Bagging Over Wrapping

Lew and I made the decision to put Christmas gifts in bags this year instead of wrapping anything. Today I completed the task in much less time than it has taken us in the past. (Bagging > Wrapping! Hands down!)

 A brief update on Aunt Debbie: She is receiving palliative care. Please pray she will be comfortable and have peace. Thank you. 💗

Dad 745: Sister Deb

(Dad writes today. Prayers for my Aunt Debbie.... ~ Tracy)

Derf Here! The sun is out but it is a cool morning here in the Northeast!

Just received a phone call from Indiana from my niece Kathy. She spent last night (until 2AM) in the ER with my sister. Deb is in the hospital. She is fighting the onslaught of Alzheimer's, her speech is slurred, and she can't stand as her legs are a mess. Kathy will keep me informed, and I will keep you posted.

Please add Deb to your prayer list. Thank you. Hopefully they find something that will help her issues!

The temp is now up in the 40s.

Until next time!

Toodle Pip!

Derf!

A Cat-Proof Solution

Lew and I finished decorating our "tree" today! It was a task that spanned several days.

I purchased the triangle shelf, light, and garland on Amazon. 

I strung up the garland on a peg board that we had attached to the wall several years ago. ("Strung up" = used paper clips!)

Lew installed the triangle shelf and light. He said it was a tougher project than it may appear to be.

The tree skirt is exactly that — a tree skirt that we already had. Lew suggested I cut it, but I didn't want to. I like the 3-D appearance.

I broke only two, inconsequential ornaments.

The light isn't on in the picture, but imagine a colored light fading into another color... and another... and another.

Not pictured: A bunch of ornaments hanging from the beam in our living room! 🎄

Dad 744: Some Good News

(Dad writes today. So glad for Daniel Penny! ~ Tracy)

 

Derf Here! The day is following along the way the television guy said it would. It is a dreary, dark day with rain. A real lousy day.

 

Well, I got two cases turning out as I had hoped. Daniel Penny was found not guilty after standing trial. (Manslaughter charge was thrown out and was not guilty of a lesser charge – a case that should have never been in court.) Another stain on the New York County District Attorney. He is on the wrong side of most issues.

 

The second case is the man that shot the CEO of the insurance company on a New York street. The suspect was found in Altoona, Pennsylvania. He's now fighting extradition back to New York, and this may not be happening for about 30 days. Then the suspect will find out where he will spend the rest of his life.

 

I have a dentist appointment scheduled for tomorrow but I'm not going to show up. The reason is I went today as they had a person cancel, so I was fortunate to go a day early. And I have no appointment until six months from now for another cleaning. Hope my teeth don't go bad!

 

I'm done for today.

 

Until next time!

 

Toodle Pip!

 

Derf!

The Christmas Spirit

I haven't done much decorating for Christmas the past few years. I decided to do so this year.

The day after Thanksgiving I brought down all the boxes of decorations from the attic. After piling the boxes throughout the downstairs, I asked Lew how he liked my decorating. He said, "The feng shui is off a bit!" Hee hee!

I am taking my time going through the boxes and putting the items out. Our cats would absolutely destroy a tree if we put it up, so I have come up with my own solution for hanging ornaments. (Picture to come when I'm finally finished.)

Lew has always made the outside of the house look festive, and I am glad we are making the inside look festive, too.

Lighting by Lew.

Dad 743: A Penny Prayer

(Dad writes today. Praying for an acquittal for Daniel Penny. ~ Tracy)

Derf Here! Another bright sunny start to the day. Temps at the beginning of the day were around freezing. Temps around 30s now at noon. However, the weather guys say snow this afternoon late and continuing overnight. We still have no snow along the coast, and probably won't get any tonight. Snow areas are all open for skiing. Let's keep the snow inland and none on the coast. (Although I don't think that will work!)

Now back to watching on television the hunt for the suspect that shot and killed the CEO from the insurance group who was in the Big Apple for a meeting. Also waiting for the verdict in the Daniel Penny case. He should not be in court for protecting people on the subway. He was a hero for the train riders. Why does it take more than one day for jury deliberations?

Congratulations to Zach for a 3-0 start to the basketball season!

Until next time!

Toodle Pip!

Derf!

Let's Go, Rockets!

It's the time of year for Rock Falls, IL high school basketball!

Zach, our favorite head coach, has his Rockets team at 3-0 so far this season.

Dad and I have watched all three games via streaming.

The most recent win was tonight, with a final score of 68-34. And no... that isn't a typo.

Congratulations, Zach, and best wishes to you and the team this year.

Let's go, Rockets!

🏀🏀🏀

Dad 742: Happy Thanksgiving!

(A holiday greeting from my father! ~ Tracy)

Derf Here! Weather today is good. Storm tomorrow for Thanksgiving.

I leave you with a loose quote from Mrs. Gurney of the Mister Peepers T.V. show from years ago:

"Ah-um-ah-ah... Happy Turkey Day!"

Until next time!

Toodle Pip!

Derf!

"Old" New Stuff vs. "New" New Stuff

I wrote last week about my work computer biting the dust.

I thought I was going to get a brand new machine to replace it.

It turns out the "temporary" computer is working so well that it is becoming my "permanent" computer.

So another "hand-me-down" (like my dead one was), but I'm okay with it as long as it doesn't give me any problems.

Lest you feel sorry for me, please know I do sometimes get brand new things at work.

For example, I recently got a new desk chair, more ergonomically correct than my old one.

And sometimes people bring in doughnuts to share with everybody in the office.

The chair will be around for a long time; the doughnuts, not so much! (Yum!)

Dad 741: Preventable

(Dad writes today.... ~ Tracy)

 

Derf Here! Another sunny day as we are gaining on winter. Temps are getting colder, but we are not at the worst yet. Let us get it over with!

 

Still in a good mood from the results of November 5. Like what I'm seeing in Trump's nominations. Wish Biden would hibernate for the last couple months of his term. He seems to be making it worse for DJT. He (Biden) seems like he is in a trance.

 

Been watching the news on the Laken Riley murder trial. Something that should never have happened. If the border was closed, the killer would never have been in this country. At least the killer will be incarcerated for the rest of his life. Three meals a day, a place to sleep, and free time forever. Just another cost for our government. Should have received the death penalty! Deport him!

 

That's it for today. Until next time!

 

Toodle Pip!

 

Derf!

Two Headaches

Headache #1

On Sunday I woke up with what felt like the beginnings of a migraine. I told Lew I wasn't going to make it to church, then I went back to bed to sleep it off. A few hours later I did feel much better.

I learned many years ago that the best way to avoid a full-blown migraine is to respect its beginnings.

Headache #2

My work computer was really slow when I started using it yesterday morning, so I restarted it. It ran great for a couple hours but then it started to freeze up a bit. I decided to restart it one more time.

I would never use this computer again.

Instead of coming back on, it cycled over and over trying to restart. Our tech support person tried to revive it for two hours. He finally gave up and found another computer for me to use while my supervisor orders a new one for me. It took a while to get the temporary machine completely functional, but it's getting the job done for now.

Modern technology is great when it works, but it's a real headache when it doesn't.

🤯💻🤷

Dad 740: An Early Post

(Dad writes early today, for which I am grateful! ~ Tracy)

Derf Here! It looks like a great day outside. Take a step outside and enjoy the 30-degrees temperature. What have we got coming? Cold and snow! Spring, please hurry!

I believe I'm writing this at the earliest time of day ever. As I have been asked, I will be short and done quickly. My blog enterer will be busy later today transporting her friend to a surgeon for an operation. We hope it goes well.

All seems to be going relatively well here.

Trump by over three million votes! As of right now, his vote total is 75.5 million to Kamala's 72.4 million.

Tune in next week for more news.

Until next time!

Toodle Pip!

Derf!

Happy Veterans Day!

Thank you to all veterans for your service to our country.

A special shout-out to my favorite veteran — my husband, Lew.  💗

May God bless America!

Dad 739: Seeing Red

(Dad writes today! Our household is happy. ~ Tracy)

Derf Here! Another day that is like Summer. The window is open and the temperature is in the 70s.

Well, Donald J. Trump will be back in the White House for another four years. Let's see him work his magic. I stayed up until nearly 2:00AM until Trump had enough Electoral College votes to nail down his trip to the White House. He needed 270 and had 277 when I shut the TV off.

Now I can relax and enjoy having someone other than the Clintons, Obamas, Pelosi, and all their cronies running the country. You are all fired!

We are with you President Trump. We wish you well as you act for us. America first!

