My Karen

You all mentioned how cute she was as a baby.  We thought she looked like the Gerber Baby.
Karen was due September 23rd.  I got pregnant New Year's Eve/Day 1961.  When October rolled around and she still wasn't born, I questioned the doc.  He said, "Mother nature knows best.  The baby will be born when the baby is ready to be born."  He didn't believe in 10 month babies--no such thing.

She was born October 24th, with those big brown eyes and two tiny teeth.  When the doctor took out his pen light to check her eyes, she quit crying and followed the light around with her eyes.
The doc changed his mind. "Well-I don't believe in 10 month pregnancies, but I gotta say--if it is possible...she is.  She looks and acts two months old!!"

We were so excited to have a brown eyed-dark haired child in our family of washed out, pale, blue-eyed, light haired Dutch/Germans.

She is still as beautiful today at 52, but more importantly, she is the most wonderful, caring, kind and spiritual woman I have ever known.  Everyone says that, not just me.  She is completely accepting of everyone, she never gossips, she is so unconditional in her love for me.

...and she and Mark have a beautiful family

When people talk to her, she leans towards them, so as not to miss a word.

This always makes you feel like you are the most important person to her at that moment.

Mother's aren't allowed to have favorite children, but if I did..............well, you know.

Fantastic Friday

Today's high temperature was: 45 degrees

Sunny until late afternoon.

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Today was the day to take Pammie to the Ophthalmologist!  I got up early.  Our appointment was for 9:45.  She got here about 8:30 and we spent 45 minutes talking and laughing and cussing out my step-mother LOL.

The reason I wanted Pam to go to a REAL eye doctor is, four years ago she had an inflammation in her left eye and had to have steroid shots in her eye.  Pretty painful.  Then a year ago, she went back to the Optometrist and he told her she needed glasses--$400.00 kind of glasses.  I use to go to an Optometrist and know, they are in the selling glasses business too.  So........ get checked out by a specialist, he gives you a prescription and we go to Costco and get her a pair of progressive lenses for less then $200.00.  I am just so tired of her not being able to see and not being able to afford glasses.

This is the Ophthalmologist that Fred went to and raved about.  But Medicare wouldn't pay for the $200.00 exam unless you had Diabetes or Cataracts.  The last time I went to the Optometrist, he said I had the beginnings of Cataracts so...I went to the REAL eye doctor the next year.  

While she was filling out the forms that are required she said, "Momma, how old are you?"

"Well, two days ago I told someone I was seventy-three, but I think I am really seventy-four.  Do they need to know that?"

"No, but...I forgot how old I am and I know I am twenty years younger then you, so........."

"You were born in 1959--subtract that from 2013."

"You know I'm no good in math."

"Well, can you subtract nine from 13?"

"Yes."

"Okay then."

"That's four.  What number goes in front of it?" she giggled.

"I'd feel better if you put a three in front of it.  I can't believe I have children in their fifties!!"

We got to laughing and nudging each other--the office girls were watching us and laughing too.

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Fred liked this doctor.  I liked this doctor and Pammie liked him too.  I must say I am IN LOVE with this guy because he told Pam, "the inflammation is completely gone!"  Also SHE DOESN'T NEED GLASSES!!  He told her to go to Wally World and he wrote down what strength of "cheaters" to get.  Use them for reading, computer work, even TV, if she wanted.  He wasn't trying to sell her anything!

HOWEVER--because of the steroids the Optometrist poked in her eye,l she has the beginning of a Cataract on her left eye.  Our doc said that, "the steroid injections will cause the Cataract to grow faster."  WELL CRAP!!!  Wish I had taken her too him when she first had the inflammation, but then....I didn't know about him then.

Because Pam has NO insurance--it only cost me $60.00!  AND no trip to Costco for $200.00 pair of glasses.  WOW!!  Really good news.  She wanted to pay--I had already talked to the office girl and she said, "No!  You aren't allowed to pay!"

I said, "That's right!"  I walked over to get my purse and I heard Pam say, "She's an old lady.  I'll bet I could take her down!"

I walked back up to the desk and the office girl said, "I don't think you can even see her with your eyes all blurry."

Then I looked at Pam.  "My, what big blue pupils you have my dear.  Now--step back so I can conduct my business here."

