Tuesday, March 7, 2006

Read your letter -- a very complete report.  Your Dr. & his nurse sound like very caring people.  I'm sure all will go well for you in this new experience.  I'm sure glad you had a complete physical & caught this in the early stages.  You're lucky to be in an area with good doctors.

Last Fri. Bensons & Hollertz came for lunch.  I had a 1 pm Dr. appt. so we met at 2 pm -- Holiday Inn.  They quit serving lunch at 2 pm but a woman in charge said we could eat in the bar area & order from the menu.  I wonder if she is the owner's wife.  I'll ask Kim tomorrow. She came by & talked to us & said anytime we wanted a late lunch just say Cathy said we can do it.  She was a very interesting person.  They plan to meet in Apr. again & at the Holiday Inn.  We were the only ones in the bar area so we weren't bothered with anyone smoking.  We enjoyed each other's company.

Today I made a cake for dessert tomorrow nite & of course I had to sample it.  It came out good -- made from scratch.

Last Sat. Wrrn paper had a very interesting article on the '56 flood in Wrrn.  I know you will enjoy reading it.  The town was really flooded.

The Commissioners are having a time here accusing each other.  David Bauer is the one who starts things -- he was the same when he was pres. of the school board.  Too full of himself.

Barb gets a number of catalogues featuring clothes and I've seen some tops I like.  So far I haven't followed thru with an order, but now I think I will.  I never see anything I like in the stores.  I don't think older ladies count when it comes to decent styles.

Before we went grocery shopping, we went to the Mall.  I needed to get some sympathy cards -- Jack Bjorkquist died.  Barb wanted to look at shoes & I always like to look at shoes. We went to "The Shoe Dept" & they had some Dockers that I tried on & got a pair.  Not exactly a moccasin but similar & so comfy.  A taupe color, not really a tan.  On sale plus 50% off so they only cost $9.99.  I couldn't believe it & couldn't resist!

Last Sun I watched the Mets play Puerto Rico -- Mets lost.  Mon. they were on again vs. Cleveland.  They won.  A lot of new names but some will go down to other teams until they are ready for the big one.  I think they will field a winning team this year!!

Why I like & appreciate Paul's letters.
1)  Usually I get one every week.
2)  They are so informative.
3)  Some part will make me laugh.
4)  I hear what is going on in your lives -- family, jobs, pleasures, Andy & Eddie, etc. etc.
Thank you so much.

Wed. aft.

Last Fri, the 3rd, I had a Dr. appt.  All is well.  My blood pressure was 130/90./  I had a blood test, but I can't remember the reason.  Whatever they were looking for was a little low, so I'll have another blood test in 4 months.  The Dr. said I want you to have thyroid scan & it was this aft. at 2 pm.  First they gave me a shot for color.  Not dye but I forget what is was.  I was a little shook up over the experience.  Waited for 10 min & then called in. I had to lie on a long bed like with a pillow under my head & a pillow under my knees.  It took about 15 min, 4 shots.  Camera overhead & they moved it closer & then from one side to the other.  Then I was ready to go home about 2:30 pm.  Barb didn't wait there, so the receptionist called home for me & she picked me up. She was sure I'd have to call Larry for a ride, as she takes Scott home about 3:15.  She was thinking of her experiences but from what I've had before I knew it wouldn't take that long.

I'm watching baseball:  Cuba vs. Panama.  Last of the 9th, 2 out, bases loaded & they are tied.  Pan. is up.  Then I'll watch Canada vs. USA.  It is fun to watch.

Dinner preparations are started but it is soon time to get going again.

Now it's 8:30 & the kitchen has been put in order again.

We had a nice dinner with Lar, Kim & Torey.

Tomorrow Barb & I plan to go to Jamestown.  If I don't find any clothes I like, I'll send an order from one of the catalogues.

I'll mail this from Jamestown.  If we don't' go out on Fri. the letter isn't mailed until Mon.

Did you see the movie Crash?  A lot of people were surprised when it won the Oscar.  That is what I read in the newspaper.  I watch old movies on TMC.

Hope things are getting better for you Paul.

