A nice Sunday in June

[BirdbyBird]

School year is winding down. Teachers are sending in their grades and at least one I know is retiring. No matter how many years I am retired, maybe it is because I still know a few active teachers and a few active "students", the year seems to always mark time in reference to the educational calendar. I just get to say "thank you, thank you, thank you, a lot more when I stop and appreciate that I am no longer tied to that calendar.

Josef and I are un scheduled this weekend but I am playing Uber driver for Audrey's sister Daisy again. I will be leaving in about an hour to pick her up south of Columbus and than drive her to just south of Cincinnati, to pass her off to Lyn and Bill to take home to Louisville. We are all hoping for puppies in about two months. It definitely was a team effort to coordinate the transportation.

I have doctor appointments scheduled for tomorrow but since they still are getting a few hundred instances being submitted from the state to be scored, I get to work a little longer this week and will go on in to work in the afternoon. This too will pass, I remind myself and the money will be deposited be direct deposit and it helps to support future dreams. One can do for a little while what one does not want to do for ever......

Gray and overcast here in SW Ohio but the heat has backed off a little and I can be outside without feeling as if I am about to go down. Have a good day out there and a wonderful week.

Remember that you are most likely to find what you are looking for, so look for the good stuff. The other "downer" will smack you up side the head whether you want it or not so do you best to provide your own balance.......

[Redetotry]

Good Morning Tina and all who will be here later. The humidity is moving out and breathing is so much easier! Dew points in the mid seventies hopefully are gone for a while!! Since I am feeling more alive, I went out and started my RV and the batteries were fine!! I was afraid after sitting for about three weeks I would have problems. Still have a cough and some sinus issues but finally up and about. I think if they had given me something earlier it wouldn't have been so bad. I can't do OTC adult cough meds and the kids are flavored with bubble gum or grape and filled with dye. I can't figure it out, they brightly color so many things that kids consume and yet there are warnings all over about how many adverse issues they cause. Oh off my soap box and grateful for feeling better.
I can't believe how big Emma is at only 8 months. She is 25" at her shoulders!! I hope she doesn't get taller but her parents were tall, I look for her to get to 27" by the time she is two.

[BarbaraRose]

Emma is beautiful! I think they put the colors in the meds to make them more attractive to kids and sell more.

Beautiful sunny morning here! Last night I was watching the baby squirrels in my back yard and saw a baby bunny out there too! Love all the wildlife around here!

I need to get a different flea med for the cats. The cheap stuff I bought isn't working very well. I am wondering if I can put more (better) flea med on them so soon (one week) after the other crap I used? Any suggestions on the best brand to get?

Off to work for 9 hours today! (What was I thinking when I agreed to that??? Oh yeah, money... )

Have a great day!

[cnq50b]

Good morning, everyone!
I, too, lurk more than post. I enjoy seeing what everyone is up to.

Pat, I enjoyed your post & laughed my way thru it too - especially when you put your bra on just in case...

Mickie, your plans are encouraging me to let my big van go. Since I can't keep it at my complex, haven't used it much in the last 3 years & spent Memorial day weekend trying to fix the door locks, I'm super-close to letting someone else enjoy it. I've been contemplating just rigging up my minivan for travels. I don't really need all the conveniences of an RV & want to be able to take off when the spirit moves me & have my vehicle close at hand. So, Thanks! Your decision helps bolster the direction I'm heading in. Just googled a TailVeil - looks cool.

Ava, 105!!! ouch! Seeing the other homes move out must be a little tough. Maybe I missed it, but what are your plans? Do you know when you'll have to move? where you'll go?
RitaMc, love that you have an 'energizer bunny' granddaughter too.
Sue, you are so busy! as usual...
Beth, sorry that Peaches isn't doing too well. Keeping you both in my prayers.
Louise, I think its ok to be jealous of your son's adventure to Europe. Sounds so cool.
BJ, glad your battery wasn't dead. That always makes me happy too. Emma is beautiful!!! Poodles are so regal. There was one at the beach last weekend - they walk with such dignity!

