Friday, April 1, 2005

I'm starting early this week -- I have something to write about.

Millie's birthday is Apr. 17 & she will be 90.  I think it would be nice for you to send her a card.

We went to the Mall today & I was successful.  Seeing Millie will be 90, I want to get her a gift.  I got pearl earrings with gold trim & a necklace.  It has a small pearl bead, a 1 1/2" of gold chain.  Tried them on & I like them a lot & I'm sure she will.  Then I got Dale a darker tan pants & a nice shirt to go with them.  It is a flax & cotton materiel (light green).  All purchases on sale plus 15% coupon.

Last nite Barb was showing Kim the swim suit she wants from the L.L. Bean catalog.  Lar said there's a shirt I like & I was glad to know that.  Barb called the order in so my shopping is just about complete.

Then I stopped at Arby's for our supper.  2 for Dale & 1 for me.  Barb doesn't eat them.  I'm fixing oven fries for Dale & a salad.  He was late coming home so I ate early.  Still have the dishes to do.

I sure enjoy the pictures you add to your letters.  It's surprising how much houses are getting in your area.  And they are small.  How do people do it.  I've heard about the Macaroni Grill but I don't think there are any around here.

Sat. A.M. Apr 2

I've had a busy A.M.  After reading the paper I made choc. chip, peanut butter & oats dough. Put it in the fridge & started banana bread.  While it was baking I washed dishes, then went upstairs to get dressed & make my bed.  When the ban. bread was almost done, I put the cookie dough on baking sheets.  Made only 1/2 recipe, about 2 doz.  I don't like them after 2 days & Barb & Dale don't think to eat them altho they are in plain sight.  Then I tho't a pumpkin pie would taste good.  After I cleaned up, a cup of coffee & 2 cookies tasted good.

Barb is up & making blueberry pancakes for her breakfast.

Barb's treadmill sounded funny to her eats so a repair man from Sears came yesterday aft. He said nothing was wrong.  He calibrated it, etc.  Barb wanted it looked at while under warranty.

In Wegman's Sat. ads they have a recipe that sounds interesting to me.  Chicken Parmasan with broccoli.  Brown chicken.  Put in dish.  Drizzle with marinara sauce & sprinkle with shredded mozzarella.  Bake in 350 oven 10 min til cheese melts & sauce is heated.  Serve with penne pasta & broccoli florets.  Cook them & then combine olive oil, butter & garlic. Heat on low to melt butter.  Cook garlic 1 min stirring.  Add broc & cooked pasta.  Keep warm while preparing chicken.  I'll try it on a Thurs. nite when Lar & Kim come.  It will be a change from potatoes.  I might even use garlic, keeping some broc. & pasta out for me. Others like garlic.

Later in the aft.  Had myself a little nap.

Have to catch up because we lose an hour tonite.  DST.

Baseball starts this week & there will be many games to watch thanks to ESPN & II.  I'm ready to watch.

I have the same feeling that it would be nice to be closer so we could get together more often.  But that's life.

Was going to watch Busch racing but it's raining in Bristol, Tenn.  Then gold will be on & they've missed 2 days because of rain.  Today is suppose to be very windy.  Next week is the big one, The Masters, in Atlanta.  It is a beautiful golf course.

Sun. pm

Dale looked out the window & said "it's insanity", meaning the snow coming down.  Erie has 12" of snow & some areas have no electricity.  Heavy snow on the lines.

I wore boots this AM as I walked to church & was surprised to see more people in church than I thought would be there.  Buffalo area has a foot of snow.

Barb wonders if you'll see the movie "The Upside of Anger" with Kevin Costner.  She read a review of it & knows Kevin C. is one of JoAnna's favorites.  A good review.

Dale had a headache on Sat.  I woke up at 2:30 AM to go to the bathroom & noticed the hall light was still on.  I had to check & found Dale on the davenport holding a bag of ice on his head.  Now I could go back to bed & sleep, altho it took awhile to fall asleep.  A mother is always or should I say parent, is always concerned for their children regardless of age. What I don't know doesn't hurt me, but with Barb & Dale at home I get concerned.  I don't like the word "worry".  It's not part of my vocabulary.

