Today is our wedding anniversary - our 54th, to be exact. It sounds like a very long time, but those years seemed to have rolled by quickly when we look backward from this viewpoint.
It has been a good marriage and a happy life. Of course, we have had our tough times and our challenges, but we have always faced them together and with love.
There have also been a lot of laughs and some really good stories - some I cannot tell.
We have never been real big on celebrating anniversaries. It is usually like by evening on the day it dawns on us that it is our anniversary. So we go out to eat to celebrate - just like we do every day. I choose to believe that our whole life is one big celebration, not that we forget to celebrate anniversaries.
We knew that we each had other things to do today - Don met Chuck for their usual Wednesday afternoon watching the horse races on simulcast. Sometimes they even place a bet, or rather Don places the bets. Chuck has a time getting in and out of chairs. I was having lunch with the Menta ladies club, just as we do twice a month. Later Don mowed yards and I checked the E mails, then we had carry-in chicken dinners, spent an hour at the casino, and visited Cheryl at her evening job in the garden shop. Yeh, it was a good celebration, pretty much like all our days.
We did take a little road trip yesterday down to Cambridge City to visit the antique mall where we used to have a booth. Then we ate lunch at one of our favortie lunch spots in Cambridge City, the Lakeview. We said it was a pre-anniversary trip because we knew we would be busy today. I'm just saying - we aren't big on celebrating. I did bake a coffee cake to leave on the kitchen counter for breakfast as is our custom on special days. This always prompts Don to make an early morning trip to the store to buy a card - which he did this morning. It WAS a very sweet card.
Once, many years ago, Don said that we would go to Hawaii on our 25th anniversary. Here it is our 54th, and I think it is safe to say that I have never been out of Indiana on any of our anniversaries. One year we totally forgot the date. We were in Certerville helping Rod move. The temperatures were in the 90's, we were very very tired, hot, and dirty. We were driving home early evening when it suddenly dawned on us that it was our anniversary. So we stopped in Losantville, population
maybe 100, and had supper at the Blue Moon Cafe. Not Hawaii, but maybe the most exotic of spots in Losantville.
Well, anyway, we figure that it is all that other important stuff that you do for each other on the other 364 days that really matters. So Happy Anniversary, Honey, I think this marriage may last.
Wednesday, June 8, 2011
Tuesday, June 7, 2011
Time Out
It has been over a month since I have written an entry on this blog site.
And the only excuse that I can offer is that I am suffering from an addiction.
I know, that is a shocking admission, but I am afraid there is no cure. You see, I
am addicted to British television. What is it about the British sense of humor?
I think it is because they are so preposterously outspoken, and their words are so
perfectly matched with preposterous facial expressions.
Most recently I discovered a series that had been on BBC for four seasons, and
was one that I had never seen before. It is called "Doc Martin," and I found all four seasons that could be watched instantly on Netflix. Well, you guessed it, instead of spending any time writing or doing much of anything else, I have spent most of my free time this past month watching all four seasons of "Doc Martin" from beginning to end.
I have yet to discover anyone, friends or family, who have ever seen or heard of this series. I first noticed the title because they received almost a 5 star rating on Netflix, and I had never seen any title that had much over a 4. So it immediately caught my attention, along with the fact that I could watch instantly.
It is a series about a highly regarded London surgeon who develops a deadly fear of
blood - not a good phobia for a doctor to have. It is necessary for him to give up his surgical practice and retrain as a general practitioner. He decides to move from London to the small seaside village of Portwenn in Cornwall. He buys a surgery that is in a terrible state of disorganization with, perhaps, the worst office girl on the face of the earth.
Doctor Ellingham, or Doc. Martin, as the villagers call him, is certainly the proverbial fish out of water in this small village. They are very simple village folk who know one another's business WAY TOO MUCH. He is a brilliant Londoner who has absolutely no bedside manner whatsoever. Picture Dr. House with a neat haircut in a suit, white shirt, and tie. I mean he is ALWAYS in a suit, white shirt, and tie. And he always says exactly what he thinks. If he thinks they are ignorant, he tells them they are ignorant. Get the picture? Of course, the twists of the plots always make the outcomes seem like his fault, and the whole village knows and talks about it!
The medical situations are fascinating. The plot twists are at times hysterical. And you have to feel sorry for poor Doc Martin, even if he is thoroughly obnoxious.
Stir in a little love interest, or maybe a big love interest that finds him always with foot in mouth. Set all these happenings in a beautifully quaint English village, and you will see why I have been hooked for the last month.
The only ray of hope is that while doing research about the series, I read that they will soon be filming season five.
And the only excuse that I can offer is that I am suffering from an addiction.
I know, that is a shocking admission, but I am afraid there is no cure. You see, I
am addicted to British television. What is it about the British sense of humor?
I think it is because they are so preposterously outspoken, and their words are so
perfectly matched with preposterous facial expressions.
Most recently I discovered a series that had been on BBC for four seasons, and
was one that I had never seen before. It is called "Doc Martin," and I found all four seasons that could be watched instantly on Netflix. Well, you guessed it, instead of spending any time writing or doing much of anything else, I have spent most of my free time this past month watching all four seasons of "Doc Martin" from beginning to end.