So we came back here and she came inside to let the dilation wear off a bit before she drove home and we laughed some more and hooted and hollared and talked about all the rotten men we have ever known, and cussed out the step-mother some more and by the time she left--I was on a real high.  I wish I could spend time with her more--we have such a great time together--we are so much alike!

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I was going to go to Costco after she left because I need bathroom tissue and paper towels and Kleenex and that would be the only reason for me to go to that hated store, but...I decided to go on Monday morning.  

I have just relaxed all the rest of this day, but I noticed, I have been smiling all day long!!!!

Pretty Much, A No-Nothing Day

Today's high temperature was: 45
Feels like temperature: 39

Sunny, breezy

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Here is the link for the Kennedy book I am reading.
http://www.amazon.com/These-Few-Precious-Days-Jackie/dp/1476732329/ref=sr_1_1?s=books&ie=UTF8&qid=1382628991&sr=1-1&keywords=these+few+precious+days

I saw this quote on Ernestine's blog post and had to go to the link to read the whole post. I am amazed that this is so exactly how I feel most days.  And again amazed that someone else feels the same way, which makes me feel so much better, because you know, at times I feel I am losing my sanity.  Now, I know--the up and down emotions are quite normal :-)

"I am amazed at the rainbow of feelings that can overtake me in the span of a week, or, even, a day. I can swing in the clouds, full of confidence and competence and, in short order, slide onto the ground, bereft, lost, larval in my capacity to grapple with life.

In those moments, or hours, or days, when I feel so inept, drenched in inadequacy, I rail against the uncertainties and disappointments in life. As if life came with a map and I’d taken the wrong turn. Or life were a test and I’d simply, tragically failed."

http://www.elderwomenmusings.com/?cat=6
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Karen's 52nd birthday today.  I posted a Happy Birthday to her on Face Book with a picture of her at two.  I'm sure she isn't mad at me for that :-)  I gave her a pair of those wonderful Egyptian Cotton sheets I got last spring.

Wasn't she adorable?  When she was younger, she looked exactly

like the Gerber Baby.

Do you know what I did today?  Nuttin' Honey!  I sat in that chair and I made two nylon net scrubbies, I crocheted two rows on a baby afghan and I crossed stitched on another baby crib cover.  

Dar came over this afternoon, but I am not going to post about her conversation because the whole experience was way too taxing for me.  Let's just say, she is off her meds again, LOL.  Telling her manager at her new job that he doesn't know what he's doing.  Confronting a lady at church.  And snooping at her sister-in-law's house to find her daughter's address.  I was worn out when she finally left!

Tomorrow is going to be a great day.  Spent with Pammie!

(Almost) Wordless Wednesday

Today's high temperature was:   45 degrees

Sunny--gorgeous--a few snow flakes

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Outer Banks of North Carolina--2010

<sigh>

Terrific Tuesday--at least the evening was

Today's high temperature was:  47 degrees

Sunny--cloudy--sunny--cloudy, but no rain!

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They are having snow in our Upper Peninsula and we are expecting a few wet flakes on Thursday.  Good thing I don't have anywhere to go on Thursday.  Although--it is my daughter Karen's birthday.  The day she was born, we were into Indian Summer and it was 73 degrees and sunny.  Most everyone of her birthday's, it has been warm and sunny.  Probably this year, our Indian Summer will come in November, because we haven't had a freeze yet.

I was getting dressed this morning and I heard the front door open and in walked Pearl.  She called out and looked down the hallway and there I stood in my underpants, putting on my bra.  "YIKES!" she yelled.  "My eyes have been burned.  I'm blind!!"

"Oh, shut up and sit down."  I retorted.

She had a good laugh seeing me in my nothings!

She came down to bring back the new Nicholas Sparks book I lent her.  She got the new one first this time because I hadn't seen my sister when I first got it.  I will give it to Susan next. 

