Dad 776: Toodle Pip!

(Dad writes today! After 15 years of this blog, we are both running out of steam to write regularly. But never fear! I will post when I feel like it, as will Dad. Thank you for checking in! ~ Tracy) 

Derf Here!

Enjoying another summer day here in the Northeast. But we need some rain! Please send us rain to eliminate our drought.

Well, Kim, Joe, and Kaelen made it back home to Illinois after two days of driving. They had some important appointments to make, and I hope they have done so by now. I am sure that they have a lot of friends out there that can help them out if necessary. Hope that the family enjoys being home.

Derf is retiring from writing a weekly blog post with this one. I have not much else to say. I will write a post when something big comes along. If I receive many words of encouragement to continue writing posts, then I might....

But so long for now. It's been fun!

Toodle Pip!

Derf!

Dad 775: Summer Winds Down

(Dad writes today! And "Happy Birthday" to Lew! ~ Tracy)

Derf Here!

This will be short. Another nice day in the Northeast. The weather is getting to feel like fall. We need rain. Please pour on us.

Josh is now off his ship and is home for his vacation days. Hope to see him soon.

This Saturday we will have a dinner from Ken’s Place since Joe, Kim, and Kaelen will be headed back to Illinois on Sunday. Our summer visits will soon be over. We'll wait for next year. Time sure flies when you're having fun!

Tune in next week for more!

Until next time!

Toodle Pip!

Derf!

Dad 774: Of Mice and Chipmunk

Tracy here! An unconventional presentation today.... I had entered Dad's post on a different device and tried to upload it, but it didn't work. Rather than type it all in again, I took a photo of what I had already typed. So, here you go.... 😎

Dad 773: Brisket or Brisquet?

(After missing last week, Dad writes for the blog today! I want to add that last night's post-dinner entertainment was Glen giving Joe a haircut.... ~ Tracy)

 

Derf Here!

 

Another damp summer day in the Northeast. We have had some nice dry days this July, but also enough days that have had summer showers. Maybe August (starting tomorrow) will have some dry summer days. Please!

 

I've been watching the funeral for a New York City detective. He was killed a few days ago by a man who walked down the New York streets with a long rifle out for all to see. The man went in an office building, pushed the wrong elevator button, and got on the wrong floor where he shot the cop and three others dead. No one said a thing to this man as he walked down the street. What a world we live in.

 

There is also a case where a man murdered two parents in front of their small children. I would allow the defendant to live a few years until the children could handle a gun and shoot him in the town square! Again, what a world we live in.

 

On a happier note, we have enjoyed our Illinois visitors this month. Zachariah, Kelsey, Bode, and Boston (also known as Princess) will be heading back home on Monday. Joe, Kim, and Kaelen still will be here a while longer. I knew it wouldn't last. School starts for Illinois on Monday, August 11.

 

Zach and Kelsey brought a beef brisket from Illinois for us all to feast on. Glen slow-cooked it yesterday (he started at 7:00am!) and we enjoyed eating it for dinner last night. Delicious!

 

We want to shout out a "Happy 12th Birthday" to our bonus great-grandchild Adam this week. Enjoy your day, Adam.

 

That is it for today. The longest blog post ever! (Sorry, Tracy!)

 

Until next time!

 

Toodle pip!

 

Derf!

Dad 772: The Waiting Game

(Dad writes today. It's 4:00pm as I enter this. Visits this afternoon: PT=1; Nurse=0. ~ Tracy)

Derf Here!

Formerly Wednesday blog posts turned to Thursday. But I missed Thursday, so this week it is Friday. I hope my editor can make sense out of this. She will clean it up.

Well, we have a wonderful sunny day which makes you think of summer. Oh, it is summer. 

Sure is a mixed-up message throughout the States regarding New York City's candidate for Mayor. Will he make it? That is the question.

I'm sitting here waiting for a nurse and physical therapist (PT) who are both late. So I sit and wait. They should be here shortly.

Joe just called about coming to watch the Red Sox game (2:00pm start), but he will come a little later due to the lateness of the nurse and PT.

So, I wait! Tell you about it next week.

Until next time!

Toodle Pip!

Derf!

Dad 771: It's Thursday!

(Dad writes today! ~ Tracy)

Derf Here! First blog post on a Thursday. Thanks, followers!

Another pre-summer day with temps high enough to use the air. Used the air every day for the last week. Machine still works well. Reached 100 degrees the other day. Hope the temps go down in the near future.

Cooper Flagg got drafted "Number One" in the NBA draft last night. First and only "Number One" draft pick from Maine. He was the college basketball player of the year while at Duke University, winning all the individual awards. His twin brother, Ace, will play for University of Maine next year. We will watch Cooper and Ace play whenever possible.

Joe and Kim are happy staying at the camp and seem to be set up for the summer. Kaelen is staying in the "craft room" at Debbie's house.

We are awaiting more visitors from Illinois — granddaughter, grandson-in-law, and the great-grandkids — later in July.  Looking forward to seeing Kelsey, Zach, Bode, and Boston.

At summer's end we will go back to our normal life again. We can handle that. We are hoping for another good year for Zach's basketball team. We will be watching!

