49 years ago....

Here I am in 1964 at St. John's Hospital in Port Townsend.  I'm guessing it's Dec. 1 or 2 and I'm holding my first daughter who was born Nov. 30.  Second photo shows us in San Pablo, CA about a year later.  Happy Birthday Susan!

Oh, to be that thin again....sigh....

I got up at 6:30 a.m. this morning suffering with a terrible headache.  I knew it was the kind of headache that would go away as soon as I was up and about. And I was right.  I spent about ten minutes gagging and spitting in the sink -- I assume from post nasal drip.  Yeah, I know...I'm in fine form today starting out discussing my boring body functions.  Ha!  I'll get over myself sooner or later.

Actually, I'm feeling halfway decent right now -- and I don't take these periods for granted. Lately, they've been far and in-between.

The weather is looking wet and gloomy but I don't mind.  My schedule for today is going to be devoted to indoor activities like sewing, jigsaw puzzle, television, and oh yeah...exercises.  I think I'll get those over with right away so it's off my list.  I went to physical therapy yesterday afternoon.  I knew it wasn't going to be pleasant as I've had to put off going because of the recurring infection in my knee.

Anyhow, IT WAS NOT FUN!  The therapist wanted me to have a lot more bend in my knee so we worked on that.  Lordy, but it hurt!  She said I was at 93 degrees and she wanted me at 110.  I did okay with most of the exercises she put me through but one was especially painful. She tied a cord around my ankle and I had to pull my foot back and hold it for 10 seconds.  I was mighty glad when that particular exercises was over but I'll need to work on it at home.  Which I will after she told me a horror story.

Seems that if you don't get the bend needed in your knee, scar tissue can build up and there's a possibility of going back into the hospital (they put you under) and then the surgeon manipulates your knee while you're out.  Afterwards, of course, you're sore as hell and need to exercise even more.  That was enough to convince me to force a little pain on myself this week.  Sure am glad I have my exercise bike.  I'd prefer riding outside but I'm no where near being ready for that.

She must have manipulated me pretty good yesterday afternoon because I woke up several times last night moaning with pain in my knee.  Even got up to take two pain pills. No pain, no gain I guess.  Well, enough on that subject.  Here's some of the pictures I posted on facebook of our Thanksgiving at Jen's house plus some others I didn't post.

                                    me and Maddie bowling on their Wii game

                                       13-year-old Hunter patiently waiting for that turkey

                                                                         me and Sammy

After dinner, I decided to make a couple of quick runs to Big Lots and Walgreen's. Crowds were non-existent and I knew I didn't want to venture out on Black Friday.  Couldn't find anything I really wanted although I did buy a pillow at Walgreen's.  Took a couple pictures of First Avenue as I sat at a light. This was around 4 so I guess most folks were  still eating supper.

This was at the intersection of First & Race.  Photos below are some I clicked around Jenni's house.....

                                               Her collection of Monks...

 a picture my Aunt Velna painted. I gave Jenni one and I kept one.

                               Jenni's wall of clocks in the living room. She's going to hang more.

                                                         Sammy smells the turkey


I came across a supply of Christmas cards I had stored away so maybe I'll get busy and start addressing envelopes this week.  My gift-buying is going to be minimal this year as my budget reflects my fixed income status.  Just as well. Christmas was getting out of hand.  At least I'll never get to the point of those idiots showing up on tv fighting with each other at the malls.  Disgusting!

I did go online last night to look over Black Friday deals and found a couple of things to order.  Since my Visa card has a credit on it right now, I won't really have to put out any money for the two items.
I managed to finish reading a book last night. It's been so long since I sat in bed to read, I was really proud of myself.  This one was called Still Waters by Jennifer Lauck.  She wrote Blackbird too.

 Jenni and I are taking in a matinee today or tomorrow at the Lincoln Theater downtown.  Gonna' see Gravity.  Hope I can stand to walk afterwards.  Sitting in a movie house these days can be a challenge.

