers for a treat. That plus the yogurt I brought made a good evening meal.

I am working on articles for the paper regarding Celtic Faire and have come up with the season the Irish celebrate of Lughasadh, beginning August 1st and ending November 1st with Samhain. Lughasadh is the harvest time. John O'Donohue in Eternal Echos speaks of an Irish Notion called "Meitheal": the act of a community gathering to do the work for each other that one person working alone could not do in ages. Very reminisent of our barnraisings or co-ops that our country had in it's early days. We still experience Meitheal in small ways such as the example of Habitat for Humanity building houses on the quick with large volunteer crews. I want to incorporate Meitheal into my article and also Lughsadh - the harvest.

Love

Mary

It was kind of warm but not heat stroke hot today. Chelsea and I had a nice walk. We did not really see many other walkers but I did not get started until about quarter after six so most people were already done. I did see Steve turning into his driveway.

Bible Study went well this morning. We had nine people there so it was a lively discussion. Then I reviewed the initial worship folder for Celtic Fair with Sandy. I shrunk three Celtic Letters from my Celtic Coloring Book to put on the cover. Jim Wilsing and I came up with a really neat idea for it this year. (Jim is jealous of my coloring book so I said I would look for one for him when I go to Irishfest.) We are going to use the capital letters that I shrunk (B T AND P) for the first letters of Blessed Trinity Parish with a nice medieval looking font. I chose goldenrod for the cover because the intro I wrote mentions Harvest and gold is a good harvest color.

We had Swedish Meatballs, noodles, fresh green beans from Mom's garden for supper. I am working on cleaning out the freezer and the meatballs are one of the treasures to be finished off.

Bobbie and I had the Rhine Plymouth meeting tonight. It was mentioned AGAIN that all the officers are up for replacement this December. Bobbie and I (at least) will not keep our positions. Three years is enough. It is time for another member to step forward. I will be helping Doc out tomorrow at a shoot that we are hosting.

Bernice Sipiorski, an old neighbor, died on Sunday. Her funeral is tomorrow. I believe that Dick and I, with any luck at all, can get his doctor's appointment done and I can get there for the Mass. It would be nice. She was a sweet woman and I used to babysit for her boys when I was young. Her son, Donald, is deceased but Dennis will be there and it would be good to see him again. I wonder if he even remembers me. That was a cushy babysitting job. Bernice and her husband, Martin, would go downtown to the tavern every Saturday evening from 9 to 1. I came over and sat with the boys, who were usually in bed asleep. Bernice would have a fit if I did the dishes or any other little things that I saw. I did them anyway (Mom taught me better than that.) And I could watch anything I wanted on TV and then go to bed til they came home and Martin walked me home across the vacant lot between our homes. Like I say a cushy job.

Say a little prayer for Bernice.

Love

Mary

P. S. I packed two boxes and sorted through ALL the medicines and first aid supplies today.

It seems like it was a very long day. Chelsea and I had a good walk before the rain. It rained from about 7:00 to 11:00AM. A nice steady rain and it brought the temperature down a bit for today.

I went to the 8AM Mass and then visited with Mother until it was time for her to go to Mass. I stayed long enough to walk her over as it was still raining lightly and I don't think it is wise for her to walk alone if it is wet. Someone always walks her home. People are so good and there are three or four of our friends who note that she is there and see that she gets home safely.

I only packed a part of one box today. But I also got one item sent into the Press for the Celtic Faire. I must e-mail Ann Pirrung to find out the name of her editor. Perhaps I could send an article for the beliefs section to him to present to the beliefs editor. I can try anyway. I need to do an article for the Falls News and the Plymouth Review also.

This week is a very busy one with bible study, Rhine meeting, working at Rhine, a quilt appraisal and a ball game. Nora and Leif will be in Wisconsin, the reason for the ball game, and it will be good to see them. Michelle and Jim are joining us at the game. Michelle will meet Nora and Leif and Eileen and Fred. I called Jeff and he will let me ride down to the stadium with him, Kathy and Sara. I am so relieved, I was not thrilled about driving alone.

It has been an exhausting day for some reason. Dick and I are watching Bluebeard, one of the Horror Movie collection that Dick gave me for Christmas. We watch them when nothing else is on worth watching and lately that has been a lot. John Carradine is in this one. It is quite good.

A W. H. Auden said. "We are all here on earth to help others; what on earth the others are here for I don't know."

Have a good week.

