Year End Blusters

Saturday, December 27th was a gorgeous day. We had grandchildren and significant others in our backyard and garage to help Dennis organize his "shop" which used to be our garage. A huge thank you to Colin, Lucas, Karsyn, Jacob, Whitley and Blake for all your help. The temperatures were in the high 60s and the sun was shining. Dennis was in his shirtsleeves.

I think winter has arrived. Sunday was a shock to the system.  We went to church on a freezing blustery cloudy morning, with temps in the twenties.

One hour later, we came out of church and it was blowing snow, which was already drifting in the parking lot. We decided to forgo our usual breakfast in Clifton and hurried home to enjoy our day in the warm house. 

We quickly changed into our warm sweats and snugged into our recliners to watch tv and read or play with our phones. I did get some laundry and Bible Study in. I watched two full episodes of Symbolon on my computer.

Maizie was in hog heaven having us available for cuddles and licks.

This morning, I had a Dr. visit here in Clyde. It was just a follow up from my last visit. Everything was looking good, according to Audra. No changes, except for the ones I received last week from Kayleigh Knox, my endocrinology nurse in Salina. She had canceled my 70/30 Humulin insulin and started my on Tresiba insulin, which is a long-acting insulin. She also ordered me to take Humalog Regular Insulin 10 units with each meal.

I was afraid that would be a problem for me because I don't eat at regular times, just when I feel hungry, and I tend to snack a lot. That's why I haven't lost weight.

We also discussed some back/neck pain I've been having, and I asked her about my possibly seeing a chiropractor. She didn't like that idea, because she said my bone-density scan hadn't been that good, and she didn't want me to risk a bone fracture. So I'm going to use my neck massager I've had for a while but hadn't used much.

I did get a regular flu shot. I hope it doesn't give me any side effects. 

Dennis and I have been working on financial accounts and sorting things out in our front room today. My bank account is a disaster. And so is our front room.

Guess I've bored you enough for today. I hope everyone has a happy New Year. I'm looking forward to Friday. That will be our 55th wedding anniversary. I never dreamed we'd still be here that long, with all our past medical issues. God has protected us well.

Merry Christmas and Happy New Year!

Today was a great day. We took two of our granddaughters out for lunch at El Puertos in Concordia. After lunch we returned to Clyde and the young ones helped Dennis in his garage, getting things moved around to suit him. I'm hoping that will help him get organized so we can get our front porch cleaned out. I want my porch back so I can sit in a rocking chair with a glass of iced tea in the summer and enjoy the day.

We've been organizing inside as well. I'll be placing things on the curb for pickup, either by neighbors or by the trashman. We put out a good recliner last week after Dennis bought me a new one for my Christmas gift. No one picked it up, so the trashman did. I hope someone found it a good home. It was my mom's chair. After she passed five years ago, I inherited it and used it every day until I got my new one.

We had a great Christmas Eve, attending Mass then we went to Josh's house and had our annual Christmas mess. Lots of good food and then gift exchange. There are so many of us that we can't give to everyone on our list. But we have a tradition that makes it easier for everyone.

We give to each child under 18.  we start with the youngest, who opens a gift, then next youngest, and so on, as many times around as needed until all the children's gifts are opened. Then they play with their gifts while the adults have their exchange. 

For the adults we have a drawing for a number. Each adult has brought a gift for either man or woman as appropriate. Then starting with #1, the lucky winner chooses the gift of their choice. #2 then chooses to steal the gift #1 took or chooses another gift from the selection available. Then #3 takes a turn, using the same formula as above. 

It can get quite crazy sometimes, especially if one of the gifts gets stolen several times. But it is a lot of fun and it gets even more fun when the used wrapping paper is wadded up and used for target practice across the room before being stowed in trash bags. Following the trash and smash, everyone gathers up the opened gifts and takes them home. The mess is cleaned up and no stress or mess left for the adults.

Christmas Day we went to Becky's house and watched them open even more gifts. A come and go breakfast was enjoyed there, then naptime eased some very full tummies, and refreshed everyone.

I want to open my blog up to allow family members to read it, but not quite sure how to set the parameters and how to invite them to view it.

Maybe that will come to me later.

Big brother is watching. As I finished that last paragraph, HP Support Assistant popped up on my screen. How cool is that? :D

 

Hacked! Again!

Trying to send some money to a good friend in Oklahoma, I found out my PayPal account has been hacked, and the payment I was trying to send went to an organization in Miami, Florida instead of the Oklahoma address it was meant to go.

I contacted PayPal, and after over 30 minutes of their investigation and instructions, I still did not get my money refunded. I may never get it refunded. And it was not a small amount, either. So I sent the money again, only this time, the correct recipient received the money. Then I changed my password to my PayPal account. 

The man at PayPal was very courteous and helpful, although it was difficult to understand him as his command of our language was not the best, and we got disconnected twice. He told me that I had many hackers after my money and someone in Texxas was trying to buy BitCoin from my account. I had a transaction that was marked completed from Edward R. Jones, a financial trader for $300.00 and I have never done business with that company. 

