Where is everyone?
What are y'all doing?
Is everyone OK?

Hi! A bit of a busy week, my husband goes to a conference this time every year, I use the five days to get some spring cleaning done, and today I went to see MIL this afternoon.

When she moved near us two years ago she had a huge cardboard box full of photos. I spent a couple hours a night sorting them and then put them in large albums, 8 in all. I brought her two today, both albums of trips. One album was mostly Rotary Club events (FIL was a member) and the other was trips with friends and neighbors. Japanese neighborhoods have trips you can go on overnight somewhere, or sometimes to somewhere like Universal Studios amusement park, so she has an album full of those pics. She was really happy to see them, it was a good visit today.

I also had a lesson--I'm taking sax lessons, my gift to myself, a dream since I was 12. I have to cancel and postpone lessons a lot, but my teacher is understanding. He and his wife care for his 93-year-old mother and they know how things go, how unexpected things can crop up.

It's the time for health insurance to be renewed and I had to arrange time for MIL to be re-evaluated, spent a bit of time at city hall, just one of those weeks I guess. I feel good though because I've got a lot done and MIL is in a happy mood!

How are things with you, Maebee?

Hi, Maebee! I'm here. I didn't know y'all said "y'all" way up there in MI.

We've had record heat down here in South Texas. We've hit 95 degrees already! Usually we're in the mid-to upper 80's this time of year. It's going to be one hot Summer, I bet.

I've gotten a friend to come be with my Mom while I work on our old wood-framed house that hasn't been painted in 12 years. Hired a guy to do the construction of replacing rotten wood, etc., but I'm his 'helper' doing some of the prep and painting labor...a lot of it actually...but it's sure been good therapy for me lately.

I went through an emotional rough patch for a while but I think I'm finding some balance again. Have had a lot of time to myself to think and clear my head.

I find myself thinking of you here, learning who is who, wondering how this one is and that one is, you know? I like it. It feels good knowing, yep, others have been crazy too and we all get through it somehow. It's nice not to be so alone in this and that in itself gives me strength to carry on.

Love, thoughts and prayers to All!

Well, I've been busy packing. I sold my home and escrow will be closing in less than 2 weeks. So I'm packing up and ready to hit the road.

Am around, but up to my eyes with my daughter and granddaughter staying a while until they get sorted. Have not forgotten you all, but life has been very hectic for the last few weeks and I am sure will continue to be for a while.

Hi Mum!!! Lots of love, right back atcha! What a nice hectic, huh?

Hay Lori, Where are you headed? You sold the house that fast?

Hi Sames u, Man, you guys are BAKIN' down there! So glad you are feeling better. You know, for some of us that "feeling"-being here-stays. That's why Lori, Mum, Deb, and so many others still visit. I am itching to do something on my house, but I cannot even decide on paint colors. I do know, I want someone to put a small deck on the front of the house, so I can sit out front. We have a deck in the back, but it is full sun, all day.

Crella, I admire you. I have been trying to get MY pictures in order for years. I drag out the Rubbermaid under-the-bed-box they are in, and sort 4 or 5 envelopes, then they get pushed aside. Oh well....someday.


I have been trying to wean myself from the "other place"(I know, I've said that many times), and I think it will be easier with the weather changing. I got myself a bunch of pansies to plant, and have a lot of clean-up in the gardens to do. I have about 10 gardens around my house.

I went back to the dermatologist today, and had 2 more moles removed. These were on my calf. I was all prepared for her to remove more from my back-no bra, button up shirt-but I didn't have my legs shaved. I hate that! I think I have 2 more appointments to go for moles, and I have a white bump on my nose I want off. I do not want to look like a warty witch! LOL The 2 moles she removed last time came back ok from the lab.

Thanks for responding!

Hi Maebee! Me too!! I'm still here! See "Chicago, Chicago" new post, to see what I've been up too, and just returned from Cali, and saw Mom for her 85th Birthday. AND while I was there found 300 old slides, in some boxes, that looked like junk, but what a 'find' it was! We now have a Childhood Album (Mom had lost them all! ) Go to my www site below, and I was able to post the entire album there!