Done for now!

Until next time!

Toodle Pip!

Derf!

Fall Back Tonight!

Twice a year we need to change our clocks. "Fall back, Spring ahead" as the saying goes.

Legislators are always talking about whether we should stick to just one time. There are pros and cons to both. I know that one argument against Daylight Savings Time is that school children would be waiting for the morning bus in the dark. Hence the need to "fall back" to Standard Time.

I personally would be okay with Daylight Savings Time year round. It would help with S.A.D. (seasonal affective disorder) in the winter, and we would still have extra light on beautiful summer nights. Now to figure out the morning bus situation.... Hmmmm....

Dad 738: Six More Days

(Dad writes today! I hope he is right, too! ~ Tracy)

Derf Here! Kind of a fall day out today. Damp, cloudy, and it reminds us of what is coming in the next few months. Let's get on with it. The sooner it gets here, the sooner it is over with. Another Spring follows.

One week from now I won't be listening to campaign speeches for President. I am predicting an easy win for Trump/Vance. I hope I am right and my candidate wins. If not, I guess the sun still comes up the next day.

Back to listening to speeches. Six more days!

Until next time!

Toodle Pip!

Derf!

13 Years

Thirteen years has gone by fast.  Grandson Eli is now a teenager!

Below are links to my first three posts after he was born.  Enjoy.  💗

Baby :)  

Thursday, 10/27/2011

Photos... by Eli

Friday, 10/28/2011

Milestones

Saturday, 10/29/2011

Dad 737: Visitors!

(Dad writes today. I enjoyed seeing the visitors! ~ Tracy)

Derf Here! The day is delightful. However, the temp is only in the 60s. Beautiful sunny day, though.

Lew, Tracy, and I just had a visit from Josh and Zack. It was a good visit. Hope to see them every now and then while Josh is home from the ship. Thanks for stopping by, guys!

Also had a nice visit from Deborah and her puppy, Mazie. The puppy is a wild one! Thanks for the visit.

Been watching all the shows about the election. My group says it will be a landslide. Good luck, DJT. More next week. Tune in!

Until next time!

Toodle Pip!

Derf!

One Year Remembrance

It's been a whole year as of today. A whole year since I held my mother's hand as she slipped away into the arms of Jesus. I rejoice that she is with the Lord, but I sure do miss her. I always will.

I love you, Mom!

People say Mom looks like Karen Carpenter in this photo.

She loved riding her tricycle. She was "The Parade Monster!"

Dad 736: The True Test

(Dad wrote this post earlier today. I was at work, so I'm finally getting a chance to enter it. I hope he is correct about the results of the upcoming election! ~ Tracy)

Derf Here! Another nice fall day in the Northeast. Temp about freezing this morning. Has risen to the 40s now. Starting tomorrow we'll be above the average temp for this time of year. We'll be well above average for a week with no rain in sight. So we expect a good stretch of weather for the next week.

Looking forward to Trump's Town Hall with Harris Faulkner in about 10 minutes. Then I'll watch Brett Baier's interview with V.P. Harris during his show today at 6:00 PM.

I think the voting is changing in D.J.T.'s favor. I believe God allowed Trump to dodge recent attempts on his life so he could become the 47th president.

I'll be voting tomorrow and then I'll watch the rest of the voting cycle at home. Praying for what I believe to be the best results. If it's Biblical, I approve it. If it is not Biblical, I oppose it. The Pastor said this and I believe it is true.

Until next time!

Toodle Pip!

Derf!

Trending

After four days of feeling miserable — sore throat, coughing, sneezing, runny nose, etc. — I started noticing some improvement today. So after several days of getting no errands accomplished, I felt well enough to do a load of laundry. Yay, me. I don't have to work tomorrow (Columbus Day) so I probably will do a few more chores. (But I won't overdo it, haha!)

 This morning I was looking on Twitter (yes, I know it's now called "X") and I saw something very exciting:

Wow! I was trending! With even more posts that Patrick Mahomes!

My excitement was short-lived, however. "Tracy" was referring to a football player named Tyrone Tracy. Apparently he is a running back for the New York Giants. Ho, hum. But still.... Patrick, it was nice trending with you for a little while at least.

😄🏈😉

Dad 735: And the Storms Go On

(Dad writes today. I have a sore throat, but I am counting my blessings. ~ Tracy)

Derf Here! A fall day with temps in the 50s. Bright sun as this is written. Surely a great fall day.

I'm watching news of the storm named Milton which will be hitting Florida this evening. Just less than two weeks after the storm Helene that has devastated Florida and is not cleaned up yet. It will be a mess.

It looks like the Milton storm will go through where sister Deb just moved out of. I am trying to reach her in Indy but she must be busy or not answering her phone. I imagine she is happy to be out of Florida.

Things seem to be rolling along here in the Northeast as well as can be expected. We'll continue to go on. Taking life as it comes to us.

Almost one year since Mary Lou has been gone. She is missed!

Done for the day.

Until next time!

Toodle Pip!

Derf!

Updates

Tomorrow we will already be one week into October. Lew put the red door back up in our entryway. The appearance of the red door is a sign that colder days are ahead.

The WORLD Magazine staff members located in the Asheville, NC area are all accounted for. They and their families are safe. But, although it was expected, the loss of life from Helene is much greater than I wrote last Sunday. "Sad" doesn't seem like a strong enough word to describe it.

Despite the tragedy in the South, daily life goes on. Church gatherings, sporting events, work schedules....

Love and prayers to all.

Dad 734: Praying After the Hurricane

(Dad writes a brief post today. Yes, praying.... ~ Tracy)

Derf Here! Another nice fall day in the Northeast. Temps only in the 60s.

Things are proceeding along here in the Northeast. We keep on plugging away day by day.

We sure are fortunate that we don't have the problems that the Southeast now has. I can't imagine what they are dealing with. Praying for their survival.

Tune in next week for another brief encounter.

Until next time!

Toodle Pip!

Derf!

Hurricane

I've tried to type this post three times, and I'm not sure what to say. Hurricane Helene has done major damage. Loss of life currently is reported to be 84. That number will probably increase.

I have subscribed to WORLD Magazine for many years. Their headquarters is in Asheville, NC, a town that has been devastated by the hurricane. Both of WORLD's buildings have had several feet of flooding. I'm praying that all of their local staff is okay.

So I guess this is what I ultimately should say in this post: Please pray for everyone affected by this storm. Pray for the emergency responders who will be busy in the days ahead. May God grant His peace and comfort to all.

Dad 733: The Right Way

(Dad writes today! I also am hoping for things to go the right way on 11/5/2024. ~ Tracy)

Derf Here!

Fall is here. Temps are now down to the 70s and 60s. We are stretching to reach the 70s. (A few days are over 70 degrees. Not many, though!) The leaves are changing colors, even in the Southern Maine area. More color is showing Downeast and up north. Let's accept the fact that "Winter is coming!" I certainly am not ready for winter, but my vote doesn't count. It will arrive in spite of my "not in a hurry" attitude. Bring it on!

Well, I'm still watching the news coverage of the two attempts on Trump's life. I believe God has spared his life so he can help straighten out this country's direction. Let's hope so.

Only six weeks until November 5th. Hope it goes the right way.

Until next time!

Toodle Pip!

Derf!

Fall Cleaning

For the longest time I have been promising Lew that I would declutter the back room upstairs. This is the room that contains our exercise equipment, a daybed, a long table, some bookshelves, and the pooperia (also known as the kitty litter box area). And it has a lot of extraneous clutter.

I started the declutter project in May — a la "Spring Cleaning" — but I just got back to it this past week.... Efficiency is my middle name, ha ha!

I am not finished yet, but the results are noticeable. It is amazing what can be accomplished in just a few minutes each day.

Happy Fall!

🍁🍂🍁🍂🍁🍂🍁

Dad 732: The November Vote

(Dad writes today. I agree with his viewpoint! ~ Tracy)

 

Derf Here! I think this will be the last day this year that may hit 80°. We have had a great run of weather the last few weeks. Sunny days with high temps and no clouds – just a clear sky. Fall is in our future. And then winter.

 

Well, I've been watching all the news about people wanting to rid the earth of President Trump. I can't believe the vote will be close this fall. Why vote for someone who has no idea how to change things, when we have someone who previously succeeded in running the country for four years with good results? November can't come fast enough!

 

Heard a pastor this past weekend telling his flock to vote for someone promoting biblical views. Vote for a person supporting abortion and you are just as guilty for destroying human life as that candidate is. God will make the decisions.

