Books

I loved to read. From grade school on I read library books daily. Trips to the library with Marcheta, my cousin, would result in bringing home as many books as they would let us check out. I can't remember the number but it was limited.

I used to end up with some strange fiction, chosen only because of the title. Marcheta said I had a gift of picking out strange stories.

Lately I haven't read many books. The last was Doris Kearns Goodwin's "A Team of Rivals." Too much television, computer time and crocheting cancelled out reading.

This morning I finished reading "Rosemary, The Hidden Kennedy Daughter" by Kate Clifford Larson. The book was sent to me by our niece and I thank her for that. The sad story of medical practices in the 1930's and '40's was frightening. It was just a case of not knowing what they thought they knew. Does that make sense?

It is very revealing to read how the wealthy lived, treated their children and carried on their lives.
During Rosemary's early teens and twenties, the rest of the siblings did not know what care was being given to her. And none of them knew about the surgery that disabled her. Her mother, Rose, had priorities that didn't help the situation.

The end result of the tragic story is that through the work of her sisters and brothers, great progress was made in the treatment of persons suffering with mental problems of all kinds. President Kennedy and Senator Ted Kennedy both were behind legislation to confront the problems. But Eunice Kennedy was the one who deserves the most credit. She formed organizations even before the laws were passed. I admire her the most of all the family members.

A very interesting book

Friday and Almost the End of March

I was up early after going to bed very early last night. I wish I had a regular schedule for sleeping.

In some ways it's nice to not have to live by the clock. It's probably more healthful to have a regular
time for bed and arising!

Our neighbor's back yard looks so pretty and green. We can see it because the wooden fence blew down on March 6th. The replacement with hog wire, that was built by a hog driver, lets us see her whole yard.  I imagine she will be glad when the new privacy fence is in place because she won't be able to see what a disaster our yard is. No fertilizer or watering yet this season so it's very brown.

We need rain.

Thursday, the day After

The surprises continue. Two packages today - both contained food. Beet chips and chocolates.

If you don't like beets, never mind. But if you do like them, these are so good - and healthy!

And then there are the See's chocolate. My weakness.

Thank you Taylor and JoAnn.

Still chilly but slightly sunny.

And light bulbs keep burning out. This last one was shaped like the old fashioned ones but was an
LED. It went out but still glowed. Can't figure that one out. We'll see how long this one lasts over the desk.

Birthday Today

I think  this may be one of the first pictures of me and my mom.  I was about five months old when they adopted me in September. There are still leaves on the trees but we are dressed warmly.

I've had a great day with texts, phone calls, posts on Facebook and flowers and fudge and a balloon delivered to the door! One call was from the sister of a friend who lived in Florida and died a few years ago. Jane said she got message from Carlene to call me. How nice is that?

Of course, there was some Skyping between here and Omaha, California and New Jersey! I really enjoy all this technology that let's us keep in touch.

Thanks, friends and family!

A Trip to the Clinic

Nothing important but a trip to pick up a prescription that we had left yesterday. The doctor was out so we needed to go back today. I was planning on going after lunch but was out-voted.

It's cold (42) and cloudy. Spring has left us until perhaps tomorrow when it may be in the low sixties.

At the clinic there was a long wait and then the news that the doctor had just returned from making rounds at the hospital and hadn't written the RX yet.

So, we'll go back this afternoon.

Birthdays

Today is the birthday of my friend in Texas. JoAnn and I have known each other since the fifth grade. We have a lot of memories of crazy things we did at school, church camp and through high school.

Once when we were dragging Main in my folks '34 Plymouth, Tilly, we got out to get an ice cream cone. Yes, there were times when you actually had to get out of the car and walk in a place to buy a snack. We returned to the car and were driving up Main, when two friends from church, quietly raised up in the back seat and about gave us both a heart attack. I saw them in the mirror and yelled something - no swear words - we actually did not swear. Then Jo saw them and she hollered. They were laughing like idiots and we were actually mad after we recovered. It's I wonder that I  didn't wreck that little car. They had seen us go into the ice cream store and got in the back seat.
Now when I see that scene in A Few Good Men where the officer is sitting in the back seat of Tom Cruise's car, I can identify with Tom's character.

After we were all grown up, we lived near each other in Friesen's First Addition. Our kids played together. She had two girls; we had two boys. Our first son was born nine months to the day after she  had their first daughter. I told her that must have inspired me because we had been married almost seven years and had given up on having any kids. Then the second two arrived within six weeks of each other.

 She used to brag that she was two days older. Now I brag that I'm two days younger. Zsazsa Gabor used to say, "Never trust a woman who tells you her correct age." I don't agree with that. I'll tell my age and hope Jo isn't offended. Today she is 87 and I will be on Wednesday.  Happy Birthday, Jo!

