Brayden and Scott

Chris

Mark and Karen's Thanksgiving

Brayden and Scott

Scott

Brayden

Scott

Brayden and Shirley

I have some news from Kansas. Jana says she sent me pictures of the girls on her phone but I didn't get them. She will now try to post them directly to the blog. Karen and her husband were coming today and they were all going to the Chiefs game. They will tailgate in the morning - a group of about 30. Tricia and Walter will be there too but probably not for the tailgating. Tricia is very busy with nursing school. Scott says Beth may be going to that game but she likes the tailgating part best.

The weather is supposed to be nice today but turn bad when we're ready to travel on Wednesday. These boys are sure helpful to me but last night something slipped out. I said good night several times and other things. He whispered something to his dad. I asked "What did he say?' Scott replied "She sure talks a lot."" Then Scott scolded him for saying it. Brayden responded "You say it all the time!" I'm going to try to keep my mouth shut more today. I'll probably forget.

I'm going to be a great grandmother of a girl on or about March 3. I'm just wondering how I got so old so quickly. March 3 is pretty soon but probably doesn't seem so to Kate. Have you and Austin picked out a name?

I have some news from Brother Joe and corrections from Idaho. Nancy and family and Merri and her husband and stepsons and James from Boise will be there for their Thanksgiving dinner. Kelly is swamped with work and the boys are going to Illinois so he just doesn't think he'll make it. Kelly and the boys are fascinated with Boise State and their long winning streak. My grandsons are fascinated with the blue turf. Janet sent me an email that they were playing tonight and I first thought she sent it today. When Scott got up he said Boise won 51 to 0. I hadn't looked at the date on the email! I was prepared to watch for ducks on the blue turf. Janet says their flying onto the turf might not be true. Scott is the one who told me and the boys that. Kelly, do they? Jalen is learning sign language because they are studying Helen Keller at school. Scott knows one word. Guess which one??

Joe and Mary are having Thanksgiving dinner at Beth, Lydia and David's house. Lisa has been in Boston this week. Lydia will be back Tuesday or Wednesday for Thanksgiving vacation. Son David has been in Detroit this week.

I'm learning about this computer. Brayden has to help me since I'm in Louisville and Rose is in Chicago. Last night we did Facetime with Aunt Rose. i'm going to take some lessons after the holiday is over. Scott is meeting Beth at the lake and we get to keep Brayden. Beth can't come for our Thanksgiving and we'll miss her.

I'm in Louisville this morning . I flew over yesterday and will stay and ride back with Scott and Brayden next Wednesday for Thanksgiving. I'm up early but didn't even hear Scott leave for work. As slowly as I type the sun will probably be up before I finish this post. Pete, I think the boys told me that Boise and Idaho game wasn't on TV here but while we were having supper at a family sports bar they showed some of the blue field. I told them their cousins attended the game and both Brayden and Jalen knew who won.

Rose and Shirley drove to Chicago this weekend. They had some things to attend to up there and hadn't been for a while. They're coming back Monday. I talked to Margaret yesterday and she said the cortisone shots relieved a lot of Norm's pain. He had been dreading the shots but they seemed to have worked. They are all going to Sabrina and Dave's for Thanksgiving. Joe sent me news about their plans but I don't have a printer hooked up here at Scott's so forwarded it to Rose because there was other news from Springfield. If she doesn't have time, I'll have Scott print it so I can remember and post that news too.
We haven't had a recent update from the FeLLins. When I talked to Jana in Kansas last week (after Missouri beat Kansas)), she promised to send pictures and an update from Kansas but she hasn't yet.

Brayden and Jalen got their report cards this week and they are both star students. Jalen is in the band playing drums. Brayden had to help me get my new computer going. He's promised to teach me more about Facebook while I'm here. He is seven years old and smarter than his Granny about the computer. Needless to say, so is Jalen at 12.

The sun is coming up but I think it's going to be chilly today. I know we have to grocery shop this evening but I don't know what else we're going to do. We will have both boys all weekend.

I got my time spacing mixed up on my last post and I think I have it straight now. Chris and I went down to the lake Friday afternoon late and went to one of my favorite places for dinner. Brayden, it wasn't Ruthie D's either. It was Baxter's. Pete called Saturday with his weekly call. Kelly's boys had gone to the Idaho/Boise game Friday night. I don't remember who won or who we were rooting for but I assume it was Boise. Missouri played Kansas State and won big time. Chris and I called John and Jana to see if they were depressed after Missouri won big time over their alma mater.