I have been instructed to no longer use PayPal until this mess is resolved. Which is a real hassle because I pay many bills and shop online via PayPal. I'll have to contact each of these businesses and explain why their expected payments will not go through. I will be socked with expensive late fees and a lot of trouble to get alternative payment sources set up. All on my measly Social Security income.

Hackers are doing a booming business out there, folks. So watch your accounts closely. If you see anything you don't recognize, let your financial institution know immediately.  It will help prevent you becoming a victim like I am.

Merry Christmas!

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Blessed and Thankful

I have been truly blessed in my life. I've had many misfortunes, bad luck, whatever you want to call them, but each setback has made me stronger and taught me something new.

Growing up on the farm, I learned from my parents about the quality of life I loved. We always had good food on the table, much of it home-grown in our own garden or in the fields surrounding our house.

We had good clean clothes. I had a mother who was a talented seamstress. She made new clothes on that old clunker sewing machine of hers. We got our underwear, socks and shoes from local stores. Most of the rest of our clothing was made by Mama. 

I didn't get an allowance like many of our "neighbors" but if I needed money for a school or church activity, I always got it. 

At Christmas, I always got nice gifts and almost always what I had asked for. I think my favorite gift was a Jon Gnagy Learn to Draw set. It had a book giving detailed instructions on how to draw each picture, a pad of paper to draw on, as well as all the tools to do it: pencils, erasers, sharpener, blending stick, and more. I gained much self confidence in my drawing ability, and something to keep me occupied while my dad watched his favorite shows on tv. 

Of course, school homework and our daily farm chores always had to be done first. Along with my sister and brothers, we fed cattle, hogs, chickens and horses. We helped our dad by chopping weeds and carrying iron and other items from one place to another. We cleaned out the grain dryer (my least favorite job) and mucked out the hog pens (another least favorite task. We slipped and slid on frozen ice and animal waste to carry bales of hay to the lots to feed the animals. We were our dad's hired hands, and our pay was to have a roof over our heads, three square meals, our clothing, shoes, and the activity cash we received now and then.

We learned to appreciate what we had and to not beg for more. We didn't have a lot of toys when we were little, and we learned to share what we had with each other. If we squabbled with each other, we got the privilege of chopping more weeds or some other nasty chore. 

We did get some mini-vacations throughout the year. I remember one weekend trip to Dodge City, where we picnicked in a park with Mama's delicious fried chicken and all the fixings, then we toured the "Ole CowTown" and the nearby tourist attractions. It was fun. We didn't spend a lot of money, but we spent time together.

We visited many of the area lakes and other interesting places in Kansas. We traveled along to Nebraska, one time going to the Nebraska State Fair, which was a lot of fun. 

One summer, when I was 16 or 17, Daddy decided I was responsible enough to take care of the farm while he and Mama went to the Kansas State Fair. We had our usual chores to do, and we were given the keys to the pickup to go wherever we had to.  Linda, my sister and I would do our chores, then drive up to Scandia to take a dip in the sandpit waters. That was so refreshing after getting sweaty from working on the farm. We loved the socializing with others at the pit too.

All in all, I had a pretty good childhood, even if I wasn't able to socialize with others my age that often. I don't think I'd change it much, even if I could.

And the family keeps growing!

A lot has happened since my last post!     

Dennis underwent thirty-five cancer radiation treatments right after Christmas, and it left him with some very unpleasant side-effects. He has hot flashes like a menopausal woman, and complains about it a lot! 

I don't tease him about it, but I'm afraid I haven't been the most sympathetic supporter either. He used to tease me about my hot flashes, but I really don't remember complaining about them to anyone. I just kept a sheet of paper folded in half to fan myself with. I bought a little handheld fan and carried it with me to use. It helped but took up a lot of room in my purse, so as soon as the symptoms slowed, I put it away and now I'm not even sure where it is.

Some of his other symptoms are too personal to include in this blog, but he is more than happy to talk about them to anyone who will listen. After a while they all get a glazed expression and I try to change the subject.

Anyway, we have added to our family. We now have seven great grandbabies, and half of them live close by, so that's nice. We have another coming in July, so can't wait for that.

Tomorrow I will have book club at the library. Then Tuesday will be art club. We'll be celebrating the birthday of one of our members, Joyce Menard. She is my chauffeur to and from art club, and a good friend. 

I've been collecting some of the used books from the "Weedy Shelf" at the library.  I bring them home, read them, then try to find a new home for them.  It's a great way to get something to read for little to no cost. I also check out some books from the library from time to time. 

Dennis and I are in the OCIA class, which is held at the church every week and we've both been enjoying it and learning a lot of new information. I'm also ordering books to help me to understand how my faith fits in with my world.

Our new priest, Fr. Andrew Rockers, is very knowledgeable and interesting to do Bible study under. I'm taking notes and then reviewing them the next day, so I can ask questions that may come up between sessions.  Our son-in-law, Rusty, went through the class and eventually did a sort of Rite of Initiation at the Diocesan Cathedral a few years ago. I wish I could get Becky into one of these classes. I'm afraid her faith has a few holes in it. 

We've been working on sorting through things here at the house, trying to clear a path to walk through. We should have bought a larger house, but then we'd just have even more stuff hoarded in it. This tiny house just isn't big enough for two hoarders.