I have yet to discover anyone, friends or family, who have ever seen or heard of this series. I first noticed the title because they received almost a 5 star rating on Netflix, and I had never seen any title that had much over a 4. So it immediately caught my attention, along with the fact that I could watch instantly.
It is a series about a highly regarded London surgeon who develops a deadly fear of
blood - not a good phobia for a doctor to have. It is necessary for him to give up his surgical practice and retrain as a general practitioner. He decides to move from London to the small seaside village of Portwenn in Cornwall. He buys a surgery that is in a terrible state of disorganization with, perhaps, the worst office girl on the face of the earth.
Doctor Ellingham, or Doc. Martin, as the villagers call him, is certainly the proverbial fish out of water in this small village. They are very simple village folk who know one another's business WAY TOO MUCH. He is a brilliant Londoner who has absolutely no bedside manner whatsoever. Picture Dr. House with a neat haircut in a suit, white shirt, and tie. I mean he is ALWAYS in a suit, white shirt, and tie. And he always says exactly what he thinks. If he thinks they are ignorant, he tells them they are ignorant. Get the picture? Of course, the twists of the plots always make the outcomes seem like his fault, and the whole village knows and talks about it!
The medical situations are fascinating. The plot twists are at times hysterical. And you have to feel sorry for poor Doc Martin, even if he is thoroughly obnoxious.
Stir in a little love interest, or maybe a big love interest that finds him always with foot in mouth. Set all these happenings in a beautifully quaint English village, and you will see why I have been hooked for the last month.
The only ray of hope is that while doing research about the series, I read that they will soon be filming season five.
Sunday, May 1, 2011
Retired Teacher Volunteers - God Bless 'Em
It seems like the older I get, the more I want to do things my own way, and to heck with the rest of the world. I guess it is one of the only perks of old age.
Today I was thinking about this, and it seems to me that I was a pretty well behaved child who rarely got into to trouble or had to be punished. I do, however, recall a few instances where my own desire to do my own thing led to some unhappy outcomes.
I remember that one time when I was may six or seven, I decided to try and find a school friend's house several blocks away from ours. I ventured off and became a little lost and stayed away until my dad came to find me. Boy, he was unhappy!
I was sent to bed without supper and cried myself to sleep. That may have been the one and only time in my life that I missed a meal!
Another time a new house was being constructed across the street from ours. I had been told to stay away from this dangerous contruction site. But I did SO want to see the new house inside! I followed my older brothers across the street, then sneaked inside. While exploring inside, I fell through a hole in the floor that had been cut out for heating vents. Ouch! Again, I was in trouble.
Well, do you know what strong-willed people grow up to be? That's right - school teachers. We can have our own little classroom empires where we can have our own way. Except that school boards, principals, parents, and even students (well, mostly students) often disagree and exert their own pressures negative to our desires. Anyway, we presist in believing that we rule our little empires.
So, do you know where old, retired teachers go, when they retire? Yep, they enter the world of volunteerism. And we think we are excellent volunteers. And mostly we are. We work hard. We learned early to be on time. We are creative, and we know that to survive any endeavor you have to be able to laugh at yourself. The only problem is that we have never gotten over that dratted desire to do as WE PLEASE.
If you have ever sat on a volunteer board where many retired teachers are involved, you know that those board meetings can be marathonic! I know, that is not a word, but I want it to be a word, and it should be a word. So there! Every teacher on the board has a different opinion on every item to be discussed, and must express that opinion whether it be about rules, procedures, new projects, or where to have lunch ( especially about where to have lunch.) Sometimes it takes months to change a by-law.
But we do eventually iron out our problems. It sometimes takes sheer genius to
to travel the mine field of interpersonal relations. But, give those teacher volunteers a good long break with refreshments and a teachers' lounge atmosphere,with no student interruptions, and we will follow you anywhere and tackle any job.
So the next time you see a retired teacher working at some community event, be extra kind and patient, or else!
Today I was thinking about this, and it seems to me that I was a pretty well behaved child who rarely got into to trouble or had to be punished. I do, however, recall a few instances where my own desire to do my own thing led to some unhappy outcomes.
I remember that one time when I was may six or seven, I decided to try and find a school friend's house several blocks away from ours. I ventured off and became a little lost and stayed away until my dad came to find me. Boy, he was unhappy!
I was sent to bed without supper and cried myself to sleep. That may have been the one and only time in my life that I missed a meal!
Another time a new house was being constructed across the street from ours. I had been told to stay away from this dangerous contruction site. But I did SO want to see the new house inside! I followed my older brothers across the street, then sneaked inside. While exploring inside, I fell through a hole in the floor that had been cut out for heating vents. Ouch! Again, I was in trouble.
Well, do you know what strong-willed people grow up to be? That's right - school teachers. We can have our own little classroom empires where we can have our own way. Except that school boards, principals, parents, and even students (well, mostly students) often disagree and exert their own pressures negative to our desires. Anyway, we presist in believing that we rule our little empires.