Sunday

I keep hearing about all the problems with Facebook.

Who knew that a deal on the computer that I use to see recipes, share pictures of Germany and dogs with friends and enjoy some crazy cartoons was being used to influence people to vote?

I have never "liked" any particular item advertised for sale (at least I don't remember doing that.) I mostly ignore the ads and get irritated when some musical ad pops up unannounced.

I did notice that if I googled a particular item (think printer) I will see an ad for that printer appear. Cross contamination.

I guess I am so naïve, ignorant and unobservant that they'll never bother with influencing me.

I made up my mind who I was going to vote for a long time ago and Facebook had nothing to do with it.

Saturday

It's late in the day. We didn't get out of the house today except to get the mail at the curb.

A long day with many marches across the country and a few places in the world. If only something positive could come from this but the rage that makes these persons attack others will  still be present in their minds if all the guns were melted. Isn't that what the Bible says?
Swords into plowshares?

No answers.

Early Birthday Dinner

We traveled to a favorite restaurant where we hadn't eaten a meal since last year. They send me a card to celebrate my date of birth - a free meal with the purchase of another meal. A nice gesture and a nice trip "out."

Who knew that when you order a baked potato the waitress will ask if you want it loaded? Sure. Who wants only butter on a baked spud?

Imagine my surprise when I saw on the bill an extra charge for sour cream, grated cheese and bacon bits. The six items all came in cute little metal containers, ready for us to pile them on ourselves.

They weren't that cute.

Thursday and some Sunshine

We ran an  errand early this morning. Early for us, that is. About 9:30 we headed to south to another town named the same as ours but with the direction added to the name. One of my friends used to live in South Hutchinson and she said people would ask her if that was a separate town, or did they have to put South on the address? I guess when we live here it's not confusing to us. I have heard of East St. Louis, Illinois. Not that IS confusing.

Anyway, our tax preparer works in South Hutch so it's a nice little drive down with minimal traffic. That is one nice thing about living here. Very few traffic jams or long waits at signal lights. There is one exception to that last item. The light at Eleventh Street, Lorraine and Highway K61. Locals will know that there should have been an overpass there and at 4th, 17th and 30th. I guess at the time they were saving money but I have heard the main reason is that they thought people traveling the (minor) highway would not exit and come into town to spend their money if there were overpasses. Very short sighted.

We picked up our tax returns and we don't have to pay any extra. Next was picking up peanuts for the squirrels and a can of almonds for us.

Home for now until we leave for the airport restaurant to get a free steak dinner for me (with purchase of another meal) We'll eat early to avoid the crowds, just like all the old timers.

Wednesday

Nothing exciting is happening here which is a good thing. My Skype buddy in New Jersey may be getting some snow. It's funny how the national weather mentions Washington D.C. and New York but they skip over Jersey. I guess they think we know it's somewhere in between the two and we can figure out it must be doing the same thing there that it is doing on the rest of the coast. I did hear that parts of the New Jersey coast may have tides higher than usual but they did not identify the locations.

Lee's sister lives near, but high above, some water that rises with the tide. I forget what it's called but it's not a bay. I'll have to check the Google map.

Later:

The map tells me it's a pond.  Now is that so hard to remember?

First Day of Spring?

I thought it was always the twenty-first of March. Maybe they changed it.

I'm trying to stay positive but it seems like we have a lot of news that is not good.

If this kind of stuff happens in other countries, I wish the news stations would cover it.  Or are we the only one?

Stay safe.

Kind of Nothing Day

I went to bed early last night and slept almost eleven hours. I wonder if I'm caught up now.

We have no schedule. Is that bad? We eat when we think we're hungry, nap some and do chores in between.

Retirement is pretty neat.

Here's Johnny!

I like this painting of Johnny Carson that appeared on the front of TV guide in an unknown year.

I was going through an old file case where I have some of the weirdest things that I must have wanted to save. This one was torn from the guide and put in the file under J.

I liked watching him back in the time when I could hardly stay up that late because I was working and had to get up in the morning. We later have learned that Johnny was not as he seemed to be. Not as friendly and kind in real life -  nobody's perfect. He gave most of us a lot of enjoyment and laughs in the character he played on his show. He was an interviewer who brought out the stories of his guests by letting them talk! And, let them tell their funny stories without butting in - at least that's the way I remember it. Some folks today who make their living on television could learn from the method of letting the guest talk without interruption!  Just my thought for the day.

