Sundays still feel strange to me now that I go to church on Saturday nights. One would think I could sleep late, wouldn't one. But NOOOO! Chelsea the wonder dog woke me up this morning at 20 to 6. Dick was sleeping and I saw no sense in letting her keep whimpering and waking him up so out we went for our morning walk.

When I got back, Dick was awake anyway. So we had our breakfast. Sunday breakfast. We had fried potatoes, bacon, eggs and toast. Nice. Then I took a shower and a nap. I hate to admit it but I think Dick is right. I really need more sleep.

This afternoon, I drove over to Mother's house. I was intending to bring her pills. Guess what. I brought the local papers and some food to share and forgot the pills. Tomorrow, Dick has doctor appointments in the morning, so I can't go to bible study but we will come back home through Sheboygan Falls and drop them off then.

We had a nice visit as usual. I brought her some of the spinach salad that I made for dinner last night. She commented that she had never grown spinach and really never bought spinach either. I don't recall her feeding it to us when we grew up either. I know that she likes the spinach casserole and I think she will like the salad too. Perhaps I have introduced her to a band new taste.

Well we are at the beginning of a brand new week. It is a relatively busy one for us. How about you?

I spent a good portion of the afternoon sitting out on the deck reading. I have discovered that as thick as the mosquitoes are in the grass and trees, they don't spend much time on the deck. I see and hear squirrels, rabbits and lots of birds as I sit out there. Did I ever tell you about the time Chelsea and I were walking around the house on Hunters Glen and I glanced over and saw a little baby bunny huddled up against the house. He wasn't over 4 inches long and his eyes were as big as his head with his little ears flat on his back. I reached over and stroked his little back with my finger. He was too petrified to move. Then I thought I had better move quickly as Chelsea, rotten hunter that she is had not seen or smelled him. BUT if she did notice, she could have hurt the little thing by sheer excitement and clumsiness. So I left him and we hurried on our walk.

But I got to pet a baby bunny. Isn't that neat.

Mary

We are warm again. It was in the 80s today and actually quite wonderful. Chelsea woke me up at 5:30AM. I got up and took her out because Dick was sleeping and I really did not want to wake him. He seems to be sleeping an awful lot. He is tired and kind of weak. Probably it is a normal reaction to the infection and the problems he is facing.

Then I lazed around and just puttered until 10. Jim and Michelle came over then to clean. So I left. I went to Walmart to pick up some upholstery cleaner (my desk chair is FILTHY) and then to the Sewing Basket. I now THINK I have the fabric I need to make the wall hanging that I have envisioned in my head. It is time to get it out of there. I had a lot of fun shopping. I have decided to rejoin the Quilt Guild. Even if I only go once or twice a year, it will give me the option of good classes if I am interested. That is where I got my neat doll pattern.

I came home at about noon and fixed Dick some lunch, Then Jim, Michelle and I went out to lunch to NJoy the coffee house I told you about. We had a nice lunch of wraps and paninis and Mocha coffees, then proceeded on to Best Buy and Office Max to check out multifunction machines. We brought the information home and Dick and I picked the one we like. Now Michelle will see what kind of a price she can get. If she can't better it we will go back to Office Max next week.

We go home about 2PM. Dick was napping again but woke up pretty quickly so I changed the dressing on his foot and then got to rest for about 25 minutes before I went on to Mass at 4PM. When I got home I finished the spaghetti dinner. Jim and Michelle joined us for that too. Seemed like a good idea to me so I asked them. After we ate we played hearts for a bit. Would you believe I won? Well I did. I only had 29 points. The cards were JUST right.

Now it is exactly 9PM and I am very tired. We had ice cream cones for dessert. It reminded me of when I was a little girl. We only got ice cream when Mom and Dad did their grocery shopping because we did not have a freezer big enough to keep it on hand like we do now. So when they bought it, it had to be eaten that night. There were lots of kids, as you know. I remember that they ALWAYS got Neopolitan Ice cream so we could all have a choice and choices we did. I remember how patiently Dad would sit with that gallon square of ice cream, cutting each child the kind of ice cream he or she wanted and being very careful to see that we all got an equal amount. And you thought Job was patient.

Love

Mary

A quiet Fourth of July. I woke up a little early. It was 50 degrees outside which is really nice walking weather. Chelsea and I had a good one. We stuck to the sidewalk areas today because I am sick of fighting mosquitoes.

Dick was very tired today and slept most of the morning and part of the afternoon. He is in bed now and it is only 8PM. I hope this doesn't cause him to be awake all night.

I fried out this evening. I made enough for a couple of meals and some to take to Mother. I think I will go over to her house tomorrow morning when Jim and Michelle come. I will visit with her and then go fabric shopping for my new quilt idea. I have it fixed in my head. Now if I can find the fabric to go with my picture. Then Jim, Michelle and I are going to Office Max to look st multifunction FAX/Printer/scanner/copier machines. I will be taking them out for lunch for their advice. That will be pleasant. Dick suggested NJoy, out near Hwy 23.

I made spaghetti sauce this morning too. It will be nicely seasoned for tomorrow's dinner.

I spent an hour over with Bootsy this evening. He broke his toy again. Well, Jim will have to fix it again. He seems to accept me but will not cuddle. I do miss my kitties. Oscar cuddles and Roxie likes to sit on my lap. We now have nice desk lamps so they can sleep where they always did on the desks and be warm and cozy.

I did a bit more rearranging of furniture in the old office. It will now be quite pleasant for just sitting and sewing or being quiet and away from things. I would like to pick up a bookcase for the overflow. Dick and I ARE going to go through our books and taped and DVDs and get rid of those not needed but we still need more storage space.

Have a good day tomorrow.

Love

Mary

Some of you may not have seen this. Since George passed so recently I thought I would share.

George Carlin's Solution to Save Gasoline

---

Bush wants us to cut the amount of gas we use.....
The best way to stop using so much gas is to deport 11 million illegal imigrants!
That would be 11 million less people using our gas. The price of gas would come down.....

Bring our troops home from Iraq to guard the Border.... When they catch an illegal immigrant crossing the border, hand him a canteen, rifle and some ammo and ship him to Iraq ... Tell him if he wants to come to America then he must serve a tour in the military.... Give him a soldier's pay while he's there and tax him on it..... After his tour, he will be allowed to become a citizen since he defended this country..... He will also be registered to be taxed and be a legal patriot..... . This option will probably deter illegal immigration and provide a solution for the troops in Iraq and the aliens trying to make a better life for themselves....

If they refuse to serve, ship them to Iraq anyway, without the canteen, rifle or ammo..... Problem solved.....

Today was beautiful. It was kind of cool. Only in the high 60s and I find that quite comfortable if there is no rain or wind. Chelsea and I took a shorter walk this morning because they had sprayed the grass with pesticides and it is recommended that you keep pets off of the grass then for 24 hours. I don't think that she really noticed.

We had to be at the Sheboygan Clinic at 8:30 to see Dr. Moreno so Dick and I just kept moving with our morning routines and left at 8AM. It was a good visit. Dr. Moreno says the wounds look better. We were concerned because there is some weeping on the legs because of the swelling. BUT the wrapping is bringing the swelling down. So his legs are rewraped. I need to change the dressing on the worst of the callouses once a day and we go back on Monday.

We got home in plenty of time for me to get to the Plymouth Clinic for my PT. Becky says that there is much more range of motion. My neck feels much better and we are working on the sore arm. So progress is being made by both of us.

The rest of the afternoon was home. I finished cleaning the old office carpet. It looks better. I know it is clean because the vacuum tells me so but there are still stains that will NOT come out. I think eventually we will have to replace it. Right now there are more pressing things.

When I lived out in California and my boys were young, we belonged to a Jeep Club. The club was the Four Wheelers of Orange County and we prided ourselves on having families as members. So our family was a member of the club. One of the other families was Ernie Heinze and his remarkable, lovely wife, Twila. Ernie had been injured very seriously in a rollover jeeping accident many years earlier. Ernie was a mechanic and had his own auto repair business. When he was injured, they were still raising a family so Twila came into the business and learned how to be a mechanic too. She could hold her own with all the guys.

Their son Ron and his family also belonged to the club. Her grandchildren, boys and girls, all had dark hair and my Bret was a blond. One time we were talking about little boys and she remarked that she had noticed that little blond headed kids smelled like puppies. I think she is right. I loved my puppies.

We exchanged Christmas cards for a bit after I moved away and she thought it was VERY funny that I married another man named Dick.

Twila and Ernie are both gone now. Such a special couple.

Mary

Today was a comparatively quiet day. The only out of house adventure was to the grocery store. Actually, I went to Mc Donalds first to get us breakfast. We do miss going out for breakfast together. That was our date.


Shopping went well. Then I spent a good chunk of the day cleaning the carpet in the old office. It cleaned somewhat but lots of the stains are still there. I will vacuum tomorrow and then try another stain remover that I have on hand.

Tomorrow Dick goes to see Dr. Moreno again. The swelling in the legs is down a little but not enough and here was some seepage on the ace bandage this morning. The wounds themselves look better I think.


It rained in torrents twice today. BUT it is supposed to stay clear and the temperatures should be nice through the weekend. Nice for the Fourth of July weekend.