Norman had cortisone shots in his back yesterday to see if that would relieve some of the pain he's been suffering. They were going to administer them last week but when he got there, his blood was too thin. Stephanie met them to help them get home because he can't drive for 24 hours.

I'm going to fly over to Louisville in the morning. Rose and Shirley are driving to Chicago and coming back Monday. I'm riding back with Scott with Brayden next Wednesday. We're having Thanksgiving Dinner with Mark and Karen who will return from New Zealand tomorrow. Pete and Janet are having their holiday with all the kids there. I haven't heard from the rest of the family about the feast occurrence. Perhaps the reason I haven't heard is because my computer was ruined with a coffee spill. While Chris and I were at the lake I accidentally spilled coffee on and in my computer. Rose had been urging me to get a new one but I thought the old one was sufficient. It did everything I wanted to do. But it quit completely. We went shopping last night and bought a MacBookAir!!!

Scott brought me home from the lake yesterday and then left immediately for Louisville. The weather was perfect both days and there was mostly fishing boats on the water. I believe there was a tournament going on. Beth got down there about the same time we did on Friday and Mad Dog was already there. He did have to leave early Saturday morning. Beth made Chicken Cordon Bleu for supper Saturday night and I brought the leftovers home for supper last night.

I tried to get Brother Joe to join us for supper and the Chicken Cordon Bleu on Saturday but I think he had done something with the Railroad Club all day. He did tell me he and Donald are cooking up a plan to go to Idaho in November in lieu of their deepsea trip. The oil spill influenced their cancellation of their deepsea fishing plans. It gets cold in Idaho early, brothers! Pete and Janet were in Boise for a grandson's birthday. Some of the guys were also going trout fishing. Hope they did better than when Pete took me and Den a few years back.

Leslie and Sam (from Springfield) just got back from a long weekend in Olympia visiting Jeff and family. Sam is still working at the Bass Pro Shop which was Den's ambition of THE place to work. I would love for them to come spend some time with me at the lake but there's the dogs. These pictures are of Leslie and her family. The other son, Chase, is now a photographer and has been all over the country taking pictures.

I wanted to post in a couple more recent events. Yesterday I walked 8.25 miles! That's the most I've done since I've been keeping track of the distance. It's probably the most ever. That's not awithout stopping. That's most all day. It may be off a bit but not very much I don't believe. I didn't do the treadmill or exercycle either yesterday. Rose worries about me when I go off by myself so she puts a name tag on me. I usually stay in the subdivision.

Margaret and Norman are going to come get me this afternoon to spend the night. They had gone to the Valley to winterize earlier this week. It's still Indian summer here today and supposed to stay nice tomorrow. Ding and I were going to go to dinner tonight but I took a raincheck so I could go to the Abbotts and also Ding's on call and might have to leave while we're eating.

Groves and I may go to the lake tomorrow afternoon. Mad Dog may come down too. I haven't been for a couple weeks so am eager to be there. I don't think we have the boat winterized yet.

I want to try to capture another one of Brayden's funny lines. The other day when the boys were here we were all sitting in the kitchen and Rose and Shirley and I were talking. Rose mentioned someone's 'obituary'. Brayden was shocked, thinking Aunt Rose said a bad word. He said "You said 'oWHATuary!!!'" He really believed Aunt Rose did say a bad word but HE didn't.

The pictures that Rose posted are great. I'll try to have her take some of the Abbotts when they pick me up and then post them.

Brother Joe's picture didn't come through, but Rose has lots more of him and Brayden and Jalen and will post them when she has time. Joe got back from Idaho Saturday afternoon and left right away for home. He and Donald were only in Idaho 60 hours, but Joe said they had a wonderful good time. Nancy celebrated her birthday while they were there. I talked to Kelly Saturday morning. He and the boys were there from Boise. I don't know what all the brothers did while together (besides B.S. each other) but they did go see Old Faithful in Yellowstone Park.

Scott and the boys got here Friday evening. The boys didn't mind when he left to go over to Goldman's not long after their arrival. Beth came over from Kansas City Saturday morning. Scott was going to take her on a 'real date' Saturday night. This is how he described it to me. First he asked me if I'd seen the movie "Jackass 1". I haven't. Then have I seen "Jackass 2". I haven't seen it either, but he had seen them both. Now there's a "Jackass 3" that he hadn't seen and was taking her to see. For supper he was taking her to White Castle, but said they was going inside and NOT through the drive-thru. I admire her for her good nature about the whole episode.