Mary

I got to stay home all day. The temperatures were quite pleasant. It is really quite comfortable in the house tonight. Yesterday it was kind of muggy.

I packed five boxes today. Dick said he would carry four of them (books) out into the garage for me.

Jim and Michelle and Dick and I played cards tonight. Jim and Michelle were the winners again. We old people are really falling down on the job lately.

I cannot get the sewing machine to accomodate the iron on applique. So I guess I will just start hand sewing the banner tomorrow and any time that I watch TV. It will make the time pass nicely.

I finished the draft of the worship folder today. I sent the rough draft off to Jim and Beth and will take it in to Sandy at the church office on Monday. I have to work on the cover and the publicity next.

Tomorrow, except for church, we don't have to go anywhere again. That is two days in a row. But next week will make up for it.

My father in law had an expression that I really liked. He used to tell the grandaughters when they were sensitive that their "Tears were too close to their eyeballs."


Have a nice Sunday.

Mary

Fresh corn and tomatoes from Wingert's for supper along with fresh blueberry pie with REAL whipped cream for dessert.

As my brother in law George would say. "Wonder what the rich people are eating tonight."

Bobbie and Bill joined us and Jim and Michelle were home too so we had a lovely dinner with good conversation.

Had lunch with Betty, Marlene and Ceil in Plymouth today. They are happy that we are moving to Plymouth. I feel that I have a belonging there already. As I worked so long there I will be running into friends in stores and church and so on. It is hard to go to a place alone. I've done that enough in my life.

I got three more boxes packed and stacked in the garage today and cleaned the kitchen.

Fr. Mike Shea called this evening. He is in the states, but is leaving Wednesday for Thailand. He was only here for two weeks, and had run out of time, so we will have to plan on getting together next year when he is hoping to be here longer. I told him that Beth Dipple and I will let him know AS SOON as the date is set for the Irish reunion at St. Michael's Church near Parnell and he can hopefully say Mass for us AND we can make it a big fundraiser for Sarnelli House. He called Mother this morning and was very pleased to visit with her. He is so impressed with her independence and I told him how proud we are of her. We both agreed that it does not pay to get into an argument with her. She reads constantly and knows her facts before she speaks.

Tomorrow, I am going to spend the day working on the banner for Celtic Mass. I have not had the time or inclination for weeks and there are only about five weeks left. If I can just get the edging around the fused applique the rest will go VERY fast.

I have finished the introduction for the Celtic Mass Worship Folder. Dick always helps me by editing. I do like to present a different view of Celtic Spirituality each year.

This year I am presenting the idea of the feasts that the Celts celebrated and how they can relate to today quite easily. The season of the Harvest, or Lughasadh begins August 1 and continues til November 1st. Very easy to feature.

Love

Mary

Dick and I went grocery shopping early this morning. We were home before 9:AM which is unusual. We stopped for breakfast at Hardee's for a change. I do like their bisquits. So I had an egg and cheese bisquit.

When we got home, I put the groceries away and called Dolores to find out how the new baby and her parents are doing. All is well. Stacy's c-section only took about 20 minutes. Doesn't that seem impossible? She is just fine but will have to remember to be very careful for a few weeks so she heals up right. Todd is such a happy Daddy.

I called Eileen too. She has been a sick lady. A reaction to a very strong antibiotic. Now she is on ANOTHER one that is easier on the system and will help counteract the problems caused by the first one. What a mess, right.

Dick and I went over to Menards and bought a hex driver so that I could try to replace the broiler element in the stove. However, when I took it out, the wire was broken. I am not capable of repairing, only replacing, so we called Sears and the repairman will be here tomorrow.

I cleaned the bathrooms today too.

This evening, I wrote the rough copy of the intro for the Celtic Mass worship folder. I will have Dick edit it for me. I have decided to tell about the Celtic Season Lughnasadh, which starts on August 1 and celebrates the harvest. It is one of the two minor seasons. Beltane, celebrated on May 1, means bright fire, and marks the beginning of the "light half" or summer of the year. Samhain. the most important of the four, is celebrated on November 1. It is now associated with our All Hallows Eve (Halloween) and marks the "dark half" or winter of the year.

So it was a busy day, all day. I even got a couple of boxes packed and out into the garage.

We are getting fresh corn and tomatoes for dinner tomorrow and Bobbie and Bill will join us.

Love

Mary

It was hot again today. The cold front that was promised started to come through this evening. The temperatures have dropped from the high 80s to the high 60s this evening. We are even getting a bit of rain. Not enough but anything we get is very welcome at this point.

