The Day Before...

Mary Kate will be here tonight. The wait has been so long that it's hard to believe that it's about time to go the hospital (tomorrow at 5:30 AM).

I made a couple of bookmarks this morning. They are nothing to write home about. I had these white purchased bookmarks and I added to them, but they aren't as good as the ones I made from scratch.

Dad's well on his way on his liquid diet. He was quite grumpy this morning but he got better. He's done this liquid diet before and remembers the bad parts!

The compressor for the refrigerator came today. I don't know when the old refrigerator will get fixed with Dad out of commission for a while. Ah, this too shall pass...

Yesterday, All My Trials Seemed So Far Away...

I don't know if I got that title right...Saturday was a total wash out and I didn't want to waste the time and effort it would have taken to blog about it. My mood was as grey as the skies. Yeah, I'll blame it on the weather.

Today was better. Church was good. The Decker's were going to Ga. for their son-in-law's graduation, so I drove to church. That meant that I could leave right after church was over. The Primary Presidency gave us a treat-some fudge and a spoon dipped in fudge or something- and I kept smelling it during Primary so I broke into it and snacked on it between songs. I hope I didn't leave sugar on the piano keys!

Took a nap and then helped give the birds a bath. Cooked a pot of beans forgetting that Frank goes on a liquid diet tomorrow. Mary Kate can't eat beans so I guess I'll freeze them. She'll be here tomorrow night and Tuesday at 5:30 AM we'll have Dad to the hospital.

It Came

It was just a refrigerator, but I acted like a kid with a new toy after it was plugged in! I kept wanting too open the door to feel the cold! I knew it would never cool if I kept opening the door so I left it alone. It is nice to not have to bend over and get something out of the cooler.

There are things that I can't put up because they go beside the refrigerator-baking pans, etc.- so I can't really clean up the kitchen until our refrigerator is fixed. We can empty the coolers and put them back downstairs and puts the water bottles back where they were. It was good that I had filled so many bottles with water for they were great in the freezer. I'll vacuum the floors tomorrow. I did two loads of laundry today.

It got up to 62 degrees today. The skies were still grey. I think a cold front is headed our way and Dad said we could have tornadoes tonight. Hope not. The weather is surely messed up. A sign of the times I believe.

Ho-Ho-Ho!

Christmas day was very quiet. No one came because of Dad's operation so near so we did nothing. There was no quiet hum of a happy refrigerator. Our rented one will come tomorrow (Friday). It will be so good to have a working ice box in the house. I have no food to put in it but I can take care of that after we have one.

The operation is Tuesday. We have to be at the hospital by 5:30 AM. Dad can stay 2 nights if needed. Hopefully, he won't need to stay any longer. Mary Kate will be with me while the operation is going on. My brother said he'll be coming too. I guess I'll need to take material to read and money to eat with. Mary Kate is bringing Sophia and Nate with her. They will stay at Trudy's house while M.K. is at the hospital.

Sunday, I'll need to make up a lot of jello because Dad has to eat only liquids all day. I like jello too, so I'll need to make up a bunch! I really have nothing more to say. As I said, it's been a very quiet day. Ho-ho-ho!

Christmas Gathering

A good time was had by all! Katie and Harrison (great nephew) couldn't come for Harrison had the flu. Ruth had a nice lunch fixed and after lunch we opened the gifts. I didn't realize that Jim and Tammy's two girls would be there so I didn't have anything for them but they did get some presents. My brother gave me two polished rocks of fossilized wood and a spider pin with two pretty dark stones for the body and gold legs and some kind of light colored rocks (polished) for eyes. I left at 4 PM.

The Sears man got the refrigerator running but didn't stay long enough to see if it would cool! It cooled down to 50 degrees before it stopped. So we're back to walking up and down the stairs to replace the bottles of ice for the coolers. Today, we went to Rent To Own and rented a refrigerator to be delivered Friday. What a joy it will be to be able to have a refrigerator again! We surely take for granted our modern conveniences. At least, my refrigerator is clean even if it won't cool!

Escape Again

I did my usual escape act this morning and didn't get going until 10:00 AM. I piddled around and bugged Dad about getting ready to go to the lab. He was busy on the computer seeing if he needed any more tests and finding out when Sears was coming to fix the compressor in the refrigerator. We got a call tonight saying they would be by between the hours of 8:30 AM and 4:30 PM. That pretty much gets it!

Tonight, Frank vacuumed behind the refrigerator and he cleaned off the top, too. I couldn't reach it. The top wasn't as nasty as previous tops. If I can't see the dirt, I don't go looking for it.
I cleaned out the refrigerator and it looks like new. Hopefully, by the time I get home, it will be working and cooling just fine. But it will be empty. Maryleen brought by some ground round and we ate some for supper and I put the rest in the big freezer in the basement.

My neighbor, Brenda Adams, sent over a big chunk of jam cake today. It's like fruit cake and was very good! Brenda is our chief angel who watches over us and her husband, Bobby, cleared out our woods for us and cut a broken limb off the apple tree that had a lot of apples on it. We have good neighbors.

I will get up at 6:00 AM and start getting ready to go to my brother's house. I have a box of empty jars for Ruth and I have a slew of gifts for the nephews and nieces. It will be a fun time. I hope to get there around 10:00. I want to beat Bill, my brother's oldest son, because the other times I went, he and his family were already there and I can tell him I beat him there! Just a small ho-ho for the Christmas season! I'm sorry to leave Frank but he can't travel.

Fat Cruel Fat

Ah--h-h-h--hhh! All this inactivity is putting pounds on my small frame! If my knees hurt, I take a nap. If they don't hurt, I take a nap. Am I running away from life? Who knows! I'm beginning to think that my life is at a dead end. Pain is not our friend!

Yesterday the rain finally stopped. The temperature was 56 degrees! Today it was 40 something with the wind blowing. Tomorrow, the temperature is supposed to get up to a mighty high of 32 degrees! I have to take Frank to get his blood drawn again for the operation which is Dec. 30th.

Speaking of fat, I got my niece and nephews a Whitman's Sampler for one of their presents and I got us a small box of Russell Stover chocolates to share with Dad now and then. Our diet hasn't been very good since the refrigerator has been down and out of the blue tonight he comes into my room asking for chocolates! I made him leave the room so he wouldn't find my hiding place and I got the chocolates out. He chose 4 pieces. If I had left the box with him, he would have eaten most of the box! I really hadn't thought of them myself, but if it makes him happy, it's okay. I have to think of what I eat because my activity level is so low, and who can eat only one piece of chocolate? It usually causes a feeding frenzy!

Cloudy Saturday

The paper said that we had met our rain total and now we weren't in drought conditions. That's good, but I'm tired of the grey skies. Grey, gray, the computer says "grey" is misspelled.

We got the truck running. It seemed like something was draining the battery and causing it to go dead all the time. Frank checked it with some instrument and found out where some of the drains were. I drove it into town today. That was my second trip into town. I had gone earlier to finish buying the presents for my brother's Christmas get together. Trudy and the kids were going but she has a Dr. appointment she can't miss.

My house, kitchen, is a wreck! We have three coolers sitting on the floor. The refrigerator and freezer are open. Every time I glance over, I want to shut the doors but no need to! Tuesday, the men from Sears will come and fix the compressor. I will be gone all day so I won't have to put up will all of the confusion that will be going on in my house! We'll have the move the birds into my room with the door shut, for there will be soldering going on and the birds don't need to breathe in those fumes .

I'm taking two old typewriters to my brothers. One belonged to my mother. She would sit on the couch and type letters once a year to her friends. The other typewriter belonged to my mothers sister, Aunt Edna. I used to use the larger one to type school papers on . Wow! How times have changed! I'm getting rid of two old typewriters and my brother is becoming owner of two old machines! At on time, he said he wanted them.

Friday the 19th

I found out another nephew and his wife will be at my brother's Christmas party so now I have to buy two more gifts. I'll go out tomorrow and get them. My knees have been hurting so much lately that I don't want to go anywhere. The one store is not too far to walk and if I stay away from Walmart, I'll be okay. I'll go to Russell Stover's to get one of the gifts. I may pay more but I won't have to walk like I would at Walmart and then it might be that Walmart wouldn't have what I want.

I got another small cooler to put my medicine in. I was worried that the temperature would fluctuate too much as the lid on the larger cooler was lifted. I have several frozen bottles in the cooler as the source of cold. I misstated the time we would be without a refrigerator. The repairman will come Dec. 23. All in all, we will have been without refrigeration for 5 days. It's the pits!

Tonight, we found that the large cooler leaked! I think we found it in time that the floors weren't hurt. Dad took the plug out and found out why it leaked. He fixed it but we aren't putting loose ice in it, only frozen bottles. I guess I'll go shopping and buy some one serving meals so we won't have left overs. Dad stills wants his beans. We packed one serving sizes in Ziploc bags and that worked, but a pound of cooked beans might be too much for a cooler. Oh, well. I've got to cook the beans now because they are already soaking.

Adventuresome Day

Just when you thought it was safe to go into the water....The refrigerator's compressor died today. Dad called Sear's and some man came out and checked it. We think the compressor is still under warranty so it shouldn't cost too much. I have medicine that has to be cooled at all times and that's been a worry. I went to the Dollar store and bought 3 bags of ice (they cost $2.00 a bag!) and got two coolers from downstairs to put the ice in.We put the milk and some other food in the big cooler and didn't get the smaller cooler ready until tonight when Dad said ALL of the food had to be out of the refrigerator. I have lot of bottles of dressing and ketchup, etc. on the table to be thrown away and the trash has already gone out! We might be two weeks like this! All we need is a tent in the living room to make this camping trip fun.

I have to go to exercise class tomorrow for I missed Mon. and Wed. The people are so nice and they worry about you if you miss too much. I really like it when I'm there but it takes me getting up at 7:00 AM and putting on make-up and getting dressed and feeding Dad and then getting out the door by eight or some time after that. I feel rushed (wa-a-a-h, wa-a--ah) but I do enjoy going or being there.

Misty Day

It never rained hard today while I was out but it misted all day.

I went to town after lunch and bought the Christmas presents for Uncle Bubba's gathering. I found the remote control cars I wanted to get for Will and Harrison and got Lynn and Katie a soft throw blanket. I already had the other presents. I ended up at Walmart and got a list of things but forgot the sheet metal screws Frank wanted. I came home and wrapped presents. I don't really enjoy wrapping anything, but I thought the boys would like to unwrap their presents. Their presents required 6 AA batteries each. Frank always has batteries on hand and I could include the batteries with the presents. Hopefully, the rain will be gone Dec. 23. and it won't be too cold.