Brayden and Jalen were very good all weekend. We took them to Skyzone Saturday afternoon. We got them to leave without any problem because we headed for the Hollensbes for two hours of play time. From there, we went to California Pizza Kitchen. By the time we got home, they were worn out, as were we.

I'm still walking and doing the exercycle and the treadmill. Rose walks, too. We have a continuing contest about our weight. I won't put the amount that I'm talking about, but she wants me to get up to her weight and she's trying to get down to mine. I asked Brayden the other day "Do you think Aunt Rose is heavy?" He looked at me dumbfounded and answered "I don't know. I never tried to lift her."

It's definitely Indian summer here the last few days. Mark and Karen are in New Zealand. I'm hoping to go to the lake this weekend. Scott and Beth are going down there after Thanksgiving Dinner, and we get to keep Brayden.

Brother Joe

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Brother Joe got here Tuesday in time to have dinner with us and a delightful evening of visiting. We watched a lot of the election returns while we were visiting and catching up on current events. I had therapy Wednesday morning and we thought my session was at 10. We got there at 10. My session was scheduled for 11 and we were an hour early. We had a Starbucks coffee and reminisced some more while we killed an hour and still had time to get Joe to the airport in plenty of time to meet up with Donald and catch their flight. We then called Pete and Janet and told them the brothers were on their way. I believe they're due back sometime Saturday.

Ding and Goldman and I went out to dinner this evening. Scott and the boys are coming over tomorrow evening. Beth is coming from Kansas City too. Rose is teaching a class and has a session tonight. I have therapy again tomorrow and Shelly is going to take me down there. My not driving is sure difficult. I really hope that someday I'll be well enough to drive myself. Not that I'm complaining, people are sure good to me and I get everywhere I need and/or want to be.

Just wanted to remind everyone who hasn't already voted today to go do so. Rose and Shirley and I didn't have a very long wait at the polls even though the polling place was busy. Now we're waiting for the returns and also waiting for Brother Joe. The current plan (I think) is he's going to come up here for supper and spend the night with us, and then he and Donald are going on to Idaho. I am really envying them that visit!

I had physical therapy yesterday and will go again tomorrow and Friday. Since the doctor did the cortisone shot on my left arm and I've been doing the regular therapy on it, it really feels much better. I still ride the exercycle and walk the treadmill everyday. I'm a very slow typist but I manage.

Groves and I came back from the lake in time for me to see some of the Trick-or-Treaters. Shirley was all prepared for them and we have some candy left over. Rose is trying to stay from it but it's not easy. We gave away the stuff we liked least first!

I want to correct my post of earlier this morning. I talked to Joe on IM. Joe and Donald are going to Idaho! Joe had put SLC and I didn't get it. It's via Salt Lake City. They're driving on up from there. Joe doesn't know what his little brothers have planned. I think Donald is going to drive over from Kansas City. Joe wants to hit St. Louis when traffic is lesser so isn't sure when he will get here. Ding and I flew out there one time and went through Las Vegas. We rented a car there and stopped in the casinos for a while. After we got on the road and weren't sure of the route I refused to buy a map. Ding was irate that I was too cheap to buy a map but would spend money at a casino!

Joe had some more news about Sean and Brian. Brian has sold his house and he and Sean are living in Aunt Virginia's house. They're sure Aunt Virginia is glad it's not setting empty. Brian's back has been bothering him and Joe wasn't sure what was causing it. Maybe the long distance driving.

Pete hasn't called yet this morning. Maybe since he lives in town he has a different lifestyle.

I'm nearly a week behind on my updates with no good excuse. Rose wasn't feeling well last Saturday so didn't participate in the run. Sabrina and Brett did get up early and run. Brett came in second his age group by only seven seconds! He came in 10th in a field of over 700. And he didn't train! The young man is a natural. He and Sabrina came by to see us after the race. He is a delightful young man. Of course, we have taken delight in Sabrina for a lot longer time! Brayden was with us and also enjoyed the two of them.

Brother Joe had lunch with Brian Madden one day this week. Brian says Aunt Virginia is 'some better'. Brian has been here to the lake house and knows how to get here so I'm wishing he would come see me sometime, Sean and Mike too. Joe said Brian didn't eat any potatoes at lunch. Pete, I'm not sure I was supposed to tell you that Idaho Russets weren't part of his lunch.