Chelsea and I had a nice walk this morning and ran into a couple of neighbors, Sherry from next door and Mikki from across the street, so I had to tell them what was going on. I will be somewhat difficult to leave as this is a lovely neighborhood with really good neighbors. Anyone who buys this house will be accepted and feel very comfortable.

Dick and I ran a few errands this morning then went to Falls to the Firehouse to join a bunch of my classmates and their spouses for lunch. The Firehouse is always good and we did some catching up. Dick admitted that he did enjoy himself. We sat across from Dick and Lorraine Schaap who are always good company.


Then I went to Plymouth to do the final review of my book. There was a question on one page which will be emailed for my approval when corrected, then the printing. I want it done by the 10th so I can take it to show everybody at the Ball Game. I will also have it ready for Irish Fest, the Irish reunion at St. Michaels and Celtic Faire.

This evening I did the minutes of the Rhine Board meeting and the outline for the Celtic Mass to take to Sandy on Monday. I still have to write a bit of an introduction to the Worship Folder. I like to change that every year.

So it was a productive day and now I am tired. I did get two boxes packed also. I forgot to mention that.

From Cadfael's Book of Days "Tongues wag more freely before the deaf man."

Be cool and safe. Keep us in your prayers. I am still very worried about many things. I must remember that all I have to do is do my best and keep plugging along and that God will pick up the slack for me.

Love

Mary

Well, I am home. Actually, Dick and I were able to stay in out of the horrible heat all day. It was 95 again with a heat index in the triple digets again. Tonight it is supposed to cool and tomorrow, the temps will be in the mid eighties. It has been raining this evening.

Tonight, I went to Beth Hoegger's (my choir director) house to meet with her and Jim Wilsing (the bagpiper)to plan the Celtic Mass. Dick said they must be Deeley's. We could have been done in an hour but it took us almost three because we had to to talk and visit. BUT - we got it done and it will be a beautiful service. We will have a couple of new instrumentalists joining us for some of the music, especially in the prelude. Jim promised that he will play the Old Rustic Bridge to get the program started. (One of my personal favorites). We will sing the song that I wrote the words to and Beth is writing music for the standard parts of the Mass (e.g. the Gloria and Sanctus.) Now I am getting excited.

I need to finish the banner too. With all the house stuff and confusion, it has been put on a back burner.

We got a few more boxes packed and stacked against the wall in the garage. We also pulled out books that we are donating to the library.

Mother called this evening. My nephew, Todd, and his wife Stacy are expecting a baby and she is having a long hard labor and they have decided to take the baby by a C-section. Best to do it sooner than later, but it is still a worry. Please pray along with me for the safety of little Morgan and especially her parents, who I am sure are scared beyond belief. This is their first child too.

We now have a for sale sign on our front lawn. Wonder what the neighbors are thinking.

All my love

Mary

It was HOT today. I believe it topped 98 degrees with a heat index of triple digets.

Nick Cain came over today to measure the rooms and take pictures and video for their website. I remember him as a little kid when I worked at Wells in Plymouth and he and his sister Katie would come in to see their Mom, Dawn, after school. He has grown up to be a pleasant competent young man. They can be very proud.

Bible Study this morning. We had about 8 of us. A nice number. Helen Morgan and Esther Hasler were both back after an absence so we were glad to have them to add to our discussion. They are sad that we are moving and I will probably switch parishes because we will be so close to St. John's in Plymouth. I said that I MIGHT stick to the bible study because I should come in to visit Mother at least once a week and this would make it a two for one trip.

H. Jackson Brown Jr. said "Never deprive someone of hope, it might be all they have."


Love

Mary

Sunday, Sunday. It was much cooler that they predicted but very humid. I understand that the heat tomorrow will more than make up for today. I am still having trouble sleeping. I wake up every morning at about 4AM and cannot get back to sleep. I managed to stay in bed and listen to the music that was on for about an hour, then got stiff and just got up. Chelsea is not doing too well in this humidity. She is cutting back her walk and sometimes just sits down to rest for a bit.

I went to the eight o'clock mass and had a nice visit with Mother. We got to talking about my brother Tim and his friend Gene Drossel. They were thick as thieves as kids. One time Mom and Dad and the Drossels got called to school. There was a party at school and the kids were allowed to bring a snack and something to drink. Tim, Gene and a couple of other boys decided to bring cokes, however, they got the idea to spice them up a bit with some whiskey from one of the Dad's cupboard. Somebody squealed and they got caught. Mother said that now days that would have been all over the papers. At that time, the parents were called and THEY handled it. Tim and Gene grew up JUST fine.