 I am reading a fascinating book on Jack and Jackie Kennedy right now.  Those poor kids--they sure had a tumultuous life!  Neither one of them had a decent childhood, so they grew up with trust issues and not knowing how to give love.  Reminds me kind of like Charles and Diana--married because Jack's father said it was time--picked her out--all for political reasons.  Jack kept right on with his affairs--Jackie knew all about them.  She refused to let it bother her--after all her father was a womanizer too.  The only one she really worried was the year long affair he had with Marilyn Monroe.  J. Edgar Hoover found out about it and told Jack to end it before it got out in the press.  Three days later, Marilyn killed herself.  Jackie smoked over 2 packs of cigarettes a day, which they figure caused her miscarriages and still births.  Jack was very sickly and in constant pain.  They both took a lot of drug injections to keep going.  They put on a good show, but that's all it was.  They were suppose to be the perfect young family, so that is what they portrayed to the country.  Jackie was very unhappy, Jack didn't really care.  He was just going to live as he wanted.

Isn't it strange.  The media never said a word about it.  Back in those days, they protected the President at all costs.  Now that fifty years have past, a lot of the records are being opened up for public knowledge.  Sad--very sad.

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I looked out my window this morning and sure enough, the Hummingbirds nest is still there.

Then I saw something else in Jackie's tree.   

A huge wasp/hornet/yellow jacket nest.

As I walked back across the street, I spotted this little

beautiful red leaf in with all the ugly brown ones.

I looked around--there is not a tree that color around here--

where did that little leaf come from?

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I didn't do much today.  At six fifteen, I left to get over to the high school for Madeleine's band and marching band concert.  They charged me five bucks!!!  Usually they are free.  It was a looooooooong concert.  A concert band, two symphony orchestra's,and their best wind ensemble (which Maddie plays in) and then the marching band--which is my favorite part.  250 kids marching into the auditorium, playing as loud as they can--sends shivers through my whole body.  Then, they played the school fight song, which I have been working on memorizing and I could sing along--fun.

I don't know if any of you remember, but at the first Marching Band concert, when Maddie was a Freshman, when the band played, "God Bless America"--I stood and sang along.  Half-way through, I noticed that in an auditorium that holds probably 1,200 people, I was the only one standing.  I asked my daughter why and she said, "I don't know.  We always stand at the football games when they play it."

So--I apologized to Maddie, hoping I hadn't embarrassed her.  She said she thought it was cool.

So feeling of a rebellious nature (which I seem to have become in my old age)--the last two years, I have always stood and didn't care if anyone did or not--and no one ever did.

Tonight, I couldn't get my regular seat, so I had to sit down in front, about five rows from the stage.  When the band played "God Bless America", I stood up and noticed that my daughter Karen stood up beside me.  Then I noticed everyone else in the place started standing.  I guess it's kind of hard not to see a six feet tall woman, down in front standing and they thought they all should, so---like a bunch of sheep--everyone followed my lead.

After the concert, Maddie and a couple of her friends came up and grabbed me and said, "Gramma, you accomplished your goal!!"  I guess, over the years, she has said something to her band friends about her Gramma being the only person standing for the song.

To me--that song is very patriotic.  It is almost like a hymn or a prayer.  We all stand for the National Anthem, why shouldn't we stand in respect for the playing and singing of God Bless America?

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Karen walked me out to my car, after the concert, so I could give her birthday present to her.  She said, "Mom--it's suppose to be cold and maybe even snow on my birthday!  What is wrong?  It is always sunny and warm on my birthday.  Mark even said, "your Mom is going to be mad because it is always sunny and warm." "  

I told her that I was sorry--that when I heard the weather report, I was upset too, but..."You make my whole life sunny and warm and that's all that matters."  Then we hugged and "love you's" and went on our way.  I tell you--without her and Pammie, I don't know what I would do!!!
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Okay--I got no response from the note I sent a couple of weeks ago to my step brother-in-law, so today, I sent him this longer note.  Tell me the truth.  Is it too much?  I don't think I sounded angry or accusatory, do you?

Now I wait to see if there is any response to this one.  I doubt it because that family, doesn't like to confront anything that might be objectionable--much like my own family.  We all are a bunch of stupid Ostrich's--never voicing an opinion, never bringing up any subject that might make someone uncomfortable.  We wouldn't want to broach a subject honestly--someone might not like us if we did!  I tell you my friends--I do believe I AM becoming a rebellious old woman!!!
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October 22, 2013

Hi Alan,

I suppose you think I have gone “ ‘round the bend”.  By your non-response to my first note, it is apparent that you have no idea what I was talking about.  So, an explanation.

Six months after Dad died, Helen took Susan and I aside and said, “I don’t want you girls to worry.  You will get the rest of your Dad’s money when I die.” 

