October 2, 2009

  • Wow!

    Didn’t realize it has been that long since I have written.  Over a month?  Wow!

    Guess it is because not much has been going on.  I did however, download a poncho pattern from LionBrand.com that is made with chunky chenille and Homespun yarns.  Tried to work it a few nights ago but my foundation chain was uneven and it seemed as though I just couldn’t get it right so I stopped for the time being.

    Had a doctor appt. this week that went mostly well.  My overall sugar control is better and I lost 5 lbs. without even trying.  Not too shabby.  I’ll take it!  Of course, part of that could be that I’m not having any more steroid injections in my back.  The side effects of the last one were too much for me.  So, I have been in more pain.  Tonight especially because its cold and rainy out.

    I’ve been doing more reading lately too, and not online.  I picked up and read “Act Like a Lady, Think Like a Man” by Steve Harvey and read “He’s Just Not That Into You” by Steve Behrendt and Liz Tuccillo (sp?).  What prompted that was boyfriend problems that my BFF thought she was having.  They’ve only been dating since around April or May but for his birthday she took him out to a pricey dinner.  My personal feeling?  Too soon for that, especially since he hasn’t been doing that for her.  Then she sent his mom a birthday card even though they just met at boyfriend’s company’s customer appreciation party.  So, she was upset after the latter and the boyfriend said, “We need to talk,” and explained he wanted to do it in person, not over the phone.  Naturally, that is never a good thing to say to anyone, even if he did tell her “Everything’s fine, you’re okay.”  She was doing the “down in the dumps” thing that she usually does (which I can’t discuss in depth here, but it scares me) and wondering why she can’t find a good guy.  Well, for starters, his divorce was just finalized in May and she isn’t even out of her marriage yet (both divorces were in progress when they met).  So, I told her that she rushes things.  I think I ticked her off, and she started making excuses, but she did come around and say that yes, she does rush things.  When I told her to play hard to get, and never call him back right away, her idea of waiting awhile is 20 minutes.  I was thinking more like an hour and a half or two hours.  Don’t make it seem like she is waiting by the phone summoning him to call.  Act like she has a life…don’t be so available.  And I have tried to tell her to use this time to take a class or do something she’s always wanted to.  Of course, I know it has fallen on deaf ears, but there isn’t much I can do about that.

    The other issue she had was “he’s met my kids, but hasn’t had me around his yet.”  I mean, he did show up at her son’s grad party with his boys but it was just a “friend coming to a party” as far as they were concerned.  I told her that it was too soon to involve the kids.

    So, all this relationship talk and hearing a lot about Steve Harvey’s book made me buy it and read it (okay, and it was 25% off too).  I liked that he had no psych training, no formal education and the book was written from a man’s perspective.  Good book, by the way.  After that one, I had to read “He’s Just Not That Into You” which was also written by someone who wasn’t a shrink.  After my first marriage, I got really into the self-help aisle of the bookstores but all of the books were written by shrinks and pretty much advised the women of the changes they would need to make to accomodate the man.  Even books that were written by women shrinks!

    The latter book was very good too.  A lot of it was blatant.  I felt enlightened after each book.  Basically, there is no reading into things and forever, we women have been making excuses for men instead of taking the “messages” at face value.  Such as, if he doesn’t call it isn’t because he lost your number or had other things to do.  If a guy is “into you” he will call no matter what.  If man says he doesn’t want to get married anytime soon, it means, he doesn’t want to marry YOU.  As this book was made part of the Sex & the City storyline in Season 5, I, like the Miranda character, enjoyed the freedom of the b.s. – the analyzing and constantly asking “What did he mean?”

    So those were good reads.  Right now, I’m trying to get through “R.I.P. – the complete book of death and dying”.  Kind of interesting as far as how different religions treat death, but some of it is just a form of foreplay for a good night’s sleep.  The library had one book for “men only” about us women.  I think I’m going to pick that up and see what kind of b.s. they have to say about us.  lol!

    Niece needs surgery on her ankle again.  That is next week.  I have offered to take care of her until she is cleared to go back to school.  Sis will have to work at night and sleep during the day.  Her fiance works during the day, so I just want to be there in case she needs anything that she can’t get herself and doesn’t want to bug my sister for.

