Decision Day

I had/have a small squamous cell skin cancer on my face between and to the side of my nose and lip.  My dermatologist has removed it surgically twice but the biopsy showed there were still skin cancer cells on the edges so I've decided to go to Toronto and have the Mohs surgery done by one of 3 cosmetic surgeons there who do that type of surgery.  I'm not happy about the situation but I'm completely fed up with getting sliced and diced and it still didn't get rid of it.

Apparently they do only Mohs surgery in the U.S. for skin cancers and don't waste time on what I've been having my dermatologist do since last November.  My dermatologist told me we only have 3 surgeons in Toronto who handle all Mohs patients in southern Ontario compared to 300 in southern Florida.  I think I've made the right choice here instead of losing myself chunk by chunk.

I was also told that anyone who has had radiation treatment has a higher incidence of getting skin cancers for some reason.  I had radiation on my lip a few years ago to kill off a squamous cell cancer lesion so that may be what set it all in motion.  Great!

I actually feel a little better now that I made my decision to have Mohs.  It was something I'd been terrified of before but my sweet family doctor explained my fears away.  It won't be fun but hopefully it will be the end of it.  There is a long waiting list so I might not be able to get it done for 3-4 months, though.  I'll post photos...as long as they're not gory.

  

Gaining Control

You can't always control the crap that falls into your life but you can control how you will react to it.  I had another little bout of depression over this stupid skin cancer all the while knowing it's not the worst thing in the world.  I hate having to deal with it...but then I hate having to deal with a lot of things I have no control over.

I caught a bit of a cold from that Elvis impersonator who whispered into my ear on Sunday, darn it!  So I spent most of yesterday napping and trying to keep it from getting too strong a foothold.  Today I don't feel too bad, just a slightly runny nose and the odd little cough.  I don't have time to have a cold!!  Kim has her surgery on Tuesday and will be coming here to recuperate so I have to be cold free so I don't pass it on to her.

I talked to Donna this morning to let her know I won't be coming to see her today because of the cold.  She's getting along okay but it's too soon after Jill's loss for her to be back to normal.  She's a strong, intelligent woman and she will be fine in time...her time.

Nick and Matt are coming tonight to put my window air conditioner in and I won't be able to kiss and hug them.  I don't want them to take my cold germs back to their mother.  I know I'm one of the luckiest ladies in the world to have the wonderful family I have because there are only a few nasties in the group but they aren't my blood relatives.

I'm still feeling a little low but I think I might have enough spunk in me to vacuum today.  Other than that, I don't give a damn.  

Early May Balcony Plants

The top photo is the gorgeous plant stand that Kim got me for Mother's Day.  The lovely pot of mixed plants that Cindy got me sits perfectly on the top.  I'm just getting started filling the balcony with plants and that's why there are empty planters still around.  I like to buy my plants gradually...it spreads out my enjoyment of the job.

The first pot I got was the mixed color geraniums on the bottom of my new planter.  I have never seen so many buds on a geranium and just had to have it.  My next purchase was the mixed color million bells.  I adore million bells!  Then I bought the 2 large pots of hot pink geraniums at the back.

I plan to put mainly sweet potato vine in the other pots but still haven't decided on anything else.  I get the morning sun on the balcony which begins to shade over around 10 A.M. so it's a good spot for plants.

Oh yes, I also bought one very expensive ($2.89) roma tomato plant that's at the other end of the balcony.  This is a first for the apartment so I'll see how it turns out.

I love spring; I like summer; I love fall; I hate winter in Canada but love it in Florida.

My Mother's Day

I was just talking to Shelley and told her I'd had probably the best Mother's Day in my whole life.  Kim picked me up about 11:30 and took me out for lunch and then to the Art Gallery.  I was a little disappointed in a lot of the paintings and art there because I'd expected better.  Then I remembered a few years back when that art gallery was boasting in our local newspaper about the magnificent piece of art they'd just purchased for a couple of hundred thousand dollars.  I visited soon after and saw this magnificent and very expensive acquisition.  It was a huge painting...solid black with a single thin white line going across it.  Not art!!!

Anway, after leaving the Art Gallery we went to Tim's for coffee and Diet Coke and then to Kim's to wait for Cindy to pick me up at 5 P.M.  It was lovely time spent watching Matt and Nick preparing dinner for Kim and watching Nolan and Nash playing.  Her house is a busy one these days but filled with love.

Cindy and Tyson picked me up at 5 P.M. and we went back to her house to get Don.  Then we went to a restaurant bar in the downtown area (on the way down I was told it was a seedy area!) where Kyle was working.  He said the food was great and that's why we were going there.

As we drove up to the building, I recognized it as one I'd driven past many times and thought it was really rough and scary looking.  We pulled into the parking lot and the few people we saw standing around looked seriously like meth addicts.  I was laughing nervously and pinning my hopes on Kyle that he wouldn't bring us to a dangerous place.

We went inside where there was someone at the front playing guitar and singing, a few people swaying around him, a few people at the bar, a few people at tables.  Yes, it looked a little seedy but not scary at all.  I fell in love with the place and would have gone there even alone if it was in a better neighborhood.  

I have to say that Kyle looked out of place...he's so darned cute and clean cut.  He took our order and mistakenly brought me the spicy meal instead of giving it to Tyson.  I told him he wasn't getting a tip!  The food was really good and very different from anything I'd ever eaten.  It was supposed to be authentic Irish food.  As we ate, the entertainment changed about every 15-20 minutes and then an Elvis singer walked in.  Cindy told the owner that I was an Elvis fan so he brought this guy (didn't look anything like Elvis) back to the table to introduce us.  He really didn't sound like Elvis either but who cares.  I loved the atmosphere of this place and enjoy anyone who will play a guitar and sing.

The owner's wife came by and talked to us for a while...she's a real Irish lady from Donegal named Katy.  She tried to get her husband to sing for us but he wouldn't...she said he's a great Elvis singer.  

We left before dark and I was driven home and dropped off with kisses from my sweet Cindy and Tyson.  I don't think they realized how much fun it had been for me at that wild and crazy place.  I want to go back...but in a group. 

Donna, mother of Jill

For my beautiful Jill ..............Tonight I am a poet using words to express you (as if I could find the rhyme or reason of you) Tonight I am a painter making brushstrokes to capture the look of you (as if I could bring the colour back to you) Tonight I am a musician playing the heartbeat of you (as if I could find the rhythm of you) Tonight I am a sculptor carving the touch and hold of you (as if I could breathe the blood back into you) Tonight I am a dancer flying th...rough space the eagle part of you (as if I could fly off and be with you) Tonight I am a perfume maker mixing up the smell of you (as if I could capture the essence of you) Tonight I am a witch wildly dancing under the moon for you (as if I could invoke the very spirit of you) Tonight I am a Mother crying a mother's tears for you (as if I could ever fill the gaping chasm of you) Tonight I feel so very small by the enormous loss of you.