Tues. the 4th

Barb & I went to Jamestown this aft.  Barb got pj's & a birthday shirt for Dale.  I didn't get anything except groceries at Wegman's.  We'll celebrate Dale's birthday on Thurs. & he chose teak & choc. birthday cake.  I asked about potatoes & he said pot. salad would be OK.  We had baked pot. last week & mostly we have mashed pot. so I tho't a change would be good.

The Braves played at the Marlins this aft. & was I happy.  The Marlins were leading 9-0 the last I saw & it's over so I didn't get the final score.  Smoltz started & lasted 1 2/3 innings. They got a grand slam off of him in the 1st inning.  The Marlins are my 2nd team if the Mets fail.  Yesterday Pedro pitched so good after the 1st inning & had 11 strikeouts, I think.  But the closer gave up 2 home runs & they lost.  I was so disappointed.  The Mets are at Atlanta this Fri. nite.  Barb said I shouldn't be so happy when the Braves get beat because the Braves are Andy's team.  That doesn't count.  He has his team & I have mine & may the best team win.  They talked today how many division titles the Braves have won & of course I can't remember the number.  I think they only won the World Series once & that's the important one.

Wed. the 6th

Gen called last Sat.  She had called Millie & found out she had been in the hospital.  I called the first of the week & there was no answer.  I tried tonite & got her.  She has low thyroid & potassium & not enough salt.  She was back in the hosp & had intravenous feeding.  She is better now.  She wasn't taking her thyroid meds, & she said she learned her lesson.  She still has a poor appetite but it's improving.   I've taken potassium pills for a long time.  With some meds you need it as they can drain your system.  If the Dr. prescribes meds I take them.  He knows more than I do.  Millie will be OK for her birthday.  Due to conflicts the family won't celebrate it until the 30th.  There will be 14 of them to help her celebrate.  All 4 of us had or have thyroid problems.  Only mine is overactive.

Thurs. the 7th

We had a nice dinner & Dale enjoyed an early birthday.

John called tonite to tell us about Millie.  I told him I had talked to her last nite.  I heard he had a girlfriend so I asked about it.  Is it serious?  Is there a wedding in the future?  He didn't commit himself.  But they took a trip to Aruba so that sounds serious.  I told him I was happy for him.  He has a lot of responsibility on his plate with Gen.

I'm watching the Braves vs. the Marlins.  The Mets go to Atlanta tomorrow.  Sure hope they start winning.  A bad start for Willie Randolph.  He's a good guy.

They said we reached 80 yesterday.  Different today, but the next 5 days should be sunny.

Saturday, March 5, 2005

Barb's treadmill was delivered yesterday.  They put it together so Dale didn't have that job.  It is a big one with parts to use the arms as well as walking.  It has a button you can press & it goes uphill like you're walking up a hill.  Tells how many calories you burn while walking. Barb loves it.  She is starting easy -- 1/2 hr. at a time.

Golf is so interesting.  At the final Sun. Mickelson will have Tiger as a partner.  Phil is -20, and Tiger is -19.  What a set up.  It will be interesting.

Alice Nasman (Wayne & Rick's mom) called me today to tell me she won't be in church tomorrow.  She hasn't been feeling well all week -- 24 hr. flu only it's longer.  She was watching golf & so was I.  Both of us root for Tiger.  Betty Casey isn't back to church either. Best to stay in with our winter months.  She's feeling better, tho.

With the commercials on TV today, my thumb gets a good workout muting them out.  And they are so long now.

Dale worked til noon today so I started baking early.  It was the week to make the coffee cake & then I planned to make a pie.  Pumpkin as it's so easy to do.  Then I decided to ask Dale what he'd like.  He said we've had pump. pie lately so how about apple.  So I made an apple pie.  It is tasty.

Dale did his income tax this aft.  Next Wed. Larry will do my state tax.  There are 4 more soccer sessions & then it will be back to Thurs. when they come.  Now Thurs seems like an extra day.

Frank, across the St, has a new agency trying to sell his house.  Hope it goes better this time.  It is probably priced too high.

Golf was exciting & Tiger won.  Then I switched & watched the final laps of  Busch car racing in Mexico City.  One of D.E.I. (Dale Earnhardt Inc.) cars won the race.