    I’ve been seriously thinking about a cake decorating class.  There is a show on PBS called “Bake Decorate Celebrate” that I love to watch on Saturday afternoons.  When I was at Hobby Lobby last week, they had a flier that beginning classes were going to start this week.  The fee was reasonable too.  Unfortunately, I’m not ready yet.  But, there is a candy store close to me that offers classes.  I’m not sure how much they cost but am going to find out.   Hobby Lobby is at least a half hour drive from home, whereas it’s probably only 10 minutes to get to the candy store.

    Still trying to plan a trip to Michigan sometime this month.  I want to go to the Cider Mill before it closes for the season, or gets too cold to enjoy being there.  Depends on what happens with my niece’s surgery though.

    Niece’s school had a fair/carnival last weekend.  They had craft vendors in the gym.  I went on Sunday afternoon and got there at about 2:30.  Not many vendors in the gym but this was the first year of the festival.  Its to raise money for scholarships and other programs.  They did have some crocheted items there though.  In fact, one gal was working on scarves when I got there.  Nice scarves, but the skinny type for fashion, not warmth.  I didn’t purchase anything.  Wish I had known about this in advance, I would have set up my own booth of stuff.  This is my niece’s last year though.  Hard to believe she is a senior this year.

    Just heard thunder so I have to go and unplug stuff.

August 9, 2009

  • Trip to Michigan No. 2!

    Went to Iosco County, Michigan the last week of July.  Can’t believe that just a week ago yesterday we came back home.  We were only there Mon through Fri.

    The first day, when we arrived, we went grocery shopping, then back to the cabin and then out to eat.  The second day, we went to the Iosco County Fair.  Had a good time.  Rode 3 of the rides – was dizzy after the first one but did great on the Tilt-a-Whirl.  Signed up for a raffle but apparently didn’t win.  First prize was a quilt, the second was a crocheted afghan.  Third was a print done by a local artist.  Glad I didn’t win that, I really didn’t care for it.

    The day after, Wednesday, we hung around the cabin.  No one had been there since late May so my BFF mowed the lawn – what little of it there was to mow.  Most of the backyard didn’t have grass, but had moss growing on the ground.

    I did ride the bike a little.  Two properties down, there is a dip in the dirt road.  Did fine until it came to getting up the hill.  I have no strength in my legs from the neuropathy.  My friend took the bike out and came back to say that she thought the front tire needed air and no air pump available.  It is at least 5 miles, if not more, to get into town where the two gas stations are, so we just nixed the bike altogether.  I did get a pump for it this week.  The tire is much flatter now.  Unfortunately, this pump had some kind of 5-in-1 valve.  A piece to do inflatables was missing and no instructions on how to hook up the valve to do bike tires.  Even the website was useless.  So back to Walmart that goes and I’ll get another brand.  You’d think that something with Schwinn on it would mean something these days.

    Thursday, it was overcast and BFF decided that we’d go to the beach on Lake Huron.  Big mistake.  We got there and it was FREEZING out!  Her daughter and I were using our towels around our shoulders to keep warm.  In the meantime, BFF is laying out on her towel trying to pretend that conditions would improve.  The water was very choppy and the winds were bad too.  The only ones fool enough to go in were the few little kids who were there.  I’d estimate their ages to be about 3 to 5 yrs.  On the way back to the cabin, it started raining.  It did clear up by the late afternoon and we went to this one restaurant in town to eat.  For dessert, it was a trip to the local ice cream store across the road.  “Home of the Big Scoop” is their motto and they didn’t disappoint!

    Although there is a t.v., we didn’t have any reception.  I hooked up the digital box that BFF’s dad sent along, but I think he needs to get an outside digital antenna.  Still, we had dvd’s to keep us busy and I took the Wii system too.  The dvd’s…myh BFF loves horror movies.  The slasher kind.  I’m not a big fan of them like I was when we were younger.  Its all the same plot line….someone sees something strange and goes to check it out when they should’ve minded their own business.  Then there is also the fact that the endings are never any good because they are already planning the next sequel.  But I watched and made funny comments throughout the movies and we always had to watch a tamer “family movie” afterward so that her daughter wouldn’t have nightmares.