I'm awfully busy, for someone that does not work! Always something, I guess I like to stay busy, and remain useful

Insomnia helped with the picture sorting LOL! I sometimes don't sleep till one or two (menopause and all that) and I used that time for while to do them, better than stewing in bed because I can't sleep I always get up and do something. MIL was only beginning to show symptoms then, and she was in her own house with help. I probably couldn't do it now.

I'm here too!!
My grandson picked up some kind of virus and had a rash for a couple of days and he was MISERABLE as only eight month old babes can be. Of course I babysat him before the rash came out and now the rest of us are not feeling great. I'm worried about my mom as she has had loose stools for a couple of days. Not many each day and still drinking well so I think she will be fine but I always worry when she isn't feeling well.
I have been getting my spare bedroom ready for a visit from my nephew and his girlfriend. They live across the country so we don't see them often enough. They are staying a couple of days before going on to visit another relative.
Tomorrow we are to get summer weather. I can hardly wait to open my windows and air the house again after such a long winter.
Take care everyone.
northernlights

I forgot to say how much I enjoyed looking at your pictures, Nancy. Lovely family pictures. No wonder your sister is pleased with you. I know that your mom will be enjoying them too even if she forgets to tell you.

crella, Just a thought. I know you said it was menopause that was keeping you up at night but you may want to have your thyroid function checked. Hormones can send it out of whack. I have had thyroid cancer and have experienced being hypo and hyper and neither is fun. It was the hormones when I was pregnant that gave my cancer a boost and made the symptoms obvious. When you are hyper you will have trouble getting to sleep.

Sky,
You are a dynamo. How sweet of you to get Josie to come over. Wow! Chicago! Isn't Joyce there now?

Hi northernlights, sounds like you've had your hands full. 8 months old is a terrible age to not feel good! Nothing you can do, but complain. Poor baby.

I have absolutely no problem going to sleep. Now, when I go to Mackinac on the 9th for an overnighter with "The Little One's" choir classmates, I will be rooming with a virtual stranger. Don't know how well I will sleep. Leaving 8am Friday, running around the Island, rehearsal, dinner, entertainment(3Men and a Tenor), in rooms around 10pm, up and out by 7:30am, breakfast, choir performance, carriage tour(2 hours), lunch buffet, run around some more, ferry to St. Ignace, then home. Tour bus both ways.

I think for Mother's Day, I will ask to sleep. I'm already tired!

Sheshhhhhhhh! That sounds like a marathon, Maebee! I am already tired!.........ZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZ....................

I am afraid the Sister-Love, was short lived! She wanted 'one' special picture of my Dad, because they ARE going to have a memorial for him (I am not invited....) and she wanted one picture for that? I was nice, and didn't say I word, but that I was glad they were going to have a service for him, because it made me feel so bad, that he had nothing. Her response? "Everything about Dad is bad!" Huh? He can't much say what kind of services he can have, when he is...dead? Maybe she didn't get any $$$, after all that Ass-Kissing (with the new wife!) and she is pissed?

Cold chills ran through, She is not human.

Thank you, I will speak to my doctor about it, I'm going back for some test results next Tuesday, I had a standard work blood work up and a bone density done. I'll mention the insomnia to him . My mother has had thyroid problems, she's on Synthroid. It's only sometimes, a few night a month, other than that I'm asleep before I hit the pillow 4-5 nights a month I just do not sleep, sometimes until 4 am. It comes and goes.

My house was only on the market for 2 days when it sold, Maebee. I was truly blessed. The first place I'm heading will be Chicago because our Jackie would never forgive me if I didn't come see her first.

Maebee, it sounds like you have the same mole problem that I have. I've had 4 of them removed and still have plenty more. UGH!

Lori, will you promise to swing back, for the September Tour? I KNOW I will HAVE to go! CHICAGO! I've never been?