Dad 162: The Elliptical Machine Calleth

(Dad told me he wrote this quickly so that he could exercise as scheduled. And he is ellipticalizing right now! Enjoy his post. -- Tracy)

Derf Here! Another beautiful day up here in the Northeast. The experts are predicting great weather through the next week. We'll take it.

I meant to write this during my morning couch period. I had my six-month doctor's checkup at 8:30 AM and returned home. I completely forgot about my Wednesday blog post. So, here I am at noontime writing this. It will be brief as I am about to do my daily elliptical session. I hate every minute of the elliptical but must make this effort. Ten pounds lighter than my last doctor's visit. Here's hoping that my next visit will have the same result. I'll let you know in February. Stay tuned.

I will be taking another trip to the Owls Head Museum this Saturday. I mentioned a trip there last week as a tease. This will remain as a tease until next week when I will tell all about my Owls Head visits. Promise! Probably not too interesting! I'm hoping for an interesting result, however.

Kim and Kaelen are here this week. They are being kept busy with Deb and family. They are, in fact, at the beach with Deb and Josh as I write this. Even went to target range last night to do some target shooting.

Football has started for Zack as he will be a member of the seventh-grade team. Josh will pick up his equipment tomorrow and will start practice next week. The starting date of practice is determined by the State Education Association. All schools must start training at the same time. It won't be long until we'll spend a couple days a week watching football games. Looking forward to it. Another exciting fall season. It seems like baseball season just ended.... Oh! It did!

Please keep the prayers coming for sister Jean as she still struggles with her rehab from her cancer operation. Thanks!

I hear the elliptical machine calling me and I must answer the call. Shucks!

Until next time!

Toodle Pip!

Derf!

Sister/Niece Beach Walk/Run

A little before 8:00 this morning, Kim invited me to go for a walk on the beach with her, Debbie, and Kaelen.

The planned time for said walk was 8:15.

Debbie arrived at 8:00.  We were on our way to the beach by 8:18.  (Not too bad, considering the cast of characters!)

The beach walk turned out to be mostly a "run" for Debbie and Kaelen.  For some reason that will never be fully understood, Debbie signed up to run a 10K this fall.  Kaelen is doing her part to help Debbie train for it.

Kim and I were quite happy with just a "walk"....  Unlike our sister, we are sane.  (LOL!)

Coincidental Computer Complications

My parents' computer monitor bit the dust yesterday. I had access to an unused monitor, which I picked up and brought home this afternoon.

When I arrived home, I saw that Dad had already disconnected the dead monitor. Dad had gone to the grocery store, but my mother and Kim were home.

Mom told me that now Dad was also having trouble with the laptop that he uses. He couldn't access his websites.

Which problem to tackle first?

I decided on the laptop. The antivirus definitions hadn't been updated for a long time, so I did the update. And voila, the laptop's internet access was back in business!

I also had success with connecting the "new" monitor. Mom is very happy that she can play her Solitaire game again!

Then I started to use my own laptop. Internet... slow.

Checked out my iPad. Internet... slow.

Hmmm....

The first thing I did was reset the modem and wireless router.

Result: Internet... fast!

Thus ended my afternoon of home computer equipment troubleshooting.... A happy ending!

Noah's Ark

With a great deal of assistance from my buddy Luanne, I led children's church today.

The lesson was Noah's ark.

The children helped put the pairs of animals in the ark when it came to that point in the story.  (Luanne was in charge of the Noah figure.)

The children "made the rain" by wiggling their fingers.  We even counted to forty to get a sense for how many days and nights it rained.

I hope that the kids remember at least two important points from the lesson:

1. Noah was close to God.  He obeyed God.  He built an ark when God told him to.
2. God promised Noah that He would not destroy the earth by flood again.  The rainbow is His reminder of that promise.

We ended our time with a couple crafts, during which Luanne came to my rescue.  I had the crafts ready to go, but my ability to implement "craft time" with small children is a "needs improvement" area.  But we had fun!

When discussing the animals that God created, Luanne and I did lament about mosquitoes and the like.  Thus, I end today's post with my favorite "fun quote" about Noah's ark:

"If Noah had been truly wise, he would have swatted those two flies."  -- Helen Castle

What a Day: The Sequel

I skipped our Saturday breakfast with our friends, but Lew went. He brought home a three-berry muffin for me. Yum....

I was able to get an early start on my day's chores, which were pretty numerous given the events of yesterday.

My biggest task was to prepare a craft project for children's church. This craft is for tomorrow, so I sort of needed to get it ready.

Lew and I also went to see Verlie in her new digs. Wayne was there, too, so we were able to go over a few details together.

Big news: Kim and Kaelen are here! Dad picked them up at the airport in Manchester, NH late this afternoon. When they arrived at the house, both Kim and Kaelen commented on Jerry's size. It may be kitty diet time again.

Additional happy news: Everything that I ate today stayed down. Hooray!

What a Day

Today we learned that Lew's mom would require long-term care. We had suspected this would be the situation.

Fortunately, there was a long-term care opening at the same facility where she has been for rehab. She moved from one end of the building to the other! And this place is right down the road from us!!

I went to see Verlie three times today: 1) late morning, 2) after her room move early afternoon, and 3) after dinner, accompanied by Lew.

When I came home after my first visit, I had a phone message from an investigator who told me I was being investigated for a check fraud case. I called her back immediately. I was successful in proving that I am NOT the person she is looking for.

I have received phone calls like this before. (Click HERE to read an earlier blog post.) Apparently there is another gal out there with the same name who is of a criminal bent. Thanks a bunch, lady. I hope they catch up with you soon....

All in all, it was a good day. A little too much for my stress-o-meter, though.

Why do I say that?

My dinner didn't stay down. Blech. :(

Troublemaker Cat

Kurt's annual trip to the vet was today.

He did NOT want to go into the cat carrier. My parents had to help me get him in. He is a strong little bugger.

He cried during the whole ride to the vet's office. Fortunately it's less than a two-mile drive. I can't take that pitiful sound for too long. (Apparently it's hard being a kitty!)

He enjoyed exploring the examination room while we were waiting for the vet.

A technician came in to weigh him and ask me a few questions. He was purring and being quite sociable with her. But then she asked him, "How come you have a troublemaker mark on your chart?"

Uhhh... that would be because he scratched the vet last year. Drew blood. But he's much less skittish now....

The vet came in shortly after this exchange. She remembered being scratched last year. She fondly commented that he has a "strong" personality. :)

The rest of Kurt's appointment went quite well. And I think his troublemaker mark even got removed!