I got home somewhere around 10:30AM and fixed a brunch for Dick, Michelle, Jim and myself. Jim and Michelle went back to West Allis shortly after we ate.

Than, except for an hour for a nap, I worked on getting final touches on the house for the big video taking tomorrow for the house listing. Supper was easy, we had a couple of Jeff's bratwurst and some potato salad left, so we ate that at about six.

Tomorrow, I have Bible Study and a Rhine Plymouth Board meeting. I will also be taking my edited book to Sun Graphics to leave for inal publication.

Today is Nora Schwarten, our granddaughter's birthday. She is eighteen now. It hardly seems possible. We have not seen her now for several years and she never seems to be available when we call. It is sad not to be close to her any more. She is a lovely little thing and seems to be doing well from what Leslie, her mother, says. I think of her often and we have such lovely memories.


Love

Mary

I forgot to blog last night. We spent the day getting as much stuff of of flat surfaces and into boxes along the garage wall as we could.

I think Michelle is doing too much with her foot as the surgery was only Monday but only she can judge how she feels.

Dick took us all out to breakfast.

I have been waking up at 4AM and am unable to go back to sleep for the past two days. Too much on my mind but it is not helping. I am tired and dwelling on problems that I don't have solutions for. I need to keep working on letting go and letting God. I know that he will take care of things but I am so worried.

Later

Mary

Most of the day was pretty good. It was very hot. The last time I checked it was 85 degrees. I guess we are better off than most of the nation and thank heavens for air conditioning. Thank heavens too, that we are not being threatened by rolling blackouts and have not been hit with the power outages that have been occuring in parts of the country.

I cleaned the kitchen this morning. Must remember to water the plants on the deck and on the pole out front in the morning before it gets too hot. I have one tomato that is red.

Had my weekly lunch with the ladies at the Dairy Queen. I told them today that we are moving to Plymouth. They all said that I was welcome. That is nice. Two of them go to the church, St. John's, so I won't be all alone. I remember moving to a new parish in California one time and being so alone that I cried. I cry alone, I don't like other people to see me crying.

After lunch, I picked up the proof of my book from Sun Graphics. It looks nice. Mary Kay did an edit for me. Dick and I will both check it. Then, with the corrections, we can get it printed. I am so excited.

Then I stopped at Cappelle's and picked up the first sweet corn or the season and a nice big fresh tomato for supper. Stopped at ReMax and dropped off the condition report. Swung by the Pig and picked up milk, eggs and (special treat) Krispy Cream donuts for dessert. Then I went to Wells to meet George, a personal banker, who wanted to review my accounts. Because of his review they are giving us a $150 credit on the closing costs on the mortgage. He had to tell me that we are really using everything that we need and would not recommend changes. I did tell him that after we buy the new house AND our current house sells, we will need to do SOME adjusting of accounts.

Then home.

Nora's Birthday is on Sunday. I can't believe that she will be 18 already.

Sometimes I wish I could wiggle my nose like Samantha the witch and make everything all right.

Love

Mary

The house is listed. Bill Cain stopped over this morning and we did the deed. He will have it on the MLS and the internet very quickly and Nick Cain will be over on Monday afternoon to take some videos to put on his website.

As soon as we can get some of the excess "stuff" out of the way, we can have open houses if it seems right. It is good to do a real big crush when one first lists a property because that is when the activity is the heaviest and it is more likely to get the closest to the asking price.

We also have official loan approval (with a letter) and have received permission from Judy, the owner, to store boxes in the property that Jim and Michelle are buying, which will help us clean out the excess and make the house look neater and less cluttered.

We also asked Bill's advice as to what we have that we are not using that we can sell at auction.

I packed a couple of more boxes and now have Waylon's room ready to videotape and have done quite a bit in the livingroom or "greatroom" as it is more properly called.

Tomorrow is a very busy day. I will be having lunch with the girls, checking my book at Sun Graphics, picking up corn for supper, picking the garage door opener and dropping off the condition report at ReMax, and meeting the personal banker at the bank. Whew.

We are almost to the end of July already. Then it will be one more month until this is all over, and there is a lot besides just moving going on in this month.

