Wednesday, December 14, 2005

Sun. I called Warren & Anna to say I wouldn't be going to Jamestown with them on Mon.  So Warren suggested having lunch in Wrrn.  He cracked the plate of his "uppers" (teeth) & had to see the dentists.  They picked me up at 11 A.M. & we went to Holiday Inn.  They have been refurbishing it -- building & menu.  We had a really nice lunch.  He hate a 1:30 appt to see the Dr.  Could it be repaired or would he need a new one.  If a new one, they might be back this coming week to pick them up.  It was fun to be together again -- they are good friends.  I had my last appt. with Dr. Vance.  It is much better but there is still soreness.

Dale had to go to a 1 day session close to Pittsburgh for schooling.  He left at 56:30 A.M.l or so & he should be home by 7 pm.  I have a crockpot meal for supper.  It is a cold but clear day so that's good.

Warren & Anna got a $380.00 gas bill for Dec.  They have a house built in 1957 & it has its cold spots.  Warren said he paid 40,000 for it 10 yrs ago.  What would he get for it now -- I said double?  No, he said $30,000 as there are 200 houses for sale in Ridgway.  We are reaping the results of Dad's hard work in replacing all the windows, 2 doors, some insulation, etc.

Too bad I didn't know you'd like a couple of Fox network Christmas tree ornaments.  I could have ordered a couple lfor you!!!!

Warren was telling about one of the pastor couples that used to get together with us.  The wife has been in the Kane Luth. Home for a couple of years with Alzheimer's.  Now she can't swallow & just lies there.  He grew up in Wrrn.  Sig Decker.  Warren preaches at a small church but like a Sun. off now & then & Sig used to help.  Now he tells Warren he can't think & can't prepare a sermon.  Has lost weight, etc.  Also said he has trouble figuring his check book.  Warren feels he has just given up & is concerned.  That is so sad.

Heard from Millie.  Sh e has a small tree & has decorated her apt.  Heard from Larry & Debbie.  Christmas Eve they'll be at Linda's & on Christmas Day they'll go to Allan's.  Millie is so happy at the retirement home & they have a lot going on there & she sees more of Linda & Larry's family.

I have the Weather Channel on & we could be getting a big storm. What a Dec. we've had so far.  Sure glad Dale didn't have to go to school on Thursday, & that today is a better travel day.

Thurs. the 15th.

Barb mailed the rest of my Christmas cards today & Ed's birthday cards.  Hope he gets them on time.  Kept forgetting to get Dale to sign his.

I've started our dinner -- pork tenderloin.  I'm trying a new veggie recipe -- creamed spinach taken from last Sat. paper.  Or was it Sun.  Barb tho't it looked good.  Pumpkin pie for dessert.

My day's duties are over & I'm watching Court TV.  Dale will go out & shovel the walks.

I have a couple more gifts to wrap but I need to go up in teh attic to find some boxes first & it's been too cold.  I'm glad I'm almost thru.  Then it is to decide what to have on Christmas Eve.  If I'm lazy I could order prime rib with baked potatoes, green bean casserole & rolls at BiLo.  No work for me except for salad & dessert.  Christmas Day I'll probably have a turkey breast & trimmings.  I'll have to make Danish -- 2 recipes -- for Dale for their pot luck at work. That is next week.  Can Christmas be that close.  Thurs. I have to have cookies for Barb to give to Lynn & family.  Th ink I'll make Russian Tea Cakes tomorrow.  The others on Wed. next week.  3 kinds.

When Dale went to school yesterday, Shults provides the car.  The small Subura & he didn't like it at all. Said it was uncomfortable & hard on his legs.  One the open road he used cruise control & then he could move his leg around.  They got a $106.00 bonus from Shults. Some expected more but there isn't a lot of profit in new cars -- more on used cars.  It's not really a bonus but profit sharing.  I think it includes all the agencies they have & the one in Warren does the best.