The next year, while she was still living at the farm, in the summer, she told us, “I have decided to put everything in trust.  It will make it much easier for everyone.”

Therefore, I assumed that she had set up a trust for each of us, for what was left from Dad’s investments.

It has been six months and I hadn’t heard anything.  I am preparing my own final distribution and wanted to make sure I had the beneficiary correct on the trust.  That is why I wrote the note to you.  Wondering the status on the process of the trusts.

I guess there were none set up for us or surely you would have known about it.

I am sorry for the confusion my first message may have caused.

Take care,

Jude
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I don't think it should hurt any one's feelings.  I certainly am not angry with my step-sisters--they probably have no knowledge that their mother STOLE MY SISTER AND MY INHERITANCE!!!

I need to put this behind me and just forget it.  But DAMMIT (sorry), you all know how stinking poor I am.  A hundred and seventy-five thousand dollars would sure have helped me live out the rest of my life without worry and left something for my own kids!!!

(Okay--so now, not only am I becoming a rebel, but a nasty, mean, cranky, critical old woman!!)

So--let's see what happens tomorrow.  Maybe I can get through one day without wanting to slap the heck out of someone, LOL.

Moody Monday

Today's high temperature was: 54 degrees

Sprinkly--Sunny--Sprinkly

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The start of a very busy week.  I have something going on every single day.

My Tiger's lost the pennant to the Boston Red Sox.  My Tiger's played awful!  We found out this morning, that our manager Jim Leyland decided in September that he would retire at season's end.  We are all rather sad--well most of us are.  He has been a great manager.  He said he is too old to do it anymore--it is a very physically taxing job.  He will stay within the Tiger's organization, which is a good thing.  As with all sports, if the team does well, it is to the player's credit.  If a team does badly, it's all the manager's fault.  It shouldn't be that way in this case.  We have player's that are getting paid millions to do their job, and they didn't.  We have a first baseman who is paid $200M, and he hasn't gotten a hit in weeks.  We have two very good pitcher's--that's about it.  Our bullpen failed us.  So--onward and upward--there's always next year!

Now, I will root for the Red Sox to win the World Series.  I wish they'd shave off those ugly beards!  It makes the guys all look old and scruffy, but, they probably think they are good luck for them.  We shall see.
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I have been extremely depressed the last couple of weeks.  Oh--I can put on a good face, when I have too--when I am around people, but, when I am alone, there is no smiling, no real energy, no real purpose to even get up in the morning.  All I want to do is sleep.

I forced myself to go pick up a prescription and fill the car with gas yesterday afternoon.  Then, I got a Subway for supper (thank you Melissa!).  I slept ten hours and by noon, I was yawning.  Perhaps my Circadian clock is getting ready to hibernate?  The changing seasons sometimes affect me this way--especially in fall.  I don't know.  I just have no desire to do anything, but I am forcing myself to get out.
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Things got a lot better this late afternoon.

Pammie stopped by after picking the kids up from school.  I got to see and talk to each of them and then Alex got out and we got ready to go birthday shopping.  We came in the house and we did the whole financial thing.  About how much we had to spend and if his "present" didn't cost that much, he would get the money left over.  He knew exactly what he wanted so off to Target we went.  It took him 15 minutes, to find a remote controlled quad--he loves motorcycles, dirt bikes, quads--anything that goes fast over dirt trails.

He did look at a motorcycle and was impressed because, "it even has a real kick stand!"  Okay--apparently most of the toy ones don't?

This kid didn't say barely a word until he was three years old.

Last year, I had to drag every word out of him.

This year--he was chattering away a mile a minute.

He told me all about what he did this summer.  How school is so boring because, "I am suppose to be in second grade, but I'm in first because I was born too late.  They are going to let me skip a grade, like Andrew did, in a couple of years.  I hope I can stand to wait that long.  The only thing good about school is when someone has a birthday and we get treats and a small party!"  

"I love Soccer.  It is the best sport.  Mimi, do you know who Pele is?  I have a Brazilian soccer ball with his name on it.  He was a really great Soccer player--before I was born, so I never got to see him play."

"Oh look--over there on that wall,  There is a picture of the Mona Lisa--not the real one.  The real one is in a museum in Paris."

"How do you know that?" I asked.

