Another Friday Night....

After going on the two studies for my friends, I called Jeri to let her know I was on the way. She told me to take my time and pick up some lunch because hospice and the home health nurse were there. So I took my time and when I arrived, she was getting into the shower. After the nurse left, one of her sweet sons (one of 5 boys and 3 girls) stopped in. He picked her up some Won Ton soup after which she decided to take a nap. I had brought a book I've been plugging along in and before long I was snoozing a little too. After two phones calls, we gave that up. We talked about how happy we were that one of her sons who just had by-pass surgery this week was now in a room and that Gail's friend's surgery went very well. Gail called later and told me to go on the back porch and yell across the yards to her hubby to answer his phone. She was also planning to go to the other hospital to visit Jeri's son who was now in a private room and no longer in ICU. Her grandson, Keith, came in later so after a little visit with him, I came on home. I called Kurt to get caught up and then opened a bottle of wine. BigD had called and told me not to wait - the chili was almost done and to go ahead an open my wine because he had a ride home. This is the apron BigD's friend's "girlfriend" gave BigD. It's true - he is a grilling machine. He has promised me we are definitely going to have his famous BBQ chicken tomorrow night. Yum. His friend gave him a huge block of sharp cheddar cheese in this box so BigD and Page are going to have fun in a few weeks. I know Page took today off to sleep in and get a few things done. Hope she is having a great day.I wanted her to see the other sweater she brought me to the coast. Yep - the girl has a real eye for sizes. It never ceases to amaze me how she can just "know" something is going to fit someone else. I got a lot of compliments last night. I had to pray real hard last night about getting up and out of here to go to the meeting. I'm so glad it worked - it was just what I needed. Isn't it funny how we tend to fight against the very thing we need? Now to share this sweet picture one of my favorite young men shared with me via his telephone last night at the hall. He had taken it earlier this year at a party we were at and wanted me to see it. I asked him to "crop it" and send it over so I could share it with my babies. What a wonderful young man he has become. He has a wonderful wife and daughter and is making his Mama proud every day. I just got off the phone with my dear friend - Gerl. I miss her SO MUCH!!!! Her Mom came home from the hospital after suffering a stroke and seems to be improving but I MISS HER SO MUCH! We had fun dissing everyone and getting caught up so I guess I'll turn in too. Miss you Gerl......

45th Wedding Anniversary, 50th Friday of 2010....

Wow - it is so hard to believe that it has been that many years since that Friday night so long ago. We had taken that day off from work and I had to get my hair fixed just right for the little hat I had bought and BigD had gone hunting with his older brother. We were just going to go somewhere and get married but it was important to his Mom that we get married in the church we were members of. So we talked to the minister and he and his wife offered their home to us for the tiny little wedding we had there. My Dad gave me some money (before he went to the treatment center) and I bought a sweet little cream colored lace dress, low heeled shoes to match and a bow with netting attached to go over my teased hair. My Mom called in to say she would be coming to work late (she worked the second shift at one of the local tobacco factories) and when we arrived, the minister's wife took me to their bedroom to wait. She gave me a blue pop bead to put into my bra for something borrowed and something blue. She told me to walk into their living room when I heard the music (from their record player). I had called BigD earlier to tell him I had forgotten to order flowers so he came by the house before we left for the parsonage and my Mom would not let me come out of the bedroom. He had gone to a florist and bought a beautiful bouquet of yellow roses for me to hold while we got married. He left them with my Mom and she told him to give us time to get to the parsonage earlier than he did. I was so nervous and it felt like I waited an eternity. When the music started, I almost had a panic attack. I looked around and realized my only way out would be the window so I just took a deep breath and walked out the door into my new life. I came out of their bedroom and walked around the corner toward BigD and the minister. It wasn't until the little service was over that I realized who was there - my Mom, my sister Rose and her two little ones, my sister Ruth and her hubby (with the camera) BigD's older sister, GG, and older brother and his Mom and Dad. After the little service, BigD's brother and Ruth's hubby said we needed to go back to BigD's parent's house. So we drove there and they had bought a bottle of champagne and Ruth's hubby took pictures. How sweet was that? BigD's Mom had no idea that would happen and really didn't approve of the champagne in coffee cups but I treasure those few pictures I have to remember that night. I gave my beautiful flowers to my niece Moni, we went to Mom's to change and off we went to the Outer Banks. I borrowed a nice suit from Eileen and wore my older sister's Mouton Coat (that looked like a real fur coat) to go away in. We had a '56 Chevy and stopped at a drive-in for a hamburger on the way. We finally stopped at a motel in a small town about half-way to the coast and spent our first night. The next day we drove forever until we found a place to eat breakfast and got to the beach later that evening where we got a room right on the beach. The next day we drove all the way down the Outer Banks after which we headed back toward home. We spent that night in the same hotel and when we got up, realized there was a nice restaurant right across the street where we got breakfast. I guess love was blind the first morning. :-) We got back home and were back at work on Monday. I guess I need to dig those few little pictures Ruth's hubby took and scan them into the computer before next year. We were just babies but we were in love. Our children will never understand what the world was like back then. There were so many changes going on around us and the war in Vietnam was going strong. John Kennedy had been shot which brought great anxiety to the younger generation who had put so much hope in the changes he had tried to bring about. As teenagers, we had cried our hearts out until the anxiety had abated enough to realize the world wasn't coming to an end - yet. BigD had joined the Navy Reserve to avoid being drafted into the Army and we only had a little bit of time together before he would be gone for varying periods of time. We weren't always on the same page and the first year was extremely hard and at times I honestly thought we wouldn't make it. Before that first year ended, something came into my life that changed everything. What would have been impossible before was made possible. So our life together began and it has been an interesting ride - so far. Am I glad? Oh yes - I'm so glad.