Almost turkey day

I woke up feeling like crap today.  Nothing new there as most mornings are nothing to write home about.  I'm hoping it's just a one-day sinus thingie but we'll see.  Feels more like a head cold and maybe even some flu symptoms thrown in for fun.  Since nausea seems to be a normal state of being for me lately, I'm hoping it's not the flu.  Won't be the first time, though, that a bug has come in for attack on Thanksgiving weekend. I remember one weekend especially where I was deathly sick with the flu on turkey day.  I don't intend to let this be one of those events. I haven't thrown up yet but I've gagged half a dozen times in anticipation.  That can't be a good thing.

I'm working through it irregardless.  Got two pies made yesterday although one was a frozen pie because I wasn't up to home made.  This morning I made a favorite lime jello salad recipe that my Aunt Elva used to make.  You beat up a small can of evap. milk and add jello, nuts, cottage cheese, crushed pineapple, and Miracle Whip.  It's wonderful.  I also made a chocolate pudding pie (the cooked kind), and a pan of brownies.  Tomorrow I'll make some oyster dressing and then I'll load it all up in the car to take to Jen's house.

I was too tired to stay up and watch Dancing with the Stars last night so I taped it on the VCR and watched it this morning.  Was so glad Derek Hough and Amber won.  I've been watching episodes of Scandal on Netflix most evenings and am really hooked on that show.  I never watched it when it was on tv, though. Maybe it's still on.  I prefer Netflix as you bypass commercials and can watch as many episodes as you want.  I also have to watch Wheel of Fortune every night since you never know when your number might be drawn.

I went to my dentist yesterday to discuss my front teeth and what I can expect in the way of costs to get them fixed.  We talked for about 20 minutes (he didn't charge me, bless his heart) and it will be about $330 to get the front tooth capped or whatever he has to do to make it look normal again.  The other front teeth that feel dead will have to be addressed later on.  They like you to wait six months after a surgery before you start messing around with other body parts.  Unless one goes abscess and then I'd have to go in for a root canal right away.  I'm hoping I don't have to go down that road but sooner or later, I'm going to have to figure out something.  It's really weird having your front teeth dead.

I did a little sewing yesterday and a little work on my jigsaw puzzle but I still  seem to get tired easily so I'm taking baby steps.  I am continuing my daily exercises on my bed and while I don't want to get too excited yet, I "THINK" maybe my arms are being helped.  I'm still in pain but not as severe as I was.  I'm also trying to ride my exercise bike daily and while I don't do it as long as I probably should, at least I'm able to keep my left foot on the pedal now as it goes all the way around.

A family of quail have taken up residence (I think) under my porch again.  This afternoon I noticed one keeping watch on the deck while several others scouted around the yard for bugs.  At least I guess that's what they're doing.  They certainly seem to be making themselves at home by digging to their hearts' content.

Below is a video I got from my daughter, Mary, today.  It's really pretty.

A great video

Got this in an email from Cheri Mitton this morning. Absolutely loved it!

For Andrea

                                     Lorraine with her children in 1952

                                     George & Lorraine in Seattle maybe?

                                 George & his older brother, Arthur

                                                    George with his younger brother, Jim

                                                        George with Button & Fluff

                                                             George with jersey cow

                                                    George at age 8

Saturday morning

I made an appointment to start physical therapy yesterday. Can't get in for a week so I intend to try and do some of my own exercises while I wait.  The doctor says my knee is healing well and I can exercise it on my inside bicycle as well as at physical therapy.  My first appointment, however, is going to be focused on my shoulders/arms/neck/back.  I'm not sure exactly what is going on but I figure they can figure it out.

The electric shock-like nerve feelings I feel up my spine are worsening.  Used to be I'd just get them every once in a while but now they come on as soon as I lay flat or sometimes sit in my recliner or car. I suspect my back is out since it's making almost all movement painful. I'm in a quandary trying to figure out who to see about fixing it.  Physical therapy seems the logical choice but I still wonder about the chiropractor.  I do have this neat book on exercises and I used to do those regularly when I was having problems.  Only difficulty now is that most of them require you to get on the floor and I'm not real keen on attempting that.  My mattress is pretty firm, though, and since it doesn't have a headboard, I think I can manage using the wall for the ones that want me to lay down.  Can't say that I'm looking forward to this but it has to be done because I'm becoming more and more disabled.