"Hm-mm." he scratched his head.  "I can't remember.  I don't know--it is just in my head, that I know."

"I think cigarettes should be illegal.  Do you know that every time someone smokes a cigarette it takes eleven minutes off their life?  The people keep making them, so the people keep buying them and smoke more and more.  It's really weird.  Why would people do something that is going to make them die?  I don't understand."

When he took a breath, I said, "There are a lot of weird things in life.  Sometimes we wonder why people do certain things.  It seems weird and confusing."

"Yeah, I know," he says.  "It gets weirder and weirder the more I live.  I see such weird things people do."

Here we are at Red Robin, his favorite place to eat.

Can you tell he is seven by the missing tooth?

I cannot figure out who this kid looks like.  He and his older sister Elise are blue eyed blondes.  His parents are both dark haired with brown eyes.  I think he may look like his Dad's side of the family because I don't see any of me or my family in him.  

When I got him home, he thanked me profusely.  Then Elise came out to give me a hug and baby boy Evan came running out yelling, "Hi Mimi.  Hi."  It was a really nice time and in a couple of weeks I will take Andrew, who is about to turn twelve, if he wants to go....and from what he said today....I think he does.
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When Karen's five kids were younger, I used to take them, one at a time, for a weekend in the summer months.  I figure it is good for them to be alone with me and have undivided attention from me where they can do whatever they want, say whatever they want and chatter away.  It is hard for children to get one-on-one when they are many other children in the family.  My oldest grand daughter, Helene, is 28 years old, now living in LA and going for her Master's at UCLA and---she remembers every time we were together, what we did, even the fact that the first thing we always did was stop at the grocery where she could pick out any food she wanted to eat for the weekend.  

So--I figure, this is building memories time!  ...and that, in my opinion, is what grandma's are all about.  A staunch advocate for your grand child--unconditionally.  Let their parents set rules and discipline them.  The few times they are with grandma, they can just be.  

Now--if I had them a lot, if probably wouldn't be that way.  This way--no body is going to scold if they don't eat all their supper.  No body is going to tell them how to think or what to say.  I am very thankful I have well behaved grandchildren though--it makes it a whole lot easier then if they were brats and acting up all the time, LOL.

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Because of his love for motorcycles, I know exactly what I am going to give Alex for Christmas.  It was Fred's and when Alex was little and use to come over more. he'd sit and look at this. He never touched it, but he'd look at it from all angles.  I think he will like it.

It has a real leather seat AND a real kick stand.

I'm Still Here!

The high temperature today was:  61 degrees--sunny

Yesterday, 51 degrees, Rained all day.  Cold and damp.

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WOW--it's like I fell off the face of the earth for a couple of days.  Did ya miss me?

I was so busy on Wednesday and Thursday and by the time I got done watching the baseball games, it was too late to write anything coherent and I just fell into bed.

Wednesday, I swapped out my clothes in the bedroom closet, put the cover on the air conditioner unit, brought my planter of succulents in the house and then I went to the Chiropractor, the Rich People's store and got my hair cut.  My hairdresser calls my hair a "wild weed" because it grows so fast...and it has been 7 weeks--way over due.  I haven't colored it in 3 months and am enjoying watching as the grey creeps in all around the edges.  The back is very dark and the crown is blonde--so I sort of resemble a Calico Cat, but.....I don't really care.

Thursday, I had lunch in a small town north of Durand, with the school gal pals.  They had Coney Islands--real ones, not chili dogs and of course I had one.  It was not as good at the ones I get near the Flint area (where they were kind of invented), but good enough.  Next month we are going to a tea room.  Lord knows what I will get to eat there--maybe I will eat before I go?

Bethie had plants to give to my sister, so we stopped at the farm afterwards.  The last time Beth saw the house, the kitchen was not done, so she got to see that and she got to get some apples from Susan.  The apple crop this year was a bumper crop---well, actually, well over a bumper crop.  About four times more then last year.  Susan got out her "map" of the house and the gardens she wants to put around it.  Of course my sister has a garden map--doesn't everyone?  She and I both have the obsessive gene, LOL.

Beth's knowledge of plants and where they will grow best and where they should be placed, was of great help to Susan.  I interjected that I thought she needed an Eastern Red Bud tree, which was accepted into the plan.  I have always wanted one, so now, Susan will have one I can look at.  If I live long enough to see any of this garden come into full production!!