what a difference a day makes.....

Okay - so it's almost winter but not quite - so what's up with the freezing weather we are having? Yesterday was gorgeous but when you got out of the car, the wind would cut right through you. I love this picture of Atlantic Beach and actually, I love the beach during the winter months. I think we felt that it would be awhile before the temps got down in the teens though. Eileen called yesterday to say they were on their way back down to the coast to check on the new windows they had installed in their cottage. I hope they love them as much as I think they will. I told Eileen how much I love going down in the winter and she and I might just slip away for a week after the first of the year if the cottage is more comfortable to them than it was before the new windows. Even though it felt great to be out all day yesterday, I woke up this morning with another headache. Not sure if it is another migraine or just the dry heat making my nose feel bad too. Guess we need to put some water on the stove to get some moisture in the air. Man I am disappointed. I had to be here all day on Monday for the new fridge but felt like I was getting back on schedule with yesterday - ergo, the title of my blog today. I love that word - ergo. I use it often now but when I first used it with Kurt, he said, "been working the crossword puzzles again Mom?". :)After the pioneer meeting with our local elders last night, Luz and I dropped by to see Jer. I love this picture of her with one of her great-granddaughters. She has a hospital bed now but still looks good. Her beautiful granddaughter was also with her - what a special young woman she is. It turns out her husband is related to me on my Dad's side - so we are cousins several times removed. I don't like to brag but he a such a good husband and Dad. I talked with Gail tonight and found out I will be staying with Jer Friday afternoon while she is at the hospital with one of her closest friends who is having surgery. I consider it a huge privilege to be asked as I've felt so helpless and was hoping I could help in some way. Gail has been stretched very thin these past few months. She is a very strong woman in all areas of her life but there is only one of her. I have always admired her and have come to love her deeply. I guess we'll have to buy some more milk before the weekend. Whenever it starts getting cold, I start craving one thing over all else and that is a good cup of premium hot cocoa with a few melted marshmallows in it. I think I'll go grab a cup and work the crossword puzzle I haven't gotten to yet. Hopefully tomorrow will be more productive day.

I LOVE new appliances.....

Okay - the new french door refrigerator has arrived. As I was telling Page in an email earlier, nothing comes into this old house easily. The nice guys who arrived a lot earlier than they thought they would did a great job of taking out the worn out old one until dirty water dripped all over my white carpet followed by the second guy's work boots walking through it. They had to take the front door off and fix the storm door so it would open up wide and honestly - they did the best they could. SO...here is our new baby. I was trying to remember exactly when we bought the old one. Let me just say, she lived a good long life.Take a good look everyone because you will probably never see it looking this clean again. :) They couldn't hook up the water to the ice makers - yep there are two of them - so they got it ready for BigD to drill through the wall to the laundry room where he "rigged" up an attachment to the water in there. As a result, it was left to us to get the big girl into the little spot. If you look closely, you will see she is already making a little ice. She does look nice though doesn't she?

Let it snow, let it snow, let it snow...

So this is how it started earlier today - coming a little earlier than we had anticipated. At first it was very light flurries you can hardly see and I really didn't think it would do anything. It wasn't long before it started looking like this and pretty much stayed the same for awhile. Of course the first thing BigD asks (always) is, "what do you want to eat for dinner tonight" and I didn't hesitate - homemade vegetable beef soup. Whenever it snows, we usually have homemade soup with peanut butter and honey sandwiches and talk about how good the food was when we were in elementary school back in the day. We had ladies who wore hair-nets and cooked real food. We could smell the food down the hallways and always knew when we smelled soup, we would also have peanut butter and honey sandwiches. YUM. I called Ruth to see how she was "coping" with the weather and she really doesn't like it! I told her I sure was hoping the undershirts she bought this week were keeping her warm. She didn't think it was funny at all. Guess when you have lived in Florida for so long, your blood gets thinner and the cold feels colder. Poor baby....BigD took a nap and then went to the store to pick up a few things including the meat for the soup. When he got home, he said the store wasn't crowded and the roads are clear as you can see in the pictures.I love looking at the snow on trees. I tried to get the ones across the road but had on my bedroom shoes and decidedto just catch one of the "mutant holly tree" beside the house. BigD and I have talked about how we need to cut all the little trees sprouting up at its base soon. People used to drive up and ask if they could pull one of those from the ground and try to plant it for themselves.I know they have gotten some snow where Kurt and Leah are but haven't heard from Page and Bentley yet to see if it is snowing there. I did speak to Mae who is still at the beach with Lynn and she said they have seen a few flurries and they are calling for flurries mixed with sleet. I guess winter has come a little earlier this year.