So, do you know where old, retired teachers go, when they retire? Yep, they enter the world of volunteerism. And we think we are excellent volunteers. And mostly we are. We work hard. We learned early to be on time. We are creative, and we know that to survive any endeavor you have to be able to laugh at yourself. The only problem is that we have never gotten over that dratted desire to do as WE PLEASE.
If you have ever sat on a volunteer board where many retired teachers are involved, you know that those board meetings can be marathonic! I know, that is not a word, but I want it to be a word, and it should be a word. So there! Every teacher on the board has a different opinion on every item to be discussed, and must express that opinion whether it be about rules, procedures, new projects, or where to have lunch ( especially about where to have lunch.) Sometimes it takes months to change a by-law.
But we do eventually iron out our problems. It sometimes takes sheer genius to
to travel the mine field of interpersonal relations. But, give those teacher volunteers a good long break with refreshments and a teachers' lounge atmosphere,with no student interruptions, and we will follow you anywhere and tackle any job.
So the next time you see a retired teacher working at some community event, be extra kind and patient, or else!
Monday, April 11, 2011
TV Anonymous. Anyone?
I've definitely been watching too much TV. I know this is true because I get disgusted when certain commercials come on. I know, I know, this is how networks make their money, but commercials are so irritating. Especially after the thousandth viewing. They make me want to ban the products! No kidding!
I find myself putting commcercials into different categories: Clever, Too Clever,
Way Too Clever, I Totally Don't Understand, So What Is That Product For Anyway,
Sort of Cute, and AAAAGH, Where's the Remote?
In the Clever category are ones like the two guys on the ski lift, and one asks the other for permission to ask his old girl friend for a date. I laughed when the askee threw the cell phone off the ski lift. That is I laughed the first few times that I saw the commercial. Now, after the hundreds of times I have seen the commercial, I would like to throw both of them off the ski lift. And, I couldn't begin to tell you what that commercial is advertising. Probably, cell phones. But does that really make you want to buy a phone?
Which brings me to the Too Clever category. Those are the commercials where you really can't identify the product being advertised. These commercials are usually those highly touted ones that are saved for the Super Bowl, and maybe some other sporting events. I think most of them advertise beer. The only ones I've ever liked had either Betty White or the Anheiser Busch horses in them.
The Way Too Clever category includes commercials where all they bring to mind is the vision of over-caffeined advertising "geniuses" sitting around a table and brain-storming far out ideas way into the night! I think they are products of desperation
or hallucination.
I can't think of an example of "I Totally Don't Understand" because I totally hit the remote. But I am sure that you have seen them, and you don't understand them,
either.
In the category of What is that product for Anyway are commercials that should be accompanied by the warning "Do Not Try This At Home." They usually involve breakage,spillage,police,often alien monsters, cars going off cliffs, dads with
strange hair cuts, etc. So, can you tell me which toilet paper shaves off hair?
(From dad's head, that is). No, you can't, can you.
Now, to the relatively few commercials that I have seen hundreds and hundreds of times, and I can still watch them, and sometimes I still smile when I see them.
Ones that come to mind at this moment: the little girl who tastes the Meijers spinach and the other brand (I still love her reaction.) The cute little white dog who worries about where to bury his bone accompanied by the song "Trouble, trouble." I don't know if it's the dog or the song that I still like.
And, finally, in the Where's the Remote category: that insipid family of four eating dinner, reading the teenagers diary, etc. Like I said before, "AAAAGH!"
Or even worse, that dweeby guy who is late getting up and drinks the wake up stuff.
Then he runs down the stairs and says "Let's get this done." I wish he'd just go
back to bed, nobody out in this world wants to run into him. So hit the remote.
But, explain to me, how every network knows how to run commercials at exactly the same time. That's when I give up and go this computer. God bless Netflix. I can
get a commercial free movie at any time.
Oh, one more thing. I feel really sorry for those poor souls who must act in commercials. I know they love getting those nice little checks every time a commercial runs, but just think about their resumes. Who wants to put on their resume that they have performed as a dust ball, a dirt clod,or worst of all,
mucus?
I find myself putting commcercials into different categories: Clever, Too Clever,
Way Too Clever, I Totally Don't Understand, So What Is That Product For Anyway,
Sort of Cute, and AAAAGH, Where's the Remote?
In the Clever category are ones like the two guys on the ski lift, and one asks the other for permission to ask his old girl friend for a date. I laughed when the askee threw the cell phone off the ski lift. That is I laughed the first few times that I saw the commercial. Now, after the hundreds of times I have seen the commercial, I would like to throw both of them off the ski lift. And, I couldn't begin to tell you what that commercial is advertising. Probably, cell phones. But does that really make you want to buy a phone?
Which brings me to the Too Clever category. Those are the commercials where you really can't identify the product being advertised. These commercials are usually those highly touted ones that are saved for the Super Bowl, and maybe some other sporting events. I think most of them advertise beer. The only ones I've ever liked had either Betty White or the Anheiser Busch horses in them.