December?

I've finally gotten used to it being December and half the month is gone! I'm glad I gave the kids a check for the grandchildren for the P.O. is wild right now.

I'll go to my brother's house the 23rd. I already have Ruth's gifts and will get the adults, Bubba, Bill & Lynn and Katie a Whitman's Sampler and the two boys a car that runs with a box with controls. It will be fun. Frank and I don't celebrate. That's mostly my fault. My mother never did anything for Christmas so I have no Christmas traditions and I'm too old and tired to start anything now. Trudy wants to start a tradition with them coming for a visit Christmas eve and that will be nice. We couldn't start this Christmas because Dad has his operation Dec. 30th and I was worried that he might "catch" something and then the operation would be postponed again.

I drove into town to go by Dr. Walker's office to pick up some shoulder exercises. My right shoulder is a bit sore and I thought it might be the rotor cuff. The exercises are simple and I believe I'll actually do them! Frank wants to do them too.

Mary Kate and family might get a Shih Tzu dog. I hope Richard won't be allergic to it. Having a dog that would live until I died would be okay. I don't grieve very well so wouldn't want to have a dog that would die before I did.

Monday 10-15-08

It was another grey day and that's the way I felt, so I went back to bed. I got up at 10:00 AM and sometime later put my face on. I was in the kitchen talking to Dad when I realized I had a Dr. appointment at 11:30 ! I got there on time but had to wait 1 1/2 hrs.! I saw the Dr. at 1:00 PM. It was a well check so I was cool about it. I had to go by the bank and the Herb store and then I came back home. I rested most of the rest of the day and went over to Karen's house at 6:00 PM for our scripture study. It was great as always.

I'm waiting for the blog to save itself. It's slow to save tonight. Now! I'm ready to go.

Nice Sunday

The meetings were good today. The Primary was to sing so Karen and I sat up front. She was worried because I saw her counting little heads and wondering if any kids would come up front. After the Sacrament, the children were called up and a lot came. We sang Christmas Bells and the younger children had little jingle bell they shook while they sang. After that song, we did Away In The Manger. On the chorus, the older girls sang the descant...actually, they sang the descant in the Christmas Bells(!). In Away...the boys were supposed to sing the "asleep" part while the girls carried the a-sleep out. The boys didn't come through but all in all they did a great job!

Our Home Teachers came over today. We have great Home Teachers and they come every month. They got to talking about guns and it was fun to hear all the tales bout the guns. Bro. Hill said he would come over Thursday and look at the truck and see if a nut fell off the starter. The truck battery is on charge again and hopefully once Bro Hill gives it the once over, it will start and I can drive it and keep the battery charged. The heater will heat but the air conditioner won't cool.

It's two weeks 'til Frank has his operation. I surely hope he'll be able to go through it this time. I got see Dr. Walker tomorrow for my 6 mo. well check. Will go to exercise class and then probably come back home for I don't have two hours worth of anything to do in town.

Oh-h-h-h

I didn't want to go but I had to go. It was dark, dank and dismal and I finally made the first descending step, holding on the the bannister's bar tightly for fear of falling. I had already thrown the load down into the darkness and all that was left was for me to follow. Gingerly, I stepped lightly, not wanting to fall. Finally, I was at the bottom step. All I needed now was to pick up my load and make my way to the back of the house. It was dark and cold but I made the trip.

Next, I had to stuff the load into the hole. I finally got it all in and then the decision came...hot or cold? I choose hot and then cold. I could have it both ways. Finally, with the twist of my wrist the hot water cascaded into the hole and finally my job was done. I swiftly made it back to the bottom step and hurriedly made my way back into the light. Another load of laundry done!

Frosty Morn

Frosty Morn used to be the name of a brand of bacon years ago, but that was what it was like at 8 AM this morning. The ice on the windshield was pretty thick. After exercise class, it's only 9:30 AM and nothing is open except Walmart and K Mart. I went to K Mart to look for cotton squares for Dad. They didn't have any so I went to Walmart. I found some cotton ovals that might do for him. If it snowed last night, I didn't see any. It's supposed to be in the 50-60's tomorrow or maybe it's supposed to rain...I'm not sure.

I stopped by the locksmith to get some keys made. We'll need them when we put on the new door handles. After the new storm doors are installed, we'll paint the front door (white)(something that's been needed to be done for years...). It takes a lot of energy to do this stuff yourself and Frank and I are as energetic as a couple of dead plants!

We did the yearly calendars today. I know when I have to go to H'ville to pick up Frank's Rx's and I can use this information when I have to make Dr. appointments.

Dad's operation is Dec. 30. We will pay bills early since I don't know how to use the computer to pay them. Operation time is not the time to have to worry about paying bills. Dad will probably stay 1-2 nights.

Rain, Rain,Rain

It rained all last night and all day today and is still raining at 7:00 PM! A cold front is moving in and some of this rain may turn into snow! It was sleeting when I took the trash out this afternoon. I had my chicken factory black boots on and my real raincoat (plastic). I tried to heft a heavy bag into the can and slipped and fell on my hiney! I had to roll over on my knees to get up and I hoped no one saw me. Luckily, I didn't break anything! I think it was the stinking boots on the floor mat that made my foot slip.

I didn't get out of the house. It was too gloomy and rainy. We gave the birds a bath. Gert is my friend again, after many months. He gets out of his cage and gets on my hand and doesn't seem nervous about it.

I'll get out tomorrow and go to exercises class and then finish my shopping. The sun is supposed to come out and maybe it will come out early.

Nice Day

We went to town to Lowe's and got 2 storm doors, a new door knob for the front door and a new drill to replace the one that doesn't work. Then we stopped by Staples to get two calendars. The day was overcast and we bought some new wipers for the car. That thrills me because the wipers have been bad for a while. I got the expensive ones so they would work better and would last longer. Dad read where it said that the wiper should be changed every year. Ha! We only got new ones when the old ones wore out.

Our neighbor, who hunts, offered to kill a deer for us. We would just pay the packing price. It would probably be about $2.oo a pound. I would need to get a game cookbook. I saw one somewhere but I don't remember where!

We bought new storm doors because the ones we got before were cheaply made. The new ones are a much better quality. The door knob has a handle instead of a round knob (does knob mean "round"?). Now, if we could just get a newer model car! Some day. After all, the Accord is only 19 years old!!

Gloomy Day, Stormy Night

It was overcast all day today and the wind was blowing. I could see the storm clouds blowing in but it didn't begin raining until about 6: 15 PM. I was on my way over to Karen's house for scripture study. The rain really began coming down. Ken loaned me an umbrella and I really needed it. I drove 45 mph on Hy 72 and had the wipers on high. I saw lightening but heard no thunder. Dad said he heard the thunder at home. We need the rain so I don't mind the inconvenience of it all.

I didn't feel like going to Sam's today. I was just anxious about all the news of the economy. I do want to buy more canned goods but I guess today wasn't the day. I just washed clothes and made some potato salad and did houses work today.

Dad's working on weighing the things he's sending to the troops. He's sending some batteries and some magazines and other stuff. Maybe he'll have someone pick the package up at the house because I don't want to have to go back to the P.O. again and stand in line forever.

Gloom and Despair

There is so much gloom and despair in the world. The news is the same each day...bad. The Big Three car companies want the government to bail them out so they won't have to go bankrupt. It's the tax payers money they would get. Senator Shelby is dead set against the bail out. It would be bad for all those people to loose their jobs. Mark Levine has mentioned "depression" in his radio talk show. Until now, we have been so spoiled with life going along as it should, and now all hades is breaking out. I don't know how it will effect us yet, but it might. Only the Shadow knows...

Went to exercise this morning and then by the Post Office to mail Mary Kate's Christmas gifts she left here in order to get Forrest's weight bench in M.K.'s van. The P.O. line was at the door when I got there and there was only 2 workers! You pray for patience and then go the Post Office and wait in line for 15 or more minutes! There's another P.O. in town in Railroad Bazaar but it is clear across town, past Walmart.

We didn't have scripture study tonight and will have it tomorrow night. Karen's son, Brent is home and I bet the family went out to eat.

I still have some Christmas shopping to do even though I've taken care of the grandchildren. I'm thinking about going to Sam's tomorrow and I could look there.

We got the truck battery charged and the truck back in the front yard. I was thinking about getting a better truck but with the Accord so old, it might be better to use that money to upgrade the family car.

Saturday Is A Special Day

I went to the card this morning at 10:00 AM. There were three of us plus the teacher and her 8 year old daughter. We made two bookmarks and three cards. They were Christmas cards. I made all of my Christmas cards in June. I gave Mary Kate 50 of the cards I had made. If Richard doesn't like them that's okay.

We did some embausing (that's the way it sounds even though it's spelled wrong!) on two of the cards and it really looks good. I have the materials to embause but I have never tried to do it by myself. I got home at 11:45 AM. After lunch I went to bed for a rest. Both of my knees were hurting and I just wanted to get off my feet. Seems like I've been taking naps most every day lately. Didn't have much to say today, either.

This was a Friday

I slept in this morning. Was getting dressed at 10:30 AM when a package came and it was my new AT&T cell phone. It's slimmer than my Verison phone and is a metal pink. I like it. I haven't used it yet but I know I'll like it. I don't like the ring tones, but I picked the least obnoxious one! Dad enjoyed setting it up for me.

The leaves are off the trees now. I haven't gotten out to rake the leaves from the ditch. I guess I'll wait until the road gets flooded and then I'll go out and see what I can do.

I have a card party tomorrow at 10:00 AM. I need to go to support Mary and for myself too. I need to sit down and make some cards. I have so many already made that that might be the reason I haven't made any in a long time. I'll get at least four cards made tomorrow.

Very Busy Day

I was up at 7:00 AM and so was Dad. He wanted to go to H'ville today and we planned to go early, but he wanted to pay some bills first. All of this takes time, so we left at 11:00 AM! We went to the Apple Store and the IPhone went back. It was too expensive to hook it up to a phone line! Then we went to the AT&T store and had our second land line put on a new cell phone for me. It will be pink and has no texting and no fancy stuff. We ate lunch at McDonald's and then came home. I was going to the Temple tonight but we got back at 3:00 PM so I had to cancel the trip. That was good for I was rather tired after all the walking and standing we did. I'm also tired of driving an the interstate going 70 mph! I think the car pulls a little to the right.