    Friday morning, we cleaned up the cabin, divided the food up into our respective coolers and were on the road by Noon to head home.  A very short trip.  I really hated to see it come to an end.

    I did get pics from the fair and around the cabin though.

    T
    his is a pic of the cabin.  Friend was telling me that the black stuff on the bottom needs to be scraped off periodically and the wood restained.  No idea what causes it.  Has one bedroom, a kitchen, a full bath, and partial basement.  The livingroom has two pullout sofas and there is also a back room with a twin bed.  I took the twin bed while BFF and her daughter took the full bed in the bedroom.  The front porch is completely screened and has a full sized picnic table on one end and the other end has 4 chairs and a round coffee table. 

     
      This is BFF and her daughter on the ferris wheel.  They couldn’t get me on it.  I’m afraid of heights.

    This is BFF on the bumper cars.  Her daughter is in there somewhere in a separate car.

    Daughter found this cardboard cutout sitting by the wall as we went into the building with the cows and goats.  LOL…I think it suits her perfectly!

    BFF’s daughter coming down the slide they had there.  This was really and truly a very small fair compared to the one here in our county.  Not many rides at all.

    BFF and daughter sitting for a cartoon drawing done by a man who used to do them at Cedar Point Amusement Park.  I loved the expression on BFF’s face.  Kinda like “What in the heck is he doing?”

    So those are my pics.  Wish I’d have thought to take the camera to the beach so that you could see how bad conditions were!  But you know that saying about hindsight….

    There was no cell service anywhere near the cabin.  You had to be right in the middle of town to use your cell phone.  BFF spent time texting her boyfriend and I think every night and morning they would talk to each other on the phone line at the cabin.  Her parents keep pre-paid long distance cards for such things.  I like the guy she is dating.  Knew him from when he was going with my sister in high school.  He just went through a divorce and she is going through one and he’s been a big help to her in that regard.

    There were some things that we didn’t get to do like pick blueberries or have a cookout.  I kind of got the feeling that there wouldn’t be a cookout planned when we went to the grocery store that first day, but no big deal.  It was a good time regardless.  My blood sugars were good and despite the fair food and eating out, I feel like I lost a little weight.  Probably from all of the walking, but who am I to question it?

    I really had fun.  It was nice to have someone to hang out with who is more my own age and has similar interests.  Every day there was something planned.  It was depressing for me to come home and back to the boredom of living with my parents.  Not to say my parents are boring but because of dad’s health, they don’t get out like they used to and when I suggest something, either they don’t care for it or dad would find it difficult to enjoy and/or get around.

    My next trip north was going to be in a couple of weeks.  The Facebook clan was planning an “all class” reunion.  However, it is near this main avenue where some “Dream Cruise” is being held the same weekend.  Its like a big classic car meet up and down this street for miles and miles.  BFF has warned me that she avoids that area at all costs just because of the crowds and difficulties getting around town and bumper to bumper traffic.  I think I’d rather wait until Sept or Oct and go up and visit the cider mills.

    I do have a project to work on though.  At my cousin’s wedding, I was talking to some of his siblings about home movies that dad had of their family at family gatherings.  My cousin caught wind of this and I have to put those on dvd’s and send them out, along with two movies about “hillbilly history”.  One is actually a movie about the coal mine strike where our parents grew up and how heated that became.  It was made in the 70′s and has one or two of mom’s cousins in it.  He also wanted a copy of the footage I took at the wedding.  It isn’t much – just about 30 minutes worth.  I managed to make those copies before I went on my trip.  Just have to find the home movies and what video dad had them put on. 

    Oh, I did take crocheting to Michigan but didn’t get a chance to work on anything.  I took the purple star afghan that I’m making.

    The weather experts around here say that july was the coldest on record.  Looks like Mother Nature is going to try to make up for it this weekend, as we will be hot n’ humid for the next few days.  No relief in sight until Monday night/Tues.  Will be staying in as much as possible!

    The nights I was up late last week brought some interesting sights.  One night, around 3 a.m., I looked out and there were a bunch of little raccoons!  They were adorable.  I stopped counting at 6.  By then the light was getting to them and they were leaving.  Then last night at about 2 a.m., I looked out to see a huge doe in the backyard.  Every once in a while, one will come up (same one???) to drink out of the birdbaths.   I turned the light off really quick and ran and got the camera.  I did get a pic of her but haven’t transferred it to the computer yet.  She left shortly after I took the pic.  Made sure that there was fresh water in the baths this evening in case she comes back tonight.