You might be a Redneck if:

1. It never occurred to you to be offended by the phrase, "One nation, under God."

2. You've never protested about seeing the 10 Commandments posted in public places.

3. You still say "Christmas" instead of "Winter Festival".

4. You remove your hat and bow your head when anyone prays .

5. You stand and place your hand over your heart when they play our National Anthem.

6. You treat Viet Nam vets with great respect, and always have.

7. You've never burned an American flag , but would kick someone's BUTT if they did.

8. You know what you believe and you aren't afraid to say so, no matter who is listening.

9 You respect your elders and expect your kids to do the same.

10. You'd give your last dollar to a friend.


Not a bad credo.

Mary

Dentist this morning. It was a good thing that they called yesterday to remind me because I had not written it down and would not have been there. All was looking good except for a minor problem with the gum on my back upper right. I have some local antibiotics deep in there and it will heal everything up in a little over a week. Teeth always feel so good after they are cleaned and polished.

Then Dick and I went grocery shopping, to the bank and got gas. We shopped at the northside Pig. Pick and Save doesn't have the napkins that we like so it seemed like a good idea to go somewhere that does.

We also went to Superior Liquor to get more boxes this afternoon. I have pulled out all my Irish videos and books to sort. Some I want to keep and some will be donated to the Research Center.

Talked to Bret this evening. It has been hot hot hot out there. He said that it was 118 degrees today. He is moving this weekend. He is going to rent a room from a friend, Mary. Mary's husband Mickey is the one who got Bret into the welding business and taught him all the ropes. Mickey died of cancer a few years ago and Mary does depend on Bret to help with major home and auto repairs and all so it will be a good thing for both of them. Cheaper for Bret and Mary will have help there.

Michelle and Jim are here tonight. Jim is working tomorrow so Michelle can stay here with us while he is gone. Tomorrow night they will go back to West Allis because she sees her doctor early on Friday morning. She experience a great deal of pain yesterday, but finally got to sleep and today the pain is managable.

I had to throw out a plant that I was trying to save today. One of the cats decided that it would make a handy litter box. I got rid of it and sprayed the big corn plant with LOTS of cat repellent. Sure hope they don't decide to try that too. Waylon did the same thing. Once. Well, that is one plant that I won't worry about any more.

Tomorrow, we list the house.

Love

Mary

I went on the trip alone today. Dick feels much better tonight but was just not up to the trip today. Now that it is over, I am just as glad it turned out this way. The crowd, even on a Tuesday, was so heavy and moved so slowly that he would have been terribly uncomfortable. The exhibit is definately worth it but I think it would have been a while before he appreciated it.

I bought him some candy in a Tutenkamen tin and a 2006 Calendar that goes with the exhibit with wonderful pictures.

We went right from the exhibit to Marshall Fields for a delightful lunch of spinach salad, chicken pot pie and a mint chocolate ice cream pie. Then we had about an hour and a half to shop. I found two new pairs of jeans in the petite section and two pair of cute sox. Then on to the Chicago River for an architectural tour. The captain of the boat was SO knowledgeable. He knew the history of every building on the river, I swear. Who, when and why and the architectural details too. We saw the Trump tower, now under construction.

Then the long drive home. It started to rain just about Ozaukee county. So the day was perfect.

Michelle's operation went well according to her e-mail. This evening, the drugs are wearing off and she is not feeling too well. With any luck at all, she will sleep well tonight and feel a bit better tomorrow. Sometimes, the next day is worse though. (Don't tell Michelle. She will be fine if she doesn't know that.) We want her healed and happy.

Take care. Til tomorrow.

Mary

I went on the trip alone today. Dick feels much better tonight but was just not up to the trip today. Now that it is over, I am just as glad it turned out this way. The crowd, even on a Tuesday, was so heavy and moved so slowly that he would have been terribly uncomfortable. The exhibit is definately worth it but I think it would have been a while before he appreciated it.

I bought him some candy in a Tutenkamen tin and a 2006 Calendar that goes with the exhibit with wonderful pictures.

We went right from the exhibit to Marshall Fields for a delightful lunch of spinach salad, chicken pot pie and a mint chocolate ice cream pie. Then we had about an hour and a half to shop. I found two new pairs of jeans in the petite section and two pair of cute sox. Then on to the Chicago River for an architectural tour. The captain of the boat was SO knowledgeable. He knew the history of every building on the river, I swear. Who, when and why and the architectural details too. We saw the Trump tower, now under construction.

Then the long drive home. It started to rain just about Ozaukee county. So the day was perfect.