I remember when I got my first bike. It was a used one and I was disappointed at bit but I loved it just the same. I rode with my friends in the neighborhood and I rode by myself. I was going down this steep hill one time and fell and got my knees skinned up. I can still see some of the black cinder material under my skin!

I remember being in the Brownies and then the Girl Scouts. In high school I got into the troupe where there were some of my friends and we all went as high as we could in the GS in the 50's.
I would usually go to Girl Scout camp in the summer. I would go by myself if no one else I knew was going. One time we were working an a lanyard and I decided I didn't want to finish it and the councelor wrote on my paper that I didn't finish things I started. That made me mad. I had a bad attitude even when I was a young whipper snapper. I loved working on the badges and was lucky to have leaders for our age group.

The Girl Scouts bought some land where Elk River and Anderson creek met and called it camp Anderel. I don't know if they use it any more or not but I got into the first group of girls that was able to camp there. It was primitive camping and I loved it! After we put our tents up (canvas tents), we dug a trench around the outside of the tent. I ask why and was told that if it rained, the trench would carry the water away from the tent. It did rain and the trench worked! We slept on air mattresses and I accidentally pushed a safety pin into the mattress, like I would do at home. Well, the air leaked our. At night, I would blow the mattress up and in the morning I would wake up on the ground! And with that same pin I hung a face cloth from the tent. It made a small hole in the tent and when it rained, the water dripped, dripped onto my face! We used latrines dug with a post hole digger. I had read about trap door spiders and I found one's nest and dug it up to show the others. I spent time sharpening my small ax and then I cut my finger or knee with it! I learned a lot of things not to do when you're camping. I was in the 9th grade when this happened.

Remembering...

I remember when milk was delivered to your doorstep. The cream collected on the top of the milk and to get "red cap" milk, one would have to shake up the bottle. The cream could be poured out and then you had "skim milk" or "skimmed milk". The glass bottles would be washed out and put back on the porch with a note rolled up in the top of the bottle with the next order on it.

I remember listening to the radio on Saturday mornings for the kids shows. I remember a show called "The Shadow". I think if was a mystery. I remember when the first T.V. came out. My Uncle Warren had one but all I remember is the "snow" that showed up on the screen. We got a T.V. when I was 12 years old. I loved Sunday night when Walt Disney came on. I loved to watch Tinkerbell! Later on, we got a color T.V.

I learned to type in high school. I used typewriters in college and don't remember when personal computers came out.

I remember when the first man flew around the earth.. I don't know if I believe man went to the moon. If we were so successful going to the moon, why didn't we go back? The Shadow knows...

Dr. Day

We saw the skin Dr. at 9:15 AM and then went to H'ville to the Apple store to return and get another holder for the IPhone. Dad might decide to swap it for an IPod. The IPod would do what he wants the IPhone will do except it won't be a phone, too. I'm glad my "toys" aren't as intricate as Dad's are!

I was a bit disappointed the operation was postponed. I guess I was pumped up for the event and now have to wait 4 weeks and hope all goes well.

I gave all the children their Christmas checks to buy the grandchildren their presents. I didn't feel like making anything this year and a check was easier to give.

Cold Monday

I stayed under the covers until late morning so I didn't see the snow flurries. I heard about them on the radio. When I went out to drive to Karen's house, the windshield had some ice on it! I turned the heater and the windshield wipers on to get rid of it. I don't have a scraper and I'll need to get one.

Frank was to have his operation tomorrow morning, but this morning, he woke up with 101 degree fever. The operation will be Dec. 30. More waiting.

Our study time was good tonight. After listening to the computer lesson, we discuss what our impressions are and then go on to talk about other things. We'll be going to the Temple Thursday. I need to get my recommend updated soon.

A Good Day With Family

Mary Kate and Richard and Sophia and Nate spent the night here Friday night. Saturday morning we went to H'ville to do some shopping. When we got to the mall, Mary Kate asked it I wanted a wheel chair and I said "yes". Boy, I was really short sitting down looking up at people! Richard and Nate wheeled me around. I could have walked but enjoyed a bit of spoiling!

Mary Kate brought me a beautiful necklace made by her friend, Heather. It's made out of crystals and is very pretty. We met Trudy,George, Forrest, and Sadie for lunch at a new hamburger place called 5 Guys. It was good and especially nice having the family all there, except for Frankie and his family. Little Josh threw up again when they got out of the car at their home, so I guess it was good for them to leave early so they wouldn't expose Grampie to some germs.

After lunch, we all came back to our house for family pictures. This is an annual event. Trudy had her large camera and Mary Kate had her camera and Dad had his camera and it was quite a circus! But hopefully someone got some good pictures. During all of this we were watching the Auburn-Alabama football game. Alabama finally beat Auburn after losing for 6 straight years. Bama plays Florida next week and it will be for the SEC title. If we win that game, we will have lost no games during the season.

Turkey Day 2008

Frankie and his family arrived at 9:30 AM and we left for Trudy's about 11:00 AM. They had read the sale papers so we had to stop at Walgreen's to get some allergy medicine that was really cheap. We got to Trudy's after noon. Richard really wanted turkey so Mary Kate stopped at a store near Trudy's and got a turkey breast! She had made her favorite stuffing and we had white and sweet potatoes, chicken soup and some faux chili I had made but couldn't put the chili sauce mix I had planned to use because it had corn syrup in it and Mariam is allergic to corn. Almost everyone in Frankie's family has food allergies. But there was plenty of good food to eat and no one went hungry!

After dinner, Richard, Mary Kate, Rachel, Trudy and I drove into Huntsville and went to Walgreen's and and CVS Pharmacy to get some Christmas presents for the kids. Frankie and Rachel looked at the sale papers that came Wednesday and saw some great deals.

Josh threw up when they got to our house so he went to bed right then. Rachel took his temperature and it was up a bit. They were so worried that he would be sick and Frank might get the bug and he has surgery in 4 days. So they packed up early this AM. Frankie had to tie all the packages on top of their car. They have a Ford Taros station wagon so he had some rails to tie everything to. Josh was active this morning but you could tell that he didn't feel quite up to par today. Kayla got her two dolls from Karen Decker and she was thrilled with them. I had gotten Luke a Rubic's cube that would lie flat or would turn into shapes and he solved the puzzle right away!

After Frankie and family left, Frank and I just went back to bed and rested. I had walked and stood a lot Thursday and my knees were hurting.

Mary Kate called and said she and her family were coming over here to spend the night. She then called back to say she had missed the road she needed to turn on and was headed to Thach! That will probably take them to I-65 and they can turn south and get back into Athens.

Left Early

We left the house at 8:15 AM and headed for H'ville. We took I-65 and then Hy. 20. It's longer, but quicker. We found the Medical Mall but walked in the front of the building and had to walk the length of the building to find the right office. Frank had his vital signs checked and had an EKG, which was normal. The nurse went over the medicines he shouldn't take and we were through by 10:30 AM and then went to the Franklin Building, to the Pain Center to get Dad's Rx and then on to an appointment with Dr. Phillips. It was in and out there and we were on our way home. We stopped at McDonald's and we both got a McFlurry and an order of fries. Yes, that was a very nutritious meal....NOT! But it did taste good!

After we got home, I tried to make a pot of chili. I had about 2-3 lbs of ground steak and not enough tomatoes, so I added some tomato sauce. Then my beans were white beans and no chili seasoning. What I was going to season it with had corn syrup in it and Mariam is allergic to corn. Hopefully Trudy will have some chili powder and someone can season the chili so it will taste good enough to eat.

Mary Kate and her family are probably there by now (7:45 PM). Frankie and Rachel called and said they were stuck in traffic in Knoxville and asked if it would be okay if they spent the night at their house and got up early and got here by 8:00 AM. Of course it's alright. One trip going to Florida for Thanksgiving, we got cough in traffic near Atlanta that was bumper to bumper! No fun at all.

Didn't Do Cans

I got up early so I could pack the car with the cans Trudy wanted, but she called and said that Sadie was home sick with a cold. I was all dressed up with no place to go. I had to call Medicare for some information, so I did it. I got things straightened out and then called the Dr.'s office involved. Then it was lunch time. I put some laundry in and practiced the piano a little.

We have to light the pilot light in the stove downstairs and give the birds a shower. I got my sewing machine out and hemmed a pair of pants. The hem is so tiny that I don't think it will work right. If not, the Salvation Army will get them. My machine is really nice but it's too bad such a piglet is operating it!

Tomorrow we do pre-admissions at the Medical Mall in H'ville. I think the building once was a mall but must have gone out of business and H'ville Hospital made it into offices and testing sites. We see Dr. Phillips and get Dad's Rx too. It'll be a busy day.

It's in the 50's today and Thanksgiving will be the same. That'll be nice so the kids can go out and play and won't be pent up in the house all day. I'm looking forward to a nice day away from home.

Town Day

I was going to exercise but it was raining and Frank wanted me to get him some things in town, so I missed exercise and went to the bank and then to K-Mart and to buy a battery for the truck and then when I got home , we found out that the battery was too big for the truck! After lunch, Dad went back with me to the battery shop and got an upgrade on the battery and it fit. We stopped by the bank and the Post Office and then back home. Late in the afternoon it finally stopped raining. At 6:00 PM I went to Karen's house for our scripture study. It was great as usual. Tomorrow, I'll get up early and load all the cans and lids and oxygen packages in the car and take them to Trudy's. I'll be glad to get rid of them and they are in the process of canning, so it's the best of both worlds!

Sunday Sunday

It's been a quiet day...how could a Sunday be loud with only two people and three birds?
I wore my fall outfit to church. The skirt has colors of dark brown, beige and shades of muted orange and I have a dark brown suit-type coat to go with it. I like the outfit. I forgot I was going to wear my new purple pinstriped shirt and purple vest with a black skirt. Something new I got last week. I can wear the purple tomorrow when I go to exercise and buy a new battery for the truck. I have a list of things I have to accomplish tomorrow so I can't be long from the house. I've got laundry, improving some soup I made a couple of days ago and planning some meals for when Frankie's family comes Wednesday evening. Not a very long list but it has some important things on it.

Baptism Day

I thought I had done nothing but then remembered I had gone to the church to play the piano for two baptisms. A friend of Nancy Barker's Leslie and her son Elijah Donnelly were baptized today at 12:00 PM. I need to practice the hymns also when I practice. This week has been a bad one for practicing the piano. The two trips to H'ville messed up my timing getting things that I wanted to do done. They were good for Frank so I can't be ruffled about it.