We will have a quiet one. I plan on frying out on Friday and making spaghetti sauce for Saturday. If anyone wants to join us, just let me know. Dick always wonders what I would do of any of you DID take me up on these invitations. I always tell him, I would feed you.

In my previous life, I never knew who I would be feeding. My ex used to work on cars in the back garage and often the owners of the cars would be there when we ate so they did too. My kids always knew that we would feed anyone who was there if they had permission from their parents too. I grew up that way and it is perfectly normal. I know how to stretch a meal or how to make second or third meals out of the leftovers.

Have a nice sleep.

I Sure need one.

Love

Mary

Today was a truly quiet day. Chelsea did not stir until 6AM. Which was really nice. We had a pleasant walk. We got back around before the workers were milling around on Highland Avenue. I had to be at PT by 8:15AM, so I took my shower and ate some toast for breakfast and took out the trash. Then went on to PT.

I seem to be doing better generally but by the time my appointment rolls around I am having trouble sleeping again. The day the therapy is done is kind of painful too. But as I said, things are generally better.

I stopped at Walgreens for prescriptions and vitamins and then headed home.

I took a nap shortly after I got home. For some reason, I have been very drained today. I got a lot of computer work done and worked on my quilt design. I also watered the indoor plants and washed the sheets on our bed.

Can you believe that it is July already? When I still lived in Santa Ana Heights, a truckdriver friend of my ex husband was delivering fireworks and we ended up with a ton of them. There were really neat bottle rockets and sparklers that were over two long and about 3/4 inch in diameter. You lit one of those suckers and it sparkled forever. We had most of the neighbors over and it went on for a couple of hours. The only trouble was that Bart was afraid of explosions and fire. So, he and I sat in the living room looking out the front window with me assuring him that all was safe and that it would be ending soon.

We should actually have a quiet Fourth of July. Last Saturday, first we heard the cars at the race track, then I started hearing explosions. I figured that either the fireworks were early or we were being invaded and the former seemed the most logical. Apparently Plymouth did their big deal then. However, other communities will be celebrating on fourth or later that weekend. Dick and I intend to have a quiet day, just us, at home. I will fry out for us. I am going to try spraying with Listerine again to see if it keeps the mosquitoes away.

Later

Love you all

Hope I have some energy tomorrow.

Mary

Mondays are really too busy. Why can't we spread some of the events into the rest of the week?

Started out with a nice walk, Chelsea and me. It was very pleasant. We did not see too many other people and Chelsea is getting so blind that she does not see those that ARE out there. The workers are coming VERY early to work on Highland. I told you about our detour. Today, they seem to have opened one lane from Valley to Tallgrass, but I think it intended for their workers and is very bumpy and icky. The trouble is that SOME people are taking it and it means that one REALLY HAS to pay attention to the stop sings or you might get blindsided.

After the walk, I hooked Dick up to the sequential thingy. I can't see that it is helping too much right now. Without the stockings, his legs are swelling up again. We are in a real pickle. The stockings are causing the callouses to grow and get deep and open and without the stockings we get the swelling.

Then I went to bible study. Right after bible study I went over to Mom's. George and Betsy were there. Betsy's nephew was married in a Greek Orthodox ceremony on Saturday. I was able to spend about an hour and a half with them and Mother and Jeff and Kathy arrived while I was there too. I gave George and Betsy a poem that I wrote for Courtney. They had pictures of the home that Shawn bought in North Carolina. It is really nice. A three bedroom really close to campus where he will be teaching.

Then home, just in time to snack and load Dick into the car for two appointments at the Sheboygan Clinic. His blood count is still a bit low. Surprising, since the antibiotics usually cause the reverse and he is ON antibiotics.

Dr. Moreno is not unhappy with the way his callouses are healing but is concerned about the swelling in his legs, so they are wrapped again. I will have to rewrap them as the legs shrink so that there is no constricting or sagging. We will see Dr. Moreno again on Thursday.

Then we got home at about 3PM and Rachel, the RN from VNA came shortly afterwards. She checked him over and supplemented our supplies and ordered a cushion for the wheelchair. We are concerned that he needs something in there to help avoid sores. Don't need wounds in THAT area.

Finally, we were done.

Then I got a chance to pick up my messages and found a message from Dr. Ganhju. He is checking the CTScan that I had done last Wednesday. I called him back and was told that his nurses would return my call but nothing ever came of that. I am sure disappointed. I don't believe that there is any chance that there is an answer for the pain in my side but it would be nice to know. I will try to reach him or his nurses tomorrow. All we have scheduled is my PT in the morning and that is rather early. I asked Dick to answer the phone if it is the Clinic while I am gone. I would surely like to know. It is not that it is so bad but it has been going on for months and one wonders why.

It was a beautiful day today. I know why I live in Wisconsin when these days show up. It was in the high 70s with a nice breeze. No humidity and everything is green and blooming. Heaven must be like this.

Had such a nice visit with George and Betsy. We, Mother, Jeff, George and I, were remembering when we were kids.. I told George that I remember Nora and I dressing him up in a towel ( for a royal robe) and a homemade crown. Then we crowned him the King of Deeleyville. He was the cutest little guy, I remember with his blond hair and blue eyes. Who needed dolls when we had little brothers.

Hope you had a good Monday. It is now time for me to go to bed. Sleep tight yourself.

Mary

Sundays seem very strange to me now that I am going to Mass on Saturday nights. I was so used to starting my Sunday and my week with Mass that it feels rather disomboberated.

Chelsea tried to get me up at about 4:15 AM but I put her out of the room with some lettuce until almost 6AM. We did have a nice walk. This was a comfortable day. Kind of cool actually but after the hot muggy days we have had it was a real relief to be cool.

I was busy all day. I did some sewing, and some cleaning and a lot of taking care of Dick. He slept off an on most of the morning but we have been compressing his legs and cleaning his wounds since then. We washed his hair this evening and did a sponge bath. It is rather difficult to clean ones self without getting one's feet wet.

Jim and Michelle came over this morning and helped me rack the two batches of wine that I have working right now. They said that they will be glad to help me do the one kit of White Zinfindal that we have ready to mix. Unless things change, that may be our last batch of wine. I really enjoyed doing it but more than half the fun was doing it with Dick. He cannot be going up and down the stairs and standing to cork and rack so half of my fun is gone. I will decide that before we are faced with batches of currants or whatever fruits are offered.

When my boys were growing up, they sure were funny little guys. One day, I was in the backyard and the phone rang. Bart was somewhere around 4 years old and answered it. It was his father. Bart picked up the phone and asked who was calling. My ex said. "This is God." Bart never missed a beat. He said. "Did you make me?" Dick said. "Yes." Then Bart hung up the phone and ran into the backyard and told me that God called. When Dick got home he told me about it.

Bart was a precious trusting little boy.

Have an excellent week.

Mary

Today was supposed to be hot and humid. It was rather warm when Chelsea and I took our walk this morning. (She came to get me at about 5AM but I gave her some lettuce and shut the door and then I did not hear from her until Dick woke me up a bit after 6:30AM.) So we got a late start. Not a bad deal when we did not have any appointments today.

I did have to be at the Plymouth Armory to pick up my Share Delivery. We started taking Share last month. It is such an easy way to save on groceries. One gets at least $40 worth of groceries for $18 plus a small delivery fee. This month we got Chicken drumsticks, Pork tenderloin, Meatballs, fresh veggies and fruits and other stuff that I just can't remember. We used to do this several years ago when my friend Jim Fleming had a Share distribution site established in Sheboygan Falls. I can't really remember why we stopped. But with the price of groceries AND gas going up steadily, I think we need to conserve where we can.

While I was out, I picked up some cards for Mother, some wood screws that SHOULD fix the door downstairs AND went to the bank.

The rest of the day was rather quiet until 3:30 when I got ready for church at 4:00. It started to POUR just before I left, but the dear Lord eased up on the torrent while I was making my way from my car to the church. Then we could hear more thunder and lightening and more torrents of rain while the service was going on. But it had passed over before we left church so the Lord was looking out for us. This week we got a sermon. I am not sure exactly what happened, but the lector did not read the first and second readings that were scheduled for today. It was very confusing. Fr. Van Beeck did not refer to the readings in his sermon but chose to speak about the role of Peter and Paul as unlikely people to have managed to get the Church strongly based enough to still be here after 2000 year. He mentioned that perhaps we are unlikely people to be ensuring that it continue for the next 2000 years.

I fixed two potato salads today. The Kunert potato salad and My potato salad. I am sending the recipes in to the Emeril Potato Salad contest on GMA. I made them and then took a picture but now I find I don't know how to get the picture moved from Picasa to the entry form. Isn't that a dilemma?

We had chicken, potato salad and broccoli for dinner with strawberry shortcake for dessert.

Do Kings eat better? I think not.

Love

Mary

Another eventful day. I got up rather early. Don't know why except that my arm hurt and it seemed silly to stay in bed when Chelsea came and hinted that she was ready to go outside. Sometimes I just give her some lettuce and shut her out of the bedroom.

We had a nice walk until we got too close to the trees. The mosquitoes were like the legendary herds of buffalo that used to blanket the prairies. It is impossible to stay away from them. So I made her hurry through the woods and we ran into the house.