    That is about it for my excursions.  In addition to not going up to Michigan in a couple of weeks, it gives me time to call some doctors.  I need an eye appt, a dental appt, and need to get the yearly girlie exam.  I also have another cyst and this one is kind of big so will need to consult with my diabetes doc about setting me up with a general surgeon to take care of it.  Sure do miss my doctor in Ohio.  He took care of them for me, no problem.  I get very tired of doctors referring me out.  I think I spend more time in consultations with them than they do doing the actual procedures.

    And don’t get me started on Obama’s health reform.

    Take care!

July 21, 2009

  • Trip to Michigan No. 1

    Went to Michigan over the weekend for my cousin’s wedding.  Simply stated, it was beautiful.  I know – very cliche, eh?  I don’t know how else to describe it though.  There wasn’t a dry eye in the place when the vows were said.  M. and D. also shared a wedding dance, despite him being in a wheelchair.

    Talking to D’s brother (D being my cousin), I said, “He is such an inspiration.  People say ‘I can’t', and D. shows them ‘I can’.”  I spoke with him for a long time.  Our families have grown apart over the years.  Not just in locale either.  He told me that he misses those times when the families all got together.  Reminded me of some film dad had put on VHS tapes.  Home movies with no sound.  There were some of those times we talked about caught on tape.  I have offered to put everything on DVD and send it to him.  But he was right – I miss those times too.  It was good to see him and all of his siblings (7 of them, but one didn’t show), aunts, uncles, more cousins….

    I sat with my two closest cousins.  I used to sleep over at their house and we also worked together at the same engineering firm.  In fact, they helped me get the job there.  My first as a secretary.

    Unfortunately, 4 hours wasn’t enough to catch up with everyone.  I did appreciate that my uncle took me around and introduced me to everyone, including my cousin’s kids, whom I hadn’t met before.  (the family rift was right around the time my cousins started having children).  Some of those even have kids of their own now! 

    M., the bride was as sweet as could be too.  She is so nice and down to earth and her family is from Tennessee (mine came from KY).  I hadn’t seen M. since a family reunion in 2005, where I first met her, but she remembered me.  After she and D were pronounced, they walked through the makeshift aisle (everything was held in one reception room at a country club), I grabbed her and hugged her and said, “Welcome to the family!”  Later she came back and we hugged again.  Her dress was beautiful and I complimented her on it.  She said, “I saw it and, you know, there was just something about it.”  It was a modest dress, slightly off the shoulder but had long, sheer sleeves that tied  below the elbows (think Princess Diana’s dress with the tied sleeves).  I personally liked the style.  Everything these days seems to be strapless or little spaghetti straps.  This seemed more “mature” to me, without being matronly.

    Going back to my room at the motel, I was in quiet mode for the rest of the night.  It was a happy occasion but also bittersweet to have to end the night so soon, and wonder when the next time will be that we all get together, barring another wedding, or God forbid, a funeral.

    I did take dad’s camcorder so that mom and dad could see the wedding.  Mom was in tears during the playback this afternoon.  I wish they could have went, as did everyone, but mom is very cautious with dad since his fall, even though he was declared “healed” of the broken arm.  My cousin, D, understood and was happy to let me video the highlights of the ceremony and party.

    My accomodations weren’t all that great but weren’t completely icky.  The room was clean but I swear, every heavy-footed person got the room above mine and were determined to not let me sleep.  I also had travel points for a free night to use, but doing it via internet, I had to put the one free night in separate from the paid nights.  So, on Saturday morning, in which I didn’t get to sleep until 5:30 a.m., I get this banging on my door at about 10:00.  “Housekeeping!”  I told them I didn’t need anything.  Next thing I knew, the front desk was calling me to say that they only had me in for one night.  So I grabbed my printed confirmations and went up there, only to be told, “I found it, you’re right.  The girl didn’t put in your other two nights.”