 

Until next time!

 

Toodle Pip!

 

Derf!

Praying for USA

The song "God Bless America" by Irving Berlin provides a good start when offering a prayer for our country:

God bless America, land that I love

Stand beside her and guide her

Through the night with the light from above

From the mountains to the prairies

To the oceans white with foam

God bless America, my home sweet home

As our friends at World Watch say, "Remember, whatever the news, the purpose of the Lord will stand."

Thankful that God is sovereign. Always.

Dad 731: Reflection

(Dad writes today.  ~ Tracy)

Derf Here! Another fall/summer day here in the Northeast. We can feel what is in store for us in the near future. Before long the temps will be below freezing and snow will be flying. Oh, joy!

Today is a day of reflection. It is the 23rd anniversary of the September 11 attack on our country. I watched the morning coverage of the four planes that attacked the  World Trade Center towers, the Pentagon, and a field in Pennsylvania. What a day. And to think this 23rd anniversary is the day after the "debate."

Debate wasn't great — kind of a draw. VP did do better than I expected, but she didn't answer the questions asked although she has big plans. Don't have any idea how she will accomplish all she has on her plate. Don't believe she will get a chance. (I hope not!) I will be glad when the vote is over in November.

Done for today.

Until next time!

Toodle Pip!

Derf!

Hungry After Church

This morning's church service ended and Lew said, "I'm hungry." I agreed.

What to do for lunch?  Lew made a decision....

Ice cream from the Dairy Corner.

Good idea, Lew!

🍨

Dad 730: Blue Skies

(Dad writes today. I had to go to work, so I told him to keep it short. ~ Tracy)

Derf Here! The Northeast is now enjoying a very nice weather phase. We have very few clouds in the sky and the blue skies are appreciated for almost the whole week. Very nice! Maye some rain in four days.

Just learned of a Georgia high school shooting. Will learn more in a few hours. So glad I'm done with my school time. Probably would have been in jail if we had more encounters with shootings while I was in charge. Don't envy today's workers.

Done for today. Short enough, Editor? I tried.

Until next time!

Toodle Pip!

Derf!

FREE - Please Leave Sign

Early this summer our friend Donna asked if she could have a yard sale at our house on Labor Day weekend.

She and Carole (Donna's mom) brought things to store in our garage over the past few weeks.

Yesterday was the big day. Lew and I had a few things in the sale, but it was mostly Donna's and Carole's stuff.  The items left at the end of the day got taken to Goodwill or put on the side of the road for free. (Lew has a "Free" sign that he puts in the ground. Please see title of this post for his instructions, LOL!)

When we got home from church today, Lew and I put the remaining free stuff on the side of the road again. I am happy to report that by 5:30pm everything was gone! That includes a headboard, a table, three boxes of books, and various other sundries. Hooray!

We really do have a good location for getting rid of stuff!

P.S. Lew's sign did not get taken. The ability to read is alive and well.

😁

Dad 729: Three Minutes

(Dad writes today. We had to replace our water pressure booster pump. It took a couple months to find someone to install it for us! ~ Tracy)

Derf Here! Another summer day for our pleasure in the Northeast.

Today's post will be short. I told my editor that I would have something by 4:00 P.M. I've wasted the whole day and it is now 3:59 P.M.

Lew just went to the Dairy Corner, so I now have an ice cream treat in my refrigerator. I will eat it over the next few days. It is delicious!

And our water pressure is great!

Everything else seems to be going normally. Check again next week for anything new.

It is now 4:02 P.M.

Until next time!

Toodle Pip!

Derf!

Baseball's Best

The team from Lake Mary, Florida won the Little League Baseball World Series today! Lew and I were rooting for them. The players had lots of personality and were fun to watch. Congratulations to a great bunch of kids!

What sports do I watch now? I will have to be content with Indiana Fever games (Caitlin Clark!) and NFL football, which is coming right up.

Health update: I'm feeling much better and hope to make it to work tomorrow. Lew is still suffering, but he caught it a couple days after I did. Hoping he gets well over the next couple days.

Sharing

It usually is good to share what you have with others.

I have shared my cold/flu illness with Lew.

He is grateful.

My unselfishness knows no bounds.

😳

Dad 728: Gotta Laugh

(Dad writes today. Happy Birthday to Lew. Ahchoo! ~ Tracy)

Derf Here! Fairly nice day. Temp around 70 degrees at noontime. Summer is closing out on us. Hard to believe, but we'll take it.

All our visitors are back home in Illinois. Bode and Zach are back in school as school is restarting throughout the USA.

Not much going on. I'm watching the DNC Convention as I need some laughs. It is working.

Short today as Tracy has a cold. Trying to make it easy for her.

Until next time!

Toodle Pip!

Derf!

A New Pizza Experience

After an early departure this past Tuesday, Kim, Joe, Kaelen, and Cocoa arrived home early Wednesday evening. That's a long two days of driving!

Last Sunday I wrote about the Olympics. It was a great two weeks of sports. Now Lew and I have been watching the Little League Baseball World Series. I would love to go to Williamsport, PA some year to experience this event. It ends next Sunday.

We went out to lunch with Matt, Emily, Eli, and Adam after church today. We had such a nice time with them, and the food was especially scrumptious. I had a Loaded Mashed Potato pizza! It's made with pizza dough topped with a cheese blend, bacon, smoked cheddar, fresh jalapeños, scallions, and sour cream. (I had them hold the fresh jalapeños.)  We all went home with leftovers, so there is more yumminess to look forward to.

We are having a yard sale Labor Day weekend with our friends Carole and Donna, so I am starting to declutter. It's going a bit slow, but I will pick up the pace as the day draws nearer. My niece Kelsey wrote the best yard sale advertisement, which went something like this: "Come buy our stuff. We don't want it anymore!"

Dad 727: Maine to Illinois, Part 2

(Dad writes today! ~ Tracy)

Derf Here! Another nice summer day. It's like the last day of summer for me. I'll tell you why....

The rest of our summer Illinois visitors left yesterday for home. We are now empty of visitors. Last night they (Kim, Joe, Kaelen, and Cocoa) made it to a hotel around the Buffalo, NY area. They reached there around 6:00pm.

I will guess they are now in Illinois this afternoon as they travel toward home and receive an extra hour on the clock. (They gain an hour in their travel.) Hope to hear from them after their arrival home late this afternoon or early evening.

Had a good summer and now wait for next summer! Bring it on!

Until next time!

Toodle Pip!

Derf!

Medals

I enjoyed the Olympics, especially since Team USA had great success!

Watching the women's soccer team win gold yesterday was nerve-wracking, but that didn't compare to the women's basketball gold medal game today. I expected Team USA to win by a comfortable margin and they won by only ONE point. I was happy they pulled it out, but my nerves were "shot" afterward.

I am not a huge fan of the events decided by judges, although I am certainly impressed by the athletes (for example, gymnasts and divers). I much prefer events that are more easily measured.... You get there first and you win. You score the most points or goals and you win. You throw it the greatest distance and you win. You jump the longest or highest and you win. 

These Olympics were not without controversy (are they ever?) but the athletes were fun to watch. Congratulations to them all for being Olympians. That alone is an outstanding accomplishment.

Dad 726: Maine to Illinois

(Dad writes today! Summer is winding down.... ~ Tracy)

Derf Here! Oh, yes. 'Tis another delightful day in the Northeast. The sun shineth, there is no wind, and the lawn is getting mowed by Lew and John Deere. It is a great day!

Well, our visiting Illinois crew is no longer at its full amount. Zachariah, Kelsey, Bode, and Boston left Scarborough today on their trip back home to Rock Falls. They will stay in Ohio tonight and will be home tomorrow. Miss you, but thanks for coming to Maine again. Great family!

I hope Joe and Kim had a great breakfast on their new stove at the camp this morning.

Everything seems to be normal. That's it for today.

Until next time!

Toodle Pip!

Derf!

Remembering Mom

We had a lovely time last night as our family dined on brisket, corn on the cob, bread, watermelon, cookies, and chips 'n dip. (I may be missing something.) The meat and the corn came all the way from Illinois. Yum!

In attendance were Dad, Lew & I, Kim & Joe, Kaelen, Kelsey & Zach, Bode, Boston, Debbie & Glen, and Zack. We were short one member because Josh is working his 90-day shift on the ship. (We missed you, Josh!)

After the meal we had a brief time of remembering my mother.