The Way Too Clever category includes commercials where all they bring to mind is the vision of over-caffeined advertising "geniuses" sitting around a table and brain-storming far out ideas way into the night! I think they are products of desperation
or hallucination.
I can't think of an example of "I Totally Don't Understand" because I totally hit the remote. But I am sure that you have seen them, and you don't understand them,
either.
In the category of What is that product for Anyway are commercials that should be accompanied by the warning "Do Not Try This At Home." They usually involve breakage,spillage,police,often alien monsters, cars going off cliffs, dads with
strange hair cuts, etc. So, can you tell me which toilet paper shaves off hair?
(From dad's head, that is). No, you can't, can you.
Now, to the relatively few commercials that I have seen hundreds and hundreds of times, and I can still watch them, and sometimes I still smile when I see them.
Ones that come to mind at this moment: the little girl who tastes the Meijers spinach and the other brand (I still love her reaction.) The cute little white dog who worries about where to bury his bone accompanied by the song "Trouble, trouble." I don't know if it's the dog or the song that I still like.
And, finally, in the Where's the Remote category: that insipid family of four eating dinner, reading the teenagers diary, etc. Like I said before, "AAAAGH!"
Or even worse, that dweeby guy who is late getting up and drinks the wake up stuff.
Then he runs down the stairs and says "Let's get this done." I wish he'd just go
back to bed, nobody out in this world wants to run into him. So hit the remote.
But, explain to me, how every network knows how to run commercials at exactly the same time. That's when I give up and go this computer. God bless Netflix. I can
get a commercial free movie at any time.
Oh, one more thing. I feel really sorry for those poor souls who must act in commercials. I know they love getting those nice little checks every time a commercial runs, but just think about their resumes. Who wants to put on their resume that they have performed as a dust ball, a dirt clod,or worst of all,
mucus?
Sunday, April 3, 2011
Go Butler Bulldogs. And Thanks for a cleaner house!
I love the Butler Bulldogs. I love the kind of young men that play for Butler.
I love the kind of basketball they play - "The Butler Way."
I love their coach Brad Stevens, his intellect, his coaching ability, the kind of
gentleman and family man that he seems to be. I loved it when pregame they showed BU and VCU warming up on the floor, and they tuned in to hear the coaches. VCU coach was throwing himself around the floor, being kind of crazy. Butler boys were going through their regular routines, and Brad Stevens said, "Now, warm up appropriately."
Don't you just love that?
Everything about the Butler program just seems to be outstanding. It is something for which Butler U. can be very proud.
And, indeed, the whole state of Indiana has adopted this team. There is a great deal of excitement in our state. We can't wait for tomorrow night.
So, how did they help with my house cleaning? It's like this. I love them, but I simply cannot sit down and watch them play. They've won every game in the tournament by a mere few points. The anxiety is excruciating.
Last night, I very much wanted to sit down and watch every second of their game against Virginia Commonwealth U. But as soon as the game started, and VCU scored their first basket, I got so nervous that I had to leave the room.
I came back, and watched a few more plays. But BU fouled, and I had to leave the room. This went on for awhile. So finally I got the dust spray and cloth and began
dusting in another room - dusting with a vengeance. Pretty soon I was moving from one room to another, dusting HARD and polishing. Don would yell to me after each play, "VCU by three." or "BU by one." Pretty soon it was half time, and I had dusted everywhere but the living room where the TV was on.
So, the second half started, and I tried to sit and watch again. But pretty soon I went and got the bathroom cleaning supplies, and scrubbed both bathrooms. Then I
put all the towels and bath mat in the laundry and started the wash. All the time I was getting updates from Don. I was finally beginning to wash off the kitchen cabinets, when Don said Butler is ahead by eight, and there are only two minutes to go.
So, by golly, I did watch the last two minutes of that wonderful game, and did get to see all the celebration afterward. AND I have a pretty clean house, too.
I just don't know what to do tomorrow night. How will I ever make it through a
championship game? All I can say is,
"GO BULLDOGS!"
I love the kind of basketball they play - "The Butler Way."
I love their coach Brad Stevens, his intellect, his coaching ability, the kind of
gentleman and family man that he seems to be. I loved it when pregame they showed BU and VCU warming up on the floor, and they tuned in to hear the coaches. VCU coach was throwing himself around the floor, being kind of crazy. Butler boys were going through their regular routines, and Brad Stevens said, "Now, warm up appropriately."
Don't you just love that?
Everything about the Butler program just seems to be outstanding. It is something for which Butler U. can be very proud.
And, indeed, the whole state of Indiana has adopted this team. There is a great deal of excitement in our state. We can't wait for tomorrow night.
So, how did they help with my house cleaning? It's like this. I love them, but I simply cannot sit down and watch them play. They've won every game in the tournament by a mere few points. The anxiety is excruciating.
Last night, I very much wanted to sit down and watch every second of their game against Virginia Commonwealth U. But as soon as the game started, and VCU scored their first basket, I got so nervous that I had to leave the room.