I went over to feed Boots after I fed Chelsea. He is really easy to take care of in the morning because Jim and Michelle don't spend much time with him in the morning anyway.

We had to be at the Sheboygan Clinic at 11:00 to have Dick's blood tested at the anti coagulation clinic. His blood count is now 2. This is perfect. But guess what. Before we left we received a call from Dr. Moreno's nurse. The blood test showed that he has a slight infection so he is now back on antibiotics and this might throw the count off again. After we left the Clinic we went to the hospital but Dr. Siddiquie put off his procedure for three weeks so that we can get the infection under control.

It was good to get home early. We did the second sequential compression treatment and took naps. Then I spent a lot of time while Dick slept getting information on cushions for the wheelchair, ramps and confirming appointments for next week.

We had ordered desk lamps and they were on the porch like a magic gift. I put them together and on the desks as a surprise for Dick while he was sleeping. They are really nice. Much better than the floor lamp and ceiling lights.

At 5PM Jim and Michelle arrived and I went over to the Herman's. Kate and I drove over to the Depot and picked up a fish dinner for Dick and delivered it. Kate and Jim and Michelle got to meet each other. Dick was delighted with the fish dinner. The Depot does a great job.

After the delivery, Kate and I went back to her place where her son Ron Jr. and his wife and two boys had arrived. They are fun. The boys are handsome and witty. We all walked back to the Depot for a wonderful meal. The mosquitoes were just as thick on Collins Street as they were in Lion's park. I ran into Dennis and Dianne Gatzke dining with Jim and Gail Kapellan. Hadn't seen Dianne in SUCH a long time. We worked together at United Savings and Loan 24 years ago. A great couple.

After dinner, everybody had some form of fish, except for little Riley who had corn dogs, we walked back up the street to the Herman's. We visited for a while and then I went home. They showered me with fresh strawberries and jars of canned pears, tomatoes and pickles.

It was an altogether delightful evening. Kate and Ron are good to me and I love their family. It is such a pleasure to come home after a break to a sparkling home too. Jim and Michelle work very hard and really polish things up for us.

I talked to my brother George today. He is at Mom's. He and Betsy are here for her nephew's wedding this weekend. I will be able to spend some time with him on Monday after Bible Study.

Glad the day is winding down. I am tired and ready to sleep.

Take care and have a great weekend.

Love
Mary

A very stressful day. We had to be at Dr. Moreno's office at 9AM. He checked the open callouses and the one on his right food is MUCH worse. We have new medicine, had to get a blood test and Xray. We also are not going to be putting on the support stockings because they seem to be contributing to the problem by putting bad pressure on that callous.

We are quite upset but have to just keep moving. We received the sequential compression sleeves yesterday which should help keep the swelling in the legs down.

We left Dr. Moreno's and hurried to Plymouth Aurora for his xrays and blood test and my physical therapy. We got done with everything at about 11:30 so decided to go to Chester's for lunch. Everybody raves about their food. We ordered cheeseburgers and fries and brought them home. The fries were OK but the burgers WERE great.

Then we both napped. We were exhausted.

When I got up I took care of registering the sequential compression sleeves, baked some corn muffins and caught up on my emails and that kind of thing.

When Dick got up we put the sleeves on his legs. We are supposed to do it three times a day for an hour each time. Today we just did it once. This will keep us busy - for sure.

This evening after dinner, I went over and fed and watered Boots, the cat, for Jim and Michelle. They volunteered to work for the opening of Summerfest and decided to stay in Milwaukee as they will be up late and Michelle has to work in the morning.

Got nice letter from Fr. Mike today. He was thanking us for the donation that I gave him on Tuesday. It was a nice summary of the current status of his Sarnelli House. Here is a paragraph from the letter.

"We blessed the new two-story' House of Hope' nursery before I came home. It is big, airy, with places to play and much more lawn space than we had before. It has a modern kitchen. It also has a wading pool. The kids play nude, and the first trip into the pool turned out to be a disaster, when a 2-year-old fat little oar named Kane took a huge dump in the pool, sending all the wee ones screaming shoving in their rush to get out. Mis Don Rak is demanding that he be banned from the pool for life!"

I love his letters. He must really love those little people a lot. I asked him if he was ever going to retire and he said. "What would I do." He will stay there I am sure until he is gone. You can check the website at www.sarnelliorphanage.org. Read his brother Jack Shea's letter. It is great.

Have a nice Friday.

Love

Mary

Today was the day for my CTScan. It was not hard but it still wore me out.

I got up at my usual time and walked the girl. Except for mosquitoes it was a lovely walk. We did not meet a single soul EXCEPT as we walked down June Grass, that scary dog Molly suddenly appeared from under an opening garage door. So Chelsea and I turned around and went back up the street. She may be alright but I don't like that she is off her leash and comes galumping down the street right at Chelsea who is SO much littler.

Since I couldn't eat or drink anything after 5AM, I then did the grocery shopping. Got that all done and everything put away in plenty of time to get over to Aurora for the test. It is a weird test. You have to drink two bottles of Crystal Lite that have been laced with iodine. You have to spend an entire hour drinking them so your whole system gets coated with the stuff. Then the technician took me into the room with the big machine that looks like a bagel. I had to lay on my back, she hooked up an IV with more iodine and then I was passed through the "bagel" four times. A voice from the machine tells you when to take in a breath and hold it and when you can breath again. Very simple.

But when I got home I was starved and also exhausted. So I fixed lunch for Dick and me and then lay down for a nap. I slept about an hour when the doorbell rang. It was Mary Meshler, the Occupational Therapist. She is VERY pleased with the progress we have made and will not have to come again unless there are changes. I agree, the things she was assigned to help us with are pretty much solved and we can call if we have questions.

I spent the afternoon getting "ducks in a row" for the Sheboygan CWI trip to Irishfest. I have to forward the ads to the church papers to fill a few seats but have chartered the bus and have almost half of it committed to. We are going on Sunday August 17th if you are interested. It will cost $25 plus a can of food for the Hunger Task Force.

Now I am going to dip you hands into my pariffin dip machine so that maybe my sore finger joints will feel better.

We also got a great UPS delivery. The sequential compression pump for his legs. Tomorrow I have to fill out all the papers and we need to determine how and how often to use it. I am just hoping that it will reduce the swelling in his right leg.

Take care.

Mary

This was a wonderful day.

Chelsea TRIED to get me up at 10 to 5. I staggered out to the kitchen, gave her some lettuce and staggered back to bed until 6. We had a fine walk. It was a pleasant temperature. We saw several bunnies and lots of birds. I saw house finches and those lovely yellow finches and the usual robins and red winged blackbirds. She is so perky in the morning that it is rather startling because she sleeps so much of the rest of the day.

I had a physical therapy session at 8:15 which was good because my arm was SO sore. She did relieve it a LOT. And I have anew exercise to do.

Then Dick and I drove into Sheboygan to have Dick's blood tested. We were quite shocked that his count had jumped from 1.7 to 3.7 in two weeks. We don't know why. It is supposed to be between 2 and 3. Oh for the early days when he went for well over a year right where he was supposed to be. So they adjusted the meds and we will retest on Friday just before he has his procedure with Dr. Siddique. Dr. Siddique likes it low so Dick doesn't bleed so much.

Then for the fun part of the day. I drove over to Mother's at noon and met the people that I mentioned yesterday and we went downtown to The Other Place for lunch. It was so great. Fr. Mike gave us all presents. He gave me a beautiful silk tie (I know that is for Dick but he doesn't wear ties, so I will figure out a way to wear it myself. ) He also gave me a bead bracelet made by his kids and a lovely silver and red stone dragon ring. We spend a nice lunch finding out about how things are going in his world.

He is so good about describing things. He said his girls don't understand why he is buying rice fields and having them planted and plowed by the shared efforts of all the kids. The girls tell him that he really could just go down the road and BUY rice. But the planting they do feeds the whole group for 6 to 8 months and that is a fantastic savings. I told him that I understood how the girls feel and Mother delighted in telling him what a poor "farmer's daughter" I was. Dad always gave each of us kids a row to weed and I always managed to be "sick" when it was time to weed it.

Next year he said he would bring babies. I told him that maybe that could replace the other gifts. He said that the little girl who came to them at about 30 pounds and 12 years old is still hanging in there and finally gaining a bit of weight. She had had a really rough time, but he never gives up on them. He always tries to keep kids with family if they have any that can take care of them but will not give teenage girls back to families who suddenly appear and want them. Obvious reasons. Once they are in his facility it is home as long as they need it.

So a delightful day. Mike said that he WILL be able to say the Mass next year at St. Michael's in August. His scheduled trip home will be later in the summer.

Jim and Michelle stopped by tonight and hooked up the sound, the printer and the backup on the computer so we are all set again. Now it is a matter of getting things put back and rearranging the peripherals.

Tomorrow I have my CTScan. I cannot eat or drink after 5AM so I figured I would get up early, walk the dog, shower and get the grocery shopping done so I won't be thinking about eating and drinking. If I keep busy it will go fast.

For some reason today I was thinking of Uncle John and Aunt Ruth from my previous marriage. We were talking about odd couples and I remembered them. They were married for many many years but there were at least two incidents where they got mad and wouldn't speak to each other. This is not too unusual. However, John and Ruth did not talk to each other for years. I believe their record was 5 years. Their kids were old enough to be furious with them.