I forced myself to go to Walmart yesterday and pushed the cart around half the store picking up everything I needed as quickly as I could.  I finished up in under an hour but I literally moaned as I crawled back into my car for the drive home.  Putting on my seatbelt was especially delightful.  I was so desperate to get some relief that I stopped at Bargain Warehouse and bought a new recliner.

It doesn't rock like the recliner I have now but it is a heck of a lot more firmer and much easier to get out of.  I guess because it sits a little higher.  I have to check out chairs carefully these days before I opt to plop my butt down into one. More than once I've had to struggle to get to my feet. I've been using pillows to sit on in my old recliner as it was too hard to get out of the chair when I had to use my arms to push myself up.  This chair was only $299 and I really needed a chair anyhow.  I only have my old recliner and a short loveseat.  Hunter and Maddie were fighting for butt space the whole weekend they stayed over.  Ha!  Once the electric shocker whizzes were starting in when I sat in my old recliner, I knew I had to get something with better support.  I didn't like the smell of it last night so I pulled out the Febreeze.  When will I learn that I hate the smell of Febreeze even more?!  It's better now.  I guess my nose was just out of joint.

I made a quick Safeway run this morning to pick up what I couldn't find at Walmart. Figured I'd beat the crowd going at 9 a.m. but it still seemed a tad busy.  I cussed Safeway as I walked up one row after another trying to find where they've hidden things.  I hate it when you get a store memorized and they decide to change everything.  I filled up the car with gas and tootled on home to do a load of laundry.

I've got another jigsaw puzzle set up in the kitchen and a couple of quilt square projects to sew on.  Also have  a knitted afghan in the works and a counted cross stitch pattern.  Finished up watching Rich Man, Poor Man last night.  Boy, that was a good show.  I think I may read a couple of Irwin Shaw's books again.

I went to bed at 7:45 (exhausted) and then tossed and turned until after 1 a.m. because my back and arms hurt so much.  I couldn't go back to my recliner 'cause I'd sprayed it with Febreeze and I was actually too tired to sit up and read.  Whatever happened to those days when I could read for a few minutes and be out like a light?  I miss those days.  I must admit, though, that sometimes my dreams are so very interesting, I actually look forward to seeing where I go.

Last night I was in some trailer park.  Since I've lived in two parks during my life, I figure that was probably where my head was going.  Fascinating neighbors and activities too.  I think it was a combination of several places I've lived and people I've known.  There were lots of kids and a couple of dogs.

Yesterday I got a notice from AARP that my supplemental medical insurance is going up to $196 a month from $182.  Their stupid notice always starts saying:  "your premium is NOT going up.....until April."  Big Whoopie Doo!  I'm really going to have to look into seeing if I'm eligible for medicaid so I can get rid of AARP.  I'm fairly certain my income is low enough; just have to figure out if they consider my Edward Jones money an asset or my savings.  I draw from it monthly to get by and consider it my savings but they might see it otherwise.  I just hate having to deal with medical paperwork!

Well, the washer just finished its cycle so I guess I'll toss the clothes in the dryer and see about setting up my exercise area on the bed.  This ought to be fun.  Took a picture of my "healing knee" yesterday.  Only have one more antibiotic to take today and then I'll be done. (Unless it flares up again and I have to start over)  Looks like hell but at least the scabs are forming.

Once I get my back fixed, I'm taking the next step to see about getting my teeth repaired.  How I dread that!  Not the work as much as the cost.  I guess I should be thankful I have it in my Edward Jones account to draw from  when needed.  But still......I had other plans for that dough!

It's cold outside

Today is one of those days I'm mighty glad I am retired and can stay inside and loaf.  I did manage to get a few household chores done but I'm not putting a lot of effort into it today.  I cleaned up some sewing bins that had odds and ends of material and patterns scattered and left undone from months ago. I ran the sewing machine a little and may start in again tomorrow to sew some of the small squares together that I cut out once upon a time before losing interest.

I also set up another jigsaw puzzle. This is the third one I've set up before getting bored with it and putting it all away again.  This is only a 500-piece so perhaps I'll stick with it.  Most of my puzzles are 1000-pieces but you have to be in puzzle mode to get going on those.  I keep thinking I should look over the games on Facebook and see if there aren't some that I'd enjoy playing.