I came back, and watched a few more plays. But BU fouled, and I had to leave the room. This went on for awhile. So finally I got the dust spray and cloth and began
dusting in another room - dusting with a vengeance. Pretty soon I was moving from one room to another, dusting HARD and polishing. Don would yell to me after each play, "VCU by three." or "BU by one." Pretty soon it was half time, and I had dusted everywhere but the living room where the TV was on.
So, the second half started, and I tried to sit and watch again. But pretty soon I went and got the bathroom cleaning supplies, and scrubbed both bathrooms. Then I
put all the towels and bath mat in the laundry and started the wash. All the time I was getting updates from Don. I was finally beginning to wash off the kitchen cabinets, when Don said Butler is ahead by eight, and there are only two minutes to go.
So, by golly, I did watch the last two minutes of that wonderful game, and did get to see all the celebration afterward. AND I have a pretty clean house, too.
I just don't know what to do tomorrow night. How will I ever make it through a
championship game? All I can say is,
"GO BULLDOGS!"
Thursday, March 31, 2011
Ups and Downs
It's been a while since I visited this spot, and shared my views. It has been an interesting two weeks that were sort of a reflection of the weather - one moment good, the next moment, not so. That's just the way it is in Indiana and in life.
One moment we have glorious sunshine, and I start digging the summer T-shirts out of the closet. The next moment we have snow showers, and I'm looking for a sweat shirt.
Life has been a bit that way, too. A week ago last Tuesday Don had an out-patient procedure at the surgery center. Actually, he was supposed to have this done next week. But anyone who knows Don, knows that waiting is his most despised agony. So he begged the Dr.'s office to call him if there were any surgery cancellations, so they did. He will be VERY HAPPY next Tuesday, the originally scheduled time, to realize that it is all over and he is fine.
Last Tuesday wasn't actually too bad, except that they were running way behind with their surgeries. Don had had nothing to eat or drink since midnight on Monday. He was supposed to arrive at the S.C. at 2:00, and surgery was at 2:30. Of course, he
arrived at 1:45 Don Time, and his surgery was at 5:30. When the nurse finally came to wheel him back to the operating room she asked if he was allergic to anything. He said, "Waiting."
Smart girl, she said she was allergic to working late. Anyway it was about 8:30 when we finally got back home. Cheryl was so great. She drove us, and stayed with me all day. Don may not have had too much fun, but Cher and I had a great visit.
Don was quite groggy and had no appetite both Tuesday night and most of the day on
Wednesday, leftovers from anesthesia and medicine. He was supposed to have a catheter and bag until the following Monday. You can imagine how delighted he was with that plan. He was so out of it when the recovery room nurse told me how to take care of and change the bag, that he didn't hear any of it. Of course, I was nervous and slow and careful about all of it. Finally, he went off in his pajamas with his bag in hand on Thursday and went over to the Emergency Room where they showed him how to take care of it himself.
I am definitely a better patient than Don is. I have patience to wait on most everything. But, he is definitely a better nurse. He took wonderful care of me throughout my surgery. However, we would both like to avoid both these roles if at all possible. When I got up Friday morning, Don was not home. When he came back, he had visited the Dr.'s office and convinced them that they should take out the catheter. They did, and he is doing just fine. The procedure was certainly a success, and he is feeling so much better.
So that is another way that our lives have been on an up and down path.
Jon is very happy with his new job. He has gotten a promotion all ready. We are all so happy that he could find such a good job so soon after being treated so badly by Marsh. I think everyone knows that Marsh Markets were bought a few years ago by a Florida chain. They have systematically been trying to get rid of all their long time employees, so they could hire cheap help. Jon had been with them for over thirty years, and they let him go the day before Thanksgiving. Talk about a company with no heart. I am happy to report that the courts awarded Jon everything he deserved from this company after he was so mistreated.
Taylor is happy to be working back on the farms, where he worked last year during the growing season. He will finish high school this spring, and seems to love the outdoor work.
Cheryl loves her job, but the schools are cutting back so much to try and balance budgets, that she is not happy with many of the changes. So again, life has its ups and downs.
Rod's rental property was damaged by the heavy ice and snow. He is dealing with the insurance company. Don is trying to help by assisting the repair guy, and going for supplies. We are hoping that they can get everything in good condition, and get both sides of the duplex rented soon. Again, it is a matter of ups and downs.
Lydia had her sweet sixteen birthday this last week. She has turned into such a beautiful young lady. Avery is back to IU after her spring break. I think she has only five weeks left to complete her freshman year. Randy,Elaine, and Lydia plan to
spend some time over this long weekend at a cabin in Brown County state park. I know that they will have fun, and Avery will be happy to have her family close by.
I hope that their spring break will actually feature some spring break weather.
Even though volunteer jobs come with their challenges, I am so thankful to have these jobs that I enjoy. I love being with my good friends. And in spite of occasional differences of opinion, I love them all. Volunteering is so nice, because you can really choose to work as hard as you want. And you can also take guilt free breaks filled with fun conversations.
