flexibility

 Sometimes plans just evaporate

    I had planned, for the last week, to go to Rockford today and return some shoes I bought.  They are too big.

    My hair has been getting a little long, so I called for a time.  That time was 1:30.  

    When I get my hair cut I have to rinse it right away, just to get the little hairs out and off my back.

    While I was leaving the barber shop, the weather radios were buzzing!  Severe Thunderstorm Warning, Tornado Watch, Hell Breaking Loose, all of the standard end of the world alarms.

    But looking north, I decided to not go because the sky was pitch black.  I mean Pitch Black.

    So after rinsing my head, I sat down and did a couple of tasks.

    Like, making an appointment with the oral surgeon and filling out the on line registration form, which took a loooong time.

    Then I placed a store pick up order for Walgreen's, because Jackie takes a vitamin that costs $30 and the on line offer was a 2 for 1.  

    So no Rockford and I have the shoes for another week.

    I have been using Emily's noise machine at night.  How well does it work?

    At about 9:45  this morning I went into the garage to take out the recycling.  My  VW sized garbage can was sitting there.

    My first thought was I forgot to take it out last night.

    But it was empty.

    Turns out the wind and thunder was terrible this morning and Julia went out and dragged in the can so it would not blow down the street.

    I slept through it all.  Slept like a baby.

    Guess the noise machine works.

Peace and Love

crapola

  I am a huge baby

    I know people who recently had pacemakers installed.  Folks who have gone through months of cancer treatments.  Shoulder repairs.  Hip replacements.  Knee replacements.  

    They have all faced it bravely.

    But me?

    Holy crap!  No way!!

    I had a dental appointment today and was told....the tooth has to go.  I have to have a chomper taken out.  By an oral surgeon.  

    It distresses me greatly.

    I don't think I was this worried when my prostate was taken out!  

    Like I said, a huge baby.

    I have not set up the appointment yet.  I imagine there will be a consult first, then. the extraction.  I have questions galore.  Can I lift Jackie afterwards?  What happens to the hole in my mouth?  How long before I can drink wine?

    I guess I could drink pink wine.  It is summer.  If my mouth is bleeding, no one will be able to tell because the wine is pink.

    Oh...that is gross.  Sorry.

    Last night at a bout 2 a.m. I got leg cramps.  In both legs.  At the same time.  

    I could not get out of bed because my legs were stiff!  And I suddenly had to pee!!  Good grief, I was in pain.  And miserable.  

    Eventually the cramps lessened and I got up and opened the patio door for some air.  I don't know why I did that, but it felt good.

    I also drank a bottle of Gatorade and ate a banana.

    I was careful to drink more water today.  And Gatorade.

    I hope that was enough to keep me from cramping.

    Now, I have to get a bottle and change my nappy before bed.

Peace and Love

feed me

That's a line from "Little Shop of Horrors" 

    Unfortunately, it also sums up my eating habits.

    I was talking to a couple the other day and they said they have been eating like birds.

    Well, I eat like a bird too.  Unfortunately, my bird is a vulture, which will eat anything not moving.

    No willpower at all.

    Sigh.

    I did not finish mowing the lot yet.  We went to a memorial service this afternoon, and I fully intended to mow when we got home.

    But we sat and visited after the service ended.  We didn't get home until 6:30 and by then Julia had arrived with Chinese food, so I ate. And ate.  And ate.

    I didn't feel like mowing after that.  There is always tomorrow.

    The memorial service was for Carol Weidmann, whom I  have known since around 1979 or so.  

    I first met her when she joined the local high school staff as a theater teacher and I did a "meet the new teacher" article for the newspaper.  That article was on display at the memorial.

    Carol cast me in the first play I was ever in, which was 1982 or so.  

    Her sister spoke today an I learned more about Carol than I ever knew when she was alive.  

    She taught me a lot about theater, and acting, and how to have fun.  But she also taught me about the importance of knowing your character, and your lines.

    Funny, you never really miss someone until you know you can't see them again.

    That's it.

    Exit stage left.

Peace and Love

mow, mow, mow the lawn

 Holy cow, I mowed a lot today

    Well, almost.

    I got 3/4 done with the lot we bought and it started to rain.  Hard. I just made it to the garage when the sky unleashed a torrent of wet stuff.

    Let me tell you about mowing the lot.  It sucks.  It is bumpy, bumpy, and bumpy.  Three kinds of bumps:  one that makes you bounce up in the seat; one. that spills your drink, and one that bounces my ass out of the seat and over the front of. the mower.  Well, not quite.  But it is bumpy.

    My bigger problem is gas.  For the mower. not for me.

    I put in 2 gallons when I started mowing my yard and I ran out before I finished! Now I wonder if something is wrong with the mower, because that seemed like a lot of gas!  Before I finish the lot I plan to get more gas, just in case.

    So....that was my day.

    Mow.  Mow.

    I listened to the Cubs on the radio.  That was a great win, as opposed to yesterday's loss.  The baseball lords giveth and taketh.

    I also let out Emily's dogs.  Her foster dog was afraid of me until he got a treat, then we were buddies.

    I had to go back as the storm rolled in to put the shield on the dog door.  I guess I better learn his name.