Kelsey and Kaelen led by reading the obituary. I then read Mom & Dad's wedding invitation, after which I shared the Bible passage Mom and I often read together.  Said passage was Genesis 1, with Mom providing "good" after I read "and God saw that it was..." — my family performed Mom's part last night. I told everyone they were on Mom's heart until the end as I sang to her, "He's got Mary Lou's family in His hands."

After I finished the "planned" portion of the evening, the rest of the family shared (mostly funny!) stories about Mom. It was a nice time of remembrance.

We will always miss her.

💗💗💗💗💗💗💗 💖 💗💗💗💗💗💗💗

Dad 725: We'll Gather Together

(Dad writes today and gives me an assignment — which I will accept. ~ Tracy)

Derf Here! Hope the rain holds off!

Very short message today since we are having a family gathering tonight at Deb & Glen's home. We will have a feast and will celebrate the life of Mary Lou.  Just an intimate family get-together while our Illinois family is visiting, but it will be special. Tracy will blog about it within the next couple days.

Until next time!

Toodle Pip!

Derf!

Vacation Check-In

My officemate texted me this morning, hoping that I was enjoying my time off.

I replied, "Enjoying doing absolutely nothing... sort of! Reading, Olympics, eating... 😂"

My reply does sum it up, pretty much!

Kelsey, Zach, Bode, and Boston arrived on Saturday. They were a couple days late in their planned arrival due to illness, but all is well now. So good to see them!

Dad 724: JD, JD, JD!

(Dad writes his 724th post on 7/24! ~ Tracy)

 

Derf Here! Another nice summer day with the windows open! We'll take it.

 

JD Vance takes on a new life for sure after being named as the candidate for vice-president running with Trump. I now have three JD's:

1. One of my sons-in-law is a JD.
   
2. If you know me, perhaps you know how much I'm into gospel music. JD Sumner is a JD that I followed for many years. He has left this earth. He was one of the lowest bass singers ever. In fact, on a recording by Elvis, at the end there is a bass singing "way on down, way on down." That's my 2nd JD.
   
3. JD Vance, Trump's vice-president pick, is my third JD.
   

So, good vibes to JD Vance and may you be a winner. It shouldn't be close, but our country is not the brightest.

 

Well, the rest of my Illinois family is on the road today. Zach, Kelsey, Bode, and Boston are on their way to Maine. Looking forward to their visit. Wish my companion was still with me for the visit, but God had plans that were not mine.

 

I'll now go back to watching the world politics. What will happen next? Stay tuned.

 

Until next time!

 

Toodle Pip!

 

Derf!

Vacation!

I'm on vacation!
I'm on vacation!
I'm on vacation!
I'm on vacation!
I'm on vacation!

I don't go back to work until August 5th. In the meantime, I will be singing my vacation song!

I'm on vacation!
I'm on vacation!
I'm on vacation!
I'm on vacation!
I'm on vacation!

😎

Any Breaking News Recently?

Ho hum.  Things are quite boring in the country right now.

Ha!

The President withdrew from this fall's election yesterday — via a memo posted on Twitter (or "X" as I guess it's called now).  Bizarre way to do it.

The months ahead are going to be interesting.

😳

The Annual Trifecta

Happy Birthday to my father! (86 years.)

Happy Anniversary to Debbie and Glen! (28 years.)

Happy Anniversary to my husband! (24 years of wedded bliss. I'm still not sick of him. 💗)

Dad 723: Late Nights

(As promised, Dad writes today! ~ Tracy)

Derf Here! Another warm sunny day here in the Northeast. The A.C. is running again today. (Every day this week.) More coming!

Just got a call from the orthopedic shoe people. My new shoes are ready, and I will pick them up on August 16th. That is 12 weeks since my last appointment when I ordered them.

Have spent the week watching the Republican National Convention. It ends tonight with Trump speaking. I'll be up late again, so I must rest this afternoon. So I'm done writing today! I now must sleep!

Until next time!

Toodle Pip!

Derf!

Derf Tomorrow!

Dad will be writing tomorrow, so some random stuff from me:

Trump was almost assassinated on Saturday. Thankful he is okay.

But the would-be assassin did take the life of a rally attendee. Prayers for his family.

I got bit by spider (we think a spider, anyway) sometime on Monday. Big red circle on my right shoulder. Ended up going to the doctor today. I'm now on a topical steroid. I don't think the steroid will make me super strong, unfortunately. And the spider bite didn't give me any superpowers. Bummer.

I closed the books as of 6/30 at work. Now I can breathe.

Speaking of breathing, it has been hot the past few days. Air conditioners are running, making it easier to breathe while sleeping.

Thanks for checking in!

And the Heat Goes On

We have had to sleep with the air conditioners running the past few nights. Hot, hot, hot... for us anyway. Sitting in my recliner with a good book would be a delightful way to survive the mid-day heat. This is as opposed to getting some tasks done at my desk like I am doing now. I'm almost done, though, then I can return to the good book.

Today is my mother's birthday. She would have been 86, which my weather app says is the high temperature for today. 

Happy Heavenly Birthday, Mom! 💕

Dad 722: For REAL

(Dad writes today! ~ Tracy)

 

Derf Here! Another great day in the Northeast.

 

Update on water at little camp: The town water team has repaired everything that they need to. They have water up at the big camp. Now the family must get the water into both camps. They will probably have a series of leaks in both places which will have to be fixed. I think they are working on the water as I write this. Let's hope so.

 

Tomorrow my hair will be cut in the morning. It is 12 weeks since the previous styling.

 

Been busy today. Went to the DMV this morning to renew my license and get a REAL ID. We got there 15 minutes before opening and Tracy got in line with about 20 other people. At 8 AM they opened the office and Tracy got #13. In about half an hour our number was called. We went to the window and it was painless. We got what we wanted. They took my picture and checked my vision. All went well. We also received a new handicap parking placard extended to match my license expiration date. Probably the last time I renew my license. A good day!!

 

Until next time!

 

Toodle Pip!

 

Derf!

Saturday Summary

The water is not on at the camp yet. According to my cousin Robert, the water company dropped the ball on a couple things. So hopefully all we be in order within a week or two. Apparently they need to dig to fix something; Kim was willing to help them dig if it would speed things up! LOL!

My FYE tasks at work are going okay. I anticipate working only my regular schedule (Mondays and Tuesdays) in order to complete everything, so that's good.  I'm taking the week of July 29th off, and I'm looking forward to it already!

We have been watching Wimbledon. Getting down to the round of 16. Yesterday I explained the scoring of the game to Kaelen. The bottom line is that tennis scoring is a strange beast.

Today I watched the Indiana Fever game. Lew watched, too, although some of his watching was done through his eyelids. Caitlyn Clark became the first WNBA rookie to record a triple-double! I'm so glad they won the game, since it would have been a bummer after such a nice achievement. Congratulations, #22!

Dad 721: Got Water?

(Dad writes today! ~ Tracy)

Derf Here! Must admit that the weather has been in our favor for quite a few days recently. Keep it rolling!

Well, the first part of our Illinois family safely made the trip to Maine. Joe, Kim, Kaelen, and Cocoa are all here for the summer. They have cleaned the cottage and are ready to get the water on this Friday. Hoping to get the water on without a whole lot of trouble so the camp can be used again. After this is a success, Joe and Kim will be staying there with Cocoa.

No more for today. Tune in next week!

Until next time!

Toodle Pip!

Derf!

Happy New Fiscal Year!

Things are busy at work since our fiscal year ended on June 30th. I have a checklist of things to do after each quarter ends plus a few more things with the FYE....

"FYE" is accounting/business-speak for Fiscal Year End. Aren't you glad to know that?

🤑

You Saw What You Saw

Kim, Joe, Kaelen, and Cocoa arrived yesterday. They were happy to have the long drive from Illinois completed! Kaelen is staying in our guestroom. Her parents and the dog are staying at Debbie's house until the "little camp" (as the family calls it) is ready next week.

Last night I watched the presidential debate. It was... umm... interesting. Lew and I watched a little bit of the post-debate analysis. After the initial shock, the spin machine kicked in. I encourage everyone to read the short story The Emperor's New Clothes by Hans Christian Andersen. Prescient.

Dad 720: Coming East

(Dad writes today! ~ Tracy)

 

Derf Here! Another beautiful morning in the Northeast. Temps in the low 80s and rising. Summer is here! We'll take it.