Groves and I here at the lake this morning. I think we made record time getting down here last night. He had my computer ready to go and my pills out and the coffee set up this morning. Shirley was taking Rose out for her birthday dinner last night. I'm not sure if Mad Dog is coming down today or not. It's chilly this morning but supposed to get up to 70 this afternoon.

My left arm has been hurting me a lot so I went back to my primary care physician one day this week and she gave me a cortisone shot. Boy, did it hurt! But not for long. I'm now going to a different therapist and three times a week. It's not far from the house but, even with my walking, too far to walk. Ding and I walked on the Katy Trail one evening this week and then went out for supper. On Thursday evening Shelly prepared an early Thanksgiving dinner for the three of us. She's going to Florida and won't return until Thanksgiving Day and loves to do things like that.

I think Joe and Donald and Rose and I are getting together one morning this week. We're going to try to get Joe to spend the night. Will someone correct me if I'm wrong? Rose and I just talked briefly about it and she hasn't called yet today.

The sun is just rising. I've seen just one fishing boat this morning. Neither of the neighbors on either side are here. Last weekend the boys were here but we had Brayden so had a really good weekend at home. Scott had to pick him early so he could play in two ballgames. His teacher even came to one! Our little Albert Pujols!

Today is Aunt Rose's Birthday! We have Brayden for a short time so will have dinner at home this evening as this is is his preference and also Aunt Rose's. Some of the guys are down at the lakehouse. Thoe ones that are down there call it 'cool guys' weekend and the guys who couldn't go are calling it 'old guys' weekend.

Norman has a bulging disc (the one he had repaired before)and had to go to the doctor for an MRI and the doctor believes he can fix it with medication. Margaret, if I've got this wrong, correct me. I talked to her yesterday and they were down at their camper for the third weekend in a row.

Brayden and I are the only ones up here. Rose and Sabrina are going to partipate in a three mile race or walk this morning. As it turns out, I could have partipated, in the walk anyway. I walked over 7 miles day before yesterday and I walked 7.47 miles yesterday! I'm pretty sure I won't top my best day (7.47) today because it's supposed to rain. I'll take a day to rest.

Aunt Rose is giving a talk on Sunday and Shelly has to work so Ding and I are going to walk at Forest Park (which we did last Thursday) and go see Shelly's presentation. Ding told me what creature it's about, some nocturnal something that I've never heard of, but he says she love doing it.

Missouri plays Oklahoma this evening and neither has lost this year so Scott says it will be an exciting game. Tomorrow is Brayden's last baseball game of the season so Scott will have to have to pick him up early. Us three here hate his leaving early!

I got behind on my updates again for no good reason. We've had beautiful fall weather here in Missouri and it's cooled off some so I've been able to go outside and do some walking over several days. Rose and I go to Forest Park or to a nearby neighborhood park on some days or just walk in the subdivision. I'm also doing one hour physical therapy and one hour occupational therapy at St. Mary's every week. I ride the exercycle and walk on the tredmill everyday. I was never athletic previously so this is quite a change for me, but I find myself adjusting quite easily.

Now on with the week's happenings.

Groves took me over to see Jack Delaney Friday evening. Jack and I worked together at Midwest Recovery for several years and prior to that Brick and I worked with his brother at GMAC. Jack is in a rehab facility and his health isn't so good but, as Groves said on our way home, 'he's quite a character'.

Chris and Shelly took me out for supper Thursday night. They were going to the Rams game on Sunday. I'm not a football fan. When Pete called on Saturday, he and Janet had been to Boise the week before. The College there has their football field painted blue, and ducks kill themselves diving into it thinking it's water. I asked Pete about it, and he had never heard that. I hope Scott didn't make that up!

Scott brought me home from the lake yesterday and then left immediately for Louisville. The weather was perfect both days of the weekend, and there were mostly fishing boats on the water. I believe there was a fishing tournament going on. Beth got down there about the same time we did on Friday, and Mad Dog was already there. He did have to leave early Saturday morning. Beth made Chicken Cordon Bleu for supper Saturday night, and I brought the leftovers home for supper last night.

I tried to get Brother Joe to join us for supper and the Chicken Cordon Bleu on Saturday, but I think he had done something with the Railroad Club all day. He did tell me he and Donald are cooking up a plan to go to Idaho in November in lieu of their deepsea fishing trip. The oil spill influenced their cancellation of their 2010 deepsea fishing plans. It gets cold in Idaho early, brothers! Pete and Janet were in Boise for a grandson's birthday. Some of the guys were also going trout fishing. Hope they did better than when Pete took me and Den a few years back.