There is no more enduring love than that of a mother for her child and Donna has managed to capture just the right words in her tribute.  She said it all in words that will touch your soul.  Jill was blessed to have had Donna for her mother and I know that Donna was blessed to have had Jill in her life.  Jill was severely handicapped and remained a child for her 43 years here on earth.  Donna and Frank could not have been better parents and she survived mainly because of the excellent care they gave her.  And that care was given, not out of responsibility, but with tremendous love.  I don't know how they'll fill that hole in their hearts now that she's gone but they gave their all for 43 years and that should earn them a place in heaven with their little girl when the time comes.

Note:  Donna informed me that she found this letter on the internet and didn't actually write it herself but it said what was in her heart.  Whoever wrote it had the same loss as Donna and knows, as every mother knows, how devastating it is or can be to lose a child.  There really can be nothing worse.

Mother's Day

Today is Mother's Day and I am one of the most thankful people in the world because I was granted the life job of being a mother.  At the time, 17 years old, I wasn't ready for this blessed task but it taught me a different kind of love I'd never really experienced before.  Love for your child stands alone...there is no other kind of love that comes even close.

My own mother was a good person but never actually clicked with me as a mother.  We lived with my grandparents and Mom kind of handed over the mothering role to my grandmother.  Mom worked hard but made some crucial mistakes in her life that I vowed never to repeat.  I was on my high horse!

I've never thought of myself as a great mother to my daughters but not because of a lack of love for them.  In their growing up years, I was suffering from depression and that colored a lot of my dealings with them.  But it never affected the deeply ingrained love I felt for all of them.

Being a mother is why we're here but you don't have to give physical birth to a child to be able to mother them.  I know my mother loved me but maybe I just couldn't see it when I was a rebellious teenager.  My mother had a difficult life, some of her own making, but a lot because of circumstances.  Not everyone can stroll through life and hit the jackpot every time.

I want more than anything for my children to know how much I love them.  I want them to know how much I value them.  And I want them to know I would never go back and change anything in my life that would have stopped me from having them.  

Nash Overnight

My greatgrandson, Nash, is 4 years old and just spent his first overnight with me.  I had his father on standby in case Nash got too upset about being away from his Mom and Dad but there was never a moment when he got upset.  He played with his toys, ate, put his jammies on, and asked me to tuck him in bed about 9 P.M.  That was the last I heard from him until 5:30 this morning when I woke up and turned the T.V. on...I think that woke him up.  He came out smiling and ready for breakfast.

I've always had toys and books on hand so that the kids feel at home here.  Both Nash and Nolan believe the spare bedroom is theirs and that the toys and books are theirs so they feel they're in familiar territory when they visit.  It's very important that kids don't feel they have to sit and not touch anything when they visit their Gramma or GG.

Last spring there was a family of sparrows nested on my balcony and Nash remembered that and asked to see them again.  I explained that the sparrows grew up and flew away but they might have come back to nest again this year.  At least I've seen some out on the railing tweeting away.

My plans for this morning are to let Nash play for a while and then to go to a church bazaar later in the morning (still looking for more Legos).  We'll have lunch out and then I'll take him to Kim's.  He's been so good and easy to handle and I think he'll be quite happy to do his next overnight at GG's.  

  

Waiting

It's a strange feeling, waiting for someone to die.  You know it's inevitable but you cling to hope that the process will miraculously be reversed.  I remember being torn by emotion when my husband was dying.  I wanted his suffering over but wanted more that he'd be cured, yet knowing it wouldn't/couldn't happen.  You feel as though you're in a limbo where, no matter what you wish or want, a course has been set in motion that is heading in a pre-destined direction.

I have a strong belief that nothing happens by chance, that we are meant to experience what we do, that we are meant to meet and love the people we do.  Maybe these are life lessons that we are meant to learn.

Be thankful for each day you get to experience and make the best of it.  Our lifespan is not all that long and there is so much to learn...and so much to love.

Hanging On

There is so much sickness and strife in our family right now that it hardly seems possible to handle it all.  I got the bad news the other day that they didn't eradicate all of the skin cancer that was removed last week and it sent me into a downward spiral of "almost" depression because I'm so sick of dealing with it.  That feeling lasted 2 days (which felt like 2 years) until I came to my senses and decided I would deal with it in increments...as it unfolded.  I see the dermatologist next Wednesday to have the stitches removed and she will expertly decide the next step.  I can't worry beyond that.

There is much, much worse going on in the family today that is being endured.  Crap happens to all families in one form or another and this seems to be our crapload.  Apparently that's not a real word but I don't care.

We only have today to count our blessings and we'll just have to see what tomorrow brings.  Strong and loving family ties will see us all through whatever life throws at us.

The Way To Die

One of my friends does aesthetics from her home and she's been my favorite pedicurist for years.  I called her today to make an appointment and could tell by the sound of her voice that something was wrong.  It turned out that her husband had passed away last February but I'd been in Florida and hadn't known.  She's a nice friend but not a close one where we talk regularly.

He hadn't been sick but had suddenly become weak and not wanting to eat.  She suggested calling the doctor but he was one of these men who refuse to see a doctor even for check-ups.  She helped him to bed and slept beside him until 2 A.M. when he awoke and told her to go to her own room because he was restless.  She did as he asked but got up at 5 A.M. and went in to check on him.  He had passed away peacefully in his sleep.

Now, a sudden death like this is especially hard on loved ones because they have no time to prepare but dying peacefully in one's sleep is the way we all want to go.

My friend is still tender from grief and will be for some time yet.  She mourns the fact that they argued a lot...I can identify with that.  She wishes they'd been more loving to one another...I can identify with that, too.   Sometimes, we don't have another day, another minute, another moment to make up for sharp words or actions.  Sometimes what is done is done and we can't go back and make it any different.

We need to keep this in mind.  

Marriage Breakup

When a marriage breaks up there's no question who is hurt the most, not the devastated spouse but the children.  They lose their innocent security.  Every child should be able to count on their home to be a happy, stress free one with both parents working together to make it happen.  When children are torn out of a home life they thought would last forever, they become torn up inside and stop trusting the world around them.  They fear everything will be taken from them.  Who and what will be taken next??