49th Friday, 12 Month, 2010th year....

Let me see - where to begin. I know - with Page2's report card that Leah txt messaged me earlier this week. We are so proud of both Page2 and Leah for all their hard work in getting her to this point. Great Job!!! BigD and I are going to get with Page1 and start "contributing" to the "good grades fund"! As nice as our long weekend at the coast was this past month, we are SO looking forward to our time this month with our babies. Had a really long chat with GG's youngest daughter who is one of mine and BigD's favorite people in the world. She is always such a joy to talk with - full of wit, common sense and news! I'm hoping BigD and I will be getting down to OBX for a short visit after the first of the year. I'm sure we will all have fun.I also had a nice short but sweet FB chat with one of my young friends who is up there close with Page as being one of the strongest young women I know. Isn't she absolutely gorgeous? On top of that, she is tres' smart and brave. I know my friend Roseanne misses her as much as I miss my Page even though we both know they are doing great where they are and we both feel happy and proud for that.I agree - this isn't the best picture of me (taken by an impatient BigD) but I wanted Page to see me wearing one of the nice sweaters today in service that she brought me to the coast. I'll be wearing the other one next week because it is going to be cold, cold, cold. As a matter of fact, I got a txt message from Leah telling me they were having snow flurries and the weatherman just said we are having some snow tomorrow. Anyway - after having a small epiphany yesterday during and after my appointment, I picked Ruth up to go with me out to a huge mall (I hate malls) to pick up an order and we had a nice lunch. We talked about it and even though we like to think we have "freedom of speech" (we had a nice talk about that earlier this week), we both have come to the conclusion there is no such thing as "absolute" freedom of speech unless we don't care about how we make other people feel. I hope her new undershirts are keeping her warmer. :)Lee came by earlier to pick up the "homemade" sausage we ordered for him and his family and he picked up the Martha Stewart dusters and brushes I'm sending to Ann. I love this picture of him with my beloved (yes - I'm giving it to her) Ostrich Feather duster. I hope she likes them but I'm sure there will only be a few she really wants to keep.
BigD and I love Lee - he is absolutely one of the sweetest young men we know. I know he misses his Dad every single day. We are both very proud of him and his lovely bride who are working so hard to create wonderful memories for their two beautiful children while working hard to help their parents and siblings.Lee kept telling us how much Miya liked him and we reluctantly had to tell him she is like this with everyone who walks through the door - especially if she thinks they don't like cats! That is when he told me to look at Ann's blog which broke my heart. She had to help her beloved Zu go to sleep after being her constant companion for 16 years. I cried when I read it as I'm sure she did as she wrote it. Of course there was another entry that wasn't much better pertaining to a little girl who decided to take care of her "poopie" diaper herself without very good results.
So overall, I'm feeling pretty doggone good today - long day in service with good friends, great wine, great dinner, great conversation with people I love and now I'm going to try to get to bed before too late. I'll leave you on the note of one of my favorite song writers.....As we look at his picture we can all "Imagine".......Imagine no possessions; I wonder if you can; No need for greed or hunger; A brotherhood of man; Imagine all the people; Sharing all the world. You may say that I'm a dreamer; But I'm not the only one; I hope someday you'll join us; And the world will live as one.

Dreaded appointment and mall visit - check, check

Really, really didn't want to keep my medical appointment but decided to "bite the bullet" so to speak and get it over with. After waiting with other patients for over an hour, I finally met with one of the PA's I've seen before. He was pleased with the results of the blood test (they aren't concerned about my weight or BP that much). We talked a little about depression, exercise and he answered some more of my questions. It turns out they are going to schedule me another PET scan sometime in April - a year after my first one. We are more interested in the one in my gut area near my liver than the one in my neck. He talked about what kind of treatment I would receive if one of the ones in my neck manifests itself and what side affects, etc., to anticipate. Every one of my visits here have been pretty upbeat - even when talking with others in the waiting room - everyone tries to have a good attitude and they are so much worse off than I am it makes me ashamed and more determined to maintain a better attitude. I had gotten a call saying the shirts I ordered for BigD and Kurt as well as the two dresses I ordered for Page1 were in so I sucked it up and decided to go ahead to the mall to pick them up. I called Ruth and she agreed to go with me. It turns out she wanted to buy something too so I'm glad she agreed to come along. This will also have to be continued since I have to study for the meeting........