For myself, I don't really keep that much stuff out of sentimental value, but rather I am the product of a Depression Era dad, who kept crickets saved for fish bait until they disintegrated with the slightest touch. He pinched pennies until they were paper-thin.  And if something didn't increase in monetary value or generate a monetary income, we learned not to buy it. Or so he thought. LOL.

I guess that's enough for today.  I am, as always, a Living Fossil. And these are my images for today.

God bless anyone who reads and gets some value out of my words. Please let me know if you do. 

Dixie

Just Chillin' with Maizie

I'm watching a show on tv about divers diving in the Atlantic Ocean for treasure. And it makes me wonder what treasures I have left behind for others to find. I'm afraid it's not much to brag about.

I've always tried to live a good, holy, and productive life. I worked as a nurse for over 20 years, so I could care for others in need. I've painted pictures and written lots of stories, essays and blog posts. But are they treasures? I've tried to bring my family up as Christians, preferably Catholics, but mostly believing in Jesus Christ and living lives that He would approve of. We instilled in our children a good work ethic, and we are very proud of them. But is all that enough?  Only time will tell.

Every day with Dennis has become a treasure for me. With his cancer diagnosis, we don't know how much time he has left. His cancer has been rather aggressive, metastasizing from his prostate to his bladder and back again. His back pain worries me. I"m  afraid the cancer could have gotten into his spine and bones. I don't tell him about my fears, because I don't want to add to his stress. 

I have fought depression since 1999, when we lost our beloved Teresa, leaving her daughter Regan without a mother. Her dad tried to raise her, but Teresa's adolescence was too much for him. 

He left her with his mom, and she and Teresa clashed often during her teen years. After her graduation, Teresa and Regan moved into a house in Clyde.

 She attended classes to become a nurse while working as a CNA in the Clifton nursing home. She completed her LPN training and took her state exam.

 One week later she was dead, the victim of a house fire. The hole in our hearts left from her loss will never be filled. Part of us died along with her in that fire.

Regan struggled all through her childhood and early adulthood. She rebelled against all authority. She graduated from high school, and started her nursing studies at KU in Lawrence. Unfortunately, too much independence was bad for her. Parties, piercings, tattoos, and just doing what comes naturally were more important to her than studying and starting a career. 

Regan loved shocking us. Not with her achievements, but by doing anything she could to disappoint and hurt us. It was painful to watch her trying to rebel against anything good. She rebelled against faith, against people in authority, against social mores. She ended up pregnant, living with a young man in his parents' house. She had the baby and declared she would raise her child in her own way. It was all heartbreaking.

But gradually, she is now turning back around and is becoming the beautiful young lady we always knew was inside of her.  She lost the dreads and the weird hair colorings. She got a job and worked her way through the classes to become an LPN like her mom. She is sharing custody of Maliyah with Tim, her father, who has remarried and has another daughter with his new wife. We are hopeful that she will have a good life.

Maliya Marie is the firstborn of our great grandchildren. Nash, Ivy, Tate, Willadean, and Adelaide and a new baby due in November make our hearts sing. Each one of them is so precious to us. All of them are being raised as Christian, and at least one is being raised Catholic. 

The gap in our hearts from our loss of Teresa will never heal, but each of these sweet babies that are coming from the births of more babies have softened our hearts immensely. 

It's as close to healing and true happiness we can find.

I'm back!

It's been a busy two weeks since I last posted.

I did make it to art club on the 20th. We set the dates for our workshop. We'll meet at the Clyde Christian Church on June 17, 18, and 19 to paint, paint, paint! At  least that was the plan.

Dennis went to Manhattan on the 23rd to see his neurologist. They won't do anything with his back until he is done with his cancer. And who knows how long that will be! So he is scheduled for another consult in a couple of months, I think. 

For the next few weeks, I will be the patient. I saw Dr. Kueker in Concordia on the 27th, and he wants me to see a retinologist in Salina soon.

Dennis went to Topeka on the 28th to see his VA dentist and eye doctor. He ordered some Transitions glasses (extra dark). 

Becky has been hounding me like a bulldog to get the results of my skin cancer lesion on my face. I tried multiple times to call Heartland Dermatology in Manhattan,and kept playing phone tag and getting the run around. I even tried going through my "Patient Portal" and got nowhere. So I told Becky, if she was worried about it, she should get on the horn herself.  Well, Becky took me at my word and within a few minutes, I had a consult with Dr. Purdom yesterday at 4 p.m. This was at 1:30 p.m., so we freshened up a bit and off to Manha. ttan we went.

I was delighted with the speed of that appointment. I did a pre-appointment check-in on my phone, so when we got there, I was almost done and ready to be seen. Within ten minutes I was in the exam room and about 5 minutes later, Dr. Purdom was in there. He looked at my sore, and asked a couple of questions, then said he wanted to take it off on June 16 at the Manhattan Surgical Center under general anesthesia. Was Becky glad to hear that!

Today, we just took it easy. Jason got home from trucking and spent the day lazing around.

Tomorrow I have an appointment in Clay Center with Holly Brannon for my heart. That shouldn't take too long.