Til tomorrow.




Mary

Well, it is almost 9PM and I am READY for a good night's sleep. Got up at 5:30AM because I had to be ready at 7:30AM as Time Warner was scheduled to arrive between 7:30 and 9AM. The technician arrive at about 8:30AM. Not too bad. He was really nice. When I told him where the cable jack was and that we did not think it was hot, he said that he would test it first and if it was hot he would just go away. It is hot and he said there is a good signal too. Since that was all he had to do, he did not charge us either. What a man. I was delighted.

I even got to bible study on time. We had a nice group discussion and went on our way. I stopped at Mother's next. Then home again so I would be there by noon to fix lunch and to take the call when Rachel, the nurse, called to set the time she would be coming. She called just at noon when Dick was thinking of lying down. Since she was coming at 1PM, he just stayed up. She checked his wounds and vitals. Things are looking better and we set another appointment up with her for next Monday aftenoon.

At shortly after 2PM the people from R &R Moving arrived and within an hour, they had moved all the furniture that we needed moved. They also brought in the heavier pieces of computer equipment for me. There is still a LOT of work to do. It is like when you empty your closet to clean it out and find out that you cannot get everything back in. I think items multiply when they hit the air.

Jeff stopped by while the moving people were here and looked at the area we need a wheelchair ramp. We decided that it would be best to buy one. He could build one but it would be permanent and would end up taking too much of the garage. He said that he will go with me to West Bend to look at them. I would like advice.

Now, I am going to tell you something that I am REALLY proud of. I - all by myself - moved the computers into their new spot on the desks in the living room AND HOOKED THEM UP. I first got them fired up, then went in and got the cable, attached it and reestablished our connection with Time Warner. And it WORKS. Jim and Michelle are going to come and help finish. I ran out of places to plug things in and still have the printer, the backup and the speakers to go. I could probably figure it out but Jim and Michelle are SO much better at that kind of stuff.

Anyway, the living room really looks nice. The next project after we get the final touches done will be to clean and fix up the old office into a sitting room. That will be pleasant. I also think that I need a bookcase or tape/DVD case. I think I will go through everything and perhaps get rid of some.

I went over to Kate's at about 4:00PM to join her and the CWI board on a telephone conference. We took about an hour and covered what was necessary. I hope to be able to go the Chicago in mid September for the annual meeting, especially since I will be taking over as president about then.

Michelle called tonight to be sure that we were indeed OK until tomorrow. Very kind. She also told us that Barbara, the kid's mother, will be coming home in a couple of days from the hospital. They are not sure of the prognosis, but she will be able to be home. Pray for her. Also, Michelle is having a bit of problem with the foot that has given her problems before. Pray for her too.

Bret called tonight. It is always so good to hear his voice. He is doing very well. He says he will be able to come and visit next year. He is very close to solvent and is being quite cautious and practical before he commits to any travel, except for going to his place at the river. He would LOVE to live there. Maybe some day.

Tomorrow we have two appointments in the morning, then I will be joining Mother, Uncle Pat and Aunt Joan, Uncle Bob and Aunt Kathleen and Fr. Mike Shea for lunch at noon. That will be all though. Good thing because I am tired.


Take care and be happy

Mary

We are having thunder storms with rain passing quickly through our part of the country. There was even a bit of pea sized hail bouncing around on the deck. Poor Chelsea chose to go out for a bathroom break during the worst of it. I tried to tell her it was not so pleasant but her needs were real. I stayed in the garage and she ran over beside the house to do her business.

With no Mass this morning, it seemed like a very odd Sunday to me. I have been clearing desks and trying to mark wires for the furniture and computer move which will both occur tomorrow. I did take an almost two hour nap which I must have really needed badly. I did have a rather difficult night last night. My arm started hurting so badly that I got up and did some stretches and some of the exercises that Becky gave me to try to loosen it up. Not too successful, which is why the nap was so welcome.

I do not like spiders. I was reminded by a segment on America's Funniest Home Videos. The episode showed a man crawling under a house and having a spider jump on him. Dick says spiders don't jump but that does not make sense. Dad used to try to tell me the same thing. Dad also tried to convince me that spiders are our friends. I know that they eat other insects BUT they are still icky and ugly. And there is not way you will ever convince me that a creature with 8 legs cannot jump.

Tomorrow will be triple busy with the big rearranging adventure. Poor Chelsea with have even more people coming in and out of her house. She is really getting bummed.

Have a good week.

Love

Mary

Chelsea and I slept until almost 6:30AM. That is unheard of but I wish it would happen every day the I don't have to get up earlier. We had a pleasant walk. She decided to go through the park, not the long way, but along the close side. I think the weeds that she likes to eat are now at their peak and she is liking her little snacks as we go along.

We spent the day kind of getting ready for Monday when the BIG MOVE takes place. I picked up everything from off of the floor on the couch side and stacked it so that the movers will have free space to just move furniture. I also moved the stereo away from the windows as the couch will end up there. I also cleaned out the paper and envelopes from the shelves of the desk that sits in front of our desks. This also holds the printer and fax machine. We are going to replace the fax machine as the catch shelves have broken and it is will over 10 years old and kind of bulky. We really doubt that we would be able to replace the shelves or even at this point find the ink and toner cartridges.

Dick did a lot of cleaning of his desk. We still have tomorrow and part of Monday. Time Warner will be here early on Monday to move the computer jack. I figure they can help us move stuff too or at least tell us what gets plugged in.

This is the first week of the new Mass schedule and I was a little disappointed. Fr. Van Beeck was kind of nervous about getting to Elkhart on time and asked us to do without a sermon. I hope this will not be a pattern. I like his sermons and actually since our bible study does a preread and discussion, I like to hear his comments on the readings. We will certainly be shortchanged if we do not hear his sermons.

Tonight we watched a little bit of Lawrence Welk on PBS. We were watching Big Tiny Little play the piano and it reminded me of when I was very young. Nora and I both took piano lessons when we were young from Cyrilla Danks who was a friend of Mother's and the organist and choir director for St. Mary's Church. She was a good teacher and we were good students but we definitely did not have that SPARK. I know that I was a plodding "by the book" pianist. I could sight read but was not able to shine. It has been very helpful to me throughout my life however. In choir it is a great asset and did I tell you I wrote a song? Well I did. Beth Hoegger is going to help me get it into a music program on her computer. It is a very simple song but pleasant, I think.

Tomorrow, since I am now going to Mass on Saturday's will be an at home day and we can get everything ready for the moving and Time Warner people.

Have a good Sunday.

Mary

Chelsea and I started our day with a nice brisk walk as we usually do. It was very pleasant weather for walking and the mosquitoes were not swarming.

Sarah, the physical therapist, came a bit after 8AM. She called on her way for directions being aware that Highland Avenue is in the middle of a construction mess. She helped me figure out what length we need for a ramp, now we have to start shopping around to find exactly what we want and also to determine if we can afford it.

Dick reviewed his exercises with her also.

I called the moving company that we used when we came here and they will come Monday at about 2PM to help us move the furniture from room to room. I also called Time Warner and they will send someone on Monday morning to get the hookup ready for the computer transfers.

Dick used the shower bench for the second time and with the few changes we made he is much more comfortable. Standing is just too hard.

I had lunch with my bank buddies today. It has been several weeks so I had a lot to hear about. Everybody is well and we had a good gabby lunch. Even under new ownership, they still have the grilled cheese sandwich. That makes me happy.

This evening, as instructed by Jim and Michelle, I left the house at 5PM. My friend, Nancy, could not go after all so I did not go out shooting. Instead I went to the Exchange Bank for an egg salad sandwich and a latte, then walked back up to the Art Center for the opening of the new exhibit. The main artist is a Dolores Marusarz. She was there and is charming. As charming as her paintings. If you want to see her work, her website is http://marusart.tripit.com. There were two pieces I would like to have if I had more money and more wall space. There were two artists displayed in what they call, the Alcove. Gary Zimmerman, a photographer, was one of them and I had a nice talk with him. He has two also that I would like. One is a fox kit peeking around a tree, the other a beautiful shot of the sky from inside an old silo. Hard to explain. I told him about my red winged blackbird and showed him the poem and picture in my book.

My friend Beth Hoegger played piano for the reception. She IS really good and it was a pleasure listening to her. She gets called for the Art Center occasionally.

I also saw other friends. Linda, who went to school with my sister Dolores, I think her maiden name was Sebald, Rosalie Hartman and Peter Ullrich. So I had a good time. The art would have been enough.

I did a bit of shopping after I left the opening and then came home. I WAS 10 minutes early but they let me in anyway. Our house is sparkling. Jim and Michelle worked like whirling dervishes. They cleaned the living room, bedroom, kitchen and bathrooms. Jim even got the fan blades for me. And Michelle got the fronts of all the appliances and the corners of the kitchen floor. I hope they realize what a big help this is to us and how grateful we are for them being here for us.

It rained again tonight. It started just before we left the Art Center and it just poured. The skies literally opened and the rain tumbled down. The light was just right because as we left we all saw a gorgeous full rainbow in the sky. It was still in its full glory when I arrived at Walgreens but by the time I left it had faded. Rainbows mean good luck and are the promise of God so things are looking pretty good about now.

