Saturday, November 8, 2003

I'm glad to be sitting down.  Barb said we'd go to the Mall this A.M. so I didn't start baking. After lunch I got a coffee cake in the oven, started dinner rolls & made an apple crisp.  Now I'm almost thru.  The bell should go off for the last 2 pans.  While the rolls were baking I had a cup of coffee & a piece of warm apple crisp.  Umm.  Very tasty.

Yesterday I saw Dr. McNett for the last time.  Joyce O'Connor took me for a 2 pm appt & I got to see him around 3 pm.  People wanted to talk too long with him.  My blood pressure was good & so was my heart beat.  He felt maybe the new medication he gave me last time took my blood pressure down too fast & that caused my problems.  I imagined all sorts of things but with things OK that calms my mind.  It has a great power over a person. I thanked him for all he has done for Dad & me.  He gave me a hug before I left.  He recommended Dr. Nguyen -- pronounced "when".  He is Vietnamese, bro't up in Texas & has a Texas accent.  Dr. tho't I would like him.  Dale's Dr. was filled up.  T here are 4 Drs & they have an office in Pleasant Twp.  I have an appt. for Nov. 26 a 10 A.M. to get acquainted.  My records will be forwarded to Dry Nguyen.  So I have a new experience ahead of me.  It was a long wait for Joyce but she understood.  We went to supper at Ponderosa in the Mall.  We each had the salad bar & they had a good selection.  We walked a little bit but Joyce isn't a shopper.

We have clear skies & cold weather.  Winter coat time.

I read every word of the Bookworm.  Ken Mack must have been quite young when he died. Too bad he couldn't have lived longer to enjoy the fruits of his efforts.  But what a nice contribution to the library.  Enjoyed reading the bio of the library's pages.  Also about the lib. board chairman.  Lets me know more about your position.  Enjoyed reading about Chautauqua County.  The first I've heard of it.  Nothing in the Buffalo newscasts & we don't get the Jamestown paper.  I didn't even look to see if I had made any plans for supper.  I try (half-heartedly) to make plans for the week so I wont' be in the situation I'm in.  Tired & don't know what to have for super.  Luckily there is always Pizza Hut.

Dale put the glass insert in the front door today & the extra glass for the windows in his & my bedrooms. It helps a lot.

I lost 7 lbs & the Dr. wondered why & how my appetite is.  For awhile I didn't each much breakfast but that phase is over.  But I'd like to keep those pounds off.  But will I give up my coffee breaks -- that is the question!

I'm waiting for golf to come on -- The Ohio State-Mich. State game is going on too long. Penn State couldn't even score.  In the 1st half they were close to the end zone a couple of times & couldn't even kick a field goal.  And Wi. lost -- we switched back & forth between games.  (And Miami lost again.  There is a little talk that Joe (Penn State) should retire. Barb says they need a good QB.  You'd think at 76 he'd want to take it easier.  Guess some people find it hard to give it up.

Wed. Nov. 12

I'm making a new recipe -- Italian Bow Tie supper.  It has gr. beef, onions, tom. sauce & diced tom.  Then you add pasta, thawed spinach & mozzarella cheese.  I tho't it sounded good.  Also spices.  Time will tell.

Remember I mentioned Kim Schuler wanted to buy the house (empty) north of Bert's.  He kept after the absent owner & she finally said yes.  So now it is his & he hopes to bring it back to its former glory.  There is a lot to do.

We went to Jamestown last Mon.  Ate lunch at the Red Lobster.  I didn't find much -- a pink cotton blouse with cuffs & a navy sweat shirt with a Christmas design on the front.

Bert had company last weekend from Madison.  Relatives.  He works for the Dept. of Health & Human Services.  Barb said they are nice people.  Barb mentioned JoAnna working at the Capitol & Paul being library dir. in Middleton.  Their names art Myrt & Tom Seiger.

Larry called yesterday for Dale but it was the Tues. he worked til 8 pm.  He called again -- his truck wouldn't start -- on East St. but it sas too late for Dale to help.  Some people at work would ask Dale to work on relative's cars after work.  He'd get paid but he doesn't need extra money & he doesn't like to work on cars after working on them all day.  Of course he'll help Lar.  Mike Brindis waned Dale to work on his car but he didn't.

The former beauty shop closed as of Sat. the 8th.  Jerry couldn't make it without Sheila & Sue.  He is going to become a Schwan salesman.  It is just the opposite for Sheila & Sue -- they are doing very well.

Thurs. Nov. 13

We had snow today that stuck to the trees.  Making them so pretty.  Barb had to shovel at Bert's but we didn't have to.

Thanksgiving is 2 weeks from today.  We'll have the usual menu & Kim said she'll bring pumpkin & pecan pies & a green bean casserole.  I said only 1 pie is necessary but she wants to bring both.  We'll eat about 5 pm.