Friday I have to go to Salina to see another doctor. I cant' even remember who or what the doctor is. It gets really confusing with all the appointments with specialists and different diagnoses to deal with.

Becky and Rusty are leaving for Costa Rica on Saturday morning and will be gone until the next weekend. Dennis has doggy chores.

On the 11th, Dennis sees his urologist. They'll do another cystoscope and hopefully will know if his cancer is done or just take on another tangent of treatments.

We have some birthdays this month too. We'll celebrate most of them on Saturday, the 14th. Becky is reserving the Village Green downtown for a BBQ and games. I think Becky is wanting to give up the parties at home. Too much work. I completely understand and think she should have done it long ago.

Well, hopefully, everything will go ok for the rest of the month. all though the workshop in the middle of the month already going to be messed up with my surgery. 

Another Nurse in the Family

What a week! We boarded Maizie at the vet's office Tuesday through Thursday morning and rode with Becky in her van to Ft. Morgan, Colorado on Tuesday. Then Wednesday morning we went to Severance, Colorado to watch Regan graduate from her LPN training. I got to do the pinning for her. I could feel her mother's presence as I was doing it.

After the ceremony, we went to a "Yuppie" restaurant, as Dennis called it.  He wanted to go to Denny's cafe, but Regan wanted to go to this place that was located in the basement of a bar. It was a nice place, and the food was very pricey. 

After the meal, we took Regan back to the place where the ceremony had been, so she could get her car, and we said our goodbyes.  She says she wants to try to come back to Clyde for Josh's July 4th party.  It would be good to be able to spend some time with her.

It was 10:00 p.m. before we got home in Clyde. We pretty much went straight to bed, we were so exhausted.  Yesterday, we went to Concordia and picked up Maizie and did some shopping. 

Today, we were up early to get to my appointment in Manhattan to see the dermatologist. It was a nurse practitioner that saw me. She took a biopsy of my lesion on my face. She said it looked like a squamous cell carcinoma, which is what Becky had diagnosed me with, too. 

I won't know what the diagnosis is for sure for 2 weeks or so. They will call me with the diagnosis and discuss a plan of action, but odds are that I will need surgery to remove the cancer. She said they have a new method that allows them to get it all and know for sure that it is all gone before closing up the wound.

Becky wants me to have Dr. Purdom do it. But I don't know what method he uses. I'm going to have to pray over this issue.

This evening, we went to Concordia to the Lutheran Church for an after-graduation party for Moyra, and her boyfriend, Brandon Allen. Moyra will be going to Emporia to study math education.

All the grandbabies, except for Maliyah were there.

Alex and David were there with Willadean. She's a cutie and looks a lot like Daddy. Alex is expecting again in November, so that will be fun. Teresa was there with Addie, but I didn't see Clayton. I guess he is fighting an ear/sinus infection. Gunner was playing with the little ones, letting them chase him around the room. Nash and Ivy were playing. Lauren got her exercise chasing her to keep her out of the street.

We were tired when we got home. Soon after, Jason called from his house. He's not feeling well, and says he has kidney disease. He's prescribed Farxiga, to help his kidneys. And is having trouble getting it. I take it too. But I'm getting low on mine too. And so I can't really help him much. Another thing to pray about.

Lord please help my family. I know we are needy, and we don't always live like you would have us, but I can't lose another child.

Nice to be home and thankful

I have enjoyed today. I didn't have to go anywhere. Nowhere at all. I enjoyed eating my own food, and drinking my A&W Root beer Zero Sugar. and my ice water. I enjoyed playing with my dog, Maizie. I enjoyed doing my puzzle books and playing my computer and phone games.

I especially enjoyed my home, even as messy and dirty as it is, because after seeing the news on tv about tornadoes and storms all around the states to our east, I am so thankful that we were spared and aren't homeless today.

Jason is going through some health issues right now. His kidneys are not working well at all. And he has been prescribed Farxiga, but he can't get his meds because of shipping wars. I wish he could be on our ChampVA insurance and get his meds for free or reduced cost. Farxiga is very expensive if purchased without insurance. He's trying to get it through Canada, but delivery is very iffy. 

He's over here right now working with Dennis on the pickup. I hope he's not overdoing it. Maizie was very excited when he came, and every time he comes through our door. She is such a loving people dog.

I'm torn between what I want to do, and what I should do around here. I've got way too many "projects" to keep up on. My genealogy is ongoing, and I don't seem to make any progress on it. My art is going to be a priority this weekend, because I have art club on Tuesday and I'm scheduled to display a painting at the bank. I don't have anything new to display, so I need to get one framed and ready to hang. I also have to get our monthly projects ready. Homework this month is to paint birds. I can't even remember what the monthly project is for May. I need to dig out my art workbook and check that out.

I still have a graduation card to get ready for Noah Macy, one of Janet's grandkids.He graduated from high school last weekend. I'm sure they think I have been avoiding him, but I'm going to send him a card and a little cash.

I also want to get back to working on one of my novels. I don't care which one, but I want to get something self-published soon. 

And last of all I want to work on cleaning out my office and my closets, so I can find the things that I know are in there, but can't get to them. That willl be a huge project.

