Getting Geared Up for The Vacation Song

So I didn't quite accomplish last week's to-do of "Don't get sick."

Today has been the best I've felt in a week.  I'm still blowing my nose a lot and hacking a bit, but the end is near.

Hooray for that.

It's especially good because, after working tomorrow, Lew will be on vacation!  We are both looking forward to his time off.

Now if the weather will just cooperate....

To do:  Get back to 100% health by Thursday.

Big Brother Jerry

I took Marilyn to the vet this morning for her introductory checkup.

She was a big hit!  Everyone loved her.

The vet said that as long as the cats were supervised for a time, I could let Marilyn out of the guestroom and join Jerry in the house.

This afternoon I let her loose!

So far they are doing fine. Jerry spends a lot of time watching her play. They've "stalked" each other a couple times, but all in fun. Then Jerry goes back to just watching her. She's also done a lot of window-sitting.

Jerry is a playful kitty himself, but suddenly he seems much more mature... like he grew up overnight! I guess he knows that he needs to set a good example for the new kitty.

Thank you, Jerry, for being patient and gentle with Marilyn!

Introducing Marilyn

Lew has been hinting about getting another cat. You know, a friend for Jerry....

 

I finally agreed. Although no kitty can ever replace our dear Kurt, it does make sense to increase our cat residency to two again.

 

Lew and I were looking on the Animal Refuge League's website last night. We saw a few candidates, and we adopted one this morning!

 

Marilyn came with her name, but I added a middle name: Monroe, of course!

 

She is about two years old and is a real sweetie. Very playful. She has to live in the guest room for a few days, but she and Jerry have already interacted a bit under the door.

 

Welcome, Marilyn!

 

 

Spot the Kitty

Today I offer you my home's version of "Where is Waldo?"

 

Can you find Jerry in this picture?

 

 

Happy Birthday, Kaelen!

Today is niece Kaelen's 24th birthday, so Throwback Thursday is easy this week.  Enjoy these photos from Kaelen's early days.  (And who are those people in the pics with her? Yikes!)  Smile!

It was love at first sight!

Napping with Aunt Tracy.

Napping with Papa.

Grandma likes to show off her grandchildren!

Aunt Tracy sings a lullaby.

Aunt Debbie is always good for a laugh!

Three sisters and a baby.

The new (and very sleepy) parents.

Happy Birthday, Kaelen!

Dad 259: The Roundup for Today

(I just got home from a shopping trip. I think I may have purchased every cold-fighting item on the market! But it sure is a beautiful day outside. Enjoy Dad's post! ~ Tracy)

 

Derf Here! Well, we all survived the tornado watches and warnings yesterday but had some loud thunder showers. There were a few thousand customers that lost power in Freeport as Route # 1 was closed due to trees coming down. But today is beautiful and we are about to enjoy a few summer-like days. We will enjoy!

 

Josh started work yesterday at the Clambake (a popular local seafood restaurant). I'll hear later today how it went.

 

Hope to see Zack in a few minutes as he will be spraying areas that need to become grassless. Hope I have enough Roundup. If not, it is up to Ace Hardware once again.

 

Tomorrow will be a big test for us as we (Spouse and I) are planning to go out and get haircuts. I will check with Cindy (our haircutter) and make sure she is planning on both of us. Wish us luck. Hoping for a good result.

 

Spouse and I did get down to Deb and Glen's house last Sunday in the rain and we were quite impressed with the new look of their house. It is like a new home. Very well done! Well done indeed! The hamburgers were great also.

 

Motorcycle day today for Lew. This keeps him happy.

 

Sister Deb arrives tomorrow.

 

That about brings us up to date. Waiting for Tracy's cat, Jerry, to come over for his morning nap. He visits us during the day and stays at home at night.

 

That's it for now, sooo....

 

Until next time!

 

Toodle Pip!

 

Derf!

 

(Postscript: Zack has been here and he finished the grass-killing for the day. Hooray!)

Blah

My first thought when I woke up this morning:  "Oh, no."

I had a slightly sore throat and felt a little off.

I hate that feeling.

I can't be catching a cold, especially now that summer is officially upon us.

I drank some "Gypsy Cold Care" tea with my breakfast.

My semi-annual dentist appointment was this morning. It went fine (no cavities!), but I could tell my head wanted to become congested. Not good.

I'm feeling a little punky as I write this. I have yet to eat lunch, so hopefully the healthy salad that I bought will help.

Then I plan on a low-key afternoon. Read a book? Watch a movie? Take a nap? Maybe all of the above?