I used to play Scrabble with this game disk I bought but I'd have to download it again and I've had writing projects going (or genealogy) and lost interest.    I probably should take a quick nap since I've been yawning for the last fifteen minutes.

I watched a documentary on Netflix today called "No place on earth." Quite interesting too.  About these Jews in the Ukraine who hid from the Germans by living in caves for a year and a half.  I've been watching the Encore movie channel at night as they're running installments of 'Rich Man Poor Man' from 1976.  I always loved watching that show --one of the very first mini series back then.  Quite a few of the cast are deceased now, of course, but it's fun seeing all the scenery, and the acting is really good.  Nick Nolte was always my favorite.

Jenni invited me over for Thanksgiving next week.  Think I'll bake a pumpkin and apple pie.  And maybe some oyster dressing. Only me and Wayne like it but I'd love having leftovers the next day. Might buy a little Cornish game hen for my leftover dinner too.

Don't have the slightest desire to go shopping on Black Friday.  I think Christmas is going to be a little different this year. A whole lot less of gift buying. Everyone pretty much can buy for themselves and it sometimes gets difficult to buy for adult children.  Especially when they're sick of your handiwork and don't have the same tastes in clothes, jewelry, decorations, or entertainment.

Even the grandkids are hard to buy for since they're into electronic do-dads and my knowledge of that area is limited.  Easier to give gift cards or cash.  I used to put a lot of effort into Christmas cards and my annual letter but since I blog now, (and since my life is mostly health issues), my letter would be boring beyond tears.  Not that they weren't boring all those years but at least I could chatter on about places I'd gone or accomplishments of the kids.

I still may send a few cards.  At least to those who don't do computers and I know look forward to mail.  I'll set out my Christmas decorations too but probably won't put them all up.  I say that now but once I pull the bins out and rediscover all my cute stuff, I opt to display at least for the month of December.

My knee continues to heal but I have to stay on the antibiotic until all the pills are gone.  I'm hopeful that my energy level will go up some once I'm off the drugs.  I had a pretty good day Monday and didn't experience any fatigue or nausea.  I got chores done and was really happy about it.  Yesterday and today, though....well, not so much.  Not sick but not real chipper either.  I think I'll grab my walking stick tomorrow and see if I can't get a little fresh air and exercise.  Even if I just go around the block, that will be something.

Got a $50 Visa gift card in the mail today.  A rebate offer from Discount Tires in Sequim from when I purchased four new tires.  Think I'll spend some of it at Walmart and fill my pantry with Thanksgiving dinner needs.  And sensible stuff like toilet paper and yarn.  Ha!

Went to visit Karen Bittner Meehan yesterday. She fixed me a tuna sandwich on white bread. Why is it that food always tastes so much better at somebody else's house?  She plays bingo regularly so I may join her at the Masonic Hall some night. They don't pay much but it's easier than going to the casino.

Have we gone around the corner?

I woke up around 6 and dozed for an hour and a half more.  I was hesitant to get up because I can usually count on being nauseous as soon as my feet hit the floor. And if not then, definitely after I take an antibiotic.  Do I dare hope?  It's 8:45 and I've had breakfast and a pill and still feel okay.  I'm optimistic even though it's only been a few minutes since I got my nerve up to swallow the pill.  We'll see...

Yesterday morning I managed to throw up my breakfast as soon as I finished eating.  It was a gut-wrenching puke too!  Made me weak and filled me with despair as the general feeling of the blahs stayed with me the entire day.  My goals for today are minimal.  Intended to blog (it's been a struggle these past weeks) and I want to get the hall closet cleaned out. 'Course I have other things on my list too, but one thing at a time.

Hunter and Maddie (and Sammy) were here this weekend so I was able to get a few things off my list that I needed help with.  Was especially happy that I got to rearrange my office a bit by moving two bookcases to the front hallway.

I also got the two garbage bins set up off the back deck so I can toss stuff into them without having to navigate down the steps and around to the side of the house.  With my arms hurting as much as they have been, opening up the lid to toss in trash was becoming more difficult.  Problem solved.

A couple of days ago I got this email from my cousin in Gig Harbor:

Here is a story for you...Mirinda went to the SS office in town to change her name to Asplund.