Besides practicing, I need to make some cards! It's been a long time since I've made any and I miss the feeling of accomplishment I get when I create a card. We haven't been having our card parties because Mary had surgery on her hand and arms and hasn't been able to stamp. It's a cruel world.

Thanksgiving is four days away! I just talked to Frankie and He and the family will be here around 7 PM Wednesday night. Now, I'll know how to plan my meals ( planning will be difficult but I've heard one does better when there is a plan....).

The battery in the truck is dead and I will get a new one for it tomorrow. Trudy is ready for the cans and lids we have here at the house (in the way, by the way!). I'll take them up Tuesday morning. They have dry packed 24 cases already. I'm really proud of their efforts.

Typical Friday

Went of exercise class and then on to Walmart for some groceries. I got home about 11:00 AM.
I made a pot of veggie soup. After we got back from Huntsville, I had a bowl and found out what it needs. I need to put some meat in it and a lot more veggies. I had to put the soup in three containers. I should have used a smaller pot. The bigger the pot, the more soup I make.

The neighbor boys forgot to take our trash out for us so Dad was out at 9:00 PM toting the trash can to the road. He tried to use the truck to drive the trash out but the battery was dead. I'll get a new one tomorrow or Monday. It seems like all our old trucks had bad batteries. Maybe, they weren't driven enough to keep the battery charged. It's good that Frank can still do stuff like taking care of the batteries. I can't see me undoing a heavy battery and taking it from the truck! Dad wanted me to learn how to change the oil in one of our cars years ago. I told him as long as there was a man alive on the earth, I would not be changing my own oil!

In Key West, soon after we were married, he looked under our bed and saw dust. He said I should sweep under the bed. Well, I told him when he started sleeping under the bed, I would sweep there. I'll take care of the dust I can see, but if it's hidden or over my head, I don't go looking for it!

It's been a busy day. Whew! I'm tired. It's going to go down to 17 degrees tonight and I bet I'll turn on my electric blanket. I might not go to sleep with it on, but some time during the night, I'll get cold and turn it on in my sleep.

Apple Store

We made a quick trip to the new Apple store in H'ville today. We went I-65 and Hy 20 and got off on Old Madison Pike and it took us right to the shopping center. The Apple Store wasn't too far away from where we parked. Dad was like a kid in a Christmas store! We stopped at Wendy's for lunch (in Athens).

This has been the second day I have had no energy. I've been content to just sit and do nothing. Hope I have some energy tomorrow.

Don't know what we'll be having for Thanksgiving. I know we'll have dressing and pumpkin pie, but I don't know what else we'll be having. Soup was mentioned and I can make a pot of soup. Seems like no one wants turkey anymore. I'll have to talk with Trudy about it. Also I need to know when and how long Frankie's family will be at my house. I'll need to have some food for them.

Dr. Visit

It was a clearance for the surgery Dad's having Dec. 2, 2008. He'll probably see a heart Dr. at the sign in place for Huntsville Hospital next week.

I took up two pair of pants. The dryer seemed to make the pant legs a little shorter, but I would need really tall shoes to make them look good. I don't like the legs too baggy because I'm such a shorty. My closet is really full. Maybe Mary Kate can help me weed some clothes out.

It was 43 degrees outside today and the wind was blowing. It was warm at the Dr.s' office but cold again when we came out.

Karen's daughter Heidi and her baby (11 months old and a cutie) and her two dogs are staying with her while her husband finishes some training and finds them a house in Utah. The dogs are min pins-miniature ...I've forgotten the name of the breed! Heidi's two dogs and the two shihzoos make a house hold of pets! The cat holds her own and chases the dogs away from her feed bowl in the upstairs bathroom. The baby, Christian, is a happy baby and really cute.

Let's Begin!

Begin a new week, that is. I got to exercise class and enjoyed it. Afterwards, I decided to go shopping. I was going to Goodies but it was 9:30 AM and they weren't open so I went to Walmart instead. I found a red quilted coat, and purple striped long sleeved shirt and a purple vest and two pair of pull on pants, one purple and one red. I took up the sleeves of the coat and may have to shorten the length on the pants. I washed them and just now put them in the dryer. Hopefully, they may get shorter in the dryer! I have some other sewing I need to do so I'll get my sewing machine out and do it all. Walmart's jewelery section is the pits now so I went to Goodies to get some jewelery to match my purple things. I also found a pull over shirt that had purple and green and black stripes on it.

I just came from Karen Decker's house. We had our scripture study tonight and it was good. I always leave with a heightened spiritual experience, which is wonderful. We didn't talk so much about the lesson as we did the creation. It's just awesome.

Dad sees Dr. Walker tomorrow afternoon. I need to clean up my room. It's getting cluttered and I haven't wanted to face it. Ha-ha-ha!

Good Sunday

Church was good. Primary was good. I get to sit at the piano and watch Sis Decker work her magic with the kids. I came home and started to do some study at the computer but got sleepy so I took a short nap. Our home teachers came over at 5:45 PM and we had a nice visit.

I learned something new about the computer yesterday while I was looking up the atonement on LDS.org. I was reading two lines about the subject and found that if I clicked on the title of the work, the entire article came up! I'm learning little by little about this machine and someday I may know a lot about it! I'm not holding my breath....

Got exercise class tomorrow. I really miss it when I don't go. Don't have a very busy week so far. Dad goes to Dr. Walker for a cardiac test to see if his heart is up for the operation in December.

Nashville Was Good

We arrived at the Conference Center with about 20 minutes to spare and got good seats in the back. Some tall lady sat in front of Pat but I could see well. We ate lunch in the car in the parking garage and after that we sat in different seats. Then a tall blond sat in front of me and I couldn't see! I had money to buy things but I saw nothing I wanted to buy and the music didn't crank my tractor so I didn't spend any money.

The Spirit told me to go to the conference but it wasn't until the last 15 minutes that I found out why! I had gone to the bathroom and met Rachel Layton there and we talked for a while. Both of us wanted to go but it wasn't over. After we finished talking and
I went back to my seat, the woman that was talking said that we all know that the Atonement gets us back into God's presence but that we didn't utilize the Atonement in our every day lives. I needed to hear that and understand what it meant. It sure was a long conference to learn what I needed in the last 15 minutes. I guess I could have learned more if I hadn't spent so much time talking in the rest room but that's neither here are there. The trip home surely did seemed like a longer drive. Tammy McRainey sat in the front seat because she knew the way and her seat was back and I sat behind her and even my short, little legs were cramped! We were in Mary Lou's Kia, which is a small car anyway. But it was a fun trip and I'm glad I made it.

Night Before Women's Day Out

Mary Lou Hill will be driving her car and it is full. Mary Lou and her daughter Pat, me and Tammy McRainey are going. She will pick me up at 6:00 AM. Hopefully we'll be home by 9:00 PM. I'm excited about going so I hope I can sleep well tonight.

I got another sleeping bag that goes down to 20 degrees. So, now we have two sleeping bags and will get 2 72-hr. MRE's backpacks. When that's done, or before, I need to go to Sam's and get some more veggies that we have eaten and not replaced.

Don't really have anything else to say, so this is it!

Gloomy Day

It's been raining at night and we've gotten 1/2". The sky is grey and gloomy but I got out anyway. I bought a sleeping bag but Frank thinks it isn't warm enough. It only goes down to 40 degrees and that's not too cold. Then I look at it and it is an extra long bag! Why can't I find these things out BEFORE I bring it home? I brought a small rug back that I had paid $11.00 for and while I had it a few days it went on sale again and only cost $7.00! I guess it's best to take stuff back right after you see you don't need it!

I woke up at 3:00 AM this morning and couldn't go back to sleep. I watched some TV and then put some Christmas stickers on some cards. I got the hankering to make some cards now. Time will tell if I do.

Trudy is my blog master and Sadie accidentally removed my flower border that Trudy had put on for me. She put another one on it and it's bright! I don't care, beggars can't be choosers!

Revenge of the Body

Body: So, you stayed out all day yesterday, walked miles on hard concrete and you expected a busy day today. No way, Jose!
Me: oh-h-h-h, ah-h-h-h, e-e-e-e-e! I didn't know what I was doing! I know suicide is wrong and I didn't know I was close to committing it! I'm paying now, are you happy?

Yes, I tried to walk today, then I had that conversation with my body! I was able to drive into town to pick up some new bras I had ordered and then back home. I did the laundry and put some dates on some bills and rested and moaned and groaned the rest of the day. I find it hard to realize my body is old, really old and doesn't want to do what I still want to do! Poor me, boo hoo. Now tomorrow will be better.

Busy and Tiring Day

I drove through Madison to get to H'ville and got to the dentist on time. I usually go I-65 but for some reason didn't today. After about 40 minutes, I was out until 1:20 PM. First, I went to Hobby Lobby. I wasn't in the mood to buy anything but managed to spend $18.00! Saw Pauline Falconbury there. Then, I went to Bridge Street Mall (or what ever it's called). I tried to find a short way to get to the Apple store, but there is none. If Dad got to go to that store, it would have to be in a wheelchair! After that, I went to Trees and Trends (it used to be wholesale jewelry) and looked at a thousand purses but didn't get one. You would think I could fine ONE purse out of all of the ones I saw. I picked out one, but needed a mirror to see if it was too big for short old me. It was a huge store and after walking around Hobby Lobby, Bridge Street and Trees n' Trends. I was all tuckered out. By then it was only about 45 minutes until I saw Dr. Sharp so I just parked in his parking lot and read the paper until it was time to see him.

Had a good visit and then started for home. By then, the hamburger I had for lunch had worn off so to get the energy to make it home, I stopped and got a Snickers Bar. Y-u-m-m! What? you know it only has 3 or 4 calories! Got enough energy to make it to Staples and got Dad two clear file boxes (he wanted 6, but 2 was all I could manage. One more stop for gas, and then I came home. Whew! Makes me tired to remember what all I did!

Monday, 11-10-08

We saw Dr. Morgan at 1:00 PM. The tests came back negative. Tuesday, Dec. 2, 2008 is when he will have his operation. He may spend 2 days in the hospital. Mary Kate is coming up for the week. She will be good company. I'm sure we will see Trudy too and that will make exceptional company! We came home after the Dr visit.