Head cold, head cold, go away.
Come again.... NEVER!

To do:  Don't get sick.

Stunning Putting

Despite all of our social engagements this weekend, Lew managed to watch the U.S. Open on Saturday and Sunday. I even watched the end of it with him last night.

Jordan Spieth won. He's only about 12 years old (I may be off by a decade) and he's already won two major tournaments - the Masters being the first one. So he has a green jacket already, ho hum.

But back to the U.S. Open.... Lew couldn't believe what happened to Dustin Johnson, the last golfer to complete yesterday's final round. He had the opportunity to win... then tie... then MISS an easy putt?! Second place isn't bad, but it's not as good as first.

In Dustin's defense, I don't think any putt would be easy. But then again, I've never played golf. Lew must have gone on for about five minutes saying a variation of the phrase, "I CAN'T believe he MISSED that!" But he did miss, and Jordan Spieth is the U.S. Open champion.

And now I know that golf can be exciting.

My Weekend of Social Butterflying

Lew and I are leaving for a wedding reception soon. (The wedding happened several weeks ago out-of-state.)

And last night I had my P.J. party.

Can I keep this social activity going tomorrow?

Yes! Father's Day celebration with Emily, Matt, Eli, and Adam.

I am a party animal.

(Postscript: The terms "party animal" and "social butterfly" give different impressions. I'm not sure I really represent either!)

P.J. Party

I'm off to a pajama party with the Batgirls.

It's not an overnight - we can't stay up that late(!) - it's just fun to get together wearing comfy clothing. We can eat, talk, laugh, and eat some more. Maybe even watch a stupid movie. We'll see.

Ellen is hosting and will have some healthy food to eat. I, however, am known for my sweet tooth and I will not disappoint.

The Bat Signal is about to appear, so I must be going soon. Good night!

Driveway Art

Lew and I hosted our housechurch group meeting last night. The weather was nice, so we met on the deck while the kids had fun with the sidewalk chart in our driveway.

 

So I am "throwing back" all the way to yesterday. That's okay, right? :)

 

A series of photos walking down the driveway:

 

A "splash" of color:

 

Pizza pie!

 

Body tracing, dress included:

 

Body tracing, flowing hair included:

 

Flower!

 

Coming soon, to a country near you:

 

Dad 258: The Walking Spouse

(The sun is shining and it's a lovely day. Enjoy Dad's post! ~ Tracy)

 

Derf Here! After a couple of soggy days we are enjoying another beautiful spring/summer day in the Northeast. We seem to be edging towards summer. We are thankful.

 

Well, Josh is now a senior in high school and Zack will be in high school in two days. They are growing up.... Too quickly, I might add.

 

Spouse is walking around the house now with no aids. I must admit I am very watchful of this and try to remain in the area of movement. Her walking ability is improving but her left arm and hand are not improving as rapidly as we wish. The therapist says the arm and hand seem to be progressing, but it is very difficult for us to see. Please pray for her to gain full use of her arm and hand in the near future. Thanks.

 

I am not caring for the property as I would like, and I still have chores to complete. Today I shall attempt to turn the water on at sister Deb's cottage in Old Orchard. I still must "Roundup" our walkway and street to eliminate the extra grass. Hope to get it done within a week.

 

Stay tuned in and I'll keep you up with our progress. Sooo....

 

Until next time!

 

Toodle Pip!

 

Derf!

Our New Mail Lady

The occupational therapist gave Mom a homework assignment yesterday:  Start getting our mail.

This means she must walk out to the mailbox, open it, retrieve the mail, close the mailbox, and bring the mail back into the house.

I found a lightweight bag with handles that Mom is using to carry the mail. She puts the bag over her left shoulder and holds it in place with her left arm as she walks back into the house.

For safety reasons, someone accompanies Mom to the mailbox. But she got the "okay" today to walk around in the house by herself... short distances... concentrate on remaining steady. She's walked "solo" a couple times already.

I am very proud of her!  :)

To do: Be a good cheerleader for Mom.

"We do it for YOU, Lars...."

A couple years ago our pastor introduced us to the movie Lars and the Real Girl starring Ryan Gosling. This is a sweet story that shows the value of a loving, supportive community.

 

I watched it with my friend Donna while she was visiting last week. We ended up watching it two nights in a row because she wanted her husband and son to see it. (They both enjoyed it, too.)

 

If you haven't seen Lars and the Real Girl yet, I highly recommend that you watch it soon. It's my new favorite movie!