Our pastor announced today that she is expecting a baby.  She is very happy -- they were even thinking of adoption.  No need now.

Barb wasn't feeling good today -- headache. She is better tonite.

Mon. Mar. 7

This aft. I watched the Cubs vs. Texas & the Cubs won.  It was a good game.  Ruck Sutcliffe (apt to be wordy) & Gary Thorne announced the game.  Gary is a great announcers & today I didn't have to mute it.  Can't remember the 3rd man, but when Mike Piazza was an L.A. catcher Mike & this fellow were friends & had an apt. together.  I didn't realize this one was retired.  He was traded last year or so -- maybe to the Cubs but don't quote me.  I really don't' like the 3 man team.  Too many to "spout" off.  They trip over their tongues trying to beat the others in showing off how much they think they know.  The name above is Eric Karros.   Just saw it on TV.  Tues aft & I'm watching the Giants vs. Texas & the same announcers.

It's 12 outside.  And what's for supper.  Hamburgers & potato salad.  Sounds like a summertime meal.  But I didn't feel like macaroni & cheese & pot. salad sounded good to me.  We just got a dusting of snow.

Buffalo is having a terrible time with finances.  The 5 pm news keeps us informed.  I like the announcers so I watched WGRZ -- NBC in Buff.

Thurs. the 10th of Mar.

Your letter with "The Bookworm" arrived today & I noticed it was mailed Mar. 2.  Wonder why it took so long to arrive.

Last nite Kim told us about an incident at school.  A 9th grade girl was caught stealing.   They suspected her but couldn't prove it so they set up a camera & caught her.  Then the girl's locker room was next.  Rolls of toilet paper in the toilet & paper towels in the sink.  It happened twice.  So Kim spoke to the girls in that class & informed them from now on there would be an aid to watch them in the locker room.  And Kim said I know who is responsible & the girl looked at Kim & mouthed "bitch".  Kim took her to the office.  If she does this in 9th grade, what will happen when she is in 12th grade.  Maybe she won't make it.  She was suspended 5 days for the theft.  People are afraid of the family -- afraid of revenge.  T hat's what teachers put up with in Sheffield.

Kim & Larry got a new treadmills awhile ago.  Kim runs on it but Lar walks.  You can't run on Barb's.

I'm watching a program on Jay Leno's car collection.   They are redoing a 1966 Toronado  to make it over -- make it elite.  It's interesting.  He doesn't have children -- old cars are his babies & he has quite a collection.  At times there are old cars up for bid & it's amazing how expensive they can be.  Fun to watch.

Barb was glad to hear her camera is ready.  She wants to know how much she owes you, including postage.

Glad you're back to normal.  Have you caught up on your work.

I like the picture illustrations in your letters.

Glad you're feeling good again & that no one else was sick.  Nice you kept your germs to yourself!!!

One nite Dale said his throat was sore but nothing developed.  We were glad.

Thursday, February 3, 2005

As I look outside, I see snow flurries & I tho't that report was sunshine & clear for today.  The temp is 32.

Last Mon.  Barb & I went to Jamestown.  No tax on clothes for a week.  I bo't a pair of slacks.  Barb got a treadmill at Seats but it won't be delivered until Mar 4.  It was on sale. After getting groceries, we decided against eating lunch there & came home.

Dale says they use the flash drive working with cars.

Last Sun. Ted & Pat Benson came to church with me.  Afterwards we went to Perkins to eat.  We had a nice visit.  In June Ted celebrates his 50th year of ordination & they celebrate their 50th wedding anniversary.  Their children are planning a party for them.

Last nite Kim was telling about a 9th grade boy who would be in one of her classes this semester.  Passing in the hall, he told he he'd be in one of her classes.  She answered and I expect you to behave in my class or you'll be sent to the office.  She's been waiting for him to misbehave but he hasn't & it has surprised her.  He has even been very helpful to her -- putting things away, etc.  I guess if they teacher expects you to behave, one can.  They have 2 classes going in the gym & he has the other teacher.  He doesn't behave & is constantly being yelled at.  Guess you have to demand respect.

It's 9:15 & I don't hear Barb yet.  Now I do.  I clean the bathroom & do a load of towels.  Her time clock & my time clock don't get together.