 

This will be a short blog post. The rest of the day will be spent by me thanking the Kents Hill School Class of 1964 for the invitation to their reunion on June 8th. We (my daughter Deb and son-in-law Glen) were welcomed to Kents Hill for a day a remembrance and reacquaintance with long time ago students (only a few years younger than I am). We thoroughly enjoyed our stay and the accomplishments of the school as the campus has expanded to a very large area with several buildings, etc. So I had better get started on my e-mail to Dick and Joanne O'Connor.

 

That's all for you except...

 

Kim, Joe, and Kaelen are on the road today from Illinois. They will be here tomorrow. Exciting times for all!

 

Until next time!

 

Toodle Pip!

 

Derf!

Two Champions

Last night was a busy sports night with the deciding games of the Men's College World Series and the NHL Stanley Cup.

The Tennessee Volunteers won the national title in baseball. The Vols were the number one seed in the tournament, which hasn't always been a good thing. In fact, the last time the top seed won was in 1999. What's even more amazing to me is that 1999 was 25 years ago! How did that happen? 

The Florida Panthers won the hockey game. They won the first three games of the best of seven series. Piece of cake, right? Well, they lost the next three games, and had to win a deciding game seven. Which they did. I didn't listen to any post-game interviews, but I imagine the Panthers players were all thinking, "Phew!"

Congratulations to both teams. I didn't really follow either during the regular season, but I do enjoy a good tournament!

⚾🏒

Another Scorcher

It was the perfect day to stay in the house... in rooms with A/C units.

I went outside to put outgoing mail in the mailbox and went once more to retrieve the delivered mail. It was very, very hot.

I caught up on some paperwork, did some reading, and did some relaxing. 

The outside temp is supposed to be more tolerable tomorrow, so maybe I'll do some laundry.  The good thing about laundry is that it will still be there later... like magic.

Stay cool, everyone!

Dad 719: Hot and Busy

(Dad writes today. We will be running the A/C tonight. ~ Tracy)

 

Derf Here! Very warm day in the Northeast. Temp is around high 80s and low 90s. Because it is hot, this will be short!

 

Well, I've had two weekends in a row that have had busy Saturdays.

 

On June 8th I spent the day at the Kents Hill School Reunion. Check out my post from last week.

 

This past Saturday (the 15th) Tracy and I attended a ceremony to dedicate memorial patio bricks at the Hospice House in Scarborough. There were 99 bricks being dedicated in memory of those who recently passed away. The bricks were engraved (Mary Lou's has "1938 - 2023" below her name) and inserted into the patio as part of the Hospice's "Trail of Memories." It was a busy place and we were happy to honor Mary Lou in this way.

 

I'm done writing for the day!

 

Until next time!

 

Toodle Pip!

 

Derf!

A Mediocre Lunch Break

When I scheduled my next dental cleaning several months ago, I was not working on Mondays.

I am now working on Mondays.

My appointment was today at noon.

I refrained from munching this morning at work so that I wouldn't have to brush my teeth before leaving for the dentist's office.

After getting bitewing x-rays taken, I followed Darlene (my hygienist who is a friend from high school) to her work area to get my teeth cleaned.

I thought I was going to get scolded since I haven't done a great job flossing every night, etc.  But she said everything looked fine.  Phew!

When I got in my vehicle to head back to work, I first opened a lunch bar and took a bite. I was starving!

So my lunch break wasn't great since I had to go to the dentist. But it wasn't terrible either since I didn't get scolded. Still, it was below average as far as lunch breaks go.

My next dental appointment is on a Thursday next March at 10:00am. I don't work on Thursdays!

Dad 718: Reunion on The Hill

(Dad writes about his big day this past Saturday. Enjoy! ~ Tracy)

 

Derf Here! Today seems fairly nice. Sun is out in this area but showers are in other parts of the state. We may get some later today. Blog post is a little long today! (Good luck, Tracy!)

 

Well, Glen and Deb transported me to the 200th Anniversary Reunion at Kents Hill School. I was there in answer to an invitation by the Class of 1964. I decided to go as the weather report went from rain all day to just showers in the afternoon. The weather was good until our ride home. We drove through a shower and got home under the sun.

 

More about our day at the reunion:

 

The first surprise was when we went in to register. Glen walked into the hall and saw a friend of his! I registered and got my name tag which identified me as "Former Faculty." Glen then took over and arranged for a golf cart to ride around in for the day. We found out they had a cart for us to use and they gave Glen the key. Spent the morning visiting with the class of 1964 at their 60th reunion. Met with many '64 graduates including Dick and Joanne O'Connor. (Dick invited me to the reunion.) Also met with Ted Alfond and finally met his wife, Barbara.

 

We all had a luncheon in the Bibby and Harold Alfond Dining Commons. Had lobster rolls. Then we were ready for the afternoon activities.

 

We didn't attend the former faculty reception, but instead chose to go see portions of the alumni basketball and hockey games in the Harold & Ted Alfond Athletics Center. (Mary Lou and I attended the dedication of the Center in 2001.) We had returned the golf cart, so Glen pushed me around in my transport chair while at the Center. We saw the basketball court and the beautiful hockey rink. Our last stop at the Center was the Joanne & Dick O'Connor Weight Room. The room was beautiful and loaded with devices. I even "worked out" (only for pictures)!

 

I must say Glen, Deb, and I were welcomed and treated quite well. A great day and so glad I got there!

 

This coming Saturday we (Lew, Tracy, and I) will go to a dedication of a patio brick in memory of Mary Lou at the Hospice. I'll say more about that next week.

 

Until next time!

 

Toodle Pip!

Derf!

 

Miscellanea

I just googled the plural of "miscellaneous" so I hope the title of this post is the correct usage.

Lew and I watched the final round of the Women's College World Series last week. Congratulations to Oklahoma on the FOUR-peat! Over the course of four years, the seniors played 250 games together. They lost only 15 of those games, they were never run-ruled, and they were never shut out... not to mention the four national championship titles. What a great softball squad!

I did some much-needed organizing/cleaning on Friday. I still have lots more to do, but I'm tired. Plus it will still be here later, LOL!

Dad will write more about this on Wednesday, but he DID go yesterday. The weather cooperated after all.

The weather today... well... it's raining. It must have rained really hard at some point during our church service; we could hear it pounding on the roof for several minutes.

I've been reading some interesting novels. (What about you?)

We finally went for pie & fry (Bill's Pizza and Pier Fries) with some friends last week. We followed up our fine dining experience with delicious ice cream treats at Fielder's Choice.

Now I'm off to have some lunch!

Dad 717: To Go or Not To Go

(Dad writes today. Debbie and Glen are taking him on Saturday. They will watch out for him! ~ Tracy)

 

Derf Here! Weather is all right this morning. It will, however, become cloudy and rainy this afternoon. The last couple of weeks have been rainless with some warm temps. Now we start a period of wet weather with rain throughout the next few days.

 

I'm sitting here trying to decide if I go to a school reunion on Saturday or not. I am leaning toward not traveling throughout the day. I do not wish to put myself in a position to slip and fall. I will be taking a walker, wheelchair, and a portable O2 device. I do not want to be out in wet weather where I will have a sense of bad balance. I do not wish to fall under these circumstances. We will make definite plans come this weekend. Hope to go, but not too steady on my feet! I'll let you know next week what I did. (I'll be wrong either choice!)

 

Until next time!

 

Toodle Pip!

 

Derf!

Puzzling!

Niece Kaelen gave me a beautiful jigsaw puzzle for Christmas. I finally put it together over the past couple days.

The name of the puzzle is "A Purrfect Place" and it's by Hallmark Artist Jeffrey Nguyen.

It was a fun and relaxing puzzle to work on!

June

Although it is has only 30 days, the month of June seems long. It's the last month of our fiscal year at work, so there is more to do than usual. Also, social media will be full of celebrations of... well... I'm going to leave it there.

Some of our Illinois family should be arriving after mid-month. We are looking forward to seeing them! Hoping the good weather we've been having will be the status quo for the entire summer.

Happy June to you all!

Dad 716: The Pandas Are Coming!

(Dad writes today! ~ Tracy)

 

Derf Here! Another beautiful sunny day with temperatures just above 70°.

 

The blog editor said this post can be short. So here goes.

 

Spent days now watching the trial for Trump. Now I'll watch more days until the jury finds him guilty. A forgone conclusion. What a judge. A little shaky.

 

Just saw that two pandas are coming to an American zoo. Hopefully they will reproduce. On the show it said the panda world population has doubled from 1,000 to 2,000 over the last 40 years. Wouldn't mind having a panda!

 

That's about it and I hope it is short enough.

 

Until next time!

 

Toodle Pip!