Sat. Barb is going to Erie alone.  I don't care to go .  Barb wants to look for some tops & she'll stop at Target also.  I'm sure it will be crowded & I never seem to find anything I really like.

Lar's truck needed a new starter.  The first one he got wasn't the right kind.  Today he finally got the new starter in . It wasn't a hard job & it saved him a lot of money.  As it was it cost him close to $175.00.  If he would have had it done, it would mean a towing job plus the cost of starter & the cost of having it done -- labor.

Things are fine here.

Saturday, June 21, 2003

The Dr. gave me a new medication as my blood pressure was too high.  He said it might cause me to cough & it does during the night & spoils my sleep.  So on Mon. I'll call & see if there is something else he wants me to take in its place.

Last nite Dale had a bad headache & the all night cancer doing at Beaty Field didn't help. When it was my bedtime, a rock band started playing & all we could hear was the constant Boom, Boom, Boom. I finally fell asleep but was awaken at times.  Finally they quit, only to start it at 6 A.M. so you couldn't sleep in.  I'm sure a lot of area people were unhappy.  That's why Barb slept at Lynn's house.

Back to Dale, he's OK this A.M., but plans to stop drinking coffee to see if that will help. Teasingly, I say I must the be cause of headaches.  Dad had them once in awhile.  I'm not sure about you but Lar, Barb & Dale get them.  Knock on wood but I never get them.

How long will it take for Andy to get his license?  I suppose the next punishment will be "you can't take the car for a month"!!!  Am I being sarcastic?

Sheila told me her one cat had an operation to remove a lump from the tongue -- cut out part of it & the cat was very unhappy for awhile.  They don't know yet if it was cancer & if it had spread.  The cat was only 11 yrs. old so she wasn't ready to put it to sleep.  Expensive operation $300-500.

Kim & Larry are going to the Hosp. Ball tonite.  The Conewango Club isn't ready yet for a Ball so it will be a less formal affair.  It will be at the new riverfront area.  More like a cocktail affair with fireworks at 10 pm.  Kim will wear a long skirt but just suits for men.  It's cloudy & cool, in the lower 50's this A.M. so a sweater will be a necessity.  I just put on a cotton fleece jacket on rather than the furnace.

Watched the Yankees beat the Mets last nite.  'Nuff said!  There was rain & more predicted for today.  Around here you'd never know it was the first day of summer.

Tues. June 24th

Finally summer has arrived & more humidity is forecast for tomorrow.

Our potted plants by the side of the house & garage are so pretty this y ear.  We used a variety of flowers & some new ones this year -- verbina & it is so pretty & miniature dahlias. Both are so pretty & colorful.

The new medication the Dr. gave me doesn't agree with me.  It can cause coughing & it comes during the nite, so I called the office.  He told me the alternative is more expensive but the office said I could try some samples they get so I'll pick them up this aft.  I'll have to get them since my blood pressure was too high.  Guess the Dr. wants me to live to my 90's!

I got a chuck roast & browned it, put it in the crockpot with Beefy Mushroom soup & that will be our dinner tonite.

Met the new neighbor last nite as he was sweeping up after mowing his lawn.  I returned the keys Careys gave us in case they got locked out.  He is very nice but I didn't really get his name.  His wife's name is Melody & for some reason that stuck.  2 daughters -- one who was 13 yesterday & 1 10 yr. old.  They moved from Houston where they had lived for 56 years.  Both grew up in the Pittsburgh area so are happy to be closer to relatives.   I'm sure he is younger than Dale.  We'll have nice neighbors.  Haven't seen her yet -- she is busy unpacking & getting things in order.

The roast had a real good flavor, & it was tender.

This is the nite Dale was suppose to work til 8 pm but he was home early due to a blackout. I bet the stores at the Mall hate that.  This is the second time recently but that first one was due to a fallen branch on some wires in the vicinity of the country club.  Dale heard it might be due to someone digging & hitting something.

Wed. the 25th

Marisa was in a car accident.  The car in front of her stopped suddenly & Marisa couldn't and as a result it was a 4 car crash.  She wasn't hurt -- it was on Pa. Ave. E. near the new Country Fair (where Jones Chevrolet used to be.

Tomorrow I plan to have a cookout for supper.  Grill chicken & cook pot. in foil.  And fresh local strawberries (shortcake) for dessert.

Today the TV shows bad wind & rain storms for Madison   It is suppose to be coming to us for Fri. & Sat.  The only nice thing is that it will be in the 70's so Sat A.M., I can bake dinner rolls & cookies.  First thing tomorrow A.M. I'll make shortcake when it is cooler   I haven't turned on the A.C. yet but might tomorrow.

Thurs. the 26

Put the A.C. on this A.M. & it's run all day.  I don't dare to complain after the cold winter we had lasting the start of June.  Once the showers come it will cool off.

Denise Johnson might have to have a knee replacement.  Noticed she was limping a bit in church.  Betty Casey told me Sandy fell & broke her leg in 3 places.