Pahk the Cah: A Verdict

On Tuesday I wrote about a parking ticket we received in Old Orchard Beach the previous evening. I wasn't able to reach the appropriate person on Tuesday, but he did return my call on Wednesday.

 

I told him my story and I asked that our parking violation be forgiven.

 

He couldn't do it. It was a town ordinance and he didn't have the authority to override it.

 

What other recourse do I have?

 

"You could take it to court, and perhaps a judge will overturn it."

 

Go to court? No.

 

When I insisted there must be SOMEONE I could talk to on the phone that could void our ticket, he said, "Well, you could call my supervisor."

Yes, that would be nice and may I have his name, please.

 

Called the supervisor. He was in! Briefly told him my story.

 

"Send your ticket to my attention and I will void it."

I am happy to at least pay for the two hours of parking.

 

"That would be fine - just enclose a check for $4 made out to the town."

So I did.

CASE CLOSED!

"Incorrect Password"

While working online late this morning, I suddenly lost my internet connection. I thought we just needed to reboot our system, but it was more than that....

 

Our eight-year-old wireless router had finally gone "kaput."

 

I realized it was really out of commission when it kept asking for our wifi password and rejecting it as incorrect.

 

Off to Best Buy I went.

 

Setting up the new router took no time at all. But then I had to connect all of our devices:

• 2 laptops
  
• 3 tablets
  
• 5 Kindles
  
• 3 iPhones
  
• 3 TVs/players
  
• 1 printer
  
• 1 Amazon Echo
  

That's 18 total. Good grief! (But we don't use them all at the same time.)

The new router is operating well. It provides stronger connections and it is much faster than the old one.

Glad to be back online. :)

An Anniversary Throwback

 

 

Happy Anniversary, Mom and Dad!!!

 

 

Dad 257: Fifty-Five Years and Counting

(The O.T. has come and gone and now everyone is napping - not just Jerry. Enjoy Dad's post! ~ Tracy)

 

Derf Here! A sunny day is enjoyed by all of us in the Northeast. Temperatures should be in the high 70s for a while as the weather cooperates. Perhaps summer is on its way. Hooray!!

 

As I write this my mind drifts back several years. You see, I remember that this date, June 10th, was on a Friday a mere 55 years ago. Now why do I recall such a time? Well, this date 55 years ago was the day before I was married to Spouse (a.k.a. Mary Lou). I understand that my bride-to-be was ill the morning of the ceremony. Even upchucked a couple times. The nuptials worked out, however, for tomorrow will be our 55th wedding anniversary. Times have changed and our lives are no longer lived quite like the past, but we remain a couple. PTL. Thanks.

 

Well, Josh's team didn't make the playoffs, but he played in all the games as either pitcher, catcher, or first baseman and finally ending the year as the third baseman.

 

Zack's team is about done and their lacrosse season was quite successful. Some change from last year.

 

Granddaughter Kelsey is now enjoying another few weeks working at a camp in Green Lake, Wisconsin. Her mentor is her cousin Heather (the new Reverend Doctor). We pray for another successful camp for all the participants.

 

Still waiting for the occupational therapist to arrive and work with Spouse as she continues to return to normal after a stroke. It is a slow process and thoughts and prayers are welcome.

 

Jerry, the cat, is sound asleep in Spouse's wheelchair. Not an uncommon place for Jerry. We welcome his visits.

 

Tune in next week for more updates. Sooo....

 

Until next time!

 

Toodle Pip!

 

Derf!

Pahk the Cah

My good buddy Donna, her husband, and their son are visiting us for a couple days. They came all the way from Kansas! I'm so glad they included us on their trip to the Northeast.

 

Lew and I took them down to Old Orchard Beach last night for "pie and fry." (Yummy as always, by the way.) The parking meters weren't out yet for the season, so we parked my car and off we went.

 

When we got back to the car, there was a bright green parking violation ticket on my windshield!

 

What???!!!

 

We looked around and finally saw a centralized location for purchasing parking receipts (which are then to be displayed on your dashboard). This location was about half a dozen spaces in back of where we parked. We never noticed it, and there wasn't a sign near our actual spot.

 

This is a huge change in how parking was handled for the past 80 bazillion years in Old Orchard Beach: When the meters were out, you paid. When they werent, you didn't. The meters were right where your parking space was. Easy to see and comply with.

 

But now there is a "parking trap" - the ugly twin of the "speed trap."

 

I am appealing the ticket, of course. I left a message and am waiting for a return phone call. We'll see.

