Rainy Days and Holidays-all the news that's fit to PRINT

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Greetings gentle readers,

It's another day in the valley, at the ranch, or beside the lawn [which reminds me of FOREST LAWN, not a happy association]. Forest Lawn aside, the day is unfolding in its usual manner: a 24 hour NCIS marathon on USA channel 29, the Jerry Lewis telethone on WBOY, and the rain falling consistently in the world outside our door.

I bought another printer yesterday at Staples - wifi, energy star rating (no tax) with independent ink cartridges - so I can replace just one if I need to. Ink was 88 bucks (just a tad bit more than th ink for my deskjet 6540 - 66 bucks...) MOney just grows on trees around here, ya know. But, this acquisition will allow me to work on the computer in the living room or Stan's room at night and keep the printer away from the living space (and I won't have to move it every time I move.)



Now I'm going to pay bills at the desk in the bedroom.

It's close to 11:00 and I imagine Uncle Ed and Mary will be here in an hour or so... I'll catch you all up on the news this evening.

Protecting Our Kids From Obama's Subversive 'Eat Your Peas' Message -- Politics Daily

Protecting Our Kids From Obama's Subversive 'Eat Your Peas' Message -- Politics Daily

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Monday - the first day of a 5 day week at school

I went with Grandma Freda to the ER last night right after dark. I rode in the Emergency car. She was holding her head repeating "I'm sick." Linda followed after us later, in her car. She called Sandy to stay the night with Daddy.

Linda stayed with us all night.

Kim called off this morning, she hurt her back helping her husband build the shed for their outdoor equipment. Brenda thought she didn't have to work today. At around 9am, I called her to come in and she got there around 10 ish, so Sandy could come and pick me up and then go home. I showered picked up a few things and got back here in time to see Dr. Woofter. Linda will be back to stay over at 9 til I get here tomorrow morning. I will miss another day of school. I need to call school right now to get intouch with my "team" about tomorrow.

Grandma is sleeping. Not eating or drinking much - will have iv fluids, her mastoid bones checked by an ENT, her pacer checked and a finger stick every day for coumadin. Grandma was right about the torture chamber being on the 4th floor. I'll tell you more later.

August 20 - My first day back in 2009-2010

He ho he ho, it's off to work I go...

I rearranged my entire room today. I reassembled 3 computers and cleaned a plethora of surface dirt off everything. (that's the sound of my hand slapping my own back.)

Tomorrow -Saturday - I will get my roster out and make my roll and absence lists.

to do list: school stuff and home stuf and shopping. I hope the Bayer holds out.

Wisgh me luck.

Tomorrow is the 35th anniversary of Nixon's resignation

Reminiscence: I remember 1974, August, 8th - oh, what a night ;-). Our near midnight delivery at UHC. I know she was born before midnight! But I didn't wake up until early next morning and get to hold her. Doctor Mamoodian had been ok with no drugs for pain, but the girls in delivery didn't get the message... and I got knock out gas.

Dad and I had discussed names and decided to give her a name that didn't remind me of students I had had in class these past 4 years - Tracy was an easy choice - no one had it yet and it meant "strong" -Suzanne was not as easy since I had a Susanne - but it fit ;-)

That night Nixon was on the verge of resignation. (But I didn't know that until after our drama was completed.) It was a hot summer. Dad and I were going to bring her back to a one bedroom 1st floor apartment in Hartland with iffy electric in the bathroom and a galley kitchen.

Happy Birthday, Tracy Suzanne.

This past week has been full of interesting guests and activities: Wednesday Grandma got a visit from her brother (Uncle Stanley and Aunt Donna from Vero Beach, Fl.) They had a nice visit and Uncle Stanley talked a blue streak about what they have been up to - travelling up north here... what their son and daughter are doing in Fla. Donna's volunteering at church to sew; she's working one day a week at the local hospital They brought us good news that Uncle Ed is doing well, but his family is not encouraging him to drive to C-burg alone. Harriet came with him the last time so maybe someone will accompany him when he gets the itch to travel.

Thursday and Friday our neighbors (Doug and Sally) had a household sale on the Boulevard for the remnants of Mrs. Rogers' things. Sally showed me some interesting items: a gasoline powered iron (circa 1930-?) complete with instruction book and original box...used by someone as evidenced by the scorch marks on the side of the iron...; a camelback trunk with a big lock mechanism and square wooden nails on the carved lid; a little spinning wheel and a wool wheel; there were other trunks, but none as nice as the camelback; an armless rocker; remnants of depression glassware; some Ravenswood pottery that reminded me of McNicol; a blue ball gown sewn especially for Isabell (Mary) in England when her husband was a pilot in the air force during WW2; wool suits sewn for Isabell while she was in England; 2 sets of leather lederhosen from Germany. She had an interesting life. Doug and Sally sent a box of her things - her nursing pin and cap, etc - to Jeffery. Jeffery said his Dad Ray didn't have the money for the shipping, but he (Jeff) would pay for it.