Leslie, my former Springfield neighbors, just got back from a long weekend in Olympia visiting her son Jeff and his family. Sam, Leslie's husband, is working at the Bass Pro Shop which was Den's ambition of THE place to work. I would love for them to come spend some time with me at the lake but there's the dogs. These pictures are of Leslie and her family. The other son, Chase, is now a photographer and has been all over the country taking pictures.

These are photos of Leslie's Family. Leslie is Sue's good friend and former neighbor in Springfield. We lifted the photos from Leslie's Facebook Page. [Not sure why two of the photos are duplicated.]

Sue and I walked in Forest Park one beautiful afternoon last week. If you look carefully, you will see her in the lower right side of this photo. She is circling the Grand Basin. I took the picture from the top of Art Hill in the terrace in front of the Art Museum.

Another update of current events. I didn't think I was going to get to the lake this weekend and Scott called me yesterday evening and asked me if I wanted to go. Of course my reply was a YES and I am delighted. He's picking me up about 5:30 and I told him I'd be sitting on the front porch when he gets here. It's a beautiful day here and weather is supposed to stay nice all weekend.
Ding and I had dinner last night at one of our favorite little places - Frank and Helen's. We both agreed the name (if I got it right) sounds like a tavern, but it's an old family restaurant not too far away on Olive. Rose had her class she teaches on Thursday and Shirley had a client.
Rose and I are going walking in Forest Park again after while. I've already done the tredmill, exercycle, and walked in the subdivision today. Walking at the lake seems like every where is uphill so probably won't do much except sit on the deck. Mad Dog will be there when we get there and have dinner ready. Beth is coming but Scott wasn't sure what time. I talked to Brother Joe on line and tried to get him and some of his to join us but he's working at the Railroad Museum and can't make it.
I hope Scott or Beth will take some pictures this weekend. The trees and foliage may be at their peak in color. Brayden and Jalen have gone to Disney World with their mother so we won't have them. I'll miss them though they probably won't miss me. I hope they have a wonderful time.

Had some nice communication with Brothers Pete and Joe. They're both claiming to be the SMITW . (For those who don't know what that stands for - Sweetest Man in the World - I told them the world may be in trouble!) Joe and some of his family had gone to Liberty to see William Jewell College win a football game and, more importantly, to see Lydia who is a student there. William Jewell's team won and the campus and town are beautiful, kinda like Plattsburg, close to Kansas City but far enough away to make it more rural than city. They connected with Donald and Vita and some family members in Plattsburg around 6:30. Lydia had prior plans and couldn't join them. Joe and family left later that evening. Donald is leaving maybe tomorrow and Vita on Saturday.
The guys had their weekend. This is the ten that were there: Ding, Scott, Goldman, Mad Dog, Dave Smith, Groves, Ray, Derrington, and Tim. Doug and Tim caught a bunch of fish that they cleaned and fried. They also cooked 15 lbs. of chicken wings along with pork tenderloin and burgers. Usually their vegetable is potatoes. They didn't mention that but I'm sure potatoes were on the menu.
I had to go see the neurologist, Dr. Lopate, recently and spent a night in the hospital for the IVIG. Now I have a new prescription for therapy. I have a hand and a physical session later on today. I walk outside some everyday now that it's cooled off. It cooled off and got cold overnight but didn't stay that way. I ride the exercycle and walk the tredmill everyday, too. Rose got me a Fitbit which shows me when I've increased my distance at least some most every day.
Pete's Saturday morning call is an awaited event. Last Saturday Joe Emailed to be sure to tell Pete he wasn't going to be home. Last night Joe Emailed and said he hadn't been able to get hold of Pete. What numbers did I have? I gave him the two I have and after a while decided to call Pete myself. He answered right away and I told him Joe hadn't been able to get hold of him. Right off he said "I know why that is." I asked, "Why's that?" Pete's answer "He hasn't tried!"

This will be a short post and I'll add more happenings later. I want to see if anyone wants to go to the lake with me this weekend. Last weekend was 'guys' weekend and there were ten of them down there. I think the weather is going to be nice both Saturday and Sunday there though it's chilly here in St. Louis this morning. The ten guys ate a lot of fried food and played cards and Risk. Rose, Shirley, and I were supposed to have Brayden but he got sick. We sure missed him.