Saturday, April 1, 1995

Barb will mail a letter I wrote yesterday & I feel like writing again.

The house smells good - Barb made banana muffins with the tiny choc. chips in them - good. She bro't home some over ripe bananas & she didn't use them all so I made banana bread & a coffee cake (not banana).

Yesterday it was a different day - made grilled cheese for lunch & was fixing one for Dale when the mail came & your letter so I started reading your letter until I smelled something burning - one side was black & then we had a burnt smell in the house. Prefer today's smell.

When we were at the Mall yesterday guess what I bot? "Angels in the Outfield" for the darling grandchildren. Don't know when I'll mail it. Grandmothers are allowed to spoil their grandchildren.

Mon nite is LCW & Patty (Welch) Phillip's boss, a lawyer, will speak on wills, etc. I plan to attend. Wed nite, at Lenten Midweek, our circle serves coffee after the service so I'll go. Haven't been going as I hate to always go to church alone. But I don't miss Sun. services.

Atlanta baseball is on T.V. Just finished watching tennis doubles - U.S. beat Italy but they had to work for it. I prefer sports & weather to O.J. and the constant repeats of the trial.

School will have Thurs, Fri, Sat, Sun & Mon off for Easter vacation. Kim said she'd like to take us to Erie on that Thurs. Barb has asked to have Thurs. & Fri. off So we'll start making our lists of what we'd like to look for. We never get to Erie like we used to. Kaufman's called about our charge card & they reinstalled it so I can "charge" when we're there. They have nice merchandise. If you don't use it, you lose it!

Did JoAnna have success in looking for spring clothes.

I'd like new bedding for Dale's bed. Noticed in KMart's ad they have some on sale & if they have the one pattern that would look nice in his room, I'd get it. Many are too juvenile or too feminine.

Millie will be 80 on April 17th in case you'd like to send her a card:

M. Guagliardo
70 Plumtree Circle
Spfld. 01118

Now it's Monday. Hooray - will have regular baseball starting Apr 26th.

Walked over town this A.M. & saw Joyce O'Connor & we chatted. Asked about Bob. He is in computer work. His oldest son should have graduated from Hi school last June & he flunked. He has a job as manager of a Pizza Hut so he doesn't need a high school diploma. [son's idea] Crazy kids. Bob never comes to visit Joyce, even tho they come here & they don't remember her birthday, etc. Bev's oldest son & girlfriend are coming over Easter so Joyce can meet her & she is looking forward to that. Fixing up a bedroom - plastering, refinishing woodwork, etc.

Meant to get this off today, Tues, but forgot.

[Enclosures]

Friday, March 31, 1995

I got my hair done this A.M.; came home & started vegetable soup for supper as it is still cool here.

Thanks for your letter.  When you have children you have to expect a few headaches along the way.

[Here's what Mom is referencing.

Andy asked if he could go over to Meaghan’s house once we got home.

“You need to be home at 6 o’clock,” I told him. That gave him 45 minutes to play.

At 6:01 Andy had not yet returned home. No surprise. Six minutes later I called Meaghan’s. Her mom told me that Andy and Meaghan were at Nick’s house, so I called there. Nick’s grandfather said Andy was in the back yard playing ball. I waited a long 30 seconds for Andy to come to the phone.

“Hello.”

“Andy, what time is it?”

“Six o’clock.”

“Actually, it’s six-oh-seven. You should be home by now.”

“But I want to play until six-thirty.”

“All right.”

JoAnna called about five minutes later to announce that she’s on her way home. I turned up the burner under a pot of water for cooking noodles, the bed for our Campbell’s stroganoff. JoAnna put a package of stew meat and two cans of cream of mushroom soup in the crockpot before going to work.

Still no sign of Andy. I looked out the kitchen window, expecting to see him turn into the driveway on his bicycle. After another couple minutes, I called Nick’s house again.

“He’s on his way,” Nick’s grandfather reported.

It should only take him a couple minutes to ride his bike home from Nick’s house, I thought. Somebody is in trouble.