Not many marriages are perfect and some can become unbearable for one spouse or another but, before they end a marriage, they should make damn sure that it isn't fixable.  I believe strongly that the children's needs are so important that even a not so perfect marriage should be held together at least until the children become adults.

I remember a workmate telling me she was going to leave her husband because she couldn't stand the sound of the spoon rattling in his coffee cup.  There was probably a whole lot more bothering her but she darned well should have known him better before marrying him.  In that case there were no children, thank heavens.

Sometimes the grass looks greener on the other side and a spouse will jump willy nilly out of a marriage to give it a try.  And then, sometimes the new, exciting life isn't what she/he thought it would be but the damage is already done to the children.  

So much is lost in a divorce.  Finances can never be enough to give both parents the same standard of living they had before separating and this, too, has a terrible effect on the children.

I guess the point I'm trying to make is that we should be very certain that the person we marry is the one we want to grow old with.  And also, if the marriage sours, be very certain it can't be made acceptable before tearing the children away from one of their parents and disrupting their whole lives.

  

Sleeping A Lot

Since having the skin cancer surgery, I've slept a lot through the day.  My guess is that my body has experienced a trauma and is trying to heal itself.  The problem with all this sleeping is that I was wide awake at 2 A.M. and stayed awake until noon when I began napping off and on for the rest of the afternoon.  I have a feeling I won't sleep well tonight.

It's warm in the apartment, too.  Unlike when I lived in my house, the heat is on here from mid September until the end of May and I can't tell you how irritating that is.  I keep the windows and patio door open almost all the time and have 2 fans circulating the air.  My boys are going to install the window air conditioner soon and that will help but it just seems that having heat on until the end of May is a terrible waste of energy.  There's an old thermostat on the wall but it doesn't work so I can't even turn the damned heat down.  I'll have to talk to the superintendent about it again, I guess.

The dermatologist said she thought she got all of the skin cancer but did say that there is always a 5-15% chance of recurrence.  I've had a few others removed that never came back so I'm hoping this is the end of the one I just had removed.

I went grocery shopping this morning even though I'm a little embarrassed by the biggish bandage on my face.  It was interesting to see who were ignorant enough to stare and it was a few old folks.  I noticed that when John had his leg amputated and we were in a restaurant.  An old lady couldn't take her eyes off him.  He didn't care but I wanted to poke her in the nose.  Little children look at me as though there's nothing different and it's them I'd expect to ask questions.  That wouldn't bother me one bit.

By the way, I'm under stress so I bought cookies.

Nobody Listens

We parents are quick to advise our children on what or what not to do but they usually don't listen to us.  I've been thinking a lot lately about what I wouldn't have today if my children had listened to me all those years ago.

I wasn't crazy about my oldest daughter's first marriage but, if she'd listened to my warnings, she wouldn't have given me my precious grandsons.  I wasn't crazy about my youngest daughter's marriage but it turned out to be 1 in a million and gave me 3 more grandchildren to love.

I've learned that some things are meant to be even if they don't end well.  In my case, I wouldn't change a thing because my children, grandchildren, and greatgrandchildren were all worth it.

Tomorrow, my #1 granddaughter from daughter #2 (I fully approved of her marriage) is coming to visit and I'm looking forward to seeing her beautiful smiling face.  That's how I used to find her when she was playing baseball in the outfield.  I'd look for her big smile.

No, I wouldn't change anything that brought my much loved family to me but I do wish for happiness now and forever for all of them.

   

I'm A Worrier

Worry gets you nowhere but those of us afflicted with the syndrome have no choice.  We worry about everything, especially the things we have absolutely no control over...and maybe that's the problem.  The things in life we can't control seems to go haywire so, of course, we worry.

I want a stable world, a stable family, and a stable life.  I don't want illness, strife, or unhappiness.  I'd also like to win at the casino a bit more often than I do.

I think that only once in my life there was nothing for me to worry about and that worried me so I'm doomed to go through life this way.

I've gotten deeply interested in the universe lately and started to do some research on the galaxies out there.  We on earth are such a teensy speck in the universe that it's silly to even think we might be the only planet with life on it.  I'm hoping the vast expanse of the universe might mean it's where we travel when we die.  Funny, but I don't worry about being dead, just hope the dying isn't too uncomfortable.

When I thought of the universe before, it overwhelmed me so much with unanswerable questions that I had to leave it alone.  Now I'm more curious than overwhelmed.  I've looked at some of the photos taken by the Hubble telescope and they are magnificent to say the least.  I plan on buying 4 photos of some of the galaxies when I go to Florida in the fall and having them "plaqued" (I hope that's the right word).  I'll hang them in the apartment as a grouping so I can enjoy them regularly.  These photos are so beautiful that they fill your mind with joy that something this wonderful exists in our universe.

There's a showing of the Hubble telescope photos at our public library this month so Faye and I are going.  I'm just a little worried that something will come up to keep me away.    

Police Brutality

We definitely live in a country (and world) where there is too much police brutality and we in civilized countries should be doing something about it.  Where there is power there is corruption but that doesn't mean that all cops are bad.  The bad ones are a small minority but they still should be held criminally responsible when they abuse their power.

It really appears as though the young man in Baltimore was somehow murdered by the police but the rioting has taken the emphasis off this terrible deed.  It makes me wonder if the rioting is being encouraged in order to take the spotlight off the real issue.  Most of us have paid more attention to the out-of-control rioters than the fact that a young man has lost his life while in the custody of the authorities.

We have failed to hold police and politicians accountable when one of them goes off the deep end and commits a crime against the public.  There is way too much secrecy and protection by their own people and that is where abuse can flourish.  But we can't tar every cop or politician with the same brush.  At least most cops are good people who live their lives to protect the public.  I don't like politicians so I can't lie and say anything good about them but there just might be a good one somewhere in the pack...maybe.

Being responsible for your actions seems to have disappeared in our culture.  Criminals loudly protest their innocence even when caught red handed.  Government officials often rob the public blind and civil rights groups have forgotten what their mandate is.  We're overloaded with self interest groups who feed at the public trough using our tax dollars to hire inefficient people to perform unnecessary work.  There is little trust any more in how our government is run.

Rioting won't change any of this.  It just takes our attention away from what is really destroying our country and that is the greed, abuse, and inefficiency of those who rule it.  I have a hard time believing it will ever get any better.  I hate to admit that the only way I see to start is by voting for decent representatives.  I don't vote because I haven't found one in years.  