Done for the day!

Until next time!

Toodle Pip!

Derf!

Dad 770: A Day Change

(Dad announces a change regarding his weekly blogging! ~ Tracy)

Derf Here!

Another great day.

After writing 770 blog posts — usually on Wednesdays — I am changing to Thursdays. This will allow me to keep you up-to-date on a more current basis after my appointments.

I will start my "new day" next week with blog post number 771. So continue to stay tuned on Thursdays to learn what is going on.

Until next time!

Toodle Pip!

Derf!

Dad 769: If the Tooth Fits

(Dad writes today. The switch to Thursday for his weekly posts may be permanent! Will let you know. ~ Tracy)

Derf Here!

Another beautiful summer day in the Northeast. We have now had a string of five to six days of great weather.

Was able to get to my dentist for a final checkup on my fake tooth. The mold for the tooth fit well, so they will now make a permanent replacement. Sending it back to the lab for the final tooth. When it comes back to my dentist, the final phase will be to insert it into my mouth. Hopefully the tooth won't need much tweaking. Another project will be done. Great! Right now it is scheduled for completion on June 23rd. Listen in and I'll keep you posted.

All for now.

Until next time!

Toodle Pip!

Derf!

Dad 768: Another Week

(Dad writes today. I can relate! ~ Tracy)

Derf Here!

I recall three beautiful days in a row. They have been our summer days.

A short blog post tonight. I've had all day to write this, but I've slept about the whole day. I must do something constructive pretty soon. Or will I just keep watching the TV tube and sleep???

Nothing else to say tonight. Another week over. Check in next week.

Until next time!

Toodle Pip!

Derf!

Dad 767: A New Tooth Coming Soon

(Dad writes today. Is he implying he will be spending time on the beach this summer? Ha ha! ~ Tracy)

Derf Here!

Another sunless day. The first 20 days of May had only three totally sunny days. Remember that Summer is on its way. Not kidding! Hope our weather improves and we have some good beach days. Let us all pray for summer days to return.

Everything seems to be moving in the right way here!

I now sit waiting to get to the dentist tomorrow and start getting a new front tooth. I don't know how long it will take. Probably will find out the plan tomorrow.

I'm done writing for today, but I'll keep you up-to-date on my progress. So....

Until next time!

Toodle Pip!

Derf!

Dad 766: Illinois in the News

(Dad writes today. Enjoy! ~ Tracy)

Derf Here!

Another nice pre-summer day with the northern part of the state having the higher temperatures. Then we'll have unsettled weather through Sunday. Cooler next Monday and Tuesday. Enjoy the day! Summer is on its way!

Glen and Deb have returned from Illinois. They enjoyed their week out there. They attended Joe's last concert as director of the Peoria Area Civic Chorale (PACC). Joe directed PACC for over 25 years. Glen spoke at a reception that was held for Joe this past weekend. Glen and Deb also saw Bode in a concert at his school. A busy week for them!

While this was going on, Zachariah received a Coach of the Year award for Class 2A boys high school basketball from the Illinois Basketball Coaches Association. Congratulations, Zach!

I was able to get a haircut from Deb on Tuesday. Only 12 weeks between cuts. Thanks, Deb!

Not much more this week. I will have to make a schedule listing all of my upcoming appointments (doctors, etc.) so we will know what's going on.

That's it for today!

Until next time!

Toodle Pip!

Derf!

Dad 765: Tooth Trouble, Part 2

(Dad writes today. I got the hint! ~ Tracy)

Derf Here!

Not too bad a day. Still in a shower-y mode. Will the dampness ever stop? I think I heard that Mother's Day will be dry and nice. Good, because that is when all of the food places are busy.

Well, tomorrow I'm going to the oral surgeon. I chipped a tooth and have been playing with the hanging side for a couple weeks. It finally fell off, so now I have a good base (no pain). The oral surgeon will pull the tooth tomorrow. Hope all goes well.

After taking some time to heal, I will go to my regular dentist (Dr. Richardson) so she can build a new tooth for me. Isn't this exciting?  Not really!

Maybe my blog editor will put a picture of me showing what my tooth currently looks like. (Hint!)

ARRGH!

Dad 764: Tooth Trouble

(Dad writes today. Fun times ahead for him at the dentist! ~ Tracy)

Derf Here!

Another pretty good pre-summer day. Sunny with temps in the 60s. Not quite as warm as we would like to have. Please warm up.

Well, my front left tooth cracked forward right at gum level. The tooth is like it's on a hinge. Finally saw my dentist yesterday and it looks like a three- to four-thousand dollar job. In one week, we will have an oral surgeon finish the job of removing the tooth. Then the dentist will make a tooth that will fit in the area and will be held in by a couple other teeth and "wired in". Then my tooth will look much better and feel better. Let's get it done. It will be the most important and expensive dentistry in my mouth. Hoping to eliminate an expensive dentist trip, but won't succeed! Must be done. My tooth wore out! I'll keep you posted.

Until next time!

Toodle Pip!

Derf!

Dad 763: Chin Up

(Dad writes today's post. I am typing it on my new computer! I'm still enjoying the novelty. ~ Tracy)

Derf Here!

