Dec. 27, 2011

Time to choose my next wall calendar. Have five or six freebies, but none of them really catch my eye. Maybe I'll combine pictures from a couple of them to make one I like. :-)

I'm convinced finally that I'm not adopted. When I reached 70 and had no sign of the Milano/Wierman/Sterner...skin cancer, I figured I must not really belong to those families. Well, went to the dermatologist in Dec., and he did a biopsy on one spot on my forehead. I received a report that it is Basel Cell Carcinoma, and I have an appointment to go in next month to decide how we're going to get rid of it. As far as I know, I was the last one in our generation to get it.

Got a surprise a few weeks ago when I discovered a young fellow, who helps me out now and then, had put Christmas lights on the house. When the kids were young, we used to put some on the porch and around the window, but we've never had them on the roof. They sure look cheery when I come home at night.

Both Trina and Lita came for Thanksgiving. On Thanksgiving we ate with Bill at the facility, but the next day we went to a local restaurant and got take-out. Bill really liked that, because we got him chicken cacciatori.

Trina didn't make it for Christmas, but Lita did. We ate most of our meals with Bill. Watched some TV and a movie with him, and on Sunday night went to the theater to see Alvin and the Chipmonks in "Chipwrecked". Missed "Happy Feet Two", but may still get a chance to see it. If not, Lita can get it for us from Netfliz.

We're getting a very wet snow on top of rain, so expect a slippery world tomorrow. The porch is more slippery than it's ever been, 'cause I had it painted last year. Think next summer I'll have another coat put on and then sprinkle sand on it. I remember Mom did that with her porch and it really made a difference.

Went to a house tour in Frankenmuth a few weeks ago. Won a prize from Harry and David's. Imagine my surprise to find out that rather than winning chocolates, I won a basket full of Yankee candles. Very nice gift for anyone who burns candles, and a lot healthier for me than chocolates. :-)

Well, that about does it for this time. Hope you all had a great Christmas and will have a blessed New Yesr.

Oct. 28, 2011

Oh how time passes--whether you're having fun or not.

Have seen Jerry Garcia (gospel singer) three times since I last posted. One time he came to the care facility and performed there.

Have had a bunch of doctor appointments and more to come, but mostly regular check-ups. One good piece of news is that although I'd gone five or six years since having my bone density test, there were no negatives on it. The nurse says that is extrordinary for my age. (Probably all that ice cream I work into my diet.)

Lita came home Sep. 20-Oct. 1. Went through most of the kitchen cupboards. Threw out a lot of out-dated stuff, and donated a box of current stuff I wouldn't use to the local food pantry. Bill bought a lot of things I don't use. Besides, I eat out too much to need much food in the house. Sometimes think I should eat at home more, but my food costs are way down even with all I eat out. Can eat for $1.05 at Taco Bell and less than $2 at Mickey D's. Never was too fussy about what I ate, and don't usually get tired of any food, either. Lita also taught me to always take half of my meal home, so I usually have a meal for the next day.

Back to rocking babies while mothers enjoy a few hours w/o them. This year most of them are pretty calm and easy to handle. Have only done it once in Reese. Twice they called and said they would only have one baby, so a local woman would do it.

The girls planned a surprise birthday party for me this year. A friend asked if I would take her to the bed and breakfast where one of the ladies does alterations. When we walked in, four more of my friends were already there. Had a good lunch, but the highlight was that Bill had told Lita where the recipe was for the white, lemon-filled cake with Aunt Jenny's 7-minute frosting was. She took the recipe over and that was the cake we had. That was the one Mom always made for our birthdays when I was young. Bill made it for me a few times, but I have never tried it. I received three gift certificates to my favorite restaurant--It costs more than $2, but gives me two meals. :-)

Bill is doing pretty well and seems quite content. I try to make it over for at least a while five days a week. We often watch an 8:00 TV program before I come home. I've taken my (turquoise) bean bag over, so we get comfortable. Biggest problems we have are he doesn't like them unplugging his lift chair (so he can't forget and try to get up by himelf) and taking pills. I figure that if that is the worst, we're in pretty good shape. His sister and brother-in-law came one afternoon and spent a few hours with us.

Took three other ladies to see Dolphin's Tale. Loved it! Wish they had a lot more of that type.

Lita is in town this week end. We haven't actually made plans, but know we're going to take a McRib Sandwich up to Bill. She also has a documentary on Wolverines that features the one which lived here in the thumb for about six years. Looking forward to that.

Janet

September 11, 2011

Today is a day in infamy, on the level of Pearl Harbor. May everyone feel the unity that we on that day ten years ago, and honor those heroes that gave their lives for others, along with those who lost so much on that day.

This has been a good week for me. Sunday I went to my cousin Fernie's, where my brother, Jerry, and his wife, Laura; my cousin, Bruce, and his wife, Dorothy; my cousin, Arlene; and my cousin Lloyd's widow and daughter all met. Had a great time catching up on each other, and looking at photos of past reunions. So glad I've found someone who will come spend some time with Tilly. May be able to do a little more traveling now.

Have had a great time taking care of and/or playing with two German Short-hair pointer, five poodles, a beijon frieze, a beijon/Maltese mix, a samoyd, and a kitty that reminds me of George.
Also picked up pears and walnuts and picked green beans. My fridge is full of healthy food, now.