Have a good weekend.

Love you all

Mary

Today was a better day. I realized yesterday the my arm and shoulder hurt much less, at least for most of the day. I was sore again by morning but went in for PT again today. I think it is working. Becky said that the muscles seem much more relaxed, so I have hope.

I had Dick come along with me to my therapy which was at 7:30AM because he had an appointment with the orthopedic specialist Shawn Murphy for a re-x-ray of Dick's right knee. He reaffirmed that the knee is "collapsing" and the the only treatment is a knee replacement. HOWEVER, he had some hope. He said that sometimes these collapsing knees will wear smooth and flatten out and kind of heal. At least they become better and the pain is not as intense. People get along quite will with care and walkers and mild exercise. Sounds like a good hope to us. We are to continue as we are and have set up a meeting with an orthopedic surgeon, Dr. Lane for six weeks from now. Lets all pray and cross our fingers.

We got home at about 10:30AM. And I did not have to leave again all day. So. I caught up on wash, phone calls and some things for Dick.

I have a call in for a proper wheel chair cushion. Mary M. is concerned that Dick should have a proper cushion so that sores do not develop. Apparently this is a common problem so we want to ward it off.

Tomorrow, I am going to have Sarah, the PT, check my measurements of the steps so that I can order a wheel chair ramp so that we can get Dick out of the house without him having to step down those stairs. I am also going to call a mover, the one who moved us here, to see if they also do furniture rearranging. I measured the rooms and the big furniture and think we have it all figured out.

The only exit to our street is Highland Avenue. Highland Avenue is being rebuilt this summer. It is all torn up and blocked off. We now have to go several blocks out of the way to get out or to get back in. This will be until August. It is an adventure - sometimes we have to stop and wait for them to move the machines to let us in or out. I hope they at least smooth out the road in the process. It has been very bumpy all this time.

I remember when I lived in California. There was a road that was a main thoroughfare and ran right by Costa Mesa Community College which was a VERY busy 2 year college. Every year they would tear it up in August just before registration began at the college and finish the construction project in about February. Then the following August they would dig it up again.

Tomorrow night I will go to the opening of the new exhibit at the Plymouth Art Center. My friend Beth Hoegger, the choir director at Blessed Trinity, is playing as part of the musical entertainment. She doesn't know I am coming. That will be fun.


I guess that's all folks. The day is winding down and so am I. Chelsea is hinting that she thinks that I should be heading off to bed and I think she is right.

So. Until tomorrow. I will tell you about the art exhibit.

Mary

If you missed me last night, I am sorry. If you did not miss me I guess I am sorry too. Sure am a sorry individual.

I had two glasses of wine before dinner last night and for some reason, I just got to feeling awful. All I could do was head for bed and stay there.

These have been busy days. Yesterday I has physical therapy in the morning. I was so sore when I got there and when I left. But today I felt better. Maybe it is doing some good. I got home in time to meet Bob Kalies, a heating servicer, who had originally installed the furnaces in these condos. There was a free check and a fix for the furnaces. He checked and fixed ours and then I let him into Jim and Michelle's and he did theirs too. He was very helpful about explaining how we can keep our furnaces working efficiently and longer.

Shortly after he left, Rachel, the nurse came and checked out Dick's wounds and just his general health. That pretty well wiped out the day. I tried to take a nap and then had that wine and fell apart.

Well, all the sleep I had really helped. This morning I did the shopping and put the groceries away and took a little nap. Then Dick got up from his nap and we tried out the new shower equipment. We got him a transfer bench for the bathtub and a clip on rail. It was much better. We have a few things to work out but it is much safer and easier. We want a handle for him to use to get up and some bath mats. Our next step will be a ramp and rearranging the furniture.

This afternoon, Mary Meschler, the occupational therapist came. She gave us some hints for making the bath easier and reviewed his exercises.

I fixed venison teriaki steaks on the grill tonight with fried rice on the side. The steaks were SO good. Dick even asked if they were from Market Day or the Pig and was impressed that they were venison.

Nora called today. It was so good hearing her voice. I was glad to be able to report that things are falling into place around here. I told her how much I had enjoyed reading Stenn's journal of his and Bing's trip to China. They will be closing on their new home next week and are all excited.

We always each give a "word" at the end of our Writer's Club in Plymouth. The words last month were floating, weddings, vacations, strawberries, asparagus and summer concerts.

I could not get them all into ONE poem but did come up with one I liked about Peggy and Brian's son Nicholas's wedding. I think I will send it to them.


The wedding was celebrated
Under the evening sky
On a summer evening.
The violin music was redundant
As the sound of the birds was melody enough.
A concert of unique beauty
Heralding the youth and love
That were joined
Under that evening sky.

Have a neat Thursday.

Mary

This was a very strange day. Chelsea got me up at 5:30AM. Not TOO bad but I lost a half an hour sleep right off the bat.

We put the new stickers on the car so I won't get ticketed for expired plates. Then I went to Bible Study. There were 7 of us there, enough for a good discussion. We decided that Jeremiah must have been very depressed when all his friends turned their backs on him when he defended the faith and that we are pretty lucky that Jesus was willing to take us on.

I stopped at Mom's and dripped off some mac and cheese and scones for her. She is having her new stove delivered this afternoon. Donna is coming over when they do to help her.

Home again after a stop at Adams Aurora to pick up a transfer bench for the shower for Dick and a grab bar for the edge of the tub to give him some more security. Deanna at Adams is SO helpful.

Then home for lunch and on to the Cream City Writers. There were six of us there today. Our Jenna had a poem published in a book that is part of a contest she entered. We are very proud of her.

I did a couple of errands then and was able to go home and check on Dick before my appointment with Dr. Ghandi. He is a specialist and I had great hopes that he could figure out why my side is hurting, but I was wrong. He is ordering a CT scan but I am not holding out much hope. This ache is probably going to be with me for a LONG time much like the arthritis pain in the neck and shoulder. Sure is discouraging.

I ran out of day before I could water all my planters. So. Tomorrow afternoon, I will do that. We have three appointments tomorrow morning, so that will take care of that.

I was thinking of my Uncle Leo Ayers the other day at his grandson's wedding. I remember when he married my Aunt Kathleen, I was just a little girl but I remember the reception and my first REAL memory of Uncle Leo. He kept asking Dad to tell us girls to call him "Uncle Leo" and, of course, we got all coy and wouldn't.

Nice memories.

Have a lovely Tuesday.

Mary

A lovely day. Father's Day and we had a nice warm fuzzy day. Jim and Michelle, Bobbie and Bill joined Dick and Brenda and Dick and me for breakfast this morning. I went to the 8AM mass and got home at 9AM, in time to prepare a nice egg dish with sausages on the side for the non vegetarians. Jim and Michelle brought a special coffee and I had baked really great fresh cranberry scones on Saturday. It was a nice finish to an altogether special Father's Day weekend.

After breakfast the Dick and Brenda and Bobbie and Bill headed up to Green Bay to visit their mother Barbara who is back in the hospital. Pray for her. She has been having difficulty breathing and they are saying that the cancer is back. Her poor body has really gone through quite enough.

The rest of the day was quite. Chelsea is relieved. I think she is longing for the quiet days when people seldom came by our place. Here she is getting old and we are having all KINDS of people invading her space and disrupting her routine. Just when she thought she had us almost trained.

I make Wolfgang Puck's recipe for mac and cheese today. I had to make a few adjustments because (forgive me Wolfgang) I just COULDN'T see spending $50 for mushrooms for an experiment. I used portabella mushrooms, which the produce manager at the Pig said are another "woody" mushroom. It would be interesting if I could taste Wolfgang's and find out if there is a lot of difference. We liked it a lot, but Dick really likes the traditional Cheddar, (and I think Velveeta) based mac and cheeses best. I might make this again though. It WAS good.

This is turning out to be fun. As most of you know, I have been trying a new Mac and Cheese every month. This is the 5th. So far Dianne Sawyer's is our favorite, with Robin Roberts coming up a healthy second.

Tomorrow will be a busy day but I will have to take the time to water all the pots on the deck and porch. Everything is green and most of the plants are growing. I planted several tomato plants. I have never in all my 68 years done well with tomato plants. Watch - this year they all all do well and I will not be able to find homes for all my produce.

Talked to Bart today. He sounds good. He had some suggestions for us to ask the doctor about pain management for Dick's knee. He is the expert on that and I have made notes. We see Dr. Murphy on Thursday.

Love

Mary

Well, as it turned out I had to leave the neighborhood once after all. I started giving Chelsea her pills this morning and discovered that she only had enough of one of them for TODAY. That would not work well as the vet is closed on Sundays so I called right away and was able to pick them up in an hour. I also got notice that it was time to give her the heartworm pill. Guess what, we were out of them too so I picked up both.

It was really a lovely day today. It did get a bit warm, 83 or something, but there was a breeze and it has now dropped to the low 60s.

Had a nice day, I cleaned the kitchen floor and straighten out my desk and baked cranberry scones.

Jim and Michelle came over at about two oclock to make the very nicest offer. They want to come here one evening a week, probably Fridays when Michelle gets off earlier, and stay with Dick and clean for us. Their only condition is that they want me to leave for some alone time or time with friends. I admit that I cried. What a way to help both Dick and me at this time. He will have company, other than me, I will have help with the work here and get a chance to be on my own a bit. A break. This is a very special gift.