Free speech is the public's only way to bring to light the crimes of their leaders and surely there must be someone like Martin Luther King out there in the throngs of protesters...someone intelligent enough and charismatic enough to inspire followers who can win the war without destroying the world they're trying to save.

Update:  Police officers have been charged in the murder of Freddie Gray.  This is the justice system at work the right way. They'll have a fair trial but, if they're not convicted, I fear more rioters will use this as an excuse to further destroy Baltimore.  We'll see. 

Skin Cancer Surgery

I had a skin cancer spot removed from this area last fall but it came back so today my dermatologist removed it again, hopefully for the last time.  The bandage is way oversized, of course, but there are 10 stitches under it.  My lip is swollen from the freezing and is supposed to be back to normal by tonight.  There is little pain, only discomfort as the freezing wears off but I'm prepared to take a Tylenol if it's still bothering me at bedtime.

The thing with these skin cancers is that, even when removed, some cancer cells might remain but will be destroyed by our own immune system.  This didn't happen in this case but, again, I'm hoping it's all taken care of now.

I had my first dermatologist appointment today since coming home from wintering in Florida but thought it would only be for her to see what had to be done and to schedule surgery for a month or so from now.  Luckily, she'd scheduled enough time for me today to get it done immediately.  For that, I'm thankful.  The surgery isn't a horrendous experience but the bandaging looks awful enough that I won't feel comfortable going to a restaurant and maybe not even the grocery store.  I won't know until I remove the bandaging to put my own on it on Saturday.  I know from experience that the incision won't look hideous but must be kept bandaged for protection until I get the stitches out in 2 weeks.  

My dermatologist is very good and keeps scarring down to almost invisible so I'm not worrying about that.  My only worry is that the darned thing will return and only time will tell.

I sometimes feel cursed with these skin cancers but I know that it could be much worse.  At least they're relatively curable or manageable.  

Difference of Opinion

I'm very concerned about something my granddaughter posted on Facebook.  She threatened to unfriend anyone who opposed her personal views of the Baltimore riots and I was floored.  How can an extremely intelligent person refuse to accept that others might not have the same views or beliefs that she has?  How can that same intelligent person be so closed minded?

It isn't the "unfriending" that bothers me as much as seeing someone I love closing herself off so adamantly to alternate points of view.  Isn't it an inalienable right to be able to express your beliefs in this country?  We are fighting to keep our right to free speech in this ever changing world because we know that without it we will begin to lose more civil rights.

I have many friends who don't see the world as I do but I respect their differences of opinion and their right to hold them.  When a young lady who has the ability to be a leader in this world turns her back on those with opposing views, it becomes scary.  How many more potential leaders feel like this?

I didn't respond to her post because I love her.  I did post my own views which differ very much from hers.  My firm belief is that nothing can ever be solved by rioting, destruction, and violence.  I think we should look to Martin Luther King who, without violence, managed to better the lives of black people in this country and the U.S.  I remember seeing the huge masses of people marching with Martin Luther King and realizing how powerful his message was.  He taught, without violence, and people who had been racist began to listen and agree.

It goes without saying that most of the Baltimore rioters care nothing for the reasons of the riots.  Many are using it as an excuse to loot and destroy.  We should be paying more attention to the Baltimore citizens (black, white, or whatever) who don't want their city destroyed in this way.  I saw a video of a mother who was shocked to see her son throwing rocks at the police and took it upon herself to publicly discipline him.  She will not accept her son committing a crime and I applaud her for that.  He will become a better person for it, too.

In the end, some will agree with me and some won't.  I will respect their opinions as I hope they will respect mine and my right to state them.

   

Passport Photo

I needed a new passport this year so I went to the CAA to have my photo taken.  I should never look at my photographs, especially passport photos, but I took a quick peek and wished I hadn't.  I hadn't noticed how huge the bags are under my eyes because they're usually hidden by my glasses!!  I looked like an old lady with baggy eyes and messy hair...I'll try not to look at it again.

I told Faye how awful the photo was and that I'm stuck with it for 10 years (the duration of the passport).  Faye responded by saying how, in ten years, I'll be thinking the photo makes me look like a hot chick.  I don't think so, Faye!

African Violets

There was a time when I had 40+ plants around the house and I remember wondering why I had so many when it came to watering them.  But I loved seeing healthy plants of all varieties even in the dead of winter when nothing was growing outdoors.  When I started spending the winters in Florida I had to give all that up because no-one else was going to come by every week while I was gone and water them.  I began putting some artificial flowers around here and there and that satisfied me for a while.  Then I decided to at least buy a couple of African Violets and I was hooked.

I especially love the bi-colored ones and the plants themselves aren't very expensive.  So far this year I've bought the 2 in the photo but I want one more...a white and lilac colored.  Artificial flowers can never give you the same feeling of happiness that a living plant does but I know I have to limit how many I have.  I gave last year's African Violets to Kim and Matt said he over-watered them and they died.  African Violets have to be watered from the bottom and never soaked.

And so I have these little beauties sitting on the windowsill by the computer and I can see them from the kitchen and the livingroom.  Nice!

Inspirational Messages

I enjoy reading the inspirational messages I see on Facebook.  Some apply slightly and some hit me in the stomach like a fist.  I told my babies that we never stop learning, no matter how old we get, and that's the truth.  None of us like criticism but a few honest words printed on Facebook for no-one in particular can make us open our own eyes to our failings.

I have difficulty accepting that which I don't agree with but I'm working on making myself understand that my way is not the only way.  I may have a closed mind to some things but at least it's not locked tight.  Reason and tolerance are usually able to slip in and coincide comfortably with my personal beliefs so I'm not a totally lost cause.

We need to ask ourselves if that which is different is a threat in any way.  Most often it's not.  I used to think that living together without marriage was not the way to go but I now back it 100%.  If marriage is to remain sacred then we have to make sure we are compatible with our partner before entering into it.

Social mores are something we all have to deal with during our lives but we also need to recognize that they are always in a state of change.  What wasn't socially acceptable 50 years ago might become the norm today.  Some change isn't for the better but it usually sorts itself out in time.

I honestly believe that having the internet opens up our ability to learn about and understand that which is different or feared.  Knowledge is power.  If world governments ever gain control over the internet, it will be a disaster for the common people.  That said, they're probably working on doing it!

My inspirational message for the day was to work on bettering ourselves instead of competing with others.  I like that idea.  

Illness

We currently have a variety of illnesses in our family and my worry load is pretty high.  I know this, and worse, happens in all families but that doesn't make it any easier.  Is it just human nature that we want our little worlds to go on as always with no change?  Do we just want good fortune and good health for all we love?  I think that's a normal expectation even though it's unrealistic.  I don't want "real", I want the happy ending.