Our organist resigned to care for her family.  19 year old grandson in Erie whose mother died.  Last Sun. a young man played & did well considering the liturgy is new to him.  He plays very well so I hope we can keep him.

I plan to try the potatoes you made except I'm not sure if I'll use feta cheese.  Maybe I've seen it in the stores.  I don't know.

I'm not much of a worker anymore.  I did get the bathroom cleaned & the towels are in the washer.  I've been playing Solitaire & I have a puzzle on the card table.  I like to drink coffee & be lazy.

Last nite for supper I fixed chicken, mashed potatoes, corn pudding & apple pie for dessert. As long as I know the menu, it's not a job.  The job is planing meals & trying to make it interesting.  I was going to try a macaroon pie but I stuck to what I know they like.  I'm enclosing the recipe.  I got ads from Better Homes & Garden cookbook.  It was a lower price so I sent for it.  I like to "read" recipe books.

In yesterday's paper an article by a Coop. Extension person remembered wash day as a child.  It bro't back memories.  Mon. was washday & if it was nice weather the clothes line filled the back yard.  In the winter they hung in the basement.  It was the wringer washer. One summer friends were driving to Maine & offered to take my mother & 1 child.  I was the lucky one.  We visited my Uncle Carl & family in Caribou, Maine.  They had a potato farm & 5 children.  Oldest one married & living at home & working with his dad.  At home Gen decided to do some washing & got her hands stuck in the wringers.  Don't remember if she finished the wash.  She didn't break any bones.  I remember her saying she sat at the piano to exercise her hands.  Dad dated my cousin Carlotta (Maine cousin) before he met me, but I guess she wasn't the one for him.

It's Fri A.M.  Just got my hair "done".  It's beautiful out -- will be in the 40's.  Enjoyed your M. Monroe discourse.  She had it all but still wasn't fulfilled.  Anything more happen about that 9 yr. old boy.  It's so sad.  Something is lacking in his life.  Discipline most likely.

Tuesday, January 26, 1993

I'll start a letter & add to it later on.  I'm watching "As The World Turns".

June has been in the hosp. for over a week.  Bad cold, fever, etc.  Her lungs are clear now, but she hasn't been eating right & they have to build her up.  One of the girls will come home & stay with June when she gets home from the hosp.

Genevieve will also have tests for 5 days in Madison Hosp. to find out what is causing her problems.  Think she is there now, or it could be the 1st week of Feb.

Thanks for the cards & letters & the darling pictures.  They are all so good.

Mr. Curtin (remember him from Jr Hi) is now at Sheffield Hi & each year he takes students on a trip to Europe.  Next year he'll take them to the Scandanavian countries & asked Kim if she'd like to be a chaperone.  It would cost $1800.00 & thinks it would be too expensive.  Lar thinks she should plan on it, and so do we.  Time will tell.

I'm fixing a turkey for our anniv. dinner tonite & Sat. nite all of us are going out to dinner.  Lar & Kim come for dinner Tues. nites.

Lar & Kim will come over here Sun to watch Buffalo beat Dallas, I hope I hope, I hope.  I'll have food to munch on.

Sam, Dale's friend, wanted to buy a  convertible & wanted Dale to buy his black '79 Z28 Camaro for $700.00.  And Dale wanted it & decided to get it.  So Sam got what he wanted & Dale already is working on the Z28, as it needs a few things & Sam doesn't go for that but Dale loves it.  He went to the junk yard & found things he needed for only 10.00.  It will be his winter car & he hopes to sell the present one for $350.00.  He has it in good running order.

I got my 3rd & 4th snow globes & ordered a 5th.  I can't resist them & now I hope to get 8 of them - one for each of my "heirs".  Late in life to start a collection but I guess "better late than never".

Your weekend sounded great.  The surroundings were really perfect.

Taury, Lar's dog, is getting bit & is settling down some.  Kim is working hard to train him to obey.

Dad & I faithfully use the treadmill & really appreciate it.  In the winter it is hard to walk outside & now it's so easy to go to the basement & get our walking in.  So it is getting lots of good use.  No dust will gather on it.

Thanks for the telephone call - it's always good to talk to you.

I'm enclosing some newspaper articles you might be interested in.