Then at four or thereabouts Dick and Brenda and Bobbie and Bill arrived. Bobbie had all the fixin's for dinner including pasta with a choice of Italian Sausage OR shrimp sauce, salad and fresh asparagus. This was preceded by antipasto. Then it was capped off by Sachertort. We enjoyed the meal and the company so much. This is to honor Dick for Fathers Day.

Now it is after 10 and I am winding down. I do want to tell you what happened to my Mother yesterday.

The night before she lost power for a while in that storm. When she got up Friday morning she noticed that the Carbon Monoxide detector was doing something. She tried her stove and found that one of the burners would not light. So she tried to light it with a match. (Naughty Naughty) Fortunately NOTHING happened so she called the Gas Company. They told her to call the Fire Department, who came right over. They about had a canary when she told them about trying to light the burner. The firemen told her to NEVER do that again with any possibility of a gas leak but they checked everything, made sure all the pilots were lit and there was no buildup of anything bad. They told her to call a repairman for the stove.

WELL, when noon rolled around, so did my brother Randy. He asked her what was going on and Mother asked him how he found out.

Here is a small town event if there ever was one. The Fire Department reported their call to the Police Department. Somebody from the Police Department was over at the middle school during the morning and told Donna, my sister in law, that the Fire Department had been over at Mother's. So Donna called Randy who came over on his lunch hour.

Anyway, Randy told Mother that she should not even think of getting that stove fixed. It is way to old. They had it at the old house and have been here for 18 years. So after work yesterday, he went to Bitter Neumann and found her a new glass top electric. She is glad to go to electric because of the safety factor and will have her new stove on Monday. The nice thing about Bitter Neumann is that they will haul the old one off too.

So she was tired even before we went to that wedding, but she had a good time anyway.

Today was nice. I feel all warm and fuzzy.

Love
Mary

Well, here I am, finally winding down from two of the longest days of the week. One would think that all days, since they consist of 24 hours, would be the same length but they are not.

The night before last was a difficult one, I got very little sleep and then we had to be in Sheboygan to see Dr. Moreno. Dr. Moreno was pleased with the look of the callouses. He said that the big one had shrunk a little bit and was not doing something that it is not supposed to. I guess I need to get a medical dictionary here sometime.

When we got home I took the car for servicing. As it turns out it will come under the maintenance agreement we purchased in about a thousand more miles, so they just made sure it was OK and sent me on my way. I got home in time to fix lunch and have Dick at the table when Sarah, the VNA Physical Therapist arrived. She came back today, Friday at 8AM and we reviewed everything and we have covered lower extremity exercises and the wheel chair transfer tips she. We will now have her come only once a week to monitor his progress but we can call her any time we have questions.

I had my therapy at 1:30. It hurts. I do usually feel a bit better when I leave but the pain comes back with a vengeance by morning.

Today was just as busy. As I said, Sarah came at 8AM. We then had to go to Sheboygan Memorial for Dick's procedure by Dr. Siddique. We only have one more scheduled and then Dr. Siddique thinks that we can take a break. That will be quite a relief. It has been a long haul.

We got home just in time to meet Mary Meschler, the Occupational Therapist. We went over the upper extremity exercises and discussed the changes we are going to make in the shower arrangements and possibly rearranging furniture to make things easier for us.

Tonight I picked Mom up at a little after 5PM to go to my cousin Brian's son Nicholas's wedding. It was out at the Osthoff. A lovely outdoor garden setting. Judge Stengel officiated. They had a violinist for music. The sun shone and the birds sang. Thank heaven, they picked today so the sun COULD shine on their union. Yesterday would have been a disaster with the storms going through here like they were.

We then joined everybody for the reception up in the hotel. The meal was absolutely wonderful. Chicken, fish, great veggies, potatoes and salad. And it was topped off with desserts of Cheescake or Carrot Cake.

I got to visit with several of Aunt Kathleen's children who came in for the occasion and met two of my Cousin Pat's triplets. He could not make this wedding but two of his girls came to celebrate the occasion.

Jim and Michelle came over and had dinner and played cards with Dick so he was not alone for such a long time. He said it was a good time. He won a game and so did Michelle.

So now you are updated on the past two days. Guess what!!! Tomorrow I do not have to go anywhere!!! And Bobbie is bringing dinner over to us too. We will be celebrating Father's Day with the three that live here in Wisconsin. Wish EVERYBODY could be here but we are so glad of any that can be here.

Here is a simple little poem I wrote last fall. At my Plymouth Writer's club, when we leave we all give a word and those who want to TRY to make a poem using all or at least most of those words. The October words were: comfort, the cold is coming, family, warmth, evening and gathering. Here was my offering.

As evening approached
We gathered in the comfort
Of a glass of evening wine
And watched the cold come in.

Have a great weekend. We are apparently looking forward to five or six clear days. A welcome relief after the storms.

Mary

Yesterday, Thursday, was a day much to full of medical appointments and tornado warnings. After the previous night when I got little sleep, I just got to evening and went to bed.

Anybody wondering, be assured we are OK and I will update you this evening. It will be after 9:30PM as I am taking Mother to a wedding and reception, but I will post.

In the meantime, have a good day and stay dry. WE may even start drying out late this afternoon.

Love

Mary

You may boast of your knowledge, and brag of your sense,
'Twill be all forgotten a hundred years hence. "

Rye Whisky". Traditional.

Today was a very quiet day overall. Because it is our grocery shopping day and Dick can't go until his knee is better, I went and got our breakfast at Mc Donalds. We like to keep our traditions going you know. Then I went shopping. That was interesting. I am going to be making June's Mac and Cheese pretty soon and am going to try Wolfgang Puck's recipe. He used truffles. SO, I asked at the Pig if they have truffles (having already checked online and KNOWING that they cost $50 per pound MINIMUM). As I suspected ----- they do not carry them but the expert in produce said that Portabella, would a a possible substitute as a mushroom with an underlying woody taste, so I am afraid that Wolfgang's recipe will have a substitution.

Mary Meschler, the Occupational Therapist from VNA came over this afternoon. She checked out the area available to move around with the wheelchair and gave some suggestions as to how to make more room or perhaps to change our whole HOUSE functioning. We are considering everything. I am going to do some measuring and I know that I have graph paper around here so we can do some "Paper planning."

I also did some vacuuming in the den and downstairs bedroom. That turned out to be a project in itself. The bag on the turbo was STUFFED, so I went up to get a new one and couldn't find a bag that fit. SO I pulled the canister vacuum down and THAT bag needed changing too. BUT I finally did get it done. By then I was exhausted.

We had Chili for supper tonight and the last of the blueberry cobbler. Boy was that a good blueberry cobbler. This week I picked up some raspberries. I do love spring and summer with all the good fruit. Last week I made a pineapple, watermelon, grape salad that was to DIE for.

Hope your week is doing well. Tomorrow I will take the Explorer for it's first oil change. It keeps giving me a message that I should be getting close to doing this. We now have 4000 miles on the car and for the first oil change, that should be just about right.

Have a nice Thursday.

Love

Mary

Another long day. Chelsea woke me up at 4PM but I gave her lettuce and shut her out of the bedroom until the alarm went off at 6AM. I wanted to get up then because we had to have Dick to the Anti Coagulation Clinic by 9AM and there was a lot to do before we left.

Chelsea and I had a nice walk. We saw our lady with the cane this morning. Chelsea has been getting me up so early lately that we are not seeing any of our regulars.

His count was better this week. Still a bit low but better so we made a minor adjustment and went on our way. We go home at about 9:45AM, just in time to greet Josh from the Visiting Nurses bringing Dick his Wheel Chair. He went over everything with us and we made sure it would fit through the doors. It does. We have do do some jerry rigging to get him to his desk but it can be done and it is much more comfortable than on the walker.

After Josh left, I did some computer work and fixed lunch. Then we got Dick down for a nap and I had to head for Aurora for my Physical Therapy. This is my second session and I am doing my homework. So far, with the storms and all, I am still hurting a lot, though I do feel looser tonight and will let you know if there is any relief in the morning.

When I got home it as almost time for Dick's Physical Therapist from the Visiting Nurses to come. Sarah was wonderful. She helped us understand the wheelchair a lot, gave us some tips to help Dick get down the stairs to the garage floor AND put him through some exercises and gave him homework exercises.

She was our last appointment. It makes a long long day. Tomorrow is much better. I will shop in the morning. We decided that I will go to pick up breakfast at Mc Donalds so it will be like we are going out for our usual Wednesday breakfast. The only other appointment we have is with Mary Meschler, the Occupational Therapist at 1PM. We are really hoping that she can help us figure out how to make Dick's showers safer. We are concerned because of the numbness and the pain in the knee. I am so grateful for all the help we are getting. The Visiting Nurses are just wonderful.


Poor Chelsea is very confused. She has never had this many strangers come into her home before in her entire life. And she is old and "sot in her ways". She keeps looking at me like she is just asking that things go back to normal. She is very polite to the people that come. I am proud of her.

Hope you all are well. Saturday we do not have to go anywhere.