Not sure what I've been up to lately... just busy with work & kids.
Pet/house-sat for son & DIL while they went to Mexico over Memorial weekend. Love that Olivia is so ingrained in both of her cultural backgrounds.
Then went down to San Diego yesterday to visit with daughter & SIL. What a beautiful day - the sun felt good with a cool breeze. Can tell summer is here - traffic was heavy in both directions, even early in the morning- no slowdowns, but makes me nervous having no room for error when moving that fast.
Going to son's house this morning to discuss what excursions to sign up for on our Mediterranean cruise at the end of this month. Getting excited to see a part of the world I've not been to yet.

Well, I'd better get going.
Take care,
Catherine

[Queen]

Still morning for a minute here.

We're off to show our good friends the new van, they've been converting a huge Promaster van into a camper and are excited we'll get to go places together.

Catherine - I think we're going to enjoy the freedom we'll have with a small set-up, we love to roam and go places a bigger rig would make impossible.

Hope everyone has a wonderful Sunday!

[Acadianmom]

My internet quit working for a couple of hours and I was afraid I was going to have to clean house. My son set up a satellite internet service and I don't know the first thing about it. I finally tried the old turn everything off and restart and it worked.

Yesterday I went to the farmers market. It is under a big metal roof and next to a canal so the breeze made it cooler. You could buy shrimp right off the boat and there were some nice looking shrimp. I don't have any room in my freezer so I didn't get any. I only bought 2 sweet dough pies, some local honey I have been looking for and a bottle of wine for my neighbor that feeds my cats. We went to lunch in New Iberia and I had a crawfish salad. It's almost the end of the season so I have to get my fill of crawfish. lol

BJ, I'm glad we are almost over our bug. I still have a cough sometimes but feel so much better. You reminded me that I need to start my motorhome. I guess I'm going to have to post a schedule for the motorhome and truck. The truck had an engine light on because of letting the battery go dead.

There have been times camping and at home that the weather was so bad I slept in my clothes. I need to plug the weather radio back in. If the darn thing didn't keep going off for alerts that aren't really that close.

When I went to a GTG in South Texas I noticed all the used park models for sale. You could buy a used one for about $3,000 and they want about $30,000 for a new one. One would make a great camp but I don't know how much it would cost to have one moved 800 miles.

Barbie, you might consider spreading granular insecticide all over your lot for the fleas and ants. You would have to check for one that is safe for pets. I don't remember the brand we used. All the wild life is bringing fleas in too.

We were suppose to have a chance of rain today but doesn't look that will happen. It has been overcast most of the day and it's still 92.

Martha

[avalen]

Catherine,, the date set for closure is August 4 2019, we are told they are still negotiating and the
communication made some believe it was going to continue to be a park. I didnt read it that way.
There is another owners meeting coming up that i think i will attend. Ive been researching other options but havent made any decisions. I will stay here as long as possible but the rent increasex another $50 in january.

[MandysMom]