Ok. I'm on it. Wish me luck.

Colorado Trip

We are looking forward to next week's trip to Colorado. We haven't seen our granddaughter, Regan for over a year now. She is graduating from LPN classes and hopes to go back for her RN classes. She's a little late in doing it, but we are proud of her for going back and sticking with it this time.

She and Maliyah are getting along better too. She's making more time for Maliyah, and they are doing things together more often. Regan's ex-boyfriend has split, which is good news, because he was not supportive of Regan, and really disliked Maliyah. 

We'll leave for Colorado after Becky gets off work on Tuesday. She has reserved a room for us out there, and we'll be getting up early in order to be at the graduation ceremonies by 9:30 a.m. I am going to be pinning Regan, which is a dream I've had since Teresa passed.

We won't be able to stay out there long, because Becky has to work on Thursday, but we'll have a meal with her and visit for an hour or so before we head back. I hate having to rush back, but it is what it is.

My major concern right now is what to do with Maizie. I may have to board her somewhere, if none of the family can take her in for the two days. That will be a focus for tomorrow, I guess.

The Big C

I have been noticing for the past month, a lesion on my face beside my nose under my left eye. It started out looking like a blackhead, which I don't normally have and over a two-week period had grown to the size of a large pea, with a crusty scab.

Sometimes it itches, sometimes it is tender. As it grows, it has become more tender, and more noticeable to others. 

My daughter saw it and said it looked like a skin cancer lesion and has insisted that I get it looked at.  So yesterday, I saw my Primary Care Physician. She peeled the scab off of it and palpated it, then said she was afraid to try to excise it, because of the size and location of it. She is recommending me to a dermatologist and promised to get the appointment set up. So far, I haven't heard back from her. If she doesn't call tomorrow, I will call her again.

My dad had skin cancer lesions on his face and arms. He worked as a farmer and rarely covered his skin while outside in the sun. Back then, it wasn't commonly known that this would cause cancer. 

I worked outside in the sun, too, as a child. My skin never tanned, it would freckle, burn, blister, peel, and start over. The only time I ever tanned was when my freckles became so many that they blended together.  

When we were first married, I would go to the lake with Dennis, and we didn't use skin protection. I got some very serious sunburns back then and the blisters would join together so I had some very large blisters on my shoulders and back. I learned that a tan was not for me, and started using sun block (spf50), and staying in the shade.

If I want a tan now, I use a self-tanning lotion or spray. Usually, I just accept that I will never tan and show my pale skin. Thanks for that gene, Daddy!

 

A Busy Weekend

A very busy weekend. Thursday, I rode with Dennis to Manhattan to celebrate our anniversary and invited Karsyn and Whitley to join us. We enjoyed a good meal and conversation.

Friday, we ate lunch in Clifton at the cafe. Best food, best prices, good atmosphere. The Friday special is one of our favorites: hot beef sandwich, mashed potatoes and gravy, green beans, roll, and pie. 

Saturday, we went to Cobe Chaplin's graduation party in Concordia. His actual graduation is next weekend, but it was more relaxing to do it separately. We visited with Josh and Dyan, Teresa, Clayton and little Addie, Becky and Rusty, Gunner, Missy, and lots of other family and friends. There were many I didn't know there, and some that I recognized faces and could put them into a particular family, but their names escaped me. Gunner has a birthday this week (17), and so his family went to Salina to "The District", whatever that is, and celebrated.

Today, we went to church, then went to Concordia to let Gunner interview Dennis about his Vietnam experience. That took an hour, because Dennis gets warmed up to a topic and talks for an hour. :O)

After the interview, we hurried bac k to Clifton, to meet Karsyn at the cafe for breakfast before she had to leave for Manhattan. 

Now we are relaxing at home. Dennis is on his phone checking his bank balance, and I'm writing this blog piece. Hopefully, I'll get motivated to clean up Maizie's messes. 

Tomorrow will be another trip to Concordia to do some shopping we've put off all week, and I have some phone calls to make to schedule appointments and such. I also need to start on some family trees for family members.

Some good news (for a change)

Dennis received a call from our daughter a few minutes ago. We are dog sitting for them while they are having a weekend away. Apparently, we are expecting another great grandbaby from our granddaughter, Alex and her husband, David.  Their firstborn, Willadean, will turn one year old in November.  So these babies will be pretty close together in age.

I'm feeling better after starting my antibiotics. I still cough up thick phlegm. I really need to drink more fluids. Cleaning my living room is another problem to work on. Maizie is driving us nuts with her destructive habits.

She chews up her toys, shoes, old slippers, anything wood, plastic, or cloth.  She barks constantly at night, especially now, while she's in season. I'm hoping she will settle down soon.

My project for today: sort and bag coats that are taking up space in our front room. Most of them are Dennis's, but a couple of them are mine. Also, I need to store about a zillion baseball caps, most of them are Dennis's, too.

Laundry is a daily chore. If I miss a day, I pay for it in a ton of dirty clothes. How could two elderly people make so much laundry?