 

All in all, the parking fiasco was just a minor irritation during what was really an enjoyable evening. Donna and I stayed up late watching a movie, drinking hot tea, and gabbing... just like the "old" days! :)

 

To do: Enjoy the rest of Donna's visit! (And get out of parking ticket.)

A Long Read

I started reading War and Peace by Leo Tolstoy.

 

I am reading it on my Kindle. The book is 28,927 locations long. (My Kindle doesn't give the number of pages.)

 

I knew it was a long book, but I decided it's finally time to tackle it. It's one of those classics I've been wanting to read - just to say I did!

 

I'm enjoying it more than I thought I would.

 

Well, so far anyway.

 

I'm only up to Location 1715!

Preoccupied

Lew and I got new cell phones this morning. My parents are on our account, so we got a new phone for them, too.

 

Prior to today, I was the only one with a smartphone. Now we all have one. We are busy setting them up and learning how to use them. The phones are currently "smarter" than we are! ;-)

 

We need to finish playing with our phones soon because Lew and I are going to the Sea Dogs game tonight. We are taking nephew Zack along.

 

Play ball!

Things Not To Do While Driving

I just finished up a 24-hour stint of hosting David and Laura's two girls. The girls are in 2nd grade and kindergarten, but they are already wise to many ways of the world....

 

I was driving them to gymnastics class after school yesterday when one of them asked me for a pen. I told her I had a pen in my purse but I wouldn't be able to get it while I was driving.

 

Thus began a discussion of other things one shouldn't do while driving. For example, texting or putting on lipstick.

 

Then the older girl made an observation, which was followed up on by her younger sister:

 

"But it's okay if you're the passenger... like when you're married...."

 

".... And you're the girl!"

 

Smile!

Three Amigos And Cat

About three weeks ago I had the privilege of babysitting Eli and Adam in the morning. They came to my house and we had loads of fun. We even took some "ourselfies" with Eli as the photographer.

 

These might not be major throwback pictures of me, but they are of the boys. They change so much every time I see them!

 

Jerry gets in on the action.

 

Jerry got away!

 

Dad 256: The Progress Continues

(Nature, please stop calling so often during the night. Enjoy Dad's post! ~ Tracy)

 

Derf Here! Well the rain has stopped but the temperature has not reached the warmth we are looking for. Actually turned up the heater for the last couple days. Temperatures are predicted below normal for the next week. With all our warm weather last month, we had a 1° above-average temperature for May.

We still have at least six therapist and nurse visits each week at our house. They all seem to think that Spouse is making very good progress in her recovery from her March 27 stroke.

 

Her wheelchair is used when eating and working on arm exercises. She pretty much walks with the gait belt as she moves about the house. She is spending much more time on the couch either sleeping, reading, or watching a little TV.

 

Our nights are still interrupted by several "awakenings" to answer nature's call. Some nights are better than others. A good night is only four or five awakenings. The nine nights are very disruptive to a night's sleep. We have hopes that it is getting better. We sure are praying for a good night's sleep. We catch up on our sleep with several daily naps on the couch. Not the same, however!

 

School is winding down for Josh and Zack. We're not sure if Josh's baseball team will make the playoffs. It has been a mediocre year. Josh has played all the games as DH, third baseman, or pitcher. They are playing about .500 ball. I wish the Red Sox were doing as well.

 

Zack's lacrosse team is rolling on and having a strong winning season. Zack really enjoys the physical contact of lacrosse. He generally wins such confrontations. It will all be over soon.

 

Stay tuned next week for further updates on the life at our home. So long for now. Sooo....

 

Until next time!

 

Toodle Pip!

 

Derf!

Mom Graduates: Speech

Yesterday was Mom's last day to meet with the speech therapist. (She still meets with the physical therapist and occupational therapist.)

 

In order to "graduate" from speech therapy, Mom needed to have 90% accuracy on her memory aid and problem-solving for three sessions in a row.

 

All of this was completed with a daily task folder that I designed with lots of input and suggestions from Mom.

 

Here it is:

 

 

If anyone wants to use our design, please do so. But if you decide to market it and make millions, please share the money with us. It's only fair.

 

Reading Challenge Update

With five months of the year now over, I decided to evaluate how I am doing on my 2015 Reading Challenge.

Out of 50 categories, I have completed 18. (Actually, I have read 20 books because one of the categories was a trilogy.)

So I have 32 categories to go.

There are 31 weeks left in 2015.

I like to average a book per week, so I'm almost on target - especially since I'm almost done with one more book and partway through another!

Read a book!