And, even though we are tied to Anderson by some of our commitments, Don and I do find many activites that we enjoy right here close to home. Today we drove to Muncie to see Mother. Then we had a delicious lunch at Concannon's bakery/cafe, Concannon's is full of treats! Then we came home, enjoyed Price is Right (I know. That is such a Senior citizen thing.) Then we both took a nap. After that, we went to the casino, and had so much fun: slots, first day of sulky races, live music and dancers performing upstairs, supper at Johnny Rockets, such fun! Then home for watching Wheel of fortune and Jeopardy (I know. Another Senior moment.) Then we watch American Idol, which we love this year. Last night's Idol show was so entertaining. Every contestant is so talented this year.
Well that is about as much "Ups and Downs" as I can stand for one writing. I'm experiencing a little motion discomfort. So I shall say good night, and go off to bed.
One moment we have glorious sunshine, and I start digging the summer T-shirts out of the closet. The next moment we have snow showers, and I'm looking for a sweat shirt.
Life has been a bit that way, too. A week ago last Tuesday Don had an out-patient procedure at the surgery center. Actually, he was supposed to have this done next week. But anyone who knows Don, knows that waiting is his most despised agony. So he begged the Dr.'s office to call him if there were any surgery cancellations, so they did. He will be VERY HAPPY next Tuesday, the originally scheduled time, to realize that it is all over and he is fine.
Last Tuesday wasn't actually too bad, except that they were running way behind with their surgeries. Don had had nothing to eat or drink since midnight on Monday. He was supposed to arrive at the S.C. at 2:00, and surgery was at 2:30. Of course, he
arrived at 1:45 Don Time, and his surgery was at 5:30. When the nurse finally came to wheel him back to the operating room she asked if he was allergic to anything. He said, "Waiting."
Smart girl, she said she was allergic to working late. Anyway it was about 8:30 when we finally got back home. Cheryl was so great. She drove us, and stayed with me all day. Don may not have had too much fun, but Cher and I had a great visit.
Don was quite groggy and had no appetite both Tuesday night and most of the day on
Wednesday, leftovers from anesthesia and medicine. He was supposed to have a catheter and bag until the following Monday. You can imagine how delighted he was with that plan. He was so out of it when the recovery room nurse told me how to take care of and change the bag, that he didn't hear any of it. Of course, I was nervous and slow and careful about all of it. Finally, he went off in his pajamas with his bag in hand on Thursday and went over to the Emergency Room where they showed him how to take care of it himself.
I am definitely a better patient than Don is. I have patience to wait on most everything. But, he is definitely a better nurse. He took wonderful care of me throughout my surgery. However, we would both like to avoid both these roles if at all possible. When I got up Friday morning, Don was not home. When he came back, he had visited the Dr.'s office and convinced them that they should take out the catheter. They did, and he is doing just fine. The procedure was certainly a success, and he is feeling so much better.
So that is another way that our lives have been on an up and down path.
Jon is very happy with his new job. He has gotten a promotion all ready. We are all so happy that he could find such a good job so soon after being treated so badly by Marsh. I think everyone knows that Marsh Markets were bought a few years ago by a Florida chain. They have systematically been trying to get rid of all their long time employees, so they could hire cheap help. Jon had been with them for over thirty years, and they let him go the day before Thanksgiving. Talk about a company with no heart. I am happy to report that the courts awarded Jon everything he deserved from this company after he was so mistreated.
Taylor is happy to be working back on the farms, where he worked last year during the growing season. He will finish high school this spring, and seems to love the outdoor work.
Cheryl loves her job, but the schools are cutting back so much to try and balance budgets, that she is not happy with many of the changes. So again, life has its ups and downs.
Rod's rental property was damaged by the heavy ice and snow. He is dealing with the insurance company. Don is trying to help by assisting the repair guy, and going for supplies. We are hoping that they can get everything in good condition, and get both sides of the duplex rented soon. Again, it is a matter of ups and downs.
Lydia had her sweet sixteen birthday this last week. She has turned into such a beautiful young lady. Avery is back to IU after her spring break. I think she has only five weeks left to complete her freshman year. Randy,Elaine, and Lydia plan to
spend some time over this long weekend at a cabin in Brown County state park. I know that they will have fun, and Avery will be happy to have her family close by.
I hope that their spring break will actually feature some spring break weather.
Even though volunteer jobs come with their challenges, I am so thankful to have these jobs that I enjoy. I love being with my good friends. And in spite of occasional differences of opinion, I love them all. Volunteering is so nice, because you can really choose to work as hard as you want. And you can also take guilt free breaks filled with fun conversations.
And, even though we are tied to Anderson by some of our commitments, Don and I do find many activites that we enjoy right here close to home. Today we drove to Muncie to see Mother. Then we had a delicious lunch at Concannon's bakery/cafe, Concannon's is full of treats! Then we came home, enjoyed Price is Right (I know. That is such a Senior citizen thing.) Then we both took a nap. After that, we went to the casino, and had so much fun: slots, first day of sulky races, live music and dancers performing upstairs, supper at Johnny Rockets, such fun! Then home for watching Wheel of fortune and Jeopardy (I know. Another Senior moment.) Then we watch American Idol, which we love this year. Last night's Idol show was so entertaining. Every contestant is so talented this year.