Since I have a dishwasher now, that job is easier, but still takes time in gathering and rinsing and sorting, then loading the dishwasher. If I don't let them sit dirty too long in the sink, I can keep the odor away.

Well, since I'm not getting too much done here on my computer, I'll shut down and get to it. Good evening!

Anniversary dinner Long overdue

Dennis took me to Manhattan last evening to finally celebrate our 54th wedding anniversary, which was January 2. This is certainly not the only time we've had to celebrate long after the actual date, but this is probably the longest we have waited.  Usually, it is due to poor health issues, which is what happened this year. Both of us have had poor health this past few years: his is mostly due to Agent Orange Poisoning, cancer treatments, heart attacks, surgeries, and back/leg pain. Mine is usually chronic bronchitis, and asthma, sinus infections, and back issues.

We're both hot messes. I seriously doubt either of us will live to 2030.

Anyway, yesterday started with a grooming appointment for Maizie with Dr. Fakler in Concordia. He is a small animal clinic vet, who is wheelchair bound, due to a serious spine injury while he was in the Army. He was held up by a gunman and shot, the bullet damaging his spinal column and rendering him wheelchair restricted for mobility. So sad.  We had a nice chat while waiting for Maizie to be finished. She looked like a different dog when she came out. She still has the Wonky Donkey ears, which are hilarious, but the rest of her is closely trimmed to her body. She looks like she is half the size that she was when we dropped her off. But it's the same dog. 

It was raining in Clyde and Concordia in the morning, and then it stopped for a while before resuming raining in the afternoon, and even into the late evening.  But we only ended up with 0.66 inches of rain in our gauge. It did green things up nicely for our trip to Manhattan.

While we were shopping in Manhattan, prior to eating, I called our two granddaughters there, who are attending KSU. Karsyn is in pre-vet classes, and Whitley is studying pre-nursing classes. We invited them to join us for supper at Texas Roadhouse, one of our favorite eateries. They joined us for our meal and each of us had a different entree. I had the chicken fingers, which were delicious. Dennis had his usual 6 oz. sirloin steak, baked tater, and corn, Whitley had what looked like a pork chop, but was actually a chicken steak. That had to be a really large chicken! Karsyn had herbal chicken. That looked tasty too. We had a great time chatting and sharing pictures.

Today, we've been relaxing at home. I've been working on my computer and Dennis is watching his CSI and other crime shows. I don't mind. At least it's not gold miners or alligator hunting. Those shows are so repetitive they get boring to me.

I'm hoping to get back to my writing and art this week. And I've got scholarship chores to attend to. Senior Awards Night is coming up fast. This month is looking to be very busy and very expensive. 

Still down and out

I had hoped to be feeling better by now. It's been almost a week and I'm still coughing up gray/green phlegm, and sometimes I feel like I could easily choke on it because of the tenacity and thickness of it. I'm still having headaches and body aches and a general lack of energy. 

I missed Art Club this month, and haven't felt like doing any drawing or painting. I want to get some done, but when I look at my supplies lying there, I just think "not today sister."

Dennis has been very concerned and keeps bringing home cough syrups and Nyquil and other medical supplies. I do need more tissues, and he says he'll get those tomorrow. And if Audra wants me to do breathing treatments, I'll have to get the machines cleaned and get new tubing. I don't want to reinfect myself with an old virus!

Palm Sunday

Still down with my head cold. Coughed most of the night. Trying to drink a lot of water but keep falling asleep. Obviously, I wasn't able to go to church with Dennis today. Slept through church time, then woke up when he came home. 

Poor little Maizie thought I was dead, I think, because she smothered me with kisses when I came out of the bedroom. She was lying on the floor beside the door, patiently waiting, and occasionally whining a little.

I've been napping a lot today. I had a game of Scrabble on my computer. Good thing I was playing against the computer, because otherwise my opponent would be angry at having to wait hours between my plays when I fell asleep. 

Spitting up yellow phlegm many times today. I cough often and find myself losing my consciousness multiple times. The day has flown by, and it's now 7:30 p.m. It will be dark soon and I haven't accomplished a thing.

Dennis wants me to see a doctor tomorrow, but he has to take himself to Topeka to see a doctor in the morning. And his need is trumping mine in this situation. I might be able to see my doctor on Tuesday morning. I have art club scheduled but may have to miss that this month. 

Two steps forward; three back

Just when I was starting to feel better and gaining a little momentum toward writing again, I get sick again. Yesterday, I awoke with a sore throat, coughing, sneezing, and my nose running like a faucet. I may have been running a mild fever too, but I didn't check my temperature, just treated myself with DayQuil and NyQuil. I'm hoping that will take care of it, but not going to hold my breath. Couldn't if I wanted to.

I'm not even trying to keep up with the housework or doing art or writing. I'm just resting, trying to drink fluids, and taking my OTC meds. If I'm not better by Monday, I'll be back in the clinic. Hopefully, the OTCs will take care of it.

Maizie has been a mess. She is very demanding of my attention, and is constantly destroying whatever she can get between those sharp little fangs of hers. Thankfully, she did take a nap this afternoon, so I was able to take one too. I really needed that.

