Thursday, November 29, 2012

Scott's Birthday

I just had to post this today to wish Scott a Happy Birthday.  I think the boys were looking forward to the occasion though when I called the Birthday Boy this morning, he was at work as usual and not really cheerful.  Alas, it was fairly early.

The plumber came today and that worry is resolved.  Mad Dog was there and checked to make sure the  toilet will flush and stop running.  Groves and I will leave at 4 tomorrow and will probably get down there before dark.  The weather is supposed to be unseasonably warm over the weekend.  I hope the forecast is correct.

I walked 2.2 miles yesterday.  This is the most I've walked in one day since I broke my ankle nearly two years ago.  Goldman and I walked in Forest Park and ate at Applebee's.  There were some of Goldman's former students working there and they assumed I was his mother.  It did seem strange to hear them call him 'Mr. Goldman'.


Wednesday, November 28, 2012

Weekend Ahead

The problems I had yesterday have basically been solved today.  I needed to go to the lake house this weekend to let the plumber in and didn't have any one to go with me.  After I posted that woeful story yesterday, Groves called and had got his work schedule and he can go with me.  Remember, Mad Dog is already down there with his Dad.  After my worrying so much about getting there to let the plumber there this Saturday, he called today and would like to fix the toilet tomorrow because he's going to be out of town this weekend.  Mad Dog is going to meet him over there to fix it tomorrow.

Goldman and I are going to see Jack Delaney this evening.  He is the man I used to work with and sang Amazing Grace at Denny's funeral.  Then we may meet Chris for dinner.   Shirley shops at Whole Foods on Wednesday so that's chicken night at home.

Rose has been practicing the guitar faithfully and has a weekly lesson.  I do the tread mill, exercycle, and walk diligently.  I walk outside when the weather permits and someone will  go with me.  All three of us are missing Brayden but are planning on winning the big lottery tonight.

Tuesday, November 27, 2012

REGULAR NEWS

It's cold in Missouri today but supposed to warm up by the weekend.  I have a plumber coming Saturday morning but I'm not sure how I'll get to the lake house yet.  The fireplace is fixed but one of the toilets keeps running so the plumber said to just turn the water to it off until he and I could get there.  Hopefully it's no expensive repair.

I'm not sure who will accompany me this weekend.  Neither of my companions can go.  Mad Dog is down there at his Dad's and Grove's will get his work schedule later this week so will know if he can go with me.

After Thanksgiving it has been some eating out.  On Sunday morning, Rose, Brayden, and I met Margaret and Sabrina at a place called First Watch for breakfast.  Scott left with Brayden later that day and Goldman and I went to Macaroni Bar and Grill for dinner.  Then last night Chris took me to Applebe's for supper.  That place had a menu with calorie count which both of us made our choice from.  Nevertheless, all three places were good, in spite of calories.

I talked with Sandi and she promised to send me an email to update me on the FeLLins.  When I get it, I'll post.  Same with the Kansas Felins.

Friday, November 23, 2012

Brayden. Thanksgiving 2012

Brayden and Granny

Karen, Brayden, Sue

Brayden serving guests at school

Shelly

Sue

Karen

Mark

Brayden

Thanksgiving

Happy Belated Thanksgiving!  We had a wonderful family day.  Scott and Brayden arrived for turkey dinner, and then Chris and Shelly and Mark Lary and Karen came for dessert and a family visit.  I walked almost two miles yesterday, and Brayden and Karen and I played catch for a while after dessert.
The Abbotts had their Thanksgiving at Sabrina and Dave's and Pete and Janet's family came to their house.  I had an email from Donald telling me not  to 'eat too much.'  I'm not sure what he and his family or Joe and his were up to.

We have Brayden until Sunday.  Scott is meeting up with Beth at the  lake house until then.  It is overcast this morning and rained some last night.  The temperature may get down to 27 degrees tonight.
Scott doesn't like to fish so probably won't care,  I have a Mr. Soot who was the chimney sweep coming Saturday morning to fix some settling.