She is standing in line, waiting forever, so talks to an older gentleman behind her.  He's from the harbor, she's from the harbor, they chat and find out that he is the owner of my childhood beach home on Pt. Richmond. (how weird is that???) He invited her to bring her mom and dad down for a visit.  He gave her his business card and it went from there.  I emailed him and set up a time for us to come.  It was just Mirinda and I. Tyler said he wanted to remember it the way it was, before the remodel, and Jeff understood it was "all about Cindy" time.   What a wonderful time we had! Jack and Susie Sutton are a class act.  They showed us all through the house and let me yak and talk and tell my child hood stories.  They were genuinely interested and intrigued.  We enjoyed their remodel stories.  The house looks nothing like it did.  My mom sold the beach house in 1995 for 275,000.  And the first people who bought it, gutted it and spent 460 grand to remodel.  Jack bought it in 2011  and remodeled it AGAIN.  Unbelievable that people have that kind of money.  They asked me if I knew who's hand prints were in the cement garage floor.  Well of course I knew.  It was a very good day. I wanted to take pictures but thought it would be rude so never did. They made copies of my pictures from the early 60's when it was just a beach cabin before my dad turned it into a 3000 sq. foot house.   What a blast from the past.  Loved every minute of it. 

I thought I used to have a picture of Cindy's house showing my Aunt Velna (her gramma) sitting on a log on the beach but I can't find it now.  That got me to thinking about all the houses that I remember from my childhood and how much they've changed.  How much each neighborhood has changed, as far as that goes.  I know most of you have already been subjected to my before and after pictures but I never tire of looking at them -- and it is my blog, after all.  (hee hee)

My childhood home when I lived there and years later when a large two-story home was built outside my bedroom window in grandpa's garden area.

Uncle Jim & Aunt Lillian's house next door when Jim was adding an addition, and years later...\

Uncle George & Aunt Lorraine's house (near the courthouse) when they first bought it and years later.
The house has changed yet again as their front yard was turned into a large apartment house.

Dad and Mar's house near the old boy scout cabin on Cosgrove and later when it was moved across town off Hastings Avenue.

My Aunt Velna's house on Clay Street in the 30's and today.... (the blue one hidden behind)

This shows my Uncle Lyall and Aunt Elva's house on the corner of Lawrence and Walker in the 1950's.
I can't find the photo I took of the house in recent days but I was able to tour the inside after the new owner renovated it. The upstairs was especially intriguing as it originally had 2 or 3? bedrooms and she made the whole floor into one large studio room with a bathroom.

When Jim and Lillian were first married, they had a rental home on Lawrence just up the street from Lyall and Elva.  They eventually moved down by Grandpa's house on 22nd & Haines but all my other aunts and uncles continued to live in and around the courthouse area uptown.

Well, I guess that's enough chatter for now. Time to tackle that closet.

Saturday in PA

Jenni brought Sammy over around 11 this morning and he let the pigeons in the back yard know he was here.  They were enjoying a little lunch near the feeders but they moved  higher when he arrived.

The kids asked me to pick them up and since I had a few errands to run, I decided to oblige.  We stopped at McDonalds so I could buy a fishwich but they didn't want anything so that saved me a little dough.  Next it was off to Big Lots. I ran into Ev from the mill when I pulled into the next parking space so we visited a bit. She was taking her aunt  into the store.  Seemed to be a lot of shoppers that day so opted to postpone Big Lots and go down to Joanne's Fabrics.  No parking place there so I went to the bread store.

Then it was over to the Dollar Tree and I stopped at Phyllis Johnson's shop on the way home. (Filbygolly)  She always has nice stuff with good prices.  Should have taken a picture while there but I forgot.

I did take some of flowers I have blooming in the back and front yard and I snapped a couple of the kids playing basketball.

Going to take it easy the rest of the day.  I think my knee is continuing to improve but man, I sure am suffering with my shoulders and upper arms.  I wonder if this problem will ever resolve itself.  I'm going to request a cortisone shot if things don't get better.

Got some neat photos in two emails from friends so if I don't forget, I'll try to add a couple or three each day I post.

    camping at Yosemite (I  personally think the people in all these photos are nuts)

                                              Having a look around....

                                                                     cliff camping