Kim has charge card with City bank & they said she missed a payment & charged her $40.00 int.  Even the bank called & said her check was cashed but they can't take their word.  They want proof & that takes time.  She has to fax the cancelled check before they'll change it.  Andy they werent' very cordial when called.

Saturday, May 24, 2003

This A.M. I awoke at 7 A.M. -- mice to sleep in!  After breakfast & getting dressed I made a coffee cake & choc. cookies.  Once everything was cleaned up, I returned to reading Stone Kiss by Faye Kellerman.  A different book for me to read but once I got into it I really enjoyed it.  A Jewish setting in N.Y.C.  Murder, etc.  Have another by her to read.  Moon Music. Stopped at the library on Fri. to get books to read over the weekend.  Another new author A Summer to Remember by Mary Balogh.  This is a Victorian novel I enjoy reading.  Easier reading.

We're having hamburgers tonite & I have steaks for Sun. or Mon.

Dale has been working on his Monte Carlo.  The cylinder heads on the vales needed to be fixed & someone in Youngsville did that & now he's putting them back -- stuff I don't understand, but it keeps him busy.l  The drain in the bathroom sink upstairs was clogged so he fixed that first this A.M.

We enjoyed watching Aniika Sorestam play golf & were disappointed she didn't make the cut.

Barb has flower pots by the back door & when it rained the pots got dirty.  The pots are on square red tiles.  She wanted to put red limestone pellets down to protect the pots.  Lar said she'd have to take the dirt out which she did.  Put the squares back & then the pellets.  It really looks nice.  She has a pot, then a figure -- angel, rabbit & one she got in Jamestown -- an animal (a raccoon) holding a red apple.  It is so cute.  She put white pellets by the whiskey barrel by the front steps.  The side yard looks so nice.  She just left to go to Big Joe's to get veggie plants.  Last Thurs. Lar bro't over his garden tiller & she tilled the garden & raked it so it is ready for planting.

I got a new Light and Tasty cookbook & it is interesting.  Put out by Taste of Home Greendale, Wi.

I took the pictures of Boxer & Jack to show Sheila as she is a cat lover.  She has 2 cats & a dog.  She & Marilyn, another hairdresser, said they are nice looking cats.

Bert is back in Warren & she likes the work Barb did on the floors.  Fri. Barb said she didn't do much work -- just listened to Bert talk & heard what Bert did in N.Y.C.

Labor Day [sic] & it's a beautiful so far (1:10 pm thankfully the weatherman is wrong -- so far.

I had 2 overripe bananas so I made banana bread this A.M.  Also choc. chip & molasses cookies.  Froze the bread & half of the cookies.  Then 2 loads of wash.  Dale has painted parts of the motor of the Monte Carlo.  Barb watched tennis & is now riding her bike.  She rides 20 mi. now & has reached the 400 mi. mark 1000 mi. is her goal this summer.

I'm not making any promises this early to say I'll be at Andy's graduation.  3 years is a long time to make any promises.

The 2nd Faye Kellerman takes place in Las Vegas & doesn't appeal to me so I'll return it unread.  Mets aren't on today so I'm watching Braves vs. Cincy.  The Yankees play Boston at home. & Roger Clemens hopes to get his 300 win but I'm not interested in him or the Yankees.  I'm a N.L. fan.  I started out rooting for the Brooklyn Dodgers & kept with the N.L.

Tues the 27th

This A.M. we went grocery shopping by 9 A.M.  When we got back & after all was put away, I cleaned the bathroom & dusted my room.  Saw Dr. Vance at 1:30 & my back is much better.  I'm going 1 more time on Fri. aft.

Made spag & meatballs for supper.  I enjoyed it.  This is Dale's late nite so he hasn't eaten yet.

Tomorrow I have to wash the kitchen floor & have some ironing to do.  I can watch TV while I iron.  And the fridge needs cleaning so I need to get that done.  Maybe next week.