Later:
I just returned from the store where I buy yarn. One of the colors I had chosen, Minty, was nowhere to be found in the Red Heart section. Another woman was there searching for colors and we began to talk about merchants not having enough of one color at certain times. We discussed what I was looking for and she suggested another store that also sells yarn. I left with a substitute color and went to the most distant cash register to avoid the "check out yourself" aisles.

Behind me I hear, "Is this the Minty you were wanting?" Here is this tiny little woman with a delightful East European accent holding a skein of yarn. It was a different brand but it was the right color. I thanked her and then she offered to take back the skein that I had picked as an alternate! I told her how sweet she was to be so helpful!!  What a nice thing to do.

It's no short jaunt back to the yarn aisle!

Happy St. Patrick's Day

This little guy makes me smile. Reminds me of my first dog, Wiggles, who was a toy fox terrier. The card came from a granddaughter and she knows I would appreciate the yarn!

Happy Day to all the grands, family and friends.

Early Warmth and Wind

At 9:00 a.m. it was already fifty-eight degrees and very windy. The high will only be 65 after an 80 degree high yesterday. Our weather tends to be on a roller coaster.

Early today we were off to the meat market on West 6th to buy some corned beef for tomorrow. I already have the cabbage so we are all set. 

I have a post card from the airport restaurant to get a free steak dinner before the end of the month. This offer is with an additional dinner purchased at the same time. I hope we can manage to work this into our busy schedule. I enjoy steak if someone else grills it.

Food seems to be on my mind. We had a great pizza last night from our local pizza guy, Ken. It is so close to our house that we could walk it if we were able to go four blocks! The only down side is that Someone gives bites to the dogs and then we have some messes to clean up. Greasy cheese does not set well with canines. It's probably the same with humans but it has never made us sick. And it is so good!

Throw Back Thursday

This is a photo of Wally, a rescue dog we had. He was just about the perfect dog, loveable and easy to care for. Sadly we lost him in 2010.

The big outing today was to pick up a prescription for me at the drive-through pharmacy. I had a five dollar bill in my hand. When the clerk said "twenty-one cents," I about fainted and grabbed two dimes a penny from the pile of change between the seats.

We are so blessed.

Wednesday

Another trip to the clinic. All is fine with everything they check (!) Oxygen is low but it always is and that's probably why I feel tired all the time. Evidently it is not low enough to qualify me for one of those portable units. I do get O 2 at night. . . .

Cold this morning but 66 degrees at almost three o'clock.

Nothing exciting has happened today which is really good news.

A Surprise in the Mail

Yesterday we received a large, heavy box from our number two son. (I only call him that because he was the second offspring to arrive.) Both of them are #1 in our opinion!

He knew that my printer used ink at an alarming rate even when I was not printing anything. A suggestion that I print something every other day or so did not seem to work out. So the Epson which had multiple uses; print, copy, scan and fax, sat idle.

In the large box was a laser printer. The struggle to get the inner box out of the shipping carton was something you don't want to see. After a sliced finger (who knew cardboard could be so sharp?) we succeeded. We also remembered the furniture slides out in the garage so those were used to move the mass to the "office."  (Third small bedroom.)

The enclosed instruction sheet fastened to the innards of the printer looked like a cartoon. Simple enough to follow. It must have been the distraction of the cut finger but it looked quite involved. I talked to the sender and drank some sweet tea. After feeling revived, I sat down and followed all the steps. Parts out, tape removed, parts reinstalled, plugged in to PC and electrical outlet. Then help from the West! By phone and by linking in to the computer, our son did the part I could never have done: find the driver, install it and make the thing work!

Oh Happy Day!

The first thing I printed was a recipe. The font size on the document seemed small so I enlarged it and hit print.  Whirring and printing and the paper shot out. Suddenly it shot right back in! What the heck? And then here it came again. I picked it up and the process had been to put the content which was too large for one page, on the reverse!  Wow!

I love new stuff.

Visit to the Clinic

Some days are just about the same as other days.

But today we had an appointment with our family doctor. Lab at 9:30 and meet the doc at 10:30.
Since we live so close by, we decided to come back home for the hour.

That worked out just fine. (Someone is so worried the dogs are going to get out despite the fact we have a wonderful fence replacing the downed section.) All tests checked out o.k. Same complaints and same answers.

A phone message tells me that I will be getting an email from the insurance company with the amount they will allow for the storm damage. That was at 9:30 this morning.  So far (4:40 p.m.) no email.

We'll see what they offer.

A large package arrived by mail. Very heavy. Luckily we have some of those sliders to move furniture so we were able to glide it into the dining room. I think I am going to need help setting it up.


Oh. It's a new laser printer!