 

Derf!

Spring Cleaning

Yesterday I decided it was time to take decluttering seriously. Less stuff around would be helpful when cleaning the house.

I already found a couple completely unnecessary items to put out on the lawn for free. Lew put them out this morning, and they went fairly quickly. It's amazing that other people want the stuff we no longer want.

I'm not sure I will completely declutter by the first day of summer. In fact, I know I won't! It will be slow, but steady. Just like the tortoise. 😁

13-3 in 5

13-3... The score of Eli's little league game last night.

5... The number of innings played due to the 10-run mercy rule.

Additional comments:  Eli's team won!  He also had a couple hits, one of which was a massive triple.

Congratulations, Eli!

P.S. Lew and I got our dinner at the field's incredible snack bar.

Dad 715: Changes to See

(Dad writes today! ~ Tracy)

 

Derf Here! Enjoying another day on the summery side that has temps in the 80s with sun. Keep it coming!

 

Just received Kents Hill School's spring magazine. Two weeks from this Saturday (June 8th) I will be spending the day at Kents Hill for its reunion. It will be the 200th year of celebrating Kents Hill School. Mary Lou and I spent years 1961-1966 there, where we taught and coached and did dorm duty.

 

There were a few buildings on the campus back then, but now there are many more buildings. It now is a very large campus and its buildings take up a lot of area. I worked for a few summers with the maintenance department and mowed lawns and did other jobs. It has changed. Our barn we worked out of is gone. I can't believe the new campus, and I will be quite interested in the tour of all the property. I was there five years ago but didn't have time to look the place over. More about this trip next week.

 

Until next time!

 

Toodle Pip!

 

Derf!

Oxygen Update

Lew and I took Dad for his oxygen appointment on Thursday. He "passed the test" for the more portable machine. He was given one that day and he has been using it 24/7.

The company will send a driver to pick up the bigger unit this Friday. If Dad opts to go back to the bigger unit, then they'll pick up the more portable machine instead. But I think the big one will be leaving.

The portable machine is very straightforward to use. Modern technology really is amazing.

My final thoughts for this post: Oxygen is useful. Breathing is good. 😁

Dad 714: Lew's Lawn

(Dad writes today! An additional follow-up from last week's post: He did complete the reunion RSVP's with e-mail help from yours truly. ~ Tracy)

 

Derf Here! The weather seems to be getting more like spring and summer, with the temperatures reaching into the 80s in certain areas yesterday. Keep those temps rising and the sun shining!

 

Not much going on this week. Lew has mowed the lawn a couple times and it looks good. He still has to avoid an area where strong winds blew down large tree branches. We hope to get it cleared up as the days progress. We'll see where this ends a little later in the summer.

 

Tomorrow I will check out getting a portable oxygen machine. I would like to have a portable in order to move about better. We'll see what I'm told tomorrow. As of now I'm using O2 at night but not during the day. My O2 level seems to drop if I'm doing something. While sitting it remains high. We'll see what direction I take with O2.

 

I've done enough writing for today. So.... Another week of logging in!

 

Until next time!

 

Toodle Pip!

 

Derf!

A Wooden Jigsaw Puzzle

This afternoon I did a small wooden jigsaw puzzle (by CraftHub).

Some of the pieces were adorable! If a piece was shaped like an animal, then the reverse side of the piece had that animal's markings.

The puzzle was fun to do, but it was harder than it looks. I especially had trouble keeping the pieces from separating as I fit in more pieces.... Fat fingers?!  LOL!

Below is a photo of my completed puzzle. The regular-sized toothpick at the bottom gives a perspective on the dimensions.

Again, it was very fun!

Fur Friends

Debbie brought Mazie to visit today.

We decided to see how Mazie would get along with Jerry (and vice versa).

They sniffed each other for a bit. Then Mazie watched Jerry play with her toy.

Mazie fell asleep after all the excitement, while Jerry wondered what all the excitement was about!

Jerry and a sleepy Mazie hanging out at Lew's feet.

Dad 713: RSVP & O2

(Dad writes today. He is saving my blog from extinction! I will try to post more. Thanks for reading! ~ Tracy)

 

Derf Here! Today's weather is not great, especially after yesterday which may have been our early summer. It seems to be slow coming, but I guess we'll have to wait.

 

I've got two or three things I want to take care of in the next couple days.

 

I've been invited to reunions at two schools I have taught at, and I need to respond to those requests. (I must get my computer person to e-mail them.) I will make it to one of the reunions. I will attend the one at Kents Hill School where I first started teaching in 1961. I cannot make the July reunion at Sanford High School, where I taught from 1966 to 1970. I am saving my month of July for family visitors from Illinois.

 

I have been wanting to get a portable O2 machine and have a prescription for one. I finally have gotten around to trying to schedule this meeting. Waiting for a callback from Apria. Hope to firm up a date today.

 

I'll let you know if I completed these tasks.

 

Until next time!

 

Toodle Pip!

 

Derf!

How I Spent My Birthday (and the Next Two Days)

I was a complete sloth for three days. All I did from Wednesday through Friday was sleep, read, eat, and watch stuff on TV.

I did go visit a friend yesterday morning, so I guess I should remove the word "complete" from the first sentence of this post.

I am paying for my slothfulness today. I dealt with the mail piled up on my desk, used the elliptical machine, took a shower, and I am currently doing laundry.

I will close this post with a photo of my birthday cake. It was chocolate. The frosting was sickeningly sweet... just the way I like it. Yum!

Dad 712: Meeting Mazie Mae

(Dad writes today. And, yes, I believe his post is short enough! ~ Tracy)

Derf Here! Not a great pre-summer day. It is cloudy but the temperature is getting warmer. If only the weather would get to be a constantly sunny daily occurrence. Any time, please!

Only two things to write about today.

1)  Sixty-one years ago today the first of our three daughters was born in Augusta, Maine. The now 61-year-old daughter is Tracy. She and her husband, Lew, own and live with me in our family home. They are certainly a very helpful couple for me as I trudge along these days. (I might add that Tracy said to keep my blog post short today.)

2)  Daughter Deb brought her new puppy to see us this morning. Mazie Mae is cute and active! I'm sure we will see her frequently and try to get her to become friends with our cats. Below is a picture of me with my new grand-puppy.

(Short enough, Tracy?)

Until next time!

Toodle Pip!

Derf!

Mazie Mae — "Mazie" — is a mini Australian Shepherd.

Mazie is bonding with my slipper!

Conversation With an "Old" Friend

This past Tuesday evening I stayed up until 12:30AM (into Wednesday morning) talking on the phone with one of my dearest friends. I met her when I lived in Kansas, which is still her home.

She came to Maine for a visit about four years ago, and we couldn't remember if we had spoken on the phone since then. Text messages and the like, yes.  But speaking, not so sure.

At the end of our three and a half hour phone conversation, we talked about how it hadn't seemed like a possible four years. Wasn't it only yesterday that we were sitting in the same room, drinking hot tea, and watching a chick flick?

Friends are forever. Especially "old" ones.

Dad 711: Six Months, Two Days

(Dad writes today. ~ Tracy)

 

Derf Here! Another pretty cloudy day in the Northeast with temperatures around the mid 50s. We're still waiting for that warm weather to reach the 70s. It is rather slow in coming. We'll just have to wait. A little rain still left.

 

Six months and two days ago our Mary Lou left this earth. It is amazing how fast the year is flying by. It is surprising to me how many times during the day she enters my thoughts. I guess living with someone for 63 years does make an impression on one's self. The good times that will never be again. But the memories are great!

 

We struggle along with our loss knowing we'll see her soon. That will be a reunion. We're ready.

 

Life goes on.

 

Until next time!

 

Toodle Pip!

 

Derf!

Prayers and More Prayers

I have dear friends that have suffered this past week.

For two friends, the tragic loss of an adult daughter/niece.

For another friend, painful side-effects from chemotherapy.

My friends know people are praying, and they are grateful.

God's peace, comfort, and love to all.

Dad 710: A Special Brick

(Dad writes today! ~ Tracy)

 

Derf Here! It looks like a nice summer day outside. However, the temperature is in the low 50s. I'm waiting for the temps to rise to the 70s on a daily basis. We are ready to warm up.

 

Life goes on week by week and each week seems to go about the same. Several things happen over and over.

 

This week we did notify the Hospice that we would donate an engraved brick memorializing Mary Lou. The brick will be put in the yard at the hospice. Nothing fancy, just her name and life years. The brick will be dedicated at a spring ceremony along with other memorial bricks. We plan to be at the dedication and are looking forward to it.