Tonight, I went over to Karen's house for our scripture study. It was a short lesson, but it was good. We had a good conversation about the lesson. She will be flying out to Denver (I believe to help her daughter, Heidi, pack up and move with the baby and two dogs, to Karen's home. Heidi's husband is else where job training and it will be a while until he finds a house for them to settle in. I think it will be in Utah. Ken had just come home as I was driving up. After he gets home, he has to go out and feed the horses and goats and chicken and guinnies and dogs. But he loves all of his farm animals. Next time Frankie and children are here, I'll see if I can take them over and show them the miniature horses, etc. That would be fun!

I have a dentist appointment at 9:20 AM and I see Dr. Sharp at 1:20 PM! I will be in H'ville all day. I got the Hobby Lobby 40% off coupon so I can go there and there is an Apple store that I want to find for Dad. There's always fun ways to pass time in Huntsville, Alabama.

Didn't Leave the House

I like to go back to bed on Saturdays and listen to the radio but Friday nights and Saturday mornings are dedicated to football! Ah-h--h--hgh! When will I get my radio shows back? I finally got dressed about 10:30 AM. I cooked a pot of Great Northern beans and we had them plus some hamburger that Frank found in the freezer for lunch.

Mercy! I was so inactive that I don't remember what I did today. Gosh, what a life...I guess we are just waiting for Monday and the appointment with Dr. Morgan. I did play the piano today. I get sick when I think how much better I used to be. In the 5 years of not playing because of the cancer I lost a lot. Maybe I can recover some technique as I practice some each day.

Tired Day #2

It's funny that I already had a title "tired day". I got up at 7:00 AM but I felt too tired to go to exercise class. I was bright eyed and bushy tailed until the afternoon then I had to take a little nap. It rained last night and my knees didn't hurt as much. Funny how much the weather has an effect on us. Gravity keeps us over weight! The moon moves the oceans around. The barometric pressure enables people with arthritis to for tell the weather! Ha-ha-ha!

I need to buy another pair of Sunday shoes. I think I'll go to Penny's. That's where I got my last pair. We need to give the birds a shower tomorrow. And I need to put the bills up.

The Adams' grandsons take our garbage out for us and I had a half bag of Halloween candy that I put on top of the garbage can. After I was gone to the Temple last night, Frank said Adam called to say "thank you". I thought that was sweet. Frank and I gather the trash and then I take it out to the garbage can, put it in, and then wheel the can out to the edge of the sidewalk. The boys, Adam, Dage, and Shane take it out for us. They are sweet boys.

Home Late

Got back from the Temple trip about 12:15 AM. It's hard to unwind after riding that long, talking and having fun. It's 1:05 now and I'm still waiting to unwind. It was a nice trip. Nine people went and Bro. Geer had to sit in back on the floor. He can't drive after having his back surgery. His van is getting old but maybe it will last a few years longer.

The weather man said we we were going to have thunderstorms after midnight tonight but so far no storms. My knees hurt really bad all day, so I expected the weather to turn bad.

I think I should go to bed now. Maybe the Sandman is around the corner!

Never on Wednesday

I was up at 7:00 AM dressed for I was going to exercise class. But before 8:00 AM, the people from Valley Imaging called and asked Dad to come back while he still had some of the contrast in him so they make some more images. So, I missed exercises and sat in the Dr's office for over an hour. I finally had to stand up because my bottom could take no more sitting! After that we stopped at Hardy's and got a sausage biscuit and brought it home. Yum-m-m! It was good!

After resting for a while, I drove the truck into town and took back a blouse I bought the previous day just because I was bored. Now, I want to take back the small rug I bought the same day. Just proves that one shouldn't buy things when one is bored!

I'm bored now but I have nothing to do. My knees hurt when I try to do much so I don't try to do much!

Obama won the presidency. We're in for four bad years. Before he was elected, he said he wanted to bankrupt all of the coal plants. Most of our electricity is produced by coal fired plants! Hopefully there are enough sane people in Congress that will thwart his evil designs.

Test Day

Dad had to get up at 5 AM to eat something and take his meds. I got up at 7 AM and got dressed and put on make-up and did my hair and got ready to roll. We got to vote about 10:30 AM. We used to vote at the Blackburn Community Center but we got notice that we were to vote at the Blackburn First Baptist church. I felt like we had been singled out to go else where, but noticed in passing that no one was voting at Blackburn. It was small and hard to get back onto the highway and now we have a better place to vote.

Tonight was Relief Society Enrichment night. Karen came by and got me. The food was great! Turkey and dressings, casseroles, jello salads, cakes and pies. All very yummy. Afterwards, we had a short lesson about becoming close to Christ. Next, they were making stockings and salt dough ornaments. Karen said she didn't need any more stuff like that in her house and I felt the same way, so we left. It was a fun time out. Tomorrow, we will go to a few stores to look around for a couple of hours. We don't want to get too tired because Thursday is Temple day.

I saw Jan Laytham tonight and told her I wouldn't be able to lead the exercise class. I'll take the book back to her tomorrow.

A Good Monday

After having set all the clocks back one hour last night, I forgot to reset my alarm clock. So, at 6:00 AM it woke me up. I wanted to get up at 7:00 AM! I think we can fool with the clocks all we want to, but our bodies have to get used to the new time.

I made it to exercise this morning. It felt good to get back. Afterwards, I went to Walmart to get another pair of sunglasses that fit over my own glasses and I found two pair of earrings I couldn't live without! I need another jewelery box-I already have two and one is , I can't spell it, an armrouir. I'll have to give a lot of my jewelery to my granddaughters and daughters.

At 10:00 AM (which was the time the store opened up) I went to Merle Norman and got some make-up. I know it's the high priced spread (phrase from an old commerical) but it was nice to have someone to help me pick out the right color. I got some base and powder and some cream to take it all off with and then got a box of free products. All of this is perfume -free. I tried one of the night creams that was free and it had perfume in, so I had to take it off. I've been perfume free for so long that a product with perfume really overpowers me! I still had the wrinkles and scars but I hope I will have a nice made-up look when I'm wearing it.

I tried to crank the truck up today but the battery was dead. Frank has a battery charger and after a while connected to that, the truck roared to life! Ha-ha! A 1994 Chevy S-10 really roarers! I drove it down the road and back. We also had to put air in the tires. They all had about 20 lbs. in each tire. You can tell the truck hasn't been driven since May or June. That's when the air conditioner stopped working and we found out the compressor was broken and it would cost too much money to fix it. Since it's cooler now I can begin driving it once or twice or more a week. I like driving it because it is a small truck and has power steering. It doesn't look so good since there's rust all over the hood, but I still like to drive it. It's a truck and it does what a truck is supposed to do.

Tomorrow, Dad has the two tests to see if his cancer has spread. Hopefully, it hasn't. We know the procedure if it's contained, but don't know what will happen if it's spread. That may be Dad's ticket home. I need him too much to see him off right now.

The Sabboth Day

Church was good today. Primary was good and I think the children had a good time. We're in a slack time now with no new songs to learn to sing for next year's presentation. Sis. Decker has wonderful games for them to play with songs laced through them. It's fun for me to be in there!

We had a quiet day. I felt like taking a nap at one time but I was on the computer looking up knee replacement and rehab time. I've decided to do it but it will all hinge on how Dad's surgery goes and how long it will take for him to get well. Pain wise, I could go on without the replacement just yet but it has altered my way of life. I can't do any yard work and I can't do much walking ( not that I was in love with walking...but you have to walk to shop!!). Plus, the right knee is leaning over to the left knee so much that I'm afraid it might give way and I would fall to the ground! How embarrassing that would be! A poor old Granny falling flat on her face and probably foaming at the mouth by then...no, don't want that!

Mary Kate called while she was pet sitting. She and her family are okay. In January, Nate will play basketball and Sophia will be cheerleading. What family fun that will be! She said Trudy was doing well. Hopefully, even though she likes the hospital, she will be able to stay from it for a long time!

It's only 6:45 PM but it seems later. Must be the first day of "falling back" from Daylight Savings Time. I don't know but I woke up at 2:00 AM this morning and went downstairs and got some ice cream! How can I blame that on falling back...it seems like I fell off the wagon, instead. Oh, well. Will there be fat in heaven?

November 1 Already!

Time is really flying by now days. It's just two more days until we vote. I'm glad it's almost over. If Oboma gets in, there will be a lot of changes that no one will like. Some people believe he will put gas in their cars! Maybe the end is near. I would welcome it. I ain't scared!

I just rested today. Seems like that's about all I do. Being a caretaker isn't life in the fast track!

Trudy had to go to the hospital for a few hours today. Everything came out alright and she's home now. It's always something it seems.

I hope Allison is doing well, Kathy. I know it will be a real celebration when the twins are born. Grandchildren are such a joy!

Almost End of the Week

Halloween! We never have trick-or-treaters so it's just another night for us old geezers. I had bought some candy that we didn't like so we wouldn't eat it and it worked! Frankie, Rachel and their kids ate it while they were visiting. They are like us...if there is anything sweet is the house, we will break a leg to get to it. Sugarholics we are, we are!

I was tired this morning and slept in. I think I go back to bed in order to let my meds work and when I get up my knees feel better, so I can get up and go. I helped Dad do the bills and walked out to the road to check the mail a couple of times not to mention the number of times I walked up and down the stairs. Whew! It doesn't take much to make me tired.

I told Dad where a new Apple store is in H'ville. Maybe we'll be going there sometime next week. It's in the newest mall in town and we would have to see if we could get parking space closer to the store.

I didn't think it was exercise time and didn't wake up early enough to go. Maybe next week will be better.

End of the

Grocery Day

I finally was forced to go buy groceries...I was tired of not having anything I wanted to eat! I got almost everything on my list. I forgot the hot chocolate. I have some blackberry zinger tea that I can have before I go to bed. That will relax my soul the same as the hot chocolate does. I even got some ice cream. Frank wasn't impressed that I got cookies n' cream, but I can get vanilla next time.

Trudy really survived her surgery well. She has to recover for 6 weeks. She still gets to scrapbook or feels well enough to do it. Life is fragile.

I took an extra pain pill before I went shopping so I would feel like going. Going up and down the stairs is hard and I feel the bones grinding on each other! Not a good feeling. I wonder if Dr. Moore would consider replacing both knees at the same time? Maybe that would be too much for me to handle. As soon as Dad is over his operation, I'll schedule mine. Old age is not for sissies!!!