Dennis isn't feeling well either. He is complaining of being short of breath, fatigued, and is frustrated because he isn't getting anything done. I keep reminding him he is retired and doesn't have to make a quota or finish anything today. Unfortunately, he connects productivity with being a man. 

I guess we're both a couple of fuddy duddies. 

Aunt Judith's Closet

The following is a piece of flash fiction I wrote years ago. I thought I'd share it with you tonight.

Judith's Closet (488 wc)

Darcy Kensley hung the blue brocade jacket with the Mandarin collar in her Aunt Judith’s closet, stood with one manicured hand on the hanger as she looked over the clothes hanging there.  Most of the clothes were in blues, muted greens, and earth colors, of the same general style, and shape.

Darcy sighed, then turned to look at Aunt Judith, sitting on the edge of the bed next to her jewelry box on the bedside table and sorting through the contents.  Pieces of jewelry, mostly fine jewels, rubies, sapphires, emeralds, and diamonds, with a few opals and onyx.  Brooches, rings, necklaces with heavy pendants, and earrings that matched were spread out on the cream-colored bedspread in piles of separate colors.

Aunt Judith was dressed in an old-fashioned dress reminiscent of the 1940s, with a mid-calf length skirt and shaped bodice, with wide lapels and buttons down the front.  It was avocado green with forest green accents and buttons.  Her shoes were Mary Jane pumps with stacked heels.  She wore a pair of glasses with thick coke bottle lenses, and wire rims.  Her hair was shoulder length and put up in a French braid.  Hair that once had been a dark brunette but now was silver-gray.

Darcy, dressed in a Mickey Mouse tee and faded blue jeans with holes in the knees and thighs, as was the current fashion for teens, was visiting her aunt for the summer between her junior and senior year of high school.  After living with Aunt Judith for a couple of weeks, she decided to help her aunt “remake” herself.

“Aunt Judith, we really need to get you out of this rut you’re in,” Darcy said.  “You need some new fashionable clothes, a new haircut, and some new shoes, something more in line with today’s trends.”

“Oh rubbish,” Aunt Judith exclaimed. “These clothes have stood me quite well for the past few years, and they are good quality.  They will last another twenty years or so, I’m sure.  And my shoes are getting a little worn, but I like this style, I’ll just find another pair just like them.  My hair is styled the way I like it.  Your Uncle Vernon said I look like the cat’s meow.”

Darcy suppressed a laugh, and replied, “and that was how many years ago?”

“Oh around 1938 or so.  My memories are getting a little vague these days, but I can remember him saying that to me, and in those days, that was the ultimate compliment.  What does your boyfriend call you?”

Darcy giggled.  “He calls me the Bomb.  That’s today’s slang for the cat’s meow.”

The two women laughed, and Darcy gave her aunt a big hug and kissed her on the forehead.

“I think we should go shopping and get our hair done tomorrow.  Wouldn’t that be fun?” Darcy squeezed Judith’s shoulder.

“Why, I think that would be the Bomb.  It’s a date!” Judith answered.

Ornery Maizie

My puppy, Maizie, is such a people dog. She is ornery, inquisitive, smart, and adorable. 

This morning, I was trying to set up my meds into these daily compartment boxes. I have two seven-day boxes that hold my morning and evening pills. I usually confine Maizie to the back porch while I'm doing this, because she has an incurable curiosity, and is constantly trying to snatch one of my pill bottles.

So, when she poked her nose into my pill bottle box, I swatted at her nose with my fingers with a firm "NO!"  She jumped back and looked at me with an expression that read "What?!" Then she sat back and watched me for a few seconds before attempting to snatch a small bottle again.

This gained her another swat and a firm "NO, Maizie!" She left my side for a few moments and played with one of her toys on the floor. I went on with my pill sorting and when Maizie heard one of my bottles drop into the box, she returned to the scene of the would - be crime and poked her little snout into the box again. 

I shoved her back and shouted at her "NO, MAIZIE!!" She laid down on her front paws on the floor with her butt up in the air. Her stubby tail was wagging as fast as it could go. She was enjoying the attention, even if it was negative attention. 

"You little squirt! I think you need to go to the back porch, even if it is raining outside!" Again I got the "What?" expression and a renewed tail wagging. 

We continued this back and forth conversation with intermittent peace while she played with her toys for about twenty minutes, until I had set up all the medications for the upcoming week. Finally, I was able to return the box of medications to its usual place and sit back down in my recliner. Maizie immediately jumped up on my lap for some loving. 

l love that little dog. But she can be a real "pill" sometimes.

Humpty Dumpty Does it again

I've done so well with walking around this house. It's so small that most places I can get around by holding on to furniture and walls and doorways. I hadn't fallen for five years. Today, I broke that good record.

While sitting on my bed sorting and folding laundry to put them away, I was fine, until I moved to the foot of the bed and I forgot the cardinal rule: never sit on the corner of the bed. We have one of those soft, thick mattresses that is great to sleep on, but it has one flaw: the corners are extra soft and will not hold you if you sit on them. I sat, I windmilled my arms and slid off onto the floor on my right hip. Thank God it wasn't my left hip, which is artificial.