 

Still planning on attending the big reunion at Kents Hill School celebrating the class of 1964 (50 years). Hope go all goes well and I make it back for the 200th reunion at the school. I'll let you know.

 

Until next time!

 

Toodle Pip!

 

Derf!

Mouse Out of the House!

Not wanting to risk another middle-of-the-night ruckus due to the mouse, Lew and I decided to flush him out.

Because of how the kitties were acting, we knew the mouse was behind or under the bookcase beside my recliner. Lew pulled the bookcase away from the wall, and the mouse went scurrying.

He made it underneath a corner piece, safe from the two kitties that were stalking him.

I tried to lure the mouse out with cheese, but he wasn't biting. He eventually ran back under the bookcase.

Lew believes the mouse was getting desperate for food, because he (the mouse) eventually emerged. The kitties chased him back to his hiding spot.

He came out again. The kitties chased him.

This went on for about an hour. At one point the mouse came out and sat still, as did the kitties. It was at this point I realized our cats were "playing" instead of making serious attempts to catch the mouse.

When Marilyn chased the mouse into our small bathroom (which is beneath our staircase), we knew we were in luck. Although it is small quarters, Lew and I both went into the bathroom and shut the door. The space under the door is tight (old house!), so we knew the mouse couldn't get out.

So it is the mouse, Marilyn, Lew, and I in the bathroom. Marilyn and the mouse are playing peek-a-boo back and forth behind the toilet.

I had brought in the tupperware bowl (from yesterday's post) and was ready for when the mouse decided to come out into the open floor.

And he finally did!

I trapped him under the bowl. We put Marilyn outside of the bathroom, and I carefully slid the bowl over the small area rug. Lew took it from there.... He folded the area rug around the bowl, tipped the bowl over, and subsequently released the mouse outside.

Phew!

Jerry and Marilyn then crashed, exhausted from the "hunt" — and I use that term loosely!

🐭😼😸

Mouse in the House!

Last night around 2:00AM I was awakened by a loud noise. Then I heard one of the cats madly dashing around downstairs.

I went to investigate.

Marilyn was at the foot of the stairs, playing with one of her toy mice.

Upon further inspection, I saw that said mouse was able to move all on its own.

The mouse ran behind the speaker we have next to our electric keyboard. Marilyn and the mouse then played an amusing game of peek-a-boo back and forth around the speaker.

By now Lew is downstairs as well. Jerry seemed to be just a casual observer at this point.

The mouse got brave and ran into the dining room. Both cats now were trying to catch it. Lew tried to trap it with a tupperware bowl, but the mouse was too fast.

Eventually the mouse dashed into the living room, and it is there we all lost sight of it.

Lew and I went back to bed while the cats kept watch.

No sign of the mouse today.... It's freaking me out a little!

🐭

Dad 709: The Super Shoe

(Dad writes today! ~ Tracy)

 

Derf Here! The weather finally is giving us a taste of spring and even summer. Please get here soon!

 

Last week I told you I would tell you about my "super shoe." So here is a short story of the super shoe.

 

After my last foot surgery to clean out the infection, I was supposed to walk on my heel to keep all weight off of my toe. This would help the healing process, but it wasn't happening. I mentioned building a different heel for my shoe but was discouraged from doing so.

 

In the hospital my foot finally started to heal. The day that I was being discharged from the hospital to rehab, I was issued a new type of shoe (my "super shoe"). It has a rebuilt heel that helped me to get up on my heel and not use my toe area. My rehab was on its way.

 

I was released from rehab after one week by my surgeon, and I have been wearing a simple surgical shoe as the healing goes on. In a couple of weeks I'll get back to all regular shoes.

 

Here is a poor drawing of the super shoe.

 

Until next time!

 

Toodle Pip!

 

Derf!

(P.S. Below is my own rendering of the super shoe, from heel to toe! 😏 ~ Tracy)

Tuesday Musings

The NCAA tournaments are over. Congratulations to the UConn men and the South Carolina women for their decisive wins! And now I can try to get to sleep at a decent time. 😴

My work colleagues shared eclipse glasses yesterday. We weren't in the path of totality, but we were able to see some of the effects of the eclipse. The glasses showed us that most of the sun was blocked by the moon at the peak point of the eclipse, but it still wasn't dark out. The sun is certainly a powerful star.

The weather has been nice the past couple days. I think that Spring got the message and decided to show up!

It Snowed on April 4th

Everything screeched to a halt on Thursday because of heavy, wet, and icky snow!

Police and fire departments requested that people stay home if possible.

Our power went out about 4:15AM. 

We were cold.

We were tired.

We were cold and tired.

Just over 12 hours later — around 4:30PM — our power came back on.

Warm food for dinner!

Hot coffee! (Regular for Lew, decaf for me.)

Cable TV and internet working again!

Every time we lose power, I promise to never take it for granted again. But then I do....

Therefore, many thanks to the line crews that have worked hard these past two storms.

And, Spring, you need to step it up.

Dad 708: Foot and Shoe

(Dad writes today! Hooray! ~ Tracy)

 

Derf Here! I'M BACK!

 

I've been home since last Thursday. I spent a week at Maine Medical Center and finally got discharged when my foot started to heal.

 

Then I went to rehab. The rehab was not a physical therapy need. It was to allow my foot to progress in the healing process. It did heal and I was discharged to go home.

 

I wore an extended-heel shoe while in rehab and for the first few days after returning home. I now can go back to wearing my flat surgical shoe for the next six weeks. If I treat my foot correctly, I should be able to get into my orthopedic shoe after the six weeks. I'll keep you posted.

 

Tune in next week! Will write more details about my stay and my new shoe!

 

Until next time!

 

Toodle Pip!

 

Derf!

The Rhythms of Home

I've been fighting off a cold the past couple days, and I think I've conquered it in time for Easter Sunday.  We are looking forward to attending church in the morning and then going to Debbie's & Glen's house for Easter dinner.

Dad did come home on Thursday. He certainly is glad to be home, and we certainly are glad to have him home. The cats even are happy! They both were off their normal routines while he was gone, and now they are back in their usual rhythms. Animals are interesting that way; they know when there is a change.

Lew and I continue to watch many of the NCAA tournament games. It's fun.

Wishing everyone a blessed Easter!

Tomorrow... Only a Day Away

Dad is getting discharged from short-stay rehab tomorrow. He was ready to leave before he even got there (ha ha!), so this is welcome news.

It will be nice to have him home.

🏠🍪🏠  Home, Sweet Home!

March is Mad

Lots of stuff the past few days:

March Madness! The NCAA basketball tournaments (both men and women) are great sporting events. I love watching the games. Lew likes filling out the brackets.

More March Madness! It SNOWED on Saturday. Then it turned into an ice storm. We lost our electricity around 7:40pm on Saturday evening and didn't get it back until last night around 7:30pm... so almost a whole 24 hours without power. Besides being cold, we also missed watching lots of basketball.

Many area churches lost power as well and had to cancel services yesterday. Our church was one of them. A strange Palm Sunday indeed.

Dad had a good follow-up appointment with his foot surgeon today. The nurse at rehab is doing an evaluation tomorrow, so I expect he will be home within the next couple days. He still needs to stay off his foot as much as he can, but it is healing nicely.

Thanks for checking in!

A Step Closer

Dad left the hospital and entered the short-term stay facility today.  He is there so his foot can heal a bit more.  Then he can come home.  It will probably be several days.  At least he is right down the street from us.  Easy to visit!

Sunday Update

Nothing too new to report on the hospital patient. His foot needs to heal before he can walk on it, so a decision probably will be made tomorrow about where he will be heading to rehabilitate.

Stay tuned!

Foot Update

Dad's foot surgeon called me after the surgery today. She told me she removed all of the bad stuff. ("Bad stuff" is my term; her words were more clinical.)

I spoke with Dad, too, and he sounded good.

Now it's time to wait for some test results, as they need to make sure the infection is under control.

So Dad probably is in the hospital at least over the weekend.  At least he likes selecting his hospital meals; he gets to call in his order himself.  Little things.... 😊

Dad's Foot

Dad is not writing his usual Wednesday post because he is in the hospital on IV antibiotics.

Tomorrow at 3PM he will get a little nubby removed from his right foot.  (When he had his first toe removed a few years ago, they didn't take the whole toe.  The remaining portion is what I refer to as the "nubby.")

The nubby is infected, as is some of the bone near it.  So perhaps they will need to take a bit more.  We'll find out soon enough.