    It's funny how empty the house feels with Julia gone.  Poor Beth does not know what to do.  She lays on the floor by the basement door, thinking Julia is downstairs.  Tonight she is on Julia's bed.  

    Me thinks the transition from Julia here to Julia in a house will be quite a challenge for all of us.

    And that's the trivia for today.

Peace and Love

Traveling time

 This must be the time of year to travel

    Daughter Julia went to Holland for the weekend!

    Well, actually it is Holland Michigan, but she is traveling.

    Other friends are in Ireland, or soon will be; and some are going to Florida.

    I hope they all have safe, fun trips.

    I see Amtrak is creating a Chicago to the Minneapolis/St. Paul area route.   The train leaves Chicago at 11 a.m. and arrives in the Twin Cities about 8 p.m., going thru Milwaukee on the way.  The great thing is the cost is only $41 one way.  

    I love traveling by train.  You usually don't have to worry about weather, turbulence, passengers opening exit doors, parts falling off.  Well, maybe you should worry about those.  But you are on the ground.

    It beats driving because you can take a nap, take a walk, use the bathroom, stretch your legs.....all sorts of things are possible on a train.

    I just wish American trains were faster.

    I have ridden the TGV in France.  I believe it was doing about 120 mph and you could not even feel a bump.  Of course Europe relies on train travel a lot more than  the US does.  The high speed trains have their own tracks and it seems most freight trains run at night, when passenger service is not a big issue.

    Speaking of speed, time flies.

    We went to a retirement party for TC and Chris Roberts, folks we have known for a long time.

    It was a nice gathering, with several of Terry's worlds coming together.  There were theater people, colleagues, family, and friends.  It was pretty fun.

    Jackie and I ate at Luna right before the party.  We went with hamburgers and they were very good.  Plus, the atmosphere and views of the golf course are pretty neat.  Since the party was at Luna, it was also very convenient.

    I am getting older, for sure.  (In case no one noticed.)  I ordered a rum and Coke at the party and only drank half of it because it was pretty strong.  Probably should just have had pop.

    That's all that is on my mind.

    Have a great Saturday.

Peace and Love

yawn

Somedays things get done if you get up early 

    Windows and screens washed.  House cleaned.  Bathroom wall sanded and primed.

    I had a busy day.

    I did not do any off that. but I did write out a check!

    We had people come in to wash windows and the screens.  I used to do it myself.  It would take me several days because I got tired and lost interest.  And I was younger than that now!

    Matt and his crew were done in less than 2 hours and the windows sparkled.  Of course, it rained about 6 tonight, so they don't sparkle as much.  But rain is good.

    This is our usual cleaning person day....so again, I did nothing.

     I went to the chiropractor, visited a friend, ate some ice cream at The Royal Scoop by the museum, and watched the Cubs blow a game.

    I also got gas so I could move the mower into the garage.  Unfortunately, I left my van out in the driveway with the windows open  while I went with Emily to get some bushes and it poured.  Luckily, Julia got he van into the garage before it got too wet.

    I did do a few things, just not anything difficult.

    And we did get up at 7:30, something we have not done for a while.  

    Tonight I am really tired.  

    And I am looking forward to a good sleep.

Peace and Love

Rasslin match

 Thankfully, I won a wrestling match last night

    It really started in Rockford.

    When Jackie goes to bed, we use a walker to move her from the bathroom to the bed.  Once at the bed, I get her up and she falls face down onto the bed.  Well, actually she starts to fall, but I twist her body so she can land on her side.

    Yes, you are right.  It is unsafe.  And impractical.  But it works. sorta.

    The bed is about 6 inches higher than the seat on the walker.  I can't lift her the 6 inches, hence the stand up and fall.

    I stopped at a mobility store in Rockford yesterday and found a walker that was the same height as the bed.

    That means I can move her to the bed, lift her and swing her to the bed, allowing her to sit.

    In theory, it works.

    Last night I got her on the chair, which she did not like because the seat is a little smaller than her normal seat.

    I got her to the bed, aligned her, then lifted her and the wrestling match started.

    She got an arm caught on the arm of the walker, I got a foot caught on the leg.  She could not get free.  I could not get free.

    We wrestled like that for at least 45 minutes.  Well, actually, is was just a few seconds, but it felt longer.

    I kept thinking about people I would call to come pick us up from the floor.

    She did not fall.  She landed on the bed and I was able to swing her legs up.

    So today,  I took the walker back.

    Holly, the sales lady, said if it did not work, bring it back.

    I could not find the receipt.  Or the credit card record of the sale.  I went to Rockford anyway and explained the situation to a new person.  She pulled the file and Holly and written a note that said basically that the customer was not sure it would work and  could bring it back Wednesday for a full refund.

    I did see a  new walker there that had a 24 inch high seat......but I was afraid to press my luck by buying another and having to return that one.  Maybe I should have.

    When I got home I spread 2 yards of mulch.  Sheri and Julia helped.  Unfortunately 2 yards was not enough and I will need to get more. 

    But what is mulched looks great.

Peace and Love

The girls gave me a strawberry plant and I ate my first strawberry!!

Alium starting to bloom

Looks great, eh?