Chili Cook Off and Trunk or Treat Night

Today was our play day but I had to go to H'ville to get Dad's Rx so I asked Karen if she would like to go and she said "Yes". We started off around 9:30 AM. We first went t by the college book store for Karen to get some things laminated and then we headed to H'ville. We got the Rx and then we went to Main Street in Madison looking for a doll store. We found it, but they didn't have much of a variety. Before that, we walked around the newest mall. The one with the gondolas and the carousal. The stores are too ritzy for my blood! After all of that, we headed to Trudy's to see how she was doing and I had some of Dad's shirts to take to her. We had a nice , short visit. I got to see Benny's (standard Poodle) new hair cut. Forrest was home with his stomach problems. After our visit, we came back to Athens to the book store and the pharmacy. We got back home about 3:00 PM. Karen had to make some spaghetti for tonight. She came and picked me up at 5:30 AM. She cooked spaghetti because she doesn't like chili!

The cultural hall was full of people! The food was good and the trunk or treaters filled the parking lot outside. There were games set up in different rooms, but we left before all of that.

It was a good and fun day.

Jackie, I'm glad you enjoy my blogs. My life is so dull, I'm glad you like them! I know how it is with being connected. I enjoy Mary Kate's and Trudy's blogs very much.

Tuedsay,Tuesday

It was cold and windy today. I went outside to cut down a small Crepe Myrtle that was growing too near the mama plant and then I had planted a small bush too near the road that goes around the house, and when the small bush grew larger, and it was going to get very large, it would probably over shadow the road. I cut all the green off of the bush but it will slowly grow back. I might as well leave it for by the time it gets overgrown I might be sitting on a cloud playing the harp!

Went to Karen's house for our study tonight. Monday night, I was too tired to go so we did it tonight. Her little Shih Zoo's were in their corner pen just a tussling around and playing and having a good time! I really wanted to watch them instead of concentrating on the lesson! I told her Kayla loved porcelain dolls and she gave me two dolls I can give Kayla. She got them before she learned she didn't like them. She has American Dolls now. She has one dressed up like the big, bad woof and another dressed like Little Red Ridding Hood. Too cute!

If the cancer hasn't spread, Dad will have his operation the first Tuesday in Dec. He'll be well for Thanksgiving. If it's spread, I don't know what will happen. I don't believe it has spread.

Trudy went home today-the day after she was operated on! She has pain medicine as she needs it and will probably get better faster at home. The Relief Society has planned for meals to be brought in 'til Saturday, I believe. That is really a nice feeling to know your family is taken care off when you can't do it yourself.

Saw Dr. Morgan

Conference was good Sunday too. I was just too tired to blog when I got home.

We saw Dr Morgan today. Dad's prostrate cancer is moderately aggressive. He'll get a bone scan and a CT scan to see if it has spread. I don't think it has. Dr. Morgan has a sense of humor, which is good. We go back to see him Nov 10. Are you supposed to leave out periods like after "Dr"? Sometimes I use periods and Dad says not too.

I wonder how long Dad will have to recover from the operation...The Dr's use a robot guided by the Dr's hands, and from what I've read, they make four small slits in his belly for the cameras to see in and I guess they'd have to make a small slit somewhere to get the prostate out. Maybe I can watch the operation....no, I'm too short to see the action!

It was cold (50'60's) and windy today. I'm not ready for it to get that cold so soon. I can't wait for Dad to get better so I can have my knee replaced! I'm so tired of not being able to walk straight. I'm still thankful I can walk but I'm getting impatient!

Stake Conference Saturday

Mary Lou and I will be riding to the Saturday night (6:00) session of Stake Conference with the Decker's. They will be by for me around 5:00 PM. I hope it will be fun for I still feel bad. I went to town to Staples to get some new labels. I was out of Frankie's address labels and needed some more. Dad and I struggled over how to print them right and finally got one page to work. Then, he remembered we could have just hit "center" the page and our task would have been done. Computer, one. Frank and Jan, 0.

I don't know what to wear tonight . It is cool and I think the Stake Center is cool too, so I need to dress warmly. I might wear my new fall skirt and brown jacket. I think the skirt is a bit long but who cares. No none knows me and no one will remember me so it like so many sands through an hour glass. Ha-ha-ha-ha-ha! (she says as she rubs her evil hands together...)

Half and Half Again

That's funny that I already had a title called "half and half"! Half my day was serene and half was busy. I took Rosko and Rikki to the vet in Hartselle, about40 min. from here. The Dr. was behind so she had the birds in the back for a trim while I sat in the waiting room. All the birds were healthy but Rikki is too fat. That's bad because that can cause fatty liver disease. We need to take her back to Dr. Jan for a blood test to check to see if she has FLD (fatty liver disease). We've been feeding the birds too many treats and Rikki is the most inactive of the three. Dr. Jan said it was like us eating a pecan pie every day. Mama Mia! That would be a few pounds in no time, and I don't even like pecan pie!

Frank is fighting a chest infection. He's taking medicine for it. We see Dr. Morgan at 11:00 AM Monday and see what the options are. Life will be on hold after that until we know what to do. I think my feeling bad was a minor sinus infection. My right eye has been crying for two days. It's madding to be in a store and have a tear running down my cheek! I hope it gets better on it's own.

The weather has been rainy with the temps in the 60's. Nice. We got 1.2" of rain but I think we are still low for the year.

Trudy's operation is Monday. I guess George will take off work to take her to the hospital. I hope she gets to stay in the hospital for two days at least.

If Frank has to have an operation, Mary Kate will come home for it. She was wanting to know when to come-while he's in the hospital or when he comes home. I think during the operation would be best. I will have to come home to take care of the birds at night. I thought she could spend the night with Trudy or she could come home with me and go back the next day. I would like that. Company is better than no company!

Busy Day #2

I had to stay up today so I could go to Lowe's to get the storm doors. Actually, I didn't "get" the storm doors but paid for them and arranged to have them delivered and installed. The man said the deterioration of the doors was caused by water getting inside the door and swelling and then puncturing the metal. I had a termite salesman tell me that termites had done it! You really have to strain the stuff you hear or read.

Then, I went to Walmart for some envelopes and lip balm and then to Herbs 'N More to get Dad some herbs "N stuff. Isn't "stuff" a neat word? It covers a multitude of "things"! I used the word "portend" in a letter I wrote today, so my vocabulary can go from "things 'N stuff" to other words. That word just popped into my mind, who knows from where. I actually may be smart underneath all the dumb!

I still feel like I'm catching a cold or something. My injection says it can cause a scratchy throat, but I've been taking it long enough that I would have thought it would have happened as soon a I began taking the drug. Only the Shadow knows!

The big Sweet Gum tree beside the road is shedding it's leaves all over the road and the drainage ditch. Last year, I didn't rake the leaves up and the ditch didn't drain properly. So, when the tree gets through shedding, I'll rake the leaves out of the ditch and burn them. Hey, I might even burn them in the ditch!

Visiting Day

I decided not to get the storm doors today since I had other things to do. I went to the sheet metal place but no one was there. I found the piece that Dad had made so I placed the check on a clipboard that was on the counter and then loaded the sheet metal piece in the trunk of the car. I called Dad to tell him to call the place and maybe someone would show up. The phone rang many times (and it was loud..) and from across the street I see this man come running to the store. It was the man I needed to pay. He gave me a copy of my bill and I told him I had already loaded it in my car. I was glad he showed up or I would have felt like a " thief in the night"!

I went by the pharmacy to pick up some medicine for Dad. He's caught an infecting from some where and needed a Z pac. I fixed lunch, played the piano and then it was ready to go visiting. We have four people to see. Two are mother and daughter so we get to see two at one stop. We got to see the other two people so we are 100% for October. Yeah!

I came home tired and felt like I was coming down with something so I got a Zicam out and swabbed it in my nose. I hope it works for I haven't been sick in quite a while. I've learned how to give myself the shots pretty well. I haven't got it down by memory yet, but I will in due time.

I carry the birds in for their trims Friday. All except Gert. I'm afraid I'd have to fight him to get him into the carrier and I not ready to do that. So Rikki and Rosko will go. Rikki's beak and nails have gotten really long and Dr. Jan will probably fuss at me for waiting so long, but I was waiting hoping Gert would get tamer so I could take him in too. It's alway somethin'!

Whew-w-w!

Frankie and family got off about 10:30 AM. They got home about ...I don't remember what time it was when he called and said they had been home about 30 minutes. The little dog traveled pretty well. I know they were glad to be home. It's a true saying, "There's no place like home". We had such a lovely, lovely visit. Trudy felt the same way about their visit .

After they left, I got the big vacuum out and did the floors, then I went over them with the water and vinegar. I got up plenty of dirt! I like my floors to be clean. There may be a pound of dust on every thing else in the house but if my floors are clean, then I'm happy.

Tomorrow Mary Lou and I go Visiting Teaching. In the morning, I have to go to Lowe's to get two storm doors for the house and arrange the installation of the doors. Then, I have to pick up a sheet metal top that Frank ordered made for the well cover. We don't use the well anymore but we still need to take care of it. I have to feed the horse and cat while Maryleen and John are gone. Then it will be time for V.T.! I decided not to go to exercise class tomorrow I have so much to do.

A Good and Happy Day

The kids really slept in this morning. They should have since they played hard yesterday! Frankie and Rachel were up before the kids and they took a walk down the road before breakfast. Later on in the morning, we all loaded up and went to Kid's Mart, a consignment store and they got a lot of things, mostly for Christmas. We found two dresses for Mariam, a very nice coat for kayla and a coat for Luke. It was fun shopping and I got to help out with the price.

Since Kayla is home schooled this year and she's a bit lonely, Rachel was thinking about getting another inside dog for the family. Well, this morning, Brenda Adams, my next door neighbor, call me to see if we wanted a dog. We didn't but I told her I knew someone who did! Brenda was happy and so were the Layton's. Brenda bought the pup for some reason, paid $200.00 for it ( it's a shiz poo, a mix between a shizoo and a poodle. He looks like that dog that I can't spell the name of, and is a charcoal color). He's 3 months old and is very cute! Brenda doesn't want an inside dog and is glad to get rid of "Bama". He even has papers! They'll take him with them when they leave tomorrow around noon. Tonight, they went over to Trudy's for supper.

Sunday

Everyone got up early and we made it to church by 9:15 AM. We weren't there for long before Josh, the 4 yr. old got upset and Frankie and Rachel had to leave church and go home. I got a ride home from the Decker's and I got home around 1:00 PM. Primary went well. I didn't play too many wrong notes. Sis. Decker has the hard job being the chorister but she does an excellent job and the children respond to the things she does.