Love
Mary

The rain has stopped, at least temporarily. Good thing too, there is flooding in the county and some of the homes on June Grass and Cattail Lanes have had seepage into their basements because the grading around the homes was not done properly.

Chelsea and I had a nice walk. I did not get any mosquito bites. She decided to go through the park and back through the woods. I really had to make her run through the woods. Wasn't easy either, with all the rain, our path is almost overgrown. Saturday, if it is not raining, I am going to spray myself with insect spray and go over it to pull all the overgrowth. I had to fix it last spring too.

I went to Bible Study today. There were 7 of us there. The readings next week are nice and all fit nicely together. We are promised that if we keep the "covenant", meaning the 10 Commandments we are members of a royal priesthood. Sounds like a good deal to me. We also decided that when things are difficult, we are so happy to have Jesus to call on. How sad if people have no God to help. Where does their strength come from.

Then I stopped at Mom's. She looked lovely with a new permanent. She asked me to help her pick out something for the wedding that she I am taking her to on Friday night. It is my Cousin Brian Ayers son. We picked out a really pretty pantsuit. She will look lovely and be very comfortable in it. As we were in her bedroom next to her fishtank, I noticed baby fish. She had not seen them before and we don't know WHO the parents are. There were at least 9 of them. We do not know if they hatched or were live births. There are enough that if the big fish get hungry, some of the little things should be able to make it.

Got home and fixed lunch then tried to nap. The phone rang four times. One was the nurse who came to check Dick out at 4:30 this evening, one was a call for Celtic Women, one was they guy who is bringing the wheel chair tomorrow and the last was the therapist who is coming the give Dick physical therapy. Whew.

Suzi, Dick's niece, called tonight. She has been having some problems too. Notably, a vacation trailer she owned was destroyed in a tornado. Poor thing. That was her retreat. Hopefully something will come up that she can replace it.

Tonight Jim and Michelle and I went to present some requests and questions to the Tallgrass Condo Board. I requested a change to the bylaw that says one can only have one pet. That multiple cats, of a size, if kept inside , would be OK. It will be FOREVER, but will be brought up at the next general meeting.

Guess that is all. This has been a marathon day and tomorrow is JUST as bad. The people who are coming to help us are all just wonderful. We need to address the shower situation. Dick is just in so much pain and so unsteady that we worry.


Love

Mary

Sunday is supposed to be a day of rest and actually as I had no specific deadlines it almost lived up to its name. I did stay in bed until 6AM and had a pretty good night's sleep too. Chelsea and I went for a nice walk. I made her stay out of the wooded areas because the mosquitoes are SO bad this year. As it was I got two bites before we got back home.

I went to 8AM Mass. Fr. Van Beeck talked about the shabby, motley group of men that Jesus selected for his apostles. He gave us a message for the week - Acceptance and appreciation. I need to hang on to those.

We got a call from Rachel, our assigned nurse, who told us that she was sending an associate tomorrow. She should be here between 4:30 and 6:00PM. It will be a little tight but will work. Michelle, Jim and I are going to the Tallgrass Condo Board meeting down the street at 7PM.

There has been rain and thunder all day. We lost our power at about 11AM for about an hour. Dick took a nap and I just puttered around and played some solitaire by candlelight. I did cut out some squares for quilting and baked a blueberry dessert during the afternoon.

We had fryout (in California we called it barbeque) for supper. I made brats and ribs. Also
my potato salad and pork and beans. When I fried out, I sat on the deck for quite a while. I sprayed the area with Listerine. I had read that will keep the mosquitoes away. I don't know for sure if that was the reason, but I did not get ONE bite while I was out there. So I will try that again. I also picked up some citrinella candles. We will see, because I REALLY want to spend time on that deck this summer.


Have a good week.

I intend to. We have seven health appointments between us this coming week. Sometimes I feel like I am on a merry go round.

Love

Mary

Chelsea got me up WAY to early this morning but that was because it was such a strange night. I was awake off and on from about 1:30AM. My arm hurt and I just could not get sound asleep. Finally, I could hear her pacing a panting outside the door and got up at about 5:30 to take her for her walk. It was quite pleasant.

The rest of the day, she has been very subdued. I don't think she really feels too well and I think she is getting a bit senile.

There are a couple of, I think, Kildeer at the end of June Grass Lane. They used to try to lead us away from their area, but now seem to accept that we will walk right by if they stay on the lawn. Chelsea doesn't usually see them anyway.

When I got back, Dick and I both lay down to take a nap and wouldn't you know, Rachel, from the Visiting Nurses called and asked to come over to do her nurses evaluation. She checked Dick all over again, and looked at his feet. She said they looked really good which made me feel like all the work we have been doing was for something. Now if they will just heal. Both she and the Mary will be back next week to do more. We should have the wheel chair early next week too.

The rest of the day was quiet. At least I did not have to go anywhere. I was sure glad because thunder and lightening and were just rolling across the land. There is potential flooding all through the area. On the news they showed the streets full of water and warned of driving through them as rushing water can float a car away.

This reminded me of Pismo Beach. We went jeeping there as a family with the Orange County Four Wheelers in my previous life. It is was a huge area of sand dunes nest to the ocean. We always camped in a kind of traditional area near the water and then would go out from there to the favorite dune area. It is long enough ago, that I have forgotten the names we gave the challenging spots, but one of them was down the beach a long way and we crossed over an area during low tide that became a small river when the tide came. in. Careful timing was required and I do remember one trip where Big Al came last when we were a little late and his jeep started to float out to sea. We hooked a two line on it and pulled him back to shore before any damage was done. Quite a site.


Have a Blessed Sunday

Mary

Another busy "Medical" day. We started out easy enough. Chelsea and I had a lovely walk. We saw and heard lots of birds and saw a couple of bunnies. After NO walk yesterday because of the rain this was a real treat.

Then I mopped the kitchen floor and got ready to take Dick to the hospital. The procedure went quite well, though is it terribly painful getting him in and out of the car. Once we have him in the wheel chair it is OK until we have to get him up on the table. This procedure was on his upper left leg and is a stab phlebectomy. I call it the "worm" procedure. Basically, he removes the vein in pieces. The next procedures will be just injecting chemicals that burn out the veins. Very easy. Dr. Siddique said that because of Dick's pain we could hold off for a bit but Dick just wants it DONE.

When we got home we received a call from Mary Meschler, an occupational therapist , sent by Visiting Nurses to see what we can do to help make it easier to move Dick around and keep him safe. She worked at the library for a few years and knows Bobbie. She worked in circulation with Sue Matthews. She was so sweet and kept saying how "honored' she was to meet Dick and how much she loved Mead. Anyway, she had suggestions for us, got all her information and a release and will be back on Tuesday to do some more. I am just so relieved that there is help out there.

I bought a seat for the shower but it is not working. She suggested that we get a pivotal seat and use the bathtub which would give more space to maneuver and provide a solid base. there are handles that attach to sides of tubs too that might help him be able to get up. The trouble with the seat is that he hasn't anything to hang on to in order to get up AND it is cramped in the shower. At least we are getting input and may come up with answers.

I received a really strange mailing today. Somebody sent me a had addressed envelope with three computer printouts that documented that a James F. Kunert had died on February 12. I know of course, that our Jim is OK but is was shocking and whoever sent it did not identify themselves which makes it really creepy. A lot of the information was correct but a lot was wrong and I did not like it. We had Jim and Michelle come over after work tonight and gave it to them. They were creeped out too.

A story that came to my mind. Years ago, my ex husband worked on assembling luxary sport fishing boats to order. These were the kind of boats that , if you have to ask how much, you cannot afford it.

Anyway, Dick and his fellow workers took a boat out for a test cruise one day. It was a beautiful day and they went out for a ways and put the boat through all its paces including auto pilot.. Everything seemed just fine, until, one of they guys went down into the head to use it. When he flushed toilet, the boat did a very neat 90 degree turn and then slowly eased its way back to it's proper setting. He was kind of shook and it actually took a couple of flushes" to figure out what was going on. I thought it was a funny story and it was certainly a good thing they found it on the test cruise. Imagine what a shock this would have been to the new owner.


Love

Mary

We finally got our rain. I don't know how much, but it rained most of the morning. Everything got a good soaking. Chelsea and I, for the first time in a long time, were unable to take a walk. There was quite a bit of thunder too. Chelsea does not get so frightened anymore because she does not hear very well.

I had called the other day to ask Dr. Sharon to send a referral to the Visiting Nurses. Boy are they quick. We got a call from an Ellen this morning and she came at 11AM to review things with us and to fill out all the paperwork. She went through EVERYTHING. From Dick's meds to how we move him in and out of bed and around the house. She is recommending a wheelchair. I told her that I don't think it will fit into the bedroom and office but she is concerned because he cannot walk over a few feet because of the pain. She is sending a nurse and and occupational therapist to evaluate and see how they can help also. We should hear tomorrow or Monday to set those up. They do know that he has a procedure with Dr. Siddique tomorrow.

I had my first actual physical therapy for my shoulder today. That is kind of painful. She is working on relaxing the muscles and that involves pressing on them until they resist. I now have three exercises for homework.

I think Chelsea is getting a little senile. She is really nagging me and whining a lot. If I could only figure out what it is she wants.