Well that is about as much "Ups and Downs" as I can stand for one writing. I'm experiencing a little motion discomfort. So I shall say good night, and go off to bed.
Thursday, March 10, 2011
Cheap Thrills
About nineteen years ago Don and I realized that we needed to make a serious decision. The school system was offering a very generous retirement package for those teachers who were willing to take an early retirement. We were feeling the stress of our jobs, we were looking forward to the arrival of our first grand child, and we had both already taught nearly thirty years. Besides, we did not know how long the retirement packages would be offered. So we retired. Don first, and then I retired three years later.
About four years before we had been spending time with good friends at Lake Freeman, and thought we would really enjoy the lake life. While there, we found a small
mobile home on a rented lot in a lake side mobile home park. It was quite inexpensive, and we thought we might be able to afford it. We have never been lavish spenders. Indeed, "cheap" has always been the operative word when we were talking about entertainment. So, we bought our little lake side hide away, and began some years of great leisure time fun.
The first summer we purchased a two person paddle boat, and had fun paddling around our little cove.
But while we were away during the winter we began to think that a pontoon would be fun, so that we could explore the entire seven-mile-long lake. So Don read ads, and began the search for a used pontoon.
At a local marina, he found an old steel pontoon that had been refurbished. It was heavy, painted royal blue, had no seats except for the captain, had no awning, and had an ancient maroon- colored motor. But the marina mechanic assured us that it ran like a top and would serve us well. We loved it.
You realize and we realized that we were novice sailors. Don wanted to get that huge pontoon to Lake Freeman, and into the water before there were any spectators about to watch our efforts. So early in March, before the park officially opened, we hauled the pontoon up to the lake. It was weather suitable for enjoying the fireplace, not taking a pontoon ride. But, off we went.
We opened our mobile home, even though the park water supply had not been turned on.
We went to see the park manager to arrange for docking space. He helped us with that problem, and even allowed us to tap into his water by connecting a hose between our two places. Campground people are always friendly and helpful. The next day we hauled the pontoon down to the launching ramp. Our park's docking spaces were located at the end of a narrow channel that led out into the lake. Across the channel were some permanent summer homes. But, no one seemed to be about, so we were in business.
We had on winter coats, gloves, and hats. We brought a folding aluminum chair for me, and a bottle of wine to celebrate the launch. We backed the trailer down the ramp and slipped the pontoon into the water. All went well. I set up the lawn chair and poured the wine. Don took his place in the captain's chair, turned the key, and our lovely little maroon motor sputtered right to life! Ah, all was well.
Except that, right at that moment, five or six fishermen emerged from a cabin right across the channel, and proceeded to sit down on the bank to watch us. It seemed their only purpose was to watch two fools try to launch an old pontoon on a cold day in March. And so they did.
Well, Don put the motor into forward gear. The boat moved forward and veered a bit to the left. He steered some more, the boat moved forward some more, and veered some more to the left. So it went: forward, steer, left, forward, steer, left.
And right then we hit a pier on the left, my chair tipped, I landed on the floor,
BUT I did not spill one drop of wine! We did not look across the channel!
Don said, under his breath, "Act like this is where we intended to go."
So we tied up the pontoon, got into our van (quickly), and drove up the hill and back to our place. Don called the marina back at home, and found out that the mechanic had not attached the steering cables. So after correcting that slight oversight, we did have our maiden voyage the next day, and claimed and marked our
new docking space.
I want you to know - that was one ugly pontoon that motored many miles around our lake that summer. It was fondly called "Old Blue" by one and all. We detailed it out with mismatched lawn chairs, a cooler, a boom box, a bucket for peeing after dark, and a matching blue tarp for an awning. Oh, it was a pleasure boat that had it all.
We took morning cruises to greet the ducks, geese, and the blue herons. We ate many on-board picnic lunches in out-of-the-way coves. We had terrific off-board swimming with family and friends. We watched a hundred sunsets while anchored in "Bat Bay."
We named the bay for the bats that swooped over head when it got dark. We listened to our Linda Ronstadt tape a thousand times. There is a big excursion boat on Lake Freeman that takes passengers the whole length of the lake at night. They serve food, have bands for dancing, and a top deck for sight-seeing. We loved to follow the "Madame" down the lake at night and listen to her music. And that old maroon motor kept right up, and never missed a lick all summer.
The best sailor in the family was our dog, Scotty. He couldn't wait to set sail. He loved to ride up front, and outside the front gate, with his nose up smelling the breeze. When we anchored, he loved to jump in for a swim. Of course, he loved to find dead fish on shore and roll on them. He often went home smelling like dead fish. But the best part of all was following our tiny trolling lights home in the dark, under a star-filled sky, and walking uphill and home. We often ended the night with a campfire and a chance to listen to all the summer night sounds.
Our last trip of the summer on a beautiful Sunday at the end of September. It was a glorious, colorful, autumn day, full of sunshine and seventy degrees. Our kids and Scotty were with us. We cruised the entire lake, ate our picnic lunches, then went under the bridge and followed the river through town and as far as we could go until we came to the dam. What an end to a glorious summer.