    Okay, fine.  Everything is fixed and I remember to put the “do not disturb” sign on the door.  I ventured out and found Staples and some good Chinese food.  Got a card for dad’s camcorder to supplement the harddrive memory.  Everyone I talked to was so very friendly.  It was refreshing.  I was staying just outside of the Flint, MI city limits.  Flint has a bad reputation like Detroit for the crime.  The bulletproof glass around everything (including the front desk at the motel) was a little scary, but it was a good mix of different people and, again, I can’t say enough, everyone was very friendly and helpful when I was asking “How do I get to….?”  It made me proud to say that I came from that state.

    Did you all hear about the tanker explosion on I-75 near Detroit?  My BFF lives within half a mile from the scene of that disaster.  It is a miracle that no one was killed.  There was a hotel there that I used to stay in – 9 stories tall – and I hear the flames were as high as that building.  I couldn’t tell you how many times I’ve crossed the bridge that collapsed from the heat.  Those are my old stomping grounds.

    BFF was evacuated that night due to the toxic smoke from the explosions.  I’m sure she went to her parent’s house, but she said that it took about half an hour just to find a way out of the city.  That is ridiculous!  Many ways around out there, so I imagine that the police closed some streets or were only allowing people to get out a certain way.  They were allowed back by the next day, but she missed work because of it.  On the news this morning, they were saying that I-75 was back in service.  The bridge is due to be rebuilt and done by November.

    I had some construction to deal with on the way but even that was good.  Apparently, Michigan only restricts the lanes in this certain area between 3 pm and 1 a.m. during working days.  So, the barrels were all pushed to the side when I went through.  Then I had some other construction with lane closures on the way to the wedding, but even that was good.  No tailgating, no stop-and-go.  They even had these large white dots in the lane and signs that said, “Please stay at least 2 dots behind other vehicles” (or something to that effect).  Everyone seemed to obey it too, which is weird because dad always talks about how bad the drivers are there.  Personally, I think they are worse here in Indiana, where it is common to see people in the left lane of 3 lanes of one-way traffic, suddenly make a right hand turn across those lanes of traffic!!!

    Can’t put the travel stuff away yet.  I’ll be heading back to Michigan next week with BFF and her daughter for a girl’s weekend. :)   I’ll have to ask dad if he will let me take his camcorder.  That should be a fun week for everyone too!

July 12, 2009

  • Things going okay here.  My doctor appt went okay, I guess.  Some of my test results weren’t that great but I know its from lack of exercising.  I haven’t been back on the bike and just recently cleared off the treadmill, which usually becomes a catch-all.  When it gets like that I hate having to clear it off and then use it all of the time.  I know, that’s a pretty lame excuse.

    Doc ordered some other tests – mammogram, stress test, and chest xray.  All of them were this week.  The stress test seemed to go okay, or at least I thought so.  I felt queasy right afterward, but other than that, felt like I had a good workout with none of the sweat!

    As for the mammogram, the tech said that everything looked good to her, but I know that nothing is definite until a radiologist has looked at everything.  Same goes for the chest xray.  I will call the doctor’s office this week and see what the results were.

    Kind of down tonight.  Was watching the news and they were talking about a cancer walk that was held in a nearby town in Michigan.  Suddenly, I thought of all of the people in my life that cancer has claimed and I started crying.  I didn’t expect to cry, but when I thought of my friend in KY that I saw, that really got to me.  Now that I can afford to visit with her, I can’t.

    Plans still on for our trip to Northern Michigan.  Still reading “Darker Than Night” about the two hunters from the Detroit area who went up there and were killed and fed to pigs.  The story has been on “Cold Case” as well as “Dateline”, if you’ve seen it.  I didn’t realize how close to “home” this hits though.  One of the killers lived right where we are going to visit.  How many times had we gone up there in the late 80′s and they were right under our noses?  In fact, the bar that the fight happened, is one where me and my BFF went to dinner one night.  Creepy stuff.

    This time next week I’ll be in a different part of Michigan for my cousin’s wedding.  That should be fun.  I’m going up on a Friday and coming back on a Monday.  The wedding is actually on Sunday afternoon.  I don’t know how long it will take me to get up there though and I want a day to rest a bit before the festivities.  There is also a family that used to live across the street from us who moved to that same area.  They are oriental and started a Chinese restaurant there.  I’d like to find out if they are still in business.  Mom always talks about them and how nice they were.  She even has school pics of the kids that their mom gave to my mom.  Will have to use my tools of investigation to check into that restaurant.  I just hope that if they are in business up there, still, that they serve Almond Chicken.  They make it different in Michigan than they do here.  Mom talks about me getting some and bringing it home so that she can take it to various restaurants in our area and say, “Here, make it like this and your business will thrive!”