I guess the longer we live the more illnesses we'll have and see in the rest of our families.  I've found that I most often worry too much about things that ultimately turn out just fine but my worries haven't lessened with that knowledge.  I used to joke that my biological father might have been Jewish and that's why I worry so much (it seems Jewish people are supposed to be prone to worrying...I don't know if that's true or not).

My little world is upset right now and I'm hoping it's only temporary.  The first glimpse of a relief will be when Jill improves and comes home from the hospital.  The next will be my Kimmie's surgery over and her getting back on her feet.  I have supreme confidence all will turn out well here.

There will never be a day in my life that I'm not worried about something or someone.  This is the price you pay for having people in your life that you love.

Neighborhood Mail Boxes

I remember the days when mail was delivered daily during the week and local mail would reach us within 1-2 days max.  These days it takes a week or more to receive local mail.  And now the post office is forcing those large neighborhood mail boxes on us and we don't seem to have any choice in the matter.

There's lots wrong about those neighborhood boxes.  They don't hold much and most mail I get is advertisement.  I have no choice about that, either, and couldn't stop it even if I raised hell.

It's difficult for seniors to get outside in bad weather, especially snowy and icy weather so how much mail will pile up before some of us can trek to our neighborhood mail boxes??  What will happen to important mail if we let the advertisements use up all the space before we can pick it up??

And what about single parents with children?  Are they supposed to wrap the babies up and drag them to the mail boxes every day?  The same goes for invalids who aren't physically able to walk or roll their wheelchairs to the mail boxes.

I know it's a cost cutting measure but I also know our mail service will not improve no matter what they do.  There's something called the Peter Principle that means people in large organizations are promoted until they reach the point where they can't do the job.  That says it all about the top management of our Canadian postal system.

In my apartment building, we get mail delivered right to our apartment doors and I thought that was kind of a waste.  It would make more sense to me if there was a place in the lobby where we could pick up our mail.  Why wasn't this sort of thing considered to save costs?  I'm sure mine is not the only building where this could be done.

So often we, the public, watch in dismay as our leaders prove that common sense is lost on a politician.

Chaise Lounge

I'll probably not buy much furniture for the rest of my life because what I have now is fairly new but I've been interested in getting a chaise lounge for the livingroom.  It has to be a two armed one because I change leaning positions frequently and I've discovered that the two armed ones aren't easy to find.  Ashley Furniture has two of them but the price is kind of high so I'll have to do some thinking before buying.

Considering that it might be my very last furniture purchase...strange to feel it's that time of my life...maybe I should just go ahead and get what I want and not worry about the cost.  Old age requires that you not plan too far ahead!

I don't like being so conscious of my age but we have to be reasonable and understand that our purchases might never wear out.  We needed so much when we were young but couldn't afford just about anything but now we lucky elders have few needs and a few pesos at our disposal.  Isn't it strange and somehow unfair how life turns out?

So I'll truck on down to the furniture store and see just how much I want that chaise lounge.

Update:  I found the chaise lounge I wanted at both Ashley Furniture and Park Furniture (on their websites...same chaise). I drove out to Ashley Furniture but they didn't have one in the store and didn't seem to know they were advertising it on their website.  I suggested they look there and, sure enough, they found it and will hopefully bring it into the store so I can see it.  Now, Park Furniture sells the chaise for $626 but Ashley Furniture's price is $979...same chaise with the "Ashley" label in both stores!  After trashing Park Furniture, they assured me they'd meet the lower price.  We'll see!   

Bad Influence

Everybody has someone in their lives who is a bad influence.  I'm timid so it's never me.  Sometimes our more adventurous friends could drag us into drugs or crime and that's where we should have enough sense not to follow.  In my youth I hung out with drinkers and drug users but had the common sense to not do either.  I actually never even became a social drinker until I was married.

I've never liked being in what I consider a dangerous situation.  As far as I'm concerned, we should follow our instincts and not take unnecessary chances with our lives.

I have no understanding of tornado chasers, mountain climbers, or stunt drivers.  When they run into trouble, I think they should have known better.  I understand it's considered boring to be so careful in life but that's the way many of us were created.  I don't know who created the daredevils.

Anyway, enjoy your family and friends who occasionally drag you into their adventures but don't let them drag you too far.  If you're naturally timid like me, it won't be fun.     

Closet Cleaning

This is a pile of clothes I still like but haven't worn in a long time.  They're colorful, aren't they?  They're either going to my daughters or to the Salvation Army.  I ran into a bit of a problem because my closets were already filled to capacity and then I brought home a ton of clothes from Florida.  Only a few were new and the rest were clothes I'd left down there over the summers.  Add that to full closets in the apartment and something had to give!

I honestly didn't buy a lot this year because of the low Canadian dollar but I've done my share of shopping over the years and that's where my problem began.  Now the closets are still full but manageable.  That's the key word!

When I began decluttering my house, I found it to be like shedding a weight from my shoulders.  It's still difficult to give up things we still like but people like me accumulate just too much.  If it's a bargain, I have a hard time walking away.

I soothe myself by saying I don't spend much money but no-one needs the amount of clothing I possess.  Lately, I've tried to buy clothes I absolutely love instead of those I'm momentarily attracted to and that has helped.  Beall's Florida is my favorite store of all time and this winter I actually shopped there quite a few times and bought nothing...so I guess I'm getting smarter.

I left a small wardrobe of clothing at the trailer and will take down 3 or 4 outfits in the fall but that's another place where space is limited.  I have my favorites and wear them often so I really don't need a large wardrobe.

I went to visit Cindy at her new house and she showed me her large collection of clothing.  I think she has my disease!  One good thing is that there is no clutter in her house so she learned early in life to be neat.  I think I've said before that, when Cindy was young and given a chore to do, I could always count on it being done completely....unlike her sisters.  Kim and Shelley skimmed over their chores and they usually had to be redone.  Now Kim is neat and Shelley has a housekeeper.  Funny how life turns out, isn't it?

Handling Adversity

Life is a funny thing.  Just when you think you have everything under control, the bottom falls out and you have to show what you're made of.  That's happened to me (and you) many, many times and we don't always prove ourselves to be superpeople.  I don't know if that's a real word but I don't care...it says what I mean it to say.

Anyway, sometimes we fall short of our own expectations but sometimes we surprise ourselves with what we're capable of under duress.  I think my biggest surprise was finding out Shelley climbed under her house to pull out a dead rat!  Now, her house is almost a mansion and clean as can be but the damned rat got in through the garage and climbed under the crawl space to die.  If it were my house, I would have hired someone to get it out but Shelley is made of sterner stuff.