Doggies are really funny. I remember when I got my Tara, a beautiful black lab. My ex husband came home one night a bit tipsy and said, in front of the boys, "How would you like a dog?" WELL. You know how THAT turned out. So he brought Tara home the next evening. She was a excited girl but kept coughing. I looked more closely at her and found that her choke chain was literally cutting into her neck. Apparently her previous owners had put it on her as a puppy and never checked it again. So my Ex cut it off with metal cutters. Poor baby. I think I thought about that because we had to tighten Chelsea's collar with the loss of all her hair and I need to be checking it. As a matter of fact, I think I want to put a middle hole in it so it will not be quite as tight as it is.

Tomorrow is another procedure with Dr. Siddique. We hope we are almost to the end of those.

Take care and pray for us and all the people on MY list.

Mary

This was a very exciting day. You have already seen the results of some of my labors. Isn't our girl just the prettiest thing you have ever seen. She is being very persistent and kind of whiny tonight. I think she feels a little sorry for herself. But she is beautiful and when the hot weather really hits us she will be a grateful little puppy.

We stopped off at Mother's on the way home so she could see Chelsea. She said that she would not have known her. She is always amazed at out white she is.

I then went grocery shopping. I needed to be home by noon because Leslie had emailed that she was calling at 1PM. And she did.


A lot of happenings down there. Leslie was in the hospital on Monday night. She has anemia. Quite severe anemia but at least now it is being treated. They still love their house and are making improvements and making it "theirs" a bit at a time.

They will be here for a visit, Bill, Leslie and BOTH GIRLS |TOO in August. They are hoping to arrive the 1st and leave the 8th but MAY if problems arise, arrive on the 4th and leave on the 11th. Anyway it has been way too long and we are eager to see them and spend time catching up. The girls are doing well. Nora is well ensconced in her Air Force life as a Dental Technician. Her husband is working AND going to school to be an electrician. Sara is happy and her special person is moving to California and she will be going too. We can find out EVERYTHING when we are together. I can hardly wait.

I did rest this afternoon but am still glad that it is getting on to 9PM when I can take Chelsea out for her last walk of the evening and get ready for bed.

Today I was thinking of my Dad. I was his firstborn, you know. I don't know whether I told you this story. When he took Mom to the hospital, he picked up my Grandma Bowser, so he must have been pretty scared. I was a rather difficult delivery, Mom said. They had to use forceps and I was kind of blotchy and bruises up.

So they brought me out to show Dad, who had never seen a newborn baby before, and he told them that I could not possibly be his. He told me this when Randy was a baby. Randy was a beautiful baby from the very beginning. Dad DID tell me that he was glad they kept me as I improved very quickly.

Love

Mary

Two pictures of Chelsea with her "Summer Do." Isn't she just beautiful?

Mary

Much cooler today. It was misting when Dick and I drove into Sheboygan to get his blood tested. His level is still a little low. We think it is because he is not drinking as much cranberry juice as he was as he has been thirsty for V8. We figure it is alright a little thick as he has another procedure with Dr. Siddique on Friday.

I got my haircut this afternoon. Chelsea will get hers cut in the morning. She is never happy there but seems pleased to be shorn and a little cooler in the heat of summer. We are goint to stop off at Mom's on the way back to show her how beautiful and cute Chelsea turns out.

I bought us a new blanket today too. The one we had has been with us for over 20 years and is showing a LOT of wear. I figure we deserved a new one. I think I will be able to us the denim quilt I made as a bedspread and will make some pillow shams out of the leftover denim and flannel squares I have left.

Love Mary

Thought you might enjoy this.

It's the summer of 1961 and Harold goes to pick up his date, Peggy Sue. Harold's a pretty hip guy with his own car and a duck tail hairdo. When he goes to the front door, Peggy Sue's mother answers and invites him in. "Peggy Sue's not ready yet, so why don't you have a seat?" Peggy Sue's mother asks Harold what they're planning to do. Harold replies politely that they will probably just go to the malt shop or to a drive-in movie. Peggy Sue's mother responds, "Why don't you kids go out and screw? I hear all the kids are doing it." Naturally this comes as quite a surprise to Harold and he says, "Whaaaat?" "Yeah," says Peggy Sue's mother, "We know Peggy Sue really likes to screw; why, she'd screw all night if we let her!"! Harold's eyes light up and he smiles from ear to ear. Immediately, he has revised the plans for the evening. A few minutes later, Peggy Sue comes downstairs in her little poodle skirt with her saddle shoes, and announces that she's ready to go. Almost breathless with anticipation, Harold escorts his date out the front door while Mom is saying, "Have a good evening kids," with a small wink for Harold! About 20 minutes later, a thoroughly disheveled Peggy Sue rushes back into the house, slams the door behind her and screams at her mother: "Dammit, Mom! It's the Twist! It's calledThe Twist!!!

We got a little bit of rain tonight. I hope it is not over yet. What we got was pleasant but not enough to really do a lot of good.

Chelsea seems to be coughing a lot more again. It is almost time to renew one of her meds and I will mention it to her veterinarian when I call. She did say we can do a bit of upping the doses to help her.

This morning, Dick and I went to see a Dr. Moreno at the Sheboygan Clinic. He checked out Dicks open callouses and gave us a new medication to treat them with and some post surgical slipper shoes to wear for a while. He is not happy about the support stockings because they constrict circulation, but knows we need them for other reasons. He is ordering one of those compression thingies for his legs to help with circulation and swelling.

Then I went to Sheboygan Falls. I got to Bible Study just in time for the final prayer, then went over to visit with Mother for a bit and to find out the changes on her medications. That seems to be the story of my day. Changing Meds.

After lunch, I went for my physical therapy evaluation. I saw a Rebecca who did a very thorough look at me. I will be going twice a week to try to strengthen the muscles and nerves in my neck and shoulder and I even have homework. I haven't had homework for years.

On the way there I exchanged Dick's walker for a new one. (Did I tell you that one of the hand brakes broke on Friday. Deanne, the helper at Adams Drug Store, had never had that happen before.) Anyway we just exchanged it. It sure is a Godsend, as it helps Dick with his balance and provides him two handles that are solid on the ground to hang on to. When he is really tired, we can even roll him a short distance, sitting.

The Rhine Plymouth membership meeting was tonight. I went, it is only an hour so I am was gone too long. On the way there, I saw a hawk flying. That is not really too unusual, BUT he was carrying a mouse in his beak. I never saw that before. I guess they have to eat too but I don't know what the mouse thought about that.

They are doing a special on how Las Vegas developed on PBS. I remember years ago, my mother in law, Lily used to save all her nickels in a big jar just waiting for the change to go to Vegas and plug those nickels in the one armed bandits. One weekend, Jacquie, Doris, Lily, another roommate of Jacquie's, I think her name was Tammy, and me all drove there and just had a ball, all in one motel room and just plugging those machines. We couldn't have done too well, but we had fun and were calling Lily, "Madame Lil".

Have a nice Tuesday.

Love

Mary

Another warm day. It got up into the high 70s and the house hit 80. Soon we will have to consider the air conditioner. Things have changed at this house. I used to be the one who got chilled, now it is Dick who seems to be cold more often. Chelsea got me up at 5:30AM. A bit early but she was insistent.

I went to 8AM Mass. The high school graduates where there celebrating their big time. They are all so handsome and beautiful and healthy looking. It makes a person feel good just to see them.

Fr. Van Beeck did a very good job of talking to them. He spoke of a story that he told to some grade school kids one time. He asked them if any of them had any two or three year old little sisters or brothers at home. Then he asked what this little person would choose if they were offered a check for $100,000 or an ice cream cone. He said that is kind of what we are offered. We can grab EVERYTHING here or choose wisely and have eternal live.

I went out in the back and did a very little bit of weeding. I did it quickly so that the mosquitoes would not catch on that I was back there. Three of them found me anyway.

Then I baked some Mill Hollow Bread. I have not made that in years. It is a bread with rye, wheat, sunflower seeds, bran and wheat germ and is really quite tasty.

Dick got a couple of good naps today, I think the medication is helping the pain a bit. He does manage himself at night so I am getting sleep.

Tomorrow we see Dr. Moreno, the wound specialist. Dr. Murphy thinks he may be able to help us heal that open callous that we have been struggling with.

I also have an appointment with the physical therapist to see if we can get rid of some of my arthritis pain.

Then in the evening is the Rhine Plymouth meeting. So it is a busy day.

Bret called today. He is doing well and I am always so glad to hear his voice. My boys seem so far away. And Leslie too. She has not emailed lately either.

We talked to Dick today too. He and Brenda had a good time on vacation in Austin. Even if it WAS hot.

There was a fire on the Universal Studio lot this morning. When they boys were quite young, we went to the Studio for their tour. It was a great tour and I would go again. I am sure they have changed and added things. At the time, I remember, we saw Lucile Ball's dressing room. We also went on a tram ride and a big part of the ride was going over the "Jaws" site. As we went over the water, the shark came out of the water biting and writhing and my Bart lunged for the other side of the tram. He was terrified and kept saying "It's just a model. It's just a model." I managed to hold him and assured him that it was indeed a model. It startled Bret and I so I can see why one as little as Bart was so scared.

Almost time to go to bed. I am pretty tired. As usual.

Mary