    So last week was the medical stuff and this coming week will be the car stuff.  Clean it out, get it washed, get the oil changed, etc.  I also want to get my hair trimmed before I leave too.

    Still no crocheting or quilting.  I’m feeling guilty about it too.  I did get two new crochet magazines last week and they have several patterns I’m interested in trying.  One is from “Quick & Easy Crochet” and its a kimono type sweater, I guess you could call it.  Its made with Aunt Lydia’s Fashion Crochet size 3.  I think I know of a place around here where I can get some of that.   Its a beautiful top and lacy.

    The other magazine was “Crochet!” and on the cover it has a head/neck warmer with matching fingerless gloves.  I like the warmer though.  Kind of a scarf with a head covering.

    Of course, both had some afghan patterns I’d love to try too.

    That is it for now.  I’m headed to bed.  I got laundry caught up today.  About 2 weeks worth – so the washing machine and dryer were going all day long.  Carrying up the laundry baskets was a bit hard on the back and legs though.  So I am pooped.

    Take care and have a great night!

June 27, 2009

  • Just an update

    Well, I am bored a thought I’d write a little before bed.  Not much going on really.  I still haven’t crocheted anything and I haven’t quilted either.

    I did find out that one of my FB friends, that I have very similar interests with, including the diabetes, has a significant other and they are/were looking for a house together.  Thankfully, he didn’t know my feelings and it also took some pressure off of me to make a trip north.

    Another FB friend got married and apparently he has married an insecure witch from hell because she started harassing me and telling me to stay away from her husband.  I honestly never said anything that was a “come on”.  In fact, I flirted more with the old friend in the previous paragraph than this person.  I knew he was getting married, wished him well, told him to tell her that I think she is a lucky woman and commented on how pretty she was when he posted wedding photos.  I didn’t even say anything about their age difference.  She is 50, he is 40.

    Looking very forward to the trip north next month!  Unfortunately, its been shortened to 4 days down from 7.  Friend’s son is having his grad party the weekend before so friend wont’ be able to leave until Monday.  Then she wants to come back early so that she has a day off at home to get laundry and such taken care of.  And I fully understand where she is coming from because I was like that in my working life too.

    Weather has been very hot and humid lately.  Supposed to have storms/rain tonight and be cooler.  I certainly hope that it cools down before the 4th so that my niece doesn’t have to try to march in parades.  She passed out a couple of years ago during practice in the hot summer weather.

    Sister has to have surgery on her foot after the holiday. 

    Dad’s shoulder has been healed for a while now and he’s been a little more independent, when mom isn’t around.  She is scared to let him walk by himself for fear that he will fall again.  But its good to see him getting about and even going with mom to run errands. 

    I have a couple of doctor appts coming.  First one is Monday with the diabetes doc.  He wants to do a physical.  EKG and all that stuff.  The other one has to be rescheduled because it will interfere with the trip.

    Haven’t been back on the bike.  I’m a little afraid to get back on it.  Part of me wants to, part of me worries I will fall again.  Took about 2-1/2 to 3 weeks for my knee to heal from the last fall.

    Has anyone else on AOL had their CTRL+K disabled?  Its supposed to bring up the keyword box and I used to use it religiously, but now it doesn’t seem to be working.  I know its not my keyboard.  I use Windows Vista.  Dad uses XP and it seems to work fine on there. 

    Getting very very tired of hearing about Michael Jackson.  So little is being said about Farrah Fawcett and she is the one that fought the hard fight.  Her documentary was very eye opening.  I wasn’t a great fan of hers either, but the documentary really made me appreciate her more.  Here she is, a major celebrity being filmed while vomiting and shaving her hair, and just looking very sick.  She wanted to be filmed at her worst to let people know what cancer is like.  As for Michael Jackson?  I think he is just one real nutcase.  I remember the tabloids when they talked about him bleaching his skin, sleeping in the hyperbaric chamber, having the surgery to put the cleft in his chin…I don’t know when he had the tatooed eyeliner and lipstick put on.  I also think that he was guilty of the first molestation he was accused of and settled out of court.  Why settle if you’re not guilty?