Brayden told us a good joke last night.  A woman was complaining because her boyfriend never took any place expensive.  So he relented and took her to a Shell gas station.

Rose and Shirley and perhaps Brayden are going to the Galleria today to try to find Black Friday bargains.  They all three like the Apple store and are much more efficient on computers.  Sometimes they just look around to see what Apple might have newly introduced.

These Thanksgiving pictures Rose has to add because I'm yet to develop that ability.

Monday, November 19, 2012

Lots of News

I have several happenings to report.  Chris and I went down to the lake house Friday afternoon and had a hamburger on the way.  We went by Randy's church in Wright City, but it was early and there was no one there.  Chris did the grocery shopping Saturday morning and cooked up a delicious meal that evening.  Meanwhile, I had tried to get Joe to come see us, but he said he was working on their rental house and couldn't get away.  He called later and said he could come.  Shortly after that, he arrive with his dog, Pepper.  We visited and reminisced, and Chris and Pepper went for a walk.  Pepper is certainly attached to Brother Joe and vice versa.

I heard from my old neighbor in Springfield last week.  She and Sam didn't make it to the lake this summer because Sam is working full time now at Bass Pro Shop.  She says he has promised to cut back after the first of the year.  Chase, Leslie's son, is in New Jersey taking pictures of the aftermath of the storm.  Her other son, Jeff, is back from Afghanistan and busy with his girls and house.

Pete called Saturday morning.  Janet has daily therapy at home and is getting along very well.  Kelly and the boys were coming over that afternoon.  I think they were going to the Boise football game first.

Chris wanted to get home in time to watch the Rams game with Shelly so I had him drop me at Margaret's, and that gave us the day together.  Again, she and I spent the day visiting and reminiscing.  Catrina and Lizzie joined us later, and we all had pizza together.  Margaret is as attached to her dog as Joe is to his, and Shelly and Chris are to theirs.

Linda, who had been staying with me at the lake part time has been in the process of moving and out of touch for a while.  Her granddaughter had a serious surgery, and Linda had been keeping her grandson while her daughter stayed with the child at Children's Hospital.

Margaret talked to Mary Pauline Sunday.  She's in a rehabilitation facility in Great Bend, Kansas.  I'll post her mailing address when I'm sure I have the right one.

Goldman picked me up at Margaret's.  He plays hockey out that way on Sunday evening so it wasn't out of his way.


Friday, November 16, 2012

Helper/Companion

It's only been a couple days since my last update but I have a few things to report.  Ding took Goldman and me to Red Lobster to celebrate Goldman's birthday onWednesday.  As is my custom, I won't say which birthday.  We had a delicious dinner.  The restaurant was my choice, and I had crab cakes.

Last night the potential companion who will spend some weekends with me at the lake house came over to meet with me.  Though we've not spent our first weekend down there together, I believe she will work out.   She is a school teacher and is young and vivacious.  She has another job besides teaching, so she has to give that employer notice when she plans to be with me.  For our first trip, she will pick me up on Friday after school on December 7 and we'll come back Sunday.  My other wonderful companion, Linda, is getting settled in her new home and is not available on weekends.

Wednesday, November 14, 2012

Evansville

My previous entry was mostly about Rose's Birthday Party so I left out a few important items.  Brother Pete called Saturday morning and said Janet had had a pretty  good week.  He is making her a ramp to get in and out of the garage.  There is a step there which makes it difficult and the ramp eases things.

Mark and I went down to Evansville yesterday, the little town in southern Illinois where his and Scott's and Chris's Dad was raised and buried.  Karen couldn't go so I took a raincheck on lunch until a time she could join us.  The town had changed very little, and the Spreitler's house and garage were still there.