Trudy and her family came over at 4:30 PM just in time to roast hot dogs on the fire that Luke and Frankie made. In fact, he used up all of the wood in the burn pile and now I don't have to burn it!

Frankie and Rachel and kids walked down to feed the horses some apples and he toured the woods he used to play in when he was a kid. In the evening the kids played outside with Trudy's kids and they had a great time!

After supper, we opened the birthday presents and little Josh was such a happy boy. Mariam was happy with her gifts too. It was good for Frankie and George to visit and Trudy and Rachel to visit with each other. Families are a wonderful gift.

Family Day

Frankie, Rachel and the children came around 1:30 PM today. It was so good to see them. I met them at Walmart and we bought some groceries for the visit. After lunch, we walked down the road to feed Danny Boy some apples. Then we noticed the Calvert's alpaca herd. It seems like they have 6 alpacas. Luke got one to come up to the fence but it didn't want an apple. We saw some horses at the end of the road so we had to walk down there to feed those horses! It was a fun trip.

I cooked 3 lbs. of potatoes to make potato salad. Kayla chopped the potatoes and the hard boiled eggs up and mixed everything together. I almost forgot the sweet pickle relish but remembered after one bite of the salad. There were some hot wings left over from when Forrest was here and everyone enjoyed them. Mariam and Josh played with Play Doh for a while before we walked down the road. After supper, Kayla and Luke played computer games with Grampie and Kayla also practiced the piano for a while.

It's 8:30 PM and all is quiet. Everyone is tired. I said we needed to leave for church at 9:00 AM. That way we would get a good seat and would be on time. We'll have Josh and Mariam's birthday party after supper. Trudy and her family are coming over for a while. George's father is in the hospital with heart and bladder problems. It'll be good having everyone over.

Friday Again x4

After exercise, I bought some groceries and things for the kids coming tomorrow. Later, I took Dad by Tennessee Valley Wholesale to get some plumbing parts. After supper, he got a little inspiration about why the water didn't run fast in the sink. We went downstairs and Dad changed the the filter screen at the facet and it was full of gunk. He put a new one on and the water gushed out! Wahoo! Success! We do want to replace the facet one day soon, but not before Frankie's visit.

My knees are hurting and my right knee, which will be replaced first. turns in so much that it rubs against the left knee. It will really feel good to have a straight leg for once. I'm thinking of having it done in December.

Dad ordered some new pillows that have tiny beads in them. He's looking for something that will help his neck while he's in bed. I slept with one last night and I liked it. They had a bad smell that needs to be aired out, but that didn't bother me!

Shot Day

It was a go back to bed day so my day started at 10:00 AM. It was $2.00 a flu shot day at the Health Department. Instead of long lines at the Health Dept. building, they had a drive by clinic at the SportPlex. I wanted to go early but Dad didn't get ready until 1:00 PM and by the time we got there, they had run out of medicine! They told us to come by the Health Dept. tomorrow and there would be more meds and someone would come out to the car and shoot Dad! Instead, we went by Athens Pharmacy and paid $15.00 and shot to not get the flu. We're both glad we did it that way. I'll have to go out tomorrow and go by the bank, but Dad will need to rest.

I can buy some Soy milk and Rice Krispies for Kayla until I find out what else she can eat. It will be a fun visit.

I was thinking of having Josh and Mariam's birthday on Sunday afternoon. That way, Trudy's family would be able to come and enjoy the party and still get home in time to go to bed early. I hope everyone agrees with that idea.

Shopping Day

After exercise class I went to Walmart and got new bathroom things for the downstairs bath.
The new shower curtain is a light color with palm trees on it. The bathmat is white in the middle with a dark green border and a palm tree. I bought the toothbrush holder in the shape of a palm tree-dark brown with green leaves on the top. I got the glass and soap holder too. I also got 4 new light green towels and a top cover for the toilet and some little palm trees to hold the shower curtain in place. It was a pricey purchase but it's time I did something with that bath. I do have visitors and it looked so bad before. It needs more light but I don't know what to do about that. I also bought some dried beans and two jars of peanut butter.

After Walmart, I got a new muffler put on the Accord and then I went by the pharmacy to get an Rx for Dad. The car is in good shape now. I was afraid the muffler might put CO in the inside of the car and that would be bad for the birds. I have an appointment in a week to take them in for trims. I've been waiting for Gertie to get more tame so I could put him in his carrier so all of their nails have gotten longer and Rikki's beak is very overgrown. Maybe Dr. Jan can tell me the best way I can get Gert to see her for his nails are long, too. We can keep his wing feathers cut but he's too active to get his nail cut at home.

Frankie and his family are coming for a visit this Saturday. They'll stop by the Nashville Temple before they come. Rachel's mother is driving down to watch the kids and then she will probably stay there with friends. They'll only be 1 1/2 hours away from us at Nashville. I swept downstairs today when I decorated the bathroom. There's a cot mattress on the floor left over for when Trudy and the kids stayed with us and I have two blow up air mattresses if needed. The other double bed is crowded with food storage but the bed can be cleared for sleep.

It would be nice to decorate Frankie's old bedroom. I could buy a spread and then make curtains for the windows since they are a weird size. And I could get a nice size rug to go in there. Hey! All this shopping makes me feel good and I haven't spent a penny!

Party Day

Mary Lou came to get me at 9:20 AM and we were some of the first to get to the Pamper Me party. We got manicures and pedicures which were lovely. The Valley Events Center is really nicely decorated and there was nice music playing. They had light refreshments and it was a nice, relaxing time. I was home by 11:30.

The Rooter man was climbing on the roof when I came home and he was gone shortly there after. The sink drains well now and I will never put any grease in the sink drain again. It's been 28 years before we had to have it done. I do know better than to put grease down the drain, but I rationalized by putting a lot of Dawn dish washing juice in the grease to cut it down before I poured it in the drain!

Frankie and his family said they will be coming down next week. I tried to call him to find out the exact day but I got the answering machine. Dad needs to fix the lavatory water fixture for the water comes out very slowly. We may need to go to Tennessee Valley Wholesale to get some plumbing parts but that's no biggie.

I would like to decorate the downstairs bathroom with a new, brighter, or more colorful shower curtain and some new towels. I'll have to look at what Walmart has. That will be fun shopping for new bathroom things. Maybe I'll go with green, but I guess I'll have to wait to see what shower curtains they have. I can do it tomorrow after exercise class.

Doctor Day

Went to exercise today and then came right home. When Frank has a Dr.s appointment, he doesn't like me going anywhere for fear he won't make the appointment. But I was only gone one hour and his appointment was at 2:00 PM. It was a pretty rough procedure but he made it through. He'll have to make another appointment to find out the results.

We've been having beautiful fall weather, not getting over 85 degrees during the day and down in the 60's at night. It would be nice to have this kind of weather all year round.

Trudy and the kids made it home safely from Mary Kate's last night. She called and we talked 'til she was home. George was glad to see them come home.

Tomorrow is the Party In Pink for the cancer survivors. I think I'll wear a skirt. You can wear anything but since it's a luncheon and everything will look pretty, I'll do the same! Mary Lou will come pick me up about 9:20 AM for the party starts at 9:45 AM.

I wish my blog could be more interesting and exciting, but I don't do much interesting or exciting things to write about.

I have some #10 cans with lids and oxygen packets I want to get to Trudy's house. I just need a time to take them over there. That would be interesting and exciting for me!

Plummer's Revenge

I went to bed before Frank put the sink back together and tried it out to see if the clog was gone. This morning, he said the sink is more stopped up than before! We will have to get Mr. Rooter out here sometime. Tomorrow, Frank has a Dr.s appointment at 2:00 PM and I don't know how he is going to feel afterwards. If he's not to bad, maybe the Rooter man could come Mon. If not, then Tuesday.

Tuesday morning I have a cancer surviver luncheon to go to. Mary Lou Hill is coming by to pick me up. This is a annual luncheon and has been quite good the times I went in the past. Anyone can go but the cancer survivors get in free. October is cancer awareness month.

I'll have to tidy the kitchen up. All the contents that one usually has hidden under the sink are all over the floor and counter tops. I'll just put everything on the table neatly so it won't look so bad. I don't like the way it looks now and it will be better with some organization in it.

I gave my money to Sis. Berry so I'm officially going to Womens Day Out in Nashville, TN in Nov. I think I will really enjoy getting away and having someone else be responsible for getting me there. I enjoyed it the last time I went.

Plummer's Delight

The other day I noticed that the dishwasher was backing up in the sink but didn't think too much about it. Today the sink stopped up-bam! Dad got his plumber's pants on and went to work. That was 6 hrs. ago. I had to make a trip to Lowe's to get some new pipe and a qt. of Draino at 6 PM. It's 8:30 PM now and Dad's on the phone with Kelly Ann. He still has to pour the Draino in and then put the pipes back together. Maybe sometime tonight the sink will be flowing. If not, we'll get the Rooter out here and put some muscle into the pipes.

Don't remember what I did this morning. I think I went to Walmart for something, but I don't remember what.

The Maple trees are beginning to turn beautiful orange colors mixed with the green that was already there. The Sweet Gum outside the front window is loosing it's leaves and has carpeted the grass underneath the tree. Fall is so nice!

After the Party Is Over

It was nice having Trudy, Sadie and Forrest with us for two days. I'm glad they like to hang out at Granny's and Grampie's house. We surely love them, and all our children to visit with us!

Today, we just slept in. I wanted to go to exercise class, but I got up at 7:30 AM and Dad was sick this morning and I only had 30 minutes to get ready and get there and that's not enough time so I went back to bed to rest a while longer. I had to run to the store for milk. The kids drank an entire gallon of milk in two days! We have a Dollar General store 1 mile from the house and it's convenient to stop there.

Frank got to feeling better before they left and was getting the bird cages cleaned. The kids really like to watch the birds get out of their cages and play around and vocalize . Rosko rides around on Dad's shoulder and gets to be king of the hill for a few minutes. He's the smallest of all three of the birds. Rikki, the Yellow Nape, wouldn't hurt Rosko, but Gert, the Yellow Collar macaw likes to be king of the hill and he would go after Rikki, who is the largest bird. Gert wants to be the only bird on the hill!

"Close"in the last post should have been "clothes". It rained last night and we got 1 1/2 ". The world was dusty and needed a rain to wash it off. I know my car did!