So, here we go again!

Prayers are appreciated.  Thank you!

DST Day One

At 6:15 PM today, I commented to Lew, "It's still light outside!"

Here's hoping I can get to work by 8:00 AM tomorrow.

More Daylight On Its Way

I do like Daylight Savings Time.

The later Mr. Sun stays up, the better.

What I don't like is the start of Daylight Savings Time.

I am not really a morning person, so moving the clocks ahead makes for a difficult adjustment.

There has been talk of doing away with the semi-annual time change.

Please, let's do it and have Daylight Savings Time all year.

Happy "Spring Ahead" to you!

Work Anniversary

I had to take Tuesday off this week, so I went into the office today.

On my drive home I remembered that I started this job on March 7, 2023 — one year ago today.

This means I've been through a whole cycle.  I think I pretty much know what I'm doing now, ha ha!

Dad 707: Future Foot Fun

(By request, Dad writes a short post today. Thank you, Dad! ~ Tracy)

Derf Here! Not a great day to be out. Damp, wet, and about 50 degrees.

A one-liner tonight:

Things seem to be going on as usual, but a final foot surgery is coming!

Until next time!

Toodle Pip!

Derf!

A Record is Broken

🏀  Caitlin Clark!  🏀

Do I need to say more?

The Book After Titus

We just had a two-week sermon series on the book of Philemon at our church.

How is Philemon pronounced?

During the sermon series, the preacher said it like this: fill-EE-mun. Emphasis on the middle syllable.

A variation that I thought I heard him say a couple times: file-EE-mun.  Fill vs. file.

Either way, emphasis on the middle.

Now we need a series on Habakkuk! 😁

Leaplings

Yesterday was Leap Year Day. I just saw a headline that more than 20 babies were born in Maine yesterday.

I wonder when these babies will celebrate their birthday. Biologically they will be four years old the next time a February 29th rolls around.

In non-leap years, they should have a two-day birthday celebration. My reasoning: The birth was in the month of February but it was on the day after February 28th.

So, leaplings, I encourage you to celebrate on February 28 and again on March 1! You are worth it!

Dad 706: Oxygen Deficiency

(Dad writes today. He got a call back after he wrote this. Appointment tomorrow! ~ Tracy)

 

Derf Here! A cool, cloudy day in the Northeast. But no snow in the future for us. Only one day until March. Will be one of the most snowless Februarys on record. Spring is on its way. We'll take it!

 

Well, I spent Monday at urgent care attempting to regain oxygen for use. My oxygen levels are not where they should be at times, and I have been short of breath and have trouble finishing sentences, etc. I wait for an appointment for an outpatient stress test. I think it is called "nuclear" because it is done with no activity.

 

Also I'm waiting to get oxygen at home. Just waiting. Waiting for a call back from nurse at doctor's office. I feel good and hope to clear up my heart problem. (All other tests are good except for this problem with my heart.) The body getting old is not the best thing that happens in the aging process.

 

Tune in next week. I may have better news.

 

Until next time!

 

Toodle Pip!

 

Derf!

Technology Woes

Our computer files at work were "re-organized" by our I.T. office.

And now the files are disorganized.

It's been messed up for a week now, but we are making do until everything can be fixed.

What fun we are having!

😕

Taxes Done

I have finished tax return preparation for another year!

All three Federal returns have been "accepted."

I am still waiting for two Maine returns to be "accepted."  Hopefully that will happen in the next day or so.

Now on to other projects that are hopefully more fun. 😁

Taxes Update

I just e-filed income taxes for Matt and Emily. I did our own last week, so I just have my father's left to do. I am planning on looking at his tomorrow.

I found a great emoji to include at the end of this post. The title of it is "Money With Wings." Seems appropriate for the subject of taxes!

💸

A Good Season

The Rockets season ended last night with a loss in the regionals. I imagine they wanted to go further into the playoffs, but they still should be proud of the winning season they had.

Dad and I enjoyed watching the games. Lew sometimes joined us. We still marvel at the technology which allows us to sit in Maine and watch a high school basketball game being played in Illinois.

Thank you, Rockets! It was fun. 🏀

Dad 705: An Easy February

(Dad writes today. I am happy to be back to my two-day work week! ~ Tracy)

 

Derf Here! About noon and our weather is similar to the recent pattern of the outside looking good from the inside. A very little storm is on the books for the weekend. Should get a little snow, about one-to-three inches across most of the state. About one-to-six inches in one little spot up on the border. The coast, however, will get a little snow then rain clearing the land of the snow. This is about the easiest February I can remember in my 85 years. No large weather issues for the rest of February. We'll take it, but I do feel bad for the people depending on snow for their businesses.

 

Tomorrow marks four months without Mary Lou, my partner of 63 years. I have my moments when I am not filled with happy thoughts. One thing is for sure, though: I am getting closer to being with my partner again. Then I will be happy. Nothing wrong with my company now, but the best is yet to come!

 

Tracy seems to have the schedule for her bookkeeping job straightened out to what she was hired for, which is a two-day work week. Now she works to get our taxes done. Then we'll be ready for the rest of the year.

 

Tune in next week!

 

Toodle Pip!

 

Derf!

Leftovers

Breakfast out with Lew, Carole, and Donna.

The rest of today's dining:

• Lunch: Leftover Chipotle.
• Dinner: Leftover lasagna.

Yum!

A New Dining Experience

I had a late lunch with a friend today.

She suggested going to a place I had never been.

That place? Chipotle! (Yes, I am behind the times.)

I enjoyed the food and I even have leftovers for tomorrow's lunch.

When I see the commercials I now can say, "I've eaten there!"

Tax Season

My annual tax return preparation service has begun! I hang no shingle outside, though, since I only do three returns.  😁

I just e-filed the tax returns for Lew and me, so two to go!

Have you started YOUR taxes yet?  Just shy of a couple months left to get them filed. Have fun!

Dad 704: Valentine's Day

(Dad has some good words for us all today. ~ Tracy)

 

Derf Here! Another beautiful day as seen from the inside. Temperatures are still south of freezing.

 

Let us have a simple day with a simple wish for everyone to have a spectacular Valentine's Day. Take a good look at your Valentine. Enjoy your company. Life is short. Make your day worthwhile. It will be worth it for you.

 

Happy Valentine's Day.

 

Tune in next week; I'll try to write more.

 

Until next time!

 

Toodle Pip!

 

Derf!

A Precise Weather Report

Amount of snow predicted for our area today: A COUPLE INCHES.

Actual snow received today: NONE. (Hooray!)

Snow received in other states not too far south of us:  A BUNCH... TOO MUCH!

❄❅❆⛄❆❅❄

Monday Musings on Super Sunday

I was rooting for the 49ers, so I was a little disappointed in the outcome of the game. But it was fun to watch. Congrats to the Chiefs. 

I thought Reba McEntire did a nice, respectful job singing the National Anthem. 

The half-time show. Eh. I'm of the opinion that the half-time length should be just like it is all season. Don't need to have a longer half-time just to have an elaborate production. The drama of the game is enough. 

I just listened to a few snippets of some Taylor Swift songs. Eh. I want to like her, I really do want to, but I don't understand why her music is so popular. Apparently I am not her target audience! But I guess she was good for NFL viewership this season, since all the "Swifties" were watching just to see her sitting in a box at the games. Now that the season is over, will her romance with Travis Kelce continue much longer? Stay tuned, Earthlings!

As for the commercials, I did enjoy many of them. Some were trying so hard to be unique that they fell flat. I didn't have a favorite, and I didn't rush out to buy any new products today.

Our Super Bowl special food: Lew made cheese nachos. Yum. Thanks, Lew!

Super Sunday

Yesterday's post indicated my schedule for today. How I did:

• We did go to church this morning. The sermon text was Colossians 4:4-6. Speak wisely and graciously!
• On our way home from church we picked up Dad's ziti dinner. We also got him a brownie. Lew got an Italian sandwich. I got a lunch-sized ziti meal and a whoopie pie. (Yum.)
• Caitlin Clark scored 31 points in the game today, but Nebraska beat her Iowa team by three points. She has to score only eight more points to be the highest scorer in NCAA Women's Basketball. Iowa's next game is at home on Thursday, and she will probably do it then.
• I just finished the book I've been reading, Father Elijah: An Apocalypse by Michael D. O'Brien. It's entry #8 on my 2024 Reading List page.

As for the rest of the day, I hear there is a big event on TV starting around 6:30pm our time. I guess I will watch.