Sunday, November 11, 2012

Caitlin and Sue

Shirley, Rose, and Brayden


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Rose Cutting the Cake


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Caitlin and Sue


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John and Rose


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Shelly's Artwork and Decoration


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Caitlin, Jana, Ellie


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Ellie at the Microphone


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Scott, Beth, and Brayden


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The Scene "Starry Night"


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Rose and Chris


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Jana


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Sue and Jana


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Ellie, Caitlin, and Brayden at the Party


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Vivian and Rose


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The Cake


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Mark, Karen, and Shelly


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Tribute to Rose

Shelly and Sabrina hosted Rose's 70th birthday last night with a wonderful party and fun roast.  Rose wanted to keep it small, but it didn't turn out that way.  The event was held it in the clubhouse in the Spreitler's (Chris and Shelly) subdivision with Chris as emcee, lots of wonderful food, a DJ playing oldies (mostly), and a bartender.  Shelly, Chris, and Sabrina had spent lots of time decorating  the place with a dream theme from Van Gogh, boas, balloons, old pictures of Rose--plus it is just a nice room.   There was lots of food, a delicious cake, and I don't believe anyone went away hungry.

Chris led the evening with his tribute to Aunt Rose followed by most everyone doing the same.  Margaret has known Rose the longest and gave a nice compliment and thanks to Rose.  Brother Joe couldn't be there but sent his favorite store, which was Rose telling a Charlie Brown joke when we were kids.  [Joe's memory is legend.]  Almost everyone had a tribute to pay to Rose but some were just too shy.  Goldman said that he's known her since he was five years old and is now twice her size,  but is still afraid of her.  Scott claimed he's heard her say the F word and had once even seen her naked.  For a gift she then had to open in front of the crowd, Beth (Scott's girlfriend), got her a "Carl Jung" G-String (thong underwear).  She did try it on but over her clothes.

Scott and Brayden came from Louisville.  Beth came from Kansas City.  John and Jana and the two girls, Caitlin and Ellie came from Kansas.  Ellie is six and paid wonderful compliments to her Great Great Aunt.  She is quite a confident and articulate public speaker!  Some of Shirley's family from Kansas came, her niece Mary and husband Brendan and Brendan's parents.

It was a lovely evening, wonderful party, and fitting opening of a new decade for "Aunt Rose."  Rose will post photos soon.

Monday, November 05, 2012

JANET IS HOME!

I'll start this but may be interrupted by breakfast.  Groves and I got to the lake Friday evening and Mad Dog was there waiting for us.  We rode the last half mule with the top down and then honked for Mad Dog to come out.  He thought he was coming out to help carry stuff in.  He thought we had better sense than to ride when it was cold in a convertible.  We had the top down, windows up, and seat warmers on.  It wasn't so bad.

I knew Janet came home on Friday, so I called out there that evening and even got to talk with her.  Nancy and Merri and Merri's 20 year old stepson were there, and the girls had cooked a big dinner.  Janet had decorated some pumpkins in occupational therapy last week and then the therapists wondered  what they would do with the pumpkins.  Janet suggested they make pies.  With Janet's assistance, they made several pumpkin pies.  They were a mover!  Some of these therapists will come to their house to continue Janet's therapy, but it sounds like Janet can assist them too.


Sue and Chris Groves returning from the lake on Sunday


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Friday, November 02, 2012

Back to the Lake

I'm all packed and ready for Groves to pick me up after he gets off work today to traverse to the lake.  I have a chimney sweep coming in the morning and, more importantly, I've missed the place.  The guys had it one weekend and I was in Louisville for two.  Linda is in the process of moving so she can't go until she and her family get settled in.  She did stop by and see me yesterday.

Janet gets out of the rehabilitation facility today.  At first she was a bit reluctant because they have a couple steps at their house but Pete says she's 'rarin' to go' and more than ready to leave that place.  Pete, Groves drives a Saab.  I don't know if we're taking it or the company car to the lake.  What do you think?