This afternoon Daniel came by with a friends' red convertible and took me for a drive. Been a long time since I've ridden in one of those. Reminded me of the ride us kids took in Richie's white convertible on Christmas day, but was much more comfortable weather.

Still need to wrap and send penguins, clear off the kitchen table so I (hopefully) don't lose and bills, clean up the living room so I can start a monthly game day with some friends and go out and pull up the golden rod and night shade that has taken over my yard and garden. Trumpet Vine is getting out of control, too.

Having a bit of trouble settling down tonight. Maybe I'll go try again. Night.

August 27, 2011

Bill invited me over to watch "National Treasure" with him tonight, but instead I went over, ate supper with him then headed to a gospel concert with Doug Day. Couldn't believe how few people were there! But, he sang as if he had a full house. Wish he came to this area more than once a year.

Haven't said anything about Medicaid because I didn't want to jinx us. Looks like Bill is eligible beginning April 1. Last week, on consecutive days, I got copies of the same paperwork, although the numbers were different on each. So, still waiting to see what (if) they decide. Still planning to have a hearing and see if we can't get it retroactive to the first of the year. Sure will be glad when it is all over. Then, I'll have to start working on figures for the yearly review.

Not much else happening here, except getting the last of the penguins ready to mail out. Gonna miss searching for those in the antique stores. :-)

July 30, 2011

Been a busy few days. Lita took off a couple days from work and came to town Wed. evening. We had dinner with Bill on Wed., then took him a pulled pork B-B-Q from Subway on Friday. She went over to watch a movie with him tonight, so I'm catching up a little.

We cleaned out 7 1/2 shelves of kithen cupboards. Got some more stuff set aside for the next garage sale. Even threw away a few things--like spices that Bill and I had before we were married nearly 44 years ago. :-)

Sorted several bags of books and have nearly two paper grocery bags ready to take to a friend whose church is having a book sale in August. Have several more boxes I'm going to go through and see if I can part with some more.

Got all of the West Bend Penquins out of the closet where they were stored. Going to parcel them out to some of the family members who don't have one. Lita found an article on them which says they are now selling for $40 - $80 apiece in antique stores. Sure glad we started buying them when they were $5 - $10, although I think the last one we bought was around $20. Right now they are sitting all around my living room. Kind of pretty, but hard to walk around. :-)

She also took (will take) a couple boxes of my Sharing God with Young Children books back to Grand Rapids. She knows a lady who is passing them out to Mothers of Preschoolers (MOPS). That cleared out quite a spot in the corner of her former bedroom. Going to meet her at Bill's around 10:30 tomorrow morning. She's going to take off for Grand Rapids when his lunch comes--I'm going to skip church and have lunch with him.

That's about it for now. Maybe I'll go sort some books before bed.

July 26, 2011

Went up to Hart for a couple days to spend some time with Jerry and his family. Was great to see all of the kids and get reacquainted with the older ones and meet the new ones. Didn't get in the sun, because I'd been on medication that reacts to the sun. While they were in the sun at the beach, I napped up in the trees. We celebrated a couple of birthdays and just had a good time visiting and catching up.

Had people coming three times a day to feed and baby Tilly. She seemed to do pretty well. I may even think about getting away a bit more.

This week I am caring for a friend's dogs in the morning and early afternoon. Their son takes care of them after work and in the evening. Got a shock this morning to find a pile of pills on the living room floor when I got there. Picked up all I could find after checking between the couch cushions and down in the cracks around the cushions in the chairs. Out of 200, I found 196 1/2 pills. The dogs didn't act strangely when I went back in the afternoon, so didn't take them to the vet. Call an animal poison control hot line, but they wanted $65 to answer my question, so didn't ask them anything. They have quite a group: 2 German Short-hair pointers and a toy poodle.

Bill is doing about the same. He's very good about understanding when I call and tell him I'm not going to make it that day. Try to make it about 5 times a week, but don't always. His birthday was the 21st. The girls sent him a gorgeous arrangement of flowers. They had already gotten him an Ipod earlier in the year. He sure enjoys that. Hard to know what to get him, there isn't much he needs. Take him snacks a couple of times a week, but have to watch, because we don't want him to gain weight.

Not much else to write about, so will close for now. Hope everyone is enjoying the summer.

July 11, 2011

Still waiting to hear from Medicaid. Personnally I think they're dragging their feet because I didn't play nice, but the gal in my lawyer's office says that isn't true. They had told me they have 45 days in which to process an application. The first one took the full 45 days. The second one took less than two weeks (did it before I got all the info in that they asked for) and now, this one has been around 60 days. Linda says that 45-day thing is just an in-house goal, it's nothing they can be held to.

Had a garage sale in June. Three of us had stuff in it. Made $200d dollars all together. Now, I'm unpacking some of the "old" stuff we have. Going to call a few antique dealers and see if they will come check it out. If they all say it's not worth buying as antiques, I'll put it in the next garage sale. Had half-planned to have a second garage sale this summer, but may wait until next year. (If I'm not here then, someone else can worry about it.)

Spent most of July 1 & 2 in the emergency room. The first day the doc told me to take a laxative. Said "You are not dehydrated. You are not cantagious." The second day a different doctor told me "You are dehydrated. You have a form of the flu. (means I'm contagious) You have a urinary infection."

On the 8th, went to my optomitrist and discovered I have an eye infection. Think I'll hibernate for a couple weeks and see if I can start this month over from the beginning. :-)

Other than that, things are pretty much the same around here. Hope all of you are having a great summer.