On the way to Susan's I drove down a particular part of a road that was my mother's favorite fall time drive.  The trees form a canopy over the road and this time of year it is gorgeous.  Sort of like this picture--which I stole from Google Images.

Then we drove into the cemetery so I could show Beth Fred's stone and mine.  She is the one who gave me the little angel dog statue that sits on Fred's stone.  His stone was already covered with grass clippings--the one reason I dislike flat markers--they get so dirty. 

My sister's front yard

The house where I grew up and our long driveway.

This is what the woods between Susan's and Pammie's home will look like in a week.

I love to wander through it this time of year.

This tree is just up the street in our park.  I like all the

different colors it has right now.

With all the hard woods we have in Michigan, it is truly beautiful this time of year.  However, in my opinion, there is no better viewing for fall colors then "out east"--where there are mini-mountains and high hills and you can view the colors as they range up the elevations.  Any trip I have taken out east, always were planned for mid to late September, early October.

So the ball games will start again tomorrow night in Boston.  The Tigers will win.  You see--it is all planned out in advance, LOL.  We play seven games--so Tigers won the first, Boston won the second, the Tigers the third, Boston the fourth and fifth, the Tigers should win tomorrow night and then in game seven--it's all up for grabs.  That way each team makes a lot more money if it goes to game seven.  LOL  Something like that--I may have the wins incorrect--who can remember?  That was a week ago!!!

=======================

So today--what did I do?  Not one dang thing!!!  I woke up at 8:00 and did the morning routine--laundry to be done, which I did not do.  Vacuuming to be done--which I did not do.  I walked up to Pearl's to take her some of my tops that are too big for me and then I came home, watched my soap, leaned my recliner back and cats and I slept from 2:00 until 6:00 !!!  It almost feels like my body wants to go into hibernation mode. 

We are getting a Polar movement from way up in Canada and the jet stream is falling clear into the southern states, so we are going to be 40 & 50's and 30"s at night.  We need a freeze before we can have Indian Summer--which is liable to be in the 70's for a few days and then settle in to really cool temps.

I went around and made sure all the windows are shut tight and locked into place.  My back door is leaky, so Merle is going to put insulation on it and I am going to cover it for plastic for the winter.  I dread that, as I have a window in that door and it helps to light up my hallway.  Now--just another dark area all winter--I have enough "dark" areas in my life.  I NEED SUNLIGHT EVERY DAY!!!!!  I do have a "daylight" lamp that I sit under to cross stitch and all and, it really helps, but I must admit, as much as I like the snow of winter, I do get S.A.D. during January and February. 

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I have "permission" to take Alex, who will be 7 on Sunday, for his birthday shopping and supper.  Pammie will drop him off after school.  I sent Jen an e-mail to ask her and this is what she responded back:

I’m sure he would love to go.  I will ask him tonight, 

and you can make arrangements with Pam to get him on Monday. 

I would never stop my children from seeing their grandmother, 

although I do have to say that I hesitate given the fact that 

you complained on your blog so horribly about us 

and then talked about how you would still make the sacrifice 

 to take Elise out for her birthday.  

No blogging or photos of this trip (nor Facebooking)  please.  

I replied with a "Thank you."

She would never stop the children from seeing their grandmother--although I am not allowed to go to their house, nor their school, nor their church--but other then that.  Perhaps when they are old enough to get a license, they might be able to drive over here?  I wonder why she will do about our family Christmas get together?  Probably travel to New Jersey and spend the holiday with her in-laws so that she won't have to make excuses or be in my presence?  She's a lot like her Dad--she can hold a grudge like--forever!!!  I have always tried to reason with her and respond to her comments/thoughts/feelings, justify myself.  Not this time.  I will not get into an e-mail back and forth.  She is an attorney.  In her super logical mind I am guilty.  Case closed.

So anyway--Pammie said Alex is really looking forward to Monday, so he and I will have fun.  I can let him talk a streak and ask pertinent questions about what he did over summer and what he is interested in at school.  PFFT to you know who.

Tomorrow is another great day for cross stitching and crocheting and reading.  MSU plays Purdue at noon.  U of M plays Indiana at 3:00 and the Tigers play the Red Sox at 8:00.  

Onward and upward--ever forward--one day, one step at a time!