Wed.  I was ambitious this A.M.  Did my ironing, washed the floor AND cleaned the fridge. Now I'm watching my favorite "soap" & taking it easy.  But I don't  know what I'm having for supper.  Guess I can't be that efficient!

This A.M., when I was getting the garbage out, Mr. Carey asked me if I wanted a fern plant.  I took it but said I don't seem to be able to keep live flowers alive for long.  It is on the front porch now -- we'll see next fall if i can save it in the house.

Thurs. nite

The kitchen is all cleaned up so I'll finish my letter as I watch the Mets at Philly.  And in the top of the 5th inning the Mets lead 2-0, but there are still 4 1/2 innings to go.

June is just about here so I walked to the bank after lunch & also picked up stamps & mailed a note to Gen.  It's been a lovely day & Fri. should be.  Rain for Sat. & Sun.  And the furnace keeps coming on in the A.M.

Did you notice Don Zimmer of the Yankees spoke out against "George".  He feels if George can speak out against the team's efforts, he can answer back.  Good for "Zim".

Tonite we talked bout going out for Lar & Kim's birthdays & anniversary.  Maybe a let aft. Sun & we'll go to Nickel Inn.  We like to go there at least once during the summer.

Everything is fine here.

Friday, May 1, 1998

May 1st.  Hard to believe 2 anniversaries this month.
My leg is improving but still gives pain.  One of these days i"ll get out.  Sun. at church they're having a pulpit exchange & the past at St.l John preaches at St. Paul & I'm still hoping I can make it.

Dad has the 55th anniv. of his ordination coming in June & the Bishop called to remind Gary of this.  So a shower of cards was suggested as Dad can't get out.  The pastor & a council member will bring them over that Sun. nearest the date.  Hard to believe it was 5 yrs. ago his sisters were here & you & the boys to help celebrate.

Next Thurs. we were to have our friends here but I called it off.  Haven't been able to keep up the house & didn't feel up to doing it.  They'll come later in the summer or fall.

Dr. Vance (chiropractor) is an antique car fan so we got to talking about cars.  He said he gets old cars, fixes them up & after awhile he sells them & starts over.  He said one of his cards needed transmission work & I mentioned Dale works on trans at Shults.  He said I hard Shults has a good transmission man - your bro!

The flowering trees are in bloom & are so pretty.  Leaves are in full form - unusual so early.  Last Sat. Dale gave the front porch a good scrub.  Now we need to get the porch furniture out.   Been warm enough to sit out there but so far we haven't as sitting is something that is too uncomfortable yet.  But it's better as I'm sitting at the kitchen table.

Someone has been calling & there is just dead air.  Wed. nite I decided to have a little conversation & hung up.  Thurs. they called & I talked again & I heard a click so someone is there.  Dale answered another call later on & hung up when no one answered.

Our lawn looks good - over 5" of rain in Apr.  Barb is diggin up dandelions & wants to fertilize.

Coffee time coming up & I'm washing 3 loads so much check the dryer.

P.S.  Last Sat. I got books at the library to relieve the boredom.  Stranger at Wilding by Madeline Brent (pub. '76) & I enjoyed it so much & The Come On by Margaret Yorke & it was good.  Easy reading & entertaining.

Another P.S.  Fri. nite.

Went grocery shopping aftger supper & it felt good to get out.  Maybe Mon. nite I can get to the Mall.

Got your letter today.  Interesting to read of your "tussle" with Andy getting him to do his homework.  It made me smile Paul with you experieicing the fun of children.  What goes around comes around & helps you understand what your parents went thru with 4 children.  Altho I can't remember pushing you too much.  Maybe my mind is slipping!  Mostly I remember trying to get you to practice the piano & you didn't want to.

No baseball tonite but playoff hockey.  Both Pittsburgh & Buffalo are doing good.  I lilke announcers Gary Thorne & Clement (can't remember h is 1st name) best.