Outdated?

We have some Ensure in our refrigerator with the "use by" date of 2014.

I believe I'll throw it out.

Some new Slim Fast which was bought this week will take its place.

I wonder how long it will live there before we throw it out.  Maybe four years.

The Check's in the Mail

Yesterday Lee received a letter from a well known veteran's association. Inside besides a letter was a check for $2.50 made out to him. We thought that was odd. Neither one of us read the letter then.

Later I picked the letter up and read the whole thing. The deal is, they would like to have us send the check back with an additional donation. The main idea is that most people won't read the letter and will just cash the check. (Yep, that would have been us.) Flattering him, they stated they "couldn't just send real checks you can actually cash to everyone. But I knew if I sent one to you, you would read my letter understand how urgent the need is and return it to me."

Guess what we did.

Seventy-three is Springlike

What a beautiful day. No wind and a very warm day.  We've spent part of the day outside.

There was also a long discussion about printer ink with one son. Outcome: it costs too much and when you don't use it for days at a time, it dries up.

A sad conclusion.

Fence Down and Back Up

By 7:00 a.m. our son in Texas knew about our fence. He came to the rescue (400 miles) and built what we called a hog fence from wire and metal stakes from Orscheln's farm store!  The dogs can't get out. Our neighbor has a call in to a fence company to get an estimate on repairs.

After the new fence was in place, the wooden one went back onto the ground.

A million thanks to our son. As he said, we need a handy man. We have tried to use one before for another project but I called him three times and each time he assured us we were still on his list. That was last September. I guess you have to keep calling....and calling.

So son is headed back south this morning after we experienced an earth quake at 4:42 (or 4:48) Sounded like someone dropped something on the house.  Ahhhh, Kansas.

Doggy Day Care

Because the fence blew down, we cannot let our spoiled dogs use the doggy door as they have for the last ten years here.

It's been an adjustment for all of us. Jack and Jill do not like the harnesses they are wearing. I do not like removing and reapplying them every time they need to "go out."

So yesterday was quite an experience. Standing in the back yard with the winds gusting to 45 - 60 (according to the weather report) and hoping we didn't have to stay out in that gale for more than five minutes was not too much fun.

Last night at 1:00 a.m. there was no wind but it was very cold.

This morning at 6:00, a slight, breeze, half a moon and 20 degrees.


We need someone to put up a temporary fence!

Kansas - Land of the South Wind?

We had to run an errand. The wind is blowing dust and the sweet girl at the grocery asked me if that was smoke out there?  For now, at least, it's dust.

I was holding the door very carefully while putting the groceries in the side. Well, the wind was stronger than I am and it got away. Finally got it shut and staggered around to the driver's side, fighting the gusts

and the first thing I hear is, "I hope the door isn't broken."

So do I. Instead of using the back doors of the van where I thought the exposure to the gusts would be worse, I used the side. You just never know.

Weather channel says winds 23 - 45 mph with gusts to 60. High fire danger.

Folks, be careful out there.

The photo was taken on a much calmer day. Today the flags are straight out and straining.

And now we have a downed fence. No letting the dogs out on their own. There is a gate open to the front on the neighbor's side so we are leashing the outside visits.  We need someone to put up something!!!!

French Bread Failure

Three Brunettes

This picture is from 1954. My mother-in-law, sister-in-law and I are hanging out sometime around Christmas.
The tree has the old icicles, the couch has the granny square afghan and the wall has two pictures of Judy; one as a baby and one drawing as a teen.

I had been married for two years and returned to Emporia to stay with my new family while I finished my last year of college. To report that my parents were disappointed when I got married and dropped out of my senior year at KSTC - well, you can imagine. So after two years, I still remembered enough Spanish and French to pass some courses and get my degree.  I will always be grateful that Evelyn and Leland let the new bride share their home. Their son was working hard for the FAA in KC, Farmington, MO, and finally DDC.

All these young ladies, eventually became older ladies with white hair.

Lazy Saturday

I got up early but decided that I hadn't had enough rest/sleep so back to bed for a long nap.

It's warm outside so we may have to go "somewhere!"

Caught My Eye

I saw this at a local store. Since I don't shop much, I don't see clothes for sale.

Is this a shirt, short dress, nightie? It looks loose and that's what I like over my sweat pants or mom jeans.

Cute Jars

I am a sucker for coupons. Our store sends them to us by mail, hands them to us when we pay the cashier and puts them online. So we got one for Oui yogurt - buy one, get one free.

I tried the coconut and it was very tasty. The peach looks good too.

I washed the jar and the label peeled right off. Too bad there is no lid. The foil lid would not reconnect.