Christmas Lights

Our house is looking mighty festive!

Lew did a great job. 💗🎄

Dad 693: Basketball Is Back

(Dad writes today! ~ Tracy)

 

Derf Here! Another stormless day here in the Northeast. However, the temperatures today did drop to freezing. Yes, a thermometer was at 32° today. Getting rather cool. It will get worse before it gets better.

 

Zach is once again coaching the varsity boys basketball team in Rock Falls, IL. We watched last night's game online. Zach's team started very slowly, falling behind 12-0 before finally scoring. Lost by 10 points, so did all right in the last three periods – but must start faster. The team should be good this year.

 

I'm going to try to attend the Kents Hill School reunion next June. I was invited by the class of 1964 for their 60th graduation celebration. Going to do my best to get there. We will see!

 

Still plugging along. Still miss Mary Lou. That is it for today.

 

Until next time!

 

Toodle Pip!

 

Derf!

Back to Work

I wrote one blog post during my vacation. Overall, I was very unproductive during my days away from the office, but I think that's what a vacation is supposed to be like.

When I went back to work this morning I learned I had missed some excitement. Our office building was broken into last Tuesday night! The perpetrator did not manage to get into my office; in fact, it looked like he gave up quickly. Other colleagues weren't so fortunate. A high-ticket item was stolen, but it has been recovered intact. This is the kind of excitement it is okay to miss.

Now high on my to-do list: Finish my Christmas shopping.

Dad 692: One Month

(Dad writes on this stormy day. ~ Tracy)

 

Derf Here! A real lousy day. Heavy rain and temperatures in the 40s. It won't be long! We can wait!

 

Just heard that a car exploded by the Rainbow Bridge near Buffalo. Sounds like a terror attack, not knowing where the car bomb was supposed to explode. All New York bridges to Canada are now closed. Hope to learn more about this later. Fatalities involved.

 

Well, it was one month ago today that Mary Lou left her earthly home. We miss her, but she is enjoying her new surroundings. Save me a seat!

 

Big holiday tomorrow. Thanksgiving is upon us. One message for you:

Have a happy Thanksgiving!

Also pray that our country can get on the right road. We seem to be going in the wrong direction. Thanks to Joe and Kamala.

 

That's all for today.

 

Until next time!

 

Toodle Pip!

 

Derf!

 

Back to the Blog

It's been a few weeks since I've actually written a blog post myself, so thank you for still reading Mainely Tracy. And many thanks to my father (a.k.a. Derf) for keeping the blog going with his own weekly posts.

It has taken me a while to adjust to the fact that I no longer visit Mom at the nursing home every day. I did stop in there at the end of last week to drop something off, and some of the staff mentioned it's been an adjustment for them as well. They all loved my mother.

I am taking this whole week off from work. This is the first time I've done that since starting my part-time job in early March. I spent the weekend doing nothing other than eating too much and watching football with Lew.

Today I became a productive member of society. I visited a friend this morning. I did Dad's laundry and my own laundry this afternoon. I also took care of some mail that had piled up on my desk.

Other than our Thanksgiving plans, I have scheduled nothing more for the week. Maybe I'll finish some books that I've started — I have about five going right now! Maybe I'll do some origami. Maybe I'll create something with LEGO bricks. Maybe I'll do a jigsaw puzzle. Maybe I'll watch a movie... or two... or three....

Hey, I even may write another blog post.

Dad 691: Cards Coming

(Dad writes today. I am not working next week and one of my goals is to write a blog post myself. Wish me luck! ~ Tracy)

 

Derf Here! Fairly nice day today but temperature is only in the 40s. No snow on our ground yet. We have had a little bit, but it is gone. Ski areas are now opening up. The snow makers are working well.

 

Still receiving cards of sympathy for our loss of Mary Lou. Nice to hear from some of her school system colleagues. She was very important to them.

 

Not a day goes by that we don't have a yearning to sit down with her to just talk. We wonder what she is doing now. We'll know someday.

 

Tune in next week and I'll try to have more info.

 

Until next time!

 

Toodle Pip!

 

Derf!

Dad 690: A Day at a Time

(Dad writes today. I need to start writing again, too. ~ Tracy)

 

Derf Here! Another beautiful sunny day. But the cool weather is coming to us (high 30s and 40s). I always start my blog post by stating the weather.

 

The days go by. Sadness is a part of every day, but we are managing to survive. Every day gets us a step closer to having a reunion. We await that great day!

 

We had a delightful visit at the end of last week from niece Gina, nephew Harry, and Harry's wife Donna. It was great to see them after so many years. Many thanks to them for visiting us! We certainly enjoyed their visit, and we hope they did as well.

 

Gina brought her dog, Westinghouse... oh, I've made a serious error... his name is Hemingway. Gina sometimes refers to him as "Dog." (I liked pretending I couldn't remember his name!) We all enjoyed "Dog." He was very well behaved and he got along well with his Maine family.

 

Until next time!

 

Toodle Pip!

 

Derf!

Dad 689: Pretty in Purple

(Dad writes today. Kim and Debbie are back from their excursion. I've included a photo of their efforts. Beautiful! ~ Tracy)

Derf Here! "Sunny day" is the way to describe today. Quite cool, though, at 40 degrees. But it is not snowing! The northern part of the state did get a few inches of snow a couple days ago. Makes us think of what is coming. It won't be long and winter will be here... and I am not happy about it.

Even though the day is sunny, our hearts are still a bit cloudy. Deb and Kim are driving to pick up Mary Lou's ashes and select an urn today. Should be back shortly with the memorial. Still a little unbelievable that she is gone. Hope she is enjoying her new home. Hope she saves me a seat next to her.

We are anticipating the arrival of some family members from Pennsylvania tomorrow. My niece Gina and my nephew Harry and his wife, Donna, are coming for a couple days. Haven't seen them for a few years, so we are all looking forward to their visit.

Asking for God's grace to bring us through this difficult time in our lives.

Until next time!

Toodle Pip!

Derf!