My Cindy took on a year of exercise and proper eating to lose about 40 pounds.  I'm in awe of her determination but, even though it inspires me to eat healthier, I'm not going to exercise.

My Kim lost her job last month and, instead of worrying herself to death, she spent a month in Florida with Shelley.  She also is facing surgery soon for thyroid problems (not cancer and that I'm ever so thankful for) before entering the job market again with the tremendous amount of skills she possesses.  She certainly won't give up and let the bad guys win!

We all face adversity of some kind pretty much every day of our lives.  It's just different and of varying intensity each time.  The way we handle it is usually the way we were made.

My girls are tough cookies!  

Casino Loser

No, I never learn.  Got a little bored this morning and decided to go to Fallsview.  It took me 5 hours to lose all my money.  I chatted with a few very nice people, though.

It was a strange day.  I lost all my money once but won it all back at the last moment.  Did I go home?  No.  I gambled until I lost it all again and then I went home.  There's got to be something missing in my brain to pull a stupid stunt like that.

I plan to try it all again next month.

You Can Only Do So Much

I did the best I could re-organizing this part of the crafts in the spare bedroom.  To be honest, the stash in the closet is now much higher.  Fabric and yarn take up a lot of space and I've gotten rid of as much as I can tolerate at the moment.  

The white shelving holds jewelry making supplies and I plan to get back to that one day.  Monk's cloth and yarn take up a lot of room, too, and I have only saved a bit of quilting fabric.

I'm either going to have to work harder at using these craft supplies or accept the fact I'm not going to live to be 150.  

Storage

I have this shelving unit in the livingroom and bought 4 purple collapsible boxes last year to store some things neatly.  I liked them so much that I searched for a few more this year but couldn't find any in purple.  The best I could do was white with purple circles and I think they look okay.  These canvas boxes are great for storage and keep the spaces looking less cluttered.  Heaven knows, I do have a lot of "stuff" but I have a deep aversion to clutter now.

There are actually tons of books and magazines in most of the boxes, all of which would look kind of messy if you could see them.  I got rid of so much stuff when I moved but some things are too important to me to discard...what would I do without my Swedish weaving books, bead books, quilting books, etc.?

Anyway, my sweet apartment is a home and not a showcase.  I'll try not to keep anything I really have no use for but some stuff has to stay!

Home..Apartment Almost Cleaned

The ride home from Florida was not without stress.  On Saturday, it went fairly well until 30 miles before Cincinnati and then the traffic came to a slooow crawl until I got out of Cincinnati.  After being held up for 1 1/2-2 hours, traffic sped up and, just before a "Y" in the highway, I thought I was in the right lane for mine but I wasn't.  It took squealing brakes to stop me right on the "Y" before I could enter my highway.  I lost a little confidence in myself.

As I got to the hotel area (right at my cutoff time of 7:30 because I can't see to drive in the dark), I turned right into the setting sun and totally blinded myself to the point where I had no idea where I was on the highway.  Thank heavens oncoming traffic was stopped for the light but I felt like an absolute fool as I inched over to my side of the road, barely able to see where I was going.  I lost a little more confidence in myself.

The hotel was gorgeous as expected but I decided it wasn't safe to make reservations any more.  If I'm held up by traffic, I have to stop somewhere before dark and it's too much stress to be obligated to reach a certain spot.  From now on I'll just find a nice motel wherever I happen to stop.

I got home about 6 P.M. on Sunday and my apartment was so nice and neat...just as I'd left it!!  I took up one load in my new cadillac of all carts but noticed it seemed kind of unwieldly...just too large.  Faye wants to see it and maybe buy it from me.  Otherwise I'll put a little notice at the back door and try to sell it to one of the apartment residents.

I cleaned the livingroom, kitchen, and bathroom yesterday.  Then I lightly cleaned the bedrooms and put all my stuff away today.  I'll deep clean the bedrooms some time this week.  I adore my apartment!  I also finished unloading the car but Faye's and Kim's things are still in it until I can get it all to them.  I'm seeing Cindy and Faye on Saturday and Kim comes home on Sunday.

Something always has to go wrong, though, and it was that the wireless keyboard wouldn't work and I'd also left the wireless mouse at the trailer.  I went to Walmart today and bought a new set because I can't stand to type on the laptop.  The removal of my irritation cost me $50 but it was well worth it.

And now to relax.

Note:  I talked to Faye this morning and mentioned how extremely heavy her tote box was.  She said she hoped she hadn't packed it at the time she was saving rocks.  Well, damn!!

Last Day at the Game Rooms Until November

Our little group hits the game rooms once a week and we have such a good time.  Some win, some lose, and some win big.  I'm usually the big loser but it's my only vice and it's only once a week.  I leave for home on Saturday and we don't have these small game rooms in Canada...the big casinos probably use a lot of political pressure to keep them out.  I much prefer the game rooms to the huge casinos but I'll take what I can get...Fallsview or Caesar's only once a month because I'm also a big loser at the large casinos.

We laugh a lot here.  It's much like being around a lot of holiday people who are here for the fun and we don't bring a lot of emotional baggage with us.  I brought home a stash of pop, cookies, and crackers from the game rooms to keep me in snacks until I go home.  I still have not indulged in potato chips since a year ago November and don't tempt myself by having them around.

Joann helped me carry out Faye's tote to the car...heavy as hell and must be stuffed with pots and pans!  Now I can start loading up the car tomorrow.  It won't be over-packed for the first time because I kept my shopping to a minimum this winter.  I'm anxious to get home but sad to leave good friends behind who might not make it back next winter.  None of us know what lies ahead for us...bad health, financial constraints, etc....so we enjoy each day as it arrives.

Tonight I'll vegetate because tomorrow will be busy.  Sylvia, Mickey, Jim, Joann, Bill,  Chris, and I are going to Manny's for dinner.  I love the food there but this will be my first visit all winter.

Wednesday will be laundry, packing, and preparing the trailer to be vacant all summer.  My final Bingo for the season is in the evening and I'll say as many good-byes as I can.

Thursday morning will be my final Swedish weaving for the season and then I'm going to Shelley's in the afternoon to go out for her belated birthday dinner (Tammy will be there, too) and then stay overnight.

Friday morning I'll head back to the park to meet up with Sylvia and go out for lunch.  It will be a very emotional time for us because we may never see each other again.  She's been a wonderful friend who promises to fly up from Nova Scotia for visits but I know that may never happen.  No matter, we'll keep in touch by e-mail and phone because that's what good friends like us should do.