I didn't get hurt, thanks to the carpet we have under the bed and extending a couple of feet around the outer edge. I just plopped down and sat there. I knew there was no way I could get back up from that position, so I slid, and I groped for a solid handhold, and I slid some more, and tried many times to get up to my knees. I knew I could get up if I just could get on my knees. 

After about half an hour of flopping around, shoving lighter furniture and a box out of the way, I finally got twisted around to where I could sit with my legs in front of me. I still was struggling to pull myself up to my knees. My left arm, which I had been supporting my upper body with, was starting to tremble and feel sore from exertion, and I was getting a little short of breath. So, I lay down on my side to rest for a bit.

By this time, I was thinking I might actually have to call Dennis in to help. I didn't want to do that, because he has a really bad back now, and had already messed it up last week. So, I asked my other Main Man, God. I told him I was in a real fix and I really needed his help. And that I was going to try once more to get up, and if I wasn't able to do it this time, I'd have to call on Dennis, and I really didn't want to do that.

I rested for another minute, then grabbed the frame of the bed, which was the only solid furniture item I could trust and counted down from three. Three, two, one...Now! I gave it all I could and pushed and pulled at the same time. Suddenly it was like I had some help and I was able to get one knee under me. I continued to push and pull myself until I was on both knees! Hallelujah! 

From that point, it only took a few seconds to get ing my feet under me and stand up. Thank you, God! I decided to let the rest of the laundry wait for a while and went to my recliner in the living room to rest. I was exhausted.

I told Dennis what had happened and he asked why I didn't call him. I told him I didn't want him lifting with his back, but I was just about to the point of asking when I had Divine Help.  I jokingly told him he could fold his own socks this time.  He did that and even put away the rest of the laundry for me.

Who says prayer doesn't work?

The Great Gatsby

I may have bitten off more than I can chew. I signed up for a MFA class of WVU: The Great Gatsby. The idea is to read the novel, then discuss it in the classroom, with some extra research into the author, the "signs of the times", and the characters and style of writing. There are many more facets to the story that are involved, including point of view, symbolism, syntax, and a host of other characteristics of the story. WOW! I think I should have just read the book and commented on what I thought of it, but that simplicity is not allowed.

I normally don't tear a book apart while reading or following reading it. I belong to a book club, and we might discuss a character or plot line a little bit, but nothing on a grand scale. But I'm doing college level work with this assignment, and I'm not sure I'm up to the task. I'm not as smart as I thought I was.

Trying to write my own novel doesn't seem this hard, it just takes so much time. I tend to be a "by the seat of my pants" writer, which can leave me stranded sometimes at critical points. Do I kill the character? Or save him for another chapter? Should he be a larger part of the plot, or just a momentary blip on the radar? Working with an outline would be better, at least in a general way, but that seems boring.  Writing can be a bore, sometimes.

This is just the first week in my Gatsy course. I've read the assigned chapters of the book on my Kindle. I've looked at the assignment and about fainted with how involved it is. But I want to try to accomplish this lesson without completely embarrassing myself. So back to the drawing board, and I'll see you all  later.

The Prodigal Blogger

Hi again. Dixie Barnes checking again for the first time in about three years. I've had some major life issues since my last post.

Dennis is still with me, but he's been going through major health problems. His Agent Orange Poisoning has left him with cancers in his bladder and prostate. He's had several surgeries, chemo, and just finished radiation treatments (35). Now we are waiting for the side effects of the treatments to subside and to learn if all the wear and tear on his body and soul have been worth it. We don't know if the cancer is gone, or if we have to go through more treatments.

In the meantime, he's been suffering with major back issues, too. sciatica, spondylosis, degenerative discs, and more. He can only stand for a few minutes at a time, and says it feels like daggers sticking into his backside, where the sciatic nerve branches down into both legs. The hot flashes that have resulted from pre-radiation injections are very annoying to him, and his daughter and I, while sympathizing to an extent, still enjoy teasing him with a "Welcome to women's world" now and then.

He walks stooped over, a big change from just a few years ago, when he was tall and straight. His skin color is much paler than it's ever been. He always had a nice tan as a young man. He tends to repeat his stories over and over, and is obsessed with his health, understandably. I pray that our friends and family will forgive him for talking about his genital discomfort and hot flashes when we get together.

We spend a lot of time together at home watching his favorite tv shows. If it's something I don't like to watch, I have my phone or my laptop handy. I don't always go with him on his road trips to the doctor or the shopping trips he takes to Tractor Supply, etc. But I know he understands that I love him and support him. I wish we could go on one last trip together to the mountains, which we both dearly love seeing. But I'm afraid our traveling days are over.

I'm still doing the art thing. Once a month we have a little meeting lasting about 90 minutes or so, and we discuss our art and work on projects. We try to challenge ourselves to work in different mediums and techniques, and we still take turns displaying a painting in our local bank. That's always a hoot!

I still write, too. I usually journal or write essays and short stories. I need to work on my two novels in the works. I've decided to rejoin WVU to work on the basics of my writing. I want to do the MFA program in WVU. It is a challenge I hope I can finish.

That's enough for tonight. I tend to babble on. Sorry about that.

Keep on writing, reading and drawing/painting. Catch you later.