A short post today. I had planned to write a lot, but I won't.

I had to call to get our lawn mower into the shop for service. It will go in next Thursday, May 1st, which is also Tracy's birthday.

Then my cardiologist called. I have to go in to the office tomorrow at 3:00pm. I will be getting a heart monitor to wear for a day.

My one concern is I believe I have crushed a front tooth. It is sore and I can't chew on it, but my dentist is out of town. I will have it checked out next Tuesday and we'll take it from there. Always something. Keep the chin up! Always!

Until next time!

Toodle Pip!

Derf!

Dad 762: Boys Are Boys

(Dad writes today! ~ Tracy)

 

Derf Here!

 

Not a bad day. Getting warmer (about 50°). Spring is on its way. It's just slow coming.

 

I've been watching the news closely today to see if I can find anything that will help show the world that my governor is perhaps the worst governor in the land. She said that Trump's withholding of federal funding (because of two "transgender females" – that is, BOYS – participating in Maine girls' sports) is taking a lot of meals and other benefits from a lot of students. If Mills would use any common sense and let boys do boys' sports only – like most other people are doing – then she will not lose all the money Maine could get. She is certainly not a very serious or smart governor. But we knew this before she was on the President's radar for a lawsuit. Hoping for a quick victory for POTUS. I don't think one can impeach a governor! TOO BAD!

 

Until next time!

 

Toodle Pip!

 

Derf!

Dad 761: Spring Is Here... ?

(Dad writes today. We are in agreement that Spring has gotten off to a shaky start! ~ Tracy)

Derf Here!

Another great-looking day from inside. However, it is still cold outside. Please warm up for the spring.

This whole move to spring has been very annoying. It seems that every other day there is a snow storm in Maine. We are fortunate to not be getting the small snow storms in Southern Maine, but we still are getting rain. 

So we have another storm coming for the weekend. We hope the storms stay up in the ski areas. We want the skiing people to be happy, but we don't need more snow. They got more than five inches yesterday up north.

Let's get the warm days of spring here soon!! Please!

I'm through with my complaining!!

Until next time!

Toodle Pip!

Derf!

Dad 760: Spring Snow, Soon Mow

(Dad writes today. I worked late, so I'm posting it a few hours after he penned it! ~ Tracy)

Derf Here!

Not a bad day. It's 3:04 P.M. and the temp is around 40 degrees. Spring is trying to emerge. Will it ever get here? I hope soon!

Supposed to rain and snow tomorrow. We have had annoying snow the last couple weeks. The good thing about it is that the snow is completely gone the next day. It looks like spring outside with no snow. The grass surely needs some coloring to show it has some life. We hope that tomorrow's snow is the last and doesn't stay on the ground. 

Mowing will be in order in about a month. Must get the front tire of the tractor repaired. Want it to work good for Lew. (I miss not plowing snow and not mowing. Old is not great!)

Done writing for today.

Until next time!

Toodle Pip!

Derf!

Dad 759: Josh Here, There, and Everywhere

(Dad writes today! ~ Tracy)

Derf Here!

Cloudy and temps in the 40s today. Just an average day. No storms in sight so we'll take it. Bring the end of March on!

News of the Week!

Josh is home after three months on his oil ship in the Gulf of America. We had a good visit with him when he came by a couple days ago. He will be home through June to be a member of his friend's wedding on the 29th.

Josh has been in Maryland the last couple of days to catch up on papers for the ship. Today he and Sam are leaving for a ten day trip to Thailand. He showed us some pictures of the beaches there, and it looked great. Bon Voyage! See you on your return!

Until next time!

Toodle Pip!

Derf!

Dad 758: Happy Spring!

(Dad writes today. Spring is on our minds! ~ Tracy)

Derf Here! The day is fairly nice. Started off with some fog but cleared up over the day. The big story for today is Spring is now in the air and we are getting ready for the opening of the seasonal food places.

The Clambake is now open weekends on Thursdays and Fridays. Ken's Place is opening this Friday for the summer. Ready for some clams and other food from Ken's.

Winter is over. Let the fun begin!

Spring is tomorrow!!!

Until next time!

Toodle Pip!

Derf!

Dad 757: The Rockets!

(Dad writes today. We already are looking forward to basketball next winter! ~ Tracy)

Derf Here! A brief report on the weather. Temps in the 40s. Sunny and the wind is not strong. A fine day!

One subject today....

We have finished our basketball season with Zach's team, the Rock Falls Rockets. They won their regional playoffs. The team was treated to a steak dinner before competing for the next step. They then won their sectional to become one of the final eight schools in their class in Illinois. The Elite Eight!

The team then played for a chance to make the Final Four. They played a team from the Chicago area. The Rockets played a good first half, but the second half didn't go as well. The opposition was tough, and the Rockets didn't get any help from the officials. They lost to a rough team which seemed to get all the calls in the second half. I think they were fortunate to end the season with no serious injury.

Nine seniors graduate this year, so next season will be a building year. We will be watching. Saw all the games this year. Go Rockets!!! A good way to spend our winter season.

Until next time!

Toodle Pip!

Derf!