I'll lock up and leave here on Saturday morning at dawn and hope to be back home late Sunday afternoon.  That's the plan...let's see how it all works out. 

I'm Honored

I'm always preaching how important counseling can be when you're in serious distress and I've somehow become one of the honorary counselors in the park.  I feel very honored and trusted that anyone would come to me for guidance and I will never betray a confidence.  

Listening to anyone's woes is an art because you have to judge whether or not the person is a whiner and you have to be very careful about what you suggest would help them.  If they're a whiner, run!  And don't pretend you have all the answers, either.

I'm strong on never taking abuse of any kind and of standing up for yourself because, if you don't respect yourself and know you don't deserve abuse, then you're laying yourself wide open for an abuser to take advantage of you.

Often, someone's problem will be beyond my ability to help and I have to be honest about that.  My life experiences may not in any way reflect their's.  It's a great responsibility when anyone asks your advice because it's someone's life we're talking about and bad advice is worse than no advice.

I've had people ask how to handle a difficult person they really can simply avoid.  That's one of my first suggestions if it applies at all.  Don't make waves, walk away, and spend your time with people who are supportive and nice to be with.  If you can't walk away, take a couple of steps back.  Remember, I'm not trained to counsel anyone but I've lived a long life and have learned a couple of things along the way.  I'm an expert at walking away, head held high, and leaving unpleasantness behind me.

It dismays me to know how nasty some people can be, though.  Life is so short and being petty is such a waste of your precious time on earth.  You'll feel much better every day if you treat people kindly.

Today is a beautiful sunny and warm day in Florida and I'm blessed to be here.  



  

    

My Baby Is 51.

Today is Shelley's 51st birthday and my memories of her from birth to today are almost all wonderful.  I never noticed if she went through the terrible teens so she was either good at hiding any sins or there weren't any.  What a sweetheart!

When Shelley was born she was slightly jaundiced and once the nurses tried to give her to my roommate, a Chinese lady, to be fed.  Shelley was also born with a mysterious little dent in her chest, almost like a dimple, that we've never been able to figure out what caused it.

Her vocation was nursing but just last week she graduated as a nurse practitioner so her purpose in this crazy world is pretty clear.  She's here to help others.  

My Shelley was baby #3 and destined to be my last.  She's brought me so much joy all of her life and I love her more every day.  My other two daughters, Kim and Cindy, round out the package and I know I'm blessed beyond words to have these three wonderful women for daughters. 

Those Who Hurt Us

What the heck is there about people who choose a victim and hurt them over and over again?  I see people like that as bullies who search out the weaker and softer to make themselves seem more powerful.

I know I wrote a long time ago that "no-one can hurt you unless you allow it" and I tried to instill this concept in someone recently.  We can't allow ourselves to be held hostage by anyone who doesn't have our best interests at heart.  Sometimes we need to "amputate" (another description from a long ago friend).

Life is so short and full of real problems and disasters that we can't control but we can often control who we associate with.  I saw a cute Facebook post that said simply, "Be Nice, or Go Away!".  Brief and to the point.

I used to deal with injustices by yelling and trying to understand the distorted logic of whoever was hurting me but I long ago learned to cope in a different way.  Just walk away and let it be for good if that's what it takes.  I know this is easier said than done but the time to start realizing that you, too, are a worthy human being is right now.

Does that sound harsh?  I hope not.

I Woke Up

I woke up this morning with a smile on my face.  No, no sexy man was lying next to me, I just smiled because I had another sunny day to do something with.  I'm lucky to have few aches and pains, maybe a little stiffness with age, but mainly fairly healthy and able to get around and do most things.  That doesn't include climbing up the second step on the step ladder...another sad story of barely being able to change the light bulb at the front door.  I'm afraid of heights and afraid of falling and breaking a hip.

Sylvia and I are going shopping and out for lunch today.  I'm very aware that my fun times with Sylvia are coming to an end and that there's a strong possibility I might never see her again after I leave here for home.  It's one of those life changes I have no control over and can't allow myself to dwell on.  The worst case scenario is that we continue to keep in contact by e-mail and phone so that's not the worst thing in the world, is it?

The sun is shining and my sweet little trailer looks even more spacious now that John straightened out the nest of wires behind the T.V. and moved it back against the kitchen counter wall.  Funny how a little thing like this makes such a difference in how much space you have.  He offered to hang the T.V. on the wall for me when he has time so that would be nice.  I have very little counter space in the trailer and that's one small reason I don't like to prepare food for cooking.  Of course, I hardly enjoy cooking at all. 

Anyway,  today started on a good note and I'm sure it will end the same way when our group of fun ladies plays cards tonight. 

Changes

I heard part of an old Buddy Holly song today that struck a personal chord with me.  I looked up the lyrics when I got home and found they weren't about what I thought they were but I'll explain my thoughts any way.

Often in our lives we make changes to our looks, habits, likes and dislikes, etc. to better fit in with a lover or a crowd.  The changes are usually made gradually until we don't know who the heck we are any more.  Then one day, if we're smart, we decide to revert back to the person we started out to be.  If that's not acceptable to the lover or the crowd, then they're not the ones who really care about us.

It is so freeing to just be yourself and not worry about how others see you.  I grew to understand that the people who found fault with me were the losers in the end.  I'm "imperfectly perfect"...(Shelley described John this way).  I believe the imperfections are what makes us more interesting, don't you think?

In the end, if we're not true to ourselves, we're not really living.  

Direct TV

Because I'm so electronically retarded, I go through life these days not quite understanding my utility bills.  For instance, Direct TV, which I just had installed last month.

I paid some kind of installation charge followed by a month's service.  I'd expected the bonus I would receive for 12 months...$20...but, after all those ridiculous taxes, I paid almost $30.  Then came this month's bill which was almost $40 because they'd slipped in (unsolicited) an $8 charge for some kind of insurance.  I called them and they instantly removed the charge from my bill.

Then I sent the payment, minus the new charge, to them.  When I returned from my errand, I checked my e-mail and discovered they'd given me a zero balance even before receiving the payment.  I don't understand...but I won't call them about it, either.

One thing to note...always check your bills and beware of unsolicited services!

Two Days of Family Pride

What a fantastic 2 days at Shelley's.  Kim is visiting for a month so I got to see her on Wednesday and then we all went to see Jake inducted into his high school's honor society.  Jake is 16, brilliant, and hasn't seemed to have gotten himself organized to do his best at school work so it was a surprise to find he's finally hit the mark.