Friday - Barbara flew to CA to meet Ed and drive to Yellowstone. (Tonight they are in Twin Falls Idaho.)

Saturday - today - I helped celebrate Jean's 85th birthday by eating lunch at Eat n Park with her and Joy. She was born August 7. Her sister is living in Arkansas now - they were from Oklahoma in the old days...

Cool, cool, Monday - July - mid way til Labor Day

Good evening gentle readers.

It's another rainy Monday. Yes, we are still here, if anyone asks.

The first image I saw this morning: the cat caught a bird (found its remains on the back porch this morning.) Now I have renamed her "Killer" and she will stay outside until she gets rid of the remains in her tummy.

Forty years ago tonight we saw the men walk on the moon. Stan and I were lying on the floor (there was no carpet on the floor at that time) in front of the TV in this very house. Mom and Dad had gone to bed. It must have been after 10 o'clock. We heard Walter Cronkite repeat: "One small step for man; one giant leap for mankind." Or, at least, that's what I thought we heard... Neil Armstrong, Buzz Aldrin and who was the pilot of the circling craft?

Thirty-one years ago, I was in United Hospital giving birth to my second child. It was supposed to be a "natural" event... no drugs. By the time she arrived, we had quite a cheering section: the nursing class from Alderson Broaddus College waited to see her born - their shift ended sometime around 11pm. The official date is July 21, 1978 so I'm guessing she arrived after midnight on the 21st (or I have the day confused ;-) and all this happened 31 years ago tomorrow and she arrived just before midnight...)

I made it to my Dr's appointment in Salem and tomorrow I have a fasting blood draw: thank God for insurance. She made several suggestions and all of them involve more tests - I got some x-rays of my knees and ankle and we are going to see if this pain has a name...

If the pain goes away with movement-stretching or activity, it is not rheumatoid. blood tests will help nail the name we will be treating.

Norma will be coming tomorrow around 11 or so for a visit -

Brenda is in the hospital with an angina scare (over night) so Linda and Sandy will work three days day shift instead of two this week.

Kim came to work today and brought Emmie, her little girl. We were glad to see them. Emmie and Delia played together last Friday, too.

Stanley stayed in bed all day [I didn't get him into the "electric chair" or out of the house - due to my Dr's appointment] and now he's not too engaged - he's watching NCIS and Linda is frying zucchini that Bill Kerzak brought over today for supper - too bad I have a fasting blood test tomorrow morning...

July 15 - payday - one month to the Anniversary - and who knew we would be doing this!?

Welcome back gentle readers...

It has been a fabulous day, here in the valley: First, the sun is /was shining in a bright blue sky w/ fluffy but none too numerous clouds. The hum didity was nonexistent and the wind light and variable along with the temperature [near ninety.]

Then, the ladies that help on Wednesday showed up - no excuses.

Next, I escaped to the market and to the bank, and the boulevard to check my mail, and just generally walked around the mercantile world looking for yard gnomes to place atop the lights beside the front door ( a picture should be placed here for those of you with no clue for what I am looking. )

Grandpa Stan [Daddy to some of you] has been in training to get back into the electric chair [power chair to those of you in the physical therapy business] and we will have one more day of PT on Friday to get this done. I've cut his happy pill in half to give him some desire to be part of the action and I hope it works.

Grandma Freda [Great grandma to some of you] is enjoying the attentions of her care workers and the phone call from Marg, who remembers all the fun they had with the husbands playing cards, eating popcorn and just hanging out. She said she remembered that I made brownies... who knew I baked at one time???

A mysterious knock on the door and a "Howdy Miss Freda" led us straight to Bill Kerzak whio brought Mom some snap sugar peas and blue lake greenbeans straight from his garden. Bill told me how to fix them to eat with out cookin' em. And told us about Frances and the trouble walking w/o her cane. She can't do the steps or she would be here to visit. He's been working w/ a friend to put down a floor. We are all getting too creaky to do much of that kind of work ;-)

The Fiery Red petunias on the deck are in dire need of water - two straight days of low humidity.

The Chrysler Garage fixed the LHS (power steering pressure hose and return hose) to the tune of **$%^&*#@# - but after research with a knowledgeable fellow - Linda's husband, I discovered that the repair is very difficult on LHS because the works are hard to get to - ergo the gigantic-enormous bill.

I'm going to Charleston tomorrow to be informed about retirement. Richard is driving and Pam and Val maybe coming along. I'm looking forward to it. We are also going to the State History Museum.