Michelle's operation went well according to her e-mail. This evening, the drugs are wearing off and she is not feeling too well. With any luck at all, she will sleep well tonight and feel a bit better tomorrow. Sometimes, the next day is worse though. (Don't tell Michelle. She will be fine if she doesn't know that.) We want her healed and happy.

Take care. Til tomorrow.

Mary

A very busy day. Started off with bible study. Peggy Feider brought the nicest reading for our opening prayer. It was from Mother Teresa. She said, in a nutshell, she never figured that she would help 42,000 people. She just picked up one person and then another and then another. Like adding a drop of water to the ocean. One drop isn't really noticed but without it there would be one less drop.

Then I took Mother to the Clinic to get her blood test. That went very quickly. Next I went to Sun Graphics in Plymouth to drop off my book. They are going to have the proof ready on Friday. I can stop after my lunch with the Plymouth Bank Ladies. That way they can have it ready for August 10th when I go to the ball game with the Deeleys. Uncle Leif and Aunt Nora will be here and Uncle Leif likes to arrange a ball game with a tailgate party. Should be fun.

Finally, I stopped at ReMax and dropped the way we want title to be held off to Erlinda and talked to Tom for a bit. We have not given up on the animals. Judy, the owner,is going to bat for us. She really felt, I believe, that my letter spoke for itself. I explained to Tom again, that Chelsea is really quite old AND she has a heart murmer and does experience little epileptic type episodes. I also told him that we got the cats from the Humane Society three years ago. They are now eight and we love them and hate to put them through any more trauma than just moving. However, bless her heart, Bobbie said that she and Bill would take them for the duration if it became necessary. We can't separate them and I would NEVER take them back to the Humane Society. That was a big relief. At least we have the security of knowing they will be loved and accepted together by someone who knows and loves them too.

Tonight I joined Dottie Diedrich and Marlene Freville to work on the Celtic Faire quilt. It is such a nice experience to hand quilt in a "quilting bee" situation. We all learn little bits about quilting and share in such a comfortable way, our life situations and just fun things. I like that. We got everything but ONE block, the stitching in the border and the binding done. Dottie is going to finish the last block and there will be a last session next Monday for the border stitching. Joyce will sew on the binding and Marlene will finish it off. It is beautiful. I will put a picture on agan and you can all order tickets from me.

Have a great Tuesday. I am going to Chicago. Dick and I were both supposed to go but he is just not up to the walking involved. So I will join the tour alone. I don't want to miss the Tut exhibit. and Dick doesn't want both of us to miss it. So I will go. We have to be really careful now because too much walking is just too much for him.

Have a great day


Love

Mary

This is insane. This is the third time that I am trying to post tonight. It keeps crashing on me.

I am trying to vent my frustration with the condo situation. I will try ONCE more.

We received a letter on Friday. After we had verbal assurance from Tom Cain that all was OK. And after we had gone in to see Kaye Beck on Thursday and filled out an application for the mortgage AND ordered th appraisal that the Condo association was turning down our request to bring all three of our animals with us to the condo.

Needlless to say, I am a wreck. I don't crash very often, but when you try to take my kids or my critters away, you are missing with my heart.

We have four choices, as I see it.

1. We cancel the deal and stay here. We could pay the loan WAY down, get it reamortized, get Jim off the deed and him his equity and hopefully have enough spendable income to pay for shoveling and more outside help and general maintenance.

2. Go ahead with the deal and find someway or someone to take part of the animals. We could concievable alot a dog or a cat to Jim and Michelle but what about the third one?

3. Sneak them in.

4. Persist in our request but Dick is afraid of antagonizing the board or our neighbors. However, we KNOW that there are households with more than one animal and we KNOW that exceptions have been made for elderly LARGE animals, so see no reason for the action as we are willing to even sign an affidavit or agreement or whatever that we will not replace until ALL are gone.

Anyway, I am going to see if Judy, the sellor, has any pull or influence and go from there. I am literally sick to my stomach some of the time. I seems like such a mild request and DOES worry me a bit about the condo assocation's ability to cooperate with tenents.

Well. We will see. I am praying a lot and hope you will join me. It is not as imortant as World Peace, but I cannot imagine that God wants three little animals to be frightened any more than just by the move. New owners would be really hard on them.

Michelle has surgery on her foot on Tuesday. Pray for successful surgery for her. Also my nephew, Jesse Johnston, will be starting a bone marrow procedure any day now. Pray for him and opt for life and health.

Love

Mary