    Just very very tired of all of the media coverage about him.  You can’t turn on the t.v. without hearing something about it.  American Idol is doing a tribute to him Monday, CBS’s Sunday Morning show is going to do something on him, there’ve been two Dateline NBC’s about him, and turning on FoxNews or MSNBC is just a big joke.  Even the local news is filled with him because he was born and raised in Indiana.  The mayor wants him buried in Indiana and wants to turn his former house into a “Graceland”.  Let me tell you, the house is NOT Graceland!  Its a very, very small house.  And Gary, Indiana has nothing to brag about.  All I ever hear out of that city is the crime.

    If Demerol is what killed him, I’m surprised that no one tried to give him something called Narcam.  Supposedly, its given to people who O.D. on narcotics to bring them out of it.

    Can’t wait until its all over with and we can go back to life as usual.

    Well, that’s it.  I’m still alive and relatively well.  Hope all of you are too! :)

June 8, 2009

  • Long time

    Long time no publish.  Its been crazy for me here and I can’t get into it.

    Going to finish my brother’s quilt.  I just have one side of a border to finish before I can start snipping and all that goes with that.

    I’m looking forward to a road trip here soon.  I need one.  Have two road trips coming up in July.  One to Detroit to see my cousin get married.  He has been a quadriplegic since he was a senior in high school (he is now in his late 40′s) and I am so happy that he found someone to love, who loves him back given the challenges he has.

    The other trip will be with my BFF and her daughter and a friend of the daughter.  Heading for northern Michigan to BFF’s family’s cabin.  Its always been a peaceful place with lots of good memories.  I’ve talked to BFF about my wishes should I die and I think I want to be cremated.  She said she would spread my ashes up at the cabin since she knows how much I like it up there.  I would like to prepay for my arrangements, however, I am a little leery after reading/hearing news stories about funeral homes and crematories using the money for other things.  And I may have that word incorrect – it might be creamatorium, but if you aren’t counting, neither am I.

    I’m not a big Kid Rock fan, but I sure do like the song he came out with last year about Northern Michigan.

    Tigers are doing well this season, so far.  They are #1 in their division but behind compared to other teams.  I hope they make it to the playoffs this year.  One thing I hate about living here is that it seems I can never find a Tigers game on t.v. like I did in Ohio.

    Haven’t crocheted anything, but have been looking at patterns wanting that “right” one.  Have printed some off but right now, my hiatus continues.

    I did buy my mountain bike the Friday before Memorial Day.  Oh man…its a nice bike, but I haven’t been on one in several years and had some problems.  I was able to balance myself.  That wasn’t a problem.  My problem is that I can’t raise my leg to get it over the top bar and it IS a woman’s bike.  So, I have to get on it like one would get on a horse by swinging my leg over the seat.  Unfortunately, I didn’t figure this out until AFTER I fell.

    I decided to use the bike to go down the driveway to get the mail and get a feel for things.  When I got to the end, by the highway that we live on, I tried to dismount the bike like a girl by bringing my foot over the crossbar.  Since I can’t get my leg over it (probably due to the neuropathy), the bike went down and so did I.  And traffic just happened to be heavy due to the holiday weekend drawing to a close.  Good thing I was on the grass at the time.  My left knee was swollen and bruised for about 2 weeks.  The bruise went from front to back.  I’ve had times when, being a secretary, I’ve banged the hell out of my knees on the corner of the desk, and not had any problems, so I must’ve really done something wrong for it to bruise like that.  Still having a problem bending it and haven’t been on the bike, but I think I might be ready to go again soon.  I was thinking, when I did this, of getting my knee xrayed but mom said, “Trust me, if you broke it you’d know.”  Maybe not broke it but what about something else?  Needless to say, I didn’t get it xrayed and regret it.  I just want to make sure everything is okay with it.

    Well, the coffee cup is almost empty and time to get to bed.  I see storms in the area on radar and have to unplug everything before I go to bed.  Hope you all are doing well and that you found this entry.  Take care!

May 31, 2009

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October 1, 2008

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