I walked outside and looked down the street. No sign of anyone. I retraced my steps five minutes later. This time I saw two small figures across South Avenue. Meaghan must have walked to Nick’s house, so Andy was being a gentleman and walking her part of the way home. Once we returned home, I told him he couldn’t play outside after school until daylight savings time arrived. (Not that far away, actually.)

The menu for supper didn’t appeal to either of the boys. Eddie was practically traumatized by the french-cut green beans on his plate.

“I don’t want them on my plate,” he cried, a few tears streaming down his cheeks.

JoAnna told him he could eat his dinner or go to his room. He chose the second option. Within a minute, we heard a theatrical wail of sorrow. He soon rejoined us, probably because he was afraid to be in a room by himself, a behavior he has exhibited quite regularly over the past few months. He picked at the food on his plate, but then he had eaten a bowl of cereal minutes after we returned home. Andy actually found the chunks of stew meat tasty, and he’s always like noodles. He didn’t eat everything on his plate, though. I should have asked him if he had anything to eat at Nick’s. Snacks seem to be easy to come by there.

While JoAnna washed dishes, I ran the boys’ bath water. Eddie informed me that the water was too hot.

“No, it’s not, Eddie. Look at your brother. He’s in the tub and not complaining.”

Eddie persisted with his whining. Someone’s a tired little guy, I surmised, but before he goes to bed, he’s taking a bath. I picked him up and forced him to take a seat in the tub. He resisted, but I insisted. I wet his hair, lathered and rinsed it, then wrapped it in a towel and handed him to JoAnna, since that’s who he was calling for through his tears.

“I want my mama.”

Fortunately, the evening ended on a very positive note. The boys and I snuggled together on one of the captain’s beds and Andy read two books he had brought home from school., Clifford’s Puppy Days and The Runaway Teddy Bear. Andy’s a very accomplished reader for a first grader. He’s made tremendous progress in his reading skills since the beginning of the school year.]

Finished reading Sue Grafton's "A is for Alibi".  Finally found it at the library.  Now I've read all except for her latest.

We'll be losing our neighbors, the Willis' (Rose Pelligrino) as he has taken a job with the Cumberland Valley School District starting May 1st.  He's been bldg. & grounds super.  I noticed last Sun. they were cleaning out their garage & painting the roof over the sun room.  Imagine Rose will be here til school is out.

Walter Johnson is in the Rouse Home so I imagine that house will be sold in the future.  Emma died a couple of years ago.  Paul is the only one around & he lives in Youngsville.

Dad is having headaches & the Dr. doesn't know what is causing them.  Probably Dale's situation.

Signe called last nite at 11:05 our time & we were in bed.  Dale was still up & answered the phone.

She is now living with Carolyn & Jim.  She wants to fix a den in the basement so she has a place her things, etc.  Jim isn't working & she'll help them with expenses.  They paid 600.00 a mo. for their retirement apt.  She has her own phone.  Said Stella isn't that good.  Wonder if she'll ever get back to I. Mt.  Wonder if she can live alone.  She is paying rent on her apt.

Don't think I mentioned I bot a spring dress thru Penney's catalog & am very pleased with it.  A blue & white print (not navy).  Had to shorten it as it was too long for my taste.

We had a late anniv. card from June.  She said Sharlynn's daughter Nikki had her 2nd baby, a son & she didn't want to write about the situation.  She wasn't married when the 1st came, a girl & maybe she still isn't married.

Gen called the other nite - she never writes - well, hardly ever.  I got 5x7 pictures of the family (one you like) to send to all the sisters in an Easter card.  June has been asking for pictures.  Larry & Kim paid for everything so you can settle with them.

Careys have been in Fla. the last 2 months.  Lar has checked the house.  They should soon be back & it will be nice to see them come & go again.  He is fully retired now.  The girls would like them to move to the Phila. area but Mary Ann like her home here.  Time will tell.  Paula is engaged to a lawyer so they have 1 more wedding to go thru.

Time to think about lunch.

Enjoyed the article re: rural churches.  Seems like the best answer to a difficult problem.

Dale got the miniature Corvette to go with a Corvette plate he ordered.  Now he ordered a Bel Air Chevy.  Like the cars you collect.

[New York Times article.]