Yesterday we decorated the yard with flowers and tables for the evening's party.  Shelley had hired a restaurant owner/cook to come to the house to cook dinner for 30 guests and it was one of the nicest parties I've ever seen.  The ladies who had graduated with her just amazed me with their accomplishments.

But I'm getting ahead of myself.  All was going perfectly until the moment when we were to leave for Shelley's nurse practitioner graduation ceremony.  John was in the shower and Jake hadn't come home from school.  Shelley was frantic, thinking he'd gone off somewhere with his friends and we would be late for her ceremony.  It didn't get much better when she found out Jake had gone for a haircut!  A lot of angry yelling went on in the privacy of their bedroom until John emerged with a hang dog expression on his face closely followed by Jake's arrival sporting his new haircut.  We all waited patiently for Shelley to emerge, wondering if she would.

We al quietly waited in the car for about 5 minutes until Shelley, stone faced, climbed into the car.  Now I love my son-in-law, John, with all my heart but I'm not crazy about his driving...even when he's calm.  He raced through city streets, around corners, cutting off various vehicles, in an attempt to get to the university as quickly as possible.  The atmosphere was chill plus terror as I kept my big mouth shut but thought a lot!

We were among the first people to arrive at the ceremony.

There were 14 nurse practitioner students who had worked their butts off for 3 years to achieve their goals and they all looked joyful and thankful their day had come.  The ceremony was lovely and Shelley even won an award for her outstanding pediatric care.  John went up with her to receive her pin and he kissed her full on the lips.  All was well in the world again.

The drive back to their house was much less stressful and a good sized crowd awaited us.  Classmates and their families had been invited back for dinner and the party and the atmosphere reflected the happiness that comes with their reaching a sought after goal.  Apparently they had all been badly treated by one of their professors and Nicole printed out a photo of her and placed it on the pinata for the graduates to whack as hard as they could with a lacrosse stick.  Cheers rang out when the pinata bit the dust and the elegant graduates stomped the crap out of it!  That professor must have been pretty darned horrible!

Kim and I escaped upstairs a little early but we were tired and her poor foot was badly swollen as it usually is at the end of the day.  We watched a few cooking shows on the T.V. in her bedroom because I couldn't figure out how to turn on the one in my (Lisette's) room.  Remember when we only needed to press a button to turn it on and off??

I got up early this morning and tidied the kitchen...the livingroom and yard had been cleaned up the night before.  I took my coffee out on the patio and gloried in the perfect Florida morning.  How fortunate to be able to spend the winter in Florida!

Shelley and John went out with friends for breakfast so I tried to turn on their monstrous family room T.V. to watch the news.  What a laugh...I couldn't figure out how to do it!  Nicole's boyfriend, Sam, wandered in and I asked him if he knew how.  He's an engineer (like Nicole) and he had a difficult time figuring it out but finally managed to do so.  I'm left wondering why we needed a well educated engineer to figure out how to turn a T.V. on.  Hmmm!

Now I'm back at the trailer and thinking of taking a nap before going over to play Bingo tonight.  Life is good!

This and That

One of the great things about meeting with the ladies for coffee on Fridays is that such interesting and surprising subjects come up.  My favorite this week was from Jean.

Jean's mother is in a nursing home and has movies sent to her every so often.  I think they're provided by the public library or some other such source.  Whoever sent the movies sent what they thought suitable for an old gal but they didn't really know Jean's mother who sent a message back to them.

"I'm 102 years old but I'm not dead.  Send me some sex!".

The more I learn about and live old age, the more I appreciate this fabulous time in our lives.  Age is just a number.

Too Hot

Yes, I hate winter because of the cold and blizzards but I also hate the blistering heat we've had in Florida the last few days.  My poor central air conditioner can't keep up with the daytime heat in this little trailer and, if it breaks down on me, it will be replaced with one of those little units because the central air is too expensive.  I don't know how anyone survives here without air conditioning.

We've had a heat wave this week that we don't normally see until April and now I'm worried about what April will bring us.  I don't like cold and I don't like heat, I'd simply like it to be a perfect 75 degrees every day and drop to a comfortable 65 degrees at night for a good sleep.  I've wanted this all my life and seldom gotten it so you can see you don't always get what you want, do you?

Tonight is Bingo and the last evening for Matt and Kellie's visit.  I bet they're anxious to escape the Florida heat for something more comfortable but I'll bet they don't want snow and blizzards, either.

Why can't it just be perfect! 

Downtown Disney

Shelley came over to drive Matt, Kellie and me to Downtown Disney last night and it was a magical evening.  I've always loved Downtown Disney at night but, since I can't see to drive in the dark, it's been at least 3 years since I've been there.  There were changes, of course, but the lights and throngs of happy visitors were still the same.  

We ate at the Earl of Sandwich...yummy!, strolled through the stores where Kellie bought some souvenirs, and finished off the evening with beignets.  We'd been warned to park at Port Orleans and then take the ferry to Downtown Disney because there is lots of construction where parking used to be there and it turned out to be an easy trip.

It did rain on the ferry ride back to Port Orleans but the air was warm so it didn't bother us.  Shelley drove us back to the trailer about midnight and then headed home to Tampa.

Matt had an asthma attack soon after and couldn't sleep so he bounced from the bed in the Florida room to the sofa in the livingroom to the car all night.  I haven't seen him this morning but I'll bet he's exhausted.

Today is my last Friday coffee morning and it's pretty foggy outside.  I hope it clears before 10 A.M.

They're Here

Matt and Kellie arrived here yesterday and it was soooo good to see them.  Matt is a gentle giant who is more like a son to me than a grandson and Kellie, his girlfriend, seems to have been put on this earth to be his soul mate.  He's happier than I've seen in a very long time.

They played Bingo with us last night but, unfortunately, didn't win but there's always tomorrow's Bingo!  Today I'm taking Kellie shopping to all the good, low priced shops around here...I know where they all are!  Then Shelley is driving in from Tampa to go to Downtown Disney with us.  I absolutely love Downtown Disney but haven't been there in a few years.

Matt took down the old blind in the livingroom and replaced it with the new one so I once again have privacy in my little trailer and it doesn't look like trailer trash any more.  The handyman I called to do the job never showed up!  I always have trouble getting someone to do small jobs like this since Sylvia's Mickey doesn't do them any more.  I know he would have done this for me but he's hurting from various things and I didn't want to ask him.

Well, it's 8:18 A.M. and the kids are still sleeping.  I expected as much and it doesn't matter what time we go shopping.  We just have to be home when Shelley gets here!