We kept our lake place for maybe fifteen years. During that time we were to trade up twice for better pontoons. The last one was brand new, shiny, and so beautiful!
We enjoyed them all, but we never had as much fun as we had that first summer on "Old Blue."
About four years before we had been spending time with good friends at Lake Freeman, and thought we would really enjoy the lake life. While there, we found a small
mobile home on a rented lot in a lake side mobile home park. It was quite inexpensive, and we thought we might be able to afford it. We have never been lavish spenders. Indeed, "cheap" has always been the operative word when we were talking about entertainment. So, we bought our little lake side hide away, and began some years of great leisure time fun.
The first summer we purchased a two person paddle boat, and had fun paddling around our little cove.
But while we were away during the winter we began to think that a pontoon would be fun, so that we could explore the entire seven-mile-long lake. So Don read ads, and began the search for a used pontoon.
At a local marina, he found an old steel pontoon that had been refurbished. It was heavy, painted royal blue, had no seats except for the captain, had no awning, and had an ancient maroon- colored motor. But the marina mechanic assured us that it ran like a top and would serve us well. We loved it.
You realize and we realized that we were novice sailors. Don wanted to get that huge pontoon to Lake Freeman, and into the water before there were any spectators about to watch our efforts. So early in March, before the park officially opened, we hauled the pontoon up to the lake. It was weather suitable for enjoying the fireplace, not taking a pontoon ride. But, off we went.
We opened our mobile home, even though the park water supply had not been turned on.
We went to see the park manager to arrange for docking space. He helped us with that problem, and even allowed us to tap into his water by connecting a hose between our two places. Campground people are always friendly and helpful. The next day we hauled the pontoon down to the launching ramp. Our park's docking spaces were located at the end of a narrow channel that led out into the lake. Across the channel were some permanent summer homes. But, no one seemed to be about, so we were in business.
We had on winter coats, gloves, and hats. We brought a folding aluminum chair for me, and a bottle of wine to celebrate the launch. We backed the trailer down the ramp and slipped the pontoon into the water. All went well. I set up the lawn chair and poured the wine. Don took his place in the captain's chair, turned the key, and our lovely little maroon motor sputtered right to life! Ah, all was well.
Except that, right at that moment, five or six fishermen emerged from a cabin right across the channel, and proceeded to sit down on the bank to watch us. It seemed their only purpose was to watch two fools try to launch an old pontoon on a cold day in March. And so they did.
Well, Don put the motor into forward gear. The boat moved forward and veered a bit to the left. He steered some more, the boat moved forward some more, and veered some more to the left. So it went: forward, steer, left, forward, steer, left.
And right then we hit a pier on the left, my chair tipped, I landed on the floor,
BUT I did not spill one drop of wine! We did not look across the channel!
Don said, under his breath, "Act like this is where we intended to go."
So we tied up the pontoon, got into our van (quickly), and drove up the hill and back to our place. Don called the marina back at home, and found out that the mechanic had not attached the steering cables. So after correcting that slight oversight, we did have our maiden voyage the next day, and claimed and marked our
new docking space.
I want you to know - that was one ugly pontoon that motored many miles around our lake that summer. It was fondly called "Old Blue" by one and all. We detailed it out with mismatched lawn chairs, a cooler, a boom box, a bucket for peeing after dark, and a matching blue tarp for an awning. Oh, it was a pleasure boat that had it all.
We took morning cruises to greet the ducks, geese, and the blue herons. We ate many on-board picnic lunches in out-of-the-way coves. We had terrific off-board swimming with family and friends. We watched a hundred sunsets while anchored in "Bat Bay."
We named the bay for the bats that swooped over head when it got dark. We listened to our Linda Ronstadt tape a thousand times. There is a big excursion boat on Lake Freeman that takes passengers the whole length of the lake at night. They serve food, have bands for dancing, and a top deck for sight-seeing. We loved to follow the "Madame" down the lake at night and listen to her music. And that old maroon motor kept right up, and never missed a lick all summer.
The best sailor in the family was our dog, Scotty. He couldn't wait to set sail. He loved to ride up front, and outside the front gate, with his nose up smelling the breeze. When we anchored, he loved to jump in for a swim. Of course, he loved to find dead fish on shore and roll on them. He often went home smelling like dead fish. But the best part of all was following our tiny trolling lights home in the dark, under a star-filled sky, and walking uphill and home. We often ended the night with a campfire and a chance to listen to all the summer night sounds.
Our last trip of the summer on a beautiful Sunday at the end of September. It was a glorious, colorful, autumn day, full of sunshine and seventy degrees. Our kids and Scotty were with us. We cruised the entire lake, ate our picnic lunches, then went under the bridge and followed the river through town and as far as we could go until we came to the dam. What an end to a glorious summer.
We kept our lake place for maybe fifteen years. During that time we were to trade up twice for better pontoons. The last one was brand new, shiny, and so beautiful!
We enjoyed them all, but we never had as much fun as we had that first summer on "Old Blue."
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