The trees are starting to turn color. The Sweet Gums have green and orange leaves on them. The little Maple tree in front of the kitchen window is just thinking of changing. Bro. Decker said he would come over and cut some branches off the Maple tree that are hanging down to the ground. I used to be able to do that work myself but my knees won't let me now. Gr-r-r-r! Growing old is not for sissies!

Family Time

.Yesterday, Monday, Trudy, Sadie and Forrest came over to spend a couple of days with us. Last night we watched a movie called, "Meet Joe Black". It was really good. Today we went to town and went to thrift shops and Goodies. It rained but we didn't get wet. We came home about 1:00 PM. The kids spent 30 minutes a piece on the computer all afternoon long. Forrest and Dad played some computer games and Sadie created her blog. Now Sadie and Sophia will be blogging each other!

I went back to exercise class Monday and everyone (a few) wondered what had happened to me. I will get up and go tomorrow and will be back home by 9:30 AM maybe before Trudy and the kids are up.

After two thrift stores, we went to Big Lots and Goodies. I like Goodies because they have a good Petites department. I could really be a close hound if I let myself. I saw a fake leather coat with a fur collar and fur at the wrists that fit me. The collar was too large for a shorty so I didn't get it. I liked it though. I was thinking I wanted a leather coat this year, but I probably won't get one. It's nice to want!

I've been successful in giving myself my shots. The medicine is supposed to cause the body to grow bone and since I have osteoporosis so bad I need strong bones. I think I said I will take if for two years.

Conference Sunday

Mary Kate, Trudy can go on my blog any time and change things around. She made that comment on the nurse giving me the shot, not me. Ha-ha! I felt I had to tell the truth when I wrote that blog!!

Had a nice, quite week-end. Conference week-ends are like that.

Trudy and kids are coming over for a 2 day visit tomorrow. I want the front door painted but Dad said no. Maybe we can buy the new storm doors and arrange to get them installed. Forrest could help with that. Who knows what we'll do (well...you know who knows...)

Cool Saturday

As I was typing the title above, it published the empty blog. I don't know why it will do that occasionally. I just gave myself the second shot. It's not hard nor does it hurt. It'll get better when I don't have to read the directions each time.

Had the card party today. I made three cards before I had to go. I wanted to get home in time to watch the conference. I just missed 45 min. of it.

I had the same anxiety I have when I play the piano( while making cards). Maybe this is something I will tell Dr. Sharp about. I don't know if it's left over from the cancer treatments or not. Maybe it's my bipolar.

It was 61 degrees when I got up, but by the time I left the house it was at 66 degrees. Our weather is getting cooler in a normal way. That's nice.

Dad had a bad day today. It's 7 PM now and he's on the computer. The guy at Staples, who has been fixing Dad's other PC said it would probably be ready next week. Then we can do genealogy on that PC. I don't really have any desire to do genealogy again but who knows. I might change my tune, especially since it's off-key.

Friday

Two times to H'ville back to back made me tired. I went back to bed and didn't get up until 11:00 AM. I didn't leave the house today at all. I helped Dad pay the bills and then filed them away. I washed a load to towels with some Clorox. I had stuffed them in the barrel while they were still damp and whew, did they smell bad! I'll probably add a little Clorox in each load to towels to keep them clean.

I looked on thriftyfun.com and it said bacteria could live in the washing machine and could make clothes smell bad. I knew a girl that put a little Clorox in each wash load she did. I guess if you only use a small amount, it won't take the color out of things.

I have a card party tomorrow at 10:00 AM. We make 4 cards and envelopes and by the time we get to the fourth card, I am mentally tired. General Conference is tomorrow so I'll watch the conference I miss that night.

"I" Day

I got to the Dr's office at 8:00 AM. I had to wait 20 min. and began to get restless. By the time I was ready to bolt from my chair, there she was, calling my name. We passed the weigh in scales, probably no time for that...She showed me to a room, a cold room and I sat there and waited. Beads of sweat began forming on my forehead as I waited. Then, she appeared carrying a small black bag. As she unzipped the black bag, I noticed she had dimmed the lights, and locked the door. Then, right before my eyes, she drew out the dose pin with the needle shinning in the dark. I was about to ask a question when she leaped at me, got me in a head lock and wrestled me to the floor, pulled up my shirt to reveal my flabby flesh thighs and before I could break the head lock, I felt it. The pressure of the needle and pen against my left thigh. It was too late to squirm now, it was over. The medicine coursed through my body as I lay limp and dazed on the office room floor. She said in a matter of fact voice, " Oh, you chicken, get off the floor". I obediently did as I was told and she showed me how to use the pen. She said I didn't have to waller around on the floor to inject myself, to just sit quietly on a chair. Soon, the visit was over and the door was unlocked and I scurried away like a bat in dry leaves. I had almost forgotten the ordeal until I got home and noticed a small, red rash on my left thigh. The came the flash backs of the attack and all the ugly details...

Drive Day

We left the house around 9:45 AM to go to see Patti Sims at the Pain Clinic. The prescriptions weren't ready because Dr. Gantt was in surgery that morning and didn't have them ready. So we drove down California St. to go to Dr. Dang's office and I got my paper signed by him that said it was okay for me to take the new meds I can't remember the name of right now. Tomorrow, I'll leave the house at 7:00 AM to go see Dr. Shergy's nurse who will show me how to use the new meds. I'm excited about it. I have never given anyone a shot, especially myself, so this will be fun. The needle is very tiny so that doesn't scare me. I'll have to inject myself every day for 2 years. I guess by two years the bone gets as solid as it can be.

I have nothing more to say. I've had my hot toddie for the night and will brush my teeth and turn the radio or the CD on and wait for the Sandman (Mr. Sandman, bring me a dream, make him the cutest that I've ever seen....) I'll get up at 6:00 AM. I imagine I'll get into some work traffic at 7 in the morning.

Bubba and Ruth aren't coming to the fiddler's convention. Ruth will be out of town and Bubba probably doesn't want to come. I'd like to go. Who knows. Maybe I'll go by myself. Time for bed for sure now.

Work Day

I was supposed to get down to Danny Boy's gate and unlock it for a man that was going to mow the yard. I forgot and went back to bed. I got up at 10:00 AM and the first thing I thought of was the lock! I should have written it down so I would have seen it when I was up at 7:00.

My knees bothered me until the afternoon. But I was able to do the chores and practice the piano. While I was practicing the piano, the laundry was going round and round in the washer and dryer. I got 2 loads washed, folded and put away. About 3:00 PM, I ran out of things I wanted to do so I reclined on my bed and read the Reader's Digest. I believe I would enjoy the large print and wrote a letter asking to switch my subscription to the large type. (only the Shadow knows if I can do that...)

It was Prednisone day for Dad, so he didn't get to feeling better until the afternoon. Tomorrow, we'll be going to H'ville to see the Dr. It's not a bad trip. I have to go by Dr. Dang's office to get a permission slip saying it's okay for me to take Forteo. Then, I have to be back in H'ville the next day, Thursday, at 8:00 AM! Quite the little traveler here.

Back To the Grocery Store

That sounds better than "going to Walmart". I got up at 7 AM and took a shower, planning to go to exercise class. I called Dr. Shergy's office at 8 AM to see about getting on the new medicine sooner than December and then decided to stay home and wait for the call. The nurse did call and I need to go by Dr. Dang's office to get a statement saying that he says it's okay for me to take the medicine. So Wednesday when Dad goes to the pain clinic, we will stop by Dr. Dang's office to get the okay. Then I will go to Dr. Shergy's office Thursday to learn how to give myself the shots. I'm excited! I've always wanted to learn how to give shots, to myself or someone else, with a small needle, of course!

I went to get groceries so I wouldn't be bored. We didn't need anything except Ziploc sandwich bags. I got a case of beans, two boxes of powdered milk, some no odor dryer sheets, a wash basin to hand wash a blouse I have and some disposable razors. I just remembered I had the blouse soaking in that new basin, so I went and washed it. It's hanging on the bathroom shower curtain now. It's a pretty white blouse with lace and pearls on the front. I have babbled on and on because the blog wasn't saving my blog. It's working now so I can shut up! Ha!

I got a pair of reading glasses. I used the last frames I had for my regular glasses and the lens just cost $65.00. Dad said he would pay me back. I'll keep the extra reading glasses at the piano where I will use them, and then put them in my purse for Sunday. I can see the music better with the reading glasses. I have a special pair I use with the computer, but they won't do for the piano.

Day Before Sunday

I've gone a little stale on my blog titles. There's just nothing exciting happening in my life right now.

I was going out today but figured if I did I might spend money so I stayed home. I went downstairs and tried on all the long pants I had hanging in the closet. They all fit. That saves me money. It's still not cool enough for long pants but they surely did feel good, plus I wouldn't have to shave my legs every other day! Ah, long pants and long skirts... I've practiced the piano twice today and if I can do it every day, I'll get better. Dad got up after lunch and took care of the birds. He is loud and raucous and they love that. Plus, he gives them treats and they like that. I'm too quiet to be much fun for the birds.

Next week is Conference and I have a card party in the AM and the Fiddler's Convention is that week-end too. Ruth said she and my brother were going to come up, but that was some time ago. I'll have to see if they still plan to do that. The Fiddler's Convention is a fun place to go and drop some money!

It's really nice outside. Too bad I can't make myself get up and go walking or something. I have to file my nails. They have finally gotten over having acrylic nails over them and they have grown out. I noticed I needed to file them when I was playing the piano. Boy, I can't take much more excitement!

Finally Friday

It doesn't really matter that it's Friday or not. When your days are filled with nothing, it doesn't matter what day of the week it is. I did go to Walmart for some groceries this morning, and to the bank. It worries me that a lot of big banks are closing so I got some money out to have at home.

I was practicing the piano and got really down. I should be able to play this music without any trouble. I have to practice though since I haven't done much these last 5 years. I must be humble so the Lord will help me be strong again (and practice)! The middle c on my piano doesn't play most of the time and it irritates me. I don't know if it's something that can be fixed or not. It really doesn't need tuning again but the next time it gets tuned I'll see if the tuner can fix it. Maybe it is just getting old and worn out, like me!

The weather has really been great! tempts in the low 80's and no rain. We could always use the rain, but there's none on the horizon.

Mary Kate called to see if some sausage would still be good past the "sell by" date. I told her if the meat wasn't slimy and it didn't smell bad, it was probably alright to eat. We had several boxes of cereal that were a year beyond the due date and they really smelled bad. I thought stuff like that had enough preservatives in them that they had a loooong shelf life. Oh, well, the Shadow knowes....