The month of May was very busy for us and ended at UCD ER! Early May Mel was having some back pain which began with his reaction to sedation in April. Inspite of pain, we prepared for our sons visit beginning May 20. Our Nick arrived after hassles with rental car agency. It was a joyous reunion, tempered by the fact it could be his last visit with Mel. We had a wonderful week, visiting and getting things done like meet and greet with our financial guy, so he knows who he will deal with as our executor. Nick went around my house looking for things to fix and got few nagging things done which helps a bunch. He and I shopped Tuesday and that night began the process of fixing tritip for Mel's military honor ceremony for Thursday. That tuesday night as tritip was on slow smoker getting tender and juicy, Nick prepared a fantastic steak dinner! He is an amazing cook and mostly cooks Keto, a bonus! Rib steaks with a blue cheese mousse topping , delicious along with sautéed mushrooms, and broccoli with Nicks Keto cheese sauce . Delicious !
Wednesday the boys and I completed preparations by setting up tables and sweeping the yard again. Thursday, dawned beautiful, breezy and warm. Mel put on his khaki Navy Chiefs uniform. As the guests arrived, the temperature dropped into mid 60's so jackets were shared and Guests were seated and Mel's life story with emphasis on his military career was read. After photos were taken then the boys and I served tritip with rolls, 4 salads, and cookies. Everyone said it was the best tritip they had ever had, so tender and juicy! Mel enjoyed the ceremony though was tired after.
We enjoyed our precious last few days and Nick flew out for MN and his work, school, and family early Sunday morning.
That Wednesday Mel was due for a CT to determine why the back pain. By that evening, we had a call from our Radiation Oncologists senior resident , stating 2 fractures and advancement of cancer in the L1 vertebra had been found and they wanted us there the next morning to plan and execute treatment 1 of a radiation 5 day plan in attempt to stop the tumor in L1. So Thursday we arrived there around 12, thinking we would get home for a late lunch. Turned out they did planning but machine wasn't available until 5. And oh by the way, we will be transferring him by ambulance to the ER after because we are afraid he is having spinal nerve compression and if radiation irritates that he could be suddenly paralyzed L1 down!
Around 6:30 we landed in the very busy University ER, surrounded by 3-4 nurses and a Dr. Orders came for blood work and MRI. Throughout the next 12 hours he had X-rays and MRI and was visited by orthopedics drs and a spinal surgeon. Then the Attending from general medicine. Through Friday he had another MRI and another CT. More neuro exams and was fitted with a cumbersome brace. He finally was fed around 1, with them finally deciding he did not need emergency surgery for spinal stabilization. I finally hit the road home exhausted and brain fried around 3. A few hours later he transferred to his room. Saturday dawned better. They decided he was not in imminent danger so tried to discharge him. Then found the entire hospital computer system had failed and was down! Ever seen a bunch of 20 something brand new Dr in training scramble to find pen and paper? It was amusing. Finally around 3 we got in our car and headed home. No one knows how his L1 is going to react to radiation or whether it will suddenly swell and put compression on nerves but we will monitor for increasing symptoms. The problem is if it happens he will get immediate high dose steroids, big time causing high blood sugar since his body really does not like steroids ( past experience , it actually damaged his pancreas causing the type 1 diabetes in 1989 during neck surgery). Taking it a day at a time. Will be seeing the spinal surgeon in a few weeks to determine if brace alone will allow healing of fractures and if L1 needs fusion surgery to prevent catastrophic collapse. Fortunately, it was determined by MRI that other than a bit in T12 of cancer, the rest of his upper Thotacic and Cervical spine are ok. Not sure how he would tolerate surgery, but other than his back he seems strong. In fact the ortho and spinal surgeons were very surprised how strong his legs are, which said his seeming neuro symptoms are actually a result of severe pain from mechanical forces of fracture and collapse of vertebra. Time will tell.
Today so far we accomplished a shower ( bet I'm the first naked nurse he ever had!) ROTFLOL
He has eaten and is resting, me too.
Later need to run to pharmacy to pick up 2 RXs which we had some of by put Drs increased dose so I need more.
And that's my May. Sure wish in the early hours of Friday morning I had thought to shout rabbits . Might have further made nurses wonder about the nurse/wife in D10. And maybe my June would be better. Oh well.
Interesting side tidbit. Our nurse thursday night into Friday, was a recent grad of my nursing school! Now that was fun.
Hope this week is a bit calmer and I can get a few catch up things done.
I think of you all daily and sure would rather we be camping but onward we go. His initial diagnosis was May 9, 2013, his birthday and his birthday in 2018 has come and gone and he is still here and for that I am grateful. Just hope we get his back pain under control so he can enjoy life as much as possible.
Velda
PS I'm pretty sure I was late on May 1 saying rabbits, you would think I'd learn!

[Queen]

Wow Velda, so much going on and yet your sense of humor still shines through. Thinking of you and yours.

[Irmi]

Velda, after hearing everything you & Mel are going through, my tiny trial and tribulation is a walk in the park. Sending big hugs to both of you.

[cnq50b]

Velda, Gosh, what a exhausting & trying experience. Keeping you & Mel in my thoughts & prayers.

[Rufflesgurl]

Velda - WOW such a long May for you and Mel. He sure didn't need the new back diagnosis. Onward you go!! Take care

Linda

[monik7]

Mel is so lucky to have you by his side in more ways than one. Your nursing knowledge no doubt has been so valuable as you travel through this journey together. You are both in my prayers. (((((HUGS)))))
Sandi

[chalet05]

Velda, such trying times. My heart and prayers go out to you and Mel.

[Bethers]

Velda, I find you and Mel inspirational.